1. Ban the Pam. Spray oils tend to turn into a brown tar when baked that cannot be cleaned. Canola oil can be applied with a paper towel just as easily with no over-spray and no brown tar.
Hints from the Family Cook Book
1. Any time you're adding something like milk to mashed potatoes or say mayonnaise to a salad, don't put a lot in at once. You can always add more, but you can't get it out once it's in.
2. Always preheat the oven unless recipe specifically says not to.
3. Rinse dishes/pots & pans etc. after use will be easier to clean later.
4. Burnt on food sometimes comes off easier if you soak it in hot water with dishwasher soap after you've removed as much as possible.
5. Discolored or stained sink mats will look much better after soaked in bleach water for a few minutes.
6. To keep vegetables such as broccoli fresh, when you get home from the store rinse with water, shake off the excess & put in a sealed bag. Can just twist the store bag closed. Place in the refrigerator.
7. Soaking beans overnight will speed up the cooking.
8. If out of buttermilk add 1 Tbsp of white vinegar or lemon juice to milk.
9. Just about any recipe can be reduced in calories & fat by using low fat or fat free items or sugar free when possible. I've heard applesauce can be used in place of oil in some breads. Sometimes it is trial and error; also some recipes say no substitutes, such as butter may be important in a certain recipe.
10. When a recipe calls for shortening, I always use Crisco.
11. Let cookies set for about 30 seconds or so before removing from the cookie sheet after removing from the oven. Less chance of them falling apart, but don't leave too long will be hard to remove & will break.
12. Let a roast or ham set about 10 minutes after removed from oven, will carve easier.
13. A partially frozen chuck roast or round steak will cut easier when cutting into pieces before cooking.
14. When doing a jello mold, the jello will come out of the mold easier if you spray the mold lightly with Pam before adding the jello. If still have trouble getting it out, set it in a bowl of hot water for a second or 2, not too long or it will melt too much. Put a plate over the top & flip.
15. Butter will freeze well. Sometimes there are good sales before the holidays.
16. To remove the seed from an avocado cut in half & twist, place knife into seed & twist. Sometimes if ripe enough you can peel without a knife.
17. Don't let a tea kettle go dry on the stove, it can be damaged & could possibly cause a fire if on long enough.
18. To put out a grease fire sprinkle soda on it or put the lid on, DON"T use water. The water can cause it to spread.
19. If bread or whatever is stuck in the toaster, be sure to unplug before trying to remove.
20. Keep pot holders near when cooking,
21. Always use all purpose flour unless recipe calls for some other.
22. Ripe bananas can be frozen for bread making later.
23. A melon will ripen in a few days if left on the counter.
24. Peaches will ripen if on the counter in a paper bag.
25. Keep your work area clean when making several items, will be able to work better.
26. If you have a lot of things to make for one meal like for a holiday or company coming, look your menu over & see what you can do before the meal to come. Everything doesn't have to be done the same day. Example: pie dough can be made several days ahead & kept in the frig or even the freezer. Cookies days or weeks ahead, fruit breads banana, cranberry etc. Some yeast breads can be done in stages. If I plan to make mashed potatoes or scalloped I could peel & slice the potatoes the night before & leave covered in a pan of water in the frig. Clean & cut fresh vegetables for a veg tray or dip. Measuring can take a bit of time, I measure flour & depending on how the recipe goes can add other dry ingredients to it in a labeled bag
27. Always pack brown sugar unless recipe says otherwise.
28. If brown sugar hard & lumpy putting a slice of bread in the bag with it will really soften it up in about 24 hours.
29. White vinegar to remove lime spots.
30. To keep fruit such as bananas in a fruit salad from turning brown, add orange juice to the salad. Any citrus juice will keep bananas or apples from turning. Slice apples ahead & place in a plastic bag with a good portion of lemon or lime juice & be sure to coat each piece.
31. If you need to peel potatoes ahead put them in a pan of water in the frig. If covered
with the water, they won't turn brown.
32. If coffee starts to taste funny even though the pot is clean, try running a pot of white vinegar through the system, follow by a pot of water (after the vinegar has returned)
33. If need to defrost the freezer, remove the food to a cooler & place bowls or pan of hot water on the shelves (don't set directly on the plastic bottom) Close the door for about 15 minutes. When you open it the ice formed along the walls should fall off easily using a plastic egg turner etc. If not repeat the hot water. Put a rolled up tower near the door on the bottom to collect the water, otherwise it will drip out onto the floor.
34. Keep notes on recipes you try, what results you had what might be good to try the next time you use it. You've seen my books & you know I do just that. I guess the better ones or favorite ones are on the worst looking pages. Well used books.
35. Try to rotate your spices & basic supplies. Date them when you buy them. As you know I don't always do as I say, but it does work best that way. If old things like baking powder & yeast will ruin the whole recipe.
36. Cake mixes are good to have around for a quick unexpected need. You can doctor a mix up & have a cake that is very good. Some of the mixes are good all by themselves.
37. Even though you don't like frosting much yourself, remember a cake looks extra nice with frosting. Keep a can around for quick use.
38. If using coated or dark panes, [anything that is not straight aluminum] cut the temperature 25 degrees F.
