Want to Eat it Today?

An avocado that is ripe and ready to eat will be forest green. You should be able to easily flick off the avocado’s little nub on its top side. It should feel a bit soft to the touch when you gently squeeze it.

It’s Gone Bad

An avocado has gone bad if the color is going past green into brownish territory and feels slack in your hand. If the skin is falling away from the fruit on its own, the avocado is probably overripe.

Not Ready Yet

If your avocado is lighter green and still firm, it’s not ready to eat yet. While you wait for it to ripen, set it on the counter for three to five days. If you’re really impatient, you can ripen the avocado in a paper bag with a banana. That’ll make it ready to go in just a day or two.

The post How To Choose An Avocado appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

The set of plates has a traditional role in some homes—when in the past it was customary to give them as wedding gifts, and they served the couple for the rest of their lives. Indeed, a good set of plates will last many years.

To choose the perfect set for you, first think about your needs. Do you need plates that can be heated in the microwave? Do you have small children? Do you host a lot? Think about the material from which plates are made. Some materials today are particularly resistant, but this can come at the expense of design, and some of us will always prefer classic china.

The weight of the plates is also significant. Heavier plates are more durable, but the risk of them falling and breaking can also be greater.

Once you have chosen the type of plates, you can think about the design. Think about what colors do you like and will fit in with your dining room. See whether you like patterns or prefer smooth and simple colors.

The post How To Choose A New Set Of Dishes appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Put Herbs In Water

When you start sorting groceries, make sure that you put the herbs in water. Just pick a large jar, fill it and put all of your herbs in there. This is a very helpful tip that will save you from a second trip to the supermarket.

Wrap Greens In A Paper Towel

Once you get home, take out all of the leafy greens out of the bags. It doesn’t matter how you store them as long as you wrap them in a paper towel. If the greens are in a plastic bag there will be moisture and they won’t last as long.

Learn What To Separate

Not all groceries are meant to be stored together. There are fruits and vegetables that produce ethylene gas and they should be separated from the foods that don’t. If not, all of your groceries won’t last long. Apples, avocados, figs, cantaloupe, apricots all release this gas. That’s why they should be put in a different place from berries, lettuce, and other leafy vegetables.

The post Easy Tricks To Make Groceries Last Longer appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Want to Eat it Today?

An avocado that is ripe and ready to eat will be forest green. You should be able to easily flick off the avocado’s little nub on its top side. It should feel a bit soft to the touch when you gently squeeze it.

It’s Gone Bad

An avocado has gone bad if the color is going past green into brownish territory and feels slack in your hand. If the skin is falling away from the fruit on its own, the avocado is probably overripe.

Not Ready Yet

If your avocado is lighter green and still firm, it’s not ready to eat yet. While you wait for it to ripen, set it on the counter for three to five days. If you’re really impatient, you can ripen the avocado in a paper bag with a banana. That’ll make it ready to go in just a day or two.

The post How To Choose An Avocado appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

The set of plates has a traditional role in some homes—when in the past it was customary to give them as wedding gifts, and they served the couple for the rest of their lives. Indeed, a good set of plates will last many years.

To choose the perfect set for you, first think about your needs. Do you need plates that can be heated in the microwave? Do you have small children? Do you host a lot? Think about the material from which plates are made. Some materials today are particularly resistant, but this can come at the expense of design, and some of us will always prefer classic china.

The weight of the plates is also significant. Heavier plates are more durable, but the risk of them falling and breaking can also be greater.

Once you have chosen the type of plates, you can think about the design. Think about what colors do you like and will fit in with your dining room. See whether you like patterns or prefer smooth and simple colors.

The post How To Choose A New Set Of Dishes appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Put Herbs In Water

When you start sorting groceries, make sure that you put the herbs in water. Just pick a large jar, fill it and put all of your herbs in there. This is a very helpful tip that will save you from a second trip to the supermarket.

Wrap Greens In A Paper Towel

Once you get home, take out all of the leafy greens out of the bags. It doesn’t matter how you store them as long as you wrap them in a paper towel. If the greens are in a plastic bag there will be moisture and they won’t last as long.

Learn What To Separate

Not all groceries are meant to be stored together. There are fruits and vegetables that produce ethylene gas and they should be separated from the foods that don’t. If not, all of your groceries won’t last long. Apples, avocados, figs, cantaloupe, apricots all release this gas. That’s why they should be put in a different place from berries, lettuce, and other leafy vegetables.

The post Easy Tricks To Make Groceries Last Longer appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.