Cook It - Home-Ec 101

Baked Potato Soup Recipe

Ever since I worked at Bennigan’s, I have adored potato soup. I am fairly certain if it weren’t for snitched rolls and ramekins of baked potato soup, I would have wasted away in my late teens. I was sad to see the company recently declare bankruptcy, but take heart. The potato soup lives on. This …

Sautéed Cabbage

Dear Home Ec 101, Would you post about how you cook cabbage? That’s something I never cook… is it cheap and healthy? Thanks! Signed, Cravin’ the Cruciferous Heather says: Yes, cabbage when purchased in season, is both cheap and healthy. It is a great source of both vitamin C and fiber. Here in North America …

Cheese Sauce

Dear Home Ec 101,

My three year old son is allergic to eggs and I’m trying to find a cheese sauce for vegetables that is simple, but not greasy.
Can you help?

Signed,
Cheesin’ in Chester
Heather says,

Most of us who grew up in the 1980s can probably sing the jingle for Velveeta, “Cheddar’s greasy, cheddar’s oily.” I am not sure why I’m encouraging y’all to sing as I am not recommending Velveeta. That stuff is spendy and fake, a mortal culinary sin in the Handbook of Heather.

A little flour, butter, milk, and cheddar make a great kid friendly cheese sauce for vegetables. Ready? Good.

Peas and Almonds

Heather says: I used to hate peas. Deep down in my heart I knew the cafeteria ladies despised me each time they plopped a spoonful of wrinkly, mushy peas onto my tray. Thankfully, I have learned that most often it isn’t the original food item I have hated, but simply the manner in which it …

How to Freeze Bell Peppers

Dear Home Ec 101, My neighbor is a gardening whiz and brought over a ton of sweet bell peppers. I don’t want any to go to waste, but there is no way we can eat them all. Can you freeze bell peppers? Signed, ~Peter Piper Gratuitous Pretty Pepper Pic Heather says: Not only can …

Lime and Salt Margarita Carrot Sticks

Heather says: Everyone says, “Eat your vegetables.” Here’s a quick and easy way to perk up the lowly carrot stick without adding fat. We love it as a side for summer meals and as a snack to take to work or the park. They’ve been nicknamed margarita carrots, but there isn’t a drop of alcohol …

Steamed Broccoli

Dear Home Ec 101, A while ago you posted a recipe for fettucini alfredo and suggested adding steamed broccoli. So, maybe it makes me look an idiot and maybe it doesn’t, but is there a proper way to steam broccoli? Signed, Stymied by Steam Heather says: While you don’t need any fancy tools to steam …

Freezer Guidelines

Dear Home Ec 101, How long does food keep in the freezer, after the expiration date? When should it be tossed in the garbage? Thank you, Chillier in Chicago Heather says: Thank you for your cool question in these dog days of summer. It’s so hot that. . . no, I won’t go there. Your question …

Dear Home Ec 101, I need to get our food budget under control. We spend a ton of money eating out. It’s starting to cause fights. I can’t cook, I can’t plan, and even if I could, I wouldn’t know where to start. Signed, Hopeless in Hopeswell Welcome to the third installment of our first …

Dear Home Ec 101, I need to get our food budget under control, and we spend a ton of money eating out. It’s starting to cause fights. I can’t cook. I can’t plan, and even if I could, I would just quit. Can you teach me how to menu plan? Can you teach me to follow …