Wednesday, January 20, 2010

hazel is in the house


bambi grazin' in the grass

Drop a lettuce leaf into a pot of homemade soup to absorb excess from the top

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

To remove the core from a head of lettuce, hit the core end once against the counter sharply and the core will loosen and pull out easily

A few drops of lemon juice added to whipping cream helps it whip faster and better

Brown sugar won't harden if an apple slice is placed in the container

A leftover baked potato can be rebaked if you dip it in water and bake in a 350 degree oven for about 20 minutes

No more tears when peeling onions if you place them in the freezer for four or five minutes first

A little salt sprinkled into a frying pan of oil will prevent spattering

Vinegar brought to a boil in a new frying pan will prevent foods from sticking

A few teaspoons of sugar and cinnamon slowly burned on top of the stove will hide unpleasant cooking odors and make your family think you've been baking all day!

my aunt and uncle's pretty roses

A few drops of lemon juice added to simmering rice will keep the grains separate

Grating a stick of butter softens it quickly

Ketchup will flow out of the bottle evenly if you first insert a drinking straw, push it to the bottom of the bottle and remove

An easy way to remove kernels of sweet corn from the cob is to use a shoe horn

A dampened paper towel or terry cloth brushed downward on a cob of corn will remove every strand of corn silk

For baking, it's 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

No 'curly' bacon for breakfast when you dip it into cold water before frying

Cut bacon in half while still in the package for easier frying

Thaw fish in milk; the milk draws out the frozen taste and provides a fresh-caught flavor

You'll get more juice from a lemon if you first warm it slightly in the oven

Popcorn will stay fresh and you will eliminate 'old maids' if you store it in the freezer

After flouring chicken, chill for one hour; the coating adheres better during frying

Tomatoes cut vertically instead of horizontally tend to bleed less

smilin' sunflower just for you!

Loosen grime from can openers with an old toothbrush; to clean blades, run a paper towel through the cutting process

Don't panic if you accidentally scorch the inside of your favorite saucepan.  Just fill the pan halfway with water and add 1/4 cup baking soda.  Boil awhile until the burned portions loosen and float to the top

To clear a sink or basin drain, pour 1/2 cup baking soda followed by a cup of vinegar down the drain.. let the mixture foam, then run hot water

While baking fruit (or chicken pot) pies, does the juice runneth over?  Shake salt into the spills; they'll burn to a crisp and can be easily scraped up with a spatula

Aunt Diane, you are absolutely right - leaving the oven grates in while self-cleaning does wonders and saves a boat load of time - more time to click!  Thanks for this tip.

homemade chicken pot pie

ready made pie crust for top and bottom
leftover homemade chicken soup that has been in the fridge so it is coagulated
1 can of small fava beans
2 tamales

Slightly oil a deep pie pan, secure bottom pie crust, mix leftover soup, drained beans and cooked tamales in a bowl, add to pie pan and top with second pie crust.  Bake at 350 for 1 hour, but make sure you put a pan underneath for spillage.  Enjoy!



Do you realize that having a grateful heart may keep you from needing a transplanted one?

xo