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While cooking onions or garlic, place an open bowl of vinegar by the stove. The smell will not pervade the house or kitchen.
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Knives
Wipe the blades of greasy knives with a peeled lemon . Wash under running water. The greasiness will disappear.
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Keeping a small lump of edible gum in the mouth, will bring relief to mouth boils and blisters.
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Stale bread should not be discarded, instead toast the bread and powder it in a mixer. Store these breadcrumbs in an airtight container. It can be used for coating food items that are deep-fried to give a crisp outer covering.
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Chicken becomes especially tender if you marinate it for and hour in curd (raw yoghurt) mized in with some of whtever spices your recipe calls for and salt. Half teaspoon of sugar is also an excellent tenderiser.
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Try a hot water bath, followed by a cup of warm milk half an hour before going to bed. This will help induce sleep for those having problems going to bed easily.
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Sprinkle a mixture of powdered cardomom and rock sugar (misri) over the tongue, gums and inner cheeks to get relief from mouth sores and ulcers. Repeat 3-4 times a day.
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Microwave fresh mint till dry and crisp. Crush coarsely, mix some salt and chilli powder and chaat masala. Sprinkle over freshly fried papads for that extra tang.
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Teeth Whitening
Dry lemon and orange peels till brittle. Powder them and sieve with a fine mesh. Rub teeth with powder and wash. This mixture acts as an excellent whitener for teeth, with continued use.
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Make tomato puree in bulk. Transfer to ice cube trays and freeze. Put the frozen cubes in a thick polythene bag. Store in the freezer and use reddy puree cubes as required. Will keep for over 3 weeks in the freezer.
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Save the stems of colocasia leaves. Peel outer skin and chop fine. Add as garnish to a salad or stirfry and add to clear soup.
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Soak petals of lots of roses in water overnight. Add water after passing through a colander, to the bath water. Makes and excellent luxury bath and puts all those bouquets you are stuck with after a function, to good use!! Add a handful of tulsi leaves too if you wish.
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Mix in 15-20 cloves to a kilogram of dal, while storing. This will keep the dal from getting attacked by insects. The same cloves can be reused.
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To clean a blocked metal tea strainer, heat gently or place in a hot oven. When fully heated, the tea particles between the mesh will burn out. Scrub out particles now, with a stiff toothbrush or a metal bristle brush, and they will fall out easily. Wash with warm soap water and metal scrubber to finish off.
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To serve piping hot fresh biryani, pulaos, or rices, you can prepare completely, upto the stage when cooker is closed and whistles have to be counted after putting on heat. This stage can be done just a half hour before sitting to a meal, so that the cooker is done, as well as cooled enough to open and serve, in time.
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Insects
Place dried neem leaves (folded between two pieces of newspaper) in stored grains, eg. wheat to avoid from being attacked by worms and insects.
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Rain Spots On Satin
Rain spots on satin, felt or similar fabrics will disappear if you brush them in a circular motion, using a soft ball of tissue paper.
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Greasy Pans
Rub used lemon halves dipped in salt over greasy pans, and wipe clean with an old newspaper before washing. This will remove all the extra grease and make the washing easier. You may even rub some flour instead.
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If pizza sauce (or gravies) has become very thin, thicken by adding 2 slices of dayold bread, run in a mixie to make very fine crumbs. Using too much cornflour may make the sauce taste pasty.
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Take 1/4 tsp. omum (ajwain, oregano) seeds in a clean hanky. Warm it by rubbing on a warm surface like a griddle, or a switched off iron, or a warm switched off hotplate. Press against sinus points, for relief from headache and cold. Repeat 5-6 times a day for 3-4 days. Use same hanky and seeds.
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