How to Clean and Care for a Cutting Board

black background cutting board with garlic and green herbs on it

Dear Home-Ec 101, I’m interested in learning the proper care of a wooden cutting board. I use one for veggies and meats (I use bleach on it after it has been used for meats) and a separate board for fruits. If I cut fruits on the cleaned veggie board, the flavors of onion, garlic, and …

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Pot Roast with Balsamic Gravy

This recipe is a riff on Wicked Noodle’s Chuck Roast with Balsamic and Dijon. It was originally posted on this site back in 2015, but has been updated in 2022. I’m not a super huge thyme fan so I went with garlic, but you can do whatever makes you happy. I know I said three …

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Baked Potatoes

Baked potato topped with chili, cheese, sour cream, and chives

Fellow blogger and brand new mom Julieann asked, “How do you make your baked potatoes?” Yes, we are heading way back into the archives, blowing off the dust, and freshening up an old post. Baked potatoes are a favorite around Home-Ec 101. Why? Well, we’re heading back to the basics in the kitchen and baked …

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How to Clean a Sweaty Baseball Cap

black ball cap on white counter with pineapple in background

Hi! I want to clean up my baseball cap without ruining the fabric or construction of the cap (the bill). Thanks,Sweaty in Sweetwater Hey there, I wasn’t expecting the level of research that it would take to answer this question. There are so many variables when it comes to baseball cap construction. Not only do you have …

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Emergency Preparedness 101: How to Evacuate Safely

Picture of clouds over flat image of earth from nasa

Two things before we start this basic how to evacuate safely discussion. Please note that this is a beginner look at emergency preparedness. It’s for those who are just beginning to think about how they or they and their families will handle an emergency and isn’t the place to show off how awesomely prepared you …

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Emergency Preparedness 101: The Very Basics

emergency preparedness

I live in a part of the country where our usual emergency preparedness includes being ready for hurricanes from June until the end of November, small tornadoes in the spring, and extremely rare earthquakes. 2020, of course, threw in plague and civil unrest. Your home may have other risks, including some that you didn’t expect—looking …

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