New uses for old kitchen gadget

[Marthe48]

Others might have passed these ideas along, but they are new to me.

I have a melon-baller, and for many years that was all I used it for. I discovered that if I'm coring an apple, I can cut the apple in half and use the melon-baller to scoop out the seeds. Makes a perfect round hollow, so if I slice the apple, the pieces look tidy. I use a paring knife to cut out the long pieces of stem. It works well in other fruits, too, such as peaches and pears.

I discovered this year that the melon-baller is also good for scraping the seeds and pulp from hard squashes, such as butternut.

[Ohiogal]

1. All good ideas

Especially for scraping those tenacious squash seeds! Somehow, a plain old spoon just isn’t quite enough to get that stuff out.

I use the small side of the melon ball tool for making the indentation in thumbprint cookies. Dipped in water as needed to prevent sticking. It makes all the indentations perfect and round.

[Marthe48]

2. That's a good idea too

Saves a little touching very good in these times.

I haven't made thumbprints for awhile. I like them with jam. My brother had me make them with a Hershey's kiss, set on while still warm. The Hugs also worked and made a pretty cookie.

I'm thinking about if I will bake this year, and what.

[Ohiogal]

3. I used to be the Christmas Cookie Queen.

One year I made 80 dozen, all different kinds, plus peanut brittle and my specialty, fudge. I gave most of it away.

Last year? I made zero. None of us here need the sugar and the calories. Particularly me. And everyone I know is trying to ditch sugar and carbs. And I find it makes then holidays a lot more enjoyable. There is always some kind of sweet treat given to us by a friend so we actually have enough of that stuff here anyway.

[Marthe48]

4. I hear ya!

I used to bake about 12 kinds of cookies and some fudge. Last year, I went on a low-carb diet in Oct. and all I baked were dinner rolls, and a couple of low-carb recipes. I don't like how Stevia tastes after it's baked, so if I do bake this year, I want to get some monkfruit sweetener. Several DUers say it does better.

Everyone I know is off sugar, too. And other carbs. Thankfully it isn't because of their health, but they all eat low-carb and organic to stay as healthy as they can. I found a really good almond flour gingerbread cookie, and I make a cream cheese frosting/dip. The Stevia does fine in the dip. The cookies have a good texture and flavor. My kids want me to make baklava, so I might make that and give it to them. And dinner rolls.

Glad you have people who will drop off the goodies Hope you get some yummy treats!

[Ohiogal]

5. My best friend keeps me supplied during the holidays

We were both Cookie Queens in years past and used to trade a big platter of our specialties. I stopped doing it the last few years, however, but she still makes hers.

Look up German Chocolate Thumbprint cookies on the Taste of Home web site... that’s me.

Good luck with the monk fruit. I just have never found a good sugar substitute, maybe I’m too fussy.

My son, who lives in another town, comes here twice a month for Sunday dinner and I almost always send him home with a batch of something homemade, like oatmeal raisin, choc chip, or his favorite lemon bars.

Now you had to go and mention Baklava ....

[Warpy]

6. I don't have a melon baller

so I've used a plain teaspoon. It's not as tidy, but it works.

My favorite kitchen tool is getting hard to find, the old fashioned church key (beer can opener). Thank goodness I found a magnetic one, it's harder to lose when it's stuck to the fridge. Not only will it open cans when the handy dandy ring opener just comes off, it will also loosen balky jar tops and shuck oysters and some other shellfish.

[Marthe48]

7. I have dozens of church keys

My husband sold one on eBay, and then tried to corner the market. lol

My favorite use is putting the pointy end under a jar lid and gently pushing the handle toward the jar. it breaks the vacuum seal and the jars are easier to open. Don't know if that's how you do your balky jars?

[Warpy]

8. Pretty much, although I push down when it's a glass jar

and I'd rather have the stress on the lid, not on the glass.

Jars with a lot of liquid contents are easier, just invert them and smack the bottom smartly 3 or 4 times, that breaks the seal enough that you can get the sucker open. I use the church key when I get something like spaghetti sauce in a jar.

[Marthe48]

9. I'm very gentle

doesn't take much pressure at all. I guess pushing down, toward the jar. Hard to describe lol

[locks]

10. might work

taking seeds out of pomegranites.

[pansypoo53219]

11. i have gotten more uses from my ice pick or old olive spike thingy.

[japple]

12. Yes!!! Ice picks are perfect for making pilot holes for setting screws. I keep mine in the

back of the drawer with the sharp end protected by a wine cork. It's been in the family since about 1955.

[pansypoo53219]

13. i collect ice picks. worst one in kitchen mug. handy. also broke ICE w/ it.