QUESTION: Can you please give me an idea of how to liven up chocolate cupcakes? I have been asked to bring dessert to our ladies' tea and I want to 'WOW' them with something a little different. Hilda, Birtle
ANSWER: Have you ever considered making red velvet cupcakes? Bake your chocolate cupcakes as usual and add one ounce of red food colouring to the batter (reduce other liquid in recipe by one ounce i.e. milk). Cool. Ice the cupcakes by beating together: One package cream cheese, one-quarter-cup butter (softened), 2 tbsp. sour cream, 2 tsp. vanilla and gradually mix in 2 cups icing sugar. Top with red coloured sugar. Pretty and delicious!
QUESTION: In a previous column, you mentioned Urad for conditioning and cleaning leather. Where can I find this product? Diane, Winnipeg
ANSWER: I Googled Urad on the Internet, it is hard to find in stores. My father-in law buys it at trade shows. You can order it at http://www.uradleathercare.com. It lasts for a very long time.
Feedback From Manitobans Who Care:
-- Feedback Myth or Fact from previous column? When someone in your home is sick, cut an onion in half and put it on a plate beside their bed. The onion is said to draw out the bad germs in the room and actually turns black within a short period of time.
My sister and I went round and round with this last year. Her father-in-law (who has a PhD in biochemistry!) had sent her that information which she passed onto me. With a little investigation, we believe it isn't true at all -- just a myth. Maxine
-- Recently a reader asked for advice on cleaning the top of kitchen cupboards. Years ago a neighbour gave me some excellent advice and I've never needed to undertake that challenge again. I just cover the whole surface (after it is clean) with wax paper! The roll is just wide enough to fit most cupboards. Remove and replace as needed. Secondly, to remove the sticky goo that was up there when we moved into the house, I poured Mr. Clean and let it soak, then scraped it off with a scraper. Irene
-- I have had issues with etching on my glass shower doors. The best product I have found so far is called Cerama Bryte marketed for stoves with glass cook tops. I found it at Home Depot. I'm sure other cook top products would work as well. Although it doesn't eliminate the etching, it is barely noticeable after I use it and because it is made for 'glass' surfaces it won't scratch the glass. Great column in the Free Press. Love the tips. Karen
-- We had a similar problem to Arnie, soap tracks across frosted glass on our shower door. We tried everything we could think of but nothing worked. That included a soft scrub and baking soda, Vim, bleach, Lysol cleaner, and Windex. Finally I came across a bottle of Mr. Clean Extra Power Soap Scum Blaster that my daughter (the queen of coupons) gave me because she bought two to get the deal. It was a great investment, because it worked! Spray it on, use a kitchen soft scrub and a bit of elbow grease and the streaks came out! Hope you find this helpful. Elaine
Fantastic Tips of the Week:
-- An easy way to de-fat cooked ground beef is to squeeze it through a potato ricer. I would think if you run hot water over cooked ground beef, the fat would clog the sink eventually, and the water may wash away some of the nutrition of the meat. With the potato ricer, I squeeze the fat run into a tin can and dispose of it in the garbage. It's important to do this while the meat is hot. I have found ricers at Superstore for about $9.99. I enjoy your column. Keep up the good work! Maxine
Reena Nerbas is the author of the national bestselling Household Solutions series. Her website is www.householdsolutions.org. You can contact her at Box 429, Blumenort, Man., ROA 0C0.
