Heather Solos Dear Home-Ec 101, This past weekend I attempted to fix a wood (plank, not end-grain) cutting board with some pretty deep cuts in it, and wound up totally botching the project. Do you have any tips or tricks for cutting board maintenance? Any recommendations for a new cutting board, since I ruined the old one? …
Dear Home-Ec 101, The other night I splurged and made rack of lamb for my husband and sons. It was the first time, because I really don’t like it, and probably the last, because the clean up was such a hassle. Even though I sprayed my roasting rack and pan with Pam, it still took …
Dear Heather,This summer, I noticed these tiny little gray bugs on my window sills in the kitchen and bathroom. They are so light and tiny. I have almost thought they were dust at times. Last week I diluted some bleach on a cloth and wiped down the window sills. That seems to have helped. I’d …
Heather says: While writing the book, I had an excuse to procrastinate every household project on the list. Clean the gutters? I can’t, I have chapters due. Trust me, I felt every bit a hypocrite, doing this too. Now that excuse is long gone, the book is safely on the shelves of bookstores. The house …
Heather says: You say chilpotle, I say chipotle. Either way these tasty smoked peppers turn plain mayonnaise from loathed condiment into, Yes, please, I’ll have some more. Can I bathe in it? No? That’s too much. Fine, I’ll just dip my sandwich in it. Those of you who live on the West Coast or in …
Heather says: I hope all US Home-Ec 101 readers have a wonderful weekend celebrating Independence Day. The rest of you? Well, I still hope you have a happy 4th of July. (Remember that old lateral logic question -Do they have a 4th of July in England?) I’m excited to announce that I’m working with the …
Dear Home-Ec 101: I’ve been having issues with my refrigerator & freezer recently. It is an old (circa 1995 according to the repairguy)* side by side that came with the house when I bought it in ’08. About 2 months the thing just quit. I opened up the freezer door to get some ice cream …
Dear Home-Ec 101, I bought a lovely old home with large windows, but I am at a loss over my window sills. How on earth do you keep window sills clean? I leave my windows open as much as possible, and while I dust them regularly with a feather duster or cloth, there are lots of …
Heather says: I moved from South Carolina to Minnesota in 1999. The family that became my in-laws took me to a traditional lutefisk dinner that first week. As you can imagine, I was highly suspicious of all Midwestern traditions from that point forward -Once Bitten Twice Shy and all that. Thankfully my Minnesotan family made …
Dear Home-Ec 101, I just started a new job and I only have 30 mins for lunch. Since I have bathroom priorities and waiting in line for microwave can quickly use up that time. Do you have any suggestions for lunches that require no reheat. I need more variety than salad and a sandwich. Signed, …