Month: December 2023

Cleaning trick a Pan

Forget about the elbow grease; burnt pans respond to dryer sheets and hot water. Or so says the internet.

I was intrigued when I read about a cleaning trick that suggests you can use a dryer sheet to clean a sheet pan. If it worked, not only would I be cutting back on my tinfoil usage, but I’d also save myself from scrubbing my sheet pans until I run out of elbow grease.

But would it work? Like so many viral cleaning hacks these days, you have to try it for yourself before you can know for sure. So I did.

The Test

Ready to put it to the test, I made a conscious effort to skip the foil and cooked my next sheet pan meal right in the pan. My two favorite Sur La Table pans looked worse for the wear, so I was excited to see if the hack worked as well as much of the internet was claiming.

I followed the directions I read online: I added a single dryer sheet to a pan that had accumulated some burnt bits, added a couple of drops of liquid dish soap, and then poured hot water over the whole thing.

I waited 15 minutes, removed and discarded the dryer sheet, and poured off the water. Some small bits of burnt matter had dislodged from the pan’s surface, but there was still a lot left. I set about with my kitchen sponge and dish soap. But this proved futile — the burns wouldn’t budge. Then I remembered that the instructions had said that for tougher jobs, which this clearly was, you should soak the pan with the dryer sheet overnight.

I set the pan aside on a back burner of my stove and told my husband what I was up to so he wouldn’t accidentally ruin my experiment. Then, I proceeded to prep salmon and vegetables for that night’s supper, using a different sheet pan. I knew that a hot oven and vegetable roast would likely result in some burnt bits, and I could see if the 15-minute trick worked on a less intense mess.

The Results

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How to Grow Carrots from Seed

If you’re interested in cultivating carrots (Daucus carota), it’s crucial to note that they thrive in cooler temperatures, making early spring and late fall ideal for their growth. Optimal temperatures range from nighttime lows around 13°C to daytime averages of 24°C. Carrots adapt well to small gardens, flower beds, and even tolerate some shade.

Here are some tips on growing carrots:

Prepare the Soil:

Clear the soil surface of weeds, stones, and large pieces of bark.

Enrich the soil with potting soil to promote carrot growth.

Optimal soil for carrots is sandy loam with good drainage, avoiding clayey soils that result in slow maturation and rough, unattractive roots.

Site Preparation:

Continue reading on the next page

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Delight in the Unusual Harmony of Orange and Coffee

Unexpected Delight: The Fusion of Oranges and Coffee in a Delectable Dessert

In the hustle of daily life, the desire for a sweet treat often creeps in, whether post-meal or as an occasional indulgence. While convenient, store-bought snacks may contain preservatives, and a craving for a homemade dessert prompts the need for simple yet flavorful ingredients.

Enter the surprising duo of oranges and coffee, two elements with seemingly opposite tastes that, when combined, give rise to a delicious cake, perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth or impressing friends at a dinner gathering.

The Recipe Unveiled

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Don’t Discard the Flowers on Your Basil

If you have a basil plant and it has flowers, don’t throw it away because you can use it in different ways. We’ll show you everything below. 

Basil is one of the most popular and commonly used aromatic herbs  . Its scent and taste are truly unique and almost everyone loves it. It completes many dishes and gives them that special touch that cannot be missed. Precisely because of its great use, people often choose to plant it near the house.

Whether you have a vegetable garden or a simple balcony, just set up a pot and start growing. This way you always have it at hand and don’t have to ask your greengrocer for it. It always stays fresh and care is really easy. All you need is a few small precautions and you’re done.

But what you don’t know is that  you shouldn’t throw away basil flowers  . In fact, these are also edible and you can recognize them because they resemble corn on the cob, only slightly smaller and thinner. They grow and are usually cut and thrown away. Now we’ll show you why you definitely shouldn’t throw them away.

Do not throw away basil flowers

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Chrismas Apricot and Walnut Fruitcake

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups water
• 1 1/2 cups raisins
• 2 cups dried apricots, roughly chopped
• 1 1/4 cups white sugar
• 1 cup salted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup cream cheese, softened
• 4 large eggs
• 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 cups glace cherries, roughly chopped (I used one cup red and one cup green)
• 1 cup mixed peel
• 1 cup chopped walnuts

Intructions:

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Don’t Throw Away Pallets

If your kitchen looks anything like mine, chances are, you’ve got utensils stuffed all over the place. You’ve got your ladle in a cabinet, your tongs in a drawer, and your spatula on a shelf. It doesn’t have to be that way, though! While a trip to IKEA or the Container Store would likely bring a cheap fix to your cluttered kitchen, a little DIY ingenuity can do the trick, too.
Most people don’t think of pallets when they think of their kitchen — but pallets are practically first-and-foremost in mind when thinking about DIY, and that’s where the two disparate concepts, kitchens and pallets, are brought together. Humboldt Art Department’s Becky wanted to minimize cost in solving her kitchen woes, and by using pallets, she couldn’t have done much better.

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Natural Insect Repellents

Don’t miss out on these 7 essential plants for your balcony – not only are they fragrant and beautiful, but they also keep flies and mosquitoes at bay. Here’s what you need to know.

As temperatures rise, mosquitoes become an unwelcome presence in our homes, leaving irritating marks and, in extreme cases, posing health risks. Flies, although less harmful, can still be a nuisance. Fortunately, natural solutions exist to deter these pests, and you can find them in the form of plants.

There are several plants known for their insect-repelling properties, making them ideal for placement on your balcony. By incorporating these plants into your outdoor space, you can create an effective barrier against mosquitoes and flies.

Here are 7 options to choose from, each providing a natural and chemical-free solution.

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WHAT TO DO WITH A PAN THAT EVERYTHING STICKS TO?

Cooking requires meticulousness and finesse. Sometimes the slightest carelessness can have serious consequences, such as burnt dishes or overcooked food. Furthermore, one of the problems seen when cooking food is that it always ends up sticking to the bottom of the pan. If you regularly face this type of problem, here are some tips to remedy it.

To prevent food from sticking to the pan during cooking, some people tend to add a large amount of oil. To avoid that waste, here’s what you can do instead.

The trick to prevent food from sticking to your pans

To prevent food from sticking   to the bottom of the pan   during cooking, you can turn to a natural ingredient found in every kitchen.

The trick of salt in the pan

First, place the pan on the heat and add a tablespoon of coconut to it. Let it melt, being careful to rotate the pan so that the edges are also coated. Then get rid of the excess oil. Then add   a good dose of salt to cover the bottom of the pan  . Using   a paper towel  , dry the pan, not forgetting the edges, then remove all the salt with another clean paper towel, this time. Thanks to this trick, the food should no longer stick to the pan.

Please note that   this manipulation will only last a few cooking times and that you will have to repeat it when you notice that the food sticks to the pan again  during cooking.

Other steps to follow to prevent food from sticking to the pan

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Save Money by Boiling Eggshells in a Saucepan

Boiling eggshells instead of throwing them away will save you a lot of money. This is why you should.
Eggs are a food that we eat often. Have you ever thought about how many shells we throw? After discovering their usefulness, you will probably see them with different eyes and they will no longer look like trash.

Eggs in the diet:

Eggs are an essential food for a healthy and balanced diet. They are a true rich source of nutrients, as they contain proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals. They are also rich in antioxidants, which help maintain eye and brain health. A complete food that turns out to be an excellent way to obtain quality proteins. A single egg provides about 6 grams of protein, which helps maintain muscle mass and meet nutritional needs. Protein is important not only for muscles, but also for a healthy immune system.

Eggs in the diet:

Eggs are also a good source of healthy fats, such as conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). This fatty acid has been linked to a number of benefits, including improved cardiovascular health. Rich in a range of essential vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin B12, iron, zinc and selenium, you can safely consume up to 4 per week unless directed contrary to specialists. They lend themselves very well to different types of cooking, as well as to the preparation of many dishes or cold salads. Often in desserts are very important egg whites, which are usually whipped until stiff. So-called “clear” eggs are also used in the aesthetic field. In fact, there are many home solutions that involve using egg whites for skin or hair care. But today we see why we should not underestimate an element of eggs that we all tend to throw away and which is very useful: the shells.

Boil eggshells, here’s why:

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Flemish carbonade recipe

Discover the secret to our quick Flemish carbonade recipe, designed to get you enjoying this beloved Belgian classic in no time! With care and simplicity, this modified version guarantees an authentic taste experience in just 30 minutes of preparation. You don’t have to sacrifice flavor for speed: just follow our detailed instructions and enjoy this delicious Flemish stew without any sacrifice.

INGREDIENTS:

1 kg Beef Bourguignon
60 cl Dark beer
2 Carrot(s)
2 Onion(s)
Margarine
2 tbsp. tbsp Flour
2 tbsp. Sherry Vinegar
4 tbsp. tbsp Brown Vergeoise
Mustard
1 Bouquet(s) garnished(s) (thyme, bay leaf)
Gingerbread
Salt pepper

PREPARATION:

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