Happy Halloween From Home Ec 101!

Ivy says:

No, I’m not dead, or even undead! Just getting ready for the scariest Halloween ever in which my in-laws are coming from California to visit. Heather and I are busy taking out our little ghouls and goblins for trick or treating tonight. Tomorrow, look for our fabulous annual Countdown to Turkey Day!

Have a marvy Halloween, darling Home Eccers!

Kitchen Creativity: Apple Cider

Heather says:
We are swimming in apple cider at my house. While almost everyone I know enjoys hot cider simmered with cinnamon, my children were rather unimpressed. I refuse to drink the entire gallon solo.

 

Rather than letting it go to waste I began experimenting. Monday morning we tried apple cinnamon oatmeal, substituting 1/2 of the water with cider. Tuesday we were pleased to try apple cider pancakes, replacing 2/3 of the milk. This morning French toast was on the menu and excellent results were obtained using a 3/4 cider and 1/4 milk ratio. If you use lowfat milk, I would use a 50/50 ratio, as a little fat is necessary to improve flavor. It has been quite an enjoyable experiment and one I plan on repeating next October.

So, Home Eccers, it’s your turn. Do you have any creative or unexpected uses for apple cider?

Flat Cookies? Not in This House

Dear Home Ec 101,
My cookies keep ending up flat, hard and chewy, what can I do? I have tried 5 different recipes and my cookies all come out the same, flat. I watch them in the oven and they puff all up and then it is like bubbles popping and they flatten out before they are done cooking. What can I do? I have tried melted butter, room temp butter, hard butter and also different bake times and I end up with the same result.
Signed,
Flatlander
Heather says:
Cookie baking relies heavily on the temperature of the oven, the dough, and the cookie sheet itself. Here are a few tips for creating cookies with more loft. That’s the fancy schmancy way of saying cookies that are not flat as a pancake.

 

• If your recipe calls for baking powder ensure it is still active.
• Get a thermometer, sometimes the calibration of ovens can be off and even though the dial says 350°F it could be heating to 400°F or the reverse may be true.
• Preheat your oven, it matters.
• Use cold butter and only cream until mixed. The butter and sugar mixure should be consistent in texture (no lumps) but still grainy. Some recommend using a hand mixer over a stand, as the stand mixer is powerful enough to create heat through the friction of mixing the butter and sugar.
• Use your eggs straight from the refrigerator, crack, beat quickly, and add to your batter. 
• Store your chocolate chips in the freezer.
• Work quickly, the longer the dough sits at room temperature the warmer it becomes.
• Do not reuse the baking sheet unless it has cooled completely between batches.
• Try chilling the dough for ten minutes in the fridge before baking.
• Finally slightly undercooking your cookies will help keep them from falling. Allow them to sit on the cookie sheet for an extra minute before transferring to a rack.

Submit your domestic questions to helpme@home-ec101.com.

Menu Monday 10/27

Heather says:

Last week turned into a series of days where I just got off track, so some items are quickly moving into use it or lose it territory. Tell me, Home Eccers, what’s on the menu at your place? Feel free to leave your link below.

• Monday - Garlic and soy chicken thighs, zucchini and mushrooms, baked potatoes
• Tuesday - Chili, cornbread (Yes, it’s going to be sweet, don’t be a hater)
• Wednesday - C.O.R.N.
• Thursday - Raspberry pork chops, steamed broccoli, rice
• Friday - Dilled salmon, roasted potatoes, squash casserole
• Saturday - Chili dogs (beef), stove top mac and cheese, green beans
• Sunday - Lasagna, Caesar salad.

Not ready to take the plunge and write your own menu and shopping list? Then check out Blissfully Domestic where I’ve done the work for you. Lastly, take a peek at OrgJunkie.com for a huge linkfest of menus and recipes.

Retro Saturday: Dishwasher Maintenance

Dear Home Ec 101:

My dishwasher just isn’t doing as great a job anymore. I haven’t changed anything: same soap, I scrape the plates, I still use a rinsing agent. What could be going on?

Signed,

My Dishwasher is a Dud

Heather says:

Did you know your dishwasher requires regular maintenance to provide consistently clean dishes?

• Check the trap for food particles. If food scraps have crusted onto the trap, remove it, soak it, and scrub it. Make it a point to regularly check and clean the trap.
• Examine the spray arm. Are the holes clogged with mineral deposits? Soak the arm in diluted vinegar and use a pipe cleaner aka chenille stem to clean out any gunk.
• Take a good look at the racks, are they clean or has the paint worn off in places? You can purchase dishwasher repair kits that contain vinyl paint and those tips that always seem to pop off the prongs.
• Occasionally, once a month or so, run the dishwasher through a full cycle with 2 cups of vinegar. Start the dishwasher, wait until it has filled, and add the vinegar.

Alternately you can run a cycle with citric acid or lemonade kool-aid packets, the kind that does not already contain sugar

• Finally, be sure your hot water heater is set to the temperature recommended by the dishwasher manufacturer. If you have lost your manual try Googling the model; many manufacturers now have manuals available online.

Good luck!

Send your domestic questions to helpme@home-ec101.com

Next Page »