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Hints, Shortcuts, Etc.


Here are a few of my favorite tips and tricks - I found them in a family cookbook I made years ago, and thought I'd share, especially as outdoor eating season is approaching:
 
Bacon
­Cook up a pound of bacon, cool it and pat dry.  Put in a freezer storage bag and crumble it.  Store in the freezer and use whatever you need to add to dishes.

No More Bees at Your Picnic!
Sprinkle sprigs of fresh mint among the dishes at your picnic table, and the bees will stay away.  It really works!

Reheat Pizza
Heat up leftover pizza in a non-stick skillet on top of the stove, set heat to med-low and heat until warm. This keeps the crust crispy. No soggy micro pizza. I saw this on a cooking channel and it really works.

Measuring Cups
Before you pour sticky substances into a measuring cup, fill it with hot water. Dump out the hot water, but don't dry the cup. Next, add your ingredient, such as peanut butter, and watch how easily it comes right out in an hour or two. Voila! It unseals easily.

Expanding Frosting
When you buy a container of cake frosting from the store, whip it with your mixer for a few minutes. You can double it in size. You get to frost more cake/cupcakes with the same amount. You also eat less sugar/calories per serving.

Goodbye Fruit Flies
To get rid of pesky fruit flies, take a small glass fill it /2" with Apple Cider Vinegar and 2 drops of dishwashing liquid, mix well. You will find those flies drawn to the cup and gone forever!

Get Rid of Ants
Put small piles of cornmeal where you see ants. They eat it, take it "home," & can't digest it so it kills them. It may take a week or so, esp. if it rains, but it works & you don't have the worry about pets or small children being harmed.

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