Question: My mom told me never to wash store-bought mushrooms with water. How in the world can I clean those ugly little things?
— Mavis
Answer: When purchasing mushrooms, begin by buying them through a reliable source; picking wild mushrooms can be dangerous. Store mushrooms in the fridge in either a brown paper bag or on a plate covered with a damp cloth or paper towel. Unless you are dealing with dried mushrooms, your mother is right; it is never advisable to soak them in water because they are very porous, much like sponges. All that is required for fresh mushrooms — which, by the way, are grown in a sterile environment — is to either wipe them with a damp cloth or brush them with a toothbrush or mushroom brush. Avoid peeling mushrooms — doing this removes much of the flavour.
Question: Peppers are finally back in season and a little more affordable. What is the difference between the colours of pepper? — Silvy
Answer: Peppers are a delicious and healthy food that adds vitamins and flavour to many dishes. Red peppers are fully ripened, resulting in a sweeter, fruitier flavour and are more expensive than yellow or green. Green bell peppers can be harvested sooner and are cheaper to grow and sell; they have a mild, bitter flavour. Yellow peppers are simply in the middle of the spectrum when it comes to ripeness — some varieties remain yellow when fully mature.
Question: I have glued my area rug with double-sided tape to my existing carpet...and now it seems an impossible task to remove the tape from the carpet (I live in a rental apartment). I need your solution to this mess that I have created.
— Gabe
Answer: What I would do in your case is soak the carpet with the hottest water that the carpet can stand. Doing this loosens the glue, making it easier to scrape adhesive residue. Another option is WD-40; open the windows in order to ventilate the room. Spray the carpet, let sit for 10 minutes, and wipe up all sticky residues. Clean the carpet area with dish soap and water. Rinse with water and pat dry.
Note: Every user assumes all risks of injury or damage resulting from the implementation of any suggestions in this column. Test all products on an inconspicuous area first.
Reena Nerbas is a popular motivational presenter for large and small groups; check out her website: reena.ca. Ask a question or share a tip at reena.ca.
