Dear Home Ec 101, I’m embarrassed to actually ask this, but what is the difference between boiling and simmering? A lot of your recipes say to bring it to a boil and reduce the heat to a simmer. What does that mean, and why does it matter? Signed, Baffled Beginner Heather says: Basic questions like …
Heather says: Of all the recipes in all the world, never did I think the kids would like this one for tuna cakes. Crab is a bit on the spendy side for a herd of finicky kids, so I figured I’d give budget-friendly tuna a try. I expected turned up noses and arguing about at …
This post is important enough to share yearly. The holidays are a difficult time of year, especially if you have recently suffered a loss or are in a transition period, like divorce. Please remember, if you ever do feel hopeless, help is available, whether it’s through IAmAlive.org, 1-800-SUICIDE, 211, or reaching out to a friend. …
Heather says: Over on the Home-Ec 101 Facebook fan page someone asked: What would be on your list of skills to know for a homemaker and adult in 2015? This list is by no means complete: Prepare a meal without setting fire to the kitchen or poisoning guests. Keep a living space clean. Encourage a …
Dear Home Ec 101, Do you know how to reduce lint in the laundry? My husband just started a new job that has him wearing dress slacks—like Dockers—and dress shirts instead of the jeans and t-shirts he’s always worn. Even though I wash and dry them separately (to avoid any ironing!) they still come out …
Heather says: Whenever birthday season rolls around, we like to give the birthday child a few treats of their own choosing, within reason. I do believe my middle child is a budding foodie. In the days leading up to his birthday, he talked about how he wanted to have apple pancakes for breakfast, something we …
Heather says: Lately I’ve been wanting to talk more about managing technology in the home, but life just hasn’t been cooperating. I don’t mean just a we’re really busy with life kind of busy. No, I mean life hasn’t been cooperating to the point that my friends find the frustration highly amusing. I take …
I received a concerning email yesterday that made me realize it was time to send this post out again as a reminder. This is the first in our series on household chemicals. Over the past few years, I have gotten the impression that many people are using chlorine bleach in an unsafe manner. Chlorine bleach, aka …
June 17, 2015, was a terrible day for my home. A coward drove two hours to kill people he didn’t know. He sat with them for an hour while they prayed. And then he brutally took their lives. My heart hurts for them, for their families, for my home. Yesterday we sat and listened to …
Heather says A couple of years ago I shared how to download audio books from your local library for free. If you liked that, I think you’ll dig today’s info. I use Amazon for a lot of things, it’s also a small source of revenue – if I link to something here and someone makes …