TIPical Mary Ellen host Mary Ellen Pinkham shares some of her grandmother's tried-and-true tips.
- To add a subtle, sweet flavor to corn on the cob, add 1/2 cup of sugar to the water when cooking.
- When boiling milk, put a large marble into it. The marble will automatically stir the milk and prevent it from scalding.
- The quickest way to clean a burned aluminum pan is by pouring water into the pot, adding an onion and letting it boil for a short while. The burnt matter will loosen and rise to the top.
- To make a candle fit in a candleholder, dip the end of a candle in hot water. This will make the wax soft enough to squeeze into the holder.
- To prevent clumps in your salt shaker, put a few grains of rice in with the salt.
- To tenderize meat, put vinegar over it before you cook it.
- To bake potatoes faster, let them stand in hot water for 15 minutes before cooking. This should cut the baking time in half.
- When making pancakes, add a teaspoon of melted butter to the batter. The color of the pancakes will be golden, and they won’t stick to the pan.
- To remove ink stains in linen, rub with a ripe tomato, then wash in lukewarm water.
- To dry wet boots, fill them with oats. This will absorb the moisture while keeping the shape of your boots.
- Remove paint from windows and brushes with hot vinegar.
- To prevent a candle from dripping, put salt around the top of it.
- To remove the smell of smoke in a room, place a bowl of water in the room. The water will absorb the fumes.
