Research "Ek Khoj"

Ghevar

2017-08-28T10:39:00.002+05:30

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Ingredients:

Milk : Half Cup
Water : Four Cups
Solidified Ghee : 1 Cup
Plain flour : 03 Cups
Food color (Yellow): 1/4 tsp
Ice cubes : Three-four pieces
Essence of Kewra : 5-6 Drops
Ghee - 1 k.g.
Milk with1/2 tsp. of rubbed saffron
Chopped Almonds and Pistachios : One tbsp
Powdered cardamom: 1 tsp

Ingredients for making Syrup:

Sugar : 1 ½ Cups
Water : 1 Cup

Method:

Make sugar syrup.
Take a large bowl and rub the solidified Ghee with ice cubes into it, till the color of the mix turns white.
Add milk, flour and one cup water into a mix for making the batter.
Add the food color in water into the batter and after that mix the essence into it.
You can add some water to make the batter free flowing.
Fill a cylindrical container with ghee and heat it.
Pour about 50 ml of batter into the container, after the settlement of the froth add another glassful of batter into the batter.
When the froth settles down, take out the Ghevar and put it on a wire mesh to drain the oil.
Take a large and flat container to hold the ghevar.
After few minutes take out the ghevar and put it on mesh again.
Let it cool down for few minutes and spray a few drops of saffron milk, chopped dry fruit and the cardamom powder.

GOBHI MUSSALLAM

2010-11-09T20:53:00.001+05:30

GOBHI MUSSALLAM

The cauliflower is an extremely popular and versatile vegetable. It can be cooked whole or cut, dry or in gravy or pickled. It is a winner all the way. The gobhi mussallam or ‘whole cauliflower’ is a dish most appropriate for a formal menu or special occasion.

Ingredients:

Cauliflower 1 medium sized

Onion 1 large

Ginger 1” piece

Poppy seeds 1 tbsp

Cashewnuts 5

Chilli powder ¼ tsp

Turmeric powder ¼ tsp

Salt to taste

Mace 1 blade

Cinnamon 1 stick

Green cardamom 5

Cloves 5

Curd 150 gms

Ghee 100 gms

Shelled green peas 250 gms

Cumin seeds ¼ tsp

Method:

Wash the whole cauliflower, cut off the main stalk and remove the leaves.
Finely slice the onion, fry to a golden brown colour and grind to a paste using some of the curd.
Separately grind the ginger, mace, cinnamon.Cardamom and cloves.
Lightly roast the poppy seeds and cashewnuts on a griddle and grind to a paste.
Parboil cauliflower in half litre salted water. Remove.
Now in a kadhai, heat the ghee in which the onions were fried and plade the cauliflower upside down first so as to lightly brown it.
Turn and cook the stem side for 5 minutes.
Remove and place in the curd.
Mix all the ground ingredients, chilli and turmeric powder and salt and pour over the cauliflower.
In a lagan, place the cauliflower along with the marinade.
Pour ghee on the top and sides, saving 1 tbsp for peas.
Cover and place slow charcoal fire on the lid and also below the lagan.
Cook till the masala is dry but moist and the cauliflower is done.
Meanwhile in the kadhai heat a tbsp of ghee and add the cumin seeds.
When they begin to crackle, add the shelled peas, a pinch of salt and cook till tender.
When the cauliflower is done, serve on a bed of peas.

Note:
The cauliflower can be cooked in a moderately hot oven instead of the lagan.

KESARI BHAAT

2010-11-09T18:35:00.001+05:30

KESARI BHAAT

Ingredients:

1 tblsp cashewnuts
1 tblsp raisins
saffron few strands
1 cup basmati rice
1/2 tsp green cardamom powder
1 tblsp pure ghee
1/2 cup sugar
25 gms sugar crystals

Method:

Soak rice for half an hour.
Heat up ghee in a pan, fry raisins and cashewnuts, remove and keep aside.
In the same ghee mix in rice and stir fry till rice starts separating.
Dissolve saffron in warm water and keep aside.
Mix in 11/2 cup of boiling water to the rice and mix in saffron water and let it cook.
When half done mix in sugar and continue to stir fry till all the water has been absorbed and the rice is cooked.
Finally mix in the cardamom powder and decorate it with fried dry fruits and sugar crystals.
Serve hot.

JAIPURI MEWA PULAO RECIPE (Dry Fruit Pulao)

2010-11-09T18:29:00.001+05:30

JAIPURI MEWA PULAO RECIPE (Dry Fruit Pulao)

Ingredients:

2 cups long grained white rice
2 cups sugar
1 cup ghee
l/2 cup chironji, coarsely ground
25 almonds, blanched, chopped
25 pistachios, chopped
1 tsp cardamom powder
1/4 tsp nutmeg powder
1/2 tsp saffron, soaked in 1 tsp milk
4 cups milk

Preparation:

Soak rice in water for 2 hours. Drain. Heat the ghee and add the drained rice. Add milk.

Cover and cook on a low fire stirring occasionally but gently so that the rice grains do not break.

As soon as the rice is cooked, add the cardamom and nutmeg powders, dry fruits, sugar and saffron.

Mix well. Bake in a moderately hot oven till each grain is separate.

Serve jaipuri mewa pulao hot as a sweet dish.

Cantaloupe Milk Shake

2010-10-01T16:18:00.000+05:30

Cantaloupe Milk Shake

Ingredients:
Cantaloupe – 1 cup
Milk – ½ cup (approx.)
Ice – 1 cup
Sugar – 1 Tbsp (to taste)
Elaichi Powder (Cardamom) – ¼ tsp

Method:
1. Fill one cup with Cantaloupe.
2. Pour Milk over Cantaloupe until cup is filled to the top.
3. Pour Milk and Cantaloupe into a blender.
4. Add Ice, Sugar and Elaichi Powder.
5. Blend until smooth and creamy.
6. Serve immediately.
7. Serves 2

Tip:
For an extra creamy version, try adding a scoop of vanilla ice cream to the mix — Yummy!

Vegetable Jalfraizee

2010-10-01T16:10:00.000+05:30

Vegetable Jalfraizee

Ingredients

Medium pot of water
Salt – 1 tsp
Turmeric Powder – 1/4 tsp

Cauliflower – 3 cups, cut into bite size florets
Carrots – 1/2 cup, chopped

Oil – 1 Tbsp
Onion – 1/2 medium, chopped
Ginger – 1 tsp, minced
Garlic – 2 tsp, minced
Tomato Sauce – 1/2 cup (4 oz)
Bell Pepper – 1/2, chopped into bite size pieces
Frozen Green Peas – 1/2 cup, thawed
Salt – to taste
Whole Coriander Seeds – 2 Tbsp, dry roasted and powdered
Garam Masala – 1 tsp
Red Chili Powder – optional and to taste
Tomato – 1 small, deseeded and chopped
Lemon/Lime Juice – to taste

Method

Bring pot of water to a boil and add Salt and Turmeric Powder.
Add Cauliflower and Carrots and boil for 3 minutes.
Strain the Cauliflower and Carrots and drop them into a bowl of ice and water to stop the cooking.
Drain and keep aside after 1-2 minutes.
In a non-stick skillet or pan, heat 1 Tbsp Oil.
Add Onions and cook 2-3 minutes until light golden.
Add Ginger and Garlic and saute for 1 minute.
Add Tomato Sauce and cook until the oil separates.
Add Bell Pepper and Green Peas and cook for 2-3 minutes.
Add Cauliflower and Carrots, Salt, Powdered Coriander, Garam Masala and optional Red Chili Powder. Mix well and cook until veggies are tender but not mushy.
Sprinkle a little water over the veggies occasionally to provide moisture so that the dry spices do not burn.
Add Tomato and mix. Cook for 1-2 minutes.[I forgot to add the tomatoes!!]
Sprinkle Lemon/Lime Juice and mix.
Serve hot with roti, chapati or naan.

Semiya Payasam / Vermicelli Kheer

2010-10-01T16:06:00.000+05:30

Semiya Payasam / Vermicelli Kheer

Ingredients
Semiya - 100 gms [1/2 cup]
Milk - 1 ltr
Sugar - 1/2 cup
Ghee - 1 tbsp
Cashewnuts - a handful
Cardamom Powder - 1 tsp

Method
In a kadai,add ghee and roast the cashewnuts till golden brown.Drain and keep aside.
In the same pan,roast the semiya till golden brown.
In another pan,boil the milk.
When the semiya becomes sufficiently brown,mix in the milk and cook till the semiya becomes soft.
Mix in the sugar and let it come to boil.
Simmer and cook the payasam for 20-25 minutes.
Add the cardamom powder and roasted cashewnuts.
Serve hot or cold.

Golden Onion & Corn Quiche

2010-09-29T15:41:00.000+05:30

Golden Onion & Corn Quiche

Ingredients

For the pastry

Maida -200g

Butter (frozen) -100g (preferably unsalted)

Baking powder-1/4 tsp

Salt-to taste

Beaten egg-1 [ I did not add ]

Ice cold water-as required ( which will be a few drops)

Method

Sieve maida ,salt and baking powder together. Grate in the butter and mix it with the flour with your fingertips till it resembles coarse sand.

Add in the beaten egg and water and gather it into a soft dough.[I just added 2-3 tbsp water].

Roll it out on a lightly floured surface and lift it up carefully and line the tin that you will be baking it in.If it breaks up and you need to do a patch work, big deal! It wouldn't be seen outside! ;)

Which ever tin you are using, make sure the dough comes a little way up the sides, so that it can hold the filling in.

For the filling

Boiled and shredded chicken-1/2 c[I used equal amount of corn kernels]

Onion-250 g ,chopped

Cheese-100g [ I used Mozarella and used very less quantity--about 3 tbsp for the filling and then I grated a little bit on top of the quiches before baking]

~~Milk-1 cup,Beaten eggs-3~~ ,Instead of these,I used 300 ml cream

Salt and pepper to taste

Oil- as needed

Heat oil and slightly fry the corn till it is golden brown. Add in the onions and fry till onions have caramelised.

Add ~~milk,beaten eggs,~~ cream,cheese,salt and pepper and mix well,let it thicken for a while[about 5 minutes].
Switch off the flame.

Pour into the pastry case and bake for 25 mins or till golden brown.

Main Dish - Paneer Pudina Pulao

2010-09-29T15:31:00.000+05:30

Ingredients:
1 Cup Raw Rice
2 Cups Coconut Milk

1 Cup Pudina/Mint Leaves, Chopped
"½ Cup Paneer/Cottage Cheese Cubes
3 Green Chilies
1" piece Ginger
4 pods Garlic
1 Onion, Sliced
2tbsp Ghee
3 pieces Cinnamon
3 pieces Clove
2 Elaichi/Cardamom

Method:
Paneer pudina pulao Shallow fry Paneer and keep aside. Grind Green Chilies, Garlic and Ginger to a paste. In a thick-bottomed pan heat Ghee and add Cinnamon, Clove, Cardamom and fry.

Now add the Chili paste, Onions and fry for 2 minutes. Add Rice, Pudina and Paneer and mix well with the Masala. Add Coconut milk and close the vessel and cook till done.

Remove to a serving dish and serve hot with Raitha.

a secret ingredient makes hamburgers taste like steakburgers

2010-09-28T19:32:00.000+05:30

a secret ingredient makes hamburgers taste like steakburgers

Serve these tasty hamburger steaks with mashed potatoes and your choice of vegetable. Add a little red wine to the gravy for even more flavor.

Ingredients:

1 to 1 1/4 pounds extra lean ground beef
1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon seasoned salt
3 tablespoons fine dry bread crumbs
2 tablespoons milk
1 large egg, slightly beaten
2 tablespoons grated onion
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 to 3/4 cup thinly sliced mushrooms
2 tablespoons flour
1 cup beef broth
1 tablespoon dry red wine, optional

Preparation:

Combine ground beef, pepper, salt, seasoned salt, and bread crumbs. Shape into 4 oval patties. Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat; fry the patties for about 5 minutes on each side, or until cooked through. Remove patties to warm plate and keep warm. Pour off all but about 2 tablespoons of the drippings. Add mushrooms to the drippings and cook until tender. Add flour to the skillet; stir until hot and bubbly. Add the beef broth and wine, if using; cook, stirring, until the sauce is thickened. Pour over the steaks and serve with potatoes and a vegetable side dish.

serves 4
so now you got the secret of making the hamburgers in few minutes.a secret ingredient makes hamburgers taste like steakburgers

Khasta Kachori

2010-09-28T14:03:00.000+05:30

Khasta actually means "flaky" and this flaky kachori is filled with a delectable moong dal mixture and deep fried. Remember to fry the kachori on a very slow flame so that the crust is crisp and gets cooked on the inside. A perfect kachori is one that is puffed up and flaky outside but hollow inside. This dish can be stored in air-tight containers for upto a week. When unexpected guests arrive, warm up the kachoris in a slow oven for about 7 to 10 minutes, fill them with curds and chutneys and serve.

For the Dough

Ingredients
2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 cup oil/ghee, I used oil
1/2 tsp salt
water for kneading

Method

Mix the flour and salt.
Add the oil and mix well. Till you get a bread crumbs texture.
Make a soft dough using water.
Knead well for about 8 minutes.
Cover and keep aside to rest for atleast half hour.

Notes

Keep the dough covered at all times, if not it will dry up and not puff up when frying. If the dough is made right wet cloth can be used if not just a towel.
The dough could spring back for many reasons:
Dough is too cold (If wet cloth is used)
Dough is not soft enough.
Not kneaded for enough time.
Oil is less.
Not rested enough.

Fillings
Khasta Kachori - Moong Dal kachori
Here I took a mix of both the recipes.

Ingredients
1/2 cup split moong dal (yellow)
1 tsp cumin seeds
a pinch hing (asefetida)
2 tsp finelly chopped curry leaves (Optional)
1 tsp chilli ginger paste
1 tsp sauf (fennel seeds) powder
1/2 tsp spoon garam masala
1/2 tsp red chilli pwd
1 tsp mango powder (amchur)
1 tsp oil
salt to taste

Method

Wask and Soak dal in water for atleast 1 hour. You can go upto 4 hours not more.
Drain the water well.
Grind the dal to a coarsely. (Will resemble Idli Rawa)
Heat oil in a pan.
Add the hing and cumin seeds.
Once the seeds splutter add the curry leaves.
Add the dal.
Lower the heat and keep stirring for 5 minutes till the dal stops sticking to the pan.
Cook for another 10 minutes on low till the dal turns slightly brown.
Add all the masalas.
Cook for few minutes till the aroma of the spices hit you.
Add Salt.
Remove from heat and keep aside to cool.

Muttar Ki Kachori from Tarla Dalal:

Ingridients
2 cups green peas
1 teaspoon green chillies, chopped
1 teaspoon ginger, grated
1/2 teaspoon nigella seeds (kalonji)
2 teaspoons fennel seeds (saunf)
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon chilli powder
1 teaspoon garam masala
4 tablespoons chopped coriander
2 tablespoons oil
salt

Method

Corarsely grind the green peas,green chillies and ginger in a blender without using any water. Keep aside.
Heat the oil in a pan,add the nigella seeds,fennel seeds,bay leaves and ground green pea mixture and saute over a very slow flame for 8 to 10 minutes.
Add the chilli powder,garam masala,coriander and salt and saute for 2 more minutes.
Remove the bay leavess and discard. Divide into 12 equal portions.

Pyaz Ki Kachori

Ingredients
2 cups onions, finely chopped
1 teaspoon nigella seeds (kalonji)
2 teaspoons fennel seeds (saunf)
2 bay leaves
1½ teaspoons green chillies, finely chopped
2 tablespoons Bengal gram flour (besan)
2 teaspoons coriander (dhania) powder
2 teaspoons chilli powder
1 teaspoon garam masala
3 tablespoons chopped coriander
2 tablespoons oil
salt to taste

Method

Heat the oil in a pan. Add the nigella seeds, fennel seeds, bay leaves, green chillies and onions and sauté till the onions turn light brown in colour.
Add the gram flour, coriander powder, chilli powder, garam masala and salt and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes.
Add the chopped coriander and mix well. Remove the bay leaves and discard. Allow the mixture to cool completely.
Divide into 12 equal portions and keep aside.

Notes

The fillings have to be really dry if not when rolling they will ooz out when rolling.
The masalas are according to taste, I did reduce the spice but still its spicy for us but the level we can enjoy.
Once I added the filling I found it difficult to roll especially the moong dal, I felt the dough would break and make holes So I pressed it down with my hand.,
Fry the kachori's on medium low to get a crisp outer layer, that is the key. For people using electric stove, my numbers were going from 6 to 4.

To Make Kachori's

Make a small ball from the dough.
Roll out into a 2 inch diameter circle.
Place about 1.5 tsp of t he filling in the center of the rolled dough.
Cover the filling with the dough by sowly streching it over the filling. Seal the ends and remove excess dough.
Flatten and roll each portion to 2.5 inch circle. I used the my palms to flatten it, using the rolling pin was not working sincet he filling was coming out. (See notes below).
Keep aside covered.
Repeat with the remaining dough.
Meanwhile heat some oil for deep frying.
Drop the kachori in the oil. It should rise up slowly.
After it rises up (about 2 minutes), turn it over.
Cook for about 6 to 10 minutes till the side down gets a golden brown color.
Turn and cook the other side for another 6 minutes or till its golden brown in color.
Remove when done, cool and store in airtight container.
Serve with coriander chutney and tamarind chutney

Notes

I fried 3 kachori's at a time.
The oil should be at a heat when you drop some dough it should come up slowly, if the dough comes up too fast the oil is too hot, if it does not come up then the oil is cold.
It will not be crisp if the oil is too hot.

Vegetable Au Gratin

2010-09-28T13:57:00.000+05:30

Vegetable Au Gratin is a french dish, its a medley of vegetables baked in a cheesy herbed white sauce. Mama always made this in 2 batches, one for papa with all the vegetables and one for me with corn and paneer since I never liked vegetables as a kid. You can use any vegetables you like fresh or frozen it tastes great.

Ingredients:

For veg layer :
3 cups vegetables (see note below)
1-2 tsp herbs (I used oregano)
salt and pepper to taste

For white sauce :
3-4 tbsp butter
3 tbsp maida (plain flour)
3 1/2 to 4 cups milk
1/4 to 1/2 cup cheddar cheese
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 to 1 tsp herbs (I used oregano)

For topping :
Bread crumbs and grated cheddar cheese - mix these together (approx 1 cup combined) You can vary the proportion as per your requirement.
a little butter Preparation:

For veg :
1. Boil vegetables and drain them. To the veg add salt, pepper and herbs. Also add paneer, if using. Set aside.

For white sauce :
1. Heat butter. Add maida. Saute over medium heat till raw smell goes. Do not let it turn brown.
2. Remove from heat and add 1 cup milk and stir constantly. See that no lumps are formed.
3. Put it back over heat and add remaining milk. Stir over low to medium heat till sauce thickens.
4. Add salt, pepper and herbs. Mix.
5. Remove from heat and add cheese. Add the veg mixture.

Proceed :
1. Transfer it onto a greased baking dish. Sprinkle the crumbs-cheese mix, dot with butter.
Bake in a preheated oven @ 180 C for 20 mins till cheese melts and top is browned. Give 5-10 mins standing time before serving. Then dig in!

Notes :
1. You can use any diff combination of veg like cauliflower, potatoes, peas, carrot, beans, baby corn, corn etc.
2. You can use a combination of cheddar and mozarella cheese for the sauce and topping.
3. Before you bake, preheat oven @ 180 C.
4. If you want a spicy Au gratin, add chilli flakes to the sauce.
5. You can cook the dish over a gas too. After transferring the vegetables to the sauce and sprinkling the topping, cover and heat over gas till cheese melts.

Watermelon Salsa

2010-09-28T11:59:00.001+05:30

I know this salsa sounds odd but it is absolutely amazing! It tastes delightlfully sweet with just a hint of heat. With so many fresh, seasonal ingredients, it truly tastes like Summer.
This salsa is delicious with tortilla chips, but would also be a great topping for grilled chicken fajitas or tacos.Juice of 2 large limes (about 1/4 cup)2 tablespoons cider vinegar

1 tablespoon honey

3 tablespoons brown sugar
3 cups watermelon, seeded and chopped
3/4 cup cucumber, peeled, seeded and chopped
1/4 cup yellow Bell peppers, seeded and diced
1/3 cup red onion, peeled and diced
2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and diced
1/4 cup cilantro, minced
2 tablespoons fresh basil, minced
1/4 teaspoon salt

In a large bowl, combine the juice of 2 large limes, cider vinegar and honey. Whisk in brown sugar until dissolved. Add remaining ingredients and toss to combine. Cover and refrigerate at least 8 hours for best flavor. After 8 hours or when ready to serve, drain a quarter to half of liquid that accumulated before serving.

Gobi Manchurian

2009-05-09T14:35:00.002+05:30

Ingredients:

1 medium Gobhi (Cauliflower)
3/4 cup Flour (Maida)
1 tbsp Corn Flour
Salt to taste
1 Chopped green chili
11/2 tbsp Garlic Paste
11/2 tbsp Ginger Paste
1 cup finely Chopped Onions
Finely Chopped Coriander Leaves
1/4th tsp Ajinomoto
2 tbsp Soya Sauce
2-3 tbsp Tomato Ketchup
2 tbsp Oil

Method:

Make a paste of maida, corn flour and salt using water.
Take a tsp. of ginger and garlic paste, add it to the paste.
Dip the gobi florets in the paste and deep fry till golden brown.
Keep aside.
Heat oil in another pan and add the left ginger & garlic paste, chopped onions and green chili to it.
Now, mix aginomoto, soya sauce and tomato sauce to it.
Add fried Gobi kept aside and mix well.
Garnish it with coriander leaves.
Serve the gobi manchurian hot.

Aloo Palak

2009-05-06T15:05:00.003+05:30

Ingridents:

3 cups chopped spinach
2 large onoins chopped fine
2 large potatoes boiled and peeled
1 tomato grated
2 green chillies
1" piece ginger
1 tsp. lemon juice
1/2 tsp. wheat or other flour
1 tsp. red chilli powder
1 tsp. cinnamon-clove powder
1/4 tsp. turmeric powder
1/2 tsp cumin seeds
2 pinches asafoetida
1/2 tsp. garam masala
1/2 tbsp. butter
4 tbsp. ghee
salt to taste

Method:

Put the washed spinach in a pan, add very little water (just a sprinkle) and a pinch of salt.
Cover and boil over a high flame for 2 minutes.
Cool quickly, or hold under running water in a colander.
Put in a mixie, add green chilli and run for a minute.
Keep slightly coarse, do not make very smooth.
Keep aside.Cut the potatoes into big pieces.
Heat ghee and fry potatoes till light brown.
Drain the potatoes, keep aside.
In the same hot ghee add the cumin seeds.
Add the ginger, onions and fry till very tender.
Add the tomato and further fry for two minutes.
Add all the dry masalas and fry till ghee separates.
Add spinach and potatoes.
When it resumes a boil sprinkle the flour and stir well.
Boil for 2-3 minutes.
Add lemon juice Just before s evering heat butter in a tiny saucepan and add the asafoetida.
Pour over the vegetable and mix gently.
Serve hot with naan or parathas or even rice.

Note: You may use boiled peas, boiled corn kernels or paneer chunks in the above dish, instead of potatoes.

Making time: 45 minutes
Makes for: 6
Shelf life: Best fresh

Cocoa - lace cookies

2009-04-27T15:41:00.004+05:30

check out the recipe...
its very yummy recipe for kids ... they will like this cookies a lot as its very taste and heathy too...

Ingredients:

1/4 cup I Can't Believe It's Not Butter!® Spread
1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 cup light or dark corn syrup
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Method:

Preheat oven 350°.
Spray baking sheets with nonstick cooking spray.
set aside.

In medium saucepan, melt I Can't Believe It's Not Butter!® Spread, then stir in sugar and corn syrup.
Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, until sugar is dissolved.
Remove from heat; stir in remaining ingredients until blended.
On prepared baking sheets, drop mixture by heaping teaspoonfuls, 3-inches apart (six cookies should fit on each sheet).

Bake 9 minutes or until cookies spread thin and are deep brown (cookies will be soft).
On wire rack, let stand 2 minutes.
Working quickly with metal spatula, remove from sheets and on wire rack, cool completely.
Sprinkle, if desired, with confectioners sugar.

Recipe Info

Makes: 1-1/2 dozen cookies
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 9 minutes

Different uses of vinegar

2009-04-26T21:18:00.001+05:30

For the Do-It-Yourselfer

Wash concrete off your skin
Even though you wear rubber gloves when working with concrete, some of the stuff inevitably splashes on your skin. Prolonged contact with wet concrete can cause your skin to crack, and may even lead to eczema. Use undiluted white vinegar to wash dried concrete or mortar off your skin, then wash with warm, soapy water.

Remove paint fumes
Place a couple of shallow dishes filled with undiluted white vinegar around a freshly painted room to quickly get rid of the strong paint smell.

Degrease grates, fans, and air-conditioner grilles
Even in the cleanest of homes, air-conditioner grilles, heating grates, and fan blades eventually develop a layer of dust and grease. To clean them, wipe them with full-strength white vinegar. Use an old toothbrush to work the vinegar into the tight spaces on air-conditioner grilles and exhaust fans.

Disinfect air-conditioner and humidifier filters
An air-conditioner or humidifier filter can quickly become inundated with dust, soot, pet dander, and even potentially harmful bacteria. Every 10 days or so, clean your filter in equal parts white vinegar and warm water. Let the filter soak in the solution for an hour, then simply squeeze it dry before using. If your filters are particularly dirty, let them soak overnight.

Keep the paint on your cement floors
Painted cement floors have a tendency to peel after a while. But you can keep the paint stuck to the cement longer by giving the floor an initial coat of white vinegar before you paint it. Wait until the vinegar has dried, then begin painting. This same technique will also help keep paint affixed to galvanized metal.

Get rid of rust
If you want to clean up those rusted old tools you recently unearthed in your basement or picked up at a tag sale, soak them in full-strength white vinegar for several days. The same treatment is equally effective at removing the rust from corroded nuts and bolts. And you can pour vinegar on rusted hinges and screws to loosen them up for removal.

Peel off wallpaper
Removing old wallpaper can be messy, but you can make it peel off easily by soaking it with a vinegar solution. Spray equal parts white vinegar and water on the wallpaper until it is saturated and wait a few minutes. Then zip the stuff off the wall with a wallpaper scraper. If it is stubborn, try carefully scoring the wallpaper with the scraper before you spritz.

Slow hardening of plaster
Want to keep your plaster pliable a bit longer to get it all smoothed out? Just add a couple of tablespoons of white vinegar to your plaster mix. It will slow down the hardening process to give you the extra time you need.

Revive your paintbrushes
To remove dried-on paint from a synthetic-bristle paintbrush, soak it in full-strength white vinegar until the paint dissolves and the bristles are soft and pliable, then wash in hot, soapy water. Does a paintbrush seem beyond hope? Before you toss it, try boiling it in 1-2 cups vinegar for 10 minutes, followed by a thorough washing in soapy water.

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Different uses of vinegar

2009-04-26T21:14:00.001+05:30

In the Great Outdoors

Clean outdoor furniture and decks
If you live in a hot, humid climate, you're probably no stranger to seeing mildew on your wooden decks and patio furniture. But before you reach for the bleach, try these milder vinegar-based solutions:

Keep some full-strength white vinegar in a recycled spray bottle and use it wherever you see any mildew growth. The stain will wipe right off most surfaces, and the vinegar will keep it from coming back for a while.

Remove mildew from wood decks and wood patio furniture by sponging them off with a solution of 1 cup ammonia, 1/2 cup white vinegar, and 1/4 cup baking soda mixed in 1 gallon (3.7 liters) water. Keep an old toothbrush on hand to work the solution into corners and other tight spaces.

To deodorize and inhibit mildew growth on outdoor plastic mesh furniture and patio umbrellas, mix 2 cups white vinegar and 2 tablespoons liquid dish soap in a bucket of hot water. Use a soft brush to work it into the grooves of the plastic as well as for scrubbing seat pads and umbrella fabric. Rinse with cold water; then dry in the sun.

Make a trap to lure flying insects
Who wants to play host to a bunch of gnats, flies mosquitoes, or other six-legged pests when you're trying to have a cookout in your yard? Keep the flying gate-crashers at bay by giving them their own VIP section. Place a bowl filled with apple cider vinegar near some food, but away from you and guests. By the evening's end, most of your uninvited guests will be floating inside the bowl.

Give ants the boot
Serve the ants on your premises with an eviction notice. Pour equal parts water and white vinegar into a spray bottle. Then spray it on anthills and around areas where you see the insects. Ants hate the smell of vinegar. It won't take long for them to move on to better-smelling quarters. Also keep the spray bottle handy for outdoor trips or to keep ants away from picnic or children's play areas. If you have lots of anthills around your property, try pouring full-strength vinegar over them to hasten the bugs' departure.

Clean off bird droppings
Have the birds been using your patio or driveway for target practice again? Make those messy droppings disappear in no time by spraying them with full-strength apple cider vinegar. Or pour the vinegar onto a rag and wipe them off.

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Stop yellow leaves on plants
The sudden appearance of yellow leaves on plants accustomed to acidic soils-such as azaleas, hydrangeas, and gardenias-could signal a drop in the plant's iron intake or a shift in the ground's pH above a comfortable 5.0 level. Either problem can be resolved by watering the soil around the afflicted plants once a week for three weeks with 1 cup of a solution made by mixing 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar in 1 quart (1 liter) water.

Treat rust and other plant diseases
You can use vinegar to treat a host of plant diseases, including rust, black spot, and powdery mildew. Mix 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar in 2 quarts (2 liters) water, and pour some into a recycled spray bottle. Spray the solution on your affected plants in the morning or early evening (when temperatures are relatively cool and there's no direct light on the plant) until the condition is cured.

Clean your lawn mower blades
Grass, especially when it's damp, has a tendency to accumulate on your lawn mower blades after you cut the lawn -- sometimes with grubs or other insects hiding inside. Before you park your mower back in the garage or toolshed, wipe down the blades with a cloth dampened with undiluted white vinegar. It will clean off leftover grass on the blades, as well as any pests that may have been planning to hang out awhile.

Keep out four-legged creatures
Some animals -- including cats, deer, dogs, rabbits, and raccoons -- can't stand the scent of vinegar even after it has dried. You can keep these unauthorized visitors out of your garden by soaking several recycled rags in white vinegar, and placing them on stakes around your veggies. Resoak the rags about every 7-10 days.

Exterminate dandelions and unwanted grass
Are dandelions sprouting up in the cracks of your driveway or along the fringes of your patio? Make them disappear for good by spraying them with full-strength white or apple cider vinegar. Early in the season, give each plant a single spritz of vinegar in its midsection, or in the middle of the flower before the plants go to seed. Aim another shot near the stem at ground level so the vinegar can soak down to the roots. Keep an eye on the weather, though; if it rains the next day, you'll need to give the weeds another spraying.

Keep the kitties away
If you want to keep Snowball and Fluffy out of the kids' playroom, or discourage them from using your favorite easy chair as a scratching post, sprinkle some full-strength distilled white vinegar around the area or onto the object itself. Cats don't like the smell of vinegar and will avoid it.

Unmark your pet's spots
When housebreaking a puppy or kitten, it'll often wet previously soiled spots. After cleaning up the mess, it's essential to remove the scent from your floor, carpeting, or sofa. And nothing does that better than vinegar:

On a floor, blot up as much of the stain as possible. Then mop with equal parts white vinegar and warm water. (On a wood or vinyl floor, test a few drops of vinegar in an inconspicuous area to make sure it won't harm the finish.) Dry with a cloth or paper towel.

For carpets, rugs, and upholstery, thoroughly blot the area with a towel or some rags. Then pour a bit of undiluted vinegar over the spot. Blot it up with a towel, then reapply the vinegar-let it air-dry. Once the vinegar dries, the spot should be completely deodorized.

Add to pet's drinking water
Adding a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to your dog or cat's drinking water provides needed nutrients to its diet, gives it a shinier, healthier-looking coat, and acts as a natural deterrent to fleas and ticks.

Directly protect against fleas and ticks
To give your dog effective flea and tick protection, fill a spray bottle with equal parts water and vinegar and apply it directly to the dog's coat and rub it in well. You may have more trouble doing this with cats, because they really hate the smell of the stuff.

Clean your pet's ears
If you've noticed that Rover has been scratching around his ears a lot more than usual lately, a bit of vinegar could bring him some big relief. Swabbing your pet's ears with a cotton ball or soft cloth dabbed in solution of 2 parts vinegar and 1 part water will keep them clean and help deter ear mites and bacteria. It also soothes minor itches from mosquito bites and such. Warning: Do not apply vinegar to open lacerations. If you see a cut in your pet's ears, seek veterinary treatment.

Remove skunk odor
If Fido has an unpleasant encounter with an ornery skunk, here are some ways to help him get rid of the smell:

Bathe your pet in a mixture of 1/2 cup white vinegar, 1/4 cup baking soda, and 1 teaspoon liquid soap in 1 quart (1 liter) 3% hydrogen peroxide. Work the solution deep into his coat, give it a few minutes to soak in, then rinse him thoroughly with clean water.

Bathe your pet in equal parts water and vinegar (preferably outdoors in a large washtub). Then repeat the procedure using 1 part vinegar to 2 parts water, followed by a good rinsing.

If you happen to have an unscheduled meeting with skunk, use undiluted vinegar to get the smell out your own clothes. Let the affected clothing soak in the vinegar overnight.

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For Pets and In the Garden

Test soil acidity or alkalinity
To do a quick test for excess alkalinity in the soil in your yard, place a handful of earth in a container and then pour in 1/2 cup white vinegar. If the soil fizzes or bubbles, it's definitely alkaline. Similarly, to see if your soil has a high acidity, mix the earth with 1/2 cup water and 1/2 cup baking soda. This time, fizzing would indicate acid in the soil. To find the exact pH level of your soil, have it tested or pick up a simple, do-it-yourself kit or meter.

Clean a hummingbird feeder
Hummingbirds are innately discriminating creatures, so don't expect to see them flocking around a dirty, sticky, or crusted-over sugar-water feeder. Regularly clean your feeders by thoroughly washing them in equal parts apple cider vinegar and hot water. Rinse well with cold water after washing, and air-dry them outdoors in full sunlight before refilling them with food.

Speed germination of flower seed
You can get woody seeds, such as moonflower, passionflower, morning glory, and gourds, off to a healthier start by scarifying them-that is, lightly rubbing them between a couple of sheets of fine sandpaper-and soaking them overnight in a solution of 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar and 1 pint (half liter) warm water. Next morning, remove the seeds from the solution, rinse them off, and plant them. You can also use the solution (minus the sandpaper treatment) to start many herb and vegetable seeds.

Keep cut flowers fresh
Everyone likes to keep cut flowers around as long as possible, and there are several good methods. One way is to mix 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar and 2 tablespoons sugar with the vase water before adding the flowers. Be sure to change the water (with more vinegar and sugar, of course) every few days to enhance your flowers' longevity.

Wipe away mealybugs
They're among the most insidious and common pests on both houseplants and in the garden. But you can nip a mealybug invasion in the bud by dabbing the insects with a cotton swab dipped in full-strength white vinegar. You may need to use a handful of swabs, but the vinegar will kill the fluffy monsters and any eggs left behind. Be vigilant for missed targets, and break out more vinegar-soaked swabs if you spot bugs.

Eliminate insects around the garden
If the bugs are feasting on the fruits and vegetables in your garden, give them the boot with this simple, nonpoisonous trap. Fill a 2-liter soda bottle with 1 cup apple cider vinegar and 1 cup sugar. Next, slice up a banana peel into small pieces, put them in the bottle, add 1 cup cold water, and shake it up. Tie a piece of string around the neck of the bottle and hang it from a low tree branch, or place it on the ground, to trap and kill the six-legged freeloaders. Replace used traps with new ones as needed.

Encourage blooms on azaleas and gardenias
A little bit of acid goes a long way toward bringing out the blooms on your azalea and gardenia bushes -- especially if you have hard water. Both bushes do best in acidic soils (with pH levels between 4 and 5.5). To keep them healthy and to produce more flowers, water them every week or so with 3 tablespoons white vinegar mixed in 1 gallon (3.7 liters) water. Don't apply the solution while the bush is in bloom, however; it may shorten the life of the flowers or harm the plant.

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Remove cigarette smell from suits
If you find yourself in a situation where you wind up heading home with the lingering smell of cigarette smoke on your good suit or dress, you can remove the odor without having to take your clothes to the dry cleaner. Just add 1 cup vinegar to a bathtub filled with the hottest water your tap can muster. Close the door and hang your garments above the steam. The smell should be gone after several hours.

Reshape your woolens
Shrunken woolen sweaters and other items can usually be stretched back to their former size or shape after boiling them in a solution of 1 part vinegar to 2 parts water for 25 minutes. Let the garment air-dry after you've finished stretching it.

Brush off suede stains
To eliminate a fresh grease spot on a suede jacket or skirt, gently brush it with a soft toothbrush dipped in white vinegar. Let the spot air-dry, then brush with a suede brush. Repeat if necessary. You can also generally tone up suede items by lightly wiping them with a sponge dipped in vinegar.

Pat away water-soluble stains
You can lift out many water-soluble stains -- including beer, orange and other fruit juices, black coffee or tea, and vomit --from your cotton-blend clothing by patting the spot with a cloth or towel moistened with undiluted white vinegar just before placing it in the wash. For large stains, you may want to soak the garment overnight in a solution of 3 parts vinegar to 1 part cold water before washing.

Unset old stains
Older, set-in stains will often come out in the wash after being pretreated with a solution of 3 tablespoons white vinegar and 2 tablespoons liquid detergent in 1 quart (1 liter) warm water. Rub the solution into the stain, then blot it dry before washing.

Sponge out serious stains
Cola, hair dye, ketchup, and wine stains on washable cotton blends should be treated as soon as possible (that is, within 24 hours). Sponge the area with undiluted vinegar and launder immediately afterward. For severe stains, add 1-2 cups vinegar to the wash cycle as well.

Get the rust out
To remove a rust stain from your cotton work clothes, moisten the spot with some full-strength vinegar and then rub in a bit of salt. If it's warm outdoors, let it dry in the sunlight (otherwise a sunny window will do), then toss it in the wash.

Clear away crayon stains
Somehow or other, kids often manage to get crayon marks on their clothing. You can easily get these stains off by rubbing them with a recycled toothbrush soaked in undiluted vinegar before washing them.

Remove rings from collars and cuffs
Are you tired of seeing those old sweat rings around your shirt collars? What about the annoying discoloration along the edges of your cuffs? Give them the boot by scrubbing the material with a paste made from 2 parts white vinegar to 3 parts baking soda. Let the paste set for half an hour before washing. This approach also works to remove light mildew stains from clothing.

Pretreat perspiration stains
Want to see those sweat marks disappear from shirts and other garments? Just pour a bit of vinegar directly onto the stain, and rub it into the fabric before placing the item in the wash. You can also remove deodorant stains from your washable shirts and blouses by gently rubbing the spot with undiluted vinegar before laundering.

Make pen ink disappear
Did someone in your house come home with a leaky pen in his pocket? Treat the stain by first wetting it with some white vinegar, then rub in a paste of 2 parts vinegar to 3 parts cornstarch. Let the paste thoroughly dry before washing the item.

Soak out bloodstains
Whether you nick yourself while shaving, or receive an unexpected scratch, it's important to treat the stains on your clothing as soon as possible; bloodstains are relatively easy to remove before they set but can be nearly impossible to wash out after 24 hours. If you can get to the stain before it sets, treat it by pouring full-strength white vinegar on the spot. Let it soak in for 5-10 minutes, then blot well with a cloth or towel. Repeat if necessary, then wash immediately.

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In the Laundry and for Removing Stains

Soften fabrics, kill bacteria, eliminate static, and more
There are so many benefits to be reaped by adding 1 cup white vinegar to your washer's rinse cycle that it's surprising that you don't find it prominently mentioned inside the owner's manual of every washing machine sold. Here are the main ones:

A single cup of vinegar will kill off any bacteria that may be present in your wash load, especially if it includes cloth diapers and the like.

A cup of vinegar will keep your clothes coming out of the wash soft and smelling fresh -- so you can kiss your fabric-softening liquids and sheets good-bye (unless, of course, you happen to like your clothes smelling of heavy perfumes).

A cup of vinegar will brighten small loads of white clothes.

Added to the last rinse, a cup of vinegar will keep your clothes lint- and static-free.

Adding a cupful of vinegar to the last rinse will set the color of your newly dyed fabrics.

Clean your washing machine
An easy way to periodically clean out soap scum and disinfect your clothes washer is to pour in 2 cups vinegar, then run the machine through a full cycle without any clothes or detergent. If your washer is particularly dirty, fill it with very hot water, add 2 gallons (7.5 liters) vinegar, and let the agitator run for 8-10 minutes. Turn off the washer and let the solution stand overnight. In the morning, empty the basin and run your washer through a complete cycle.

Stop reds from running
Unless you have a fondness for pink-tinted clothing, take one simple precaution to prevent red -- or other brightly dyed -- washable clothes from ruining your wash loads. Soak your new garments in a few cups of undiluted white vinegar for 10-15 minutes before their first washing. You'll never have to worry about running colors again!

Brighten your loads
Why waste money on that costly all-color bleach when you can get the same results using vinegar? Just add 1/2 cup white vinegar to your machine's wash cycle to brighten up the colors in each load.

Make new clothes ready to wear
Get the chemicals, dust, odor, and whatever else out of your brand-new or secondhand clothes by pouring 1 cup white vinegar into the wash cycle the first time you wash them.

Whiten your dingy crew socks
If it's getting increasingly difficult to identify the white socks in your sock drawer, here's a simple way to make them so bright you can't miss them. Start by adding 1 cup vinegar to 1 1/2 quarts (1.5 liters) tap water in a large pot. Bring the solution to a boil, then pour it into a bucket and drop in your dingy socks. Let them soak overnight. The next day, wash them as you normally would.

Get the yellow out of clothing
To restore yellowed clothing, let the garments soak overnight in a solution of 12 parts warm water to 1 part vinegar. Wash them the following morning.

Soften up your blankets
Add 2 cups white vinegar to your washer's rinse water (or a washtub filled with water) to remove soap residue from both cotton and wool blankets before drying. This will also leave them feeling fresh and soft as new.

Spray away wrinkles
In a perfect world, laundry would emerge from the dryer freshly pressed. Until that day, you can often get the wrinkles out of clothes after drying by misting them with a solution of 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water. Once you're sure you didn't miss a spot, hang it up and let it air-dry. You may find this approach works better for some clothes than ironing; it's certainly a lot gentler on the material.

Flush your iron's interior
To eliminate mineral deposits and prevent corrosion on your steam iron, give it an occasional cleaning by filling the reservoir with undiluted white vinegar. Place the iron in an upright position, switch on the steam setting, and let the vinegar steam through it for 5-10 minutes. Then refill the chamber with clean water and repeat. Finally, give the water chamber a good rinsing with cold, clean water.

Clean your iron's soleplate
To remove scorch marks from the soleplate of your iron, scrub it with a paste made by heating up equal parts vinegar and salt in a small pan. Use a rag dipped in clean water to wipe away the remaining residue.

Sharpen your creases
You'll find the creases in your freshly ironed clothes coming out a lot neater if you lightly spray them with equal parts water and vinegar before ironing them. For truly sharp creases in slacks and dress shirts, first dampen the garment using a cloth moistened in a solution of 1 part white vinegar and 2 parts water. Then place a brown paper bag over the crease and start ironing.

Make old hemlines disappear
Want to make those needle marks from an old hemline disappear for good? Just moisten the area with a cloth dipped in equal parts vinegar and water, then place it under the garment before you start ironing.

Erase scorch marks
Did your iron get too hot under the collar -- or perhaps on a sleeve or pant leg? You can often eliminate slight scorch marks by rubbing the spot with a cloth dampened with white vinegar, then blotting it with a clean towel. Repeat if necessary.

Dull the shine in your seat
Want to get rid of that shiny seat on your dark pants or skirt? Just brush the area lightly with a soft recycled toothbrush dipped in equal parts white vinegar and water, then pat dry with a soft towel.

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Remove mineral deposits from showerheads
Wash away blockages and mineral deposits from removable showerheads by placing them in 1 quart (1 liter) boiling water with 1/2 cup distilled vinegar for 10 minutes (use hot, not boiling, liquid for plastic showerheads). When you remove it from the solution, the obstructions should be gone. If you have a nonremovable showerhead, fill a small plastic bag half full with vinegar and tape it over the fixture. Let it sit for about 1 hour, then remove the bag and wipe off any remaining vinegar from the showerhead.

Wipe down bathroom fixtures
Don't stop at the shower when you're cleaning with vinegar! Pour a bit of undiluted white vinegar onto a soft cloth and use it to wipe your chrome faucets, towel racks, bathroom mirrors, doorknobs, and such. It'll leave them gleaming.

Fight mold and mildew
To remove and inhibit bathroom mold and mildew, pour a solution of 3 tablespoons white vinegar, 1 teaspoon borax, and 2 cups hot water into a clean, recycled spray bottle and give it a few good shakes. Then spray the mixture on painted surfaces, tiles, windows, or wherever you see mold or mildew spots. Use a soft scrub brush to work the solution into the stains or just let it soak in.

Disinfect toilet bowls
Want an easy way to keep your toilet looking and smelling clean? Pour 2 cups white vinegar into the bowl and let the solution soak overnight before flushing. Including this vinegar soak in your weekly cleaning regimen will also help keep away those ugly water rings that typically appear just above the water level.

Clean your toothbrush holder
Get the grime, bacteria, and caked-on toothpaste drippings out of the grooves of your bathroom toothbrush holder by cleaning the openings with cotton swabs moistened with white vinegar.

Wash out your rinse cup
If several people in your home use the same rinse cup after brushing their teeth, give it a weekly cleaning by filling it with equal parts water and white vinegar, or just full-strength vinegar, and let it sit overnight. Rinse thoroughly with cold water before using.

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In the Bathroom

Wash mildew from shower curtains
Clean those ugly mildew stains off your plastic shower curtain by putting it and a couple of soiled towels in your washing machine. Add 1/2 cup laundry detergent and 1/2 cup baking soda to the load, and wash it in warm water on your machine's regular cycle. Add 1 cup white vinegar to the first rinse. Before the machine goes into the spin cycle, remove the curtain and let it hang-dry.

Shine ceramic tiles
If soap scum or water spots have dulled the ceramic tiles around your sink or bath, bring back the brightness by scrubbing them with 1/2 cup white vinegar, 1/2 cup ammonia, and 1/4 cup borax mixed in 1 gallon (3.7 liters) warm water. Rinse well with cool water and let air-dry.

Whiten your grout
Has the grout between the tiles of your shower or bathtub enclosure become stained or discolored? Restore it to its original shade of white by using a toothbrush dipped in undiluted white vinegar to scrub away the dinginess.

Clean sinks and bathtubs
Put the shine back in your porcelain sinks and bathtubs by giving them a good scrubbing with full-strength white vinegar, followed by a rinse of clean cold water. To remove hard-water stains from your tub, pour in 3 cups white vinegar under running hot tap water. Let the tub fill up over the stains and allow it to soak for four hours. When the water drains out, you should be able to easily scrub off the stains.

Shine up your shower doors
To leave your glass shower doors sparkling clean -- and to remove all of those annoying water spots -- wipe them down with a cloth dipped in a solution of 1/2 cup white vinegar, 1 cup ammonia, and 1/4 cup baking soda mixed in 1 gallon (3.7 liters) warm water.

Disinfect shower door tracks
Use vinegar to remove accumulated dirt and grime from the tracks of your shower doors. Fill the tracks with about 2 cups full-strength white vinegar and let it sit for three to five hours. (If the tracks are really dirty, heat the vinegar in a glass container for 30 seconds in your microwave first.) Then pour some hot water over the track to flush away the gunk. You may need to use a small scrub brush, or even a recycled toothbrush, to get up tough stains.

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Breathe easier
Adding 1/4 cup white vinegar to the water in your hot-steam vaporizer can help ease congestion caused by a chest cold or sinus infection. It can also be good for your vaporizer: The vinegar will clear away any mineral deposits in the water tubes resulting from the use of hard water. Note: Check with the manufacturer before adding vinegar to a cool-mist vaporizer.

Treat an active cold sore
The only thing worse than a bad cold is a bad cold sore. Fortunately, you can usually dry up a cold sore in short order by dabbing it with a cotton ball saturated in white vinegar three times a day. The vinegar will quickly soothe the pain and swelling.

Make a poultice for corns and calluses
Here's an old-fashioned, time-proven method to treat corns and calluses: Saturate a piece of white or stale bread with 1/4 cup white vinegar. Let the bread soak in the vinegar for 30 minutes, then break off a piece big enough to completely cover the corn. Keep the poultice in place with gauze or adhesive tape, and leave it on overnight. The next morning, the hard, callused skin will be dissolved, and the corn should be easy to remove. Older, thicker calluses may require several treatments.

Get the jump on athlete's foot
A bad case of athlete's foot can drive you hopping mad. But you can often quell the infection, and quickly ease the itching, by rinsing your feet three or four times a day for a few days with undiluted apple cider vinegar. As an added precaution, soak your socks or stockings in a mixture of 1 part vinegar and 4 parts water for 30 minutes before laundering them.

Pamper your skin
Using vinegar as a skin toner dates back to the time of Helen of Troy. And it's just as effective today. After you wash your face, mix 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar with 2 cups water as a finishing rinse to cleanse and tighten your skin. You can also make your own facial treatment by mixing 1/4 cup cider vinegar with 1/4 cup water. Gently apply the solution to your face and let it dry.

Say good-bye to age or sun spots
Before you take any drastic measures to remove or cover up those brown spots on your skin caused by overexposure to the sun or hormonal changes, give vinegar a try. Simply pour some full-strength apple cider vinegar onto a cotton ball and apply it to the spots for 10 minutes at least twice a day. The spots should fade or disappear within a few weeks.

Soften your cuticles
You can soften the cuticles on your fingers and toes before manicuring them by soaking your digits in a bowl of undiluted white vinegar for five minutes.

Make nail polish last longer
Your nail polish will have a longer life expectancy if you first dampen your nails with some vinegar on a cotton ball and let it dry before applying your favorite polish.

Clean your eyeglasses
When it's more difficult to see with your glasses on than it is with them off, it's a clear indication that they're in need of a good cleaning. Applying a few drops of white vinegar to your glass lenses and wiping them with a soft cloth will easily remove dirt, sweat, and fingerprints, and leave them spotless. Don't use vinegar on plastic lenses, however.

Treat a jellyfish or bee sting
A jellyfish can pack a nasty sting. If you have an encounter with one, pouring some undiluted vinegar on the sting will take away the pain in no time, and let you scrape out the stinger with a plastic credit card. The same treatment can also be used to treat bee stings. But using vinegar on stings inflicted by the jellyfish's cousin the Portuguese man-of-war is now discouraged because vinegar may actually increase the amount of toxin released under the skin. Warning: If you have difficulty breathing or the sting area becomes inflamed and swollen, get medical attention at once; you could be having an allergic reaction.