Dabbing talcum powder over grease stains, helps remove grease stains from clothing. Freeze left over gravy in ice cube containers. Then when needed as gravy for a sandwich, etc reheat in the microwave.

Freeze left over coffee in ice cube trays. Then when you need a small amount of coffee to flavor sauces, icings, etc, thaw and use as needed

If your stews are too salty or have too much pepper, cook raw potatoes in the stew and then discard since they will absorb the extra seasoning

If soups or stews too garlicky, place parsley flakes in a tea ball and let it cook with the soup or stew. The parsley will absorb the garlic flavor

If your soups or stews are too sweet, add some salt or add a dash of cider vinegar.

Toothpaste can be used to scrub stains off enamel or metal based sinks.

Clean out kitchen sink drains naturally. Pour some baking soda in the drain and follow by adding some white vinegar. Careful, there will be a bubbling smoking reaction. Then run hot water run down the drain. Once a month treatments keeps drains free flowing.

Ants in your kitchen? Kill them by mixing: 4 parts peanut butter with 1 part boric acid powder OR 1 part flour, 1 part sugar and 1 part boric acid powder. Mix well and place in small shallow dishes where ant trails are. Place away from pets and small children since the boric acid can make them sick if they eat the mixture.

Dried peas and beans may be soaked in water until swollen, drained and frozen until ready for use to make soups. Thaw , cover with several inches of water and bring to a boil and simmer until completely tender.

Do not serve/store wine or whiskey in lead crystal glasses. The lead could break down from the crystal and leech into the beverage.

!! spilled " red wine" on your tablecloth or carpet?- immediately pour on " white wine ", sponge up and clean again with warm water and soap.

Shelling chestnuts: cut a slit in the flat side of the nut, cover with water and boil 10 minutes Use a paring knife to pry off the shell and membrane

Opening coconuts: puncture the eyes with an ice pick and drain out fluid. Place the coconut in a shallow pan and bake 350F for 45 minutes to 1 hour. Let cool. Then tap it with a hammer . The coconut should easily spring apart. Pry off the coconut meat with a knife. To short shred coconut flesh: Place cut up flesh in processor with some of the drained coconut liquid Process until fine. Use this for pie fillings and desserts.

To measure sticky liquids ( honey etc. ) oil the cup with cooking oil so the honey or syrup will flow and empty completely.

To prevent the formation of a surface skin on hot puddings or sauces etc., spread a thin layer of melted butter or cream over the pudding or sauce. Or cover with plastic wrap, cut some slits in the plastic.

To anchor a cutting board or bowl on the counter, place a damp cloth or paper towel beneath the board or bowl to prevent slippage.

Use an insulated and chilled ice bucket to serve cold foods such as salads. If you want a clear broth, add egg shells to it, and simmer for 10 minutes.The shells will attract the sediment. Strain soup of sediment.
If soup is too thin, add rice or mashed potatoes until you reach desired consistency

To give your sauces an extra shiny appearance, whisk in 2 Tbs cold butter before serving Stir in a tsp of peanut butter to burned gravy to hide the taste.

If gravy too salty add several pinches of brown sugar If soup is too salty, add some peeled potatoes which will absorb excess salt.

The best salt is sea salt or kosher salt since iodized salt can add an unpleasant taste to some foods

Use minced parsley with other herbs to enhance flavors of food

A piece of fresh orange or lemon rind added to a bouquet garni adds a special flavor to poultry or meat dishes

You can maintain the freshness of herbs by soaking them in olive oil and then refrigerating them

Several dabs of butter or cooking oil added to the water will prevent pasta from boiling over

Cut pizza with a scissors rather than a knife

Cut dried fruits with a scissors that has been dipped in hot water

Old egg whites making higher and better meringues than fresh eggs

Add additional flavor to homemade breadcrumbs by adding broken cookies and crackers and by mixing all in blender


Honey rather than sugar maintains more moistness when added to baked goods

To prevent fruits, nuts and raisins from sinking in a batter, roll them in melted butter or dust in flour before adding

For extra moist chocolate cake always add a spoonful of vinegar to the baking soda in the recipe

If you need to cut a hot cake, use dental floss instead of a knife

No rolling pin handy, use a full wine bottle

If chocolate contracts to a hard stage when melting, stir in vigorously 1 to 2 tablespoons of solid vegetable shortening

Add a few drops of lemon juice to heavy cream prior to whipping to speed up whipping process

For best results when adding a sweetener, add it to cream after it has been fully whipped.

If you need lemon flavor for your iced tea, add a bit of lemon gelatin to the tea

Paper towels ( plain white ) make quick filters for your coffee pot percolator if you are out of a filter

Long slender pieces of cucumbers make good swizzle sticks for bloody marys

Put a stalk of celery in a bag of bread. it will help keep bread fresh longer

Store marshmallows in freezer for easier storage and cutting

Use soured wine for a substitute for vinegar

Cooking cranberries requires less sugar if you add 1/4 tsp baking soda to the pot

For gourmet potato salad, cut cooked potatoes with wire cheese cutter

Use leftover pickle or olive juice to season deviled eggs or in bread recipes as part of the liquid. You can freeze olives and pickles or condiments but not in glass jars

For extra light and delicate crusts for fried foods, add club soda to batter with 3/4 tsp baking soda

Crisp potato chips under broiler to restore crisp flavor

Add a little food color to cream cheese to zip up finger sandwiches

Sprinkling a little salt in frying pan helps prevent cooking spatters
When poaching fish, wrap fish in cheesecloth for easier removal

Frozen orange, lemon or tangerine shells make lovely dishes for serving ice cream or sherbets

Large green or red hollowed bell peppers make great dip containers as well as hollowed out bread.
Hollowed out eggplants/pineapples make make plant vases for flowers for buffets

Serve your vegetables for dips in a wicker basket. Line with lettuce then vegetables of choice.

Cut out individual butter pats by placing pancake size circles of softened butter on a cookie sheet.

Chill till hardens, then use cookie cutters to cut out shapes.
You can serve most desserts in wine glasses if you are running low on dessert plates

Freeze fruit punch or juice in ice cube trays. Then place cubes in your punch to keep it cold and add some extra flavor.

Make your buffet easy by wrapping place settings in napkins and then placing them in a wicker basket.

A hollowed out large melon may be used as a container to hold ice.

You can use a ice bucket for a serving container as its insulation keeps food hot or cold

Fresh bagels make unusual napkin rings!

When grinding hard cheese in a food processor, let it set at room temperature before processing. Soft cheeses such as swiss or mozzarella for processing or slicing, do best when placed in freezer 10 to 15 minutes before slicing

Citrus zest chops easier in a food processor if some sugar is added to the bowl with the zest

Make your own sweet butter for baking. Process one pint of cream in a food processor until it turns to butter.( about 5 min ). Drain off water well and dry butter in a towel. You should have 7. 0z. of butter

The best kind of pastry bag is plastic lined for easiest cleaning.

If you need more iron in your diet, cook foods in a cast iron utensil.

To start a fresh bottle of ketsup flowing, push a drinking straw to the bottom. when you remove the straw, the ketsup will come out flowing
A gravy boat makes a good spaghetti sauce server

A mixture of olive oil and vinegar will tenderize meat. Rub on and let stand several hours before cooking All meat will shrink less if cooked at lower oven temperatures

Want perfectly round patties, press down on meat with a can and trim off excess
Use dental floss to truss a turkey

If you don't care for roasting stuffing in the turkey, place 1 cup of water with 1/4 cup pineapple juice to make turkey moist and flavorful. Or add a few whole apples and peeled onions into the cavity. Prepare stuffing and place in a cheesecloth and then stuff turkey cavit and bake. Remove cheescloth with stuffing for easy serving and storage.

To tell if an avocado is ripe, stick a toothpick in the stem end. If it slides in and out with ease, its riped

If you just need a few drops of lemon juice from a lemon, just puncture it, squeeze out what you want and refrigerate lemon for later use. It still will be fresh and flavorful

Frozen grapes make good snacks

Open canned asparagus from the bottom instead of the top to prevent broken tips

Add a Tbs of vinegar or lemon juice when cooking red cabbage to prevent it from turning purple

A dash of milk when cooking cauliflower keeps it white

Lemon juice added to cooking carrots will keep them bright

Drop unshelled walnuts into the cooking water of cauliflower to prevent an unpleasant cooking odor

A dish of vinegar or an opened bottle of vinegar placed near cooking broccoli or cauliflower will decrease strong cooking odors! Indeed works!!!

Broccoli turns dark if you cook with the lid on. So don't cover and broccoli will remain nice and green

Cooking vegetables ahead of time or for salads- Rinse cooked vegetables immediately under cold water and drain well. Cooking process will stop and vegetables will remain bright

A damp paper towel rubbed on corn helps remove cornsilk from the corn.
Also a damp paper towel rubbed on cooked beets will help remove the skins without staining your hands too much!
A damp paper towel also helps rub off the skins of cooked beets without peeling.

One way to butter corn is to melt butter and use a pastry brush to brush corn with it

Use an egg slicer to cut fresh mushrooms

The best french fries are fried twice. First soak cut potatoes in cold water for 1 hour. Drain and wipe dry. Fry for a short period. Drain off grease and refry them a second time until golden brown

Looking for the ripest tomato in a batch: Place in a container of filled water, the ripe ones will sink and the unripe ones will float

You don't need an eggbeater to beat eggs. Shake in closed jar vigorously.

Dropping a few tomatoes in the pan will help tenderize a pot roast as tomatoes help break down the stringy fibers

Meatloaf won't stick to the pan if you place a few raw turkey bacon strips on the bottom of the pan.

So meatballs won't fall apart before you cook them, chill them first

Use an ice cream scoop to shape meatballs. A melon scooper makes cocktail meatballs

Soaking liver in tomato juice for a few hours helps tenderize it.

To make breaded meat chops almost greaseless: bake them on a wire cake rack in a baking pan. Any grease will drip down into the pan.

Bacon will curl less when frying if first soaked in cold water

For guaranteed tenderness soak chicken/meat in raw egg whites, fruit juices, crushed kiwi fruit , vinegrettes or wine several hours before cooking.
soaking chicken in buttermilk, cream or yoghurt also tenderizes meat.

Use a kitchen shears to cut chicken into pieces, quicker and cleaner than a knife

Chicken livers won't spatter if you prick them first with a fork before cooking

An ideal way to freeze fresh fish : put fillets in milk cartons filled with water. When defrosting the fish, use the water for houseplants. Its an ideal fertilizer

If you like halibut as white as popcorn, add lemon juice or milk to the seasoned liquid in which you cook Rub your hands with salt or vinegar to get rid of the fish smell on them

Chewing raw parsley helps get rid of bad breath from garlic or onions

If you put too much mayo in a tuna salad, and don't have more tuna to add, add fresh bread crumbs.
Extend tuna or chicken salad with a mixture of grated carrots, onions and celery.

Make you own fruit ripening bowl by using a pierced plastic bag. It will permit air movement yet retain fruit gases

To hasten ripening of green bananas, wrap them in a cloth then place in a brown bag

Remember the sweetest oranges have the biggest naval holes. Don't be mislead by color as oranges are often sprayed.

Thin skinned oranges always have more juice than thicker skinned oranges

Save liquids from all canned fruit. For an easy cake sauce, just add cornstarch and cook for an instant sauce
All canned juices freeze well and save for punches or gelatin desserts

Pineapple juice inhibits gelatin from congealing Cut fruit with stainless steel knifes. Carbon steel knives react to fruit and cause discoloration

Cut fresh lettuce with a plastic knife instead of metal to prevent discoloration

To buy the juiciest lemons picks those with smooth skins and points at each end

Thin skinned grapefruits/oranges are juicier than thick skinned ones

If you don't have vinegar or lemon juice to prevent discoloration of fruit, crush 2 vitamin C tablets in some cool water.

Fresh asparagus can be cooked to perfection in a coffee percolator. Place them upright in two inches of water. The stalks will be tender and the tips will stay crisp

If you prefer corn off the cob, shave kernels off with a shoe horn

To keep mushrooms white add, 1 tsp of lemon juice, and 1/4 lb melted butter when sauteing

Sprinkle a little flour on potatoes when frying for extra crunchiness

For extra nutrition add powdered milk to mashed potatoes and stir well

The strong odor of sauerkraut can be eliminated by adding a few celery stalks to the juice or some red wine to it before cooking

If you want to keep hard boiled egg yolks perfectly centered, stir constantly while cooking. ( good for deviled eggs)
To easily shell just cooked hard boiled eggs, drop eggs in ice water for a few minutes
For an extra fluffy omelet add a little cornstarch before cooking

Cream cheese can be frozen. If grainy when thawing, just whip smooth

Use a potato peeler to make cheese strips from bar cheese for salads

Use an egg slicer to cut mushrooms

Freeze head of cabbage solid and then defrost and fill leaves as usual for stuffed cabbage

Bake stuffed peppers and stuffed tomatoes in muffin tins to hold their shape.

Soak onion rings in cold water, drain and pat dry and use as desired . They won't get watery when baked

Add lemon juice to cooking rice to keep rice very white

Use a toothbrush to clean your waffle iron.

Store a powder puff in your flour cannister and use it to dust your cake pans

Granulated honey will become smooth if you set the jar in boiling water

For higher meringues, add a bit of baking powder to the room temperature egg whites

To flatten meat for cutlets, place meat in a ziplock bag and bang on counter top with the bottom, of a heavy pot

Cottage cheese , cream cheese and ricotta cheese may be frozen. However when thawed they are best used for fillings in casseroles, lasagna, etc since their texture will not be quite the same as was fresh.

Marshmallows may be frozen ( seal tighly ) and then can be thawed and used as desired.

Ingredient Substitution List

For this ingredient substitute
1 oz. chocolate 3 Tbsp cocoa plus 1 Tbsp butter
1 Tbsp baking powder 1 tsp baking soda plus 1 tsp cream of tartar
1 whole egg 2 yolks plus 1 Tbsp water
1 c buttermilk 1 c milk plus 1 Tbsp vinegar
1 c whole milk 1/2 c evaporated milk plus 1/2 c water
1 cup honey 1 c sugar plus 1 c water
1 c brown sugar 1 c sugar plus 1 tsp molasses
1 tsp lemon juice 1 tsp vinegar
1 c cake flour 1 c all purpose flour less 2 Tbps

INSTANT WHITE SAUCE

Here's a handy way to make instant white sauce: Blend together 1 cup soft butter and 1 cup flour. Spread evenly in an ice cube tray and chill well. Cut into 16 cubes and store in a plastic bag in the freezer. When you want to make medium-thick sauce, drop 1 cube into 1 cup of milk and heat slowly, stirring as it thickens.

TO SOFTEN BUTTER To soften butter, use a grater. You can also use a grater to soften hardened brown sugar.

HEALTHFUL TIPS When baking, replace one whole egg with either two egg whites or an egg substitute. By substituting egg white for whole eggs, you will not only be cutting the fat but will also be eliminating 300 mg of cholesterol in each egg.

When making muffins, substitute an equal amount of unsweetened applesauce for some of the oil or fat. When making candy, cookies or other treats that call for nuts, try substituting puffed rice. It's cheaper and just as "nutty".

OTHER KITCHEN TIPS If you run out of Baking Powder mix 2 teaspoons cream of tartar, 1 teaspoon baking soda, and 1/2 teaspoon salt and use for every cup of flour in a recipe. You should use this right away since it won't be effective for more than a day or two.

If your recipe calls for buttermilk or sour milk and you don't have any on hand, you can add 1/4 teaspoon baking soda to each 1/2 cup milk in the recipe.

When rolling out cookie dough, rather than sprinkling your work area with flour, sprinkle with powdered sugar. This will prevent the dough from becomeing too tough as it normally does with too much flour.

Here's a great recipe for cake that is stale. Cut the stale bake in cubes. Sprinkle on 1 Tablespoon run for each cup of cake. Mix into freshly made vanilla pudding. Chill for an hour or so and serve with whipped cream. Not only is this delicious - but your company won't know it was made with stale cake!

If you run out of sour cream for cooking purposes, add 1 tablespoon mild vinegar or lemon juice to 1 cup evaporated milk.

If you run out of sour cream for topping purposes, put cottage cheese in the blender, add sugar to taste, and if it still doesn't taste right add a drop or two of vanilla extract.

To perk up a pot of stew add 4 tablespoons of sherry and stir well just before serving.

If your stew has cooked too long and is falling apart, serve it over cooked rice or noodles and it will look like a great sauce!

If your stew is too thin add a handful of mashed potato flakes and stir well.

Omlettes tips
Always use the same proportions: 2 large eggs to 2 tablespoons water. Water produces a lighter, fluffier omelet than milk does; it also makes the eggs more fluid and speeds up cooking.
Whisk eggs and water with your choice of seasonings (salt and pepper, Tabasco or Worcestershire sauce, curry powder, even soy sauce if you're filling an omelet with leftover Chinese food, .
Use a nonstick 10-inch skillet, nothing smaller; the eggs will cook faster and the omelet will look larger. .
Preheat the pan over medium-high heat, then add 1 tablespoon margarine or butter or 1 teaspoon olive or vegetable oil. The pan should be so hot that the butter or margarine melts immediately. .
The instant the egg mixture hits the skillet (and begins to set at edges), use an inverted pancake turner to carefully push cooked portion at edges toward center of pan, constantly tilting pan so raw egg fills any spaces. .
As soon as the egg stops flowing, spoon filling onto half of the omelet (don't worry if egg mixture still looks moist, it continues cooking after folding). .
With pancake turner, fold omelet in half, and place upside-down on plate. Serve with a side of hash browns or a green salad

By unknown:Need to clean up your glass topped outdoor furniture? Rub in a little lemon juice (can be from a bottle) Dry with paper towels and make it shine by rubbing with a newspaper! If you have any scratches on the glass top, try rubbing in some toothepaste and this should remove the scratches

Cleaning Pots and Pans Do you have pans and pots with stubborn burnt on food? Sprinkle baking soda and add a little water. Let sit for about 1/2 hour. Now, wash with dishwashing liquid. Makes it much easier to clean!

Ammonia Clean Up For quick and easy cleanups, get a spray bottle and fill 1/2 with water and 1/2 with ammonia. Why pay a fortune for other cleaners, when this works just as well (and kills germs) I use this for cleaning counters, and wiping down appliances. Spray on, wipe off! Also good for cleaning wastebaskets and garbage cans.

By unknown:Do I need to use a wok for deep-frying? No. Some people feel safer sticking with a deep-fat fryer. If you do use a wok make sure it is securely in place - flat-bottomed woks work best for electric ranges; round bottomed for gas stoves. (Make sure the round bottomed wok is securely in place in the wok stand). What is a good temperature for deep-frying? It depends on the recipe, but most suggest you heat the oil to somewhere between 350 degrees and 375 degrees Fahrenheit. (Partly this depends on the size of the food being cooked, as larger items can be deep-fried at a lower temperature). Remember, though, the temperature will drop slightly when you put in the food.

What type of oil should I use for deep-frying? Peanut oil is good, as are other vegetable oils. One of the advantages of peanut oil is that it does not burn easily even at high temperatures. Sesame oil, on the other hand, is not used for frying as it has a low smoking point.

How much oil should I add? Most recipes will call for a specific amount of oil, although some just list "oil for deep-frying," under the ingredients, while others give a range such as 2 to 4 cups. How much oil to add depends on the item being deep-fried. Basically, you need enough to make sure that it is submerged completely. To be safe, however, it's important to leave several inches clear at the top of the wok, as the oil level will rise when the food is dropped in. However, it takes a bit of practice to know just when the oil reaches the right temperature. Add to that the fact that you need to adjust for a drop in temperature when placing the food in the wok, and the novice is better off relying on a thermometer.

How can I reduce splattering? The food you are going to deep-fry should be at room temperature. This reduces the drop in the temperature of the oil when you put it in, lessening the chance of splattering. You might want to dry the food with a paper towel. If the food to be deep-fried is in a sauce, use a slotted spoon to let it drain before adding it to the wok. Similarly, if the food is batter-coated, make sure all the excess batter has dripped off before placing it in the hot oil.

You can reuse cooking oil? Yes, you can reuse cooked oil up to five times (five may be stretching it a bit). Just let the oil cool, strain it and store in the refrigerator. When the oil is no longer usable the color will darken and it may start to smell rancid. Oil smoking at normal temperatures is another sign that it has gone bad.

How can I reduce the amount of fat? First, by keeping the temperature up. Food cooked at too low a temperature will be greasy. Secondly, by not overcrowding the wok, which again lowers the temperature, leading to greasy food. Finally, using a wok actually helps - the unique shape of the wok means that you actually use less oil to cook with than is the case with a deep-fat fryer.

By unknown:Keep your cut flowers longer! Want to keep your cut flowers for a longer period of time? Take 2 tablespoons of white vinegar and 2 tablespoons of sugar and mix in a quart of water. Use this water in your flower vase. It should extend the life of your flowers for a few days longer! And, before you place the flowers in the vase, be sure to cut each stem at the bottom at an angle.

Kitchen uses for Baking Soda: Did you burn your favorite pan? Put 1/2 cup of baking soda in the pan and fill it 1/2 full with water. Set the pan on the stove, and let boil, till the burnt particles float to the top!

Do you have coffee, tea or cigarette burns on your china and ceramic ware? Just rub the stained sections with a damp cloth that has been dipped in baking soda!

Have stuck food on your casserole dishes? Fill with boiling water and add 3 tablespoons of baking soda or salt and let sit for an hour.

Have a drain in your sink that is clogged? Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda over the drain, and then pour a cup of vinegar over it. Let set for a minute till it foams, then run your hot water or pour boiling water down the drain! You may need to repeat the process. Works in most simple clogs.

Have silver? Polish it to a shine with a soft cloth and some dampened baking soda placed on the cloth.

Counters or stove have stuck on grease splatters or dried food? Sprinkle baking soda on the areas, and then rub with a wet sponge. Rinse with clean sponge.

Do-It-Yourself Peanut Butter Recipe By :unknown Serving Size : 8 Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method:
1 cup Freshly roasted peanuts Peanut oil 1/2 teaspoon Salt In the container of a blender put the peanuts and 1-1/2 tablespoons peanut oil. Blend the mixture until it is smooth, adding another 1-1/2 tablespoons oil gradually, or enough to make the peanut butter the proper consistency. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt if the peanuts are unsalted.

Holiday Spice Potpourri Recipe By : unknown Serving Size : 6

Ingredient -- Preparation Method
4 Oranges 1/2 cup Whole cloves 1/2 cup Whole allspice 10 Cinnamon Sticks -- broken 10 Bay leaves -- crumbled 8 ounces Decorated jelly jars with -- bands & lids using a vegetable peeler, peel fruit carefully, removing only the peel, not any of the white pith. cut or tear into one inch pieces. spread peel on paper towel lined pan. place in preheated oven to 175, or set oven to WARM. dry in oven for 1 1/2 hours, tossing occasionally. Peels should be leathery and/or slightly crunchy. spread peels on dry paper towels and let air dry for 24 hours. combine with remaining ingredients. fill jars with mixture, place lids on and screw bands on tightly. yield: 3 or 4 half pint jars. to use: remove lid and leave band on for decoration to fragrance a room. OR put one Tblsp into a jar and fill jar with boiling water to release fragrance.

Cat home made (Sardines and Rice) Recipe By : unknown:

Ingredient -- Preparation Method:
2 Flat cans of sardines in oil 2/3 cup Cooked rice 1 tablespoon Liver 1/4 cup Parsey -- chopped Combine all ingredients. Stir with a wooden spoon to break up sardines into bite-sized pieces.

Store unused portion in refrigerator, tightly covered. 2 - 3 servings.

Oven Cleaner Recipe By : unknown

Ingredient -- Preparation Method: 1 cup Ammonia 2 cups Boiling water 1/2 cup Baking soda 1 cup White vinegar Pre-heat oven to 200 degrees. Leave oven on for 15 minutes; turn off and leave the door closed. Fill a shallow baking pan with ammonia and place on the top shelf of your oven. fill another pan with 2 cups boiling water and place on the bottom shelf. Close oven and leave pans in for at least 2 hours or overnight. Remove ammonia and make a past of ammonia, baking soda and vinegar. Spread paste on oven surfaces, leave on for 15 minutes, and then scrub off with a sponge or steel wool. Note: Clean up spills as they happen and you won't have to do this job very often.

No Bake" Cookie Crumble Cheesecake Recipe By : unknown Cheesecakes No Bake

Ingredient -- Preparation Method 1 Env Gelatin -- plain 1/2 C Mini-Chocolate Chips 1/4 C Cold Milk 1 Graham Cracker Pie Crust, 9 Inch 1 C Milk -- heated to boiling 2 8-Oz Pkgs Cream Cheese 1 C Cookie Crumbs 1/2 C Sugar 1 tsp Vanilla Extract In blender, sprinkle gelatine over cold milk; let stand 2 min. Add hot milk and process at low until dissolved, about 2 min. Add cream cheese, sugar and vanilla and process until blended. Arrange chocolate in bottom of crust. Pour in gelatine mixture; sprinkle with crushed cookies. Chill until firm, about 2 hrs

15 Min Lemon Cheesecake Recipe By : unknown

Ingredient -- -----CRUST----- 1/3 cup Powdered sugar 1/2 cup Butter/oleo -- melted 1 1/2 cups Graham cracker crumbs -----FILLING----- 8 ounces Cream cheese 1 package Instant lemon pudding 2 cups Milk Mix sugar; crumbs, and oleo. Bake as for crumb crust. Mix cream cheese until smooth. Gradually blend in 1/2 cup milk until smooth and creamy. Add remaining milk and pudding mix. Beat slowly with egg beater for 1 minute. Do not overbeat. Pour into cooled crust. Chill

Spring Cleaning

Spring cleaning Check List
Have a family garage clean-out. The best day for this is a Saturday.
Schedule it in advance so the whole crew knows about and doesn't plan anything for that day. Make a sign and put it on your refrigerator. Don't forget to delegate jobs- this way everyone knows what is expected of them, knows what to do and can't poop out by saying they have nothing to do!
During the garage clean out- create efficient storage for sporting goods, camping equipment, recreational vehicles, and garden tools. Gather up sporting equipment ( swimming goggles, skateboards, tennis rackets etc...) and put them in easy to reach places.
Inspect, clean and repair outdoor furniture. You can easily clean non-metal patio furniture with a mixture of white vinegar and water- a half cup of vinegar for every gallon of warm water. Don't forget to use scrub brushes and sponges.
Look carefully at your house's exterior and grounds.
Pay particular attention to the gutters, paint job and potential areas where little woodland creatures (like squirrels and other bugs like hornets) can make their homes in your home.
Make a list of any needed seasonal maintenance. Inspect the roof for winter damage: leaks, missing or broken shingles or tiles. Arrange for any needed repairs early; roofing contractors can be hard to find during summer's construction season.
Use a sunny Saturday to scrape, prime and paint peeling spots on trim or woodwork. You'll protect wood against summer's heat and moisture--and prevent a more difficult paint job come fall. Clear away any remaining dead foliage, branches, and weeds from beds and lawn.
Begin major Spring landscaping projects. Spring's the time to put in shrubs and trees, but check with your local extension office for specific planting recommendations for your area.

Clothes
with the changing seasons you'll wan to pack away the heavy winter clothes to make room for the lighter spring and summer wear. Hold a family wardrobe check as you bring out warm-weather clothing. Sort winter clothing for discards and donations before you store.

Have a garage sale!
You might want to ask a few neighbors that are bear to you, to join in. This helps in advertising costs and parking. Have a little bake sale the kids can run while folks browse. By decluttering your house and garage you can turn cash to trash.
Wash windows inside and out. Take down screens and exam them for any holes that may need repairing .
While at the window area, check drapes and window treatments. Vacuum any dust; send dirtier drapes to the cleaners. Inspect your cooling and heating systems.
Clean and change the air filters. Not only are clean filters more efficient for heat and cooling they help prevent allergens from getting into the air. The filters should be checked every 6 weeks.
By examining your cooling system early in spring you'll be able to get service folks to your house faster and get the jump on the heat. When the weather warms, deactivate heat system humidifiers. Check the system manual for instructions on how to power down for the summer. Don't forget to drain sediment from hot water heaters.

Equivalent Measurements

It shows Equivalent Measurements that you may need when cooking.

Tips to remember

Correct measuring is essential to good successful cooking! Always measure dry ingredients level!

This measurement equals this and equals this
3 teaspoons 1 Tablespoon 1/2 ounce
2 Tablespoons 1/8 cup 1 ounce
4 Tablespoons 1/4 cup 2 ounces
5 1/3 Tablespoons 1/3 cup 2 2/3 ounce
8 Tablespoons 1/2 cup 4 ounces
12 Tablespoons 3/4 cup 6 ounces
16 Tablespoons 1 cup 8 ounces
2 cups 1 pint 16 ounces
4 cups 1 quart 32 ounces
4 quarts 1 gallon 64 ounces