How the heck do I clean shortening out of my measuring cups?!
Seriously. That stuff is so basic it just slip-slides over everything, and soap, being that it's also basic (see, I did learn something in my chemistry classes) doesn't help. Unless I can come up with something acidic to counteract the baseness, simply scrubbing it won't get me very far very fast, and I really don't want to deal with the mess of extra tools.
Maybe you have a dishwasher that lets you get away with not rinsing. Or maybe you invest in those pre-measured Crisco sticks. But we here at our house have to wash our dishes by hand and are too cheap to fork over the extra money for shortening conveniences. The internet taught me that if I rinse my measuring cup in cold water before spooning the shortening inside it, the shortening, once measured, will glide right out, leaving little or no residue on the cup, but I'm wary of this idea. After all, the shortening would still be touching the cup, and me, with fingers that are only occasionally nimble, would find some way to make it not work.
So today, as I pondered whether or not I'd bake some cookies, my mind reverted back to my shortening dilemma. There had to be some solution, but unless I could come up with something, I wasn't going to allow myself the luxury of indulging in such a tasty reward as chocolate chip cookies.
Apparently I was really craving baked goods because suddenly it hit me:
Why not line my measuring cup with wax paper? I could spoon the shortening into the cup, then lift out the wax paper and let the shortening just glide from the paper into my mixing bowl, leaving me with only a spoon to clean. I wasn't sure if it would work, but it was definitely worth a try. After all, a batch of chocolate chip cookies was on the line!
Well, folks, I'll have you know that I'm a genius. My idea totally worked. I foresee many happy days ahead for me in the kitchen. And of course, let's not forget, some warm chocolate chip cookies fresh out of the oven.
Maybe you have a dishwasher that lets you get away with not rinsing. Or maybe you invest in those pre-measured Crisco sticks. But we here at our house have to wash our dishes by hand and are too cheap to fork over the extra money for shortening conveniences. The internet taught me that if I rinse my measuring cup in cold water before spooning the shortening inside it, the shortening, once measured, will glide right out, leaving little or no residue on the cup, but I'm wary of this idea. After all, the shortening would still be touching the cup, and me, with fingers that are only occasionally nimble, would find some way to make it not work.
So today, as I pondered whether or not I'd bake some cookies, my mind reverted back to my shortening dilemma. There had to be some solution, but unless I could come up with something, I wasn't going to allow myself the luxury of indulging in such a tasty reward as chocolate chip cookies.
Apparently I was really craving baked goods because suddenly it hit me:
WAX PAPER
Why not line my measuring cup with wax paper? I could spoon the shortening into the cup, then lift out the wax paper and let the shortening just glide from the paper into my mixing bowl, leaving me with only a spoon to clean. I wasn't sure if it would work, but it was definitely worth a try. After all, a batch of chocolate chip cookies was on the line!
Well, folks, I'll have you know that I'm a genius. My idea totally worked. I foresee many happy days ahead for me in the kitchen. And of course, let's not forget, some warm chocolate chip cookies fresh out of the oven.
13 comments:
I always got frustrated with the whole shortening/butter thing too. But now I've gotten to the point that I don't measure with a cup, just the eye. Just spoon out what I think I need. I haven't gone wrong yet! I think it must be genetic because my mother did the same thing and I was always amazed!
The wax paper idea is a fantastic one, and yes, you are a genius! I totally agree with you!
Brilliant idea. And now I'm hungry too!
you're a genius! I'm going to try that!
Waxed paper is genius... Another way to measure shortening is to use a large liquid measuring cup. Fill the cup to say the 1 cup measure. If you need 1 cup of shortening, spoon in what you think is one cup and the water should be displaced to the 2 cup mark. Does this make any sense? You then just dip the shortening out of the cup and the water keeps it from sticking to the sides. I use the sticks...
Great idea. See what happens when you go to The Martha Stewart Show! You've not only become crafty now, but a genius, too! BTW, love the pic of Garrett observing the actual baking process.
I use the water displacement trick nancy does.
crack your egg into the measuring cup first...the residue from the egg keeps the shortening from sticking. Seriously, it works like a charm.
wow! all these useful tips! Wax paper is an excellent idea... if you're using a microwable measuring cup, you can also zap it in the microwave for a few seconds... the shortening melts, and then you can pour out the residue..
i totally want some cookies now.
wow ... I'm not that kind of baker ... I just buy my frozen dough and that's it ... :D
Love the picture of Garrett looking at the cookies, probably wondering how soon it'll be before he can have some yummy home made cookies!
Thanks for the tip, may be one day when I get myself brave enough to bake my own cookies I'll use it!
Love your blog! (Loved the bag you made too!!)
You are one smart cookie. :)
I just make cookies that don't require shortening. :) That picture of Garrett is priceless!
Thanks for the tip. I so hate shortening.
In Baking School we just put plastic wrap on the scale and weighed the shortening. It was wonderful. But none of my recipes these days use weight so I'm stuck with the measuring cup like everyone else.
Post a Comment