Measuring Frozen Fruit
Though we usually reserve liquid measuring cups for liquids, we find it easier to measure chunky frozen fruit for smoothies and other recipes in a t-cup glass measure instead of traditional dry measuring cups. To measure 2 cups of frozen fruit, fill the cup to the top with fruit and then gently press down so the fruit spreads somewhat to the edges of the glass. Once pressed, the top of the fruit should sit just slightly above the 2-cup mark. Smart, huh?
Quick Breads Baking Alternative
Did you know most quick breads do not HAVE to be baked in a loaf pan? A muffin tin is another good option. In addition to being cute and easy to eat, muffins have the advantage of baking up in half the time of bread. To test out this idea, coat a 12-cup muffin tin with cooking spray, fill each cup three- quarters full, and bake on the middle rack of a preheated 375 degree oven until a toothpick inserted into the middle of a muffin comes out with a few crumbs attached, approximately 18-22 minutes. Smart, huh?
Keeping Popcorn Crunchy
If popcorn is the snack of choice for your crowd, consider this idea for keeping it crunchy: Instead of putting it in a bowl where the steam can make it soggy, serve it in a plastic colander. The popcorn stays crunchy longer and cools quickly, which is especially helpful if there are fingers dipping into the bowl. Smart, huh?
(If YOU have a smart idea, won't you share it? Life is so much easier and we accomplish so much more when we pool our resources. And after all, we're all in this together. So email
patty@dvo.com or
alice@dvo.com with YOUR smart ideas!)
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