How To . . .

Jan 28, 2014

How To Make Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs

How To Make Hard Boiled Eggs Easy To Peel

I make a lot of hard boiled eggs.  A lot. There are some in my fridge right now… perfect, easy to peel, no green ring, hard boiled eggs for snacking, breakfast, deviled eggs, and egg salad. I’ve learned a few things about how to make foolproof hard boiled eggs so here’s what I know…

1) Really fresh eggs will be harder to peel so use your older eggs for boiling.

2) Place eggs in a pot and cover completely with cold water.

3) Do not crowd too many eggs in the pot or they may not cook.

4) If you see a stream of bubbles coming out of an egg in the cold water that means it’s cracked. Remove the cracked egg and save it for cooking.

5) Add ½ teaspoon of baking soda to the water. If you don’t have baking soda, use salt.

6) Bring the water to a full, rolling boil.

7) Cover the pot and turn off the heat, leaving the pot on the warm burner.

8) Set a timer for 17 minutes. Prepare a bowl of ice water.

10) After 17 minutes remove the eggs from the hot water using a slotted spoon and place them in the ice water for 2 minutes. They will still be warm inside after two minutes.

11) Serve immediately or keep refrigerated.

11) Freshly boiled, warm eggs will be easier to peel than cold ones.

12) Peeling them under running water makes peeling easier.

13) Start to peel at the fat end of the egg for easier peeling.

So that’s all I know about making perfect hard-boiled eggs. Now here is why I eat them: Eggs are a great source of….

~Protein, B vitamins, and minerals.

~Choline, which reduces inflammation, protects against breast cancer, and supports brain health.

~Lutein and Zeaxanthin to ward off macular degeneration.

~Sulphur for shiny hair, strong nails, and glowing skin.

~New research tells us that egg yolks contain dietary cholesterol but they do not raise blood cholesterol. For the latest research on eggs from Prevention Magazine, click here.

So that’s everything I know about making perfect, easy to peel, no green ring hard boiled eggs. Now here’s as quiz: Q: Why do brown eggs cost more than white ones? A: Because the hens are bigger and it costs more to feed them. Nutritionally, there is no difference.

Aug 19, 2013

How To Keep Cookies Crisp

To keep crisp cookies crisp all you need is a stapler, a coffee filter, some baking soda, and an air-tight container. I can explain. The baking soda absorbs moisture and the coffee filter is made of a porous material full of tiny holes that lets the air  circulate easily and allows the baking soda to absorb any moisture.

How to Keep Cookies CrispPut about 1/3 cup of fresh baking soda into a coffee filter and staple it closed with two staples, allowing the open edge to get as much air as possible. Stapling the baking soda inside the filter keeps it from spilling onto the cookies. A couple of staples is all you need. Also, make sure the freshly baked cookies are completely cooled before storing.

How to Store Crispy CookiesPlace the stapled coffee filter in an air-tight container (in any position, upright or laying down) with your cookies and you will find them just as crispy the next day. Here are some other tips for keeping cookies crisp:

  • Cool cookies completely before storing.
  • Do not store soft cookies together with crispy cookies.
  • Glass containers are good for storing crispy cookies.
  • Do not store in plastic bags but use a covered container.
  • Refrigerating cookies will help keep them crisp.
  • If you freeze cookies they will be crispy if you eat them frozen.
  • Cookies that have softened will be never become crispy when stored no matter what tricks you use.
  • Cookies can be re-crisped in a 300 degree F oven for 5-10 minutes.
Jul 22, 2013

How To Share My Recipes

Here’s how to share any of my recipes. Just above each recipe on the right side look for these buttons:

Screen Shot 2016-08-19 at 3.08.52 PM

With the first two buttons, you can share a recipe on your facebook page or email it to anyone, even yourself. And when you click on the Screen Shot 2016-08-19 at 3.43.00 PM you will see this:

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Now you can share on any of the apps that pop up. But wait, there’s more. When you click on the Screen Shot 2016-08-19 at 3.46.36 PM look what else pops up:

Screen Shot 2016-08-19 at 3.24.25 PM

How exciting! I’d be even more excited if I knew what they all were. 🙂 But if yours isn’t here, it probably doesn’t exist. So now you can share any of my recipes you like. The more people cooking at home, the better! – Jenny Jones

Jun 4, 2013

How to Bake Soft Cookies

Parvin asks… Hello Jenny, how can i bake soft cookies? Thank you

My Response… There are a few things than help to make soft cookies:
1. Bake them for the least amount of time, even if they seem soft in the middle.
2. Don’t use dark baking pans, only shiny metal ones.
3. Try reducing the flour just a little.
4. Try adding an extra egg yolk.
5. Use more brown sugar and less white sugar.
6. Use butter and not oil.
7. Replace part of the butter with shortening.
8. Remove cookies immediately from pan when done.
9. Cool the cookies on a flat surface and not a wire rack.
10. Store them in an air-tight container. If needed, put in a piece of white bread.

May 3, 2013

How to Prevent Sinking Cupcakes

Debbie asks… Hi lately my cupcakes have become wrinkled and flat once out of the oven can you to me what might cause this please.

My Response…

Baking is such an exact science that almost any small change in a recipe can cause it to fail. Here are a few possible explanations:

  • Your baking powder or baking soda is expired.
  • Your ingredients are not room temperature.
  • Batter was over-mixed.
  • Oven door was opened during baking.
  • Batter was too liquid.
  • Improper measuring.
  • Oven was not preheated long enough.
  • Oven temperature is not accurate.

Make sure you follow your recipe exactly, right down to the size of the eggs (usually large) and use fresh ingredients. I hope this helps. Does anyone else have cupcake advice for Debbie?

May 2, 2013

My How To Guide

How To Store Cut Fruit & Vegetables

How To Aerate Flour

How To Store Granola Bars

How To Store Homemade Bread

How To Reheat Frozen Dinner Rolls

How To Freeze Yeast

How to Keep Tortillas Soft

How To Measure Flour

How To Aerate Flour

How To Toast Nuts

How To Store Celery

How To Freeze Pesto

How To Keep Brown Sugar Soft

How to Rise Dough

How To Line a Square Pan with Parchment Paper

How To Store Parsley

How To Freeze Pecan Balls

How To Measure Ingredients

How To Keep Cookies Crisp

How To Share My Recipes

How To Restore Crusty Bread