food BETTER
COOK
better tool
Oster Fusion Blender
S W E E T T R IC K
Store crisp holiday cookies
separate from soft ones. Storing
them together can cause firm
cookies to lose their crunch.
For moist treats, such as blondies,
add a slice of bread to the
container to slow moisture loss.
With an auto-reversing 6-point star blade,
this appliance functions both as a blender
and a food processor.
WE LIKE Preprogrammed settings
automatically turn off the motor when
salsas, smoothies, or frozen drinks are
perfectly blended.
Oster Fusion Blender, $
79
.
99
;
osterfusion.com
L E F T O V E R S
Turn homemade or
purchased gingerbread into
croutons. Cut in cubes and
toast in a
350
°F oven until
crisp. Use as a topper for
butternut squash soup or
on a salad with apples and
blue cheese.
new ways with.
..
tom ato
I
paste
I
Resealable tubes make it easy to add rich
tomato flavor to a variety of dishes.
Tomato Vinaigrette
Whisk together red wine vinegar, a good
squeeze (a hefty tablespoonful) of tomato
paste, and some olive oil. Add salt, pepper,
and honey to taste.
Tomato-Garlic Butter
Stir a generous teaspoon or two of paste
into a stick of softened butter, along with a
minced clove of garlic and parsley. Spread on
grilled bread or toss with steamed veggies.
Tomato Couscous
Add a few squeezes of tomato paste to the
cooking liquid and prepare as usual.
T IM E - S A V E R
Remove the thin bright
color part of the peel
(zest) from citrus fruits
before juicing or slicing
the fruit. Place the zest
in a resealable bag and
stash in the freezer. Use
in recipes to add flavor
to dressings and veggies.
20 0 DECEMBER 2009 BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS
