Though stovetop cooking methods(chef etoile) like deep frying, sautéing, boiling and stewing are more convenient, there’s something to be said for turning up the oven and creating a baked dish from scratch. Oven-baked dishes are not only limited to breads, desserts, meat roasts and rotisserie chicken. Vegetables can definitely be baked as well. Dishes range from a single ingredient like fresh tomatoes to crisp pizzas to more complex casseroles.

1. Though stovetop cooking methods(chefetoile) like deep
frying, sautéing,boiling and stewing are more convenient,
there’s something to be said for turning up the oven and
creating a baked dish from scratch. Oven-baked dishes are
not only limited to breads, desserts, meat roastsand
rotisserie chicken. Vegetables can definitely be baked as
well. Dishes range from a single ingredient like fresh
tomatoes to crisp pizzas to more complex casseroles.
The baked potato is one of the most widely prepared dish
from thiswonderful root vegetable, next to potatochips
and French fries of course. A perfect accompaniment to a
great steak, make it more special by upgradingit to a
potatoes au gratin dishwhich uses similar ingredientsbut a
different procedure.
In the olden days, baking was reserved for more well-to-do
families (or neighborhoodbakeries) because ovens were expensive fixtures taking up a lot of
space and effort to operate. From its traditionalwood-fired predecessors, ovens now are more
conveniently operated, using gas or electricity, some withan optionalconvention fan that
distributesheat more evenly. Toasted ovens are very inexpensive miniature versions that
functionthe same as its bigger version thoughthe size and amountof food to be cooked is
limited. Even modern microwave ovens have advanced features that can be usedto bake foods,
going further beyond the typical heating function.
Nothingbeats the aroma of freshly baked food that goes beyond the kitchen and permeates the
entire housewhen something is baking in the oven. Thoughbreads, cookies and cakes generate
more familiar aromas, meats and vegetables browning in the oven also create a wonderful
savory aroma that really makes one’s mouth water and stomach grumble in anticipationof
what’sfor dinner.
Having an adequate amount of veggies makes
for a healthier diet because fiber and micro-
nutrients,vitamins, minerals and enzymes are
present in significantquantitiesin plant-based
foods. Like in all vegetable cookery, take care
not to overcook vegetables as this not only
diminishes the quality of the dish but also
destroys valuable heat-sensitivenutrients. If
your vegetables are baked whole or cut into very
large pieces, cooking time is longer than if you
cut them up smaller sizes. Aluminum foil may be
used to cover baking vegetables to avoid
overcooking and at the same time, steam the
veggies in its own juices. Towards the end of the
coking period, take out the foil to develop a crusty top to the dish.