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Memorize This Must-Know Kitchen Terminlogy

August 8, 2014 by

If you’ve ever encountered a cooking term that you didn’t understand in a new recipe, you know how confusing it can be. From julienne to mince, there’s a whole slew of complicated terminology that seems foreign to the amateur chef. Here are a few simple definitions that will help you with your next adventure in the kitchen.

  1. Braise. Braising involves browning meat or vegetables in a bit of hot fat before cooking them slowly in a shallow pool of liquid. This is a great technique to soften less tender cuts of meat or veggies.
  2. Devil. To devil something, such as an egg, you simply coat it with a hot seasoning like hot sauce or mustard.
  3. Dredge. Dredging means to coat something like meat or vegetables with flour, breadcrumbs, or cornmeal.
  4. Flambe. This term is usually found in more gourmet recipes. It involves sprinkling a food with a liqueur and lighting it on fire before serving.

Glossary of Basic Cooking Terms [Les Petites Gourmettes]
Cooking Terms [Recipe Goldmine]
Glossary of Cooking Terms [UMN]
Glossary of Cooking Terms [Better Homes & Gardens]
Culinary Terms [About.com]

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Facing a Deadline? Here’s How to Break the Procrastination Habit

August 1, 2014 by

It seems like every time you’re faced with a big deadline for work or school, your brain instantly goes into procrastination mode. Suddenly the house needs to be cleaned, that new television show looks a whole lot more interesting than it did before, and even just staring at the wall seems more appealing than doing your work. If this sounds all too familiar, these three tips will help you to stop procrastinating for good.

  1. Break things up. A huge project may seem daunting, but once you break it down into smaller steps, it'll seem much easier to manage. Create an outline of the project with each part broken down into its own step, and the tackle each step one at a time. Crossing off those items will feel so good that you’ll look forward to moving on to the next one.
  2. Get a change of scenery. If you work from home, the amount of distractions in your living space can start to feel overwhelming. Set up a home office area that’s completely separate from your bedroom, living room, or other recreational areas, or even take your work to a coffee shop when you feel the dreaded procrastination bug coming on.
  3. Hold yourself accountable. Whether this means telling a friend or colleague about your goals or marking them down on a calendar, many people work more efficiently if they’re held accountable for their actions. Over time, this may even translate into better work habits altogether.

11 Practical Ways to Stop Procrastination [Lifehack]
How to Stop Procrastination in 4 Simple Steps Even if You’re Lazy [Digital Bloggers]
15 Ways to Stop Procrastinating Right Now [Business Insider]
8 Ways to Not Procrastinate [Relevant Magazine]

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Speed Through Laundry Day With These 4 Organization Tips

July 25, 2014 by

You love the fresh, clean feeling of having all of your laundry done, but getting there is a whole different story. Laundry day may be time-consuming, but there are ways to make it easier. Here are a few tips to help you organize your laundry and get it done in half the time.

  1. Sort laundry without even trying. It takes a lot of time to sort through your mountain of dirty clothes and separate the lights from the darks. Invest in a three-compartment hamper to do the sorting for you.
  2. Bleach more effectively. Bleaching seems like a fool-proof way to remove stains from white clothing, but it doesn’t always work as effectively as you’d like. The proper way to bleach clothes is by first letting the clothing soak in a pool of water. Add one cup of bleach and one cup of dishwashing detergent and let it soak for about half an hour. Finally, dump the whole thing into the washing machine and wash as you normally would.
  3. Prevent damage. To reduce fading, turn dark colored items inside out before washing. Use the cold water setting to prevent clothes from shrinking, and then hang them to dry instead of using the dryer. Also, only wash delicates, like bras and underwear, in a lingerie bag on the delicate cycle.
  4. Invest in a drying rack. Rather than tossing delicate items over the shower curtain rod or rigging some other kind of makeshift drying rack, invest in the real deal. They're usually inexpensive, and they fold into a flat shape to tuck away when not in use.

10 Tips and Tricks for Easier Laundry Days [Yahoo!]
Easy Laundry Tips [The Nest]
How to Do Laundry More Effectively [Babble]
13 Ways to Make Laundry Day Easier [BHG]

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Love Birdwatching? Download These Apps!

July 24, 2014 by

Are you an avid birdwatcher who’s always looking for new birding resources? Lucky for tech-savvy birdwatchers, smartphone apps can help you identify birds, keep track of birds you see on your watches, and even record particularly interesting calls. Here are two great apps for birdwatching.

Peterson Backyard Birds
The Peterson Backyard Birds app is a complete field guide to the birds of North America, enabling users to identify more than 160 common types of birds. This app is ideal for the beginning birdwatcher because it helps to identify the most basic types of birds seen from most backyards, and it provides detailed illustrations of each bird’s appearance. There are even samples of each bird’s call for further help identifying it in the wild.

BirdWatching
With gorgeous nature photography and a magazine-style layout, the BirdWatching app is perfect for the more experienced birdwatcher. Lengthy, detailed articles provide information on the migration patterns and natural habitats of many interesting types of birds, while the ID Tool Kit offers helpful tips and tricks for identifying birds in your watches. If you’re a fan of BirdWatching magazine, you’ll love getting the same wonderful content right on your smartphone.

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Go Meat-Free at These Vegetarian Eateries in Houston

July 18, 2014 by

Though the great state of Texas is known for its barbecue, Houston’s vegetarians enjoy a number of meat-free restaurants that would rival any steakhouse in depth of flavor. Check out these tasty vegetarian eateries that serve much more than just tofu!

Pepper Tree Veggie Cuisine
This casual, healthy Asian restaurant is the ideal place to pop in for a quick lunch. All of the food items are 100% vegan, and absolutely no MSG is used while cooking. The colorful salad bar offers a wide variety of unique items, and the lunch buffet includes almost 20 different foods ranging from hot soups to egg rolls. The dinner menu also offers a number of Asian-inspired dishes, including a vegan General Tso’s Chicken that regulars insist you’ll crave for days afterward.

Field of Greens
Field of Greens uses a macrobiotic approach to eating that revolves mainly around whole grains and fresh vegetables. While this may seem restrictive, the upscale restaurant’s meat-free dishes are bright, diverse, and always flavorful. The eatery’s interior is airy and full of plants, and the cozy cafe-style tables are ideal for an intimate dinner. The expansive menu includes vegetarian salads, pastas, and a wide variety of meat-free sandwiches. The vegan daily soup includes split pea and tomato basil, and the dessert menu offers chocolate tofu pie, vegan carrot cake, and even vegan cupcakes in a number of flavors.

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These Two Wedding Registry Sites Can Help You Take the Plunge

July 11, 2014 by

When it comes time to register for gifts for your wedding, it can be difficult to choose the right places to meet your style and your needs. It’s best to keep in mind that you want high quality items that will last a good while, but at prices that your guests can afford. Here are two great wedding registry websites that will make your decision a bit easier.

Pottery Barn
Pottery Barn’s wedding registry is separated into neatly organized sections that help you to create your registry from start to finish. It features a simple registrant information page that allows you to create your couple profile, and it even enables you to decide where you’d like each gift shipped and your preferences on receiving gift cards from guests. Once you fill out your registry, Pottery Barn also makes it easy for friends and family to find your profile and navigate the gifts that you’ve selected.

Williams-Sonoma
The popular kitchenware store offers an impressive wedding registry site that’s packed full of cooking and entertaining items to help you create the kitchen of your dreams. Easily create and manage your registry with just a few fill-in-the-blank questions, then select the items that you love from Williams-Sonoma’s expansive inventory.

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How to Keep Your Houseplants Alive and Happy

July 7, 2014 by

Adding a green plant to your home's decor is easy; keeping it alive is a whole other story. Even if you aren't blessed with a green thumb, these three tips will help you keep your houseplants happy and thriving.

1. Go easy on the watering.
Over-watering is the number one killer of houseplants. Even if the soil on top looks dry, the plant may, in fact, have plenty of water. To test if your plant really needs a watering, stick your finger about two inches into the dirt. If it emerges dry, then your plant could use a drink. Otherwise, hold off on watering for a few days. After watering, ensure that the plant doesn't having water its tray, as this will cause root rot.

2. Find the right plant for your circumstances.
Before you bring that new plant to your home or office, read its tag to see its light requirement. Plants are divided into three light requirements: low light, medium light, and full sun. If your office doesn't have any windows, then a full sun plant won't work for you. Keep in mind that flowering plants require more light than foliage plants.

3. Ward off the chill.
Plants are typically happiest between 65° to 80° F during the day and 55° to 65° F in the evenings. Keep your plant away from heating/cooling vents, and don't allow its leaves to come in contact with a cold windowpane during the winter.

Houseplant Pests and Diseases [Gardener's Supply Company]
A Beginner's Guide to Caring for Houseplants [Mahoney's]
Care for Houseplants [Lowe's]
Tips on Caring for Houseplants in the Fall and Winter [HGTV]

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3 Kid-Friendly Dinner Recipes That’ll Satisfy Even the Finickiest of Eaters

June 27, 2014 by

A picky eater in the family can make cooking dinner difficult, but it’s important for everyone in your family to get the proper nutrition. If you’re looking for healthy, filling recipes that even small children will love, these three dishes are both simple and tasty.

Ham and Cheese Quesadillas [Real Simple]
Using deli ham and cheese instead of the usual complicated taco meats and seasonings, these ham and cheese quesadillas are ideal for nights when you don’t have much time to cook or when you’re short on groceries. Serve them with a slice of cantaloupe for a boost of healthy nutrients.

Taco Pizza [Martha Stewart]
This is a fun one that will get the kids excited to eat dinner. Taco pizza combines two of children’s favorite foods—pizza and tacos—and it takes just 25 minutes from start to finish. Use lean ground beef and fresh veggies to make it a bit healthier than the usual pizza.

Chicken Tenders With Creamy Honey Mustard [Kraft]
Even the pickiest eaters love chicken tenders, but this recipe is a less fattening alternative to the usual fast food fare. To make this dish even more convenient, the honey mustard sauce doubles as a dip for a side of vegetables.

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Check Out These 6 Tips for Baking the Perfect Cookies

June 20, 2014 by

Leave the grocery store frozen cookie dough behind in favor of something fresh, homemade, and much more flavorful. Making cookies from scratch is much easier than you may think, and if you follow a few simple guidelines, it doesn’t take much extra time, either. Here are some quick tips for making wonderful-tasting cookies at home.

  1. Don’t skimp on ingredients. If a recipe calls for something unusual or specific, it’s likely because it’s important.
  2. Always use pure forms of base ingredients. That means unsalted butter, large eggs, and pure vanilla extract.
  3. Use parchment paper instead of cooking spray. Parchment paper creates much less mess to clean up, and it prevents your cookies from burning.
  4. Adjust baking times to your unique preferences. If you prefer soft, chewy cookies, shave off a minute or two. If you like a crunchy cookie, add an extra minute.
  5. Place cookies approximately two inches apart. If you place them too close together on the baking pan, your cookies will melt together and lose their nice, round shape.
  6. For bar cookies, make sure you use the pan size indicated. It can be difficult to adjust the cooking time depending on the pan size, so it’s always smart to go with the size that the recipe specifies.

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How Much Oil Should You Consume?

June 19, 2014 by

Oil has a reputation for being bad for the waistline, but select oils are very beneficial when consumed in moderation. This helpful guide from the USDA provides simple, accessible descriptions of the main types of oils, then helps you to make informed decisions about which to use. Here are the highlights:

What are oils?
Oils are fats that become liquid at room temperature. Things like canola oil, corn oil, sunflower oil, and olive oil are common, as well as the oils found in foods like nuts, olives, avocados, and some fish.

How are oils different from solid fats?
Solid fats contain more saturated fats and/or trans fats, while oils contain more monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Saturated fats and trans fats raise the “bad” cholesterol in your body, which increases the risk of heart disease.

Why are oils important?
It is important to consume oils because they provide essential nutrients. Oils are the major source of essential fatty acids, which are necessary for your health, and they are also provide the majority of your body’s Vitamin E.

How much oil should I consume?
The average American adult needs anywhere from five to seven teaspoons of oil per day, depending on factors like your gender, age, and level of physical activity.

What Are “Oils”? [USDA]

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