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Do not use very hot water in a bread
recipe because it kills the yeast.
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Sprinkle a sugar/cinnamon mixture over
buttered bread slices and bake until light brown. This old fashion treat is
never out of style.
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Use a thin edge drinking glass to cut cookies.
Use a wide mouth jar to cut out large cookies.
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For a quick and handy seasoning, mix a large shaker containing
five or six parts salt and one part pepper.
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Before using a brand new wooden
chopping board rub some cooking oil over it.
This acts like a varnish and stops moisture from penetrating the board.
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If you accidentally over salt a dish while it's cooking,
just
add a peeled potato and it will absorb some of the excess salt. A teaspoon each of cider
vinegar and sugar, added to salty
soup or vegetables will also remedy the situation. On the other hand, if
you've over-sweetened a dish, add a touch of salt.
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Soak potatoes in salt water for twenty minutes
prior to baking and they will bake quicker.
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To keep potatoes from budding, place an apple in the bag with the
potatoes.
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Bread crumbs added to scrambled eggs will improve the flavor and make larger helpings possible.
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A leaf of lettuce dropped into the pot absorbs the grease from the top of the soup. Remove the lettuce and throw it away as soon as it has served it purpose.
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A miniature marshmallow in the bottom of a sugar cone
will
prevent ice cream drips.
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Use a meat baster to "squeeze" your pancake batter onto the
hot
griddle for perfectly shaped pancakes.
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A small amount of baking soda
added to gravy will eliminate excess grease.
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Lettuce and celery keep
longer if you store them in paper bags instead of cellophane.
-
Wrap celery in aluminum foil when putting in the refrigerator - it
will keep for weeks.
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When pan frying always heat the pan before
adding the butter or oil.
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When cooking anything that grows above the
ground, start in hot water. Start anything that grows under the ground in cold
water.
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A little salt sprinkled into
the frying pan will prevent spattering.
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Meat loaf will not stick if
you place a slice of bacon on the bottom of the pan.
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When boiling corn on the cob, add a pinch of sugar to the water
instead of salt. Salt will toughen the corn, sugar brings out the natural
sweetness.
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To prevent egg shells from cracking, add a pinch of salt to the
water before hard- boiling.
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Run your hands under cold water before pressing Rice Krispies
treats
in the pan - the marshmallow won't stick to your fingers.
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Don't throw out leftover wine, instead freeze into ice cubes for
future use in casseroles and sauces.
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When a cake recipe calls for flouring the baking pan, use a bit of
the
dry cake mix instead, then you don't get the white effect on the outside of the cake.
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Brush beaten egg white over pie crust before baking
for a
beautiful glossy finish. Brush hot apple jelly or honey/water glaze
over already baked pie crust to make it shine.
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Place a slice of apple in hardened brown sugar to soften it back
up.
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Use a cheese grater to
"reclaim" hardened blocks of brown sugar.
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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.