Welcome to Cooking Around the World!
The following are some helpful tips from a produce distributor that I received in an email.!
- Microwave a lemon for a short time or run under hot water to double the juice content.
- Keep Saran wrap in the frig for ease in tearing off.
- On an oven spill use 1 part cinnamon to 6 parts salt.
- To ripen fruit or to preserve bread products (cakes, muffins, etc) place an apple in a brown bag with the product to be ripened or preserved.
- Never keep tomatoes in the frig - the best place to keep them is on top of the refrigerator on a paper towel - as the vibration from the refrigerator motor will keep the chemicals active and prolong life.
- Do not use soap to wash produce as the soap chemicals will stay on or in the product.
- Microwave acorn squash 4 min before cutting for ease in cutting, then hold the knife steady and rock and squash back and forth.
- Wrap yams in saran wrap to preserve and never refrigerate (or white baking potatoes but not the light skinned white potatoes).
- Always wash packaged greens even though they say they've been double or triple washed and rebag them along with a damp paper towel to retain freshness.
- Slice garlic and let sit in olive oil for 15 min before using
- Peel bananas from the opposite end we think of peeling them and there will be no strings to remove.
- Mushrooms are grown in manure boxes and cannot possibly be rid of it all when packaged - a brush will not remove the traces - so remove the bottom stem and at that end begin peeling with your thumb. A thin skin will peel off. Then to slice mushrooms use an egg slicer.
- Cut avocados with the peel on - lengthwise in half - for ease in removing fruit (by spoon) It will detach in one piece.
- Most organic produce is not truly organic because it has come in touch with non-organic produce at some point from picking to the grocery shelf.
- Produce on the grocer shelf is at least 5 days from picking, even if picked locally because all produce has to be shipped to a distributor for repacking and shipping to
Handy Hints
- Keeping your dressing on the lettuce:
- This is a great tip to keep your oil-based salad dressings from going to the bottom of the bowl and keeping it on your greens! Take your dressing and heat it in the microwave for ten seconds before using.
Handy Hints Holly - Need to peel a bunch of oranges for a salad?
- Just soak the oranges in boiling water for five minutes then peel as usual As a bonus, the "white" part of the peel will come off along with the peel to give an awesome look to your salad.
Handy Hints Holly - Here's an easy way to extend the flavor of purchased whipped topping.
- Blend together
3/4-cup plain fat-free yogurt
1/3 cup nonfat dry milk powder
Add sugar substitute to equal 1/4-cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Mix well to combine.
Gently fold in 1 cup fat-free whipped topping.
Use as you would any whipped topping.
The texture is almost a cross between marshmallow cream and whipped cream.
This makes enough to mound high on a cream pie.
What you've done is increase the calcium greatly and cut the oils of the whipped topping in half for the same size serving.
Store in the refrigerator just as you would purchased whipped topping...Handy Hints Holly - I have been doing something that a good friend told me to do for my heart and other things and I would like for you to try it to..
- In the morning for breakfast either have an English muffin or wheat toast and toast it and then put honey all over it and sprinkle with cinnamon. Good for several things.
God Bless you, Brenda - It is found that a mixture of Honey and Cinnamon cures most diseases.
- Honey is produced in most of the countries of the world.
Scientists of today also accept honey as a "Ram Ban" (very effective)
medicine for all kinds of diseases. Honey can be used without any side
effects for any kind of diseases.
Today's science says that even though honey is sweet, if taken in the right dosage as a medicine, it does not harm diabetic patients. - Weekly World News, a magazine in Canada, on its issue dated 17
January, 1995 has given the following list of diseases that can be cured
by Honey and Cinnamon as researched by western scientists:
- HEART DISEASES:
Make a paste of honey and cinnamon powder, apply on bread, instead of jelly and jam and eat it regularly for breakfast. It reduces the cholesterol in the arteries and saves the patient from heart attack.
Also those who already had an attack, if they do this process daily, they are kept miles away from the next attack. Regular use of the above process relieves loss of breath and strengthens the heart beat. In America and Canada, various nursing homes have treated patients successfully and have found that as you age, the arteries and veins lose their flexibility and get clogged; honey and cinnamon revitalize the arteries and veins. - ARTHRITIS:
Arthritis patients may take daily, morning and night, one cup of hot water with two spoons of honey and one small teaspoon of cinnamon powder. If taken regularly even chronic arthritis can be cured.
In a recent research conducted at the Copenhagen University, it was found that when the doctors treated their patients with a mixture of one tablespoon Honey and half teaspoon Cinnamon powder before breakfast, they found that within a week, out of the 200 people so treated, practically 73 patients were totally relieved of pain and within a month, mostly all the patients who could not walk or move around because of arthritis started walking without pain. - BLADDER INFECTIONS:
Take two tablespoons of cinnamon powder and one teaspoon of honey in a glass of lukewarm water and drink it. It destroys the germs in the bladder. - TOOTHACHE:
Make a paste of one teaspoon of cinnamon powder and five teaspoons of honey and apply on the aching tooth. This may be applied 3 times a day till the tooth stops aching. - CHOLESTEROL:
Two tablespoons of honey and three teaspoons of Cinnamon Powder mixed in 16 ounces of tea water, given to a cholesterol patient, was found to reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood by 10% within 2 hours.
As mentioned for arthritic patients, if taken 3 times a day, any chronic cholesterol is cured. According to information received in the said journal, pure honey taken with food daily relieves complaints of cholesterol. - COLDS:
Those suffering from common or severe colds should take one tablespoon lukewarm honey with 1/4 spoon cinnamon powder daily for 3 days.
This process will cure most chronic cough, cold and clear the sinuses. - UPSET STOMACH:
Honey taken with cinnamon powder cures stomach ache and also clears stomach ulcers from the root. - GAS:
According to the studies done in India and Japan, it is revealed that if honey is taken with cinnamon powder the stomach is relieved of gas. - IMMUNE SYSTEM:
Daily use of honey and cinnamon powder strengthens the immune system and protects the body from bacteria and viral attacks.
Scientists have found that honey has various vitamins and iron in large amounts. Constant use of honey strengthens the white blood corpuscles to fight bacteria and viral diseases. - INDIGESTION:
Cinnamon powder sprinkled on two tablespoons of honey taken before food, relieves acidity and digests the heaviest of meals. - INFLUENZA:
A scientist in Spain has proved that honey contains a natural ingredient which kills the influenza germs and saves the patient from flu. - LONGEVITY:
Tea made with honey and cinnamon powder, when taken regularly, arrests the ravages of old age. Take 4 spoons of honey, 1 spoon of cinnamon powder and 3 cups of water and boil to make like tea. Drink 1/4 cup, 3 to 4 times a day. It keeps the skin fresh and soft and arrests old age. Life spans also increases and even a 100 year old, starts performing the chores of a 20-year-old. - PIMPLES:
Three tablespoons of Honey and one teaspoon of cinnamon powder paste. Apply this paste on the pimples before sleeping and wash it next morning with warm water. If done daily for two weeks, it removes pimples from the root. - SKIN INFECTIONS:
Applying honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts on the affected parts cures eczema, ringworm and all types of skin infections. - WEIGHT LOSS:
Daily in the morning ½ hour before breakfast on an empty stomach and at night before sleeping, drink honey and cinnamon powder boiled in one-cup water. If taken regularly it reduces the weight of even the most obese person.
Also, drinking of this mixture regularly does not allow the fat to accumulate in the body even though the person may eat a high calorie diet. - CANCER:
Recent research in Japan and Australia has revealed that advanced cancer of the stomach and bones have been cured successfully. Patients suffering from these kinds of cancer should daily take one tablespoon of honey with one teaspoon of cinnamon powder for one month 3 times a day. - FATIGUE:
Recent studies have shown that the sugar content of honey is more helpful rather than being detrimental to the strength of the body.
Senior citizens, who take honey and cinnamon power in equal parts, are more alert and flexible.
Dr. Milton, who has done research, says that a half tablespoon honey taken in a glass of water and sprinkled with cinnamon powder, taken daily after brushing and in the afternoon at about 3:00 p.m. when the vitality of the body starts to decrease, increases the vitality of the body within a week. - BAD BREATH:
People of South America, first thing in the morning gargle with one teaspoon of honey and cinnamon powder mixed in hot water, so their breath stays fresh throughout the day. - HEARING LOSS:
Daily morning and night honey and cinnamon powder, taken in equal parts restore hearing - Other helpful hints:
- A sealed envelope
- Put in the freezer for a few hours,
then slide a knife under the flap.
The envelope can then be resealed.
(hmmmmmm...) - Use Empty toilet paper roll to store appliance cords
It keeps them neat and you can write on the roll
What appliance it belongs to.
- For icy door steps in freezing temperatures:
Get warm water and put Dawn dishwashing liquid in it.
Pour it all over the steps. They won't refreeze.
(wish I had known this for the last 40 years!)
- To remove old wax from a glass candleholder,
Put it in the freezer for a few hours.
Then take the candleholder out and turn it upside down.
The wax will fall out.
- Crayon marks on walls?
This worked wonderfully!
A damp rag, dipped in baking soda.
Comes off with little effort (elbow grease that is!). - Permanent marker on appliances/counter tops
(like store receipt BLUE!)
Rubbing alcohol on paper towel.
- Whenever I purchase a box of S.O.S Pads, I immediately take a pair of scissors and cut each pad into halves. After years of having to throw away rusted and unused and smelly pads, I finally decided that this would be much more economical. Now a box of S.O.S. Pads last me indefinitely! In fact, I have noticed that the scissors get sharpened this way!
- Blood stains on clothes? Not to worry!
Just pour a little hydrogen peroxide on a cloth and proceed to wipe off every drop of blood. Works every time! Now, where to put the body? LOL! - Use vertical strokes when washing windows outside and horizontal for inside windows. This way you can tell which side has the streaks. Straight vinegar will get outside windows really clean. Don't wash windows on a sunny day. They will dry too quickly and will probably streak.
- Spray a bit of perfume on the light bulb in any room to create a lovely light scent in each room when the light is turned on.
- Place fabric softener sheets in dresser drawers and your clothes will smell freshly washed for weeks to come. You can also do this with towels and linen.
- Candles will last a lot longer if placed in the freezer for at least 3 hours prior to burning.
- To clean artificial flowers, pour some salt into a paper bag and add the flowers. Shake vigorously as the salt will absorb all the dust and dirt, and leave your artificial flowers Looking like new! Works like a charm!
- To easily remove burnt on food from your skillet, simply add a drop or two of dish soap and enough water to cover bottom of pan, and bring to a boil on stove top.
- Spray your TUPPERWARE with Nonstick Cooking Spray before pouring in tomato based sauces and there won't be any stains.
- Wrap celery in aluminum foil when putting in the refrigerator and it will keep for weeks.
- When boiling corn on the cob, add a pinch of sugar to help bring out the corn's natural sweetness.
- Cure for headaches: Take a lime, cut it in half, and rub it on your forehead. The throbbing will go away.
- Don't throw out all that leftover wine: Freeze into ice cubes for future use in casseroles and sauces. Left over wine? What's that? :)
- To get rid of itch from mosquito bites, try applying soap on the area and you will experience instant relief.
- Ants, ants, ants everywhere . Well, they are said to never cross a chalk line. So, get your chalk out and draw a line on the floor or wherever ants tend to march. See for yourself.
- Use air-freshener to clean mirrors. It does a good job and better still, leaves a lovely smell to the shine.
- When you get a splinter, reach for the scotch tape before resorting to tweezers or a needle. Simply put the scotch tape over the splinter, and then pull it off. Scotch tape removes most, Super glue works, too, just a drop.
- Now look what you can do with Alka Seltzer . . . . . . clean a toilet. Drop in two Alka Seltzer tablets, wait twenty minutes, brush and flush. The citric acid and effervescent action clean vitreous China.
- Clean a vase. To remove a stain from the bottom of a glass vase or cruet, fill with water and drop in two Alka Seltzer tablets.
- Polish jewelry. Drop two Alka Seltzer tablets into a glass of water and immerse the jewelry for two minutes.
- Clean a thermos bottle. Fill the bottle with water, drop in four Alka Seltzer tablets, and let soak for an hour (or longer, if necessary).
- Unclog a drain. Clear the sink drain by dropping three Alka Seltzer tablets down the drain followed by a cup of Heinz White Vinegar. Wait a few minutes, and then run the hot water.
