Happy Canada Day!! A day off and I am so excited.  The weather has been somewhat damp over the last few days and honestly I think I could curl up in the bed for about 40 hours and be very happy.  But as they say, no time for rest – keep that body going!

I was sitting talking with my mother-in-law about what to post as I was late getting home from work.  I really just slapped together some dinner and got back to work on the computer.  We came up with some kitchen tips that are super handy to know.

Over the last few weeks she has shared some really great kitchen tips that I never knew about.  So I thought, well I better share these with you and see what you think.

5 Everyday Kitchen Tips

1.  Use Bread with Hard Brown Sugar - Ever have a bag of brown sugar that gets very hard and compact in your cupboard.  No need to throw it out ever again.  Open the bag and place a piece of bread in the top of the bag and seal it up.  Leave it for two days and then check your sugar.  It will be soft and brand new.  Once you are satisfied with the results – throw away the slice of bread.

2.  Clean your pots with Baking Soda and Vinegar - Leave your sauce pot boil dry by accident as you were in the dining room enjoying your dinner?  Not to worry.  This clean up is a piece of cake with the combination of vinegar and baking soda.  In the burnt pot, add some baking soda and vinegar in the bottom of the pot and let it sit for 10 minutes.  The reaction will start to remove the burnt texture on the pot.  You can then add some hot water and give it a light scrub and you will be very pleased.

3.  How to use Sour Milk - How often do you catch yourself throwing sour milk down the sink.  There is no need to do that!  Use it for baking.  It will make a great batch of biscuits.  So the next time you smell some funny milk – set it aside and whip out your zesty apron and get baking.

4. Egg peeling off – Make a small hole in the egg by piercing with a pin before boiling it. You will be able to remove the shell very easily.

5.  Revive your Lemon/Lime - If a lemon or lime is hard, put it in warm water for 5-10 minutes to make it easier to squeeze and revitalize the juice.

Happy Canada Day for all that are celebrating and I hope you have a great Wednesday.  Before you go, check out some more zesty posts make sure you enter in my latest giveaway and try and win some POM Wonderful Juice.

Take care

zesty

We made it!  Friday is upon us and ummm.. lets just say it has been somewhat of a crazy week.  So crazy that I have something to confess to you.  This week has thrown some curve balls that I was not ready for.  As a result, the breakfast for 50 had to be outsourced to my favorite bakery.  I know I am somewhat disappointed but some things are out of my control.  The selection from the bakery was a combination of all homemade baked goods both sweet and savory.  I also used a lot of your suggestions when choosing the platters.

What I thought would be fun today is to go over the difference between a herb and a spice and some storage tips.  Let me know what you think.

What is a herb and what is a spice?

Anything with a leaf and a mild flavor that’s grown in a temperate climate is an herb. Everything else (including seeds, bark, berries and underground roots and shoots) that has a stronger flavor and grows in tropical climates is considered a spice.

HERBS

Storing Herbs
Store dried herbs in small glass jars with airtight seals or screw tops in a cool, dark cupboard away from the heat of the stove.

Store fresh herbs in the refrigerator. Don’t wash them until you’re ready to use them because they quickly go bad. If herbs are wet, shake off excess moisture, then wrap in paper towels or keep at room temperature until the leaves dry.

To dry fresh herbs for longer storage, several methods can be used:  (I never do this as I just buy them already dried or fresh but I have seen this done and seems to work effectively)

• Air – Remove all soil and roots, then wash and gently dry. Hang in bunches upside down in a paper bag with air holes in a well-ventilated area.

• Microwave – This is the best way to preserve an herb’s colour. Spread between layers of paper towel and heat on high (100%) for about 2 minutes, checking every 30 seconds and removing herbs as they dry. Leave on counter to cool and dry completely before storing.

• Oven – Spread herbs in a thin layer on baking sheet with sides. Bake at lowest heat in oven, without stirring, until leaves are dry and crispy. Do not over dry.

Freezing Fresh Herbs
For this I like to just wash and chop the herbs and place into plastic ice cube trays. Fill trays with water and freeze. Remove cubes and store in freezer bags for up to 6 months. Drop a cube, as needed, into your latest culinary concoction.

SPICES

Storing Spices
Keep freshly ground spices chilled rather than storing them at room temperature. To keep them fresh longer, grind and make them into a paste by adding just a bit of olive oil. Store in small sealed containers or freeze for up to 6 months.

Keep ground spices in small glass jars with airtight seals in a cool, dark cupboard.

I think the biggest thing with spices as we take for granted that they do expire and lose their pungency and flavor.  A rule of thumb for me is rotate your spices at least every six months to ensure quality and freshness.  I apply the same rule usually for dried herbs as well.

That was kind of fun…

I hope you have a great weekend – I am somewhat excited as it is supposed to be sunny and somewhat warm here this weekend.  Outside and fresh air here I come!  Talk to you on Monday.

Take care

zesty