~*~ To make nut meats come out whole: soak nuts in salt water overnight before cracking. ~*~ Instead of the water your recipe calls for, try juices, bouillon, or water you've cooked vegetables in. Instead of milk, try buttermilk, yogurt or sour cream. It can add a whole new flavor and improve nutrition. ~*~ Add a couple of tablespoons of butter or vegetable oil to your dough, and your bread will stay fresher for a longer period. ~*~ If you use your flour fairly quickly, store it in a cool, dry cupboard and stick a couple of bay leaves in the bag to discourage any visitors. If you use your flour more slowly, especially your whole wheat, put it in a lock type plastic bag and store it in your freezer. ~*~ Try substituting a little dried fruit, vegetables, cheese, nuts, grains, seeds or herbs and spices for some of the flour in your recipes. Merely add it into the cup before you measure your flour. It will add a whole new dimension to your baking. ~*~ Stir-fry your vegetables in broth. Chicken, beef or vegetable broth give your vegetables a great flavor, and using broth instead of oil really cuts down on the fat. ~*~ Plain, microwaved broccoli again? Try tossing in a bit of non-fat or low fat Italian salad dressing first for a tangy flavor. While you're at it, throw in some cauliflower for color! ~*~ Spice up your chicken broth Sauté fresh or frozen snow peas with fresh sliced mushrooms in chicken broth. Very colorful, very quick, very low fat and very delicious. ~*~ Fun with bananas Broil bananas halves after sprinkling with cinnamon. ~*~ Sift first - batter later Always sift flour, salt and baking powder together before adding to batter. ~*~ Removing burnt-on food Add 1/2 cup of vinegar to a pot with burnt-on food and fill it with water. Let it soak overnight and the burnt-on food will come right out. ~*~ Sparkling Glass If you want your glass to shine just add ammonia to the water when you wash your glass. ~*~ Whipping Eggs If eggs are placed in cold water before being broken, they will whip easily. The whites will whip more readily if a pinch of salt is added. ~*~ Hard Boiled Eggs Instead of boiling eggs, put in pan, bring water to a boil and turn off flame, water has cooled, eggs will be hard. ~*~ No-Stick Pancake Batter When cooking pancakes, dip the spoon in milk or water and the batter will drop off easily from the spoon. ~*~ When buying avocados, squeeze gently. If they give slightly, they are ripe. Hard is unripe, squishy is too ripe or rotting. ~*~ Freeze soups in smaller portions Freeze in small round-bottomed plastic bowls with lids on. When frozen, remove lids, place bowls upside down on top of lids in sink. Run hot tap for a few seconds until frozen soup blocks drop out. Wrap in greaseproof paper, store in freezer. Reheat in pot for use. ~*~ Garlic Bread The secret of garlic bread is that if you want it to be soggy, you should wrap it in tin foil, but if you prefer it crispy, broil it uncovered, ensuring that the garlic pieces do not burn. ~*~ How to peel garlic When peeling garlic, thump clove with the side of a cutting knife or cleaver and the skin will lift away easily. ~*~ Cooking in frying pans? When cooking in a frying pan with butter. Put a small drop of oil in the pan to keep butter from burning. ~*~ Frosting a cake Putting the cooled cake in the freezer for about 20 minutes make the cake easier to frost and less crumbly. ~*~ For a heartier taste and better nutrition, try using 1/3 Stone Ground Whole Wheat Flour with 2/3 All- Purpose Flour in your cookies, cakes, brownies, muffins, pies and pastries. ~*~ Turkey Brown To keep a turkey from browning too much, or burning before it is done, place foil wrap on top of it. ~*~ 123 Fruit Dip I 7 oz jar Marshmallow cream 1 8oz Package softened cream cheese Combine Marshmallow cream and the softened cream cheese: mix well till blended. Keep chilled till ready to serve. Use to dip fresh strawberries, peaches or any of your favorite fruit. you may also add a drop of food coloring to the dip if you wish. ~~*~~ A Congressman is awakened in the middle of the night by his wife who whispers, "I think there's a thief in the house." "Not in the House," her husband says. "Perhaps in the Senate, my dear, but never in the House." ~~*~~ Sally Jo