Potato Pie

CLICK HERE TO WATCH RECIPE

      1. GRATE one frozen chicken breast
      2. SLICE one potato using potato peeler or mandolin
      3. SOAK potato in ice cold water, then drain
      4. ADD potato to chicken
      5. DICE one onion
      6. ADD one egg, salt, pepper, parsley, and other spices to taste
      7. MIX and put half mixture into a skillet
      8. PLACE slices of cheese on the mixture in the pot
      9. TOP the cheese with the other half of the mixture
      10. COVER and COOK on medium heat 12-15 minutes
      11. FLIP using a place as a helper
      12. COVER and COOK another 10 minutes

 

George Washington’s Egg Nog

Ingredients

    • For 1-2 servings:
    • 1 egg, room temperature
    • 1 level tablespoon sugar
    • 1/4 cup bourbon whiskey
    • 1/4 cup whipping cream
    • Nutmeg
  • For 3 quarts:
  • 1 dozen eggs, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 fifth bourbon whiskey
  • 1 quart whipping cream
  • Nutmeg

Directions

Break eggs and separate yolks from white. Beat whites of eggs until stiff. Beat whipping cream until stiff. Beat yolks of eggs to an even consistency, slowly adding sugar. Add whiskey slowly. Fold in beaten egg whites. Fold in whipped cream. Sprinkle with nutmeg.

Steak Cooking Tips

From Quora.com

 

I will tell you, but you might not like the answer.

I’m a cook, and I have cooked a lot of steaks, and everything the other answers say is true. A lot depends on the quality of the meat and the technique.

But there is one thing nobody has mentioned.

Once upon a time, I worked as a server in a restaurant that was known for the quality of their steaks. Steak night was a big deal, and always a full house.

The owner did the steaks himself, and he had a secret recipe for basting that he told me he got from a chef at a chain steakhouse. He wouldn’t tell me the recipe but I saw him add a bottle of Italian dressing, so I knew that was one of the ingredients.

We had a new cook, and one day she was filling the big stove salt shakers. She complained that the salt didn’t taste right, and wondered if it had gone bad, so I asked her where she got the salt from. She pulled a big jar off the top shelf, and showed it to me.

It said Monosodium Glutamate.

She read sodium on the label and mistook it for salt.

And instantly I knew the secret to the steaks.

So the next steak night I watched, and sure enough he reached for the MSG.

It makes a noticeable difference in the taste of meat, and it’s in a lot of prepared steak seasonings that you buy, but it might not be good for you. Personally, I don’t use it.

 

 

There are several reasons why steaks from restaurants often taste better than those cooked at home:

  1. Quality of Ingredients: Restaurants frequently source higher-quality cuts of meat, which can be more marbled and flavorful than what is typically available at home. They may also use specialty suppliers or dry-aged beef, enhancing flavor and tenderness.
  2. Seasoning: Restaurants often use more salt and seasoning than home cooks. Proper seasoning enhances the natural flavors of the meat. They may also marinate or brine the meat, adding depth to the flavor.
  3. Cooking Techniques: Professional chefs have access to commercial-grade equipment, such as high-temperature grills or broilers, which can achieve a nice sear and create a flavorful crust. They also often use techniques like reverse searing or sous-vide, which can improve tenderness and juiciness.
  4. Temperature Management: Restaurants usually have better temperature control, allowing them to cook steaks to the perfect doneness consistently, while home cooks might struggle with maintaining the right heat.
  5. Resting Time: Steaks are often allowed to rest after cooking in restaurants, which helps redistribute the juices for a more flavorful bite. Home cooks sometimes skip this step.
  6. Presentation and Accompaniments: The overall dining experience in restaurants includes presentation and sides that complement the steak, enhancing the overall flavor perception.
  7. Experience: Chefs have more experience and training in cooking techniques, flavor pairings, and timing, which can significantly affect the final product.

To replicate restaurant-quality steaks at home, consider investing in higher-quality meat, experimenting with seasoning and cooking techniques, and paying attention to details like resting time and temperature control.

 

 

 

Ok. Here’s what you do.

Go buy a good cut of steak like a T-bone that is approx 1” thick. Salt and pepper it and let it sit out while you prepare.

Chop some garlic and parsley and mix it up with a few tablespoons of butter. I don’t have measurements, You can’t screw this up.

Put a cast iron pan in the oven at 400 for 30 mins, get it really hot

Take it out and put it on the stove on medium

Put oil in the hot pan, like a two tablespoons

Put your steak in and set the timer for 2 mins.

Move quick, Flip to other side, 2 mins,

Flip again and cook 2 mins,

Flip again, cook for 2 mins.

Last flip, only one minute on this side.

This flipping creates the crust on the steak, the inside will still be rare/uncooked. Don’t fear.

Now, Put it on a plate and put your butter mixture on top of the steak and cover it completely with tin foil for 5 mins.

Now, time to savor….take a bite. Restaurant quality, better than restaurant quality. Yum yum yum.

Now take your heart medicine and cholesterol medicine so that you see another day.

Recipe courtesy of America’s Test Kitchen “how to cook a damn good steak” episode

Kay’s Fudge

  • Two squares of chocolate
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • Melt on low heat
  • Stir in one cup milk
  • Bring to boil
  • 3 cups sugar
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla
  • Pinch salt
  • Cooked to softball stage
  • Pour onto marble slab or sheet pan
  • Cool and Eat

Instant Pot Pot Roast

This is a note gathering page.  It has not yet been tested.

  • 2 LB pot roast
  • 1 large onion
  • olive oil
  • salt, pepper, onion, garlic, horseradish
  • potatoes
  • flour and butter
  1. Sear the roast on all sides
  2. Deglaze with 2 C stock, then add to instant pot
  3. Season:  salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, horseradish
  4. High Pressure 20 minutes per pound.  Slow release 15 minutes.
  5. Remove roast, and add potatoes
  6. Cook 5 minutes
  7. Remove potatoes
  8. Add 2 TBL flour mixed with 2 TBL butter
  9. Add to 1 C broth and cook until thickened.

 

 

Beatitudes Grilled Corn Salsa

Ingredients

  • 1 can Shoepeg Corn or baby corn
  • 1/4 red onion (diced)
  • 2 ripe tomatoes (seeds slightly removed and diced)
  • 1 whole jalapeño pepper (seeded and minced)
  • Sea salt and ground black pepper (to taste)
  • 2 medium limes, juiced
  • 1/3 cup fresh cilantro (chopped
  • Scant dill

Instructions

  • Grill corn in cast iron skillet with 1 TBL EVOO and 1 TBL butter
  • Add to bowl with remaining ingredients and stir.
  • Taste and adjust seasonings as needed, adding more salt, pepper, or lime juice for added flavor.
  • Serve immediately. Will keep covered in the fridge for several days, but is best when fresh.
 

Fried Dumplings

CLICK HERE for YouTube video from Simple, Fast and Delicious

  • 1.25 C of water (300 ml)
  • 3/4 C flour ( 120 g )
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon of butter or oil
  • 75 g feta cheese, gruyere, or mozzarella
  • some parsley some paprika
  • Other spices and fillings as desired
  1. Bring water up to a boil
  2. Add flour, salt and butter
  3. Stir till combined
  4. Continue to fold and knead over heat
  5. When springy, pinch off golfball-sized balls
  6. Flatten, and add filling
  7. Fold over, fixing edge with a fork
  8. Fry in peanut oil at 360º until browned

Tips and Tricks – December 2023

Microwave – Things it can do

https://news.lobandsmash.com/en/knew-microwave-things-never-capable?ly=native_one

Things We Never Knew Our Microwave Is Capable Of Doing
Brenda Miller

This article was originally published on RightLivin

Many of us use pretty much the same appliances in our kitchens. If we’re all about keeping things quick and convenient, then a microwave is usually a common appliance for heating food and defrosting, but it usually stops there. Yet, it turns out that our microwaves have so many uses, and many of us don’t know half of them. So in this article, we bring you some of the best uses for that wonderful appliance! Take a look, and by the end of it you’ll no doubt be throwing out everything in your kitchen except for that beloved microwave! (Okay, maybe not that far, but trust us – you’re going to be shocked).

Easily Remove Stamps From Envelopes
Did you ever find yourself struggling to take out a stamp that you mistakenly put on an envelope? If yes, then no need to despair. You should be able to use your microwave to help remove that stamp in no time, with a few simple steps.

​Easily Remove Stamps From Envelopes
Simply place the entire envelope in your microwave and turn the heat on to medium for 20 seconds. That should be enough to loosen the glue, so you can peel it right after.

​Regularly Disinfect Your Kitchen Sponge
Let’s be honest, too many of us forget to clean or to change kitchen sponges. But once you realize the number of germs that are probably growing on the bacteria heaven that your moist sponge is, you might want to clean it or change it more often.

​Regularly Disinfect Your Kitchen Sponge
Soak the sponge in some water and leave it for a few minutes. Afterward, place it in your microwave on medium heat for about two minutes. That should be enough time to clean it and, if you’re feeling fancy, add some drops of lemon to freshen it up.

Bring Some Life Back To Your Stale Bread
There is no reason to throw away your stale bread before you try this small trick. Take baguettes for example. They are definitely a favorite, but many people prefer to not buy them because they go stale pretty quickly.
​Bring Some Life Back To Your Stale Bread

Simply dampen a kitchen towel with some sprayed water, and place the bread into the towel. Then, put both in the microwave for ten seconds on high heat. This will add some needed moisture back to your loaf of bread.

Create Your Own Personal Kiln
In addition to cooking your food, your microwave could be much more helpful in other aspects of your life. For example, if clay pottery has always been something you’ve wanted to try, but you don’t really want to pay for the expensive classes, then just set up your own clay station at home.

To make your own kiln, try placing the clay items you’ve created in the microwave covered with some baking parchment. After a few minutes, the piece should be set and perfectly hardened.

Crisp Your Chips In The Microwave
Isn’t it just the worst when you excitingly grab your bag of chips and realize that someone left it open, so they’re all soggy? And since soggy chips really do take the whole fun out of it, how about trying to salvage those chips with your microwave?

Lay the chips on a paper towel and give them a good blast for a couple of seconds on really high heat. And just like that, your chips will be all crispy again.

Toast A Bunch Of Nuts
Let’s be honest, who doesn’t like a yummy bowl of toasted nuts? Though many of us end up not going for the snack due to how time-consuming they can be, just listen to this trick.

Pour half a teaspoon of vegetable or canola oil onto the microwave plate. Then, top it with one cup of nuts. Microwave it for a minute, stir, and then another minute until they are toasted. It should take you about three to eight minutes to be ready.

​Peel Tomatoes Or Peaches With Ease
This is for if you feel like eating some fresh veggies or fruit with their skin off. Or, perhaps you want to cook and you don’t feel like struggling to take their skin off.

For a quick and easy solution to take their skin off, you can place your tomatoes or peaches in the microwave for approximately 30 seconds on medium heat. Then, let the fruit stand for about two minutes before you begin peeling them.

Bring Your Dried Mascara Back To Life
While some people love applying makeup on a daily basis, other people may put it only once in a while. For those who only wear it occasionally, the mascara might get a little bit dry with time.

If you feel like it’s not time to toss it away yet and you’d like to bring it back to life, just put your mascara in the microwave for a couple of seconds, and voila!

Peel Garlic Easily
You may love or hate garlic, but there is no doubt that its wonderful flavor and uses are infinite. Still, sometimes it’s incredibly hard to peel them, which discourages anyone from using them.

If you’d like to make your life easier, then place a head of garlic in the microwave and heat it up for 15 seconds on medium heat. In no time, the skin will be loosened and you can easily peel it!

Prevent Those Tears The Next Time You Cut Onions
Cutting onions can be a huge mission, and while there are several hacks out there to prevent crying during the process, many of them can be pretty disappointing. So next time, try this one. Simply cut the onion’s root and take the tip off of it.

Then, microwave it for about 30 seconds on full heat. You can then begin cutting your onion, and your eyes should be safe.

Create Your Own Heating Pad
Heating pads are useful for a number of things – they heat us when it’s cold, and they really help out whenever a part of our body feels sore. Whatever the case is, there is no need to keep buying heating pads since you can simply and easily create your own.

Just grab a clean sock and fill it with a bunch of rice, sew up the top part, and make sure that nothing can escape. Then stick it in the microwave and ta-da! You’ve got a cheap and easy heating pad.

Bake An Entire Cake
For many of us baking a whole cake in the microwave is unheard of. But believe it or not, it’s possible, and it comes out absolutely yummy!

There are tons of recipes online for literally any kind of cake, but for most of them, all you need is some flour, oil, salt, and the milk of your preference. Some cocoa powder wouldn’t hurt either.

Cook Some Yummy S’mores
Who says that you need a bonfire or a barbeque to cook up some s’mores? It turns out that your microwave can easily do the job. Grab your sweet treat and put it in the microwave for as little as 15 seconds until you see the marshmallow puffing up.

Once it’s ready, you can take it out and top it off with your favorite crackers.

Get Your Solid Beauty Products Warmed Up
So many of us have full drawers or even cupboards with a ton of beauty products that we end up not using for years. And when you finally remember they’re there, they might no longer be as warm or as useful as they once were.

So if you’d like to warm up the products that have completely solidified because of the cold, just place them in the microwave for a couple of seconds and they’ll be all loosened up.

Shuck Your Corn In The Microwave
By using the microwave to shuck corn you could save a ton of time. It could sound a little bit too good to be true, but this trick is actually used by several chefs around the world. Start by cutting the stalk end of the corn but make sure to keep the husk intact.

Then, put it all into a microwave for about two to four minutes. Once it’s done, just grab your uncut end and shake it, in no time, you’ll see it all flying right out.

Speed Up The Soaking Time Of Your Beans And Lentils
Sometimes you may not be in the mood to soak up your lentils and beans for too long. Instead of waiting an entire night until they are properly soaked, put them in a microwave-safe bowl and cover them with water.

Add a little bit of baking soda to it and microwave it on high heat for about ten minutes. Afterward, leave the bowl for about 30 to 40 minutes, and then your dish will be ready to go.

Steam Your Veggies
Who says you need a fancy steamer or steamer basket to get your wonderful veggies steamed? The microwave works just as well and pretty quickly too. First, cut your vegetables the way you like them.

Then, put them in a microwavable bowl, cover them with a very thin layer of water and top it with some plastic wrap. Then, heat it up on high heat for a few minutes, and your veggies should be steamed!

Cooking Your Pasta Was Never So Easy
Though you may think that the microwave is not a place for your pasta, you might rethink that once you hear about this hack. All you need for it to work is your dry pasta, a bowl, and water.

Just put the amount of pasta you want in the pot, add the water until it’s all covered by a few inches, and then place the bowl in the microwave for two to three minutes more than what is suggested in the instructions.

Make Homemade Potato Chips
I mean, who doesn’t love some yummy homemade potato chips? And the best thing is that you can make your own if you have a microwave in hand. All you need is some potatoes cut as thin as possible. Then, toss them in the microwave with a little bit of olive oil and salt.

In order for it to work, just make sure that you place them in a single layer before you turn on the full heat for about four minutes. Once they’re cool, dig in!

Soften Old And Clumped Brown Sugar
Brown sugar doesn’t take that long to clump up, so if you ever experience this little glitch, use your microwave to find a solution.
​Soften Old And Clumped Brown Suga

Put your sugar in a bowl, cover the top part of your microwavable container with a damp kitchen towel, then, microwave it all for about 30 seconds at a time. In a few minutes, the clumps should be gone

​Cook Your Dish Of Corn On The Cob
Who would think that corn on the cob made in the microwave could taste so good? Apparently, it does, and you can easily make it at home.

If you’ve got some fresh corn on hand, simply remove all of the husks and silk, then add about two tablespoons of water into a place and put two full-sized cobs on it. Top it all with another plate and put them in the microwave for around five minutes.

Get Your Potting Soil Sterilized
Did you ever think that you could boost up your gardening situation with your microwave? It may be another hack that sounds weird to some, but it’s actually incredibly useful. To begin, get some soil in a resealable bag and add a bit of water.

Then, leave the bag open in the top part and put it in the center of your microwave. Heat it at about 180 to 200 degrees Fahrenheit for about three minutes and then seal the bag until it cools.

Cook Up Some Delicious Pieces Of Bacon
It’s undeniable that the smell of bacon is probably one of the best smells out there. They remind us of weekends and fun times, and they’re basically the perfect snack to go with anything.

If you want to cook it quickly, start by covering a dish with a paper towel, add the bacon in one layer, and then add some more sheets of paper on top of it. Microwave it for a few minutes and it should get perfectly crisp in no time.

Soften Up Your Ice Cream
The next time you crave some ice cream but feel discouraged after seeing that it’s frozen solid, think about this hack. Soften your ice cream by placing the entire pot in the microwave for a couple of seconds.

Or you could also put some water in a bowl, heat it up in the microwave, then put your spoon in it for a minute or so until you feel it warm. Then, you may eat your ice cream!

Dye Your Own Yarn At Home
While Kool-Aid is a refreshing drink, it can also serve as the perfect instrument for a DIY craft project. Save yourself some extra money by mixing some Kool-Aid powder with some water.

Choose the color you want to use for your yarn and add just enough yard to the mixture you created. Make sure that the entire thing is all covered up and then place it in the microwave for a couple of minutes.

Clean And Disinfect Your Cutting Boards
Cutting boards are great and incredibly useful, but they’re another item in our kitchen that we often forget to clean properly. If you’d like an easy way to keep them germ-free, there are a few hacks you could try.

One of them could start with cutting a lemon in half, and begin rubbing the halves on the board. Then, put them in the microwave on medium heat and leave them for a minute. That will leave it smelling fresh and germ-free.

Make A Homemade Proofing Oven For Baking Bread
Proofing ovens may cost hundreds of dollars, so if you’d like to make one of your own with the help of tools that you already have at home, then listen to this one: first, heat up a cup of water in your microwave for just a few minutes.

Let it become steamy and then place the dough inside and let it proof. And that’s it, your bread will be ready to be enjoyed.

Make Some Poached Eggs
Many of us have mastered the art of making scrambled and boiled eggs, but what about those yummy poached eggs? It can be really tricky to make them, but if you use your microwave you may be able to find a simple solution to the situation.

Put a third of a cup of water in a bowl, splash some vinegar, crack an egg into the water and then prick the egg yolk with a toothpick. Once you cover the top of the bowl with some plastic wrap, place it all in the microwave for a minute, and voila!

Bake A Batch Of Brownies
Seriously, everyone loves brownies – so how about learning a quicker way to make the fudgiest and most chocolatey goodies? Instead of spending hours baking, simply melt some butter in a bowl, add sugar, cocoa, some eggs, and flour.

Mix it all up and, after pre-greasing a microwavable dish, add it to the microwave. In five minutes your brownies will be ready!

Make Your Own Cloud
If you have kids and you often find yourself looking for new ways to entertain them, then make this your next homemade science project. Grab a bar of Ivory Soap, place it on a microwavable plate, and heat it on high heat for about two minutes.

You’ll see the soap bar expanding right in front of you and in a second an entire cloud will be created.

Put A Stop To Explosions In The Microwave
No one loves explosions in the microwave, especially when they result in a huge amount of time cleaning up afterward. There is a very simple way to prevent them from happening though.

When you heat up things such as potatoes, tomatoes, or squash, take a knife or a fork and pierce a few holes before heating them up. This will allow the steam to escape while it heats up

Enhance The Taste Of Lemons
Many people may not know that putting your lemons in the microwave for a little bit should make its taste much stronger than usual

Just put it in the microwave for a few seconds, but make sure to not leave it for long as the lemon could explode. While the lemon is still warm, roll it along the side and the juices should beautifully flow inside.

Make Some French Toast
For the best microwavable french toast put some butter in a mug and melt it in the microwave, then add some nutmeg, maple syrup, cinnamon, milk, and of course, an egg. Mix it all up and start adding pieces of bread to it.

Once it’s all combined, let it absorb a bit, put it in the microwave for about 70 seconds until it’s solid, and enjoy.

Clean Your Microwave
So many of us use our microwaves on a daily basis and barely give them the deep clean they deserve. Instead of spending hours scrubbing it, cut a lemon, and squeeze it into a bowl of water.

Then, place each lemon half in the bowl and put it in the microwave. Heat it all for five minutes and all the dirt and gunk will be loosened up for you to wipe off.

​Get The Juice Out Of Any Citrus Fruit
Make sure that you get all the juice out of your citrus fruit the next time you make some freshly squeezed juice. Put the oranges, limes, or lemons in the microwave for about 10 to 20 seconds to gently warm it up.

That will allow it to release much more juice once you begin squeezing it. Just make sure you don’t leave it in the microwave for too long.

Test Your Container Before Putting It In The Microwave
Grab a cup or pot that you know for sure to be safe for the microwave and fill it with water. Then, place the cup or pot in a new container without putting the water in it.

Afterward, microwave both pots at once for a couple of minutes until the water begins to boil. Touch the new container with care, and if it’s hot or warm, then you might not want to put it in the microwave again.

Get Your Coconut Oil To Liquify
Coconut oil is one of those immensely useful ingredients – though it can be a total pain when it solidifies. Once it’s solid, it can be really annoying and hard to use, be it for cooking or for adding it to your beauty routine.

To make it liquid again, just put it in the microwave on high heat for a few seconds and it should be ready to go!

Make Home-Made Pickles
If you’re a fan of pickles then try to use this hack to start making your own! Grab a microwavable bowl, add some celery seeds, sugar, vinegar, turmeric, onion, mustard seeds, and a pinch of salt. Combine it and add in the cucumber slices.

Put it all in the microwave for seven or eight minutes, while stirring it at least twice in between. And just like that, you’ve made pickles.

Make The Easiest Scrambled Eggs
Scrambled eggs are easy and great, but they often require way too much effort to clean up after. To change this, just use your microwave. Crack a few eggs into a mug, whisk them up with a fork, add some seasoning and a splash of milk, then place it in the microwave for 45 seconds.

Take it out, mix it, and add it for another 45 seconds and you’re done.

Soften Crystallized Honey
Honey can be the best way to sweeten up your food while adding some very important nutrients to your diet. But when it becomes crystalized with the cold or with time, then use your microwave to soften it up.

Just microwave it for a couple of seconds and in no time the crystals will all have melted leaving you with a flowing pot of honey.

Froth Your Milk
Milk frothers are great and all but you don’t actually need them if you have a microwave. Just pour some milk into a jar and screw the lid on it. Shake the jar for about 40 to 50 seconds until you see that the milk has doubled its size.

Then, remove the lid and microwave it for about 30 seconds and your milk will be perfectly frothed.

Make A DIY Medical Compress
Hot compresses can be really useful to treat ear infections, sore and tired muscles, and sinus congestions. So instead of heading to the store to buy one – make your own.

Grab a wet towel, fold it up, and put it in a ziplock bag. Place it in the microwave with the ziplock open, and microwave it for two minutes. Then, take it out, seal the bag, wrap it in another towel and you’ve got your compress.

Warm Up Your Dishes
Here’s a sneaky trick that restaurants do that we bet none of you even noticed.
​So to recreate that restaurant atmosphere, put your empty dishes in the microwave and heat them for a minute or two before you begin serving up your meal. That will allow your food to stay warm for longer when you have your homemade fine dining experience.

Pre-Cook Your Meals Before You Grill Them
Grilling veggies can take forever, and sometimes you just want them ready to eat in no time. So to speed things up, pierce your potato, bell pepper, or whatever vegetable you’d like to grill with a fork, and put it in the microwave for a couple of minutes.

Then, add them to the grill and the vegetables should take much less time to get ready.

Make Crispy French Fries
After a day or two, french fries become so soggy that the excitement of eating them simply goes away. But instead of throwing them away, what if we told you that you could “revive” them?

Just lay them out evenly on a piece of paper towel, then sprinkle some vegetable oil and place it in the microwave for about ten minutes. Then remove them and let them rest for a bit until they are crisped up.

Clean Up Candle Wax
Burning a candle can be incredibly calming, and it can fill your entire home with a wonderful scent to your home. But when the wax starts getting everywhere, it can be really annoying to remove it from your candle holders.

But again, do not despair, just place the holders in the microwave for a bit and that should make it easy to take it all off.

Cook Special Fish Dishes
Cooking fish may feel a little weird at first, especially if you don’t do it often. So if you’d like to try to take things slowly, simply wrap your fish in a plastic wrap that can be microwaved.

Leave it for a few minutes in the microwave until the fish is cooked to perfection. If you put a few herbs with some lemon slices, your fish will seriously be delicious.

​Speed Up Your Dinner
Instead of cooking those TV dinners in the microwave, literally any meal could be sped up by using the microwave. You can steam, poach, heat things up, but always remember to stir it and to check it regularly, especially if it’s liquid-like soups and sauces.

Also, you need to make sure to take the food out a couple of minutes before it’s completely cooked.

Make Some Parmesan Wafers
Parmesan wafers are perfect to spice things up when you don’t feel like the usual chips. To make them, just cover a plate with parchment paper and cover it all with the thinnest layer of Parmesan.

Then, turn it on on full power for about 30 seconds and you’ll see them becoming brown. Remove them and there it is, you’ve got some parmesan wafers.

​Dry Out Almost Any Herb
One of the best ways to impress anyone in the kitchen is by making your own aromatic herbs. And while you may think that it will take forever to get that to the right point, it doesn’t have to. Lay the herbs on a kitchen towel and microwave them for 30 seconds.

Then, flip them over and add them for another 30 seconds. Continue flipping and microwaving them for some five minutes until they are dry.

Things to know about Bread

This information from BetterReport.com
Visit that site if you want details about these tips.

It’s Made with 100% Whole Grains

Packaging should clearly say that the bread is “100% whole wheat.”

It Contains at Least 3 Grams of Protein

When grains are not processed, they keep all three layers of the plant: the endosperm, bran, and germ. But in refining flour, the bran and the germ are removed, taking away the highest concentrations of protein found in the grains.

It Has at Least 2 Grams of Fiber Per Slice

You should consume 25 to 30 grams of fiber daily as part of a balanced diet.

It Has a Moderate Amount of Sodium

Too much sodium can cause high blood pressure and dehydration, so look for a loaf with less than 160 mg of sodium per slice.

It’s Sourdough

The process results in a more easily digestible product, reduction of phytic acid content, improvement in nutritional value, and metabolic benefits through a lower glycemic index.

It Has a Short Ingredients List

A shorter list indicates a lack of additives and preservatives that may be found in less nutritious breads.

It Has Little to No Added Sugar

It Contains Nuts and Seeds

Healthy nuts and seeds can increase a bread’s nutritional value by being good sources of healthy unsaturated fats, fiber, protein, vitamins, minerals, and plant compounds.

Pumpkin Pudding

Ingredients

  • ½ C packed brown sugar
  • 1/4 C cornstarch
  • 1 egg
  • 1 ½ C unsweetened dairy-free milk
  • 1 C pumpkin puree
  • 1 old banana
  • 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
    • OR:  2 tsp CinnaSugar plus ¼ tsp ground ginger
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Mix brown sugar and cornstarch in a bowl, removing all lumps.
  • Add to a medium saucepan and slowly whisk in milk until combined
  • Mix an egg and banana with half the pumpkin puree
  • Put into saucepan, and whisk again until combined.
  • Add the other half and mix till combined
  • Place pot on medium-high heat and continuously whisk until mixture has thickened enough to coat a spoon, this will take about 5-7 minutes.
  • Remove pot from the heat and whisk in spices and vanilla.
  • Pour pudding into a glass bowl and let rest 10 minutes.
  • Serve warm or refrigerate an hour.
  • Serve cold
 

 

Pumpkin Soup 2023

Ingredients

  • 1 can white beans (15 ounce, rinsed and drained)
  • 1 onion (small – minced)
  • 1 cup bottled water
  • 16 oz pumpkin puree (NOT Pumpkin Pie Mix)
  • 16 oz vegetable or chicken broth
  • 1/2 teaspoon thyme (or tarragon)
  • salt and pepper (optional, to taste)

Directions

  1. Wash hands with soap and water.
  2. Blend white beans, onion, and water.
  3. Run blended mixture through a food mill using smallest holes
  4. In a soup pot, mix all ingredients
  5. Cover and cook over very low heat 30 minutes minutes.

100 Great Tips

This guy is extremely obnoxious, but knows his stuff.  Here are 100 tips, and GUARANTEED you’ll take away at least ten.  My favorites are shown below the video image.

      • For plastic wrap, use what is called a Cater Wrap.  Put extra large plastic wrap on the counter, set the container on it, and bring the ends up to cover the container.
      • Rest your steak for a full ten minutes, rather than five minutes.  This will give the juices more opportunity to reabsorb.
      • When shelling hard boiled eggs, roll them to fracture the shell, then soak in ice water for ten minutes.
      • When zesting citrus, hold the zester firmly, then rotate the citrus to remove the zest.
      • Spread Saran Wrap or waxed paper on the counter when peeling something.  To clean up, just gather the corners and toss into the garbage.
      • For a better sear, salt your protein and refrigerate overnight.
      • When trimming the fat cap off meat, put it into a container and then freeze. When you get about a quart, render it down, strain, and store.  Beef fat is pure gold.
      • To halve a massive number of cherry tomatoes, put onto a lid (like  a yogurt container) and top with another lid.  Cut in between lids to halve the tomatoes.
      • To hold your chives together, wrap a wet paper towel around the roots.  This will gather the stalks together for an even trim.  After you cut them, store them in a plastic bag.  The moist towel will preserve the chives.  When you are ready for more chives, cut the ends, the rewet the paper towel.
      • Use a mandolin for equal thin slices.  You can get an inexpensive one on Amazon for under $20.
      • To get your Sloppy Joe hamburger nicely sized, use a potato masher to get standard sized pieces.
      • Salt your sliced tomatoes before putting on your hamburger.
      • When you have wet dough on your fingers, just use some dry flour to rub most of it off, then wash with a bit of soap and water.
      • Use a 1/4 inch wire rack to dice hard boiled eggs into small equal pieces.
      • To make fruits and vegetables last longer, rinse 3-5 minutes in a bath of 3 parts water, and 1 part vinegar (or 2 TBL citric acid.)
      • Create a cartoush – NEED MORE INFORMATION – Use parchment paper or coffee filter, fold, fold, fold, fold, cut the point off, then put in our pot.
      • Something about garlic – WATCH THE VIDEO AGAIN
      • To shred chicken, use an electric mixer
      • Cook thighs, rather than breasts, for a moister chicken.
      • If your cooking oil gets too hot, just put some room temperature oil into the hot pot.

THIS IS NOT MY WORK, WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE FOR THE TIPS

 

Easy Baked Chicken

Base Recipe Contributed by Patti Neill from Beatitudes Campus, Phoenix.

INGREDIENTS

      • 2 Chicken Breasts – Butterfly and pound flat
      • 1/4 C buter – melted
      • 1/2 C Parmesan cheese
      • 1/2 C Panko breadcrumbs
      • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
      • 10-16 oz marinara or Alfredo sauce
      • Mozzarella Cheese

Alfredo Sauce – – – – Marinara Sauce – – – – Scratch Marinara

      1. Preheat oven to 350º
      2. Line a baking tray with foil, then spray with cooking oil
      3. Mix together Parmesan, Panko, garlic powder
      4. Melt butter and pour into a shallow bowl
      5. Dip chicken into the butter
      6. Dredge into the bred crumb mixture, pressing into the chicken
      7. Place on baking tray
      8. Bake for 20 minutes
      9. Spoon sauce over the chicken
      10. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese thickly over the top
      11. Put back into oven for 10 more minutes
      12. Serve over cooked spaghetti and cover with more sauce and cheese

 

 

Crispy Parmesan Egg

  1. PREP for TWO PEOPLE
    1. Shred hashed browns – I prefer Yukon gold potatoes
    2. Shred 1/2 C mozzarella cheese
    3. Grate 2 TBL Parmesan cheese (even the green bottle is OK)
    4. Mix cheeses in a small mixing bowl
    5. Break one egg each in small bowls for quick deployment
    6. Put 2 TBL water into a small bowl also for quick deployment
  2. COOKING THE HASHED BROWNS
    1. Cook hashed browns in a lightly oiled skillet
    2. Flip till browned
    3. Put onto plate – the next step goes quickly
  3. COOKING THE EGGS
    1. Re-oil skillet
    2. Put half cheese mixture in two piles onto skillet
    3. Put one egg onto each pile
    4. Add the water and cover skillet
    5. Start timing two minutes
    6. At the two-minute mark, remove the cover
    7. Evaluate eggs.  Whites should be cooked – just barely though
      • NOTE:  They will appear to be less cooked than they really are.  Don’t cook for more than another 30 seconds, or the yolk will be hard.
    8. Use teflon spatula to remove eggs to the top of your hashed browns

Mrs. Fields Chocolate Chip Cookies

Mrs. Fields Chocolate Chip Cookies

 

Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup dark brown sugar packed
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup salted butter cold and small cubed
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips plus more for garnish

Instructions

  • Prepare two baking sheets by lining them with parchment paper, then set them aside.
  • In a bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set this aside.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment or in a large bowl with an electric hand mixer, add the brown sugar, white sugar, and cubed butter. Mix until the ingredients are just combined (it should be almost like a sandy consistency with lumps).
  • Next, add the eggs and vanilla extract to the mixture, and mix until everything is well combined.
  • Add the flour mixture to the bowl and mix until there are no streaks of flour remaining. Mix on low or else the flour will fly everywhere. Be careful not to overmix, and remember to scrape the sides of the bowl if needed.
  • Gently stir in the chocolate chips until they are evenly distributed throughout the dough.
  • Take about ¼ cup portions of the dough (I use a spring loaded cookie scoop to help with this) and roll them between your hands to form balls. Place the dough balls about 3 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. Note: if you don’t have enough room in your refrigerator for a couple of sheet trays, just put all the cookie dough balls on one baking sheet and then once they’ve chilled, distribute them evenly on your other prepared baking sheets.
  • Put the cookie dough balls into the refrigerator and let them chill for 30 minutes. While the dough is chilling, preheat the oven to 300°F.
  • Once the dough has chilled, take the sheet trays out of the refrigerator and bake for 22-25 minutes until the cookies are puffed and the edges start to turn golden brown.
  • As soon as the cookies are done baking, transfer them from the sheet trays to the countertop. You can use the parchment paper to help slide them off the tray.
  • This next step is optional. If you want to really “fancy up” your cookies (as shown in the pictures) you can press additional chocolate chips on top of each one while they are still warm.
  • Allow the cookies to cool slightly before serving.
  • Serve slightly warm but let them cool completely before storing.

Two Spring Roll Peanut Dipping Sauce

Easy Spring Roll Peanut Dipping Sauce

    1. Sesame Oil in small soup pan – 1 TBL
      • Heat
    2. Granulated garlic (or garlic powder) 1 tsp
      • Stir
    3. Peanut butter – 2 TBL
    4. Hoisin sauce – 2 TBL OR
    5. Corn starch  and sugar (1 TBL each) suspended in
      Apple Cider vinegar and Soy Sauce mixture – 1 TBL each

      • Stir
    6. Water – 3/4 C
      • Bring to near boil
      • Stir till it thickens
    7. Crushed peanuts – 1/2 C
      Optional 1 tsp Sriracha

      • Stir in, and serve

Easier Spring Roll Peanut Dipping Sauce

    • 2 TBL Peanut Butter
    • 2 TBL Hoisin Sauce
    • 1/4 C Milk

Tips for Spring Rolls

    1. Spring roll wrappers should be dipped in water for no more than 5 seconds
    2. When wrapping, place wrapper rough side down or it will stick to the surface
    3. Don’t over-stuff your spring rolls.  Cut pieces to no more than 4 inches
    4. Common stuffings are
      • mint
      • cilantro
      • shredded carrots
      • bean sprouts
      • shrimp
      • shredded cabbage
      • vermicelli noodles
      • rice noodles
      • cucumber strips
      • shredded radish
      • asparagus spears

Tips and Tricks – July 2023

From AARP Bulletin

  • GROCERY
    • When buying berries in a plastic box, flip the box over.  They should not stick to the lid of the box – which indicates excessive moisture and may be molding soon.
    • Have two shopping lists:  (1) Critical things you need for the coming week and (2) things you may need in the next month or two – buy those items when on sale, and stock up.
    • Use a grocery store’s app whenever possible.  Most discounts are showing on apps, not necessarily on paper or on the shelves.
    • Try store brands.
    • Use online coupons
  • TRAVEL
    • Try Amtrak for shorter trips
    • Use night owl deals, and try to book flights on Sunday
    • Don’t buy your tickets at the last minute
    • Use Uber rather than car rentals
    • Comparison shop for vacation homes – AirBNB, Booking.com, VRBA, HiChee.com, etc
    • Watch for increased charges on Cruise ships
    • eMail independent hotels to negotiate price
    • Venture a mile or two from the main highway for lower restaurant prices.  You can also check RoadFood.com, TripAdvisor, Yelp, and FourSquare
    • Rent a timeshare from someone who can’t use it.  RedWeek.com, Koala and Timeshare Users Group
  • Use AARP Member Benefits
    • Restaurants:  Denny’s, Outback, etc offer up to 15% discounts
    • Target Optical, LensCrafters and Glasses.com offer discounts
    • Optum Rx gives discounts for prescriptions
    • Hotels give up to 20% off
    • UPS Store gives 5% off shipping
    • FTD and Proflowers give 25% off
    • 53% discount on Norton Identity Protection
    • Going in a group?  Call to ask for quantity discount
  • OTHER TIPS
    • Get Coffee Grounds for your garden from Starbucks
    • Use groceries as seeds:  Onions, potato eyes, scallions, celery bottoms, etc
    • Host a plant swap
    • Get a Culture Pass from your local library
    • Buy your own modem and router rather than renting from your provider
    • Tolerate ads on Streaming TV programs
    • Buy a used mobile phone rather than buying the latest and greatest
    • Get eBooks for free at loc.gov/collections/world-digital-library

Dahl Restaurant Gazpacho

From Arizona A to Z

  • 64 oz Campbells Tomato Juice (cold)
  • In food processor place
    • 1 C chopped celery
    • 1 C English cucumber
    • 1 C green pepper
    • 1 C red bell pepper
    • 1 C yellow bell
    • 2 jalapeno peppers – seeds and veins removed
    • 1/2 C red onion
  • Put in bowl with tomato juice
  • Add
    • 2 TBL tomato paste
    • 2 TBL lime juice
    • 2 TBL sherry vinegar
    • 2 TBL freshly minced garlic
    • 1/2 tsp Thunder Powder
  • Minced cilantro
  1. Put into bowl
  2. Put in pieces of avocado
  3. Drizzle with EVOO
  4. Top with cilantro
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