My favorite finishing touch to any dish is a tuile. Small, elegant, and simple—even its name makes it sound delicate. Tuiles are garnishes that are malleable when directly removed from the oven and crisp up as they cool down. I love them because they complement both savory and ...more
No offense to water, but if I could survive on coffee alone, I would. I swear I'm not addicted... I just really, really, really love the taste of a cuppa joe, whether it's hot, cold, frothed, milked, flavored, plain, whatever! And while my favorite thing to do with coffee will ...more
Chicken and waffles are so yesterday. Well... it's not that we won't always love them, but it's time to move on to bigger and better things, such as the pizza waffle. We've covered how you can make pizza crust in the waffle iron before, but that doesn't hold a candle to the n ...more
Whether your holidays are cause for celebration or exhaustion from over-celebrating, alcohol is more often than not involved in the merrymaking. We at Food Hacks are very fond of enjoying this particular indulgence in lots of different ways. Flavored liquors and liqueurs have ...more
With Passover soon upon us, many Jews are dreading a week (or eight days for Conservative and Orthodox Jews) of making matzo, the staple of their diet. Matzo is also known as "the bread of affliction," and I'm pretty sure it's because by day three or so you're convinced that m ...more
I recently wrote about fast food fakeouts you can make at home, but people cannot live off fast food alone. Sometimes you need to step up your game a little and enjoy the fare at a popular chain restaurant with a bit more variety to its menu. Don't Miss: Check Out These 5-St ...more
Your waffle maker might just be the most underutilized tool in your kitchen. This one appliance can make bacon, eggs, hash browns, cupcakes, falafel, mac and cheese, and cinnamon rolls much more quickly and with less mess than traditional methods. Plus, the results all come ou ...more
Just because my kids can't eat white flour and sugar doesn't mean they never get treats. This cheesecake is a favorite in our family and is often used as birthday cake. You can decorate it with fruit such as sliced strawberries to give it a more festive look. The recipe is tak ...more
This is a great quick and easy recipe and a great healthy alternative to store-bought frosting. My husband and children love this frosting, and it's also a hit at my PTA meetings. It goes great on cakes, cupcakes, cookies, or anything you desire to put frosting on. I made thi ...more
Eight Easy steps to make an effective smoke generator at home. Gather these items: hot plate, round cake pan, pie pan, u-bolt, 4 washers, 4 nuts, and sawdust. Drill holes in the pie pan to vent smoke. Put two holes evenly spaced from the center for the u-bolt. Mount the u-bolt ...more
Hello, my name is Nicole Valentine and on behalf of Expert Village, I'm here to talk to you about how to coordinate birthday games for a birthday party. Now we're going to discuss another birthday game and this one also happens to be an oldie but goodie. And this game is calle ...more
Cinco de mayo is just around the corner so for your fiesta try out these margarita cupcakes. These are perfect for kids and adults alike because there is no alcohol in them but they have all the color and fun that you expect from a Mexican party. Baking liners or silicone * 1 ...more
Within the gastronomic melting pot of America, pizza was first introduced in the late 19th century by Italian settlers in cities like New York, Chicago, and Philadelphia. The slice-by -slice phenomenon gained popularity when immigrant street peddlers walked the sidewalks with ...more
Believe it or not, it's possible to make your very own lava—if you have a furnace capable of heating up to 1,200 degrees Celsius, that is. Bob Wysocki and Jeff Karson started the Syracuse University Lava Project to study basaltic lava and give students a hands-on way (hypothet ...more
Right now is that magical time of year when the general public decides to embrace their inner fattie and get baking in the kitchen. Hello, pies and cakes and cookies and everything carbs. Goodbye, diets—see you in the next year, when you cripple us with unbridled guilt and lon ...more
Eating out is great, but being able to cook the delicious ethnic foods you eat at restaurants is even better. It may seem daunting to put together a bunch of ingredients with which you might not be familiar (some with names you've never even heard of!), but with the guidelines ...more
You know I am so not ready for Halloween at all. No way summer is no where near over for me. I haven't even been camping yet. Summer always seems to fly by for me as it is the busiest time of year with craft shows and lots of visitors to our area. This year though at the fall ...more
What's the main dish that's served at pot lucks? Pasta! And what's pasta loaded with? White flour! Pot lucks, birthday parties and similar gatherings are a regular occurrence in our family. Humans like to socialize and in our culture, we do that best around food--food that mo ...more
Sprinkles are a gateway to excitement, whether it's a birthday party with friends or an ice cream sundae by yourself. It may seem like these colorful creations can only come from the grocery store, but it's actually pretty easy to make beautiful sprinkles in your own kitchen. ...more
I'm a sucker for sushi, both in its traditional forms and its modern fusion creations. When the infamous sushi burritos surfaced, I'm not ashamed to admit that I waited in a ridiculously long line for what is essentially an uncut sushi roll. (As for whether it was worth it or ...more
We used to view homemade dressings as something whose variables of flavor and texture outweighed our desire to make them up on the fly. We often found ourselves nervous that they'd come out too runny or too tart or even too thick. Then we discovered the magic formula to a per ...more
When I was a little kid, my parents often eschewed cakes for my birthday parties, and instead opted for ice cream sundaes and banana splits. It made perfect sense: ice cream is so easy, and you can get multiple flavors to ensure that everyone is happy. Don't Miss: How to Make ...more
Planning a Super Bowl party, or any football-themed party for that matter, can be fun for even the most craft-adverse host, as almost anything brown can turn into a football with just a little decoration. With a little planning, you won't be serving up any Pinterest fails this ...more
Icebox cakes are some of the most satisfying, easy desserts to put together. This version made out of ice cream sandwiches takes the cake, literally, because the layers are almost pre-made for you. Simple and pretty when cut and served, it will be love at your first creamy bit ...more
There are few things that make me smile more than ice cream… or bread! So why not combine them for double the happiness? We've discussed the art of making ice cream bread before, but not everyone has the time (or, let's face it—the patience) to bake bread in the oven, no matte ...more
I don't know about you, but visions of pumpkin pie and cornbread stuffing and big, juicy turkeys are constantly dancing through my head right now. I'm sorry, healthy eating habits, but it's Thanksgiving week, and all I can do is think about food. Although I can't wait to fill ...more
I love making everything from scratch, but some things are just easier to buy. So there are times when you have to find a creative way to split the difference. For me, the easiest dish to buy without compromising on flavor is cornbread mix. Don't Miss: 8 Tricks To Make Boxed ...more
One lump or two? That was the age-old question with sugar cubes, which used to be a staple of any tea salon or dignified household this side of Downton Abbey. These days sugar isn't really used in cubes much except in bars and restaurants, and that's a shame. Cubes are a lot l ...more
The Google Now Launcher that was introduced with the Nexus 5 seems to have a lot of folks torn. On the one hand, having a home screen page dedicated to Google Now, as well as the always-listening voice search, are killer features. On the other hand, its lack of customization o ...more
The smell of hot curry pouring from room is inevitable. The mixture of spices filled up my nostril as I sat. The lighting of the room might not be pleasant but it is the way in which the restaurant owner set up his restaurant to stop excessive lighting, which is done with a hu ...more
You might be familiar with the use of zucchini blossoms in cooking and maybe even know how to make herbal simple syrups. But if you really want to show off as someone who knows how to use flowering plants in food, try adding some flower water to your cooking/baking repertoire. ...more
Okay, it's true: even the highest quality instant coffee is never going to replace really good fresh beans (and properly cleaning your coffee maker) when it comes to creating a great cup of joe. However, instant coffee does have all kinds of uses in the kitchen, as the smart f ...more
Fondant looks pretty, but man, it sure does taste weird. Don't Miss: How to Frost Your Cake Like a Pro If you've ever slaved over decorating a cake with fondant, you know how disappointing it is to watch people peel it off and only eat the cake. You can avoid this by skippi ...more
With the warm summer months right around the corner, just the thought of having to bake anything in your oven may have you perspiring profusely. But you don't want to give up dessert, especially not luscious, layered cakes, so what's a sweaty sweets-lover to do? Icebox cakes ...more
There are countless recipes for mug cakes (and breads) on the internet, but not all of them are good. Mug cakes promise a warm, moist, and fluffy cake after a few minutes and with minimal work... but sometimes, all you end up with is a chewy, rubbery mess. Well, mug cakes are ...more
The decadent, chewy, fresh-from-the-oven brownie is a classic American dessert. US History Scene states that the first brownies ever made were a result of socialite Bertha Potter Palmer's request of her chef at Chicago's Palmer House Hotel in 1893 "to create a dessert that cou ...more
Caramel is delicious, but it can be a tricky flavor to incorporate into baking. Traditionally, caramel is a liquid, and that doesn't always suit dessert preparation since adding extra liquid to baked goods can ruin them. So how do you get that buttery, toffee-like flavor? Ent ...more
I know I'm in the majority when I say that grilled cheese sandwiches are one of life's simplest and best pleasures: gooey, rich, melted cheese, sandwiched between two perfectly-buttered pieces of toast... perfection. Don't Miss: How to Make Amazing Grilled Cheese Sandwiches ...more
Even if you haven't heard of ube (pronounced "OO-beh"), you've probably seen pictures of desserts made with this brilliant purple yam. The ube really does look almost too pretty to be food, doesn't it?. While there is often confusion between sweet potatoes and true yams, the u ...more
It's almost time for Halloween, which means that it's time for the nastiest-looking food and drink to make its appearance. Severed fingers, brains, vomit... everything that would normally make our stomachs turn at any other time of year makes us cackle with glee instead on Hal ...more
Girl Scout cookies are arguably some of humankind's greatest creations. Not only are they tasty, but they also support an excellent, female-empowering cause. While many folks (cough—yours truly—cough) have been known to plow through an entire sleeve of cookies at a time, there ...more
In case you haven't heard, chia seeds are off of the novelty plant grower and in your supermarket. Why? Because they're a nutrient-dense food loaded with calcium and fiber (18% and 42% respectively of your RDA per one ounce of seeds). There are even some preliminary studies th ...more
I'm constantly searching for a homemade pizza dough that tastes good but isn't too challenging to execute. In other words, a recipe that doesn't require any arcane "dough whispering" skills. However, my hunt may be coming to an end thanks to one celebrity chef's concept. Maki ...more
Wilton Cake Decorating demonstrates how to make and decorate a Making Her Entrance Doll Cake. To make the cream cheese pound cake, cream together some cream cheese, butter and sugar, then add eggs and vanilla. In another bowl mix together the flour, baking powder and salt. Ad ...more
Pizza, pizza, who wants pizza! We all want pizza, right? Well, except that one guy over there who's allergic to yeast. Well, now we can make a yeast free pizza crust that everyone can enjoy! This great how-to shows you what you need to know to make a great, yeast free pie, in ...more
Tres Leches literally means three milks in French, so a Tres Leches cake is a cake made from, well, three types of milk. This decadent and fluffy cake is made from a spongy cake soaked in milk syrup. This milk syrup contains evaporated milk, condensed milk, and heavy cream. W ...more
This cake looks almost good enough to eat, even though we know it's made out of origami paper. Fool your friends with this realistic pink origami cake, made from an assemblage of cut-out cake slices. Check out this video to learn how to fold a pink origami cake.
This video will show you just exactly how you can go about tattooing yourself at home. There's not a lot that is cooler than a home made tattoo.
If you are new to book and paper arts, whether scrapbooking, making personalized stationary, or home-made cards, this video is for you! It is an inexpensive hobby and you only need a few tools. This video shows you a few of the necessities and how to use them!
Watch this video to check out how to make a home made rabbit snare. If you can't find stainless steel wire, brass or copper will work just as well. Make sure your string is very strong. Consider using a braided twine that is treated with a non-slip coating to prevent knot slip ...more
In this video, we learn how to make a pants shaped cake. You will just need to take a pre-made cake (any flavor) and cut it into a jeans shape using a cut out you can find on www.bettycrocker.com. Set this aside and make your favorite frosting colors that you want to use in th ...more
Unlike cupcakes, which magically disappear even before they are set down on the table, cake pops can be made in more abundance and are portion sized so everyone can try at least one before seconds are given out. Made of chocolate and yummy cake crumbs, these pops are like lol ...more
Love Chili's restaurant molten chocolate cake? Well you can make it at home. Tod Wilbur from Top Secret recipes shows you how to make this decadent chocolate dessert. Watch this cooking how-to video and learn to make Chili's famous molten chocolate cake at home.
Whether you're ready for it or not, Valentine's Day is only a week away. Which means it's prime time to start thinking about gifts (sorry guys, $5 chocolates from the gas station won't do) and Valentine's Day dinner. Treat her to a scrumptious dessert she won't soon forget by ...more
Many sewing machine repairs can be made at home, and most repairs can be completely avoided through routine sewing machine maintenance. This tutorial shows you how to carefully disassemble your machine to give it a round of maintenance. You will need a screwdriver - make sure ...more
Fondant is quite the tricky cake decorating material. On the surface it looks smooth, slick, and solid, but the consistency of fondant is actually quite thin and the sugary paste is very liable to tearing while you're working with it. If you've never laid down a large piece o ...more
In this video, we learn how to watch 3D images and movies without expensive hardware. If you have a computer with dual monitors or two computers, you can watch full-color, full resolution 3D with a simple home made device. This device - Reflecting Stereoscope is based on an o ...more
Mmm...there's nothing that signals the arrival of fall to us more than biting into an apple danish. Sweet and tart and with the perfect amount of cinnamon and sugar added in, it warms us up in the way only a wholesome comfort food can. If you love apple danish bars, why not m ...more
Create your own macro lens using the standard 50 mm lens that is shipped with your Digital SLR camera. The presenter - Kip Kay explains how to do so in a very cost effective way using only a Pringles( or any other similar) can, a black cloth, your camera's body cap and a few ...more
Zonealarm not working out? Is it slowing down your computer? Forget those programs and have a home made DIY lag/standby switch! Okay, when it comes right down to it, all you need is a 1$ switch and an Ethernet Cable. I assume you have a knife to splice the wires. Then just fo ...more