Kitchen Hints

Hi, I’m back!  I’ve been traveling lately – for my “real” job and for Thanksgiving – so I apologize for not posting recently.  I’ve still got a couple of days worth of turkey leftovers, so I don’t need any new quick dinner recipes.  Instead I thought I’d get back to posting with some great kitchen hints that I’ve come across.  Here goes …

• Run your hands under cold water before pressing Rice Krispies treats in the pan~the marshmallow won’t stick to your fingers!
• Spray your tupperware with non-stick cooking spray before pouring in tomato-based sauces~no more stains!
• Wrap celery in aluminum foil when putting in the refrigerator it will keep for weeks!
• Slicing meat when partially frozen makes it easier to get thin slices.
• Substitute half applesauce for the vegetable oil in your baking recipes~you’ll greatly reduce the fat content! (Example: 1/2 cup vegetable oil = 1/4 cup applesauce + 1/4 cup oil)
• Instead of throwing away a sponge that has a stale odor, simply toss it in the dishwasher and wash it with the next load of dishes. It will come out clean and fresh smelling and the heat will kill any bacteria in the sponge, so it’s a good idea to toss your sponges into the dishwasher often.
• Sealing an ice cream container in a plastic bag will stop ice crystals from forming when it is in the freezer.
• Did you leave the potato chip bag open again and now they’re stale??  Pop them in the microwave for 30 to 60 seconds, let stand for two minutes and they’ll be crispy again.

I’ll admit that I haven’t put each of these to the test, so let me know if you’ve got any experience with any of these!

Tagged as: Hints and Tips