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If You’re Running Low on Eggs or Vinegar, Try These Substitutes Instead

February 19, 2015 by

When you’re running short on ingredients, you might have to get creative in the kitchen. There are a few well-known replacements for some common ingredients if you don't have everything you need on-hand. Here are four cooking substitutes for when you're in a pinch in the kitchen.

  1. If you're missing eggs: It might seem impossible to replace this unique ingredient, but you can do so with half a banana mashed with 1/2-teaspoon baking powder.
  2. If you're missing mayonnaise: If you’re whipping up a summer salad and find you're short on this condiment, substitute one cup of sour cream, yogurt or cottage cheese pureed in a blender for one cup of mayo.
  3. If you're missing vinegar: Don’t give up if you're running low and the recipe calls for 1/4 cup of white vinegar. You can use 1/4-cup of apple cider vinegar or 1/3-cup freshly squeezed lemon juice instead.
  4. If you're missing soy sauce: You won’t have to stop in the middle of your stir-fry to run out and by more soy sauce. Just use four tablespoons Worcestershire sauce mixed with one tablespoon water.

Top 3 Ingredient Substitutions [All Recipes]
Ingredient Substitutions [University of Nebraska]
Baking Ingredient Substitution Table [Joys of Baking]

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Quick and Easy Meal Ideas to Put on the Dinner Table Tonight

February 5, 2015 by

"What's for dinner tonight?" It's a question we ask ourselves on a daily basis, which is probably why it's so easy to run out of ideas! With the promise of short prep time and bold flavors, these four meals are deserving of a spot in your recipe box. Bonus: They can feed a family for just pennies on the dollar.

Easy Calzone Rolls [Disney Family]
With all the flavor and fun of take-out pizza without the expense, these cheese and meat roll-ups cost just $1.10 per two-roll serving. Kids will love helping to make this recipe, which can go from start to finish in 30 minutes.

Braised Chicken With Red Onion and Carrots [Martha Stewart]
This recipe from Martha Stewart feeds four people with a four-pound chicken and one pound of carrots. It only requires 25 minutes of prep time.

Bacon Pierogi Bake [Cooking Light]
For a mere $1.84 per serving, this hearty casserole relies on a package of ready-made pierogies, two types of cheese, and bacon.

Easy Chicken and Dumplings [Southern Living]
The beloved comfort food is given a quick and easy makeover through the use of canned biscuits, a can of cream of chicken soup, and pre-cooked shredded chicken.

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Knife Techniques and Tips Every Home Cook Should Master

January 22, 2015 by

Kitchen knives are a necessity for just about any type of cooking, but they can also be quite dangerous if used incorrectly. By learning the proper knife techniques, you can master the art of chopping, dicing, and slicing without risking injury.

  1. Start with a clean knife. Although you may think that cuts are the only dangers caused my knives, bacteria is also incredibly hazardous to your health. Be sure to clean your knife with hot water and dishwashing soap before using.
  2. Keep knives sharp. In order to guarantee fast, accurate cuts with minimal effort, you'll need to keep your knives sharp. You can do this by using a sharpening stone or by taking your knives to the store where you purchased them for sharpening.
  3. Learn to chop. Chopping involves roughly cutting a food item into pieces, and it is likely the most common cutting technique. To properly chop something, grip the knife securely and place either the knife's tip or the corner closest to your hand firmly against the cutting board. Use your wrist as a fulcrum to pull the rest of the knife up and down, keeping that end against the cutting board the whole time.
  4. Research other techniques. Dicing involves cutting into small, uniform pieces, while a chiffonade is how you properly cut herbs. You should also practice peeling things like apples or potatoes with a sharp knife.

Knife Skills: Different Types of Cuts [The Culinary Cook]
Top 10 Knife Skills [How Stuff Works]
Perfect Your Knife Skills With This Chef's Guide to Knives [Lifehacker]

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Easy Recipes Using Heart-Healthy Salmon

December 18, 2014 by

Salmon has been hailed a superfood because of its heart-healthy properties, but it’s also a delicate fish that can be difficult to cook at home. Luckily, these simple and flavorful recipes offer a few suggestions for preparing salmon—even if your cooking skills are a bit limited!

Poached Salmon with Watercress and Peaches [marthastewart.com]
This recipe is light yet flavorful, and the peaches impart a subtle sweetness that you might not expect. Poaching the salmon is also one of the healthiest ways to prepare this fish, as it doesn’t require any heavy oils or stir fry sauces.

Grilled Salmon with Avocado Dip [allrecipes.com]
The combination of salmon and avocado offers you a boost of healthy fats that simply can’t be beat. Plus, the dip is made with Greek yogurt to keep it low in calories yet still rich and creamy.

Glazed Salmon with Broccoli Rice [realsimple.com]
The glaze in this recipe may remind you of salmon preparations that you see at fancy restaurants, but don’t be fooled—it’s still very easy to make. Serve it over nutrient-rich broccoli to get all of your greens, and add a bed of rice for some healthy grains.

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Four Kitchen Terms Every Cook Should Know

November 20, 2014 by

Knowing the particulars of a recipe before you start cooking ensures that the end result is both pretty and tasty. So you should beef up on your cooking terminology if you want to create a perfect product every time. Here are four must-know kitchen terms to keep in mind:

  1. Bias-slice. A cutting term, to cut food on a bias means to cut at a 45-degree angle.
  2. Crimp. Pie crusts get their wavy shape by 'crimping' which means to pinch dough together with your fingertips or a fork along the edges.
  3. Braise. Tougher cuts of meat might require braising, which means cooking slowly with a small amount of liquid in a tightly covered pan.
  4. Sear. You can seal in the juices and flavor of a cut of meat by quickly searing it on both sides. Heat a pan to scorching and then place each side of the meat on the surface until it cooks all the way through.

The Basic Kitchen: Glossary of Cooking Terms [Le Petites Gourmettes]
Glossary of Cooking Terms [Better Homes and Gardens]
Cooking Terms [Recipe Goldmine]
Glossary of Cooking Terms [Cookery]
Culinary Terms: Food Dictionary and Glossary of Cooking Terms [Culinary Arts at About.com]

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Give Your Stove the Night Off With This Trio of Creative Ceviche Recipes

July 24, 2014 by

Ceviche is a staple Peruvian dish that combines raw fish cured in citrus juices and given a signature flavor via spicy chili peppers and other seasonings. It’s become a very popular dish among American gourmet restaurants as well, and many chefs put their own unique spins on the traditional dish. Here are three creative ceviche recipes that you can make at home.

Tofu Lime Ceviche
This vegetarian ceviche uses plump tofu instead of the usual fish, so it’s completely safe for non-meat eaters. The lime juice, jalapeno, and cilantro give it a traditional flavor, while canned coconut milk adds a bit of a creamy finish.

Cauliflower Ceviche
Cauliflower is the star of the show in this flavorful dish, but it absorbs the flavor of the wonderful medley of seasonings around it. Plump Roma tomatoes, roasted poblano peppers, and fresh lime juice all work together in this vegan ceviche.

Ceviche Verde
This dish looks and tastes just as good as the ceviche served in upscale restaurants, but it’s so easy that any amateur home chef can make it. The fish is cooked by an acidic chemical reaction with the lime juice, and an assortment of jalapenos, avocado, and other green ingredients give it a zesty, fresh flavor.

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Greet a Snack Attack With These 5 Creative Popcorn Recipes

May 14, 2014 by

The typical movie theater buttered popcorn is delicious, but sometimes you just want a little something extra from your popcorn. These creative recipes will show you a variety of surprising toppings to spice up your snack, from sweet to savory and every flavor in between.

Peanut Butter and Jelly Popcorn [Swanky]
It may seem strange, but the sweet flavors from everyone’s favorite childhood lunch sandwich work just as well as a topping on your evening snack. Peanut butter and jelly popcorn takes only a few simple ingredients, and it even uses white chocolate for an extra boost of sweetness.

Nutted Popcorn [Real Simple]
Popcorn and nuts are both popular snacks, and this fun recipe combines the two into one filling bowl. Pecans, almonds, and pumpkin seeds stick to each popcorn kernel with a light, cinnamon flavored syrup, much like the kettle corn at county fairs and baseball games.

Samoa Popcorn [Babble]
Achieve the taste of the beloved Girl Scout cookie by drizzling toasted coconut, caramel, and chocolate over your salted popcorn.

Spicy Nutella Popcorn [Healthy Jalapeno]
Nutella is everyone’s favorite sweet spread, and adding spicy ancho chile powder takes this popcorn from a common snack to a gourmet treat.

Bacon and Cheese Popcorn [Popcorn.org]
Bacon is an increasingly popular addition to many dishes, and it works just as well on popcorn. In just five minutes and with a few simple ingredients, you can enjoy this bacon and cheese popcorn snack.

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Creative Vegetable Recipes

March 20, 2014 by

Even if you recognize their numerous health benefits and their daily necessity, it is often difficult to think of creative and flavorful ways to prepare veggies. These unique vegetable recipes might just inspire your creativity:

Asparagus With Lemon Sauce
Ideal for any meal that needs a refreshing zest of flavor, lemon sauce on asparagus makes the vegetable simply delicious. With just a few household ingredients that are low in fat and calories, you can create an elegant side dish to pair with chicken, fish or other main courses.

Creamy Squash Soup With Shredded Apples
Turn an otherwise intimidating squash into a hearty and flavorful soup for the fall and winter seasons. This simple recipe combines squash with apples, pumpkin pie spice and other spices to create a truly original soup with only 4 grams of fat per serving.

Grilled Romaine Lettuce With Caesar Dressing
If you’ve never tried grilling romaine lettuce, you’re in for a real treat with this fast and easy recipe. Grilling the hearty lettuce gives it a smoky, charred flavor, while topping it with a light Caesar dressing balances it out with a delightfully creamy finish.

For more creative and healthy vegetable recipes, visit the NIH website here.

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