Kitchen Tips

To toast pine nuts, spread a layer on a baking sheet and place in 350-degree oven until golden brown, about 10 minutes. Or toast them in a layer in a small, dry skillet over low heat until golden brown, about 3 minutes, shaking the pan frequently.

Zest is the outer, colored part of citrus fruit peel. When grating, be sure to get only the zest. The white pith of the peel has an unpleasant bitter flavor. If you freeze a lemon for about 20 minutes, the peel will be easier to grate.