Cooking Tips and Tricks

Let's face it, we're too busy most days to deal with unexpected cooking mishaps!  Allow me to assist in keeping it from happening!  In this post I'm going to share as many kitchen secrets as I can that I use on a regular basis to make cooking meals for my family as easy and painless as possible!

#1. Spray oil is your friend (Pam cooking spray, for example)!!!  

• Spray your baking sheet before plopping on french fries or a frozen pizza.  When it's done, the food won't be stuck to the pan!  
• When your french fries come out of the oven, give them a quick spray before sprinkling with salt, it helps the salt stick to the fries instead of falling off them and salting the pan instead!
• Don't waste time greasing baking pans!  Give the pan a good spray

#2. Don't throw away your bacon drippings!  I know it's not the healthiest food in the world, but it is one of the most flavorful.  Whenever I cook bacon, I pour the drippings into a jar and refridgerate it.  I use it to add yummy bacon flavor to a number of dishes.

• Use bacon fat instead of oil to cook eggs in.  Mmmm.
• Use bacon fat in place of oil or butter in breads, muffins, sauces, gravies, casseroles.  Oh yeah, baby

#3. Make dinner preparation easier by pre-cutting and marinating meats after purchase and freeze them.  This also keeps your meat fresh until ready to cook.  I divide all the meat I buy into one meal portions (that usually translates to 1-2 pounds per bag)  After I have added the marinade and cut up meat to the bag, I remove the air and seal it...don't forget to label what's in the bag!  Place in freezer until the day it will be prepared.  Thaw in the microwave, and then cook with the rest of your meal!  If you will be cooking the meat with a sauce and other ingredients all at once, such as in a casserole or slow cooker, you can mix all the ingredients together into a bag, label and freeze.  When it's time to prepare the meal, thaw and place in dish and cook!