Auntie Sable's Various Cooking Tips and Kitchen Tricks

If your soup is too thin,for milk-based soups, whisk in instant mashed potatoes by the teaspoonful until you reach the desired consistency. For water-based soups, use Wondra flour and whisk in by the teaspoonful until you reach the desired consisency. You can also use bread crumbs, oatmeal, or crushed Minute Rice, as long as it complements the soup.

Know the location of your nearest Asian supermarket (ie: in OKC, you must learn the way to Cao Nguyen, a block north of NW 29th and Western). You can find a great many imported ingredients in larger sizes than regular grocery stores, as well as a huge selection of noodles, rices, condiments, cooking oils, teas and spices. Great gadgets, tableware, pots, steamers, strainers and utensils at reasonable prices. And, if they have a butcher counter, you will find a greater variety of meat cuts, fish and seafood. Get meats and fish cut and dressed to order without going bankrupt.

Rely on Latino markets, like Fiesta and Morello's, for great meats and fresh tortillas, hard-to-find spices, fresh fruits and vegetables, larger sizes of pots and pans, and food prep equipment. If they have a bakery counter, get fresh yeasty bolillos and pastries early in the day.