Hang seasonal wreaths to store

Question: I own several Christmas wreaths, which I pile into plastic totes in my basement when I put them away. Every year I waste hours fluffing up each wreath before hanging them. Do you have any idea of how I can store wreaths so that they don’t become squished?

— Mindy

Answer: Store wreaths on hangers and cover them with an upside-down plastic garbage bag (much like a dry cleaning bag). Hang wreaths on a rod in the basement or inside a closet; they will not lose their shape.

Question: My children love to eat chicken wings. I make the wings by battering them with flour and spices, but when I deep-fry the wings the coating falls off, making a big mess of skinless chicken wings. What am I doing wrong?

— Rorie

Answer: Here is the trick: after rolling chicken wings in batter, cover the bowl of wings with plastic wrap and place the bowl in the fridge for 90 minutes. As the flour adheres to the meat, the wings become sticky and the batter holds to the meat during frying. Also, make sure that the oil is very hot before dropping meat into the pot. To test proper deep-frying temperature, drop a bite-size piece of bread into the oil. If the oil bubbles around the bread and the bread turns light brown within 60 seconds, the oil is ready to use. Or put the handle end of a wooden spoon into the oil; when bubbles form along the handle a little, the oil is ready. Or drop a popcorn kernel into the oil. The kernel pops when oil reaches approximately 350 F, which is perfect for deep-frying.

Question: I enjoy your column every week and I wonder if you have a solution for cleaning the real feather wings on some angels I inherited recently when my mother and sister died.

— Jan

Answer: I am so sorry to hear about your losses; I am sure these angels are extra special to you. Since the feathers are attached to the body of the angels it may be difficult to hand-wash the feathers with dish soap and water, which is a popular technique for cleaning bird feathers. You can take them outside and hold a hair dryer to the wings to blow off dust. Or you can use a steamer to wet the wings and sterilize them. Dry the feathers with a hair dryer. The angels should look as good as new.

Feedback

Re: Homemade Pancake Syrup

Here is my version for easy homemade pancake syrup. In a pot, stir together one cup of brown sugar and half a cup of water. Boil for about one minute and add one teaspoon vanilla or maple flavouring! It’s delicious and saves well in the fridge.

— Carol

Quick Shoe-Drying Tips

• Dry shoes in a hurry by stuffing them with newspaper or tissue paper. Change the paper often.

• Stuff shoes with a rolled-up towel to absorb moisture.

• Dry shoes on a drying rack inside the dryer.

• Dry with the help of a hair dryer.

• Lay the opening of the shoes onto a heat vent to dry.

• Cut a wire hanger to form two "S"-shaped hooks. Hook the hangers onto the front of an electric fan. Remove shoelaces and hook the shoes onto hooks with the opening facing the fan. Turn on the fan.

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.