FYI #4 Tips and Tools from my kitchen to yours,

1.Make sure your kitchen scale is calibrated correctly. Load up 10 pennies. They should weigh one ounce.

2.  Out of cough syrup? Warm up a little bit of honey and lemon juice.

3. Deviled eggs? Place all filler ingredients in a plastic bag, seal it and moosh it all up. Cut off a corner of the bag and pipe into the egg whites.

4.  Put a little brown sugar in your tomato based sauces to cut the acid for people with sensitive stomachs. It also lends

Saute � garlic first before adding to a sauce. The taste will be milder.

5. 

Rubber jar opener. Saves a lot of time and wrist discomfort with this handy dandy tool.

6.  Tough food on pots? Soak in hot water with a dryer fabric softener sheet.

7.  Substitute club soda for milk in a pancake recipe and they will be light and fluffy.

8. To prevent your eyes from watering while chopping up onions, press the tip of your tongue to the roof of your mouth.

9.  Turn your oven off a few minutes before you're done roasting or baking. The oven will retain heat and you will be conserving energy.

10.  Use a muffin tin to hold stuffed bell peppers while they are cooking. None of them will fall over.

8/21/13

11/21/15

FYI's #3 plus tips and a helpful kithen tool too from my kitchen to yours,

A few more Kitchen tips for you :)

1.  Yeast past its expiration date? Test by putting it into a quarter cup of warm water with a teaspoon of sugar. If it's still kicking it will bubble up in a few minutes.

2.  Problem with ripping fried eggs? Spray the spatula with a little non-stick cooking spray and dish up perfectly fried eggs every time.

3.  

Buy a Large salt and pepper shaker with a handle .  Easy to add salt and pepper while you are cooking!

4.  Having trouble cutting a hard boiled egg in half without having the edges tear? Use a piece of thread.

5.  I'm using parchment paper more and more. It's terrific with baked goods and does OK with meat loaves. Not so much cleaning up afterwards!

6.  Bread rising? Heat up a cup of water in the microwave. Push the cup to the far corner of the microwave and add your bread in a covered bowl to rise. Close the door and let the bread rise.

7.  Storing parsley? Chop it up, place in ice cube trays, fill with water and freeze. Once frozen, transfer to a plastic bag and return to the freezer. When needed for soups or stews throw some cubes into the pot.

8.  Let steaks sit around for a few minutes after you get them out of the broiler so the juices can settle. Then call everyone to eat.

9. Pick the yellowest of ears of corn.  You'll reap seven percent of your daily requirement of Vitamin A from yellow corn versus none from the white corn.

10.  Carrots retain 25 % more falcarinol, a cancer-fighting compound, if they aren't chopped before they are boiled.  Sliced carrots have a larger surface area which allows more of their nutrients to leach into the cooking water.  But cooked carrots are more nutritious than raw carrots.  Heating them helps your body absorb more of their beta-carotene.

Have a wonderful day!

(3)8/18/1312/28/15

Let's start getting it together by Getting Organized! In our home..... FYI: Part 2

Spring as sprung!!!!!  It's been so cold here in PA that I was fearing the warm weather would never arrive.  So hearing that the next few days are going to be super I thought it was worth while sharing these FYI's I use to keep my home looking fresh and neat.  

This is how I do it and you can do it too!  Just know it won't happen overnight but you must start somewhere so here goes.  You can do it!

First to make things easy let's start with eliminating all the clutter.  Books, magazines, newspapers must go!!  Go through them and keep a few that are important to you but get rid of all else. You have to! that's a start!  

Kitchen counter:  You must clear all unnecessary items.  Depending on the size of your counter and space, only allow items that you use frequently on the counter.  Example:  Coffee maker, toaster and possibly utensil keeper. Salt and Pepper shaker too! Eliminating items will give your kitchen a free flow and look so much neater and yes larger!

Living room, Dining room: Time to let go of all the nick knacks and books laying on tables.  A few items (as in one or two) look nice.  Anymore makes your tables look cluttered and I don't think you want that!  Again your rooms will look larger and neater.


Simple is best.  A few books or magazines and throw away the rest...or donate!!

Choose either a table cloth or place mats.  A versatile centerpiece you can change different color schemes for the seasons. I use mine all year.  I change the bottom dish items spring, fall and holidays. (This is my spring/summer)


Bath:  Again get rid of clutter on counter.  The only thing that should be on your counter is a soap dispenser and hand towel.  If possible place a nice hand towel rack on wall.  It'll look much neater. Place any other items under cabinet or in a bin(basket) that you can store either in your cabinet or under sink.


A small flower arrangement might add a nice touch


Bedroom:  Any dressers should be clear for the exception of a lamp or phone.  I hate to repeat myself but the room will look larger as well.  Keep draperies to a minimum. If you don't have them already, shades, mini blinds or light valances really are enough.  No bulky draperies (remember you want the room to look large)


A valance, blinds, or sheer drapes is all you need.  You do not have to have all three.

Happy Organizing from my home to yours,

recap 2012
1/20/13