Cooking Basics

Walnut oil is a specialty oil that is best used on salads, desserts and pasta. It is known for its rich flavor and for being sensitive to heat. When walnut oil is heated it can take on a bitter...

Eggplants often develops brown spots when you cut into the vegetable to prepare it for cooking. It discolors quickly so cut it just before using for cooking. When buying eggplants avoid ones with...

The boysenberry has a sweet, rich flavor and is a hybrid of a blackberry and a loganberry or red raspberry. It's ideal for canning to preserve the flavors throughout the year. This large,...

Few things are better than a freshly cooked Northern Pike, but those Y-bones can be a challenge to remove. Luckily, you have a few methods to choose from. With a few simple tools, it won't be long...

Thanksgiving is here, you've got your turkey thawed and your bowl of stuffing prepared. Then you remember: you don't own turkey trussing picks! How can you fudge your way through stuffing and...

We have a family of six and I have a hard time getting food to stretch all month. Whether you are on a fixed income or get food stamps....food is hard to come by sometimes. I want to give you some...

Spaghetti squash is nutritious, delicious, and easy to cook, but cutting spaghetti squash can be a huge challenge. Although the task may seem difficult, the subtle flavor of fresh spaghetti squash...

Making raw tofu is a task that might seem beyond your reach at first, until you consider that it's a lot like making many simple, soft cheeses. If you've ever made your own ricotta, queso fresco,...

Fennel seeds, both whole and ground, are a spice commonly used in European, Asian, and Mediterranean cuisines. Some of the world's most well-known spice blends feature fennel prominently. Unlike...

Making bread from scratch is a sure way to impress anyone at your dinner table, especially now at the big holiday pig-out time. If you are looking to impress your in-laws/future in-laws or are you...

Lump charcoal burns hotter and cleaner than standard briquettes, which are often made with charcoal dust, sawdust and other binders and chemicals. Making your own charcoal is also handy if you...

London Broil is sometimes referred to as a steak, but it is actually a top round roast. As a roast, London Broil tends to be tougher in texture when cooked quickly on the grill. Preparing the meat...

The ultimate in green living is to use up what you already have rather than buying new "stuff" all the time. Often, just by taking a closer look at what you already own, you can find...

Recipes can receive a patent. However, there are several steps that must be taken to determine whether the recipe is a patentable item. A recipe would be considered an invention and would have to...

Are you a fabulous cook? Do your friends often ask you for your recipes? Is cooking a passion to you? Start your own at home cooking business! The steps below will give you the tools and help...

Cooked foods sitting overnight....dented cans from the grocery store....You're the one who should be waving the "white flag" NOT the bacteria who are swarming all over the stuff in this...

Many people are sensitive to gluten and must discover the benefits of a gluten-free diet. People suffering from Celiac disease and Dermatitis Herpetiformis must avoid all gluten. Others may be...

Sheep have been domesticated for thousands of years for the use of their meat and for their milk to drink and make cheese. Sheep's milk can be made into many varieties of cheese, from soft to hard...

Barbecuing is method of cooking that subjects thick cuts of meat to relatively low temperatures for an extended period of time. Barbecuing takes longer than grilling, which involves cooking thin...

In tough economic times it's important to have a good family food storage. Building your food storage takes money and time but it can be achieved even while living on a tight budget.

Summer is all about the beach, the backyard and most importantly, the barbecue! But while you’re having fun in the sun, don’t let your meat overcook and burn on the grill! Here is how to cook your...

Pasta is a food that everyone loves, but most diets forbid it. As long as it is eaten in moderation, pasta is a nutritious food that can be made at home with wheat in order to be low in...

My Dad told me a story about when he was a kid, his sister would make pies and she would serve them to my Dad and his brothers and would ask them how they liked the pie. After they finished eating...

If you want to make juicy hamburger patties, look no further. This guide should help you understand how to keep those burgers just right. Everyone's tasted far too many dry burgers that taste...

Cider vinegar has been around for centuries. In that time, it has been said to cure everything from sore throats to migraines, as well as add flavor to cooking and drinks. It is not difficult to...

To properly stock a food pantry takes planning and preparation. You don't want to find out in the middle of an emergency situation that you forgot some crucial food item for your family.

If you've ever stood at the refrigerator door, asking yourself "What's for dinner?", then you need to keep reading. There are ways to be a weekly menu planner so that you can gain back...

You are cooking dinner and turn your back for a moment. The next thing you know there is a pan bubbling. You rush to take it off the stove and remove the item from the pan. Too late! Some of it...

Everyone knows there’s going to be an apocalypse. If it’s not zombies (and really, why wouldn’t it be zombies?), it will be something. Few people are going to survive the initial wave of...

This caramel recipe is for someone who owns a candy store and makes their own candy. With this recipe you can add a lot of different candy pieces to your candy line.

You will need to measure 2 cups of sugar 1/4 cup of corn syrup and 3/4 cup of water in a 2 quart sauce pan. Insert a candy thermometer and cook till temperature reaches 300 degrees. Imediatly take...

Onions are one of the most popular and delicious fresh vegetables used in cooking and a key ingredient in many dishes. But the side effects of unpleasant odor and irritation to the eyes make...

Horseradish is easy to grow and easy to harvest, but because of the strong fumes, preserving it is a bit of a challenge.

Raising honey bees and harvesting honey can be a lucrative business or even a part-time sideline. Honey bees require care and maintenance but a lot less than other farm animals or pets. Another...

Running a restaurant during business hours can be either daunting or easy as pie. The key is having a staff who know what their jobs are and do them well. Taking the time to train people is an...

George Washington dined well, and entertained and fed all who came to visit him at his Mount Vernon home with great hospitality. Nearly everything served at the Washington table was produced right...

A well-prepared buttercream is useful for more than just cakes. It's slightly sweet, smooth texture makes it perfect for topping any confection. It makes a wonderful topping for breads and scones,...

There are several reasons an individual might choose to begin a gluten-free diet. Gluten is the protein found in wheat or other similar grains. Some people suffer from gastrointestinal problems...

Many people suffer from poor eyesight as a result of aging, accident or disease. Their lives may be impaired by it, including working in the kitchen. If poor vision is getting in the way of your...

Compared to how the majority of our ancestors lived, we are all rank beginners in practicing a thrifty or frugal lifestyle. They really knew how to squeeze a nickel back then! I have a lot of...

The price of food continues to rise, an estimated 7% this year alone, and you need ideas for how to afford the foods you love. One very good idea, that our ancestors knew well, is to stock your...

Macadamia trees came to Hawaii in 1882. Now the state grows most of the world's supply of macadamia nuts. Considered a delicacy, these nuts are in high demand despite their elevated cost. You can...

Whether you are lost in a jungle in Thailand or are making a fancy dessert from scratch, a young coconut can be a tasty, nutritious source of food. The challenge is getting these things open,...

Taking down an arctic caribou in Alaska or the Canadian tundra is not like white tail deer hunting in Pennsylvania. A 1000-pound animal requires lots of work to clean, butcher and preserve the...

Muscadine jelly is the grape jelly for grown ups and many children like it too. A bit more tart than jelly made with Concord grapes, Muscadine jelly is simple to make at home with basic cooking...

Milling your own grains into flour is a very rewarding experience. Not only do you get a better tasting flour, but you can also make a bread that has all of the nutrients still left in it. The...

Corning raw meat in salt brine is a time-honored method of preserving meats. Corned beef is preserved this way. The procedure is not too difficult, but it takes about three weeks to accomplish the...

Before the invention of tin cans and food processing or vacuum packers and freezers, most homemakers preserved food by canning. Canned food requires no special storage temperatures other than...