Dirty Drip Pan Blues

Dear Home Ec 101, How in the WORLD do you clean off the reflectors on the stove top after you’ve successfully made them the most horribly dirty items in your house?  I am down to one burner that I can use without setting my fire alarms off! Signed, ~Smells Like Smoke in Smallville Heather says: …

Read more

Let’s Play Disaster Scenario

Heather says: Yesterday’s headlines on Swine Flu reminded me it was time to ask, are you prepared for an emergency? Please understand that I’m not trying to be a fearmonger. Don’t turn to your spouse and say, “Heather says we’re all going to die from pandemic swine flu!” Understand that I’m a total geek,  fascinated …

Read more

Yep, It’s Earth Day

Heather says: Here’s the Home-Ec101.com way of keeping things green. With rare exception, buying something new* is about the least green thing you can do.  Please keep this in mind before you purchase the newest and greatest earth saving gadget. New items take energy to produce and transport. The items they replace consume energy or …

Read more

Categories All

New England Clam Chowder

Heather says: Sometimes canned soup is good enough, but once you have had the real deal, it’s hard to go back. Try topping this basic clam chowder with a sprinkling of Old Bay Seasoning and a small handful of sliced green onions. This recipe is a good example of how simple a New England clam …

Read more

Ask The Audience: What Are You Weird About?

Ivy says: Mr. Ivy thinks it’s hilarious, but to me it’s just an annoyance. I cannot touch wooden spoons, and I can’t use electric can openers. Wooden spoons set my teeth immediately on edge, even thinking about them. Touching them is a nightmare. Electric can openers? They scare me, and I cannot say why. So …

Read more

Doughnuts, Simple

Heather says: I feel almost dirty for posting this. Do you ever get a craving for funnel cakes and the fair is months away? Or do you ever break all your own advice and wander through the grocery store while your belly rumbles? Well, that’s what happened tonight. Apparently I’m in denial that I’m running …

Read more

Guest Post: Home Ec Minus 101

Ivy says: My good pal Hutchmo wrote a post on Facebook that had me rolling in the aisles. I got his permission to post this here. It gives you very good perspective into what our husbands (or wives, in some cases) may be thinking when they wad a sheet into the linen closet! Here’s a …

Read more

Beef it’s What’s for Dinner: The Giveaway

Heather says: It’s time for a giveaway. Today*, thanks to the fine folks at BeefitsWhatsforDinner.com we have a $100 American Express gift card and three copies of  The Healthy Beef Cookbook to giveaway.    Entering is simple and you can have a total of three entries. Leave a comment telling us which of the three recipes we shared this …

Read more

Herb Crusted Steaks

Heather says: It has been unusually cool here near Charleston, SC, but our summer is just around the corner. Summer, in my world means grilling and not just steaks, but vegetables, too. Our third and final installment of recipes from BeefItsWhatsforDinner.com take us out onto the porch where I fired up the grill to prepare …

Read more