To make lump-free pancakes or waffles, mix them in a blender. Just pour straight onto a waffle iron or griddle.
What ever your family doesn't eat, flash freeze on a cookie sheet and then store them in freezer containers for a quick breakfast
in the mornings. Pop into your microwave or toaster.
Freeze applesauce in icecube trays and put the cubes in your childs oatmeal
to help cool it down and give it a fun flavor
Freeze green grapes for a yummy snack. Flash freeze them on a cookie sheet first,
then put them in freezer containers.
Put one scoop of vanilla ice cream in a bowl of cold cereal instead of milk for a special
afternoon treat.
If you live alone, but like food usually cooked in large quantities, such as soup, freeze
the remainder of your meal in 12 cup muffin tins. Transfer the frozen food to zipper bags, two or three "muffins" to a bag.
One bag usually makes one serving.
If you are not able to finish an open bottle of wine, freeze the extra in an icecube tray.
After the wine is frozen, transfer to zipper bags. The frozen wine can be used to deglaze pans when making sauces or added
to roasts, spaghetti sauce or soups for an extra flavor.
When you buy celery, take it out of the store bag and wrap it in paper towels
and then in aluminum foil. Store in the refrigerator. When you need some, break off what you need and re-wrap and return to
fridge.
Stack your dinner plates on a plastic-coated wire storage unit with multiple
levels. This well use more of your cabinet space.
Store stemmed glasses on a stemware rack attached to the underside of a cupboard.
Organize pot lids, muffin tins, cooling racks, small baking sheets, etc. in
a small dish drainer and set in inside a large cabinet.
Use decorative tins to store cookie cutters, cake decorating supplies, and other
odd shaped gadgets, instead of tossing them in a drawer.
Store utensils in a crockery urn or planter
Make your own "banana trees" to keep your bananas fresher longer. Attach a large
cup hanger under your cabinet and hang your bananas there.
Use clean, dry large plastic bags to make ice blocks for the cooler or to fill
up freezer to make it work better. Smaller ones can be used to put in your lunch box to keep your food cool or used as an
ice pack.
Set honey and syrup containers on plastic lids when stored in cabinets.
This will cut down on the mess that is always so hard to clean up.
Store bags of chips, cookies, and other foods that tend to spill out, inside
plastic containers or sealed plastic bags. (My problem with plastic bags for this, the food takes on a funny flavor.)
Keep a small jar in a kitchen drawer to collect small mystery items you find
around the house, such as buttons and screws, Eventually you may figure out where they belong.
Roll up dish towels, placemats, napkins instead of storing them flat. This is
a space saver and will keep linens wrinkle free.
For a make-shift funnel for flour, sugar or salt, cut of the corner of a clean envelope.
Instead of rolling out dough for biscuits, roll as if making slice cookies, slice and bake.
Save your butter wrappers for a quick way to grease a pan. Store in freezer and rub onto
your pan or baking sheet when needed.
Freezing fresh herbs: Wash the herbs. Chop them and freeze into cubes in an ice cube tray
filled with water. When frozen, put them into a freezer container. To use, stir frozen cubes into dishes as they cook. Or,
after washing herbs, freeze in plastic bags. Once frozen, crumble and add to food.
To Dry Fresh Herbs: Put freshly snipped herbs into a brown paper bag (lunch size), close
with paper clips and punch 4 holes in bag with a fork. Put bag in refrigerator. Each morning, give it a shake and turn it
over. When herbs are completely dry, store until needed.
Add orange juice to your favorite BBQ sauce to enhance its flavor.
To peel tomatoes, microwave for 30 seconds. Let set for a couple of minutes and then peel
off skin with your fingers.
Pour vegetable oil into a pump container. It is easier to limit its use.
For a small kitchen, when more counter space is needed, open a
drawer and put a cutting board on top
For leftover vegetables: Put them in a freezer container. When
container is full, cook your stew meat and seasonings until meat is tender. Add the vegetables and a few cut-up potatoes for
a cheap and easy meal. Or: Puree vegetables in your blender and freeze in ice cube trays. Add cubes to soups, sauces, and
stews to thicken and enhance the flavor.
Don't throw out pickle juice. For a tangy snack, fill jar with
raw string beans, carrot or celery sticks, or cucumber slices.
Keep plastic wrap in refrigerator and it will roll out smooth.
When you host dinner parties, keep some disposable pie tins handy.
Load them up with leftovers to pass out to your guests when they leave.
Quick way to reseal plastic bags: Twist the top of bag once, then
turn excess inside out and fold down over the rest of the bag.
Line shelves with leftover linoleum. They are durable and easy
to wash.
Store recipes in magnetic photo albums. They are easy to store
and recipes are protected from splatters and spills.
When you go to yard sales, buy mismatched dishes for cheap. Use
them when you go to potlucks and you will not have to worry about taking home a dirty dish.
Make your regular taper candles dripless by soaking them in a bowl
of lukewarm water with 2 tablespoons of salt. Much cheaper than buying dripless candles.
When you have to wash a lot of potatoes for a church supper, picnic
or reunion, just put them in your dishwasher (no soap, please) and set it on short wash cycle. The clean potatoes can go right
into the pot or oven.
Mix your tuna salad ingredients in to a zipper lock plastic bag,
seal it and gently squeeze until ingredients are mixed thoroughly. Keep the bag in the fridge and it will be ready for you
when you wish to make sandwiches.
Put an agate marble in your tea kettel and it will keep it clean
of lime deposits.
Remove stains from an aluminum pot: Boil a solution of two teaspoons
Cream of Tartar and one quart of water in the pot for several minutes.
