Month: July 2021

Dishwasher Mistakes to Avoid For Longevity

Posted on July 20, 2021July 19, 2021Posted in Appliances 101No Comments

All major appliances have proper maintenance protocols to ensure it offers years of reliable use. Dishwashers are no exception. Mold, mildew, inefficient cycles and malfunctioning mechanics can disturb your kitchen’s flow for meal prep and cleanup. These repairs can also be costly. It’s important to prevent these issues by avoiding some common mistakes. As with any appliance, it’s best to refer to your product’s manual for the most accurate information. Running short, cold cycles. Many dishwashers can come with different cleaning options, such as cold washes or short rinses. However, it may be in the best interest of your appliance to stick to the standard full, hot cycles. A cold and short cycle can cause sludge and slime buildup. To ensure your dishwasher’s water is truly hot, try briefly running the hot water from the faucet closest to the dishwasher (typically your kitchen sink) before starting a cycle. Skipping heated dry. Similar to the previous rule, your dishwasher does need an extra hot cycle to burn off any lingering dampness and humidity. Not doing so can lead to mold and mildew. Use the heated dry option to give your unit a little more power to do its job. Using detergent pods. Most of the time detergent pods are more convenient, but may not be as effective as liquid detergent. Most newer dishwashers don’t get the water hot enough to completely dissolve the pods. Look out for any half-dissolved pods in the dishwasher door or residue on glassware. A detergent pod could be the culprit. Not cleaning filters daily. You may be unaware of the fact that your dishwasher has a filter food debris. This filter traps larger food particles, similarly to a basket drain in your kitchen’s sink. Leaving these filters dirty or clogged with food can lead to inefficient water flow and ultimately a less effective dishwasher. Avoiding maintenance. Anytime you notice your dishwasher working less efficiently than normal or leaving food residue behind on dishes, it may be time to schedule an inspection or maintenance. Sometimes sensors can malfunction and the dishwasher will stop heating water properly, no matter the way it’s set. It’s best to always take note of these issues sooner rather than later. A technician will be able to identify and fix any obstructed or faulty sensors before the appliance breaks down completely. Source: the Kitchn

Classic New England Lobster Rolls Recipe

Posted on July 19, 2021July 19, 2021Posted in RecipesNo Comments

A classic summer feast. New England lobster rolls contain just a few ingredients: large chunks of lobster, mayonnaise and celery, stuffed into a grilled hot dog bun. It’s enjoyed best on a hot summer day for added comfort. The rolls are easy to prepare since you can use frozen lobster, no need to fret with live lobster! Prepare these for your next weekend meal along with a side of chips. Prep time: 10 minsTotal time: 10 minsServings: 4 to 6 servings Ingredients: For the filling: 1 pound cooked lobster meat, cut into 1-inch pieces 3 tablespoons lemon juice 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon black pepper 1/2 cup finely chopped celery 1/3 cup mayonnaise For the buns: 4 to 6 New England style split-top hot dog buns 2 to 3 tablespoons soft butter For serving: Lemon wedges Potato chips Directions: Make the lobster salad: In a bowl, stir the lobster meat, lemon juice, salt, pepper, celery, and mayonnaise together. Taste and add more salt, pepper, or lemon juice, if you like. Toast the buns: Spread the outsides of the buns with softened butter. Set a skillet or cast iron pan over medium-high heat. Toast the buns for about 30 seconds on each side, or until golden brown. Assemble the lobster rolls: Fill each bun with lobster salad. Serve with potato chips and a wedge of lemon. Source: Simply Recipes

Air Fried Cinnamon Peaches Recipe

Posted on July 19, 2021July 19, 2021Posted in RecipesNo Comments

Take your fruits to the next level! Enjoy these carnival style peach fries. They’re great as an appetizer or dessert for their sweet delicious flavor and quick preparation. These fries can be cooked in just about 3 minutes. Easily prepare these with common pantry ingredients such as cinnamon, sugar and cornstarch. Ingredients: Peach Corn Starch Cinnamon Brown Sugar Butter Olive Oil Non-stick cooking spray Directions: Chop a peach into french fry pieces Mix fries with ⅛ cup of corn starch, cinnamon, butter and olive oil Spray air fryer pan with non-stick spray and load fries Air fry at 400°F for 3 minutes In another bowl mix 2 tbsp cinnamon and ⅓ cup brown sugar Mix fries with mix and serve

Homemade Potato Chips Recipe

Posted on July 16, 2021July 16, 2021Posted in RecipesNo Comments

It’s easy to fry your own potato chips at home! You can experiment with flavor combinations to suit your taste much better than store bought chips would. Utilize a mandoline to slice the potatoes into perfectly thin, even slices. It’ll also help to ensure the chips all cook at the same rate. Be sure to keep the chips crispy by sealing them in an airtight container, which locks out any outside moisture. Yield: Serves 6Prep time: 15 minutesCook time: 20 minutes Ingredients: 3 medium russet potatoes (1 to 2 pounds total) 1 to 2 quarts vegetable oil, for deep-frying Fine salt Directions: Scrub 3 russet potatoes. Use a mandoline or sharp knife to slice the potatoes crosswise into 1/16-inch-thick rounds. Place in a large bowl and add several ice cubes and water to cover. Give the potatoes a quick stir to separate any slices that are stuck together. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 2 hours. Fill a Dutch oven, deep fryer, or other heavy-bottomed large pot with 2 to 3 inches vegetable oil. Heat over medium heat until 325°F. Meanwhile, dry the potato slices. Drain the potatoes and return to the bowl. Add enough cold water to cover, then stir to release any lingering starch. Drain again. Working in batches, place the potato slices in a single layer on a clean kitchen towel. Roll up the slices in the towel to dry them, then transfer to a clean, dry bowl. Carefully add about a third of the slices to the oil. Fry, stirring gently and often with a spider skimmer or slotted spoon, until golden-brown, about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, line a rimmed baking sheet with paper towels. Transfer the chips with a spider or slotted spoon to the prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle with a few pinches of fine salt. Gently toss the chips so the paper towel can absorb the excess oil, then spread out into a single layer to cool to room temperature. The chips will be crispy but will crisp up even more as they cool. Repeat frying the remaining potato slices in two more batches, keeping the oil at a temperature of 325°F. Source: the Kitchn

Air Fryer Apple Fries Recipe

Posted on July 16, 2021July 15, 2021Posted in RecipesNo Comments

Who said healthier snacks had to be boring? Apple fries are great for their sweet delicious flavor and quick preparation. These fries can be cooked in just about 3 minutes! Satisfy your sweet tooth with cinnamon, sugar and other common pantry ingredients. Ingredients: Apple Corn Starch Cinnamon Brown Sugar Powdered Sugar Butter Olive Oil Non-stick cooking spray Directions: Peel and chop apple into french fry shapes Mix fries with ⅛ cup of corn starch, cinnamon, butter and olive oil Spray air fryer pan with non-stick spray and load fries Air fry at 400°F for 3 minutes In another bowl mix 2 tbsp. cinnamon, ⅓ cup brown sugar and ⅛ cup powdered sugar Mix fries with mix and serve

Teriyaki Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Posted on July 15, 2021July 15, 2021Posted in RecipesNo Comments

For the weekday nights when you want something to come together quickly with little work required, this lettuce wrap recipe is your answer. Teriyaki chicken lettuce wraps consist of ground chicken, veggies and of course teriyaki sauce. Feel free to experiment with whatever you have on hand. Butter lettuce is called for in this recipe, but any kind of lettuce works. These are great as a party appetizer, just serve the chicken filling in one bowl, and the lettuce and extra teriyaki sauce on a platter nearby. Prep time: 10 minsCook time: 25 minsTotal time: 35 minsServings: 4 servings Ingredients: For the teriyaki sauce: 1/4 cup (60 ml) low-sodium soy sauce (or tamari, for gluten-free) 3 tablespoons water, divided 2 tablespoons mirin 2 tablespoons honey 2 medium cloves garlic, minced 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger 1 teaspoon cornstarch For the chicken filling: 2 tablespoon olive oil, divided 1/2 cup diced red onions (1/4 of a large red onion, or 1/3 of a small one) 1 pound (450 g) ground chicken Kosher salt 1 medium zucchini, diced 1 medium red bell pepper, seeded and diced 1 scallion, thinly sliced 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil For serving: 1 head butter lettuce, leaves separated and rinsed Roasted peanuts, chopped Chopped cilantro Thinly sliced scallions Directions: Prepare the teriyaki sauce: Combine the soy sauce, 2 tablespoons of the water, mirin, honey, minced garlic, and grated ginger in a saucepan. Bring everything to boil over medium heat.Dissolve the cornstarch with the remaining tablespoon of water and add to the teriyaki sauce. Reduce heat to medium-low, and let the sauce simmer until it starts to thicken, about 30 seconds to a minute.Turn off the heat and allow the sauce to cool. The sauce will thicken a little more as it cools. You should have about 1/2 to 3/4 cup of sauce. Cook the chicken: Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a sauté pan over high heat. Add half of the diced red onions and cook until they start to soften, about 2 minutes. Add ground chicken and a pinch of kosher salt. Using your spatula, break up chicken into smaller pieces. Stir occasionally until the chicken is cooked through, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a clean plate. Cook the vegetables: Quickly wipe down the pan and heat another tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Add the remaining diced red onions and cook until they soften, about 2 minutes. Add the zucchini and red pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the peppers start to soften, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir the sliced scallions and cooked chicken into the pan with the cooked vegetables. Add the teriyaki sauce: Drizzle 6 tablespoons of the prepared teriyaki sauce and 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil into the pan and stir. Save the rest of the teriyaki sauce for drizzling over wraps. Turn off heat, taste, and adjust seasonings if needed. To serve: Place several spoonfuls of filling onto a lettuce leaf. Top with chopped peanuts, cilantro, scallions, and an extra drizzle of teriyaki sauce, if desired. Leftover teriyaki sauce will keep for about a week in the refrigerator. Source: Simply Recipes

The Dirtiest Places in Your Kitchen

Posted on July 15, 2021July 14, 2021Posted in HealthNo Comments

Kitchens have obvious messes like dishes or sticky floors, but there are many places you may be forgetting to clean. Places of high traffic such as counters, shelves and handles can be hotspots that should be regularly maintained. Here’s a few places that are often the dirtiest in a kitchen, and how you can keep them clean. Knobs, Handles and Touch Pads. Every appliance in your kitchen will have some sort of control panel or handle that is touched every time it’s used. These places are used after raw food is prepared or before hands are washed, leaving behind bacteria. Bacteria can lead to digestive upset and make your family sick. Use disinfectant wipes or spray-on disinfectant with a clean cloth or paper towel on pulls, handles or controls panels after food preparation and daily use. Sink. Even though sinks have water running through, there are likely microbes on the surface or around crevices where the sink joins the counter. The kitchen sink should be disinfected after meal preparation, washing dishes or at least once per day. Don’t forget to clean the handles and counters near the sink where splatters can land. Refrigerator. Harmful bacteria can still grow inside cold temperatures. Fruits and vegetables will stay fresh longer if they’re not washed before storing in your refrigerator. These are often covered in bacteria or pesticides. Even though they’re washed before food preparation, the crisper drawers in your fridge have bacteria left behind. Raw meats and poultry can leak fluids which accumulate in drawers and along shelf edges. Remove drawers and shelves monthly to wash with a mild detergent and hot or warm water. Wipe away any spills with a disinfecting wipe between thorough cleanings. Salt and Pepper Shakers. Often overlooked, salt and pepper shakes are used in various stages of food preparation. Give them a careful wipe with a disinfecting wipe after every meal and thoroughly each week. Source: the Spruce

Flourless Soy Sauce Brownies Recipe

Posted on July 14, 2021July 14, 2021Posted in RecipesNo Comments

Brownies are a reliable source of comfort, but it can be tinkered with further to produce a new and different kind of indulgence. This recipe is gluten-free and includes an unexpected ingredient, soy sauce. The soy sauce might seem unusual but makes sense since chocolate tastes better with a pinch of salt. It brings out the natural sweetness of the chocolate and masks any bitterness. Prepare these brownies for a deep, caramel flavor that accentuates the intensity of chocolate. You can leave these in the fridge overnight to allow them to firm up a bit before cutting. Prep time: 15 minsCook time: 25 minsChilling time: 24 hrsTotal time: 24 hrs 40 minsServings: 12 to 16 servingsYield: 12 to 16 brownies Ingredients: 1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter 1 cup semisweet or dark chocolate bits 1 cup almond meal 3 tablespoons cocoa powder 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 3 large eggs 1 cup brown sugar 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 3 to 4 teaspoons tamari or gluten-free soy sauce Directions: Preheat the oven and prep baking pan: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease and line a 9-inch square baking pan. Melt the butter and chocolate over a double boiler: Place the butter and chocolate in a large glass bowl (one that is completely dry and clean) and set over a saucepan of simmering water (do not let the base of the bowl touch the water).Leave until melted, then whisk until smooth. Remove from the heat and allow to cool for 5 minutes. Combine the dry ingredients: In another bowl, whisk together the almond meal, cocoa powder and baking powder. Combine the wet ingredients: In a third bowl, whisk together the eggs, brown sugar, vanilla extract and soy sauce. Combine the egg and chocolate and fold in dry ingredients: Slowly whisk the egg mixture into the cooled chocolate mixture until well combined. Fold in the dry ingredients. Add batter into prepared pan, bake: Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 25 minutes. Remove and allow to cool completely in the pan (leave it in the fridge overnight to make it easier to handle). Cut, serve or store: Cut into 12–16 pieces (depending on how big you like them). Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week. Source: Simply Recipes

How to Prepare a Cheese Board

Posted on July 12, 2021July 12, 2021Posted in KitchenNo Comments

While there is no rule book on how to put a cheese board together, there are a few guidelines you can follow on how to prepare an interesting and flavorful selection of cheeses for your next course. Utilize this as an elegant appetizer or a cleansing palate in between courses. The choice is yours on how sophisticated you’d like the plate to be. Selecting Cheeses Any cheese plate should have diversity in terms of style, selection, appearance and flavor. Some prefer to differentiate cheeses by hardness and texture. For example, offering a blue, a hard cheese and a soft cheese. The hardness or softness is determined by the amount of moisture present. A hard cheese is generally more gritty, sharp and salty like a Pecorino. A semi-hard cheese will be somewhat smooth with small granular texture such as classic cheddar and gouda. A semi-soft cheese is higher in moisture which keeps them soft and pliable such as mozzarella. Finally, a soft cheese is anything spreadable like brie. These cheeses are practically paste and often sold in cups. Storing Cheese Limit storing cheese as much as possible. Purchase them at their peak ripeness and eat them the day you buy them. Since most of us don’t have access to cheese caves with optimal conditions, store cheese in a vegetable drawer in a fridge. There is typically more moisture there. Wrap hard and semi-hard cheese in wax paper or plastic wrap. Be careful not to store these for long periods of time as the plastic can lead to spoilage. A semi-soft cheese can be wrapped in butcher or wax paper, leaving the rind open so the cheese can breathe. You may need to store blue cheese or other “smelly” cheese in a separate container as the mold can spread to other cheeses. Serving the Cheese Set the cheese out early to allow it to come to room temperature. Harder cheese should be pre-cut beforehand to make it easier to enjoy. Add a few compliments to the plate such as flatbreads, toasts, crackers or rye. You can also add dried and fresh fruits like apricots, plums, pears and dates. Nuts are also popular options for their meaty and woody flavors to contrast the aromas of hard and blue cheeses. There is no standard for how a cheese plate should be developed. Let it reflect your tastes and the event its accompanying. Source: Simply Recipes

Air Fryer Bread Pudding Recipe

Posted on July 12, 2021July 9, 2021Posted in RecipesNo Comments

Try something new for tonight’s dessert! Bread pudding is surprisingly easy and quick to make in an air fryer. Add in the chocolate chips and cinnamon to elevate the sweetness in this delicious snack! You can refrigerate the bread pudding to enjoy at any time of the day. Ingredients: Bread Chocolate Chips 1 Eggs ⅓ Cup of Milk or Heavy Cream ¼ Tsp Vanilla 1 Tbsp. Sugar Cinnamon (optional) Non-stick cooking spray Directions: Coat air fryer pan with non-stick cooking spray Add bread pieces and chocolate chips For every 3 bread slices mix egg, milk or heavy cream, vanilla, sugar and cinnamon Add mix to bread and let soak for 5 minutes Air fry at 350°F for 10-12 minutes