Top Ten Bits of Random Wisdom
On October 4, 2015 by Speranza
10. Did you know that those egg slicers with the tight little wires across are the perfect thing for slicing strawberries – so quick and efficient and the perfect distraction for someone small or a slightly drunken dinner guest who wants to “help” with dessert … Credit to Frasier for bringing this to my attention!
9. If you are about to discard an expensive tube of hand cream/anchovy paste/anything that comes in a PLASTIC tube think again! Cutting the end off with scissors – literally takes a second – can give you quite a few more uses.
8. I realized this summer that slices of lime and lemon freeze brilliantly! No more hardened ends in the fridge, just slice them up all at once, toss into a ziplock bag and you have an ice cube AND a zip of citrus for future gin and tonics or …er … sparkling water.
7. There is probably no one alive today who does not know this but just in case, the best way to rid the kitchen of fruit flies is by putting Cider vinegar – and it must be cider vinegar – in a saucer, stretching plastic wrap across the top and then making a few holes with a fork. Sad, but I believe they do go happy.
6. If you have a dog/cat you will at some point have to deal with evil, rage-inducing clean-up issues and I am not talking about fur. I therefore suggest bookmarking the instructions listed here from the nice people at Cats of Australia because they actually WORK! http://www.catsofaustralia.com/urinestainremoval.htm
5. Has anyone noticed that local garlic is often nearly impossible to find? As a result, I buy a pound or so in the summer when it’s cheap, fresh and available, peel and throw the lot into a food processor with a bit of olive oil and then freeze in dabs on parchment paper. Transfer frozen dabs to a zip-lock bag later on. TOTALLY handy! Use straight from the freezer.
4. Am I the only one who ends up with rusted out nests of steel wool pads on my sinkside? I now cut them into quarters and don’t waste them anymore. Yes, I know they come in this size now in some brands (another patent pending foiled!) but it’s cheaper my way.
3. I ended the misery of packed lunches occasionally by buying a super-sized pizza from a reputable place (not just the giant frozen pizza at the grocery store) cooking and freezing two slices in a bag – an instant school lunch that will never come home uneaten!
2. I like anything that makes cleaning more efficient so consider keeping some Dollar Store dental floss under the kitchen sink. It’s amazing for cleaning out whatever the hell that is that mere cloths or spray cannot dislodge around the taps. I am a pretty scrupulous cleaner but last week I think I winkled out a whole head of broccoli from in there eeeeeuw …
1. I can’t bring myself to make a real “inspiration board” (and yes, I have heard of Pinterest) but for everyday coolness and a shot of sheer joy, I recently made myself a series of clipboards, cheered up with blackboard paint and I now have a rotating display of lovely cards, quotes, art and photos and things that I will always like to see. For me, this works! And it’s a vehicle to actually enjoy all those things I was “saving.”
Great suggestions! We still have our fruit fly ‘traps’ out. Too lazy to dispose of them or hoping fruits flies are the sign of late, lingering summer weather? Thanks Heloise!