Olivia Becker - Copycat Recipes: How to Reproduce the Recipes of the Most Popular American Restaurants in your Home

Copycat Recipes

How to Make Restaurants' Most

Popular Recipes at Home

Olivia Becker

Table of Contents

Introduction

How to Make Your Favorite Restaurant Meals atHome

Creating your favorite fast food and restaurant delights has never been easier with the number of options available today. Many of the common meals and featured specials at your local diners and franchise restaurants can be made at a fraction of the cost and straight-forward recipes. In this book, you will find homemade recipes many of these delicious meals and more, including vegan/vegetarian options, gluten-free recipes, and other variations that cater to a variety of diets and types of diet restrictions, preferences, and lifestyles.

Many restaurants and fast-food outlets today have evolved to include many different flavors from around the world, which gives us a great opportunity to expand the palate and try new meals and options like never before. In the book, older recipes and traditional, decades-old recipes are included, as well as new, diet-conscious, and new tastes to expand your enjoyment of a wider source of foods and cuisine.

Getting started: Preparing Your Shopping Listand Food Items for Recipes

Preparing to make your favorite restaurant meals from home is easy with the right ingredients and pantry set-up. You may already have many items that may be included in these recipes, including common spices, dried foods, seasoning, and other staples, such as canned goods, and items currently in your refrigerator and freezer. Creating a basic shopping list is a good way to start the process, which should include all the ingredients to make your favorite dishes.

Before you begin, take note of any items that you may need to avoid due to allergies, dietary needs, and/or other reasons. This will allow you an opportunity to find adequate alternatives for the recipes that you may otherwise need to avoid and can allow you to try certain dishes that you might currently avoid, due to certain ingredients that you have to skip. For example, a pasta dish can be recreated with gluten-free noodles and/or vegan options, such as soy-based or vegetable cheese. If you have no dietary restrictions and enjoy trying new and interesting twists on common recipes, you can easily switch ground beef or chicken for lamb or pork.

Create Your Staple Shopping List

Before you get involved in some delicious culinary adventures to recreate your favorite restaurants meals, consider building a pantry of dried goods, seasonings and spices that you can use in a pinch, so that youll never run out of your common ingredients. While there are many varieties of flavors and combinations, many dishes revolve around the same or similar types of common items that you can easily add to your shopping list and replenish only as needed.

Consider the following items for your next trip to the grocery store:

Salt

Most

kitchens will have some form of a salt or a similar product on hand for recipes or as a quick addition to their favorite meal. Table salt is readily available everywhere, though many people choose health-conscious options such as pink Himalayan salt or sea salt. These are chosen because they can be broken down and absorbed in the

body easier and tend to be better for maintaining normal sodium levels. You dont need to keep much on hand, especially if you are frugal with adding salt to your meals and want to keep your blood pressure in check. Stocking your pantry with salt requires a small box or container, which can last months, if not a year, or longer if you use sparingly. If you buy coarse salt, some dispensers have a built-in grinder, which makes grinding your variety of salt easier on the spot.

If you decide to take a more health-conscious approach, you can choose pink Himalayan salt or sea salt, both of which are better absorbed and digested better. Most people dont notice a difference between these types of salt and the regular table salt variety, which makes it easy to decide.

Black Pepper

The most common seasoning next to salt is black pepper, as they are often used together in many dishes. Like salt, black pepper is best purchased as peppercorns, and ground as needed, to provide each dish with a fresh, strong flavor. One box or dispenser is good for months, or up to one year. If you choose to buy peppercorns, this is ideal for having a freshly ground option to enjoy. Peppercorns last for months in the pantry and taste fresh if ground just before they are served on a meal.

Garlic

If you

enjoy spicy and aromatic dishes, including pasta, youll likely need a lot of garlic on hand to satisfy these recipes. Fresh garlic lasts for weeks in the refrigerator and may keep for up to one week at room temperature. Dried garlic or marinated, diced garlic in a jar can last for much longer if kept in a cool, dry pantry. Many grocery stores offer garlic in a bag or in bulk, which allows you to choose how much or little you need. If you prefer to shred your garlic fresh, use a grater or a garlic press.

If you dont have the time to buy fresh garlic, many stores offer minced garlic in a jar or container that can be easily applied to meals. Dried garlic powder is another great option if you want a longer-lasting product that can be used at a moments notice, and dont want to worry about whether you have any cloves of garlic in the refrigerator.

Sugar

One

bag of sugar or a similar-sized carton of alternative sweetener, if you avoid sugar, is a good staple for a variety of sweet sauces, marinades, and desserts. Youll never need too much at once unless your recipe is a chocolate torte or decadent treat with a lot of icing or a glaze. Two pounds of sugar can last several months or more if you use it in small or moderate amounts. There are many varieties of sugar to consider when reviewing your options. To get a good idea of whats available, whether its actual sugar types or alternatives, visit the baking aisle or bulk store to choose from the following: Raw sugar: unrefined, and considered a better option than the white, refined variety

Regular, refined white sugar

Brown sugar: aromatic and used as an ingredient to feature its unique taste. Its an ideal topping for oatmeal or cakes, including baked apple.

Coconut sugar: a natural, fruit-based sugar that is better absorbed and processed by the body than refined sugar Fructose is a good option if youre looking for a natural fruit-based sugar

Maple syrup is used for its unique flavor. Its best when in season, and can be added for its specific taste, which is ideal for toppings. Maple sugar is another option

Stevia, monk fruit, erythritol, and other low carb sweeteners are good substitutes if you are avoiding sugar and spiking glucose levels in your body. There are also blends of sugar and non-sugar sweeteners that provide sweetness with a fraction of the carbs