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Sunday, November 27, 2011

Here's Some Christmas Tips for you Enjoy!!


My first tip that I always tried to share is the Santa Claus website it's a wonderful website for young kids.

If you have small kids here's a website where they can email Santa and tell them what they want for Christmas and Santa will reply right back. Plus they can track Santa on Christmas Eve where they are able to see where Santa is at that time..I used this every year for my kids and they loved it.. (Click link below)


http://emailsanta.com




Wrap some of the pictures you have hanging on the wall to look like packages. This can be a really cute and inexpensive addition to your decorations!






Save all your Christmas cards from the previous year, get a pair of pinking shears and cut up the cards to make instant gift tags!


Avoid a stressful supermarket scrum by planning ahead. Make a list and try to buy non-perishable items on a normal shopping trip in advance. Things in tins or packets will happily keep in the cupboard. Making a list is the best shopping tip.


Always buy plenty of indigestion tablets and cold remedy - and a few small extra presents for the people you forget!


Buy a stack of batteries - especially if you have children. There's nothing worse than not being able to get a new toy going because you forgot the batteries!




(Christmas Decorating Tips) Click link below
http://interiordec.about.com/od/christmasdecor/a/demasdecortips.htm




Go branch hunting outside. Spray-paint the branches in a silver or gold, pop them in a vase and voilà ... elegant holiday decor. Take it a step further and dangle some ornaments on them or tie a few bows.




Take your throw pillows and tie them with holiday colored ribbons either once around the middle or like a Christmas gift. Add a rhinestone pin for an extra kick!




Take red, white or green bath towels and stack three different sizes with coordinating ribbon, thus creating a "gift wrapped package." Place on bath counters or tiered rack behind toilet bowl to dress up the guest bath, says Connie Bandstra, author of Tasty Temptations.




Take some hanging picture frames and simply frame some pretty holiday paper as artwork. Sometimes you can even find a nice greeting card worthy of being framed and hung.




Take clear vases or bottles, fill them with water, add holiday-colored food coloring -- a few drops will do -- and float candles in them or just line several up in a row to add a simple, cool holiday accent.




 Hints and tips cover Christmas food tips, presents and Christmas gifts ideas, and how to have fun without spending a fortune. (Click link below)


http://www.tellmehowto.net/christmas/




If you want to have a Christmas party it doesn’t have to be a fancy sit down dinner. Just pop large bowls of popcorn and set them along the table with a few other easy snacks, maybe a couple of plates of cookies. Have large pots of steaming hot cocoa with candy canes for stir sticks and of course marshmallows and whipped cream to top them. Most people seem to have just as much fun at these types of relaxed and informal parties as they do the more elaborate ones.




When you are out doing your day after Christmas shopping, don’t forget to pick up things like red and green candies, napkins, paper plates and tablecloths to use on Valentine’s and St. Patrick’s Days.


Keep bowls of peppermint candy and candy canes around instead of chocolates and caramels that are more expensive.




Have the kids make paper snowflakes, lay them on top of a chocolate cake, sprinkle with powdered sugar, carefully remove snowflakes. You now have a beautiful snowy scene! This is a very inexpensive way to decorate your holiday cake!




Instead of using regular paper for your paper chain projects, why not use other materials such as; wallpaper scraps, decorative scrapbook paper, pieces of wrapping paper, or left over pieces of silk ribbon!


To add some glitter & sparkle to your decorations, spray paint different kinds of nuts with your choice of colors! Silver & gold make stunning displays!




Frosted Windows~ Want to make your windows "frosted"?
Add 1 tablespoon of Epsom Salt to 1 cup beer.
Brush on the window! Let dry
To remove the frost, wash off with ammonia!
This is really neat. Just remember to cover any
wood or furniture nearby, because this drips!




Drop a tealight candle in your cleaned out glass
mayonnaise jars, tie a holiday ribbon around the neck,
and you have a beautiful candle with Christmas charm.
You could nestle the candle in peppermints, 
nuts, or even sand if you wish.
Try grouping several together for a dramatic
evening effect. These also make great luminaries.




Place a few inexpensive glass balls in a bowl and embellish with
a few sprigs of greenery or some leftover ribbon.
If you don't havean extra bowl try decoupaging
a box with leftover Christmas wrap, or cover
with a little fabric and glue. You can also shred
some old wrapping paper to put it the
bottom of the bowl before placing ornaments inside.




Tie ornaments to the chandelier with Christmas ribbon.




Make your own gift tags out of leftover paper.
Add details by layering shapes over the base paper
use paper punches and scalloped scrapbooking scissors to add style, 
use a calligraphy pen to add names.
You can also use the scalloped scissors
to make old holiday cards into tags.




Sponge stars or other seasonal shapes on your window with paint
Add a teaspoon or so of liquid dish soap to acrylic craft paint,
Washes off with window cleaner.
Use a non-scratching dish scrubber if you come across a stubborn spot.




Front Door Décor~Dazzle your front door for Christmas by wrapping it in bright red
paper or fabric, then wrap it with a huge gold bow to impress your
guests! 




Make garlands,mini stockings, holly leaves, mittens and even Christmas Ornaments from felt scraps.




Printable Recipe Cards  (Click Link Below)


http://www.countryclipart.com/recipecards.htm

Sunday, November 20, 2011

50 Useful Kitchen Tips


1. For cleaning smelly hands after chopping onions or garlic, just rub them on a stainless steel spoon. The steel is supposed to absorb the odor.


2. Fresh coffee beans can also absorb nasty odors from your hands.


3. If you happen to over-salt a pot of soup, just drop in a peeled potato. The potato will absorb the excess salt.


4. When boiling eggs, add a pinch of salt to keep the shells from cracking.


5. Never put citrus fruits or tomatoes in the fridge. The low temperatures degrade the aroma and flavor of these persnickety fruits.


6. To clean cast iron cookwear, don’t use detergents. Just scrub them with salt and a clean, dry paper towel.


7. Will milk curdle if it is allowed to boil? It turns out that this age-old piece of wisdom isn’t true, after all. Milk that has been boiled is perfectly safe to consume.


8. To clean an electric kettle with calcium buildup on the heating element, boil a mixture of half white vinegar and half water, then empty.


9. When storing empty airtight containers, throw in a pinch of salt to keep them from getting stinky.


10. If you are making gravy and accidentally burn it, just pour it into a clean pan and continue cooking it. Add sugar a little at a time, tasting as you go to avoid over-sugaring it. The sugar will cancel out the burned taste.


11. Burned a pot of rice? Just place a piece of white bread on top of the rice for 5-10 minutes to draw out the burned flavor. Be careful not to scrape the burned pieces off of the bottom of the pan when serving the rice.


12. Before you chop chili peppers, rub a little vegetable oil into your hands and your skin won’t absorb the spicy chili oil.


13. If you aren’t sure how fresh your eggs are, place them in about four inches of water. Eggs that stay on the bottom are fresh. If only one end tips up, the egg is less fresh and should be used soon. If it floats, it’s past the fresh stage.


14. To banish ants from the kitchen, find out where they are coming in and cover the hole with petroleum jelly. Ants won’t trek through the jelly. If they are coming under a door, draw a line on the floor with chalk. The little bugs also won’t cross a line of chalk.


15. Before making popcorn on the stove or in an air popper, soak the kernels in water for 10 minutes. Drain the water, then pop as normal. The additional moisture helps the popcorn pop up quicker and fluffier with fewer “old maids.”


16. Don’t store your bananas in a bunch or in a fruit bowl with other fruits. Separate your bananas and place each in a different location. Bananas release gases which cause fruits (including other bananas) to ripen quickly. Separating them will keep them fresh longer.


17. To keep potatoes from budding in the bag, put an apple in with them.


18. If you manage to have some leftover wine at the end of the evening, freeze it in ice cube trays for easy addition to soups and sauces in the future.


19. To clean crevices and corners in vases and pitchers, fill with water and drop in two Alka-Seltzer tablets. The bubbles will do the scrubbing.


20. After boiling pasta or potatoes, cool the water and use it to water your house plants. The water contains nutrients that your plants will love.


21. When you clean your fish tank, the water you drain can also be used to water your house plants. The nitrogen and phosphorus in fish droppings make aquarium water a great fertilizer.


22. When defrosting meat from the freezer, pour some vinegar over it. Not only does it tenderize the meat; it will also bring down the freezing temperature of the meat and cause it to thaw quicker.


23. The substance in onions that causes your eyes to water is located in the root cluster of the onion. Cut this part out in a cone shape, with the largest part of the cone around the exterior root section.


24. Taking the top layer off of a onion can also reduce the amount of eye-watering misery.


25. Toothpaste is a great silver cleaner.


26. Baking soda isn’t as effective a deodorizer for the fridge as that baking soda company would like you to believe. Activated charcoal is much better at absorbing fridge and freezer odors.


27. Baking soda is an extremely effective cleaner, though. Use it with vinegar to deodorize drains and clean stovetops and sinks.


28. A favorite tip of thousands of grandmas: when you nick your finger while cutting veggies, wait until the bleeding stops and paint on a layer of clear nail polish. It will keep juices out of the wound and won’t fall off into the spaghetti sauce like a bandage.


29. The jury is still out on what to put in the bag of brown sugar to keep it from going hard: a slice of apple, a piece of bread, and a shard of a terra cotta pot have all been used.


30. Got a nasty invisible splinter from your kitchen tools? Put a piece of adhesive tape on the area and then pull it off to remove the splinter.


31. When you burn yourself in the kitchen, just spread mustard on the affected area. Leave it for a while and it will ease the pain and prevent blistering.


32. For aluminum pans that are looking dull, just boil some apple peels in them. This will brighten up the aluminum and make your house smell yummy.


33. To keep cookies fresh, savvy grannies like to put some crumpled-up tissue paper in the bottom of the cookie jar.


34. If your salt is clumping up, put a few grains of rice in with it to absorb excess moisture.


35. To clean fruit stains off of your fingers, rub them with a fresh, peeled potato. White vinegar can also do the trick.


36. Keep iceberg lettuce fresh in the fridge by wrapping it in a clean, dry paper towel and storing lettuce and paper towel in a sealed baggie in the fridge.


37. If your loaf of bread is starting to go stale, just put a piece of fresh celery in the bag and close it back up. For some reason, this restores a fresh taste and texture to the bread.


38. Always keep an aloe vera plant in your kitchen. It’s invaluable when you scrape your arm or burn your finger. Just break off a leaf and rub the gel from the inside on the injury.


39. When making a soup, sauce, or casserole that ends up too fatty or greasy, drop in an ice cube. The ice will attract the fat, which you can then scoop out.


40. To reuse cooking oil without tasting whatever was cooked in the oil previously, cook a 1/4″ piece of ginger in the oil. It will remove any remaining flavors and odors.


41. If your milk always goes bad before you can finish it, try adding a pinch of salt to the carton when you first open it. It will stay fresh days longer.


42. Water that has been boiled and allowed to cool will freeze faster than water from the tap. This comes in handy when you’re having a party and need ice pronto.


43. Remove tea or coffee stains from your fine china by mixing up a paste of baking soda, lemon juice, and cream of tartar. Rub it over the stains and they’ll come off easily.


44. If two drinking glasses become stuck together after stacking, it’s not impossible to unstick them. Just put ice in the inner glass and dunk the outer glass in warm water. The warm glass will expand and the cold glass will contract, making the glasses separate easily.


45. For splinters under the fingernail, soaking the affected finger in a bowl of milk with a piece of bread in it is said to draw out the splinter.


46. Did grandpa ever give you a drink of cola for an upset tummy? It turns out that this is actually a pretty effective remedy. The sugar and carbonation can soothe many tummy problems - but it can also exacerbate others.


47. Putting salty bacon on a boil is said to “draw the poison out” of boils.


48. To help old wooden drawers (without runners) open and close smoothly, rub a candle on the tracks.


49. A cotton ball soaked in white vinegar and applied to a fresh bruise will reduce the darkness of the bruise and help it disappear sooner.


50. Drinking cranberry juice and eating blueberries regularly will help stave off urinary tract infections.








http://lifehackery.com/2008/05/17/50-amazingly-helpful-time-tested-tips-for-the-kitchen/

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Kitchen Tips, Tricks and more ( I )


If you accidentally over-salt a dish while it's still cooking, drop in a peeled potato-it absorbs the excess salt for an instant "fix me up." 


If you have a problem opening jars: Try using latex dishwashing gloves. They give a non-slip grip that makes opening jars easy.


If it is a meringue pie you are making…add four or five marshmallows cut into pieces or 1/2 cup miniature ones, to meringue just before spreading. These marshmallows give both flavor and body to the meringue. The latter is important if pie is to stand for sometime before serving.


Instead of using a pastry cutter when a recipe asks for chilled and cut butter, I freeze the butter sticks and my cheese grater and grate the frozen butter into the flour. It’s not only much easier, but gives a more uniform consistency.


Ice cubes will eliminate the fat from soup and stew. Just drop a few into the pot and stir; the fat will cling to the cubes; discard the cubes before they melt. Or, wrap ice cubes in paper towel or cheesecloth and skim over the top.


If a recipe calls for 1 cup sour cream, you may substitute 1 cup cottage cheese blended until smooth with 1 tablespoon lemon juice and 1/3 cup buttermilk.


If guests are coming and you're behind making dinner, throw some onions on to sauté and your kitchen will smell wonderful and homey.


If lettuce starts turning a little brown (but not slimy) it may not be suitable for salads, but it is for sautéing. Sauteed salad greens like lettuce, radicchio, and endive make an unusual but tasty side dish. Sauté lettuces just as you would spinach. Cook them quickly in a little olive oil, minced garlic, and salt. They taste great, and you cant tell that the greens were once a little brown.


If you have a problem opening jars ... Try using latex dishwashing gloves. They give a on-slip grip that makes opening jars easy.


If you need extra counter space for cooling cookies on racks or baking sheets, set up the ironing board and let them rest on it (cover the board to prevent stains).


If you need only 1/2 an onion, save the root half. It will last longer.


If your cake recipe calls for nuts, heat them first in the oven, then dust with flour before adding to the batter to keep them from settling to the bottom of the pan.


Instead of adding raw garlic to sauces, sauté the garlic first for a milder flavor.


Instead of the water your recipe calls for, try juices, bouillon, or water you've cooked vegetables in. Instead of milk, try buttermilk, yogurt or sour cream. It can add a whole new flavor and improve nutrition.


Instead of using a pastry blender, mix flour with butter by grating cold butter into it.


It's important to let a roast -- beef, pork (pardon the expression), lamb or poultry -- sit a little while before carving. That allows the juices to retreat back into the meat. If you carve a roast too soon, much of its goodness will spill out onto the carving board.


If you're unsure of an egg's freshness, see how it behaves in a cup of water: Fresh eggs sink; bad ones float.


If you need only a few drops of lemon juice, avoid cutting the lemon in half--it will dry out quickly that way. Instead, puncture the fruit with a metal skewer and squeeze out exactly what you require.


In a pinch, yogurt can be substituted for cream in recipes that don't require cooking. But yogurt can curdle when cooked - in which case it's best to stick with whole milk or half and half.


If you burn milk while heating it on the stove, add a pinch of salt to temper the scorched smell and taste.


If you burn gravy and don't have enough time or pan drippings, to start from scratch, stir a teaspoon of smooth peanut butter for each cup of gravy. This should eliminate any burned taste.


If you've cooked more rice than you can eat, make rice pudding by adding butter, cinnamon, sugar and milk or create fried rice by saute'ing with a beaten egg, soy sauce and sliced green onions, or toss rice with slivered almonds and raisins for a Middle Eastern inspired pilaf.


If your glass coffee pot gets cloudy, make tea in it. Tea’s tannic content will remove the film. 


If two glasses are stuck together, fill the top glass with cold water and set the bottom glass in hot water. Try to carefully twist the two glasses apart after a minute


Iced tea requires only one-half as much sugar if sweetened when hot than when cold. After tea is strained and ready to serve, freeze a portion of it in the electric refrigerator and add this to glasses for cooling instead of plain ice.


If a vase won’t hold water, melt paraffin and pour into the bottom. Often this will seal a crack and prevent future seepage of water.


If you are in a hurry and you find that you are out of silver polish, dip a piece of raw potato in baking soda and rub the potato on the silver. 


It’s easy to keep your dresser from becoming stained and spotted from perfume and toilet water bottles. Place a piece of wax paper under your dresser scarfs for sure protection.


If you need a wide piece of wax paper, seal two strips together with a hot iron; it cools quickly.


If you have a brass or metal door knocker, wax it immediately after polishing. This practice will keep it bright.


Insects in earth can be killed with a spoonful of mustard in gallon of water. This is effective with potted plants.


Instead of whittling a candle at the base to make it fit in the candle holder, I hold the end in a cup of very hot water for a few minutes to soften the wax then gently and firmly press it into the holder.


If your candle holder is too large wrap a bit of plastic wrap around the base of the candle and wedge into your holder.

Saturday, September 3, 2011

Kitchen Tips, Tricks and more (H)


Here’s a clever–and quick–way to skin a kiwi: Trim both ends of the fruit; ease a tablespoon between the flesh and the peel. Turn the kiwi, pressing the back of the spoon against the peel as you go. The fruit should slide right out in one piece–ready for slicing.




How long does olive oil last? How do I store it? Olive oil will last for about two years, if it goes rancid there will be a smell to it. Store olive oil in a cool, dark place. No need to refrigerate it but if you do, you’ll notice that the oil will get cloudy and solidify. If this happens, remove the bottle of olive oil from the fridge and leave at room temperature–it will return to its normal state.


How do I measure baking pans to see what size they are? Measure from inside edge to inside edge.


Herb & Spice Storage ~~~ To help preserve flavor, herbs and spices are best stored in airtight containers, out of sunlight and away from heat sources. Store the jars and containers in the pantry or a cupboard. Keeping spices and dried herbs in cute glass jars over top of the stove is a popular practice, but it does negatively affect the flavor of your spice collection.


How to Keep Cookies Soft ~~~ Keep cookies moist and chewy by throwing a few slices of apple in your cookie jar to keep cookies soft. Don’t do this if you like crispy or crunchy cookies.


Homemade Non-Stick Spray Recipe ~~~ Fill a pump spray bottle with olive oil or vegetable oil and use as you would commercial non-stick spray products. 


Homemade Non-Stick Spray Recipe ~~~ 1/2 cup vegetable or olive oil
4 TBS liquid lecithin (found at health food stores) Mix ingredients well and store in a pump spray bottle. Recipe can be made in batches with the ratio 2:1 (oil to liquid lecithin). 


Homemade Non-Stick Mix Recipe ~~~ 1 part vegetable oil, 1 part Crisco or vegetable shortening (at room temperature), 1 part flour




 How to avoid over-spilling milk when boiling : Before pouring milk into a pot for boiling rub butter along the top edge and inside lip of the pot. When the milk foams up, it will stop over spilling when it hits the butter.
Beat all ingredients together until completely mixed and smooth. Store in airtight container and refrigerate. Coat on pans with a pastry brush–make sure to cover pan surfaces completely. Recipe can be made in batches with equal parts for all ingredients.

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Kitchen Tips, Tricks and more (G)


Greaseless Griddle Cake: When making griddle cake grease the pan for the first cake. After that rub a piece of raw potato over hot griddle instead of greasing. The cakes brown nicely and there will be no smoke. *Found on loose page of from an old cookbook.


Gravy thickening, sauces, etc., can be made smooth by using a small jar with a tight lid. Put the mixture of milk or water and flour into the jar and shake well until all lumps disappear.


Grease drippings can be clarified for further use by straining to remove large particles and then cutting up an Irish potato and frying it in the grease. All the small particles will cling to the potato.


Gelatine in individual form can be handled easier if a muffin pan is used instead of small molds. Pan can be placed in a refrigerator without danger of over-turning and much time is saved.


Grapefruit or oranges can be peeled easily if permitted to stand in boiling water for ten minutes.


Greasing muffin tins, bundt & cake pans is a breeze with a pastry brush first dipped in melted butter or shortening. A pastry brush also makes cleaning graters quick work–just brush off the bits clinging to the grater before washing.


Getting the catsup out of the bottle: insert a drinking straw, push it to the bottom of the bottle, and then remove. Enough air will be admitted to start an even flow.


Grate orange and lemon peel before peeling. Dry and add to spice cake or any cookies or puddings. The dried grated peel will keep well in a covered jar.


Grapes ~~~ To enjoy on a hot summer day, pop your grapes in the freezer. They are delicious frozen.


Get two batches out of one recipe of marinating liquid by marinating meats in a sealed plastic bag. Put half the amount you usually would in the bag with the meat, remove all the air and seal the bag. Squish around the liquid and it will stretch a lot farther than it would if you marinated in a covered container. I like to make two batches at once, one is for that night’s meal and the other is frozen in the bag with the marinating sauce. (Leona)

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Kitchen Tips, Tricks and more (F)

For a juicier hamburger add cold water to the beef before grilling (1/2 cup to 1 pound of meat).


For fluffier, whiter rice, add one teaspoon of lemon juice per quart of water. To add extra flavor and nutrition to rice, cook it in liquid reserved from cooking vegetables.


For fresh flavor in orange juice add the juice of one lemon.


For fresh-tasting lemon or lime juice year-round, freeze lemons and limes whole; thaw in microwave before squeezing.


For the perfect boiled egg, cover eggs with cold water and a pinch of salt. Bring the water to a full boil. Remove the pan from the heat and cover. Let the eggs sit for 8-9 minutes. Drain the water and place the eggs in ice water to cool and stop the cooking process.


Freeze tomato paste in the can. Open both ends and punch out the paste. Wrap the frozen paste in foil and freeze, then slice off what you need as you need it.


Fresh fish freeze (cute alliteration, and tongue twister) well in a milk carton filled with water.


French toast is made crisper by adding a tablespoon of flour to the egg and milk mixture.


For a variation in meat balls, add chopped apple to ground meat along with other seasoning, roll into small balls and simmer in tomato puree, seasoned with sage.


Fluff Up Mashed Potatoes: Try adding a healthy pinch of baking powder to the potatoes when mashing them. For fluffier mashed potatoes, use an electric mixer to whip air into them. 


Fresh Fruit & Veggies Washing Tip: Sprinkle wet fruit and veggies with baking soda then gently scrub and rinse. This cleaning method safely removes dirt and residue off produce. 


For a super fast fish dish, add some fresh ginger or garlic to some oil in a saute pan. Heat and stir over a medium fire for about 3 minutes. Remove the ginger or garlic and cook the fish in the flavored oil.


Flour Bugs ~~~ Keep a couple bay leaves in the flour canister to help deter the bugs (flour Weevils) congregating in their favorite hangout. You can toss the leaves loose in the flour or make a rough pouch out of one layer of cheesecloth to keep the leaves separated from the flour. Another tip is to tape the bay leaves to the inside of the lid. Always try to keep flour and other grains in air tight containers, this will help keep pantry pests out.


Fill Empty Muffin Tins With Water ~~~ If your muffin or cupcake recipe doesn’t fill all the spots in your muffin pan, fill the empty places 3/4 full with water. This will help protect those slots from darkening or getting scorched.


Fat can be removed from hot soup by straining broth through a cloth wrung from cold water. All the fat will remain in cloth except just enough to enrich soup. Heat soup again before serving.


Fish or onion odor can be removed from utensils and dishes by adding a teaspoonful of baking soda to the dish water.


Fish scales can be removed quickly and easily by first dipping the fish in boiling water.


First rinse raisins, dates and figs in very cold water before putting them through the food chopper. They will not form such a gummy mass.


Frosting that 2 layer cake ~~~ Hate it when you try to frost your cake and it slides off to one side. I found sticking a few broken pieces of spaghetti through the top holds it firmly together.


For crisper salads: Place a saucer upside down in the bottom of the salad bowl before filling with salad. Excess moisture will run underneath the saucer and this will help keep the salad crisp and fresh.


For fried foods that require flouring, try pancake flour for a change, it’s quite nice.


For bananas that are ripe and ready to eat but you have too many, peel the bananas and freeze them then dip in melted chocolate and freeze again, these make a nice treat!


Fill a large hole or sugar shaker with flour and use that when needing to dust surfaces with flour or just pour out a tablespoon as you need it, this is handy way to keep a bit of flour on hand instead of digging in the flour bin.


Food Processor clean-up tip ~~~ Covering food processor bowl with plastic wrap before placing on the lid, saves cleaning up the lid.


Finding Broken Glass Under Soapy Water ~~~ 
If you break glass in soapy water while doing dishes, to prevent cutting yourself while looking for it you can use a tall clear drinking glass or a wide clear glass bowl–keeping the top part above the bubbles, push the glass into the water and use it as a lens to look around and find the broken pieces.


For a lint-less dustcloth, soak the cloth in hot soap suds with a few drops of turpentine for several hours. Wring out and let dry. These dustcloths give furniture a brilliant polish and hold dust. Repeat this process every two weeks.


For removing rust from refrigerator shelves, wash them in mild scouring powder and hot water. Dry well with soft cloth. Apply a thin coating of hot melted paraffin.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Kitchen Tips, Tricks and more (E)


Egg shells can be easily removed from hard-boiled eggs if they are boiled in salty water and quickly rinsed in cold water.


Egg whites should always be at room temperature before whipping. Be certain there is no yolk in the whites and that the bowl and beaters are perfectly clean. Cream, on the other hand, should be well-chilled. For the largest volume, chill the bowl and beaters before whipping.


Egg white can brightened a gilt frame by applying it with a soft brush.


Eggplants Retaining Color ~~~ When cooking eggplant add a spoon of milk to a bowl of water and add the cut up pieces to that water. The eggplant will  retain their color without becoming black. 


 Easy way to remove garlic skins ~~~ Use 'Jar Openers'- round flat pieces of rubber. Put the clove of garlic in the center of the jar opener and fold it in half over the garlic. Then press down with your hand while rolling it back and forth over the garlic. OR you can give it a good whack with the side of a chef's knife and the skin will peel off easy.


Easy Peeling Kiwi ~~~ To peel kiwi, I cut them in half and slide a small spoon between the peel and the fruit.


Easy Peeled Peaches ~~~ Placing them into boiling water for 30 seconds. Remove and place them into ice water to stop the cooking. Their skins will slip off. Sprinkle with lemon juice to retain color.


Egg slicer can be used to slice mushrooms.


Egg stuck to carton ~~~ Wetting the carton should free the egg.


Electric push buttons can easily be seen in the night if they are touched up with a little luminous paint. This saves time, temper and bumps.


Empty aspirin boxes that shut tightly make excellent holders for pins, thumbtacks, small beats, buttons or snap fasteners. Use separate containers for the various items and label each box.


Embroidery floss has a number of uses. It is excellent for mending socks, sweaters and babies’ woolens. The colors are usually easy to match. Also try sewing buttons on a ready-made garment with it.