*When frying meat, sprinkle
paprika over it to turn it golden brown
*Thaw all meats in the
refrigerator for maximum safety
*Refrigerate poultry promptly
after purchasing. Keep it in the coldest section of your refrigerator
for up to two days. Freeze poultry for longer storage. Never leave
poultry at room temperature for more than two hours.
*If you’re microwaving
skinned chicken, cover the baking dish with vented clear plastic wrap to
keep the chicken moist.
*Lemon juice rubbed on fish
before cooking will enhance the flavor and help maintain a good
color.
*Scaling a fish is easier if
vinegar is rubbed on the scales first.
*Over-ripe bananas can be
peeled and frozen in a plastic container until it’s time to bake bread
or cake.
*When baking bread, a small
dish of water in the oven will help keep the crust from getting too hard
or brown.
*Use shortening, not margarine
or oil to grease pans, as margarine and oil absorb more readily into the
dough or batter (especially bread)
*Use a metal ice tray divider
to cut biscuits in a hurry. Press into the dough, and biscuits will
separate at dividing lines when baked.
*To make self rising flour, mix
4 cups flour, 2 tsp salt and 2 tbs of baking powder and store in a
tightly covered container.
*Hot water kills yeast. One way
to tell the correct temperature is to pour the water over your forearm.
If you cannot feel either hot or cold, the temperature is just
right.
*When in doubt, always sift
flour before measuring.
*When baking in a glass pan,
reduce the oven temperature by 24 degrees
*When baking bread, you get a
finer texture if you use milk. Water makes a coarser bread.
*If your biscuits are dry, it
could be from too much handling, or the oven temperature may not have
been enough.
*Nut breads are better if
stored 24 hours before serving.
*To make bread crumbs, toast
the heels of bread and chop in a blender or food processor.
*Cracked eggs should be used in
dishes that are thoroughly cooked; they contain bacteria.
*The freshness of eggs can be
tested by placing them in a large bowl of cold water. If they float, do
NOT use them.
*For a quick low-fat crunchy
topping for muffins, sprinkle the tops with Grape-Nuts cereal before
baking.
If you have a household hint
you would like to share, email us at [email protected],
and we will place it in the next issue!
