I
    In the Pantry

    In the Pantry

  • In the Pantry: 6 Ingredients Every Baker Should Own

    'Tis the season to be baking, but why waste your money on ingredients you'll use only once? This week on "In the Pantry," host Aida Mollenkamp tells you the six ingredients every baker should have in his or her kitchen. 1. All-purpose flour . If you like to bake, a good all-purpose, unbleached flour is an essential. "An awesome alternative is white, whole wheat flour," says Mollenkamp.

  • In the Pantry: Make This, Buy That

    This week on "In the Pantry," host Aida Mollenkamp helps you navigate the do-it-yourself revolution to make sure you're spending your time and money wisely. " The cost of buying a really great artisanal loaf of bread probably puts you out about $4 these days," says Mollenkamp. "Taking the time to make homemade bread, having the smell waft through the house, with a little bit of prep work, I say it's worth it." Jam, however, is a big project and requires ingredients, specialized equipment, and uses up too much counter space when you make it. Mollenkamp says you'll spend about $4 for 32 ounces of yogurt.

  • In the Pantry: DIY Holiday Gifts Under $5

    This week on "In the Pantry," host Aida Mollenkamp shares three DIY gifts you can make with ingredients straight out of your pantry for less than five bucks! Mix In a Mason jar, place a layer of unsweetened cocoa powder, followed by a layer of granulated sugar, a pinch of salt, a layer of mini chocolate chips, and a layer of mint chips, which you can usually find at your grocery store during the holiday season. Mollenkamp recommends adding marshmallows or crushed candy canes if your grocery store doesn't sell mint chips. Cover the jar with its lid, and then dress it up with a tag and some instructions so that the recipient knows how to make Peppermint Hot Chocolate.

  • In the Pantry: 5 Ways to Avoid Ruining Your Kitchen Knives

    Whether you're a cooking novice or a master chef, a good chef's knife is the most important tool in your kitchen arsenal. This week on "In the Pantry," Aida Mollenkamp shares five simple tips to properly care for your kitchen knives. "Instead, you want to store them in a good knife block, under the countertop, or on one of those magnetic wall strips because then you have really easy access to your knife," advises Mollenkamp. Mollenkamp recommends washing knives in hot soapy water and then drying them thoroughly by hand to help avoid any rust or any spread of germs."

  • In the Pantry: How to Use Holiday Seasonings All Year Long

    Allspice, nutmeg, and cinnamon are staple flavors of the holiday season. But "In the Pantry" host Aida Mollenkamp says these spices can go far beyond pies and cider. On this week's show, she shares her favorite ways to add dashes of holiday sweetness to savory meals throughout the year.

  • In the Pantry: DIY Show-Stopper Tabletop for $10

    Today on "In the Pantry," Aida Mollenkamp will help you create a showstopping tabletop on a budget. Don't stress out about throwing the perfect party, says Mollenkamp. "Everything from the kraft paper to the burlap, the raffia, and the nametags, I all got at the craft store for pennies on the dollar I would pay at a higher-end store," says Mollenkamp. Have fun! If all else fails, says Mollenkamp, "low lighting, good drinks, good music will always make for a good party."

  • In the Pantry: DIY Seasoning Blends

    Did you know that you need only about 10 spices in your pantry to make almost any spice blend? This week on "In the Pantry," Aida Mollenkamp shows you how to make three spice blends that all start with the same base ingredients: ground onion, garlic powder, and smoked paprika.

  • In the Pantry: How to Make a Perfect Cup of Coffee

    Your morning cup of joe may be in jeopardy! This week on "In the Pantry" Aida Mollenkamp shares six tips that can help you make the perfect cup of coffee. Read the roast date on the coffee beans. "Coffee doesn't last forever, so you want to use your beans within two weeks of them being roasted," says Mollenkamp. Use the proper amount of coffee grounds.

  • In the Pantry: 3 Sweet Ideas for Leftover Halloween Candy

    If your kitchen is overflowing with Halloween candy, you'll need a few recipes to use up your leftover loot while satisfying your sweet tooth. This week on "In the Pantry," Aida Mollenkamp shares three of her favorite ways to use leftover candy. Just don't try them all at once!

  • In the Pantry: Classic Slow-Cooked Pulled Pork

    Get ready to cook a dish that will fill your home with the cozy, comforting smell of fall. This week on "In the Pantry," Aida Mollenkamp makes a classic, slow-cooked pulled pork. "It's so easy you can set it and forget it," says Mollenkamp.

  • In the Pantry: Texas Caviar Recipe

    Looking to add sugar and spice to a basic party dish? This week on In the Pantry Aida Mollenkamp shows you how to make Texas Caviar, a versatile dip that tastes as glam as its name.

  • In the Pantry: Slow-Cooker Macaroni and Cheese

    Homemade macaroni and cheese is the ultimate fall comfort food. So what happens when you don't have time to whip up a batch? This week on "In the Pantry," Aida Mollenkamp shows you how a crock-pot and a few minutes of preparation can help you satisfy your mac-and-cheese craving.PHOTOS: 21 Food Superstitions We Still BelieveSlow-Cooker Macaroni and CheeseServes 4-8Ingredients1 lb. ...

  • In the Pantry: 3 Rice Krispies Dessert Recipes for Fall

    This week on In the Pantry, Aida Mollenkamp shares her favorite recipe for Rice Krispies Squares, including her secret for giving these easy, decadent treats an extra boost of marshmallow goodness.

  • In the Pantry: 3 Easy Marinades to Dress Up Your Meal

    Marinades may seem like a mystery, but they're made with a basic formula. Once you learn the secret to creating an easy marinade, you'll never buy a bottle of it at the store again. On this week's episode of "In the Pantry," Aida Mollenkamp shares three basic marinades you can make in a pinch."You need a tenderizer, which is an alcohol or an acid mixed together with an oil because that will carry the flavor throughout the marinade," explains Mollenkamp. "And then [add] any seasonings you want. At the very least you want something that has a little bit of salt, like salt or soy. ...

  • In the Pantry: Cool Ice Cube Tray Tricks that Can Save You Time and Money

    A recent study said that globally, 1.3 billon tons of food is discarded annually. How much food do you waste because you're not sure how to save it for later use? This week on In the Pantry, Aida Mollenkamp shows off cool ice cube tray tricks that can help you save money and do your part to reduce unnecessary food waste.Red wine. "The first thing that you could be saving are liquids," says Mollenkamp. "For example, if you opened a good bottle of red wine and you don't want to throw it out, you could put it into the ice cube tray [and] freeze it up. ...

  • In the Pantry: 7 Secret-Weapon Ingredients that Add Flavor to a Dish

    Ever try a recipe that has a little extra flavor, but you can't figure out the ingredient? This week on In The Pantry, the secret is out. Aida Mollenkamp has the scoop on seven secret-weapon ingredients that can boost the taste of any dish.Anchovies. Mollenkamp says anchovies seem "a little bit scary," but they are worth using because of the savory, salty flavor they add to a dish. When using anchovies for something classic like a caesar salad, she recommends sautéing garlic or onions, adding the anchovies and mashing them right in the pan. ...

  • In the Pantry: Signature Party Dips You Should Add to Your Menu

    Want to impress your friends and have them pinning photos of your new signature dip? Expand your recipe repertoire and give salsa and guacamole a temporary break. This week on In the Pantry, Aida Mollenkamp shares two delicious party dips that you can make in minutes: Edamame Hummus and Roasted Red Pepper Dip. 

More on Shine: The 10 Healthiest Foods on the PlanetEdamame Hummus
Makes about 2 cups

"What's great about hummus and all bean dips is you can make it up to four days ahead, leave it in the fridge, and then just pull it out when you're ready to serve it," said Mollenkamp. ...

  • In the Pantry: Tomato Sauce 101

    VIDEOIn the Pantry: Tomato Sauce 101If you love to cook, learning how to make a basic tomato sauce is a must. With just a few staple ingredients--olive oil, pureéd tomatoes, onion and garlic--you can make a delicious sauce that can serve as the base for fancier versions. This week on "In the Pantry," host Aida Mollenkamp shares her favorite recipe for a basic tomato sauce, and shows you how use it to make Vodka Cream Sauce and Meat Sauce. ...

  • In the Pantry: Essential Cooking Gear for Your Kitchen

    If you're outfitting or updating your kitchen with new culinary gear, what are the essentials you can't cook without? This week on "In the Pantry," Aida Mollenkamp dishes up her tips on the pots, pans, utensils, and other indispensable kitchenware to make cooking and baking a breeze. "You're not going to be able to cook everything under the sun," said Mollenkamp, "but you will be able to cook probably 80 percent of your recipes with these things right here."A high-quality saucepan and frying pan. Mollenkamp recommends a seasoned cast-iron skillet because of its versatility in the kitchen. ...

  • In the Pantry: 8 Common Cooking Mistakes (and How to Stop Making Them!)

    Tired of spending time in the kitchen working on a meal only to have it taste ho-hum? Maybe the problem isn't what you're cooking, but how you're cooking it. This week on In the Pantry, Aida Mollenkamp takes a look at eight of the most common cooking mistakes made in the kitchen and how they impact the food you're dishing up. Mollenkamp also offers easy solutions to these problems.Mistake: Under heating pans before cooking. "A pan is a metallic surface so you need the metal to expand in order for you to have even heat, and a good non-stick surface," Mollenkamp explained. ...