More "Helpful Hints" Sent in by Karen

Date: Wed, 19 May 1999 11:56:01 -0700
From: Karen
Subject: FW: More Helpful Hints!!!

Use lifesavers candy to hold candles in place on your next birthday
cake! Kids love them.

Poke an egg with a small sewing needle beforehard-boiling, and
the egg will peel with ease! And hold that needle in place with a
magnet refrigerator clip!

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

Zap garlic cloves in the microwave for 15 seconds and the
skins slip right off!

Use a meat baster to "squeeze" your pancake batter onto
the hot griddle perfectly shaped pancakes every time.

Always spray your grill with nonstick cooking spray before
grilling to avoid sticking!

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

To prevent egg shells from cracking, add a pinch of salt
to the water before hard-boiling!

Use a pastry blender to cut ground beef into small pieces
after browning!

Sweeten whipped cream with confectioners' sugar instead of
granulated sugar. It will stay fluffy & hold its shape better!

For easy "meatloaf mixing", combine the ingredients with a
potato masher!

If you don't have enough batter to fill all cupcake tins, pour 1
tablespoon of water into the unfilled spots. This helps preserve
the life of your pans!

To easily remove honey from a measuring spoon, first coat the spoon with nonstick cooking spray!

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

Mash and freeze ripe bananas, in one-cup portions, for use in
later baking. No wasted bananas (or you can freeze them whole,
peeled, in plastic baggies.)

To quickly use that frozen juice concentrate, simply mash it
with a potato masher. No need to wait for it to thaw! A wire
whip works also.

To get the most juice out of fresh lemons, bring them to room
temperature & roll them under your palm against the kitchen
counter before squeezing!

To easily remove burnt on food from your skillet, simply add a
drop or two of dish soap & enough water to cover bottom of pan,
and bring to a boil on stove-top--skillet will be much easier to
clean now!

Spray your Tupperware with nonstick cooking spray before
pouring in tomato- based sauces. No more stains!

Transfer your jelly to a small plastic squeeze bottle‹
no more messy, sticky jars or knives! This also works
well for home-made-salad dressing!

To aid in washing dishes, add a tablespoon of baking soda to
your soapy water--it softens hands while cutting through grease!

Save your store-bought-bread bags and ties--they make perfect
storage bags for homemade bread! >

When a cake recipe calls for flouring the baking pan, use a bit of
the dry cake mix instead. No white mess on the outside of the cake!

If you accidentally over-salt a dish while it's still cooking, drop
in a peeled potato. It absorbs the excess salt for an instant "fix me
up"!

Next time you need a quick ice pack, grab a bag of frozen
vegetables out of your freezer -- no watery leaks from a plastic
baggie!

When making bread, substitute non-dairy creamer for the dry milk‹
it works just as well!!!

Rinse cooked, ground meat with water when draining off the fat--
this helps "wash away" even more fat! Use HOT or Warm water so fat
won't congeal.

Slicing meat when partially frozen makes it easier to get thin
slices.

Instead of throwing away bread heels or leftover cornbread, use
them to make bread crumbs. For use later, store them in the freezer.

Wrap celery in aluminum foil when putting in the refrigerator--it
will keep for weeks!

Substitute half applesauce for the vegetable oil in your baking
recipes. You'll greatly reduce the fat content!
(Example: 1/2 cup vegetable oil 1/4 cup applesauce + 1/4 cup oil)

To ripen avocados and bananas, enclose them in a brown paper bag
with an apple for 2-3 days. >

Brush beaten egg white over pie crust before baking to yield a
beautiful, glossy finish!

In recipes calling for margarine, substitute reduced-calorie
margarine to help cut back on fat! Same goes with sour cream,
milk, cheese, cream cheese, and cream soups

Place a slice of bread in hardened brown sugar to soften it back up!

When boiling corn on the cob, add a pinch of sugar to help bring
out the corns natural sweetness!

When starting your garden seedlings indoors, plant the seeds in
egg shell halves.

Simply crack the shells around the roots of your plants &
transplant them outdoors--the shell is a natural fertilizer!

To determine whether an egg is fresh, immerse it in a pan of cool,
salted water. If it sinks, it is fresh; if it rises to the surface,
throw it away.

Keep the linings from cereal boxes--they make great substitutes
for waxed paper!

SUPER HINTS

Use of soap wrapper: Don't throw away the wrapper after removing
a bar of soap. Place it inside your shoe cabinet or shoe box. It's
a cheap way of filling the air with a nice smell.

If your polished furniture has small scratches: Try rubbing them
with a shelled walnut.You'll see the scratches just disappear!

Are your shoes smelly: Here's a solution. Put some tea leaves into
a pair of stockings; stuff each into a shoe. Leave for a day or
two the smell just vanishes!

If you have problem opening jars: Try using latex dishwashing
gloves. They give a non-slip grip that makes opening jars easy!

Tips for stamp collectors: Place the envelope in the freezer
for a few hours. You'll then be able to easily lift the stamps off
with a pair of tweezers.

To keep buttons from dropping off: Dab a drop of clear nail polish
onto the thread that secures the buttons.This will harden make it
more difficult for thread to break off.




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