At Home at Hand

Have you ever wondered where Nanima got her store of simple, common sense tips from? We wondered, too, and we began collecting bits and pieces of such lore and we found that it is far more effective than conventional means, while reducing the environmental cost dramatically. Beginning this issue, X-Over brings you simple household tips that will only cost you a minute to put into use while making a big difference to your life.

Peels for Pulses
Take dry watermelon peels, grind to a powder and add to pulses while cooking. It is an ideal substitute for soda bicarb.

Burnt is Better
If ghee gets burnt or turns too brown while boiling butter into ghee, there’s help at hand! Just sprinkle a few drops of buttermilk into the hot ghee. The ghee will have a good flavour, instead of the burnt taste.

Skimp on the Oil
Skimp a little on your oil buying. Coconut milk when kept overnight in the fridge, forms a white layer on top. Use this layer as fat instead of oil for frying.

Knead it Right
Methi Parathas will be tastier if you use buttermilk to knead the dough.
When grinding chutney for sandwiches, add a teaspoon of margarine or butter and one boiled potato to the mixie just before switching off. This will keep the sandwich from getting soggy when filled.

Gasket that Lasts
Pressure cooker gaskets will last longer if stored in the deep freezer for an hour, once a fortnight.

Castor Cracks
In the winter, coconut oil often freezes. To prevent this add a few drops of castor oil to the coconut oil, shake well and store.

The Sticky Stuff
To remove chewing gum stuck onto garments, apply ice over the affected area first to harden it. Then scrape off the chewing gum with a knife.