hook tip

i bought some mini command hooks but they were too big to hang my calendar.  i strung a thin ring of ribbon through the calendar holes and doubled it over before hanging it on the hook.  it works great!  

popcorn on stovetop tip

-heat 3 tablespoon oil 

-put 4 kernels (to test)

-cover @ medium heat

-when all 4 kernals pop, remove from heat

-add 1/3 cup kernals

-cover pot and wait 30 seconds

-return to heat

-when kernels start popping shake pan with lid slightly ajar

-add salt and butter

tilapia fillet

got some tilapia fillets from trader joe's.  it's really convenient.  you don't have to worry about taking out bones or descaling the fish.  i poached it in some chicken broth for a light flavor.  put fish in the liquid, boil then lower heat and cover--cook for 8 minutes.  super easy!  

how to cook bean thread noodles (dong1 fen3)

just made a big batch of bean thread noodles.  it was my very first time cooking it and i'm happy with the result.  everything cooks in one pot.

ingredients:
-1 pound bean thread noodles
-mild italian sausage bulk (not in sausage casings)
-2 cups sliced mushrooms

ingredients for sauce:
-2 cup chicken broth
-3 tablespoon soy sauce
-2 teaspoon sesame oil
-2 teaspoon sugar

-soak 1 pound bean thread noodles for 20 minutes.
-add some oil to pot and cook sausage.  remove sausage
-add mushrooms to pot and cook until tender.  spoon some sausage fat onto the mushrooms so it's not too dry.  i covered the pot to let the mushrooms kind of steam cook for a few minutes.  remove mushrooms
-drain noodles and put in pot.  use high heat.  pour sauce in pot also.  mix until noodles absorb sauce.
-add sausage and mushrooms back in and mix.

i ate them with some boiled fava beans.

in all, it took 40 minutes to make everything.

brown rice tip

argghhh!  put in 1 cup of brown rice and 2.5 cups of water in the rice cooker.  it was dry and hard :o(

when i put in 1.5 cups of brown rice and 3-3/4 cup of water it's alright.

what am i doing wrong?  it's the same ratio . . .

fava bean tips

quick and easy way to cook fava beans.  shuck 'em.  boil water with salt to a rolling boil.  dump fava beans in water and cook for 7 minutes.  eat.  there's a light green membrane on the fava beans.  that is totally edible.

george foreman chicken thighs tip

make sure the george foreman grill light is off.  if the light is on that means it's heating up still.

wrap chicken in foil so you don't have to wash the grill.

if you don't cut up the chicken thighs, heat for 8 minutes in george foreman grill.