m_j_s's Profile

Display Name:	m_j_s
Personal URL:	http://stoddard@u.arizona.edu
Member Since:	2/19/08

Latest Comments...

I'll try this! About 80% of unpopped kernals from my air-popper occur in the first minute of popping. So I capture the first set in a second, smaller bowl inside the larger bowl. Once regular popping starts, I scoop out the popcorn from the small bowl into the large bowl. Quick Tip: Separating Unpopped Kernels from Popcorn Flag this comment	5/21/13 1:53 PM
In Tucson, Sprouts Farmers Market carries them in the olive bar. Sprouts has stores in the Bay Area. Nealey - thanks, this is a great idea! Easy Entertaining Recipe: Grilled Peppadews with Smoked Mozzarella Recipes from The Kitchn Flag this comment	5/20/13 5:41 PM
I second PastaAMT's comments! Start by cooking a meal on weekends - breakfast, brunch, lunch, tea (but not dinner) - in a relaxed "I am learning" mode. I recommend going to your library or local bookstore and checking out cookbooks for kids. They cover the basics in detail, and do not call for advanced skills. Once you have the basics, then go for the books recommended above. - Betty Crocker Kids Cook! - New Junior CookBook - Kids' Fun and Healthy Cookbook I Want to Start Cooking. Where Do I Start? Good Questions Flag this comment	5/16/13 12:28 PM
Baked cotija - put 1/2" slices of cotija in an oiled pan; top lightly with salsa; bake at 450F for 10-15 minutes; serve on romaine spears / tortillas / tomato wedges. Or substitute cotija in any baked feta recipe. What Should I Make With My Leftover Cotija Cheese? Good Questions Flag this comment	5/13/13 7:38 PM
You can use a (well-greased and floured) 4-quart Pyrex bowl to make a large dome cake, instead of carving layers. Lower the oven temperature by 25-50 degrees since you're baking in a glass container. DO NOT place the hot bowl on a cold surface when removing it from the oven (unless you enjoy explosions of glass shards.) You can add a round cake pan layer to the bottom to make the dome higher. This also reduces the thickness of the cake dough in the baking bowl, so it bakes more evenly. Don't Be Scared of Fondant! Flag this comment	5/9/13 1:53 PM
Ah - the “eye marks” or colors on the crimp line of toothpaste tubes are just markers for the crimper to align properly. They don't have anything to do with natural or chemical or organic or man-made content of the toothpaste. (depending on which version of the Rules you may have seen.) http://wafflesatnoon.com/2013/03/04/hoax-meaning-of-squares-on-tubes/ How Do You Know What Food Labels Mean and Whether They're Trustworthy? Flag this comment	5/8/13 7:48 PM
For litter tracking, put a big fluffy bathmat at the first major constriction, such as the door to the bathroom. Then program your Roomba to sweep the box area at least once a day. Yes, I have devoted my old Roomba to just cleaning up after the cat. Ideal Kitty Litter for Apartment Dwellers? Good Questions Flag this comment	5/2/13 1:18 PM
Asma - Is there anyone else who uses this staircase? Do they have visual or mobility issues? Do have a budget for major renovation or for paint+sweat? What is outside the walls of the stair well - the outdoors, a hall, the kitchen? How many floors does the staircase go to? How cohesive do you want the look to be from floor to floor - grand on the entry-bedroom level, bland on the bedroom-attic level? Renovation Ideas for Staircase? Good Questions Flag this comment	5/2/13 12:43 PM
Ah yes, college work arounds. I did get a grinder before a coffee pot, since the people on the floor below objected to the pounding on the floor. Handy Infographic: Brewing Coffee Without a Coffee Maker Flag this comment	4/30/13 3:32 PM
Has anyone tried using an air popper to make Quicos? Snack Recipe: Crunchy Chili-Lime Quicos Recipes from The Kitchn Flag this comment	4/29/13 5:14 PM
Detex - The Horticultural Society of NY has Seed Starters - www.hsny.org/recent_news.html#seedStarters0413 - they might be willing to work with the NYPL to provide seeds. Garden Inspiration: Store Seed Packets Inside a Card Catalog Country Living Flag this comment	4/25/13 4:09 PM
Many public libraries have free Seed Libraries - http://www.library.pima.gov/seed-library/#sister Seed libraries also use card catalogs to display the packets. Gardeners can check out packets, grow plants, then return seed from their plants to the library for the next season. Garden Inspiration: Store Seed Packets Inside a Card Catalog Country Living Flag this comment	4/25/13 11:44 AM
http://portcocktails.com/cocktails.html http://www.drinksmixer.com/cat/2289/ What Are Some Recipes That Use Port? Good Questions Flag this comment	4/24/13 5:28 PM
Robots that do all the housework, silently and invisibly at night. A conservatory for year-round fruit, vegetables and happy chickens. Plus very quiet chickens. What Crazy Things Would You Put In Your Dream Home? Buzzfeed Flag this comment	4/24/13 3:11 PM
Sometimes living in the desert sucks ... these would be herb crispers here. Even terra-cotta pots need to be watered twice a day. A Smart, Cheap Garden for Small Spaces: The Hanging Herb Garden Reader Project Flag this comment	4/24/13 2:59 PM
I'd recommend staining the cabinets instead of paint; wood grain is softer looking than enamel. With the counter/wall tiles/floor/appliances you already have lots of shiny, so think about usinh a matte finish to further soften the look. Consider a black-walnut stain that goes with the dark appliances and picks up bits of the tile colors. Also, think about removing the cabinet doors for some of the upper cabinets, or pulling down the cabinets and installing shelves. (easy) What Colors To Unify Chaotic Kitchen? Good Questions Flag this comment	4/23/13 4:27 PM
Lucy, do prefer a wedding cake that is - white or silver cake - chocolate or devilsfood - fruit cake / carrot cake - sponge or angelfood or pound cake - Italian style - http://www.boutiqueevents.it/2011/01/traditional-italian-wedding-cakes/ For a non-gluten cake, one of the denser choices (carrotcake or poundcake) is much easier to make. Help Me Make a Gluten-Free Wedding Cake! Good Questions Flag this comment	4/23/13 12:45 PM
Made this weekend. They were great! but I assumed I mistranscribed the amount of salt in the recipe and used 1 teaspoon of salt not a Tablespoon. Party Recipe: Savory Scones with Goat Cheese & Sun-Dried Tomatoes Recipes from The Kitchn Flag this comment	4/22/13 5:41 PM
I use my TJ Coconut oil spray for oiling phyllo dough leaves. It's much easier than brushing melted butter on to each phyllo, and I like the coconut flavor. Love Coconut Oil? Try Trader Joe's Coconut Oil Cooking Spray Ingredient Spotlight Flag this comment	4/22/13 5:33 PM
According to the medical literature, cream cheese is a good medium for raising food poisoning pathogens: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11338122 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23227163 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23333716 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20954443 Doing a science fair experiment on unsuspecting family and wedding guests is of dubious social value. Should Cakes with Cream Cheese Frosting Be Refrigerated? Good Questions Flag this comment	4/18/13 5:57 PM