TIPS FOR USING GARLIC WELL
A good eco-tip so that garlic doesn’t repeat when eaten raw, is to cut it in half and remove the sprout.
To make it easier to digest we can soak it in cold water about two hours before consumption.
It’s worth buying a garlic press and getting into the habit of crushing one into salads. It gives it a wonderful flavour and is also a great source of healthy properties.
When frying onions and garlic, it’s better to put the onion in first and add the garlic after. If you do it in reverse, it only needs a brief moment of distraction and the garlic browns too much and might even burn, thus getting a bitter flavour and a not very nice appearance.
The way we chop the garlic is what gives different flavours to the dish: if we chop it very finely, the taste will be stronger, if we add it whole, the flavour will be minimal and there are a whole range of possibilities in between.
Both garlic and onion, lose some properties during cooking or frying, so the ideal would be to consume them as lightly cooked as possible.
When we crush garlic with a mortar and pestle, we can add some rock salt to prevent the cloves jumping out.
To preserve peeled garlic cloves, put them in oil. This oil can later be used in salads or other dishes.
To rid the knife and hands of the smell of garlic, put them under cold running water but without rubbing.
To easily peel new garlic cloves when the peel is very difficult to remove, you can put the garlic clove on a chopping board and hit it with the flat blade of the knife.
HOMEMADE POLISH FOR WOODEN FURNITURE
It’s very easy to make a homemade polish for wooden furniture. Furthermore, you probably won’t have to go to the shop to be able to make it because you’ll have all the eco-tips (ingredients) at home.
On this occasion we’re going to show you three types of homemade polishes for wooden furniture.
Although we can’t guarantee that it is suitable for all furniture, it depends on the type of varnish that has been used, it’s a good idea to try it out on a small non-visible corner to see if it works. If the answer is affirmative, don’t doubt for a moment, this is your new polish.
Olive Oil
The first polish involves applying olive oil, a cheap one is fine, (our furniture is not sybaritic), with a cloth. The oil is very nourishing and will leave the furniture hydrated and shiny. It’s suitable for giving a sheen to furniture which hasn’t suffered any serious damage.
Homemade polish for everyday use
To create an everyday furniture polish for wooden furniture we can mix two measures of oil with one measure of lemon juice. Apply with a soft cloth and rub vigorously until it shines. Let it dry naturally in the air, without placing objects on top. We need to make this polish each time we use it, as it cannot be stored.
Homemade polish for deep cleaning
In a bowl three parts olive oil and one part White vinegar. Apply to the surface with a cloth rubbing gently. After let it dry naturally and do not put objects on top of it until it’s very dry so that they don’t leave marks. This cleaner we have to make each time we use it as it cannot be stored. If you have polish left over after using, remember that you must recycle it the same way that you usually recycle the oil us . Don’t pour it down the sink!
KITCHEN ESSENTIALS
A dutch oven is the classic kitchen eco-accessory, it’s expensive but is a kitchen must-have and it lasts a lifetime. Cookut’s model has a modern design, it’s made of aluminium with a smooth enamelled surface, it’s non-stick, very resistant and suitable for all heat sources (it can also go in the oven up to a maximum of 260ºC) Besides stews and casseroles it’s also great for rice dishes, because it’s base distributes the heat uniformly. The 4 litre size costs 139 euros in Cooking (The Kitchen Company), and one can also buy separately a bamboo basket and also a metal basket for steaming and frying.
Send us your star tip, your miraculous appliance and the advice your mother gave you about cooking and cleaning. Ah! Don’t forget to send a photo.
