This Month's EASY FAST FIVE
Fast Easy Cooking Tips 101
1. Like Frying , but don't know why you burn it everytime, have no fear . Try a different cooking oil. Foodies and Chef's know all about which oils have High Smoke points. I know everyone loves olive oil and I do too. But in reality its not good for everything because of it's low smoke point. So try Grapeseed, Safflower, Peanut, or Sunflower oils , they are just as good too. As a home cook, all of these are the oils I have in my pantry. If your making Bruschetta stick to the tried and true, but if your frying some Chicken or Fish, you'll need a different oil for that. Peanut oil for instance is great for your Stir Fry's.
Note: What is a smoke point. The point at which it burns, baby, ha!


2. I love baking, cookies and cakes, you name it. I have probably baked it at least once. While I actually prefer baking from scratch, a skill I learned from Baking with Grandma Opal on weekends, there are times I use storebought mixes. We all know you can frost a cookie to dress it up , but what ever shall we do with the cake, so its not so ordinary. After you frost it add some nuts. Pecans and walnuts are great to sprinkle on Chocolate cake, while almonds are better on a cream cheese or Vanilla based caked. And if you really want to fancify it more, get a little carmel sauce and drizzle it on after the frosting then sprinkle nuts, add it to a chocolate cake and voila, it's a turtle cake. Haha.
It really is that easy to make a storebought cake seem fancy, your mate will rave about it and your guest will think you spent hours on it, haha.
Besides Dr. Oz says Nuts are good for you!
Note: just be sure no one has a Nut allergy, otherwise they'll be raging, not raving, ha!

Dressed up Spice Cake - Recipe Here: http://easylivin.org/easy-treats.html
3.LEMON BAR CRUST CHEAT TIP: Have a Lemon Bar recipe but don't feel like making that 5 ingredient crust. Have no fear, try thistimesaver buy 2 stoebought graham cracker crust and repress into your baking pan, Wow, your done with the crust.If your really pressed for time just pour the lemon Filling into the Storebought Graham crust and make a sweet lemon pie instead.
Note: if it won't stick together when you repress into your pan,try adding a litlle softened butter or margarine.
4. Kitchen tool must have is A kitchen Timer. Every kitchen needs a timer, as a home cook who is also a mommy, When I get distracted it's a gentle reminder the food is done or needs checked on. So don't be embarrassed about using a timer. Especially if your new to cooking. Many recipes for making Candies recipes require one. A kitchen timer saves money and time, since you won't have to waste burnt food or recook that Hollandaise sauce. And they are portable and can be taken everywhere. Simply put a timer is the best investment you 'll ever make for your new career as a foodie.

5. Ziploc Rescue -
Have you ever ran out of foil when it came time to cover the cake or perhaps you lost your lid to the plastic storage container. Hmmm... what should you do? Do this just place the whole thing in a storage bag. I love this idea because the bag can be sealed. I have even gotten plates inside of a Gallon size freezer bag. plus you can microwave it right inside the bag, just open the bag for venting, nothing will splatter. That will certainly save you from scrubbing the microwave, ewww!!! And think You can SEE the leftovers on the plate and seeing it will help you remember to eat it for leftovers. Which will save you money on your grocery bill.
Small storage containers can fit into a sandwich bag, losing your lid doesn't mean you throw the plastic in the dumpster, save the planet, people, ha! Just slip into a Ziploc bag.


Hope you enjoyed this month's Easy Fast Five. Have a great week, Everyone! Keep It Easy! Yvonne D.
Added Aug. 31, 2014 = Happy Birthday Grandma Opal. Love and miss you!