Do you have a shopping list of what the essentials are when stocking a pantry? I’m exactly the kind of person you wrote for: not a terribly bad cook, but unsure and insecure in the kitchen. I loved The Kitchen Counter School and am inspired to try on my own, but I’m not sure what … [Read more...] about Reader Q&A: What do you consider essential pantry items?
Pantry & Supermarket Tips
Tips on Freezing Cheese, Meat, Milk and Fish
Reader question: “I have bought far more meat and cheese than usual and now I am worried about it going bad. What can I freeze and how long will it last?” – Rebecca, Orlando FL Answer: I have been teaching people cooking in their homes for years. One of the first things I do … [Read more...] about Tips on Freezing Cheese, Meat, Milk and Fish
Real Mashed Potatoes vs. Instant
I understand the lure of instant mashed potatoes. You want comfort and you want it now. According to Wisegeek.com, a Canadian scientist developed instant mashed back in 1962. Nutritionally speaking, instant mashed potatoes offer roughly the same vitamins and minerals as the … [Read more...] about Real Mashed Potatoes vs. Instant
Recipe: Blueberry Jam Like My Grandpa Charles’
"Who are you?" Mike asked me last week. "What are you talking about?" I replied. He waved his hand over the counter and dozens of jars of canned jams, jellies and preserves. "Have you become your grandmother? You're canning like a maniac." "No, I am not becoming my … [Read more...] about Recipe: Blueberry Jam Like My Grandpa Charles’
The Firehouse Challenge: Packaged vs. Homemade Holiday Dinner Classics
For years, a relative of mine served boxed stuffing at her holiday gatherings, spiced up with cut-up pre-cooked turkey sausage. When I offered to make some homemade stuffing one year, she waved me off. “No one can the tell the difference, anyway.” This made me wonder. How do … [Read more...] about The Firehouse Challenge: Packaged vs. Homemade Holiday Dinner Classics
