Freelance

By BABS FELIX

Dear readers: Today is my last column in the Tucson Citizen. Thank you so much for your six years of support. Please continue to call the Extension office at 626-5161 for answers to all of your questions.

QUESTION: Do you have a recipe for salmon cakes?

ANSWER: Here’s a quick and delicious recipe for you. Mix the following in a medium-size bowl:

7- to 8-ounce can of salmon, drained

1/4 cup plain dry bread crumbs

1/2 cup finely chopped red onion

2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill (or 1 teaspoon dried)

1 lightly beaten egg

1 tablespoon reduced-fat mayonnaise

2 tablespoons horse radish (or substitute chili sauce)

Form into 4 equal-sized patties. Coat a medium nonstick pan with cooking spray and heat over medium-high heat. Cook the salmon cakes on both sides until golden brown. Serves 2.

- “American Dietetic Association Cooking Healthy Across America”

QUESTION: What would you recommend for cleaning tile and grout?

ANSWER: You can keep a handy spray bottle of this grout cleaner in your bathroom for frequent use. It is also good at removing soap scum and cleaning tile counters. Combine these ingredients in a spray bottle, label and shake well to mix:

1/2 cup baking soda

1/3 cup ammonia

1/4 cup of white vinegar

7 cups of water

Do not use this in combination with chlorine bleach or where chlorine bleach has been used. Simply spray it on and wipe with a damp sponge or cloth. No rinsing is necessary.

- “The Queen of Clean”

QUESTION: What is yuca that I see in the produce section?

ANSWER: Yuca (pronounced YOO-kah) is a prime crop in tropical and subtropical countries. It is also known as manioc or cassava, and has two main varieties, bitter and sweet. Bitter yuca is poisonous unless cooked. Sweet yucca is dense, softly fibrous, and starchy. Yuca have brown, barklike peel and are about 8 to 12 inches long. Do not refrigerate, but keep cool. It will only last for a few days. After peeling, cook on the stove top in butter or add to soups.

- “Shopper’s Guide to Fresh Produce”

QUESTION: How do I remove crayon marks from a painted wall?

ANSWER: Scrub with toothpaste or an ammonia-soaked cloth. Rinse and dry.

- from www.allabouthome.com

A University of Arizona-Pima County Cooperative Extension master consumer adviser can answer your questions at 626-5161 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. weekdays, or, in the Sahuarita office, at 648-0808 between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.

This entry was posted on Friday, March 24th, 2006 at 12:00 am and is filed under Living. Tags for this post: Arizona, Ask Babs, Babs Felix, page-2E, Tucson. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.