Heather says: This weekend I tried my hand at making fruit leather for the first time. I found a recipe in Super Baby Food by Ruth Yaron. Ingredients: 2 cups pureed fruit (cooked or raw) Yes, that’s all that goes into these magical strips of yum. The key to the technique is patience. Cooked fruit …
Dear Home Ec 101: I can boil water, I’m not THAT helpless, but I’m no Emeril. I need a quick dish that looks as though I put a lot of effort into the meal. My girlfriend is coming over, but I don’t have a whole lot of time to invest in the meal. Signed, Busy …
Heather says: In South Carolina strawberry season is peaking. I like to take advantage of this by taking a trip out to our local U-Pick farm. Not only do I support local farmers and do my part for the environment, as local produce has less of a carbon footprint, I also get to enjoy some …
Please help me, ladies! We’ve been in our new townhouse for about eight months. We have neutral-colored wall-to-wall style carpet in our living room. There are a couple of stains from who knows what – beer spillage, chocolate drool from a friend’s happy baby, etc. I spot-treated them (the stains, not the babies) and sometimes …
Dear Home-Ec 101, Here’s one for ya. With the summer party season coming up, I was hoping you could explain to me (and the Monster in Law) the proper ways to handle dishes and leftovers that a guest brings to your gathering. Signed, Party at my house! Ivy says: Cool, I’ve been looking for a …
Oh, great Home-Ecers, We had a leak inside the wall behind our pantry during a bad storm last year. We repaired the leak, cleaned out the pantry, and got rid of the mold. But now we have another plague. Silverfish! I hate those slippery little [censored, because my grandma reads this site], and I know …
Oven-cooked chimichangas? Bet, as the kids say. Simple, tasty. Give them a try on your next Tex Mex night
Dear Home-Ec 101, I have cave crickets in my house. These things are nasty. Luckily, the cats make sure they are quickly turned into cave cricket carcasses. I’m wondering, though, if this indicates a problem of some kind with the house (gaps that need closing, etc.). Signed, Lemony Crickets Ivy says: I had to go …
Dear Home Ec 101: Have you any idea how to get the smell of smoke and sweat out of car upholstery without making the entire vehicle reek of Febreze? Too much Febreze gives me a massive headache, although I’d almost prefer that over the reek of man sweat in my new (to me) car. ~Longing …
Dear Home-Ec 101, Why is cleaning out cat boxes such an ordeal? How can I make my cat’s litter box smell better if I’m a little bit remiss about getting them scooped every day? What about the LitterMaid? Does that actually work? Signed, Scoopless in Saratoga Ivy says: Man, do I ever feel your pain. …