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milk

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How to freeze milk and other milk substitutes

Buy too much and it goes bad. Buy too little and your morning cereal might be left dry. If you’re constantly fighting the battle of how much milk to buy, you might find it helpful to know that milk can, in fact, be frozen. By freezing milk, you can be sure you’ll have enough to last you through a shortage, whether that be a coronavirus pandemic or simply a miscalculation on the amount you’ll need while making holiday recipes. Milk can also be expensive at times, so if you see it on sale, you can use this simple trick to help stock up and save some money. Also read: Keep milk out of the fridge door, and other storage tips. Here’s what you need to know about freezing milk. How to freeze milk Step 1: Choose a milk. Because freezing liquids can often cause fat to separate, skim and low-fat milks…

Onion ring and fresh green bean casserole

I know, I know. You’re saying to yourself, “Don’t mess with the classics.” But hear me out. Green bean casserole isn’t all that great. There. I said it. Under all of those oily little french fried onion bits is nothing more than a mess of hacked up rubbery green bean pieces swimming in a sea of grayish liquid. I’ve never been a fan, mostly because it means we take one of the only Thanksgiving side dishes that has a chance to be healthy and we smother it with loads of greasy ingredients. Also see our Handy guide to planning a Thanksgiving feast. A delicious green bean casserole doesn’t have to include unhealthy cans of slop. You can make it fresher, healthier, and tastier with just a few ingredients. So why not make the switch? This green bean casserole uses fresh green beans, mushrooms and onions, along with fresh thyme, whole…

Plant-based milks not necessarily healthier than cow’s milk, study shows

Think switching to non-dairy milk is an all-around healthy move? Not so fast. Plant-based milks, like almond or soy, have become a popular alternatives for millions of people with dietary restrictions. They’ve become the go-to dairy for vegans, those suffering from lactose intolerance, and even for those just looking to reduce their intake of animal products. But, if it’s the healthiest dairy option you’re looking for, don’t just assume it will come from a plant. A new study found that many nondairy drinkers automatically assume their non-dairy milk choice is healthier than cow’s milk. And that may not be the case. Also see: Whole milk might be healthier than skim milk. When 1,000 Americans were surveyed, it turns out that many consumers don’t actually pay attention to the nutritional labels on their milk. So Consumer Reports got to work evaluating 35 types of milks including various brands of almond, coconut,…

You might be storing your ice cream all wrong

It’s extra hot outside, but that doesn’t have to bother you — mostly because it’s the perfect excuse to enjoy an extra scoop of ice cream. (Is there really anything better than ice cream on a hot summer day?) But before you go and load your freezer full of pints of your favorite flavors, you may want to consider how you’re handling that frozen treat. Ice cream is a perishable product, and it needs to be treated with care. Whether ice cream lasts in your house a few days or a few months (who are these people?), you should pay attention to how you’re storing and handling it. Of course the easiest way to deal with ice cream is buying it and eating it in one sitting. (You may take this as your permission to do so — after all, food waste is a huge concern nowadays.) But, if you’re…

15 foods that are illegal in the United States

America might be the land of the free, but when it comes to food, Uncle Sam has put up a few restrictions. If you live in the United States and have a hankering for haggis or horse meat, you’ll have to hop the pond. For others, you’ll have to head to Africa or Asia. As Americans, we can enjoy endless, delicious food options at a moment’s notice, so we may wonder why anyone would want to eat some of this stuff anyway. Paralysis-causing puffer fish? Fatality-causing fruit? No thank you! We’ll take a Whopper. Here are 15 foods illegal in the United States: https://www.instagram.com/p/BtCV0oTlIT2/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Horse Meat Horse meat is actually a fairly popular food in other countries. Travel to Mexico, Switzerland, Japan, Germany, China or Poland, and you’ll find people eating it without a second thought. But in the U.S. slaughtering horses for food is considered illegal, as is the importation…

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…

This is the difference between evaporated milk and condensed milk

Sometimes two foods are so similar we mistake them for one another — yams and sweet potatoes, baking powder and baking soda, and cilantro and parsley, to name a few. They’re all different foods that could never be used interchangeably. The other day I ran into another example as I was baking a pie that required condensed milk, but in a hurry, I had purchased evaporated milk. Yikes! I wondered if I had to go back to the store, or could I substitute one for the other? They both contain a shelf-stable concentrated canned milk substance, but in my research, I learned that there are clear differences. Let’s explore. Condensed milk Condensed milk is often referred to as sweetened condensed milk, and the name gives a hint at what makes it different. This shelf-stable milk concentrate has had about 60 percent of its water removed and loads of sugar added…

10 foods to avoid pre-workout

There’s nothing worse than hitting the gym on an empty stomach. That is, except maybe when you’ve jumped into downward dog or hit mile three on the treadmill and realized your pre-workout snack was a horrible choice. But you don’t have to workout on an empty stomach — you just have to snack smart. Eating the wrong foods pre-workout can cause a variety of unpleasant side effects from gas to bloating to diarrhea. So the next time you want to munch on something before getting your sweat on, remember to keep things simple. Grab a small amount of protein and some easy-to-digest carbs to help power your workout. A banana and peanut butter or a whole fruit smoothie do the trick nicely. But whatever you do, be sure to save these 10 foods until after your workout. 1. Alcohol You’re already sweating and losing water from your workout, booze will…

Healthy carrot cake smoothie

Don’t you just love dessert for breakfast? Of course eating actual carrot cake for breakfast isn’t exactly a healthy or energizing way to start your morning, but this cool and creamy smoothie is the best of both worlds. Actually, you’ll love this smoothie anytime you want a perfect breakfast, dessert or even a snack. This carrot cake smoothie tastes just like your favorite carrot cake dessert, only lighter and healthier — so it’s totally guilt free. The Greek yogurt replaces with cream cheese so you’ll get a filling dose of protein instead of fat. Maple syrup makes for a great smoothie sweetener, and it can work really well, so start with just a tablespoon and adjust accordingly from there. It’s just eight ingredients and can be whipped up in no time with any high speed blender in under 5 minutes. Keep this one on file for the new year, or…

Winter white hot chocolate with cinnamon

Living in Pittsburgh, it seems hot chocolate is everywhere — and that, in my opinion, isn’t always a good thing. Those watered-down styrofoam cups at freezing cold football games or the overly sweet stuff handed out after cold weather 5Ks, are really consumed out of a need to stay warm, more so than for the enjoyment. It had been a long time since I had a cup ‘o chocolate that I actually enjoyed. But I was feeling a bit Christmassy decorating the house, so I thought I’d whip up something warm and delicious to sip on as we watch holiday movies on repeat. This Winter White Hot Chocolate has a dash of cinnamon to give the cup some complexity. You can add more or less, if you like. Even some nutmeg would taste pretty good. The best part of making drinks like this is always the extras, so if you’re going…