To Peel or Not to Peel Green Peppers?I have noted that chefs on TV food shows sometimes peel green Bell peppers. Could someone comment on why this is done?
Looking for Plastic TV Dinner Type Containers?I was wondering if anyone out there would know how I could get plastic containers or something like the ones that tv dinners come in. I have looked around on the net and I haven't been able to find any that I could buy.
Thank You in Advance
-Wendy
Swap Dinners with a FriendSave on time and work by doubling your dinner recipe and trading with a friend. You might get to try some new dishes this way, and you get a night off from cooking.
By Doggy
Chopping Celery and OnionsTo chop celery and onions fast, just rough chop them and put them in your blender container, covered with water and pulse. The longer you pulse, the smaller they become. Drain.
Let Them Know if You Didn't Like It!If you purchased a product and it wasn't to your liking, you prepared it and it didn't taste great, call the 800 number on the product packing (if there is one) and let them know. They may send you a coupon for other items about the same price.
Saving Money in Your Ktchen By Implementing the Three R's Can implementing the three R's - reduce, recycle, reuse, save you money? If you only implemented the three R's in your kitchen, you would save money. Here are 10 tips that implements the three R's and helps your pocketbook:
Buying Good IngredientsFalse economy ends up costing more in the long run. While it may be less expensive to buy unhealthy ingredients for cooking, health and nutrition suffer. I use real butter and olive oil in cooking. While it may cost more in the short run, my family is healthier for it. Costs can be reduced by buying on sale and in bulk quantities. An added bonus is that the food tastes better.
By Lynn
Buy Baking Supplies After the HolidaysJust after Christmas I stock up on baking supplies especially things that are costly like real vanilla - the super stores always deeply discount these items and I load up!
Preventing Fudge From Sugaring?How do you prevent fudge from sugaring? What am I doing wrong?
Jen from Ohio
Removing Chicken Skin Made Easy!Can't remove the slimy skin from chicken? I've found an easier way! Take chicken out of freezer and do not thaw completely. Take a couple of paper towels and grasp the skin and pull! Waa La! it comes off really easy! - Alica
Something To Use Instead Of Broth?Sometimes a soup recipe calls for canned broth as an ingredient. Now the price of broth is not low. Bullion cubes would do the trick, but what I am thinking is to use the leftover vegetable cooking liquid. Make sure it has enough salt. Has anybody tried that? Or would you use plain salt water?
Barbara
Buying Stalks Of Rice?I want to know where to purchase rice in its natural form as shown on Iron Chef cooking show. They showed stalks of rice, maybe freshly pulled in the rice fields then cleaned. The chef then deep fried the wheat, or hay looking rice, it was golden bunches of raw rice. When deep-fried it resembled popcorn on long grassy stalks and added to plates and served. Pussy willow appearance.
JoJo from DC
Softening MarshmallowsIf you have marshmallows that have gotten old, stale, and hard all you have to do to make them soft again is to place them in a resealable plastic bag with a slice of bread. Let them stand until soft, which usually takes 1 or 2 days. Then you can remove the bread and the marshmallows should be soft again.
By Robin
Buy a Carrot BrushBuy a small wire brush, and use it for rubbing carrots clean. You save more carrot than with scraping or peeling.
By ilene courland
Don't Eat Out, Have a Deli at HomeInstead of eating out, get your favorite sandwich fixings and have a deli-type sandwich all week long at a fraction of the cost.
By Aerowaffle
Using Cream or Milk in Hot DishesHere are some facts and tips on using cream or milk in hot dishes.
Cooking On a Model A Ford's Manifold?We hav a 1929 Model A Ford. Does anyone have recipes for cooking food on your manifold? We are aware of Manifold Destiny, but are looking for something a little more basic. Thanks,
Keep Essential Spices HandyWe always keep out store cupboard filled with essentials that add to the flavour of any meal.
Sharpening Serrated Knives Can serrated knives ever be sharpened?
Stretching Specialty ProductsStretch the expensive, flavored rice (which I only buy with coupons) with unflavored. There is plenty of seasoning in the flavor packet.
Cutting MarshmallowsMarshmallows can be cut nicely, if you dip scissors in water.
Old-Fashioned Apron?I'm looking for an old-fashioned apron. You know, the kind your grandmother (or in my case, great aunt) wore. It went over the head and tied in the back. It was long enough to cover down to your knees. It often had pockets but not always. I think they were made of cotton and were sometimes ruffled at the neck and bottom. Any help would be appreciated.
Cuisinart Food Processor Manuals?I am looking for a .com site to find a copy of a Cuisinart 11 Food Processor. Hopefully ,i can then download it. Any help would be appreciated.
What Is "Consumer Soup"?Someone posted a recipe for a rice casserole using consumer soup. What is consumer soup?
Milk Question about Fudge Recipe?This recipe was listed, questions were asked and no answers were forthcoming and I still want to know... what kind of milk and how big a can? Here is the recipe as it appeared in a newsletter dated 9-10-05:
Using Acorn Flour?I am wondering about "acorn flour". Has anyone ever used it? What have you used it in and did you grind it yourself? Would you mind sharing your methods and recipes?
Alpha Bakery Cookbook Now Offered on Gold Medal FlourThis evening when I bought gold medal flour I saw that they are offering the Alpha Bakery Cookbook for sale without having to write to them...
Avoiding Trans FatsIn 2006, all of the nutrition labels on food products are supposed to indicate trans fats. Stay away from them all! Trans fats are made by heating and re-heating oil...
Not Adding IngredientsWhen preparing recipes, don't reduce any of the amounts of the ingredients, unless it's like, fruits, chocolate chips, chopped nuts, salt, (add-ins). The recipe will be fine without any of these products, in case you don't want them in it, for some reason...
Convection Oven Reviews?I had a great one by Farberware about 20 years ago. When it broke, I replaced it with the same model, which never worked too well. It would burn the food without cooking it all the way (and on "low" it didn't cook much at all).
Spend Less for Convenience MealsWith the new year approaching, it's good to evaluate where you are spending your money and look for ways to save. If you find you eat fast food regularly because you don't have time to cook, try to find some TV dinners that you like and keep them stocked in the freezer. The quality of TV dinners has improved remarkably since they became popular in the fifties.
Adding Condiments to Bland StaplesGood condiments like salsa and stone-ground mustard can add zing to otherwise bland staples like eggs.
Olive Oil That Tastes Like Olive Oil?Do any "foodies" out there know of an olive oil that tastes like OLIVE oil? All the companies seem to be advertising a "light" taste. I'm looking for something with an unmistakable olivey flavor, even better if it doesn't cost a fortune.
Preheating Bowls and PlatesI always microwave my husband's plates or bowls to heat them as he eats slow being he's disabled and it helps to keep his food warm longer.
Jelly in Squeeze BottlesIt works really well to put your jellies into small plastic squeeze bottles. That way you can just squeeze a small amount onto your toast without...
Marinading Chicken Breasts with Leftover DressingI buy various salad dressings when they go on sale. That leaves me with almost-empty bottles accumulating in the fridge. When I accumulate enough varieties of dressings, I buy a huge pack of chicken breasts on sale, section them into regular serving sizes . . .
Maple Syrup Reviews?I am looking for a really good maple syrup. If you know of one and where I can get it, please let me know. I like a good strong maple taste.
Leaving Fat in Chicken Broth?My recipe for making chicken broth says to refrigerate the broth and then to remove the fat from the top of the broth when the fat has hardened from being in the refrigerator.
Looking for Graham Crackers in South Africa?What are graham crackers? This product is unknown in South Africa.
Recipes for FreeDon't buy cookbooks, unless you have tried it out and want to keep it. The library is such a good resource for cookbooks. Also, check the website of products you like. They usually have recipes online that use their product or even free cookbooks for you...
My Blending is Leaking?The directions say to keep a hand firmly on the lid while blending, but this isn't helping the drips. The problem is that some of the liquid spatters out of the machine (I am using 1 c. liquid in a 5 c. blender cup).
Working in a Small KitchenSince I have a small kitchen, I sometimes run out of room. Earlier today, while I was bagging up warm popcorn into individual servings, I needed some room to put the bags as I finished each of them.
Buying Cream of Coconut?I have a recipe that calls for cream of coconut. I have looked at WalMart, Albertsons and Blue Sage, the only supermarkets available and cannot find it.
Dressing Up MayoI was experimenting this week-end with some different ideas to dress up the condiments I was serving for hamburgers and sandwiches for the Labor Day company.
Uses for a Potato Express?I have an electric Potato Express which is used for peeling potatoes by tumbling on a grater in the bottom of a bowl. Do not confuse it with the Starfrit nor the Rotato peeling machines now available. This one is probably 15 or more years old.
Substitute for a Baster?Does anyone have a substitute for using a basting syringe? I am not sure what's the proper name but its similar to a large eye dropper and is used for squeezing juice over meat while baking.
Pancetta Wrapped Around Mozzarella?While was at the grocery store, I saw slices of raw pancetta wrapped around slices of mozzarella. The whole thing was about the size of a fist and tightly wrapped in plastic (like saran wrap). Forgot to write the name of it down. What is it?
Difference Between Minute Rice and Other Brands?What is the difference between Minute Rice and regular rice in the bag like Mahatma or Watermaid?
Using Homemade Bisquick?When you make your own Bisquick how much do you use at a time? And if you are making pancakes how much do you use? Thanks for all who can help.
What Can I Do With Fermented Apple Cider?I bought some fresh apple cider for a special occasion that didn't happen. Now I have 12 gallons of fermented apple cider. What to do with it?
What is a springform pan?What is a springform pan?
Using Almond ExtractAlmond extract is made from bitter almond oil and ethyl alcohol, it is strong and sweet used in many baked goods.
Homemade Produce Wash?Does anyone have a recipe for washing the pesticides off of produce? My mother has auto immune disease and is on a limited budget and would like to make her own.
Nutritional Value of Baked Vegetables?For additional nutrition, I grated a raw zucchini into double batch of brownies. I am now wondering if it makes a difference, because heat kills vitamins and the fiber is negligible. Any thoughts on the subject?
Best Apples For Making Juice?What kind of apples make the most juice in an electric juice maker? I'm only getting 1 cup per 4 or 5 apples. Thanks
Buying Foods For Chocolate Fountain?I am having a dinner reception for my newly married daughter. She has always wanted a chocolate fountain for when she got married. I bought her one for the occasion. The chocolate fountain will be the main dessert with a cake. How many pints of strawberries, pretzels, marshmallows would I need for this event?
Soy Milk Vs. 1% Milk?What are the pros and cons between light soy milk and 1% milk? How do they effect dieting? If consumed all the time which one will gain me more weight?
Using Wheat Grass Tea?Someone gave my mother a big bag of wheat grass tea. The stuff tastes awful! You know what old grass clippings smell like? Well, that's how this stuff tastes! Does anyone know of any other use for this? Plant food, anything? Thanks for any suggestions.
Baking Pan for Cooking a Turkey?What kind of baking pan should I get for a turkey? I'm interested in knowing what size would be best as well as what material/brand would be best.
Ordering Bulk Dried Goods?Our family would like to purchase 20 pound (or larger) bags of rice, oatmeal, different flours and other dried products. Is there a website that anyone would suggest for large amounts with low costs? We live a distance from any food co-ops etc. Thanks
Coloring Popcorn?How do you color popcorn? I have seen colored popcorn (unpopped kernels) in catalogs for sale, and it's rather pricey. Apparently when popped the popcorn is multicolor. I'd love to figure out how to do this.
Frost Damaged Jalepeno Peppers?We had 6 jalepeno plants that were doing really good well. We had some very cold unexpected weather last night and this morning everything was dead. So we took off tons of jalepenos that covered the plants. They are all kind of soft, from the frost I guess. I'm wondering if they would still be ok to chop and freeze for stews and soups and stuff? Are they safe to eat still? Can we get sick?
Links: Making And Using Acorn FlourI learned of this several years back and always wanted to make my own and use it in a recipe!
Separating Frozen Ravioli?How can I separate frozen ravioli that are stuck together?
Buying Meat for 75 People?We will be hosting a cookout for 75 people. We will be serving Boston Butts and Chicken Breast Quarters. Please help me figure out how many Boston butt and chicken quarters I need to purchase.
Cider Vs. White Vinegar?Are cider and white vinegar interchangeable, such as using in foods?
Looking for Dehydrated Foods?Does anyone have any experience with companies who sell dehydrated fruits, vegetables and meals? I have great success freezing foods but am no good at dehydrating them. I also have a lot more storage for dry foods than my small freezer. Thanks
Using the Last of the Peanut Butter?Looking for a tip regarding using the last bit of peanut butter from the jar. She'd put stuff in the jar and shake it and her kids would have a treat. Maybe it was powdered sugar? Love to know what that was and I couldn't locate it with your search feature. Thanks!
Reheating a Baked Potato?How do you warm up a baked potato?
Melting Butterscotch Morsels?I am trying to melt butterscotch morsels in a microwave using a double boiler. They will not melt like semi chocolate chips. What do I need to do?
Saving Money on Fat-Free Half-n-Half?Any ideas for saving money on fat-free half-n-half. I use fat-free half-n-half in my coffee but it's more expensive than the whole-fat variety. I also like skimmed-evaporated milk in my coffee, if I don't have my half-n-half, but it's not any cheaper.
Packing Food for a Family Trip?We are going on a family fishing trip in Aug. of 2009. I am trying to designate what everyone brings for meals etc. Right now I am trying to figure out how many pounds of potatoes to take with us. We don't want to carry too much extra with us but we don't want to buy to much extra while we are there.
Stacking a Four Tier Wedding Cake?I have been asked to produce a four tier wedding cake. It will be 12 in. fruit, a 10 in. chocolate, an 8 in. Madeira and a 6 in. Madeira. I know that the first three cakes will have to be doweled, but what about the top tier? Do I have to use a long dowel
Making Ham and Cabbage?I love ham and cabbage. I was wondering, when you make ham and cabbage, do you take most of the fat off of the ham before adding the cabbage? I baked a smoked ham, shank end. It is so full of fat that I was wondering if I should remove most of the fat before putting the leftover bone with meat into the pot of water. I would think the fat would all mix in with the cabbage. Thanks.
Using Bell PepperBell peppers come in a variety of colors, including, green, red, yellow, and orange. Delicious in a variety of dishes, they originally were grown in Mexico, Central and South America.
Measuring Marshmallow Creme?What is the best way to measure marshmallow creme, in a "wet" ingredient measuring cup or a "dry" one? I need 7 oz from a 13 oz jar for the recipe. I messed up a recipe of Rice Krispies treats by using too much. Yes, someone can actually make bad Rice Krispies treats.
Applesauce Vs. Apple Butter?What is the difference between applesauce and apple butter? They seem to be almost exactly the same, so why the different name?
Tribute to My MomWhen I think of my mother, the first thing to come to mind is, believe it or not, food! Crazy as it may sound, you have to understand that my mom was a top notch cook during my childhood years.
Buying Dinner Rolls in Bulk?My daughter's wedding reception is May 16, 2009. Where can I find dinner rolls, enough to feed 200-250 people for the reception?
Making Olive Juice?We drink dirty martinis on a regular basis, so we are constantly having to buy jars of olives to use the juice. However, we are having to spend tons of money on olives, and not using the whole jar.
How Can You Tell if Tortillas Are Fresh?How can you tell if tortillas are fresh?
What is "press and seal"? What is "press and seal"?
Keeping Peanut Butter Smelling Fresh?I read somewhere that there is something that can be put in with peanut butter to keep it from smelling rancid?
Opening Large Cans of Food?How do you open large cans of food? My small can opener will not cut them. Thanks very much.
Raw Portabella Mushrooms?Can you eat portabella mushrooms raw?
What is a Dutch Oven?Could you explain exactly what a dutch oven is? I see many recipes requiring the use of it and have no idea what it is.
Putting Fruit on a Pewter Tray?Can we put fruits on a pewter tray?
Getting Rid of Used Cooking Oil?What can I use beside a metal coffee can, to discard leftover frying oil?
What is This Cookie?I have often come across sweets recipes which ask for "wafers". Please, could U.S.Thriftyfun members confirm if they are the same thing as I understand them to be?
Can I Use Rancid Fresh Coconut?I went to the trouble of grating fresh coconut and then was surprised to find that it got rancid really fast. Has anyone any idea of what to do with rancid, grated coconut?
Making Pickles With Burpless Cucumbers?Can you use burpless cucumbers to make dill pickles? Thanks.
Shipping a Pie?My sister has brain cancer and has not been able to keep much food in her stomach, but she wants me to make her a pie. That would be easy, but we live in different states and I can't go to her place right now. I was wondering if anyone knows how I could bake this pie and ship it to her?
Adjusting Liquid in Bread Machine Recipe?When using an egg in my bread machine the recipe it says reduce 3/4 liquid by 1/8 of a cup. I'm no math wiz, can some one help?
Who Makes This Ice Cream?Does anybody know who makes Walmart ice cream? They were out of the premium Homemade brand and I bought the Walmart brand that turned out to be delicious.
Cutting Frozen Meat?I was given a 10 lb. package of turkey breast from a deli. A great gift, but it is frozen solid. What can I use to cut it into smaller size portions? I can't slice it this way and if I thaw it out whole I can't possibly eat it all before it spoils.
Canned Tomatoes Have a Metallic Taste?I make salsa using store-bought tomatoes in a can. The salsa has a "can" taste that I don't like. Does anyone know of a trick to cut that taste out? Thanks.
Using Dehydrated Apples?What does one do with dehydrated apples? How do you rehydrate them?
Molding Canned Cranberry Sauce?Can you use canned cranberry sauce to put into a mold? If so how do I do it? My family will only eat cranberry sauce in a can.
Shipping Vacuum Packed Homecooked Meals?I have a son in medical school who has no time to cook or get groceries, etc. I was thinking of cooking a little extra of what we are having for dinner and vacuum packing it and then mailing it to him on a weekly basis via USPS.
How Can You Tell Where Flour is Made?I was reading about the different types of flour. The lady said flour from the south is different from flour made in the north. So how do you know if the flour is from the north or the south?
Using Stevia in Tea?This is my first season growing stevia and I had a bumper crop. The only thing is I am not fond of the leafy substance floating in my tea. Are there ways to process it to a liquid or powder? The picture is after I harvested.
How to Tell if Flour is Self Rising?My flour is in a canister. I have no idea if it is self rising or not. Is there a way to test it to tell which it is?
