How To Best Clean My Apple??

I am sure I am not the only one who has wondered lately if they are properly cleaning their fruits and veggies. I am hesitant to admit this, but I have actually washed my apples with dish soap.

I would rather risk soap, than some bacteria. (I just rinsed extremely well). I have also wondered about the veggie rinses available at the local markets. After a bit of research, I have found that vinegar diluted with water is a great home made solution for smooth skinned fruits and vegetables.

Mix:

1 c vinegar to 3 parts water in a spray bottle.

An apple or pear would require about 6 squirts, and a final rinse of cold water.

In a study conducted by Cook's Illustrated and broadcasted by NPR, @ http:/www.npr.org, in a piece titled "What Does It Take to Clean Fresh Food", they found the vinegar rinse to be the most effective of the 4 techniques they tried:

1. Anti bac soap- not recommended. (I never used anti-bac)

2. Vinegar rinse (above recipe) & cold water rinse to follow. Removed 98% of the bacteria, in about 30 seconds.

3. Scrubbing fruit with a scrub brush. Removed 85% of the bacteria.

4. Cold water rinse. Water can remove 98% of bacteria if used to rinse and soak the produce.

This can be an effective solution for not so smooth produce. You could even add vinegar to the soak. Can we ever be to careful?

Smells Like Home!

I love this time of year!

It's all I can do to not start decorating for Christmas! Don't worry, the Christmas music has surfaced!

One of my favorite friends introduced me to this stovetop potpourri, it is amazing!

1 orange- cut up

3-4 cinnamon sticks

2-3 bay leaves

1/4-1/2 cup whole cloves

Add above ingredients to a saucepan, with plenty of water. Bring to a boil.

Reduce to simmer. Add water as needed! You can mix it up depending on the season. A citrus variety is great for Spring/ Summer. This is also a great gift. I put everything in to a cellophane bag, (just leave the orange whole). be sure to include the instructions.

Enjoy!