BBQ Chicken and Cheddar Foil Packet Dinner

This recipe from the National Dairy Council is easy-to-make and a yummy source of calcium. Clean up the preparation dishes while it's baking in foil. I doubled the amount of potatoes for added veggies.

 (Photo by Alice Henneman)

Healthy Halloween Popcorn Treats

How to make such simple treats as "Bony Fingers, Ghosts, and Party Popcorn. Popcorn contains fiber, providing roughage the body needs in the daily diet. Popcorn is low in calories -- only 31 calories in one cup when popped without added fat.

Walnut Trail Mix

 This trail mix recipe from the California Walnut Board contains heart-healthy walnuts that are high in polyunsaturated fatty acids and alpha linoleic acid.

(Photo by Alice Henneman)

Silicone Pastry / Basting Brush for Easy Cleaning

Check out the many brands of dishwasher safe silicone pastry / basting brushes. Makes clean-up super quick and thorough. I also use one of these brushes to lightly coat the outside of a sandwich with olive oil or melted butter before grilling it.

 (Photo by Alice Henneman)

 The Perfect Hard-cooked Egg

Here's the result when I followed directions from the American Egg Board on "boiling" eggs. No green ring around the yolk and the shell came off easily! Add hard-cooked eggs to lettuce salads, pasta salads, sandwiches, and more.

(Photo by Alice Henneman)

Southwest Beef Wraps

The beef filling for this recipe (courtesy of The Beef Checkoff) is made by cooking a beef roast, flavored mainly with prepared chunky salsa, in a slow cooker.

(Photo by Alice Henneman)

 The Tastiest Tomatoes when Tomatoes Aren't in Season

Cherry and grape tomatoes tend to have the best flavor when other tomatoes are out-of-season.

(Photo by Alice Henneman)

Can You Identify this Frozen Food?

ALWAYS label frozen foods with the name of the food, date it was frozen, and the amount. Or, you may have mystery foods like this! You might even include a suggested "use by" date for best quality ... check these approximate storage times for foods.

 (Photo by Alice Henneman)

Taking the Temperature of Thin Foods

When measuring the temperature of a thin food, insert the probe of the thermometer through the side of the food, so the entire sensing area is positioned through the center of the food.

Check  here for recommended internal temperatures and thermometer placement.

 (Photo by Alice Henneman)

 Egg & Cheddar Quesadilla

Serve these simple quesadillas for a protein-packed breakfast, lunch, or dinner. This recipe, courtesy of the American Egg Board, is filled with scrambled eggs, salsa and shredded cheese.

Make their appearance and taste really POP by topping them with extra salsa, grated cheese, and sprinkling of a green herb such as parsley, chives, or cilantro.

(Photo by Alice Henneman)

Try This & Avoid Lumpy White Sauces

If you avoid making white sauces because you always get lumps in them, try pouring the mixed flour (or cornstarch) and milk through a strainer into the sauce pan, mashing out any lumps in the process.  

(Photo by Alice Henneman)

Have You Tried this Whisk?

Whenever I beat a small amount of eggs, I always reach for this whisk -- sometimes called a twirl or spring whisk.

The bottom flattens out as you stir, helping incorporate the contents at the bottom of a container. It works especially well when beating together ingredients in a small container. It also works well when mixing small amounts of salad dressing.

Though not as commonly available as other whisks, this may become one of your favorites, too!

(Photo by Alice Henneman)