Island Wisdom

... From the Island in your Kitchen!

Island Wisdom

Storing Bananas... If you separate bananas when you get home from the store they keep longer. Connected at the stem, they ripen faster.

Cheese Storage... Store your opened chunks of cheese by wrapping in aluminum foil. The cheese will stay fresh much longer and not mold!

Which Peppers are best?... Peppers with 3 bumps on the bottom are sweeter and better for eating. Those with 4 bumps on the bottom are firmer and better for cooking.

Remove More Fat from Ground Beef... BEFORE you start cooking, place a teaspoon of water in the pan when frying ground beef. It will help pull the grease away from the meat while cooking. Do not add it after frying begins. It will cause the grease to splatter.

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 and calories per serving.

Reheating refrigerated bread... To warm biscuits, pancakes, or muffins that were refrigerated, place them in a microwave with a cup of water. The increased moisture will keep the food moist and help it reheat faster.

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

Goodbye Fruit Flies... To get rid of pesky fruit flies, take a small glass, fill it 1/2' with Apple Cider Vinegar and 2 drops of dish washing 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, especially if it rains, but it works and you don't have the worry about pets or small children being harmed!