[CH] Helpful hints
Andie Paysinger (asenji@earthlink.net)
Sat, 14 Mar 1998 18:28:08 +0000
I was giving some advice to a novice cook today and thought some on
the list might have a use for this info.
If you use a "spice grinder" (coffee grinder) to grind your chiles and
also want to use if for something else and not have odd combinations of
flavors, here is the way to clean it.
Put 3 tablespoons of baking soda and 3 or 4 saltine crackers in the
grinder. Hold the button down (and the top on tightly) turn the gringer
upside-down a couple of times while it's running. Dump the stuff out
and wipe with a dry paper towel.
This method removes oily coffee and other strong (ahem) aromas and
flavors.
Orange Zest.... Tired of grating your knuckles when you want grated
orange peel or need a lot at one time.
Simply use a potato peeler to take of the orange part of the skin (o.k.
with lemons too)
cut into smaller pieces allow to dry for about 30minutes then pop into
your spice grinder and whirl away. Do in batches of about 2 tablespoons
at a time.
Molcajete: If you get one of these morter and pestle type grinders
made of volcanic stone and are wondering about how you are supposed to
use it without getting bits of rock into your food, here is the
solution.
Put a cup of raw rice and 2 or 3 tablespoons of coarse salt into the
bowl and grind away.
When the rice starts to look gray because of the rock bits, dump it and
start with a new cup of rice and more salt. It takes several
applications (and a strong arm) but the results are worth it. Also,
before you buy one of these, you should test it to see if it will hold
liquid. Some are extremely porous and water will go right through like
a sieve.
--
Andie Paysinger & the PENDRAGON Basenjis,Teafer,Cheesy,Singer & Player
asenji@earthlink.net So. Calif. USA "In the face of adversity, be
patient, in the face of a basenji, be prudent, be canny, be on your
guard!"
http://home.earthlink.net/~asenji/