I had originally thought that most American families cook a very similar meal on Christmas Day to that of Thanksgiving dinner with turkey being the center piece. However, after contemplating my own family’s cooking habits, I realized that not everyone prepares the same meal. My family generally opts for ham on Christmas Day while my in-laws lean towards turkey. When the time comes for me to host ... Continue Reading about The “Traditional” American Christmas Meal
Easy Tater-Tot Casserole
Easy Tater-Tot Casserole From the kitchen of Janita Kler: We utilize casseroles often at our house. They are easy to toss together, make for a hearty hot meal, and generally provide some tasty left overs that can be finished up throughout the week. A favorite of my family’s is Tater-Tot Casserole. In comparing my recipe with others, I noticed that not many utilize sour cream in their dishes. ... Continue Reading about Easy Tater-Tot Casserole
How to Store Herbs and Spices
The Difference Between Spices & Herbs Often the terms “spices” and “herbs” seem to be used interchangeably. In fact, there is a distinct difference between what is considered an herb and what is considered a spice. Simply put, the leaf of a plant used in cooking is referred to as a culinary herb, while any other part of the plant is termed a spice. Spices can be buds (cloves), bark ... Continue Reading about How to Store Herbs and Spices
How To Steep Loose Leaf Tea
How to Steep Tea So you’ve purchased some wonderful, high quality loose leaf tea; now you need to know how to prepare it. One of the main reasons why tea can leave a “bad taste” in someone’s mouth is because it was prepared incorrectly. I actually disliked green tea for a very long time until I learned I was steeping it incorrectly; now our citrus green tea is one of my favorites! Getting ... Continue Reading about How To Steep Loose Leaf Tea
Choosing a Coffee Grinder
Grinding Coffee at Home vs. Buying Pre-Ground Coffee There are many advantages to purchasing whole bean coffee and grinding it at home. The smell of fresh ground coffee is an aromatic experience all on its own. This alone nearly justifies the expense of a grinder. If you are looking for a little more incentive however, purchasing a grinder can greatly extend the shelf life of your ... Continue Reading about Choosing a Coffee Grinder
