Help Around the Kitchen

Ideas for April

Spring is in full swing and that’s the perfect excuse to pick up fresh produce.

Fooled You

Fake out your family with Rice Krispies Sushi, "Bagel" Doughnuts Sandwiches and more. They're a great April Fool’s Day trick.
Gotcha! Make These Treats

It’s National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day! Turn this lunchbox staple into a grab-and-go timesaver by freezing pre-assembled sandwiches — they thaw within an hour. Individually bag them, then pack before you head out the door.
Make Alton's Homemade Peanut Butter

Remove Stains

Coat plastic storage containers with cooking spray before filling with foods that may stain or leave odors (think tomato sauce and chopped onions). The oil acts as a barrier between the porous surface of the container and its contents.
How to Remove Common Stains

Top Your Dog Like Bobby

Kick off baseball season with a hot dog bar for dinner — also a great excuse for clearing condiments. Transfer any bottom-of-the-barrel jars and bottles into bowls, and set out a bunch of utensils for scooping. (Toss leftover hotdogs into the freezer where they’ll keep for up to 6 months. Drop them straight into boiling water to reheat — no need to defrost.)
Get Inspired By Bobby's Dog

Goodbye, Stale Granola

Say goodbye to stale granola by storing it in the freezer to keep crisp.
Make Your Own Granola

Tortilla Trick

To warm tortillas, stack them on a heat-proof plate, cover with plastic wrap and microwave for about 1 minute. For charred, crisp spots, warm individual tortillas directly over a burner.
Make Tyler's Best Fajitas

Baking Best Bet

Using the correct measuring tools when baking can make or break the end result. Liquids should be measured at eye level in a liquid measuring cup with a pouring tip. Dry goods should be measured using the graduated sets; shake the ingredient loosely into the cup and use a butter knife to level off the top.
How to Measure Ingredients

Melissa's Tip

Revive a day-old loaf of bread by spraying it lightly with water, wrapping in foil and placing it in an oven at 350 degrees until it's heated through.
Revive Your Bread

Keep Your Greens

Roll up cleaned leafy greens in paper towels and place them in a large resealable plastic bag. Blow air into the bag before sealing — carbon dioxide slows down the deterioration of the greens.
Dress Your Greens With Ina's Vinaigrette

Supermarket Tip

Here’s one more way to combat forgetfulness: Attach a magnetic dry-erase board to your refrigerator door and jot down items as you use them up, then turn it into your supermarket shopping list.
Shop the Market With Melissa

Butter Best Bets

Store butter in the freezer to stop it from absorbing odors and turning rancid. Keep a stick or two on hand in the refrigerator, depending on your household needs.
Easily Cream Butter and Sugar

Better Baking

When baking, bring butter to room temperature in a hurry by placing it on a heat-proof plate and setting on top of the oven as it preheats.
5 Tools for Easy Baking

Keep Kitchen Tools Clean

Store rarely used kitchen tools, like a melon baller or pastry tip, in resealable plastic bags before stowing them in a drawer to keep them free of dust and grime.
How to Clean Any Kitchen Appliance

Serve Soup for Dinner

Rescue a too-salty stew by thinning it with broth or water, and then thickening it up as needed with cooked rice, pasta or cubed potatoes.
Simple Soup Recipes

Clean Your Cutting Board

Regular maintenance prevents cutting boards from drying out and splitting. Wipe mineral oil onto a dry, clean board using a lint-free cloth. Let stand for a few minutes, then repeat until the board no longer absorbs the oil; wipe away the excess using paper towels.
5 Ways to Clean a Cutting Board

It's Grilled Cheese Month!

It’s National Grilled Cheese Month! For an extra-indulgent sandwich, butter and toast the side of the bread that faces in before assembling with the cheese.
Decadent Grilled Cheese Recipes

Save Your Honey

Pop a jar of crystallized honey in the microwave for about 30 seconds to melt the honey back into liquid form.
Paula's Chicken Nuggets With Honey Mustard

Asparagus Salad

Usher in spring produce with a raw asparagus salad. Use thin stalks and shave them into strips using a vegetable peeler or mandoline. Submerge them in ice-cold water until they curl. Toss the asparagus curls with a lemon vinaigrette, grated Parmesan and freshly ground black pepper.
Claire's Chopped Asparagus Salad

Happy National Garlic Day!

It’s National Garlic Day! When cooking with garlic, remember that the smaller the garlic is chopped, the more pungent its flavor — a crushed whole clove will impart less flavor than a whole clove that is finely chopped.
How to Crush, Slice and Mince Garlic

Freezer Tip

Pour leftover cream by the tablespoon into ice cube trays and freeze. Transfer the cubes into a resealable plastic bag and drop them into sauces or soups as needed.
Corn and Ham Chowder

Save Your Pasta Water

Set aside some pasta cooking water before draining cooked pasta. Use it to loosen up the dish, if needed, after tossing the pasta with the sauce. The starch in the cooking water helps keep the sauce nice and thick.
Make Pasta With Escarole

Happy Earth Day!

Instead of using several layers of paper towels for draining foods like fried chicken or bacon, use several layers of newspapers and top them with a single layer of paper towels.
10 Eco-Friendly Kitchen Tips

Save Parmesan for Soup

Save the rinds of Parmigiano-reggiano cheese in your freezer, and toss them into soups — or even homemade stock — for a tangy boost in flavor.
Use the Rind in Pasta and Lentil Soup

Reuse Frying Oil

The oil used when deep-frying can be recycled at least once or twice more — it will smell “off” when ready to be tossed. Let it cool completely, then strain through cheesecloth or a coffee filter before transferring to an empty bottle or jar.
Fry Guide: Fry Up These Snacks