Kitchen Hints and Tips
Snacks
Popcorn
- Popcorn will pop better if you store it in the freezer and pop while frozen.
- Buy the inexpensive brand and keep the kernels in the refrigerator. Put them into hot oil to pop.
- Make sure all your popcorn kernels pop by rinsing them in cold water before cooking.
- Make gourmet popcorn by melting 1 tablespoon each of peanut butter, grape jelly and butter and pour over 6 cups of popped corn.
- "Old maids" can be eliminated by running ice cold water over the kernels before throwing into the popper.
- Form popcorn balls around lollipops.
- Before you serve it, put fresh popcorn in a large plastic bag with a small hole cut in a bottom corner, then shake. The unpopped kernels will spill out from the hole.
- Popcorn should always be kept in the freezer. Not only will it stay fresh, but freezing helps eliminate "old maids."
Potato Chips
- If potato chips lose their freshness, place under the broiler for a few moments. Take care not to brown them.
- For garlic-flavored potato chips, put a peeled garlic clove in a container with chips for several hours. Discard garlic clove before serving chips.
- Freshen soggy potato chips quickly by placing in a 375 degree F oven and baking for a few minutes. Watch them carefully and remove before they brown.
Potato Peels
- Potato Peel Snacks: When peeling potatoes for mashed potatoes, save the peelings, toss them in a bowl, season with salt, pepper and a little Italian dressing and bake at 400 degrees F for 20 minutes, or until they are crispy. It makes a quick and healthy snack.