That First Apartment Kitchen

 Many college seniors are now in the process of miving off campus or moving to on campus dorms with kitchens. This is a crash course in not only easy cooking but home cooking too. How do you stock a beginner's kitchen? Not with love as you might think but with knowledge.

It's always good to check out the major appliances of any rental. Many landlords usually go for the cheaper stoves and fridges and these may not work well. Check for gas leaks and if the burners and oven work correctly. As for the fridge, make sure it's both cooling and freezing. If there's a sweet odor coming from it two to one it's leaking freon. Talk to the landlord about replacing the refigerator or possibly buying a new one.(the cost should be deducted from the rent). Space in the kitchen is also important. Air fryers and microwaves are must haves. is there enough room for thm (or at least for one. Air fryers can easily be tucked under the kitchen table) What else is needed? A crock pot is another necessity. These are great on those long days in class when you can't spend the day cooking tomato sauce or chili. Immersion blenders are another kitchen must have. Theseare great for making smoothies but they even better for  blending and smoothing out chunky soups.what about pots and pans? Get three pots, an eigh quart stock pot for boiling pasta and making soups, a two quart and one quart for cooking rice and creating sauces. A frying pan and griddle are vital for frying up steaks or indoor cooking hot dogs and hamburgers.

What about stocking up that first pantry? Soup is a must because it's easy to microwave and eat.A cup of it with crackers makes for a filling lunch or dinner. Canned veggies should also be added to the list. They not only make for great sides but also tasty salads too.Beans and tomatoes of any sort should also be added. These make for a great crockpot chili  and the last is the backbone for tomato sauce.Olive oil is a must because it's not only good for you but also  versatile to cook with (but get  vegetable oil for baking).A small bottle of either red wine or apple cider vinegar can also be added. They  not only are crucial to vinaigrettes but some recipes call for a splash of vinegar. Bread , eggs and any kind of milk are also high on the list. Always have some kind of fresh fruit or veggie in the kitchen as well. These give you the nutrients and vitamins. A piece of fresh fruit is also a good between classes snack. Your first kitchen is also a good place to start a spice rack. Get small bott;es of cinnamon, garlic ,and onions powders. Rosemary and oregano are kitchen must haves as is chili powder.Old Bay seasoning should lso be included if your'e into seafood.

A first kitchen can be daunting.However it can be a dream  if it's well stocked and prepared.It'll mske for fun creating ,cooking and baking.

Uh Oh Hurricane Season Is Here

 The end of August brings about that last minute summer vacation, school shopping and hurricane season. The last means everything from flooding and no power. It also means getting ready food wise,

Some are lucky to have generators to keep the electricity continuing. Some don't. If that's the case , the first thing is to empty the fridge and freezer, Cook what you can on the stove or the grill. All those veggies can be made and even be turned into a vegan dinner. Surprisingly you can even cook Tater Tots on the grill. Just use a vegetable basket or aluminum foil folded into into a packet to cook them.Frozen pasta can also be cooked on the barbecue if you have metal containers. As for the ice cream. think ice cream sodas which is a nice diversion, along with keeping  the soda cold.You can also make ice cream sandwiches using any kind of wafer cookie and whatever you have. Melting popsicles can be used to flavor seltzer along with chilling it. As for the dairy in the fridge, milk, butter and even yogurt can be whisked with flour and cheese to create yummy sauces for meats , veggies and pasta.

IF you're prepping for a hurricane ,then stock up on canned goods. Tuna and salmon are good and storable sources of protein as are deviled ham and chicken.THese can be used in salads or sandwiches,. They're also good on crackers which is another must buy. Another good source of proteins are beans. Buy a variety so you can make bean salads, always a good  side with grilled foods. Buy fruits and veggies you know will last. They also provide an adequate amount of vitamins and nutrients much needed during a stressful time.What you also need is coolers and ice packs. Cold water can also do the trick. Buy enough bottled water because you may also wind up using it for brushing teeth and washing. Dry cereal is another must >The kinds can eat it dry if you can't get milk. IT also makes for a good snack too. Protein and energy bars are also needed. They can be used for breakfast or be toted around for easy snacking,

Hurricane season is here. Get ready for it. Buy the right foods  to get you through this wet and wild times.

Auga A New Kind Of Soup

 Everyone thinks soup are the most mundane food on the planet. Yet a new company is shaking up that belief. The Baltic area company Auga is creating interesting ones , full of good ingredients and flavors.  They're not the traditional canned ones. They're not even canned.

This is one of the soups that caught my eye at Stop & Shop. One it comes in a bag. You can reheat the soup in it if you';re in a hurry or don't want an extra pot to clean. It comes out very thick so it does need to be thinned out with about half a cup of water.

I tried the carrot soup first.

This was before I added the water. It looked like mashed squash and a bit too thick texture wise.. Adding water or even any kind of milk will make it silky and also reduce the intense carrot taste. There is coconut milk in it along with rice flour for thickening and sea salt and spices.  It just takes three  minutes to cook in the microwave.

                                It becomes lighter in color and thinner  even though it looks custardy, 

As for the taste, it tasted like steamed carrots with garlic. I add a huge tablespoon or two of I Can't Believe It's Not Butter since I'm used to cooking my carrots with butter. It tasted better and was a nice lunch. I also have the tomato but would like to try Auga's champignon or mushroom flavor along with their minestrone. The company has all natural "canned" (meaning plastic bagged) beans and veggies which also look interesting and healthy along with their organic eggs and milk. The company also produces breakfast products such as oatmeal cups.

Auga is shaking up the natural food market. Their soups are a nod to the traditional yet a departure . Try them for a fresher tasting bowl of soup.

Sharing The Pantry

Americans, like myself, have the tendency to overbuy. That's especially true with food. We wind up with too many boxes or packets,bags and containers. Will we eat all of it? No? Should we share it? Yes.

If you have overage in your pantry , then consider donating it to food drives. Of course cans are preferable. One they're easy to store and two, they do last a usual four or five years. There's also a lot that can be done with canned veggies and fruit. The first can be used as a side or mixed with rice or pasta for a more filling main course. Canned fruit is just good on its' own and the perfect snack instead of cookies and cakes, However there are other foodstuffs you can donate as well. Flour can be donated, even if you opened it back in June or July. Opened flour has a shelf life of eight months so even half a bag is good to give away. Just give it a sniff before donating. Toss if you smell any mustiness. One of the most sturdiest foods to donate is rice. It has an indefinite shelf life, meaning you can still use it two or three years from purchasing. One sign that is is bad is the appearance of the rice weevil. It's a tiny reddish-brown bug that can show up in the box or canister. Chuck the rice if those start showing up.

Many of us have those Keurig machines that use pods. That's great but there's also a dearth of leftover teabags and hot chocolate packets. Any tea bag will last between a year to two years. If you have a variety left over then put them in Mason jars, decorated with  pretty homespun bows and ribbons. Food pantries and senior centers would love to have these.Hot chocolate lasts for only six months but if you have extra that's under that time period , donate. Regular cocoa powder can last up to two years and can still be used for cooking and baking. Instant coffee has a shelf life of a whopping twenty years!!! This depends on the packaging  yet you can still donate it. Even longer lived than instant coffee is sugar. Both granulated and confectioner's can last forever as can brown sugar. White and brown sugar can turn hard and crunchy To restore them  put the crystals in a baggie and smash with a rolling pin to get rid of the hardness. Any of these will be much appreciated by bakers who want to create treats for their kids.Another baking necessity you may have over stocked is a bag of chocolate chips. Again, real chocolate is considered dry, meaning it 's not encumbered by any bacteria so it can last as long as the sugars. If your chips are hanging around donate them with your other foods.

A pantry cleaning is always necessary. Yet instead of throwing out your overage , just donate. it'll help not only declutter your kitchen but add to someone else's.

Snow Day Kitchen Projects

Most of the country is undergoing big snows right now. That means staying in for a day. It also means boredom setting in after the the third TV binge or game marathon.It's a good time to have a one day kitchen project. Whatever you choose will be productive and more satisfying than fighting over the remote.

A snow day is a good time to take stock of what's in your  pantry or fridge. You probably have stocked up on the basics - milk eggs, and bread. Yet what about the other stuff you bought and forgot about? Is there really a call for all those sardines? Or pickled onions. If they're way past their expiration date, then toss. If not  start looking for recipes featuring them. What about all that flour and sugar left over from  Christmas baking? They're still good with flour lasting ten months to a year and sugar lasting a year or more.  Consider it a sign to use both up for Valentine's Day cookies, cakes or cupcakes. Those cans of beans and veggies?If you have to make room then create a soup with them.They can also make good sides for the dinner in. Once the pantry is done it's time to root around the fridge and freezer.Get rid of the ice cream and popsicles from last summer. They should have been tossed  back in September anyway. As for the fridge. clean out those plastic canisters holding a mouthful of last week's mashed potatoes or spaghetti. Wash shelves too, They can get sticky or cruddy from food being spilled  and splattered from drippy  containers .

Another kitchen project is sorting through drawers and shelves, taking inventory of plates, cups and utensils. Plates and bowls do wear out. If you feel that your set has served its' purpose then, toss. You can even go the Marie Kondo route and thank them for their service. It'll be fun shopping for a new set whether in the store or online. The same idea goes for cups and glasses along with mugs. If there are chips or cracks then get rid of them. An uneven rim could lead to a cut lip Cracked glasses can be repurposed as containers for make up brushes and pencils. Tumblers can be relocated to the bathroom where they can serve as containers for smaller dental floss boxes and Q-Tips. A snowy day in also means time to sort through the cutlery. Check the handles of any and all silverware. If they're loose then consider a new set. Again Kohl's and Target are having great sales and sets have been greatly reduced in price.As for all those plastic knives and forks from takeout. You can reuse them for school and office lunches. Just remember that plastic can weaken over time and can break. Throw away any crack or broken ones.

A snowy day means a day in. Reorganize your kitchen , pantry and fridge.It's a nice way to pass time and in the end have the joy of a clean room.

Hurricane Hoarding

September means hurricanes. The worst weather is about to be unleashed on us, even though some may not be affected that badly. Unfortunately people panic and run amok in their local grocery stores.Before doing this take a deep breath and a step back before you hurricane hoard.

The first thing to do upon hearing that a hurricane is coming is take stock of what you have already. Check to see what kind of canned goods you have and what they can be used for.Also check dates. You may have some expired ones stashed among your current collection of tins.Keep in mind that this assessing can spawn ideas on what to cook.If you have a lot of beans, they can be used in a variety of different ways.They can be used in soups or meat dishes or the main meal itself.. Mashed together you can create bean burgers or bean loaf. The same goes for canned veggies. Canned tomatoes are great in an impromptu sauce. They can also be part of a cacciatore sauce for chicken.Tinned string beans can be used in a salad along with being a hot side dish. Any veggie can be used to round out a minestrone. If you have them, figure you'll have enough ingredients for three or four days.Use them or they will go bad.

As much as you want to, be careful about hoarding dairy.It's tempting to pick up a few gallons of milk and hoard it. Yet milk needs a cool place or it could sour. What is a better idea is buying condensed or powdered milk and adding water to it. Water too gets hoarded as well. Before going out and buying several twelve or twenty-four packs, check again to see what you have. You may have a few bottles left over from summer road trips or beach days that still are potable.If they're past their sell by date, use them for washing  and get new bottles.Eggs and bread are other items that seem to be scooped up at the first bad weather report.Keep in mind that eggs are very fragile when left out at room temperature. Bacteria grows rapidly inside the shell, which can easily lead to salmonella.Unless you have guaranteed refrigeration, let them go for now. Beans can provide your family with the protein needed. As for bread, the freshly baked loaves from your grocery's cake department will turn moldy before the loaves of mass produced bread. Get the double wrapped name brands like Arnold and Pepperidge Farms. These will keep for a couple of weeks if they're properly sealed.

Stocking up for a hurricane is good. Hoarding isn't. Before you go out on a  grocery run, assess what you have. You don;t want to overstock or over buy, You may already have the food and drink you'll need.

Helping The Hurricane Victims

There have been three devastating hurricanes in the last month . Homes have  been demolished and with them the heart of any house - the kitchen. It's ,time to step up in our kitchens to generate money and items that are crucial to starting over. Charity does begin at home, but with our ovens and pantries.

One of the easiest fund raisers to organize is a bake sale. Nothing beats homemade cookies and cupcakes. These are simple to make and fun to vary. Bake giant chocolate chip cookies instead of the usual smaller ones. (Try the recipe from Wednesday's New York Times Food section.) It's a good idea economically because you can charge more - think three dollars a cookie  instead of two dollars for six. They can also be made in sugar and peanut butter flavors too.  Since it's fall, think about a fun batch of caramel apple cupcakes. Bake them in muffin tins for a rounded apple look and then ice with caramel when cooled. Finish by sticking popsicle sticks in them to look like the real thing. Again, these can be priced at four  dollars a piece to bring in more money. To honor those hit by Hurricane Maria on the beautiful island of Puerto Rico, bake  Pueto Rican cakes. These are a delicate mix of an egg and butter rich cake soaked in a homemade rum syrup.They're then decorated with a  syrup soaked meringue. Another cake to celebrate the island is a yummy pineapple rum cake which is sure to be a best seller. It's a pineapple upside down cake spiked with the Caribbean spirit. Squares of it would sell well.

A second way of helping is going through your pantry and donating any duplicates.It's easier to donate cans and foodstuffs to the Houston and Florida victims.It's not so much for those on Puerto Rico.  If anything donate water and diapers to those hit by Hurricane Maria.  When donating, try to aim for canned items that are versatile. Tomato sauce and  can be used in making a great pasta dinner but it can also be used for making chili as well as soup. Canned green beans can be used both in salads and as a side. Canned potatoes are another must donate. They are great in thickening up soup but the sliced ones can used in scalloped potatoes.Corn is another versatile canned veggie because it can be added to salads or served on its' own. Canned chili, although not as good as homemade - yet makes for a  satisfying meal They're not as donated as much as other canned goods but canned fruits are always welcome. Kids. love canned peaches and these make for a change up from the usual processed snack cakes for dessert. Just remember to get the ones that are low in syrup and sugar. Try canned grapefruit which is loaded with Vitamin C along with canned mandarin oranges also packed with Vitamin C and fiber. Fruit salad is also good. It can even be eaten for breakfast and canned cherries make for a nice snack.

We have to open not only our hearts, but our Kitchens and pantries too. Organize bake sales. Start a can drive . Bring those hurt by these wicked hurricanes closer to returning to their own kitchens and pantries.

Your Summer Shopping List

Summer is here and and with it an entirely different way to shop. A trip to the local grocery or farmer's mart should reflect not only the weather but the ease of cooking during heat waves. The best part is there's more fresh produce right now which lends to creative cooking and baking.

Produce is big and will be during these next three months. Take advantage of what your local groceries and farmer's markets have right now. This is the perfect time to buy corn and remember it's versatile. Yes, its good grilled and slathered in butter and herbs but it can also be used in homemade chowders  and salads. Try it in a fresh corn salad where the niblets can be mixed with fresh tomatoes and peppers. As for those last two, they're all over. Tomatoes should be high up there on your summer shopping list. (as tomato plants because nothing beats the taste of fresh picked tomatoes from your yard). They're versatile and can be used to make fresh sauce or salsa cruda, a raw sauce that cooks when cooked pasta is poured over it. Forget about canned or jarred sauces then. Use them when the weather gets cool again. Peppers are another must have. They are good cut into strips and grilled or stuffed with chopped mushrooms  and rice. Fruits are another must buy. Cherries, plums and peaches are in season and these make great snacks. They can also be pureed into mash for ices and popsicles too. Take advantage of  berry season too. Strawberries should also be on the top of the list because they can be used for breakfast, lunch and dinner..

Should you buy a lot of microwave foods during the summer? Maybe  just popcorn and that's about it. instead of processed meals salads should be in the top five on your shopping list . A head of lettuce can be turned into a variety of delicious salads., from Nicoise to a chef's.  Have extras such as croutons and almonds slices to make it fun and crunchy. Olive oil is another must. It'll be used a lot  in salads but also for grilling and for marinades. Get the bigger bottle and you won't have any worries about it running out. Garlic cloves go faster in the summer than in the winter. Always have a nice fat one because you'll use the cloves for rubbing meats , as well as for dressing and marinating. This also applies to lemons that are are also well used during the season, although you can also buy a bottle of lemon juice. These also can be used for homemade lemonade and barbecue cocktails. Many home chefs buy cold cuts because it's easy to serve them for a meal or pack them on a picnic. Go for fresh sliced ones at your deli counter or good Italian cold cuts from Citta brand. They have the best tasting salame and  prosciutto , perfect for sandwiches and even bruschetta.

Summer shopping should easy and reflect the season's bounty. Take advantage of the produce and use it in every meal  Buy foods that are simple to use and simple to eat too. It'll make for a quick trip to the supermarket.

Winter Storm Basics

January usually brings a whole host of weather problems. There's either blizzards, Nor'easters or just bone-numbing frigid cold. That means stocking up and staying in. What to get? basics? Fun stuff? Or a mix of both? A balanced mix is the answer.

Many home chefs freak out when they hear blizzard. They rush to the store and get the necessary, bread milk and eggs. This is great , These are the staples that you'll need, whether on their own or used as ingredients. Yet, you'll need more protein than just eggs/What you can do is buy a roast a day or two before a predicted monster snowstorm. Make it along with hearty sides such as mashed potatoes and broccoli au gratin. These leftovers will keep the family happy and fed until you can dig out. Also, a cold roast can be sliced into sandwiches for a couple of days afterward. Also, have cold cuts ready if there's a blackout  - which does happen during a heavy windstorm. Canned goods are a must. There's a lot you can do with canned veggies turning them into main dishes or sides. Try not to get fresh breads which either get moldy quick .  If the bread gets stale, don;t fret.They can be repurposed into breadcrumbs, stuffing or bread pudding A snow day in is also a good time to bake homemade loaves and rolls. You can also get those canisters of biscuits,  and breadsticks too. They're a nice side with a bowl of homemade soup. Save the cinnamon buns for a breakfast or brunch with the family.

Fun stuff can also be bought too. A snowy or blustery day inside can mean a fun baking or even candy making day. A day off can be spent making homemade pizzas. Be sure to have a can or two  of pizza sauce and mozzarella,,whether balls or shredded for topping. The kids will get a kick out of  baking cupcakes or cookies. Have confectioners sugar, butter,and food coloring handy to make colorful icings, along with sprinkles and  icing gels for writing., Buy a few tubes of slice and bake cookies  for   a nice, fresh from the oven batch. Candy making is a great way to keep tweens occupied during a day in. . Keep the pantry stocked with a bag of unshelled peanuts, granulated sugar and corn syrup to make peanut brittle and condensed milk and chocolate chips for making microwave fudge Flavored honeys are great in hot teas and for sore throats.  They can also be used to make tasty lollipops.Another must is having hot cocoa,the perfect warm up for after shoveling. Stock up on the premade mixes or tins of Drostes. Cut back on sodas but definitely have a pantry full of juices, especially orange. It's not only refreshing but gives the  family an extra boost of Vitamin C.

The pantry and fridge should be well stocked during a winter storm. Keep it balanced with nutritious and fun foods. It's a nice blend for a few days inside.

Creating The Perfect Pantry

What makes a perfect pantry? Is it canned goods like soup and beans? Dry goods such as flour and baking soda? Jars of this? Containers of that? Not surprisingly it is a manageable blend of  variety of different foods, Have the right amount and you'll never go through a shortage.

Canned goods are always important, especially now in the cold weather. Homemade soup is good but it pays to have several cans of prepared soup. They make a quick lunch or supper and can also be used in a variety of casseroles too. Always have everyone's favorite , from tomato to chicken and stars. Take advantage of sales at the local grocery too. If they have a twofer sale, then definitely get more of them, Packets of soup mixes are a pantry plus. They have the flavor of homemade soup without all the work.  Another pantry must are bouillion cubes. Get all three kinds, chicken, beef and vegetable, to make a variety of different soups and sauces.Sauce packets such as chili and Hollandaise are also worth having along with instant meat sauces for roasts. Jarred sauces can also be put into the pantry too.Canned veggies and fruits are a must too. The canned veggies come in handy if there's a blizzard and you can't get to the store. They can also be added to soups and soup mixes. The fruits are perfect for making pies and turnovers.

Tomato sauce and paste should be prominent on any pantry's shelf. These always come in handy for when you're making homemade sauce for pasta. The same goes for pasta, itself. Have a variety to suit all tastes. Spaghetti is the most popular and easiest to cook so have a few boxes of it at hand. Also on the shelves should be the versatile pastina and orzo style. These are excellent in both soup and sauces. Slip in a box of the drinking straw like bucatini and thicker fettucini. If you have kids or still hold on to those childhood faves, then have a few cans of Spaghetti-os too. The pantry should  have plant based oils . Olive and vegetable are the ones of choice, especially the last because it can be used for everything from cooking to salads to even baking. Cake mixes along with flour and baking powder should also be included as well as decorating items such as sanding sugar, food coloring and various types of sprinkles. Sweet sauces such as chocolate and caramel along with  jams and jellies need to  stored there in addition,.


A good pantry is a well stocked one, Make sure there are the basics to help you get through everyday eating. It'll make cooking and baking that much easier.it'll also cut down on how many times you go food shopping in a week.

Fall Salads

Fall isn't what it used to be. By now, the days would have had a definite nip to them. It would have meant hot meals and hot drinks. Not anymore. Thanks to global warming - and yes, it does exist -s we're having summery weather and balmy breezes right up to November.How to survive? Adopt a summer menu. Eat salads - fall salads.

Tossing together greens and veggies many be a tricky aspect right now. After all,  it's not the height of  summer when there are daily harvests. The tomatoes are riper and have that glow  only a summer sun can give. Vegetable choices are limited. There aren't any fresh ears of corn or bright colorful peppers. What to do? Work with what the stores do have. Yes, there are tomatoes. They're just  not going to be the gems of two months ago. Canned tomatoes can be used in salads but they may be a bit juicy, depending on what brand is used. Luckily California can give us greens all year round. You still can make a lovely mixed greens salad using tomatoes and spinach or arugula. Canned veggies are never as good as fresh but they'll do. Add some canned corn along with sweet peas for some color and texture. Beet salad is always delicious  and the canned kind can be elevated by adding freshly sliced onions. It's a nice addition to even a fall picnic or tailgating party. A  chilled green bean salad is another refreshing side , especially when it's dressed with a crisp , classic vinaigrette. Even canned asparagus can be turned into a salad. Use a citrus based dressing to give it some dash.

What about combining fall fruits and vegetables?. The first is easy to do. Apples , pears and Concord grapes blend very easily into salads. One of the most delicious is a Waldorf salad. It is a blend of chopped apples, grapes and walnuts.Celery is the base of it and this can be bought all year round. It is versatile, Add chicken to it and it's a lunch or dinner. Without it , it makes a nice side to grilled chicken or even  turkey burgers.Apples also pair well with spinach and kale, Combine them in a salad with walnuts and dried cranberries. Pears are also popular right now. A delicious one is where slices are mixed with Roquefort cheese and any kind of lettuce. Be sure to use three kinds of pear,  the sweet, large Anjou, the brown, textured Bosc and the bright yellow tart tasting Bartlett. One spin on it calls for avocado ,or the alligator pear but this can be omitted.The salad is  served with a mustard dressing. Grapes can be added to any salad, They bring an earthy sweetness that goes with any green. Fall veggies are kind of limited however there is a lot to do with carrots and cabbage. These can be the stars of a salad or  supporting players. A chilled carrot salad is a nice palate cleanser at a tailgate party. A vinaigrette dressed slaw is perfect at any fall barbecue or picnic.Add some sesame seeds for crunch and flavor.


Fall isn't what it used to be.We still have shorts and flipflop weather til Halloween. Hot days mean easy eating. Create a fall salad, head to the beach or the park and enjoy a summery October.

Your Party Check List

Anyone planning a holiday party right now should have a check list. Good hosts and hostesses should have their pantries and fridges well stocked along with having actual lists to check twice.yet many don;t know what to get or to stock up on, especially novice party givers. What should be bought already? What should be snapped up last minute? Here's a guide to let you know what you should have and should buy in the weeks to come.

Any short list should have frozen hors d'ouevres. Mini quiches should be bought already as tiny taquitos and puffs. This saves you from going out last minute to get them. The second thing should be alcohol along with canned fruit juice for punches.Stock up on the last when your local store puts them on sale. As time get closer to your do, then think about getting the meats and cheeses . You can easily freeze wings along with sliders This is also the time to get anything jarred or canned like gherkins and olives for antipasto platters.

The day before or of the party think about getting all the fresh ingredients.This is the time to buy all the fresh veggies for salads and any meats for grilling. (although if you have a freezer you can store the meats there beforehand for a few days).You can also make any dips the day too because the main ingredient , sour cream does have a short shelf life. If you're not baking cookies, then buy cookies and cakes that day too.Get any sweet beforehand and it could be stale within a day or two.

Holiday party  time is here and with it comes a list of what to buy for the big wingding. Keep a list of what you have bought and need to buy. Stagger trips to the grocery market to ensure that you're not overwhelmed. It makes for easier planning and prepping.

Foodie Sick Day Kit

Yes it's that time of the year when flues and viruses make their debuts. It's also the time of year to stock up on the essentials, mandatory for any sick day. You'll feel better knowing that these are just at your fingertips. After all who wants to go grocery shopping with a high fever or a bad cold?

The most important item to have is bouillon cubes. These are priceless because they can just be boiled into broth or as the base for any soup. You can buy them in chicken, beef and even vegetable. The broth can also be used as the boiling water for rice when you're sick. Everyone recommends this grain however it's a bit blah when boiled in just plain water. The broth flavors it and it does become a tasty dinner.Stock up on rice as well. You can use it in soups or plain as well as your family having something easy to cook when you're down. Another grain is oatmeal. Again, it's a good and bland start to the day and also it's another easy thing your family can cook.

Another idea is stocking up on everything instant. If you're not big on making your own soups then buy a few cans of chicken soup with anything. These are so easy to heat up.Even your littlest cooks can make a nice bowl of satisfying soup.. Also buy a few extra canned veggies that are quick and easy to make. As you're coming out of your sickness, you want to cook foods that are easy to prepare. They're also easy for the family's non chefs to prepare as well. After all you can't screw up opening a tin and then nuking the contents.. Another ideal stock up are pasta and noodles. They can be easily boiled and served wit just a simple sauce of melted butter.

This is the time of year when all those nasty little flu bugs want you. Have your kitchen prepared with easy go to foods that are a cinch to cook. That way you can just concentrate on getting better instead of worrying about your meals.

Soup Homemade Vs Canned Controversy

This is the weather when soup reigns supreme. It;s the perfect lunch after a morning shoveling snow. It's the ideal light supper on a Sunday night after a day of skating skiing or even just walking. The question is to make it fresh or open a can? What's best? What's easiest? There in lies the question

Of course fresh , homemade soup is the healthiest for you. You don't have all that extra sodium that soup companies add to theirs. You also know the ingredients are fresh and at times organic. You can tailor the mixes to fit your families likes and dislikes as well as allergies. However they are time consuming t make. There is a lot of prep time for ingredients such as squash , broccoli and cauliflower Seafood has to be precooked and shelled. Meats have to be deboned and cut up. if you make too much you'll have a freezer full til June.

Canned soups do have an allure to them. One it;s just opening up the can and dumping it into a waiting saucepan. This is a plus for the more complicated soups such as Italian wedding and any of the clam chowders.Also you don;t have to go on a wild goose chase of the out of season ingredients such as broccoli or tomatoes. The down side are the sodiums along with the preservatives which can trigger allergic reactions. You can buy all natural organic soups however some taste like dish water.

The best bet is to make the soups you're familiar with and buy the more complicated ones . Vary between then them. Any soup is good , especially during these cold times.

Pickled Pink

It's a new tradition here at Foodie Pantry to write about what was in yesterday's New York Times Food Section. The main article was about pickling. This is a great way of preserving not just summer produce but also meats. You can also store up on any favorite veggie or fruit and enjoy the taste at your leisure.

Canning is nothing new. It's been used for the last two centuries to preserve everything from chicken to strawberries. The Times article written by Julia Moskin also dispels some of the old myths such as using pectins. Pectins are emulsifiers used in the preservation process. You can make your own using green apples . Commercially made pectins are a recent addition to canning. Many purists believe that the fruits and veggies have enough of their own. The article also goes on about what also to can such as cucumbers along with various fruits . There is even a recipe for sun cooked strawberry preserves. This involves letting the sun do its' work after a quick boiling.

If you are thinking about canning this summer remember to also follow safety tips. You should have new jars and paper towels on hand. Canning takes place in a water bath locale so sterilizing the jars isn't an issue. They should be clean to begin with However is the lids that need looking at Make sure they are tight and not easily loosened. This will cause air to rush in. Some air space is needed for creating a vacuum seal. If you're having reservations about canning, attend classes or check the various magazines and web sites devoted to it.

Canning can be a great way to save a season's harvests. Homemade jams , relishes and pickles are a nice addition to any meal. They give an old fashioned flavor not found in the commercially canned stuff.