Kitchen Tips
What's New
Gather everybody ’round.
Bringing the whole family together for a meal is a tradition we've all enjoyed for generations. With the busy schedules of today, maybe everyone doesn't make it to the dinner table quite as often. Pick one day every week to share dinner together and keep the family dinner tradition going.
- Make the most of the time you spend together around the dinner table with these conversation starters. It's a great way to celebrate the uniqueness of your family, and maybe even help you discover something new about each other
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What's for dinner? Answering this question has never been more fun than gathering the family together and asking them. Whether you plan out weekly menus or just what you're having the next night (or next week), simply knowing the plan will keep everyone happy and take a little more pressure off of you
- Looking for some ideas? Try a potato bar with everybody's favorite toppings. Or make breakfast for dinner!
Cook up a little family time.
Take family dinners beyond eating together. Start cooking together too! Assigning dinner duties to each family member makes preparation simple every time, and makes for a little more together time too. Let younger kids help measure and add ingredients, while older kids help with prep such as chopping veggies or stirring at the stove. They'll appreciate these valuable basics, and the memories you made while teaching them.
- Measuring and counting ingredients, halving or doubling a recipe, and timing during prep are all things that can a make a math lesson fun for the young students in your family
- Try appreciating your family’s history through food. At least once a month, make a meal together that features specialties from the places you can trace your roots back to
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Butter FAQ
Should I use salted or unsalted butter?
For most recipes, salted and unsalted butter can be used interchangeably. However, many chefs recommend using unsalted butter for baking, preparing seafood and for any situation where controlling salt content is desirable. Salted butter is a good choice for general cooking and is generally preferred for table use.
When do I use whipped butter?
Whipped butter is light and fluffy and is best used as a spread. Whipped butter contains more air than other butter products.
How do I store butter?
Refer to the package for expiration date. You may also store butter in the freezer for up to four months at 20° to 30°F, or up to one year at -10°F. The longer butter is frozen, the more likely it will lose its flavor and texture.
Remember butter is a flavor-delivery agent, which is why it absorbs the aromatic essence of spices and seasonings in cooking. However, this also means butter can absorb unwanted odors when stored improperly.
To prevent odor absorption, wrap thoroughly or place your butter in a sealed container before refrigerating. When freezing butter, wrap first in foil or place in a plastic bag.
How do I thaw butter?
If the butter has been frozen, simply place the amount of butter you intend to use within 30 days in the refrigerator and allow it to thaw. To soften refrigerated butter for spreading, take it out of the refrigerator about 30 minutes before serving.
At what temperature does butter melt?
Butter melts between 82.4° and 96.8°F. To ensure that butter will melt and not burn, heat at low temperature and watch it closely.
How do I measure butter?
Accurate measurements are important in many recipes. Here are some facts to keep in mind when measuring butter:
2 cups = 4 sticks = 1 pound = 16 ounces
1 cup = 2 sticks = 1/2 pound = 8 ounces
1/2 cup = 1 stick = 1/4 pound = 8 tablespoons = 4 ounces
1/4 cup = 1/2 stick = 4 tablespoons = 2 ounces