Moldy Cheese

We've all done it - you have the perfect dish in the making, and all it needs to finish it off is a little bit of cheesy goodness, but when you pull the block or bag of cheese from the fridge, you find the cheese has mold on it!  And the thought goes through your mind, "Can I still use this?  Is it safe to eat?  It's only a little bit of mold..."

Well, next time, keep this in mind:

• As long as the fuzz is on a block of hard or semihard cheese (think Parmesan or cheddar), you're in the clear.  Just cut off one inch around and below the contaminated area, being careful not to let the knife come into contact with the mold.
• But, if  you find something furry on grated cheese or any type of soft cheese, toss it.  These types of cheeses can easily become contaminated throughout, making it nearly impossible to remove all the mold.

Mmm...tasty!

Keep 'Em in the Carton

Your fridge may have a space designated for egg storage, but you're better off keeping them in the carton.  The average eggshell has up to 17,000 pores across it's surface - that's a lot of tiny holes for odors and flavors to be absorbed through.  Storing them in the carton helps minimize this absorption, so all you taste when you cook the egg is egg...not that freshly sliced onion in the bottom drawer.

Mmm...tasty!

Dinner Discs

Summer is right around the corner!  Yay!  And that means outdoor party season!  

Need an easy party favor idea that does double duty as a plate holder?  Try picking up a few inexpensive plastic Frisbees (aka flying discs) at your local party or discount store and tucking a paper plate into each one.  (Make sure the plates fit snugly.)  Once your guests have eaten, remove the plate and, voila, instant party favor!  

Psst!  This would also be a fun idea for those outdoor graduation receptions many of you are probably planning right now.  Just find Frisbees in the graduate's school colors or purchase plain ones and decorate with paints or permanent markers.  You could even have guests sign one for the graduate as a keepsake!

Mmm...tasty!