Frost Free Windows

Winter has officially begun (as of yesterday, December 21)!  Want to keep your windows frost-free this winter?  Try wiping them with a solution of a half a cup rubbing alcohol per one quart of water.

Mmm...tasty?

Dashing Through the Snow

It's snowing here today (or was earlier anyway).  It's a balmy 32-ish degrees - Fahrenheit not Celsius - and I'm loving it.

But...the temperature is supposed to be in the 70s by the weekend.

Welcome to Oklahoma.  If you don't like the weather just wait a bit.

Anywho, how about some November goodies?  As seems to be the case all too often lately, I'm getting around to posting photos much later than I'd like, but, hey, life is busy and is meant to be lived.

At least it's still the holiday season - and who doesn't want to relive a little Fall and Thanksgiving goodness?

Without further ado, please enjoy the following photos:

Hold the Heat

You probably know that the seeds in a chile hold quite a bit of the heat, but did you know that most of the capsaicin (the heat producing compound) actually resides in the ribs of the chile?  To really cut back on a pepper's heat, halve it lengthwise and use a small paring knife to scrape out the ribs and seeds.

Mmm...tasty!

What in the World is "Velveting?"

Ever had stir fry from a really good Chinese restaurant and been amazed at the silky texture of the meat?  This texture is achieved by using a technique called velveting:  coating the meat in a mix of cornstarch, egg whites, and seasonings before frying.  The coating forms a crust that seals in moisture and protects the meat from the high heat of the wok.

Mmm...tasty!