Cleaning Fine Jewelry, and Mushroom Magic

by WiredBerries Readers — December 11, 2006

Contributors to our Wired Wisdom section come up with some creative uses for coffee grounds, a cheap and easy way to clean jewelry, and a new recipe for tropical lime smoothies. In addtion, we've found the best veggie peeler ever.

Monday, December 11th
Tropical Lime Smoothie

Try this instead of a glass of o.j. in the morning, advises Lisa Edmiston of Santa Monica, CA. It's a tart and tasty eye-opener packed with vitamin C and potassium.

1 banana, peeled and sliced
¾ cup pineapple juice
Juice of ½ lime

Put all ingredients in a blender or food processor and whip to a thick golden froth. Serves two.

Tuesday, December 12th
Cleaning Fine Jewelry

There’s no need to buy expensive solutions to clean your treasured baubles, says Kori Rodly Irons of Eugene, OR. “A jeweler taught me that a soft-bristled toothbrush and toothpaste work just as well. Just use a little paste on the brush, and be careful in and around stone settings. Wipe clean and polish with a linen or soft cotton towel. Fine jewelry sparkles and shines without harmful chemicals.”

Wednesday, December 13th
Great Grounds

Irene Zundel of Phoenix, AZ, has myriad uses for leftover coffee grounds.

•	Dump the grounds in your garden and flowerbeds to enrich the soil.
•	Use them to top off your potted plants or mix them in with potting soil—houseplants love coffee!
•	Dry the grounds thoroughly on a cookie sheet in the oven, then stuff them in an old piece of nylon stockings and tie off the ends. Put the coffee “sachets” in your refrigerator, under kitchen sinks, and in musty closets. They make a great natural deodorizer.
•	Use steeped coffee grounds and a cotton ball to touch up scratches on your furniture.

Though we haven’t tried this one, Irene also recommends using a cooled pot of brewed coffee to highlight brown or black hair.

Thursday, December 14th
Mushroom Magic

“Add some sophistication to your favorite ground-meat recipe,” writes Josie Aaronson-Gelb of Chicago, IL. “Buy a package of dried porcini mushrooms and grind them to a fine dust using a food processor. For every pound of meat—whether it’s a sauce, meatloaf, or sloppy joes—stir in about 1-1/2 tablespoons of porcini dust and proceed with the recipe as usual.” The mushrooms add a subtle but distinctive flavor to even the most familiar dish.

Friday, December 15th
Peeler Power

One of our favorite cooking magazines, Cook’s Illustrated, recommends the OXO I-Series Swivel Peeler as the best all-around gadget for tackling potatoes and vegetables. It’s “sturdy, maneuverable, and incredibly sharp,” and it’s available for about $10 at shop.com, Target, and Amazon.com, among other outlets.