Recipe - Home-Ec 101

Brownies – Basic Recipe

We know it seems like a stretch, but you really don’t need a box mix to bake brownies. In fact, you may already have everything on hand. Why not surprise a neighbor if you can’t eat a whole batch? It’s not like you’ll make an enemy offering chocolate. From Scratch Brownie Recipe [There’s a printable …

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.

Hoagie Roll Tutorial

Heather says:

After getting the hang of basic white bread, these rolls should be a cinch. There are no fancy ingredients, but you will need a rolling pin.

Ingredients:

1 1/4 cup warm water + extra for sprinkling
2 1/2 tsp yeast
2 1/2 TBSP olive oil
3 1/2 cups flour (for best results use bread flour)
1 1/2 tsp salt
3 1/2 tsp sugar

Directions are after the jump.

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 …

Heather says: The only thing not simple about this sausage, peppers, and onions dish are the number of variations that can be applied. Serve it over rice or noodles, on toasted hoagie rolls or with buttered Italian bread. Each simple accompaniment changes the tone and perception of the dish. For a more pronounced difference, vary …

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 …

Fried Green Corn

Heather says: I was browsing through some of my hometown blogs and stumbled upon this entry at A Yankee in a Southern Kitchen. It was the perfect use for the abundance of Silver Queen corn I picked up the other day. Don’t be fooled by this absurdly simple recipe, it tastes of summer. Ingredients: 5 …