Pantry Tips How to open a Pomegranate

While of course, there are many ways to open a pomegranate, as a connoisseur of the gorgeous fruit, I feel compelled to share with you what I think it the best method in Pantry Tips How to open a Pomegranate. After all, I’ve open hundreds of them lots and lots of ways over the years and while there are many ways and they each have their merits, for me, this way combines stain prevention for your fingers, speed, preserving the most fruit, and minimizing mess. Once you master Pantry Tips How to open a Pomegranate you’ll find yourself buying the fruits more often and hastening to add it to salads (like my cous cous with pomegranates), drinks (like my pomegranate martini punch, which is perfect for New Year’s by the way) and desserts for garnish. And if you’re really like me, you’ll find yourself prepping a whole bowl full and eating the tiny red jewels with a spoon. First, with a pairing knife, cut the top and bottom off of the fruit. Then, cut along the five dents in the outer skin. You should be in the troughs, rather than the ridges. Cut all the way to the top and … Continue reading

Let’s Fix it: Reheating Pizza

Here’s another quick and easy Let’s Fix it! tip for you: Let’s Fix it: Reheating Pizza. It’s taken me years to figure out the best way to reheat pizza. Maybe not all pizza, because some you eat cold for breakfast. But really good pizza… Homemade stuff; that fancy Brick oven pizza. Believe it or not you don’t even have to turn on your oven. The best way to reheat pizza is actually in a pan, on the stove, with a lid. The direct heat on the bottom of the pizza will toast the crust and make it crisp, the steaming that comes from covering the pan with a lid will reheat the toppings and the cheese. Genius, I tell you. Let’s Fix it: Reheating Pizza may become your favorite Let’s Fix it! tip yet. Yield: one – 2 pieces of pizza, depending on size of pan. Cook Time: 3-5 minutes total Prep Time: 1 minute (yeah leftovers!) Turn stove on medium low. Set a piece of pizza in the pan. Cover. Check on it after 3 minutes. It may take up to 5 minutes.   … Continue reading

Let’s Fix it: Melon Baller Tricks

It drives me nuts when I slice a perfectly ripened nectarine or peach in half, only to have the pit split. Then I’m stuck continuing to cut it in half again and again trying to get all of the stone out, only to have a tiny (but rock hard) sliver remain, which I then bite into… so unpleasant. But there’s a quick and easy solution: the big end of your melon baller. You know, that thing in the back of your tool drawer that you never use. Well, this post, Let’s Fix it: Melon Baller Tricks makes this simple kitchen tool your new best friend and a permanent fixture in the drying rack. Simply scoop out the pit with the large end of the tool and presto! No more broken pit bits to accidentally eat. This is also the tool I use to core apples before I slice them for pies or salads. Tiny plum stones that are stuck in the plum are easily removed as well, especially when you’re working on a plum cake. Let’s Fix it: Melon Baller Tricks is just one more little way to make cooking more comfortable.Simple stupid, right? … Continue reading

Let’s Fix it: Stale Chips and Crackers

Remember the trek across town to buy the super fancy blue corn chips that are hand fried by the Mexican grocery store? You still have some left, but the chips are stale. Or remember the gorgeous cheese plate you assembled only to realized the only crackers left in the house are a little softer than you remember? Don’t toss them out, it’s Dirty Laundry Kitchen Let’s Fix it: Stale Chips and Crackers edition to the rescue. I’ve got a couple of methods to choose from for you to fix those Stale Chips and Crackers. Microwave: This method is great if you just need a few and you’re going to use them up, right away. Stick the chips on a microwave safe plate and cook them for 30 seconds at a time. After they cool, you’ll know if they’re crisp enough. If not, add another 30 seconds. Make sure they’re evenly spread out, and you cook them gradually. It’s amazing how fast you can burn them. Using the oven? Preheat to 350° and bake for 5 minutes. Check one chip for crispness. Repeat until you’re satisfied. Let’s Fix it: Stale Chips and Crackers is a great way to minimize waste and … Continue reading

Let’s fix it Fruit Flies

Let’s fix it Fruit Flies is an important tip from the Dirty Laundry Kitchen common kitchen problems. Don’t be embarrassed that you’ve got flying critters in your kitchen, it’s sort of normal depending on time of year, and it probably just means that you’re buying all the right stuff. Fruit flies are common in August especially, a problem for those of us with lots of produce on the counter because we’re making lots of farmer’s market hauls in the bounty of Summer. The common problem isn’t a big deal because I’ve got just the “solution” for you. Gotta love the science puns, right? Aside from setting this on your counter, you should probably put all produce in the fridge and Let’s fix it Fruit Flies will get rid of the rest. Truth? I actually find a certain level of glee in checking my traps and seeing how many little fruit flies are in there and I think back to school and Mendel’s Punnett squares. No which was dominant?  Red-eyes or black-eyes? What can I say? I just can’t resist a little kitchen science experiment. ½ cup apple cider vinegar 2-3 drops dish soap juice glass 10 gallons cold-hearted desire for dead … Continue reading