Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches

Heather says: Buffalo chicken sandwiches are my weakness. I don’t know why, maybe it’s the combination of crunch, heat, and the cool of the blue cheese. Buffalo chicken sandwiches are a sometimes food, meaning I don’t pretend they are healthy and I won’t make them often, but when I do? Hoo boy, I enjoy them. …

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Intro to Vegetarianism (for Carnivores)

Brian says: I’m not a vegetarian nor do I ever want to be. That is not to say that I’m judging those who have decided to take the road less traveled and have sworn off meat. In an ideal world, both meat lovers and veg-heads would come together in a peaceful and happy medium; drum …

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The ‘Ultimate’ Fried Chicken Recipe

Brian says: Cast-iron skillets, stainless steel pans, Fry Daddies. There are so many ways that people implement to fry up a good batch of chicken. Some tend to work better than others, but they all have the same, delicious end product that’s, for absolute lack of a better term, finger-licking good. By why must one …

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Broccoli Rabe with Garlic and Ginger

Heather says: Broccoli rabe, also called rappini or broccoli raab -pronounce it rob, not rab-  is a new-to-me vegetable. I know it’s sort of common and in some areas it has been available for years. There’s no reason that I haven’t tried it. Broccoli rabe just never jumped into my cart saying, “I’m delicious,” the …

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Braised Kale Recipe

Bobbie says: Come on over to the dark side* – dark, leafy greens are good for you, and can be quite tasty. It’s time to leave the relative comfort zone of the mild-mannered spinach. This easy Braised Kale recipe is an excellent choice for venturing into greens unknown. It’s quick to prepare, even for a …

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Pressure Cooking for Vegetarians

Dear Home Ec 101, I am coverting to Lacto-ovo vegetarian diet and several books suggest using a pressure cooker as a good tool in the kitchen. My questions are: 1. Are the European models better than the American ones? That was suggested in one book. 2. Are they safe now? My grandmother never had an accident with …

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How to Remove Baking Spray Overspray

Dear Home Ec 101, I’ve noticed that when I use non-stick spray (like Pam) on things that are subsequently baked, I end up with a sticky, brown residue that is really hard to remove from my pans.  This is a particular problem with my muffin tin! Two questions: 1) Should I stop using non-stick spray on things that …

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Can You Make Your Own Powdered Sugar?

Heather says: Yesterday a reader commented on Beet Sugar vs Cane Sugar: Where do you purchase organic beet sugar? Have you found it in powdered form? I have only found it on an Austrian site so far and would prefer to buy US grown if it exists. As I am not, nor was I ever, …

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Mind the Bar

*If you choose to drink, please do so responsibly. This has been a public service message from Home-Ec101.com* Brian says It’s a difficult task to entertain guests when throwing a house party, but the task can be doubly difficult when you have the responsibility of running the bar. Whether it’s a marble-topped masterpiece you designed …

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Kitchen Logistics 101

Brian says: For some men, the kitchen can be a very scary and awkward place. For a small few, it’s even forbidden to step into the kitchen for anything other than a thoroughfare. The rest of us? We tend to find ourselves on one of two sides: the curious, closet chef or the unabashed kitchen connoisseur. …

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