Cooking Tips

The microwave is a very useful kitchen appliance, used for heating up foods very fast. There are some foods it works better for and some that it doesn’t do so well – baked potatoes in the microwave, for example, are indistinguishable from the ones you do in the oven! But can you microwave coconut oil? … Read more

Microwaves are a convenient, simple way of reheating food – or in some cases, cooking it from raw. They are such a useful kitchen gadget that you would be hard pressed to find a house without one these days. Because of their widespread use, the “can I microwave this?” question is one that is often … Read more

If you’re a fan of salads, you may be interested to know how you can freeze them – either to save wasting them, to prepare in advance for a dinner party, or to use up a glut from the garden. The good news is that you can freeze your favourite arugula quickly and easily. What … Read more

A cheese ball is a delightful thing. Small enough to pop into your mouth, tasty enough to suit the most diverse of palates, and versatile enough that you can put pretty much anything into them. They are fun to make and to eat, and can be made with a huge variety of different ingredients. What’s … Read more

If you are a fan of Italian food, or if you have a non meat eater coming for dinner, chances are you’ve heard of Eggplant Parmesan. It’s delicious, filling and very healthy, and uses neither meat nor pasta. it makes a wonderfully tasty main dish, ideal for vegetarians and those watching their weight. You can … Read more

You would expect to find fruit flies where there is fruit, right? Or at the very least where there is food and leftovers. So why are there fruit flies in my bathroom, I hear you cry? Fruit flies are not especially fussy; obviously they prefer places where they have easy access to food, but you … Read more

Fruit flies are attracted to fruit, and bananas give off a particularly attractive to smell to them as they ripen. Bananas also “go over” very quickly, so they are an especial favourite of fruit flies, who like rotting organic matter the best. If you are tired of seeing clouds of flies hovering over your fruit … Read more

Fruit flies are an irritating nuisance around the house, in your kitchen or bathroom. This irritation is magnified a thousand fold in a restaurant, where the very last thing you need is insects flying around! These little insects cannot bite, so they are no direct threat to us – but their habits of flying around … Read more

Gas vs induction cooking, what’s better? Gas stoves have been used a lot longer than induction cooktops. They are the automatic choice for most people looking for a new cooktop for their kitchen. But induction cooking has become more popular in recent decades. It offers many advantages over a traditional gas hob. If you are … Read more

A pan or grill doesn’t allow for the precise cooking that a perfect uniformly done steak requires. Because the heat spreads so fast inside outer layers of the meat, you get a juicy medium center, a beautiful browned crust but an unappealing gray section just on the inside. You’ve probably seen these grey bands when … Read more