Does Pasta Cooking Water Thicken The Sauce?

Hot Cross Buns, Vegan Hot Chocolate, March Recipe Digest, and more

Hello!

My peach tree is flowering, a sure sign of spring. Now that we’re in March, it’s time to start thinking about spring in the Northern Hemisphere, while for my family and pals in the Southern Hemisphere, fall is creeping up. Regardless of where you live, this is the moment to make and eat Hot Cross Buns with plenty of salted butter and jam.

February was very kind to me. I’ve been on a personal journey to be more physically since the COVID pandemic hit and some of you might have seen me in my daily workout snapshots on Instagram. My progress has been slow, but I’m seeing changes in my core strength and stability. I’m enjoying my dance classes and TRX sessions. Several weeks ago, I decided to dip my feet in kickboxing and was surprised to learn that I’d enjoy it this much.

Earlier this week, I spent a few days filming with the folks at Breville; I cooked several recipes and can’t wait for you to see this new series when it airs. I’ve just received a review copy of The Modernist Cuisine: Bread At Home. This book is a condensed version of the gigantic original 5-volume book Modernist Bread that I feel will appeal to a wider audience of home cooks and people who want to learn but at a more affordable price. I’m spending my weekend reading through this stunning book. The photos are stunning, and as a nerd, I thoroughly appreciate this book.

Have a lovely start to March,

Nik

🥕🥕🥕 My NEW COOKBOOK, VEG-TABLE, is now named a Best Cookbook of 2023 and is available worldwide! Please check it out, and thank you for your support. If you have a moment to spare, please leave a review for Veg-Table on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Waterstones, or the many indie bookstores where you purchased the book. Thank you! 

This week, I’ve got a new recipe for Vegan Hot Chocolate with several flavor variations for you to play with. In addition, it’s time for my Top 12 Recipes for you to cook this month (which includes things I’m craving), and yes, it’s also time to make the perfect soft Hot Cross Buns (yes, I get very excited about hot cross buns)!

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Does Pasta Cooking Water Thicken The Sauce?

A Kitchen Error Leads to An Observation

A few days ago, I performed one cardinal sin while cooking dinner. I tossed the pasta cooking water straight into the sink. Honestly, I was very distracted and tired from a long day of recipe testing for work. To many cooks like me, pasta cooking water is liquid gold. As a recipe developer, I tell people to save some of the leftover water and use it to thicken their sauces. Unfortunately, I’d lost it all and would succumb to using hot water from the faucet to finish off my pasta. Would the sauce still thicken?