Tommy is so funny. He was reading a recipe. I have no idea why or where he was reading. Soon he finished and said to me as he laughed, reading part of the instructions--stick a toothpick in the center. It would be done when the toothpick came out clean. He laughed and looked to me like that was funny, amazing, or weird.
I really hated to tell him I had stuck toothpicks into baked food since I was about ten in order to judge the doneness. Or, I used a broom straw to stick into food...is that gross?
There are so many things he has never done or heard of anyone doing. I mentioned washing his Harvest Gold plastic kitchen trash can. He laughed derisively and said he had never washed out any can for trash. He went on to prove I was nuts by saying he never knew of anyone who washed out trash cans. Since it was falling apart, I just bought a new one three years later!
In the outdoor bin, I caught him throwing in piece of vegetable or fruit. I told him it would attract flies and maggots and stink to high heaven. Only the idea of flies and maggots stopped him from throwing unbagged trash there. Oh, maybe the idea that he would need to wash the outdoor bin to get the stuck on nastiness out made him stop that.
Do you consider it a strange idea to stick a toothpick into baked goods to determine doneness? Have you ever used a broom straw? Have you heard of people using a broom straw?
Today, I spent the whole day feel so awful. And, I have finished the antibiotic!
I use a knife inserted in the center to check for doneness, but I’ve also used a toothpick. And I wash out my garbage cans when they need it. It’s easy enough to do and keeps things neat and tidy.
ReplyDeleteBelinda,
DeleteI use a toothpick, too, or whatever the recipe says to use. I do use a knife to check the doneness of a pumpkin or sweet potato pie. I asked him to spray the inside of a garbage can about two months ago and explained it would keep the house from smelling. Now, he does it every time. But, I do wash them out about once a month, a schedule I maintained in my house, too.
We use bamboo skewers for cake testing, we also light them on the gas stove and use them to light candles. There's always a burnt bamboo skewer hanging around.
ReplyDeleteA straw from a broom is very similar but I dont think I would want to use oneunless the broom was brand new!
A sharp knife works or sometimes even just an experienced eye.
I don't wash trash cans on a regular rotation but I do if they are grotty.
I once heard it said that everyone thinks their own level of cleanliness is the right one: anyone cleaner is neurotic and anyone dirtier is filthy. I think it's pretty true :)
kylie,
ReplyDeleteI never thought to use bamboo skewers. As a child, there were no skewers around. Now, I use them for other things. I must admit, the brooms were not new. But, we used the end furthest from the floor, like they were sanitary...lol.
My trash cans indoors never got grotty, so I was mortified at the level of filth around here.
I like that saying about the level of cleanliness because Tommy thinks I am excessive, and I think his level is just filthy. So, true. But, if I can see it and smell it, I am not being neurotic.
Using a broom straw from a used broom? Uh, no. I'd forgo testing for sure. That's a little too redneck for me! Yeesh!
ReplyDeleteI wash our garbage can and recycling bin, except in the winter. Sorry, Tommy--you are wrong (as usual)!!!! Was that man raised by dirty wolves, or what?
I don't think my own level of cleanliness is perfect, however. I can always improve.
Sue,
DeletePeople all over have used a broom straw for years. None of us died...lol.
He was an orphan by 18 and emancipated by 19. I think he was just oblivious to fineries or hygiene. But, he is so smart otherwise.
I suppose we all can improve. I certainly am no fanatic.
I have used an uncooked spaghetti noodle to check if cakes, pies were done. I think my FIL who was Sicilian, showed me to use the spaghetti.
ReplyDeleteangie,
DeleteWe never used spaghetti, but it certainly is a good idea. Thanks.
angie, the uncooked spaghetti noodle is genius! Thank you for that tip!
DeleteI use toothpicks if I have them, a metal skewer or knife if I don't. I've also used a piece of uncooked spaghetti. (Which can also serve as a lighter when ignited with the gas cooktop.) My DH can barely cook an egg, so he, too, would be unfamiliar with using a toothpick to test the center of a cake. In fact, he had never had a scratch made cake until he met me. Prior to that, he had only had cake mix cakes. As for garbage cans--or anything else for that matter, I wash and clean things whenever they need it. I have a very LOW tolerance for mess/disorder and dirt, so I do a lot of cleaning.
ReplyDeleteMeg,
DeleteI just asked and Tommy has never made a cake or anything from a mix. He always says if it takes more than five minutes in a microwave, he is not cooking it. And, he has never microwaved a cake mix like a in a cup. Tommy has never cooked an egg because he hates eggs...lol, only a hamburger.
I used to clean more than I do now, but, I, too, have a low tolerance for dirtiness. Ick.
"Barely cook an egg" is a phrase my mother used to use to describe somebody who cannot cook anything, as eggs tend to be one of the first things one learns to cook.
DeleteMeg,
DeleteSince he hated eggs, he would never have cooked one. I just asked, he boiled potatoes at home and first made a hamburger in this house in his 30s.
I use a toothpick - always have - my mom did too. I have also used spaghetti - if no toothpicks. I wash the trash can a few times a year.
ReplyDeleteCheryl,
DeleteThis indoor trash cans, especially the kitchen, is what I would wash once a month, more if it needed it. Outdoors, rarely.
In my part of the world we have 3 garbage cans on wheels that are mechanically lifted and dumped into 3 different trash trucks. The Gray can is for household trash. I now have a cat and the bagged cat waste goes into this can. The blue can is recyclables, paper, glass, empty cans etc. Finally the green can is for leaves, grass, and other yard waste materials and also for FOOD SCRAPS. That one just kills me. Talk about a stinky garbage can! The reasoning is because these items are composted into mulch. Well, I have never heard of composting meat products but that is what they want us to do. I have a small covered bucket here in the kitchen that I use for vegetable trimmings, egg shells and the like. It is taken out every day or two. My son pressure washes out big cans every couple of weeks. Sometimes he also uses bleach or some liquid cleaning product to freshen the cans.
ReplyDeleteJanet,
DeleteThat is interesting--three cans. No, meat is not supposed to be composted. But, a prison does compost meat. I suppose they have a way to keep animals out of the compost. I am sure that is quite stinky and needs to be washed often. You are lucky to have your son to do it. I would not be able to do that every week.
Yes I have used broom straws and toothpicks - and I regularly wash out the rubbish bins.
ReplyDeleteUrspo,
DeleteThere are so many things he has never done or never heard of doing. I am amazed.