Super Duper Hints Can Save The Day - cooking techniques - Brief Article

What you need to make a task easier might be closer and easier than you think. These tips are just an example of what a little ingenuity can do. Maybe you have some sure-fire hints you want to share.

Tips

* Stuff a miniature marshmallow in the bottom of a sugar cone to prevent ice cream from dripping.

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

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

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

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

* 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 baking later, no wasted bananas (or you can freeze them whole, peeled, in plastic baggies).

* To use that frozen juice concentrate, simply mash it with a potato masher - no need to wait for it to thaw!

* 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.

* To easily remove burnt food from your skillet, add a drop of dish soap and enough water to cover bottom of pan, and bring to a boil. Skillet will be much easier to clean.

* Spray your Tupperware with nonstick cooking spray before pouring in tomato sauces - no more stains.

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

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

* Add a tablespoon of baking soda to your soapy water - it softens hands while cutting the grease.

* 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."

* Rinse cooked, ground meat with water when draining off the fat - helps "wash away" even more fat.

COPYRIGHT 2000 Cheever Publishing, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2001 Gale Group