Ideas & Tips — Kitchen

Thanksgiving's here, and you've followed all your family's traditional recipes, or maybe just looked up how to cook a turkey online. In any case, you've just pulled the bird out of the oven, it's sitting imposingly on your dining room table: Now what? If you've never carved a turkey before, approaching it from the first time can be a harrowing maze of sinewy, bony roadblocks. Here's our step-by-step advice for getting the most meat out of your bird: Set the bird down breast-side up and remove the legs. Use the carving knife to slice the skin between the legs and the...

Continuing in the Thanksgiving vein, let's talk about the confusing and intimidating process of preparing to host the big meal. Especially if this is your first time hosting Thanksgiving dinner for a large group, the sheer amount of food and supplies needed combined with the exhausting preparation process can leave your head spinning. To make sure you don't find yourself missing some crucial element on Thanksgiving itself, follow this list of things to take care of before hosting: Make sure you have all the necessary cookware and serving items. Once you have your menu planned out, mentally walk through the preparation...

Nothing is more fun than going out to eat sushi at a local restaurant, but what if you could also make your favorite sushi rolls right in the comfort of your own home? It may prove less expensive than dining out and it's also a fun activity with which to wow your friends and family members! Here are some tips to keep in mind:  Buy sushi-grade fish: It's very important that you only use sushi-grade fish when making your own rolls, which means it is safe to eat raw. Sushi enthusiast Monnie Nilsson writes in The Denver Post that you should...

A new study conducted by German and Danish scientists raises further questions about the possible effects of certain chemicals on human reproductive health. The researchers found that some endocrine disruptors, chemicals commonly found in everyday plastics, can undermine fertility in men. Experts have been questioning the health effects of one endocrine disruptor, bisphenol A (BPA), for years.  The researchers discovered no concrete connection between BPA and fertility. However, an earlier study found a link between BPA and miscarriages, according to a 2010 CNN report. It also stated that chemicals known as phthalates were linked to a 20 percent decline in male...

Perhaps it is because they're such a ubiquitous and simple item that few people ever consider what straws actually do for us aside from streamlining the beverages we drink. However, straws actually provide several benefits for our oral and dental health.  Here are three reasons why you should consider stocking up on straws for your kitchen: Convenience: One of the reasons why straws are great for children is that they protect them from germs that may exist on glasses, especially in restaurants and other public venues where you can't verify the cleanliness of everything. Additionally, the controlled amount of liquid...