QUESTION: Sweet potatoes are difficult to peel and, although I like the taste of them, I find that the peeler becomes dull from the tough, uneven peel. Any faster tips would be appreciated.
— Terrance
Answer: The fastest and easiest trick for peeling sweet potatoes, regular potatoes and yams is to leave them whole, or cut them into quarters. Boil the potatoes and cook them until a knife glides through them easily. Cool the potatoes by leaving them in the colander or soaking them in cold water. Use your fingers to pull the peel off and let it slide off into your hands. The other option is to boil and eat the soft peel.
Question: Please provide me with a dessert recipe for a dish with ingredients that I can keep on hand in my pantry. If company drops by, I can easily whip it together without sneaking off to the grocery store.
— Mary
(Additional suggestions for Mary should be sent to: info@reena.ca)
Answer: Not only does this dessert taste good, it also looks pretty in a parfait glass. Here are the ingredients that you will need to keep on hand for eight servings: 15 lemon cookies, 21-ounce can blueberry pie filling, eight-ounce frozen whipped topping, 14-ounce sweetened condensed milk and six-ounce frozen lemonade concentrate. Crush the cookies and sprinkle them into individual parfait glasses. Add 1.5 tbsp. pie filling. Into a bowl combine: milk, lemonade, and whipped topping. Spoon 2 tbsp. mixture over pie filling. Repeat the layers until the ingredients are gone. Top with remaining cookies. Chill and serve.
Question: How do you prevent a reusable recycling bin from smelling? It is not as bad as it was in the summer, but it’s still bad. Help!
— Ken
Answer: Wash all food containers before placing them in the bin. Some people use compostable bin liners or double-wrap items with newspaper to keep the bin clean. Use water and baking soda, and if possible, a pressure-washer to clean the bin. Once every few months, use bleach and water or water and vinegar to thoroughly disinfect the bin.
Question: Goo Gone works well to get glue off plastic containers that have glued-on labels. My problem is that I can’t get the Goo Gone off my kitchen sink. Do you know of anything that would dissolve it? It’s kind of oily and takes repeated scrubbing with fresh soap and a piece of "nylon net" to eventually get it off the sink. And then I must use more soap to get the Goo Gone out of the nylon net. Thank you.
— Joan
Answer: It is not recommended to allow Goo Gone to contact stainless steel appliances or sinks as it can discolour or darken the metal. To remove the residue, apply a baking soda paste, scrub with a non-scratching scrubby pad and rinse. Use dish soap to remove any residue, then rinse with water.
Holiday hints that make scents
Create a fresh, natural bathroom aroma by filling a clear bowl with water and adding a few drops of cinnamon essential oil. Add an additional Christmas accent by floating decorative poinsettias on the surface.Before company arrives, fill a slow cooker with Wassail and let the smells of Christmas fill the air all evening, while guests help themselves to a delicious cup of this hot drink.
Wassail recipe: Combine one litre apple cider, four cinnamon sticks, one whole nutmeg, half-cup (125 mL) honey, one-quarter cup (60 mL) lemon juice. Simmer the Wassail on the stove or in a slow cooker and encourage guests to help themselves.
Candy cane air-freshener recipe: In an eight-ounce spray bottle combine 5-10 drops of peppermint essential oil with enough water to fill the bottle. Spray this holiday fragrance in every room of the house.
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. Have a great suggestion or tip? Please send an email at: reena.ca. Reena Nerbas is a popular motivational presenter for large and small groups. Check out her website: reena.ca.
