how to

You head to the pantry for cereal, mull over the selection, and pull out a box, which seems scarily light. The next one too, a mere shell of its former abundant self. Some quick investigation reveals that not just that box, but all of your stash has been reduced to about an inch of broken bits or small pieces and cereal dust, having been decimated by people (one of which is probably you) who have forgotten to indicate that you are “almost” out of cereal.

Cooking rice can be a harrowing endeavor. But it shouldn't be.

When my grandmother passed away, I inherited most of her cookbook collection. This treasure trove included stalwarts like The Joy of Cooking, contemporary classics like The Silver Palate, and outliers like The Vincent and Mary Price Cookbook. She and I always loved to page through cookbooks together, finding humor in outdated recipes and inspiration in the ones from great chefs or new cuisines. So, when I’m missing her, I often grab one of her old books to flip through it, not just for the memories, but to see the notes she wrote in the margins.

Whether it is getting some seriously easy soups on my winter menu, reheating chili for a fall football gathering, or even helping manage a buffet for a crowd, I am not shy about how much I love my slow cooker. But it’s useful for more than just composed dishes. Here are some of my favorite tips and tricks of how to use slow cookers in some less obvious ways.