I love having people over and throwing dinner parties. When we cook for our friends, we make a lot of food. So, we used to run into trouble with the timing of cooking everything and then struggling to keep everything at an appetizing and safe temperature. But that was before we learned about all the … Read more
I recall the panic when I first moved out and got my first home. I wondered what small kitchen appliances to get for my first home. It took me a while to figure out what appliances to buy and what was a waste of money. The essential small appliances you need for your first home … Read more
I love my slow cookers. I’ve used them hundreds of times and sometimes left them on overnight or while I was at work. But lately, I’ve heard concerns about them cracking. So I decided to investigate why do slow cookers crack. Slow cookers will only crack under 3 circumstances: 1. They will crack due to … Read more
There’s nothing quite like the taste of fresh-squeezed orange juice! I have a juicer and a hand squeezer, but I’ve never really used either to make orange juice. So I wondered how I could use a juicer to make orange juice. To make orange juice, you can use either a hand squeezer, regular juicer, or … Read more
My oldest daughter, Astrid and I love beef jerky and have long wondered how to use a dehydrator for jerky. So I decided to investigate. Here’s what I found out about how to use a dehydrator for jerky. Using a dehydrator or oven that reaches 160°, take lean meat & remove any excess fat. Then cut into … Read more
I love making risotto, and while I’ve always followed pretty traditional recipes, I’ve wondered how to make risotto without wine. Traditionally, you would use white wine & chicken stock to cook risotto. The wine gives risotto some needed acidity & balance. However, 1-3 tablespoons of white wine vinegar added to your broth works as a … Read more
The comal is a very traditional item used in Mexican cuisine, and I’ve owned 2 over the years. While I know how to use them a little, I’ve wondered how to use a comal in Mexican cooking. Here’s how to use a comal in Mexican cooking: Heat the clay or cast iron comal over a … Read more
Let’s be honest. Most of us don’t take the time to cut fresh french fries from a potato. So, as I stared at my bag of frozen garlic fries, I wondered what the best oil for frying frozen french fries was and CAN you deep fry frozen french fries. The best oil for frying frozen … Read more
Last night my oldest daughter made delicious minestrone soup and I wondered how to use an immersion blender for soup if I wanted a less chunky soup. Immersion blenders work with a small blade that spins at the bottom of a long handle. The blade is protected by a wide-mouthed bottom which prevents splatter (to … Read more