Lifestyle
Take A Load Off Dinner
by Brittney Baumgartner
on 16th April, 2020
5 Cooking Hacks for Special Needs Families
Most special needs families will also say that the hassles of eating out far outweigh the benefits.
Sometimes, though, you might consider cooking an unachievable goal.
You're exhausted, your children need you and you definitely didn't go to culinary school.
Check out these meal-prep shortcuts, and you'll be able to turn out a delightful dish in record time!
Peel Tomatoes (and Potatoes) Quickly and Easily
While rushing to get dinner on the table, you probably say, "Next!" to any recipe that calls for peeled tomatoes or potatoes.
Now you don't have to.
Cut a tiny X into the bottom of the veggies, place them into a pot of water, and boil until the X begins to widen.
Scoop them up, and submerge them immediately in a bowl of ice water until cool.
Then, start peeling from the X mark.
Juice Lemons and Limes More Effectively
To extract maximum juice, heat up your citrus fruits in the microwave for 20 seconds before you squeeze.
Free Corn Kernels
Kids and adults both enjoy fresh corn, but they know eating it off the cob is messy and messes with their teeth.
Now, you can use a bundt pan to remove kernels quickly.
Place the pan open-side up, set the stem side of the cob over the hole, and use a knife to shave kernels off from top to bottom. The hole in the pan acts like a holder, and the pan collects every kernel.
Slice Raw Meats With Ease
Slicing raw meat can be messy and frustrating if you don't have a great knife or stellar knife skills.
Simplify this task by placing your meat in the freezer for 15-20 minutes before slicing.
Don't worry you're not actually freezing, it's just enough time to make the meat more firm and stable.
Your knife will zip through with ease and little mess.
Easily De-Seed Pomegranates
Pomegranate seeds are nutritious and delicious in all kinds of dishes (or alone).
De-seeding a pomegranate can be tricky, though.
Here is the quick way to do it: Cut it in half, push down on the middle, and hit it with a wooden spoon.
Do this over a large bowl of water so you can easily remove the pith and simultaneously wash your hands.
Bonus hack: Want to serve birthday cake before a birthday boy or girl meltdown?
Cut it quickly and cleanly with a long strand of (unflavoured!) dental floss.
Position the floss across the cake where you want to slice, and pull both sides of floss down through the cake in a quick, even motion.
Release one side of the floss, and pull it slowly through with your other hand.
Happy birthday! (Use this method to slice brie, too.)
Sources:
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Cut-a-Cake-With-Floss/
http://www.instructables.com/id/Deseed-Pomegranates-in-Seconds/
