Hi jasdip......yes they both work. I put a pan of water, not boiling into the oven and put the covered dough on the upper rack. Just the water being in the oven is enough to give the dough the humidity it needs for a GREAT rise!

The stainless steel trick is well known. Kitchen speciality stores actually sell a piece of brushed stainless steel, shaped like an egg and sorta flat....yes I bought one. :0) It lessens the smell. Rubbing knife blades just seemed....dangerous....I'm sort of a clutz.

Other tips:
I also have the round piece of 1/4" thick glass to put in boiling water to keep the pot from boiling over. It works too! and leather pot holders to keep from catching them on fire......I used to do that a LOT with cloth pot holders. And if you have hard water a stainless steel tea kettle won't get mineral deposits in the bottom when you leave water sitting in it.

For the Garlic (and it works for Onions too) thing... I just use my faucet spout...it's stainless, not dangerous, and it's already there when I'm washing my hands! Seems to work fine.

This is the stainless steel doo-dad that Kitchen specility stores sell. It has a little end for cleaning under your fingernails too! :0) I prefer not to cross contaminate my kitchen by rubbing my dirty hands on my faucet or my refrigerator......or... any other SS fixtures in my kitchen.

I was my hands frequently when preparing food. So often m y hands don't smell.

Or just wash some of your stainless steel flatware by hand instead of putting them in the dishwasher. I don't have that option so I automatically de-stink my hands. I've seen the little blocks for sale. Although Dawn & Joy dish liquids generally remove any smell as does lemon juice or vinegar when they're used.

I've often put the pan of hot water in the oven to make an imitation "proofer". Preheat the oven just a touch to get the walls and racks warmed to about the temp you want, then it won't lose the heat as quickly. A warm, moist proofer makes for great big fluffy rolls, breads and the like.

The only tip I can think of offhand to add is to avoid cutting yourself while chopping vegetables have someone else hold them while you chop away. Jasdip, can you stop over for a while?

Oh wait, here's a few more:

Although baking soda has thousands of uses, my favorite is to get rid of coffee and tea stains in mugs. For some reason my preferred mugs stain quite easily and they don't wash out. I take a parmesan or romano can, fill it with baking soda and have an instant shaker can next to the sink, then just sprinkle some baking soda into the mug, add a drop or two of water so it's a paste and the stain instantly wipes out. Can take the paste to the next mug and use it there too until it's gone. There, a "2-4-1", two tips in one.

The best storage container for a raw onion after it is cut is a airtight screw top glass jar. A cut onion can be refrigerated this way for up to a week. A salsa jar is nice and wide and short enough to fit many onion sizes without being too tall.

Here's another 2-4-1 tip: Remove dirty or greasy fingerprints from painted walls or non-washable wallpaper by rubbing the area with a slice of white bread. It's probably the kids' jelly stains anyway so just save the bread and you have the rugrat's lunch for the next day already made up. Often this "home schools" the kid too. They might learn to wash their grubby paws next time! (So is that a 3-4-1?)

I keep a supply of cheap disposeable food handling/serving gloves in the kitchen for the sloppy jobs like mixing meatloaf by hand, cleaning poultry, even cleaning the gunky stuff or if you have had it and must kill the neighbor, cut up the body and put it down the garbage disposal or into the wood chipper. The gloves are inexpensive and keep the hands clean and basically smell-free but with the lightweight plastic they can be difficult to put on. No problem, grab a little flour or cornstarch and coat your fingertips. They'll slide on easily.

I like that idea about the onion in a jar. I guess I never reuse those jars because I didn't think they'd be tight enough. If you always use the jar, you don't have to be fishing around the refrig for whatever container you last put the onion in. You know it's in the clear jar.

I have a package of the gloves. Occasionally they do come in handy when doing an icky job. I have used them when putting "special treats" out for the rats which hang around my house.

nicole,
I don't rub my totally dirty hands on the faucet. I wash them first and them rub the "smell" off by rubbing them on the faucet and sometimes rinse or wash again. It's very quick, easy, and probably less of a chance of cross contamination than using a separate stone. It's become a habit that sometimes I'm not even aware I'm doing.

carla35.....I wasn't advising YOU personnally. :0) I googled this topic and found several sites recommending that people in general RUB their hands on their faucets.

I also found NO scientific evidence in articles posted that it works. One test a couple did showed that rubbing your hands on a smooth stone had the same cleaning effect....so maybe it's not a chemical reaction to the SS...just getting the pores cleaner. But this product is sold and I do own one....so I posted a picture and my preference. :0)

I keep a quart container of Clorox bleach under my kitchen sink to clean teapots and teacups. Just dribble less than a teaspoon of Clorox in a teapot and fill with water. It will beleach out the stains within a short time. Then pour that bleach water into any stained mugs or teacups.

If you salt your homemade soup too much, just chop up a potato and cook it into the soup. Potatoes always need salt and adding one will balance out the soup.

If you are making broth for soup, put the broth into the refrigerator to chill. The fat will float to the top, solidify, and be easy to remove.

Ice cream too hard to scoop? Put it in the microwave for a few seconds.

All of these an more have been added to the website if you ever need them (tips to share page)

Now this is a kind of silly one. When opening a package of ice cream cones, open from the bottom and you won't havea those broken tops. Oh, I know, it's not a world-shaking tip, but I like my cones unbroken!

I have a tip for cleaning the inside of a dirty microwave of dried on spills. (my roommate can make a mess of it when I'm gone out of town for a week or so)
I take a dish towel and get it wet and wring it out. Fold it into a size that will fit easily into the microwave and then nuke it for a minute or so to make it hot and steamy. Then you just wipe up the spills..... they come right off with no scrubbing.
Some really good tips here. Thanks!

Look out--cynic's on a roll!! You crack me up!

I use the plastic gloves for things like that, too, because I have fingernails.

Putting a measure of fresh coffee grounds in a small open-topped container and placing it in a closed area will take even the worst odors out of the refrig, closet, car, trashcan, ... Tie fresh coffee grounds in the toe of an old stocking and push it into smelly shoes.

Many truckers have used this trick for years. The whole can of coffee and a couple hours of driving and no one can smell anything in the trailer. Just sweep it out when you get where you're going. it's cheaper and easier then getting the trailer power washed. When I worked in a convenience store sometimes someone would break a bottle of alcohol inside the cold box, I just set a couple of coffee filters out with fresh coffee in them and in a little while--fresh air.

Here's a tip I have used for years.
Put your new SOS pads in an airtight container.
When you use an SOS pad and it is still usable
put it in the container with the rest. I will never rust.
Dolly

I just wanna know where I can find one of those SS bar thingys..or at least what they're called! We don't have any kitchen specialty stores here, but if I knew what they're called, I could probably find one of eBay!

country_bumpkin......see this link....

Here is a link that might be useful: Stainless steel odor remover....

Here are some much cheaper

Here is a link that might be useful: magic metal soap

I use the inside steamer insert that comes with frozen steamer meals
I keep one in the corner of the sink and drain things in there so they don't go down the drain.
I also use one on the sink on top of several folds of
paper towels. I put all the bottle tops to various empties that I use for juice etc. They drain nicely and don't get stuck inthe regular dish drainer.

That's why I posted about using a knife. I think it's funny that people buy a stainless bar, when a stainless knife will do. At no cost.

Try a dinner knife or a spoon if you're afraid of cutting yourself.
I just use my chef's knife after chopping the garlic, running my fingers along the back edge of the knife.

That's a great tip Minnie. Now I have to find someone who uses those for the strainer.

Patti43, yes, Cynic is on a roll. Actually, I think he should be a writer on some of these so-called comedy TV shows. He can put a point across with his dry sense of humor, so a person gets info with a chuckle. He put a couple hints in his post that made me think, well, duh! why didn't I think of that. The onion in a jar and BS to clean stained coffee mugs. Thanks Cynic, and to all of the other good hints.

Hey Dotmom, the beauty of this forum is...

dare I say it????

Naw, I shouldn't.....

WTH...

there's certainly no shortage of BS!

No BS, just an observation of the bad writing on TV and your interesting, informative and humorous posts.

Cynic, take a compliment will ya? LOL

Were you a writer or editor in a previous part of your life?
You have an amazing gift with words, and paint quite colourful pictures!

(btw, I'll be right there jumping at the chance to hold your veggies for you while you cut them, and give you a maple syrup enema) Hahahahahahaaa.

Oh Joann, don't bother putting the previous post in the Gathering Place!! ;-) Not very pretty.

Dotmom, you know I wasn't speaking of you! Just the multitude of hot air generators we all see so often (and people wonder what causes "global warming"!). But thank you for the kind words.

Jasdip, actually I used to do quite a bit of writing (a variety of things) many years ago now. Don't get the chance to do much these days other than forums, emails and such. Don't even do my annual holiday rant & rave review. Maybe it should be revived. But this way is much more fun, keeps the mind active and don't have editor hassles. Only the FGs on patrol. Come to think of it, maybe it's not that different! :)

I just rub my wet hands over the faucet.Takes away the odor of garlic and onions.

Sorry,I didn't read all the post's before I posted. I don't know why it works but it does every time for me!

Rub the white inside of a banana peel on Eczema to help minimize certain types of outbreaks.

Drink 8 oz milk when you eat garlic to help keep the smell from coming through your skin-pores.

Before you chop chili peppers, rub a little vegetable oil into your hands and your skin won't absorb the spicy chili oil.

I'm keeping the two needles a day (pointy end [which is covered with a plastic sleeve that slides up over it and locks] down toward the metal at the bottom) that I've used for a week in a frozen orange juice can ...

... and now that I'm finished, I can tape a cardboard cap on it, label it and return it to the ER, or a Pharmacy, etc. for appropriate disposition.

ole joyful

OJ, call ahead and make sure they will take them for disposal - I doubt they will want you to bring used needles back into the hospital. Ask if someone can accompany you to the hospital's or pharmacy's hazardous materials dumpster, where you could toss them in.

I use Chicken stock a lot in cooking, so I buy a large carton of it. When I use what I need after opening the carton, I freeze the rest in ice cube trays and when frozen, I put them in zip-lock bags and next time I need some I just grab however many stock-cubes I need.

Got this in an email recently and I tried it, and it works.

If you've got food stored in plastic bags with a twist tie, try this.
Cut the neck off a water bottle. Thread the top of the plastic bag through the plastic neck, fold the plastic down and screw the cap back on, over the plastic and the threads. Keeps food air and water tight.

I don't have many things in plastic, I put do have it on a couple of things. I freeze my bread in the outer milk bag and did this. Hubby wondered what on earth I was doing now. LOL

I never use twist ties. For instance on a loaf of bread I just take out what I need, stand it on end, run my hands up to remove as much air as possible, pinch off the bag and give it a few twists then fold the back back over the loaf. As you get more out, it's easier to do. It's very tight and it doesn't pop open very often. For things you put in the refrigerator, just set it so the folded part is underneath it or on its side and it prevents it from opening.

I dislike twist ties. I don't think they seal tight very often since people don't twist them tight enough. Even bread in stores I will see where the tie is loose. Bugs me enough that I won't buy it. Just lets in stuff I don't want to take home.

And for garbage bags, no twist tie either! I just tie a couple knots and it's tighter than a twist tie.

When making pie crust for a non-sweet pie, a quiche or a meat/veg. pot pie for instance, I use one Tablespoon Worchestshire Sauce to replace one of the tablespoons of water, then cut back a little on the salt. I think it makes a tastier, richer-looking pie crust for that purpose.

Bright air odor eliminator (sold at General Dollar Stores) is great and the different fragrances are awesome. I never throw the containers away,,just pop up whatever is left when you think it is all gone and stack it in another jar with those leftovers! Contiues to work for weeks more and those empty containers with the slotted cut out tops wash up nicely and the lids screw on well. I often use them to drop change into that someone misses in their pockets at the washer. My GK love to use them for "piggy banks" and they are great for storing that ground coffee or coffee beans in to eliminate odors too!

for the disposal of used medical needles/lancets you can go to any pharmacy and ask for a sharps disposal container, they should provide it to you free, especially if you use them for your pharmacy supplies. That way they are well marked while in your home and no one can mistake it for anything other than what it is.
Types of Sharps Disposal Programs

this link was working hope it still is but if you want a free sharps container they were providing them free.
Sharps Container

I know that walgreens does give them away free as do most of the big pharmacies.
I am diabetic and have to dispose of my lancets etc in them and have always been able to get them free.

for Handy tips: I use a scented dryer sheet in each new vacuum cleaner bag to make it smell better, I also put a dryer sheet in the bottom of the new trash liner bag in my kitchen trash can.

Took the orage juice can, with needles, and including the medicine bottles that I'd used, with me when I went to visit the doc. at haematology.

Nurse took 'em, no problem, dumped them all into their disposal box.

Took the unused syringes (in plastic wrap) and bottles of unused thinner, too, and will reissue them.

Had an ultrasound the other day to see whether they figure that the clot originated there, and doc says that he'll see me again in Jan.

So everything seems apple pie, at present.

ole joyfilled

My groceries are always sliding around when I put them in the back of my SUV. I saw the plastic boxes at Target that look like old milk crates for $2 each and got 4 of them. I use them for groceries or other small purchases. The boxes don't slide because they are rough on the bottom. When I buy something like mulch you can put one inside the other and if that is not enough room they are easy to put in the back seat.

One of those clear, flexible cutting mats under your stand mixer is invaluable for moving it around with ease.

Here's a few I got in an email earlier today.

Add salt to a teaspoon of baby or olive oil to exfoliate hands or feet.

If an electric plug fits too tight and is difficult to pull out, rub its prongs with a soft lead pencil.

Need to peel a bunch of oranges for a salad? Just soak the oranges in boiling water for five minutes then peel as usual. As a bonus, the "white" part of the peel will come off along with the peel to give an awesome look to your salad.

Keeping your dressing on the lettuce: This is a great tip to keep your oil-based salad dressings from going to the bottom of the bowl and keeping it on your greens! Take your dressing and heat it in the microwave for ten seconds before using.

I just found this one "America's Cheapest Family"

To keep gnats away, Rub a thin film of baby oil on all exposed skin before heading outside if gnats are active. The oil forms a barrier against gnat bites

Some great ideas here!

I have a Swiffer Wet Jet (two kids, two cats and a dog make it somewhat of a necessity) and hate buying the refills (and can't figure out how to take the cap off without ruining it) so I kept an empty bottle, cut a little hole in the bottom - a bit smaller than a wine cork, used a lighter to make the hole nice and round and use the cork to plug it. I can refill it with a mixture of water/cleaner. I made cloths for it also, instead of using the throw-away pads - stitched together a folded facecloth and added two straps of elastic to hold it on, can just throw them in the wash!
I can be a little thrifty at times :o)

Place bowls of horse chessnuts in areas around the house.
Spiders will dissapear. They don't like the odor.
Dolly

Regarding the idea above about using a (water) bottle to seal a plastic bag by cutting off the bottom of the bottle, then threading the top of the bag out though the neck and folding down over, then putting on the cap ...

... it'd usually be easy to put the top of the bottle to your mouth and suck out almost all of the air.

That should help things that deteriorate in the presence of air to stay fresh/last longer.

ole joyful

When I want to dish out ice cream, I run hot water, pour it in a cup, then let my metal scoop sit in the hot water a minute. The heated scoop glides thru tough frozen ice cream.

Need extra counter space for serving that holiday dinner? I keep one of those laminated shelves about 14 in wide and 2 feet long on top of my microwave.When I need a little extra counter space I open a drawer,slide the shelf on top of the drawer and close it against the board so the board is snug.I have 3 top drawers on the side of my cabinets where I put dishes of food when serving buffet style meals.I have a long leaf from an old table that I slide on top of the three pulled out drawers.Makes about 3 feet of extra counter space.

Lilliepad,

I love your hint about the extra counter space. Counter space is at a minimum in my kitchen, and I have some of those laminated boards around here somewhere. Thanks for the hint!!

Stacie

I use cutting boards on the drawers for extra counter space. Lighter weight than boards and you have an easy to clean cutting surface.

Also with the Wet Jet, there's no need to go through the hassle of cutting and corking. I've even seen adapters being sold to refill them. Why? Simply unscrew the top and refill when needed. I've refilled mine since I got it. The problem is where the top is poked to dispense the cleaner wears out and can leak after a while so you need to replace a bottle every few years. Or the cap at least.