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Crave-Worthy Recipes February 21, 2019

How to make homemade chili seasoning

Skip the store-bought packets and make your own chili seasoning from scratch with spices you already have in your pantry. There’s a little game in my kitchen I like to play called, “How many tiny bottles of spices can I squeeze onto the shelf.” I have dried spices for all sorts of meals that I made once, needed a specific spice blend, and never made again. Thus, the spice just sits there with others that suffered the same fate, taking up valuable space in my tiny kitchen. Chili powder isn’t one of those. It’s so versatile, I’m actually happy to lend my leftover mix some shelf space. It’s great on everything from chili to tacos to roasted veggies. Put it on potatoes or even on top of mac and cheese or corn on the cob. What can’t you put chili powder on? Here is a spice blend that I want to…

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News Bites February 10, 2019

Alton Brown shares genius tip for cooking steak

Alton Brown is known for his quirky personality and kooky — yet incredibly helpful — cooking tips. So when he posted a picture of a steak covered in mayonnaise to his Instagram account, fans knew it was worth looking into. (Remember when he told us to cook meatballs in an egg carton? Or how about juice a watermelon with an immersion blender?) Brown captioned the photo: “I didn’t have any oil or butter so..” https://www.instagram.com/p/Bn45Aa-HXwX/ It turns out that coating meat with mayo is actually nothing new to savvy chefs of the world. After all, mayonnaise is just eggs and oil, so the condiment can actually add more flavor to steaks and seafood than olive oil can do alone. This trick has also been used by grilled cheese masters to develop a crispier exterior. They mayo actually raises the smoking point, so the sandwich can be kept on the griddle longer, allowing…

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Crave-Worthy Recipes January 24, 2019

How to make a buttermilk substitute at home

Buttermilk is one of those annoying ingredients you either have too much of, or you don’t have at all. It’s usually sold in cartons larger than you need, so leftovers sit in the fridge for weeks. By the time you need it again, the milk will have gone bad. If you’re tired of this endless bad buttermilk cycle, do not fret. There is a solution! Make your own. A bit about buttermilk Buttermilk is an acid, so recipes that call for it won’t turn out right if you just use plain milk. You need a substitute with the same acidity as buttermilk. This acid is usually required to create a reaction with baking soda or other leavening agent in the recipe. Regular milk just isn’t acidic enough. Substituting with plain milk will also produce drier, less flavorful baked goods and can reduce the rise on your muffin tops, biscuits or other…

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News Bites November 21, 2018

How to open a pomegranate

Pomegranates have deliciously tart seeds called arils that peak in season from August to January in the Northern Hemisphere. Their bright color, elegant arils, and complex flavor make them a popular addition to holiday recipes. They can top smoothies, salads, or other veggie side dishes, or try them as a delicious fresh centerpiece on your cheese or charcuterie board. When you buy prepackaged arils, you’re spending a lot of money for a fruit that can spoil rather quickly. If you’re looking to add pomegranate arils to your table this year, consider harvesting them yourself. Of course, if you’ve ever tried to cut a pomegranate without a little know-how, you’ve probably made a merry red mess on your kitchen countertop. There is an expert trick to seeding these fruits. All you need is a knife, a bowl of water, and of course, a pomegranate. Here’s 7 steps for opening a pomegranate…

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Seasonal October 6, 2018

Pineapples are this year’s hottest carving trend: Here’s how you do it

After a lifetime of carving pumpkins, maybe you just need to mix things up a bit this year. Pineapples might not scream Halloween, but the tropical fruit works really well as an alternative to traditional gourds. Here are a handful of examples people have shared on social media: https://www.instagram.com/p/Barc8BoDVrd/?tagged=pineapplecarving https://www.instagram.com/p/BayOahpDPE9/?tagged=pineapplecarving https://www.instagram.com/p/Ba6rZ_Oll4H/?tagged=pineapplecarving This one even brings a bit of original Halloween back into the picture by using an orange glowing light in the middle. https://www.instagram.com/p/BacnvTjg9h4/?tagged=pineapplecarving Pineapples certainly do have more of a festive feel when fruity drinks are being served: https://www.instagram.com/p/9hXhBgsMpO/?tagged=pineapplecarving https://www.instagram.com/p/Ba7YPd5gFVd/?tagged=pineapplecarving Pumpkins have the advantage of smooth exterior skin, meaning you can get more detailed with your design. With pineapples, the prickly skin means your options are a bit more limited. But they’re easier to cut and carve than you might think. If you haven’t sliced many whole pineapples in your life, once the center fruit is removed, the exterior…

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News Bites September 19, 2018

Is plastic better than wood?: The cutting board debate

Whether you cook three times a day or three times a year, you probably own a cutting board. It’s a kitchen staple with one simple job, but without it, you wouldn’t have anywhere to cut, chop, dice, or slice your meats, apples, and onions. While you may know you need a cutting board, do you know when you should choose a wooden board over a plastic one, or vice versa? After all, anything your food touches can be a source of contamination and foodborne illness, so kitchen tools and care are no small decision. As it turns out, there are some major differences between boards you should know before you head to the store. Wood versus plastic For most of history, chopping blocks then cutting boards were all made of wood. But the invention of modern plastics in 1907 meant that plastic utensils slowly began making its way into people’s…

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Seasonal June 5, 2018

Here’s how to pick the best watermelon

Watermelon is the happy fruit. It conjures images of childhood, sunny picnics and pool parties. But, one bite into a mealy, hard melon and all of the memories dry up, just like that first, terrible bite. There are, of course, ways to use less than wonderful watermelons, for example, smoothies and salsas. But when you want to bite face first into a big, juicy slice, only the ripest melon will do. The best way to avoid this underripe melon problem is to purchase the perfect melon in the first place. Here is what you need to know about picking the best watermelon: 1. Weight is wonderful No matter if it’s small or large, the best watermelon will feel heavy for its size. This weight is a sign that it’s full of water — aka. juicy flavor and not grainy fiber. Pick the heaviest one you can find. 2. Seeing spots Watermelons rest on…

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News Bites June 29, 2017

Stop bacteria from building up in your knife block

How to Clean a Knife Block Your floors, fridge, countertops and even oven make in on to your regular cleaning checklist, but there’s one surface in your kitchen you have probably never even touched. Consider your knife block. Sure, your knives are clean when you stow them in the slots, but dust and other debris can accumulate in these small spaces anyway. Despite our usual disregard for them, knife blocks should actually be washed and sanitized monthly if use frequently. Moisture can lead to mold and bacteria build-up, so to avoid larger cleaning issues, wash knives after each use and dry each thoroughly before sliding back into the knife block. Sanitize a knife block by following these simple steps: Step 1: Remove any knives stored in the block and set aside. Turn the block upside side over the sink and shake lightly to remove large debris. Step 2: Use a…

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Crave-Worthy Recipes June 26, 2017

How to perfectly cook a pot of rice

It’s one of the most commonly consumed foods in the world. It’s also seemingly one of the simplest to make. So how is it that we are still perplexed over how to make a perfect pot of rice? Sure, you can purchase a rice cooker, but that will run you from $30 to $200. And unless you’re cooking rice every day, it could just become another cumbersome appliance. Cooking basic, fluffy white rice, where each grain is separate and slightly firm, is possible if you know a few pro tips. Step 1: Rinse or soak your rice Rinsing rice in cold water helps for two reasons. Some rice mills outside of the U.S. may coat the grains in glucose or talc, so this step is extra important for imported rice. Although safe to eat, the coating could cause your rice to become downright gluey if not properly rinsed. Rinsing will…

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