Use nine: Try softening brushes that are hardened with old, dried-in paint by boiling them in vinegar and let them stand for one hour. Then heat the vinegar and brushes come to a gentle boil. Simmer for 20 minutes. Rinse well, working the softened paint out of the bristles. For extremely heavy paint encrustations, you may need to repeat the process...or head to the hardware store.

Use ten: A little vinegar and salt added to the water you wash leafy green vegetables will float out bugs and kill germs.

Use eleven: Soak or simmer stuck-on food in 2 cups of water and 1/2 cup of vinegar. The food will soften and lift off in a few minutes.

Use twelve: Clean and freshen the garbage disposal by running a tray of ice cubes, with 1/2 cup of vinegar poured over them, through it once a week.

Use thirteen: In a pinch, you can use equal parts of lemon juice and vinegar to clean brass and copper. On difficult areas add a little salt to the mix for some abrasive action.

Monday, February 1, 2010

10. Pasta Diablo

If you're looking for something to spice up your life, try Pasta Diablo.  It is spicy, easy and quick.  I make a jar of the sauce and keep it in the fridge.  It actually is the brain child of our daughter, Trisha.  She had a deli in Montecito, CA and they made this as a sauce for a Piadina sandwich they served.  A Piadina is a flat bread (like a good homemade flour tortilla) sandwich popular in Italy.  It is filled with your favorite ingredients and grilled.  This sauce is for dipping.  We use it for meatball sandwiches, pasta or just for dipping toasted bread.  It is fabulous and even better the second day.

First you need a jar of marinara or pasta sauce.  You can make your own if you like with canned tomatoes and spices.  Too much trouble for me but Rachael Ray says it's a snap.  I like marinara as it has fewer calories. Bob says Hmmph! (you know how he feels about calories, "The more the merrier!")

1 jar of sauce (your favorite or what ever is on sale-you make it your own anyway) SAVE THE JAR!
1 Tablespoon of dried oregano, crushed between your fingers
1 Tablespoon of Italian seasonings
2 Tablespoons of dried red peppers, crushed between your fingers (like the ones they give you at Costco for your pizza)
2 Tablespoons of olive oil
3 crushed cloves of garlic

Combine ingredients in a sauce pan and simmer for a few minutes to let the flavors marry.  (Don't you love that term "marry"!) Allow to cool and then return to the jar the sauce came in and refrigerate.  You can use it now, but it is much better tomorrow.  Now you have perfect sauce for lots of easy meals.  Buy a bag of chicken meatballs, some mozzarella and a couple of sandwich rolls and "Meatball sandwich here we come!"  Cook your favorite whole wheat pasta (less calories and actually has protein-a much better choice than regular pasta and has a nice nutty flavor).  I cook my pasta in half water and half chicken broth or I add a tablespoon of dry chicken soup base to the cooking water.  It really peps up the flavor.  Add a few of your chicken meatballs and your sauce, top with Parmesan cheese and some good bread to sop up the sauce!  As Julia would say...Bonappetit!

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