The Canadian Press files
Figs with Mascarpone cheese.
Question: I am baking a cheesecake for Christmas this year, the recipe calls for mascarpone cheese. Can you tell me what that is please? Alice
Answer: Mascarpone is an Italian cheese, made from fresh cream and citric or tartaric acid. If you can’t locate mascarpone cheese or if you find it too expensive, try a substitute in your recipe such as ricotta or cream cheese and whip until smooth.
Question: I love your weekly column and now have a question for you. The inner soles of my very expensive leather sandals are stinky! Is there some way I can clean them? Many thanks, Kate
Answer: Here are a few suggestions: Apply deodorant, foot powder, baking soda or baby powder to the bottom of your feet before putting sandals on. You can also purchase summer insoles to absorb all odors. Soak your feet in tea before putting sandals on. Clean the insoles with saddle soap, a product specifically designed for cleaning leather. Or wash the insoles with Murphy’s Oil Soap or vinegar and tea tree oil (found in the pharmacy department of most grocery stores).
Question: I brought my geraniums inside; they are still blooming and some flower petals dropped onto my silver grey carpet (not a throw rug!) and I stepped on them. There are now a series of bright red stains. What to do? HELP! Rose Marie
Answer: The first product that I would use on that stain is shaving cream which is basically whipped soap with glycerin added. Leave for 10 minutes, then wipe and rinse with water. If the stain remains, make your own carpet steam cleaner, I like to refer to this as lemon milk. Into a container pour one quarter teaspoon dish soap, half cup lemon juice and one tablespoon baking soda. Beat until frothy and apply it to carpeted area. Wait five minutes and blot. Or omit baking soda and use only lemon juice, one cup water and dish soap. Press with a warm steam iron to draw the stain out of the carpet. Test on an inconspicuous area first and be careful not to scorch the carpet. If the stain still remains, rinse well and apply The Fantastic Carpet Stain recipe from my website reena.ca, works great for pet stains, tea, coffee, wine, juice and rust on carpets.
Question: To add to the comment a reader previously made about why so many of his light bulbs are burning out at the same time. Another possible factor is many of the light bulbs were installed around the same time and with similar amounts of usage, so they burn out around the same time. I built my home and all bulbs were new when I moved in. Several burned out around the same time.This, of course, is not the same problem as if the lights blew at the same exact moment.
I enjoy and appreciate your column. I have been wondering what you would do to remove burnt-on cooking residue from the outside sides and bottom of a non-electric frying pan? I am looking for the fastest solution, please and thanks. Jack
Answer: In order to clean the outside of a frying pan, the easiest solution is to ventilate and apply oven cleaner. Leave on for a few hours and scrub well (check warranty first). The more difficult solution is to wet the outside and scrub with baking soda, dish soap and an abrasive pad.
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.
I enjoy your questions and tips; keep them coming. Need a presenter on the topic: Effective speaking or the Power of Words? Check out: Reena.ca
