August 2006 “Cooking Tips” Winner —
Manny Rodriguez

My cooking tip: "Clean Season"
Reynolds wrap now has a cutting system on their rolls which makes it easy to season steak, brisket, chicken, fajitas, pork, or veggies prior to sauteing.
I use two long pieces,(depending on how much I'm seasoning) laid out on my kitchen island and place the chicken,(as an example) on the plastic wrap. I season the chicken to my taste and simply wrap up the chicken in the plastic wrap and put it in the fridge until I'm ready to use--It's that simple.
Advantages to this tip:
I don't dirty up a baking pan.
The seasoning is pushed against the meat.
When I place the meat on the grill or veggies in hot pan, I simply toss the plastic wrap and begin cooking.

Manny Rodriguez

Prize:

• Cooking tips:
  Fire Roasted Tomatillo Salsa
  Original Juan

August 2006 “Cooking Disasters” Winner —
Deb Risner

I have a disaster that my ex husband was responsible for, but I still think is hilarious. My ex husband was one of those "I am always right" people. And if he ever had to ask HOW to do something, he would only let you tell him a small portion, then of course he knew what he was doing. More often than not, this was not the case. He phoned me at work one day asking what was in my meatloaf because he thought he would make some for dinner. He was never known for his cooking skills, so I was surprised. I told him the ingredients and started to tell him how to make it. He responded with - "Oh please. Any moron can make meatloaf." I came home hours later and my husband was busy poking whatever was in the oven with a fork. "I think you told me the wrong ingredients. This doesn't look like meatloaf at all." I took it out of the oven and it was bubbling. I asked him - how long has this been cooking? - 2 hours, he replied. It was almost liquefied; kind of like Sloppy Joe mix, but even more runny. I asked him what he put in it - he recited back my list of ingredients. OK, no surprises yet. Tell me what you did. "I mixed the onions and peppers and egg and hamburger, then I fried it. Then I added the ketch - " - I stopped him right there. You FRIED it? You just mix it and stick it in the oven - no frying. You made Sloppy Joes. He got very upset and told me to fix it. Sorry, can't be done. Kind of like the marriage!

Deb Risner

Prize:

• Cooking Disasters:
  Mexican Salsa
  Original Juan

Previous Winners

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