Tiny New York Kitchen Household Hints
If you have a door that squeaks then read on.
Doors That Squeak & Stick:
Stop door hinges from squeaking by giving them an application of Vaseline. Rub the part of a door that sticks with yellow soap to make it move more easily.
Tiny New York Kitchen Household Hints
Caring For Your Silver
A simple way to clean your silver is to put it into an aluminum pan with sour milk and let it stand for a few hours. Then rinse in hot water and polish. If your silver is going to be stored for any length of time, then put a piece of camphor with it or rub the silver with Vaseline or sweet oil. When possible to do so, stand the flat silver in large glass top fruit jars with a pad at the bottom. Cover the top with cotton and place a piece of camphor in the jar. Then screw the lid on the jar. This makes an airtight container and keeps the silver perfectly without tarnish.
Tiny New York Kitchen Household Hints
Caring For Your Waffle Iron:
To temper a new waffle iron or griddle make sure to grease liberally before using. Allow the grease to bake in. Repeat this process several times and the tempering will be more thorough. Never ever wash a waffle iron or griddle. After each baking just wipe with a soft oiled cloth.
Tiny New York Kitchen Household Hints
Keep Glass From Cracking
Have you ever cracked a glass or a jar by pouring hot liquid into it? Well, hot water will not crack a glass or jar if it is set on a knife blade and a spoon is put in it before pouring in the hot water. Another way to keep a glass or jar from cracking is to put a wide rubber band around both the top and bottom of the glass.
Tiny New York Kitchen Household Hints
Yesterday I was asked how to keep salt shakers unclogged.
For Clogged Salt Shakers:
Heat a teaspoonful of rice and mix with the salt. You could also use a pinch of ground arrowroot added to the salt. Both methods will prevent the salt for clogging the shaker. To keep the metal tops from being eaten away spread a bit of heated paraffin on the inside of the metal top. When the heated paraffin begins to cool open the holes with a pin or a wooden toothpick.
Tiny New York Kitchen Household Hints
Having problems with dripping candles?
Place your candles in the refrigerator for a 1 or two days before using. When you are burning candles that have been refrigerated the wax will not drip down the sides. This is a great way to stretch the life of your candles and save your table from dripping wax.
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.
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!
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.
