Ingredient Title Chef Category

Tips that every cook should know

Burgers

1. Best beef is 10 to 15 percent fat. Even this small amount of fat will give you the most flavorful burgers because fat carries flavor.

2. If you overcook burgers, slice them in half horizontally and put them back together with a slice of cheese in the center. Heat just until the cheese melts.

3. Don't butter the buns, mayonnaise or mustard will help keep the bread from becoming soggy.

Eggs

1. When whipping eggs or egg whites copper bowls give the most volume, then glass bowls, less with other metal bowls.

2. Wash bowls and beaters with detergent and in the dishwasher to be certain that there is no fat nor oil. Egg whites will not give you any volume if there is fat present.

3. Cooked older eggs peel more easily than fresh eggs.

4. Older, runnier whites are easier and faster to whip than fresh, thick whites.

Garlic

1. Peeling a head of garlic is a cinch if you microwave it on high for 1 minute. Let it stand until cool and the skins will slip right off.

2. Store peeled garlic in a glass container covered with vegetable oil. It keeps the garlic fresh, the oil is fine in any dish where you would use garlic and any leftover oil is great for salads or for sautéing.

3. To get the smell of garlic off of your hands rub them with salt or with lemon.

Internet advice--author unknown

This was sent to me by my dear niece, Jamie Sue Swanson, who lives in Jordan, Minn. Do you think she is hinting that I should start cleaning up this place? I have cleaned it up a bit--the copy that is, not the house.

Actually it is quite accurate and it is true that lemons, baking soda and vinegar have long proven themselves as good cleaning agents, and far less expensive than branded products. Salt can be handy, too, as a sort of granular bleach which releases chlorine when wet.

Uses for lemon

Lemons are acidic, using lemons adds antibacterial and antiseptic properties and it is also a natural bleaching agent. Use it for:

1. Dissolving soap scum and hard water deposits.

2. Cleaning and shining brass and copper. A lemon cut in half and dipped in salt is good for cleaning spots off copper fixtures and helps pans with copper bottoms.

3. Freshening the garbage disposal. Chop up a lemon and put through the garbage disposal.

4. Bleaching fabric. Pour lemon juice on white linens & clothes and allow them to dry in the sun to bleach away stains.

Uses for vinegar

Vinegar is an acid and a preservative because it kills bacteria. We use it all of the time when pickling food. It is also a natural disinfectant, deodorizer and all-purpose cleaner. (But don't ever use it on marble.) The strong smell will disappear when it dries.

How to use it:

1. Mix 1 part water to 1 part vinegar for an all purpose cleaner that you can use on the stove, other appliances, counter tops, also on stone and brick surfaces.

2. Add 1/2 cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle instead of fabric softener.

3. Pour vinegar around the inside rim of the toilet bowl and scrub to get rid of stains.

4. Sanitize floors by adding vinegar to the water used when mopping.

5. Add a couple of teaspoons to a spray bottle filled with water to be used as a window cleaner. You can then use crumpled newspapers to wipe the windows and avoid streaking or lint.

Uses for baking soda

Baking soda is an alkaline substance (the opposite of an acid) and can become a cleanser that is excellent for making dirt, mildew, grease, and even wax disappear.

What to do:

1. It is a natural deodorizer. People who prefer not to use a commercial deodorant because of aluminum content rub underarms with baking soda after bathing.

2. Remove dirt and grime with a paste made by mixing baking soda with water.

3. Make an all-purpose spray that you can use on anything from the bathtub to the fridge by shaking together 4 tablespoons baking soda with 1 quart warm water.

4. Make a fabric softener that also helps remove odors from clothing by adding 1/2 cup of baking soda to the rinse cycle instead of fabric softener. It will also to help remove odors from clothes.

5. Wet stains in the oven and then shake baking soda over them, scrub with steel wool and watch even old rust stains disappear.

6. Place a box in the refrigerator and freezer to absorb odor.

7. Sprinkle it your carpet before vacuuming to help eliminate food and pet odors.

8. Neutralize food and cat litter odors by sprinkling it in the bottom of the garbage container and litter box.

9. Use it to clean and polish metals and plastics

Power combinations

1. . Cleaning hardwood finishes, bowls, cutting boards. Lemon juice mixed with vinegar and or baking soda makes a great cleaning paste. A lemon cut in half and sprinkled with baking soda makes a cleaner that you can use for scrubbing.

2. Build-up in drains. Pour 1/2 cup baking soda down drain, add 1/2 cup white vinegar, and cover the drain. Wait 15 minutes and then pour 1 gallon of hot water down the drain to get rid of the debris.

3. Cleaning toilets. Make toilet cleaner by combining 1/4 cup baking soda and 1 cup vinegar. Pour mixture into toilet and let sit for at least 5 minutes. Then scrub with a brush.

4. Dishwashing detergent. Stir together 1 1/2 tablespoons of baking soda with 2 tablespoons of Borax and use in your dishwasher.

5. Furniture polish. One cup of olive oil blended with 1/2 cup lemon juice makes a polish for hardwood furniture or for hardwood floors.

Hint.... Hire a maid if you can!

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