If you've never brined a turkey before roasting now is the time to start. No, no, not next year, now -- or at the very least the next time you cook anything remotely turkey related. Because once you do you'll never go back, seriously. Ok, ok, how can I be so sure? Well only a few weeks ago I was you, well not really you, that would be impossible and a little awkward, but the non-brine-er part of you who is questioning my blatant confidence. You see for years I'd intended to try this … [Read more...]
How to Clean & Restore a White Leather Handbag
I kind of love my white leather handbag. Like use it all year round, throw all the things in it, wear it with all the outfits, love it. I've had it for ages -- as a matter of fact my mom bought it for me as a gift when we lived in NYC and that's coming up on closer to a decade ago than not -- but it has been looking a bit worse for wear for longer than I'd like to admit. However the only experience I'd had with cleaning and restoring white leather up until now was in grade school and … [Read more...]
How to Clean a Grill Pan (in one simple step)
After wanting a cast iron grill pan for ages RJ got me one for Christmas a couple of years ago. It was already seasoned so after a quick wash I put it to use -- only to realise a pile of marinated veggies and chicken breast later that I had no idea how to clean the darn thing. I grew up using mom's cast iron pans so I was well aware that they should never be washed with soap as it strips off all the layers of seasoning, rendering them the opposite of non-stick and terribly prone to … [Read more...]
How to Cut a Watermelon – a simple yet brilliant technique (Video)
It's the simple things -- finding a leftover piece of cake in the fridge, receiving an offhand compliment from a stranger, cracking a recipe with an unexpected twist -- that surprise and delight me. But it's the "why didn't I think of that first" discoveries that really stick with me. Cutting a watermelon seems a simple task, just rounds and wedges, right? But late last year I came across a whole new way. During our trip we spent a week in Cape Cod with my extended family. We ate and … [Read more...]
6 Natural Food-based Easter Egg Dyes
It's official, this whole need-to-create-things is hereditary. Not only the creativity gene bit but the comfort found in just making stuff. I was at mum's house for a few weeks during our last trip and one day she brought out a lovely, frilly, very colourful apron, "Look! I saw this and had to get it for you. Thought it may be a bit of inspiration... you could make these!" It was a cute apron, and it did give me a few new ideas, but in the midst of packing our already busting suitcases … [Read more...]
Plum & Ginger Sauce, How to Dry Thyme, and a bit about food waste…
Here's the deal... I'm going to take 30% [or maybe even 50%] of all the food produced and throw it straight in the bin - probably before it even gets to a store. Of the food that makes it to the grocery store I'll get rid of 20% [maybe even 40%] before you can see it. Then once you're home with your purchases and sitting down to enjoy that meal you just made, I'm going to take 20% of what is on your plate - as that's going in the bin too. Ok? What? That's not acceptable? Why not? It's … [Read more...]
How to: Pit Cherries (without a cherry pitter)
I'm not a big fan of single use tools. The drawers are pretty much full of multi-purpose bits and pieces already so whenever I come across a great way to make a task easier by simply using items already around the house I'm all for it. I originally saw this method over at Food 52 - and immediately filed it away, memories of red and purple stained fingernails from months earlier still spectacularly clear in my mind. I may have let these cherries languish a bit too long in the fridge before … [Read more...]
