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Nontraditional Uses for Household Items

TIPical Mary Ellen : Episode TIP-1305 -- More Projects »
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Use a turkey baster for forming perfect pancakes.
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Figure A
TIPical Mary Ellen host Mary Ellen Pinkham shares some unusual uses for common household items.

  • Buttering corn for a large crowd? Roll the corn in the ditch of a brand new paint tray into which you've poured melted butter (figure A), and/or use a brand new paintbrush to slosh on the melted butter.
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Figure B
  • Use a decorative teapot to store kitchen string. Simply thread the string through the teapot's spout (figure B).
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    Figure C
  • Use golf tees to mark where you have to plant bulbs (figure C).
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    Figure D
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    Figure E
  • When old spices lose their potency, use them as air fresheners. Place the leftovers in a saucepan with a cup of water and one tablespoon of vegetable oil (figure D) and simmer.

  • When a recipe calls for cold butter to be cut into flour, press the butter through a potato ricer (figure E).
    • Also in this Episode
    TIPical Mary Ellen : Episode TIP-1305
    •Chicken Potpie
    •Preparing Children for a Move
    •Nontraditional Uses for Household Items
    •Tip of the Day
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