Question: Other than freezing berries after purchasing them from the store, how can I store them so that they last longer?
— Edith
Answer: Upon returning from the grocery store, remove berries from their plastic basket. Remove all bruised or mouldy berries, and gently pour the remaining unwashed berries into large Mason jars. Store the jars in the coldest part of the fridge; the berries will last approximately one week. After that, the flavour of the berries will change as they ferment.
Question: I always choose colourful cupcake liners for my cupcakes. Why does the liner separate from the cupcakes during baking?
— Sam
Answer: Some cupcake liners are made of thin paper and are more likely to separate during baking. Other liners have a wax coating, which makes it difficult for batter to cling to the sides. Purchase your liners from a variety of manufacturers before trying anything else; cheaper liners can make a difference. Next, choose slightly larger eggs for your recipe. Fill liners half to two-thirds full so that the top of the cupcake holds onto the liner.
Question: How can I get the dingy, elasticized band part of my bra clean?
— Helen
Answer: Use baby shampoo to wash your bras and keep them lasting longer. For regular cleaning, fill a salad spinner with warm water and one teaspoon baby shampoo. Spin the salad spinner and empty it. Fill it with plain water to rinse it clean, until no suds remain. If the elastic requires extra care, scrub it with plain baby shampoo and rinse with water.
Question: Do you have any tips on how to keep soda pop from going flat?
— Ken
Answer: Keeping pop cold (but not frozen) and closed are big factors in fizz loss since the solubility of carbon dioxide is greater at lower temperatures. Squeezing the bottle until the soda almost reaches the opening before recapping is also an effective trick since smaller gas volume reduces the amount of carbon dioxide in the gas phase. In addition, you can purchase a cap that enables the user to re-pressurize the bottle. Turn it in place and then operate the little attached pump which is part of and affixed to the centre of the cap. These are available at many department stores.
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.
