When we were kids, Saint Patrick's Day was a green-hued holiday that promised green eggs in the morning and green mashed potatoes in the evening... along with some traditional corned beef and cabbage, of course.
As a kid, my mother would always bring the noodles onto the table in a colander, then bring the pot of sauce she cooked separately. So I grew up with the idea that pasta and sauce were two separate entities that you combined table-side, and continued to eat pasta that way well into my adulthood when cooking at home. It was only much later that I realized the error of my ways... that pasta could taste so much better than I had previously imagined.
We here at Food Hacks are all about saving you, our wonderful readers, time and trouble in the kitchen. So when I saw that Barilla had come out with their Pronto line of "One Pan, No Boil, No Drain" pasta, I had to give it a try. While no-boil lasagna noodles have been around for a while and allow the pasta to essentially cook en casserole, this relatively new addition to the pasta scene includes elbow, penne, spaghetti, and rotini varieties that allow for usage in a greater variety of pasta ...
A long time ago I was reading an issue of Saveur and saw an article about a trendsetting bar in Portland. The bartender at the joint had started making enormous blocks of smoked ice for his cocktails. When a patron ordered a drink that called for the smoked ice, the bartender would chip off a large chunk and place it in a glass with the booze. Then, as the ice slowly melted, the drink would take on more and more smoky notes, and the flavor profile of the beverage would change with every passi...
If you're a fan of Thai food, I'm sure you're familiar with sticky rice. There is something so special about its chewy texture and sweet flavor. If you have a desire to make it in your own kitchen but don't have the proper tools such as a traditional bamboo basket or stackable steamer, there are several other methods that work just as well. Once you try these alternative methods, I'm sure you'll be "sticking" to them for a while. What Makes Sticky Rice So Sticky?
The other day I was perusing my Instagram when I came upon a curious hashtag... #OnePotPasta. Intrigued, I investigated further and discovered a whole world that was previously unbeknownst to me.
There are some ingredients I cook with so often I can never buy too many of them, and most of them are produce. Onions, garlic and fresh herbs are staples in a lot of dishes, and they may be inexpensive, but when you use them on a daily basis it can add up.
Unless your work clothes require dry cleaning, you probably only go to the cleaner a few times a year. And for those few items in your closet for which you do, you have to then find the time and extra budget to make a trip all the way to the cleaners and back again. In the end, it can be quite the hassle.
If you're going to build yourself a water gun to cool down this summer, or maybe just a useful water pump, you'll need some check valves. However, the most expensive parts of a water pump or DIY super soaker are usually the check valves. So, let's make some from scratch for as little as $0.35 each.
Navigating through row after row of plants, my tiny fingers would reach into the leaves to pluck all the vile little creatures from their homes and deposit them into a can of gasoline. Potato bug duty, my least favorite gardening chore. Growing up, my family had a small garden every year. And every year, I was recruited to help plant, maintain, and eventually harvest the vegetables from it. There were some tasks I didn't mind, but the ones I hated most usually involved bugs (have you ever see...
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.
There are a number of different techniques for building underwater in Minecraft. The easiest is to fill a room with wood or leaves, then set them on fire. It'll burn down, leaving a pocket of air for you.
To properly set a table for an informal four course dinner, keep in mind that a soup course, a salad course, an entree and a desert will be served. First, add the service plate or charger to the table. Place it directly in front of the guest two inches from the table. It will serve as the under plate before the entree arrives. Use exactly the amount of silverware needed to accommodate the meal. For this meal, you will need a soup spoon, a salad fork, a salad knife, a dinner fork, a dinner kni...
In this video, GoPlanetEarth.com shows viewers how to make bath bombs. The ingredients needed are: a half cup of Epsom salt, a half cup of citric acid, one cup of baking soda, one teaspoon of liquid glycerin, one teaspoon of water, three teaspoons of oil (the fragrance for your bath bomb), three tablespoons of sunflower or canola oil, one-fourth of a teaspoon of Borax, and food coloring (liquid). You will also need to have bath bomb molds, latex gloves, a bowl, a glass measuring cup, and pape...
Betty, from Betty's Kitchen, explains how to make oven-baked pork chops with home style gravy! First, preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Betty explains that she will leave the fat trim around the pork chops before cooking. First, use meat tenderizer to season the meat. Shake the meat tenderizer over the pork chops on both sides, the top and the bottom. Get a skillet and pour peanut oil into it. Turn this on and make sure it sizzles. Pour one cup of flour into a large zip lock bag and put the p...
Unexpected guest? Families coming for dinner? or Just in the mood of some soul food? Chicken and dumplings, this fast track version will take few ingredients and little time. This two part tutorial will never have you doubting "whats for dinner?" ever again.
You're a committed environmentalist but you love your candles. What are you to do? Did you know that you can recycle your candles? There's bound to be stuff left over. Just watch this video and learn!
This video is about making and cooking a brick-oven pizza. Below are the steps for preparation. 1. Place 1/2 of a tablespoon of salt into the bowl. Combine that with 1/2 tablespoon of baking powder. Add 3 cups of bread flour. Mix with a whisk.
Getting angry makes you look weak, especially in an argument. Defuse your temper with these helpful tips.
A gerbil makes a great “starter pet” for a child. Gerbils are friendly, fun to watch, quiet, and clean little guys whose cages don’t get smelly as fast as some animals’.
Why buy an ant farm? It’s simple and fun to make one from a few items you have lying around the house.
Approximately 4 percent of women are diagnosed with gestational diabetes during pregnancy. Here's how to manage it.
To grow beautiful flowers and plants in an outdoor garden, you need to feed your soil the right plant food – a fertilizer that will help your plants thrive. Watch this video to learn how to choose plant fertilizer.
If it's all you can do to drag yourself through the day, why not increase your stamina with these time-honored techniques. Watch this video to learn how to boost energy naturally.
Why waste your vacation dollars on pricey hotel rooms when there are cheaper – and sometimes free – alternatives? Watch this video to learn how to find cheap (or free) places to crash on vacation.
Lose weight and have more energy by taking the refined sugar out of your diet. Learn how to break your sugar addiction with this how to video.
A tender, flaky crust is what separates a good pie from a great one. Learn how to make a basic pie crust from scratch with this how to video.
All stuffed up and wanting to breathe – but without the chemicals? Here's how to get relief fast! Learn how to clear up a stuffed nose with this home remedy.
This all-natural hair remover, called halaweh in Arabic, has been used in Middle Eastern homes for centuries. A natural hair removal technique may be a good alternative for you to salon waxing. Learn how to remove hair with Halaweh.
Learn how to look like you had a full night's sleep. Trick people into thinking you're well-rested, no matter how little sleep you got, with these tips.
Rava idlis are a super fast alternative to the traditional rice/daal idlis. Since there is no soaking, grinding or fermenting involved, you can enjoy these idlis at any time without the pre-planning. Watch this how to video and try this simple and delicious Indian rave idli recipe.
Seasoned urad daal aka sukhi (dry) daal is a very unusual dal so think outside the box and give it a try. Just another fantastic and tasty way of getting your share of proteins. Watch this how-to video to get the recipe and instructions on how to make urad dal.
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.
Sweet and sour sauce makes everything taste better. You can add this tangy dip to fish, chicken, meat and even tofu for an Asian flair. In this tutorial, Betty will show you how to use simple household spices to whip up your own easy batch. Enjoy!
In this video, Betty demonstrates how to make sweet and crunchy sesame seed brittle. This is hard candy, packed with sesame seeds. It's easy! So easy, in fact, that this free video cooking lesson can present a complete overview of the process in about nine minutes. The full recipe follows below.
In this tutorial, learn how to make a delicious Southern BBQ treat with Betty. Betty shows you how to make pork tenderloins at home with a bourbon BBQ sauce from scratch. Soon, you will enjoy these melt in your mouth tenderloins at every picnic!
In this tutorial, learn how to make an entirely unique salad with Betty. This loaded baked potato salad is warm and delicious and makes a perfect addition to any gathering or picnic. Enjoy!
Looking for a sure fire way to win a bar bet? Check out this tutorial. This super easy magic trick will amaze even the most skeptical of audiences and guarantee you free drinks all night!
In order to make Pork Noodle Soup, you will need the following ingredients: noodles (any variety), sliced pork, vegetables (cabbage, bok choy, etc.), sesame seed oil, shallots, ginger, white pepper, green onions, salt, and chili sauce.
In this video, we learn how to make homemade Kala Channa. Ingredients you will need are: 2 c Kala Channa, 5 c water, 1 tbsp oil, 1/8 tsp asafoetida, 1/4 tsp haldi, 1 tsp minced ginger, 1 tsp minced garlic, 14 oz pureed tomato, 2 tsp salt, 1 tsp garam masala, 1/2 tsp red chili powder, 10 sprigs chopped cilantro and coriander leaves. First, soak your Kala Channa for at least 8 hours. Next, in a pressure cooker, add your Kala Channas with water and salt. Turn the pressure cooker on high then let...
