Tip of the Day: Great for Graters

What’s the easiest way to clean a messy cheese grater? Reach for a lemon! Just rub the pulp-side of a cut lemon across a grater and it will clean off any stuck-on cheese.

Recipe of the Week: Quick Caramel Apples

One of our favorite things about Halloween is that you get to steal your kids' trick or treat candy. Another perk is that Halloween is the only time of year it's acceptable to dunk fruit into caramel and eat it off of a stick. We found this quick and easy recipe from the Kraft website, and in our opinion, you're allowed to make it 365 days a year.

Ingredients:

5 apples (1 1/2 pounds), washed, well dried
1 package (14 ounces) caramels
2 tablespoon water

How to Make It:

1. Insert wooden pop stick into stem end of each apple. Cover large plate with waxed paper; grease paper with butter.

2. Cook caramels and water in large saucepan on medium-low heat until caramels are completely melted, stirring constantly.

3. Dip apples in caramel; spoon additional caramel over apples if necessary to evenly coat apples. Let excess caramel drip off. Scrape bottoms of apples; place on prepared plate. Refrigerate 1 hour. Remove from refrigerator 15 minutes before serving; let stand at room temperature to soften slightly. Refrigerate leftovers.

Tip of the Day: Soft Hands Equal Clean Hands

Slather on a heavy layer of hand moisturizer before painting or doing other dirty chores. It will prevent dirt and paint from seeping into your skin, making clean-up easier. White soap under your nails will help too.

Tip of the Day: Say Goodbye to Cord Discord

You’ll love this way to keep all the cords to your various electronic devices organized on your desk. Clasp several binder clips to the side of your desk, then slide the cord through the arms and let the plug be held by the narrower end. Instant organization!

Tip of the Day: Tea Trick

Here’s a terrific way to make your post-dinner clean up a breeze. Remove cooked-on food from pots and pans effortlessly by filling them with water, adding a tea bag, and simmering. The tea’s acid will break up food.

How to Save Money on Car Repairs and Maintenance

With gas prices so high, paying for basic car maintenance has taken a backseat to gas money. But taking care of your car is as easy and cheap as pulling together a few items you already have in your home! Visit our new website for ways to save money on car repairs and maintenance.

Tip of the Day: Ladies Only

Men, look away while we tell the ladies this secret cleavage tip. To instantly make your chest look more youthful, mix up this treatment and apply to your visible cleavage area: 1 egg white, 1 tablespoon each of honey and plain yogurt, and 1 teaspoon olive oil. Rinse off after 10 minutes. It will brighten, tighten, and make you feel 10 years younger!

Tip of the Day: Baking Soda for Delicates

You don’t need to spend money on detergents just for delicates. Instead, use this homemade solution: 1 cup baking soda mixed with 1 cup warm water. The baking soda will clean your clothes without harming their delicate fibers.

Tip of the Day: Lock Block

Have a padlock on your shed or something else outdoors? Keep it from rusting by keeping it from the elements. Slice open the side of a tennis ball (carefully!) and slip it over the lock to protect it.

Recipe of the Week: Easy Chocolate Cupcakes

This recipe caught our eye not only because it was so easy but because it incorporates two of Who Knew’s go-to ingredients - baking soda and vinegar – rather than eggs and butter. True, we’re usually using these ingredients to clean our house rather than make delicious chocolate cupcakes, but we appreciate Elise, the blogger behind Simply Recipes, for reminding us why we keep baking soda and vinegar in our kitchen.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup brewed coffee (or 1 cup of warm water mixed with 1 1/2 teaspoons instant coffee granules)
1 tablespoon white vinegar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 cup plus 2 tablesppons olive oil
frosting or powdered sugar (optional)

How to Make It:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F with a rack in the middle position. Prepare a muffin tin with cupcake liners.

2. In a large bowl, vigorously whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking soda, and salt until there are no visible clumps (cocoa tends to clump up).

3. In a separate bowl, mix together the coffee (or water plus coffee granules), vinegar, vanilla extract, and olive oil.

4. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir only until they just come together. The mixture should be thin and rather lumpy.

5. Ladle the batter into the cupcake liners, filling them about two-thirds of the way full. Place in oven and bake for 18 to 20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

6. Remove from oven and let cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then remove from pan and let cool on a rack. Once cool, you can eat plain, sprinkle with powdered sugar, or drizzle or coat with frosting.

Makes 12 cupcakes.

Do you have an easy recipe to share? Let us know!