15-minute prep, 2-day cure in fridge and you have a showstopper for a fancy brunch or dinner party. Of all the DIY home-cured foods, gravlax is one of the most satisfying. The process doesnt take longor much of your attentionand it’s so pretty! Sheryl Julian The Difference Between Lox and Gravlax Gravlax is a Scandinavian specialty. Gravlax is also never smoked. And, of course, some salmon. Sheryl Julian Get two 1-pound pieces of salmon, preferably cut from the thicker end of the fillet....

Save the shells from crabs, shrimp, and lobsters to make your own, rich shellfish stock. Aunt Judy then explained that one makes lobster bisque from the leftover shells. I still recall my astonishment. Elise Bauer How could something so delicious come from boiled shells? While New England has its summer lobster season, we in Northern California have our winterDungeness crabseason. Best to do on a weekend afternoon. Elise Bauer Make a big batch and freeze what you don’t need!...

Homemade simple syrup for cocktails and iced drinks. Its five oclock somewhere! Simple syrup is made from just two ingredientssugar and waterand it’sthething to have around when its cocktail time. Sally Vargas What Cocktails Can You Make With Simple Syrup? There are so many! Anytime you want to add sweetness to a cold cocktail, turn to simple syrup. Sally Vargas It’s great for making batched pitcher cocktails in a jiffy....

The rich gelatin of the feet creates a rich and nutritious stock. The other day my father announced that he missed chicken feet. (What?!) Elise Bauer Making stock from chicken feet has been a human activity for thousands of years. Most of our grandmothers or great grandmothers used feet in their stock as a matter of fact. Stock made from chicken feet is fabulous, and incredibly good for you with all that gelatin....

The power of the sun to makes refreshing sun tea, with barely any work! The sun tea method also works with larger tea bags that are meant to make iced tea. Simply use the recommended amount of water per large tea bag that’s on the box’s directions. Simply Recipes / Michelle Becker If using plastic, see to it the container is BPA free. Sometimes you’ve got the option to put in a few sprigs of fresh mint as well....

This simple tip will keep your microwave clean. Offering to help, she opened the microwave to warm up theday-old muffinsI’d also put out. I immediately felt a pang of embarrassment, remembering the reheatedchilistill decorating the inside of my microwave. Simply Recipes / Getty Images The outcome wasn’t inevitable, though. Had I remembered this super simple tip, my microwave might have looked brand, spanking new. Or, at the very least, it wouldn’t have caused me embarrassment....

It’s reminiscent of a marshmallow with a spreadable consistency. If it feels smooth with no grains of sugar, it’s ready. Then you just whip this mixture in a stand mixer until it forms bright white, fluffy peaks. Cindy Rahe As long as the sugar is dissolved, its a pretty foolproof method! Ways To Use Swiss Meringue I love Swiss meringue for its versatility. It can be used to frost a cake and it also pipes beautifully....

This is the detox smoothie recipe you’ll use again and again. Today, I’m going to share my fool-proof system for making delicious detox smoothies. you could make a smoothie in less than 10 minutes. Trent Lanz And the best part is, you dont even need to turn on the oven! Below are my basic steps for spectacular smoothies, with suggestions for including the top detox foods. Feel free to swap out, or add in, any other ingredients you like!...

I asked two chefs for their top tips on making gravyhere’s what they had to say. All eyes are on you while you hope and pray the mixture doesnt go lumpy. I never quite understood the saying, Its All Gravy. Simply Recipes / Getty Images However, fear not! After many years of trial and error, I finally have this process down to a science. verify the roasting pan you use encourages browning....

The best guacamole keeps it simple: just ripe avocados and a handful of flavorful mix-ins. Did you know that over 2 billion pounds of avocados are consumed each year in the U.S.? (Google it.) Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer That’s over 7 pounds per person. I’m guessing that most of those avocados go into what has become America’s favorite dip: guacamole. The name is derived from two Aztec Nahuatl wordsahuacatl(avocado) andmolli(sauce)....

Here’s our best kept secret to making the most amazing scrambled eggs at home. With dim lights and good food. In the mornings, my bleary-eyed children wander from their bedrooms across our creaky hardwood floors. Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas I hug them and offer them a glass of milk. The fat in the heavy cream coats proteins in the eggs. This restricts the excess loss of liquid and contributes to fluffier eggs....

Its all about the temperature at which you cook them. Simply Recipes / Getty Images When I dont know what to cook, I turn to scrambled eggs. Theyre obviously great for breakfast. Simply Recipes / Getty Images I like them with a slice of toasted and buttered sourdough. The question led me to reach out to experts for their scrambling tips. Let me tell you, their unanimous advice did not disappoint....

Breaking it down step-by-step for a taste of perfection. Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm Tomato sandwiches have the highest ceiling and the lowest floor. The difference lies in the quality of ingredients and a thoughtful process. Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm He suggested avoiding tomatoes with cracks and never refrigerating them, as this diminishes their flavor and texture. Once you pick your half-ripe tomato, put it on your kitchen counter tocomplete the ripening process....