Patsou

Patricia G. Ducray

ville : Maurice
Inscrite le 15 novembre 2013

  1. Trucs et astuces
    Coffee Stains
    Note: Works for stains up to a day old.
    Supplies:
    White vinegar
    Baking soda
    Towel
    Soft toothbrush
    Instructions:
    1. Soak a towel in white vinegar, and use it to gently blot the stain using a dabbing motion (do not rub).
    2. If the stain has been set for a while, cover it with baking soda, then gently brush with a toothbrush.
    3. Launder in cold water.

    Wine Stains
    Note: Works for stains up to a day old.
    Supplies:
    White vinegar
    Baking soda
    Soft toothbrush
    Instructions:
    1. Soak the stain in white vinegar for at least 15 minutes.
    2. Dab the stain with a clean towel.
    3. Immediately cover in baking soda.
    4. Soak a toothbrush in white vinegar, and gently brush the stain to work in the baking soda.
    5. Launder in cold water.

    Oil Stains
    Note: Works for stains up to 2 days old.
    Supplies:
    Baking soda
    Grease-fighting dish soap
    White vinegar
    Soft toothbrush
    Instructions:
    1. Cover the stained area with baking soda, and press it into the stain. Let the baking soda sit for at least 45 minutes. For older oil stains, increase time as necessary (up to 2 hours).
    2. Drizzle dish soap over the baking soda.
    3. Take a toothbrush soaked in white vinegar, and use it to gently work the baking soda and dish soap into the stain.
    4. Launder in cold water.

    Grass Stains
    Note: Works for stains up to a day old. For best results, treat as quickly as possible.
    Supplies:
    Rubbing alcohol
    Laundry detergent
    Baking soda
    Towel
    Soft toothbrush
    Instructions:
    1. Using a towel, gently dab the stain with rubbing alcohol until most of the stain clears up.
    2. Cover the stain with laundry detergent and baking soda, and gently scrub with a toothbrush.
    3. Launder in cold water.

    Date 08 décembre 2016
  2. Spill-Proof Ice Cube Tray
    The removable silicone cover prevents leakage and lets you store it on its side. It’s the perfect space-saver because our freezer is always full and there’s never enough flat space to put a regular tray.
    Trucs et astucesTrucs et astuces

    Date 20 juillet 2016
  3. Trucs et astuces
    Julienne Peeler
    It juliennes all of your favorite fruits and veggies, and makes it so easy to quickly make matchsticks

    Date 20 juillet 2016
  4. Can Strainer
    Snap it over a can and turn it upside down to quickly get all the excess liquid out. Flip it over and it’s the perfect size for straining a can of tuna too.
    Trucs et astucesTrucs et astuces

    Date 20 juillet 2016
  5. Trucs et astuces
    Microplane Zester & Grater
    You can use it on everything from perfect citrus zest, to fresh garlic or nutmeg, to finely-grated Parmesan.

    Date 20 juillet 2016
  6. Trucs et astuces
    Bendable Cutting Boards
    Just cut everything up, fold it in half, and add everything directly to a pot or bowl.

    Date 20 juillet 2016
  7. Trucs et astuces
    3-in-1 Avocado Slicer
    It easily cuts through the skin, pits the avocado, and slices it.

    Date 20 juillet 2016
  8. Trucs et astuces
    Quel collier pour quel décolleté?

    1- Avec un col roulé, on porte un collier long, un sautoir, une chaine longue.

    2- Avec un col rond, on porte un collier court ou un faux col.

    3- Avec un col danseuse, on porte un collier court mais avec des pendentifs ou des grosses perles, pour avoir du volume.

    4- Avec un top sans bretelles ou un bustier, on porte un collier court et plat, multi-rangs pour habiller le décolleté.

    5- Avec un col carré, on porte un collier également carré ou rectangle, anguleux, géométrique.

    6- Avec un col asymétrique, on porte un collier assez volumineux et plus long au centre que sur les côtés.

    7- Avec un col V profond, on porte un collier long et fin. Sa longueur dépend de la profondeur du décolleté.

    8- Avec un col V classique, on porte un collier plus épais mais avec une forme de V lui aussi.

    9- Avec un col court et haut, on porte un collier court lui aussi et fin, discret.

    10- Avec un col bateau, large sur les épaules, on porte un long collier pas trop fin, comme un sautoir en perles.

    11- Avec un col déja très travaillé, comme un col bénitier ou drapé, pas besoin de rajouter un collier. Préférez des boucles d'oreilles.

    12- Avec un col en forme de coeur, on porte un collier avec des formes rondes ou courbes également.

    Date 13 juin 2016
  9. Trucs et astuces
    Table manners

    Date 23 juillet 2015
  10. Trucs et astuces
    Reuse ice cream boxes to organize drawers

    Date 23 juillet 2015
  11. Toothpaste uses
    1. CDs
    CDs that no longer work can be cleaned with toothpaste. Just a smidgeon and they are spotless and will play without skipping again.
    2. Deodorize Reusable Bottles
    Whether it is a baby bottle or a well used coffee thermos, reusable bottles can have a lingering scent. Clean them out with a bottle brush and toothpaste and rinse thoroughly and the smell will be gone. Simply fill thermos with some lukewarm water and squirt some toothpaste inside, screw closed and shake.
    3. Dirty hands
    If you just finished chopping onions or garlic and your hands stink, grab the toothpaste and rub it in the way you would regular hand soap. Make sure to moisturize afterwards, because it can have a drying effect.
    4. Nail polish stains
    Scrub your nails with a whitening toothpaste to get rid of yellowy stains from dark polishes. Use a nail brush and scrub a generous amount of toothpaste for best results.
    5. Rug stains
    Stains on your rug are a thing of the past. Toothpaste holds its ground and enforces its cleanliness!
    6. Ballerinas
    In a flash, these ballerinas will look just like new. And the smell is gone thanks to the deodorizing effect!
    7. Dirty phone screen
    And cell phones look like new when cleaned with some toothpaste.
    8. Calcified irons
    Even the iron will be spick and span after some polishing with toothpaste.
    9. Pimples
    Pimples also disappear almost on their own under toothpaste overnight.
    10. Mosquito or bug bites
    Toothpaste erases these little bumps that arise from mosquito bites. And all that overnight. Or if you accidentally burnt yourself or got bitten by a bug, rub some toothpaste onto the area and leave it dry. Wash off and reapply for particularly painful spots.
    11. Stains from hair dye
    You’ll be astonished at how toothpaste removes it without any problems.
    12. Ink stains on your clothes or leather
    No problem! Simply apply some toothpaste, let it dry and wash the next day. If you got some pen marks on your leather seats, just rub a pea-size dot of toothpaste onto the mark and let it dry. Then take a damp cloth and the stain should be substantially reduced, if not gone entirely. It works on your leather jacket or purse too!
    13. Water spots on the table
    Toothpaste removes even water spots on wood caused by wet glasses. Scrub lightly and the stains should disappear.
    14. Foggy ski or swimming goggles
    If you clean your ski or swimming goggles with some toothpaste on the inside, it creates a razor-thin film that prevents them from fogging up again.
    15. Cleaning your shoes
    After walking through the mud with your sneakers or leather boots, all you really need is just a little squirt out of the tube! Restore the rubber midsoles to their original whiteness by using a dab of toothpaste and a damp cloth to rub away the stains.
    16. Piano keys that have seen better days.
    Just a bit of toothpaste is enough to carefully clean the keys of a piano. Just make sure its the non-abrasive type, or you could damage the keys.
    17. Car lights
    Even your car lights require some attention every now and again. Simply apply some toothpaste to a wet sponge and the dirt will disappear almost on its own.
    18. Tarnished silver
    When silver gets tarnished, you don’t have to go buy anything! All you have to do is grab some toothpaste from the bathroom cabinet. Whether it is jewelry, ornaments or utensils, a tartar controlling toothpaste can revive tarnished silver. Polish with the toothpaste and use a second, clean cloth to wash off all the residue.
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    Date 31 mai 2015
  12. Trucs et astuces
    HOW COOL IS THIS!!

    Instead of using Helium gas to fill the balloons you could use a mix of vinegar with baking soda.

    You need:
    1 plastic bottle
    Balloons
    1 teaspoon of baking soda
    3 tablespoon of vinegar

    How to make it:
    Add the baking soda in a balloon using a small funnel. Add vinegar in the bottle. Place the balloon on the bottle and then lift up the balloon letting the powder reach the vinegar. You will see some bubbles forming and the release of dioxide carbon gas.

    Vinegar is acid and when it finds the baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), the CO2 is formed.

    Date 24 mai 2015
  13. Trucs et astuces
    72 Uses For Common Natural Products That Save Money & Avoid Toxins

    Lemon Juice: Great for detox, digestion, sore throats, immunity, whitens clothes, cleans glass, highlights hair, can reduce wrinkles, skinks pores and can disinfect!

    Coconut Oil: Can polish wood, used as wd-40, lip gloss, deodorant, prevents wrinkles, improves thyroid function and can reduce migraines, just to mention a few.

    Apple Cider Vinegar: Repels fleas, deodorizes laundry, can soothe a sunburn, washes hair, treats acne, great for detox, can help control blood pressure, can cure yeast infections, prevent colds and much much more!

    White Vinegar: Can polish silver, clean windows, unclog drains, cure an upset stomach, soothe a bee sting, used as a natural conditioner etc…

    Baking Soda: Puts out fires, helpful for cleaning toilets or ovens, can be used in deodorants and toothpaste, heals diaper rash, treats heartburn just to name a few.

    Castile Soap (Olive oil based soap): All-purpose cleaner, dish soap, can mop floors with it, body wash, pet shampoo, toothpaste, treats eczema, psoriasis, acne and other skin problems.

    Castor Oil: Keeps away rodents, helps plant health, strengthen eyelashes, heals cracked heels, softens cuticles, treats dry/itchy skin, can be used as a laxative, helps induce labor and can even reduce menstrual cramping.

    Date 22 avril 2015
  14. The Magic Potion That Dissolves Pounds Overnight!
    What would you say if I told you, you could burn a ton of calories just by sitting on your bum? Yes, that’s right all you have to do is drink this beverage!
    These two simple ingredients help to speed up the metabolism. Cinnamon has a regulatory effect on blood sugar levels, and it simultaneously increases insulin levels in the body. The cinnamon helps to imitate the biological activity of insulin and helps to metabolize the glucose.

    Honey naturally raises our energy levels and helps suppress psychological food cravings helping us to lose those few extra pounds. Honey also helps ease the digestive process and speed up the metabolism of fats and cholesterol.

    Add Two Tablespoons of honey and one and one-half teaspoon of cinnamon into 8 ounces of warm water. You can up the dosage if you prefer, but keep the ratio the same and use at least that amount of each.

    Drink half of this beverage in the morning upon waking, and half in the evening right before going to bed.

    Date 21 avril 2015
  15. Trucs et astuces
    Amazing Uses for WD-40
    1. Separate stuck glassware
    What can you do when you reach for a drinking glass and get two locked together, one stuck tightly inside the other? You don’t want to risk breaking one or both by trying to pull them apart. Stuck glasses will separate with ease if you squirt some WD-40 on them, wait a few seconds for it to work its way between the glasses, and then gently pull the glasses apart. Remember to wash the glasses thoroughly before you use them.
    2. Get off that stuck ring
    When pulling and tugging can’t get that ring off your finger, reach for the WD-40. A short burst of WD-40 will get the ring to slide right off. Remember to wash your hands after spraying them with WD-40.
    3. Exterminate roaches and repel insects
    Don’t let cockroaches, insects, or spiders get the upper hand in your home. • Keep a can of WD-40 handy, and when you see a roach, spray a small amount directly on it for an instant kill. • To keep insects and spiders out of your home, spray WD-40 on windowsills and frames, screens, and door frames. Be careful not to inhale the fumes when you spray and do not do this at all if you have babies or small children at home.
    4. Remove chewing gum from hair
    It’s one of an adult’s worst nightmares: chewing gum tangled in a child’s hair. You don’t have to panic or run for the scissors. Simply spray the gummed-up hair with WD-40, and the gum will comb out with ease. Make sure you are in a well-ventilated area when you spray and take care to avoid contact with the child’s eyes.
    5. Remove tough scuff marks
    Those tough black scuff marks on your kitchen floor won’t be so tough anymore if you spray them with WD-40. Use WD-40 to help remove tar and scuff marks on all your hard-surfaced floors. It won’t harm the surface, and you won’t have to scrub nearly as much. Remember to open the windows if you are cleaning a lot of marks.
    6. Wipe away tea stains
    To remove tea stains from countertops, spray a little WD-40 on a sponge or damp cloth and wipe the stain away.
    7. Clean toilet bowls
    You don’t need a bald genie or a specialized product to clean ugly gunk and lime stains from your toilet bowl. Use WD-40 instead: Spray it into the bowl for a couple of seconds and swish with a nylon toilet brush. The solvents in the WD-40 will help dissolve the gunk and lime.
    8. Remove strong glue
    You didn’t wear protective gloves when using that super-strong glue and now some of it is super-stuck to your fingers! Don’t panic. Just reach for the WD-40, spray some directly on the sticky fingers, and rub your hands together until your fingers are no longer sticky. Use WD-40 to remove the glue from other unwanted surfaces as well.
    9. Loosen zippers
    Stubborn zippers on jackets, pants, backpacks, and sleeping bags will become compliant again after you spray them with WD-40. Just spray it on and pull the zipper up and down a few times to distribute the lubricant evenly over all the teeth. If you want to avoid getting the WD-40 on the fabric, spray it on a plastic lid; then pick it up and apply it with an artist’s brush.
    10. Relieve arthritis symptoms
    For occasional joint pain or arthritis symptoms in the knees or other areas of the body, advocates swear by spraying WD-40 on the affected area and massaging it in, saying it provides temporary relief and makes movement easier. For severe, persistent pain, consult a health care professional.
    11. Relieve bee sting pain
    For fast relief of pain from a bee, wasp, or hornet sting, reach for the WD-40 can and spray it directly on the bite site. It will take the “ouch” right out.
    12. Clean dried glue
    Clean dried glue from virtually any hard surface with ease: Simply spray WD-40 onto the spot, wait at least 30 seconds, and wipe clean with a damp cloth.
    13. Degrease your hands
    When you’re done working on the car and your hands are greasy and blackened with grime, use WD-40 to help get them clean. Spray a small amount of WD-40 into your hands and rub them together for a few seconds, then wipe with a paper towel and wash with soap and water. The grease and grime will wash right off.
    14.Remove decals
    You don’t need a chisel or even a razor blade to remove old decals, bumper stickers, or cellophane tape. Just spray them with WD-40, wait about 30 seconds, and wipe them away.
    15. Remove stickers from glass
    What were the manufacturers thinking when they put that sticker on the glass? Don’t they know how hard it is to get off? When soap and water doesn’t work and you don’t want to ruin a fingernail or risk scratching delicate glass with a blade, try a little WD-40. Spray it on the sticker and glass, wait a few minutes, and then use a no-scratch spatula or acrylic scraper to scrape the sticker off. The solvents in WD-40 cause the adhesive to lose its stickiness.
    16. Clean carpet stains
    Don’t let ink or other stains ruin your fine carpet. Spray the stain with WD-40, wait a minute or two, and then use your regular carpet cleaner or gently cleanse with a sponge and warm, soapy water. Continue until the stain is completely gone.
    17. Get tomato stains off clothes
    That homegrown tomato looked so inviting you couldn’t resist. Now your shirt or blouse has a big, hard-to-remove tomato stain! To remove stains from fresh tomatoes or tomato sauce, spray some WD-40 directly on the spot, wait a couple of minutes, and wash as usual.
    18. Clean your fridge
    When soap and water can’t get rid of old bits of food stuck in and around your refrigerator, it’s time to reach for the WD-40. After clearing all foodstuffs from the areas to be treated, spray a small amount of WD-40 on each resistant spot. Then wipe them away with a rag or sponge. Make sure you wash off all the WD-40 before returning food to the fridge.
    19. Condition leather furniture
    Keep your favorite leather recliner and other leather furniture in tip-top shape by softening and preserving it with WD-40. Just spray it on and buff with a soft cloth. The combination of ingredients in WD-40 will clean, penetrate, lubricate, and protect the leather.
    20. Pretreat blood and other stains
    Oh no! Your kid fell down and cut himself while playing, and there’s blood all over his brand-new shirt. After you tend to the wound, give some first aid to the shirt too. Pretreat the bloodstains with WD-40. Spray some directly on the stains, wait a couple of minutes, and then launder as usual. The WD-40 will help lift the stain so that it will come out easily in the wash. Try to get to the stain while it is still fresh, because once it sets, it will be harder to get rid of. Use WD-40 to pretreat other stubborn stains on clothing, such as lipstick, dirt, grease, and ink stains.
    21. Remove marker and crayon marks
    Did the kids use your wall as if it was a big coloring book? Not to worry! Simply spray some WD-40 onto the marks and wipe with a clean rag. WD-40 will not damage the paint or most wallpaper (test fabric or other fancy wall coverings first). It will also remove marker and crayon marks from furniture and appliances.
    22. Remove "paint rub" from another car
    You return to your parked car to find that while you were gone, another vehicle got a bit too close for comfort. Luckily there’s no dent, but now your car has a blotch of “paint rub” from the other car on it. To remove paint-rub stains on your car and restore its original finish, spray the affected area with WD-40, wait a few seconds, and wipe with a clean rag.
    23. Revive spark plugs
    Can’t get your car to start on a rainy or humid day? To get your engine purring, just spray some WD-40 on the spark-plug wires before you try starting it up again. WD-40 displaces water and keeps moisture away from the plugs.
    24. Clean oil spots from driveway
    Did a leaky oil pan leave a big ugly spot in the middle of your concrete driveway? To get rid of an unsightly oil spot, just spray it with a generous amount of WD-40 and then hose it down with water.
    25. Rejuvenate the barbecue grill
    To make a worn old barbecue grill look like new again, spray it liberally with WD-40, wait a few seconds, and scrub with a wire brush. Remember to use WD-40 only on a grill that is not in use and has cooled off.
    26. Renew faded plastic furniture
    Bring color and shine back to faded plastic patio furniture. Simply spray WD-40 directly on the surface and wipe with a clean, dry cloth. You’ll be surprised at the results.
    27. Kill thistle plants
    Don’t let pesky prickly weeds like bull and Russian thistle ruin your yard or garden. Just spray some WD-40 on them and they’ll wither and die.

    Date 20 juillet 2014
  16. Trucs et astuces
    73 Kitchen Hacks to Save Time, Get Organized, and Stay Sane

    Food Storage
    1. Speed up ripening.
    Be a total magician and morph a banana from green to yellow or a peach from crunchy to juicy all with the help of a paper bag. When fruit is tossed into the bag, concentrated ethylene gas helps it ripen faster.

    2. Slow down rotting.
    Store tomatoes stem end down to keep them from rotting as quickly. This prevents air from entering and moisture from exiting the scar where the tomato once attached to the vine. Storing them at room temperature rather than in the fridge also makes them last longer.

    3. Give bananas a longer life.
    Keep bananas fresher, longer by wrapping the end of the bunch with plastic wrap. Better yet, separate each banana. The plastic wrap blocks ethylene gases from releasing out of the stem, consequently ripening the fruit too fast (see number 8).

    4. Keep potatoes white.
    Cover shredded or diced potatoes with cold water before cooking to prevent the spuds from turning that gross grayish/brown caused by the release of a starch that makes them oxidize.

    5. Keep cut fruit from browning.
    You’ve probably heard that a little squeeze of lemon juice can keep apple slices from looking unappetizing. A mixture of one part honey to two parts water works much the same to keep fruit from browning. The citric acid and vitamin C in lemon juice as well as a peptide in honey slows down the oxidation process that causes browning.

    6. Prevent brown sugar from hardening.
    Help brown sugar stay soft and scoopable by tossing an orange peel or a slice of apple along with the sugar into an airtight container. For a quick fix, microwave brown sugar next to a small glass of water. The moisture within the microwave will help break up the block of sugar.

    7. Avoid plastic wrap disasters.
    Had enough of wrangling plastic wrap? Store the roll in the fridge to store leftovers with less of a hassle. Chilling the wrap makes it easier to transport it from the roll to your bowl.

    8. Get creative with covering food.
    They’re known for hair hackery, but shower caps are not limited to the bathroom. Cover leftovers with a fresh cap (right in their dishes) to keep bugs and unidentifiable particles from tainting food. They’re reusable and a helluva lot easier than repeatedly removing and replacing plastic wrap or tin foil.

    9. Check if eggs are still (incredibly) edible.
    Gently place raw eggs in a bowl of cold water to see if they’ve gone bad. If the egg sinks to the bottom, it’s a-okay. If it floats the egg has seen better days. Over time, the liquid inside eggs evaporates through the porous shell, leaving a gas bubble inside. The floatier it is, the older it is.

    Peeling, Pitting, and Removing
    10. Easily scoop out squash seeds.
    Scoop seeds from vegetables such as squash and pumpkin with an ice cream scoop. Because the edge of the scoop is sharp, it cuts through the fibery, gooey stuff inside the squash easier than your hand or a regular spoon.

    11. Never wrestle eggshell pieces again.
    Scoop up bits of broken eggshell from a batter or bowl of cracked eggs ready from scrambling with an already cracked egg. Gently ladle out the piece of shell with half of an eggshell. The shell acts as a magnet to draw up shell pieces without wasting too much egg.

    12. Skim the fat.
    Remove excess fat from stocks, stews, and sauces by skimming a few ice cubes (wrapped in a paper towel or cheese cloth) along the surface of the liquid. The ice helps the fat solidify, making it easier to remove with a spoon or a piece of toast.

    13. Separate yolks from whites.
    Separate eggs by gently squeezing a plastic water bottle over a cracked egg. When the bottle re-inflates with air, it will scoop the yolk right up. (Disclaimer: This method may take a little practice.)

    14. Pit cherries with ease.
    Place cherries on top of an empty beer bottle, one at a time, and use a chopstick to push the pit into the bottle.

    15. Pit stone fruits with a twist.
    Pit stone fruits, such as plums and nectarines, by cutting them into two equal halves and twisting the halves in opposite directions. Use your thumb to pop out the pit (if your thumb doesn’t do the job, gently pry it out with a butter knife, or cut into quarters for easier separating).

    16. Peel that papery skin from ginger.
    Ditch the peeler in favor of a spoon to peel finicky ginger root.

    17. Peel garlic the fuss-free way.
    Remove all cloves from the bulb then whack each clove with the side of a chef’s knife. The skin will fall right off.

    18. Peel citrus fruits without the mess.
    If you’re like me, peeling an orange is a lengthy, difficult process. To avoid the mess and frustration, roll citrus fruits and/or microwave them for one minute for easy peeling (just be careful to not burn yourself).

    19. De-skin potatoes without a peeler.
    Time to ditch the peeler again! Peel a potato in a snap by boiling it and then giving it an ice bath. The skins will separate from the potatoey center and you can pick them right off!

    20. Flip that banana upside down.
    Ever had issues prying into a banana? You’re not alone. Instead of wasting precious banana by hacking into the fruit’s stem end with a knife, gently press the bottom together and peel the banana from the bottom up.

    21. Peel boiled eggs in a big batch.
    Peel multiple hardboiled eggs at a time by shaking them in a lidded container. The eggs won’t be pretty, but they will be ready for an egg salad much quicker than traditional methods.

    22. Make eggshell removal even easier.
    Add baking soda or vinegar to water when boiling eggs for easier shell removal. Both substances permeate the eggshells and help the albumen (that’s fancy speak for egg whites) separate from the shell.

    23. Pit and peel an avocado with just one utensil.
    Cut an avocado into quarters length-wise to break the fruit from the pit (once it’s down to the last section, you can just pop the pit right off). Run a knife under the tip of skin on each section, then peel it off like a banana.

    24. Hull strawberries.
    Use a straw to hull strawberries (it’s fate!). Press a straw through the bottom of a strawberry until it breaks through the top and takes the hull — or the white part of the center of the berry — with it. Remove any remaining leaves with your fingers

    25. Make those citrus fruits even jucier.
    To get the most juice out of a lemon refrigerate then microwave it for 15-20 seconds. Bonus tips: Roll citrus fruits before squeezing, cut them lengthwise, and/or use a pair of tongs to squeeze instead of your own two hands.

    26. Keep seeds from falling into citrus juice.
    Wrap citrus fruits in cheesecloth (or a clean stocking) for seed-free juice.

    27. Remove pomegranate seeds (without dying your hands red).
    Cut a shallow cone into the flower end of the pomegranate then slice off the bottom of the fruit. Score the fruit along its natural ridges and pry each section apart to reveal the seeds.

    28. De-kernel a cob of corn without your teeth.
    Use a bundt pan to slice corn kernels off the cob. Place the pointy end of the cob on the center hole of the pan (with the open part of the pan facing up) and gently slice downward. The pan acts double duty as both a stand and a kernel collector.

    Food Prep
    29. Measure sticky stuff without the mess.
    Coat a measuring cup or spoon with hot water or a dab of cooking oil (or spray) before measuring sticky substances such as molasses or honey. The heat or oil will help it slide right off and into a mixing bowl without leaving any behind.

    30. Deal with hard-to-open jars.
    To open a stuck jar lid, wrap the lid with a rubber band and give it another try. The band will provide extra traction. If that’s still not enough (or your hands hurt too much), cover the rubberbanded top with a dishtowel, and try again.

    31. Soften butter in a flash.
    Keeping butter out on the counter for an hour isn’t exactly ideal for a tight schedule. To speed up the process, grate it with a cheese grater or flatten it with a rolling pin (but put it in a plastic bag first) for spreadable, mixable butter in a pinch.

    32. Soften butter faster (without a grater or rolling pin).
    If you’d rather not use one of the tips mentioned above, cut a stick of butter into about eight pieces. More surface area will allow the stick to soften more rapidly.

    33. Make your own buttermilk.
    To make buttermilk when there’s none of the real stuff in the fridge, add one tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice to regular milk. The mixture won’t get as thick and creamy as buttermilk, but it will help create fluffy pancakes and quick breads just the same.

    34. Cut cherry tomatoes in half all at once.
    Cut cherry or grape tomatoes in half with ease by placing them between two lids. Gently slice horizontally through the bunch of tomatoes while pressing down the top lid for perfectly halved tomatoes. What kind of lids, you ask? Anything works! Large yogurt container lids or Tupperware tops are two good options.

    35. Stop onions from making you weep.
    To stop onion-induced tears freeze the onion before chopping. (Note: this trick only works if you’re planning to cook the onions later — otherwise, after the onion thaws out, the raw pieces will be a bit soggy!) Or if you want to look absolutely crazy when your housemate walks in, put a slice of bread in your mouth (partially sticking out) to absorb the irritant gas before it reaches the eyes.

    36. Cut the (soft) cheese with ease.
    Cut soft cheeses such as brie and goat cheese with unflavored dental floss to avoid smooshing them. This trick also works for cake and cookie dough logs!

    37. Make cheese grating easier and less messy.
    Before grating semisoft cheeses such as fontina and fresh mozzarella, freezing it for about 30 minutes beforehand.

    38. Bring melted butter back to solid form.
    Revive over-softened butter by giving it an ice bath. Place the butter in a small bowl, and place the small bowl in a larger one filled with a few handfuls of ice and some cold water.

    39. De-crystallize honey.
    Bring new life to crystallized honey by placing the container in a bowl of hot water for 5 to 10 minutes.

    Cooking/Baking
    40. Make a perfect poached egg.
    To poach an egg that’s both tasty and aesthetically pleasing, use a metal mesh strainer to get rid of excess egg white. The strainer is also a great tool for gently lowering the egg into the water.

    41. Prevent pots from boiling over.
    Prevent over boiling by placing a wooden spoon across a pot. Because wood is not a good material for conducting heat, the hot water strays away from the handle.

    42. Cook a whole bird evenly.
    When cooking a whole turkey or chicken, ice the breast of the bird for even cooking. Since the dark thigh meat needs more time to cook than the white breast meat, chilling the breasts will promote even cooking. (Check out these other tips for making the perfect turkey.)

    43. Don’t waste your time flipping.
    Now don’t flip out on us, but you don’t always have to flip your food. When roasting items such as French fries and veggies, pre-heating your cookie sheet eliminates the need to flip halfway through. This method isn’t suggested for baked goods like cookies (they wouldn’t look so pretty).

    44. Cut brownies without the crumbs.
    There’s nothing worse than pulling out a pan of perfect-smelling brownies only to destroy the entire pan when it comes time to slice. For perfectly square, clean-cut brownies (or other bars) grease a baking pan, line it with two strips of parchment (one from left to right, one from front to back), and grease the parchment paper, too. Once cooked, let sit until cool to the touch. Once cooled, use the parchment paper edges to lift the brownies from the pan. Then slice with a serrated knife.

    45. Use parchment paper if you’ve run out of muffin tin liners.
    No muffin liners? No problem! When you’ve run out of foil or paper muffin tin liners, use 5-inch squares of parchment paper instead. To help the paper stick better, spray the each well first. Then press the squares into each hole, folding the sides as needed to create flat walls. Plus, the makeshift liners look pretty darn fancy with those popped collars.

    46. Foam milk without a frother.
    So maybe you don’t have a fancy-schmancy espresso machine with attached milk steamer. We can’t help you on the espresso front, but we can tell you how to get frothy, creamy, delicious milk foam on the cheap! All you need is a small jar with a lid. Fill the jar with a little milk (no more than halfway) and shake what your mama gave you (or your leftover jam jar) until the milk has doubled in size. Pop off the lid and microwave the milk for about 30 seconds.

    47. Brew coffee without a coffee maker.
    Boil coffee in a pot of water (use the same amount of coffee and water you would for a coffee machine). Once the coffee is removed from the heat and the grounds have settled to the bottom (four or five minutes), ladle the coffee off the top of the pot into cups.

    Reheating/Leftovers
    48. Give leftovers new life.
    Save the rice, pizza toppings, and grilled chicken. Instead of tossing leftovers in the trash, repurpose them into other meals like casseroles and frittatas.

    49. Reheat pizza and other baked goods without drying them out.
    When reheating pizza or baked goods, place a cup of water in the microwave with it to add moisture to the air (therefore keeping the food from drying out).

    50. Keep birthday cake fresh for days.
    Dug into a cake and didn’t finish the whole thing? Save cut-into cake from drying out by securing a slice of bread to the exposed portions with toothpicks. The bread holds in the cake’s moisture.

    51. Reheat pasta in the microwave the right way.
    Reheating a giant blob of sauced spaghetti can get tricky — sizzling around the perimeter, ice cold in the middle. For even warming, shape leftover pasta into a donut (with a hole in the middle) on a plate.

    52. Reheat bread in the microwave without producing hockey pucks.
    Much like number 49, the key to reheating already cooked foods is to add some moisture. When it comes to bread, set the microwave to a low power setting, and drape the rolls or buns with a moist paper towel.

    Freezing
    53. Chill wine and cocktails without diluting.
    Cool down a fresh glass of wine or a fancy cocktail by plopping a few frozen grapes in your glass.

    54. Save fresh herbs for later use.
    Use an ice-cube tray or muffin tin to freeze fresh chopped herbs in water, olive oil, or stock for later use as a seasoning agent.

    55. Steer clear of ice cream freezer burn.
    Place a piece of wax paper over ice cream before putting it back in the freezer. The barrier will help prevent freezer burn!

    56. Easily cut meat into thin slices for stir-fries.
    Does your stir-fry ever really­ look the same as when you ordered take out? While the veggie part is easy, it’s tricky to produce thinly sliced chicken or beef. For a recipe that calls for thin slices, partially freeze meat before cutting it.

    57. Extend nuts’ shelf life.
    Freeze shelled nuts to preserve their natural oils (which may go rancid at room temperature over time).

    58. Cool down coffee without diluting it.
    Fill an ice cube tray with leftover coffee (cooled down to room temp) and let the cubes set in the freezer. The coffee cubes will keep an iced cup of Joe from becoming diluted. You can even customize the cubes by adding your favorite milk and sweetener.

    Cleaning
    59. Clean fruit and veggies without harsh chemicals.
    Scrub fresh produce with a mixture of baking soda and water to remove grit, grime, and pesticides.

    60. Remove icky cooking smells from your hands.
    Neutralize garlic and onion smelling hands by rubbing them with lemon juice, baking soda, or stainless steel. Why stainless steel? When you touch the material, the molecules in the steel bind with the stinky-stanky causing molecules (such as sulfur from garlic).

    61. Give the coffee grinder a clean new look.
    Coffee grinders don’t exactly get dirty, but grinds often clump inside the grinding well. To remove stuck on grinds, toss a few chunks of stale bread into the small appliance, pulse, then dump the crumbs. The coffee will stick to the bread!

    62. Clean cast iron without causing rust.
    Scrubbing cast iron with soapy water is a no-no (it’ll strip away the seasoning on the pan built up from all those dishes). Instead, clean cast iron with a salt scrub to remove stuck on bits of food.

    63. De-crust a microwave.
    Soak a sponge in water, pop it in the microwave, and let it cruise around the turntable for a minute. This double whammy hack loosens all that gross caked on stuff inside the microwave (making it easier to wipe away later) plus it helps disinfect the sponge, too!

    64. Make an electric kettle glimmer.
    Lime scale often builds up on electric kettles, French presses, and other metal kitchen tools. To make them shimmer and shine like they’re brand new, scrub them with one part vinegar to one part water. If there are no electrical elements to what you’re cleaning, go ahead and soak the metal in the solution, or fill a kettle with the vinegar water and let it sit overnight.

    65. Bring new life to wooden spoons.
    When wooden spoons don’t exactly look (or smell) like they used to, boil them in a pot of water and leave them lying in the sun to dry.

    66. Keep wooden cutting boards looking new.
    Scrub a wooden cutting board with coarse salt and massage with half a lemon to clean away food particles and food smells. Rub the board with food grade mineral oil (find it at a hardware store) to condition the wood once a month.

    Kitchen Organization and Safety
    67. Combat cross contamination.
    Have two cutting boards — one for raw meat, one for everything else. It’ll help separate uncooked meat juices (ewie) from raw fruit and veggies, keeping you and your family safe from cross contamination. If you’re extra ambitious, purchase two different colored boards so there’s no confusion.

    68. Keep recipes clean.
    Display a recipe or cookbook from your kitchen cabinet with a pants hanger. It’ll keep the pages in sight and out of the line of oil splatters or counter spills. Laptop stands are another effective tool to elevate heavier cookbooks off your workspace.

    69. Keep sponges dry.
    Use a binder clip (upside down) to keep a kitchen sponge upright so it dries faster and stays ick-free for longer. Decreasing moisture in the sponge means germs, mold, and stink have less of a chance to build up.

    70. Put an end to slippery cutting boards.
    Place a damp (not sopping) dishtowel underneath a cutting board to keep it from slipping and sliding across the kitchen countertop.

    71. Cover sharp edges.
    When storing knifes in a drawer, pop a wine cork on the tip. It’ll keep the knife from jabbing wandering hands plus keep it from jostling around when a drawer is yanked open. The safest knife storage option is a block (which will also stave off blade dulling).

    72. Keep knives sharp.
    Store knives upside down in a countertop knife block (blades facing upward) to keep them from dulling. After chopping, transfer food to a pan or bowl using the back of a knife rather than drawing the blade across the cutting board, causing it to dull quicker. And remember kids, a sharp knife is a safer knife.

    73. Learn to fight fires.
    Before stopping, dropping, and rolling, sprinkle baking soda onto a small grease or electrical fire to extinguish the flames. When heated, baking soda releases carbon dioxide, which helps stifle the fire.

    Date 15 mai 2014
  17. Trucs et astuces
    51 Uses for Coca-Cola – the Ultimate List

    1. Remove grease stains from clothing and fabric.
    2. Remove rust; methods include using fabric dipped in Coke, a sponge or even aluminum foil.
    3. Remove blood stains from clothing and fabric.
    4. Make gooey Coke funnel cakes .
    5. Clean oil stains from a garage floor; let the stain soak, hose off.
    6. Loosen a rusty bolt; pour on some Coke and wait for the magic to happen.
    7. Kill slugs and snails; a small bowl of Coke will attract them, the acid will kill them.
    8. Help a lawn become lush and green
    9. Prevent an asthma attack! Apparently, the caffeine in two 12oz cans can prevent the onset of an attack.
    10. Defrost a frozen windshield. Apply liberally and wait
    11. Clean burnt pans; let the pan soak in the Coke, then rinse.
    12. Descale a kettle using the same method in 11.
    13. Neutralize a jellyfish sting.
    14. Clean car battery terminals by pouring a small amount of Coke over each one.
    15. Cure nausea; let a can of Coke go flat then take a teaspoon of Coke every hour.
    16. Also, flat coke can help relieve an upset stomach
    17. Make a Mentos & Coke exploding fountain. This one takes a 2-liter bottle of Coke.
    18. Get rid of hiccups; gargle with a big mouthful of ice-cold Coke.
    19. Shake up a can and pour it over your windshield to remove bugs and other crud.
    20. Use the method in 19 for your car bumpers, too.
    21. Clean your engine; Coke distributors have been using this technique for decades.
    22. Relieve congestion; boil and a can of Coke and drink while hot to clear you up.
    23. Make a sweet BBQ sauce. Mix a can of Coke with ketchup and brush over ribs or chicken.
    24. Baste a ham roast with Coke as it cooks. The sugars will caramelize; the ham will be moist.
    25. Add a can of coke to your pot roast to tenderize it and add extra flavor.
    26. Make pretty pennies; soaking old pennies in Coke will remove the tarnish.
    27. Make your hair curly; pour flat Coke onto long hair, leave for a few minutes then rinse.
    28. Age documents and photos; for that antique look, apply Coke, pat with paper, leave to dry.
    29. Clean tile grout; pour onto kitchen floor, leave for a few minutes, wipe up.
    30. Mix a can of Coke with a packet of Italian seasoning; cook a tough steak in it.
    31. Make better compost; Coke increases the acidity, adds sugars and feeds microorganisms.
    32. Dissolve a tooth in it; Use a sealed container, this takes ages. Why would you want to though, unless you’re Hannibal Lecter?
    33. Remove gum from hair; dip into a small bowl of Coke, leave a few minutes. Gum will wipe off.
    34. Get silky skin; mix a spoonful of Coke with regular lotion and apply liberally.
    35. Make low-fat brownies .
    36. Pour a little in a cup and set it out an hour before a picnic, away from your site; it will attract wasps and bees so they’re not bugging you and your grub.
    37. Remove stains from vitreous china. More info on vitreous materials here .
    38. Got a dirty pool? Add two 2-liter bottles of Coke to clear up the water (it acts as rust remover).
    39. Add Coke to your laundry to remove bad smells, especially fish.
    40. Remove (or fade) dye from hair by pouring diet Coke over it.
    41. Mop a floor with Coke to make it sticky. It’s a movie industry trick to stop actors slipping.
    42. Remove marker stains from carpet. Apply Coke, scrub, then clean with soapy water.
    43. Clean a toilet; pour around bowl, leave for a while, flush clean.
    44. Apply to skin for a deep tan (although this seems like a recipe for skin cancer to me).
    45. Supposedly, drinking an 8oz can of Coke every day can prevent kidney stones.
    46. Add it to a Sloppy Joe mix
    47. Perk up your Azaleas or Gardenias.
    48. Coke and aluminum foil will bring Chrome to a high shine.
    49. Strip paint off metal furniture; soak a towel in Coke, sit it on the surface for days. Make sure you keep adding Coke to keep the towel wet. (Seems like a hassle, I’d rather buy paint stripper.)
    50. Add it to vodka, rum or bourbon.
    51. Drink it straight from the can, if you can

    Date 16 février 2014
  18. Trucs et astuces

    Date 01 décembre 2013
  19. Trucs et astuces
    Natural Dog Shampoo - Flea Removal
    1 cup liquid dish soap (for sensitive skin)
    1 cup white vinegar
    1 quart warm water
    Directions:
    1. Mix the three ingredients in a large bowl and then transfer to a leftover squeeze bottle (like an old shampoo bottle). Give it a little shake to make sure it is mixed.
    2. Apply to your dog just as you would normal shampoo. It is best if you can massage it into the fur and let sit for 5 minutes.
    3. Rinse your dog thoroughly with warm water. Towel dry.

    Date 01 décembre 2013
  20. Trucs et astuces
    Clean grout lines using harmless, chemical-free products.. all you’ll need is: 7 cups water, 1/4 cup vinegar, 1/3 cup lemon juice, 1/2 cup baking soda. Mix all four ingredients in a bucket or bowl. Scrub the grout with a small scrub brush or toothbrush, wiping off the excess with a washcloth. Enjoy the wonderful and immediate results ..

    Date 28 novembre 2013
  21. Trucs et astuces
    To fill a container that does not fit in the sink

    Date 24 novembre 2013
  22. Trucs et astuces
    Save place in your closet

    Date 24 novembre 2013
  23. Trucs et astuces
    Find tiny items

    Date 24 novembre 2013
  24. Trucs et astuces
    Use a staple remover to save your fingernails when adding things to your key ring

    Date 24 novembre 2013
  25. Trucs et astuces
    Use toilet paper rolls to keep your wrapping paper

    Date 24 novembre 2013
  26. Trucs et astuces
    Use bread clips to save flip-flops

    Date 24 novembre 2013
  27. Trucs et astuces
    Fitted sheet + pool noddle = prevent kids from falling out of bed

    Date 24 novembre 2013
  28. Trucs et astuces
    Cheap dust pan

    Date 24 novembre 2013
  29. Trucs et astuces
    A safe for the beach

    Date 24 novembre 2013
  30. Trucs et astuces
    Cord holder

    Date 24 novembre 2013
  31. Trucs et astuces
    Shower head cleaning

    Date 24 novembre 2013
  32. Trucs et astuces

    Date 15 novembre 2013
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