Nothing beats the taste of popcorn on a movie night! But recently my sister told me that microwave popcorn was bad for you, so I had to look into it. Turns out the hot steam contains toxic chemicals, mainly from the buttery flavorings, glue and ink on the bag.
The good news is that you can make your own delicious, low-fat microwave popcorn using a brown paper lunch bag! It’s an inexpensive way to make healthy popcorn, without using unwanted oils or other ingredients.
Here’s how:
Grab a paper lunch bag and add a 1/3 cup of popcorn kernels.
Fold over the top of the bag to a couple of times to close.
Cook in the microwave for 2 1/2 minutes. Make sure to watch the popcorn carefully so it doesn’t burn—stop the microwave when the popping slows to one to two pops per second.
Get creative and try some different flavors! Some people put the kernels in a bowl with 2 teaspoons of olive oil and seasonings and mix it up before putting it in a paper bag to cook.
*If you don’t want to create waste with disposable bags, we have a glass popper that cooks corn in the microwave. It’s available in two different sizes.
My reputation as a baker would be on the line if this news ever got out: I have fear of pie crusts. Not eating it, mind you, but making it. And it’s really put a crimp (uh, sorry) in my repertoire because it limits me to cookies, cakes, quick breads and bars. I’ll still clip pie recipes from magazines and newspapers, and peel off labels from cans in the hope that one day my fear can be conquered. I confess to making the occasional pie, but only thanks to those perfectly shaped, pre-rolled discs available in the dairy case. For a long time, I avoided buying even those, thinking, How hard can it be, really, to make pie crust from scratch? It’s a little flour, a little butter, a little water…or is it lard? Vegetable shortening? A combination? Pastry flour or all-purpose? And what about additives, like sugar, orange zest, ground almonds, baking powder, cream cheese, and yes, even vinegar and vodka? Then there’s the hand mixing (and I mean with your hands) vs. food processor vs. pastry blender method.
Best-ever. Easiest. No-fail. Flakiest. Easy as pie. Grandma’s Favorite.
When it comes to preparing that perfect Thanksgiving meal, timing can be everything! Here are 6 simple tips to help you plan ahead.
Printable Grocery List
List List List. Plan your menu ahead of time and write a list of everything that needs to be bought at the store. Look through and organize your recipes and see what items can be prepared simultaneously.
Chop and dice ahead. Vegetables can be chopped and cheese can be grated in advance. Store them in the fridge and make sure to label them according to each recipe.
Think “potluck.” Hold a potluck-style Thanksgiving dinner and assign a dish to each one of your guests.
Prepare sauces ahead. Pies and cranberry sauces can be prepared a couple of days in advance. Just make sure not to forget about them!
Dress your turkey early. Rinse, pat, salt and prepare the turkey as much as possible before it’s ready to cook in the oven.
Skip the basting. Some say that basting a turkey is not worth the hassle, because it just runs off the skin. If you’re short on time, lightly coat the skin with olive or vegetable oil before putting the turkey in the oven. It will help seal in the natural juices—and give it that fresh out-of-the-oven look.
With October being kitchen month at Solutions (and the holidays around the corner), we thought we’d share a new product that is fitting for any occasion. This oven-safe paper bakeware makes it easy to create a wonderful home-baked gift for your neighbors, family and friends. Best of all, there’s no need to grease it—and there’s no messy clean up.
Our creative director tested this festive and disposable bakeware firsthand, and she loved it because it was so easy to use! See how beautiful her piece turned out in the picture below.
Once your creation comes out of the oven and has cooled down, it’s ready to present. There’s no need to giftwrap, thanks to the decorative paper. If you want to add a more festive touch, you can wrap it up in a cellophane bag tied with a pretty ribbon. Read more »
Roasted vegetable; corn on the cob; apple pie. While these could easily be the ingredients for a neighborhood barbecue, they’re also the perfect ingredients for a memorable autumn celebration.
As you’re starting to sense the end of the summer season, why not have a fall-themed celebration to welcome the winter ahead? These ideas should help get you started:
August, September and October are prime times for grape harvest for many wineries. Host a wine tasting party, and have guests bring a bottle of wine of their choice.
Have a dinner party, using fall ingredients such as butternut squash soup, corn on the cob, pumpkin, cranberries and apples.
Decorate tables with hearty winter squashes and mini pumpkins. Use colorful oranges, yellows and reds. You can even paint your pumpkins using silver or gold point to add a colorful accent.
Have candy apples and an apple-dunking contest for the kids. Give your guests jars of apple-butter jam as a party favor.
Summer’s around the corner, and it’s a great time to start thinking about outdoor entertaining. Here are some quick ideas to help you create that perfect party.
1) Host a potluck-themed event and prepare foods in advance, as much as possible. It will save time and work!
2) Clean your yard and make sure there’s enough seating for everyone. Place blankets on the grass for kids.
3) Grill skewers: Grilled vegetables make a great side dish, are easy to prepare ahead of time, and take a few minutes to cook.
4) Keep your guests cool! Consider a portable fan to keep outside during hot summer days.
5) Set out a few yard games to play so your guests have some fun activities to choose from.
6) Create an inviting atmosphere with lights for nighttime. Consider natural bug repellant candles to keep the insects away.
7) Add some color to your table with vibrant dishware. Top it off with an eye-catching centerpiece. Fill up a glass bowl with colorful fruits, such as bright lemons and limes, or fill glass jars with fresh-cut flowers.
Don’t forget to relax with your guests and enjoy all your efforts!
Feel like you’re wasting half a cake when you cut off that gigantic peak that always forms?
There is another way to get flatter cakes (other than cutting or eating the peaks). Try purchasing strips made to fit round cake pans. After soaking the strips and putting them on the outside of the cake pan, pour mix into pan and put into the oven. The damp strips slow down the cooking of the pan’s edge, allowing more even baking. The strips are reusable, so store them away for future cakes. They come in a variety of sizes and will make baking those perfect cakes easier. You’ll bake like a pro!
If you do a lot of baking, you might want to invest in a couple of good, professional cake pans. They are taller and the sides are straighter.
Icing
A good buttercream frosting can be made even better by adding 1 teaspoon of butter flavoring. Find it at your grocery store or online.
Buttercream Frosting:
1 cup of room temperature butter (or ½ c. butter and ½ c. solid vegetable shortening)
3-4 c. sifted power sugar
1 tsp. vanilla flavoring
1 tsp. butter flavoring
2-4 T. milk, cream or water
Beat butter/shortening until softened and smooth. (Solution’s BeaterBlade+ for KitchenAid mixers will get to the entire edge of the mixing bowl without having to stop and scrape!) Slowly add about 3 cups of the powdered sugar. Add the flavorings. Add as much milk as needed for the consistency you want.
Hint: Professional bakers start with a “crumb coating” layer of thinner frosting. Let this layer sit. The second layer of frosting can be thicker and will go on more easily.
How do I get a smooth surface? To get that really smooth surface, you need a large, flat spatula and a pitcher of hot water. Dip the spatula into the water and let it sit for a few seconds. Lift it out and dry it quickly with a paper towel. The heat from the water helps create a smoother surface. Do the sides first!
How can I get a really white frosting? Look for “no-color” vanilla flavoring and butter flavoring for a whiter frosting. You will also need to use all shortening rather than butter for a pure white color.
Summer’s around the corner, and it’s a great time to start thinking about outdoor entertaining. Here are some quick ideas to help you create that perfect party.
Don’t forget to relax with your guests and enjoy all your efforts!
Feeling the afternoon snack attack? Here’s some healthy snack options that are packed with protein and will help to keep you feeling satisfied.
