Bolgger Issues

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Wes

Big Oil

No I am not talking about the debate in Washington DC! But sometimes when we use oil we use too much. I do use butter for things like eggs and add olive oil for other foods.  But even I can get carried away.  If you are trying to lose some weight or just want to cut down on the amount of oil try these suggestions.

1.Use a mister to spray the pan lightly. Or use a commercial pan spray. The key word is lightly.

2. Use a silicone brush instead of one with horse hair or fiber.  The silicone does not absorb the oil and lets you use less.

3. Use a paper towel with oil on it when you oil a baking pan instead of pouring the oil in then pouring some out.

I hope these help you!  Anyone have other ideas?  Let me know!!

Better Mashed Potatoes

In a previous post I mentioned that you should always wash your potatoes before you peel them. If you are making mashed potatoes here are some tips to make them better. 

1. Cut your potatoes in the same size pieces. That way they will cook at the same time.
2. Fill the pan with cold water and then stir the potatoes and pour out the water. Refill with fresh water.   This eliminates a lot of the surface starch and helps to prevent boil overs.
3. Use a potato ricer or food mill to mash the cooked potatoes - much smoother
4. Any liquid you add should be hot.
5. Finish with room temperature butter.

Sounds like a lot of work but it is really easy to do.