Making things in the kitchen just a little bit easier….
Caramelizing onions can be a long and arduous process, but it doesn’t have to be. Here’s a much easier, mostly hands-off procedure that frees up a great deal of your time. … More Quick Tip: Caramelizing Onions (the Easy Way)
Here are some easy steps for trimming and cleaning all the layers of leeks to prepare them for cooking. … More Quick Tip: Trimming and Washing Leeks
Here’s an easy way to cut just the right size of parchment paper for a pan, and for getting it to lay flat. Place the pan on top of a large piece of parchment paper and use a pencil to trace around the bottom. (Most pens will not write on the paper very well.) It’s … More Quick Tip: Lining baking pans with parchment paper
I used to be able to cook soft boiled eggs just right, but I seem to have lost my touch in recent years. I have tried using different types of eggs, different sizes of eggs, different quantities of eggs, different boiling times, and even cute egg-shaped kitchen gadgets. However, nothing works consistently: I either have … More Quick Tip: Perfect Soft Boiled Eggs
Quick Tip: Peeling Carrots – Fast! I first found this tip in a Fine Cooking magazine and thought I’d give it a try. It worked great, and was actually kind of fun! While their technique says to hold the carrot off the board, I found it easier to just lay it flat on the board. … More Quick Tip: Peeling Carrots
For years I have been storing extra bacon in the freezer, as I never use an entire package in a timely manner. I realize that freezing bacon is hardly a groundbreaking concept or cutting edge technology: you buy some bacon, stick it in the freezer, and thaw it when you are ready to use it. … More Quick Tip: Freezing Bacon
Quick Tip: How To Clean a Cast Iron Skillet I learned this tip long before I even realized that I had a cast iron skillet. I have been listening to chef Mike Colameco’s Food Talk radio show for years, and he has had dozens of calls about how to clean cast iron pans. So I … More Quick Tip: How To Clean a Cast Iron Skillet
Roasting hot chile peppers really brings out great flavors and aromas. Here are a couple tips to make the job easier. … More Quick Tip: Roasting and Peeling Chile Peppers
Every once in a while I find a recipe that calls for self-rising flour. And since my pantry is jam packed with other staples, I don’t want to have to buy a bag that will mostly go unused. Here’s a great way to make it on the fly, so you don’t have to allocate valuable … More Quick Tip: How to make self-rising flour
Ever run out of an ingredient right in the middle the recipe? Or find out you need something when the store is closed? Okay, probably not, since I know my readers are far more sensible than I am, and actually plan ahead. Hey, I’m getting better at that, but I sometimes get carried away and … More Quick Tip: Ingredient Substitutions
Diane's Food Blog 