I love this shot of Deborah Harry & Andy Warhol!
Cut Your Cooking Time In Half
Let’s face it. It takes time to cook and many of us are so incredibly busy during the day that there never seems to be enough time to cook delicious and healthy meals. We all know that it’s so much better to eat a home cooked meal nightly, but when families get home after work it might seem so much easier to order out. Here are a few tips to help make cooking at home easier. It’s mostly about planning ahead which takes the guesswork out of cooking nightly meals.
Stock Up Weekly. It’s important to plan ahead. Make a list and purchase enough groceries to get you through the week. A last minute trip to the store is a big headache.
Stock Your Pantry & Fridge. It’s so much easier to cook a meal when you have a fridge and pantry stocked with nourishing foods that are ready to cook. For example having cans of tuna, jars of olives, and dried pasta in your pantry means you can cook up a quick tuna & olive pasta dish. I also make sure to have cans of crushed tomatoes on hand for a quick pasta sauce.
Find Sister Recipes. Dishes that feature similar ingredients make planning, buying, and prep much easier. For example, you could make a big batch of brown rice to serve with a stir-fry one night, and save extras to use in burritos later in the week.
Prep Ahead. Prep is probably the biggest time consumer in cooking. Do all of your chopping and measuring when you have time. This way later in the week when you’re spread thin you will be able to whip together a meal in minutes.
Buy Some Time! If you have room in your budget, pick up pre-washed, pre-chopped fruits and vegetables. Use packaged or frozen vegetables. They are already the perfect size and cut for most recipes.
Make Your Own Frozen Meals. The next time you create a tasty meal, consider doubling the recipe. I do this often. Leftovers can be portioned out into individual containers and placed in the freezer for quick weeknight dinners and easy take to work or school lunches.
Use the Microwave. Microwaving a potato takes less than half the time of baking in the oven. Just poke a few holes in it with a fork and cook it on high for about 10 minutes. You can also steam vegetables and other dishes in just mere minutes in the microwave too.
"Work With What You Got!"
© Victoria Hart Glavin Tiny New York Kitchen
First Fire In The New & Improved Family Room Fireplace
I love this photo of this 1939 Coffee Pot Restaurant. I believe it was somewhere in Indiana.
Kitchen Equipment
Great tools make for better food and a more pleasurable cooking experience, which tends to make you want to cook more often. This is a good foundation for good cooking and eating. Throw out the junk that clutters your kitchen drawers and cabinets, and invest in good quality knives, measuring cups, pans, and cutting boards. As your skills and interests progress, add more specialized tools, such as a a mandolin, a microplane grater, and a kitchen scale.
"Work With What You Got!"
© Victoria Hart Glavin Tiny New York Kitchen
Slow-Cooker Meat Cuts
It’s winter and there’s nothing quite like coming home to a hot meal. You count on your slow-cooker for delicious, almost no effort dinners and it can be tempting to throw just about any ingredients into these amazing appliances. BUT for the tastiest results, you need to know which meats do best in it. Delivering low, even heat over a long period of time, slow-cookers break down the connective tissue in typically tough cuts of meat, making them extremely tender. Here is a quick guide to great cuts of meat for your slow-cooker. The good news is that these cuts are often less expensive which, along with saving you time and energy, will also save you money.
Beef: Slowly cooked brisket becomes incredibly tender. Look for marbling. The white steaks of fat are what adds flavor. Beef chuck is another favorite for long braises.
Chicken: Go with dark meat. Thighs and drumsticks are cheaper and richer in flavor than white meat and stand out in soups and stews. Brown or remove the skin before cooking for the best results.
Lamb: Cooked low and slow, lamb shanks become rich and complex flavors. Have your butcher slice them crosswise to fit into your slow-cooker. Lamb shoulder is also a great choice for slow-cooking.
Pork: Always a classic, pork shoulder is a tough cut that becomes silky and flavorful after hours spent simmering in its own juices.
For most of us, it’s cold outside so bring out your slow-cooker and let it work its magic while you’re busy doing other things.
"Work With What You Got!"
© Victoria Hart Glavin Tiny New York Kitchen
Season With Worcestershire Sauce
Think of Worcestershire sauce as the “Fish Sauce” of American cooking. Worcestershire sauce is probably one of the most underused condiments. The sauce is a fermented mix of vinegar, molasses, anchovies, and other seasonings that adds great flavor to a dish without adding many calories. I often add a splash to salad dressings, marinades, and sauces, or use it to season ground meat for meatloaf or burgers. Just go easy because it’s high in sodium.
"Work With What You Got!"
© Victoria Hart Glavin Tiny New York Kitchen
Food is to the soul what words are to the mind. – Tiny New York Kitchen
A sandwich doesn’t have to be full of fat and calories. Replace high-fat mayonnaise with one of the reduced-fat varieties. You may want to stir in some chopped fresh herbs into reduced-fat mayonnaise for a flavor boost. You may also want to hold the mayo and spread your bread with mustard, as mustard is naturally low fat. You may also want to try a spread of non-fat yogurt mixed with a bit of mustard. Chutney, delicious by itself or when blended with mayonnaise or mustard, adds a sweet and spicy dimension to a sandwich.
Many lunch meats are high in sodium and calories. Look for alternatives such as grilled vegetables or skinless chicken breast, roasted turkey breast, or shrimp in a low-fat dressing. Another good alternative is water-packed tuna.
Cheese is a high-fat sandwich ingredient that should be eaten in moderation. Choose lighter cheeses such as Swiss or low-fat cheese.
Rather than ordering your sandwich at the deli counter, take a stroll by the salad bar. There are many candidates for a great sandwich just waiting to be piled onto bread (or into a pita) and drizzled with low-fat dressing.
A few healthy choice ingredients are: artichoke hearts, roasted peppers, pepperoncini, sprouts, shredded carrots, asparagus, sliced tomatoes, and tofu.
"Work With What You Got!"
© Victoria Hart Glavin Tiny New York Kitchen
“Where words fail, music speaks.” -Hans Christian Andersen
