how to - Home-Ec 101

How To Sharpen A Kitchen Knife

Without any more procrastination or delay here is the Home-Ec101.com Knife Sharpening Tutorial. I talk about knife skills and the importance and safety of having sharp knives, but how do you get and keep your knives sharp? First, let’s start off with a little anatomy of a knife. This is my favorite knife, it’s a …

How to Quickly Fold a T-Shirt

Folding laundry is a giant pain in the rear, but it’s something that everyone (except those who pay for laundry service) has to do. I’ve taught all three of my children (currently 9, 7, and 5) how to fold a t-shirt quickly. If they can manage this simple shirt folding technique, you can, too. One …

How to Cook Steak Properly

Brian says: As I mentioned in my last post, there are a great deal of people out there who cook their steaks half to death with the slightest bit of remorse. At first I was just going to let it go, hoping to play the ignorance-is-bliss card but I just can’t let it stand, people! …

Home Electrical Basics: Terms and Safety

Tim says: Don’t you just hate it when outlets and lights don’t work or sparks fly randomly from an outlet? Many look on in despair, knowing the call to the local electrician means $80/hr plus scheduling hassles. I’d like to show you how easily, and more importantly safely, these problems can be fixed. Before we get into …

How to Fix a Constantly Running Toilet

Dear Home-Ec 101, The toilet, in my bathroom is constantly making noise. It sounds like water is always running. Is there any way to turn that off? Signed, For the Love of Pete, Someone Jiggle the Handle Already! Heather says: There are a few things that can go wrong inside the tank of a toilet …

Dear Home-Ec 101 I have a couple of bread and butter roasts from our beef side, and I can’t figure out the best cooking methods for them. Actually, I’ve never heard of them. Can you help? Signed, Beefuddled The bread and butter roast is a cut of beef from the chuck region of the cow. …

How to Use Dry Beans in Recipes

Dear Home-Ec 101, Everyone acts like dried beans are the end all. How do I get the beans in the bag to work like the beans in the can? I’ve soaked them overnight and they still aren’t like what I get out of a can. Am I legume challenged? Signed, Baffled Bostonian Heather says: …

Countdown to Turkey Day 2008: November 6

Heather says:

If you have never roasted a turkey or chicken before, Thanksgiving is not the day for your trial run, just ask Ivy about their near Thanksgiving Massacre of ’01. Your homework for this week is to roast a chicken as practice for the big day.

Do not fear the turkey, it is just a giant chicken. For your convenience I am including directions previously posted for both after the jump. If you do not have an internal thermometer they can be found at Target for $20 – $30. Think of it this way, it’s about the same as an insurance co-pay without all the pain and suffering. (Actually I wish that was my co-pay, but that’s another story). I like the probe / timer combos. The probe is inserted and a thin wire connects to a unit outside the oven. Most have an alarm to signal when the desired temperature is reached (5° lower than the recommended temperature, as it continues to rise once removed from the oven.)

On to the practice chicken!

How to Debone Chicken Thighs

Dear Home Ec 101,
I’ve heard that you can substitute chicken thighs in some recipes that call for boneless skinless chicken breasts, but I am not sure what to do. How do you remove the bones?
Signed,
Boneheaded in Bonneville
Heather says:
It would be embarrassing for me to admit how long I sat here trying to think of a title that wouldn’t bring the perverts out of the woodwork. I’ve given up and decided to just say, I don’t think we’re offering what you have in mind, carry on, but thanks for the page view.
I am placing a page break for the benefit of some of our more sensitive viewers who probably don’t want to stare at raw chicken. Heck, I don’t want to stare at raw chicken. The tutorial follows the break.

Steamed Broccoli

Dear Home Ec 101, A while ago you posted a recipe for fettucini alfredo and suggested adding steamed broccoli. So, maybe it makes me look an idiot and maybe it doesn’t, but is there a proper way to steam broccoli? Signed, Stymied by Steam Heather says: While you don’t need any fancy tools to steam …