Debugging Your Kitchen

Warm weather brings about bugs. Kitchens become meccas for ants, flies and the occasional roach family. Many home chefs have to deal with this by product of higher temps. It is annoying but luckily can be brought under control with the right products.

The dilemma facing many a home owner is how to humanely get rid of these "visitors." Sure, you can use commercial ant sprays but do you want to? Insecticides have strong and always chemical ingredients. These require gloves because of their strength as well as diluting the powder or liquid with the recommended amount of water. Some leave a powdery white residue that could prove to be harmful to children and animals.Ant bait ,used for lure, is a granular sugar like substance that are filled with poison. A more humane and safer way to go is using natural repellents.Lemon juice works well. The sugar loving insects will be repulsed by the fruit's intense sourness.Another natural cure is cinnamon. You would think the spice's musky sweetness would attract them but that' s quite the opposite. Home chefs scatter it along with ground cloves around doorways and windows. Cinnamon oil can also be used. You can also use freshly picked peppermint leaves along with peppermint oil to repel them.

Roaches are year round and even worse to get rid of than ants.Again you can use roach spray and traps. There is the classic Raid which comes in sprays and foggers, It and similar products have a chemical known as pyrethroids which cause paralysis in bugs.Other chemicals used are carbamates and organophospates which render certain amino acids inactive. These cause the bugs to die.One dosing may be great however home chefs need to be very aware that constant use of these insecticides can cause problems in humans and companion animals.Again the best path is the all natural one.A better idea is putting cedar chips in the corners of your kitchen. A classic that has worked for decades is the bay leaf. You can buy them in your store's spice section and strew the leaves where the walls meet the floor.Flies are not so much in a summer kitchen but they are  a problem at outdoor picnics and barbecues. The easiest is having electronic pest devices on the tables. These emit a high pitch sound that scares the bugs away from the food.

Don't let the bugs of summer bug your cooking. Use all natural  remedies to get rid of these critters.It makes for easier and cleaner work.

A Thoughtful Fourth

Happy Independence Day to my American readers at home and abroad.For those enjoying it at home, use this day not only to celebrate but what you can do to make your life and community better.It may be eating more veggies at the barbecue or cutting down on the ice cream cones.For your community it could be growing and harvesting fruit and vegetables to take down to your local food bank. Be grateful for our freedoms to do whatever we like.Remember to honor all those servicemen ,from past wars and current conflict.Treat our veterans and families out with a special dinner or a gift certificate to their favorite restaurants.Have welcome home parties if they want those, celebrating with burgers and dogs,pitchers of cold beer and hot roasted ears of corn.Listen to their stories as you sip a cold lemonade or iced tea on the front porch or backyard patio. For my American readers abroad , keep safe .Enjoy your all those amazing creations but remember to sneak in a hot dog or some potato salad every now and then. Above all celebrate this great country and the contributions we've made, big and small to the culinary world.

Party Planning

Spring is coming and with it a wealth of parties. There will be showers, small weddings, graduations and everything large and small in between. What do you do? Do you throw a bash in a big hall, or restaurant? Can you try to have it at home? What about a small barbecue? Or a series of them? So many questions but luckily they all have answers.

For anyone planning any big events this season there are three choices , restaurant,hall or someone's house. The best bet is a restaurant for groups larger than twenty(I would even say groups larger than ten). A restaurant can work with you to have a variety of menus or just an all satisfying buffet. You can work with them to tailor to meet needs and dietary restrictions.They will also throw in a dessert buffet too , depending upon the place. A hail is nice too but you have to have a good caterer to go along with it. A good thing about renting a hall though is that you can decorate it the way you want. Restaurants do have restrictions. Someone's home is nice but it;s just that someone's home. There's only one kitchen and one bathroom. at times.


Private homes aren't bad for smaller get togethers. There's nothing like relaxing in your yard and celebrating some event. with a close cadre of friends and family. There;s nothing like making your own barbecue or buffet.Again you can incorporate your guests with yours. Remember to keep it small. A party can get out hand when you have too many . You'll be running out of food or worrying about people's allergies With smaller groups you'll be able to manage everything from cooking to cleaning up yourself. There's also more of a chance of guests chipping in to help too.

Yes, Spring is on the horizon and with it the party season. If you are planning one go over the available options. Think about what you want. Then start mapping out the festivities

It's Party Time!!!

It's summer and that means party times. It's weekends full of various get togethers, whether pool parties, or beach barbecues, patio brunches with friends or picnics in th e park.The big question is what to serve where. What may go well at a brunch may not be a big hit at a picnic. What could go well at the pool may be a total wash out at the beach.

As with any party think about what you' re serving and where. if you;re planning on an elegant brunch with friends then have simple dishes that can move quickly and seamlessly. from the kitchen to the patio. Mini frittatas are wonderful and they 're easy to whip up. You can make them with fresh produce from your garden or the local farm. Also have on hand chilled iced tea (preferably homemade) wine spritzers and fresh cut fruit. If you want any baked goods, stick with simple short breads rounds. These aren't messy and are a perfect end along with cups of flavored coffee or tea. Barbecues are heartier fare. Go with stick to your ribs foods such as grilled steaks, burgers, corn on the cob and a variety of different salads. You may want to start off with some fresh made salsa and or guacamole and end with an ice box cake or scoops of Italian ice.

Pool parties should be simple but fun. After all the main focus is on the pool and fun not eating Keep the fare to dogs, burgers and kabobs. If you want to make heroes or stuffed pitas then go ahead. Also a plate of crudites with dips won't go amiss here either. For beach barbecues, you ca go with the same fare as your back yard barbecues. After all the sea air makes every one's appetite increase so you can serve hearty steaks or double burgers. You can also have a lobster or clam bake too. Bring along some corn , plain Idaho potatoes and butter. Dessert may include hearty store bought oatmeal cookies and coffee brewed over the fire.

This is the season for all different kinds of parties Be prepared for whatever kind you throw with the right food. You'll be the hit of the summer party circuit!

A Good Memorial Day

To all my American foodies out there:

Have a very good Memorial Day. Just remember that the barbecue you're enjoying was made possible by all those brave men and women throughout American history who gave their lives for freedom. Celebrate but do so with thoughtfulness.