Avocado split

I used to make a terrible mess trying to get the big seed out of the bottom half of my Avocado Pears until a friend from California gave me this tip:

1) Split the fruit all around lengthwise (through to the pip) with a sharp, reasonably heavy knife.

2) Cup the whole pear between both hands and twist to open.

3) Put the half with the pip still in it on a chopping board (holding the narrow end with two fingers) and chop firmly (but carefully!) across the pip with the knife, twist the knife, and out pops the pip still attached to the knife for easy disposal!

 

More tips . . .

Celery wrapped in aluminum foil will keep for weeks in the refrigerator.

Refrigerated apples last up to 10 times longer than those left at room temperature.

Line the bottom of your crisper drawer with paper towels to absorb liquids that make veggies wilt.

If your recipe only calls for 1/2 an onion, save the root half. It will last longer.

To deodorize a plastic storage container in which onions or garlic were stored, wash thoroughly, then stuff a crumpled piece of newspaper in the container. Snap the lid on and in a few days the smell will disappear.

To keep potatoes from budding, place an apple in the bag with them.

Hard fruits? Put them into a bag with a banana - they'll soon ripen.

To remove those food splashes which bake hard on the inside of your microwave , place a dish filled with 1/2 cup water in the microwave. Cook on high heat for 2 minutes then simply wipe off - no scrubbing needed.

To keep ants out of the house, find out where they are entering and sprinkle a "barrier" of cinnamon or any type of ground pepper to block their way. The spices are too 'hot' for the ants to cross.

To polish copper, rub an ample amount of ketchup on the copper and let it stand for 5 minutes. Rinse off the ketchup with hot water and dry to find a superb shine.

Photos stuck together? With a hair dryer on low, slowly melt them apart.

To make the carpet stand back up after moving a piece of furniture, place an ice cube on the spot. As it melts, the piles will go back up.

To ease a sticky zipper, rub a bar of soap over the teeth.

Freeze any leftover wine into ice cubes for future use in casseroles and sauces.

Zap garlic cloves in the microwave for 15 seconds. The skins slip right off.

Place a slice of bread in with hardened brown sugar to soften it up again.

When starting your garden seedlings indoors, plant the seeds in egg shell halves. Then when planting out, just crack the shells around the roots. The shell is a natural fertilizer.

All hints supplied by Guru Keith Ashton, #143