Kitchen Tips
Brown Sugar
To keep brown sugar soft and fresh, seal the package tight and store
it in the refrigerator or place a piece of bread in with the brown sugar to
prevent it from becoming hard. To soften brown sugar after it has hardened,
place a fresh apple wedge in the bag of hardened sugar, seal the bag and
leave it for 1 to 2 days until the sugar is soft again. Remove the apple
wedge and stir sugar. Store in an airtight plastic bag.
Flour
To prevent bugs from getting into the flour, add a bay leaf to your
flour container or store it in the freezer.
Honey
If honey crystallizes, place the honey container in a pan or bowl of
hot water and let it stand until the honey has melted. Then stir the melted
honey until it is smooth.
Eggs
Check the shells of eggs to determine freshness. Fresh eggs have
shells that are rough and chalky. Old eggs have shells that are smooth and
have lost the chalky appearance. Or, place in cold salt water and if it
sinks it is fresh. If it rises to the surface, it is old and should be
discarded.
Garlic
Select garlic that is plump and firm with paper-like skins that are
tight and intact. Avoid any that are soft or that have begun to shrivel.
Placing garlic cloves in the microwave for 15 seconds should make the skins
peel off easily. Place peeled and mince garlic in a small jar and pour just
enough olive oil over it to cover the garlic and then refridgerate to keep
fresh flavor for about a week. Instead of throwing out sprouting garlic,
plant the cloves fairly close together in a pot or in the garden (if climate
allows). The new shoots that appear will have a mild garlic flavor and can
be used in the same manner as regular chives.
Apples
When cutting apples into slices or chunks, sprinkle them with lemon
juice or lemon-lime soda to keep them from turning brown. Or soak in apple
juice to keep them from turning brown.
Potatoes
Do not store potatoes close to onions. The onions will cause the
potatoes to rot faster. Place an apple in the bag with the potatoes to keep
them from sprouting.
Tomatoes
If tomatoes are under-ripe, place them in a brown paper bag and store
them overnight in a dark area, or try placing them in a covered bowl with an
apple. The apple gives off ethylene gas, which hastens ripening. Firm up
overripe tomatoes by placing them in a bowl of cold salt water and leaving
them sit overnight.
Chili Peppers
Keep chili peppers fresh longer by storing them with the stems
removed.
Mushrooms
Store mushrooms, uncleaned, in a paper bag or their original
container. Do not store in plastic or airtight plastic containers because
they cause the mushrooms to retain moisture and decay faster.
Lemons
Select lemons that are heavy for their size and have smooth skins. To
get more juice out of a lemon, allow the lemon to reach room temperature and
then roll it on a hard countertop using the palm of your hand. Roll it back
and forth until you feel the skin loosening. To produce more juice from a
lemon or other citrus fruit, place the fruit in a bowl of hot water before
cutting and squeezing, or place it in the microwave for 10 seconds before
squeezing
Lettuce
Choose heads that are firm and have nice green leaves. Avoid heads
that have leaves showing any discoloration. To remove the core from a head
of lettuce, hit the core solidly on the top of the counter. This will
separate the core from the head. The core can then be removed by giving it a
slight twist and pulling it out.
Delma
Live simply. Speak kindly. Care deeply. Love generously. Leave the rest to
God.
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