Question: I am invited to a potluck and have been asked to supply salad for a large crowd of people. I was told that there is no room in the fridge for the salad. Do you have any tips for how to keep the salad cold until it is time to serve? Thanks. — Barb
Answer: Here’s an easy trick that will keep your salad cold. Fill a sealable bag full of ice and place it underneath the salad inside the bowl to keep your greens cool. Or place the entire bowl inside an even larger bowl that has crushed ice in the bottom. Be sure to add tomatoes, croutons and dressing just before serving.
Question: Please share with me a bread recipe that does not require a great deal of kneading. I used to make bread all the time but now find it difficult to work with. I do not own a bread machine or a mixer. Is it time for me to pack up my yeast or is there hope? — Stella
Answer: Have I got an easy recipe for you! It takes a long time from start to finish, but the time is just spent waiting for delicious results.
Recipe for ciabatta bread: into a bowl pour four cups all-purpose flour, a half tsp. of yeast, two cups of water and one tsp. of salt.
Stir for a few moments so that the flour is incorporated.
Cover the bowl with foil and leave on the counter for 12 hours.
Sprinkle flour onto a baking sheet. Scrape very sticky dough onto the baking sheet. Sprinkle the top of the dough with flour. Shape into a long flat shape.
Cover the dough with a tea towel and let rise for two hours; the dough will remain quite flat.
Preheat oven 425 F. Bake on middle rack for 30 minutes. That’s it, no kneading and it tastes amazing!
Question: I wasn’t watching and my son using a Sharpie to do his homework on our antique teak table. You can guess where it went from there. The table is only finished with Tung and Teak oil. What can I do? Thanks — Rick
Answer: Teak is such a beautiful wood and looks great for years (unless it’s covered in permanent marker). Your best bet is to scrub the surface with tea tree oil on a soft cloth. The permanent marker (depending on how long it has been on the furniture) will wipe off with little effort.
Question: I baked a chocolate cake from scratch today and put a baking sheet underneath just in case the batter leaked out of the pan. I baked it for about half an hour and tested it with a knife to see if the knife came out clean; it did.
When I sliced the cake after it had cooled, the middle section was still sticky and doughy. What a mess! Is there any way to save this cake or is it garbage? — Rox
Answer: Throwing out a plate of chocolate is like throwing out a plate of happiness, it’s just so sad. Here are two ideas that will save your dessert:
A) Make a trifle. Chop up the entire chocolate cake into bite size nuggets of goodness. Place the pieces into a large glass bowl. Add chocolate pudding, cut up strawberries and whip cream. Garnish with shaved chocolate.
B) Cut out the centre of the cake to make a ring cake. Melt chocolate chips or chocolate squares in a double boiler. Pour onto the top of the cake ring, allowing the chocolate to run down both sides of the cake. After the chocolate has hardened, serve.
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.
