On this page I'll include some of the tips and tricks I've collected to make cooking easier and your food taste better.
Here are some of the tips I've gathered. Tip 1: Baking with Eggs When baking, always bring eggs to room temperature first. Cold eggs may cause the batter to curdle, which could affect the cake's texture. To quickly bring eggs to room temperature, let them soak in a bowl of warm water for about a half hour. Tip 2: Scooping Ice Cream
Dont struggle trying to spoon servings of hard ice cream. Peel away side of carton, and cut ice cream with a knife heated in hot water or try a tined cake cutter (a cake breakerit looks like a big fork with very long tines). Tip 3: Making Your Own Herbed Butter
Make your own herbed butter pats: Mix 2 tsp. finely chopped parsley and 1 tsp. lemon juice, a dash of salt and cayenne into 2 tbsp. of softened butter. Roll into a cylinder shape inside a piece of wax paper. Wrap up in the wax paper, then chill till firm. Slice off pats for serving on vegetables, bread or ? (But dont put out till the last minute, or theyll melt too soon.). Vary with basil, oregano or other favorite herbs.
Tip 4: Washing for Salad
When making large salads, place the washed greens in a cup towel and roll it up, then place it in the (empty) washing machine on spin. This dries the leaves.
Tip 5: Getting Rid Of Food Odors on Hands
To rid your hands of food odors, rub them with a paste of baking soda and water. Tip 6: Berry Freshness
Fresh berries and grapes will keep longer in the refrigerator if you store them in a colander so that cold air can circulate around the fruit.
Tip 7: Cleaning Spills
Pour salt immediately on spilled grease, a broken egg or a spill in the oven to absorb the mess so you can easily wipe it up.
Tip 8: No More Crying
If you put onions in the freezer fifteen minutes before you're going to use them, you'll reduce the spray of onion oils that vaporize. When you cut them, your eyes won't cry.
Tip 9: Perfect Dressing
Combine all ingredients for an oil and vinegar dressing in a screw top jar, add an ice cube and shake. Discard what's left of the cube and your dressing will be extra smooth and well mixed. Tip 10: Garlic Freshness
To extend thr freshness of garlic, peel it and then store it in salad oil in the refrigerator Tip 11: Better Eggs
Room temperature eggs will beat better and will provide better volume. Tip 12: Anise
Anise has a licorice flavor.
Uses: Coffee cake, sweet rolls, cookies, pickles, candies, and cough syrup. Tip 13: Pantry Limits
Food Product Storage Period
(Room Temperature)
Baking powder/soda 18 months
Bread/rolls 3-5 days
Bread Crumbs 6 months
Canned Fruit/vegetables 1 year
Cereals 6 months
Chocolate, unsweetened 18 months
Coffee, vacuum pack 1 year (unopened)
Coffee, instant 6 months (unopened)
Coffee creamer, dry 6 months (opened)
Flour/cake mixes 1 year
Gelatin/pudding mixes 1 year
Herbs/spices 6-12 months (check for flavor)
Milk, canned 1 year
Milk, nonfat dry 6 months
Molasses 2 years
Nuts 8 months
Oils/salad dressings 3 months
Pancake/pie crust mixes 6 months
Pasta/noodles 2 years
Peanut butter 6 months (unopened)
Potatoes, instant 18 months
Rice, white 2 years
Sauces, condiments,
relishes 1 year (unopened)
Shortening 8 months
Sodas/mixers 3 months
Sugar, granulated 2 years
Sugar, brown,
confectioners' 4 months
Syrups/honey 1 year
Tea 18 months
Tip 14: Excess Salt
If you accidentally over salt a dish while it's still cooking, drop in a peeled potato, it will absorb the excess salt.
Tip 15: Storing Cream
Cottage cheese, sour cream and yogurt will stay fresh longer if the cartons are stored upside down. Just make sure the lids don't leak!
Tip 16: Kick up vanilla Pudding
Sprinkle fruit-flavored gelatin powder over vanilla pudding to give it a pretty look and added flavor!
Tip 17:
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