Your Vacation Kitchen

A vacation in a house with a kitchen is a plus. You can cook and eat when you want. You're not at the mercy of local restaurants and their schedules. Yet you do have to be careful and mindful. This is not your kitchen,  treat it with respect.

Many vacationers head to foreign countries for a week or two away.There's a problem with foreign kitchens.They have stoves that have a Celsius temperature range. If you're not use to Celisus, you'll have to use the converter on your phone e or follow this formula subtract 32 from the Farenheit temp, then multiply by five and divide by nine. (Using Google conversion is much easier, it's more exact, If you do it with the calculator,it'll be off by about .02 degrees).Are the results the same? More or less. There is also the gas mark where one mark equals 275 degrees Farenheit. If your roast or cakes requires four makes to cook or bake you know it's going to be 350 degrees Farenheit .Again there are charts on  line to help you deal with the conversion,If you;re staying in any UK  home and you have a fan oven , don;t be alarmed. This just means a convection oven.It's usually twenty degrees Celsius lower than a regular Celsius temp stove. (you've probably heard Mary Berry use the phrase a fan oven on any of her PBS cooking shows). A fan oven is rather like a big air fryer. The food will be crunchier and crisper but cooked at a lower temperature.

What about other kitchen matters? Most European countries have very small fridges. They need the space for counters and food prep. They're not like the sometimes mammoth  restaurant style ones Americans have in their sometimes mammoth kitchens. Don;t tr y to over stuff yours . Most people overseas keep their milk and butter out instead of refrigerating them .Keep the frozen stuff down to a minimum since freezers are also tiny.. Think ice cream and popsicles or ice lollies if you;re vacationing in the UK.Vacationing in the US is different, but you still have to be mindful of the kitchen and fridge too whether you  stay in a house, apartment or efficiency apartment at the shore.Keep your food to the basics. Good choices are bacon, eggs and milk for breakfast along with butter and something drinkable. Have juice and milk ready for the kids.Most motels have a soda and snack machine on the premises so you don;t need to get a huge bottle of soda. If the kids want sandwiches, then consider having a packet of cold cuts and a small jar of mayo. Take advantage of local farmers markets for produce but don;t overbuy. Keep the kitchen tidy and not over flowing with food or food waste.

Your own private kitchen is a good thing on a vacation. Just be aware of temperature differences along with cultural ones too. It'll make for an easy time preparing home cooked meals for your family.

Creative Boards.

 Nothing says fun and excitement like a charcuterie board. It brings about thoughts of parties and friends getting together. Best of all you can get creative with it, from creating a traditional to a veggie loaded one to a dessert one. If you're having trouble with board ideas, don't worry. There's a brand new book to help you fix the perfect board for the perfect gathering.

Boards: Stylish Spreads  For Casual Gatherings (America' Test Kitchen 2022) is the best guide for those who love this idea.It was written by Elle Simone, executive editor at the magazine edition of PBS's popular cooking show America's Test Kitchen and food stylist at Cook's Country Magazine, also based on another well received PBS cooking program. She is also the creator of She Chef  which helps mentor young female chefs. Her advice for creating all sorts of different boards is priceless. To be honest you don't need a party to whip up any kind of one It's fun for a weekday dinner or a date night in. The book does have recipes but Ms. Simone also suggests adding store bought items to the different platters. What I love about this book is the ideas for all sorts of charcuterie The recipes are easy to follow too so a novice can easily put together a professional looking board with very little fuss. Another plus is her illustrated step by step how to create the perfect one It starts with a focal point and then sections are grown from these. She also has a guide for what board would go well with what event. An elegant cocktail party could have a raw bar board while a baby shower could feature a brunch one.

As much as I love a traditional charcuterie mix of cold cuts, breads, crackers  and cheeses, I was excited to see other suggestions too. I love the movie night one which features buttered popcorn and seasonings such as hot sweet  blend of cinnamon and chili pepper and the Parmesan pepper spread. For this there are also recipes for a DIY Soda Bar where plain seltzer is mixed with such homemade syrups as watermelon and citrus. Another fun one is the ballpark.Ms,Simone includes a recipe and pictorial for making those yummy and big ballpark soft pretzels.Of course there are hot dogs and suggestions for how to make them like they're served in the major American ball barks. What to wash down with them? Homemade lemonade which can be turned into an Arnold Palmer with the addition of iced tea. For more sophisticated gatherings there is the Bloody Mary bar which features  this perfect breakfast drink and such nibbles as black pepper candied bacon.There are also the exotic shawarma and tapas bars for more adventurous eating. Kids and adults too will love the ice cream sundae bar where you can go wild with creating the perfect treat. Sugar addicts will adore the cookie decorating and chocolate fondue ones . A more sophisticated approach is the sweet and savory board, perfect for evening entertaining.

It is easy to create the perfect board for any occasion, Use Boards: Stylish Spreads For Casual Gatherings as your guide. You will end up with a stylish and professional looking board that will have family and friends talking.

Food On The Go

Humans are eaters and snackers. We are also goers, meaning we're always moving somewhere, usually to and from work, usually in traffic.what happens when hunger comes along for the ride? Try sensible snacking.

A commuter's' best friend isn't his or her traffic app. It's their sandwich baggie . This little square can hold everything and anything. It's great for meals on the go and snacking. Many of us wind up eating breakfast on the road. There's not even time to stop for a coffee and doughnut or a breakfast sandwich. Put some granola into a baggie for a quick meal. Another idea is a healthy cereal like Mom's Best Cereal  which comes in a variety of flavors.They're made with whole grains and cane sugar - not refined. It's a good alternative to all those over sugared brands. Of course the best breakfast on the run is any piece of fruit. Bananas are the best They're easy to pack - you don't even need a baggie. -and chock full of vitamins and potassium. One is filling enough and will get you through to possibly or the first coffee break at eleven AM. Apples and pears are also good choices.. because they too are filling. Apples are higher in calories so if you 're watching your weight, stick with the pears.One is only eight six calories. Both can also be used as snacks when on a Saturday morning run to the soccer or baseball field or while running weekend chores.

That sandwich baggie can come in handy for lunch and snacks. Many people like sales reps and technicians have to eat on the road. Again you can go the fast food or deli route however that can get old quick. Then there's all those calories. Hamburgers and heroes are tasty but they're fattening. Salads and soups are great but messy and distracting when eating on the road. Try a healthy sandwich made with whole wheat or multi grained bread. and lean cold cuts.The best bet on the last is getting them from your supermarket's deli counter. Get freshly sliced roast beef or turkey . For an even neater sandwich try a wrap. You can swaddle in some lettuce or tomatoes along with a squirt of ketchup or mayo. Also have some savory snacks on the ready too. These come in handy on the drive home when you're hungry and stuck in traffic. Think Pepperidge Farm goldfish or pretzels.The pluses areboth nibbles are low in calories and not as greasy as potato chips.They're a nice way of staving off hunger and again they're also perfect for those Saturday afternoon runs or  Sunday's road trips. Fruit, too is good here  along with raisins, nuts or seeds like sunflower or pumpkin. They keep you satisfied until you reach home and a hot meal.

Hunger hits at any time - evne drive time. Be ready when you;re on the road and want to nibble or nosh. Have a sandwich bag filled with fruit or crackers, sandwiches or cereal to make it easier

Friday Night Mash Ups

Friday means the end of the busy work week. Some celebrate by going out with friends and co workers, others order in pizza or Chinese. However there are the stalwart home chefs who still want to cook. Yet what's there to make? A week of leftovers can provide chefs with some interesting new creations.The best part is that they're easy to make , even better it's a home cooked meal, enjoyed with family.

If you have left over meat, whether chicken or steak, cut it up into bite sized pieces and make it the protein in chopped salad. This is an easy mix of leftovers and canned veggies Add already chopped fresh salad along with some sesame seeds and croutons for crunch and texture. It's also a great way of getting rid of eggs. Hard boil them and then slice them. Eggs can also be made into egg salad for sandwiches. Amp them up by serving them on croissants bought from the local Dunkin Donuts.Ham  and chicken salad are also easy to make , especially if you use devilled ham or chicken and mayo.You could also make this with any leftover roasts too. What about those cold cuts used for brown bag lunches? Heroes! Create a truly great one with all those salami, cappicola and prosciutto slices. Add tomatoes , along with different cheeses for a simple yet fun dinner.A chef 's salad is another way of getting rid of those uneaten slices.

A lot of sides can also be repurposed into main meals .Mashed potatoes can be turned into mouth watering croquettes Take spoonfuls of mashed potatoes and mix with beaten eggs (use one egg for every cup of mash) , and parsley. Roll into balls and them roll into breadcrumbs. Using your palm, smash them lightly and fry in oil or margarine. Serve with dipping sauces. Leftover rice can be repurposed this way too, in the form of arancini or little oranges in Italian. As with the potatoes, mix in egg and bread crumbs and fry until crisp. You can put ham or mozzarella in he center for more flavor. This is a great recipe for getting rid of leftover risotto. Leftover corn can be made into a yummy chowder along with being turned into a cold salad. All those veggie sides can be cooked together to create a vegan stew. Just add tomato paste to stretch it and give it more flavor.  serve it with crusty French or Italian bread for dipping.

It's Friday! Time to get creative with all those leftovers from the week past. Make a fun salad or spread or a tasty stew everyone will love!

Hurricane Cuisine Part One

As everyone is well aware of, Hurricane Irene is about to visit the East Coast this weekend. This is a monumental one - almost on a par with the lethal Hurricane Katrina.Power will definitely be out and that means no refrigeration and possibly no stoves or microwaves. This is going to be a tricky time for those who are staying home and cooking. What to do?Improvise.

Everyone should have stocked up on the basics by now. peanut butter is an excellent source of protein and can making tasty and filling sandwiches for those of any age. Other good sources are deviled ham and chicken . Again these can work as tasty and filling sandwich spreads and add herbs such as tarragon and celery seed to liven up their flavors. Think Italian cold cuts too to get you and your family through these upcoming days. Salami is a good choice. It can last up to a week along with some others such as capacolla and soppressata. You can make sandwiches and even add them to omelets (more on those later).

If you're lucky enough to have gas then use it. You'll have to especially if you have perishables such as eggs or even raw meat in your fridge. Be creative. With the eggs you can make omelets along with the English breakfast style fried bread for breakfast or even lunch. Another good idea is pasta. Just boil water to cook it and use canned sauce. Another spin is utilizing milk for cream sauces . Remember use the perishables first so they don't become rotten or spoiled. This is also a good time , believe it or not to , clean out the freezer. Most people probably have enough in theirs to last them through to Tuesday or Wednesday. There's no need to go out and get more food. Most supermarkets will be closed or worse - damaged by the storm.

Hurricanes play havoc with everything - including people's meals. However you can restore order to your eating routine with everything from canned goods to some creative cooking. Don't let Irene spoil your meal plans. Fight back with some good food.

The Day After

Most fridges across America are still stuffed to the gills with yesterday's party food. It's always wonderful to have tables groaning with food and drink. It shows that we're good hosts who care for our guests. However what happens when those tables are still groaning afterwards when the party has ended. What do we do?

Luckily some dishes like chicken wings and ribs can be reheated and recycled with some potato salad for the next day's dinner. Ditto the cold cuts and extra rolls plus they can also be made into tasty lunches too. Any sour cream based dip will last for a few days as long as it's covered and stored in the fridge. You can even have it again with veggies as a fun alternative to a regular meal. Extra veggies themselves can be cut down and made into soup or salad ingredients

You can also get creative with some of the other leftovers. Take pretzel, tortilla or potato chips and crush them finely for a different kind of bread crumb. Using them makes for much more interesting fried chicken and tempura. Cold cuts can be sliced up for a nice Cobb salad. Guacamole can be used as a spread in sandwiches or even used for taco or tortilla filling (note : guacamole's shelf life is only a day or two, try to use it within this time frame). Leftover pita bread can be baked into chips or used as a base for homemade pizzas.

Party leftovers needn't be so scary. You can use them recycle them in a variety of ways that your family will still enjoy. Just be creative and you'll have an empty fridge!