Simplifying My Life

ALL YOU NEED IN LIFE is baking soda and white vinegar. That thought came to me after I was recently confined to my loft for several days. Cabin fever might have been at play. The consideration brought my mindfulness to a new level of awareness.

The fact is, I am continuing to simplify my life's inputs, and these two inexpensive kitchen items can be used in many ways to clean my home, help with my laundry, and improve my culinary pursuits, etc. Important necessities in my existence.

As an example, last night I brined five frozen shrimp for fifteen minutes in cold, icy water using half a teaspoon of baking soda and salt. This easy technique raises the PH and creates a plump, tasty shrimp in all types of recipes. A Creole recipe happened to be my choice. The shrimp steeped in my bubbly tomato sauce and turned an attractive pink in just a few minutes. The tail-on shrimp creole was delicious, joined by rice and black beans and finished with chopped fresh parsley.

Baking soda can also tenderize chicken breasts by breaking down protein and making the meat softer and juicier when cooked. I had success last week with two skinless chicken breasts that I bathed in water and baking soda. I soaked them for half an hour, then rinsed the breasts and brushed them with olive oil and seasoned them with salt and pepper. I baked the breasts for 35 minutes at 350°F. Voila - tender and tasty!

Baking soda is also the backbone of my laundry treatment for stains. I am a forever spiller, and my pants and shirts seem to be a catch-all for drips from my food. I mix Dawn detergent and baking soda and brush the "paste" onto the greasy stains prior to placing them in the regular wash. It usually eliminates the stains or at least allows my clothes to be halfway presentable for the next iteration of spills.

White vinegar is my next amazing ingredient. My focus has been using it as the base (it is acidic) for treatments of water stains in my old-fashioned shower. The bath insert seems to be the perfect surface for scale and dark yellow stains. My shower/tub is twenty years old and has not yet been subjected to an upgrade, which is being encouraged all over social media if you’ve noticed. I still can step over the tub, but very carefully.

My "bleaching" formula is 50/50 vinegar and tap water with a drop of detergent. It is sprayed on the stains and rests for fifteen minutes, where it is allowed to do its thing. It seems to do a respectable job, though it usually requires a few repeat applications.  A little elbow grease helps, and on tough spots I add a little baking soda and then duck.

I decided to order the following books authored by Emily Thacker. Her efforts came to my attention during a search to learn about additional uses of these amazing household products. The Vinegar Book and The Magic of Baking Soda, both by Emily Thacker. They can be had at your favorite book purveyor. I’m ordering mine on Amazon as I only have one day left on Prime before it expires.