How-To........Peel and Cut a Melon the "Easy Breezy" Way

Cutting a cantaloupe is really “easy breezy”.  I love cantaloupe. It is super healthy and delicious. This fruit is packed with Vitamin A and C and has lots of potassium. I will cut it up and eat it or put it in a fruit salad or on cottage cheese.

 I hate cottage cheese but it is so good for me that I am constantly trying to find things to put on top of it to make it taste better, LOL.

To cut a melon you cut off the ends of both sides. This way you have a steady base at the bottom to sit it on and on the top you have a clear view as to the thickness of the skin.

** Make sure you are using a good sturdy and sharp knife. Most accidents in the kitchen happen when the proper tools are not used. **

Once it is all skinned, cut in half.

 

Then use a spoon to scoop out the seeds in the middle.

Slice to desired size and shape.

How-To: Peel a Cucumber Super Fast

Today on A FoodDiva we are going to try something different. Today I will show you how to peel a cucumber super fast. You can also do this with carrots. Hope you guys like it.

How-To: Stuff a Chicken Breast

You can stuff chicken with anything. Ham and cheese and veggies. In this post I am using goat cheese and kalamat olives chopped and stuffed.

Make sure the breasts are dry so they will not be slippery Using a sharp kitchen knife slice into the thicker breast part as pictured. Cut only about 2/3 of the way.
















It will look like this, ready to stuff once it is sliced.









Once cut, stuff with desired mixture and close. You can use toothpicks and even cooking wire to wrap around them as well. Depending if the stuffing will ooze or not.

                     Happy Stuffing!























Once cut, stuff with desired mixture and close. You can use toothpicks and even cooking wire to wrap around them as well. Depending if the stuffing will ooze or not.

                     Happy Stuffing!

How-To....... Clean a Pepper for Chopping or Stuffing

I found these gorgeous red peppers at the store. I can't remember the last time I saw peppers this gorgeous with these beautiful fresh green stems. I decided I will make stuffed peepers with these (see So Stuffed.....Peppers recipe).

You can use this same technique for pastilla peppers; pictured below (see So Stuffed.....Peppers recipe).

















I clean them with a commercial veggies wash but just washing them in the sink with water is fine too.









Using a sharp chopping knife and cutting board, hold the pepper with one hand and cut the top off the pepper.







Take out the membrane that is in the middle with your hands as well as the membrane on the sides of the inside.


Then can chop as needed. If you are stuffing the peppers and the bottom does not lay flat, then just cut the bottom to make it flat.






See? "Easy breezy" right? I will be posting an excellent stuffed peppers recipe in the next coming days, stayed tuned.

How-To.....Bacon Bacon Bacon !! .... in 6 min Easiest Clean Up Ever

I can't remember who taught me this trick with bacon, I have been doing it this way as long as I can remember.... but my fiancé saw me do it this way and thought it was awesome, so I thought I would do a post. This is the fastest and cleanest way to cook crispy bacon.

 

On a microwave safe plate put 3 paper towels on the plate and lay the bacon on the plate side by side. Try not to overlap the bacon so it cooks evenly.

* Tip to peel the bacon easier flip it over, easier to pull it apart the way it is stacked from the back.

Put a paper towel over the bacon and microwave for 6 minutes.

When you take it out, careful the plate will be hot. Use the top paper towel to pat the extra grease off the bacon.

This will be the least greasy and the crispiest bacon you have ever had. Plus for clean-up you just throw the paper towels away and wash the plate. No greasy pan, no greasy stove. “Easy Breezy" got to love it.

How-To......... Slice an Avocado

Seeing the way my fiance cut into an avocado the other day... I thought it may be a good idea to do this demonstration as to how to properly cut an avocado.


I now prefer to use Hass brand avocados. I have tried to buy the cheap ones but for some reason, the Hass taste better and are meatier than others on the market. They are pricier, but in this case you "do get what you pay for".








 Hold the avocado in the palm of your hand Using a good chopping knife, slice into it lengthwise and carry the knife through and around the whole avocado till you have 2 halves.






You use a heavy chopping knife because now you use the butt of the blade to dig into the pit of the avocado. You do not have to hit the pit hard, and be careful.



Twist the knife, as if turning a key in a lock and the pit should come loose, as pictured.      








Carefully!!!  Cut the avocado length wise. Make sure at this point the avocado is NOT laying flat in your palm. Hold it more by the finger tips so that if you cut the skin; you will not cut your hand.









Now cut in the other direction to make cubes the size you would like.


Take a spoon and scoop. Take the spoon and go to the bottom of the peel and scoop out the inside of the avocado.

Remember avocado oxidizes quickly, meaning it browns. To stop it from doing so squeeze some lemon or lime juice on it.

This very healthy treat is now ready to be eaten just like this with a pinch of salt or added to just about anything. I use avocado for guacamole, in sandwiches and wraps, on top of burgers and in salads or stuffed tomatos.

 Delish!