Cooking Secrets
TV cooking show hosts talk about adding a small amount of this to add “brightness” or “freshness” to a dish.
What is acid (lemon or any citrus juice, vinegar, or wine)? On TV, they usually add a little lemon juice, but most any acid will have the same effect. A teaspoon is usually enough to brighten the dish.
Home phone numbers are published in this type of phone book by your phone company.
What are white pages? Yellow pages are for commercial listings, and green or blue pages are for government listings.
Assumed to have been born March 25, 1911, he ambushed and killed Lee Harvey Oswald.
Who is Jack Ruby? Born in March 1911, Ruby’s exact birthdate is unknown. Just days after President Kennedy was assassinated, Oswald was being transferred from Dallas City Hall to the county jail when Ruby strolled past a room full of police officers and media and fired a single shot into Oswald’s stomach. The incident was broadcast on live TV. Ruby died while awaiting a new trial after his original conviction was overturned.
On March 9, 1959, Mattel introduced this iconic doll
What is Barbie? It is still the world’s top fashion doll. Barbie has had around 140 nationalities, and it was one of the first adult dolls.
The threat of this legal action is the purpose for ridiculous warning labels on products, which include dire warnings such as “Do not iron clothing while wearing it.”
What is a lawsuit (or litigation)? Some warning gems include: “This product may contain eggs” on an egg carton, and “This product is not intended for use as a dental drill,” found on DremelMultipro’s rotary tools.
Before you cook meat, let it reach this temperature.
What is room temperature? It’s called “tempering,” which allows the meat to cook quicker on the inside while remaining juicy. It also keeps the outside from burning to a crisp because you reduce the time needed to cook the inside to the desired temperature.
This type of telephone line allowed multiple households to share a line.
What is party line? You could eavesdrop on party line conversations if you picked up your phone while another party was using the line. AT&T published a comic book on party line etiquette. The last party line was phased out in 1991.
Born March 20, 1928, he sang the opening theme song “Won’t You Be My Neighbor” on his children’s TV show.
Who is Mr. (Fred) Rogers? The show was Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. It aired from 1968–2001 on PBS. The theme song was one of 200 songs he wrote for the show.
On May 23, 1775, while rallying Virginians to support the Revolutionary War, this patriot said, “Give me liberty, or give me death.”
Who is Patrick Henry? Historians suspect he never uttered those exact words, but the legend lives on.
This is when common sense dictates you should replace your mattress.
What is when it becomes uncomfortable? One myth says that a mattress doubles its weight every eight years due to dust mites, dust, and perspiration and that is when you should replace it. This is no longer true because most people cover their mattresses with a washable cover.
This cooking technique is what you are doing when adding liquid to a pan to release the stuck, brown bits from the bottom.
What is deglazing. Chefs don’t scrub away the bits when they can use them to add flavor to sauces or gravies.
Before computer and phone technology became the norm, companies kept phone numbers and other contact information in this circular file.
What is Rolodex? You can still order a Rolodex through such places as Amazon and Walmart, but technology has made them mostly obsolete.
Born March 19, 1848, this iconic western figure is famous for his involvement in a feud with a rancher in Tombstone, Arizona, that led to a gunfight at the O.K. Corral.
Who is Wyatt Earp? The gunfight at the O.K. Corral is considered “the most famous gunfight in American history,” according to biography.com.
On March 3, 1938, geopolitics across the globe changed when this commodity was discovered in Saudi Arabia.
What is oil? The world’s largest source of oil was discovered in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, at an American-owned oil well.
There are more of these in the fingers than anywhere else in the body, which is why paper cuts hurt so badly.
What are pain receptors?
When a tomato spaghetti sauce falls flat, sprinkle a little bit of this into it.
What is sugar? It’s counterintuitive, but it works to balance the flavor, and it’s a favorite trick of Italian cooks.
Before voicemail, if the party you were calling was on the phone, you received this.
What is a busy signal? Today, most phones are set up to go straight to voicemail.
Born March 15, 1767, this seventh U.S. president dismantled the country’s second central bank.
Who is Andrew Jackson? The United States has had several central banks; the most recent one is the Federal Reserve, established in 1913. Jackson also founded the Democratic Party.
On March 10, 1804, the United States took over possession of the Louisiana Territory from this country in what is known as the Louisiana Purchase.
What is France? The year before the transfer, President Thomas Jefferson had paid France around $15 million dollars ($315 million in today’s dollars). The transfer took place in a ceremony in St. Louis, the city that became known as “the Gateway to the West.”
A serving of coffee or espresso has the most caffeine.
What is coffee? A single espresso serving is much smaller than a serving of coffee; however, espresso has more caffeine in each ounce than coffee does.
Soak poultry in this simple solution made with water, and sometimes sugar, to guarantee a juicy outcome.
What is brine? You can also add vegetables, whole spices such as cloves and cinnamon sticks, or fresh herbs such as bay leaves, fresh rosemary, and thyme to the brine.
Before today’s standard 10-digit phone number, local phone numbers consisted of two letters that corresponded to numbers and a dash followed by four numbers. This was the name for the first two letters.
What is exchange? For example, CY8-2144 might stand for Cypress exchange, 8-2144.
Born March 29, 1943, this Tory leader succeeded Margaret Thatcher to become prime minister of the United Kingdom in 1990
Who is (Sir) John Major? The devaluation of the pound in 1992, along with a host of other internal problems and scandals led to Tony Blair’s huge victory over the Tories in 1997.
On March 12, 1947, this U.S. president released a doctrine that outlined a plan to keep Soviet influence in check.
Who is Harry Truman? The doctrine formed the basis of the U.S. Cold War policy and became known as the Truman Doctrine.
According to the USDA, canned foods can or cannot be eaten after the date stamped on the can
What is can be eaten? The date must be accompanied by either “sell by,” “use by,” or “best if used by.” If the can says “use by” or “best if used by,” you could experience some degradation in flavor. Other rules apply: Never eat food from a can that is dented, rusted, or distended. Never eat food that doesn’t smell right