Tips for Reducing the Cost of a Healthy Menu

Dear Home Ec 101, I just got back from the grocery and I’m despairing. I’m trying to be frugal these days, but still I don’t want to intake HFCS and I like to choose organic eggs and milk when I can. And I feel like it’s a balancing game to keep my family healthy but …

Read more

Chocolate Biscotti Recipe

Heather says: What’s your favorite cookie? Mine is the very simple chocolate biscotti. I prefer this recipe without the chocolate chips and with the walnuts, but since I was making it for the family, they got it their way. Biscotti is actually an ancient technique for making food fit for travel. Consequently biscotti is suitable …

Read more

How to Remove Grease and Oil Stains

how to remove grease and oil stains

Dear Home Ec 101: I was somehow elected to carry the 25 pound turkey from the kitchen to the dining room on Thanksgiving. I didn’t drop it, but I did tip the cutting board it was resting on enough so that the turkey drippings flowed down my leg onto the kitchen floor – making the …

Read more

Practical Gifts for New and Aspiring Cooks

Heather says: Despite what the media wants to say, I know many families are in practical gift mode, either by choice or circumstances. If you have a new or aspiring cook on your list, some of these kitchen items may be a hit. With the exception of the knife block, I’ve tried to keep the …

Read more

How to Remove Gum from Clothing

how to remove gum from clothing

Dear Home Ec 101, I sat on gum in my favorite pants! Or more like, one of the few pairs of pants I own. I went to see the after midnight showing of the first day Harry Potter came out, and halfway through the movie I went to snuggle on my boyfriend and found my …

Read more

Countdown to Turkey Day: The 2010 Postmortem

Heather says: After big events or projects, a lot of companies like to get together and do what they call the postmortem. It’s a way to figure out what went well, what didn’t, and what you should do differently next time. You could do this privately and save it for yourself, but what’s the fun …

Read more

Countdown to Turkey Day November 24, 2010 The Eve of the Event

Heather says: Tomorrow’s the big day. Are you ready? For many families today is for baking and food prep. Here are few last minute tips to help everything go smoothly. Check the turkey now. Has it completely thawed? No? Use the water bath method to finish defrosting the turkey. If you have several recipes calling for …

Read more

Countdown to Turkey Day November 23, 2010

Heather says: Tick. Tock. Your time is running out. However, you’ve been following along with this year’s Countdown to Turkey Day and aren’t stressing, right? Grab your Thanksgiving Shopping List and buy your produce and other perishables. If you went the fresh route, pick up your turkey. If your turkey is thawing, take a moment …

Read more

Countdown to Turkey Day November 22, 2010 We’re Getting Close

Heather says: I hope you don’t mind that I’m going to toss a little housekeeping into today’s post. The winner of last week’s Cooking for Geeks Review and giveaway is frequent commenter MrsBYork. If you’re random.org you’d know her better as commenter #17. Don’t worry, you can always add Cooking for Geeks to your Christmas …

Read more