Cooking & Baking

When our Grand-kids visit they always check out what's in the cookie jar. Drop butterscotch cookies are always one of their favorites. Funny but they seem to like these cookies with a bottle of...

You've probably seen the commercially available vacuum sealers on TV, or maybe you own one. They work pretty well but you have to break it out every time to use it and that can be slow. What if...

Erythritol is a natural and low-glycemic sweetener. Studies show that it does not have the same effect as regular sugar on tooth enamel or blood sugar, and that it doesn't cause indigestion the...

Raw tomatoes can be frozen sliced, chopped, pureed, or whole, and peeled or unpeeled. You can also freeze them cooked. Frozen tomatoes do not remain solid when thawed; therefore are not suitable...

Ever wondered how those fancy professional bakers have managed to have such a graceful steady hand while piping out those elegant warm messages across a cake in completely flimsy frosting? If...

Boiled peanuts are a longtime Southern tradition prepared by simply boiling raw, shelled peanuts for hours in salty water. By the end of the process, the peanut shells are soggy and the peanuts...

Many people do not realize that they can freeze mashed potatoes for use in pierogies. You can freeze and reheat them to use as a side dish for regular meals. Freezing leftover mashed potatoes will...

Fish is a produce that needs to be frozen and unfrozen with care. Fish can easily go bad and can make you sick if you eat. But doing it the right way is really not that hard.

After you prepare your holiday helping of fudge this season, keep in mind proper storage of your treats to make sure that they stay fresh. Whether you plan to give your fudge as gifts to friends...

Peanuts are a tasty, nutritious snack---although they are high in fat, they're also packed with protein. "Raw" peanuts are defined as peanuts that have not been cooked or roasted; they differ from...

Some eggs can be stored safely in a freezer if the proper preparation method is used. Stored eggs should always be defrosted in a refrigerator before using. Defrosting eggs in a refrigerator will...

Ginger has served humans with its culinary and medicinal uses for over 4,000 years, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, and growth or purchase of this edible rhizome will...

If hunting season has rewarded you with more venison than you can use right away, consider freezing it for future use. Ground venison will store well in the freezer for about five months, while...

You can enjoy the flavor and nutrients of fresh fruit long after they have gone out of season by properly storing the fruit in your freezer. Freezing and storing fruit at home is a simple process...

Storing food in your freezer is great—buy now eat later; but your food will be difficult to eat later if it’s dried out, hard, or a funny color. Nobody likes food with freezer burn. It becomes...

The ability to freeze spinach dips depends on the ingredients used. Most spinach dips are dairy-based, which would make freezing and thawing problematic. For example, a cream cheese-based dip,...

It's that time of year when we are all preparing large dinners ,or helping to prepare. Whether you have all the new up-to-date equipment, or actually still believe in the old fashion ,hands on...

The technique of quick freezing or 'flash freezing' food was invented by Clarence Birdseye in the early 1900s---a technique that revolutionized the frozen food industry. You can access this same...

Freeze drying is a form of food preservation that removes all of the moisture from the food. Freeze drying food is a popular method because it doesn't have much of an fan effect on taste, and...

Ginger is one of those versatile spices that adds an extra punch of flavor to both sweet and savory dishes. It's healthy too, says the George Mateljan Foundation's World's Healthiest Foods. Ginger...

Deviled Eggs is a dish that is used as an excellent side dish. Eggs are such a wonderful staple, and they are used to make several, no many, many dishes. This is my favorite. They can be eaten...

Ginger has been used in Asia and the Middle East since ancient times as a cooking spice and healing herb. If you are using fresh ginger for tea or in recipes, you may already know that a little...

Kidney beans are named for their kidney shape, and are often used in soup and chili for their hearty, meaty texture. Freezing kidney beans is an easy way to preserve cooked beans for long periods...

Bottled lemon juice is convenient, but it contains artificial flavoring and other chemicals. Also, it could expire before you are ready to use it. Keeping fresh lemons is not always feasible, and...

It is very important to keep food fresh. Food in the refrigerator can spoil and food in the freezer can get freezer burn, which ruins the food. Vacuum sealing the food is the best way to keep it...

Growing your own tomatoes, or buying tomatoes in bulk, can save money and provide you with the freshest, best vegetables. However, having so many tomatoes lying around can cause a problem if you...

Save fennel bulbs for up to six months in the freezer for use beyond the harvest season. Carefully seal and store your fennel bulbs to protect their flavor and texture from the elements of your...

Freezing fresh basil leaves is a great way to preserve them for future use. This method of freezing is so simple it can be done in a matter of minutes. Never let those fresh herbs go to waste...

Glassware makes cooking easy, whether it is on the stove top or in the oven. Glassware is durable and can withstand high heat. It is also a safe alternative to Teflon-coated pots and baking...

Beets are a type of root vegetable that grows in cool temperatures, especially the fall and spring. Although canned beets are available in grocery stores all year long, they don't have the same...

When you find yourself with an excess of milk in the refrigerator, you don't have to let it go to waste. Freeze your milk in glass bottles with secure lids. Generally, milk is safe to freeze for...

Apricots are small pale orange fruits with a slight outer covering of fuzz. If you have an excessive amount of apricots that you cannot eat before they spoil, you can preserve them for another...

Cakes are easier to frost and cut when they have spent some time in the freezer. Crumbs are less likely to come off during both frosting and torting, or cutting into layers.

Apple butter is a sweet, smooth, spicy spread made from apples. There is no butter in apple butter; it gets its name from the smooth texture and the way it spreads so nicely on buttered toast....

Freeze drying is a popular way to preserve fruits and vegetables. It is also easy to do at home with just a few simple tools.

This easy recipe idea makes a great warm quick dinner when you watch movies at home. It is inexpensive and healthy for you and your whole family.

Whether you grow your own fennel in your home garden or picked up more than you can use on a recent trip to the grocery store, freezing your extra fennel is a great and relatively simple way to...

Concord grapes are typically used to make commercial grape jelly, but they can also be eaten whole after their seeds have been removed. Although seedless grapes are easier to freeze because they...

Oysters are a type of shellfish that contain a small, tender piece of meat within a tough hinged outer shell. If you're going to eat fresh oysters, you must purchase them live and keep them alive...

Frozen fruits and vegetables are handy when you are preparing a meal and you can't (or don't want to) run to a grocery store. Just about any fruit, including raspberries, can be cleaned, packed in...

Not every fish is created the same. Some fish are large, some are small, and some are in between. Every fish worth eating should be filleted with a similar approach. Filleting a fish is not...

Whether you're cooking for one, two or an entire family, a juicy steak serves as the perfect, savory meal. Because one of the best ways to keep a steak fresh for an extended period of time is to...

One of the easiest and most cost-efficient ways to purchase steak is to do so in bulk. The only problem with that method is that most households don't go through enough steak to justify purchasing...

"An apple a day keeps the doctor away"---remember that? There's a lot of truth in that simple phrase. According to the George Mateljan Foundation for the World's Healthiest Foods, apples are...

With their intriguing, honeycombed texture and nutty, earthy flavor, morel mushrooms make for a tasty gourmet delicacy. Whether foraging for morels in the forest or selecting them from a specialty...

Fresh peppers are available in a variety of flavors ranging from bitter green bell peppers to sweet red peppers. Although you can eat them fresh or quickly cooked in oil, if you roast them over...

Canned pumpkin has a long shelf life already, so you probably don't need to freeze an entire can to extend its freshness. However, if your recipe uses a portion of the can and you want to save the...

Preparing meals and cooking can be one of your main concerns during a power outage.

It's hard to think of summer without imagining the delicious flavor of fresh vegetables. At the height of their season, fresh veggies can be savory and sweet, and it's possible to enjoy them...

Blueberries are an easy fruit to store in your freezer. Freeze them when they are ripe, and keep them in the freezer for several months, if necessary. Just make sure that before you store your...