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QUICK TIPS
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Kitchen Towels, More About
 
 
Kitchen towel's are the most useful tool in your kitchen.
These are easy to find and inexpensive to purchase.
I change my kitchen towels and sink wash cloths daily.
If I am preparing any raw meat, I use 1-2  cheap towels just for my hands. When finished, use a clean sink cloth to clean kitchen areas with your favorite cleaner.  (A simple mixture of diluted bleach and water works great! Cheap small spray bottle.)
Kitchen towels are easy to find. Most grocery stores offer cotton style, (Best for drying dishes) and kitchen wash cloths. Hand towels are your choice.  Keeping extra cotton drying towels available in your kitchen will serve your kitchen well.
Wash all these with your choice of laundry soap.
Hang these out on a line in the sunshine to help remove germs.
 
 
 
7/16/2004
Kleenex Boxes
 
 

Empty box style Kleenex boxes will work great for holding glass bottles or jars for RV USERS. Push your glass in and it will be more secure. Of course, place all these in a box on the floor. It will be easy to pick up the box and remove your jar or glass.
--------------
Stuff empty Kleenex boxes with cotton balls for easy uses.


Additional comment from McClug:

You can also stuff plastic produce bags from the grocery store in the Kleenex box. Just pull one out when you need one.  The next one will pop up as you pull it out. 

 
 
 
7/20/2004
Quick Potato Salad.
 
 
Oh no! No potatoes!...
If you have the cubed frozen style, even shredded frozen potatoes will work. Allow them to thaw; cook in water to cover potatoes. Cook for only 5 to 7 minutes. JUST UNTIL SOFT. Rinse and drain in COLD WATER. Use FOR ANY POTATO SALAD.
 
 
 
7/20/2004
Cucumber Tips:
 
 
 
  • In the heat, there is one cool food we can always count on - cucumbers. The reason for the cukes�?cool persona is that they have an amazing ability to retain water and remain cool. In fact, the inside if a cucumber can be up to 20 degrees cooler than the outside temperature.
  • When shopping for cucumbers, look for firmness without any soft spots. They should have a solid green color with no yellowing. Avoid cukes that appear shriveled from lack of moisture.
  • Some cucumbers can be bitter, especially at the ends. You might want to cut off the ends because of this. In particular, cut off the blossom end of fresh cucumbers, as the blossoms contain enzymes that are bitter and cause excessive softening of pickles.
  • Cucumbers are great just peeled, sliced lengthwise and served as appetizers. Many like a bit of salt on these. My absolute favorite way of serving cucumbers is:

 Sour Cream Cucumbers

Just peel and slice cucumbers very, very thin. Salt the cucumbers generously and set in the refrigerator for about two hours. Then squeeze out the excess water accumulated. Add a generous amount of sour cream. Mix together and serve. 

From http://directrecipes.com

 
 
 
7/21/2004
More Cucumber Tips
 
 

My family and I enjoy cukes for eye refreshing. They hold a mineral which is good for your eyes and supply cooling water refreshing for your eyes. My eyes are dry thanks to Guillian Barre, I need to add moisture to the eye itself for relief of a normal day's dryness.  Simply cut the cuke into nice slices. Close the bedroom door. Make the room quiet and private. Lay down with a slice of cuke on each eye for 20 minutes. This might seem silly, yet my doctors and my eye doctor have told me to do this daily. Believe me, you will understand the relief and refreshment these simple cheap veggies will give your eyes.

Glen uses a manual hand-held cheese shredder to make his cuke salad. He uses the slicer side. Usually he peels the cukes and always adds raw onion along with sour cream. Onions and cukes like to live together.  If sour cream is not available, full-fat mayonnaise and cukes are great also. This family also loves cottage cheese and cukes. This is everyone's favorite treat and it will keep well.  It is better made the night before.  You can use dried onions also. Simply omit the salt for your recipe. The dried onions are salty enough.

Cukes are great for facial rubs. Clean your face with the products of your choice. Cut easy finger held slices of cool cukes, 4 to 6 depending on your needs. Before final moisturizing, wipe your face with a cool cuke slice. Allow to dry. Rinse or scrub as needed. Follow with your favorite facial needs.

If you do not have ice for a burn, cukes will help cool the burn.

We keep 6 to 10 cukes in our fridge weekly.  
 
 
 
7/21/2004
Cereal Box Linings:
 
 
 
Save the waxed paper linings from cereal boxes, cut off the top and bottom, open them out flat and use them for sifting the dry ingredients called for in baking recipes.  It is much handier than using a separate bowl and can be tossed out when finished or folded back up and put under the sifter to use the next time.  Of course, the linings can be used for anything you would ordinarily use waxed paper as well.

Further Comments from Dianne:
 
These also make a great bag for coating meats. Simply add your ingredients for the dry coating for your recipe. Close up and shake. Add you choice of meat, shake and throw away when finished.  Potato chips bags also work for this.
 
    
 
 
 
7/22/2004
Uses for Vinegar
 
 
  • Vinegar is the most perfect deterrent against deerfly!! I purchased a terry turban and
    soaked it in white vinegar; making sure it covers my ears, I am able to spend hours outside without the fear of vicious deerfly bites!
  • Arthritis tonic and treatment: 2 spoonfuls of apple cider vinegar and honey in a glass of water several times daily.
  • Thirst-quenching drink: Apple cider vinegar mixed with cold water.
  • Sagging cane chairs: Sponge them with a hot solution of half vinegar and half water. Place the chairs out in the hot sun to dry.
  • Skin burns: Apply ice cold vinegar right away for fast relief. Will prevent burn blisters.
  • Add a spoonful of vinegar to cooking water to make cauliflower white and clean.
  • Storing cheese: Keep it fresh longer by wrapping it in a vinegar-soaked cloth and keeping it in a sealed container.
  • Remove stains from stainless steel and chrome with a vinegar-dampened cloth.
  • Rinse glasses and dishes in water and vinegar to remove spots and film.
  • Prevent grease build-up in your oven by frequently wiping it with
    vinegar.
  • Wipe jars of preserves and canned food with vinegar to prevent mold-producing bacteria.
 
 
 
7/25/2004
Uses for Vinegar II
 
 
  • To eliminate mildew, dust and odors, wipe down walls with vinegar-soaked cloth.
  • Clean windows with vinegar and water.
  • Hardened paint brushes: Simmer in boiling vinegar and wash in hot soapy water.
  • Clean breadbox and food containers with vinegar-dampened cloth to keep fresh-smelling  and clean.
  • Pour boiling vinegar down drains to unclog and clean them.
  • Clean fireplace bricks with undiluted vinegar.
  • An excellent all-purpose cleaner: Vinegar mixed with salt. Cleans copper, bronze, brass, dishes, pots, pans, skillets, glasses, windows. Rinse well.
  • Make your catsup and other condiments last long by adding vinegar.
  • To clear up respiratory congestion, inhale a vapor mist from steaming pot containing water and several spoonfuls of vinegar.
  • Apple cider vinegar and honey as a cure-all: Use to prevent apathy, obesity, hay fever, asthma, rashes, food poisoning, heartburn, sore throat, bad eyesight, dandruff, brittle nails and bad breath.
  • When boiling eggs, add some vinegar to the water to prevent white from leaking out of a cracked egg.
  • When poaching eggs, add a teaspoon of vinegar to the water to prevent separation.
  • Weight loss: Vinegar helps prevent fat from accumulating in the body.
  • Canned fish and shrimp: To give it a freshly caught taste, soak in a mixture of sherry and 2 tablespoons of vinegar.
  • Add a spoonful of vinegar when cooking fruit to improve the flavor.
  • Soak fish in vinegar and water before cooking for a tender, sweeter taste.
  • Add vinegar to boiling ham to improve flavor and cut salty taste.
  • Improve the flavor of desserts by adding a touch of vinegar.
  • Add vinegar to your deep fryer to eliminate a greasy taste.
  • Add a tablespoon of vinegar to fruit gelatin to hold it firm.
  • Steep your favorite herb in vinegar until you have a pleasing taste and aroma.
  • Use vinegar instead of lemon on fried and broiled foods.
  • To remove lime coating on your tea kettle; add vinegar to the water and let stand overnight.
 
 
 
7/25/2004
Uses for Vinegar III
 
 
  • To make a good liniment: Beat 1 whole egg, add 1 cup vinegar and 1 cup turpentine. Blend.
  • Apply vinegar to chapped, cracked skin for quick healing.
  • Vinegar promotes skin health: Rub on tired, sore or swollen areas.
  • Reduce mineral deposits in pipes, radiators, kettles and tanks by adding vinegar into the system.
  • Rub vinegar on the cut end of uncooked ham to prevent mold.
  • Clean jars with vinegar and water to remove odor.
  • Avoid cabbage odor by adding vinegar to the cooking water.
  • Skunk odor: Remove from pets by rubbing fur with vinegar.
  • Paint adheres better to galvanized metal that has been wiped with vinegar.
  • Pets' drinking water: Add vinegar to eliminate odor and encourage shiny fur.
  • For fluffy meringue: Beat 3 egg whites with a teaspoon of vinegar.
  • Pie crust: Add 1 tablespoon vinegar to your pastry recipe for an exceptional crust.
  • Half a teaspoon per quart of patching plaster allows you more time to work the plaster before it hardens.
  • Prevent discoloration of peeled potatoes by adding a few drops of  vinegar to water. They will keep fresh for days in fridge.
  • Poultry water: Add vinegar to increase egg production and to produce tender meat.
  • Preserve peppers: Put freshly picked peppers in a sterilized jar and finish filling with boiling vinegar.
  • Olives and pimentos will keep indefinitely if covered with vinegar and refrigerated.
  • Add 1 teaspoon vinegar to cooking water for fluffier rice.
  • Add vinegar to laundry rinse water: Removes all soap and prevents yellowing.
  • After-shampoo hair rinse: 1 ounce apple cider vinegar in 1 quart of distilled water.
  • For a shiny crust on homemade bread and rolls: Just before they have finished baking, take them out, brush crusts with vinegar, return to oven to finish baking.
  • Homemade sour cream: Blend together 1 cup cottage cheese, 1/4 cup skim
    milk and  1teaspoon vinegar.
  • Boil vinegar and water in pots to remove stains.
  • Remove berry stains from hands with vinegar.
  • Prevent sugaring by mixing a drop of vinegar in the cake icing.
  • Cold vinegar relieves sunburn.
  • When boiling meat, add a spoonful of vinegar to the water to make it more tender.
  • Marinate tough meat in vinegar overnight to tenderize.
  • A strength tonic: Combine raw eggs, vinegar and black pepper. Blend well.
 
 
 
7/25/2004
Food Safety Tips:
 
 
 
Bacteria thrives and multiplies in food between the temperatures of 40°F. and 140°F. (4°C to 60°C), so make sure to keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold, and never leave perishable foods out for longer than two hours (including preparation time). Ready-to-eat foods should never be placed on a plate that held raw meat. The foods that are most prone to cause illness if left unrefrigerated are raw and cooked meat, poultry, and fish; salads made from starchy ingredients such as pasta, potatoes, and grains; anything containing raw or cooked eggs such as homemade mayonnaise, cream pies, and anything else containing dairy products. If you're serving appetizers and munchies that will likely be sitting out for a while, stick to foods that don't need refrigeration, such as vegetable platters, fruit skewers, breads, and chips. If serving sour cream or mayonnaise-based dips, be sure to keep the bowl on a bed of ice and avoid direct sunlight if at all possible. If possible, use two separate coolers-one for drinks and snacks, which people will be dipping into frequently, and a second one for meat and other dishes that will not be needed until it's time to sit down for the meal.   
 
 
 
7/28/2004