To bake potatoes quickly, place them in boiling water for about 10 minutes. Pierce skin with a fork and then finish in a preheated oven.
Why do onions make you cry? Onions are made up of a tunic of outer leaves (the brown layer), scales (the white firm juicy edible part), and the basal plate (often called the “hairy part” or the “root”). Onions make you cry because:
1. When you cut the basal plate or shoot, they release an enzyme.
2. That enzyme reacts in the rest of the onion to release a gas.
3. When that gas combines with water, it creates an acid.
4. If that water is in your eye, you have acid in your eye. That makes you cry.So, if you still want to cut some onions, there are some simple steps that keep you tear-free!
Before cutting an onion rinse the onion under cold water.
You can also stick the onion in the freezer for a 10 – 15 minutes before cutting it.
Breath through your mouth and not your nose.
Put vinegar on your cutting board.
Use a very sharp knife.
Add a different flavoring for tea: Instead of sugar, disolve old fashioned lemon drops in your tea. They melt quickly and keep the tea clean and brisk.
Having shrimp for dinner? Don’t throw away the shrimp peels. The shrimp peels make a wonderful shrimp stock that you can freeze and use later.
- tbsp spoon of oil
- shrimp peels
- bay leaf
- carrot
- 2 celery stalks
- 1 onion
- clove of garlic
- salt and pepper to taste
- Heat oil, add all ingredients
Cook for a few minutes. Add 8 cups of water. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to low. Simmer for an hour or so. Strain, cool, freeze and use for your next soup or stew.
Need a quick appetizer for a party or for friends and family?
- Take a block of cream cheese and dredge in a packet of dry ranch or italian salad dressing mix.
- Serve with crackers
Refresh stale chips, crackers or cereal by putting a plateful in the microwave for 30 – 45 seconds. Let cool for 1 minute . Enjoy!
Cover easily discolored fruit such as apples, bananas, and peaches with lemon, orange or pineapple juice or with an acidic dressing.
To remove grease from soups or stews:
- Drop a lettuce leaf in. The leaf will absorb the grease.
- Remove lettuce before serving.
Sass! 