Welcome back, my greenhorn hackers. When Wi-Fi was first developed in the late 1990s, Wired Equivalent Privacy was created to give wireless communications confidentiality. WEP, as it became known, proved terribly flawed and easily cracked. You can read more about that in my beginner's guide to hacking Wi-Fi.
Every home cook has their most-hated kitchen task. For me, peeling hard-boiled eggs and garlic are pretty high up there. Actually, peeling just about anything is, but for every annoying job, there's a shortcut to make it easier.
With the explosion of food blogs in the last couple of years, there are more recipes available at the tip of your fingers than ever before. Craving chocolate chip cookies or Sriracha-flavored anything? You're guaranteed to have several thousand versions to choose from. So that's how they did it before the Internet...
Food can smell great before, during, and after cooking. A pot of stew simmering away on the stove will tantalize you all afternoon, and there's nothing better than the smell of fresh-baked cookies lingering in the house for hours.
Eggs are one of the most versatile foods imaginable. They can be cooked in tons of different ways, eaten for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and go with just about anything. Most of us have hard-boiled and scrambled eggs before, but have you ever thought about combining the two? That looks pretty good, doesn't it? But it's not exactly the kind of scrambled and hard-boiled eggs combo I'm referring to. And thankfully, this isn't what I'm talking about either... No, even though balut may look like ...
Shoving a beer can up your Thanksgiving turkey's butt doesn't seem like the most dignified thing to do to your poor little bird, but for all intensive purposes beer can turkey is one of the best ways to prepare a turkey.
Timing your cooking is everything. And if you happen to be a mom who works full time and then flies back home to prepare dinner for your family, then making sure you hard boil your eggs for five minutes while you bake your pie for half an hour can easily turn into a burnt mess if you're not careful.
Let's face it, people: Many of us power through the holidays with the aid of an extra glass of wine or beer here and there. Whether it's your perverted uncle or your overbearing grandmother that you have to put up with, a little buzz makes everything more jolly.
Quince is a fruit very similar to apples and pears in that it grows on a deciduous tree, but it is far too astringent to eat raw. Quinces are usually cooked for a long period of time until they lose some of that acidic flavor and become tender.
In this video, we learn how to cut a sirloin into steaks. Find the two ends to the sirloin and these are the sides you will cut into. The top is the New York cut, which tends to be more tender. Cut off the bone skin with a sharp knife from the very top of the meat. After this is out of the way, flip it to the other end and find the piece that is the flat part of the rump roast. Start by taking this off of the meat by going into the seam that opens up. After this, you will have cut pieces of s...
In this video, we learn how to clean skates or rays. First, use a sharp knife to remove the roughness from the top of the ray. After this, stick the knife in both of the sides and cut all the way down. From here, you should just have the middle left and the two sides should go in a bath of clean water to get the dirt off. Continue to repeat this process for all of the rays that you have. You can cook however you want when you are finished cleaning. Make sure you cut the right parts off, the m...
In this video, we learn how to can okra. After picking the okra, wash and clean it. Then, cut the two ends of the okra off to discard. Cut the rest into small pieces to cook and can. After this, prepare the canning jars by putting them in the dishwasher, then add 6 tbsp white vinegar to a gallon of water in a large pot. Boil the okra in this with salt for six minutes. Then, let the water come back to a boil and boil for six more minutes. From here, use the jars from the dishwasher to can the ...
In this tutorial, we learn how to make "dirt farmer" fudge. Ingredients include: 6 c sugar, 1 1/3 c cocoa, 1/4 tsp salt, 3 c milk, 2 tsp vanilla, 1 stick butter, and peanut butter (optional). Now, grab a big saucepan and add in your cocoa, salt, and sugar. Mix the dry ingredients together really well, then add in the milk and put on the stove over medium heat. Stir constantly until it comes to a bubbling boil. From here, quit stirring and let it cook down a little bit. After this, add in the ...
Catch, gut, and cook your own food? It sounds slightly caveman-ish, but deriving your food straight from nature ensures you always know what you're eating (a luxury you don't get at the grocery store) and that you're eating healthy.
The secret to Paula Deen's famous beef tenderloin dish? Bacon grease. Now that the holiday season is in full swing, don't you dare feel guilty about indulging a little...or adding a pound of lard to deep fry your next turkey.
Now that Halloween is over, we're getting closer than ever to the holiday season, which includings a lightning-fast sequence of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's. This means you have to be prepared for cooking comfort food for big crowds.
Still baking your turkey all traditional-like in the oven? Why not try a new way of serving turkey this year for Thanksgiving that doesn't even involve the oven? It may sound odd and even a bit difficult, but deep frying a turkey is one of the best ways to eat a turkey.
In the mood for something exotic tasting tonight? Then look no further than this food video. Press "play" to learn how to whip up a wood grilled peppercorn crusted salmon seasoned with wasabi soy sauce.
In this video Nicko teaches us how to roast a chicken for Christmas dinner. You will need: 1 large whole chicken, 2 lemons, seasons, paprika, chicken spice, chicken spice, cayenne pepper, bbq seasoning, salt, and pepper. The optional vegetables you can use are: baby potatoes and red onions. First, place your chicken on a roast rack and cover it with the seasoning and the lemon juice. After this, cut your potatoes up and place them around the chicken with onions. Now, roast the chicken in the ...
In this video, we learn how to make Korean short ribs with sauteed asparagus. You will need: 1 lb short ribs, 3/4 c soy sauce, 3/4 c brown sugar, 2 tbsp sesame seed oil, and 5 cloves garlic. First, crush the five cloves of garlic up and then chop them. From here, combine this with all the other liquid ingredients and mix well. Then, pour this into a bag with the ribs and leave in the fridge for 30 minutes. Next, make some asparagus with onion and chopped garlic. Heat a skillet with olive oil ...
In this tutorial, we learn how to make jerk chicken. First, take some green onions and chop them up into small pieces, then place them into a food processor. After this, grab some fresh parsley and cilantro and place those into the food processor as well. After this, add in some hot red peppers to the food processor as well, as many as you would like. Add in some salt and pepper and any other seasonings that you would like, as well as olive oil. When finished, you will rub this on the chicken...
In this tutorial, we learn to know the differences in quinoa. Quinoa is a complete protein that's very mineral rich. There is a tan and red variety, both are delicious. This is an ancient South American grain that is gluten free for the wheat intolerant. When prepping this, you will first need to rinse it off thoroughly. Cooked quinoa can be mixed with toasted sunflower seeds, lemon juice, sea salt, and olive oil for a great taste that is full with nutrients. It's a great replacement for rice...
Scalloped potatoes are a comfort food dish enjoyed by many families during Thanksgiving and the rest of the holiday season, but that time period tends to be the only time period in which this dish gets any play. That's because, delicious as they are, scalloped potatoes take an awful lot of work and time to prepare, and no one wants to slave away at the oven for hours.
Grilling a perfect steak is not as hard as you think...when you have a few tips, of course. Check out this food video to learn how to grill a thick, tender slap of striploin steak seasoned with salt, pepper, and herbs.
Got almost no time to make a fancy breakfast in the morning? Then consider omelettes to be your new BFF. They're super easy to make and if you don't like the basic version (just eggs plus a pinch of salt and pepper) you can always toss in chopped up veggies like onions, carrots, and mushrooms.
In this tutorial, we learn how to make an authentic alfredo sauce. First, you will want to add some soft butter into a bowl and break it apart. Then, mix in some grated cheese (your choice) and mix together until you have a creamy paste. Once this is a paste, add in your cooked pasta and mix everything together until the pasta is coated. Add in some of the pasta water to the bowl if you would like, then add in the vegetables to the dish. You can season this with some more seasonings if you wo...
In this video we learn how to make biscuits. First, pour 2 c self-rising flour in a large bowl. After this, add in 1/2 tsp salt and then add in 4 tbsp shortening then mix up with your hands. From here, add in 3/4 c milk and then mix everything together until well combined. After these are combined, spread these out and cut them out into biscuit shapes. Bake these in the oven until they are golden brown and cooked all the way through. Then, serve these with some fresh butter and your favorite ...
In this tutorial, Skinny and Mini teach us how to make a chicken alfredo bread bowl. First, melt a couple tablespoons of butter in a large pan and then add in some crushed garlic. Once you have let this saute, you will add in some heavy cream, as much as you would like depending on how much alfredo you are making. Once this is hot, you will add in fresh and grated mozzarella cheese and whisk together quickly. Then, add in parmesan cheese along with parsley, salt, and pepper to taste. Add as m...
In this tutorial, we learn how to prepare the bird for buttermilk fried chicken. First, take off the wing tips, then de-joint the wings. After this, take off the wings and thighs from the body and the legs. Now, use a large clever to remove the breasts from the chicken. Now, season the pieces with white pepper, dried herbs, cayenne pepper, paprika, salt, and pepper. After this is tossed, top this with buttermilk and let it soak for 6 hours. Now, prepare flour with salt, white pepper, garlic s...
In this video, we learn how to make chicken katsu or Japanese fried chicken. To start, you will need to pour some flour into a large bowl and then sprinkle it with your favorite seasonings you want on your chicken. Get creative and add as many or few seasonings as you would like. After you mix this together, you will crack two eggs and whisk them together with a fork. Now, pour some panko breadcrumbs into a bowl next to the other two bowls. Take your chicken and dip it into the flour and then...
In this tutorial, we learn how to make caramel popcorn. You will need: popcorn popper with popcorn kernels, large bowl, 1 cube butter, 2.5 c brown sugar, 1 c corn syrup, and 1 can condensed milk First, place all the ingredients into a pan and turn it up to high heat. Stir this up, then continue to stir not leaving it at all while it's cooking. Now, you will take this off of the heat and pour it over the popcorn that you have already popped. Do small amounts at a time, tossing the popcorn as y...
In this tutorial, we learn how to make Cuban Sopa de Platano (plantain soup). Ingredients are: 4 c chicken broth, 1 chopped onion, 1 carrot, 1 celery rib, 4 garlic cloves, 2 large plantains, 1 bay leaf, salt, 1/2 c cilantro, and 1 lime. Once you have prepared all your ingredients, add the onion, celery, and carrots to a pan with olive oil. Saute these, then add in the garlic and mix together with the chicken broth. From here, add in the bay leaf, then the salt and bring to a boil. Add in the ...
In this video, we learn how to make a chicken and white wine cream sauce. First, saute a chicken breast in some butter, then place it in the oven and cook until it's finished. After this, melt some more butter in a pan and add in some shallots to the pan. Saute these for around a minute, then add in white wine and reduce. Once it's reduced, add in some heavy cream to the pan and let it reduce. Now, take this off the heat and add in a lot of butter and salt/pepper to taste. Now, you can pour t...
In this video, we learn how to make crawfish fettuccine alfredo. You will need: 1/4 c chopped onion, 1 tbsp butter, 8 oz package sliced mushroom, 2 c alfredo sauce, 12 oz peeled crawfish, 1/8 tsp Creole seasoning, and 1 package of cooked fettuccine. First, pour 2 tbsp olive oil into a saucepan and with the butter and onion. Saute the onion until tender, then add in whipping cream and stir in Romano cheese. Whisk until blended and melted, then saute your mushrooms in a skillet with oil. After ...
In this tutorial, we learn how to blanch vegetables. This is great if you are going to be cooking with the vegetables or you want to freeze them to store and use later without them going bad. First, heat up some water in a pot large enough for your vegetables. Once this is boiling, add in your washed and clean veggies that have been cut up. Bring this to another boil and then drain from the water. After this, you can saute the vegetables with butter or you can store them in a bag and keep in ...
In this tutorial, we learn how to make a chocolate cake from scratch. You will need: sugar, cooking chocolate, white flour, black coffee, butter, orange juice, orange peel, eggs, and baking powder to make this cake. First, melt the chocolate into the coffee in a pot over low heat. Then, beat the sugar and butter until fluffy. Add in the eggs while whipping one by one. Then, stir in the chocolate mixture and mix until combined. After this, sift the flour and baking soda inside it and whip well...
In this tutorial, Chef Doug teaches us how to make soda cake. First, take a box of chocolate cake mix and a soda can. Empty the cake mix into the bowl and then open up your soda and whisk it inside. After this is combined and there are no lumps, spray cooking spray into a cake pan. Scrape the cake mix into the baking pan and spread it out until open. Bake this in the oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Once it's finished, take it out of the oven let it cool. Once cooled, you can spread icing ...
In this tutorial, we learn how to make moist southern fried chicken. First, clean your chicken and season it with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and dehydrated onions. Leave this for 8 hours, then add an egg wash to the chicken. After this, you will coat the chicken in flour and then heat up your oil. Deep fry the chicken until it's golden brown on both sides and cooked all the way through. You can use any type of oil that you prefer. Once the oil is finished, let it drain on a paper towe...
In this tutorial, we learn how to make low-cholesterol deviled eggs. First, boil your eggs until they are cooked all the way, then cool them off. Peel the shell off of the eggs, then cut them in half and remove the yolk from the egg. Lay these on a serving plate, then chop up some fresh pickles with a knife and fork. After this, scoop hummus into a bowl, then add in the pickles with this along with some mustard. Mix all of this together until it's well combined, then spoon the mixture into th...
You think Christmas is the only holiday that lets you get creative with your cooking and baking? Think again. Take a gander at this cake decorating video to learn how to make a delicious chocolate mud cake that resembles dirt swarming with worms (really gummi worms). A freaky white edible hand reaches over the cake to terrify those who get near.
