Cook It - Home-Ec 101

Simple Alfredo Sauce

Heather says: If you load this dish up with steamed broccoli it’s easy to pretend it’s healthy. This recipe makes four servings of alfredo and can create a variety of meals by varying the accompaniments. My favorites are blackened beef, chicken, or shrimp. If spicy foods are not your style, try grilled chicken, shrimp, or …

Blackened Beef Tips

Heather says: I love recipes that can be utilized in more than one manner. Way back in my restaurant days this was one of our most popular appetizers; it was served with creamy horseradish and béarnaise sauce. As it was one of the few beef items we were allowed as an employee meal, we found …

Heather says: Meatless meals are often great for the wallet. This recipe can be prepared with canned or dried beans. If you use dry black beans, cook 1/2lb dried beans until soft. I put mine in the crockpot the morning I want to make the burritos, cover them with water, and turn the crock on …

Heather says:

I have said it before, but whole chickens are often a great buy. I am a huge fan of cooking once and eating several times, but how do you reap the benefit when it is is too warm for the oven? You grill it, of course. Rather than cutting the bird into parts first, I decided to experiment with spatchcocking. This method allows for more even cooking as a larger surface is presented to the grill. Spatchcocking is simply an old Irish term that means to butterfly; I just think it’s fun to say.

To accomplish today’s project you will need:

1 grill
1 chicken
kitchen shears
your favorite rub or seasoning mix

In order to not offend our more sensitive viewers the pictures and tutorial follow the jump.

Grilled Onions

Heather says: While I’m lucky enough to live where it’s comfortable to grill outside most of the year, once the hot weather hits, grilling is a great way to help keep the house cooler. We love grilled onions and they are simple to prepare. One onion is typically enough for two adults. For best results …

Do you ever have a snippet from a TV show stay with you for eternity? That’s all I can think whenever I make chicken bog Now that you’ve had a peek into my twisted little mind, let’s talk chicken bog. At first glance, some long-time readers may say, “But Heather, that looks just like chicken …

Carrot Raisin Salad

Heather says: This classic pairs well with sandwiches and meals that call Spring and Summer to mind. In its most basic form, the recipe here, it’s low cost and low effort. There are many variations on this recipe, feel free to share yours in the comments. Ingredients: 2 cups coarsely shredded carrot 1/2 cup raisins …

Rice and Peas

Heather says: My family enjoys this simple dish, it goes well with most standard chicken recipes. Oddly enough, my kids who are not overly fond of peas do not mind their presence. Get the printable shopping list. Ingredients 1 TBSP butter 1 small onion diced 1 cup uncooked long grain rice 2 cups chicken stock …

Gnarly Noodles

Dear Home Ec 101, I tried making soup out of leftovers, like you recommend. I threw in a handful of dry noodles but they were really soggy. Do you think they were too old? Signed, Mushy in Muncie Heather says: Your average boxed pasta has a very long shelf-life at nearly two years, provided it …

Heather says: You’ve heard that rice and beans can reduce your grocery budget. On the rare occasion, we have ham, I freeze the bone and save it for a week when I need our grocery dollars to stretch just a bit further. Cornbread rounds out the meal nicely and keeps the grand total, for us, …