shrimp dinner ideasThere are plenty of people who look at cooking as a hassle. This article has many excellent tips that can help you do just that.Protect your spice and herb collection by storing your jars at room temperature in a dark place. Their flavors are weakened significantly by things like heat, light and humidity. Ground herbs and spices can retain full flavor for about a year. Spices that are whole will retain flavor longer, closer to 3-5 years. If spices are stored properly there is a better chance that they will stay fresher for a longer period of timeStore your spices in a cool, dark place. Leaving your spices out will expose them to moisture and light, which will diminish their quality. Spices last longer and taste better when stored in cool, dark locations. Using fresh spices makes meals even more delicious.Many important nutrients are removed when vegetables are cooked in lengthy processes like boiling. Quick cooking methods should be used when cooking vegetables so that their nutritional value can stay in-tacked.If you want crispier and crunchier French fries, then soak the potatoes in a bowl of cold water for a period of at least half an hour before use. The fibers of raw cut potatoes that have been soaked in cold water prior to hitting the deep fryer, are stronger and can handle the heat better without breakage.Has there ever been an occasion where you had trouble determining how long you should grill your meat? The best way to figure this out is by using a meat thermometer (a digital one will work best). This will ensure that the inside of your meat is cooked properly. For a steak, or any other meat, that is more than one and a half inches thick, you can speed up the cooking time by covering it with the grill lid.Have you ever had feelings of guilt when you have thrown away rotten fruit? Have you ever thought to just remove the moldy section by cutting it out? Trying to salvage fruit when half of it is bad may save money, but it is not worth the health risks. Rid yourself of this fruit. The mold can run deep and can make you sick if eaten.If your burgers seem to be sticking to the surface of your grill, it may be hard to take them off without breaking them. If, however, you brush the grill with oil, this will help prevent sticking.After you make sauce, pour the leftovers into ice cube trays and place them in the freezer. Take them out to use on another night when you'd like a no hassle home cooked meal. Simply reheat the sauce cubes slowly in a medium pan on your stove top. Sauce cubes made this way are safe and will taste great!Freeze sauces by pouring leftovers into ice cube trays. All you need to do next time you want to use it, is reheat in a saucepan. The frozen sauce will keep extremely well until the next time you need it!When cooking with garlic, use the freshest bulbs you can find. The fresher the garlic, the sweeter the taste. Fresh garlic is firm and lacks bruises.Keep your kitchen clean by washing your dishes when you are done with them. Fill your sink with hot water and soap on one side and clean water to rinse your dishes on the other. Mixing bowls and most utensils can be cleaned very easily if you choose to do it immediately after you are done using them. This will save you time in the long run and allow them to be available for use immediately.Blot the ground meat that you are using before cooking it. Blotting away the moisture on ground meat is always a good idea. Any moisture left on the meat will be released when it's cooked. It will start to sizzle away. It will result in beef that is steamed, rather than seared, completely changing the flavor of your final dish.A wonderful cook is forever learning new ways to achieve delicious meals. The best part about cooking is not simply meal preparation, but learning about all the kinds of foods, ingredients and techniques. A lot of the joy of cooking comes from sharing. Cooking is a community gift; share it with loved ones.shrimp meals