Country Shortcuts
A Better Way to Dry Garlic and Shallots
After completing the harvest of our garlic and shallots this year, we didn't have enough space to hang them clothesline-fashion for drying. So my husband devised a solution that took up very little space. He built three oversized tomato cages out of fencing wire and anchored them to a table along the wall of our garage. We just tied them off and hung them on the cages with small S-hooks.
This not only provides excellent air circulation but holds a remarkable quantity of garlic and shallots. We plan to use this system for drying herbs and lavender as well.
—Marlane McInnis, Scappoose, Oregon
When painting, I put a thick rubber band over the paint can handle and move the band down to the rim of the can. Then I dip my brush in through the stretched bands. When I bring the brush back up, the band scrapes off the excess paint. This way, you don't have to scrape off excess paint on the can rim, which keeps it cleaner for replacing the lid.
—Tawnya Ison San Marcos, California
To get more use from your steel-wool soap pads, don't wet them! Wet the pan you're cleaning instead. The pad won't rust and will last a long time. (I got this tip more than 50 years ago from a Wearever salesman.)
—Charlotte Lutz Greencastle, Pennsylvania
To keep my earrings in order, I bought a clear fishing-tackle box with many small compartments. Now I don't have to look for earrings that match; they're always together.
—Sherry Cantonwine Evans, Colorado
Here's a great way to cut corn off the cob. Using a round angel food cake pan, invert the pointed end of the corncob into the pan's center tube. Cut the corn off the cob, and it will drop into the pan. It works really well. I was amazed when I tried it.
—Pat Meacham, Hydro, Oklahoma
If you have painful arthritic joints in your hands, try cutting food into bite-sized pieces with kitchen shears. The thumb and finger openings make it easier to cut bacon, sausage, waffles, breads and even some veggies. The serrated kind work best. You'll love it!
—Ginny Mahoney La Grange, Kentucky
To cure hiccups, put 1 teaspoon of sugar in your mouth. Keep your mouth closed until all the sugar has dissolved, and your hiccups will be gone.
—Louise Fox, Luray, Virginia
For an instant heating pad, fill a clean white sock up to the heel with table salt, tie it closed and put it in the microwave until hot. I've found this to be very helpful, especially when I'm on vacation.
—Madeline Meushaw Baltimore, Maryland
From the Editor: Our food editor, Wendy Stenman, made one of these for herself with dry beans and an old soccer sock. "The long sock is easy to tie shut—just make a knot at the end," she says. "It's great when you have a sore neck!" The time it'll take to heat up will depend on the wattage of your microwave
I used to run out of pans when I made lots of muffins or cupcakes, so I started saving tuna cans and other small cans—anything that will hold a paper muffin cup. At my age, I don't want to invest in any more pans.
—Annette Johnson Sleepy Eye, Minnesota
To keep points on crayons, use the flat end whenever you can. It provides smoother coverage for large areas. Use the pointed end only for small, delicate areas. You'll use more of the whole crayon and won't have to replace them as often.
—Freeda Haggard Redding, California
