Free Game (Chef's Secrets)

 CREAM AND MILK 

To Make Sweet Milk Sour measure one tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice into a measuring cup. Add sweet milk up to one cup level and stir well. (The process of pasteurization prevents milk from souring naturally as raw milk did in Gma's day.)

To Whip Cream Readily add a few drops of lemon juice and chill thoroughly before whipping.

To Keep Scalding Milk From Scorching rinse pan with hot water before using.

To Whip Evaporated Milk place a can of milk in freezer until partially frozen. Pour contents into a very cold bowl, add 1 tablespoon lemon juice to 2/3 cup milk and whip as cream.

 EGGS

To Hard-Cook Egg Yolks drop into simmering water and keep below boiling until firm.

To Divide An Egg beat slightly and measure with tablespoon.

To Hold Eggs Together While Poaching add a few drops of vinegar or lemon juice to the cooking water.

To Cut Hard-Cooked Eggs Without Breaking The Yolk dip the knife into water.

To Prevent Meringue On Pies From Shrinking spread meringue on filling so that it touches the sides of pastry all around the edge. Bake 10 to 15 minutes in a 350*F oven.

To Glaze Top Of Rolls, Pastry, ETC., brush before baking with slightly beaten egg white and 1 tablespoon milk or water; use whole egg for yellow glaze.

 BUTTER, SHORTENING AND FAT

To Cut Butter Cleanly cover blade of knife with waxed paper or heat in warm water.

To Measure Less Than 1 Cup Of Shortening pour cold water (the amount being the difference between the amount of shortening called for in the recipe and 1 cup) into measuring cup and add shortening until water reaches the top of cup. For example, if 1/4 cup shortening is desired, pour 3/4 cup cold water into cup, add shortening until water reaches top and pour off water before using shortening.

To Clarify Fat strain slightly cooled fat through several thicknesses of cheesecloth to remove foreign materials. Put slices of raw potato in cooled fat; heat slowly until slices are well browned. Strain again and store in covered container in a cool place.

To Make Butter Balls scald a pair of wooden butter paddles and place in ice water about 1 hour. Measure butter by tablespoons to make balls uniform in size. Have butter firm but not hard and roll lightly between paddles with circular motion to form balls. Drop onto a chilled plate, onto cracked ice or into ice water.

 FISH AND MEAT

To Make Fish Firm And White add a little lemon juice to water while boiling.

To Avoid Unpleasant Odors While Cooking Fish cover with browned butter or lemon juice.

Meat Or Chicken May Be Floured Easily by placing in a paper bag with flour and shaking well.

To Keep Bacon From Curling snip edges with shears before cooking or broil between racks.

 SUGAR

To Keep Brown Sugar From Becoming Hard place it in a glass jar and cover tightly.

To Moisten Brown Sugar Which Has Already Hardened place a slashed apple or 1/2 apple in jar with sugar or place very moist bread in container with sugar; cover tightly.

 FRUITS

To Make Orange Or Grapefruit Segments pare with a sharp knife, slide knife blade along each segment wall to center and turn out segment with a slight twist of the knife.

To Peel Grapefruit And Oranges Easily let them stand in boiling water about 8 minutes before peeling.

To Keep Lemons Fresh place in glass jar, fill with water and cover tightly.

To Obtain Most Juice From Lemons heat before squeezing.

To Extract Juice From Lemon When A Small Amount Is Needed puncture the skin with a fork and gently squeeze out the amount required.

To Keep Limes Fresh place them in a jar, cover and store in refrigerator.

To Avoid Wrinkled Skins On Baked Apples slit in a few places before baking.

To Keep Cut Fruits From Discoloring sprinkle lemon or pineapple juice before grinding.

 BREAD

To Cut Fresh Bread Easily cut with a hot knife.

To Make A Large Croustade (Bread Bowl) for serving creamed food, cut crusts from a loaf of bread and remove center, leaving walls and bottom 3/4 thick. Brush with butter. Toast. Make small croustades from sections of loaf.

To Freshen Rolls place in a paper bag. Twist top of bag closed and heat in hot oven (400*F) 15 minutes.

 VEGETABLES

Grease Potato Skins Before Baking to keep them soft and tender.

To Keep Starches From Turning Black place them in salted water at once after pairing.

Peel Onions under water to keep them from making you cry.

To Keep Fresh Wet Herbs ( Parsley, Mint, Watercress, Etc.) wash thoroughly, shake off excess water, place in a glass jar, cover and place in refrigerator.

To Freshen Vegetables Gone Limp set in ice water.

To Keep Cauliflower White While Cooking use 1/2 milk and 1/2 water and cook without covering, until just tender.

To Skin A Tomato Easily place a fork through the stem end; plunge into boiling water. Or hold over direct heat. Break skin at blossom end and peel skin back.

 MISCELLANEOUS

Drain Deep Fat Fried Foods on absorbent paper.

To Melt Chocolate use a double boiler and heat until melted.

To Make Rice Whiter And More Fluffy add 1 teaspoon lemon juice to each quart of water while cooking.

To Open Jars Easily set them upside down in hot water for a few minutes.

To Keep A Dish Or Cutting Board From Slipping On Work Surfaces place on a folded wet towel.

Avoid Pouring Cold Liquids Into Hot Pans/Pots; the sudden change of temperature will cause metals to warp.

To Test Heat Of A Griddle place a few drops of water on griddle and if water scatters it is hot enough to brown food.