Pantry Pointers
ICE CREAM
Whenever possible, don’t store ice cream in the freezer door. The texture of the ice cream may suffer from the temperature changes that occur in this area every time the door opens.
Recipes: Caramel Ice Cream Sauce, Fat-Free Hot Fudge Sauce, and Simple Strawberry Sauce.
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SIMPLE SUGAR SYRUP
A lot of people like to sweeten their iced coffee and tea, but often sugar doesn’t dissolve in a cold drink. This can leave the drink with a grainy texture. To avoid this problem, sweeten your drinks with a simple sugar syrup. To do this, bring 2 cups of water to a boil on the stove and add 1 cup of sugar. Stir with a wooden spoon until sugar is completely dissolved. Cool to room temperature before using.
Recipes: Lemonade Iced Tea, Raspberry Iced Tea, Easy iced Coffee, and Iced Coffee Slush.
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CASHEWS
To toast cashews, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place cashews on an ungreased baking sheet and toast until the nuts become golden brown, about 5 to 10 minutes, shaking the baking sheet occasionally. Another method is to place cashews in a large, dry skillet over medium-high heat and toast until golden brown, about 5 minutes, shaking the pan occasionally.
Recipes: Chicken Cashew Salad and Cashew Chicken.
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SALSA
If you are trying to diet or eat a little healthier, remember that salsa usually is low in calories. And the spices can help take the edge off almost any appetite.
For a quick chip dip, mix 1-1/2 cups salsa with 1 8-ounce package of softened sour cream. For a quick vegetable dip, mix 1-1/2 cups salsa with 2 cups of sour cream.
