Cleanup Greasy Dishes

To cut grease and odor on dishes when doing kitchen cleaning, add a tablespoon of vinegar to your hot soapy water.

Cleaning your oven

Kitchen cleaning help: To remove grease from inside your oven when doing kitchen cleaning, put a small pan of ammonia in the oven in the evening, and then close the oven door. In the morning, remove the pan of ammonia. The grease inside the oven will wipe off very easily.

Choose The Right Bird For Chicken Soup

Chicken soup is a popular way to use chicken. The type of chicken used to make soup makes a difference in how it will come out. If you are buying the chicken specifically for soup, choose a kosher pullet (which is a young female chicken that is old enough to lay eggs). Kosher pullets are raised in a free-range environment and eat natural vegetation and insects. If a kosher pullet is not available, select a soup chicken, which are usually older, female birds. The meat might be tougher than a younger chicken, but it has more flavor. Cook the chicken whole first before cutting it into pieces. This process will take longer to cook, but the chicken will release more flavor into the soup.

Beef Comes In Four Main Cuts

Beef comes in four main cuts: chuck, loin, rib and round. Packaging information generally tells the cut and the product, such as “chuck roast” or “sirloin steak” to give the consumer an idea of the best way to cook the product. Chuck and round cuts are less tender and require a moist cooking method such as braising, which is a slow moist-heat cooking method that uses a small amount of liquid such as stock or wine with a tight-fitting lid. Cook the moister loin and rib cuts by a dry heat method, such as broiling or grilling.

Adjust Temperature For Different Pans

The type of pan you use when baking is important. The right pan can determine the outcome of your dish. If you are substituting pans or dishes, here are some guidelines to keep in mind: Glass pan substitutes: Turn down baking temperature by 25 degrees Shallow pan substitute: Reduce overall baking time by 1/4 Deeper pan substitute: Increase overall baking time by 1/4

Cook Chicken To Safe Temperatures

Cook chicken to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Use an internal thermometer to check the temperature of the innermost part of the thigh and the wing as well as the thickest part of the chicken breast. If preferred, chicken can be cooked to higher temperatures. However, it is not safe to eat raw or partially raw poultry in any instance.

Yogurt vs. Mayo

Substitute half plain yogurt for mayonnaise in dishes like tuna, chicken or egg salad.

Temperature Control Is Important In Food Storage

Controlling the temperature of food is one of the most important aspects of cooking. Bacteria and other microorganisms can grow inside of your food, causing illness and other disease. Not only is it important to cook your food to the proper temperature, but it is also important that your food is stored at correct temperatures. For example, pathogenic microorganisms grow very slowly when the temperature is below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, multiply and grow rapidly between 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit and are destroyed at temperatures higher than 140 degrees Fahrenheit. This highlights the significance of appliances with thermometers that give accurate temperature readings. For the most proper readings, appliance thermometers should be liquid-filled or bimetallic-coil. Liquid-filled are the oldest type of appliance thermometer. As the temperature increases, the colored liquid inside rises to the temperature on the scale. Bimetallic-coil thermometers are made of two different kinds of metals. Each has a different rate of expansion. The bimetal portion coils with a pointer stem at the other end. When there is an increase in temperature, the pointer rotates by the coiled element to indicate the temperature. Each of these gauges is effective in measuring the temperature in your appliances.

How much Turkey?

When buying a turkey, purchase one pound of turkey per person to be served. This formula allows for the holiday meal plus a little left over for the prized turkey sandwich.

Natural Egg Dyes

If you don't want to purchase dyes for coloring your Easter eggs, here are some natural substitutes... Orange: Paprika; 4 Tbsp per quart of water Blue: red cabbage; 4 cups, sliced, per quart of water Red: Pomegranate juice in place of water Pink: Cranberry juice in place of water Green: Spinach; 4 cups per quart of water Ocher: Onion skins; 4 cups of the dry outer skins Mocha: One quart of strongly brewed coffee in place of water To use: Combine dye materials, 2 Tbsp vinegar and water, in a large pot. Simmer 20-30 minutes, then strain and cool. Dip hard-boiled eggs in cold dye until desired color is achieved, soaking anywhere from 5 minutes to several hours in the refrigerator. Turn eggs occasionally to ensure even dyeing. Dry on paper towels or in egg cartons.

Calculating Amounts for Canning

Here are some general guidelines for the amount of fresh produce you'll need for each quart jar when canning...

Apples: 2-1/2 to 3 Pounds
Apricots: 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 Pounds
Asparagus: 2-1/2 to 4-1/2 Pounds
Beans: 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 Pounds
Beets: 3 Pounds
Berries: 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 Pounds
Carrots: 1 Pound
Cherries: 2 to 3 Pounds
Corn: 4 to 5 Pounds
Nectarines: 2 to 3 Pounds
Peaches: 2 to 3 Pounds
Pears: 2 to 3 Pounds
Plums: 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 Pounds
Rhubarb: 1 to 2 Pounds
Tomatoes: 2-1/2 to 3-1/2 Pounds

Alternatives to Cooking with Butter

Butter can be eliminated from some recipes. When browning onions, hamburger, etc., you can spray your skillet with non-stick spray or use chicken or beef broth instead of butter. When baking, you can use reduced-calorie margarine instead of butter, but the texture will not always come out right. You've got to experiment a little. Non-fat margarines currently on the market do not bake well at all. Just remember...with baked goods, it's not always the calorie content per cookie or piece of cake, it's how many you eat! Remembering that has helped me maintain my weight better than any reduced calorie diet.

Defrosting Turkeys

If you can't defrost your turkey in the refrigerator for a few days, keep the turkey in its original packaging and place in cold water. Change the water as often as needed to keep it cold. Allow 30 minutes defrosting time per pound.

How much pasta?

When preparing pasta as a main dish, plan for two ounces of pasta per person, although hearty eaters may prefer four ounces.

Cook Beef To Safe Temperatures

Safe meat temperatures vary for beef. The USDA recommends: Ground beef mixtures/hamburgers: 160 degrees Fahrenheit Steaks and roasts (medium rare): 145 degrees Fahrenheit Steaks and roasts (medium): 160 degrees Fahrenheit Steaks and roasts (well done): 170 degrees Fahrenheit Temperatures on grills and other cooking appliances may vary, so use a meat thermometer to get the most accurate reading for your meat.

Chef Jean-Pierre Teaches Aspiring Chefs New Tricks

Chef Jean-Pierre is a world-renowned chef who has taken the art of cooking and the process of learning to cook to a new level. He is an accomplished author whose cookbooks provide instruction for beginner cook as well as those who are simply trying to learn new tips and tricks. His cooking classes sell out each time they are offered, which shows how coveted his instruction is by cooking connoisseurs and others who are aspiring for a hobby or career in cooking. Cooking classes are a great way to learn a new recipe or tips on cooking everyday meals that help your dishes to come out as close to perfection as possible. Look in your local phonebook or ask around in your community to find out what kind of cooking classes are available to help bring out the best in your culinary talents.