Tips and more tips

Tomato: To remove the skin of tomatoes, place them in warm water for 5-10 minutes. The skin can then be easily peeled off.

When tomatoes are not available or too costly, substitute with tomato puree or tomato ketchup/sauce.

Place overripe tomatoes in cold water and add some salt. Overnight they will become firm and fresh.

Vegetables: Don't discard the water in which the vegetables are soaked or cooked.
Use it in making soup or gravy.
To keep the vegetables fresh for a longer time, wrap them in newspaper before putting them in freeze.
Chop the vegetables only when you are ready to use them. Don't cut them in too advance. It would spoil their food value.

Kitchen Tips

• Almonds: To remove the skin of almonds easily, soak them in hot water for 15-20 minutes.
• Ants: Putting 3-4 cloves in the sugar container will keep the ants at bay.
• Apples: Apply some lemon juice on the cut surface of the apple to avoid browning. They will look fresh for a longer time.
• Banana: Apply mashed banana over a burn on your body to have a cooling effect.

Feng Shui tips for your home

There should be no television sets in your bedrooms.If you cannot get rid of that habit then after watching the television cover it with a plastic table cloth. Remember it has to be plastic and not simply cloth.

If you already have a fish tank in your house, be careful. A fish tank placed correctly can bring about greater fortune, as you will tap on the "Divine Water Dragon's Den". But if you tap wrongly, it can cause you to have lawsuits, bankruptcy, work pressure, troubles and problems. If you noticed any of these after placing the fish tank for approximately four months, shift your fish tank to another location.

In your kitchen, ensure that opposite your stove there is no refrigerator, washing machine, washbasin and toilet. The fire and water crash causing family members to have disagreements.

7 Rules of Kitchen Cleaning

Cooking can be a messy process, all areas of the kitchen need frequent cleaning to keep them fresh, grease-free, and sanitary. Scrubbing and cleaning kitchen surfaces is as much a function of health and hygiene as it is good housekeeping.

• Wash your hands with hot, soapy water before handling food and after using the bathroom, changing diapers, or handling pets. Also wash your hands in hot, soapy water, scrubbing a full minute, after handling raw meat, poultry, or seafood.
• Wash cutting boards, dishes, utensils, and counters with hot, soapy water after preparing each food item and before you go on to the next food.
• Wash dishrags, dishtowels, and sponges in the washing machine with hot water. Sponges can also be cleaned in the upper rack of the dishwasher while plastic cutting boards can go on the lower racks.
• Separate raw meat, poultry, and seafood from each other and from other foods in the shopping cart at the grocery and in the refrigerator at home.
• Never put cooked food on an unwashed platter that previously held raw meat, poultry, or seafood.
• Refrigerate or freeze perishables, prepared foods, and leftovers within two hours of a meal.
• Defrost frozen foods in the refrigerator or under cold running water, not on the counter

Fire Safety Measures

Fires are the leading causes of home injury and death:

• Approximately one-half of home fire deaths occur in homes without smoke alarms.
• Most residential fires occur during the winter months.
• Alcohol use contributes to an estimated 40% of residential fires.
• Most victims of fires die from smoke or toxic gases and not from burns.
• Cooking is the primary cause of home fires.
• Smoking is the leading cause of fire-related deaths.

This checklist can help you spot fire hazards in your home. It will also help you prepare your family to quickly escape a fire.

• Smoke Detectors
• Fire Prevention Strategy
• Family Fire Drills
• Cooking Equipment
• Cigarettes, Lighters and Matches
• Furnaces, Fireplaces, and Space Heaters
• Wood-Burning Stoves
• Kerosene Heaters
• Gas-Fired Space Heaters

Handle Food Safely At Home...

Food poisoning usually can be prevented by handling food safety.Four simple steps for safely preparing food at home.

• Clean and wash hands, countertops, and other surfaces often
• Separate and don't cross-contaminate
• Cook food to proper temperatures to kill the harmful bacteria
• Refrigerate food promptly

Signs of Poisoning

Signs of potential poisoning, which can include:

• Difficulty breathing
• Difficulty speaking
• Dizziness
• Unconsciousness
• Foaming or burning of the mouth
• Cramps
• Nausea
• Vomiting