Kitchen Hints and Tips for May

by Valorie Delp | More from this Blogger

01 May 2008 05:02 AM

I'm not sure what happened to April, or January through March for that matter but here we are in May already. May is a great month for loving your kitchen! There's Cinco de Mayo and Mother's Day to cook for. Then there's the great Memorial Day grilling that will happen in a few weeks. For me, it's also my anniversary (this is our 12th anniversary). Not to mention the fact that we start to see the bounty of summer produce! With that said--here are your tips for May:

It's Rhubarb Season

At least around here, May is the best time to procure your rhubarb! It's in season in spring and if you don't get it now, prices shoot up. Last year I bought my first batch at the end of April for $3.99 per pound and the next time I went back to the store later it was nearly $8.99 per pound. Needless to say, I did not make anything rhubarb after that initial purchase. (Hint: rhubarb can be sliced and frozen to use later!)

Is Your Grill Ready?

As Michele pointed out, May is National B-B-Q month. You'll probably want to wheel out your grill. It is highly suggested by grilling experts that when you wheel out your grill for the first time in the season, you pull out your owner's manual and give it a good thorough cleaning. Check for parts that are about to break or are broken and have those replaced.

Keeping Pancakes Warm

Cooking pancakes for 7 takes a little effort. Until I discovered this nifty trick--I had to just serve the kids first and then my husband and I ate later. To keep finished pancakes hot while cooking the rest of them, heat a pan filled 1/4 full of water and place a heat proof plate over the top. The steam will keep the pancakes warm without drying them out.

Make Defrosting Ground Beef Easier

I often by ground beef and cook it right away because if you're going to make anything like hamburgers, meatballs, or meatloaf--the meat has to be 100% defrosted. Instead of cooking it right away, you can divide the meat into baggies and then before sealing the baggie, roll the ground beef out so that it's flat. Doing this will allow it to defrost much more quickly and evenly.

So there you have it--great tips for being in the kitchen in May! Stick around for great recipes!

Recent Posts in the Food Blog:

Proscuitto Stuffed Chicken Breasts and Couscous Stuffed Peppers

Chinese Shrimp and Noodle Salad

Your Winnie the Pooh Birthday Cake

Grilled Shrimp Quesadillas

Super Summer Salads

Learn more about Valorie Delp

Hello everybody! My name is Valorie and I am one busy lady! When I'm not writing or editing for families, I am busy trying to get my brood of 5 in line.

View Full Profile | More from this Blogger