Cooking Our Way

If you are peeling several garlic cloves, soak the bulb for a few minutes in water--it will be much easier to peel.

TIME SAVER:  When making cornbread stuffing, you may make the cornbread ahead and crumble.  The bread cubes may be toasted ahead.  Freeze all until ready to use.

PLAN AHEAD many dry ingredients can be measured ahead for later use---pumpkin pie, pancakes, cakes, quick breads.  A head start when cooking for a crowd is a big help.

THE ONLY THING I REMEMBER ABOUT HOME EC.  When baking, take all ingredients out of the cupboard and refrigerator.  Measure ingredients and replace as you use them.  You will never leave out an ingredient and your kitchen will stay neat

When beating with an electric mixer or stirring food in a round bottomed bowl, place a damp cloth under to keep it from turning

Try this:  Bake cake layers ahead, wrap individually and freeze.  When needed thaw and make frosting and filling.  Layers can also be frosted with whipped cream.

To test doneness of cake insert a toothpick in center of cake.  If it comes out clean the cake is done.

COOKIE DOUGH may be frozen to cook later.  I like to form it either into balls (small ice cream scoop is great for this) or logs for easier handling.

TIP:  To remove garlic smell on your hands, rub them on a stainless steel spoon or sink then wash with soap.

TIP:  When using an ingredient in more than one dish, cut for both at once and set aside.

When cooling cream filling or sauce, place a piece of plastic wrap or waxed paper on top to prevent a skin from forming

HINT: When making gravy or thickening soup or cream filling, always add hot to cold or cold to hot.  If the roux is hot, add cold liquid or add cold roux to hot liquid.

If you make pie crusts from scratch, make a large batch and freeze in pie pans.  This is a great time saver and pie crust is better after freezing

HINT When freezing foods, use single layer for quick thawing. Try putting 1 lb. ground beef in a 1 gallon zip lock bag.  Flatten to size of the bag.  Freeze.  It will thaw quickly when removed from the freezer.

TRY THIS If you wish to use fresh tomatoes in a dish or a salad, cut them up thirty minutes to an hour before needed.  Add salt and pepper.  Drain before using

TASTE TREAT When sorting shrimp, put small ones aside. Cook by bringing to a boil with some crab boil seasoning.  Quickly drain and cool.  Use in salad or soup.  Try adding to your potato salad

QUICK AND EASY CROUTONS.  Toss cubes of French bread with small amount of olive oil and salt.  Place in single layer on baking sheet and bake about 15 minutes in 350 degree oven.

TIP:  For moist chicken for salad, cover chicken breast, with bone in, with water or stock.  Bring to  a rolling boil.  Cover and turn off heat and cool completely.  Chicken will be very moist.

When you buy fresh ginger put whatever you don’t use in a pot of moist soil.  It will keep well and will grow so you can have fresh ginger all the time

TIP:  To keep fresh pre-washed herbs, wrap in damp paper towel and place in zip-lock bag.  They will stay fresh for a week in the refrigerator.