Mom Cooking Tip 133

If you eat a lot of pasta, save time by doubling the amount you normally cook. Swirl the drained leftovers in a tablespoon of olive oil and refrigerate in a covered container.  Reheat in a microwave or add the pasta directly to a pot of sauce.

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So Sick of Turkey

Shrimp Florentine

Whenever I set out to buy a Christmas turkey, I’m an optimist.  Of course I’ll be able to make use of a 16-pounder.  I tell myself, “We’re having 12 people for dinner so there won’t be many leftovers.”

Turns out that was the biggest misstatement of the year.  We’re three nights into turkey leftovers, and I can’t stand the sight of them.  I decided to freeze the rest, but the freezer is so crammed I needed to remove some things first.

That’s how Shrimp Florentine became my go-to dinner.

Question for Mom

Top Bean=No String, Bottom Beans=Strings

Do I have to trim both ends of green beans before cooking them? – Harold G.

The simple answer is no.  Some people don’t bother to trim the stem end, but it’s a little tough. I prefer to snap or cut off about 1/2 inch of that end.  Normally I leave the other end in place. 

But there is one big exception.  If the green beans have tough strings along the edges, it’s a good idea to pull off and discard these strings.  To do that, snap off one end of the bean and carefully pull the string away.  Then snap off the other end and pull the string off the other edge.  

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Mom Cooking Tip 132

Cheese tastes better at room temperature, so let it sit out for about an hour before serving.

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The Secret of Lamb Chops

I’ve always liked lamb chops.  They’re hard to ruin.  Even inexperienced cooks can grill a lamb chop.  Just don’t cook it too long—3-4 minutes per side--unless you like your meat super-well-done.  If you don’t have a grill or broiler, a frying pan will do.

The biggest obstacle to lamb chops is their cost.  My local grocery store is selling loin chops for $12.99 a pound and shoulder chops (also called blade or arms chops) for $10.99 a pound.  Luckily they’re often on sale for considerably less.  When I spotted shoulder chops for $2.99 per pound, I stocked up.

Mom Cooking Tip 131

To cut slices of Lemon or Chocolate Meringue Pie, first dip the knife blade into a glass of water.  This will prevent the knife from sticking to the meringue.

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Old Cookbooks

I was cleaning out my cookbook collection this morning and stumbled on some very odd recipes in some equally odd cookbooks.  Brussels Sprouts in Cream, White Salad and Pear Macaroon Salad. What on earth was I thinking when I bought these books?

I guess it was my way of avoiding the bland, boring dishes I usually ate when I was growing up.  I had my first Eggs Benedict in college and my first Spaghetti in Garlic Sauce (so exotic to me at the time) a few months after joining the New York working world.  Tabbouleh Salad at my local Lebanese restaurant was an eye-opener.