Hold the seasoning for scrambled eggs
Adding salt, milk or water can lead to a less-than-perfect finished product
Q
I cook scrambled eggs, but they are never fluffy. They are never perfect, the way that they are at restaurants. What am I doing wrong ?
A
One of the ways to avoid making scrambled eggs that are runny is to season them after they are cooked. If you salt eggs as they cook, or before, they tend to breakdown and become watery. As well, it is not necessary to stir water or milk into the eggs as they scramble. This is a personal preference, of course, but many chefs add nothing to the eggs. Avoid overcooking scrambled eggs by removing the pan from the heat a few times as they cook. Stir with a spatula to ensure that they cook evenly and become fluffy little heaps of sunshine as they finish. Season before eating.
Q
I have a pair of navy suede shoes that have a lot of light scuff marks on them. I wiped them with a damp cloth, but I think I made them worse.
A
Sprinkle the suede fabric with baking soda and then brush the nap back and forth with a damp nail brush. However, if the suede is a synthetic fabric, you will be able to clean it with plain old water and dish soap. Rinse and let dry.
Q
I recently left a container on my older dark green melamine kitchen counter that had some bleach and water in it. I didn’t realize that a few drops of this solution dripped directly onto the counter. When I returned several hours later, I immediately saw that the counter top had discoloured due to the bleach/water drips. Short of replacing the countertop completely, is there anything you can recommend to darken these spots that are now significantly and noticeably lighter in colour than the rest of the counter?
A
Scrub your countertop with a silver cleaner and a damp cloth. This little trick is often all you need to remove bleach marks on melamine countertops.
Q
I recently moved. The bottom of the bathtub is covered with 10-inch (25-cm) dirty strips. Have you a good solution to remove them?
A
Wet the area with hot water. Pour a generous amount of dish soap onto the strips. Leave for 10 minutes. Use a plastic scraper to pick up one edge of the strips. Lift the ends and pull.
FEEDBACK FROM A WONDERFUL CONTRIBUTOR
Re: Skin So Soft from Avon: Skin So Soft is famous in the logging industry for keeping mosquitoes away. So I gave it to my mother for when she played at the golf course. Eventually she politely asked me not to, as it also had the reverse effect on the bees.
Also, it would be interesting if you asked readers how they store their lettuce. I rinse and drain mine and keep it in a covered plastic box. It is nicer the day after coming in from the garden, unless it was 4-5 C and raining. Reena Nerbas is a popular motivational presenter for large and small groups; check out her website — reena.ca — to ask a question or share a tip. Disclaimer: Every user assumes all risks of injury or damage resulting from the implementation of any suggestions in this column. Test all products on an inconspicuous area first.