Matthew Mead / The Associated Press
Baked products made with whole wheat flour have a heavier, more compact texture.
Question: I love chocolate more than anything in the entire world. However, white chocolate is something I can live without. What exactly is white chocolate? Morisa
Answer: Nothing beats the great taste, texture and versatility of chocolate. White chocolate is an imposter and should not even call itself chocolate. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, white chocolate is really not chocolate at all, because it does not contain "chocolate liquor" from the cocoa bean. It is a blend of cocoa butter, sugar, milk and flavorings.
I guess I could give up the habit of eating chocolate every day… what am I saying, I’m no quitter!
Question: From time to time my wife uses the peel from oranges to make a coarse-cut marmalade that is spiced with a small quantity of rum. A recent batch resulted in a very dark marmalade quite different from the normal orange colour. We wonder if some chemical used to deter insects or mould is responsible for the colour. The same saucepan was used for both batches. Unfortunately, the peels were obtained from several purchases of oranges, making it impossible to follow up with a specific grocery or grower. Have you encountered this question before? We would love to have an answer. Naturally, we are reluctant to consume the marmalade if it contained a chemical contaminant. Greetings and very best wishes. John
Answer: There are a few factors that can contribute to homemade marmalade colour differences. If you scald a batch even slightly, it is still be consumable, only darker. Another factor is that most citrus comes in during the winter. But there are varieties of oranges that arrive during other times of the year. The area and temperature in which the fruit was grown can make a big difference as to the colour of the final product. In my opinion, the colour-change culprit is none other than the rum. Depending on the country the alcohol came from and how it was manufactured, this is likely why your marmalade turned out dark. The marmalade sounds safe to eat, but if you are not sure, discard it.
Question: I like buying whole-wheat bread for my family. What is the best way to store it? Kendra
Answer: Whole-wheat flour is milled from the entire wheat kernel-endosperm, bran and germ. Baked products made with whole-wheat flour have a heavier, more compact texture. Because the wheat germ contains fat, whole-grain flour is susceptible to becoming rancid. It should be refrigerated or frozen in an airtight container if it is to be stored for a long period of time.
Question: A solution, please! Something spilled on our carpet and we have tried everything to clean it. It is a circle about 10 inches in diameter; not just a stain, but all stuck together. I have a hunch it was oil. I have tried carpet cleaner, specifically Folex, soap and water, but it didn’t come out. Any ideas? Many thanks, Carole
Answer: Are you sure the stain is grease? It is strange that the fibres are stuck together. The first step whenever a grease spill occurs is to thoroughly cover the area with a thick, even layer of cornstarch. Work the cornstarch into the stain and watch the stain disappear, because cornstarch is an absorber. Blot the area with water and a dishcloth until the mess is gone. Another option is use clear dish soap and hot water. Since dish soap was developed as a grease cutter it does wonders at, well, cutting grease. Some people have also had great results with mechanic’s waterless hand cleaner, but test it on a small, inconspicuous area first. The challenge in experimenting with different products is that sometimes products can actually set a stain, making it very difficult to remove. If the grease stain does not budge, you may need to call a professional carpet cleaner to help. You can also spray the area with WD-40 and remove the adhesion. Then apply dish soap and water and blot.
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.
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