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Home Cooking/Questions Answered by Expert Diane
| Subject | Date Asked |
| Caribbean wedding | 2/3/2012 |
| Q: I am getting married on may 27th and am trying to finalize my buffet menu. Now the problem is my ... A: Oh boy! What a combination. I'm not a Caribbean style food expert - but did some research and have ... | |
| Menu for 175 people | 2/2/2012 |
| Q: I am planning a retirement party for my husband at a hall. I can't afford a caterer. I was going to ... A: I always cook way too much - so am going to try to be very careful to answer you correctly. When ... | |
| Beans | 12/4/2011 |
| Q: I love all kinds of beans(canned). I'd like suggestions on how to add flavor(not spicy-hot) while ... A: Oh boy! So many options here. Green beans, kidney beans, pinto beans, chick peas, navy beans, lima ... | |
| Beating Egg Whites Into Submission | 11/6/2011 |
| Q: I have a recipe for Meringue Cookies that I found online and have been dying to try...which I did ... A: Oh boy! I've been in the same situation - and learned by having to throw it all away and start ... | |
| Help | 8/9/2011 |
| Q: Why is it better to avoid vegetables such as broccoli and spinach in a stock? Explain why it is ... A: This might be out of my scientific range... However, personally I think broccoli is a strong ... | |
| most nutritious easy recipe ever | 3/4/2011 |
| Q: I have done some research about what the exact substances are that the human body needs and now I ... A: I'm sorry for the delay in my response. Unfortunately this is not my area of expertise. However - ... | |
| margarine vs. vegetable oil | 2/21/2011 |
| Q: what is better for pan grilling? margarine or oil? thanks.. ANSWER: Hi April, Any high heat ... A: I apologize for the delay in answering - I've been out of town for the past couple days. I can tell ... | |
| using a microwave/convection oven | 1/5/2011 |
| Q: How do I use the convection mode in my radarrange/convection oven I would like to bake a ... A: Check out www.microwaverecipe.net or www.allrecipes.com or ... | |
| using a microwave/convection oven | 1/4/2011 |
| Q: How do I use the convection mode in my radarrange/convection oven I would like to bake a ... A: Well I have to say I'm old fashioned - I much prefer the regular "oven" to the microwave or ... | |
| copper cookware | 12/7/2010 |
| Q: I bought a set of paul revere copper pans on ebay. They were made about 30 years ago and have never ... A: Kimberly, I'm terribly sorry for the long delay in answering - I was having PC issues and have just ... | |
| Turkish Spices | 9/30/2010 |
| Q: I have just been to Turkey and bought back some spices to try and recreate food that we had there. ... A: Fleisch Gewurtze is actually German for "meat spices". I'm not certain what you have but I do have ... | |
| Using Up Cabbage | 8/27/2010 |
| Q: Good afternoon, Ack! Yesterday, I just bought a 2 pound head of cabbage when I only needed one ... A: Here is a website that has pointers on how to freeze cabbage: ... | |
| frozen peaches | 5/31/2010 |
| Q: I would like to make a pie out of frozen peaches that were sweetened when froze. Should I drain the ... A: I would heat the peaches and add a mixture of liquid and cornstarch. You could use water or juice - ... | |
| Anise | 5/21/2010 |
| Q: I recently, on a whim, I bought this anise; the bulb part that looks like an overgrown green onion. ... A: Oh! Absolutely you can use the bulb. It can be sliced and sauteed and served alone - or over salad ... | |
| lobster cheese stew recipe | 5/6/2010 |
| Q: years ago a friend of a friend came over to cook a very rich and simply one of a kind lobster ... A: I really don't have a clue. It does sound delicious though!. I have copied a few websites that ... | |
| corn bread | 3/22/2010 |
| Q: I was wondering if you knew what go's well with corn bread. I want to make it for my family but i ... A: Corn bread tends to blend well with spicy food - so it goes great with chili, soup, stew. In the ... | |
| cumin and allergies | 1/21/2010 |
| Q: I am looking for a substitute for cumin. I'm allergic to a variety of seasonings/veggies - read the ... A: I'm sorry for not answering sooner -- I got back from vacation recently and came down with a flu ... | |
| Rice | 1/21/2010 |
| Q: I have a recipe for cabbage rolls that I want to try and it calls for 1 cup of cooked white rice. ... A: I was on vacation and came back sick - was down and out for a few days! Yes - basmati rice is ... | |
| CUCUMBER SALAD | 12/20/2009 |
| Q: What is the best way to get the water out of cucumbers to make cucumber salad with sour cream? A: First - use good cucumbers such as what the stores call "pickles" - which are small (4 inch or so) ... | |
| too much tomato in the soup | 12/7/2009 |
| Q: I made a tomato soup using onions, garlic and garden tomatoes. It is too strong with tomato! I ... A: Boy - sounds like the "bite" might be the acidic quality of the tomato and the only thing I know of ... | |
| too much tomato in the soup | 12/5/2009 |
| Q: I made a tomato soup using onions, garlic and garden tomatoes. It is too strong with tomato! I ... A: Ha! Well don't throw it away - it actually sounds great! Sounds like you should use it as a base ... | |
| Chicken Francese | 11/4/2009 |
| Q: I would like to know if I can freeze chicken francese or how long before serving can I make this ... A: Sure - you can freeze it if you don't cook it or add the sauce. You would need to freeze it at the ... | |
| Christmas dinner | 10/30/2009 |
| Q: My boyfriends parents will be visiting us for Christmas. I would like to make sure they have a good ... A: I'm so excited for you! The biggest suggestion I have is to make sure you don't overcook it. There ... | |
| Candied pickles? | 10/25/2009 |
| Q: My ex used to make candied pickles....and they were to die for. Her and her dad grew cucumbers, then ... A: I've never made these - so a new one on me, though sounds good. I was able to find a number of ... | |
| Homemade jarred and frozenTomato Puree | 10/12/2009 |
| Q: It has been the Italian tradition of making homemade tomato puree every August from going to various ... A: Unfortunately I've never sought approval from the FDA, so am not an expert in this area. However, I ... | |
| purple onions | 10/8/2009 |
| Q: My husband bought me a bag of purple onions by mistake. Can I use it for cooking? chicken? meat? ... A: Absolutely you can use them for cooking. Keep in mind they can impart a slightly purple color to ... | |
| CANNING | 8/27/2009 |
| Q: DIANE, I HAVE AN OVER ABUNDANCE OF YELLOW BANANA HOT PEPPERS THIS YEAR AND I WOULD LIKE TO CAN ... A: Wow! Do you have canning equipment? Coz' you do need certain supplies. For peppers you should ... | |
| basil/pesto | 7/30/2009 |
| Q: I have some fresh basil I wanted to make pesto with but have a juicer or blender but not a food ... A: Yes - you can make pesto with walnuts and basil instead of pine nuts. And you can use your blender ... | |
| cheesecake | 7/27/2009 |
| Q: i have one baking problem with which i really need help. i never can bake a cheesecake without the ... A: I bake about 50 cheesecakes a year--and this has also happened to me. If it does - I cover it with ... | |
| Whether to freeze thickened chowder or not | 6/13/2009 |
| Q: Diane; Although I'm not what you'd call a cook, I can read and follow recipes pretty well. I have a ... A: You are right - it is likely to separate. However - if you reheat it over boiling water (double ... | |
| Cooking utensils | 5/28/2009 |
| Q: What is the approximate weight of each of the following items? fork, knife, and spoon. My Mother has ... A: This is out of the scope of my knowledge - so I did a little research on the internet and found that ... | |
| Greek cooking measurements | 4/17/2009 |
| Q: I have a great Greek cookbook I found at a church rummage sale. Many recipes have "one teacup" as a ... A: Honestly I was not positive so did a little research and only found one site that seemed to have an ... | |
| Mac and Cheese Problems | 3/11/2009 |
| Q: I make a very good Mac and Cheese from my mother's recipe. It tastes great and we all love it but ... A: I'm going to make it. Now -- onto the grainy texture. Typically the only thing that would cause ... | |
| cookbook question | 3/6/2009 |
| Q: I was wondering if there are cookbooks that are specifically for cooking for an odd number of ... A: I collect cookbooks of all kinds and agree that it is nearly impossible to find a cookbook that has ... | |
| applet tart tatin | 1/7/2009 |
| Q: This is the first time making this desert. For some reason it tastes really bitter. Is there ... A: You can't change the flavor of bitter in anything once done. However, I don't understand how your ... | |
| baking on the outdoor propane grill | 12/21/2008 |
| Q: I've got a major problem with the oven/broiler part of our stove. We can still use the top burners ... A: Cheese pastry would take on the flavor of propane--but any savory taste blends better with gas grill ... | |
| baking on the outdoor propane grill | 12/21/2008 |
| Q: I've got a major problem with the oven/broiler part of our stove. We can still use the top burners ... A: Well, if it were me I would not use the grill for pies and pastries. To me it imparts a "propane" ... | |
| Lasagna | 12/19/2008 |
| Q: I will be baking 2 frozen lasagnas, same time, on the same oven shelf. How much extra time do you ... A: Are you going to put them side by side in the regular oven? If so--then you should not need to ... | |
| HELP!! | 10/19/2008 |
| Q: Diane, I seriously hope you can help me, but more importantly motivate me. I'm 35 yr old ... A: Sherry, First, let me apologize for not responding before now. I'm very sorry! I had major ... | |
| Homemade Soya Milk | 9/30/2008 |
| Q: I tried for the first time making homemade soyamilk for my little daughter.When I boiled the slurry ... A: I would not think it would be palatable at this point. It likely tastes burnt. Making soy milk does ... | |
| too much garlic | 9/25/2008 |
| Q: I made chili and think I put in too much garlic. The chili is great but a couple of minutes after ... A: Unfortunately, I don't know of any solid fix for this. I tried researching it on the internet also ... | |
| Eggs sticking to stainless steel | 9/24/2008 |
| Q: Diane, I have an all-clad stainless steel copper core 8" fry pan. It is brand new. I had ... A: Sounds like you have the best available pan and are doing all the right things. If you are cooking ... | |
| cooking the internet | 8/1/2008 |
| Q: I just started cooking again after my divorce. I know how to cook, however I am running out of ... A: I use a number of websites including: www.allrecipes.com www.foodnetwork.com www.recipezaar.com ... | |
| Rising above doubts | 7/18/2008 |
| Q: Hey Diane, I am a young man that enjoys food and socializing around the table. It was ... A: Here are some ideas: 1. Jamaican Jerk Chicken--good recipe at this link: ... | |
| Rising above doubts | 7/17/2008 |
| Q: Hey Diane, I am a young man that enjoys food and socializing around the table. It was ... A: OK---I'm up to this challenge, but help me to limit the options. Do you prefer pasta? Beef? ... | |
| Rising above doubts | 7/17/2008 |
| Q: Hey Diane, I am a young man that enjoys food and socializing around the table. It was ... A: I love this question! Believe me, it's not necessarily about what you can "cook" as to how you can ... | |
| food | 7/4/2008 |
| Q: i have flour,eggs,millk,cinnimon and oil. i was thinking about making pancales but i don't have any ... A: Sure--there are various ways to make syrup. One recipe is: 1 cup white sugar 1 cup brown sugar 1 ... | |
| Questions about clay ovens? | 6/19/2008 |
| Q: I live in Diamond Bar, a city in Southern California. I am looking for a tandoor clay oven that can ... A: I have never cooked with bituminous coals, but have certainly smelled the results of them burning. ... | |
| Bluish Areas On Marinated Garlic | 6/16/2008 |
| Q: I prepared marinated garlic & green olives last night. The recipe: 25 large cloves garlic 25 ... A: Very interesting question! I honestly had to research this a little. Turns out these bluish spots ... | |
| Gas Grill/Lasagne | 5/20/2008 |
| Q: Please don't think I'm nuts first of all. I'm glad I found this website. I want to make pizzas ... A: Sorry for the delay in my answer. I have a charcoal grill and we have made nearly everything on it ... | |
| Cooking Eggs | 5/4/2008 |
| Q: I was a cook in the military back during 72'thru 76' and cooked many orders of eggs on a big ... A: Well, frankly I've never been fond of EKCO pans, though I'm not familiar with the "Eterna" pan. I ... | |
| Cooking Eggs | 5/2/2008 |
| Q: I was a cook in the military back during 72'thru 76' and cooked many orders of eggs on a big ... A: Mike, You raise a number of good questions for which I need additional information. 1. What brand ... | |
| stuffed eggs | 4/9/2008 |
| Q: Can I prepare stuffed eggs a day ahead of when I want to serve them if I cover and refrigerate them? ... A: Yes you can. According to the FDA, hard boiled eggs can safely be stored for up to 7 days before ... | |
| potatoe salad | 3/25/2008 |
| Q: My wife makes the worst potatoe salad. It is tasteless and mushy like paste. She puts in potatoes, ... A: Don, I have to honestly tell you that I have never perfected potato salad, though mine is not ... | |
Home Cooking
Answers by Expert:
Diane
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I can help with any home cooking challenge, including providing ideas and motivation. Provide me with a list of what's in your fridge and I'll give you an idea for a beautiful dish. I specialize in a wide variety of ethnic foods, including Greek and Turkish dishes. I'm up to your challenge!
Experience
I began cooking at the age of 8 and never have lost the passion. I raised 2 boys who continually brought "strays" home for dinner. I've won a few local pie baking contests and am known for my food passion. I grew up in Turkey and learned to love the middle eastern food and culture, developing my own Turkish style recipes throughout the years.
Education/Credentials
I graduated high school in Ankara, Turkey. I did not go to college, but have completed multiple technical courses in Income Tax Preparation as well as marketing and customer behavior seminars. I've also completed the Steven Covey 7 Habits course.
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