Fun Party and Kitchen Hacks to Save Time - Hacks #15

Who among us doesn't appreciate shortcuts or helpful hints for kitchen or household tasks? Somewhere along the line, they've become considered "hacks."

I realize for those living in countries with seasons…like brrr, winter…a few of these tips can't be implemented for a few months. Sorry about that.

✅ Quickly chill drinks for the pool party or family picnic

Forgotten to chill drinks in advance with guests soon arriving? 

These hacks are for fast chilling.

In a large bucket or tub, create a mixture of 50 percent water/50 percent ice. Add a handful of table salt and submerge the beverages into the solution. They will cool in about 15 minutes.

Or if desperate when the cold beer or soda has run out, try this. Use canned compressed air (IF you happen to have it in your larder) to quickly chill that tepid drink. Hold the container upside down and spray the beverage for about 30 seconds…but not too long because it'll be too icy to imbibe.

✅ Use frozen grapes as ice cubes

This is clever. Ice cubes, at least for Americans, are de rigueur, especially in summer or hot climates. However, as we know, they also dilute drinks.

Using frozen grapes provides the chill but not taste reduction. This might be a festive party idea, too, yes?

✅ Tacos in a bag if hurried or lazy

This is my favorite. It's hysterical and ideal for any confirmed slothful couch potato!

It sounds like the perfect college kid midnight snack, yes? Or the exhausted over-tasked/over-working mom collapsed at the end of the day. Too lazy to make tacos or order delivery? Want to eat NOW? Make them in a bag.

Open your favorite brand of tortilla chips. Add preferred toppings: shredded cheese, sour cream, salsa, tomato, avocado, corn, beans, cilantro, etc.

Voila, tacos in a bag. No dishes to wash either.

I could envision a kids' birthday party where the children each curated their personal bags of food. Add a piñata for a Mexican fiesta theme.

✅ Use a muffin tin to portion cookie dough

This makes perfect sense and is claimed by many bakers as a game-changer.

To obtain the same-sized, nicely-shaped cookies, use a muffin tin instead of a typical baking sheet.

If anyone has tried this method, please let me know if you were happy with the result. The secret would seem to be to calculate the amount of dough to ensure the cookie flattens out properly. 

Unless the tin is a non-stick material, I would spray it with baking Pam or an equivalent.

✅ Cut freshly baked brownies with a chef's knife

Tips abound for cutting freshly baked brownies. This one recommends not using a serrated knife. Instead, the hack is to choose a large sharp chef's knife.

Be sure brownies are fully cooled before cutting -  that is, if you can wait before sampling the yummy treats.

The benefit of this knife is its length, permitting one swipe across the entire pan length. Chef's knives aren't nonstick, so lightly coat both sides of the blade with vegetable cooking spray before making the first cut.

After the cut, stop and wipe the blade clean with a warm, damp cloth or paper towel. Lightly spray the blade again. Continue cutting, wiping, and spraying.

Or this is another simpler variation. Run both sides of the blade under hot water. Wipe both sides completely dry. Press the knife firmly into the pan for each cut, wiping the blade clean between each slice to remove the chocolate residue.

Don't saw back and forth or drag the knife blade; instead, press firmly downward.

An aficionado of chocolate brownies, this is a tip that would have been in my repertoire while still baking.

✅ Light charcoal with potato or tortilla chips

It's time to barbecue. But opening the supplies drawer, oops, someone forgot to buy lighter fluid or firestarter for the grill. 

Try this simple quick, down-and-dirty substitute.

Place a chip on the grill, light it, and place the charcoal chimney on top. Or place a pile of tortilla chips atop the charcoal briquettes in a standard kettle grill. Light the chips.  

Fellow Hack Lovers, as always, thanks so much for reading. Your time is precious, and I'm honored you chose to spend some of it here! 

Happy cooking and baking. Victoria😎🙏

References:

1. "Hack Your Life" television program

2. https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/packages/baking-guide/how-to-cut-brownies-cleanly

3. https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-freeze-grapes

4. https://www.bonappetit.com/story/muffin-tin-cookies

© Victoria Kjos. All Rights Reserved. 2024