Howcast

How to Make Hash Browns

Howcast — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 08:45:52 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Cook potatoes Reduce heat to medium-high and cook until you can push a fork in with slight resistance.
Step 2: Boil potatoes Place the potatoes in a large saucepan, add water to cover them completely, and bring to a boil.
Step 3: Drain and cool Remove the potatoes from heat and drain. Let them cool until you can handle them.
Step 4: Shred Shred the cooled potatoes on the large-hole side of the box grater. You can leave the skins in or pick them out.
Step 5: Melt butter Melt 3 tablespoons of butter over medium heat in skillet.
Step 6: Add potatoes Add the shredded potatoes to the skillet. Press down with a spatula for even cooking.
Step 7: Cook until brown Cook until the bottom side is crispy and brown, about 10 minutes. Then, flip the potatoes and brown the other side. Add extra butter if needed.
TIP: Lower the heat if your potatoes are browning too quickly.
Step 8: Drain, season, and serve Remove the potatoes and let them drain on paper towels. Add a dash of salt and pepper, and serve your hash browns warm.
FACT: Did you know? The average American ate about 126 pounds of potatoes in 2006.

You Will Need

1 1/2 lb. potatoes
4 to 6 tbsp. butter
Salt and pepper
Large saucepan
Box grater
Large nonstick skillet
Spatula
Paper towels

How to Make Oatmeal

Howcast — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 14:30:54 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Soak the oats Place a cup of whole oats in the liquid, and let the oats soak in a covered container for four to eight hours.
TIP: You can substitute steel-cut or rolled oats for the whole oats if you want a faster-cooking cereal, but the presoak time is the same.
Step 2: Bring the oats and the soaking liquid to a boil. Then simmer them in the pot, uncovered, for 7 to 10 minutes.
Step 3: Stir the oats. The oats are ready when the excess water has evaporated and the oatmeal is not sticking to your spoon.
Step 4: Serve the oatmeal Serve the oatmeal topped with milk and sugar, a pat of butter, or raisins.
FACT: Oats are believed to have first reached the North American continent in 1602.

You Will Need

1 tsp. salt
2-4 c. water
1 c. whole oats
Container with lid
Milk
Sugar
Butter
Raisins
Steel-cut oats (optional)
Rolled oats (optional)

How to Make Scottish Scones

Howcast — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 13:45:48 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Whisk in large bowl Add the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, baking soda, and cream of tartar to a large bowl and whisk everything together. Using clean fingers, blend the butter into the mixture until it is coarse and mealy.
TIP: You can use a pastry blender instead of your fingers.
Step 2: Stir in buttermilk and egg Form a soft dough by stirring the buttermilk and egg into the mixture with a fork.
Step 3: Knead the dough Put the dough on a lightly floured flat surface. Lightly flour your hands and divide the dough into thirds. Then knead each piece three or four times.
Step 4: Form wedges Pat the thirds into round shapes and cut each piece into four wedges.
Step 5: Heat griddle Heat the griddle or pan over low heat and lightly oil the surface.
Step 6: Cook the wedges Split the wedges into two batches and cook them on the griddle. Dust the wedges with flour and cook on low for three minutes. Then turn the heat up to medium and cook for another three to five minutes, until the scones are puffed and golden brown.
Step 7: Flip the wedges Flip the wedges over and cook for six minutes, until the other side browns. Then cook the edges for one minute each, until all sides are done and the scones are ready to eat.
FACT: Pharmacist Alfred Bird invented baking powder in 1837 for his wife who was unable to eat bread that contained yeast.

You Will Need

2 1/2 c. flour
2 tsp. sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. cream of tartar
2 tbsp. butter
1 c. buttermilk
1 egg
Vegetable oil
Equipment:
Griddle or skillet

How To Make Sausage

Howcast — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 10:45:57 +0000

Instructions

: Wash you hands thoroughly before beginning and use sanitized equipment when making sausage.
Step 1: Place the meat in the freezer Place the meat in your freezer for two hours.
TIP: Place your bowls and meat grinder in the freezer for an hour before using them.
Step 2: Cut the meat Slice the meat into 1-inch chunks, and then place it in a bowl. Set that bowl in a larger bowl filled with ice.
Step 3: Grind the meat Remove the grinder from the freezer and push the meat though it, working quickly.
Step 4: Combine the other ingredients Combine the ground meat with the rest of the ingredients, and then mix and knead well.
Step 5: Form sausage patties Form sausage patties. Refrigerate them for up to a week or freeze them until needed.
Step 6: Cook the sausage Bake, fry, grill, or broil the sausage until it is cooked through.
FACT: There are over 250 varieties of sausage sold around the world.

You Will Need

5 lbs. meat containing 20% fat
2 tsb. table salt
1 tsp. mace
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. white pepper
1 tsp. allspice
1 c. nonfat dry milk
1/2 c. water
Meat grinder

How to Microwave Bacon

Howcast — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 09:45:47 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare microwave-safe dish Place 3 paper towels on the microwave-safe cooking tray.
Step 2: Put bacon on plate Lay 4 to 6 bacon strips on top or the paper towel without overlapping them.
Step 3: Cook Cover the bacon with another paper towel, and then cook on high for 4 to 5 minutes.
TIP: Cooking time may vary depending on the microwave and the number of bacon slices.
Step 4: Remove from microwave Remove your bacon from the microwave and let it sit for 1 minute to cool.
Step 5: Enjoy Enjoy the easy cleanup and your crisp and delicious bacon.
FACT: Pigs can’t sweat, so farmers use sprinklers and fans to keep them cool.

You Will Need

4 paper towel sheets
Microwave-safe cooking tray
Bacon

How to Make Muesli

Howcast — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 13:48:28 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Start by putting rolled oats, the basis of most muesli, into a large mixing bowl. Add seeds, dried fruit, and chopped nuts – the types and quantity is up to you.
TIP: Consider adding nuts just before you eat a serving, since nuts go bad quickly.
Step 2: Add whatever else you like – bran, rye, or wheat flakes; barley kernels; chocolate chips; coconut flakes; or mini marshmallows. Mix everything together.
Step 3: Store the muesli in a large, airtight container, like a glass jar with a lid, and store in the fridge. It will stay fresh for up to two months.
Step 4: Grab a handful for an on-the-go snack, put it in a bowl and add milk and fresh fruit, or use it as a topping for ice cream, yogurt, or cottage cheese. Or invent your own favorite way to eat muesli.
FACT: Muesli was introduced around 1900 by a Swiss physician for his hospital patients.

You Will Need

2 to 4 c. of rolled oats
Large mixing bowl
Seeds
like sunflower and pumpkin
Dried fruit
Chopped nuts
Airtight container
Bran
rye
or wheat flakes
Barley kernels
Chocolate chips
Coconut flakes
Mini marshmallows
Milk
Fresh fruit
Ice cream
Yogurt
Cottage cheese

How to Make Fruit Salad

Howcast — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 07:45:52 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Choose your fruit Choose your fruit. Any fresh fruit in season is a good choice, but remember that apples and bananas brown quickly.
Step 2: Mix brown sugar & lime juice In a small bowl, mix the brown sugar and lime juice to make the sweetener. Let the mixture sit so the sugar is completely dissolved by the time you are done with the fruit.
TIP: Substitute ¼ cup of orange liqueur as the sweetener for some extra kick.
Step 3: Wash fruit Wash all your fruit with cool water.
Step 4: Prepare fruit Seed, skin, or core the fruit as needed.
Step 5: Chop fruit Cut the fruit into uniform, bite-size pieces. With the exception of strawberries, there’s no need to slice berries or grapes.
Step 6: Mix fruit with sweetener Place all your cut fruit in the large salad bowl, pour the sweetener on top, and mix.
Step 7: Chill Chill for at least 10 minutes. Serve as is, or add a topping of yogurt or whipped cream.
FACT: During WWII, fruit salad was promoted by the U.S. government as a great way for Americans to get a healthy amount of vitamin C in their diet.

You Will Need

A variety of fresh fruits
3 tbsp. brown sugar
1 lime
A small mixing bowl
A sharp knife
A cutting board
And a large salad bowl
1/4 c. orange liqueur

How to Make Blueberry Muffins

Howcast — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 13:00:47 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat oven Preheat the oven to 400 F and butter the muffin tin.
TIP: If you have muffin liners lying around, they make clean up much easier. Place liners in buttered muffin tins.
Step 2: Mix dry ingredients With a whisk mix together the flour, sugar, salt, and baking soda in a large bowl.
Step 3: Whisk wet ingredients In another bowl, whisk the egg, milk, and melted butter together and add the lemon zest to this mixture.
Step 4: Mix Make a well in the middle of the dry ingredients and pour in the wet mixture. Mix until just combined by folding the ingredients together with a mixing spoon. The batter will be lumpy and thick.
Step 5: Add berries Add the blueberries to the batter and gently fold them in.
TIP: If you’re using frozen berries, don’t let them defrost or you’ll have purple muffins.
Step 6: Spoon batter into tins Spoon the batter into the muffin tin filling each compartment about 1/2 to 2/3 full.
Step 7: Bake Bake the muffins for 20 to 25 minutes, or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
Step 8: Cool Cool for 10 minutes. For best results, serve warm.
FACT: Blueberries are one of the few native fruits of North America, and Native Americans used berries as food, their leaves as medicinal tea, and the juice as both a health tonic and cloth dye.

You Will Need

A muffin tin
2.0 large mixing bowls
A mixing spoon
2.0 c flour
1/4-1/2 c. of sugar
depending on how sweet your berries are
0.5 tsp salt
3.0 tsp baking powder
An egg
1.0 c whole milk
3.0 tbsp butter
plus extra for greasing the tin
1.0 tbsp grated lemon zest
1.0 c fresh or frozen blueberries
And a wooden toothpick
Muffin or cupcake liners