Dear Reena: My mother always told me that lettuce should be hand torn and never cut with a knife. Is this true or is it a myth?
Aimée
Dear Aimée: Many cooks believe that lettuce that touches metal will prematurely turn brown. I’ve found it really doesn’t make much difference whether you tear or cut it; lettuce turns brown at about the same rate, give or take a day. It might turn brown faster if your knife has picked up germs from something else. Chop lettuce with a clean knife to get uniform pieces that are easier to eat.
Dear Reena: Three-pack Romaine lettuce keeps well in the original package in the crisper, but after it is washed and kept in a container in the refrigerator, the ribs and some of the leaves turn brown. What is the reason for this?
Elizabeth
Dear Elizabeth: Browning lettuce edges is caused by two chemicals, enzymes and poly-phenols and, when they combine, they oxidize, which turns many fruits and veggies brown. When lettuce is cut or torn, the cell walls are damaged and the edges quickly turn brown. To sustain the life of your lettuce once you have purchased it, remove leaves from core, wash and spin. Wrap leaves in paper towels and tuck them inside a sealable plastic bag. Extra note: Romaine lettuce turns brown faster than iceberg lettuce.
Dear Reena: I have some new ballpoint ink pens that have dried out. Is there a way that these can be restored?
Emily
Dear Emily: Begin by shaking the pens to loosen the solvent inside. If you do not have the strength in your hand to scribble vigorously, ask someone else to take a crack at it. Sometimes a few seconds of swirls on a paper or the bottom of a rubber shoe fixes pens.
If that doesn’t work, heat the tip with a hairdryer or hold it under hot water, which helps soften the ink. Or hold the end of the pen a centimetre away from a lighter flame. Heat the tip so that the ink that has congealed behind the ball flows freely.
Dear Reena: The sliding doors in an upstairs and downstairs closet glide smoothly until they get to a certain point just before they’re completely closed. Is there anything we can use so they’ll close without sticking?
Dale
Dear Dale: A closet door that won’t properly close is often the result of a misaligned door track. Using a screwdriver, tighten the door tracks. If the door still sticks, replace worn roller wheels. If necessary, adjust the height of the door using the screws, or plane the door. Lastly, replace the guides and the door should easily close.
Pasta Party
• Liven up supper tonight with rainbow or Valentine-coloured pasta noodles. Cook pasta as normal. Rinse with cold water and drain. Toss with a little cooking oil to prevent pasta from sticking together. Separate pasta into bowls and add a few drops of food colouring and mix well. Let it sit for 10 minutes to absorb the colour. Reheat and serve.
Extra tip: This works with rice as well.
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