It’s not very often that you buy one spice and get a second one for free…but that’s exactly what you get when you buy fresh, unshelled nutmeg. The outer shell is covered with lace-like yellow “threads”.  That is actually mace.  You can peel that part off and use it in baking.  You then crack the […]

OK…we admit it.  We’ve eaten in so many diners and dives, we are now becoming SILVERWARE SNOBS.  It seems that diners buy the cheapest silverware they can find, since we’ve been  told it tends to disappear into diner’s pockets and purses.  (YUCK! How gross!) Some silverware is so small and lightweight you might expect it […]

Everybody has their own method of grilling the perfect hamburger.  But sometimes things just don’t work out the way you’d hoped!  That’s why I’ve been working to perfect my burger grilling methods…and flavors. I start with about 1 1/2 pounds of ground beef.  80 or 85 percent seems to be the right ratio of meat […]

Today Miss Claire got a private cooking lesson from Meemaw while her sisters were in school.   Since Chive Carrots were on tonight’s menu, I was busy cutting large carrots into matchstick shapes. I always find a way to include grand kids in food prep, so I asked Claire to pick up the carrot sticks and […]

Have you ever wondered why chefs cook with REGULAR pans that are NOT non-stick?  I’ll show you why.  See this pan?  I fried sausage in it…and then I fried onions and garlic…and it looks like a burned on mess!   The BROWN you see in the pan is actually called FOND.  Now watch what happens […]

Here is the easiest way to prepare an avocado… Cut it in half and twist apart.  The large seed will probably remain stuck in one half of the fruit.  Strike the seed with the blade of your sharp chef’s knife, and the blade should be stuck in the seed.  Then simply twist the knife and […]

I love cucumbers in a salad, and sometimes I buy regular cucumbers that contain large seeds.  So here is the easiest way to remove the seeds from a cucumber: COOKING TIP: Slice the cucumber in half, and while holding it in one hand, scrape a teaspoon down the center of the cucumber to scoop out […]

Take a few minutes to compare products and the various cuts of meat and poultry when you’re trying to decide what to fix for dinner.  Your wallet (and your taste buds) will thank you. CHICKEN TENDERS About the only time I buy boneless skinless chicken breasts is when I make my own chicken “nuggets” for […]

I pride myself on wanting to learn new things.  But for some reason, I have always been afraid to tackle a pomegranate.  I’ve walked by them in the grocery store so many times…and I just kept on walking. But the other day I decided to buy one.  It’s been sitting in my fruit bowl for […]

When it comes to grilling…we make a good team. I make the rest of the meal, and hubby Fred grills the steaks.  After the big WIN at Purdue, we went back to Nick’s house for dinner. While the little girls played, we gave Nick and his wife Sarah some time to visit with our other […]