Kitchen Serendipity

Heather says: One of the best things about summer is my stepdaughter gets to spend more than a quick visit. Aside from all the other positive things, it’s nice to have a willing sous chef. Last week a miscommunication on my part lead to an unexpected, but excellent new salad. In addition to the fried …

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A Little Friday Fun

Heather says: This will probably sound like a cop-out post and in a way it is. I’ve spent the last few weeks pretty much locked in my closet/office finishing up the rough draft. Today, I’m packing a big picnic lunch and taking the kids and inviting their usual sitter to the beach. I need a …

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A Blatant Beg

Heather says: I’m in the home stretch, the last deadline for the rough draft is Thursday, but I need a few anonymous confessions to fill in a couple of gaps in the cooking section of the book. Don’t worry, the book is pretty full of my own embarrassing anecdotes and bizarre sense of humor. I’m …

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Weeknight Turmoil and Dinner

Heather says: Today instead of the usual Menu Monday, I wanted to start a discussion with advice for those who feel there isn’t enough time on a weeknight to cook a meal.  I don’t live in a 9 – 5 world,  sometimes I know I lose sight of what that is like1 -and sometimes I …

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Saturday Aside

Heather says: I have two things on my mind this fine Saturday morning. For years, I’ve tried to describe the funky, furry mouth-feel of overly processed foods. Last night, while doing research for the book, I came across this in Professional Cooking1 by Wayne Gisslen: Solid shortening also has the disadvantage of having a high …

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The Great Planned Over Drawback

Heather says: Yesterday I forgot to mention something very important, or at least important to people with my whacked out metabolism. When I stretch meals as outlined in the planned over post, I usually alternate with our normal lower carb, lots of vegetable and protein meals. Other times I freeze the leftovers of the original …

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Most Recent Kitchen Flub, an Ask the Audience

Heather says: Even good cooks screw up. Tonight I went to throw dinner together and after adding the noodles to the water turned the burner off. Nice. It was edible, but only just so. I’m not salvaging the leftovers, judge if you must. What I want know, so I don’t feel goofy all by my …

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Dear Home Ec 101, I’m Overwhelmed

overwhelmed woman sitting on the floor with a basket of dirty laundry

Dear Overwhelmed, Many new parents go through a period like this. Rest assured, you are not alone. Some of these have been covered elsewhere on the site. Get comfortable. This answer is going to take a while. Home Eccers, you’ve probably heard me say a lot of it before. Feel free to give Overwhelmed your …

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Cutting Kitchen Waste and Sparking Creativity

Heather says: Have you ever noticed when you’re just plowing along trying to keep up  with life that some things start to slip? For me I’ve gotten into a bad habit of simply heading to the store, grabbing sale items, and planning the menu from that. Our grocery spending isn’t too terribly out of control, …

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