For years, my father-in-law's second wife served boxed stuffing at her holiday gatherings, spiced up with cut-up precooked turkey sausage. When I offered to make some homemade stuffing one year, she waved me off. “No one can the tell the difference, anyway.” But I can tell, I … [Read more...] about The Firehouse Challenge: Packaged vs. Homemade Thanksgiving Dinner Classics
Pantry & Supermarket Tips
How to Freeze Meat, Cheese, Milk, Butter and Fish So You Can Actually Use It Later
Reader question: “I have bought far more meat and cheese than usual due to the pandemic and now I am worried about it going bad. Is freezing meat OK? What about butter and cheese? How long will it last?” – Rebecca, Orlando FL Answer: I have been teaching people cooking in … [Read more...] about How to Freeze Meat, Cheese, Milk, Butter and Fish So You Can Actually Use It Later
How to Outfit a Kitchen on a Budget or 14 Kitchen Essentials Every Cook Needs
What are kitchen essentials? People have been quite successful making food in the past centuries with little more than a pot, spoon, bowl, knife and cutting surface. Years ago, I started a guide for college students but I've expanded it to a list for anyone who is outfitting a … [Read more...] about How to Outfit a Kitchen on a Budget or 14 Kitchen Essentials Every Cook Needs
Real Mashed Potatoes vs. Instant
The next round of my Thanksgiving Dinner Firehouse Challenge put real mashed potatoes vs. instant mashed potatoes. I understand the lure of instant mashed potatoes. You want comfort and you want it now. I love them so much that if food could be your spirit animal, mine would be … [Read more...] about Real Mashed Potatoes vs. Instant
Challenge: Supermarket turkey vs. Organic Bird
A turkey may seem like a humble, if popular, bird but it's yielding increasing discussion in the food world. Is it worth it to buy a more expensive turkey? Is organic a good upgrade? One study found that generic turkeys contained high levels of bacteria; researchers pointed to … [Read more...] about Challenge: Supermarket turkey vs. Organic Bird
