If you are planning to go on a picnic, these are four types of food that should be left at home. 1. Anything that melts: If the day gets warm, anything that melts will be unwelcome at a picnic. Leave the chocolate and ice-cream at home. 2. Anything that spoils easily: If it is something…
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When buying asparagus these are some of the main points you need to remember to get the best tasting stalks: 1. When choosing asparagus, you want straight, firm stalks that have tightly closed dark green or purple tips. This indicates that it is fresh. 2. While the diameter of the stalks doesn't matter when it…
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My family has long had a love hate relationship with zucchini. My grandparents, mom and I have planted one plant each and every year for as long as I can remember. Until about mid-August every loaf of fresh-baked zucchini bread tastes like it came straight from heaven. But then it happens. At the end of…
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Fruits and vegetables can be great grilling accompaniments to the meat you serve. Here are some tips: 1. Grilling actually makes fruits and vegetables sweeter because it caramelizes their natural sugars which enhances their sweetness 2. For vegetables, choose those that gave a good grilling shape when sliced. Eggplant, onions, zucchini, yellow squash and bell…
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When buying strawberries these are the main things you need to remember: 1. While you can usually find strawberries at the grocery store year round, their peak season is from late May to early June. 2. If you are picking strawberries yourself off the vine, remember that they will not ripen after being picked. You…
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When buying pineapples these are the main things you need to remember: 1. Fresh pineapple should have a firm, hard shell. If the shell is soft in any area then the pineapple is not good and should not be purchased. 2. The “eyes” of the pineapple shell should not be watering. If there is liquid…
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When buying grilling steaks these are the main things you need to remember: 1. For grilling, it’s best to buy fresh from the butcher’s shop. 2. The two best cuts of steak for grilling are Ribeye steak and strip steaks (often referred to as New York strip or Kansas City strip). Ribeye steak is tastier,…
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When buying fresh chicken these are the main things you need to remember: 1. Don’t worry about the fancy or different types of chicken names. Unless a recipe specifically calls for a certain type of chicken, buy what is least expensive. 2. Don’t worry about the “sell-by” date unless it is past the marked date…
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When buying blueberries these are the main things you need to remember: 1. Blueberries should be blue. If they are red or purple, then pass on them. 2. The blueberries in the package should all be about the size (not all different sizes) and they should come with a waxy sheen. 3. You should keep…
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It seems that many businesses and stores these days are willing to fight hard for your patronage. I’ve noticed a lot more stores lately that now offer price matching on equal items from a different store. You simply show the ad or online printout showing the item that is less expensive at the rival store,…
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