Tofu has been a staple food in Asia for over 2,000 years, but due to the health craze of recent years, it's enjoyed a surge of popularity in the Western world. Derived from the milk of soy beans and typically coagulated by calcium or magnesium salts, tofu can be found in consistencies ranging from extra-soft or silken to extra-firm. Based on which firmness you prefer, there are a myriad of ways to prepare your tofu for consumption.
There are a few key ingredients that you always need on hand when baking cookies and other desserts, but when you run out, you run out. You either have to stop what you're doing and go to the grocery store, find a good substitute, or scrap the project entirely. Chances are, you'll never accept defeat, and why go to the store if there's a good substitute on hand?
Let me start by saying something controversial: I despise the gluten-free fad. I think gluten is delicious (I go through at least two loaves of bread a week, with a healthy dose of pretzels and pasta in there as well), and I think many of the health myths surrounding gluten are either fabricated or hyperbolic.
Sangria... the elixir of summer. When properly prepared, there are few things more refreshing and magical. If you're looking for a way to mix things up and "get out of the bottle," try one of these lovely libations before the warm weather ends: peach-mango sangria, pineapple-basil sangria, watermelon-raspberry sangria, or blueberry-plum sangria.
This decadent dessert is inspired and created by marrying tiramisu and s'mores. It's a moan-worthy version of that classic English dessert, trifle, that combines the soft, creamy layers of tiramisu with the gooey, sticky goodness of s'mores. You can make it as easy as you wish, with store-bought whipped cream and pound cake, or you can make everything from scratch for a special company-ready dessert.
If you've ever turned on an episode of Iron Chef or Top Chef, chances are you've seen a contestant in gloves and goggles, yielding a canister that looks far more fit for a chemistry lab than for a kitchen. Wonder what's in the canister? Liquid nitrogen, the go-to tool/ingredient of molecular gastronomy, and one of the trendiest items in many gourmet chefs' kitchens.
Here's a fact that everyone knows: avocados are delicious in guacamole, salads, and sandwiches. Here's a fact that's less commonly known: avocados are delicious in desserts, too.
Flowers may be beautiful, but they're not usually appetizing. Sure, nasturtiums are hip in fancy restaurants, but they're primarily used as a garnish. Granted, fried squash blossoms are incredible, but the point remains: flowers are usually reserved for looking at, not masticating.
Like most food lovers, I adore sushi. And like anyone who is a living, breathing human being, I'm a pretty big fan of sriracha sauce.
I have a thing for citrus in any form. If I can't get a hold of oranges or clementines, I've been known to slice up lemons and limes and eat them straight with a little bit of salt—terrible for the tooth enamel, but amazing for the tongue.
If you've never heard of or eaten temari sushi, then you're in for a treat. These pretty sushi balls are good for parties and festive gatherings, and even though they are so colorful and striking, they are not hard to make. Just like every other type of sushi, they are customizable, and they have the cute factor necessary for kids or appetizers.
Sushi aficionados and Simpsons fans alike know all about the joys of fugu. Known also as blowfish, it's reputed for being tasty if sliced from the correct part of the animal and many even say they experience a "fugu high" after eating the fish. Alas, if you have an unskilled chef, fugu is famous for being deadly.
Those ordinary green zucchini you see in the market are hiding a lovely, delicious secret: Actually, all summer squashes produce these delightful blooms, but the zucchini's are most frequently used for eating since they taste the best: fresh, clean, and zucchini-like, but with a little something extra. They used to be a rarity at supermarkets, so you had to have a garden or a gardener friend who would generously share the bounty with you.
Tater tots have a bad rap as a soggy cafeteria staple, but bake them at home and they crisp up nicely in the oven. Drain any unwanted oil from them on paper towels and they become perfectly crunchy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.
A salad can mean everything from fruit to meat and everything in-between, but it never means finger food. Forks are required. So that means that even though salads are versatile, delicious, and customizable, they are hell at cocktail parties. How do you hold your glass and take a bite of your salad at the same time? It's awkward.
It's that time of year again. The month after we exchange gifts, most of us tend to exchange germs. Cold and flu season always seems to creep up on us, often leaving us ill-prepared to deal with the ailments.
The next time you finish that last pickle spear, don't pour the leftover green juice down the drain. You can use your leftover pickle juice in cooking, in cocktails, and as a post-workout performance shot.
If you have ever attempted to mix and shape your own meatballs or burger patties, you may have endured bits of meat continuously and stubbornly sticking to your hands. This can make shaping more challenging than it should be.
Pizza. It's seen you through your best and worst times. It was there during your first relationship and the subsequent dumping. It got you through college, and maybe even your twenties. Domino's phone number is programmed in your speed dial, and though you won't admit it out loud, you love pizza, you really do.
Making a good pie crust can seem intimidating to the uninitiated, but once you master this skill, a whole world opens up to you. Not only can you make all manner of fruit, custard, and cream-filled pies once you know all the tricks, you can branch out into the world of quiches, savory pies, and flaky, crispy turnovers, too. We've already told you how to get perfect, firm fruit pie fillings, so now, let's learn about crust.
Even the best-maintained kitchens occasionally get a fruit fly infestation. These critters descend, lay eggs (up to 500 at a time!), and then disappear usually only after extreme cleaning efforts (i.e., finally attacking that weird puddle of goo behind your refrigerator).
Eggs are incredibly important to cooks, and not just because they're tasty and a complete protein (many erratic genius/artist types make a point of eating an egg or two for breakfast). Yes, they are great when perfectly poached, scrambled, hard-boiled, and even scram-boiled, but they serve literally dozens of functions when used in recipes, especially baked goods.
Don't you just love snack food? Me too! but as I get older I notice how the small food choices I make affect my belly. So how do we get over this potato chip world? Easy make your own chips. This recipe with Zucchini is not only a healthier option but also delicious.
I have a theory that chocolate chip cookies are the gateway drug to cooking. The recipe is easy, no special equipment is required, and at the end, you get warm, fresh-from-the-oven cookies that are simply irresistible. It's how I got hooked on baking and cooking, and anecdotal evidence (i.e. me asking my other kitchen-obsessed friends and a few culinary students) supports me.
Whether you paid a few hundred bucks at the salon or just used the drugstore boxed stuff, it sucks when your hair color doesn't turn out the way you want. You can lighten the overall color with vitamin C, but if you're specifically looking to remove brassy tones from blonde hair, there's a better way to go.
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Not many people use film cameras anymore, so it can be hard to find the materials to develop your own photos at home since most local camera stores are closing. But it's actually relatively easy to make homemade developer, and you can make it with a few relatively common ingredients.
Video: . If you master only one cocktail, it should be the martini. It’s a legend in a glass, and every hostess worthy of her shaker should know how to make a martini.
We've all been there! You either drop your lipstick or had a lipstick swatch transfer onto your clothes. Chances are you just happened to be wearing white too! In this video I show you a simple way to take care of the problem using white vinegar, baking soda and clear dish soap. Which means you are using less harsh chemicals ( I now use a clear dish soap that is made with organic and natural ingredients) So forget bleach or a stain remover pen! I've found that bleach can leave a yellow stain ...
Despite being disgusting, houseflies are actually beneficial to humans in a few ways. As scavengers, they help the environment by eating rotting organic matter, and make great food for pet tarantulas. Regardless of the advantages to their existence, having them in your home can be infuriating. There are countless sprays, traps and devices made to kill or deter the little pests, one of the most common being flypaper that hangs from the ceiling. These sticky strips are incredibly easy to make a...
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Delicious, Simple & Quick Wok BBQ Pork Fried Rice Ingredients
Here's a great excuse to play with your food—and learn some math while you're at it. We've all seen a hexaflexagon folded out of paper, but how about a burrito? Vi Hart, a "mathmusician" over at the Khan Academy, came up with the Flex Mex, a burrito folded into a hexaflexagon with all the toppings inside. The spreadable ingredients (guacamole, sour cream and salsa) go inside the folds, then it's topped with beans and cheese.
Enjoy the taste of a summertime potato salad? Then you can't pass up this masterpiece of Southern glory. This video recipe will show you the perfect way to make a delicious, soul food potato salad. This potato salad is creamy with the perfect balance of ingredients and seasoning. It's easy, simple and a real crowd-pleaser. It can easily be customized to suit your liking.
Granola bars taste better when you make them right in your own kitchen. And this is the perfect recipe for you to try out. They're jam-packed full of seeds, nuts and carrots, and they're made with all natural ingredients, and are very healthy and easy to make!
Try making your own granola bars instead of buying them at the grocery store. You could just surprises yourself. They may taste better. Start out by trying this recipe for peanut butter and banana nut granola bars. They're made of all natural and healthy ingredients, plus they're a cinch to whip up!
For those of us on a diet, choosing between brownies and cupcakes for our dessert becomes a nightmare of fiendish proportions. Which is why it's just so much easier to breed the two together and form delicious brownie cupcakes.
This video describes how to cook a dish called, 'tuna curry in a hurry,' which is a curry flavored tuna dish that is quick and easy to make. The ingredients are described first: 3 cans of 130 grams of tuna fish, 1 and 1/2 sliced medium onions, two green chili peppers, 1/2 teaspoon of red chili powder, 1 teaspoon of turmeric, 1 tablespoon of ginger, 1 tablespoon of garlic, 1 teaspoon of coriander, 1 teaspoon of cumin, 6 or 7 cherry tomatoes, 1 small lime, 1/2 cup of chopped coriander, 1/2 cup ...
Kare-kare is a Filipino oxtail stew with bok choy and peanut butter. This stew is full of flavorful ingredients that create depth and interest to the marrow rich oxtail. This hearty dish will fill you up while delighting your taste buds with rich flavors. Watch this video to learn how to make a traditional Filipino oxtail stew called kare kare. This will comfort you on cold days. Ingredients: 3 tbsp oil, 2.5 kg/5 lb oxtail or 2 kg/4 lb shin of beef, 3 tsp salt, 2 tbsp annatto seeds, 2 large o...
