Question: My cutting board smells of garlic and every food that I cut on the board picks up the smell. What can I use to clean the board so that it no longer smells? Melissa, Ste. Genevieve
Answer: Many cutting boards are dishwasher safe. If this is the case, run the board through the dishwasher to sanitize it.
Another cleaning idea is to pour salt onto your board and rub it with a half-lemon. Rinse the board and dry with a clean towel.
Consider purchasing two separate cutting boards, a red cutting board for raw meat, another colour for all other foods -- to help avoid cross contamination.
Question: My boss is hosting a potluck party next month, and I am responsible for taking a salad to his house. Can you suggest a garnish that will really impress him rather than a plain old tossed salad? Donia, Selkirk
Answer: Here is a cool trick that will set your salad apart from every other dish on the table. You will need cucumbers, long carrots and baby tomatoes. Purchase a copper pipe at a home hardware store. Clean the pipe. Slice off cucumber ends. Push the copper pipe through the middle of the cucumber until it pokes out of the other side. Cucumber seeds should now be inside of the copper pipe. Remove the copper pipe and you are left with a hollow cucumber. Slide a carrot inside the hole. Slice the cucumber; each cucumber slice now has a carrot in the middle. Repeat the process of hollowing the cucumber, but this time stuff baby tomatoes inside the cucumber. Slice cucumbers and add the tomato-stuffed cucumber to your salad. Whichever salad dressing you choose, add it immediately before serving so lettuce leaves remain crunchy.
Question: I am in desperate need of some help with my problem. I accidently got pinkish-white nail polish splashed onto my brand-new stained cabinets (the cabinets are dark stained) and I need to know how I should get it off. We got the nail polish off of the front of the cabinets before it dried, but didn't get to the side of the cabinet before it dried. So it has left two big pinkish-white streaks. I just don't want to ruin the cabinets by trying solutions. A co-worker directed me to you. If you can help me, I would appreciate it more than you will ever know. Kristen, Winnipeg
Answer: Make sure to test all products on an inconspicuous area before using them on your cupboards. In the past Mr. Clean Magic Eraser has provided great results on nail polish. Acetone, nail-polish remover and WD-40 are risky options because they will likely strip the wood finish. After the nail polish has faded, clean the area with dish soap and water.
Cleaning coffee stained mugs
The best and easiest way to remove coffee and tea stains from mugs is to use a hydrogen peroxide-based dishwasher tablet. Environmentally much safer than bleach and it works. My mugs are beautiful and stain free. Cheryl
Tip of the Week
I am a chef and would like to share with you my tip for cooking perfect, chewy bacon. Place bacon in a skillet with enough water to cover it. Bring the water to a boil. Turn the heat to medium. Once the water has simmered away, adjust the temperature to medium-low and cook until bacon is crisp and brown.
-- Chef Roof
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.
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