Regarding tomato paste, it seems a whole can of tomato paste is many times too much for some recipes. Suggestion: take a piece of waxed paper, putting it on a cookie sheet and putting teaspoonfuls of the leftover paste on the paper - another sheet on top and freeze this. When frozen just peel them off and put them in a baggie and when you need a tsp. or tbs. of paste you have it without opening a whole can and there is no waste. --OR-- put small amounts in an ice tray and then just pop them out when you need them.
To keep milk past it's expiration date add salt. A pinch of salt in a gallon will do it. The salt slows the rate of bacteria growth.
Brown sugar will not harden if stored in the freezer.
If you freeze wild rice it will last 3-4 months compared to a week in the refrigerator.
A good trick when you go away on vacation is to place a baggie with a few ice cubes in the freezer. If a power failure occurs while you are gone and the food thaws and then refreezes you will know about it when you get home.
Ice cream container sealed in a plastic bag will stop ice crystals from forming when it is in the freezer.
Potato chip bag open again and they're all stale and yucky?? Pop them in the microwave for 30 to 60 seconds, let stand for two minutes and they'll be crispy again.
To keep those pesky insects away from your plants, combine one bulb of garlic, 1 small onion and 1 Tbs. cayenne pepper in the blender. Mix with 1 quart water and let stand for one hour. Then add 1 Tbs Ivory liquid and mist your plants.
Club soda--cleans sinks and can be used to remove some stains. For a "how to" remove various stains, CLICK HERE
Poison Ivy all over the place.....how do you get rid if it???? Mix 3 pounds of salt with a gallon of soapy water; spray the solution on the plants leaves and stems.
Quick Whipping -- A teaspoonful of cold water added to the white of an egg causes it to whip more quickly while increasing the quantity.
Moldy Fruit -- What should you do with fruit with mold? Throw it away rather than simply cutting off the mold since mold on fruit goes much deeper than what appears on the fruit.
Broccoli Stalks -- Don't discard the tough ends of broccoli stalks. Use them for making soups.
Measuring Honey --Measuring honey with a spoon is easy but getting it all off the spoon is another matter--so first rub the spoon with margarine.
Dropping Cookie Dough -- To get cookie dough to drop without sticking dip the spoon in milk first.
Leftover Pie Dough -- Extra pie dough? Cover it with some parmesan and gruyere cheese and you'll bake a delicious appetizer--at the very same meal with your pie as dessert.
Easy Shelling -- Pecans are easy to shell if they are first soaked in boiling water for 10 minutes or so. Or microwave 2 cups of pecans or brazil nuts in 1 cup of water for 5 to 6 minutes on HIGH.
Cheesy Apple Pie -- Don't just serve cheese with apple pie, bake it right in. Spread grated sharp Cheddar on the bottom of the crust before adding the apple filling.
Sticking Cake Layers -- Cake layers sticking to the bottom of the pans? Put them back in a warm oven for a short time. The layers will then come out without a problem. Or, try lining the bottom of your pans with waxed paper.
Outdoor cooking -- Fast Starter -- Stuff a crumbled sheet of newspaper under your coals, then roll another sheet of news paper into a cone and poke it through the coals to the paper to form a chimney. Ignite the paper. It will carry the fire into your charcoal.
Make cleaning easier -- To make cook-out clean-ups easier, take a preventive step and spray the cooking grill with non-stick spray before placing the grid over the coals. Food won't stick nearly as much as it does on an untreated grid.
Juicy News -- Always use tongs when turning meat on the grill. This way, you'll avoid piercing the meat, which causes it to lose its natural juices.
Gardening tips -- The Worm Turns -- Plant dill around your tomato bed. It's a great way to keep tomato horn worms from getting the better of your plants.
When to Pick --The best time to harvest fruits and vegetables for maximum flavor is in the morning.
Save That Leaky Hose -- Don't throw that leaking hose away.
Simply add more holes and you'll have a sprinkler for your lawn.
Smart Substitutes
Recipe call for Buttermilk? Add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice to a cup of milk and let it stand 10 minutes. Or add 1 tablespoon of vinegar to a cup of whole milk.
Chocolate Trick: When you haven't any unsweetened chocolate in the house, make 1 ounce by adding 1 tablespoon fat to 3 tablespoons cocoa.
Short of Bread Crumbs? Stretch what you've got by using your blender to grind up crackers, unsweetened breakfast cereal or potato chips. Cornmeal and wheat germ will also work in a pinch.
Missing an Egg: When your one egg shy for a recipe that calls for
several, substitute one teaspoon of cornstarch.