Tip of the Day- Keeping it Steady

When you are cooking at home, sometimes the most difficult situations arise from simply not having a helping hand. There are always ways around this, and you should be confident you could complete any recipe on your own! Here are a few simple ways to get the job done safely, and easily.

1. When using a cutting board, place a damp paper towel underneath it. This will prevent slipping and sliding, and allow you to maintain control of the knife and whatever you are cutting.

2. If you are making salad dressing, or any other type of emulsion, constant whisking is key. This means that you need to be slowly pouring oil into a bowl, while whisking. Don't have a third hand to hold the bowl? Me either! I simply take a moist dish towel, hold it by one corner and spin so that it is now long and twisted. Wrap the towel around the base of the bowl. You may have to wiggle the bowl a bit to make sure it is secure, but this should hold it in place for you.

Tip of the Day- Eat Leftovers.

Looking for a quick, inexpensive meal? First things first, check your fridge. A simple way to make leftovers taste better and still reheat quickly and thoroughly, is to use a combination of microwave and toaster oven. Microwave to get to the center and toaster oven to keep from being a soggy mess (This also greatly improves the taste of most microwaveable frozen foods.) Remember that adding an additional ingredient or two to leftovers can really improve on, and alter a dish. Just because you are eating something twice in a week doesn't mean it should taste that way. This pizza however, was just fine with a glass of wine . Eliminate waste (of money, and of food). Label all items so you know they're fresh!

Tip of the Day- Ingredient Replacement

Avoiding recipes because you do not have ingredients on hand, are allergic, or are simply unfamiliar with them can always be avoided. Almost all ingredients are easily replaceable with other like ingredients, or in some cases unexpected replacements will suffice. As always, feel free to comment or email me with any questions you may have.

Tip of the Day- Defrosting

Buying in bulk and freezing individual portions of protein is one of the easiest ways to save money. Simply transfer to the fridge 24 hours prior to cooking (large cuts of meat may take longer) and allow to defrost. If you forget and/or want to defrost quickly, place sealed protein in a bowl and place in sink. Run COLD water on protein until completely thawed. This works particularly well with seafood, allowing you to get from the freezer to the pan in as little as half an hour. Be sure to dry everything thoroughly before cooking in oil.

Tip of the Day!

Waiting for a new camera in the mail before I start posting daily recipes, as I want to include pictures (What's a recipe without pictures?!) So I thought it would be fun to include a tip of the day in the meantime. Todays tip:

Seasoning! This is one of the simplest ways to improve your cooking without adding any additional ingredients or time. Proper seasoning is what makes or breaks a dish. Always season high and dry! Meaning, keep your hand atleast 6 inches above the food you are seasoning, this ensures even distribution. Keep your hands dry, this will prevent clumping, and again helps in even distribution. Another tip, which will enhance the depth of a dish, is to season each ingredient individually as you add them. Taste along the way, making sure not to over season. When your dish is ready to be served, give it one last taste and decide if more S+P is needed. When seasoned properly, all the ingredients should meld to create one, mouthwatering taste.