cooking

As the resident "foodie" at work, I often field food-related questions.  Today, a co-worker asked me a question that I thought was a good one and I thought I would share the answer.  The question was:  Can I substitute half-and-half for heavy cream in a recipe?

In the last few years, aluminum cookware has been frequently discussed as having negative effects on our health.  Whether it's Alzheimer's or even heart issues, aluminum has developed a bad reputation.  At the same time, aluminum has remained a popular source material for cookware like pots and pans.

A month or so ago we had the story about the Wisconsin man who was arrested for driving under the influence and blamed the beer-battered fish that he had eaten. In that case, the authorities believe that the gentleman also consumed alcohol with his meal.   Now comes the story from York state about a woman who has a food-related product to blame for her drunk driving arrest.

Every year around this time, I'm asked to compile a list of great gift ideas for people who like to cook.  As the resident "foodie" in the building, I guess I have some insight into what's trending (or sometimes more importantly what's not trending) in the culinary world.

With the Christmas season here, chances are you're doing more baking than any other time of the year.  And while cookies tend to always be popular, many people bake special cakes for the occasion as well.

Talk to any chef worth his or her salt and you'll learn that cast iron is king.  Or is it?

You can make your own sprinkles!

It's Fall, now we start to eat the fatty foods or foods that may be a little less healthy than what we would eat in the winter....hey, we have to hibernate!! This edition is finally sponsored....yea!! So wait till you see what Farley's is cooking for us. Send us your recipes, or questions.

Sometimes the more we try to juggle the less efficient we are.  That can be especially true in the kitchen, where timing and concentration can be the key between a fantastic dinner and a catastrophe.  On occasion, though things can get away from us.  So what can you do to rescue a meal that you've burned?

Before butter and margarine and especially before substances like shortening were created - people used rendered pig fat to cook with.  Better known as "lard", pig fat that's been rendered and allowed to re-solidify has been the cooks secret weapon since the beginning of time.

August is here and that means we're knee-deep in the summer grilling season!  From steaks and chops to burgers and brats, chances are you're spending a lot of time at your outdoor grill - and I'd like to see it.

My co-workers tease me a lot because (a) I like to cook and (b) I refuse to take shortcuts in the kitchen;  No box mixes or pre-packaged food for me - that just spoils that fun of it all.  The razzing escalated recently when I shared the fact that I had made my soft pretzel recipe over the weekend;  "You made soft pretzels - from scratch"?  Yup!  And they were very good.  Then, knowing t