I’m really struggling with my grocery list. With the recent milk scare in China, I’ve had to throw out my entire stock of milk. So dairy products are out for now.

I have to lay off buying veggies from China because apparently those contain melamine too. Duh!

I’m not usually very particular about where veggies and fruits come from. But like it or not, I have to start reading labels more carefully and being much more selective.

#1. Pasta. How do you tell when it’s done? Do you cook on medium or high?
I’m always in a hurry so I tend to have the heat on high and I keep talking to the water so it’ll boil quicker . I’m also guilty of not following the instructions on the packaging.

To test for doneness, I stick the tip of my spatula into the pasta every now and then, and if it’s soft outside and hard inside, it’s done.

#2. Deep frying. What kind of oil do you use?
I use vegetable oil which I buy in 5kg bottles.

#3. Grilling. Do you grill on foil or directly on the grill?
Sometimes I grill on foil, sometimes directly on the pan itself.

#4. Share a recipe that involves cooking something two different ways. Example, for lasagna you might fry the meat and bake the whole dish.
I use pre-made sauce for my pastas but never straight out of the bottle because I always have my own ingredients to add.

For my spiral pasta bake, for instance, I boil the pasta first, then saute the meat and veggies in the pasta sauce before pouring it over the pasta to bake.

Wanna play Four Foods on Friday? Come join us, it’s fun and educational. Go over to valmg’s blog at Fun, Crafts and Recipes to find out more.

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