Gifts from the Kitchen, Show and Tell #2
Back in January I shared my favorite tricks and tips from the kitchen, Show and Tell here
Many of you were kind enough to share your secrets and I have rounded up a few others to go with them
Michael Lee West from Rattlebridge Farm shared a tip she learned from her chef son~
Cut tomatoes with a bread knife, it helps keep the juices in, handy when making salsa. I have found it’s a great way to get thin slices too. Once you’ve mastered slicing, learn how to Paint Tomatoes here 🙂
Marigene from In the Middle of Nowhere shared several tips:
When cooking root vegetables, start them in cold water because they are so dense they need time to heat all the way through. This also helps to make them more palatable because it dissolves most of the starch
She also adds a dash of vinegar to the water when boiling potatoes so they don’t turn to mush if left to cook too long
Marigene also says to keep celery wrapped in foil to lengthen it’s life and add milk to the water if you’re boiling cauliflower to keep it snow white
Johanne from French Gardener Dishes said she always zests her lemons before squeezing and saves the zest for future use. She also freezes juiced lemons and uses them to stuff poultry before roasting
I freeze lemons too, a kitchen just can’t function without lemon. For more about freezing lemons and other handy ways to use them go to Holiday Fragrance and Lemons here
You can also roll lemons on your counter top, pushing down gently, and they will yield more juice or microwave them for 30 seconds
or use lemon slices as a bed to cook fish on when you grill like this photo and technique by the Mother Huddle
Johanne also suggests cleaning up as you go, which is definitely a motto to cook by
I like to keep 1 side of my sink full of hot soapy water to toss things in as I use them
Kim from Curtain Queen Creates shared a tip about bacon. She cooks a whole batch and then freezes the strips in ziplock bags. That way she always has some at the ready. She said frozen bacon crumbles easily and you can do it right in the freezer bag~
Another way to keep cooked bacon on hand is in Bacon Jam here. You cook it in a slow cooker and store in a a jar in your refrigerator for 1 month
A spoonful is great in your scrambled eggs, on your toast or in your sandwich or burger
Do a quick touch up/clean out of the refrigerator and pantry right before your weekly grocery run. This way everything stays organized and what you have on hand will be fresh in your mind. Take 10-15 minutes to do this and make this a habit, and you will ultimately save yourself time and lots of money. Who doesn’t need more time and money! 🙂
You can see some tips on using freezer paper and Refrigerator Organization here
To see the tips from January’s Show and Tell click here
Keep the tips coming and we can have a regular Show and Tell every month! Share something fabulous or a guarded secret, shhhh…
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Great tips from everyone Jenna! I some how missed your lemon post and am glad to know I can freeze the whole lemon 🙂
These are all great tips. I’m a clean as you go person. In fact I can’t start cooking anything unless the dishes in the sink are all washed and put away.
Thanks Lorriane! I hate a messy kitchen! Luckily my hubs is a neat freak too, and loves to wash dishes and empty the dishwasher 🙂
Great tips and wonderful links, thanks for sharing these!
Why have I never thought to cook fish over lemon slices? Love that!
I know, right?
Jenna, So many great tips, love the one for milk in the water while cooking cauliflower. I love using leftover lemon halves after juicing them in the dishwater as I clean-up. It keeps the water fresh.
Thanks for such an interesting post.
Tips I can use Jenna! I always have trouble cooking my potatoes too long. Vinegar will be my bestie from now on!
All great tips! And I’m lovin’ your parsley holder:@)
Love these tips…especially the one about the cauliflower and the bacon jam! Thanks for sharing!
thanks Jodee!
What great tips, Jenna! I often freeze lemons (and limes), too.
Limes! Why have I never thought of that, great way to keep fresh lime juice on hand, thanks Kitty!
Thanks for sharing my bacon post, Jenna. You have some great lemon tricks here, too. I’ve pinned this post…will be back when I need a refresher. Memory issues stink. 🙂
Please let me know if you think of something else, I am going to try to make it a monthly feature~
Great tips! Good variety of them. 🙂
Great tips here. I put juiced lemon rinds in the freezer then toss one in the garbage disposal to freshen it up.
found this on Talented Tuesdays
Oh, that’s another good one! I’m going to make this a monthly feature so let me know if you think of anything else and I’ll link it back to you on my next show and tell post! thanks Audrey~
A great post Jenna, lots of ideas. Hope you are having a great week and thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Real Soon!
Miz Helen
What great tips! I love using lemon to cook seafood on. Thank you so much for sharing with us at Talented Tuesdays. I hope you can join us again this week.
These are some great tips and tricks, thanks for sharing. Thanks for linking up to Sweet and Savoury Sunday, stop by and link up again. Have a great day!! Laura@Baking in Pyjamas
Thanks for the party Laura, see you Sunday!