Kitchen Tip: How to Make Your Own Buttermilk

Ok folks, I have a confession: whenever I make a recipe that calls for buttermilk, I never actually use buttermilk from the store…I always make my own!

Kitchen Tip: How to Make Your Own Buttermilk

Ingredients:

1 C milk (I usually use whole milk)

1 T lemon juice

Directions:

Whisk lemon juice and milk in medium bowl or large measuring cup; set aside to thicken, about 5-10 minutes.

Kitchen Tip: Oven Baked Potatoes

For years I’ve been “nuking” my potatoes in the microwave and it has produced unsavory results, but hey it’s quick and easy right? Recently I decided enough is enough and I needed to learn the proper way to bake a potato and voila, fantastic results! In my opinion brushing the potatoes with a little olive oil and seasoning blend shouldn’t be optional!

After Baking

Before Baking

Kitchen Tip: Oven Baked Potatoes

The “I’ve got time” Method:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Start with organic russet potatoes of the large baking variety. Wash, scrub, and dry the potatoes.
3. Optional: brush each side of the potato with olive oil. Sprinkle lightly with sea salt or your favorite seasoning blend.
4. Poke holes on all sides with the point of a sharp knife.
5. Bake at 375 degrees F for 75-90 minutes. This can vary depending on the size of your potato and the altitude at which you live, so you will still need to test for doneness and find what cook time works best for you.

The “I’m short on time” Method:

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
2. Start with organic russet potatoes of the large baking variety. Wash, scrub, and dry the potatoes.
3. Microwave the potatoes, up to 4 at a time, on full power for 4 minutes.
4. Turn potatoes over and microwave for 4 more minutes.
5. Optional: brush each side of the potato with olive oil. Sprinkle lightly with sea salt or your favorite seasoning blend.
6. Then, bake the microwaved potatoes in the 450 degree F preheated oven for 20 minutes.

Source: Adapted from Good Life Eats