Dear Home Ec 101: Okay, I’m new to cooking. Why do I need to pound the chicken breasts with a mallet or rolling pin? Like, why do I need to pound them at all? ~Are you really telling me to beat my meat? Heather says: I sure am. Meat is nothing more than muscle. I …
Heather says: Homemade chicken fingers are a cinch to make, typically a hit with kids, and leftovers are great to liven up a salad. Easy Chicken Finger Recipe Ingredients 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts 1 cup crumbs (bread, cracker, or unsweetened cereal) 1/2 tsp onion powder 1/2 tsp garlic powder 1 tsp paprika 1/2 …
Tomorrow many of our American readers will be celebrating Independence Day. Chances are food will be involved. So here are a few tips to remember to avoid introducing any uninvited bugs. Sal Monella a/ka/ Salmonella Store cold food until just before serving, or set the serving dishes in ice if a buffet setting is required. …
Heather says: This was way before I learned about food photography, bear with me -Heather June 2010 With the temperature rising something has to give. Try this Andalusian favorite for a change of pace. Traditional gazpacho is often made with bread blended in, I prefer to serve it on the side or with a dollop …
Heather says: Tomatoes, while botanically classified as a fruit are treated as a vegetable in the kitchen. While this tidbit may get you two hundred on Jeopardy, it certainly will not help much at all when deciding how to get the most from summer’s bounty. Delicate soups and sauces often call for tomatoes that are …
Hi, I made jam last summer and it tuned out excellent. I have done the same thing this year and they are all watery. An old lady in the grocery store said to NEVER make jam on humid days (and yes it was humid the day I picked and made the jam) Is there anyway …
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 …
Ivy says: I saw this post earlier today, and while the original poster was actually talking about something different than the rest of us thought, it did make me think. (It’s a dangerous pastime, I know) Anybody ever read Dicey’s Song? When I was younger, I strongly identified with her hatred of Home Ec. My …
Dear Home Ec 101: Why is it lactose intolerant people can eat yogurt but not drink milk? Gassy in Gettysburg Heather says: Lactose is a sugar present in milk. To digest this, humans must have the enzyme lactase present in their system. People who are lactose intolerant can generally consume some lactose, the problem lies …
Dear Home-Ec 101, My kids whine incessantly when I ask them to help clean, and they do a halfhearted job when they finally clean. How do I get them to help out? Signed, Ripping my hair out in Riverdale Ivy says: I know what that’s like. My kids still put up a fuss about cleaning, …