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Apply tamarind paste and salt for greasy, or copped bottomed or brass vessels, and wash. They come out much cleaner, and more easily.
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To keep your sesame oil fresh for a few months without being spoilt, add a lump of jaggery to the oil.
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Rest assured that honey can never be adulterated. If warm water is added, it will ferment. If any type of sugar syrup is added it will solidify. Also, the older the better.
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Slip large photocorners on corners of valuable books to preserve them better and minimise their Wear and tear.
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It is best to defrost the fridge before making icecream, so that the base of the container is not jammed, as also the icecream will set faster and better.
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If batter of any bhajias tends to become too thin, wet a slice or two of bread, press out all excess water, and mash it into the batter. This will help greatly in thickening the batter.
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Make a lovely potpourri by drying your favourite flowers, herbs and leaves between layers of paper napkins. Make sure not do burn them. This may not last as long as the ones made by the long traditional process.
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Use leftover salads in making a nice hot pulao. Steam rice, add a few spices, masalas, salad, cheese if desired, salt and toss well. Cover and simmer till very hot.
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Cover refrigerated bananas, or else its smell will permeate in milk Which may be stored in an open vessel in the same fridge.
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For a painful scald, try this home-made remedy. Place a crushed onion on the affected part, with a bandage over it. It really works and brings relief. Another good remedy for burns and scalds, is to smear the parts immediately with the white of an egg. In half an hour there will be no sign of the burn, and no soreness. Works like magic!.
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Containers
Always rinse containers in which sauces have been made, with some vinegar and hot water, to alleviate the sauce odours before using for another dish.
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Try to stick to one style of cooking during any party. Many people mix Indian food with Chinese or continental dishes which spoil individual taste. For example, Russian salad and pulao or chow-mein and chicken korma do not go together.
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Use minimal of wrappers, foils, etc. which they may litter or make messy if wrongly handled.
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Cleaning Root Vegetables like potato
Use a plastic scrubber (round ball type) to scrub potatoes, beets, carrots etc. of mud, dirt, etc. from the crevices and curves easily. Keep the scrubber exclusively for this purpose only, for obvious reasons of hygiene.
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If your griddle is large enough make many teeny weeny dosas instead of one big one. Top them with a bit of chutney and sandwich them. Kids enjoy these and eat them much less messily.
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Stuffed veggies like bittergoutds and potatoes, etc. can be stored in freezer bags, and thawed as required. Make sure to thaw completely before proceeding to cook it. Or else it will crumble easily.
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To unmould chilled dishes quickly, dip container halfway into hot water for a few seconds and then unmould.
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If puffed rice is not crisp and crunchy, dry roast in a large heavy pan, stirring continuously, till quite hot. Cool back to room temperature. It will get back its crunchiness.
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Feel like gorging on chocolates and cannot resist. Pick a nice firm ripe tomato, and just sink your teeth into it. Allow the juice to overtake the cravings. Once into the habit, you will love munching tomatoes instead of chips!!! Juicy tomatoes eaten just as they are, are great tasters.
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Fridge
Place a tsp. of soda bicarb in a corner of the fridge in a small crucible. This will keep smells of foods in the fridge from permeating each other.
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