10 Good Cooking Tips

1. Use a q-tip to remove bits of egg yolk that accidentally get into egg whites that you want to whip.
2. Shallots are a relative of the onion and have a pungent onion-garlicky taste. Shallots can often be expensive in the store, though. If your recipe calls for shallots, just use half minced onion and half minced garlic in place of the shallots.
3. The absolute best way to cook a turkey is in a Reynolds oven bag. It's so easy, almost mess-free, and the turkey will come out juicy and tender every time. You can also cook roasts, chicken breasts, and other meats using oven bags. The meat always comes out so tender. Go to the Reynolds site and check out some of their recipes using oven bags: http://www.reynoldspkg.com/reynoldskitchens/en/recipes/product_recipe_search.asp?Step=ProductRecipes&info_page_id=744&prod_id=1790&cat_id=1337.
4. Burnt food can be removed from glass baking dishes by spraying the dish lightly with oven cleaner and setting it inside your cold oven, or set it outside (to keep fumes out of your kitchen.) After about 30 minutes, the residue will easily wipe off.
5. Microwave garlic gloves for 15 seconds, and the skins will slip right off.
6. To hasten the ripening of avocados, place them in a paper bag with an apple or a tomato. Fold down top of paper bag and place in a dark spot for a day. They will be much riper than before.
7. If your avocados are ripening too quickly, place them in the refrigerator. Refrigeration will slow down the ripening.
8. Next time you make rice krispie treats, stir in a blob or two of marshmallow creme to the melted marshmallows right before you stir in the dry rice krispies. Marshmallow creme improves the shelf life of the rice krispies treats, they won't dry out at all. They stay gooey and wonderful :)
9. Pour un-used or leftover wine in ice cube trays and freeze. Add one or two to soups, cassaroles, sauces, etc.
10. A splash of balsamic vinegar will greatly improve the flavor of sliced strawberries in desserts and salads.