Donna Pierce

For flavorful, tender brisket, select a well-marbled piece with fat on top. Braise, fat-side up, at 325 degrees in a liquid such as beef broth or wine until tender, about...

Spices ground in a coffee mill or spice grinder can leave behind strong aromas. Simply grind some raw rice in the mill and the aromas will disappear.

Count on a yield of 2 to 3 servings per pound from a bone-in ham. When buying half a ham, consider a butt end. It's meatier.

Wear gloves or wrap your hand in a dish towel for protection. If you don't have an oyster knife on hand, use an old blunt dinner knife. Position the oyster...

Take care when melting chocolate in the microwave or on the stovetop. It burns easily and can "seize" up into grainy lumps. First cut the chocolate into 1/4-inch pieces. For...

Quartering a cabbage offers an easy solution to removing the core. To do this, cut the cabbage vertically in half through the core with a large knife. Then cut each...

The longer dried beans or peas have been stored, the longer they will take to cook. Although dried beans can be stored indefinitely, they are best used within a year....

Tasty appetizers don't always require a shopping list or a trip to the market. Turn holiday leftovers into party fare to serve with toast points or crackers. In a food...

To keep raisins and other dried fruit from sinking to the bottom of cakes and muffins during baking, dust them lightly with flour before adding to the dough.

Want to make drop cookies that look more professional? Use a mini ice cream or cookie scoop--sold at kitchenware and many department stores--to spoon the cookie dough onto baking sheets....