Question: How can I restore a black leather belt? The black has faded and it looks very worn out. Thank you, Adam
Answer: The easiest fix for this dilemma is to polish the belt with black shoe polish. Make sure that it holds fast to the leather and you buff it well after applying the polish so it does not rub off on your hands or clothes.
Question: Recipes often instruct me to mix dry ingredients separately from wet ingredients. Why is this a necessary step in baking? Also, how can I make all of my cookies the same size? Susan
Answer: The reason why dry ingredients such as salt, baking soda and flour are mixed separately is to avoid clumps. Imagine eating a cookie and suddenly, POW, a mouth full of baking soda. Yuck! Stirring or whisking the baking soda in with the flour breaks up the pieces and ensures evenness in your baking.
As for consistently shaped cookies, purchase a retractable ice cream scoop (they come in different sizes). Not only will each cookie end up the same size, but you will notice your cookies don’t flatten as much because the dough is rounded, plus, cookie scooping is much faster with a retractable scoop versus two spoons.
Another option is to bake cookies inside of silicone muffin pans — they will all turn out the same shape.
Question: What can I do to reduce the number of spiders in my house? I have heard that sticky traps are effective; what do you recommend? Benjamin
Answer: Sticky traps are not recommended for catching spiders. Reduce the spider population in your home with the following homemade spider repellent. Into a spray bottle, pour four cups water, one teaspoon of dish soap and eight drops of peppermint essential oil. Spray wherever spiders appear. Repeat as needed. Substitutes for peppermint essential oil include lavender, tea tree oil, cinnamon, orange and lemon essential oil.
Question: How do cooks prevent steak from releasing blood onto the plate after being cooked? David
Answer: Let the meat rest for several minutes before plating the food. As the proteins harden, they draw to the centre of the meat. When meat has a chance to rest, the juices will reabsorb into the meat.
Question: I have a small stainless steel pot that I left on the stove and sugar burned the bottom and sides. Is the pot garbage, or can it be cleaned? Nicola
Answer: Pour 1/4 cup baking soda and 1/4 cup white vinegar into the pot. Heat on the stove for three minutes. Turn the element off and leave in the pot overnight. In the morning, scrub with an abrasive pad.
Helpful feedback
Re: Dishwasher not getting clean
I regularly purchase dishwasher cleaning tablets to clean my unit. I place one in the dispenser every three months to clean my dishwasher. Since doing this, my machine works better. Anne
Don’t raise a stink
If you have an old trunk that smells musty, place an open box of kitty litter inside. Close the lid and let stand for a day. — David
To freshen up smelly sheets, soak the sheets in one tbsp. dish soap and enough hot water to cover the sheets. Add at least four cups of white vinegar to the water. Leave for one hour and launder as normal. — Cindy
After I clean the inside of my oven, I wipe the walls with vanilla extract. The extra steps help freshen the oven and helps my kitchen to smell really good. — Amber
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. Reena Nerbas is a popular motivational presenter for large and small groups; check out her website: reena.ca.
info@reena.ca
