Friday, September 26, 2014

Don't Worry About Defrosting


We always forget to take our dinner out of the freezer. However, there are certain foods that you can cook right out of the freezer. You do not need to worry about defrosting or setting these ingredients out. They are ready as soon as you take them out of the bag. You can learn more at The Kitchn.


The more hectic life gets with work, friends, and family, the more grateful I am that freezers were invented. A well-stocked freezer full of fruits, vegetables, and homemade meals has enabled me to eat more healthy and not spend money on takeout.

The downside of a lot of frozen foods, however, is that they usually need to be thawed in order to cook or reheat well. But did you know there are still plenty of foods out there that you can cook straight from the freezer, no thawing necessary? Here are our seven favorites!

1. Bacon

Whether you want to fry up a big batch of bacon for a leisurely weekend morning or just need a slice or two to flavor a dish, there's so much fat in bacon that it can thaw and start cooking in a pan in just a few minutes. Make sure you freeze the bacon in individual slices first so that it's not frozen into one big block.


2. Fruit

We all know that frozen fruit is a great way to add texture and keep smoothies cold, but if you bake with frozen fruit, there's no need to defrost it — just mix it straight into batter or dough. If you're making a compote or fruit syrup, just throw it straight into the pot and start simmering.



3. Vegetables

Because frozen vegetables are usually frozen at the peak of freshness, they're a great, healthy choice to always have a stash of. Small vegetables like peas and corn can quickly cook and cool down in soup, and you can even throw mixed frozen vegetables straight into a skillet pasta.










4. Dumplings

Since Asian dumplings can be a bit time-consuming to make, make a big batch and then freeze them for a quick and satisfying snack or weeknight meal. Dumplings cook best straight from the freezer since thawing them will make the wrappers sticky and cook up soggy.


5. Pasta

Similar to Asian dumplings, fresh uncooked pastas and filled pastas like ravioli and agnolotti freeze extremely well. Don't thaw them or the pasta will start to stick together. Frozen pasta only takes a minute or two longer to cook than fresh before it's ready to be tossed in your favorite sauce.

6. Cooked Rice

Did you know that day-old rice makes the best fried rice? It's a great way to use up leftover steamed rice, but if you're not ready to fry up the rice just yet, stash it in the freezer. If frozen properly, the rice freezes into individual grains that you can just toss right into the wok or frying pan when the fried rice craving hits.


7. Fish

Skip the thawing of frozen fish — all you have to do is rinse the fillets off, pat them dry, and get cooking. It'll take a few more minutes to cook than a piece of fresh fish, but now you have no excuse not to have fish for dinner on a weeknight!

Friday, September 19, 2014

A Simple Test for Sorbet

Do you know that it is super easy to make sorbet?  This simple test will help you figure out what you need in the recipe!  Keep reading to learn about the "egg test" for the sorbet you make this weekend.  You can learn more at The Kitchn.


Bet you didn't know that you can make dreamy sorbet without once looking at a recipe. All you need is fresh fruit, sugar, water — and an egg. That's right, an egg. Don't worry, that egg isn't actually going into the sorbet. We need it for another purpose: we need to see if it floats.


The perfect tool for testing the sugar levels in sorbet? An ordinary, large-sized egg.


The Egg-Float Test for Sorbet
Egg sinks below the surface: Add more sugar
Egg floats above the surface: Add more water
Egg floats in the middle (1-inch, nickel-sized patch of shell showing above the surface): Sorbet perfection

A sorbet is a simple mix of pureed fruit, sugar, and a bit of water. Strain that mix, churn it, and freeze it, and you have delicious no-fuss sorbet. One catch: you need to make sure you have the right amount of sugar in the sorbet base so that when it freezes, you get smooth sorbet without annoying, chunky ice crystals.

The perfect tool for testing the sugar levels in sorbet? An ordinary, large-sized egg.

Once you've strained your base and are ready to churn it, gently lower a large egg into the liquid. If it sinks or if you can barely see any shell above the surface, you need to add more sugar. If it floats above the liquid with a large patch of liquid, you need to add more water. If it floats in the middle, with just a 1-inch, nickle-sized patch of shell showing above the liquid, then you're sorbet is just right.

This all has to do with the density of the liquid. Sugar increases the density of liquids — allowing an egg to float — while water decreases density, which makes the egg sink lower. For whatever reason, when an egg floats just-so in the sorbet base, we know that the sugar levels are perfect for making sorbet.

Check out the gallery above for what this egg-float test looks like at each stage. Don't forget to strain the sorbet base before you start (otherwise the fibers and other fruit solids throw off the density reading) and give your egg a quick wash and dry, so it's clean when you float it in the sorbet.

Friday, September 12, 2014

Creative Ways to Use Adhesive Strips

Do you use adhesive strips or hooks in your home? These can be used for hanging posters or picture frames. However, there are many more creative uses for these adhesive strips. Take a peak at all the uses for these strips below. You can also learn more at Apartment Therapy.

Two important notes:
Always check that the product you're using matches up to the weight of what you want to hang.
To avoid damage, make sure that the product you choose is right for the surface on which you're hanging something.


Above ? Sarah of Boxwood Clippings made this beautiful mirror display from $12 worth of Dollar Tree mirrors and adhesive strips.


Caroline of Organized Simplicity used Scrabble tile holders as mini picture ledges, affixed with adhesive strips.


Marissa of Marissa Waddell Interiors devised this simple renters' solution for hanging a curtain rod - she hung it on adhesive hooks.


Not crazy about cushions with ties? Morgan of Pepper Design Blog cleverly used adhesive/velcro strips to secure these kitchen cushions.


This fabric headboard cover disguises a metal headboard with the help of adhesive strips. (By the gals at Sypsie Designs, seen on Hometalk.)


The wall where Erin of House of Earnest wanted to hang her sconces is where her chimney is so to avoid drilling into it, she used adhesive hooks to hang the sconces instead.


Beth of Sunshine on the Inside used inexpensive oil drip pans to create magnetic, chalkboard learning/play spots for her children. She hung them with adhesive/velcro strips.


Earlier this year I shared my renter-friendly solution for a hanging, magnetic knife rack and Lovely Crafty Home has solved this problem in her home too: using adhesive strips to hang a knife rack from tile.


How about some temporary (or not so temporary if you love it) party decor? Glory of Glorious Treats hung a lightweight wood frame from the ceiling with adhesive hooks and strung ribbon from it.


Sparkle lights hung with mini adhesive hooks create a charming decorative heart shape and add warmth and coziness to this girl's bedroom onPopsugar.


Author and blogger Janet Lee of Living in a Nutshell created attractive storage for shoes with decorative molding hung with adhesive strips.


Christina of No. 29 Design diy'd this pelmet box and hung it with adhesive strips.
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