Not only should your knives be sharp and used properly, but it's also important to use the correct knife. Here is a great chart that tells you the right style and shape knife to use for the job at hand.

It takes a lot practice to sharpen a knife properly (you should start with an old knife because you'll probably end up with a dull blade the first time you try it), and it's easier to pay a professional, but once you get skilled at it, you'll have sharp knives for life (you know the saying "Give a man to fish, and…

Here you go...Samoas...or try this recipe!

Another great alternative is to actually make the Girl Scout cookies yourself. DIY Girl Scout cookie recipes are all over the internet. Not only do they taste better when you make them yourself, but you also get a wonderful feeling of accomplishment that helps negate the horrible feeling you get when you look in the…

Another great kitchen tip is, when freezing meat or fish, cut the label from the package you bought it in and place that in the freezer bag with it. That way you won't end up with a UFO (Unidentifiable Frozen Object) in your freezer...the label will remind you exactly what it is, when you bought it and even what you…

Although they do look great on your counter top, knife sets really can be a waste of money (I feel the same way about sets of pots and pans...you end up paying for pieces that are redundant, the wrong size and that you'll probably never use). The best thing to do in both cases is to buy exactly what you need according…

Absolutely..If the cooking surface is still nice and hot, pouring a little water directly on it will actually "deglaze" the pan and and lift whatever caked on crud is stuck to it right off for easy cleaning.

The problem with that technique is that it eliminates the great crispy crust when you use parchment paper. A great tool for making hot pressed sandwiches (especially grilled cheese!) is the Cast Iron Bacon Weight. It's the perfect thing to weigh down the sandwich so it heats quickly and evenly. It's not a "one trick…

I think the best (and simplest) way to prepare steel cut oats is the Overnight Method. My little trick is to saute the oats in butter for a few minutes before adding the water...it really intensifies the natural, nutty flavor. Not only does it freeze well, but it will also stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 5…

This is also a great way to deal with that block of hardened brown sugar you find in your pantry. There are a lot of ways to soften it up, but if you just need a little for a recipe, a box grater is a quick solution, and it works really well.

Great tip...I think a lot of people avoid certain recipes because it calls for an ingredient that comes in a quantity that they can't use all at once and they hate to see what's left go bad in the refrigerator (especially if it's expensive). I find there are a lot of things that freeze well, like tomato paste, that's…

I love THREE cookies!

One of the problems I used to have when looking in the freezer to find something to reheat for dinner was not knowing exactly what that UFO (Unidentified Frozen Object) in the freezer bag actually was and when it was purchased. I solved that problem by cutting off the label from the package it came in and sticking it…

If you don’t have a slowcooker, this technique works just as well. Heat 1 tsp. of butter in a 2 qt. saucepan, add 1 cup of steel cut oats and fry while stirring for 3 minutes until they smell "toasty". Add 3 cups of water and a pinch or two of salt, stir and bring to a rolling boil. Then turn off the heat, cover the…

The best way to insure that you can prepare a simple, healthy and delicious meal quickly is to make large batches of dishes that you know freeze well and defrost easily in a microwave, like Turkey Chili or a Tuscan Bean Stew. Serve it for dinner and freeze the rest and a few weeks down the road when you need a quick…

Everyone should be able to make a simple Stir-Fry. The great thing about a stir-fry is, not only is it healthy and easy to prepare, but the recipe is adaptable to whatever you have on hand...a great way to use up leftovers and whatever you happen to have in the refrigerator.

For homemade bread, the best way to store it is cut side down on a cutting board covered with a clean dishtowel or cloth. After a couple of days, freeze it and defrost as needed (it defrosts at room temperature in only 20-30 minutes) or just toast it...it will taste as fresh as the day you made it. Refrigerated bread…

And don't forget to strategically use food circulars and coupons when shopping to help add variety to your diet at a reasonable price. You can make some really impressive meals without spending a lot of money just by buying what's on sale and doing a little research online.

I agree with The How To Geek. The Accusharp Knife Sharpener is an inexpensive, safe and easy to use tool that really works...it's the next best thing to taking it to a professional knife sharpener.

I tend to agree that knife sharpening is best left to professionals, but if you can't get to one, this knife sharpener is about as good as it gets (and very inexpensive too). Its simple and safe to use, and really puts a great, sharp edge on a dull knife. It also comes highly recommended by America's Test Kitchen, the…