Store cornstarch in an airtight container. To use, dissolve in cold liquid, and then stir into a warm liquid near the end of the cooking time. Cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture is thickened, then up to 1 minute more to remove any cornstarch flavor. Do not let the mixture come to a boil.

Paulette Mitchell, a culinary instructor, television personality, spokesperson, freelance food writer, and the award-winning author of 13 cookbooks, is known internationally for her quick-to-prepare recipes with gourmet flair. Paulette's most recently published cookbook is "The Complete 15-Minute Gourmet: Creative Cuisine Made Fast and Fresh." She is also the author of "A Beautiful Bowl of Soup" and "The Spirited Vegetarian," which was voted "Best Book in the World on Cooking with Wine" at the 2005 Gourmand World Media Awards. Paulette says that international travel is her favorite source of culinary inspiration.