MORE GENERAL HINTS AND TIPS

When I am cooking that requires something like 1 cup peanut butter, I use a 2 cup measuring cup and put in 1 cup of hot water and add peanut butter till it measures 2 cups. It is then easily removed without having to scrape the cup.

Joe Price

Hate having soggy, squashed sandwiches on a walk?

Then cut out the middle man and make a sandwich with pitta breads instead, they are already flat and taste good too.

Lois Prismall

This is a tip for transporting devilled eggs to another residence. Make the egg filling as you usually do and place into a plastic container. I usually line the containers with plastic wrap and then fold over to prevent air getting at the food contents. Stack the halved egg whites in another container, cover with same plastic wrap and fill the egg whites when you reach the home you are taking them too. No squashed devilled eggs, and easy to transport.

Gloria Beatty

Could also be useful for a picnic.

To make an easy cake that will seem like a gourmet creation, substitute fruit juice for water in any ordinary boxed cake mix - you can get any flavour combination, but I like to use a plain white cake mix and a can of strawberry juice to make a wonderful strawberry cake, then ice it with whipped cream and sliced berries.

Ellie Peck

Best way to avoid over salting food is not to.....healthier and individual can salt to their own taste.

Dana Everhart

When baking, instead of using oil use an equal amount of apple sauce in the recipe. Not only is the apple sauce less fattening but it also makes everything taste better too.

This tip was kindly sent in by Heather Chaban but I have been to thank her as my response to the email address given is being returned as unknown. (I am hoping she will see this!)

For a nice picnic without an army of ants you did not invite, sprinkle a box of Tide with bleach around the picnic area - it seems to discourage them. It also seems to repel flies and mosquitoes. Ideal for people like me who don't like pesticides sprayed on their children.

Thanks to Melinda Noblett for sending us this one.

Soak popcorn in water for 10 minutes before popping, drain well and start popping. Popcorn pops by turning the moisture in the kernel into steam and exploding, so give it a boost.

If you have to pour honey, molasses, corn syrup or other liquid glues into your glass measuring cup, rinse the cup with cold water first, it will be easier to wash afterwards.

Expired packages of yeast can usually be brought back long after the package date by "proofing" the yeast. Mix 1/4 cup re-warmed potato water (i.e. water used to cook potatoes in), 1 teaspoon sugar and 1 envelope or yeast. Let it stand in a warm place. If it bubbles and doubles in bulk in 6-10 minutes, use it. If it sits and sulks, chuck it out,.

Cut newly baked potatoes right away so the moisture can't build up inside, making them gummy. Eat them as soon out of the oven as you can without scorching your tongue.

For light and fluffy pancakes, replace the liquid in the recipe with an equal amount of club soda. Works for waffles too!

Thanks to Rose Lovegren for all these latest tips.

To sharpen a knife, hold the sharpening steel vertically into a chopping board, hold the knife at a 20 degree angle to the steel and use a circular motion.

When storing cut the tops off celery or leeks to prevent them rotting from the top down.

To clean a chopping board after use, sprinkle with baking soda (bicarbonate of soda), rub into board with a clean cloth - good as new.

Use the outer wrappers from packets of butter, lard etc. to grease and/or lining baking tins.
Margaret Reeve sent in this one.

To keep cheese from sticking to the grater first spray the grater with non-stick cooking spray - it works a charm!
Thanks to Charlotte Gean for this little gem.

Put an apple into a bag with unripe bananas and avocados to ripen them.

or........

To ripen an avocado pear, place in a brown paper bag with an overripe banana and leave overnight.

Discard any mussels the shells of which are open before cooking or closed after cooking.

Stuff a miniature marshmallow in the bottom of a sugar cone to prevent ice cream drips.

Use a meat baster to squeeze your pancake patter onto the hot griddle and you will get perfectly shaped pancakes every time.

To keep potatoes from budding, place an apple in the bag with the potatoes.

To prevent egg shells from cracking whilst boiling, add a pinch of salt to the water.

Run your hands under cold water before pressing Rice Krispies treats in the pan and the marshmallows won't stick to your fingers.

To get the most juice out of fresh lemons, bring them to room temperature and roll them under the palm of your hand on a hard surface, before squeezing.

To bring a lemon back to life, boil in water for a couple of minutes and then leave to cool.

To prevent stains on plastic containers, spray with nonstick cooking spray before pouring in tomato based sauces.

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.

Wrap celery in aluminium foil when putting in the refrigerator and it will keep for weeks.

Brush some beaten egg white over pie crust before baking to yield a beautiful glossy finish.

Place a slice of apple in hardened brown sugar to soften it.

When boiling corn on the cob add a pinch of sugar to help bring out the corn's natural sweetness.

Don't throw out all that leftover wine (What leftover wine I ask myself?). Freeze into ice cubes for future use in casseroles and sauces.

If you have a problem opening jars, try using latex dishwashing gloves, they give a non-slip grip that makes opening easy.

If you don't have any rubber gloves try putting an elastic band around the cap, this will give your grip purchase whilst turning.

Potatoes will take food stains off your hands. Just slice and rub raw potato on the stains and rinse with water.

To remove the smell of onion or garlic from hands rub them on stainless steel (e.g. sink)

I am assured this works by Anita Jones.

For stained or burnt coffee pot, sprinkle in "Comet" and add crushed ice. Rotate the pot to make the ice do the scrubbing. Also good for small necked glasses, bottles etc.

Thanks to "Lyle" for this one.

A large number of these useful tips were all sent in by an anonymous contributor
- whoever you were - Thank you.

General Food and Cooking related tips.

Food tips

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