Handy Hints for Wednesday ~ 4
Five more handy hints for you again this week I hope you will find them useful.
Many people find cooking rice a difficult task. I find the best way is to use a microwave oven. A full portion per person is 2ozs. Start by filling the kettle with fresh water and put it on to boil. Measure the required amount of rice into a large bowl or microwave steamer. Add boiling water to about ¾ inch above the level of the rice, cover and leave to stand for at least five minutes. Place in the microwave and cook on high for 4 minutes. Remove and stir, check for doneness. Wild rice may take a little longer. Strain the rice and return to the bowl. Place a sheet of kitchen paper on top and cook for a further 30 seconds. The Rice is now ready to serve.
Buttons are stitched on to items of clothing by machine these days. This means that the ends of the thread are often not secure and will become undone. To prevent this from happening dab a little clear nail varnish on the top thread or onto the stem of the thread and leave to dry.
Pollen from the stamen of flowers can stain fabric badly. DO NOT TRY TO BRUSH IT OFF. Take a piece of sticky tape about 2 inches and press the sticky side gently to the pollen mark and lift off. Repeat with clean sticky tape as required.
Keep a box of baking soda near the cooker. In the event of a grease fire, sprinkle baking soda on the flame to extinguish it. This will not damage counter tops or the pans. It is safe for use on electrical fires.
Ever fall over and be rewarded with bumps and bruises? Thanks to Gabriela Avram for this cure! Take one cabbage leaf and soften it by pressing on it with a rolling pin then wrap around the bruise.
Gabriela, thanks for the tip and I hope your bruises have faded.
kenju said,
December 3, 2008 at 9:58 am
Cabbage??? I hope that works, since I bruise easily.
Flower pollen can also be removed by lightly brushing with a chenille stem or a pipe cleaner.
Primal Sneeze said,
December 3, 2008 at 10:21 am
Cabbage works for sore/tender boobs during pregnancy too.
Don’t ask how I know that.
Grannymar said,
December 3, 2008 at 11:02 am
Thanks Judy! I knew you would have another idea for removing pollen. I hope you are not overworked with all the floral decorating for Christmas.
Now PRIMAL… No way can you get out of this one! I/we want details either here or on your blog!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TheChrisD said,
December 3, 2008 at 12:55 pm
Come on, do spill
steph said,
December 3, 2008 at 5:36 pm
Grannymar
I like your idea of microwaving rice - I’ll put it to the test shortly as rice is on the menu tonight.
Last week was lemon halves strapped to our elbows and now you want us to wear cabbage leaves as well?
Grannymar said,
December 3, 2008 at 6:04 pm
ChrisD - I hope the cabbage does’t do that to boobs.
Steph - Now I wonder if I can find a uswe for Fig Leaves.
Nancy said,
December 3, 2008 at 6:14 pm
Hello Grannymar,
Just when you thought it was safe to relax….I’M BACK
And just in time, I might add. Reading about the rice cooking reminded me of the time I, as a new bride, decided to make turkey soup. I asked My MIL for her recipe and she gave me all the directions including the addition of rice to the mix.
She was of the old school of cooking and used no amounts for any of the ingredients. When asked how much rice to put in she said, “Oh, you know, a little .”
So, I did as instructed and put in the turkey bones and liquids plus vegetables and now it was time for the rice. Well, a little rice to me was two cups.
So, after about 30 minutes I heard this rattling sound from my kitchen and upon investigation saw that the lid was banging up and down on the soup pot and really making a racket. Then, the lid began to lift up in the air and I saw that it was being held up by a solid block of RICE.
It was just at this point that my husband arrived home and when he saw that soup he asked if the Viet Cong had called for an order of rice for Ho Chi Min’s Army.
Guess what? Even though we ate that soup with a fork, it was delicious and lasted us for more than a week.
Grannymar said,
December 3, 2008 at 6:17 pm
WELCOME BACK NANCY!
Grannymar said,
December 3, 2008 at 6:18 pm
Nancy we missed you! I hope you had a great Thanksgiving with your family.
A belated happy Birthday for yesterday!
I love your way of making Turkey soup
steph said,
December 3, 2008 at 7:23 pm
Hurray! Nancy is back…
Nancy - your rice story made me weak with laughter!
Grannymar - I’m afraid the microwave rice got cancelled tonight - noodles were requested instead. Next time!
Magpie11 said,
December 3, 2008 at 8:16 pm
Turkey Soup Pudding! Wonderful…..I’ve heard of using stock to cook rice or pastas before but that is brilliant….
Does the sticky tape work with Lily pollen….you know, that deep orange stuff?
I use parcel tape (wide brown sticky) to remove cat hairs when they won’t brush off.
Grannymar said,
December 3, 2008 at 8:53 pm
Magpie I thought you were lost in the snow!
The sticky tape should work on the lily pollen so long as you don’t press it into the fabric. Also try Judy’s tip since she is a florist and an expert!
Primal Sneeze said,
December 4, 2008 at 6:19 am
I was in my mate’s house one day when she was expecting her second.
I couldn’t figure out where the faint smell of boiling cabbage was coming from. And me being me, I had to ask.
Apparently cold raw cabbage leaves begin to soften and wilt (hence the smell) after 30mins or so in the warmth of the bra.
I wonder is that why you find babies in cabbage patches?
Grannymar said,
December 4, 2008 at 11:04 am
Primal you are a gem!
Girls, if you are going to try this method don’t wear the new white blouse - green cabbage leaves + body heat might add pattern where you don’t want it. Natural dyes are difficult to remove.
Magpie11 said,
December 4, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Not in the snow..more likely to be under the floorboards…I just haven’t had complete access to a computer because of laying a new floor!
Sticky tape removes sawdust from clothes too…just found out!
Grannymar said,
December 4, 2008 at 2:15 pm
Magpie,
Make sure you don’t get stuck down there!
The Almond Croissant Diaries » Blog Archive » Korma Concoctions said,
December 12, 2008 at 9:32 pm
[...] some baby corn and carrots and served it all up with some perfectly prepared rice (as detailed by Grannymar). I think it turned out pretty well for a first attempt, even if I do say so [...]
Suzie said,
January 7, 2009 at 8:38 pm
Just wanted to remark that the pregnancy-boob-fixing has to be Savoy cabbage, other types won’t have the same effect. No idea why, just one of those mysteries.
Can’t say if the same is true for the bruises, but I’ll give it a shot next time I fall flat on my face…which shouldn’t be too far from now, I’m a clumsy oaf.
Grannymar said,
January 7, 2009 at 8:53 pm
Suzie,
Welcome to the party, and thank you for telling us about the Savoy cabbage.
I do hope you have no future bruises to test the cabbage on.