Claudia&Julia's blog
Advantages of non-stick molds compared to silicone molds
If you've noticed, at Claudia&Julia we've never had silicone cooking utensils in the store. Although we do have some spoons or spatulas to handle food and take care of pans, we don't have silicone moulds for cooking directly, either in the oven or in the microwave.
We always recommend cooking in iron, stainless steel or ceramic cookware , all of which are very natural materials to cook with. When the type of food or convenience of cooking requires another material, we definitely recommend non-stick cookware, never silicone.
This theory also applies when you want to make pastries, whether sweet or savoury cakes. We definitely prefer non-stick or ceramic moulds to silicone ones.
What advantages do non-stick molds have over silicone ones?
- Even cooking : non-stick moulds have a very well-made body, and their design places special emphasis on building a mould that distributes heat very well, so that efficient and even cooking of recipes is achieved. Le Creuset non-stick moulds, for example, have an iron interior, which takes on a very high temperature and achieves fabulous cooking; or Nordic Ware non-stick moulds, without going any further, have an aluminium body with a non-stick coating, and in these interior layers there is a really high efficiency in the distribution of temperature.
- The baking result : With a silicone mold you will never get the crust to cook as well as with a ceramic or non-stick mold, given how the latter materials radiate heat towards the dough.
- Silicone moulds can leave a flavour in the food you cook, you can taste the synthetic flavour of the material you have cooked in. This is more than demonstrable, and in fact it is one of the most talked about and negative characteristics of silicone moulds by users. On the other hand, ceramic and non-stick moulds do not leave any flavour in the recipes - the recipes taste as they should.
- Silicone molds absorb odors and, over time, they smell worse as the bacteria (which causes the bad odor) adhere to the silicone.
- For health reasons : when cooking recipes, and especially when baking in the oven, very high temperatures are reached, and it is at these extreme temperatures that materials are most damaged and release elements that are harmful to health. Silicone (plastic) is not one of the healthiest utensils for cooking.
- Nowadays, there are non-stick and ceramic molds that are very durable and economical .
Based on all of the above, we believe that it is much more worthwhile to invest in a ceramic or non-stick mould than in a silicone one. What do you think? What type of mould do you like to cook in?
Sponge cake or soletillas
The soletilla sponge cake or the soletillas that we all know are flat and elongated, tender and spongy sponge cakes, which are prepared with a very common sponge formula, similar to that of the Genoese sponge cake or almost identical; in fact, there are those who directly use the Genoese sponge cake recipe.
Jalapeno Cheddar Corn Waffles with Cheese Sauce
We start this New Year 2020 with a very easy and successful recipe. Jalapeno Cheddar Corn Waffles ; a recipe that from now on I tell you, is going to become an essential for your whole family. And also, to improve it, if possible, I will tell you that we are going to accompany it with a cheddar cheese sauce. Yes, yes, just what you're thinking: To dip the waffle well!
How to make an authentic Moorish tea
Today Julio teaches us how to make an authentic Moorish tea, a most comforting sweet tea. Apart from comforting you when served hot, it is a very healthy drink (especially if we control the sweetness, as is the case in our recipe).
Cheese, shiitake and cauliflower crepes
This coming February 2nd is International Crepe Day, and what better way than to celebrate it by making a fabulous crepe for the family? Making crepes is one of the easiest things in the kitchen, and you can make them in any combination you like best. Now, I encourage you to prepare them with one of the fillings for crepes that I like the most: cheese, mushroom and cauliflower crepes.
Honey and spice bread
With the cold that accompanies us these days, I can't think of a better plan at any time than to turn on the oven and prepare some delicacy that we can then enjoy as a family (it's not worth eating everything without sharing, huh? We know each other, hehehe) . And one of my latest discoveries has been this delicious honey and spice bread.
Cod with quince pilpil at low temperature
Today we bring a 5 michelin star recipe. It is a cod with quince pilpil that, in fact, is very easy to make, but the result is spectacular.
Chocolate cake with olive oil and chocolate ganache
I discovered a long time ago that pure cocoa and oil work very well. I personally love biscuits made with butter, but the olive oil gives a unique flavor and texture to biscuits made with cocoa.
Cannelés, authentic French pastry recipe
These French cupcakes called Cannelés have always been one of my favorites. I bought them in San Juan de Luz, when we went to spend the day. Its origin is in the beautiful city of Bordeaux but it is common to find them in France.
Roast turkey with chestnuts and mushrooms
Roast chicken or roast turkey recipes are, without a doubt, one of the simplest to prepare and the most successful when presented on the table. It's as easy as putting the main piece in the pot accompanied by those elements that will give it flavor (herbs and spices), a good splash of oil and, from then on, the oven will do all the work.
Potato and squid stew in cocotte
In these dates and after days of bingeing I always need some comforting stew that is not heavy, and this homemade potato and cuttlefish stew is very popular, and the best thing is that it is easy to make.
2019 Summary and Top 10 Recipes!
I don't know if curiosity is as powerful as it is for me, but it's the end of the year and thinking about those summary programs on TV, showing everything that has happened in recent months. In my case, in the case of Claudia&Julia, what I think about is everything we have done and what we have achieved. This year, the truth is, we haven't stopped! Let's recap...
