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HELPFUL HOUSEHOLD HINTS

 

* To determine whether an egg is fresh without breaking the shell, immerse the egg in a pan of cool salted water. If it sticks to the bottom, it is fresh. If it rises to the surface, throw it away.

* Vinegar brought to a boil in a new frying pan will prevent food from sticking.

* When frying, turn a metal colander upside down over the skillet. This allows steam to escape, but keeps the fat from spattering.

* Club soda cleans and polishes kitchen appliances at the same time.

* When a drain is clogged with grease, pour a cup of salt and a cup of baking soda into the drain followed by a kettle of boiling water. The grease will usually dissolve immediately and open the drain.

* Rub stainless steel with lighter fluid if rust marks appear. After the rust disappears, wipe with your regular kitchen cleaner.

* Once an onion has been cut in half, rub the left-over side with butter and it will keep fresh longer.

* Pinch of rosemary to water cooking rice will add an interesting flavor.

* Cook wild meats with onions cuts down wild flavor.

* Do you substitute ingredients? This is always risky - make sure that if your recipe calls for sifted flour. Sifted flour is not interchangeable with unsifted.

* Food will keep hot up to 1 hour if taken somewhere, by wrapping hot food in double thickness of aluminum foil.

* Garlic helps to prevent cholesterol build up. Helps prevent heart disease by slashing cholesterol levels in the blood and lowering dangerous blood fat levels.

* Don't let spilled wine spoil your prettiest tablecloth. While the stain is still wet, cover it with a mound of ordinary table salt; when dry just brush away. The salt will absorb the wine so completely you won't even have to wash the cloth.

* Shaving cream is one of the most useful upholstery cleaners....it even cleans driveways.

* To remove water rings and stains from inside small glass or crystal vases dampen the inside and add any toilet bowl cleaner. Let stand 10 minutes. Rinse thoroughly.

* To clean and shine copper pots, rub with Worcestershire sauce or catsup. The tarnish will disappear.

* To get cotton white socks white again, boil in water to which has a slice of lemon has been added.