Annie Watson

Annie brings decades of experience to the Kitchen Ask. She is a noted chef and avid gardener. Her new book 'Healthy Eating Through the Garden' will be released shortly. When not writing or speaking about food and gardens Annie can be found puttering around farmer's markets and greenhouses looking for the next great idea.

Is Blender good for architecture?

by

You might be surprised to know that Blender also provides handy tools for architecture. Besides high-resolution modeling, it provides robust texturing, animation, rendering, as well as other 3D development tools. Similar to other programs, Blender’s collection of tools and add-ons makes the workflow effortless.

Is Pyrex and Fire-King the same?

by

Fire-King is an Anchor Hocking brand of glassware similar to Pyrex. It was formerly made of low expansion borosilicate glass and ideal for oven use. Currently it is made of tempered soda-lime-silicate glass.

How do you grate zucchini without a box grater?

by

The fastest way to grate zucchini is using a food processor with a grating attachment. This method won’t always create the most consistent shreds, but that won’t matter if you’re baking the zucchini. It will melt into the other ingredients as it bakes, making the shred size less important.

What breeds make a broiler chicken?

by

The most common type of broiler isn’t an actual breed but is a cross of the white rock and Cornish chickens. Male Cornish/white rock crosses weigh about 4.5 pounds by the age of 6 weeks. If kept around five weeks longer, they weigh in at about 9.5 pounds.

What are speed racks used for?

by

The faster you can serve, the more parties you can book, the healthier your company gets. That’s why nearly any professional catering service uses speed racks: you tray up your food on aluminum sheet pans, put it on the speed rack, and out the door you go.

Are Victorinox paring knives good?

by

The Victorinox 3ΒΌ-Inch Paring Knife is a top pick for Cook’s Illustrated and Good Housekeeping, and it’s a favorite of culinary professionals throughout the industry. Its blade is thin enough for delicate work, and the plastic handle is very comfortable for in-hand jobs like hulling strawberries or shelling shrimps.

How much does it cost to remodel a small galley kitchen?

by

According to Bob Villa, the average galley kitchen remodel cost will fall between $17,000 and $21,000. Investing that amount of money into your galley kitchen should allow you to upgrade countertops, flooring and cabinets for all but the largest kitchens or most high-end materials.

What are tongs used for?

by

Tongs are the tool that you use to grip something and lift it. They are usually jointed near the handle, with two grippers at the other end, so that you can one-handedly grasp objects. You might use tongs to move something hot, like food or burning logs, or to serve food such as salad, sugar cubes, or noodles.