Cheaper and Safer Way to Clean Glass Windows

with Homemade a Glass Cleaner

In cleaning glass windows, mass-produced commercial glass cleaners are expensive, may not always be available and may contain chemicals you don’t want to be exposed to. Moreover, inexpensive, shady brand-less mass-produced glass cleaners from places that have corrupt government and lacks safety and health standards, like China, may have unknown harmful toxins that is not worth the risk. The remedy is making your own homemade glass cleaner from common household items either household ammonia or white vinegar, but I strongly recommended using white vinegar than household ammonia. 

Before opting out from using household ammonia, let’s understand what it is. Basically household ammonia is a solution of water with 5-10% ammonium hydroxide and has been used as a cleaning product. In general, ammonia is a common ingredient in most commercial cleaning products, fertilizers, plastics, synthetic fibers, dyes, colorings and pharmaceuticals. And in large and concentrate quantity it is toxic to most living things, same with dish washing soap and tea tree oil. But ammonia is more toxic than dish washing soap but less than chlorine based bleach. Hence, when using ammonia as cleaning agent safety precaution must be observed especially around children and pets, since ammonia can cause irritation and even burns skin and mucous membrane in prolonged contact. Moreover, that is the reason for frequent diapers change and hygienic clean up are a must for neonates, both human and other mammals, since ammonia is formed when urea in urine, breaks down. With regards to the impact of ammonia in the environment, that warrants another whole article or two, so let the blogger know if interest and watch out for it.      

White vinegar may be less effective than household ammonia in cleaning things that are oily since the base quality of ammonia reacts with oils and fats, from fingerprints, dirt and grease stains, forming soap and the water in the household ammonia solution washes off the soap formed, leaving a clear streak-free surface. However, white vinegar is less toxic and can be a good glass cleaner. A mixture of 1 part white vinegar to 4 parts water and a little hint of dishwashing liquid make a good homemade glass cleaner.

These are the materials needed in cleaning glass windows: homemade glass cleaner in a 500 ml spray bottle, soft sponge, high quality microfiber cloth or old petroleum-based ink newspaper, squeegee, and cotton swabs and/or soft toothbrush.

Steps in Cleaning Glass Windows

1. Schedule a convenient cleaning day. As per recommended in previous households cleaning article, schedule cleaning glass windows every quarter to avoid build up of dirt, grim and dust, and the need for an extra step in cleaning of windows’ frame and glass. Yet, cleaning would also depends on the glass window prominent and visibility in the living space, and how fast it accumulation dirt, fingerprints and stains. Always choose to wash glass windows on an overcast or cloudy day, or when direct sunlight could not hit the glass to prevent the homemade solution to dry off before able to wipe off the dirt that result to streaks.

 2. Clean window frame before cleaning the glass. Always wipe clean the window frames with damp cleaning cloth before cleaning the glass. And for extremely dirty glass, start by washing it with a soft sponge soaked in homemade glass cleaning solution with a little more liquid detergent, let it sit for a minute to soften the dirt, then wipe clean, repeat until satisfied. Do not forget to clean the corners, cotton swabs and/or soft toothbrush are great tools.

3. A streaks-free polish. Spray, to mist not soak, the glass with homemade glass cleaner. Wipe it off with loosely crumpled old newspaper, microfiber cloth, or a squeegee. Start wiping from top left corner to the top right corner and then down and start back again at the left side. Spot clean as needed.  

  

What do you think of this simple and inexpensive cleaning solution? Please feel free to share your thoughts and leave comments, questions, suggestions and/or corrections below. And do not forget to follow such show of support would greatly help this blog create better content. Thank you.

As always keep it clean and simple.

Reference

1. Neal, S.Y. (2017, August 21). A Simple Cleaning Schedule. [Blog Post]. Retrieved from http://inourhomesweethome.blogspot.com/2017/08/a-simple-cleaning-schedule_17.html

2. Neal, S.Y. (2018, March 15). Simple Way to Clean Mirrors. [Blog Post]. Retrieved from http://inourhomesweethome.blogspot.com/2018/03/simple-way-to-clean-mirrors.html

3. SFGate. (n.d.) Vinegar and Ammonia Window Cleaning. [Blog Post]. Retrieved from http://homeguides.sfgate.com/vinegar-ammonia-window-cleaning-48916.html

4. McCulloch, K. (2013, July 2). Is Ammonia Good or Evil? [Blog Post]. Retrieved from http://sustainablesuburbia.net/is-ammonia-good-or-evil/

Simple Sweet Crêpes

Crepe is the skinny version of a pancake. They are a great vessel to hold a variety of fillings, whatever what one fancy for that day. It could be as simple as a sprinkle of white sugar, to an elaborated confiture or jammed slice soft fruit, and to more savory fillings like cheese and various meat products. This sweet thin pastry could be eaten as breakfast or as a dessert.

Basic Sweet Crêpes Recipe

This recipe yields more or less 18-20 pieces.

Preparation Time:             10 minutes; 1 hour (inactive)

Cooking Time:                   20-30 minutes

Ingredients:

1 large                                egg

3 tablespoons                    melted butter

3/4 cup                               milk

1/2 cup                               water

1 teaspoon                         vanilla

1 cup                                  My HOMEMADE pancake mix

2 1/2 teaspoon                   white sugar

1/2 teaspoon                      cinnamon

Procedures:

1. In a mixing bowl, combine and mix in all liquid ingredients such as egg, melted butter, milk, water and vanilla.

2. Add the dry ingredients such as pancake mix, sugar and cinnamon on top.

3. Mix thoroughly and let the batter rest for a minimum of an hour in the refrigerator

4. Heat a preferred size non-stick pan or a crepe pan. Lightly coat the pan with butter and wipe using a paper towel. Pour into the center 30 ml or 1 oz of batter and swirl to thinly spread. Cook for 30 seconds and flip, the cook the other side for another 10 seconds then remove.

5. Lay the crepes flat to cool. Stack them after they have cooled to avoid sticking.

NTS:

Do not worry if the first cooked crepe looks not so perfect, deformed and browned. It is the trial part where one is still adjusting and discovering the desired heat and temperature level.

A stack crepe in a sealed container can be place in the refrigerator for several days or in the freezer to last for more or less two months.

Thaw frozen crepe before peeling them apart.

This is a simple sweet crêpes recipe, very easy to make, fun to assemble and most satisfying to eat. Please give this try and share your thoughts down below. Do you find this recipe too simple to be true? Please feel free to post your reactions, suggestions, and corrections as it would greatly help cook better dessert in consequence help create better article and blog content. Thank you!

As always enjoy crepes!

Reference and Inspired by

1. Brown, A. (2009). Goods Eats: Crepes. [Blog Post]. Retrieved from https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/crepes-recipe-1911037

2. Neal, S.Y. (2017, November 19). Simple yummy Pancake. [Blog Post]. Retrieved from http://inourhomesweethome.blogspot.com/2017/11/simple-yummy-pancakes.html

Getting Really Serious with Baking

Baking Essentials Part 4.2: Going Intermediary 

This is a continuation of last week blog post in going from basic to intermediate in building arsenal for baking projects. Think about these six additional baking tools and specialized equipment as essential component to level up the baking game. Only the first two of six have been discussed in the last blog post, so let us continue with the rest.

1. Stand Mixer

2. Candy Thermometer

3. Palette Knives

A pallet knifes is wide, flat knife with a rounded tip on both sides and had no sharp edges. It is built with a flexible, thin stainless steel blade with a handle. This baking tool is also referred as icing spatula, frosting spatula, baking spatula, and cake spatula. Cake spatula is available in various blade lengths from 4 to 14 inches and blade width from ¼ inch to 2 inches wide. The blade shape comes in two primary types: offset and flat or angled and straight.  The offset blade is slightly bent that it rest about ½ inch below the handle, while flat blade extends straight from the handle, like a large flat butter knife.   

Offset Spatula

A cake spatula is an essential for baking because of its versatility, and choosing one would be similar in choosing a mixer in which would be based on the task it be performing. As well as, it is like choosing a knife when considering a comfortable hand grip. A long offset spatula is ideal for tasks when you need distance from the surface to prevent touching the ingredients, like spreading and leveling batter in a pan, frosting the top of cakes and pies, and lifting and moving slices or whole food item like flipping a pancake. While a small or medium straight spatula works well for frosting the side of a cake, detailed finish like smoothing the frosting, swirling peak on a meringue, and loosening the edges of a cake from its pan, and buttering bread. So most experience bakers suggest to keep a large 7.75-inch angled spatula and a smaller 4.5-inch straight one.

4. Rubber Spatula

So far three types of spatula had been introduced in Kitchen Essential articles. And in this article would be introducing the fourth, it would be a bit controversial as the quality of this spatula is required for a certain baking technique, specifically folding. Folding needs a sturdy and strong spatula that would grip egg white foam well. Those heat resistant ones, like the silicone spatula, are too flimsy that makes poor batter folding, but the rubber spatula is sturdy and effective but usually are non heat-resistant and likely melts or deforms in high temperature. This type of spatula is long, with wooden or plastic handle topped with a flexible rubbery textured scraping blade. It also has other functions which are scraping and leveling a batter before baking. For baking, a large rubber spatula with comfortable grip is most ideal.   

5. Pastry Bag and Piping Tips

Pastry bags, piping tips and clear plastic wrap is a cake decorator starter kit, but these items are versatile that could be used in piping whipped cream and mashed potatoes, filling baked goods, and forming pastry batters like doughnut and churos. Just like any tool, these items come in different types of material, size and shape.

How to assemble a pastry bag and piping tip with a coupler

There are 4 types of pastry bag based on the materials it is made of, which are canvas, polyurethane, plastic coated and disposable. A pastry bag made of canvas is strong, withstand heat and environmentally friendly, that is ideal for piping thick dough but not recommended for oily product as it may leak. Moreover, polyurethane and plastic coated are of medium strength, more flexible, washable and could be use multiple times, good for piping fatty or oily products. Lastly, the disposable pastry bag may be convenient, sanitary and time saving but it could be expensive for daily use. Plus, there is a much better alternative for disposable pastry bag and that is clear plastic wrap.      

Most piping tips are made of metal either stainless or nickel plated steel. It is available in variety of size and shape of their openings, in which they are classified into different families. The piping tip family produces a similar design and further classified with a number. Please see below, a chart of different families of piping tip and its common uses.

These items are sold either individually or in set. Most starter kit has 1 or 2 polyurethane pastry bags, a coupler, and 3-4 common type of piping tips, a plain or round, star, and rose. It is important in picking the right pastry bag and piping tips based  on which best suit one’s task and needs. This would maximize its functionality and avoid wastage.  

6. Turn Table

This baker tool made it on this list because I am fond of layer cakes and of the rounded type. I find spinning a layer cake to apply and smooth-finish icings meditatively relaxing. But more calming is eating a slice of a layer cake without the guilt. It is satisfying to devour a cake with the equal and ample amount of creamy frosting and contentment of an illusion that one only dabble a good small portion.

Most home-bakers recommend, if one could find, a 12-inch round, cast iron turntable with 1/8-inch aluminum top and wide variety of scale of measurement. The additional weight brings stability. For pretty ones, it could double as a cake stand, but if one is not in use for dessert, it can double as a lazy Susan. Speaking of cake stand, it is also referred as revolving cake stand, to avoid confusing from the record player turn table and industrial equipment.    

Majority of these tools and equipment are what a pâtissière needs to get started decorating baked goods. In purchasing any gadget, quality is always on top of the list, including durability, functionality and versatility of the product. Expensive and trust-worthy product pays off in the long run, hence a wise and viable investment.

Are there baking tools and equipment that need to be included on this list? Please share your thoughts and post comments, reactions, inquiries, suggestions and corrections below. And do not forget to follow to inspire and motivate which in the long run help build and create better content. Thank you!

As always enjoy baking!

References

1. The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. (2013). Encyclopedia Britannica. [Website]. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com

2. Craftsy (n.d.). Learn to Cake Decorate Supply Set. [Website]. Retrieved from https://www.craftsy.com/cake-decorating/supplies/learn-to-cake-decorate-supply-set/486428

3. Parks, S. (n.d.). BraveTart’s Essential Baking and Pastry Gear. [Blog Post]. Retrieved from https://www.seriouseats.com/2017/08/guide-to-essential-baking-tools.html

Getting Serious with Baking

Baking Essentials Part 4.1: Going Intermediary

The baking tools from part one to three of this baking essentials series would allow a novice baker or pâtissière to create pastry and simple bread recipes. In which, such sufficient experience to have ample perspective and honest assessment to realize if baking is just a passing interest or genuine passion to be pursued. Baking skills can be acquired through diligence and training but the love for culinary or any art is something only self could realize. Then, if it is indeed one’s passion one would proceed with hope in their eyes and heart secure the following baking essentials.

The following are six additional essential baking tools and specialized equipment to take the baking game to the next level:

1. Stand Mixer

In the last baking essential article, portable motorized-mixing equipment had been introduced, an electric hand-mixer. The affordable device is efficient for small batches of baked goods, but a more powerful motor of a stand mixer could make baking considerably easier and more consistent. A stand mixer is one of the most expensive and useful baking equipment thus much time and effort would be dedicated to finding the right stand mixer for certain cooking and baking needs.

Stand mixer is a stationary structure with a stable frame that house the powerful motor either belt or gear driven and a mounting based for the bowl that range from 4 to 100 quart capacity, which is accessible either through bowl-lift or head-tilt mechanism. The frames varies from smaller that are designated to fit on countertop, then the slightly larger have equipment stand mounted to the floor, and the largest are considered floor mixer which sit directly to the floor.  Most home model mixers are on countertop and come with three most standard attachments, which are a flat beater or paddle for creaming and mixing, a whisk attachment for whipping egg whites and cream, and a dough hook for kneading heavier dough. Additional accessories to increase its versatility would be pasta roller, grater, slicer, grinder, sausage stuffer, ice cream maker and others.

To help find the right mixer, first identifying baking needs for a stand mixer take into account the kind, quantity and frequency of baking and/or cooking, as stand mixer can be used for more than just baking but also in cooking like pasta making and meatball or chorizo mixing. Mixing heavier dough like pizza needs more horsepower than mixing lighter cake batter and whipping delicate egg whites. As certain products mix better at certain speeds, a wide-range of speed options would be an advantage. It is more practical to use a heavy-duty mixer for almost daily baking and a larger bowl capacity for huge quantity.

Other factors to consider in purchasing a mixer are weight and aesthetic. Heavier mixer is more stable but would be bulky and unsafe for one’s back to keep transferring it in and out of a cabinet. The only practical solution is a permanent place or spot in the kitchen hence the mixer should also need to be aesthetically pleasing. Additional factors are easy to clean and easy to use for efficiency and safety. And an auxiliary factor is level of noise, given noise could not be eliminated in a machine but there are some mixer that are quieter than others. Lastly, the most important factor is price, there are cheaper stand mixers out there, but the thought of buying one means the home chefs is already deep into making a lot of recipes that involve in heavy duty mixing in large quantity thus invest wisely.

It is not a surprise that numerous recommendations nominated another KitchenAid product, the KitchenAid Pro-line 7 quart bowl-lift stand mixer, as a reliable for home used stand mixer. A less expensive version would be the KitchenAid Artisan 5 quart head-tilt stand mixer, as per highly recommended.  However, what I really like is the KitchenAid Commercial Series 8 quart bowl-lift stand mixer that has a monster horsepower for a borderline commercial use from a whipping a large batch of egg whites to weekly pizza party.         

    

2. Candy Thermometer

Yes amateurs, a candy thermometer also known as deep-fry thermometer is needed in making the best buttercream frosting, as one have to cook the sugar to the right temperature, unless one can eye ball the different stages of sugar syrup, which is possible through experience and practice then the exemption.  Plus, this is a great introduction to simple candy making and chocolate tempering, which all part of cake decorating and most important…eating.  There is this wariness in dealing with this baking tool which might stem from the notion of using a glass instrument with mercury, or is it the mathematical scales? Set fears aside as digital thermometers are available, but like any device for measurement, the most important part is verifying accuracy.

A digital deep fry or candy thermometer with a clip-on attachment aids the persnickety sugar syrup and/or candy making process. Favorite choices are the Polder’s In-oven and Thermapen, in which the former has a timer and temperature alert function. If using probe-type digital thermometer, make sure the tip of the probe is not touching the bottom of the pan, as it could ruin the thermometer accuracy.  Beware of most digital instant read as it has 4 seconds delay, with only average to good accuracy and needs occasional calibration. Take note, a candy thermometer is different from a digital meat thermometer, as the former has a wider range far below and above what a latter could measure. Plus this digital candy thermometer is versatile as it also works for meat products.

For old-schooled thermometer, there is no particular brand recommended as it is readily available in supermarket’s kitchenware department. Again always test for accuracy by clipping the thermometer to the side of the pan, making sure the bulb is not touching the bottom, then add water and bring to a full boil. At sea level, the thermometer should read 212 degree Fahrenheit or 100 degree Celsius, if it does not then get a new one. Note to self, do not plunge thermometer into boiling water since extreme temperature shock can cause it to break. Another thermometer tips, store glass bulb-type in a sturdy paper towel tube, so it would not break and best to hand wash it. If using a glass thermometer always keep a spare on hand.

…to be continued

This is a partial list of “Baking Essentials Part 4.” Please watch out for the second part which will be posted next week.

What do you think about of these intermediate baking tool and equipment? Please share your thoughts and post comments, reactions, inquiries, suggestions and corrections below. And do not forget to follow to inspire and help this blog create better content. Thank you!

As always enjoy baking!

References

1. The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. (2013). Encyclopedia Britannica. [Website]. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com

2. KitchenAid (n.d.).  [Website]. Retrieved from http://www.kitchenaid.com/shop/countertop-appliances-1/countertop-appliances-2/stand-mixers-3/-[KSMC895ER]-407298/KSMC895ER/

3. WebstaurantStore. (n.d.). Different Types of Thermometers.  [Website]. Retrieved from https://www.webstaurantstore.com/guide/637/different-types-of-thermometers.html