The much talked about cookbook, THE PORTSIDE CUISINE COOKBOOK has finally arrived! As I’ve told you a few times already (please excuse my enthusiasm!) I’ve finally realized my dream of publishing my own cookbook. I’m extremely excited to share The Portside Cuisine Cookbook with you. It contains an unprecedented 163 recipes gathered inside under 13 […]
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Dolling Out the Salt
Almost every savory recipe known to man has salt as an ingredient. Everyone has different tolerances of this vital seasoning. Some of us like a lot of salt and some do not. Some of us have been told by our doctors to cut it down or even out all together if we have certain health […]
Keeping Flour Dust to a Minimum
I’m sure you’d agree that mixing flour or the dry ingredients for a recipe and handling the mixer all at the same time can be awkward and messy! I use a large plastic measuring pitcher. I mix all my dry ingredients in the pitcher and whisk it all together, then I use a large bowl […]
‘Easy as Pie’ Pie Shielding Method
Pie shielding your crust from over browning can be hard once the oven and the pie is hot. It can be quite a struggle or maybe you’ve had to purchase one of those special hard to store shields in a cooking supply store. I’ve got an easy solution for you, and all you need is […]
Chasing Sausage Links
I hate chasing sausage links around the pan and trying to get them to brown evenly. The darned things never seem to cooperate with me! Now I use toothpicks and skewer to links together with 2 toothpicks. I cook them on one side, and then they’re easy to flip over. I also use this technique […]
Mushrooms… To Rinse or Not to Rinse
Remember that old rule not to rinse the dirt off your mushrooms because they will absorb the water and be mushy? Well, the powers that be have figured out that’s not really true. The only real rule of thumb about rinsing them is if the mushrooms are really dirty, rinse and dry them thoroughly right […]
Using Measuring Spoons
Have you ever found yourself frustrated because your round measuring spoons just won’t fit into those narrow spice jars and you always end up wasting a lot of the expensive spice when you’re forced to pour it out into the measuring spoon? I have 2 sets of measuring spoons … one of them is the […]
Cleaning and Coring a Fresh Pineapple
There’s nothing better than a fresh ripe pineapple, but they can be a little hard to clean without feeling like you’re wasting a lot of the actual fruit! I use a long serrated bread knife because it’s a bit more flexible and allows you to follow the contours of the pineapple as you are peeling […]
Keeping on the Lid
Whether you’re storing a large pot or taking it to a friend’s house for a pot luck dinner, it’s hard to keep the lid on and not have it tip or make a huge mess. Try inverting the lid and using double-sided Velcro wrapped over the top and over both handles. If you’re traveling with […]
Mango Salsa and Interesting Info on Chili Peppers
The Serrano chili pepper is what is called for in my Mango Salsa recipe. The Serrano pepper is originally from the Mexican regions of Puebla and Hidalgo. This region is mountainous, and the name Serrano is derived from these sierras. The Serrano pepper is rated on the Scoville scale (shown below) on the lower end […]
Tasty Skewers
Everyone knows that you have to soak your wooden skewers before loading them up with yummy food and putting them on the grill, but it can be a bit of a pain to keep them submerged. Try putting them in an empty large wine bottle and filling with warm water and cork the top for […]
Vinegar – To Throw or Not to Throw… That’s the Question!
Most of today’s vinegars are pasteurized and actually have very little acetic acid. They can last almost indefinitely on your shelf. If you find that the vinegar has sediment floating around or building on the bottom, just place your strainer over a bowl with a pouring spout, line it with a coffee filter or some […]