The 'How to Cook' Blog

I often try different brands of jerky so I can find the varieties and flavors I like the best because not all jerkies are created alike. I tried this Peppered flavor Natural Buffalo Jerky from Jerky Direct and I think it’s, honestly, my new favorite jerky. I’ve never been crazy about “moist” jerky – it just seems odd to me. I enjoy a good “chew” with my dried jerky. This  [ Read More ]

I had the opportunity to try Land Shark Lager yesterday, which is apparently affiliated with Jimmy Buffett’s “Margaritaville” brand. On the bottle, it says it’s “Original Island Lager” – and after you take one sip of it, you’ll understand why. It’s a light lager that tastes similar to a combination between a Corona with lime and a Bud Light with a twist of orange. It’s light, slightly sweet and flavorful!  [ Read More ]

Looking for a way to kick up your rice and beans? Maybe it’s a side dish in your home or maybe you’re a vegetarian and this is your main dish. Either way, we can work it out to make it Cuban inspired. It seems that most Cuban dishes have some type of pork in them. This dish is no exception in that it uses bacon. However, if you’re a vegetarian  [ Read More ]

That’s right! You can be healthy and still cook real recipes, even if you only have a bare bones kitchen when fixing up an investment property… We spend so much time at our rehab properties that we often end up staying in one to get more cleaning and repairing done, which leaves us with limited seasonings, fresh foods and large appliances to work with. For dinner today, I made a  [ Read More ]

Kids are back to school, it’s cooling off outside (unless you’re in Dallas…LOL), and it’s football season. That’s for certain. Now’s the time to get outside and enjoy that lovely weather on your patio and grill out. You can have fun tailgating at home enjoying the Major League Baseball Games, NFL or College football by trying that Texas Tailgating Beer Can Chicken I’ve told you about, but you’ll want a  [ Read More ]

When you’re tired of those salmon or tuna sandwiches and need something a little bit different when you’re living in and repairing a fixer upper investment property, have no fear! I have an idea for you! I know, you may not have a refrigerator because the electricity may not have been upgraded yet, right? That’s often the case. That’s okay too, you won’t even need an egg for cooking these…You’ll  [ Read More ]

Grilling on the BBQ is the perfect way to enjoy Labor Day! I’ve compiled 7 of my favorite BBQ posts for you to choose from here: 1. How to Grill Buffalo Burgers – These are lean, mean and perfect for your grill! Absolutely delicious, really easy and at Whole Foods Market, about the same price as their ground beef. 2. How to Marinate Meat – A must-know when it comes  [ Read More ]

Real Estate Investors: When you’re in a fixer-upper investment property and staying at the home, it can be difficult to get a good, tasty meal prepared there – amongst all the mess and dealing with issues like the electricity waiting to be upgraded. This can often feel like cooking when you’re camping. So, if you don’t want to eat out at a restaurant or order fast food for every single  [ Read More ]

Kenney and I have recently been staying at one of our investment properties while we’re fixing it up. This predicament often leaves us a little short when it comes to storing food, as there’s no refrigerator, cooking food, as we can’t plug in the large appliances before completely ugrading the electricity, and also, limited food in the pantry, as we need to be able to pick up and go quickly  [ Read More ]

Wanting to buy an electric skillet, but don’t know which brand to buy? Well, let me put all of your questions to rest and give you a fabulous option. We recently received an electric skillet from my husband’s grandmother – a Rival brand electric skillet, to be more precise. I’ve used it just over a handful of times and am completely happy and satisfied each and every time I use  [ Read More ]

This is so delicious and needs no baking in the oven. A few simple ingredients and you have a feast fit for a Southern Belle and any Southern Gentleman. Ingredients: 1 cup all-purpose cornmeal 1/2 cup flour 1 tbsp sugar 1/2 tsp sea salt 1/2 tsp baking powder ~3/4 cup hot water 1 tbsp

If you’re in the market for a new coffee maker, consider the Cuisinart Stainless Steel Coffee Maker. I love it because not only does it match the rest of our stainless steel appliances in our kitchen, but it’s heavy duty. You’re getting top of the line quality for a better price. It’s programmable – you can program more than 1 time to brew. When you fill it with water, and  [ Read More ]