Looking for the best shallot substitute? Red onions, yellow onions, scallions, and leeks are all reliable replacements for shallots, depending on the recipe and how the ingredient is being used. Because shallots are often used in recipes for dressings, sauces, sautés, and soups, it helps to know what to reach for when you don’t have…
Chinese five-spice powder is a traditional Chinese seasoning made from five spices: star anise, cloves, cinnamon, Szechuan peppercorns, and fennel seeds. Its flavor is warm and sweet with a subtle spicy kick. I often use it in stir-fries, in marinades for skewers, and with roasted meats. If you’ve ever wondered what’s in Chinese five-spice powder…
Cooking and baking without gluten doesn’t have to be difficult. With the right gluten substitutes, you can enjoy wheat-free versions of flour, pasta, sauces, and more without compromising flavor or texture. Finding the right gluten substitute for baking can be tricky. Some flours affect texture, others change flavor, and not every replacement works 1:1. We’ll…
Making crispy bacon in the oven is an easy way to get perfectly cooked bacon without the splatter and mess of stovetop cooking This hands-off method is ideal for cooking large batches at once, and keeps the stovetop free for preparing other breakfast foods. Each slice cooks evenly, and you won’t need to turn and…
Cheese graters can do so much more than just grate cheese! This list of 20 surprising uses for a cheese grater shows how creative and versatile this kitchen tool can be. From box graters to hand-held cheese graters and microplanes, cheese graters can simplify many tedious kitchen tasks for you. Whether you want to grate whole…
Roasting tomatoes for sauce is an easy way to bring out their natural sweetness and deepen their flavor. You can roast both store-bought and garden-grown tomatoes in the oven to produce a flavorful base for pasta sauces. In this guide, you’ll learn which tomato varieties work best, how to prepare them, and simple oven-roasting methods…
These cooking tips for perfect hard boiled eggs will make sure that your eggs are perfectly cooked and that they will peel easily, every time. I love hard boiled eggs. They are great to use in egg salad sandwiches, make a perfect snack or party appetizer with a hint of salt, and are wonderful when…
It’s time to learn how to cook garlic with this easy roasted garlic recipe. The roasting process bring out the garlic’s natural sugars, producing cloves which have a deep, mellow and slightly sweet flavor. While some recipes can benefit from the sharp bite of fresh garlic, roasted garlic has a more nuanced flavor that enhances any…
Peeling garlic is one of those time consuming, but necessary kitchen tasks we always wish was easier. Below you’ll learn how to peel garlic fast, with the four garlic peeling hacks ranked in order. These four methods will change the way you look at peeling garlic. Any kitchen hacks that save time and make tasks…
You might already know how to freeze lemon juice but what about the zest? If you find yourself wondering “Can you freeze lemon zest too?”, you’ll be excited to know that you can! Not only can you freeze lemon zest, but the process of freezing it is easy and will give you flavorful citrus zest…
If you have too many lemons, you may have wondered “Can you freeze lemon juice?”. The answer is yes, and luckily, freezing lemon juice is easy! It’s always tempting to buy lemons in bulk instead of individually, because it’s so much more cost effective. However, if you’re not careful, you can be left with a…
How to stop avocados from turning brown is a common concern for anyone who loves this creamy, nutritious fruit. As most cooks know, once avocados are cut, they will quickly turn brown. This happens because avocados contain an enzyme called polyphenol oxidase, which will cause them to oxidize and darken when they come in contact with…
Today, let’s explore a variety of creative ways to make use of cooked rice in some of my favorite leftover rice recipes. What to do with leftover rice is something I ask myself all the time. We order Chinese, Indian and Thai takeout often and always have an extra container of cooked rice when we…
Let’s have a look at cooking with bay leaves. These little green leaves pack quite a punch when it comes to adding flavor and aroma to your recipes. Bay leaves are commonly used in soups and stews, sauces, and marinades, where they simmer alongside other ingredients. Whole bay leaves are most commonly used due to…
Learning how to devein shrimp is a necessary cooking tip for those who love to cook with shrimp. It’s the final step to make sure that your finished dish looks clean and restaurant quality. Sometimes, this task may have been done for you by the retailer where you purchased the shrimp. Other times, you will…
These basics will help you learn how to grill like a pro. Included are my top 25 grilling tips to make sure that your next barbecue is something your friends will rave about. It’s that time of the year again. One only has to be outside around 6 pm to smell the aroma of someone…
A few months back, I starting seeing a Florida avocado – a larger green skin avocado in my local supermarket called a “Slimcado.” It was marketed as having 35% fewer calories and 50% less fat than a Hass avocado. For those people who count calories or are concerned with fat intake, this Florida light green…
These 20 creative uses for extra large silicone ice cube trays show that they are not just for making ice! If you eat and drink out much, you may have noticed a new trend that has taken over the food and drink industry. The ice cubes are getting larger and larger. Large ice cubes are…
This recipe shows how to make a tamarind paste substitute at home with just four common ingredients. Tamarind paste is a product that is often called for in Thai cooking. It is also something that the average cook does not normally stock. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Some of the links…
How are your fudge-making skills? Do you end up with foolproof fudge that forms nice little parcels, or do you find it a challenge? The cooking tips below will help you make the perfect fudge every time! It’s hard to believe, after a summer of gardening, that the beginning of the holiday season is already…
Thanksgiving will soon be here and for many of us, that means pies will be featured on the dessert menu. These pie crust decorating ideas will take your Thanksgiving pies to a whole new level. Homemade pies have never looked as appealing as these beautiful and easy pie crust designs. With stenciled pie crust tops,…
An antipasto platter is a delicious combination of cheeses, vegetables and meats, usually served with good wines. It’s a great way to start an evening with friends and is very easy to put together. The holidays are filled with opportunities to gather with friends. What better way to start a party than with an antipasto…
Breakfast just got more fun with this playful idea for making eggs. If you are like me, you will have a whole host of cookie cutters that you rarely use. Put them to a creative use by making cookie cutter eggs. Breakfast is considered by many to be the most important meal of the day….
Do you wonder what to do with that large lump of hard brown sugar? These easy tips for softening brown sugar will have it soft and usable in no time at all. Here are 6 of my best tips to make brown sugar soft again, and suggestions for how to store it for a longer…
From making eggs with cookie cutters to whipping cream with a whisk and storing ginger in vodka, these 11 genius food hacks will make life in the kitchen more fun and cooking easier, too. Getting great food on the table doesn’t have to be a complicated process. Just take advantage of these simple DIY food…
One of my favorite vegetables is fresh corn on the cob. And one of my least favorite vegetables is corn on the cob with a lot of silk remnants sticking to it. Cooking corn in the microwave is the easy way to get silk-free corn every time! These easy tips show how easy it is…