Dear Home Ec 101: My son will be moving into an apartment and setting up a kitchen for the first time. I’m pretty confident about what kind of hardware (pots, pans, plates, etc) to buy, but what would be a good basic list of staples (salt, pepper, sugar, cannola oil) to set him up with. …
Heather says: While the muffins at a coffee shop are certainly tempting, I find the price a little steep for my budget. Whip up these instead and put the change in your piggy bank for rainy day. Simple Blueberry Muffins Yields approximately 10 muffins 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 3/4 cup white sugar 1/2 teaspoon …
Dear Home Ec 101 Ladies, I was talking to my sweetie yesterday about my inability to make a meatloaf. I have tried everything. I once bought a pan with holes in the bottom that would drain the grease into another pan – this was to make my meatloaf grease free but delicious. It was nasty. …
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 …
Heather says: Ever bite a bitter cucumber? The compound that causes the bitterness is created when the plant is stressed. Hear that farmers? Be nice to your veggies. Many recipes call for seeded cucumbers, don’t be daunted it’s a simple process. Peel your cuke and slice it in half, lengthwise. Use a spoon to scoop …
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 …
Heather says: Lots of recipes call for peeled tomatoes, but just how does one go about removing the thin skin from these stubborn fruits? There is a simple trick to peeling tomatoes. Heat a pan of water to a roiling boil. Be sure to leave enough room to add your tomatoes without overflowing. Drop the …
Heather says: Since summer is here, I put together a quick tomato tutorial to help all you Home Ecers take full advantage of the basic varieties available. Stay tuned over the next few days for tips on slicing, dicing, peeling, and seeding. Tomatoes can be stored in the refrigerator but will quickly lose flavor. The …
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 …