before you start mixing.
YEAST Yeast comes in packages or by the jar. Make sure it’s stored in the refrigerator to avoid spoiling. The only difference between quick-rising yeast and regular dry yeast is that quick-rising will leaven in a
IT’S ALIVE! Check the expiry date on your yeast. If you’re not sure if it’s still working, combine 1 teaspoon of sugar with 2 teaspoons of yeast and add
CAKE TIPS
DUSTING SUCKS For fun, when baking a chocolate cake, instead of using flour to “dust” the pan, try cocoa instead.
SHH! THE CAKE IS SLEEPING Don’t open the oven door during the first 20 minutes of baking time. Always open the oven door gently as sudden movements or temperature change can make the cake fall in the middle.
ARE YOU DONE YET? Test your cake’s readiness by poking the center with a toothpick, wooden skewer, or clean knife. If it comes out clean, the cake is done. If it comes out wet and sticky, let it bake for an additional 5 minutes and check again.
CHILL Let your cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes before turning it over onto a cooling rack. This will keep it from falling apart during the transfer.
TOTALLY CHILL Your cake Should be completely cooled before you frost it.
YOU’RE ALWAYS IN SUCH A HURRY To quickly cool a cake before frosting, pop it into the freezer for 10-15 minutes while you make your frosting. Remember that this will change the temperature in the freezer drastically, so make sure you’re ready for that.
MAKE ME PRETTY, BUT DON’T MAKE A MESS It’s easiest to ice a cake when it sits directly on its serving plate, so to prevent a mess, place strips of wax paper or parchment paper under the edges of the cake, so that they hang over the edge of the plate. Frost the cake, then quickly pull out the paper, leaving your serving plate nice and clean.
STICKY-ICKY-ICKY Prevent your freshly baked cake from sticking to your serving platter by dusting the plate with icing sugar.
PIE TIPS
KEEP IT COOL Keep everything cool while you’re making a pie crust and you’ll have a much easier time making your dough. Use cool water, keep your margarine cool, and even throw your rolling pin and flour into the refrigerator before you start making your crust.
GET THE RIGHT FLOUR Pastry flour or all-purpose flour work best when making a crust.
MIDDLE OF THE ROAD Always move your oven rack to the center of the oven before you preheat and bake your pie.
DON’T GET SOGGY Don’t pour your pie filling into your pie shell until right before you’re ready to bake. Otherwise, you’ll end up with a soggy crust.
OOPS. I SPILLED If the juice from a fruit pie overflows while you’re baking, sprinkle some salt onto the spill. It will burn to a crisp, making it easier to remove once the oven has cooled.
MISCELLANEOUS COOKING TIPS
TOO SALTY If your soup is too salty, add some raw cut potatoes to your cooking. Remove them before serving as they will have absorbed a lot of the salt. Or add 1 teaspoon each of apple cider vinegar and sugar to your salty soup and that will remedy the problem.
SAME SIZE PANCAKES Keep your pancakes all the same size by using a lightly oiled measuring cup. Use
DON’T BE AFRAID Try new things. If it doesn’t work, try something else. The more you experiment, the easier cooking gets. Trust me!
45 THINGS TO DO WITH SALT
There is an old English belief that says that “every grain of salt spilled represents future tears.” Wow, like we don’t have enough things to worry about.
1. Rubbing salt in your wound is only an expression. Don’t do it.
2. Enhance the flavor of your food – duh.
3. Use as an abrasive. Toss some salt onto a stubborn kitchen counter stain and scrub with a damp dishcloth.
4. In the winter, de-ice the sidewalk when it freezes by tossing some salt on top of it. Wait 20 minutes and shovel your walk with ease.
5. Sprinkle salt in areas where you have ants and watch them flee.
6. Put a few grains of rice in your salt shaker to keep your salt from sticking together.
7. If you’ve burned your food, scrape as much of the burn off as you can, cover with water, and add
8. Add a pinch of salt to fresh-cut flowers to help them last a little longer.
9. To remove the smell of garlic from your fingers, rub them with lemon juice and salt, then rinse and wash with soap.
10. Fresh piercing? Use a simple saline (salt) solution of
11. Too many bubbles while you’re doing the dishes? Sprinkle them with a pinch of salt and watch them disappear.
12. Run out of toothpaste? Use equal parts of salt and baking soda (with a drop of peppermint extract if you like) instead. Dip your wet toothbrush in and brush away!
13. If wine is spilled on a tablecloth or rug, blot up as much as possible and immediately cover with a generous amount of salt, then leave until dried. Vacuum up salt and rinse with cold water. The stain will (cross your fingers) be gone.
14. A mixture of lemon juice and salt will remove mildew.
15. Wet a bee sting immediately with water and cover it with salt.
16. If your dish boils over onto the oven floor, sprinkle salt on top to stop smoke and odor. Once oven is cool, wipe spill away.
17. Always salt your pasta water before cooking. It will enhance the pasta’s flavor and you won’t have to salt your dish when it’s served. Adding oil to pasta cooking water is unnecessary as it will make your pasta slippery and your sauce won’t stick.
18. Remove stains from old teacups by rubbing with salt and a bit of water.
19. Salt enhances sweetness, so add a pinch when making sweets like kettle corn or hot chocolate.
20. A mixture of lemon juice and salt will remove rust stains.
21. Remove odor from a cutting board by pouring a generous amount of salt directly on the board. Rub lightly with a damp cloth. Wash in warm, soapy water.
22. If the juice from a fruit pie overflows while you’re baking, sprinkle some salt onto the spill. It will burn to a crisp, making it easy to remove once the oven has cooled.
23. For a sore throat, gargle with