Use raw peanuts from store rather than seeds

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 20/08/2011 (5159 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

QUESTION: If I plant peanut seeds, how long will they take to grow? Candice (Selkirk, Man.)

ANSWER: Instead of peanut seeds, purchase raw peanuts from your local grocery store and plant them two-inches deep in sandy ground. They need between 130 to 140 days to grow (spaced six inches apart). If the risk of frost is a factor, sow in individual pots several weeks before transplanting.

Did you know?

— Peanuts are not actually nuts: they are legumes and grow underground.

— 96 per cent of people, when making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, put the peanut butter on before the jelly.

— Peanut butter can be used to remove chewing gum from clothes and hair.

QUESTION: Some time ago I read your column that said putting some vinegar into the wash would allow us to avoid dryer sheets. How much vinegar? Also, I have a new front-loading washer, and does that make a difference for the amount? Thank you. Marilyn (Winnipeg)

ANSWER: There are no bleaching agents in vinegar therefore adding one cup of vinegar is safe for softening fabrics as well as cleaning out the hoses in your machine.

QUESTION: Can you please tell me what the difference is between pork loin and pork tenderloin? Love your column and your workshops. Betsy (Birds Hill, Man.)

ANSWER: The loin is the large muscle running along the spine. The tenderloin is a smaller muscle running underneath it. It gets less of a workout and is therefore tenderer than the loin muscle. Both cuts have identical nutrition information (after the excess fat is trimmed). The tenderloin usually has very little fat to trim.

QUESTION: I need your expert advice. How do you remove permanent marker from jeans? I was on a job site this morning and realized silly me wrote on myself. Thank you. Toni (Winnipeg)

ANSWER: The tough news is, as you know, these markers are permanent. The good news is: with a little effort you can get that stain out. Begin by scrubbing the stain with Dawn dish soap and water. Because you have not washed the jeans, you may succeed in removing the mark quickly. If the stain remains, soak the area in paint thinner and wash the jeans (don’t put in dryer until stain has vanished). Repeat this process until the marker is gone.

My kids used a permanent marker to draw on my grandmother’s tablecloth (yikes) and the stain is now gone. Remember to test on an inconspicuous area first because the challenge that you have is that you don’t want any jean dye to be extracted. Other solutions to try are: Mr. Clean original cleaner, mosquito spray, hairspray, rubbing alcohol or WD-40. You can do it!

Best Tip of the Week:

— Double boilers are wonderful tools for cooking sauces and gravies. A jar lid or a couple of marbles in the bottom half of a double-boiler will rattle when the water gets low and warn you to add more water before the pan scorches or burns. Taken from Household Solutions 2 with kitchen secrets.

Reena Nerbas is the author of the national bestselling Household Solutions series. Her website is www.householdsolutions.org You can contact her at Box 429, Blumenort, Man., ROA 0C0.