Do you have a secret trick?

Mistral001

YoungBlueEyes said:

Jeez that’s a good one. Have you tried it with something other than cabbage? Wondering if it’ll work for my lettuce… 

I have tried it with a few other things, such as white cabbage and broccoli, without much success.  I suspect that the shrink wrapped broccoli I have tried is just not fresh enough.  I have not tried lettuce, but will try it and let you know how I get on

YoungBlueEyes

I’ve got my lettuce in a bowl now, hoping it works. I’m doubtful though cos they’ve cut it right into its bum so there’s no stalk…. 

newlywed

I’ve done it with lettuce and broccoli but also kept it in the fridge like that.  I always slice a small bit off the bottom to get rid of the dried up but and allow the water to get in…. Much like buying cut flowers and trimming the stalk.

Siebrie

Caroby said:

Hanging washing out I don't use a peg bag. I peg a row of pegs onto my top across the middle and it leaves my hands free to handle the clothes, sheets and towels.

I have a peg apron, similar to a French waitress' apron. The bottom of the apron is really shallow: I can easily reach it standing up straight (otherwise I won't be able to get the pegs out).

Caroby

That peg apron sounds like a handy thing @Siebrie, must be quicker to put the pegs in than what I do, I'll have to look out for one.

YoungBlueEyes

Does anybody have any tips for oven cleaning? That’s what I’m doing today. I’ve used those orange boxes of desperate chemicals before (oven brite?) where you put the shelves in a big plastic bag and they’re good but I don’t have one in. 🙁 I’ve done the washing powder thing before which I’ll prolly do today again, unless someone shares a better way…? 

My issue is - I did a roast on Sunday and the door seals seem to be a bit leaky. I had brown juices seeping out of the bottom of the door. I don’t use my oven all the often, and all that juice can’t have come from the dinner…. 

So is there a way to clean the internals of the thing? I cleaned it a few months ago and it produced a LOT of crud. 

I hope I’ve explained that right! 

Moorviews

My grandmother used to recommend making a paste of bicarbonate of soda and water and applying it to the warm oven, leaving it a while then wiping it out. It worked well for me but obviously only tried on the shelves, glass and enamel parts. Not good for the self cleaning surfaces I am sure! No horrible fumes involved though. 

My tip is for fresh coriander. I buy it only in a fresh looking elastic banded bunch and cut off the bottom 2-3cm with sharp scissors or a knife. Place into a mug or jar of cold water and keep it in the door of the fridge. I generally leave the elastic on and either take out what I need from the bunch or just pick a few leaves. It’s best to change the water every few days but I sometimes forget and it still lasts for weeks. If any leaves do go yellowish just remove those along with their stalks. 

YoungBlueEyes

Fresh herbs - they'll very often grow if you poke the stalks down into some compost and keep the wee pots on a sunny windowsill  

EssexHebridean

"Samosa folding" plastic bags for life - they take up far less space, are easy to shove into pockets, bags, car door cubbies etc. Game changer. 

YoungBlueEyes

Here’s something else I do as I don’t do the flask thing. I drink cuppa teas in threes (am) and coffees in twos (pm).  Between brews fold a tea towel over your kettle, keeps a lot of heat in it so you’re only waiting a wee minute for it to boil again 🙂