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50 Amazingly Helpful Time-Tested Tips for the Kitchen | Life Hackery - StumbleUpon

http://lifehackery.com/2008/05/17/50-amazingly-helpful-time-tested-tips-for-the-kitchen/ You know all of those helpful kitchen-related suggestions that old-timers are so willing to share with the younger generations? These little tips and tricks might be called “kitchen hacks” these days, but they’re still the same good old nuggets of wisdom that they always were. As with any old wives’ tale, hack, or tip, your mileage may vary. Some of these gems have been around for several lifetimes - and according to most grandmas, they really work.
http://www.divinecaroline.com/22145/93830-shouldn-t-use-olive-oil-stir-fry

Why You Shouldn’t Use Olive Oil in Your Stir-Fry - DivineCaroline - StumbleUpon

We all know that certain oils are healthier than others, but oil health goes beyond just the type. It turns out that the health of your oil can be related to how you use it, too. Each type of oil has what’s called a “smoke point.” The smoke point is the specific temperature at which the oil starts to break down, or in more technical terms, the point at which its molecular structure begins to change. These molecular changes result in changes in flavor, as well as changes in nutritional value; specifically, the nutritional value of the oil starts to degrade, changing what once may have been considered an especially healthy oil (such as olive or flaxseed, which is rich in omega-3s ) into one that is unhealthy.

Liquor.com: Aperitifs, The Perfect Start To Dinner

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/liquorcom/perfect-start-dinner_b_1277015.html Whether you call them aperitifs, aperitivos or just pre-dinner cocktails, people around the world have been mixing up a range of concoctions to get their appetites going before a big meal for hundreds of years. This special class of tipples usually falls on the drier and more savory side, which makes sense as they complement food and appetizers so well. These long winter nights are the perfect time to invite some friends over for a fine meal, which of course should start with some delicious drinks.
When it comes to cooking a "starch" for your meal, there are few sides easier to make than couscous. It's simple, versatile and incredibly fast to cook -- it's ready in just five minutes! I made a lot of couscous when testing recipes for our story on this super-fast pantry staple in the January/February 2012 issue of EatingWell Magazine. And through all of that cooking, I picked up on these five mistakes to avoid in the pursuit of perfect couscous.

EatingWell: 5 Couscous Cooking Mistakes To Avoid

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eatingwell/couscous-tips_b_1227828.html
If 2011 had been a typical year, the wine-grape harvest would have happened two months ago. But 2011 was an anomalous year. The Willamette Valley experienced the coldest April through June on record. The remainder of the summer was colder than average; one OSU horticulturist declared it the coldest growing season in more than 50 years. http://www.oregonlive.com/foodday/index.ssf/2011/11/antica_terra_was_up_to_the_cha.html

Wine Notes: Antica Terra was up to the challenge of 2011 harvest | OregonLive.com

http://www.theepicentre.com/ — and then some... history, curing, varieties, vanilla extract, essence, powder – even vanilla salt. How to cook with vanilla. including top 10 vanilla recipes ! Cooking with Tamarind This tart tropical fruit, also known as Indian date, brings an appealing pucker to many of the world's equatorial cuisines .

Encyclopedia of Spices

Use our spice primer to learn what spices go with which foods, and how to experiment.

http://www.frontiercoop.com/learn/ss_usage.php So you’ve stocked your cupboard and are eager to spice up your meals. But what to add to what? The possibilities for seasoning are endless, but to get you started here's a list with some tried and true matches. Don’t be limited by traditional uses, though — some of the most exquisite dishes come from unexpected seasonings. Beans (dried) — cumin, cayenne, chili, parsley, pepper, sage, savory, thyme
Spices can make all the difference in the world when you're attempting to come up with innovative nightly eats. Eating in is easier on your waistline, the planet, and your wallet. In my house we go out to eat about once a week, most other meals we eat at home. But no matter how you plan meals in your house, having the right spices on hand is crucial to improving the pleasure quotient of home cooking. Often times the ingredients you see in recipes are actually prepared spice combinations that are a necessity to getting ethnic cuisine right.

6 DIY Spice Combinations to Give Home Cooking a Facelift (Recipes Included) - Planet Green

http://recipes.howstuffworks.com/6-diy-spice-combinations-to-give-home-cooking-a-facelift-recipes-included.htm
Aphrodisiac plants, in alphabetic order: Agave (Agavaceae), Mexico-ritual inebriant. Fermented juice, or agave wine, called pulque, from the peduncle is used. Add few seeds ofthorn apple to increase effect. Tequila is destilled from Agave Tequilana. http://www.goddessherself.com/plants.htm

Aphrodisiac Herbs