From tattie scones to tahini fudge: eight delicious new recipes from Ottolenghi Test Kitchen

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45 Clever Ways To Clean With Baking Soda

Baking soda is an essential ingredient in whipping up fluffy pancakes, quick breads and perfect cakes. But did you know it works wonders cleaning around the house, too? This gentle, non-toxic pantry staple is a powerhouse when it comes to removing oil stains, cleaning your kids' toys, and even freshening your breath. (Try these other natural homemade cleaners, too.)

Whether you're diving deep into spring cleaning or tidying up an everyday mess, a box of baking soda will be your new best friend. Best part? It's a wholesome, homemade alternative to the expensive stuff you get at the store. Freshen your household inside and out with our must-know ways to clean with baking soda.

Make sure you know the difference between baking soda and baking powder and grab the right box for these projects!

Baking Soda Uses in the Kitchen 1. Trash Can Deodorizer

Sprinkle a small amount of baking soda into the trash can once a week to help absorb odors.

2. Stainless Steel Sink Cleaner

Make a paste of baking soda and white vinegar. Soak paper towels in solution and wipe down the sink.

3. Stovetop Cleaner

Pour baking soda directly onto a grimy surface and let sit for 5 minutes. Wipe with a damp sponge, scrubbing gently. Wipe your stovetop clean with a soft cloth.

4. Non-Self-Cleaning Oven Cleaner

Clean with vinegar by mixing 1 cup white vinegar with 1/2 cup lemon juice in a spray bottle. Spray the bottom of the oven. Let sit for 10 minutes, then sprinkle baking soda on top. Let sit for 10 minutes and wipe clean.

Out of baking soda? These other homemade cleaners work for cleaning an oven, too.

5. Fruit and Veggie Wash © Global_Pics/Getty Images

Mix water, baking soda and lemon juice together. Wipe fruits and veggies with mixture to remove wax.

6. Silverware Polisher

Make a paste with 3 parts baking soda, 1 part water. Rub paste onto silverware with a clean cloth. Rinse and dry.

Here's how to polish your grandma's heirloom silver in 5 minutes flat.

7. No-Wax Floor Cleaner

Mix 1/2 cup baking soda in a bucket of warm water. Mop the floor and rinse with clean water.

8. Microwave Cleaner

Help remove stuck-on food by applying baking soda to a damp sponge and scrubbing residue.

9. Dishwasher Cleaner

Sprinkle baking soda in the bottom of your dishwasher and run as usual to help freshen and remove stains. Did you know you can clean all these things in a dishwasher?

10. Garbage Disposal Refresher

Pour baking soda slowly down the garbage disposal drain while running warm tap water.

11. Cutting Board Deodorizer

Sprinkle a cutting board with baking soda, then scrub and rinse. (Use a disinfectant for cleaning.)

12. Dishrag Deodorizer © Stephen Gibson/Getty Images

Soak smelly dishrags in a bucket of warm water and baking soda.

13. Sponge Cleaner

Soak smelly sponges in 4 tablespoons of baking soda dissolved in 1 quart of warm water regularly. If you really want to disinfect them, try these other methods for cleaning a sponge.

Baking Soda Uses in the Bathroom 14. Soap Scum Remover

Sprinkle a wet rag or sponge with baking soda and rub on sinks and bathtubs to remove stubborn soap scum.

15. Shower Grout Cleaner

Make a paste of lemon juice and baking soda. Brush paste on grout lines with a toothbrush. Let sit several minutes and wipe off. Alternatively, you can mix 1/2 cup bleach with 3/4 cup baking soda and apply in same manner. Just make sure you're aware of the household cleaning products you should never mix.

16. Shower Curtain Cleaner

Are you cleaning your shower curtain enough? It's easy! Sprinkle baking soda on a damp sponge, scrub curtain and rinse off with clean water.

17. Comb and Brush Cleaner © Aygul Bulte/Getty Images

Soak combs and brushes overnight in a cup of warm water mixed with 1 teaspoon of baking soda.

Baking Soda Uses in the Bedroom 18. Closet Freshener

Keep musty smells at bay by placing an open box or small glass jar of baking soda on a closet shelf.

19. Drawer Freshener

Fill an old sock or small cloth bag with baking soda and place in a drawer to absorb odor.

20. Mattress Deodorizer

Vacuum mattress first. Sprinkle baking soda over the surface and let it sit 30 minutes. Vacuum thoroughly.

Baking Soda Uses Outdoors 21. Oil Stain Remover

To remove pesky oil stains from your driveway or garage floor, sprinkle baking soda over the stains and scrub with a stiff-bristle brush.

22. Lawn Furniture Cleaner

Mix 1/2 cup baking soda with 1 quart warm water. Wipe down, rinse and allow to dry.

23. Grill Cleaner

Sprinkle baking soda on the grill grates and scrub with a brush. Rinse and wipe clean. Here's how to clean your grill without a wire brush.

24. Chrome Polisher © amoklv/Getty Images

Make a paste of baking soda and water. Wet clean cloth with paste, rub on chrome and wipe off. Rinse and dry.

25. Bug Repellent

To keep cockroaches and ants at bay, sprinkle a line of baking soda along basement windows and doorways.

26. Weed Control

Generously sprinkle baking soda onto your driveway and sidewalk cracks to help discourage weeds. All these other pantry ingredients will help your garden grow too.

Baking Soda Uses for Pets 27. Litter Box Deodorizer

Mix a generous amount of baking soda into the kitty litter box to help cut down on odor.

28. Pet Bedding Deodorizer

To cut down on musty pet odor, sprinkle bedding liberally with baking soda. Wait at least 15 minutes and vacuum thoroughly.

Baking Soda Uses for General Purposes 29. Drain Cleaner © Andrei Zonenko/Getty Images

Pour 1/2 cup baking soda followed by 1/2 cup vinegar down the drain. Let fizz. Pour 6 cups of hot water down the drain.

30. Carpet Stain Remover

Mix 1 cup baking soda, 1 cup salt and 1 cup white vinegar into a paste. Apply to the stain and allow to dry. Vacuum. (Gum on the carpet? Try these tips that'll get gum off of anything.)

31. Rug Deodorizer

Sprinkle the rug with baking soda and let it sit for 15 minutes. Vacuum thoroughly.

32. Toy Cleaner

To refresh your kids' toys (which are one of the dirtiest things in your home), dissolve 4 tablespoons of baking soda in 1 quart warm water. Pour mixture into a spray bottle and spray toys. Rinse and dry thoroughly.

33. Small Hole Repair

No spackle? Make a paste of white toothpaste and baking soda. Fill holes in the wall with mixture, smooth over and allow to dry.

34. Water Spot Remover

Make a paste with baking soda, water and toothpaste. Apply the paste with a soft cloth to wood and rub away rings and spots.

35. Vacuum Cleaner Odor Remover

Sprinkle baking soda on the carpet and vacuum up to help remove odors inside your vacuum cleaner.

36. Marble Cleaner © Dougal Waters/Getty Images

Dissolve 3 teaspoons of baking soda in a quart of warm water. Wet a clean cloth with the mixture and wipe down marble.

37. Laundry Brightener

Add 1/2 cup of baking soda to a load of laundry to boost colors and help fight stains.

38. Air Freshener

Mix water, baking soda and a drop of your favorite essential oil together to make a room spray.

39. Sterling Silver Jewelry Cleaner

To remove tarnish, line the bottom of a dish with aluminum foil (shiny side up). Dissolve 1 tablespoon baking soda in 1 cup boiling water (the solution may bubble). Place your jewelry in the dish, making sure it's touching the aluminum foil. Pour the solution into the dish. Let it sit for 2 to 10 minutes. Rinse and dry with a soft cloth. Make sure silver is completely dry before storing.

Baking Soda Uses for Personal Use © artursfoto/Getty Images 40. Shoe Refresher

Sprinkle baking soda inside shoes after wearing or make sachets with baking soda and tuck them into shoes. (You might want to ban wearing shoes in the house overall.)

41. Mouth Freshener

To combat bad breath, mix 1 teaspoon baking soda in 1/2 glass of water. Gargle, swish, spit and rinse.

42. Exfoliating Scrub

To brighten skin, mix a paste of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part warm water. Gently rub onto face using a circular motion. Rinse. Apply this paste to heels and elbows to smooth skin.

43. Foot Soak

To soothe tired, achy feet, dissolve 3 teaspoons of baking soda in a warm bath. Soak and gently scrub feet.

44. Chlorine Remover

Too much time at the pool? Rinse your hair with 1/2 teaspoon baking soda dissolved in 1 pint water to remove dullness caused by too much chlorine.

45. Toothpaste

A dab of coconut oil with baking soda can clean your teeth just as well as the bright blue stuff you'd get at the store.

The post 45 Clever Ways to Clean with Baking Soda appeared first on Taste of Home.

Under $25 Scores: The Cook Time Baking Mat With Measurements Is A Super Multitasker And Makes Rolling Dough A Cinch

The Cook Time Silicone Non-Stick Pastry Baking Mat with Measurements is an efficient little multitasker that makes rolling dough easier, enhances even baking and minimizes kitchen clean up.

A food-grade silicone mat that measures 26-by-16-inches (though it does come in 3 different sizes), the Cook Time Silicone Non-Stick Pastry Baking Mat with Measurements can be used as a nonskid surface for rolling out dough, with convenient measurements provided, as well as an oven-safe baking mat for cookies, pie, pizza, and other baked goods. In essence, it does a whole lot and costs just a little.

This simple, non-stick baking mat not only helps keep your cooking and baking mess to a minimum, it also lets you easily measure while rolling out your dough. The Cook Time Silicone Non-Stick Pastry Baking Mat is a serious kitchen multitasker for well under $25.

I'm an avid cook and baker, and was given a generic silicone baking mat as a gift that largely gathered dust in my kitchen. Although I never felt the urge to use it for baking (parchment paper exists, after all, and you don't need to wash it off after you use it), I decided to research uses for it online — which is how I came across the Cook Time Silicone Non-Stick Pastry Baking Mat with Measurements.

The main difference with this particular mat is that it's also intended for rolling dough, and has easy-to-read measurements (in both imperial and metric increments) marked directly on it. Those markings instantly piqued my curiosity, because I have to admit that I am no good at estimating sizes and have, in the past, resorted to using a measuring tape to check the size of my dough so often the tape has become clogged with flour.

This mat promised to eliminate the need for extraneous measurement tools and make rolling dough much more efficient and yes, much neater. As someone who does the cleaning after big baking projects, I certainly appreciate anything that can help minimize dishes and mess in the kitchen. I was also intrigued by the claims that this mat may help distribute heat more evenly, and wondered if it might help my chocolate chip cookies, which had turned out unevenly browned the last few times (likely the result of an older oven in need of calibration, I think).

At a price of $14.35 on Amazon with an additional a 5% coupon also offered on the purchase, and free next-day shipping for Amazon Prime members (I am one), I felt like the Cook Time Silicone Non-Stick Pastry Baking Mat with Measurements was an affordable chance to take. And this baking mat doesn't take up much room, so if I didn't find it as useful as anticipated, it would at least be easy to store away with my other mat.

I personally cook the majority of my meals and desserts, and a great deal of them involve dough because it is versatile, freezes well for make-ahead meals, and tastes delicious. This winter alone, I meal prepped dozens of individual chicken pot pies, empanadas and from-scratch ravioli to make and freeze for fast, easy lunches and dinners. I also make my own pizza crust fairly often, and bake cakes, pies and other desserts frequently as a hobby. I enjoy complicated recipes, and have been especially interested in bread and pastry doughs lately. The last baking project I undertook was making a King cake, the traditional Mardis gras confection, for my birthday which falls around the same time of year. The recipe involved rolling out the dough and filling it with a sweetened cream cheese mixture, and I sadly had to use my old measuring tape to judge the correct length.

Adopting the Cook Time Silicone Non-Stick Pastry Baking Mat with Measurements would solve my problem of rolling dough to the correct size, as the mat includes both a ruler and circles of various diameters, which would save me time and energy, and spare my poor measuring tape.

The Cook Time Silicone Non-Stick Pastry Baking Mat with Measurements would be a bargain if it only performed one function, but it excels at no less than three.

For rolling dough, its chief attribute is how flat and still it lies on a countertop. The mat weighs a little over 7 ounces and is slightly thinner than than the thickness of a penny, which makes it easy to roll and store, but it doesn't lift when rolling dough on top of it, or slide around the countertop. The measurements make an accurate gauge of how much you need to roll so you can get it right the first time, which is helpful because generally, dough should be worked as little as possible. I found the conversion charts less useful but beginning or aspiring bakers might appreciate them.

The nonstick silicone surface also makes dough easy to lift off the mat when transferring to a dish or pan, which can be tricky with thin doughs, and also makes cleaning a breeze (although I found wiping down with a damp sponge sufficient, the mat is dishwasher safe).

Unlike that other baking mat, the Cook Time Silicone Non-Stick Pastry Baking Mat with Measurements also let me significantly cut down on cleanup, and though it is a secondary function, it's no less important. Rolling dough can get messy, with lots of flour, dough scraps, and, depending on what you're making, assorted egg or milk washes or dusting sugars. This mat contains all of your mess, so you can lift it up, dust it over the trash bin or sink, and easily wipe off what remains — keeping your counters clean.

Admittedly, I did not invest in the Cook Time Silicone Non-Stick Pastry Baking Mat with Measurements for baking purposes, but I thought I should at least try it out. I appreciated that it also minimized oven mess, like catching a bubbling-over pie filling, for instance, sparing your baking sheets and oven interior. And once again, the easy-to-clean surface came in handy and it's reusable so I can feel more environmentally friendly by not wasting that parchment.

It also feels rugged, with a fiberglass inner layer sealed in food-grade silicone, which allows it to withstand temperatures from -45 degrees F to 450 degrees (aka pizza-friendly). I baked chocolate chip cookies on it and they came out just fine, golden-brown with no adjustments needed. And, bonus, they lifted off the mat easily. The grease residue was easily wiped up and my sheet pan was spared the mess. The manufacturer's description states that the Cook Time Silicone Non-Stick Pastry Baking Mat with Measurements is guaranteed to last more than three years, and can be replaced if it wears out before then. I cannot vouch for that claim, of course, but I judge it to be a sturdy product that can withstand repeated use and temperature changes.

The Cook Time Silicone Non-Stick Pastry Baking Mat with Measurements does everything it promises, but I will admit it's not the most aesthetically pleasing piece of kitchen equipment I own. Although it comes in four different colors, those apply only to the rulers and the markings on the mat itself are in red ink, which I feel is less easy to read than a darker color might be. However, this is a product designed for function over form, and it fulfills that role exceptionally well. It's well-made, easy to use, durable and makes baking a variety of foods easier for an extremely reasonable price. It's a good tool for both aspiring and experienced bakers, one that will actually get a lot of use, and that makes it a great kitchen score.

Baraona's Baking Company Named 'People's Choice' In Our Search For The Best Cassata Cake In Greater Cleveland

MAPLE HEIGHTS, Ohio – For nearly a century, Baraona's Baking Co. Has been doing things a "certain way," and clearly, that "way" resonates with Greater Clevelanders.

When cleveland.Com put out the word that we would be seeking the bakery that turns out the best cassata cake in Greater Cleveland – and would name a reader's choice award winner – our poll was quickly overwhelmed by votes for the tiny family-run shop — located at 15842 Libby Road, in Maple Heights.

© Yadi Rodriguez/cleveland.Com/TNS Baraona's Baking Co. Located at 15842 Libby Rd., Maple Heights Cassatta cakes available in 8 inch for $38; 9 inch for $42; ¼ sheet for $50; cupcakes for $5.25; or individual slices for $7.50 - Photo by Yadi Rodriguez, cleveland.Com

Baraona's finished with more than 49 percent of more than 5,000 votes cast making it the People's Choice cassata cake award winner.

Related: We tasted 13 cassata cakes to find Cleveland's best: Here are the results

Corbo's Bakery, situated on Mayfield Rd. In Little Italy, placed second, with nearly 17 percent of the vote; while Frangapane Bakery in North Olmsted captured third, with nearly 11 percent of the votes cast.

"To be honest, we didn't even know about it (the contest) until a friend, who was vacationing in Mexico, texted us to tell us we were in the poll," owner Frank Cheraso said, with a laugh.

Cheraso is the third generation to be at the helm of the family business and still bakes with the same recipes his grandfather used as far back as 1925 when he started the business with his brother-in-law. The bakery was originally named Gino's and was located at 119th and Kinsman.

Baraona's bakery moved to its current location in 1970.

"We are not a fancy operation. We don't do the designer cakes like you see on TV, but if you want a pretty birthday cake, or a specialty cake or cookies or pastry, we are your store," said Cheraso. "We do things the old-fashioned way, and that resonates with our customers.

"We have a lot of customers who make us a daily stop. We are a staple in their daily routine."

The bake shop offers both the traditional Sicilian cassata cake, as well as the Cleveland cassata cake, made with layers of sponge cake, custard, strawberries and whipped cream frosting.

Easily the most popular item on the menu, Baraona's sells an average of 200 to 250 Cleveland cassata cakes a week, often going through 120 pounds of strawberries a day.

Cassata cakes are sold as 8″ or 9″ rounds, sheet cakes, cupcakes or by the slice; and are available daily. Sicilian cassata cakes are only available by special order.

Orders around the holidays should be placed at least one week in advance.

Maintaining Quality

While he tries to maintain the traditional taste Baraona's recipes are known for, Cheraso said his biggest struggle is that today's ingredients no longer are made the same way as the ones his grandfather started with.

"We have a very diverse customer base who know quality ingredients and expect them," Cheraso said. "But ingredients have changed. Many of the recipes we use call for whole buttermilk, but most of what you can get these days are fat-free, so we have been forced to tweak our recipes," he explained. "We have to add in heavy cream to get the same results. Shortening is bio-engineered to take out the trans-fats. It is all healthier, but it doesn't deliver the same texture or taste."

"We still use real butter and crack our own eggs and our whipped cream is whipped by us in the store — we don't use artificial ingredients. We still try to do as much as we can to keep that real, old-fashioned goodness we are known for."

Supply chain issues and inflation are also taking a toll. Cheraso currently deals with six different suppliers, and egg shortages have forced prices from $35 per five dozen to $70 for the same amount.

"It's been difficult, but we just focus on giving people the same good product my family always has," he said.

The family tradition

Cheraso grew up in the bake shop. His original goal in high school was to go to college and pursue a career in accounting, but soon realized he was happiest baking cakes. His brother, Gene, did graduate from Cleveland State University and had a career outside the family business, but gravitated back to the bake shop.

The brothers worked together until Gene's retirement last year.

"My dad never forced us to follow him into the bakery, but we did work here growing up, because in those days, that's what families did, they took their kids to work with them," Cheraso said. "I was coming in to work at noon and closing the shop by myself by the time I was a senior in high school,because that is what I wanted to do."

Cheraso's wife, Gail, was working as a beautician when they met – and earned her degree in education – but began working at the bakery once their children were in school.

Having run the bakery for more than half a century, Cheraso said he thinks of stepping away, and "enjoying life a little bit, but I won't turn the business over to anyone other than a family member."

Fortunately, two of Cheraso's sons – Michael and Anthony – who both went to college and pursued other careers in finance and at Quicken Loans Arena – have both, now, chosen to join their parents to learn the family "way" of business and take over the bake shop once their father chooses to step away.

From tattie scones to tahini fudge: eight delicious new recipes from Ottolenghi Test Kitchen

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