Natural Way to Keep Drains Running Smoothly

A great way to prevent nasty clogs in drains is to pour a kettle full of boiling hot water down the drain about once or twice a month. This natural alternative will help keep your drains running smoothly - and thus prevent nasty old clogs!

Get Rid of Stinky Onion and Garlic Odors - Rub Your Hands on Stainless Steel!

Did you know that by rubbing your hands after cooking with garlic and/or onions, you can remove the odors? You can invest in a cute little stainless steel 'bar of soap' like the one below:





OR...you can rub your hands on the inside of a stainless sink, or even a stainless steel spoon for the same effect! Just wet your hands first under clean water, and then let the stainless steel get rid of the lingering odors. Works like a charm!

Household Hints - Knife Sharpening - the Difference Between Honing and Sharpening Knives

There is a big difference between honing and sharpening your knives. Good knives (some of my favorites are Wusthof and Henckels) only need to be sharpened once or twice a year. But honing is an entirely different thing! You should hone your knife on a honing steel every single time you use your knife. (On large chopping or slicing jobs, you might even want to hone once in between all the knife work!)

Honing your knife basically realigns the edge of the knife - making a ragged edge smoother again, but not removing any metal (as sharpening does.)

To properly hone your knife, invest in a decent honing steel. (I love )

You'll be amazed by how much this will help the efficiency of your knives - AND make them last for years and years. Enjoy, home cooks!