Substitutes for Canned Cream SoupsThis page is about substitutes for canned cream soups. Adding a can of cream soup to recipes is a common shortcut, but can add unwanted fat and sodium.
Bread Machine Bread is Hard and Dense?Bread machines are usually fool-proof but there can be some common problems to avoid. This page has advice if your bread machine bread is hard and dense.
Making Spaghetti Sauce Less SweetThis is a page about making spaghetti sauce less sweet. Sometimes homemade spaghetti sauce can turn out too sweet.
Storing Coffee FiltersThis page is about storing coffee filters. It's nice to find a convenient way to store your filters so the retain their shape.
How Many Cups Of Chicken Meat On A Whole Chicken?Does anyone know the equivalent measurement for how many cups of chicken meat you can get from stewing/poaching an average size (3 to 4 lb.) chicken?
Cooking Chicken Stew for 1000 People?It can be difficult to scale recipes for large crowds. This is a page about cooking chicken stew for 1000 people.
Tips for Making Rice Krispie TreatsYou can get creative with different shapes, textures and flavors of your puffed cereal treats. This page contains tips for making rice krispie treats.
Baking BreadThis is a page about baking bread. Baking fresh bread at home is wonderful, whether you use a bread machine or not.
Making Hamburger Buns from Frozen Bread Dough?Has anyone made hot dog or hamburger rolls or steak rolls from the Frozen Bread Dough Loaves? If so, could you please give me the recipe?
Uses for Juice from Canned FruitThis page is about uses for juice from canned fruit. Instead of discarding the juice from canned fruit, it can be used in creative ways.
Canning MangoesThis is a page about canning mangoes. Mangoes are not always available year round. Canning them allows you to enjoy this tasty fruit even when it's out of season.
Cooking Lasagna For 70?I am making lasagna for 70 people in 19 x 11 inch pans. How many pans should I make?
Baking Powder Leavening Substitute?Does anyone have a vinegar to baking soda ratio to use as leavening in biscuits or cake? I'm looking for a baking powder substitute, as it does not have a long storage life.
Save Fuel When Cooking PastaUse a heat proof sieve or colander to cook pasta in the same pan as your vegetables
Why Use Baking Soda In Cake Icing?Why use baking soda in cake icing?
Glass Shaker ImprovementI love having cinnamon and sugar, powdered sugar, etc in a shaker on hand. Some problems I have come across are clumping, spilling and can attract critters. With my upgrade my shaker no longer has any of those problems.
Substitute For HoneyI have an allergy to honey, what could I use instead? Thank you
A Twist on Making HamburgersI love homemade hamburgers but I'm not partial to the thick, doughy store bought hamburger buns. To envelope my patty with all the fixings, I toast 2 slices of sandwich bread and cut them round using a 4 inch plate, bowl or most often my funnel.
Cake Mix Inner Bags For Freezing ChickenWhen it comes to fried chicken breast tenders, I like mine thin. My intent here was to use the cake mix bag just for pounding the tenders. Then it occurred to me that the bag itself would be ideal for freezing as well, and I have accumulated several over time.
Kangaroo CookingAlways cook something for the next meal, with your current one: extra potatoes in broth, for cottage pie; extra stew, to chop up as pie fillings; extra rice, to make rice salad or tacos; extra fish, for patties; extra spaghetti, to cut up in soup; extra bolognese, to stuff baked aubergines or marrows, etc.
Weight Watchers Food Companion Books?What is the most recent year that Weight Watchers published the Food Companion and Dining Out small soft-cover books?
Cooking and Baking with Substitute IngredientsI save all the crumbs from cereal in a bag in my freezer. I use these crumbs to supplement my flour in baking recipes. I also add them to a meatloaf, if the cereal was not pre-sweetened.
Free Hands ChoppingTake a cutting board, a heavy rubber band (I save the rubber bands that come on broccoli bunches), and something you want to cutup (celery, squash, carrots, you get the idea). Take the rubber band and stretch it over the short side - slide it to one side to the left if you are cutting right handed and to the right if you are using your left hand. Take the celery, slide it under the rubber band and begin chopping. So easy! And you can use both hands to chop. Always use caution when using a knife.
Cereal Liners Instead of Waxed PaperThere used to be a show called Extreme Cheapskates on TV. One featured person said the cereal liners are better than waxed paper. I wash them off and put them on my refrigerator to dry. I use them to separate hamburgers, pancakes and waffles for freezing. I also use them to keep my counter cleaner if I am flouring chicken cutlets or kneading dough.
Flax Egg SubstituteWith the price of eggs soaring, a good substitute for cooking and baking is a flax egg. Use 1 Tbsp. of ground flaxseed meal and 2 1/2 Tbsp. of room temperature water for each egg. I refrigerate for 10 minutes or so.
Pumpkin SubstitutionI used only half a can of pumpkin when making a mousse for Thanksgiving dessert, and the pumpkin bread recipe needed a full can. I substituted mashed yams for 1/2 the pumpkin, the bread came out perfectly!
Reheating a Frozen Pre-cooked Pumpkin Pie?I would like to know if a cooked pumpkin pie can be frozen? If so how long would you reheat when ready to use? I over cooked for Thanksgiving and hate to throw it away if I can use at a later date.
How Long Will Pumpkin Puree Last In Fridge?How long will pumpkin puree last in the fridge?
How Long Does A Potato Take To Boil?Potatoes are a common root vegetable used in recipes all over the world. These starchy tubers must be cooked before being eaten. Boiling potatoes is an easy way to ensure they are ready for your table or to add to another dish. When boiling potatoes, there are several factors to consider.
Save Vegetable Cooking Water for SoupCook fresh or frozen vegetables in water. Once vegetables have cooked, drain the water into a large container in your freezer and add to it every time you cook more vegetables.
Shower Caddy Spice RackA reg shower caddy from dollar tree. I bent it over to loop over the cabinet door. However you can use screws or nail to hang it on or use command strip hooks. It fits neatly away when not needed. Just open the door to reveal your spices.
Making Canned Chili Taste Homemade?How do you make canned chili taste like homemade?
Using Pancake Mix Instead of Bisquick?I was wondering if you can sub regular pancake mix for Bisquick? I just finished the box, but I have a huge box of the pancake mix, which my boyfriend and I don't eat a whole lot of. Thanks for any info.
Mashed Potatoes for 40 People?How many pounds of potatoes would be needed to feed 40 people mashed potatoes?
Let Meat Rest Before ServingWhen roasting a whole chicken in the oven, set it out on top of oven to cool for 15 minutes before serving. This will let the juices flow to the middle of your chicken, which will make it taste better.
Baking Cupcakes from Scratch?I have been baking a long time. I just bought a cupcake pan, but it has space for only 6 cup cakes. Now when I make a bowl of batter, obviously it makes enough for around 12 cupcakes.
Adding Dry Fruit to Cake Batter?When adding dry fruits to my cake batter, do I mix it into the batter or do I pour on top right before I pop it into the oven? Thank you so much.
Ripening Fresh BananasIf you buy fresh bananas, and wand then to ripen fast, all you have to do is put them in the freezer for at least two hours. They turn immediately black and sweeter and even get bruised! It's like magic
Slow Banana RipeningYou can slow down the ripening process of bananas if you put them in the refrigerator in both a brown and a clear or white plastic bag. Two bags. Don't know why this works but it does. I noticed this when comparing the life the fruit in one bag or the other compared to two.
Information on Food RecallsManufacturers recall food products all the time for a variety of reasons. They are announced on the news and many stores will contact their customers directly to inform them to return them for a refund or replacement. It is important to discontinue use immediately to prevent any health concerns.
Scrambled Eggs With Beet GreensFresh beets are the best, however, don't throw away those beet greens. They are good too and so good for you. I'm still experimenting with them and have found that they sauté well, much like spinach.
Aquafaba Substitute for EggsAquafaba is the liquid canned chickpeas come in. You can also make your own if you cook dried chickpeas. You can use aquafaba from other beans, but chickpeas have the mildest flavor.
Shelf Life of Tuna Packaged in Pouches?I have a couple of unopened pouches of tuna and albacore. I don't think they have expiration dates on them, so how long can go by before it's too late to open and use them?
Peanut Butter Fudge Not Hardening?How can I salvage Peanut Butter Fudge that has not hardened?
Bottle For Inverting Bundt PanI just insert the neck of the bottle into the hole in the center of the pan, and invert it onto the stove or counter and leave it for about an hour to cool. Then carefully loosen the cake at the top edges and remove it to a serving plate.
Sprouting BeansEveryone can do this. You only need a container with a cover. You may use many kinds of beans. I used lentils this time.
Hibiscus GumpasteEverybody wants to have the best looking cake. Since it's summer season in my country, I get a few demands of tropical or summer themed cakes. Today I'm gonna show you how to make realistic hibiscus flower gumpaste, beginner level.
Finding 70s Weight Watcher Plan?I first joined WW in the 70s and thought it was the best. In my recent move my WW cookbook has disappeared and would love to find another. Also looking for a copy or image of the sheet that we kept track of what we ate. I remember it had a small check off of how many eggs, pork, etc. you ate per week. Can anyone help?
Keeping Carbonated Drinks Fresh After OpeningKeeping your carbonated canned drinks fresh after opening sometimes is a daunting task. Usually if they're open no matter what you put on them, they''re good for about a day and then all the fizz is gone. I experimented with many different things before I came up with one idea that will literally keep your carbonated canned drink carbonated and tasting like you just opened it for up to a week and, yes, you can use more of the drink and put this right back on and it''ll still hold it fresh and carbonated for 6 to 7 days!
Using Cooking Bags In Your CrockpotCan I use "oven cooking bags" in my crockpot?
Use Less Ingredients When BakingWhen making cookies and squares, I never find that I need as many chocolate chips or nuts as the recipe calls for. I have reduced the fat content of the sweets and have some ingredients left over for the next batch.
Cutting Time When Making PuddingInstead of heating cold milk in the pan with the packaged pudding mix, I heat the milk in the microwave first. It certainly cuts down on time spent stirring until the mixture boils!
Banana SaverYou just need a banana, a knife and a lid that fits the size of the banana from your bag of lids that everyone saves, a cutting board and that's it. First, you cut the banana in half. Eat 1/2 and save the other half for later or tomorrow.
Use Wooden Tongs on Your ToasterIf you have trouble getting toast out of your toaster because the toast doesn't pop up enough above the top or because you have sensitive fingers I highly recommend using wooden tongs.
How Can You Know If a Raw Egg Is Safe to Use?How do you know when an egg is still fresh to use?
What Is Sweet Milk?Sweet milk is fresh milk as opposed to sour milk which people used to make cakes with, and buttermilk. It has no added sugar and is what you buy to drink every day. It is just called milk today.
Barbecuing a Whole Turkey?Has anyone barbecued a whole Turkey? Any tips would be greatly appreciated.
Product Review: Butterball Fully Cooked Smoked Turkey?Has anyone tried the Butterball fully cooked smoked turkey? Is it good enough to serve to guests for Thanksgiving?
Shelf Life of Swanson Chicken Broth in Cartons?My brother drives a tractor-trailer and ended up with 3 cases of Swanson chicken broth in the carton like boxes. They expire this month; can freeze these and/or does the 2 year after the date rule apply to these like other canned food? Thanks.
Cut Pomegranates So They Don't Lose Their JuicesCut a cap off the top of your pomegranates then cut along the ridges on the pom. Look closely, they aren't perfectly round. You may need to FEEL the pomegranate to determine the ridges. There's usually between 5 and 6.
Keeping Brownies from Getting Hard on the EdgesWhy are my brownies always hard around the edges? The center is fine. I use a glass baking dish and have tried a metal pan but same results. Several people I know have this same problem. Can you help me? Thanks in advance.
Recipes Using WatermelonWatermelon is a favorite summer treat. It is often served alone but can be combined with other ingredients for delicious salads, sauces or desserts.
Drip Drain for WatermelonThese two stackable containers come in handy for many things. I pulled out four plastic lids and they fit perfectly. They are deep enough to keep the watermelon out of the juice which keeps it crisp and fresh. If needed, I can punch holes in them for more drainage.
Avocado PearHere is a receipt with only (for 2 persons) an avocado, a pear, a little bit of peppercorns and vinegar. Pepper and vinegar have to be a bit sophisticated, like pink or green or black pepper, raspberry vinegar or balsamic vinegar for example.
Muffin Tin MeatloafTry baking meatloaf in a muffin tin instead of the usual loaf pan. It will bake in half the time and you will have individual portions that are all ready to serve.
Marie Callender's Frozen Pie Crusts Instructions?Could someone give me the directions for baking a Marie Callender's frozen pie crust?
Ideas for Bland Stir-Fry?I recently made stir-fry from a recipe. It was pretty simple: tofu, onions, peppers, tomatoes, mushrooms, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and basil. I stir-fried it for about 15 minutes. The consistency was pretty good, a tiny bit on the dry side. But the taste was bland.
Weight Watchers Popcorn BallsMicrowave popcorn (set aside). Melt butter add marshmallows and microwave until they look puffy (about 1 minute or so.) Stir to completly melt marshmallows then pour the melted mixture over the popcorn and carefully mix until it's coated. . .
Box for Transporting WatermelonIt's that time of the year when those delicious watermelons are in season. When we know we are going to pick up one or two, we put a box or the clothes basket in the trunk of the car to put it in. This secures the watermelon and keeps it from rolling around loose.
Chicken Salad for 20 People?How much chicken salad do I need to feed 20 people?
Watch Labels for MSGI recently discovered an insidious additive that almost all manufacturers are putting into foods, and I hope you all begin to watch for it. It is MSG (monosodium glutamate), and of course, we expect it to be in Asian foods.
How Do I Soften Hard Table Salt?I have some regular table salt that became hard. Is there a way I can get it back to its normal state?
How Do I Soften Hard Table Salt?I have some regular table salt that became hard. Is there a way I can get it back to its normal state?
Refrigerator Door Left Open?My husband accidentally left the the refrigerator door partially open. Do I throw all food away? I found this out at 6 am and we went to bed at 11 pm last night. I really need advice on this please.
Paper Towel as Coffee Filter SubstituteWhile staying at my son's cottage in a remote area, I ran out of coffee filters this morning. It didn't take me long to try a basic (Bounty 1/2) sheet and it worked
Using Potato ChipsWhen I have those little "crumb" chips left in the bag, I grind them up in my "buzz" blender. Store in a container in the refrigerator, adding more as available. I add these crumbs to my mix a Tbsp. at a time when breading something.
Microwave Tray Spice HolderMy 11 year old microwave died and I salvaged the ring and glass tray from it and made a spice holder, using clear caulk to hold the ring in place. I placed the glass tray upside down on top of the ring, drew a 'template' of where the clear caulk needed to go, let it dry overnight, and it worked for holding the ring/tray in place.
Silicone Turkey Lifter for Removing PansI have an 18 quart roaster which I use because I don't have a functioning oven. I generally use a 9x13 Pyrex dish when making lasagna and other casseroles and cakes but it's almost impossible to get out without tilting it or burning my hands.
Lightly Salting VegetablesI do not like frozen veggies without any salt. When I take spinach or broccoli out of the freezer, I put it into a small plastic container with a tiny bit of water. I then salt it and put the cover on, and shake it about to coat with the salted water. This way I don't need and butter or anything else. Microwave it and it is done in a jiffy and tastes great.
Apple Moist Cornbread MuffinsAt Walmart, while looking for a pastry blender (didn't find one), I saw a cheap ($1.89) 6 cup cupcake tin. I got one. And later, while using it, I made a nice discovery.
Crushing Crackers or Corn Chips for Soup EasilyI love crackers in my chili and corn chips in my soup. But crushing them leaves a big mess. So I figured out a way to accomplish the crushing without the messing. Put two matching bowls, one with the crackers or chips in it, and one to crush them between the two bowls. No muss, no fuss! N-JOY!!
Crockpot Baked PotatoesIn the past, I seldom baked potatoes because it takes so long to bake them in the oven, however, I do love them. Today, I tried baking some in the crockpot and they were scrumptious.
Pancake Without Leavening AgentLeavening agents are one of the most important ingredient in baking. Baking powder and baking soda are both leavening agents used to make your cake rise. Being a homebaker, I have discovered a simple technique to make cakes fluffy and well risen.
Out of Date Ezy Sauce?Would an unopened 2016 bottle of ezy sauce be ok to use?
Hot Dog Bun French ToastAs I was cleaning out my freezer, I found one hot dog bun in the back. I usually make bread crumbs with it. Someone on one of my Facebook groups suggested making French toast with it. It was a great use of it.
Parching Corn?My mother made parched corn with popcorn. Where do I buy corn on the cob (she shucked it off cob)?
Pasta Soup RecipesPasta is a common addition to many soups all across the world. You can find pasta e fagioli from Italy, ramen from Japan or a classic chicken noodle soup from many countries.
Shelf Life of Fruit Cups?Can you eat fruit cups past best by date?
Health Concerns About Food From China?Recently I've heard several people mention that they wouldn't eat Chinese canned goods. I buy different products from Dollarama (such as mandarin oranges, mushrooms, etc.) that come from China and am wondering what others think about using them? Thanks!
