Sarah Ryan

Vegetable oil is a popular cooking oil in just about any country. It is not made from vegetables specifically but is a term that refers to a blend of oils, often including canola, soybean, corn, sunflower, and safflower oils. This blend results in a neutral flavor and versatile performance in various cooking methods.  Given that it is a blend of a lot of other commonly available oils, it is very easy to find a suitable [...]

Coconut flakes are a delicious and versatile snack or addition to smoothie bowls and salads for a fun texture and taste. But if you don't store them properly, they can quickly become stale or even go bad, and then they’re not nearly as fun. Here are some tips on how to keep your coconut flakes fresher for longer! What is the best way to store coconut flakes? The best way to store coconut flakes is in a sealed container [...]

Bulgur is a whole grain from the Mediterranean made from hard red winter wheat berries. Some whole wheat flours are also made with whole red winter wheat berries, so what's the difference? The difference is in the processing. Bulgur wheat is parboiled, dried and cracked, whereas the red winter wheat for whole wheat flour is dried and ground into flour. Therefore, bulgur wheat is actually quite coarse and used more like a seed [...]

If you are on a gluten-free diet or trying to reduce your gluten intake, buckwheat flour is a popular choice. Despite the name containing the word wheat, buckwheat is actually a flowering plant that is related to rhubarb, and buckwheat flour is made from the seeds.  It has a unique flavor, and works perfectly in pancakes and other cakes and desserts, but I believe it is an acquired taste. If you aren’t a fan of [...]

Bread flour is a high-protein flour designed for making yeast breads. Its high gluten content helps to create a strong and elastic dough and a yummy crust that is just perfect for a loaf!  Bread flour is typically around 12-14% protein, which means your dough can rise higher and maintain its structure during baking. While its primary use is for bread making, bread flour can also be utilized in other baked goods like [...]

Brown rice flour is one of the more common gluten-free flours made from finely ground whole-grain brown rice kernels. With a nutty, earthly flavor, brown rice flour is a popular choice in the world of gluten-free baking and cooking, even though it does not provide the same elasticity and structure as wheat-based flours. So, what do you do when your recipe calls for brown rice flour and you have none on hand? You [...]