Frying with Butter [17-08-15]

Frying with Butter

• Try this: my mother used to add a tiny bit of vegetable oil to the bottom of the pan before she added the butter. It helps keep the butter browning gently without burning.

Jazzing Up Tomato Sauce

Jazzing Up Tomato Sauce

• Add this surprising ingredient to your spaghetti sauce — 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of instant coffee. It will enhance the color and the taste!

 

Need a Fast Dessert? 14-07-2015

Need a Fast Dessert?

• Here's a speedy recipe that doesn't need any cooking: Mix equal amounts of ready-made chocolate pudding with cherry pie filling. Layer in a parfait glass.

Out of Cream for Your Coffee? 18-06-15

Out of Cream for Your Coffee?

• You have substitutes right in your kitchen! Add a teaspoon or so of vanilla ice cream or skim milk powder! Both will add the taste you want and save a little money.

No Mess Chocolate Drizzle 14-06-15

No Mess Chocolate Drizzle

• If you are using semi-sweet chocolate chips to drizzle over cookies or a cake, put the bag of chips into a bowl of very hot water. Massage it every couple of minutes until the chips are melted. Cut one corner of the bag a bit and simply squeeze out the melted chocolate right onto the cookies or cake. When done, just toss out the bag.

 

Fresh Vegetables Wilted? 08-06-15

Fresh Vegetables Wilted?

• To bring them back, make a solution of 1 quart of water with 1 tablespoon of white vinegar and then soak them in the refrigerator. They should regain their crunch factor.

To Jazz Up Soups 02-06-15

To Jazz Up Soups

• For thick soups, add lemon slices, chopped hard-boiled eggs or grated cheese.
• For clear soups, drop in a few croutons, dumplings or noodles leftover from Chinese take-out.

Melt Chocolate Without A Mess 24-12-2014

Melt Chocolate Without A Mess

• To avoid cleaning up that gooey mess, place chocolate pieces into a sturdy plastic food bag. Immerse it in a pot of heated water. When melted, cut off a corner of the bag and squeeze the chocolate out. Toss the bag.

Make Your Own Café Olé 06-11-2014

 
Make Your Own Café Olé

• For one cup of cool, brewed regular coffee, use skim milk and a tablespoon of powdered skim milk. Then add artificial sweetener or sugar. Pour mixture into the blender and run until foamy. Then put into a microwavable mug and heat on warm for several seconds.

Quicker Way to Cook Meat Loaf

 
Quicker Way to Cook Meat Loaf

• Instead of baking in a loaf pan, flatten meat in an 8-inch square pan for a shorter cooking time. The flat square pieces you cut up also will be a perfect fit for sandwiches.

Adding Punch to Prunes

Adding Punch to Prunes

• These dried plums can be revitalized by soaking them in water, tea, wine or brandy. If they are cooking in a dish that contains lots of liquid, then they don't have to be soaked in advance.

How to Make a Good Cup of Coffee 13-08-2014

How to Make a Good Cup of Coffee

• Start with fresh cold water. Use the correct of amount of coffee (usually 2 teaspoons per cup) and choose the proper grind for the method of brewing. Drink coffee when it's fresh (if it sits around too long, it doesn't taste good). Wash coffeepot as often as you can - don't let coffee oils build up.

Easy Cinnamon Butter 23-06-2014

 
Easy Cinnamon Butter

• Spread this yummy mixture on toast or rolls: 1/2 pound of butter or margarine, 3 tablespoons of cinnamon and 1/2 pound of confectioners' sugar. Mix well and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

If Eggs Are Stuck in the Carton 17-06-2014 *

If Eggs Are Stuck in the Carton

• Soak the carton in lukewarm water, just long enough to loosen uncracked eggs. Then cook or refrigerate them immediately. NEVER use cracked eggs because they can become contaminated when cracked.

Fast Mustard Sauce for Fish 14-06-2014

 
Fast Mustard Sauce for Fish

• In a small saucepan heat 6 tablespoons of butter or margarine, 3 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice and 2 tablespoons of Dijon mustard and mix well. Pour over cooked fished.

Dealing with Onion Tears 10-06-2014

Dealing with Onion Tears

• Try this trick: Put onions into freezer for about 30 to 45 minutes before you want to slice them. When you do cut onions cold, they are less likely to create tears.

Boiling corn *

Boiling corn

• When boiling corn on the cob, add a pinch of sugar to help bring out the corn's natural sweetness.

Stop Looking While Cooking! *

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Stop Looking While Cooking!

• Do you constantly take the lids off pans to see how the food is cooking on the stove? It's not a good idea because this can actually slow down the cooking process. If you can't help yourself, get a clear glass lid or pie plate to put over the pot. That way you can see the progress and save energy too!

Garlic 06-04-2014

 
Garlic

• Add garlic immediately to a recipe if you want a light taste Of garlic and at the end of the recipe if your want a stronger taste of garlic.

When You Fry, Sauté or Boil Foods That Stink 29-03-2014

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When You Fry, Sauté or Boil Foods That Stink

• Cabbage, broccoli and fish can smell up a kitchen. Turn on the fan above the stove and set out a small bowl of household vinegar on the counter next to the stove to absorb smells.