A Hint of Spice

1.ADDING NUTS TO BATTER-Dust the nuts with some flour before adding. If your batter is too thin; you should add the nuts half way through the baking

2.COOKING APPLES-If you want to cook fresh apples, remember you will be left with only half the amount you started out with. I kilo of raw apples = 1/2 kilo cooked apples.
3.BLACK FRUITS -Add lemon juice after cutting fruits like apples and bananas-It will prevent them from turning blackish immediately.
4.UNSTALE YOUR NUTS -For stale nuts, place in a 250 oven for 5- 10 minutes. The heat will freshen them right up.
5.CUT FRUIT-While cutting fruit ahead of time, add some lemon juice to the pieces so that they will not darken.
6.REFRESH RAISINS -If you have stored raisins in the refrigerator for long, they tend to become hard. Put them in a pan with cold water, bring the water to a boil, and then remove pan from heat as soon as the water boils. Let it stand for 5 minutes and then drain.
7.BUYING CITRUS FRUITS -While buying citrus fruits, keep in mind that the heavier the fruit, the better. Do not buy any with the skin wrinkled.
8.CHOP DRY FRUIT -Place dried fruit that needs to be chopped in the freezer for an hour. It will chop more easily.
9.BLANCHED ALMONDS-To get blanched almonds, place them in a saucepan, add just enough water to cover, and bring to a boil over high heat. As soon as the water reaches a boil, drain the almonds. Then cool them by pouring cold water on them. To peel, just pinch them they will pop right out of their skins.
10.RIPE FRUITS -To test if a melon or papaya is ripe, press gently with the thumb at stalk end. If it gives in slightly, it is ripe; if it remains firm, it is not.
11.GRAPES-To seed grapes, sterilize a new hair pin by pouring boiling water over it, and push the loop end of the pin into the grape from the stalk end, and pull out the speed.
12.ALMONDS -If almonds tend to break while shredding, soak them in hot water for about half an hour.
13.For maximum flavor and the best results when nuts are called for in a recipe, toast them before incorporating them into the batter or mixture.