Tiny New York Kitchen Household Hints
I must get asked a dozen times a day about domestic problems other than cooking ones. Here are some good remedies to household questions that I have received over the years.
Making Brooms Last Longer:
I like to use an old fashioned broom. I think that they do a better job and I actually think that they last a long time. To lengthen your broom’s life, whether it’s an old fashioned one or a newer version, hang your broom up rather than resting it on its own weight.
Before using your broom (this is for old fashioned straw brooms) soak it in hot salt water. Make sure you use a good amount of salt. This will help the straws become more durable. Scald your straw broom in hot suds once a week to keep it in good condition. To renew your old broom soak it in hot suds and then clip the ends of the straws evenly on the bottom. You may want to put a broad band of strong tape around the broom where the straws are sewn. This will hold the straws together and force them to dry straight.
Here Is An Interesting Way On How To Separate An Egg Yolk From The Egg White
http://bbs.wenxuecity.com/cooking/1160651.html
Students & Breakfast
Labor Day is over and it’s school time again. Many school aged children skip breakfast on a daily basis because of either financial reasons or because of the morning rush to get to school on time. Studies show that children, as well as college students, who eat breakfast have better math scores, less tardiness, less hyperactivity and better overall school attendance than those children who don’t eat breakfast. If you want your student to be more alert, focused and ready to tackle the day’s academic challenges then encourage them to eat breakfast daily and not just on test days. Eating a nutritious breakfast will help your child concentrate, behave and learn. Studies have shown that eating breakfast improves a student’s classroom performance, including better test scores and better grades. It is important for a student to be able to concentrate on his or her school work as well as learning positive habits that will carry over into adulthood. Eating breakfast can do more than just keep your child full!
Packing A Picnic & Serving Food Outdoors
Packing A Picnic
*Pack lots of extra drinks in a cooler. When it’s hot outside picnickers get thirsty.
*Pack sweet treats. Bring fresh fruit such as berries and melon or cookies instead of ice cream.
*Keep prepared foods in the refrigerator until it is time to pack them up.
*Bring a soccer ball, football, baseball & mitts or a Frisbee. If you live close to the park either walk, rollerblade or ride your bikes.
*Pack sunscreen! Even when it is overcast or if you’re lying in the shade make sure to wear sunscreen.
Serving Food Outdoors
*When taking foods on a picnic make sure to keep perishables in the cooler with either ice or freezer packs until serving time. Make sure that the food is cold BEFORE it goes into the cooler.
*Pack just the right amount that you and your picnickers are going to eat. You don’t want to bring leftovers back home.
*If you are driving to your picnic don’t put your cooler and picnic basket in the hot trunk. Instead transport your picnic in the air-conditioned car.
*At you picnic site, keep the cooler and picnic basket in the shade. Open the cooler as little as possible.
*Never leave foods at room temperature for more than 2 hours. If the temperature outside is over 90°F, perishable foods should be left out no longer than 1 hour.
*If you buy a lot of take-out foods, such as fried chicken or barbecued beef, make sure to eat the food within 2 hours of pickup. Otherwise, buy the food in advance, refrigerate and reheat just before serving.
*Keep desserts made with whipped cream, cream cheese or dairy products refrigerated until you are ready to serve. Store any leftovers in a refrigerator or cooler.
*When preparing food outdoors, away from home, make sure to bring a jug of water, soap and paper towels for hand washing.
Birthday Picnic Basket
My Birthday Present! I have wanted a decked out picnic basket for years! One of my favorite things to do is travel around the U.S. and Europe packing little picnics. Now I can do it in style!
Today is Labor Day and I am going on a picnic with my new picnic basket.
The menu is:
Fried Chicken
https://www.tinynewyorkkitchen.com/olympic-fried-chicken/
Green Olives
Boston Baked Beans
https://www.tinynewyorkkitchen.com/boston-baked-beans/
Picnic Perfect Pasta Salad
https://www.tinynewyorkkitchen.com/picnic-perfect-pasta-salad/
Fresh Blueberry & Mango Cake
https://www.tinynewyorkkitchen.com/fresh-blueberry-mango-cake/
Newport, Rhode Island’s Aquidneck Farmers’ Market
Last Wednesday I spent the afternoon at the Aquidneck Growers' Wednesday Farmers Market, in Newport, Rhode Island and had such a great time. I was impressed at how nicely laid out the market was as well as having such a nice variety of vendors. I had a wonderful slice of wood oven pizza. Bravo Wood Fired Pizza actually brings an actual wood oven to the market and bakes pizzas all afternoon long. Here is the link for Bravo Wood Fired Pizza http://www.bravowoodfiredpizza.com/Pages/default.aspx .
What I was most impressed with, however, was Olga’s Cup & Saucer. Olga had an amazing selection of baked goods that is better than most famous bakeries that I have visited. Olga’s booth was constantly jammed with people buying bagfuls of delicious treats. I had a chocolate cookie and a macaroon. Both were superb! Olga’s Cup & Saucer is out of Providence and has her deliciousness in my favorite Providence restaurant, La Laiterie/Farmstead Cheese. Here is where you can find Olga’s Cup & Saucer online http://olgascupandsaucer.blogspot.com/ and http://www.facebook.com/pages/Olgas-Cup-and-Saucer/200452426644338 .
If you find yourself in Newport on a Wednesday I highly suggest that you make a stop into the farmers’ market. Parking is tight, but not impossible. http://www.farmfresh.org/food/farmersmarkets_details.php?market=2 Aquidneck Growers' Wednesday Farmers Market
Wednesday: 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM
June 6 to October 31, 2012
Along the shaded walk
Memorial Blvd And Chapel St
Newport, RI
I love Root Beer and am always trying brands that I've never tried before. Yesterday, when I was at the Newport, Rhode Island Farmers' Market, I ran into Empire Root Beer. I had this root beer with a delicious piece of wood oven pizza. I think this root beer, which is made in Bristol, RI, is even better than Hank's.
Looks like one can get it at The Root Beer Store
http://www.therootbeerstore.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=R-EM
A Word About Vacuum Sealers
Freezing is an easy way to enjoy fruits and vegetables from gardens or farmers’ markets well into the winter. There are a variety of freezer bags to use for storing and freezing. I think that using a vacuum sealer is the best freezer method out there. Vacuum sealers protect foods by removing the extra air and creating a tight teal. If you want to preserve your fruits, vegetables, and meats through long-term freezing, a vacuum sealer is an investment to consider. Conventional storage bags and containers trap air in the container with the food, which can cause damage from frost and freezer burn. Because the sealer sucks all the air out of the bag before creating a tight seal, the food in the bags is better protected against the elements. A vacuum sealer costs between $75 and $200 and requires the purchase of special bags designed for this use. Besides preserving garden produce, this is a great tool to help you maximize the shelf life of other food items you buy in bulk at club stores or on sale.
Julia Child changed the way American's thought about cooking.
