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    TaraTeaspoon » Ask Tara

    Food + Tools

    What is your favorite go-to ingredient?

    August 23, 2018

    Cheese! I had to think about that, but I find I consider what kind of cheese is in the fridge when I start a meal, or snack for that matter. Sometimes I’ll start a recipe with it, sometimes I finish it with a dash of Parmesan. If you know me, you know I have nachos for dinner more nights than I’d ...

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    What food is your guilty pleasure?

    August 23, 2018

      Croissants. Plain or chocolate, I’m not picky when it comes to my guilty pleasure. Tags: ChocolateCroissantGuilty PleasureIndulge ...

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    Do you prefer stainless steel or nonstick cookware?

    August 23, 2018

    I use both, and prefer one kind over the other only when it’s needed for the recipe. Stainless cookware (and I prefer tri-ply or clad, heavy duty pans) is great for sautéing when I want to make a sauce out of the little caramelized bits on the bottom of the pan, or transfer the entire pan to the ...

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    I waste so much food after buying specific ingredients for a recipe, but don’t use everything. Any tips on how to make a meal come together with random ingredients?

    August 23, 2018

    Don’t be scared to experiment! I also like to start my clean-out-the-fridge dinners with pasta or a healthy grain. Could those ingredients be tossed with pasta, roasted and stirred into a grain salad? This covers a lot of herbs and seasonings too! You don’t have to use all your leftover ingredients ...

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    Which kitchen gadgets can you not live without?

    August 23, 2018

    My small offset spatulas. My silicone rubber spatulas. A Chef’n citrus juicer and my Oxo garlic press. ...

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    What is your favorite brand of kitchen knives and why?

    August 23, 2018

    Kitchen knives should feel good in your hand. Test them out and hold various brands in your hand before buying. I like my Wusthof knives as well as Global. They fit my hand well and the weight is good. ...

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    Some recipes say to bake squash facing up, others say to bake squash facing down. Does it really make a difference in the end result?

    August 23, 2018

    It depends on what you are using the squash for and the needs of your recipe. If you slice a squash like butternut, acorn or spaghetti squash in half and then place it face down on a baking sheet to roast, you will essentially be steaming the insides. The steam is trapped in the cavity of the ...

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    How long does cooked rice last in the fridge?

    August 23, 2018

    It would be fine up to a week. I love freezing my leftover rice, especially sticky rice. Once it’s cooled I put it in zip top freezer bags, press the air out and seal. The little bags are ready to dump into a bowl or pan to re-heat later. These bags are fine in the freezer up to 6 weeks. ...

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    Dear Tara, I love kitchen gadgets, but I’m skeptical to buy them because they often end up in my graveyard of unused kitchen tools. Should I buy an Instant Pot? What about one of those sous-vide cookers? I feel like they’re good tools, but maybe I’d use them once or twice and then set them aside only to collect dust. Are there any gadgets you consider must-haves?

    August 23, 2018

    I do too! And I’m like you and live in a small apartment with a small kitchen. In fact in my last apartment I stored my must-have salad spinner in my bedroom closet! Now it has a home in my slightly bigger space, but I feel your pain. Buying new kitchen gadgets or small appliances depends completely ...

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    Why is it suggested that mushrooms be cleaned off with a wet paper towel instead of rinsing them off under running water?

    August 23, 2018

    Mushrooms are like little sponges! Rinsing them in water, or worse, soaking them in a bowl of water, just gives them a chance to drink up excess water like a dry dish sponge would. Because mushrooms already have a lot of water in their makeup, you typically give the moisture time to cook off, or add ...

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    I’ve been sharing my original ideas for years. What began as a passion, turned into a career as magazine Food Editor at Martha Stewart and then Entertaining Director at Ladies’ Home Journal. All in all, I’ve shared recipes, cooking tips, and DIY ideas with more than 24 MILLION people. Make that 24 million and one. Thanks for stopping by Tara Teaspoon!

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