How to Peel Tomatoes – 2 Easy Methods

Bobbie says: Whether you’re doing a canning marathon or just making dinner, knowing how to peel a tomato will eventually come in handy. I’m going to show you two ways to peel tomatoes. One method is for when you just need one or two without a lot of hassle, and the other is great if …

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Sunday Confessional 8/21/2011

Heather says: Every so often I like to remind Home-Ec 101 readers that life isn’t magazine and snapshot perfect. It’s really easy, when you live your life semi-publicly on the web to only present the best and gloss over the less perfect moments of life. I work from home, in addition to running this site, …

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Ten Fridge Essentials for Every Man

 Brian says: Whether you’re single or a happily married man with children, there are certain things that we need in our lives to keep us, well, grounded. For some, it’s the legendary and mythical “man cave”, for others it’s a fantasy sports team. For me, though, it’s the unchangeable list of ingredients and sundries that …

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Cooking With the Troops Recap

Heather says:

I thought that this weekend’s event would be a fun way to give back. I thought I would fly home Sunday evening and dive back into normal life. I thought that Thursday’s Quick Note would be the only thing I would say here. I didn’t realize how profoundly a small deed like preparing a meal as an act of gratitude would affect me.

I grew up a military brat; I knew military life. However I was lucky, my dad served mostly during the Cold War. He went out and always came home whole and safe.

Those I met this weekend were not so lucky. Many of those I met this weekend gave up their limbs and a normal life so we could continue to live as we do. The families I met at the Fisher House (it’s like the Ronald McDonald House for military families) were painfully young. So many of these soldiers are just so terrifyingly young, newly married with brand new families and now futures a world apart from the one they planned.

I don’t have any pictures of the men and women I met, to share those would be to compromise their dignity and that is something I will not do. What I do have are pictures of the team that came together, from all over this country, to work together and prepare a few meals. I cannot begin to convey how much I admire and respect these people.

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Quick Note from Texas

Heather says: Hi! I’m currently in San Antonio, TX. I don’t have my usual level of connectivity, so please excuse the lack of regular posting today. I’m hoping to bring you a recipe for couscous tomorrow from Chef Ellen Adams. I’ll be playing sous chef and gopher today and tomorrow as we prepare for the …

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Home Project Motivation, What’s Your Secret?

Heather says: While writing the book, I had an excuse to procrastinate every household project on the list. Clean the gutters? I can’t, I have chapters due. Trust me, I felt every bit a hypocrite, doing this too. Now that excuse is long gone, the book is safely on the shelves of  bookstores. The house …

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Mystery Meats

 Brian says: A far cry from the grade school days when the only thing you dreaded more than Friday homework was the indescribable mound of “meat product” plodded onto your lunch tray every Thursday, scrap meats–or meats that were considered less desirable by the general consumer public–have become something of a precious commodity over the …

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Happy 4th of July and an Announcement

Heather says: I hope all US Home-Ec 101 readers have a wonderful weekend celebrating Independence Day. The rest of you? Well, I still hope you have a happy 4th of July. (Remember that old lateral logic question -Do they have a 4th of July in England?) I’m excited to announce that I’m working with the …

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Easy Greek Pasta Salad Recipe

Bobbie says: Long, long ago, in a galaxy state far, far away, we lived near a lovely deli and in this lovely deli they sold an incredible Greek Pasta Salad at a price that was too high to buy it often, but low enough that I would occasionally indulge in a half-pint container. Determined to …

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