Main Line Tracey's Profile
Ok clever cooks! Money/time saving tips on multi-purposing items!
I hadn't thought of using wooden clothes pins for so much! That would definitely save money. Great tip!
Ok clever cooks! Money/time saving tips on multi-purposing items!
It's a great idea to use binder clips instead of chip clips! Definitely saves money and then you can also use them for office work. I would be careful about taking them from the company supply closet though. ;)
Ok clever cooks! Money/time saving tips on multi-purposing items!
Hello chowhounds! I love reading tips that other people have discovered. It saves me the time of having to either discover it myself, or cooking without knowing such a great idea.
The threads that have enlightened me recently with useful tips were ones where I found out about using coffee filters instead of cheesecloth, and using a rasp for garlic! Awesome ideas! Both save time, money, and also kitchen space by me not needing to buy multiple items to do different jobs!
Do you have any clever tips?
Ok clever cooks! Money/time saving tips on multi-purposing items!
Hello chowhounds! I love reading tips that other people have discovered. It saves me the time of having to either discover it myself, or cooking without knowing such a great idea.
The threads that have enlightened me recently with useful tips were ones where I found out about using coffee filters instead of cheesecloth, and using a rasp for garlic! Awesome ideas! Both save time, money, and also kitchen space by me not needing to buy multiple items to do different jobs!
Do you have any clever tips?
"Cooking" with a toddler?
I had an easy bake oven, and I remember wanting to use the REAL oven. I let my kids use it. 4 and 1, and just supervise them all the way. We just made pop corn from scratch last night, and my son LOVED it. I heated the oil then he poured the pop corn in and I quickly put the lid on. We then carefully shook it together until it stopped popping. He LOVED it!
Just make it fun and think ahead of time how to do it safely. My son loves when I tickle him with the beaters to the hand mixer. Try it yourself! Put your palm on the bottom of the hand mixer beaters (fingers have to stay safely together). It tickles!
12 Meals in Tampa/St. Petersburg
Hello! We are staying in St. Petes and would love recs of reasonably priced, can't miss places. I am a chowhound who was relocated to Indiana, which is NOT any place that I would recommend for good food, and am interested in all types of food, especially local specialities. I am so excited to eat good food on our trip! Thanks for your recs!
How do I make rich, dense bread instead of "cotton candy" bread?
Thanks so much to everyone for the advice! I will try the Cooks Illustrated version, as their recipes have been awesome for me in the past. I will post results.
How do I make rich, dense bread instead of "cotton candy" bread?
Hello Chowhounds!
I have gotten into bread making, and use my bread maker for it. I have tried to make a rich, dense bread, such as the ones that I get in some good restaurants, but it keeps turning out airy with no body. Like fluffy cotton candy bread.
Do you recommend using a particular flour, not using the bread maker, or anything else? What are your tips for this?
Moussaka Help Please
I have used soy sausage (called Gimme Lean) that comes in a tube for my moussaka and have had excellent results. Break it up and brown it over med-high heat, then treat like ground beef. Definitely add extra oil to make up for the lack of fat normally found in the ground lamb/beef.
Meat eaters won't be able to tell the difference because of the spices and flavorings added to the ground meat layer. That would be nice to do because the vegetarian won't feel odd because you have made a dish just for them, since everyone will enjoy the moussaka together.
On a side note, I like adding a layer of thinly sliced potato to the bottom of my moussaka now. I didn't used to, but my husband's favorite Greek restaurant did it and he asked me to try it. One time and I was sold. The potato soaks up the wonderful drippings from top and tastes so great!
Need quick, vegetarian potluck dinner dish.... tonight!
Baked ziti. One jar of marinara, one box ziti, small (16 oz) container of sour cream, small package of shredded mozz.
Cook ziti al dente. Layer 1/2 ziti in 9x13 deep (3" or so) baking dish, spread sour cream, layer other 1/2 of ziti, pour on marinara, top with cheese and bake covered for 45 mins at 375, broil until top is lightly browned.
Indianapolis ethnic
I have heard good things about Mama's place/house, a Korean restaurant. It is supposed to be VERY low key looking, but have good authentic food. Korean BBQ would be fun with a group!
Making my own Breast Milk Yogurt
The idea of making yogurt or butter with breast milk is great. We have some Korean visitors staying with us and they said that it is generally understood that children wait until after 1 year old to have cow's milk. Making the products that are normally made from cow's milk, from breast milk, would alleviate any concern about allergies. Granted, it could kill some of the good components of the breast milk, but it's still better than the alternative of using cow's milk. Good luck and let us know how it goes!
Anyone eaten at Joseph Decuis in Roanoke near Fort Wayne, IN?
I am already researching their menu and will report back. Thanks!
Anyone eaten at Joseph Decuis in Roanoke near Fort Wayne, IN?
Hello! I am scouting out restaurants to enjoy for my birthday dinner and wondered if anyone has eaten at Joseph Decuis. Do you recommend it? Any favorite dishes? Thanks so much for your advice.
Need PA-centric foods for my new book
Black cherry wyshniack (sp?) soda. I haven't had it in years...
Good Italian pastry in Indianapolis?
Hello chowhounds! New to the Indy area and missing the awesome Italian pastries back in Philadelphia. Any places to get a good cannoli in Indy?
Help! Have you made jam?
It is fixed! I took all of the watery jam and put it in a pot. I added 3 cups of sugar and 2 additional boxes of pectin. I boiled for 1 minute and then stirred to cool (and in the hopes that some water would evaporate).
The resulting jam is really good! My husband and son are eating it with a spoon as I am writing this.
I have learned that sugar IS absolutely essential, unless you use the specially made low/no sugar pectin. Thanks to all for the suggestions and great information!
Help! Have you made jam?
Gansu, I used the Ball pectin and it has the recipe inside for freezer jam. The recipe called for 2 cups of berries, 2T of lemon juice and 4 CUPS of sugar. I had doubled the entire recipe so I used 4 cups for the whole thing.
What are anyone's thoughts about taking some of the liquid jam and adding more pectin, then remixing and bottling the whole batch?
Help! Have you made jam?
Hello! I decided to make strawberry freezer jam. I went and picked berries, got my ingredients ready, and went to work. I used Ball pectin and followed the recipe in the box, EXCEPT I used 1/2 as much sugar as the recipe called for because I tasted it and it seemed perfectly sweet.
This morning I was ready to have jam and it's liquid! The jam didn't set up. Maybe the sugar was for more than flavor? Can I salvage this by adding more pectin or sugar at this point? I would prefer more pectin, as I left out 4 of the 8 cups of sugar listed in order to have healthier jam. Any experience with this? HELP!
Awesome pot luck dessert idea using fruit for cooking club?
Thanks for all the great replies and ideas. I had thought of a trifle, but don't have the correct bowl for it. Strawberry shortcake was another thought because it's so popular, but how to do it for 30 people? Individual shortcakes?
I had also thought of cherry cheese cake "cupcakes" that my mom used to make. They were always popular, but not really cooking club material.
I just don't know....
Awesome pot luck dessert idea using fruit for cooking club?
Hello! I have a cooking club meeting next week and signed up to make a dessert. The theme is fruit and so all dishes should use fruit.
I am totally not a dessert person, so I am freaking out a bit. I love eating desserts, but rarely make them.
Any suggestions for an impressive dessert that uses fruit, but is not too terribly difficult to make?
My salad idea. Please offer suggestions.
Dinner went BEAUTIFULLY! Everything turned out wonderful. I went with home made pitas and store bought hummus (doctored with cumin, kalamata olives & olive oil) salad with mixed greens, supremed orange segments, cucumbers, and kalamata olives. Dinner was moussaka and pitas & dessert was rice pudding. Everyone totally cleaned their plates and my husband said afterwards that he was very impressed.
Thanks so much for the help and suggestions!
My salad idea. Please offer suggestions.
cold rice pudding. I wanted to make it the day before to check how it tastes. I was going to top with a drizzle of honey.
My salad idea. Please offer suggestions.
Hello! I am making dinner tomorrow night and am making a salad with a Mediterranean vibe. I was going to use mixed greens, shaved fennel bulb, cucumber and olives. (tomatoes stink around here or I would add them too) Does that sound good? Should I add/subtract anything?
Just so you know the menu, I was going to start the meal with mini spanikopetas, then have the salad and a moussaka with bread, and then rice pudding for dessert.
Sound appealing? Please give me your opinion as this is for my husband's boss and I would like it to be good.
Thanks!
Husband's boss coming for dinner. HELP!
That sounds great! Tiramisu especially (one of my husband's favorites). You are right. Multiple courses won't be too hard if prepped in advance.
Husband's boss coming for dinner. HELP!
Hello! My husband's boss and wife are coming for dinner next week. They enjoy good food and he is a seasoned cook. They are going to French Laundry for dinner while on an upcoming vacation.
What should I make? I am wracking my brain. They are both super nice so I'm sure that it won't be totally high pressure, but I'd like to make a great dinner and wow em. Dishes that can be mostly made in advance are great as I have a little guy running around.
Husband asked for no Indian or anything that could be considered "weird". I asked for clarification and he just said "you know". I was thinking Mediterranean, like maybe mousaka, pitas and a salad. (I am too into theme/ethnic nights)
Your help and suggestions are greatly appreciated!
Slow cooker advice
I am doing a beef roast with red wine, garlic, onions, & mushrooms braised for 10 hours on low. Do you think that aluminum foil will react with that? I have used foil to cook meat in the oven, so I don't imagine that the reduced heat of the slow cooker (200 degrees) would cause a bad reaction.
Thoughts?
Slow cooker advice
Hello! I am making 2 beef roasts for a dinner party tomorrow. I used my slow cooker for one, and then borrowed a friend's.
The borrowed slow cooker has a hole in the top for a probe and 2 vent holes. Since steam will escape, do I need to adjust my recipe because of the venting at the top? Or, do you have a suggestion on something to put over the top of the slow cooker but under the lid to make it more air tight (such as plastic wrap or aluminum foil)?
Thanks! Your suggestions are greatly appreciated!
Braised short ribs presentation for capital "C" Company
Do you mind sharing your "lick the plate clean" recipe for braised short ribs?
