Tips make working in the kitchen easier

Posted Jan 26, 2012 By Pat Trew

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EMC Lifestyle - When you dice or chop vegetables such as onion, peppers or potatoes on a cutting board, it can sometimes be a challenge to transfer small pieces to a measuring cup or saucepan without spilling them.

The next time you have to do this, use an egg flipper. Slip it under the chopped vegetables, and you'll be able to lift even the smallest pieces without any spills. This also works well when you need to transfer chopped nuts from the cutting board.

If you've ever poured a chunky soup from a pot to a bowl or storage container, you know that it often splashes over everything nearby you, the stove and the kitchen counter. This happens because the liquid always goes into your container first, followed by the chunks that splash into the liquid.

A simple solution is to turn a soup ladle upside down in the container before you start pouring. Pour the soup over the back of the ladle. This breaks up the flow of chunks so they are less likely to splash into the liquid.

If you have a bread machine or buy unsliced bread, it can be tricky to slice the last part of the loaf.

When the bread reaches that point, place what's left flat on the counter or cutting board. Cut the loaf in two so that, instead of being full height, each portion is half the height of the full loaf. The last of the bread will be much easier and safer to slice.

Most automatic dishwasher instructions tell you to run water in the nearest tap until it's hot, then to start up the dishwasher.

If you have dishes that, for one reason or another, have to be washed by hand, run the water for them into the nearest sink first. You'll have hot water for washing the special dishes as well as hot water ready for the dishwasher.

Here's another way to use less hot water. When you wash dishes and pots by hand, you probably rinse them with hot water.

Before you start, run only enough hot water to fill the sink 3-4" deep. As you wash the dishes, rinse them under hot water and let that water run into your washing water. Your sink will gradually fill with hot water, and you'll have enough to wash the large pots and pans at the end.

If you want to make a quick cup of rich-tasting hot chocolate, pour 1% milk into a microwave-safe container or mug. Microwave on High for 1 minute and 30 seconds (for an 1100 watt oven) or 1 minute and 50 seconds (for a lower watt oven). Watch carefully near the end of the time. If the milk starts to boil, turn off the oven immediately, or the liquid will boil over.

To the hot milk, add 1 heaping teaspoon of instant hot chocolate mix and 1 heaping teaspoon of coffee creamer. Stir, or whisk until dissolved. Marshmallows are optional.

For adults, stir in 1/2-1 tsp. of Bailey's Irish Cream liqueur.