Handy Tips!

The ClubHouse: General Archives: June - July Archives: Handy Tips!

Soeur

Friday, June 22, 2001 - 02:54 am Click here to edit this post
Things only Martha Stewart would know:

1. Stuff a miniature marshmallow in the bottom of a sugar cone to prevent ice cream drips.
2. Use a meat baster to "squeeze" your pancake batter onto the hot griddle and you'll get perfectly shaped pancakes every time.
3. To keep potatoes from budding, place an apple in the bag with the potatoes.
4. To prevent eggshells from cracking, add a pinch of salt to the water before hard-boiling.
5. Run your hands under cold water before pressing Rice Krispies treats in the pan and the marshmallow won't stick to your fingers.
6. To get the most juice out of fresh lemons, bring them to room temperature and roll them under your palm against the kitchen counter before squeezing.
7. To easily remove burnt on food from your skillet, simply add a drop or two of dish soap and enough water to cover bottom of pan, and bring to a boil on stovetop.
8. Spray your Tupperware with nonstick cooking spray before pouring in tomato based sauces and there won't be any stains.
9. When a cake recipe calls for flouring the baking pan, use a bit of the dry cake mix instead and there won't be any white mess on the outside of the cake.
10. If you accidentally over salt a dish while it's still cooking, drop in a peeled potato and it will absorb the excess salt for an instant "fix me up,"
11. Wrap celery in aluminum foil when putting in the refrigerator and it will keep for weeks.
12. Brush some beaten egg white over piecrust before baking to yield a beautiful glossy finish.
13. Place a slice of apple in hardened brown sugar to soften it.
14. When boiling corn on the cob, add a pinch of sugar to help bring out the corn's natural sweetness.
15. To determine whether an egg is fresh, immerse it in a pan of cool, salted water. If it sinks, it is fresh, but if it rises to the surface, throw it away.
16. Cure for headaches: Take a lime, cut it in half and rub it on your forehead. The throbbing will go away.
17. Don't throw out all that leftover wine. Freeze into ice cubes for future use in casseroles and sauces.
18. If you have a problem opening jars: Try using latex dishwashing gloves. They give a nonstop grip that makes opening jars easy.
19. Potatoes will take food stains off your fingers. Just slice and rub raw potato on the stains and rinse with water.
20. To get rid of itch from mosquito bites, try applying soap on the area and you will experience instant relief.
21. Ants, ants, ants everywhere .. Well, they are said to never across a chalk line. So get your chalk out and draw a line on the floor or wherever ants tend to march. See for yourself.
22. Use air freshener to clean mirrors. It does a good job and better still, leaves a lovely smell to the shine.
23. When you get a splinter, reach for the scotch tape before resorting to tweezers or a needle. Simply put the scotch tape over the splinter, and then pull it off. Scotch tape removes most splinters painlessly and easily.
24. Now look what you can do with Alka Seltzer. Clean a toilet. Drop in two Alka-Seltzer tablets, wait twenty minutes, brush and flush. The citric acid and effervescent action clean vitreous China.
25. Clean a vase. To remove a stain from the bottom of a glass vase or crud, fill with water and drop in two Alka-Seltzer tablets.
26. Polish jewelry. Drop two Alka-Seltzer tablet into a glass of water and immerse the jewelry for two minutes.
27. Clean a thermos bottle. Fill the bottle with water, drop in four Alka-Seltzer tablets, and let soak for an hour (or longer, if necessary).
28. Unclog a drain. Clear the sink drain by dropping three Alka-Seltzer tablets down the drain followed by a cup of Heinz White Vinegar, Wait a few minutes, then run the hot water.

Soeur

Friday, June 22, 2001 - 02:56 am Click here to edit this post
I really like #22 and can't wait to try it

#17 has me scratching my head

Wcv63

Friday, June 22, 2001 - 09:47 am Click here to edit this post
I can't believe I can contribute to this thread. Here goes -

29. If plastic storage containers have retained an odor from the food stored in them, place crumbled newspaper or a charcoal briquet inside and seal. The charcoal will absorb the odors. (This handy little hint became known to me during my brief stint as a TUPPERWARE LADY some years ago.)

Grooch

Friday, June 22, 2001 - 02:05 pm Click here to edit this post
Soeur, I take it you are not a cook. lol!

Wcv63

Friday, June 22, 2001 - 02:07 pm Click here to edit this post
I think it's the concept of "leftover" wine that confuses Soeur. I know that's what confounds me.

Grooch

Friday, June 22, 2001 - 02:11 pm Click here to edit this post
Ohhh, I see. :)

Jetticat

Friday, June 22, 2001 - 02:18 pm Click here to edit this post
Today on Sally Jessie this guy said that for greasy stains, use Cheeze Whiz or Coke. Let it set for a few minutes, then wash.

He also said that creamy peanut butter can be used as a moisturizing shave cream.

Whipped cream is a great conditioner for your hair. Just smear it on, and after letting it set for a few minutes, rinse.

And last but not least, he said that if you run out of mousse or jel for your hair, use Jell-O.

Grooch

Friday, June 22, 2001 - 02:22 pm Click here to edit this post
Jetti, let us know how they work when you try them. Esp. the whipped cream one. Maybe Willi will try the jello one.

Wcv63

Friday, June 22, 2001 - 02:23 pm Click here to edit this post
Hand lotion rubbed on nylon stockings will get rid of static cling.

Bijoux

Friday, June 22, 2001 - 02:39 pm Click here to edit this post
If you spill red wine on the carpet, pour salt on it and let it sit over night. In the morning vacumn it up and no red wine stain. Don't skimp on the salt!

Soeur

Friday, June 22, 2001 - 03:06 pm Click here to edit this post
-- Clarification -- I made a typo above when I said that I wanted to try #22 (like I really would spray air fresheners on mirrors -- not!!)

#21 is my fave. Can't wait to find some ants. We have tubs of sidewalk chalk and I am ready to roll with that one this weekend. I'll be wandering the neighbourhood...

I am tired now and at first reading thought Bijoux said to pour the salt on the stain and then sit on it overnight. I did a triple take.

The static cling one looks good but what if you have the static problem and are not wearing pantyhose?

Wcv63

Friday, June 22, 2001 - 03:55 pm Click here to edit this post
Ummmm...I don't know Soeur. Bounce sheets rubbed on your legs?

Grooch

Friday, June 22, 2001 - 04:52 pm Click here to edit this post
Soeur, I am going to try the chalk one this weekend. We have tons of ants everywhere! I am going to do one giant chalk line around the house.

Tksoard

Friday, June 22, 2001 - 05:03 pm Click here to edit this post
Just remember, they can't go the other way, either.

Soeur

Friday, June 22, 2001 - 05:11 pm Click here to edit this post
What if Grooch put a big plop of honey on the path away from her house and circled it with a chalk line after the ants crawled all the bait?

Wink

Friday, June 22, 2001 - 05:12 pm Click here to edit this post
Does this remind anyone else of Lenningen(sp?)vs. the Ants? If it doesn't don't ask.

Grooch

Friday, June 22, 2001 - 05:18 pm Click here to edit this post
Thanks TK. I can always count on you to make me feel better.

Honey won't work. I have the kind of ants that drag giant dead bugs back to their nest. They're on the Atkins diet.

Wink, I have no clue what you are talking about.

Tksoard

Friday, June 22, 2001 - 05:28 pm Click here to edit this post
sorry!

Juju2bigdog

Friday, June 22, 2001 - 05:39 pm Click here to edit this post
Soeur, I have to admit I thought you had gone just an itty bit batty when you were so excited about spraying that air freshener on the mirrors. Of course, since I am trying to model myself after you, I now have icky gooey mirrors all over the place, and it smells like a funeral parlor in here. Please be a bit more careful with your typing in the future.

Merlin

Friday, June 22, 2001 - 06:32 pm Click here to edit this post
Juju getting in touch with her feminine side, what a pleasant picture.

Whit4you

Saturday, June 23, 2001 - 10:33 am Click here to edit this post
HELP ME!


I have 50 lbs of potatoes...they'll be starting to grow eyes any day. I need to know the best way to prepare them for freezing. Any ideas? suggestions?

Grooch

Saturday, June 23, 2001 - 10:37 am Click here to edit this post
Frozen mashed potatos?

I'm trying to remember if I ever see frozen potatos in the freezer section at the grocery store. And I don't think I have. So probably the best way is to cook them as a meal first and then freeze the meals

Dilligaf

Saturday, June 23, 2001 - 10:41 am Click here to edit this post
This is a good one! If you break off a light bulb in the socket, cut a potato in half and press it up into the broken fuse. Twist and it should come right out.

Whit, that will take care of one potato! :)

And Grooch....make sure you turn off the power before you do this to keep your head from exploding!! :)

Dilligaf

Saturday, June 23, 2001 - 10:45 am Click here to edit this post
Heck yeah, you can freeze potatoes!! Try looking up some potato casserole recipes. Go ahead and mix all the ingredients and don't cook the dish. Freeze them uncooked! Makes it easy next time you go to a potluck!! (But make sure you cook it before you go!!)

Dilligaf

Saturday, June 23, 2001 - 10:46 am Click here to edit this post
Whit, I have a couple that I could share with you but I would hate to start a favorite recipe thread, that might send some of the male posters through the roof!! I'll just email them to you!!

Ryn

Saturday, June 23, 2001 - 11:43 am Click here to edit this post
HEY!!!!

This MALE poster likes to cook!!!!

ggggggrrrrrrrrrrrrr

not that I do anything special with potatoes.

My wife makes something called cheesy mashed potatoes but I don't know if she freezes it - I will ask her when she pops back in the house.

Dilligaf

Saturday, June 23, 2001 - 11:45 am Click here to edit this post
Ok, Ryn, I'll email you the recipes too!! Geeezzzz, can't win for losing!

Gail

Saturday, June 23, 2001 - 11:51 am Click here to edit this post
Dilli - we have a favorite recipes thread!! It is in the Book Section under TVCH Cookbook!!! Check it out!!

Ryn

Saturday, June 23, 2001 - 11:52 am Click here to edit this post
my wife says "give them away" lol

I'm outta here until tommorow night - cya!!!

Dilligaf

Saturday, June 23, 2001 - 11:52 am Click here to edit this post
Cool! Thanks Gail....