Category Archives: Kitchen Tips

If you plant zucchini, you probably have them coming out of your ears at this point. And if you are thinking what to do with the insane amount of zucchini that are becoming ripe in your garden after cooking so many dishes already,  you can freeze them for the winter season. Cut the zucchini into small-medium bite-size. Blanch them in a boil...

You can use an apple slicer for cutting potatoes too. When I need to fry sliced potatoes, I boil them in the water first for 10-15 min, slice them with the apple cutter, and then bake the potatoes in the oven or deep fry after. If you are cutting the raw potatoes with an apple slicer, cut the potato with...

If you only need lemon, lime or orange juice for a recipe, first grate the zest with a fine grater and put it in a container to store in your freezer. Then whenever you need zest for a recipe you will have it on hand....

Whether at the farmer's market, grocery store or your own backyard look for firm, crisp stalks with a reddish tinge and blemish free. If the stalks have the leaves still on them, look for smaller leaves, which is also an indication of a younger stalk. The leaves should look fresh and not wilted. Also check to be sure the...

Soak the fruits in wine overnight to allow the flavors to meld. Keep frozen fruit away from the sangria, freshly chopped fruit will bring out the flavors of the wine. Choose seasonal fruits. In the summer, use peaches, plums, nectarines, cherries, strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries. Apples, grapes, pears in the fall; oranges, lemon, and pomegranate seeds in the winter. Let it chill...

Select brightly colored herbs with fresh, fragrant leaves and firm stems. To keep herbs fresh, wash and refrigerate in a resealable plastic bag or plastic, glass container with two paper towels for up to a week. You can also stand a bouquet of herbs in a glass of water and cover loosely with plastic wrap. Refrigerate up to a week, changing...

Use the right temperature, not too high, not too low. Most of the smoke flavor enters the meat in the first two hours, so it's important to have a good supply of wood chips when the meat goes on the grill. Wood adds more flavor to food than any other grilling fuel. Soak wood chips in water and add to charcoal...

Choose firm onions with no soft spots, should not smell strong, without bruises or mold. Store in a cool, dark, well-ventilated spot. Potatoes and onions are not supposed to be stored together. They will produce gases that cause them to spoil both. Don't store in the fridge or plastic bags where moisture can collect; moisture encourages mold as well as sprouting. Chop...