This multi-use kitchen appliance makes life happier and healthier.  The Cuisinart Griddler can can be used as a panini press or a contact grill, OR open it up to use it as a double open grill or griddle.  The grill/griddle plates are nonstick and remove easily for cleaning.  While cooking, the grease will drain away for healthier eating.   There are two temperature control buttons for grill or griddle use.

Make pancakes and eggs for breakfast, sanwiches for lunch and grilled chicken or salmon for dinner.  Make life easier with the Griddler.

Get ready for September, the month for celebrating  Southwestern flavors, especially chiles!

If you are a lover of chiles or a “chilehead,” New Mexico is a perfect destination for you.  New Mexico produces more chiles than any other state.  In fact, New Mexico has an official state question that refers to the spicy, flavorful delights, “red or green?” The question is said to be asked at least 175,000 times a day regarding which type of chile you prefer on your food.  If you have trouble making up your mind, simply answer, “Christmas,” and you’ll get both side-by-side. read more »

When your fruit has become overripe, don’t throw it out. You can puree the fruit in a blender or food processor and freeze for fruit toppings, smoothies and other tasty treats.  Freeze the puree in ice cube trays first, then pop the cubes into bags.

Summer is quickly coming to an end, but there is still time for grilling!  Here’s a great product to help you experiment at the grill and achieve delicious results.

Foodloop Flame

Click here to find a set.

There’s a lot to be said for the humble burger. Easy to make and fun to eat, the burger symbolizes all that is good and right in American cuisine. Er, well, almost. Let’s try that again… The burger symbolizes all that tastes good and eats right in American Cuisine.

Most burgers, even those made from a lean grind of beef, are a bit on the unhealthy side. The “juice” in a juicy burger tastes best if it’s composed of a healthy portion of fat.

But you don’t have to choose between juiciness and flavor. You don’t have to give up burgers to be healthy. And you certainly don’t have to go the fast food route to get a good burger fix for that craving.

What’s for dinner tonight? Delicious Turkey Burgers with Roasted Oven Fries and Corn on the Cob, finished off with Grilled Bananas for dessert.

You can find recipes for each of these foods right here on Learning How To Cook, of course. But here are a few extra tips to consider as your mouth waters:

ABOUT GROUND TURKEY: It may sound exotic if you’ve never shopped for it, but ground turkey is nearly as common in most supermarkets these days as ground beef. When making a turkey burger, you’re going to want to add some seasoning – try a little minced onion, some garlic, and a little bit of the hot sauce of your choice. Or mix in a little soy sauce for a more Asian flavor. If you’ve chosen a particularly lean ground turkey, you’ll probably want to add in a little bit of olive oil to keep everything moist.

Turkey is, of course, poultry, so you’ll need to cook your burgers all the way through for food safety purposes.

ABOUT ROASTED POTATOES: Experiment with different spices on your roasted potatoes. We also like ours with a sprinkle of Greek seasoning (found at many grocery stores pre-mixed) and a squeeze of lemon juice. And don’t leave those potatoes sitting out for very long. If you find yourself with ’tatoes left over, get them in the fridge fast or toss them out. Potatoes are inexpensive. Treating food poisoning is not.

ABOUT GRILLED BANANAS: Don’t overcook your fruit. If you think about it, bananas are already pretty soft when they’re raw. Overcooking them will just mush them up more. For this reason, you will want to choose fruit that is firm and maybe just shy of fully ripe.

Happy eating!

Easily access  and store your knives with this stylish knife block.  The Messermeister Magnabloc is slot-free and made of beech wood.  The strong magnets inside securely hold 10 of your knives or a combination of knives, honing steel, tongs and scissors.  Place the knives anywhere you like on the block and slide up to remove.   There is very little friction, which  prevents your knives from dulling.  The block is hygienic and very easy to clean.

Find a Magnabloc for your kitchen.

If the historic Alamo is on your list of sights to see soon, make sure you leave enough time for eating multiple meals in San Antonio.

You’ll find whatever you are craving in this town.  San Antonio’s food has been heavily inspired by Mexican culture, along with German, Asian, and Southern cuisine.  You can eat some great Texas barbecue too!  If you are visiting in November, try it all at the New World Wine & Food Festival.

Spice counts in Texas, and San Antonio has done its part to put its twist on Mexican food to contribute to the delicious Tex-Mex style.  Fajitas, burritos, nachos, and enchiladas have been perfected here.  DO NOT MISS the puffy taco, a San Antonio creation.  The shell, which is filled with traditional taco ingredients, is light and flaky.  Get to Henry’s, the most famous puffy taco joint, or find them almost anywhere in the city.  Just make sure you eat one (or 12)!

Experience Local Flavor on the Flavors of San Antonio Foodie Tour.  Taste signature dishes at six locally owned and operated restaurants.
And if all of that eating leaves you feeling inspired to cook, visit Sunset Home & Hardware for any cookware needs.

When roasting a chicken, let the cooked chicken rest for 10 to 15 minutes before carving. This will allow the juices to redistribute throughout the meat and help with tenderness.

Today is National Potato Day, and we are celebrating with our favorite side dish, French fries.  If you have never tried cooking them at home, watch this video to see how easy it is!

Side Dishes:
How To Make Skinny French Fries

Table for one, please.  I’ll have the chicken.
We know that you don’t really want to say those words, but you think cooking just for yourself is pointless.  Whether you are cooking for 1, 2 or more, here is a plan to enjoy delicious chicken at home without the worry of all of the leftovers going to waste.
Wednesday
Roasted Chicken.  We will start with tomorrow to give you time for shopping.  We recommend that you buy two whole chickens.  That way, you will have enough meat for the next few days.  Follow our Step-by-Steps for seasoning and trussing a chicken for roasting OR make our recipe for Roasted Chicken with Garlic and Rosemary.  Roast the chickens together in a large roasting pan.
Thursday
King Ranch Casserole. If you are only cooking for one, enjoy the casserole for dinner.  You can cut the remaining dish into individual portions.  Put them in a zip-top bag or container, and freeze for later.  Now you have dinner for those nights you don’t feel like cooking, or you have lunch to take to work.  Just defrost in the microwave.
Friday
BBQ Chicken Pizza. This is a tasty and quick meal.  Spread ¼ cup of your favorite barbecue sauce on a piece of pita bread.  Spread ½ cup of grated Cheddar, Mozzarella, Provolone, or Monterey Jack cheese over the sauce.  Top with ½ cup of shredded chicken and 2 tablespoons of thinly sliced red onion.  Cook on 350 degrees in the oven until the cheese is completely melted, about 10 minutes.  Top with 1 tablespoon of cilantro leaves before serving.
Saturday
Curry Chicken Salad. Make a hearty sandwich with this mouth-watering mixture.
Sunday
Chicken Stock. This is the final step and the reson why nothing goes to waste.  Substitute the chicken carcass(es) that are left from your roasted chickens for the drumsticks, legs and wings in this recipe.  The stock will be good in the fridge for up to a week, or freeze in separate containers to use as needed in other recipes.