November 2002 “Cooking Tips” Winner —
Trevor Potter

When using tomato paste for sauces or stews you always seem to have too much left over. The best way to store excess tomato paste is to drop tablespoon-sized amounts onto plastic wrap and freeze it. Then you can simply microwave the required amount and avoid any waste

Trevor Potter

Prize:

• Cooking tips: Popcorn Cheese
  Dean Jacobs Gourmet Selections

November 2002 “Cooking Disasters” Winner —
Patsy Rankin

After spending quite a while slicing 5 pounds of fresh mushrooms, I got them all in a large cast iron skillet and sautéed them perfectly. I left them on the back burner of the stove with no heat, to wait until I took the steaks outside to the bar-b-q to grill. When the steaks were done, I would return to the kitchen with the steaks and just heat the mushrooms up a little before serving. Out I went to the grill, put the steaks on, talked with friends and family, had a sip of wine and when I returned to the kitchen with the grilled steaks, I found an empty skillet on the back burner and two dogs sitting nearby with smiles on their faces. I never knew which one did it and never could understand how they got up there and ate them so fast - remember - they were hot! Steaks are still great without mushrooms!

Patsy Rankin

Prize:

• Cooking Disasters: Smoky Mozzarella Bread Spread
  Private Harvest

Previous Winners

Click here to see our previous "Cooking Tips" and "Cooking Disasters" contest winners!