Tips

 

Kitchen Tips

Perk up soggy lettuce by adding lemon juice to a bowl of cold water and soak for an hour in the refrigerator.

By lining the crisper section of your refrigerator with newspaper and wrapping vegetables with it, moisture will be absorbed and your vegetables will stay fresher longer.

To keep the flavor in the vegetables, add a small amount of sugar to the water after cooking carrots, peas, beets, and corn.

If fresh vegetables are wilted or blemished, pick off the  brown edges. Sprinkle  with cool water, wrap in towel and refrigerate for an hour or so.

Lettuce and celery will crisp up fast if you place it in a pan of cold water and add a few sliced potatoes.
 
 

Eggs

If you are making deviled eggs and want to slice it perfectly, dip the knife in water first.The slice will be smooth with no yolk sticking to it.

To make quick diced eggs, take your potato masher and go to work on a boiled egg.

If you wrap each egg in aluminum foil before boiling it, the shell will not crack while boiling.

A great trick for peeling eggs the easy way. When they are finished boiling, turn off the heat and just let them sit in the pan with the lid on for about 5 minutes. Steam will build up under the shell and they will just fall off.

A small funnel is handy for separating egg whites from yolks. Open the egg over the funnel and the white will run through and the yolk will remain.

For baking,it is best to use medium to large eggs. Extra large eggs may cause cakes to fall when cooled.

For fluffier omelets, add a pinch of cornstarch before beating.

Egg whites can be kept for up to 1 year. Add them to a plastic container as you
"collect them" for use in meringues and angel food cakes.( 1 cup equals 7 or 8 egg whites. You can refreeze defrosted egg whites.)

For fluffier omelets, add a pinch of cornstarch before beating.
 
 

Potatoes

Overcooked potatoes can become soggy when milk is added. Sprinkle with dry powdered milk for the fluffiest mashed potatoes ever.

To hurry up baked potatoes, boil in salted water 10 minutes,then place in a very hot oven. Can also cut potatoes in half and place face down on a baking sheet in oven to make the baking time shorter.

When making potato pancakes, add a little sour cream to keep from discoloring.

Save some of the water in which the potatoes were cooked-add to some powdered milk and use when mashing. This restores some of the nutrients that were lost in the cooking.

Use a couple of T. of cream cheese in place of butter for your potatoes; try using sour cream instead of milk when mashing.
 
 

Add a slice of bread to the package of brown sugar, close bag tightly, and in a few hours the sugar will be soft again.

To make pancake syrup, save small amounts of left over jams and jellies in a jar. Or, fruit flavored syrup can be made by adding 2 c. sugar to 1 c. of any kind of fruit juice and cooking until it boils.

A good topping for gingerbread, coffeecake,etc., can be easily made by freezing the syrup from canned fruit and adding 1 T. butter and 1 T. lemon juice to 2 c. syrup. Heat until bubbly, and thicken with 2 T. of flour.

For a leftover sweet treat, cut extra rolled out pie crust in strips. Sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon mixture. Prick with a fork and bake at 425º until golden brown ,about 10 minutes.

For frozen bread, place in a clean brown paper bag and place in a 325º  for 5 minutes. to thaw completely.

Instant White sauce
Blend together 1 c. soft butter and 1 c. flour. Spread in an ice tray, chill well, cut into 16 cubes before storing in a plastic bag in the freezer. For medium thick sauce drop 1 cube into 1 c. of milk and heat slowly ,stirring as it thickens.

Squash that is left over can be improved by adding some maple syrup before being reheated.

Buy bulk quantities of ice cream and pack in small margarine containers. These provide individual servings.

Freeze waffles that are left over. They can be reheated in a toaster.

When cooking noodles, bring required amount of water to a boil; add noodles, turn heat off and allow to stand 20 minutes. This prevents overboiling. Noodles won't stick to the pan using this method.

Make delicious croutons for soup or salad by saving toast, cutting into cubes, and saute in garlic butter.

To keep fish from sticking to the pan. bake on a bed of chopped onion, celery and parsley. This also adds a nice flavor to the fish.

Keep a powder puff in your flour container to easily dust your rolling pin or pastry board.

Try using crushed cornflakes or corn bread instead of bread crumbs in a meatball recipe. Or use onion- flavored potato chips.
 
 

To rid yellowing from white appliances try this: Mix together: 1/4 c. bleach,1/4 c. baking soda, and 4 c. warm water. Apply with a sponge and let set for 10 minutes. Rinse and dry thoroughly.

Instead of using commercial waxes on appliances, shine with rubbing alcohol.
For quick clean-ups, rub with equal amounts water and household ammonia; or try club soda. It cleans and polishes at the same time.

For copper pots;fill a spray bottle with vinegar and add 3 T. of salt. Spray solution liberally on copper pots and let stand for a while; then simply rub clean.

To clean can opener, loosen grime using an old toothbrush. To thoroughly clean blades,run a paper towel through the cutting process.

Save time and money by using the cheapest brand of dishwashing detergent available,but add a few T. of vinegar to the dishwasher. The vinegar will cut the grease and leave your dishes sparkling clean.

Run a cup of white vinegar through the entire cycle in an empty dishwasher to remove all soap film.

Ovens
Following a spill, sprinkle with salt immediately. When oven is cool, brush off burned food and wipe clean with a damp sponge.

Sprinkle bottom of oven with dishwasher detergent and cover with wet paper towels. Let stand overnight.

A quick way to clean oven parts is to place a bath towel in the bathtub and pile all removable parts from the oven onto it.Use enough hot water to just cover the parts and sprinkle 1 c. dishwasher soap over it. While you are cleaning the inside of the oven, the rest will be cleaning itself.

An inexpensive oven cleaner:
Set oven on warm for about 20 minutes, then turn off.
Place a small dish of full strength ammonia on the top shelf.Put a large pan of boiling water on the bottom shelf and let it set overnight. In the morning, open oven and let it air for a while before washing off with soap and water. Even the hard baked - on grease will wash off easily.

Use a cloth dampened with rubbing alcohol to remove water spots from stainless steel.

Spots on stainless steel can also be removed with white vinegar.

Remove rust from tin pie pans by dipping a raw potato in cleaning powder and scouring.

Take away fingerprints and grime with a solution of half water and half ammonia. Put it in a spray bottle from one of these expensive cleaning products, you will never have to buy them again.

Polish formica to a sparkle with club soda.
 
 

Store celery and lettuce i refrigerator in paper bags instead of plastic. Leave outside leaves and stalks on until ready to use.

Once an onion has been cut in half, rub the leftover side with butter and it will keep fresh longer.

Wrap onions individually in foil to keep them from becoming soft or sprouting.

To prevent crust from becoming soggy with cream pie, sprinkle crust with powdered sugar.

Popcorn should always be kept in the freezer; will stay fresh longer and eliminates "old maids".
 
 

BREAD CRUMBS: Use crushed corn or wheat flakes, or other dry cereals. Or use potato flakes.

BUTTER: Use 7/8 c. solid shortening plus 1/2 t. salt.

FRESH MILK: Use 1/2 c. each of evaporated milk and water

For 1 c. whole milk, use1 c. liquid powdered milk and 2 1/2 t. butter or margarine.

CATSUP: Use 1 c. tomato sauce added to 1 1/4 c. brown sugar, 2 T. vinegar, 1/4 t.cinnamon and a dash of ground cloves and allspice.

CORN SYRUP: Use 1/4 c. water or other type of liquid called for in the recipe plus 1 c. sugar.

BUTTERMILK: Use 1 T. of lemon juice or vinegar and enough fresh milk to make 1 c.Let stand 5 minutes before using.

FOR EGGS: Add 3 or 4 extra T. of liquid called for in the recipe. When you are 1 egg short for the recipe that calls for many, substitute 1 t. cornstarch.

UNSWEETENED CHOCOLATE:Use 1 T. of shortening plus 3 T. unsweetened cocoa to equal 1 square of unsweetened chocolate.

FOR FRESH HERBS AND SPICES: Use 1/3 the amount of dried herbs or spices.
Dried herbs are more concentrated.

FOR HONEY: To substitute 1 c. honey, use 1-1/4 c. sugar and 1/4 c. water or other liquid called for in the recipe.

FOR SUGAR: Use brown sugar, although it will result in a slight molasses taste.

FOR RED AND GREEN SWEET PEPPER: Use canned pimientos.
 
 

Fantastic Polish: Use 1/3 c. each boiled linseed oil, turpentine, and vinegar. Mix together and shake well. Apply with a soft cloth and wipe completely dry. Wipe again with another soft cloth. (Do not try to boil your own linseed oil). Buy it at a hardware or paint store.

To remove polish build up, mix 1/2 c.vinegar, and 1/2 c. water. Rub with a soft cloth that has been moistened with the solution. Dry immediately with another soft cloth.

To polish carved furniture, dip an old toothbrush into furniture polish and brush lightly.

Scratches

Make sure you always go with the grain of the wood when repairing a scratch.

Walnut:Remove the meat from a fresh, unsalted walnut or pecan nut. Break into half and rub the scratch with the broken side of the nut.

Mahogany: You can either rub the scratch with a dark brown crayon or buff with a brown paste wax.

Maple:Combine equal amounts of iodine denatured alcohol. Apply with a Q-tip, then dry wax, and buff.

Ebony: Use black shoe polish, black eyebrow pencil, or black crayon.
Teakwood: Rub very gently with 0000 steel wool. Rub in equal amounts of linseed oil and turpentine.
 

For all minor scratches: Cover each scratch with a generous amount of white petroleum jelly. Allow to remain on for 24 hours. Rub into wood. Remove excess and polish as usual.

Removing paper that is stuck to a wood surface:
Do not use a knife to scrape. Pour any salad oil, a few drops at a time, on the paper. Let stand for a while and rub with a soft cloth. repeat the procedure until the paper is completely gone.

Old decals can be removed easily by them with several coats of white vinegar. Give the vinegar time to soak in, then gently scrape off.

Three Solutions to remove white water rings and spots

1.Dampen a soft cloth with water and put a dab of toothpaste on it. For stubborn stains,add baking soda to toothpaste.

2.Make a paste of butter or mayonnaise and cigarette ashes. Apply to spot and buff away.

3.Apply a paste of salad oil and salt. Let stand briefly. Wipe and polish.

Marble table top stains:
Sprinkle salt on a fresh cut lemon. Rub very lightly over stain. Wash off with soap and water.

Scour with a water and baking soda paste. Let stand a few minutes before rinsing with warm water.

You will find a good coat of Turtle Wax is a quick pick-up for dulled plastic table tops and counters.

Glass table tops: Rub in a little lemon juice. Dry with paper towels and shine with a newspaper for a sparkling table.

Chrome cleaning:For sparkling clean chrome without streaks, use a cloth dampened with ammonia.

Removing glue:Cement glue can be removed by rubbing with cold cream, peanut butter,or salad oil.

Absorb grease on furniture by pouring salt on the spill immediately.
 
 

Rub ordinary car wax into your ceramic bathroom tiling to clean and refinish. Let stand 10 minutes and buff or polish.

Use a typewriter eraser to clean spaces between bathroom tiles.

Before hanging shower curtains, soak them in a salt water solution to prevent mildew.

To remove mildew on shower curtains, wash them in hot sudsy water, rub with lemon juice and let dry in sun.

Dip a cloth in rubbing alcohol to remove scum from your bathroom fixtures.

Use a very fine steel wool to remove scum from shower stall.

Restore whiteness to a yellowed bathtub by rubbing with a salt and turpentine solution.

For rust stains, spread a paste of hydrogen peroxide and cream of tartar over the area, and add a few drops of ammonia. Let stand for 2 -3 hours.

Rub glass shower doors with a white vinegar- dampened sponge to remove soap residue.

If you run about an inch of cold water before adding hot water to your bath, there will be absolutely no steam in your bathroom.

To clean sink stains in bathroom: Light stains can be removed by simply rubbing with a cut lemon.

For darker stains, and especially rust, rub with a paste of borax and lemon juice.

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