13 May 2018 - Spice Rack

Your Guide to Spices and Herbs

"Spices and herbs include a great variety of vegetable products that are used to enhance the flavor of foods."

What is the difference between Herbs and Spices anyway?

HERBS

These are the parts of the plant that come from the leaves.

This includes basil, mint, rosemary, bay leaves, etc.

SPICES

Spices come from roots, stems, or seeds.

This includes cinnamon, cumin, ginger, etc.

So what do you need to know about herbs and spices when it comes to cooking?

A good recipe will tell you if you need fresh or dry herbs.

Dry herbs from will need to be added earlier in the cooking process so the flavor will have time to steep out into your dish.

Fresh herbs can be added towards the end of cooking. This is because the flavorful oils are released when prepping and cutting the herb.

Fresh is always best but not always cost effective.

Don't feel bad about keeping bottles of dry herbs around. Just keep these tips in mind and you might end up having more flavorful dishes.

For spices it isn't always expected that you will have ground your spices before using them.

Although, it is preferred but not expected.

If you ever want to prep your own spices you can use a coffee grinder or special spice grinder.

You can also test your strength by using a mortar and pestle.

Root spices like ginger and cinnamon can be grounded down by using a basic cheese grater.

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Let's not forget today is also Mother's Day in 2018.

You better have gotten your mom something she will love.

You can always make her a nice homemade spice rack to put all her special herbs and spices.

Here is an idea from my favorite T.V. mom Linda Belcher!

I think I found my Halloween costume this year.

Comments

7 May 2018 - Mary Had a Little Lamb.....Had...

Tips on Buying Lamb "A reference to "spring lamb"may make your mouth water - and well it should." Lamb is typically thought of as a seasonal meat with celebrations of Passover and Easter where lamb is usually eaten. A spring lamb is usually 3-5 months old so that the meat is very tender. Anything at the store that is labeled "LAMB" is a sheep that is a year or younger. These lambs are sometimes only milk fed. So keep these in mind as we keep talking about how to choose meet from a baby sheep. Meat from a lamb is taken from one month to one year. Lamb Chops, Leg of Lamb, and Lamb Shank are the most popular cuts. These cuts are perfect for dry-heat cooking, broiling, or roasting. You can find some delicious recipes here! Go ahead... Take a peek and eat one of these adorable babies You monsters.

30 January 2018 - Scotch Woodcock Two Ways...and more

Scotch Woodcock - Two Recipes "From Mrs. Beeton's nineteenth century homemaking guide: Spread hot buttered toast thinly with anchovy paste. Pour over a sauce made by stirring three beaten egg yolks into 1/4 pint cream, bring to a boiling point, but do not allow to boil or the sauce will curdle." This is a traditional Victorian recipe as you can tell because we get a return from Mrs. Beeton in today's Almanac post. Basically this becomes a creamy scrambled egg on toast with anchovy paste. This is the second recipe for today "Add finely chopped hard cooked eggs to a white sauce that has been seasoned with anchovy sauce and paprika. Pour over toast." If you are wondering what eggs has to do with the title of the recipe just know that most Scottish recipes that contain chicken in it will have the word "Cock" in there too. (Don't blush you prudes) I'm not trying to be silly. (Get your head out of the gutter) ...

8 May 2018 - Join the Club!

Your County Agents Offer a Lot of Good Help "How much use have you made of the free services offered by your county agent? Today is the anniversary of the Cooperative Extension Service, established May 8, 1914." The Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service is an agency within the United States Department of Agriculture. Our Almanac says that your County Agricultural Agent offers many free publications about lawn care, gardening, shrubs, trees, flowers, food and cooking, clothing, home furnishing, and house hold money management. Here is my take... I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS BEFORE! Seriously! I got on the Google to see if my county has a County Agricultural Agent and we really have one! You can find your agent by following this site. Pick Your Own My county agent even has a Facebook Page! Most of these agencies do. Except you may not know them by their title above. You may recognize the title 4H . ...

Almanac for Homemakers

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