“Why Didn’t I Think Of That?” – Part Nine

Here on my blog, I strive to share simple, everyday tips and tricks that can help make life a little bit easier. But sometimes, the tips that I want to share aren’t something I can write a whole blog post about. And since I simply cannot waste a good idea, I tuck them away to use at a later date. Today I’ll be sharing some of those tips and tricks, in the ninth edition of my ongoing series I like to call “Why Didn’t I Think Of That?”

Note: Many of the tips I share on the blog come straight from your comments and emails. If you have a great idea you’d like to share, leave it in the comments, and your idea could be featured in the next “Why Didn’t I Think of That?” post!

1. Garlic Peeling Hack

Using fresh garlic can make a meal, but it can also make your fingers smell like garlic for days! You can keep your fingers clean by peeling your garlic cloves inside a mason jar. Just drop your garlic cloves into a mason jar, screw the lid on, then shake the jar hard for about a minute. Remove the loose skins, and repeat if necessary until all the cloves are peeled!

2. Makeshift Bundt Pan

If you need a bundt pan for a baking project but don’t own one (or can’t find it), there’s an easy way to “fake” one. Just grease up the exterior of a mason jar, and place it in the center of a springform pan. Pour your batter into the pan and the mason jar will create a hole in the center, just like a bundt pan!

3. Save Your Sponges

Kitchen sponges are a breeding ground for bacteria, even when you clean them regularly. It’s recommended that you replace your kitchen sponge at least once a month, but don’t toss the old one out just yet. There’s still plenty more you can do with it! Use a sharp pair of scissors to snip off one corner of the sponge, to identify it as a “utility sponge.” Use it for those grimy, grubby cleaning jobs, like scrubbing garbage cans, toilets, or even the tires on your car. Eventually you’ll have to toss it out, but you can rest easy knowing that you really got your money’s worth!

4. Storing Avocados

Keeping an unused half of an avocado fresh is a tricky business. One way to do it is to put your avocado half into a small, airtight container along with a small chunk of onion. The sulphur compounds released from the onion help to preserve the avocado, and you can keep it fresh for a few days this way. (I haven’t noticed any lingering onion scent or taste in the avocado itself, but if you’re really sensitive to onions, you may want to steer clear.)

5. Tablecloth Trick

Putting a tablecloth on an outdoor table can be a pain, because you often need to anchor it down so it doesn’t blow around in the wind. Make it easy by using a twin-sized fitted sheet instead! It’s the perfect size for a fold-out table, and the elastic keeps it in place with zero added effort.

6. Get More Juice

Looking to squeeze every last drop of juice out of your lemons? Grab a pair of tongs! First, squeeze all the juice out that you can with just your hands, then clamp the lemon half with your tongs. Give it a bit of elbow grease, and you’ll get those last few drops – no problem!

7. Cupcake Covers

Use small plastic cups to protect your cupcakes! One small plastic cup turned upside-down will fit perfectly over a cupcake. Use them to protect your pretty cupcakes from bugs, wind, or greedy fingers searching for frosting. ;-)