• To make it easier to chop garlic, if you liberally sprinkle the cutting board with salt, this will keep the garlic from sticking to your knife. Be sure to adjust your recipe to take into account the salt you have added to the garlic.
• To peel garlic, either smash the clove of garlic with the side of your chef's knife OR use a handy little plastic garlic peeler tube. All you do is insert the clove of garlic in, roll it around using the palm of your hand, and out pops the peel and the peeled garlic. Really easy!
• There are new handy little food choppers available that do all the work of chopping garlic for you. One popular model is called the Alligator Mini.
• A good garlic press takes away all the work of chopping garlic - just insert a peeled clove of garlic and press for perfectly minced fresh garlic!

For more household hints: http://householdhints.blogspot.com

Labels: garlic, garlic peeler, garlic press, household hints

Posted by HappySlob :: 11:52 AM :: 0 comments

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Sunday, February 11, 2007 Pie Recipes - Two Delicious New Pie Recipes to Try

I've just posted Two Delicious NEW Pie Recipes for you guys. :) One for a Vanilla Pumpkin Pie,and the other a Crazy Crust Apple Pie. If you hate making pie crust, this is the recipe for you!

Labels: apple pie, desserts, easy desserts, easy pastry, how to, pie recipes, pumpkin pie

Posted by HappySlob :: 12:57 PM :: 0 comments

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Sunday, February 04, 2007 Recipe Requests - FOUND - Baked Pumpkin Pudding Recipe (Healthy Version)

FOR: A Reader
FROM: SUE B.
Big thanks to Sue B. for finding this healthy Baked Pumpkin Pudding recipe. I think it would be delicious warm with a dollop of low-fat vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt.

BAKED PUMPKIN PUDDING
Prep. Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes

INGREDIENTS: 1/2 cup egg substitute, 2 cups cooked pumpkin or canned pumpkin, 3/4 cup sugar, 1 tsp. ground cinnamon, 1 tbsp. honey, 1/2 tsp. ground ginger, 1/4 tsp. ground cloves, 1 1/2 cups fat-free evaporated milk, 5 tbsp's. light whipped topping.

DIRECTIONS: 1. Preheat oven to 425°. In a medium mixing bowl, beat the egg substitute, pumpkin, sugar, honey and spices until blended. Slowly add milk and continue to blend. Pour into five eight-ounce custard cups that are coated with nonstick cooking spray. Place in a 15 x 10 x 1-inch baking pan. 2. Bake pudding uncovered for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 350° and continue to bake for 30-35 minutes until knife inserted near the center comes out clean. You can serve this dessert warm or cold. Garnish with a dollop of light whipped topping and a sprinkle of cinnamon, Keep in refrigerator.MAKES: 5 servings

Labels: cloves, desserts, ginger, healthy, honey, low calorie, low fat, pudding, pumpkin, recipe requests, recipes

Posted by HappySlob :: 10:04 AM :: 0 comments

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Eggnog Bread (with Cake Consistency) - Readers Requested Recipes Found

This is a delicious Eggnog Bread recipe I have made several times. It is very tender and cake-like.
Jan J.

Eggnog Bread
1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 cup eggnog
2 Tablespoons rum
2-1/4 cups cake flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggsand rum and beat light and fluffy again. In anotherbowl, stir together the cake flour, baking powder, salt and nutmeg. Add to creamed mixture. Mix until thoroughly blended. Pour into a greased and floured large loaf pan. Bake 350 degrees until center tests done. Cool slightly, then remove from pan and cool completely.

This is in response to a recent recipe request for Eggnog Bread. Hope this helps! :) Enjoy, everyone.

Labels: bread, cake, eggnog, quick breads, recipe requests

Posted by HappySlob :: 10:02 AM :: 0 comments

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Seasoning Cast Iron Pans with Bacon Fat

I love to find old skillets anywhere no matter what kind of shape they are in. Trust me, some have seen better days! No matter what, I have been able to salvage each one of them. I know that one day my kids will move out and take every thing that isn't nailed down, including my skillets. So I have them stockpiled.
All I do to season them is.....clean them really well with an SOS pad, dry them on a low stove burner and when I want to season them, I just make some bacon! That's it, the mystery is solved. Bacon. My dad has a fit everytime Mom washes his "seasoned" skillet. A pound of bacon later, it's as good as used! (Who would want it new?) It's not necessary to use soap to wash them after that, all you need to do is wipe it out with a paper towel and it's good for next time. It's just like using Pampered Chef stonewear. Don't wash it when a wipe will do, right?

Hint Submitted by Becky - thanks for all the readers' tips on how to season cast iron skillets!

Labels: bacon, cast iron, cooking with cast iron, how to, readers tips, season

Posted by HappySlob :: 9:59 AM :: 0 comments

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How to Season a Cast Iron pan - More Readers Tips

Submitted by Ruth W.

The first time you season the pan, you should coat it lightly with cooking oil inside and out and bake in a 250 degree oven for 1/2 hour.

To maintain the cast iron cookware, never, never, never soak it in water. What I do is dip a bit of dishwater into the pan and scrub out the inside, then rinse well. Then I put it on the stove on medium heat for 5 minutes. This is enough to dry the pan and open its pores. Then put about a tablespoon of oil into the pan and with a double paper towel spread it around the bottom of the pan and up the sides. Let it cool on the stovetop, then put it away. As long as you haven't soaked the pan in water, I never bother with the outside unless something has spilled over. I have used my cast iron for years, and it is better than teflon if you keep it seasoned.

Happy cooking!

Labels: cast iron, cooking with cast iron, how to, oil, season, skillets

Posted by HappySlob :: 9:57 AM :: 0 comments

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