Heather says: So in addition to fruit leather, strawberry shortcake, and ripe berry goodness what does $25 and an hour at the farm yield? Why, strawberry jam, of course! There is no reason to be afraid of home preserving. We’ve all heard horror stories of the family that never got up from the table because …
Dear Home Ec 101: I can boil water, I’m not THAT helpless, but I’m no Emeril. I need a quick dish that looks as though I put a lot of effort into the meal. My girlfriend is coming over, but I don’t have a whole lot of time to invest in the meal. Signed, Busy …
Oven-cooked chimichangas? Bet, as the kids say. Simple, tasty. Give them a try on your next Tex Mex night
Heather says: This recipe is quick and so simple the kids can help. If they can roll a playdough ball, they can make a meatball. I tend to make this in large batches so I can freeze leftovers for future meals of calzones, subs, or even more spaghetti. If you have a vacuum sealer, from …
Heather says: Partly for our health and partly for our budget we try to eat meatless one night a week. This recipe could easily be converted to vegan by omitting the cheese and using an eggless recipe for cornbread. This is Betty Crocker’s version with minor tweaking. Two Bean Tamale Pie Ingredients 1 TBSP …
Heather says: Friday evenings are often movie nights. Why not try something a little different and make your own caramel popcorn? Not only is old fashioned popcorn superior to microwave, our kids get a kick out of watching it pop. How To Make Old Fashioned Caramel Popcorn Things you’ll need: vegetable oil popcorn kernels 6 quart …
Dear Home Ec 101: How do you make gravy? Does it all come from a jar? ~Dry in Dover Heather says: There is a knack to gravy, but it’s simple to make once you understand the secret. When the meat (roast, chicken etc.) has finished cooking, pour all of the drippings* into a fat separator. …
Heather says: Here at Home Ec 101, we get many questions about stretching those grocery dollars. One of my personal favorites is how to roast chicken. You can get a lot of bang for your buck when you buy whole chickens. As you choose your chicken, be sure to watch the amount of salt water …
Dear Home-ec 101: That’s it, I’m done! As of today we’re going to start eating at home. Well, if I can learn to cook. I need Hamburger Helper easy. What do you suggest? Hungry in Hartford Heather says: You won’t be hungry for long. The best part is, a lot of the simplest recipes are …
Dear Home-ec 101: I’m tired of the same food. The delivery place knows our order by heart. Help! ~In a rut in Wheeling Heather says: This recipe will pop you out of that rut; it’s one of our favorites and tastes complicated enough for company. Thankfully it’s quite simple to make, but I write at …