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  • How do I get the smell of onion
    off my hands after peeling and cutting?
  • Simply coat your fingers with a little olive oil before you begin to peel the onion, or use fresh lemon juice to rinse away the smell.
  • What’s the difference between
    virgin and extra virgin olive oil?
  • Extra virgin olive is more flavorful and less acidic because it is made from the first pressing of the oils. Virgin olive oil is made from olives that have previously been pressed.
  • How can I tell if asparagus
    is fresh?
  • The tips should have tightly closed purplish-green clusters and
    the bottoms should be firm and moist.
  • Is there any way to keep an
    avocado from turning dark?
  • To delay the discoloration, sprinkle the avocado with fresh lime or lemon juice.
  • How do you pick an artichoke?
  • Select an artichoke that feels heavy for its size and has tightly bound leaves. Brown tips or black streaks are caused by frost damage and only impact the leaves; they are not a sign of rot.
  • Am I crazy or are some jalapeños
    hotter than others?
  • You are not crazy. A jalapeño’s heat varies due to the variety of chilies, the climate where it’s grown, and the soil.
  • What’s better – a thin or
    a fat cucumber?
  • Definitely buy the slim-to-medium sized cucumber. The largest cucumbers are filled with seeds; by the time you remove them, there is very little left.
  • I’ve heard that red and green
    peppers are actually the same thing. Is that true?
  • It is true. Red peppers are just fully ripened green peppers, but
    they have a much sweeter taste.
  • I always make too much pasta.
    Can you tell me how much I should cook per person?
  • A rule of thumb is 3 oz. per person for an appetizer and 5 oz. per person for an entrée.
  • How do you pick a good mango?
  • The best time to buy mangos is early spring through late summer. They should have a sweet, fruity smell and give slightly to the touch.
  • How do I know if a pineapple
    is ripe?
  • A ripe pineapple will be slightly soft, have a sweet smell at the base, and will have fresh crisp leaves.