It’s lemonade season and I’, excited! I’m a big fan of lemon- it just has such a fresh flavor that I love. I squirt a few drops over lots of different foods because it just adds something. I always know I loved lemon and I now have new admiration since I learned that lemon is good for way more than just giving a pop to my recipes. Here are some ways to use lemons in the kitchen that you may not have know about!
Keep brown sugar soft. Don’t you hate it when you’re all ready to start baking, but your brown sugar is rock hard? Add a piece of lemon peel to the box to prevent clumping and hardening.
Keep rice from sticking. Add a few drops of lemon juice to the pot while cooking.
Prevent apples from turning brown. The acid in the lemon prevents the oxidation process. Works great for avocado, too!
Meat tenderizer. The acid works its magic here, too, breaking down the fibers that can make some cuts of meat tough.
Low sodium flavoring. The natural flavor of lemon is so rich you can cut down on salt.
Deodorize the refrigerator. Get some lemon juice on a cotton ball or sponge and place in the refrigerator for a few hours to absorb bad odors.
These are just some of the amazing ways that lemon can be your helper in the kitchen. Do you have any other unexpected way to use lemon? Share with us on Facebook and Twitter!
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Tea is something of a wonder drink: A hot cup of tea is soothing and comforting; drink it iced and there’s nothing more refreshing. Google “health benefits of tea” and you’ll get pages of results. Well, besides being good for you, healing, soothing, and refreshing, there are plenty of other cool ways that tea can work wonders for you! Here are 14 to get you started:
Add flavor to grains. Add a tea bag while the water boils for pasta, rice, or other grains for a rich flavor. Remove the bag once the water has boiled.
Tenderize meat. Marinate meat in tea for a few hours or overnight and be amazed by how soft and moist it is!
For your plants. Sprinkle tea leaves around plants in your garden to fertilize and keep mice away.
Freshen the fridge. Place pre-brewed tea bags in the refrigerator or garbage bins to neutralize odors. Don’t store unused tea that you want to drink in the fridge or it will absorb the odors and the taste will be affected.
Remove odors from hands. Rub wet tea bags on hands to remove strong odors from garlic, fish, and onions.
Foot soak. Soak feet in tea to neutralize odors, soften calluses, and nourish skin.
Shoe deodorizer. Put a tea bag in each shoe and leave overnight. This may or may not work depending on how bad the odor is, but it’s worth a shot.
Soothe sunburn. And other burns, too. Apply wet tea bag to burn, or soak in a tea bath if you’re sunburned all over.
Help heal bruises. Apply to a bruise to ease discomfort and boost healing.
Draw out infection. Apply tea bags to warts, blisters, styes, and pinkeye to soothe and draw out the infection.
Reduce eye puffiness. Put a cold tea bag on each eye for about 10 minutes.
Shine glass. Brew some tea, let it cool, and put it in a spray bottle. Use it to clean mirrors and windows for a gleaming, streak-free shine.
Carpet freshener. Sprinkle dry tea leaves over the carpet and let it sit for 10 minutes or so, then vacuum.
Furniture polish. Spray onto wood furniture and rub with a soft, dry cloth.
Do you know any other brilliant ways to use tea? Share with us on Facebook and Twitter!
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I love makeup and I know I’m not the only makeup lover who has drawers and cosmetics bags full of makeup. There’s always a new color or formula you want to try and you can’t throw out the old stuff because you might really need it one day. Everyone knows that! But the sad truth is that makeup really does have a lifespan and using cosmetics that are past their prime can actually put you at risk of infection. If you don’t know when to toss your makeup, here’s list of different cosmetics and how long it’s safe to use them:
Liquid foundation: One year. The liquid makes it an attractive breeding ground for bacteria. And after about a year the ingredients break down, causing it to get streaky.
Powder foundation: Two years. Powder will last longer because it has no moisture.
Face powder: At least two years. Watch it, though, if you keep your makeup in a moist environment like the bathroom.
Mascara: Three months. Mascara should be replaced most often because the moist and dark tube is optimum for bacteria growth.
Liquid eyeliner: Three months for the same reasons as mascara.
Pencil eyeliner: Two years because as you sharpen you create a new surface. Clean your sharpener with alcohol every so often.
Creme eye shadow: Six months since it’s liquid based.
Powder eye shadow: One year. You can use it longer than liquid products but since it is in contact with your eye, bacteria transfer is something to think about.
Lipstick and lip gloss: Two years.
Lip liner: At least two years.
Sunscreen: Six months. The liquid in sunscreen starts to evaporate as soon as you open it, which will cause the ingredients to be unevenly distributed and therefore less effective.
I’ve found that it’s a good idea to put a little piece of tape with the date you opened it on each product so you’ll know when it’s time to toss it. Of course this guide is just a guideline- sometimes makeup doesn’t even make it that long. You’ll know it’s time to throw something away if it smells bad or the color or texture changes.
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