Dear Home-Ec 101, I need help cooking rice. I can’t do it-brown rice, white rice, minute rice, not-minute rice. I just can’t seem to get it to the right texture. Help me? Signed, Riceless in Reno Ivy says: Rice can be tough. I cannot begin to tell you how much rice I have messed up …
Dear Home Ec 101: What’s the best way to cook chicken if you are going to use it in chicken salad? The only ways I know how to cook it- baked, roasted, grilled- don’t seem right for that kind of use. Thanks! ~ Cluckin’ Clueless Heather says: I use each of the methods you list …
Heather says: In my quest to improve our family’s diet I stumbled across the idea of oven baked egg rolls. Of course I immediately misplaced the recipe after announcing them for this past Menu Monday. I would like to thank Tese for sharing her family’s recipe, that I used as a general guideline. These are …
Dear Home Ec 101: I recently bought a Cuisinart ICE-20 ice cream maker. I’m lactose-intolerant and want to make my own non-dairy desserts. (I’m also planning to experiment with alternative sweeteners like agave, stevia and lo han.) Last night I made an amazingly delicious batch of peach frozen yogurt. Typically, yogurt can be tolerated by …
When the weather warms up, it’s time for the sides to cool down. I’ve always enjoyed pasta salad from the deli. This recipe nails the slightly sweet dressing of traditional macaroni salad, and with a grilled chicken breast, shrimp, or portabella mushrooms makes a great meal. I vary the vegetables and pasta shape depending on …
Dear Home Ec 101: I live in Georgia and each year we have a bumper crop of Vidalia onions. For part of the year they are super cheap, I would like to take advantage of this. Can I freeze them or will they get watery? ~Fearfully Frugal in Fitzgerald Heather says: Wipe your eyes my …
Dear Home Ec 101: What would be the top 20 or so things that every kitchen must have? ~Going Gadgetless in Gainesville Heather says: I am not a huge fan of gadgets, but I will gladly list of what I feel any home cook needs to be able to easily prepare meals for a family. …
Heather says: I use my oven to fry bacon. The thick cut bacon our family prefers takes between 12 and 15 minutes at 425°F. Even if I only need a few pieces I fry an entire cookie sheet, rather than waste electricity. The extras I drain, then wrap loosely in a papertowel and store either …
Heather says: I searched high and low. I tried at least a dozen recipes people swear were from their Grandma and now I have it. This is the one I recommend to biscuit novices. This is my choice for those who are scared of rolling pins and feel unsure about kneading Basic biscuits: 2 cups …
Heather says: Tired of plain tuna salad sandwiches for lunch? Try substituting cream cheese for half or all of the mayonnaise. Add crunch with diced celery or pickles. Add more protein for pennies with a diced hard boiled egg. Bored with dill? Try a pinch of basil. Really want to liven it up? Tuna melts …