Kitchen Logic

Homemade corn syrup uses sugar, water, and gentle heat to make a clear thick syrup you can swap for light corn syrup in many recipes.

You can make a soft, fluffy cake without an oven by turning a heavy pot, cooker, or steamer into a mini baking chamber.

To tell if baking powder is good, stir a spoonful into hot water; strong bubbling means active, flat liquid means it has lost power.

Fondant icing comes together from sugar, gelatin, fat, and flavor so cakes gain a smooth, kneadable, easy-to-roll finish.

Homemade fondant combines powdered sugar, gelatin, corn syrup, glycerin, and shortening into a smooth dough you can roll over cakes.

Cream of chicken soup comes together with a simple roux, hot stock, tender chicken, and cream for a silky pot you can use or freeze.

To make ginger water, simmer fresh ginger in water, then strain and serve warm or chilled with simple flavor add-ins.

Homemade mozzarella cheese comes together in under an hour with warm milk, citric acid, rennet, and a gentle stretching step.

Homemade ground chicken turns chilled pieces into tender mince you can season, shape, and cook in minutes.

To make green tea at home, steep leaves or a tea bag in hot, not boiling, water for 2–3 minutes, then taste and adjust strength.