The Kitchen Chalkboard

The American appetite for spices has tripled since 1960, according to a 2015 USDA report entitled, “The Spice Market in the United States: Recent Developments and Prospects.

The study didn’t directly address consumption, only availability. However, the USDA analyst that created the document insisted that availability represents consumption in this case. We are enjoying more spices than ever!

Another interesting takeaway from the report was that spices fall in and out of favor. While caraway seeds used to be widespread, interest has declined. On the other hand, chile peppers have seen a boom. If we are increasing our consumption of spices, should we be buying the organic versions?

Want to learn what the benefits of organic spices are and if they are worth the additional cost?

Let’s go to The Chalkboard.

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How Do I Organize My Recipes Electronically?

Nothing is more frustrating than when you are about to make dinner, and you can’t find the recipe. You try searching for it but can’t remember the name. Getting food on the table is a priority, and now it’s delayed. It has happened to me more times than I can count. Then I started thinking about how do I organize my recipes electronically.

My first foray into creating a digital cookbook was making a folder on my computer and bookmark the recipe. This method is excellent in its simplicity. It falls down a bit when you are looking for a recipe, and you have no idea its name. You have to be online to access the website and rely on it still being in the same location it was when you found it. Over time, I found sites shut down, or recipes were placed behind a paywall making it challenging to access.

Then I moved to a digital cookbook and haven’t had an issue since. All of my recipes are stored offline in one place and easy to access. It is the ultimate time-saver.

There are so many options out there. A quick search in the app store produces countless results. If you want to learn how do I store my recipes electronically, I’m here to help!

I tried several different methods and apps, including Cook’N, Paprika Recipe Manager, Pepperplate, Pocket, Recipe Sage, and Pinterest. There are pros and cons to each one, but a few stand out from the crowd.

Want to make your digital cookbook?

Let’s go to the Chalkboard.

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Oktoberfest Menu

Are you looking for a simple Oktoberfest menu? You’ve come to the right place!

There is no better way to celebrate the fall than to host an Oktoberfest party. Jubilant in nature and focused around Munich’s flavorful food and drink, this is the perfect theme. Not familiar with German cuisine? An Oktoberfest celebration is a great way to introduce yourself and your guests.

Many would argue that German food doesn’t get enough attention in the U.S. However, one food authority believes it should. According to Mimi Sheraton, the author of The German Cookbook, “German cooking has more appeal to the average American palate then the cuisine of any other foreign country.” She states that meat and potatoes are staples of the German diet, just like America’s. The fats are similar, too, as both often use butter, lard, and bacon. The cuisine also includes a significant sweet and sour component that rivals the Americans. You can usually find ham and pineapple or turkey and cranberries together on a dinner table.

The Germans even have the motto gut essen, gut tinken, which means good eating and good drinking. You can’t go wrong with that!

Now is the time to celebrate the fall and host a party. So here is your Oktoberfest menu.

Let’s go to The Chalkboard.

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Which Cooking Oil To Use When?

Let’s chat about cooking oil.

I am almost embarrassed to admit it, but I love to fry things. I don’t know why. Perhaps it is the delicious food that it creates or the fact that it reminds me of my childhood. My mom made chicken cutlets all the time, and it is still the ultimate comfort food for me. No worries, I like to counter my fried food obsession with lots of salads. Recently, I have been making dressings from scratch.

Also, our CSA has been giving us some beautiful eggplants this year, and since my little guy loves eggplant parmesan, I have been making it quite often. As I stood over the stove, I looked at all of the oils I had. Vegetable, olive, canola, sunflower, and avocado oils were all in my cupboard. As I stared at them, I realized that I had no idea which one to use when. Recipes must have included them, which was why I bought them at some point.

If I knew which oils worked in similar ways and had identical flavors, I could use up what I own and have more confidence in any swaps.

Want to learn the best substitutes for oil and what the differences are between the varieties?

Let’s go to The Chalkboard.

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All About Garlic

Garlic is a staple ingredient for cooking within so many cuisines. It’s a simple vegetable that packs a great deal of flavor. But it isn’t just a simple item in from the produce department. A quick peruse through any spice cabinet allows you to find a few different garlic-based spices. I recently came across several in my pantry and realized that I had no idea what makes them different. Granulated, powder, and salt, how are they different?

Want to learn what type you should use, and in what form? What about garlic substitutes?

Let’s go to The Chalkboard.

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5 Common Avocado Problems And Solutions

I am in love with the simple avocado. You can place it on toast, salads, and everything in between. If it is in a dish, I am likely to love it and have it on a meal plan. And I am not alone. Since March, demand for the green fruit (yup, it is a fruit) has been surging, and the cost has gone along with it. Prices are up almost 63 percent. This is making an already pricy piece of produce even more expensive.

So, if we are paying a premium for the avocado, we want one that tastes great. The problem is, we are unable to tell from the outside just what we are getting. It is impossible just to see if it is problem-free. I’ve had more and more encounters with brown avocados, stringy avocados, and avocados that won’t ripen, no matter what method I employed.

So what is a consumer to do? Here are common problems with avocados and what to do about them.

Let’s go to The Chalkboard.

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All Things Butter

I recently sent my husband out to Costco to stock up for the fall. I don’t know about you, but we have a family that never seems to stop eating. Add to that we are spending more time at home, and it feels like there is never enough food in the pantry.

He came home with blocks of butter. Truth be told, I had always avoided them since I wasn’t quite sure how to accurately measure them and was concerned with putting too much butter in a recipe. I always shied away. Now here I was, faced with four pounds of it. Determined not to let it go to waste — here we are.

Want to learn about all things butter?

Let’s go to The Chalkboard.

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Which Salt Is Right For You?

This one simple ingredient can transform your cooking. It can make a hum hum dish sing and take your desserts to the next level. It also is something that the body craves but can’t keep. SALT! Formal name Sodium Chloride.

Despite its simplicity, the choices are seemingly endless. Just look at the grocery aisle, and you will come across many different options. Kosher, table, pink Himalayan, canning, pickling? Coarse or fine? Which do you choose and why?

Just a little bit of information, and you can learn which to use and when. It’s important because, throughout this research, I’ve learned that not all salts are the same.

Let’s go to The Chalkboard.

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I Assembled IKEA Swedish Meatballs

My husband and I always joke that we will know when we’ve “made it” when we don’t have to assemble our furniture anymore. Ten plus years married, and we have not yet made it. Not only are we still assembling furniture, now I am assembling IKEA Swedish meatballs.

IKEA recently released the recipe for their famous meatballs. Having had them several times, I knew I wanted to make them right away. They are the ultimate comfort food. After reviewing the recipe several times, I realized that, unlike their regular assembly instructions, these weren’t as clear. Want to learn how to make IKEA Swedish meatballs?

Let’s go to The Chalkboard.

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Do Food Expiration Dates Matter?