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Mehndi
To make mehndi come out brighter, rub a little sesame oil on palms before applying, and dab a swab of cotton soaked in mustard oil after applying. This way the mehndi will not fall off soon after drying up.
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To quicken the process of making any vegetable where the vegetable needs to be cooked for long, wash, drain sprinkle a little salt, and microwave covered, till done. Simultaneously, proceed on stove, to make the remaining recipe. Add the microwaved vegetable and finish off cooking. This way, the vegetable is cooked with minimum water, in its own juices, and reduces cooking time considerably. But take care to add lesser water to masala, since the vegetable will not be cooked for so long.
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To keep carrots fresh for longer, cut the tops off and place them in a plastic bag in the vegetable crisper of the refrigerator.
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Pour a capful of liquid bleach in a stained commode. Keep for 1/2 hour. Add soap powder and brush, for a sparkle.
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Add a pinch of salt to the oil while frying "pakodas" or "koftas" and you will use up less oil.
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To save time, boil extra channa drain, freeze in freezable polybags, thaw to room temperature before using. Proceed as for freshly boiled channa. Add a bayleaf or two while boiling lentils, gives a better flavour.
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To give a novel taste to tea, add a piece of lemon peel to the water for tea decoction.
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Store leftover fried papads in a polythene bag. They will remain crisp.
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Always store aamras and other such mango dishes in non-metal containers before serving. The ras may discolour in other metal containers.
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A tsp. of ghee add to the dal before pressure cooking, will keep it from overflowing out of the container into the cooker.
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Rub cut onion on insides of a new kadai or saucepan, and heat a little. Then pour oil and proceed. The pan will not burn contents easily. You need not do this for used pans.
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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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Leather Sole - Avoid Slipping
Rub the soles of new footwear (leather soled) with some sandpaper to keep from slipping on polished floors.
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Grind thick masala pastes on a stone grinder if possible. Since you would be using lesser water. The taste and texture would also be much better.
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If fried snacks or titbits are served with the drinks, preceding dinner, arrange small paper napkins along with the tray. Messy fingers are embarrasing for both the guests and the hostess.
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Using earthen or stone ware for setting curds will result in firmer and better quality curd. Since they are porous they absorb the excess moisture.
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Dishes
Never scrape burnt leftovers from casseroles. Soak in a weak solution of vinegar, salt and soapy warm water for an hour or so. The stuck particles will come off very easily, without scratching the dish.
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Use a large semiboiled potato to make a quick flower arrangement if a flower holder is not available. Push sturdy stalks of flowers into the potato at the required angles. Do not keep for more than 2 days. Immerse in water to which an aspirin is added.
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Old Toothbrushes
Save old toothbrushes for quick cleaning of those corner and grooves which are difficult to clean with larger brushes. eg. combs,bottles, bathroom corners, tile joints, engraving on metals, etc.
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A pinch of salt added to ginger-garlic paste will help increase its shelf life though it should be stored in the refrigerator.
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