Kitchenware Tips
When it comes to Kitchenware, we've been there, done that, now serving 8 tips in 8 categories ranging from Adaptive Products to Safety.
Homemade Ravioli
Have you ever wondered how they make ravioli? Long before I ever saw frozen ravioli, my dad and my grandmother made them at home. They rolled out a sheet of pasta dough, spread the filling over, and then placed another sheet of pasta dough over that. Then they used a special ravioli rolling pin to form the individual squares. It looks like a rolling pin, but it's marked in squares all the way around. You lay it at the top of your pasta, and press down firmly. Then roll over to the next set of squares and press down again. Keep doing this till you've reached the bottom of the pasta, and you'll see rows of neat little raviolis. Let dry for several hours, then cut the squares apart with a serrated knife or a ravioli wheel. Just boil them as you would the frozen kind, and enjoy! Villaware makes a very nice ravioli rolling pin. I bought mine at cooksworld.com for sixteen dollars plus shipping.
A DEADLY COMBINATION!!!
My favorite two cleaners are amonia and bleach. they're inexpensive, and they get the job done. But thank goodness a long time ago someone told me that if you mix bleach and amonia, they form a poisonous gas that can kill you! If you use these things for cleaning, be very, very careful that you don't use them near each other. I don't even have the two containers open at the same time. Most people probably know this already, but if you didn't, this could save your life.
DOOR SEAL TEST
With the rising cost of electricity, it's important to know if your fridge is cooling efficiently. The most common thing that can prevent this is that the door may not be sealing well. To test the seal, put a piece of paper between the door and the fridge, and close the door. then pull the paper out. If it comes out easily, it's time to replace the seal on your fridge door. I do this every few months or so, and so far, so good.
Flat Or flute?
There are two types of champagne glasses. The classic one is the long, thin "flute". The other type is stemware also, and is shaped like a shallow, wide dish. So is one better than the other? well, that all depends. If you're drinking a toast, and will be finishing your champagne all in one go, the shallow glass is best because it's easier to drink from quickly. If you'll be sipping your champagne, however, the flute is the way to go, because it's narrow shape holds in the effervescence much better than the shallow glass. I've toasted with a flute and had it spill on me, and I've sipped from a shallow glass and had my champagne go flat before I was finished. Neither added to my enjoyment of my champagne experience, so I'm passing this on to you, in hopes that your champagne experience will be everything you want it to be.
A WEIGHTY PROBLEM
Often, when you bake a pie shell without any filling in it, the bottom will bubble up, and sometimes even crack. when the crust cools and you attempt to fill it, the bubbles will collapse and the pie will be nearly impossible to cut attractively. If you weigh the crust down, it won't bubble during baking. Many people use dried beans, but even better are ceramic pie weights. Slightly smaller than marbles, They're heavier than beans and keep the crust even more stable. You can find them in kitchen and gourmet shops. They come in small packets; one packet is the right amount and weight for one piecrust. I love them! They make the crust come out so smooth on the bottom, and they can be used indefinitely. Wash them by hand, in a small bowl filled with water and a little dishwashing liquid; rinse well.
MARK IT UP
If you're blind, or you know someone who is, then you know how impossible touchpads on appliances are to navigate. Many of us put braille labels on them so we can use them, but for some people, who don't know braille, or whose fingers have lost their sensitivity due to diabetes, that's not a practical solution. There is a great product called HiMarks, which comes in a tube and will put very feelable, bright orange dots onto most surfaces. they're very durable, too. Simply squeeze a little anywhere you need a feelable mark, let it set up, and you've got an accessible appliance. This also works great if you feel the need for markings on your stove or washer and dryer. You can buy this from the ann Morris company, which you'll find listed in the Links section of this site. I've never used this particular product, but having souped up many a microwave, I can tell you there's nothing like the freedom of being able to get around the controls quickly and confidently.
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