Top-notch Cooking Hacks Drawing from a Quarter-Century of REAL SIMPLE Publication
Revamped and Streamlined
Kick back and relax - the experts at REAL SIMPLE have been sharing their slickest tips for a quarter-century! Here's a sprinkling of our best cooking, baking, and party advice to make you the ultimate host or chef.
Jump-start Your Dinner Party
Give your dining events the edge they need with our top tips aimed at leaving guests impressed.
- Go With a Clean Slate:See your guests arriving and wonder if you've missed a spot? Hide any mess with a spotless kitchen, especially the trash, sink, and dishwasher.
- Chill Your Onions:Got a watery eye while prepping onions? Pop them in the fridge before chopping to ease your tears.
- Keep Buffet Lines Running Smoothly:Set plates in advance and lay out silverware and napkins to ensure an efficient serving line.
- Assemble a Dessert Board:Create an enticing display for a crowd-pleasing finish by stacking store-bought goodies, candy, and fruit on your charcuterie board.
- Bake Your Pies the Right Way:Give those delicious pies the perfect crusty bottom by baking them on the oven's lowest rack.
- Store Brown Sugar:Don't let your brown sugar turn to a brick by keeping an orange peel in the container.
- Serve Your Pie Like a Pro:Cut your first slice easily by slicing two sections instead of one – you'll have more room for perfect slices!
Quick Desserts under the Hour Mark
No time to waste? These easy-to-make treats will satisfy your sweet tooth without breaking a sweat.
- Buy Enough Cheese:Ensure a balanced charcuterie board by providing 2 to 4 ounces of cheese per person.
- Poach Eggs in a Flash:Microwave your breakfast to perfection in under a minute by following our quick poaching method.
- Unstick Sticky Ingredients:Run a hot spoon under water before measuring gooey substances to ensure an easy pour.
- Soak Fish Fillets:Eliminate any fishy or icy taste in your fillets by soaking them in milk for 20 minutes before cooking.
- Add a Raisin to Champagne:Revive your sparkling wine in seconds by dropping a raisin in the bottle!
A Few Kitchen Essentials
Stock your kitchen with these must-have tools to make cooking hassle-free.
- Keep It Simple with 3 Knives:Handle almost every kitchen task with a chef's knife, paring knife, and a serrated knife.
- Unstick Jars with a Rubber Band:Save your hands from struggling with stubborn lids by wrapping a wide rubber band around them.
Just remember, even the experts stumble every now and then, but you're well on your way to nailing it! Happy hosting!
- Follow the cooking tips and techniques from the experts at Realsimple to enhance your holiday entertaining with surprising results.
- Impress your guests during an anniversary dinner party by mastering techniques such as baking pies the right way and serving them like a pro.
- To streamline your dinner parties, consider tips like laying out silverware and napkins beforehand and chilling your onions to prevent tearful preparation.
- For quick, stress-free desserts, remember tips like soaking fish fillets in milk and unsticking gooey ingredients with a hot spoon.
- To make your kitchen more efficient, essential tools like a chef's knife, paring knife, serrated knife, and a rubber band for unsticking jars are must-haves for any aspca furry friend owner.
