Options galore for whipped cream substitutes

Dear Reena: Do you have any ideas of a good substitute for sour cream?

Helene Dear Helene: Combine four drops of lemon juice with one cup whipped cream. Let sit for 30 minutes. Or use plain or vanilla yogurt, depending on what you are making.

Dear Reena: I bought a package of gravy mix but found it salty. Is there anything I can do so it’s not so salty?

Sandy Dear Sandy: Here are a few suggestions to try: Next time you purchase store-bought gravy, look for sodium-reduced packages. If the gravy is already cooking in the pot, add a potato to the gravy to absorb some of the saltiness. Another option is to add milk, sodium-reduced broth or water to dilute the flavour. If this is the case, combine flour or cornstarch with the liquid while it is still cold before adding it to the gravy, so that the gravy thickens.

Dear Reena: I have a 10-year-old dishwasher that has worked well, but over the last couple months it has left a chalky white film over areas of some (not all) dishes, especially the periphery of larger dinner plates and bowls. This rinses off easily, although on some less expensive dinnerware it needs to be rubbed off. I’ve cleaned the dishwasher, put vinegar through it, and altered the volume of rinse solution and amount of detergent, but with no effect. The operations manual suggests that using phosphate-free detergent might do this, but it seems that’s the only kind available now. Any explanations or recommendations? Sharon

Dear Sharon: I can tell you that when this happened in my household, I switched from liquid to powder detergent and the problem immediately corrected itself. If your challenge continues, run a small amount of “Iron Out” through the dishwasher for an intense cleaning. If the problem remains, call for professional repair service.

Reader feedback

Re: Bathtub Ring

Regarding the question about how to remove a bathtub ring, I recommend a product called Gel-Gloss. It comes in a pink rectangular can at hardware/home stores such as Canadian Tire. It requires a bit of elbow grease (wipe on, let dry to a haze, then buff off with a cloth) but the results are FABULOUS! The tub, sink, etc. will be super clean, smooth and shiny. And, bonus, it makes cleaning easier for months afterward. Catherine Re: Bathtub Ring Use Mr. Clean Magic Eraser!

June Re: Cleaning Cast Iron Frying Pans

My very old cast-iron frying pan had years of encrusted food, oil, etc. on both the inside and outside surfaces. When we purchased a new self-cleaning range, a friend suggested I put the pan in the oven when it was in the self-cleaning mode. It worked like a charm!

Of course, I had to “cure” the pan again before using it. Jan • For extremely greasy vent covers: Boil them in a stainless-steel pot filled with half cup baking soda and enough water to cover the metal. Boil 10 mins. Rinse and repeat. For mildly greasy vent covers wash in the dishwasher. • I often found spiders sitting in the same area of my screen room. I decided to soak a few cotton balls with peppermint essential oil, which is different than peppermint extract. I have noticed fewer spiders ever since. Tyler • I sprinkle cornmeal onto weeds to discourage them. Cornmeal is inexpensive and biodegradable.

Sparky

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