Cooking Basics

[Editor's Note: There are some very basic kitchen skills that every cook should have in their repertoire, and properly separating eggs is definitely one of them. This post includes an incredibly helpful photo tutorial that explains just how to do this so you end up with the eggs in their separate components, and the shell in the compost or trash, rather than in your egg mixture. --Genie]  Read more

[Editor's Note: One of my favorite quick-dinner options has always been tacos. There are so many variations to try, and they're all fairly speedy from refrigerator to table. I love this option, which is packed with healthy vegetables—and even some fruit! The ranchero sauce that goes with it sounds fantastic enough that it might be worth doubling that part of the recipe, just to make quick and delicious work of dinner another night that same week. --Genie]  Read more

[Editor's Note: Mussels are a sustainable seafood choice, and easy and economical to cook. This recipe for them features pesto and chorizo, flavors which I wouldn't ordinarily pair...and that I wouldn't have thought to add to mussels! But when I gave it a minute, the thought of this dish made my mouth absolutely water. Give it a try—it's a spicy, pungent twist on a classic! --Genie]  Read more

For most of the time I've lived in California, I've lived in apartments with no balcony or outdoor patio space. That means I'm unable to do one of my favorite warm- (and, on occasion, cold-) weather activities: Grilling. I particularly love hamburgers just off the grill, and frying them up in a pan on my stove never works the same way for me. And, though I know there are millions of people out there who love their electric countertop grills, my limited experiences with those have left me totally unhappy with the burger results. But roast burgers in the oven? That never occurred to me before I saw this post from Adam Roberts at Amateur Gourmet. This method looks pretty genius to me, and in honor of National Hamburger Week (which is this week!), I'm going to have to give this a try.  Read more

[Editor's Note: Are you someone who likes creamer in your coffee? Well, if you like the processed and bottled kind at the store, this is a great option to still get the flavor and creaminess you love without all the chemicals and preservatives. Give this technique a try! --Genie]  Read more

[Editor's Note: No matter how many years you spend in the kitchen, there are always going to be times when things don't go exactly as planned. Check out this list of tips for how to recover from a kitchen disaster, as well as some real-life examples of how Connie Veneracion has fixed problems in her own kitchen. --Genie]  Read more

Easter is tomorrow, and it's well-timed that this upcoming week is also National Egg Salad Week. This recipe is a great way to use those Easter eggs (once your kids have finished locating them all), and features a nice twist for those who aren't big fans of mayonnaise-based salads. Though there's a little mayo in the recipe, most of the salad's base comes from creamy avocados, instead.  Read more