10 Unexpected Uses for the Ordinary Fork
1. Reaming
Insert the tines into halved citrus fruits to extract juice.
2. Docking
Make holes in piecrusts or potatoes before baking.
3. Crimping
Decorate an unbaked piecrust by pressing tines along the edge.
4. Whisking
Whip eggs for omelets and other dishes.
5. Mashing
Crush berries for a sauce or bananas for banana bread.
6. Decorating
Make a crosshatch pattern on cookies or sides of a cake.
7. Dipping
Lower nuts, fruits, or cookies into melted chocolate.
8. Scraping
Carve out spaghetti squash.
Make granita (An Italian frozen confection made of water, sugar and flavoring.)
9. Spearing
Lift pickles from jar and waffles from the waffle iron.
Hold meat when slicing.
10. Testing
Check if vegetables, such as boiled potatoes, are cooked through.
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Measuring Equivalents
1 tablespoon=3 teaspoons
⅛ cup=2 tablespoons
¼ cup=4 tablespoons
1/3 cup=5 tablespoons+1 teaspoon
½ cup=8 tablespoons
2/3 cup=10 tablespoons+2 teaspoons
¾ cup=12 tablespoons
1 cup=48 teaspoons
1 cup=16 tablespoons
8 fluid ounces=1 cup
1 pint=2 cups
1 quart=2 pints
4 cups=1 quart
1 gallon=4 quarts
16 ounces=1 pound
The recipes in this collection are from my personal recipe files and are among my favorite dishes to prepare. Each of these recipes can be used with equal success in either the foods lab or the home kitchen. I hope you enjoy them!