Category Archives: Tips

Furniture Polish

To make your own furniture polish, mix 2 parts vegetable oil or olive oil and 1 part lemon juice. Apply and polish wood furniture with a soft cloth. This leaves furniture looking and smelling good.

This can be applied with a cloth or use a spray bottle. Using products from your kitchen, saves aerosal pollutants in the air, etc. and saves money. This is also safe when used around children.

For class information, click on the “Calendar” icon and contact me for addtional information at creativecook@creativecookingbylydia.com

Window washing solution

When cleaning the windows and mirrors of your home, etc. use the window washer fluid (as used in your vehicle) in a spray bottle. This is an inexpensive cleaner that is very effective (after all it cuts road and bug dirt and oil) and saves one more bottle of cleaner on your shelf. The window washer fluid is not strong odored as most household cleaners are, so you do not need to air out your rooms after cleaning your windows.

Creative Cooking
By
Lydia Critchley
creativecook@creativecookingbylydia

For my cooking class schedule, click on the calendar icon and contact me at the above email address or leave a message for additional details.

Mashed potato tips

Heat the milk and butter before adding to mashed potatoes for fluffy potatoes.

Rinse potatoes before allowing to stand, if you intend to prepare ahead for cooking later. They will not turn dark if rinsed, keep immersed in cold water, also lemon juice can be added to maintain the white color. The lemon flavor will not be noticed, since you will only use a little lemon juice.

If using new potatoes, cook in hot water, if using old potatoes, start cooking in cold water.

Add egg whites, when mashing potatoes, that have been slightly beaten for lighter potoatoes.

Add a pinch of baking powder with the milk and margarine or butter to the potatoes when whipping them to keep them light.

To reduce calories, use chicken broth or skim milk instead of butter and whole milk in whipped potatoes.

For the single person, a ricer makes quick mashed potatoes.

For a tasty addition, I like to whip in sour cream and chopped chives or sour cream that has chives already in it.

For class information, click on the “Calendar” link. You can reach me with questions at the email address below.

Creative Cooking
By
Lydia Critchley
creativecook@creativecookingbylydia.com

Ball point pen ink marks on clothing

Ball point ink can be easily removed from clothing by applying rubbing alcohol (from your medicine cabinet) to the ink area before placing in the washing machine, etc.

Some people like to use hair spray, but then you might have to also remove the chemicals and perfumes from the hair spray application. After using the hair spray (if that is your choice of methods) allow it to dry and brush lightly with a solution of water and vinegar. I find the alcohol method is the easiest and fastest.

Creative Cooking
By
Lydia Critchley
creativecook@creativecookingbylydia.com