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Allergic to Eggs? These 3 Webpages Provide Info About Egg Substitutions

May 19, 2016 by

Vegans and those with egg allergies may think that certain foods are off limits, but thanks to egg substitutes, you can still enjoy things like cakes, breads, and other baked goods. These helpful websites are full of tips for using egg substitutes to help you create egg-free dishes that taste just as good as the originals.

PETA
Though this website is tailored toward vegans, its tips are helpful for anyone who wants to remove eggs from their diet. The Egg Replacements page features information about all of the different types of egg substitutes, including silken tofu, potato starch, ground flax seed, and canned pumpkin. There’s also a list full of tips about egg substitutions.

The Kitchn
The Kitchn’s Vegan Egg Substitutes page helps you to choose the perfect egg substitute for any dish. It offers full descriptions of everything from tofu to applesauce, and it also provides information about the best brands of commercial egg replacers.

About.com
The vegetarian section of About.com is a wonderful resource to learn more about egg substitutes. It answers readers’ most pressing questions about cooking without eggs, and it also describes which egg substitutes work best in different types of recipes.

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Love Home Canning? Read These Food Safety Tips!

April 16, 2015 by

Home canning is a delicious food trend that’s seen quite a comeback in recent years, and it makes a great way to use up fresh produce before it has a chance to spoil. Here are a few safety tips that will help you to can your fruits and veggies safely.

  1. Be aware of the safety hazards. Many first-time home canners don’t realize that there are deadly food poisonings associated with incorrect canning methods. Botulism is the most common one, and it comes from a bacteria found in soil that produces a toxin when sealed in a jar. Luckily, there are preventative measures to kill these bacteria before canning.
  2. Throw out your old canning recipes. Those old family canning techniques are likely a botulism risk waiting to happen. Keep up with the latest techniques to keep yourself and your family safe.
  3. Don’t stray from the recipe. Canning recipes aren’t just created to preserve the taste of your foods; they’re also meant to protect you against illness. Resist the urge to add extra herbs or a pinch more sugar, as this can threaten the pH levels in your jar.
  4. Use a pressure canner. In recent years, it’s become apparent that the only way to stay completely safe while canning meats or low-acid vegetables is by using a pressure canner. This heats the food to 240 degrees Fahrenheit, a temperature that can only be reached in a pressure canner.

Don’t Botch It: Home Canning Safety Tips [Home Food Safety]
Home Canning: Keep Your Family Safe! [FoodSafety.gov]
Home Canning and Botulism [CDC]
Safety Tips for Home Canning [About.com]

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What Are Your Tips for Cooking the Perfect Omelet?

March 19, 2015 by

Omelets are seemingly simple breakfast foods that are deceptively difficult to make. If you’re all too accustomed to overcooked, broken omelets, these seven expert tips will help show you how to flip one like a pro. And if you have your own omelet cooking tips, be sure to share them!

  1. Use the proper tools. For best results, use a skillet that’s 8 or 9 inches in diameter, plus a heatproof spatula and an egg whisk.
  2. Assemble the ingredients. A standard omelet uses two or three eggs per person, as well as whichever veggies, meats, or cheeses that you prefer. Be sure to chop and prepare your toppings in advance!
  3. Add a splash of water to your eggs. Before adding the other ingredients, whisk a splash of water into the eggs. This will help ensure a light, fluffy omelet.
  4. Heat the skillet. Heat your skillet to medium-high heat and coat the bottom with unsalted butter.
  5. Add the eggs. Add just the eggs to the pan first and let the edges set for about 10 seconds. Pull the now-set edges in toward the center and rotate the pan to disperse the raw egg.
  6. Add toppings. Gently sprinkle the toppings on the surface of the eggs.
  7. Fold. Fold only one side of the omelet in toward the center. Once it’s done cooking, fold the other side by tilting the skillet. Flip the whole thing face down onto your plate to complete the perfect omelet.

How to Make the Perfect Omelet [Food Network]
How to Make the 'Perfect' French Omelet [Instructables]
How to Make an Omelet [Organic Valley]

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Party Safe: Tips for Serving a Safe Food Buffet

January 22, 2015 by

When you have a large group of people over for dinner, serving food buffet-style ensures that everyone gets exactly what they want. But how can you be sure that everything stays fresh, from appetizers to dessert? Here are a few tips for serving a safe food buffet.

  1. Buy foods at the proper temperature. Things like fried chicken, casseroles, and ice cream should be kept at the same temperature from the store to the buffet table, as changing their temperatures too much can cause food to spoil.
  2. Know the proper temperatures. Hot food should be kept between 140° and 165° Fahrenheit, while cold food should be kept at 40° Fahrenheit and lower.
  3. Don’t leave food out for longer than two hours. Be sure to include preparation and serving in your count.
  4. Use the proper tools. To ensure that food is kept at the proper temperature, use things like slow cookers, warming trays, and nesting dishes in bowls of ice. To prevent guests from mixing foods, make sure that you provide a separate spoon, spatula, or tongs in each dish. Also provide individual bowls for dips to discourage guests from double-dipping.

Serving Up Safe Buffets [FDA]
Serving Prepared Foods Safely [Whole Foods]
Holiday or Party Buffets [USDA]

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6 Healthy Garlic Recipes With Big Flavor

December 4, 2014 by

Garlic is a superfood that’s full of healthful properties. Garlic adds robust flavor and dimension to any dish, and there’s scientific evidence that it helps to prevent many types of cancers. Whether you press your own fresh garlic or use canned, minced versions, it’s an important seasoning to keep on hand. Here are a few great recipes with savory, garlicky tastes.

Asparagus with Anchovies and Garlic
This one is a nutritious side dish with a similar flavor to a Caesar salad, and it perfectly complements grilled chicken or fish.

Brazilian Grilled Flank Steak
Grill up this steak recipe in just 30 minutes for a flavorful entrée with a bold garlic flavor.

Mashed Red Potatoes with Garlic and Parmesan
Garlic is a necessity in mashed potatoes, and this recipe adds even more flavor with the addition of zesty Parmesan cheese.

4 Minute Spicy Garlic Shrimp
Combine Jumbo shrimp with lemon, red pepper and garlic cloves for a fresh and healthy summer dish.

Creamy Garlic Penne Pasta
The creamy garlic and cheese sauce on this hearty pasta makes a perfect comfort food that the whole family will love.

Chicken Garlic Bites
These small chicken hors d’oeuvres have a big garlic flavor and can be accentuated with a variety of dipping sauces.

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6 Out-of-the-Ordinary Carrot Recipes

May 14, 2014 by

Once you leave infancy, plain old cooked carrots likely aren’t one of your favorite dishes. While these veggies alone can be somewhat bland and boring, when they’re spiced up and cooked in interesting ways, carrots are a versatile vegetable that can be turned into some pretty great dishes. Here are six unique carrot recipes to try at home tonight.

Roasted Parsnips and Carrots [Food Network]
This roasted root vegetable side dish is flavored with simple herbs and seasonings.

Glazed Salmon With Spiced Carrots [Food Network]
Pair the light, flavorful fish with spicy coriander, cumin, and cinnamon for an explosive dish that’s exciting for your taste buds.

Carrot Soufflé [AllRecipes]
Sweetened with rich vanilla and two types of sugars, this fluffy carrot soufflé is sweet enough to be dessert.

Curried Carrot Soup [AllRecipes]
A bit of exotic spice goes a long way in this creamy soup with a carrot base.

Moist Carrot Cake [AllRecipes]
It may not be the healthiest recipe, but you can’t think of carrots without thinking of carrot cake. This one is moist, hearty, and topped with a decadently creamy icing.

Carrot Rice [AllRecipes]
Combine grated carrots with basmati rice, roasted peanuts, and fresh ginger for a unique side dish that tastes incredibly fresh.

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Discover Delightful Pumpkin Recipes from These Cooking Sites

December 18, 2013 by

You’ve waited all year for pumpkin foods to return, and now that it’s finally winter you’ll need a great supply of recipes to keep your pumpkin cravings covered. These websites are full of delicious ideas for incorporating pumpkin into soups, desserts, and even lasagnas that your friends and family will love.

All Recipes
This online guide to cooking with pumpkin is full of everything you’ll need to know about everyone’s favorite cold-weather food. Here you’ll learn how to prepare pumpkin for cooking, types of pumpkin to use, and the health benefits of this delicious fruit. After brushing up your pumpkin knowledge, All Recipes provides recipes for soups and stews, main dishes, savory sides, and mouth-watering desserts with pumpkin as the main ingredient.

Joy of Baking
The Joy of Baking website is the perfect place to find pumpkin desserts and baked goods that you can make at home. This site utilizes video tutorials to show visitors the proper techniques to use while baking, easy-to-follow recipes for every occasion, and beautiful photographs of the finished products.

Epicurious
Epicurious offers over 300 different pumpkin recipes for everything from winter afternoon lunches to festive desserts, all offering unique, creative twists on this beloved flavor. From Pumpkin Flan with Pumpkin Seed Praline to Pumpkin, Feta and Cilantro Quesadillas, these recipes are fun ways to depart from your usual pumpkin pie.

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Big Patties: Five Unique Hamburger Ideas

October 23, 2012 by

The humble hamburger is a great go-to meal, especially when you don’t have a lot of time. But with a few simple ingredients, you can elevate the fast food staple into something truly special. Here are five ways to make your burger a little better.

Make a patty out of ground turkey and mix it with a little dill. Stuff the middle with a chunk of Brie cheese and grill until the meat is cooked and the cheese melts. Serve on a roll with pickles and lettuce.

Mix Chinese five-spice powder into your ground beef to give it a rich, complex flavor. Once the patty has cooked, glaze the top with a soy ginger sauce and serve with cilantro, cabbage and pickled carrots.

Make a Chicago-style hot dog burger by topping a traditional patty with sweet relish, chopped white onions and hot peppers. A little ketchup and mustard will bring this one over the top.

For a classic French bistro take on the hamburger, gently caramelize onions in a pan and ladle them generously over the cooked burger along with a slice of Gouda cheese and crisp, thick-cut bacon. Serve on a buttery brioche roll.

To give your burgers a special kick, mix in adobo seasoning, red onion and finely grated lime peels into your ground beef. Grill ears of corn until kernels are just cooked, strip the kernels off and mix them with queso fresco and a little bit of mayonnaise to top the burgers.

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