FYI #5 and a few added handy kitchen items.

My very first kitchen tool today that I recommend is my Pampered Chef rolling utensil.  It beats the old rolling pin for sure.  I am not one to endorse anything without being asked but I love this easy gadget.  Another item you don't necessarily use every day but it stores well in a kitchen drawer. 

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When we're on diets we like to keep celery and carrot sticks readily available. I prepare them and then store them in a plastic tub of water.

3.  Good Feng Shui for the kitchen: Throw out plates that have been chipped (or give them to your sister to use for her mosaic work). Using chipped plates attracts stagnant chi energy.

4.  When mincing garlic, sprinkle on a little salt so the pieces won't stick to your knife or cutting board.

5.  1 tsp of dried herb is not equal to 1 tsp of fresh herbs. The ratio of dry to fresh is 3 to 1. If your recipe calls for 3 tsp of fresh parsley use 1 tsp of dried parsley.

6.  A cut tomato should be stored in the refrigerator. Uncut tomatoes should not be stored in the refrigerator but in a cool place.

7.  A nice touch when you're cooking frozen corn is to add milk and a tiny bit of sugar to the corn instead of water. Cook as usual.

8.  A sneaky trick that is better for your family's health is to take a small piece of tape and cover over half of the holes in the salt shaker on the inside of the lid. Less salt - healthier hearts.

9.  Quick sauce from meat bits in the pan. Pour off some of the excess fat and deglaze with wine. Add a little bit of olive oil and butter. Reduce for about 2 minutes and then add herbs like parsley, rosemary and thyme.

10.  Amuse the people in your kitchen by testing spaghetti by slinging a strand on a nearby wall. If it sticks, the spaghetti is done.

11. Use regular yellow, white or red onions to make caramelized onions. These are great on hamburgers, steaks and baked potatoes. Slice up the onions and then 20-25 minutes in a skillet with olive oil should do it.

Another Handy Gadget:  Melon Ball, Cookie scooper or meatball maker.  Make all your cookies, meatballs the same size with this handy dandy kitchen tool.

Keep checking my blog for updates on new FYI's, helpful hints and handy dandy kitchen items.

8/30/13
11/17/15