Heather Solos Heather says: As we head into winter, using seasonal vegetables can become much more difficult. Frozen broccoli and other vegetables are a great way to keep variety in your menu. However, there are only so many times you can serve plain, steamed broccoli before the troops rebel. The garlic and butter add flavor and the …
Heather says: Muffin recipes are a great introduction to baking. They aren’t fussy and a flat muffin is still a delicious muffin. Don’t get smug and try to pass these off as health food; they aren’t. They are however delicious and semi-portable. What is semi-portable? Great in a lunch bag, not so great while driving. …
Heather says: Before reality hit, I was thinking of doing a Countdown to Christmas in the same style as Countdown to Turkey Day, but then I began to think of all the extra traditions that some families have and the whole concept became overwhelming. If you’re trying to make sure you have everything ready for …
Heather says: If you’re wondering why I have yet to skewer anyone in the Home Ec 101 Cookbook Reviews, you may want to check out my cookbook review policy. I will be supplementing the books I receive from PR companies with those I purchase on my own. I’ve lived outside of Charleston, SC almost all of my …
Dear Home Ec 101, We do a big spread on Christmas Monring – Eggs benedict, cinnamon rolls, bacon, french toast, fresh fruit, etc. This year I wanted to try and do as much as I can ahead of time. Can I can make the french toast a day or two earlier, and what would be …
Dear Home Ec 101: I just discovered your site – very, very cool – and wondered about easy ways to clean coffee makers. I have been doing a cycle with a few tablespoons of vinegar and the rest of the pot water about once every month or so. I have also heard you can use a …
Dear Home Ec 101, It seems like no matter what amount of coffee I make. There is always a half-cup of leftover coffee in the pot at the end of day. I hate wasting it. Are there any handy uses around the house or garden for leftover coffee? Signed, Something’s Brewing in Brampton Heather says: …
Heather says: This won’t be the world’s most glamorous post on Home Ec 101, but real life is hardly as exciting as we wish. Into every homeowner’s life a little aggravation will fall. Sometimes that aggravation occurs in the form of a plugged drain. That clog can occur in almost any plumbing fixture: toilet, tub, …
Heather says: There’s a rule of thumb when cooking dishes that involve wine: don’t use anything you wouldn’t drink. What if you don’t drink wine or what if you just don’t like the kind of wine called for in a recipe? I know if you look at my wine rack, you’ll usually only find cab, …
Heather says: All homeowners (and renters, too) should know where and how to shut off their water main. Turning off the main water valve can prevent the minor hassle of a broken pipe from becoming a major water damage headache. If you have never needed to learn where the water main shut off valve is, …