Looking for a clever, creative way to dress up a charcuterie board? Or perhaps you want to give your Valentine an extra special bouquet of flowers. It's surprisingly easy to create impressive looking roses using simple slices of salami! The secret tool? A wine glass or champagne flute! Which glass to use depends on the … Continue reading Salami Roses
Simple and Classic Roast Chicken
There are loads of variations you can make to roast chicken. You can make it as fancy as you want, but you don't have to. Sticking with the basics is still delicious, not to mention affordable. So if you ever need to make an impressive, tasty dinner on a tight budget, Simple and Classic Roast … Continue reading Simple and Classic Roast Chicken
Apple Cinnamon French Toast
A fancy breakfast-at-home doesn't have to be difficult or expensive. This Cinnamon French Toast with Apple Compote and Maple Chantilly Cream is one of my favorite breakfasts to make for special occasions, like Christmas morning or Valentine's Day. These are all ingredients we have on hand in our kitchen on any given day, and it … Continue reading Apple Cinnamon French Toast
Stabilizing Whipped Cream
Once you realize how easy and superior tasting homemade whipped cream is, it's difficult to go back to the stuff with oils and fillers. But homemade whipped cream tends to be loose and doesn't hold its shape (see photos below). For many applications - such as topping a slice of pie - this is fine. … Continue reading Stabilizing Whipped Cream
Removing Smells from Silicone Kitchenware
Silicone has revolutionized the kitchen for home cooks! You can use silicone kitchenware for making candy, specialty ice cubes, cocoa bombs, even portioned freezer sauces and soups. There is one downside, though: silicone retains smells. Badly! One of the ways I use silicone is to freeze pre-portioned pesto into cubes. But no matter how many … Continue reading Removing Smells from Silicone Kitchenware
Cleaning Leeks
Leeks are one of my favorite alliums. Their flavor is milder and more delicate than onions. I especially love them in our Grown Up Tuna Casserole! However, preparing them is a little different than dicing traditional onions and can be a little intimidating if you've never used them before. Fortunately, with these few tips, it's … Continue reading Cleaning Leeks
Keeping Sliced Fruit From Browning
It's true that we eat with our eyes first. So it can be problematic when cut fruits begin to oxidize and turn brown, looking rather unappetizing. Eating oxidized fruit isn't unsafe, but it can alter taste and texture. So how does a skilled home cook keep it from happening? In short, we need to create … Continue reading Keeping Sliced Fruit From Browning
Blue-Cheese Stuffed Dates Wrapped in Bacon
The last winter in-season ingredient we're celebrating is dates. We're combining these versatile fruits with tangy blue cheese and bacon to make delicious sweet-and-salty single-bite appetizers! These can be made up to a day early, but be sure to refrigerate them. They are best served at room temperature. TIP: If you don't like blue cheese, … Continue reading Blue-Cheese Stuffed Dates Wrapped in Bacon
Honeycrisp Apple and Pomegranate Salsa
Today we're celebrating not just one in-season winter ingredient, but two: Honeycrisp apples and pomegranates! This colorful and refreshing salsa balances sweet fruit, spicy jalapeno, herbaceous cilantro, and flaky salt. It can be served immediately after assembling, making it a very easy side dish to proteins or a topping to a fresh salad. Or just … Continue reading Honeycrisp Apple and Pomegranate Salsa
Sautéed Carrots with Butter and Dill
Carrots are the in-season vegetable we're highlighting today, in one of the easiest side dishes you can whip up on a busy night. The most time consuming part of making this delicious recipe is slicing the carrots. Then simply put them in a sauté pan, bring to a simmer, toss in butter and dill, and … Continue reading Sautéed Carrots with Butter and Dill
Mainstay Kitchen & Home 