Using Your Electric Skillet

Electric skillets are great little appliances to have around the kitchen. The electric skillet is great for cooking foods that need to be heated evenly in a relatively short amount of time. The Presto Skillets are high quality, and there are many who have had them for years and they are still in use. We received some photos from a woman in our neighborhood who purchased hers either in the late 70s or early 80s and still uses it to this day:

Her electric skillet is photographed above. The new Presto Electric Skillets have changed a little over the years but not much:

What are some reasons that people love electric skillets?

1. They heat evenly.
2. You can cook a lot at one time. (most pans that would cook the same amount of food will definitely not be heated evenly on a stovetop)
3. Uses less electricity. Using an electric skillet does not use as much electricity as heating up your entire stovetop.

So what can you use electric skillets for?
You can use them for nearly any food that needs to be fried, they are great for fixing breakfast, especially pancakes. You can use them for stir frys, barbeques, soups and stews, casseroles, and believe it or not, but you can even bake with your electric skillet. For a few recipe ideas to get you started visit: http://www.gopresto.com/recipes/skillet/index.php

For a kitchen tool that can do it all keep the Presto Skillet in mind. Keep your current skillet working with new Presto skillet parts.

12 Uses for a Stand Mixer

Most people purchase a stand mixer to use it in making breads and cakes (which are awesome) but there are a few other uses for the stand mixer that you may want to know about:

1. Meringues
2. Sauces
3. Salad Dressings
4. Whipped Cream
5. Mashed Potatoes
6. Icing
7. Some Baby Foods
8. Pizza Dough
9. Dips
10. Pancakes
11. Cookies
12. Pasta Fillings

There are more uses for this wonderful little machine, and we would love to hear about your experiences with your stand mixer!

101 Slow Cooker Recipe Links

Slow cookers are great time saving appliances. But sometimes it is hard to find just the right recipe. So we have scoured the internet to find some recipes that sound tasty. We haven't tried them all so use your best judgement as to which ones to try:

1. Sweet & Sour Pork Chops from All Recipes  
2. Breakfast Casserole from Slow and Simple
3. Jambalaya from Food Network
4. Sante Fe Meatloaf from Moms Who Think
5. Soy Ginger Chicken from Martha Stewart
6. Turkey Chili from My Recipes
7. Enchilada Casserole from My Recipes
8. Cherry Cobbler from About.com
9. Black Bean Stuffed Peppers from Crock-Pot.com
10. Vegetable Pork Stew from Ready, Set, Eat
11. Cheese Dip from Taste of Home
12. Poached Salmon from Epicurious
13. Italian Beef Sandwiches from A year of Slow Cooking Blog
14. Green Beans, Tomatoes, and Bacon from Kraft Recipes
15. Southwestern Pinto Bean Soup from Diabetic Living Online
16. Chicken and Sweet Potato Stew from Eating Well
17. Chocolate Cake from All Recipes
18. Chickpea Curry from Savvy Vegetarian
19. Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup from Better Homes and Gardens
20. Stuffed Mushrooms from Family.Go.com
21. Shrimp Stir Fry from Family Circle
22. Italian Pot Roast from Southern Living
23. BBQ Beef Brisket from McCormick
24. Sesame Turkey from Heart Healthy Living
25. Cranberry Chicken from Shine - Yahoo
26. Eggplant and Chickpea Stew from Eating Well
27. Lasagna from Kitchen Daily
28. Bread and Butter Pudding from A Crock Cook
29. Orange and Honey Tilapia from iVillage
30. Chicken Cacciatore from Prevention
31. Bratwurst with Sauerkraut and Apples from All You
32. Sticky Bun Bread from AARP
33. Corn Chowder from cdKitchen
34. Latin Style Beef from Good Housekeeping 
35. Savory Bean and Spinach Soup from Fitness Magazine
36. Warm Brownie Sundaes from Mr. Food
37. Vegetable Crock Pot Pie from Veg Web
38. Eight Hour Coq au Vin from Delish
39. Irish Lamb Stew from Huffington Post
40. Cheesy Risotto from Laaloosh
41. Cheesy Potato Soup from Midwest Living
42. Texas Hash from Food.com
43. Moroccan Vegetable Stew from Sunset
44. Curried Chicken with Ginger and Yogurt from Real Simple
45. Indian Spiced Chickpea Quinoa Stew from Healthy Slow Cooking
46. White Beans with Tasso from Bonappetit
47. Taco Casserole from Recipe Lion
48. North Woods Wild Rice Soup from Pillsbury
49. Whole Chicken from The Little Kitchen
50. Pear and Pecan Stuffing from PBS
51. Cashew Chicken Teriyaki from Southern Plate
52. Lime Cilantro Chicken from WebMD
53. Asian Pepper Steak from Rachel Ray Show
54. Ratatouille from Food.com
55. Apple Butter Pork Tenderloin from SparkRecipes
56. Make Fruit Butter in your Slow Cooker from The Kitchn
57. BBQ Pork Sandwiches from Health.com
58. Baked Beans from Man Tested Recipes
59. Baked Lemon Sponge from Slow and Simple
60. Vegetarian Chow Mein from PETA
61. 16 Bean Soup from Cooks.com
62. Apple Oatmeal from Alan's Kitchen
63. Macaroni from Group Recipes
64. Latin Style Slow Cooker Recipes from Scoop
65. Crock Pot Pho from Punch Fork
66. Filipino Chicken Adobe from The Perfect Pantry
67. Slow Cooker Ham and Swiss Fritatta from 365 Days of Slow Cooking
68. Boeuf Bourguigon from Stuff I Make My Husband
69. Bison Bolognese Chili from Savoring the Thyme
70. Tomato Parmesan Soup from Every Little Thing
71. Jamaican Red Bean Stew from Savvy Vegetarian
72. Basil Chicken from My Appetite for Life
73. Sticky Chicken from Everyday Tastes
74. Spinach Dip from Fabulessly Frugal
75. Parmesan Honey Pork Roast from Crazy Jaime's Blog
76. Asian Meatballs from Teaspoon of Spice Blog
77. Beef Stroganoff from All Recipes
78. Luscious Lemon Cheesecake from About.com Southern Food
79. Triple Chocolate Brownies from Martha Stewart
80. Cajun Spiced Pecans from Slow & Simple
81. Pinto Beans from Food Network
82. Chicken Merlot with Mushrooms from Taste of Home
83. Chicken and Sausage Gumbo from Moms Who Think
84. Autumn Squash Casserole from Crock Pot
85. Supreme Pizza Fondue from Better Homes and Gardens
86. Rosemary Chicken Noodle Soup from My Recipes
87. Greek Chicken & Vegetable Ragout from Eating Well
88. Mediterranean Bulgur and Lentils from Betty Crocker
89. Meatball Sub Simmer from Kraft
90. Lemon Garlic Chicken from Laaloosh
91. Chicken Tagine from Delish
92. Chalupa Dinner Bowl Nachos from My Recipes
93. African Sweet Potato Peanut Stew from Good Housekeeping
94. Ravioli Casserole from CDkitchen
95. Great Northern Beans from Veg Web
96. Tuscan Beef Stew from McCormick
97. Red Beans over Spanish Rice from Fitness Magazine
98. Pot Pie Style Slow Simmered Turkey from Good Housekeeping
99. Fish Au Gratin from cdKitchen
100. Southwestern Tempeh and Bean Stew from Veg Web
101. Creamy Broccoli Chicken from About.com Southern Food

Using a Food Dehydrator

Food dehydrators are great to use for preserving foods. They work by removing the moisture from the food, which allows it to last longer before it goes bad.

You can find many ideas online about foods that can be dehydrated. And some of those instructions will tell you to dry fruits until they are leathery, so what does that mean exactly?

To fruit until it is leathery means that your fruit should not be sticky to the touch. It should peel up from the plastic and maintain its shape. If it can do this, then it is dry.

When you are slicing your food to dry it, keep in mind that thinner slices dry more quickly. So be sure to keep your slices for drying as uniform as possible.

When you are done with your food drying for the season, you might just want to leave your dehydrator out, as it can also be used for proofing breads, making yogurt, cheeses, drying seeds, curing nuts, decrystalizing honey, and drying crafts.