| We drink wine, placing it in a glass and swallowing | | | | would drink....willingly. This doesn't mean that you |
| without the effort of chewing (even though some | | | | should pour your bottle of 1847 Château |
| people describe wine as chewy). It goes down | | | | d'Yquem into a noodle sauce, but adding in weak |
| smooth, born to be only wild enough to glide | | | | wine will hurt, even ruin, your dish. If you |
| down an esophagus. Quenching our thirst and our | | | | purchase a wine of poor quality, your food will |
| nerves, a glass of good wine is simply a good | | | | adopt that poor quality, which is probably not the |
| drink. | | | | goal you're aiming for. A good rule of thumb is to |
| However, wine isn't limited to just a glass, a | | | | never add cheap wine, but don't go overboard |
| bottle, or even a bucket. Branching out into | | | | and add an expensive wine that should be saved |
| different realms, as if trying to find itself in the | | | | for a special occasion. |
| culinary world, wine has become an important | | | | Cooking Wine |
| ingredient in many food dishes. | | | | Cooking wine, by definition, is a very inexpensive |
| Cooking with wine isn't a new concept; a bottle | | | | wine that has been treated with salt as a |
| has always been in the kitchen, wearing a chef's | | | | preservative. Its sole purpose of existence is to |
| hat and sautéing the onions. But, with | | | | be added to food. While some people advocate |
| more and more light shining onto the health | | | | the use of cooking wine, true wine connoisseurs |
| benefits of wine, people are becoming increasingly | | | | don't, throwing the recipe book at it instead. This, |
| interested in wine sauces, adding it to dishes for | | | | in a nutshell, is because cooking wine tastes |
| wallop and wellness. | | | | exactly like it's supposed to taste: like wine you'd |
| Choosing Between Red Wine and White Wine | | | | never want to drink. |
| Red wine will go with several dishes, as if some | | | | Drunken Dishes |
| sort of food floozy getting on top of everything it | | | | Some people may imagine that an entree full of |
| knows. While people can alter recipes to make | | | | alcohol will cause mayhem among the dinette set, |
| red wine BBQ sauce, or red wine steak sauce, | | | | causing the dish, in a moment of lapsed judgment, |
| the basic job of red wine is to marinate, bringing | | | | to actually run away with the spoon. But, in truth, |
| out the food's innate flavors. Reds are skilled at | | | | using alcohol for cooking won't have as much of |
| bringing out the colors and essence of the food, | | | | an affect as using it for drinking. This isn't to say |
| and they add a dryness, making dishes taste less | | | | that all the alcohol in food disappears (some dishes |
| sugary. Similar to food/wine pairings, red wine | | | | that aren't cooked very long can still have high |
| should be added to dishes containing red meat, or | | | | contents), but the longer something simmers, the |
| dishes with a lot of vegetables, such as stews. | | | | more the alcohol evaporates, leaving the dish on |
| While red wine enhances flavor, white wines alter | | | | the verge of sobriety. |
| it. This doesn't mean that white wine will decrease | | | | Cooking with wine is meant to be fun and |
| the horrible taste of your mother-in-law's | | | | something people can do with a lot of variety. |
| fettuccini, but it adds an acidic feature, making the | | | | Though the Internet is filled with recipes and |
| dish more tart. It won't drastically change the dish, | | | | directions on how to make specific dishes, a lot of |
| but it will enhance its natural sharpness. White | | | | cooking with wine just comes with learning and |
| wines are best used for cream sauces, or with | | | | understanding your specific tastes. In the end, |
| chicken and fish. | | | | wine can add pizzazz to your meal with flavor and |
| How Much to Spend | | | | zest, but usually not so much alcohol that you find |
| Wine that you cook with should be wine that you | | | | yourself sauced. |