The drinking straw isn't just there to help you make annoying noises when you get to the bottom of your soda. That little tube of plastic is extremely versatile and can make your life a lot easier with a little know-how. Curious? Read on to find out more.
In case you haven't heard, chia seeds are off of the novelty plant grower and in your supermarket. Why? Because they're a nutrient-dense food loaded with calcium and fiber (18% and 42% respectively of your RDA per one ounce of seeds). There are even some preliminary studies that show chia might be useful in combating diabetes.
Instinctively, we reach for popsicles and cold drinks when the temperatures climb, but doing something counterintuitive, like going for a hot drink or eating something spicy, is actually more effective at keeping you cool.
Brining is magic. All you have to do is make a mild saline solution, toss in your protein of choice, let it soak, and cook. You end up with incredibly tender, flavorful meat or tofu for very little effort. So why aren't more of us doing it?
An open bottle of wine can be dangerous. You intend to enjoy—nay, savor—a single glass, but then two episodes of Top Chef later, that sucker is empty. Now you have to go to work the next day with a wine hangover. What happened? Turns out there are some unconscious reasons you might be chugging more wine than you wanted. Never fear. Along with clenching your fists to make better food choices, there are some tricks you can use to moderate your wine intake. Researchers at Cornell University disc...
I'll be the first to admit how horrible my memory is, whether it's remembering to take out the garbage or paying a bill on time. That's why I regularly utilize the stock Reminders app on my iPhone; it's definitely compensated for my memory deficiencies.
Ever wonder why when you defrost meat, there's all that pink liquid at the bottom of the plastic bag? That liquid is called "purge," and it's not good.
Toilet paper isn't the first thing that comes to mind when you want a hot meal, but when you're camping or out in the field (i.e. military training), a little TP is the difference between cold tuna and luxury.
You probably already know that cooking involves a ton of chemistry. Bread rises because of the reaction between the flour and leavener, and the delicious crust on your steak is formed by the Maillard reaction. Understanding the chemistry going on behind the scenes is one of the best ways to improve the quality of your food—it's much easier to fix a problem when you know what's causing it.
Autumn is a time of year when everything looks, smells, and tastes good. The scents of cinnamon and spices are everywhere you go, and even the dead leaves that fall off the trees are pretty. In particular, the fruits and vegetables of the season are gorgeous.
Attention all veterans and active-duty military personnel—this coming Tuesday, November 11th, is Veterans Day, that time of year where the whole country thanks us for our service. For the most part, a simple thanks will do, but some folks like to go above and beyond and give us veterans free or discounted meals and discounts on merchandise in stores.
When it comes to Easter, I usually dig plastic eggs with money or chocolate inside but hard-boiled eggs shouldn't be missing from the party. And simple hard-boiled eggs won't do. You need to decorate them because we all know bunny eggs are extravagant. What's even better than bunny eggs, though? Spider-bunny eggs.
The gold standard of great foods on a stick is reserved for honey battered corn dogs and shish kabob (which is surprisingly spelled just like it sounds). But when I saw this absolutely amazing concoction of breakfast food combined with the queen of meats, I fell in love. Now, if you are looking at this picture and still don't know what it is, you are definitely not a chicken and waffles fan, otherwise you would have figured it out right away. I mean, what else goes well with syrup-drenched wa...
If you're like me (and everybody else probably), you probably have a few nights of reckless drinking that you wish your could take back, or at least turn down a notch.
What can't coconut oil do? This edible oil, extracted from the copra or meat of a coconut, has done what most other food, beauty, and health trends have not: demonstrated real lasting power. Indeed, the "superfood" continues to make headlines, with its many uses the subject of debate, study, and fervent support. From the obvious (cooking) to the less so (home improvement), there are likely many coconut oil uses you're not yet aware of.
If you've ever wondered what exactly goes into a McDonald's sandwich (or what the heck that secret sauce stuff is anyways), you might be a little surprised to learn that all of the ingredients are readily available at your local grocery store. In an interesting move, McDonald's has released a video featuring Executive Chef Dan Coudreaut showing, step by step, how to make your own Big Mac sandwich at home. Here is the video, and if you'd like to read along with Coudreaut's instructions, you ca...
These days, news papers, online editorials and magazines are filled with news on Iran and Syria. Of course, that is expected, as such sources need to stay current to stay in the game. My concern is that most of these articles talk about what to do about these situations.
A food waste disposer can be very helpful in preventing your kitchen sink plumbing from clogging. In this video, Joe Schmidt of YouToo Can Do shows you how easy it is to install a food waste disposal. For this installation, you'll need plumber's putty, channel locks, and a regular screwdriver.
Unless you're a high-schooler building a nuclear fusion reactor, the hardest part of a science investigatory project often is coming up with a good idea. You want it to be cool yet feasible, novel but still useful.
You wait forever to dye your hair because you can't afford the costs of hair dye products. This video will show you a way to dye your hair on time without breaking your wallet. The secret? Kool-Aid and food coloring. Watch to see the transformation from natural black hair to a color of your choice.
The Holy Grail of chicken has just been found by an unsuspecting reporter of the Chicago Tribune. Yes, that's right: The secret 11 herbs and spices in Colonel Sanders' Original Recipe chicken has finally been revealed, and it looks legit as hell.
Have you ever had a great meal at your local restaurant and wondered how to make it yourself? Or perhaps you've found yourself stumped at what to make for dinner based on the random provisions in your kitchen? Now, you can discover solutions to these food-based problems via Snapchat's computer vision wizardry.
Right now is that magical time of year when the general public decides to embrace their inner fattie and get baking in the kitchen. Hello, pies and cakes and cookies and everything carbs. Goodbye, diets—see you in the next year, when you cripple us with unbridled guilt and longing.
Knowing if your meat is cooked properly is both the difference between a delicious meal and an inedible one... and the difference between making your guests sick and keeping them safe.
The oven is arguably our most essential kitchen appliance (right alongside the fridge, freezer, and yes, even the microwave). But even though we've been using them for a few millennia, many of us know so little about our ovens that our cooking or baking can feel like a roll of the dice sometimes.
Apple Pay has been available to use in stores, as well as in select apps and websites, ever since its first appearance in iOS 8.1. Now, with iOS 12, there are currently 13 different iPhone models that support Apple Pay functionality without the use of an Apple Watch, and the list of partnered stores that accept Apple Pay has only grown. Here's our always-up-to-date list to keep you in the know.
It's universally known that broccoli, kale, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and all cruciferous vegetables (also known as brassicas) are good for you—but you probably don't know exactly how good they really are.
Whisking liquids seems somehow quaint, especially since there are good, cheap devices out there like immersion blenders and hand mixers that can whip cream, turn egg whites into meringue, and mix batters for you.
Marinades are among my all-time favorite tricks as a cook for several reasons. They're easy like Sunday morning, they let time do what it's supposed to, which is work for you, and you get a huge return for relatively little effort on your part.
Everyone could benefit from shedding a few pounds, but what about those who need to lose a little bit more weight? Exercise isn't an option for everyone, with as busy as our lives are right now. It's hard to go running and do a few pushups when you have a hard enough time scheduling your day already. But if you're looking to shed a couple pounds here and there— without lifting a finger— this two-part video will help you out with some Jedi mind tricks!
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, leaving holiday cookers scrambling for turkey recipes the whole family will love, without taking up the whole holiday in the kitchen. One thing's for sure though— a nice Butterball turkey is sure to be the main dish on everyone's table this feast-ive holiday season.
Apple pie is one of those timeless, classic American comfort food dishes that'll always be gobbled up at the dinner table no matter what. But a big problem with such a delicious pie is that greedier eaters will eat more pie more quickly than slower eaters, which causes upset.
Despite what their name may imply, chess bars have nothing to do with chess and everything to do with delicious foodie goodness. These chess bars are made from a blend of cream cheese, butter (of course), and yellow cake mix and the result is a crunchy but light dessert.
Trix are for kids, but Fruit Loops are for everyone? Don't you ever think you're too old to nom on the pure sugar heaven that is Fruit Loops! While we are totally for grabbing handfuls out of the box and stuffing it in your face, there are other ways you can make use of this colorful "tropical" treat.
In order to get 6-pack abs, the most important part of this process is to lose weight. You can do that by increasing cardio exercise and decreasing your caloric intake. There is an iPhone app that can help you called "LoseIt". It will keep up with your weight loss and your plan. It will tell you your calorie budget for the day. It keeps up with your calories. It keeps track of your food intake. It will keep track of your exercise.
Coca Cola is pretty ubiquitous by now, and no matter where you go, from Morocco to the United States, you'll always find someone throwing down a nice cold Coke. Coke is also, unsurprisingly, one of the most recognizable drinks in the world.
It seems that cupcakes are the designer foodstuff of choice these days. They're really not all that different from cakes (they're made from the same dough, after all), but their miniature size makes them individually portioned for convenience and also a great base for adorable decor.
This video tutorial will take you through all of the necessary steps of the Master Cleanse. The Master Cleanse is a fast that has been around for over 60 years. Created by Stanley Burroughs, the diet is based on the idea that we are constantly putting toxins into our systems and need to periodically flush them out.
In this video from BBCFood we learn how to make chicken in Chinese black bean sauce. He uses chicken wings. Cut the wing at the joint using a cleaver or knife. Now in a bowl add the wings, add 1 tablespoon of light soy sauce, and 1 tablespoon of rice wine. Mix it very well together. Let it marinade for about an hours. You'll need a pound of chicken for this recipe. Now with the black beans, use 1 1/2 tablespoon chopped well. To cook, use a Cantonese wok with a wok stand. Heat the wok, then ad...
Leigh Ramsdell and Hal Brindley with The Environmentals discuss how to build a worm composting bin. To build a worm composting bin, you will need a plastic tub or a box with a lid. Calculate one square foot of surface area per pound of worms. A pound of worms can process a half a pound of food per day. Worms need air so put holes in your bin on the top and sides. Also put holes on the bottom for drainage so your worms don't drown and die. Add screens to cover the holes. Put bricks on the bott...
