Heather Solos - Home-Ec 101

Molasses Cookies Recipe

These molasses cookies are like soft ginger snaps. These are delicious any time of year, but especially good for holiday time. How to round your cookies. These are large cookies, so you will need a wide-mouth ring for mason jars or a small bowl for these. While the cookies are cooling, place the ring over …

Butter, Margarine, and Shortening a Comparison

Dear Home Ec 101, What is all the hoopla about butter, shortening, and margarine. Does it matter if I substitute one for the other? And lard? Ew! Signed, Baffled Baker Heather says: I’ll address lard at the end. There are many differences between the other three, but I’ll try to keep this short rather than …

Cookie-a-day: Basic Shortbread Cookies Recipe

Heather says: Shortbread cookies have very few ingredients, so it is important to ensure those used are of high quality. This means no margarine and no imitation vanilla. Shh, I don’t want to hear your arguments. Shortbread Cookie Recipe: 1 cup butter – room temperature 1/2 cup confectioner’s (powdered) sugar 1 tsp vanilla 2 cups …

Chocolate Drop Cookies Recipe

Heather says: Drop cookies refer to the method they are placed on the cookie sheet. Some are rolled into balls, other pressed into circles, still others are rolled out and cut into shape. These are scooped and dropped onto the baking sheet. Soft and moist, these chocolate cookies are somewhat delicate right out of the …

Baking Soda and Baking Powder, The Difference and Substitutions

Dear Home Ec 101, I’m going to try to do a lot of baking this holiday season, can you explain the difference between baking powder and soda? If I run out what can I use as a substitute? Thanks, Rising in Raleigh Heather says: I’ve mentioned before that baking is a matter of chemistry. Both …

Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe

Heather says:

This is a great recipe for peanut butter cookies. The dough requires an hour of chilling in the fridge (hence the late post) but could be chilled overnight if you would like to make them just before an event. Many schools are now peanut-free zones, so I cannot recommend this for class parties.

Ingredients:

1 cup smooth peanut butter
1 cup butter (melted)
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 TBSP vanilla
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt

Directions after the jump.

About Those Leftovers

Heather says: It is time to use ’em or lose ’em. Here are some guidelines, and recipes for using up Thanksgiving leftovers. Substitute turkey in any of the chicken recipes below. Turkey should be frozen or used within 2 – 6 days. Frozen cooked turkey should be used within 2 months and should be cooked …

Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

Heather says:

These chocolate chip cookies call for real butter, a splash of milk, and extra vanilla. For variety consider adding chopped walnuts or M&Ms.

Ingredients:

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 cup (2 sticks butter) melted
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar (packed)
1 TBSP vanilla
2 TBSP milk
2 large eggs
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions are after the jump.

Heather says: This lentil casserole recipe is light on the budget, simple, and filling. 2 cups dried lentils 4 cups water 1TBSP extra virgin olive oil 1 onion – diced 2 cloves garlic – minced or pressed 2 celery ribs chopped 2 carrots – chopped 1 red bell pepper (optional) 1 green bell pepper (or …