Welcome to "What's for Dinner?"  

KITCHEN Quote-It-All   "First step in preparing healthier meals for your family is to remove all the bad food first.  Second step is to enjoy every last bite!"

10 Tips to Cook it Faster!

Tip 1.    Salt the water. It gives your pasta flavor and raises the boiling point for faster preparation.

Tip 2.    Slice and dice fresh fruits and vegetables for an entire week so that they are available for every meal.

Tip 3.    Bring meat to room temperature before cooking. It will retain it's natural juices, cook faster and more evenly.

Tip 4.    If you're in the market for new appliances, consider a convection oven. Convection cooking saves a considerable amount of time and energy costs.

Tip 5.    Get a kitchen thermometer. It reduces cooking time and the risk for dried out, overcooked food or bacteria from undercooked meat.

Tip 6.   Use a lid on your pots. It reduces the external temperatures affect on the food. It also saves energy since you can cook at lower temperatures.

Tip 7.   Grate your frozen butter with a food grater for an easier spread. It avoids waiting for the butter to melt or making a mess in the microwave.

Tip 8.   Use a mallet or meat tenderizer before cooking meats such as boneless chicken breasts or pork. It reduces excess moisture and cooks faster and more evenly.

Tip 9.   Skip bone-in meats such as pork steaks, t-bones, or ribeyes. They are usually thicker and take considerably more time to cook.

Tip 10. Clean as you go. As food is prepared and being cooked, clean prep boards, utensils and pots for less clean up time later.


Keep your berries longer

Idea 1 (Fast Version)

As soon as you bring your berries home form the market, pour them out of the container and line the bottom with paper towels then replace. DO NOT wash the berries until ready to eat. Make sure the container has holes on top so that the moisture does not build up.

Idea 2 (Long Version)

In a container include 3/4 cup of vinegar and 3 cups of cold water. Pour the berries into the mixture and wash them. Remove them from the mixture and place on paper towels to dry. Line a storage container with paper towels and store in the refrigerator. Keep the lid of the container cracked to release moisture.

Idea 3 (Sweet and Ready Version)

As soon as you get your berries home from the market, wash them in cold water and an optional fruit/vegetable wash. Core and cut into halves or quarters. In a container add the cut-up berries, 1/4 cup of water and optional 1/4 cup of sugar or 2 tsps. of Splenda® or other low calorie sweetener. Replace the lid and gently shake the berries to release the natural sugars and/or coat the sweetened water over the berries. They last longer and are much sweeter when ready to eat. There is no need to leave the lid cracked on this version.


 

KITCHEN Know-It-All   A ZILLION THINGS EVERY KITCHEN NEEDS: Full knife set, knife sharpener, cutting boards (3), nonstick cooking pan, cast iron cooking pan, stainless steel pots and pans, blender, toaster, mixer, toaster oven, small food processor, thermometer, whisk, grater, wooden spoon, rubber spatulas, 9x11 baking pan, 2 - 14x16 airbake cooking sheets, basic utensils and small kitchen wares (measuring cup set, ladle, can opener, measuring spoons, slotted spoons, corkscrew, towels, dishrags and potholders), metal tongs, mixing bowls.  

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