Leftovers Christmas pudding? Make Christmas pudding rolls! Simply roll out a pack of shop-bought puff pastry, cover it with chunks of leftover Christmas pudding, then roll up and chop into equal sections. Pop into a 200C/400F/Gas 6 oven for around 20 minutes, or until crispy. You can also mix crumbled Christmas pudding into ice cream […]
Archive for category: DYB Tips
Don’t throw out those last drips of jam in the jar; shake up a fruity vinaigrette instead. Add equal parts oil and vinegar to the jar, give it a good shake, and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Combat cross contamination. Have two cutting boards—one for raw meat, one for everything else. It’ll help separate uncooked meat juices (ewie) from raw fruit and veggies, keeping you and your family safe from cross contamination. If you’re extra ambitious, purchase two different colored boards so there’s no confusion.
Your knives are never sharp? Typically the problem with knives isn’t that they’re not sharp — it’s that they’re not straight. You can easily straighten your knife with the bottom of a ceramic bowl or cup, running the blade against the rough portion to straighten it. Take care of your knives, too — straighten regularly, […]
Always make stock in a large quantity and freeze it in plastic bags. That way, when you want to make a nice soup or boil veggies, you can simply pull the bag out of the freezer.
Do you want to prevent bananas from browning? Avoid separating bananas until you plan to eat them. They spoil less quickly in a bunch.
You can freeze cheese! If you want to save your cheese after serving, put leftovers back in the original package, wrap tightly in plastic, and freeze. Defrost in the fridge a day before serving. This trick works best for soft cheeses with a high fat content.
Use parchment paper for muffins! No muffin liners? No problem! Use 5-inch squares of parchment paper instead. To help the paper stick better, spray each well first. Then press the squares into each hole, folding the sides as needed to create flat walls. Plus, the makeshift liners look pretty darn fancy with those popped collars.
There is more than one way to achieve a longer lasting, prettier fruit salad. Not a lemon or citrus lover? No problem! Try our honey and water solution!
Do you want to keep potatoes white? Cover shredded or diced potatoes with cold water before cooking to prevent potatoes from browning caused by the release of a starch that makes them oxidize.
Season all of your food from start to finish. Seasoning in stages brings the most out of your ingredients and gives you the most flavor.
When making caramel, use a nonstick pot. That way, when you pour the mixture out, there is no waste, and cleaning the pot is a breeze.
Eggs! YUMMY, high in protein and an all around healthy snack. Who doesn’t love a great hard boiled egg? Perfect for egg salads, chopped and tossed in a fresh green or chef salad and a delicious appetizer as a deviled egg. Hard boiled eggs are a staple in my home. They are perfect on the […]
Are you cleaning your windows and glass surfaces?Clean a window with vinegar and newspaper to avoid streaks.
Keep seeds from falling into citrus juice! Wrap citrus fruits in cheesecloth (or a clean stocking) for seed-free juice.
Run the cut side of a lemon over the cutting board to remove food stains and smells. For extra cleaning power, sprinkle it with salt or baking soda first.
Stock up on super-cheap, random cuts of meat. A freezer full of roasted turkey necks and bony beef cuts will ensure you always have what you need to make broth.
Write in your cookbooks! Could soup have used more tomato? Chicken needed ten more minutes in the oven? Make a note of it and you’ll never make that mistake again.
Hanging fridge storage. Using below-shelf hanging organizers in your fridge to keep small food items from getting lost in the shuffle.
Silence squeaky floors. Noise pollution is a real thing, people. Pour baby powder onto your wooden floor and sweep it into the cracks to quiet creaking floorboards. Wipe away the excess, and enjoy the sounds of silence.
Do you want to prevent bacteria growth on your dairy? In order to make cottage cheese or sour cream last longer, place the container upside down in the fridge. Inverting the tub creates a vacuum that inhibits the growth of bacteria that causes food to spoil.
Knock On Doors That You Know. Encourage your children to only trick-or-treat at homes where they know the inhabitants. If they know everyone on the street, except for one house, they could ask the neighbors about that one house. If a home is dark or has no Halloween decorations, that is typically a good sign […]
When making mashed potatoes, after you drain the potatoes, return them to the hot pan, cover tightly and let steam for 5 minutes. This allows the potatoes to dry out so they’ll mash to a beautiful texture and soak up the butter and cream more easily.
Make an earthy-smelling cleaner. Infuse a homemade vinegar solution with sage or orange peels.