Kitchen Tips | Cooking for Seven

Archive for the 'Kitchen Tips' Category

Homemade Brown Sugar

Erica Lea on Feb 15th 2010

Brown sugar is such a lovely ingredient. Yet it is just as processed as regular sugar. So I decided to attempt to make my own, using ground natural sugar and molasses. This article/video from Martha Stewart was very helpful.

Admittedly, my sugar was much different than commercial brown sugar. But I think it is a very nice alternative.

Would you like to try it for yourself? Here’s what you’ll need:

.

Printable Page

Ingredients:

For light brown sugar:

1 cup ground natural sugar or 1 cup granulated white sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons molasses

For Dark Brown Sugar:

1 cup ground natural sugar or 1 cup granulated white sugar
1/4 cup molasses

Directions:

Place the sugar & molasses in a blender or food processor. Mix until fully combined. Store in an airtight container, with a slice of apple or bread to keep soft.

.

Follow me on twitter…

Filed in Homemade, Kitchen Tips | 5 responses so far

How to Toast Nuts Over the Stove

Erica Lea on May 15th 2009

Here is my favorite method for toasting nuts. I find it much easier than continually having to open the oven, take the nuts out, give them a stir, and put them back in the oven.

.

:: How to Toast Nuts Over the Stove ::

Place the desired nuts into an appropriate sized skillet over medium heat. Cook, stirring frequently, until nuts are toasty and fragrant, about 5-8 minutes. Cooking time will vary, depending on the type of nuts used.

It’s just that simple!

.

Filed in Kitchen Tips | 6 responses so far

Kitchen Tip: Hands-Free Bag

Erica Lea on Mar 17th 2009

Have you ever been frustrated when attempting to pour something into a zippered bag? Try this head-smackingly simple trick.

.

Fold the top of the bag down around the outside of the bag, like a cuff. Open the bag wide.
As the bag becomes full, pull up the cuff and continue to fill the bag until completely full.

.