Category Archives: Tips

Polishing silver

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Wash the tarnished items, then place on aluminum foil in the bottom of a pot (kettle). Combine 1/4 cup baking soda, 3 teaspoons salt (table salt is fine) and 1 quart of boiling water. Pour over tarnished items in the kettle and turn items if necessary to clean all surfaces. As soon as the tarnish is gone, remove and rinse thoroughly and dry with a soft, clean cloth.

I found this to be the best method I have ever used. This solution removed tarnish that sliver cleaner did not remove and it was done in seconds with not mess like a tooth brush and sliver cleaner produces. I used it on silver chamber stick bases and on jewelry and they looked like new when I was done.

There are over a year's entries on this web site. Be sure to scroll back through to the beginning for all the recipes and tips.

I am available to teach cooking or food related subjects in your home or give presentations or classes for your organizations or groups. Contact me at the following e-mail address:
creativecook@creativecookingbylydia.com.

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Window cleaning tips

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An ecomonical window cleaner that does not smell and is very effective, yet inexpensive is window washer fluid that is used in cars. Purchashed by the gallon, it is very low in price and since it cleans the oil, etc. on car windshields, it will surely clean your windows of your home. I put it in an inexpensive spray bottle and keep it handy for mirrors, etc. too.

Wipe windows up-down on the inside and crosswise on the outside so you can see where the streaks are.

People have used newspaper to wash windows for years, but I find that it only gets you and everything else black. An old terry bar rag for cleaning and a section of an old cotton bed sheet is wonderful for drying windows.

There is over a year's entries on this web site. Be sure to scroll back through to the beginning for all the recipes and tips.

I am available to teach cooking or food related subjects in your home or give presentations or classes for your organizations or groups. Contact me at the following e-mail address:
creativecook@creativecookingbylydia.com.

Cooking classes currently scheduled can be viewed by clicking on the “Calendar” icon.

Interactive questions, comments, suggestions, etc. can also be posted on this website.

Preparing squash for the freezer

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Wash squash in mild bleach solution and rinse. Cut or break off stem if it is still on the squash.

Cut the squash open lengthwise and remove seeds and any stringy substance. Place face side down in microwave baking pan (I use a 7×11-inch or 9×13-inch baking pan). Cover with plastic wrap and microwave about 15 to 20 minutes or until tender. Time will vary with various powers of microwave ovens and amount of squash in the pan.

Carefully remove plastic wrap (wait 1-2 minutes until the wrap deflates so you don't get scalded with the steam). Turn the squash face up and scoop out with a spoon. Squash can now be pureed through a food mill, mashed or served as desired.

Tip: if any squash, etc. is present in the pan, wash before putting in the next batch so it doesn't bake down and make cleaning difficult.

The squash can now be subsituted for pumpkin in many recipes or added to recipes to keep the product moist.

There is over a year's entries on this web site. Be sure to scroll back through to the beginning for all the recipes and tips.

I am available to teach cooking or food related subjects in your home or give presentations or classes for your organizations or groups. Contact me at the following e-mail address:
creativecook@creativecookingbylydia.com.

Cooking classes currently scheduled can be viewed by clicking on the “Calendar” icon.

Interactive questions, comments, suggestions, etc. can also be posted on this website.

Relief for Sticky Sliding Doors

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Use your furniture spray wax like Pledge to lubricate the tracks (ridges that the patio, shower, windows, etc. slide in). Spray and slide the door back and forth several times to coat all affected surfaces and make a smooth sliding door without oil residue to clean up or attract dirt. This also leaves a clean scent initially.

There is over a year's entries on this web site. Be sure to scroll back through to the beginning for all the recipes and tips.

I am available to teach cooking or food related subjects in your home or give presentations or classes for your organizations or groups. Contact me at the following e-mail address:
creativecook@creativecookingbylydia.com.

Cooking classes currently scheduled can be viewed by clicking on the “Calendar” icon.

Interactive questions, comments, suggestions, etc. can also be posted on this website.

Advice on Clams

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Clams should be closed and smell like the ocean: fresh, briny, salty; never foul or fishy! As soon as you get home, float them in cool water with a pinch of all-purpose flour to remove the sand and dirt inside the clams. After about five minutes, rinse and scrub the clam shells with a soft brush.

To help with opening the shell, put in the freezer about 15 minutes before trying to open the shell. Insert a small paring knife (sharp edge) into the side of the chilled clam opposite the hinge side. Now cut along the inside of the top shell to detach the clam. The clam can now be served in the shell or scrape it from the shell for serving.

There is over a year's entries on this web site. Be sure to scroll back through to the beginning for all the recipes and tips.

I am available to teach cooking or food related subjects in your home or give presentations or classes for your organizations or groups. Contact me at the following e-mail address:
creativecook@creativecookingbylydia.com.

Cooking classes currently scheduled can be viewed by clicking on the “Calendar” icon.

Interactive questions, comments, suggestions, etc. can also be posted on this website.

Name tag pinning

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When you're attending a convention or business meeting, pin your name tag on the right side of your shirt or jacket. Why? When people shake hands, their eyes are initially focused on the other person's right shoulder.

There is over a year's entries on this web site. Be sure to scroll back through to the beginning for all the recipes and tips.

I am available to teach cooking or food related subjects in your home or give presentations or classes for your organizations or groups. Contact me at the following e-mail address:
creativecook@creativecookingbylydia.com.

Cooking classes currently scheduled can be viewed by clicking on the “Calendar” icon.

Interactive questions, comments, suggestions, etc. can also be posted on this website.

Dispel cooking odors

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Adding a few drops of vinegar to cooking water will reduce the unpleasant oders given off by cabbage and cauliflower.
There is over a year's entries on this web site. Be sure to scroll back through to the beginning for all the recipes and tips.

I am available to teach cooking or food related subjects in your home or give presentations or classes for your organizations or groups. Contact me at the following e-mail address:
creativecook@creativecookingbylydia.com.

Cooking classes currently scheduled can be viewed by clicking on the “Calendar” icon.

Interactive questions, comments, suggestions, etc. can also be posted on this website.

Laundry lint tip

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To remove lint from laundry, put a yard of nylon netting (available in the fabric department of stores) in the dryer with the wet clothes. Use white for light colored fabrics, and dark for brown, blacks and navy clothes.

There is over a year's entries on this web site. Be sure to scroll back through to the beginning for all the recipes and tips.

I am available to teach cooking or food related subjects in your home or give presentations or classes for your organizations or groups. Contact me at the following e-mail address:
creativecook@creativecookingbylydia.com.

Cooking classes currently scheduled can be viewed by clicking on the “Calendar” icon.

Interactive questions, comments, suggestions, etc. can also be posted on this website.

Freezing Sweet Corn

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Frozen Sweet Corn

8 cups Raw Corn (off of the cobs and rinse corn)
1/4 lb. Butter
1 Tablespoon Salt
2 Tbl. to 1/4 cup Granulated sugar (optional)
1 cup Water
Dash Pepper

Cut corn off of the cobs and rinse and measure to make 8 cups. (Easiest way is to put the pointed end of the cob on the tube of a tube cake pan that has been set in a large baking pan and cut it off with an electric knife.) Put all ingredients into a saucepan and simmer for 4 minutes (start timing after the corn starts to simmer [simmer means that small bubbles form around the edge of the kettle].)

Cool and put in freezer cartons. Label and freeze. The cooking will be finished when it is prepared for a meal.

This is a very tasty recipe and the corn tastes like fresh when served. I used the sugar in the recipe.

There is over a year's entries on this web site. Be sure to scroll back through to the beginning for all the recipes and tips.

I am available to teach cooking or food related subjects in your home or give presentations or classes for your organizations or groups. Contact me at the following e-mail address:
creativecook@creativecookingbylydia.com.

Cooking classes currently scheduled can be viewed by clicking on the “Calendar” icon.

Interactive questions, comments, suggestions, etc. can also be posted on this website.

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Medicine bottle labels

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Ask the doctor how to label your bottles so you know what the medicine was for in the future if you would decide to use the remainder at another time. Some antibiotics react only with urine, etc. Some pain pills are for nerve ending pain, etc. Some cannot be used with other medicines or certain foods.

Use a small piece of white tape or plain label and write on it what it is for and and any other important details. When attaching the label be sure to not cover dates or any other information that came on the bottle when you got it from the pharmacy.

It is often a good idea to save empty bottles with the labels so you have reference in the future if your probelm or a similar problem would occur. You can tell a new doctor (when yours is not on duty) what you have used successfully in the past and had no bad reactions.

Empty, clean bottles with the labels removed are great for storing small nails, screws, etc. or buttons in them. Needles and pins also are safely kept in small bottles. Some have good seals on them and can be used to take small amounts of lotions or shampoos, etc. for traveling or in your purse or tote. Rolls of postage stamps can also be put in the bottles for traveling or in your desk. Small pieces of toys and game pieces are also stored easily in them.

There is over a year's entries on this web site. Be sure to scroll back through to the beginning for all the recipes and tips.

I am available to teach cooking or food related subjects in your home or give presentations or classes for your organizations or groups. Contact me at the following e-mail address:
creativecook@creativecookingbylydia.com.

Cooking classes currently scheduled can be viewed by clicking on the “Calendar” icon.

Interactive questions, comments, suggestions, etc. can also be posted on this website.