I made far too much corn for dinner the other night, so for the leftovers I decided to use Michael Chiarello's trick of cutting it over a bundt pan, which catches all the kernels beautifully.
When MC does it though, it seems as if his corn cob fits in the hole in the center. Mine didn't. But that was okay, it was easy to hold it steady on top of the bundt pan.
In another vein, I like to use this truc to get potatoes to bake faster...and better. I skewer them with metal skewers.
As the skewer gets hot, it cooks the middle faster and helps to make a fluffier potato. I've seen metal racks with upright metal stakes to hold the potatoes, that do the same thing as the skewers, but actual skewers are much more versatile. I use them for testing cakes and potatoes for donesness, as well as other vegetables. Plus, they're great for kebab type things with meat or vegetables, of course. Bamboo skewers can burn and break.
I always keep them handy. I admit I wanted an excuse to show you my knife holder AGAIN, but really, it does keep them nearby and makes them easy to get to.
