Ideas & Tips

Fruit baskets and bowls are beautifully versatile: they are some of the only things that can serve as an item of decor and also as a tasty snack for your guests when they get hungry. Having an artfully arranged fruit basket on your table is a welcoming, hospitable touch, and can also add a touch of color and freshness to the home as the days grow shorter. Here are some tips to help you create your own edible centerpieces: Choose the right basket. You'll want something that goes with your other decor and doesn't overpower the fruit in appearance. This brushed stainless...

The mortar and pestle is a versatile and useful kitchen implement, but few of us actually grew up using one, so it can be a bit difficult to get into the swing of using it for cooking. Here are a few tips to help you take proper advantage of your mortar and pestle: It's not just for dry spices. Garlic, basil and other "wet" spices can also be ground into pastes or muddled in the mortar and pestle, making it a great tool for creating rubs and seasonings for meat dishes. Use it to make pesto. According to numerous cooks, the difference...

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...

Summer is a good time to switch up your snacking routine, opting for easy, light and healthy options that don't require you to heat up your kitchen by cooking! Here are some ideas to keep you full and energized throughout the day:  Cranberry slushy: Food.com has an easy recipe for a cool cranberry slushy. Just mix all ingredients together in a gallon ice cream pail or other large freezable container and freeze overnight. Serve spoon slush into our double-walled stainless steel drinking glasses with matching straws and add additional 7-Up or Sprite. Fresh fruit: Many different kinds of fruit are currently in season,...

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...