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