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 […]

Last night was my last cooking class of the year…so I pulled out ALL the stops for THIS one!  The class title was COMFORT FOODS AND HOLIDAY SIDES.  I was happy to see some new names, and some familiar names on the roster-students who had taken some of my classes last year.  I knew we […]

Whenever you are making “patties” of any kind (burgers, potato cakes, salmon cakes or even meatballs) simply press the mixture into a bowl or onto a baking sheet and use a knife to “score” the mixture, just like slicing a cake. Then scoop up an individual portion and pat into the appropriate shape.   All of […]

Here’s a COOKING TIP…When you open a can of tomato paste, open BOTH ENDS of the can.  Remove the top lid and then PUSH UP the bottom lid through the can and CUT OFF the desired amount of tomato paste at the top.  Then throw the can in a zip lock bag and store in […]