Food

Substitute sweetened, dried cranberries in recipes that normally call for raisins, such as cookies, scones, breads, or in salads, for a tasty change.

Bigger is not better when selecting eggplant from the supermarket or farmers’ market. Choose fruit that are smaller in size, and look for shiny, smooth, blemish-free skin. Squeeze it gently: the flesh should spring back. To prevent brown spots and bitterness, do not store them in the refrigerator.

Speed up the ripening process of hard avocados by placing them in a paper bag with bananas. The gases emitted from the bananas will get those avocados soft and ready to use in no time!

Before juicing lemons, oranges, or limes, zest the peels first for use in cakes, muffins, frostings, etc.  Scrub or soak the fruit first to remove any residue. Zest can be stored in airtight baggies in the freezer until ready to use.

Hard-boiling eggs for Easter? Add a pinch of salt to the water  to prevent the shells from cracking.

To make the crispiest, most delicious homemade French Fries, allow the sliced potatoes to stand in cold water for half an hour (and dry thoroughly) before frying.