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Cindy's ON-Line recipe box

Keep COOKIES from getting SOFT & stale in humid weather

6/25/2015

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My grandmother always put a piece of plain white (or wheat) bread in the cookie jar, to keep cookies from getting soft or sticking to each other in humid weather. 

Since I put my homemade cookies on a cake platter, I never overlap the cookies... I put a piece of soft bread in the middle of each layer ~ cover with a piece of paper towel ~ and make about 3 layers of cookies.  This keeps them from getting too soft, sticking together or crumbling when you pick them up (especially when it's hot and HUMID out)

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How to REVIVE WILTED SALAD GREENS * cutting tip * 

6/24/2015

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AFTER (revived after 1 week in the refrigerator)
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BEFORE
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Fill container of salad greens with cold water and pile ice cubes on top * let sit 10-15 minutes
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Drain salad greens in a colander * pick out any black pieces ~ pinch off any stems ~ rinse off
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Put cleaned salad greens on paper towels * put a paper towel on top of them and press down to absorb water
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Roll up the salad greens in more paper toweling ~ press down with your hands to absorb any water
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Line salad container with paper towel ~ gently pile the salad greens on top
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Lightly cover with another paper towel * cover the container * Give container a few shakes to "pouf" up the greens * REFRIGERATE several hours (covered), until ready to serve
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NEVER cut ICEBERG LETTUCE with a metal knife ** That will cause it to turn yellow/brown where the metal touches it. Buy a special serrated plastic lettuce knife for iceburg lettuce (Tupperware or kitchen stores)
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How to FORM PERFECT HAMBURGER PATTIES every time *

6/16/2015

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Get a large jar lid (at least 1/2" deep) and put a piece of plastic wrap over it.  Grab your handful of hamburger meat mixture and pack it into the lid (I have it over the top a little).  Turn the lid upside down onto your hand and peel off the plastic wrap. ... VOILA!  the same sized hamburger patties every time!

With 1 lb. of hamburger meat, plus 2 pieces of crumbled fresh bread (and herbs, seasonings), I got 4 perfect patties.

ANOTHER TIP:  I spray each side of the hamburger patties with olive oil non-stick spray, so they won't stick to the BBQ grill.
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STRAWBERRY TIPS * measuring, choosing, preparation

6/14/2015

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STRAWBERRY TIPS

 

Strawberry Equivalents:

Fresh Strawberries (approximate):

Basket of strawberries refers to the market package. 1 tray or flat of strawberries = 12 baskets or pints.

1 small basket = 1 pint strawberries = 12 large strawberries = 24 medium strawberries = 36 small strawberries.

1 pint = 2 to 2.5 cups sliced (1/4-inch thick slices) strawberries.

1 pint = 1.25 to 1.5 cups pureed (mashed) strawberries.


Frozen Strawberries (approximate):

20-ounce bag frozen whole strawberries = 4 cups whole strawberries = 2.5 cup sliced strawberries = 2.25 cups pureed (mashed) strawberries.

10-ounce package frozen sliced sweetened strawberries = 1.25 cups frozen strawberries in syrup.

 

Storing and Preparing Strawberries:

1.     Use berries as soon as possible as strawberries ripen no further once picked.

2.     Before using or storing, sort through the berries and separate soft ones from firm, fully ripe berries. Discard any mushy or spoiled berries.

3.     Leave caps (stems) on the strawberries until ready to use.

4.     For best flavor, don’t wash strawberries until you are ready to eat or use them. Moisture is the enemy when it comes to storing strawberries.

5.     Strawberries tastes best at room temperature, so remove from the refrigerator approximately 1 hour before they are to be used.

6.     Store fresh strawberries in a colander in the refrigerator. This allows the cold air to circulate around them. Do not cover them.

7.     Remove caps from strawberries only after washing (the caps keep the water from breaking down the texture and flavor inside the strawberries).

8.  Prepare strawberries for serving by rinsing with caps still attached under a gentle spray of cool water; pat dry with a paper towel. Wash the berries just before you plan to use them. Remove the green caps (stems) with a light twisting motion or with the point of a paring knife.

 

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How to pick a PERFECT MELON * sweet & juicy *

6/11/2015

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You are only limited by the selection of the melons available, to choose the perfect melon ~ CANTALOUPE * WATERMELON * HONEYDEW * CASABA *
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I always seem to find the best melon from the ones that are available!   Just gently push in the vine end (indented a little, usually) with your finger and SMELL IT!  If it smells like fresh, ripe melon... then that's the one to pick!  Usually, you'll be going through a bunch of melons first though (and most will just smell "cold" or have no smell at all).  If the vine end is too hard to push in a little, then it probably isn't ripe ~ so try another one.

When you get it home and cut it, if it still isn't as sweet as you'd like (sometimes the whole batch of them aren't really ripe), then you can help it along a little:  You can toss the cubes/balls with a little honey ....
CANTALOUPE is good tossed with a little orange juice or TRIPLE SEC....
HONEYDEW is good tossed with a little lime juice or a tiny amount of CREME de MENTHE
WATERMELON is good tossed with a little citrus juice or VODKA
CASABA is good tossed with a bit of citrus juice or TEQUILA
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How to PREPARE GREEN PLANTAINS for cooking * 

6/6/2015

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Make slits through the skin, on one side of the plantain * snip off the ends
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Put the plantain into the microwave (on HIGH) for about 8 minutes * turn over and do for another 6-8 minutes. * the skin will turn black
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Turn the HOT plantain over so that the slits are on the bottom * make a horizontal slit across the whole plantain and pull the peel back. ** Slice into about 3/4" slices *
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It's now ready to be oven-fried (in photo), baked or deep-fried. ** Recipe for oven-fried: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/553802085405521249/ *
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How to DESCALE a KEURIG coffeemaker using just plain VINEGAR * other K-cup coffeemakers too * 

6/5/2015

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No need in invest in a costly "descaler" for your coffeemaker!  Just use plain, inexpensive white vinegar.  Complete directions, with photos, from Wikipedia *

http://www.wikihow.com/Descale-a-Keurig
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CLICK for Instructions
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