HOME TIPS #1

It has been a while since I have done a food blog and so it is high time that I did one. Been meaning to get around to it. There are so many simple tips in cooking and the kitchen that the cookbooks often do not mention, but everyone should know. These tips will make cooking from scratch even better and you will find more pleasure in cooking from scratch, which is healthier for you, your friends, and families. In addition, many of these tips will save you money too. Please feel free to share your ideas and tips. Understand that I cook, using 100% organic ingredients and whole grains as much as possible. Plain and simple it has more nutrients and is healthier, as well as a nice and lazy way to avoid getting plagued by genetically modified foods. As always, completely irrelevant replies about gardening or family are always welcomed :-). ~Pour all leftover veggies and water when they are cooked into a large freezer container and freeze. When full, add tomato juice or sauce and heat for a tasty soup. ~Three stalks of celery diced and added to about 2 cups of dried beans while cooking will make them easier to digest. ~A few drops of lemon juice added to simmering rice will keep the grains separated. However I rarely do this as being Asian, I firmly believe that rice should stick together. ~Instant potatoes are a good soup or stew thickener. ~Canned tomatoes added to inexpensive and tougher cuts of meats or roasts will tenderize the tough meat. ~When frying meat, sprinkle with paprika to turn it a golden brown. ~Over-ripe bananas can be peeled and sliced, then frozen in a plastic container until time to bake in bread, cake, or use in a smoothie. ~When baking bread, a small amount of water in a separate pan will keep the crust from getting too hard or brown. ~To make self-rising flour for biscuits, mix 4 cups of flour, 2 teaspoons salt, and 2 tablespoons baking powder. Store in an airtight container. ~Use warm, not hot water to activate yeast. Hot water kills the yeast. ~When baking in a glass pan or ceramic pan, lower the oven temperature by 25 degrees F. ~When baking bread, you get a finer texture by using milk, not water. ~Do not over handle biscuit or pie dough. It makes the dough tough. ~Nut breads are best if stored 24 hours before serving. ~To make breadcrumbs, save the heels in the freezer and crush them as needed. ~If eggs float in a bowl of water, do not use them as they are not fresh. ~Grape Nuts sprinkled over muffin batter makes a quick and crunchy topping and increases the fiber content. ~Egg whites need to be at room temperature before whipping for greater volume. ~Fill flat-bottomed ice cream cones half full with cake batter and bake. Ice and decorate for easy to handle kids' treats. ~Marshmallows make great candleholders on birthday cakes. ~To drizzle chocolate, place chips in a Ziploc bag and immerse in hot water until the chocolate melts. Snip the corner of the bag and drizzle over cake, cookies, or candies. This also works well for icing cakes and cookies too! ~To give luster to your cake, ice as usual then use a hair dryer to blow-dry the surface. The slight melting of the frosting will give the cake a pretty luster. ~Remove stale odors in the washing machine by adding 1/3 cup of baking soda to a load of laundry. This also has the effect of making your detergent work better in getting rid of stains. ~Grind up ice cubes in the garbage disposal to sharpen the blades. Do this at least once a month. ~To make "buttermilk", put 1-tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice in a measuring cup and add enough milk to make one cup. ~For a juicier burger, add 1/2 cup cold water to 1 pound of hamburger before grilling. This allows you to get the benefits of fat in the mea in the leaner hamburger. ~For "sweet" corn, add 1-tablespoon sugar to the water you cook the ears in. ~ Dip measuring spoons in hot water before measuring shortening or butter and the fat will slip out easily. ~Add small amounts of corn to pancakes for a healthier breakfast. ~To soften brown sugar, place box in the microwave with 1 cup of hot water in a separate container and heat on high for 1-1 1/2 minutes. "~Crisp" stale crackers, chips, or cereal by microwaving on a plate for 30-45 seconds. Let stand 1 minute afterwards. ~Soften cold butter or margarine by microwaving 1 minute at 20% power. ~For extra juicy burgers, add 1/4 cup evaporated milk per pound of ground beef. ~To ripen pears, place in a brown paper bag and store out of direct sun. Check daily. ~Baking powder will remove tea or coffee stains from cups. ~Low salt canned cream soups make excellent sauces for vegetables, fish, ECT. Black bean or onion soup with cauliflower, tomato with pork chops. ~Hard-boiled eggs will peel easily if cracked and placed in cold water immediately after boiling. ~If soup or stew tastes salty, a raw piece of potato in the pot will absorb the salt. ~Peel onions under running water or place in freezer until very cold before chopping to prevent tears. ~Slice and toast onions in the oven until golden brown and store in an airtight container. Use in soups, stews, and sauces. ~You can add grated zucchini to any soup, stew, or spaghetti sauce by grating it and freezing it to use all winter. Once a month, run your dishwasher and washer empty on the longest cycles with 4 cups of white vinegar, using hot water. This will entirely clean the gunk out of the appliances and triple the life of both as well as save on future repair costs. I hope some of these tips help some of you guys out! I have lots more tips but right off my head this is all i can think of right at the momement! K Jaggers