Question: I am trying to incorporate fish into our family diet, how do I determine how long to cook fish? Rebecca
Answer: Measure the thickest part of the fish and cook it for six to eight minutes per half-inch in a 425 F oven.
Question: How do you prepare frozen shredded zucchini to use in baking? Joan
Answer: You can successfully incorporate frozen zucchini into your recipes. Begin by thawing the zucchini and then straining the excess liquid into a container to freeze for homemade soups, or strain through a cheesecloth. Leave for a couple of hours so the liquid has enough time to seep through the strainer. Squeeze out all liquid and use the zucchini as directed. Some people advise against straining zucchini and use the excess liquid in place of the liquid in recipes, but this seems risky, as you will not have as much control of the amount of liquid in the food, and you could end up with soggy baking.
Question: I have a problem! Last night, I realized that inadvertently, I had brushed up against a newly painted wall during the day and got paint on my new stretch jeans. By that time, it had dried. How can I remove the paint without ruining the jeans? The paint is water based, but I would like to know, from an expert, how to go about that removal, please. Sincerely, Margaret
Answer: I think you can still get the stain out, or at least most of the stain out if you scrub it with dish soap and a green scrubby pad. You need that bit of texture from the scrubby pad to peel the paint off. Wash as normal. If the stain remains you may want to take aggressive action. In a ventilated area, soak the stain in methyl hydrate or paint thinner (found at your local hardware store) (test on an inconspicuous area first). Leave for 24 hours and scrub. Next soak the jeans in dish soap and water, rinse and wash as normal.
Hot dog hint
If a big crowd of people is visiting for several hours, consider the simplicity of a self-serve hot dog bar. Cook wieners and set them in a slow cooker with a bit of water on the bottom to keep them fresh. Have condiments and buns next to the slow cooker. Guests can help themselves whenever they are hungry. Don’t forget to cover the buns so they don’t dry out.
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 at reena.ca.
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