Heather Solos Dear Home Ec 101, I am on hour sixteen, and they still aren’t tender. I gave up the stove top and moved them into a crockpot hours ago.(electricity to run the crockpot is far less expensive than the cost of the gas for the stove) They soaked for 2 days, not kidding. what am I …
Dear Home Ec 101, My spouse, it’s not me, no never me, has a bad habit of leaving his dirty plastic containers in the back of his car. I have to tell you, they are FUNKY. How do I remove the bad odor? Signed, Smelly in Smyrna Heather says: I feel your pain. First let’s …
Heather says: I only have a tolerable picture of these earthy, savory delights. I was so excited about the meal that I forgot to take a picture of the mushrooms before we ate. I haven’t been to Outback in a long time, but I have missed their optional mushroom side. There was just something about …
Heather says: I never went to culinary school. My first job was as a Waffle House waitress. Shut up, I’m trying to be serious. Anyway, when I was sixteen, I worked the afternoon shift and there were always a few hours where lonely, unhappy people would filter in and mark the passage of time in …
Heather says: Television is a far cry from real life, even reality shows offer warped versions of an experience. Editing can remove context from a comment to make it appear more insulting or rude than intended or mistakes can be hidden with a simple do-over. We all screw up. Sometimes it’s simply a spazzoid moment -I …
Heather says: With cooler temperatures come falling prices, at least for squashes. Take advantage and enjoy one of the easiest side dishes known to man, baked butternut squash. It’s so simple, there’s not really even a recipe. Preheat your oven to 350F. Cut your butternut squash in half, lengthwise. Use a spoon to scoop out …
Dear Home Ec 101, How does a microwave work? Also, if you’re not supposed to put metal in a microwave, why do my Hot Pockets™ come with a foil lined sleeve? Signed, Dyspeptic in Des Arc Heather says: I have some deliciously geeky friends who will probably rip the explanation I’m going to give you to …
Heather says: The fall weather finally arrived. Of course, it was just in time for my in-laws’ visit; after we’d assured them that Charleston in October is beautiful. Lesson learned, don’t make promises over which you have no control. We had a great time, it just wasn’t as pleasant as we had envisioned. Confession: I …
Cooking for company is always Fearless Friday fodder. It’s hard to know exactly how someone else will perceive the dish. Throw in a second challenge and I was quite nervous about Wednesday’s dinner. You see, I was contacted by the folks at Carnation to test a recipe using their evaporated milk. I’ve always been a …
Dear Home Ec 101, I swear you had a recipe for blade steak, but now that I have one, I can’t find it. What do I do with this cut of beef? Signed, Chuck Heather says: Well Chuck, this image helps explain exactly where a blade steak comes from. It comes from the upper shoulder …