Here are a few quick tips to help make life in the kitchen stress free.
- To quickly defrost meat without the drying effects of the microwave, seal the meat in a plastic bag and submerge in a bowl of warm water for 15 minutes.
- To save ripened avocados for another day, remove the pit and scoop the flesh into a zip-top bag. Squeeze lemon juice over top and freeze for up to three months. The thawed flesh will have a softer texture that is great for smoothies, guacamole or dressing.
- The next time you bake a pie with juicy fruit, sprinkle the bottom pie shell with three tablespoons of graham cracker crumbs. The crumbs will absorb the extra juice to ensure a deliciously crisp crust.
- The next time you have to take deviled eggs to a gathering, put each egg in a cupcake liner. This way the eggs won’t bump into each other and make a mess, plus it makes serving a breeze!
- To make several grilled cheese sandwiches at a time, try this. Preheat two sheet pans in a 400-degree oven. Assemble the sandwiches, buttering the outsides of the bread. Lay the sandwiches on one sheet pan and top with the other pan. Bake for 10 minutes.
- Want flaky biscuits? Ditch your pastry blender. Store the measured amount of butter in the freezer for 30 minutes, then grate into the flour mixture.
- Thicken stews by using instant potato flakes. Start with 1 teaspoon at a time until desired consistency. No lumps like using cornstarch or flour.
- No time for a fancy pie crust edge? Use a set of tongs to gently press a half-crescent design onto the edge.
- Pile toppings in a muffin tin to create a self-serve ice cream sundae bar.
Nancy Roe
Author
