Since the New Year began, I have had quite a few household projects going on. I usually begin by taking one room at a time. When one room is straightened up to my satisfaction, I tackle the next one. Starting with the kitchen, pantry and laundry room is tradition and my biggest task. This year I even went to the trouble of cleaning my iron because it spewed some rust on a shirt I was ironing. While investigating how to clean an iron, I discovered how many household cleaning duties can be tackled with the help of vinegar. I always run a combination of vinegar and water to clean my coffee maker, but I was amazed to see just how useful vinegar can be.
• Dab full strength vinegar on ball point ink marks to make them disappear.
• Wipe down scissor blades with full strength vinegar and then dry with a cloth.
• Mix ½ cup vinegar with 2 cups water to wipe down piano keys. Wipe with a dry cloth and leave uncovered for 24 hours.
• Mix equal parts of vinegar and olive oil to rub on water marks left by glasses on wood surfaces. Rub with a dry cloth.
• Clean brick hearth and fireplaces with a solution of 1 cup vinegar to 1 gallon of water.
• To clean and help unclog sinks, pour ½ cup baking soda followed by 1 cup vinegar down the drain. Flush with hot tap water, then cold water.
• To get rid of smoke odors, place a bowl of vinegar in the room.
• Mix equal parts water and vinegar to clean chrome, stainless steel, and grease stains.
• To steam clean your microwave, place a glass bowl of a mixture of ¼ cup vinegar and 1 cup water and cook on high for 5 minutes. When the mixture cools, dip cloth or sponge in the mixture and wipe away stains on inside of the microwave.
• Refresh your refrigerator by cleaning the inside with a mixture of equal parts of vinegar and warm water.
• Clean your coffee maker by running a cycle of 2 cups of water to 1 cup of vinegar. Repeat using only water.
• Mix equal parts vinegar and water and pour into the steam section of your iron. Turn iron on highest setting and steam until all liquid is used. Repeat using water only. When iron is cool, rub iron base with a cloth dipped in vinegar and water solution. Use a Q-tip to unclog any holes that are clogged or rusty.
• Before retiring for bed, pour 1 cup of vinegar into your toilets and let soak overnight to help diminish unsightly water rings.
• Add vinegar to washing machine before laundering bold colors to help prevent colors from running.
• To restore yellowed clothing, soak overnight in a mixture of 12 parts water to 1 part vinegar. Wash in regular manner the next day.
Vinegar isn’t just for Easter eggs. It is a very useful and inexpensive way to help keep your home a happy one. Today’s recipes are some of my maternal grandmother’s. If a recipe contains Mamaw in the title, it is a good one. Mine never taste as good as hers did, but there is no substitute for a grandmother’s love. Hope you will give them a try. Thanks for reading.
MAMAW’S MUSHROOM CHICKEN
1 cut-up chicken or 6 chicken breasts
1 stick butter
½ cup vegetable shortening
Flour, salt, pepper
1 can cream of mushroom soup
Worcestershire sauce
Lemon juice
Melt butter and shortening in skillet; dredge chicken pieces in flour that has been seasoned with salt and pepper. Brown both sides of chicken and place in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Sprinkle liberally with Worcestershire sauce and lemon juice.
Pour excess grease from skillet and add can of cream of mushroom soup and a soup can of water; heat thoroughly. Pour over chicken pieces and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Serve over cooked rice.
MAMAW’S CHICKEN DORITO CASSEROLE
1 large bag nacho cheese Doritos
4 chicken breasts, boiled and chopped
2 cans Ro-Tel tomatoes, chopped
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can chili hot beans
1 pound Velveeta cheese
1 chopped onion
Spray a large oblong baking dish with Pam. Slightly crush the Doritos and pour them in the bottom of the dish. Put the chopped chicken on top of the Doritos, then the beans. Slice the cheese and place on top of the beans. Combine the tomatoes, soups, and the onion and pour on top of the cheese. Cover with foil and bake at 325 degrees for an hour.
MAMAW’S SEAFOOD CASSEROLE
4 tablespoons chopped onion
4 tablespoons chopped green bell pepper
2 tablespoons chopped pimiento
2 tablespoons butter
1 can shrimp, drained
1 can crabmeat, drained
1 can cream of celery soup
1 can sliced mushrooms, drained
Mashed potatoes
Saute’ onion, bell pepper, and pimiento in butter; add cream of celery soup and mix well. Add shrimp, crabmeat, and mushrooms to mixture and fold ingredients together.
Pour into a greased casserole dish and top with mashed potatoes. Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes.
