and other kitchen questions:
– Tables & Thyme.
It’s for anyone who enjoys food – whether you’re making food or eating out at a
restaurant. For this guest post I decided to share a few kitchen cheats with
you. Knowing Ellie Love’s readers, you’re all fabulous ladies who don’t spend
all day in a kitchen. You may not have all the impressive gizmos and gadgets
that a chef would have. And that’s ok!
don’t have a rolling pin?
biscuits for Christmas. But you don’t have a rolling pin to roll out your
pastry. You have a few options. Use a wine bottle (there is always one in my
kitchen), preferably a flat, evenly shaped one. Or use a glass (hand with care)
or any large jar (think big mayo). You can even use a pipe (in the event that
you have one of those lying around). Whatever you decide to use, remember to
clean it and dust with flour to avoid the pastry sticking.
what can I use?
this in mind and you should be fine. That’s why you would rather not use a
spoon or something flat. For simple mixing (think scrambled eggs or pancake
batter) you can use a fork. If you want to whisk egg whites for meringues or
cream for a mousse then you can try with a fork, but honestly, I wouldn’t
recommend it. You can use any other electric attachment (such as a hand
blender).
don’t have a sieve?
flour, you don’t have to be too concerned. The aim of this is to lighten the
flour and introduce air after it was stored in a bag. You can give the dry
ingredients a good shake or mix with a fork. If you have a colander, it will
also serve the same purpose.
really well. Once more, the colander can do the job too (just be cautious if
you have larger holes or grooves, you don’t want the big lumps getting through).
don’t have an opener!
This will teach you – buy screw top! Before you go to the
extreme of breaking the bottle and risking splinters of glass in your drink,
try one of these options. Remove the foil at the top of the bottle. Place the
wine bottle in your thick soled shoe, where your heel would go (if you don’t
have a shoe, fold a towel into a thick piece and wrap around the bottom of the
wine bottle). Bang the bottom of the bottle (safely protected by the shoe or
towel) against a wall. The bottle must be perpendicular to the wall. Repeat with slightly more force until the
cork begins to pop out. Make sure you stop before if pops out all the way
otherwise your precious wine will spill!
into the wine. Personally, I find this a difficult frustrating method that is
better for the stronger, more patient wine drinkers.
measuring without a measuring cup:
you need a cup of rice, measure four handfuls. If you pinch your fingers
together – that literally is a pinch – perfect for salt measurements.
around 250ml which equals a cup.
hand as if you’re asking for something (cup it slightly). That little hollow in
the middle is equal to 1 teaspoon.
it all (in the kitchen anyway). I hope that these have been useful to you!
wait to hear all about your USA trip (and to see those cowboy boots!).
x
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