Patel

When you’re beginning your meal prep, do you grab four ounces of chicken first? That’s what nutrition labels lead you to believe: this is the typical serving size. It makes sense; after all, nutrition labels often use that number as a baseline. But the problem is that four ounces on a nutrition label usually refers … Read more

It’s a particular type of panic that sets in when you realize the elderberry syrup bottle is empty on day twelve of a seventy-day winter plan. An empty glass sits there, and you wonder: should I give in and buy a jar of tea from the store, or try to make another batch with whatever … Read more

Maybe you think of a standard drink as a neat little unit. It’s not that simple. A standard drink is just an idea. In the United States, a standard drink have about fourteen grams of pure alcohol in it. That fits into a five percent beer in a twelve ounce can. That fits into a … Read more

Why is it such a panic to find that half of your cupcakes overflow while the other half are flat? Why do you think of batter as water? Batter behave differently based off how much air there is and how heavy it is. When mixing up something with a lot of air (sponge) vs. Something … Read more

Around early November, there’s a certain type of panic that sets in. On the one hand, it’s time for the seasonal drink. On the other hand, you want to keep your heart rate low so you don’t really want a latte packed with caffeine. But pumpkin spice lattes aren’t measured in standard units. Depending on … Read more

That’s the kind of anxiety you feel when you open the pantry door to peek at that jar of cukes: Will they be good or will they be the mushy product of an overly long brining time? There’s only so long to wait; too many hours can mean the difference between a perfect pickle and … Read more

A perfect steak or a tough steak is a matter of minutes. Expensive equipment, finest cut, all for nothing if you time it poorly. Muscle fiber are not forgiving when it comes to heat transfer. When it comes to thick steaks, there’s no guesswork here. After inputting your desired doneness, and the steak’s thickness, the … Read more

At a taco stand, you grab a trio of tacos wrapped up in paper. Satisfied? No idea what’s for dinner. That’s not really the problem here. It’s the hidden variables that can turn a snack into a meal full of calories. Six-hundred calories for a plain grilled-chicken-on-corn-tortilla taco. Add some crema and/or swap out corn … Read more

Sometimes you make a latte that’s too syrupy and end up pouring it out. Sometimes you discover you’re only a few milliliters away from running out of syrup and then you freak out. If you care about coffee, then yes: this has happened to you and the margin between good coffee and bad coffee are … Read more

It’s 3 hours before your party starts, and the beer won’t be served from a cold enough cooler. Theory says it should go for at least 5-7 hours, but its hot out there, and this thing foamed up like crazy; you’ve got a half barrel keg but you’re never sure how many serving it’ll yield. … Read more