Friday, May 10, 2013

Simple Kitchen Tips

Air is an enemy to cheese. Keep cheeses wrapped in plastic tightly to prevent mold and drying out. Squeeze as much air as possible out of those resealable bags shredded cheese comes in.  Blocks of cheese that will be used for grating or shredding keeps well in the freezer, and free of mold. Frozen cheese tends to crumble and won't slice as well.

Add bay leaves to your food storage area to keep insects out. Lay the leaves on shelves, and they can be put inside boxes (not inside the liners) of cereals and crackers; and can even be put into bags of sugar and flour.



I find that brown sugar will become rock hard before I use it all. When you purchase a new bag, divide it up into several ziploc bags (better yet, Mason jars :) If the sugar hardens in a container, it is simple to place it into the microwave (with the lids off) for a few seconds to soften it up. Keep it to a few seconds or you will burn the sugar though! If it is not softening easily, place a damp paper towel over the sugar and try a few more seconds. 

Raisins becoming hard and dry? Rinse them with water, drain, then place them to a bowl and microwave for a few seconds and they will plump up. Listen for them to sizzle after only a few seconds; don't over do it.  Be careful! They will be very hot!



Apples will keep longer when stored in the refrigerator. 

Storing an apple with your potatoes is said to keep them from sprouting. ( I have not tried this one but plan too)

When peeling potatoes, be sure to remove all of the green color (if there is any) under the skin. If they are very green, throw them out as the green part can make you sick and is even said to be toxic. Read about green skin  here



Storing dried herbs and spices is best in glass jars with tight fitting lids. Keep your herbs and spices out of the light in a cabinet or drawer and away from a heat source. Over the stove or next to it are not the best places for storage; they will lose there flavor faster there.

Buy dried herbs and spices in quantities that will be used up in about six months when they will have lost a lot of flavor. When you buy new, empty containers of the old herbs and spices, wash and dry before adding in the new spices. A sticker or label on the bottom of the containers with the date helps you track when it's time to replace them. (Herbs and spices are expensive. Read this post to find out best places to buy them)

I link at these parties.




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43 comments:

  1. Good Afternoon Connie, Thank you for some lovely tips. The one I am going to pass on to my daughter who lives in India is the bay leaves added to food storage cupboards. As she is often plagued with insects during the height of the summer, so she will really appreciate this information.
    Have a lovely weekend,
    Best Wishes
    Daphne

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  2. Hi Connie,
    Im always on the lookout for helpful tips...thank you for posting

    Love and Hugs
    Phoebe x

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  3. awesome tips, thanks so much!! I came over from Sew Many Ways :)
    come say hello over at Christines Cozy Corner!
    Have a lovely weekend.

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  4. I had never heard of putting bay leaves in your boxes and cabinets to repel bugs. Thank you for the tips!

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  5. Wonderful tips! I'm popping over from Inspire me Monday. :)

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  6. Thanks for sharing these tips at A New Creation! Clearly you are not using enough brown sugar if it's hardening! Ha ha!

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  7. I have heard about the apple in potatoes but never tried it either. I really should try that. Let me know if you try it before I do!

    Great tips. I didn't know that you could put the bay leafs on the shelves. I wonder if you could put it in the rice. I know you can freeze rice and it's not supposed to get bugs but I buy too much to freeze it ahead of time.

    Thanks so much for linking up to the "Making Your Home Sing Monday" linky party today! :)

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  8. Thanks for the tips! I look forward to trying them!
    Selene @ Restoration Beauty

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  9. Great ideas!! Thank you for participating at SHOW-licious Craft Showcase!!

    Marti
    http://sew-licious.blogspot.com

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  10. Definitely going to try putting an apple in my bag of potatoes! Hope you had a great Mother's Day.

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  11. The green potato tip is a good one. Don't eat green potatoes!

    Popping in from Oh, Mrs. Tucker!

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  12. Good information. Thanks.

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  13. Great tips for the kitchen.....Thank you for sharing with the Clever Chicks Blog Hop this week; I hope you’ll join us again!


    Cheers,
    Kathy Shea Mormino

    The Chicken Chick

    http://www.The-Chicken-Chick.com

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  14. Great tips! found your website through Pin it Tuesdays and repinned :)

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  15. Great tips, Connie ! Unfortunately my kids, somehow, always leave the cheese open :-( Thanks for linking all these tips up at our All My Bloggy Friends Party !

    Linda
    With A Blast

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  16. Thank you so much for sharing these wonderful tips! Thanks for linking with HickoryTrail
    Angela

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  17. Great advice! I always keep my apples in the fridge so they stay fresh longer. =) I hadn't heard the bay leaf trick, though! Very cool.

    Natashalh

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  18. These are awesome! I pinned. Hope you will stop by Mom's Library and link this up!

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  19. Wow great tips! I have to try that apple in the potatoes thing!

    Holly at Not Done Growing

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  20. Great tips! I especially like the one about keeping an apple with potatoes. Thanks so much for linking up with us at Pin It Tuesday! Hope to see more from you next week!

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  21. Such great ideas! Thanks for sharing at Give Me The Goods Monday! Hope to see you again next week ;)
    Jamie @ somuchbetterwithage.com

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  22. I spread bay leaves all through my pantry as well to get the bugs away and it really does work. Im slowly collecting glass jars for my herbs. Some great tips there thanks for sharing :)

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  23. GOOD MORNING ! I ENJOYED READING YOUR TIPS. I AM GOING TO TRY KEEPING MY POTATOES A BIT LONGER. THANKS!

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  24. Great tips! Thanks for sharing & linking up at DearCreatives.com Theresa

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  25. These are some great tips! I've always done the apple and potatoes.Thank you for sharing this on Fluster's Creative Muster Party!

    Robin
    Fluster Buster

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  26. Good tips. Thanks for sharing at The Shady Porch. Blessings, D@TheShadyPorch

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  27. Thank you so much for sharing these tips with Saturday Spotlight. I'm afraid I cant use the one about cheese though, my family eats it to quickly for me to have any leftovers! :) Hope to see you at this weeks party!

    April
    Angels Homestead

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  28. Great tips! Thanks for sharing at What'd You Do This Weekend. Can't wait to see what you bring next week. Best wishes for tasty dishes! Linda

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  29. These are some great tips! I am Pinning this post right now into my Kitchen Tips board. :) Thanks for sharing at Tasty Tuesdays - look forward to seeing you next week!

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  30. Very helpful entry! Thank you so much for linking up with me this week at Tasty Tuesdays! I’ve pinned this & shared it with my followers!

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  31. Great idea! Thansk for sharing at The Creative HomeAcre Hop! Hope to see you again this Sunday.

    http://back2basichealth.blogspot.com/search/label/creative%20homeacre%20hop

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  32. Thank you for linking up with us in "Pin It" Tuesday!

    I am very pleased to tell you YOU are being featured next week!

    PowerfulMothering.com

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  33. Awesome tips! I have a hard time buying only six months worth of herbs and spices -- I always have bigger plans than time to carry them through! Thanks so much for sharing on busy Monday! A Pinch of Joy

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  34. Love all of these tips. Some I knew, but others are new to me. I want to try the apple in the potatoes trick. I keep my brown sugar in a glass jar. I find that if I put a piece of bread in with it it stays soft. I sometimes change the bread if it gets real hard. Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

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  35. Thanks for the tips! Hope to see you again at Tuesdays with a Twist!
    http://back2basichealth.blogspot.com/search/label/Tuesdays%20with%20a%20Twist

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  36. Miss Connie! Thank you for sharing such fabulous tips :) I just pinned this post! Thank you for linking up with me @ Great Idea Thursdays. I hope you have a fabulous day! Krista @ A Handful of Everything

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  37. Awesome tips! Congrats on being featured on pin It! Tuesday!

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  38. great tips! featuring you tonight and pinning now!

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  39. I like the raisin trick- good to know! And thanks for linking up at The Better Half link party. See you next time Connie!

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  40. Great info, thanks so much for sharing.

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