20 nearly forgotten kitchen secrets from the past

Reader S.N. Downs says, “Tomato sauce does a great job of polishing copper cookware. Just rub a small amount on the bottom of discoloured pots or pans, let stand for a few minutes, rub again and rinse.”

Here are more chemical-free ways to clean up around your home.

Reader Edna Hoffman advises stretching maple syrup by adding 1 cup applesauce to 1 cup syrup. “Heated, it makes a delicious topping for pancakes and waffles.”

For rosemary-flavoured oil, place a sprig of fresh rosemary in a glass bottle. Top it up with mild olive oil and leave to infuse for 14 days. Strain the oil through a fine sieve. Tip: Never keep flavoured olive oil in the fridge, as it will thicken and turn opaque in the cold. Remember to remove the herbs from the oil once infused or the herb can turn mouldy and taint the oil. Use within one month.

Take your brownies from simple to scrumptious. Reader Marcy Wright says, “Substitute brown sugar for granulated sugar for a rich caramel flavour in brownies.”

Add milk to your coffee without making a mess. Reader Bertha Mueller says, “Rub a small amount of butter on the lip of your creamer, and you’ll have no more drips on the tablecloth.”

Don’t throw away your worn tablecloths. Instead, reader Helen LaMance says you can make a variety of dish towels and napkins from them.

In addition to wasting worn tablecloths that could easily be repurposed, there are at least 12 other kitchen mistakes it’s time to stop making.

Save money without sacrificing flavour. Reader Mary Jane Swanner says, “For an economical substitute to chopped nuts in cookie recipes, use quick-cooking oats browned in a bit of butter.”

To prevent browning when working with peeled apples, Bernetta Rokusek recommends slicing them into water with 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice added.

Tired of waiting for your green tomatoes to turn red? Reader Anne Schofield says, “Place unripened tomatoes with other fruit, especially bananas, to speed up ripening.”

Reader Teresa Graham has a smart breakfast tip. She says, “Use a baster to fill muffin cups all the same size – and to make no-drip hotcakes.”