Pie Tip

My sister in law, Mary Ellen shared a pie baking tip with me. With Thanksgiving getting so close I thought I would share it.
Swipe a little butter on the pie dish before laying the dough in. It will keep it from sticking to the dish.

Thanks Mary Ellen, all these little tips have helped me become a better cook. What is your favorite cooking tip?
*This picture is of Katie and Ryan, Mary Ellen's husband and daughter. I could not find a picture of Mary Ellen because like all good moms, I think she was taking the picture!

Thanksgiving Tip: How to keep your Turkey moist

Last year I shared a recipe for a Maple Glazed Turkey, I have another great turkey recipe up my sleeve but first a turkey tip. As the holiday gets closer, I always get the question of how to keep the bird moist, there really isn't anything worse than dry turkey. We all remember the scene from Christmas Vacation! A friend of mine taught me this trick years ago and it works like a charm.

What ever the recipe you are using, start your turkey breast side down. The last hour flip the bird over to brown the breast. The juices will all flow down into the breast keeping it perfectly moist. If you don't have a pan with a roasting rack you can layer slices of carrots, onion and celery between the breast meat and the bottom of the pan. If you are in the market for a roasting pan this Thanksgiving, I personally have the Calphalon Classic Non-Stick Roaster from Bed Bath and Beyond, a bargain at $59.

Kitchen Tip: Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs

Sometimes there are simple little tricks in the kitchen that no matter how great a cook you are, you just don't know everything. I confess, every time I go to boil eggs I call my mom...How long do you boil eggs? Embarrassing, I know! So here is how to make the perfect hard boiled egg.

After some research I learned that, eggs that are too fresh are difficult to peel, so always keep eggs in the refrigerator for a week or two before making boiled eggs.
My mom told me to take eggs out of the refrigerator and let them come to room temperature before cooking. Place the eggs in a pan large enough to hold all the eggs in a single layer, with water to cover eggs by at least an inch. Bring water to a boil. As soon as it boils, turn off heat and cover eggs. Set timer for 12 minutes. After 12 minutes, drain eggs, and add cold water. Let eggs cool in cold water, then drain and store in refrigerator.

Now what to do with the eggs...Make deviled eggs with shrimp and bacon!