When you’re preparing food for your family, you want them to have the best. You pay attention to important health concerns like calories and cholesterol levels. You might be eating the right type and amount of food, but still you wonder why you can’t seem to lose that extra pound or get rid of certain health troubles like high blood pressure. Continue reading →

A great recipe is only as good when you’re using top-notch ingredients, no ifs and buts – that is what other dedicated cooks will lead you to believe. But what if you don’t have that one ingredient that will add the depth of flavor that you want just because it is unavailable or not in season at the moment? Take, for instance, a shallot. A what?!   Continue reading →

Imagine this: You’ve got guests coming over for dinner, and your famous homemade lasagna is on the menu. People who have tried your lasagna have nothing but praise about your cooking skills. You head over to the supermarket to shop for fresh ingredients but alas – the ricotta cheese that made your dish so delectable is out of stock! You quickly wrack your brains for a ricotta cheese replacement so you can still make lasagna without having to compromise its taste. You ask yourself, “What would be a good replacement for ricotta cheese?” Continue reading →

It is the bane of every dedicated frequent home cooks and bakers when a recipe calls for a specific ingredient and then finding out that you don’t have the said ingredient in your pantry. Especially if the recipe calls for something specific and hard to find ingredients like shortening. Shortening is a crucial ingredient that when mixed into the dough, makes the pie crusts, tarts and other baked goods crumblier and softer. Although many seem to believe that it is irreplaceable, there are a few products you can use as a substitute for shortening. Continue reading →