Plastic Wrap Helpful Hint..

I got sick and tired of my roll of plastic wrap coming out of the box while unrolling it, so I decided to tie it into place with some yarn, using a long knitting needle to thread it through the center. There are those little trap door flaps they suggest you poke into the ends.. so the holes are already there.

Sourdough Starter

So I find this WordPress Cooking Blog in Facebook called Eat the Roses. Veronika had a sourdough foccocia recipe, but hadn't posted the sourdough starter recipe, so I e-mailed he about it and she posted it later. I made my  starter with my PUMPERNICKEL FLOUR (Whatever that is!) Since I had no whole wheat four and Rye is acceptable. I wonder what else is in the pumpernickel flour bedsides rye flour? I have to call the store owner to find out. I prefer 100% rye flour. The thing is the starter consists of approximately 1/2 cup water and 1/2 cup flour. Rye flour absorbs more liquid than all purpose flour or bread flour, so I added a little more and it's still very heavy and pasty. I hope it ferments okay. I need to add a tsp of yogurt water I think. She suggested we add that IF it doesn't ferment right. I don't like the idea of adding pineapple juice as she suggests.

Cast Iron Skillet Care

I love my cast iron skillets. I have 4, two 8", a 9" and a 12" That's it... I use the small one for a single burger, and it always burns on the bottom from the crusty burger and burnt on cheese and fat.
Here's how I clean it:  I let it cool off a little and fill it with water with NO dish soap and let it soak 10 minutes, and ONLY 10 minutes, or else it will rust! So I put the timer on. When I return I scrape out the bottom of the skillet with a metal spatula and then with a "Golden Fleece" pot scrubber. Then I dry it out and place it on a burner on the stove and turn it on for a minute or two. When it cools down some I spray the inside of the skillet with oil spray. I prefer Olive Oil Spray.

Helpful Hints- Freezer Bags

I make pizza from scratch quite often and constantly throw out the shredded cheese bags. About a month ago I ran out of quart size Ziplock bags so on a whim I decided to wash and dry a bag and use it to freeze my hamburger patties which I shape myself and freeze on a jelly roll pan. I always place about 4 frozen burgers in a one quart freezer bag, and found the recycled cheese bags work just as well.

Burn Care

To draw fire out of a burn spread with soda. Then wrap with muslin. Than pore cole oil over it.

NOTE: I don't recommend following these directions but thought it was amusing to read. Does she mean "cold" or "coal" oil? I don't know how much baking soda though.. In order to "spread" soda I suppose it must be made into a paste with water? :  )