Cooking Tips

1. Freeze your meat in marinade in a freezer bag. Saves one step when you pull the meat out to to thaw!

2. Trader Joes is your secret weapon. {Seriously, we could do a WHOLE other post on just Trader Joe's...hmmm...maybe I will!}

3. Don't use taco or ranch seasoning packets - they all contain MSG {which is a no no!} Instead make your own, keep it in a jar and use as needed. {Here's a launching spot if you want to try this - I've made my own taco & chili seasoning for over two years now! All Recipes Taco Seasoning I}

4. Put your avocado in the fridge to stop {or slow down} the ripening process.

5. Try cooking beans {black or pinto) in the crockpot, then freeze in ziplocks to use later. Blend to make refried style! {I have not yet done this, but its on my list, tutorial anyone?}

6. Put a layer of sour cream on your quacamole in the fridge to stop the browning. {Someone was hankering for some mexican food when we wrote these lists!}

7. Save water from boiled chicken for cooking rice. {This gives the rice a little yummy seasoning!}

8. Use a tea infuser for dusting cupcakes with powdered sugar.

9. Basic White Sauce: saute 1 tbsp flour with 1 tbsp butter, then add 1 c. milk. From here you can add other spices, cheese, wine or whatever flavor you like. {To make it a little creamier, use heavy whipping cream - Pioneer woman style!}

10. Ready to eat that avocado from #4 now, to ripen it or other fruit place in a brown paper bag on the counter. {For more avacado tips, read this article.}

11. Put parmesan cheese wedges in with your cheddar to keep them moist.

12. Tomatoes will last longer if you store them on the counter instead of the fridge.

13. Want to make your mac & cheese a little more fancy or save a little time? Add some frozen pea's or carrots into the boiling water for the mac noodles.

14. Home Made Red Enchillada Sauce: Purchase a bag of dried chile (California or New Mexico pods). Remove the stems and seeds and put dried chiles in the blender with 2-3 cloves of garlic and about 3 tbsp of chicken bouillon. Slowly add boiling hot water and blend. (Blender should be full) You can add a little powder masa to thicken. {Now that sounds delicious!}

15. Apples and pears turning brown after cutting? Just put a little 7-up on them!

16. To prevent boiling over, place a wooden spoon across your pan. {This totally works!}