1) Stuff a miniature marshmallow in the bottom of a sugar cone to prevent ice cream drips.

2) Use a meat baster to "squeeze" your pancake batter onto the hot griddle - perfect shaped pancakes every time. 3) To keep potatoes from budding, place an apple in the bag with the potatoes. 4) To prevent egg shells from cracking, add a pinch of salt to the water before hard-boiling.

5) Run your hands under cold water before pressing Rice Krispies treats in the pan-the marshmallow won't stick to your fingers.

6) To get the most juice out of fresh lemons, bring them to room temperature and roll them under your palm against the kitchen counter before squeezing.

7) To easily remove burnt-on food from your skillet, simply add a drop or two of dish soap and enough water to cover bottom of pan, and bring to a boil on stove-top - skillet will be much easier to clean. 8) Spray your Tupperware with nonstick cooking spray before pouring in tomato-based sauces - no more stains. 9) When a cake recipe calls for flouring the baking pan, use a bit of the dry cake mix instead - no white mess on the outside of the cake. 10) If you accidentally over-salt a dish while it's still cooking, drop in a peeled potato - it absorbs the excess salt for an instant "fix me up". 11) Wrap celery in aluminum foil when putting in the refrigerator - it will keep for weeks. 12) Brush beaten egg white over pie crust before baking to yield a beautiful glossy finish. 13) Place a slice of apple in hardened brown sugar to soften it back up. 14) When boiling corn on the cob, add a pinch of sugar to help bring out the corn's natural sweetness. 15) To determine whether an egg is fresh, immerse it in a pan of cool, salted water. If it sinks, it is fresh - if it rises to the surface, throw it away. 16) Don't throw out all that leftover wine: Freeze into ice cubes for future use in casseroles and sauces. 17) If you have a problem opening jars: Try using latex dishwashing gloves. They give a non-slip grip that makes opening jars easy.

18) Potatoes will take food stains off your fingers. Just slice and rub raw potato on the stains and rinse with water. 19) Joe's addition: To remove fish smell from your hands, rub a stainless steel object between and all around your hands.

-- Marie (prettyhollow@yahoo.com), February 08, 2002