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!

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.

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.

Albuquerque Wine Festival

What are you doing this weekend?  Take your friends out for a night at the 27th Annual New Mexico Wine Festival.   The event will be held this weekend at Camino De Pueblo in Bernalillo.   You can learn more about the event at Abqjournal.

t’s that time of year again to raise your goblet to the last of the warm summer weather and welcome the upcoming fall season with a nice glass or bottle of wine.

27th Annual New Mexico Wine Festival at Bernalillo
WHEN: Noon-7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30, Sunday, Aug. 31 and Monday, Sept. 1
WHERE: 243 S. Camino del Pueblo in Bernalillo
TICKETS: $16 online with early entry at 11:30 a.m.; $15 general admission includes wine glass; $40 three-day bonus pass, $5 ages 13-20, must be accompanied by legal age guardian. Visit newmexicowinefestival.com

ENTERTAINMENT SCHEDULE
Saturday, Aug. 30:
11:30 a.m.-noon Los Compadres
Noon-1 p.m. The Keys Band with Briana Perez
1:15-2:15 p.m. Joanie & Combo Special
2:30-3 p.m. Ballet Enfuego
3:15-4:30 p.m. Ziatron
4:45-6 p.m. Ryan Montaño Band

Sunday, Aug. 31:
11:30 a.m.-noon Los Compadres
Noon-1 p.m. Ben Martinez Project with MJ Wilde
1:15-2:15 p.m. Good Green
2:30-3 p.m. Ballet Enfuego
3:15-4:30 p.m. Zoltan Orkistar
4:45-6 p.m. Hillary Smith and the All Star Lineup of Hip Pocket

Monday, Sept. 1
11:30 a.m.-noon Los Compadres
Noon-1 p.m. Goddess of Arno
1:15-2:15 p.m. E. Christina Herr & Wild Frontier
2:30-3 p.m. Ballet Enfuego with Frances Lujan
3:15-4:30 p.m. Cathryn McGill
4:45-6 p.m. Floozy

A number of the best wineries in the state will be participating in the New Mexico Wine Festival at Bernalillo this Labor Day weekend.

Numerous New Mexico wineries will not only offer tastings of their best wines, but also provide information and insight on each wine.

The participating wineries are Acequia Vineyards & Winery, Amaro Winery, Anasazi Fields, Black’s Smuggler, Corrales Winery, D.H. Lescombes, Don Quixote Distillery & Winery, Dos Viejos, Gruet Winery, Jaramillo Vineyards, Las Nueve Niñas, Luna Rossa, Matheson, Ponderosa Valley Vineyards, Skarsgard Farms, St. Clair, The Grove, Tierra Encantada Vineyards & Winery and Wines of the San Juan.

This year’s commemorative poster is “Early Morning Harvest,” an acrylic image by artist Nicholas Montaño. Signed and unsigned versions will be sold at the festival.

A number of food vendors including Bread, Cheese & Grapes, Mr. Powdrell’s BBQ and French Riviera Bakery will offer tasty treats to accompany your favorite wines.

Also, peruse and purchase products from area agricultural vendors or pick up a piece of art from a variety of artists and crafters who specialize in ceramics, glasswork, pottery, metal art, woodwork, paintings, photography, clothing and accessories.

St. Clair is celebrating a milestone this year and will be serving its special wine, La Clairette.

“La Clairette is a commemorative wine we made for our 30th anniversary,” Southwest Wines regional supplier representative Christian Gallagher said. “It’s a blend of ruby Cabernet and Malvasia Bianca. It has some very nice earthiness and a little bit of minerality and some dark berry undertones, primarily blackberry. We want people to try it.”

St. Clair’s sister labels Soleil Mimosa and D.H. Lescombes will be serving up their signature concoctions.

The Soleil Mimosa Classic, Soleil Mimosa Pineapple, Soleil Mimosa Mango and Soleil Mimosa Pomegranate add a different twist to wine tasting.

“It is a high-quality product that speaks for itself,” Gallagher said. “We knew it would be a successful product, but we didn’t realize how successful. We are extremely pleased with the popularity of the mimosas.”

5 Ways to Save Money In Your Home

There are certain areas of your home that can save you money.  You do not need to use a service or hire someone with every problem that comes up in your apartment.  These quick tips will help you save money in the long run.  You will also learn something new in the process.   You can learn more at Apartment Therapy.

No matter how small your paycheck, you can always save money by doing things yourself that you would otherwise pay someone else to do. Below are five skills you should have in your domestic toolbox, ideally when you're just starting out on your own, but it's never too late to learn (and to save).

1. Cooking

Cooking is probably the most effective money-saving domestic skill you can possibly have. My cooking skills have improved a lot since my 20s when I was first living on my own, but even then I was able to (and did) cook for myself. Growing up, I spent a fair amount of time observing and helping my mom in the kitchen and I really believe this is the best way to learn. But I also came of age when the Food Network was taking off and I learned many basic techniques and was inspired to try new ingredients and recipes from watching food tv.

Nowadays, the internet offers so much cooking inspiration and instruction—there's no excuse not to learn.

2. Sewing and mending

Sewing your own clothes is usually not a money saver because clothes are relatively inexpensive these days compared to the price of fabric, but the ability to alter and repair your own clothes can save you plenty of money at the tailor's. (I'd love to know what percentage of people don't have to have new pants hemmed.)

Sewing for your home is where you can really save money though. Making your own pillow cases, placemats, napkins, curtains, etc. as well as gifts for others are places where sewing for yourself can amount to a lot of savings..

3. Gardening

Gardening takes time and patience, but pays you back with "free" food and herbs. Grow what you love to eat and "shop" from your garden before meals. I love snipping a bit of herbs to put in a meal knowing I'm not buying a huge bunch of basil, for example, when I only need a few leaves. Saving money is only one benefit of having your own garden—easy access to fresh, homegrown food when it's in season—may have you eating better, too.

4. Plumbing

Unless you are an experienced plumber you should not attempt big plumbing fixes, but everyone should know some very basic things like how to stop a running toilet, unclog a drain or toilet, fix a drain stopper, turn off a water valve, etc. Year ago someone gave me the book Dare to Repair by Julie Sussman & Stephanie Glakas-Tenet and I turn to it whenever I'm facing a very basic plumbing task.

5. Painting and Wallpapering

If you have more money than time, go ahead and hire someone to paint or wallpaper for you. But you will save a lot of money by learning to do it yourself. Painting is not as easy as buying paint and a slapping it up with a brush - do some research (or ask an experienced friend to help you) to learn the best techniques for both. And don't be intimidated to learn how to wallpaper. It takes patience, but is actually quite easy.

Finally, before you hire - see if you can barter.

You may not acquire all of these domestic skills, but even learning one or two, especially as a young person, will save you a lot over the years. For things you've yet to learn, try bartering with a friend or neighbor. A basket of veggies from your garden for shortening some pants, perhaps.

Easy Ways to Clean a Blender

How do you clean your blender? This is not the easiest appliance to clean.  Scrubbing all of the blades and taking the blender apart could be a giant hassle.  This blog will give you an easier way to clean the dreaded blender. You can learn more at Apartment Therapy.

Every well-run home is teeming with tricks and shortcuts to keep it humming along. We're sharing our best quick tips — for cleaning, organizing and repairing stuff at home — to save you time and money. Click through for today's helpful hint, and links to tons more...


When you're finished with the blender, pour some hot water inside and add a squeeze of liquid dish detergent. Then BLEND WITH SOAPY WATERon high for about 15 seconds. It's that easy! When you think about it, it's your blender's mixing that got the goop stuck in that unreachable place anyway. If you're not getting it all clean, try different blend settings—including whichever you used (ice crush, pulse) for mixing.

Try to Pickle These Fruits and Vegetables

Do you pickle anything in the summer?  You can pickle more than just the occasional cucumber pickle! There are many great fruits and vegetables that are great to pickle and use as a relish or addition to your favorite recipes.   Keep reading to check out the ten fruits and vegetables below!  You can learn more here.

1. Corn: Pickling tames the sweetness of corn and turns it into a great summer relish to serve with grilled meats or fish.

→ Get a recipe: Pickled Corn - Bon Appetit

2. Eggplant: Don't like eggplant because you think it's bland? Use eggplant's spongy texture to your advantage since it'll readily soak up pickling liquid and take on new flavors.

→ Get a recipe: Pickled Eggplant - CHOW

Canned Soy & Wasabi Pickled Green Beans

3. Green Beans: Green beans are some of the easiest vegetables to pickle since you don't even need to cut them up. Use these as a fun garnish for cocktails like bloody Marys.

→ Get a recipe: Canned Soy & Wasabi Pickled Green Beans - Cook. Can. CSA.

4. Okra: Okra pods are hollow and soak up a lot of pickling liquid, turning any unpleasant slime into a thing of the past.

→ Get a recipe: Pickled Okra - Simply Recipes

Quick-Pickled Cherry Peppers

5. Peppers: Pickled peppers add a winning combination of spicy sourness to sandwiches, hot dogs, nachos, or burgers.

→ Get a recipe: Quick-Pickled Cherry Peppers

6. Peaches: This may seem like an unusual fruit to pickle, but juicy pickled peaches go well with pork, ham, or fried chicken.

→ Get a recipe: Pickled Peaches - Saveur

7. Radishes: Pickled radishes are tangy, sweet, crunchy, and have a natural spiciness, plus the skin on red radishes dyes the pickles into a beautiful shade of pink!

→ Get a recipe: Pretty-in-Pink Pickled Radishes

Pickled Sugar Snap Peas

8. Sugar snap peas: These may seem like an unusual thing to pickle, but crunchy, super sweet sugar snap peas take well to garlic and vinegar and make them even more snackable.

→ Get a recipe: Pickled Sugar Snap Peas - Smitten Kitchen

9. Summer squash: Skip zucchini bread — pickling is a healthier way to use up that bumper crop of summer squash.

→ Get a recipe: Pickled Yellow Squash

10. Tomatoes: If you're tired of eating tomatoes raw or turning them into sauce, try pickling and using them as bruschetta topping instead.

→ Get a recipe: Pickled Red Tomatoes - Serious Eats