Tip of the Day!

[Kchurchill5]

What do you think? How about a Tip of the Day Thread, and we can keep it going.

It may be cleaning, house hold or pet tips; or general organizational tips. How about those tips on what you can do we hydrogen perioxide, or how about baking soda?

I'll start with the first one.

Broccoli and Cauliflower Stems
Many people throw them out. First because they feel they are tough, which they can be. Second, because they may not eat them right away, so they get tossed before they go bad.

Well, you can freeze them, and later add to stock, which is very good.
But, try adding them to a food processor or a blender with a little water and puree. Then freeze in a small baggie or container. It is delicious added to vegetable or potato soup, Add to mashed potatoes, zucchini or asparagus soup. Or add to a creamy pasta sauce.

Endless options. A great use of something ... most of us, throw out.

[lovinretirement]

Instead of buying boneless, skinless chicken breast, buy it bone-in, skin on. Skin it and cut it off the bone yourself. Saves money and you can put the bones in a zip lock bag and put them in the freezer till you have about 10 or 12, enough to make your own chicken stock. When I take them out of the freezer, and while they're still frozen, I break them up with a heavy cast iron skillet so they don't take up so much room in the stock pot.

[Sue]

Broccoli and cauliflower stems and also very large asparagus stems---> go at them with your vegetable peeler, then slice and cook as usual.

Ants: I don't like ant bait. I have cats and don't want them licking it or playing with it, and don't want to worry about small children getting hold of that either.
If you spot an ant, place a piece of masking tape right side up along the baseboard or vent or door where you saw it. Use two extra pieces of tape to tape the ends down, taut. Once they step on it, they aren't going anywhere. An unlike ant bait, they don't go back to the nest and tell their buddies where you live. As for the chemical trail they brought with them (what their buddies follow), that can be wiped out with ammonia and a cotton ball. But when you are not there looking, tape.

[Kchurchill5]

Grout Cleaner ... a Green Friendly and inexpensive solution.

7 cups water
1/2 cup baking soda
1/3 cup lemon juice (fresh vs a bottled does work much better)
1/4 cup white vinegar

Add to a spray bottle and shake to combine. Spray on the grout, and let it set 2-4 minutes. Then, scrub with a brush and rise using a clean cloth of sponge.

Fresh smelling and it works.

[Dissie]

Anytime you are using raw onions in a salsa and you are not going to eat that salsa in the next 20 minutes or so, be sure to rinse the diced onions under cold running water first, then blot dry. This will rid them of sulfurous gas that can ruin fresh salsa. It's really important in guacamole, too.

[Kchurchill5]

Very true, and great tip! Although, I usually don't do it, I should. I have read that many times and should do it.

[Dissie]

Kim, I am a salsa addict. I read this and started to do it and it makes all the difference in the world! You know how you make salsa and its great at first, but a couple days later, it starts to taste "old". Well that's what happens if you don't rinse your onions. The tip says 20 minutes it starts, I haven't noticed it that quickly but I guess that is when the process starts. I even rinse my onions that have been in the onion holder. (leftover onion I don't use right away) Seems to make them taste better, at least gets rid of that strong smell on them from sitting, waiting to be used.

[Bergy]

Martha Stewart tip
To peel a head of garlic separate into cloves place then in a metal bowl that you have a duplicate (same size bowl). Put the cloves in one bowl, cover with the other and shake, shake shake them. Voila all peeled.
I watched a short video of her doing it!

[HeatherFeather]

Instead of buying boneless, skinless chicken breast, buy it bone-in, skin on. Skin it and cut it off the bone yourself. Saves money and you can put the bones in a zip lock bag and put them in the freezer till you have about 10 or 12, enough to make your own chicken stock. When I take them out of the freezer, and while they're still frozen, I break them up with a heavy cast iron skillet so they don't take up so much room in the stock pot.

Great suggestion! I already do buy meat on the bone to save money, and remove the bones whenever I need a boneless cut. However, for some reason it didn't occur to me to save the bones in the freezer for my stock. Great tip!

[HeatherFeather]

Grout Cleaner ... a Green Friendly and inexpensive solution.

7 cups water
1/2 cup baking soda
1/3 cup lemon juice (fresh vs a bottled does work much better)
1/4 cup white vinegar

Add to a spray bottle and shake to combine. Spray on the grout, and let it set 2-4 minutes. Then, scrub with a brush and rise using a clean cloth of sponge.

Fresh smelling and it works.

I wish this were a save-able recipe - I am definitely going to try this. I have horrible reactions to so many cleansers (asthma).