Basic Roast Chicken - Easiest Meal Ever!

Basic recipes have existed for centuries because 1) they are simple, and 2) they taste good.  Once you master their preparation, you’re free to improvise…or not.  I usually don’t because I know what I’m getting, and I don’t have to think twice about how to make it.

Crisis: My Oven Won’t Heat Up

It was a quiet Sunday night, and I was doing what I often do at the end of the week—heating up a store-bought croissant in my oven.  If I can get it hot enough, I’ve found that an American croissant tastes remotely like a croissant straight from a Paris bakery.

Question for Mom

I bought some frozen uncooked shrimp, and when I defrosted them, there was this greenish black line along the back of each shrimp.  What is it and should I get rid of it? –Alex B.

This line is the shrimp’s digestive tract.  Yes, you want to get rid of it.  Scrape it out, either before or after cooking, using a small knife or the tip of a potato peeler.  The bigger the shrimp, the easier this line is to remove.  Do the cutting/scraping under running water, and the gritty substance will wash away.

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Basic, Cheap and Vegetarian: Perfect for a Chilly Spring Evening

During these stressful times, dinner seems more important than ever. Here’s a heavy-duty soup that can be a main dish, especially with some garlic bread on the side.  Or it could be a hearty appetizer, followed by leftovers.  If you leave out the sausages, Spicy Split Pea Soup is perfect for vegetarians and anyone trying to limit meat consumption.

Back to Basics: Salmon

A popular restaurant menu item, fresh salmon is very easy to cook at home.  You can grill it, roast it, poach it or pan-fry it.  You can serve it whole or as fillets, steaks or kebabs.  You can make it into a soup or an appetizer spread the British call Potted Salmon.

Mom Cooking Tip 177

If you’re making a graham cracker crust, it’s useful to know that 15 graham crackers equal 1 cup crumbs.  If you don’t have any graham crackers, substitute 16 (half a package) Oreos, Hydrox or store brand sandwich cookies, including the filling.

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Back to Basics: Black Beans

If you find you are cooking more because you are sheltering at home, it’s time to add black beans to your shopping list.  You can buy these beans already cooked in a can, but they are also available uncooked in 1-pound packages.  Sometimes they are sold loose in bins.

How much would you pay for the convenience of cooked beans?