Katie! What a wonderful quickie! Thank You! I'm always looking for Instant Meals.
What have you had for lunch lately?
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emilymh2018
Assistant Cook
Made tofu-ginger soup today on my lunch break. I did cheat a little and use the microwave, but I am hourly. I did cut up all the ingredients first.
Kaneohegirlinaz
Wannabe TV Chef
Just WAY TOO MUCH going on right now ... just needed something quick and filling to eat.
HEH! That wasn't bad at all.
emilymh2018
Assistant Cook
Today was leftover rice & turkey, from the Joy of Cooking's chicken & rice casserole recipe. I was using up Thanksgiving turkey with it.
Kaneohegirlinaz
Wannabe TV Chef
Another crazy busy day ...
Aunt Bea
Master Chef
Pancakes with sausage and sugar free maple flavored syrup! ?
GotGarlic
Chef Extraordinaire
I was almost afraid to eat my lunch today, what with it watching me ?
I had one of those Instant Noodle Chicken flavour Soups. To which I added a sliced, rather large, mushroom, chunks of Sweet Red Pepper, one very big leaf of Bok Choy. In the bottom of the soup bowl I put some Sesame Oil, Black Vinegar, Soy Sauce, was too lazy to find the chili sauce in the other pantry, I also could not get a new jar of minced garlic open 
. Poured the soup when ready into the bowl and yummmmm.
Pretty stuffed, might not even need supper!
. Poured the soup when ready into the bowl and yummmmm.Pretty stuffed, might not even need supper!
msmofet
Chef Extraordinaire
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- Apr 5, 2009
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Some bottles can be opened by putting the bowl of a spoon under the lid and pulling out to pop the vacuum, but doesn't work for all.I had one of those Instant Noodle Chicken flavour Soups. To which I added a sliced, rather large, mushroom, chunks of Sweet Red Pepper, one very big leaf of Bok Choy. In the bottom of the soup bowl I put some Sesame Oil, Black Vinegar, Soy Sauce, was too lazy to find the chili sauce in the other pantry, I also could not get a new jar of minced garlic open
Pretty stuffed, might not even need supper!
I just got this OXO good grips bottle opener because I have been having problems opening bottles also. Works pretty good so far.
Cooking Goddess
Chef Extraordinaire
I have problems opening jars on occasion, but I have little room for kitchen hand tools. Instead, I just whack the edge of the lid with my honing steel.
Andy M.
Certified Pretend Chef
I recently saw a short video online showing someone using a tablespoon on the edge to slightly pry up the edge of the jar lid. This releases the vacuum making it a snap to open. It works! Here's a similar video I just found.
Cooking Goddess
Chef Extraordinaire
With my luck, @Andy M., I would flip the jar right out of my hand trying that. Many days my left thumb is sore and useless.
GotGarlic
Chef Extraordinaire
I tap the side of the lid on the counter. That also releases the vacuum seal and I don't have to worry about banging my hand with a tool ?
I love how everyone seems to assume we don't know the spoon trick. I have had occasions where the spoon trick won't release the vacuum and other where the vacuum got released, but the jar still won't open. I have also bent a spoon or two. What I do is save wide elastics. I put an elastic on the lid, around the edge. That will usually give you enough leverage / good grip to get the jar open. I learned when I worked in hospitals many decades ago. IV fluids came in glass bottles with firmly attached lids that weren't meant to come off in the wards. But, sometimes we needed some Ringer's lactate or glucose or saline and it was where we got that. The easiest way to get those bottles open was to use a rubber hose wrapped around the bottle's lid and twist.
I also have two strap wrenches, specifically for opening jars, one for the jar and one for the lid. I only use them if the jar is particularly recalcitrant and nothing else has worked. They are not the easiest thing in the world to use.
I wanted to show a picture of someone opening a jar with two strap wrenches, but I couldn't find a picture. I did find this video. I nearly peed myself laughing. Yes, this is what it is like. Well, usually I succeed, but sometimes I have to get DH to do it.
GotGarlic
Chef Extraordinaire
Maybe it has never failed for you. For years and years the elastic trick never failed for me. Now, they both occasionally fail.
You know, sometimes none of them work. Hand those things to someone whose wrists, fingers have the strength of a wet tissue and see if it works.
I have the grippers, elastics, whack with knife spine, whack on counter, whack on floor.
Truth? had forgotten the spoon trick, knew it but have never used it.
For me:
a flat slam on the lid,
turn on its side,
place on towel at edge of counter (preferably at the sink, just in case),
wrap lid with elastic -
and twist!
I rarely have a failure with that. Plus if you pay attention and stop at the very slightest hint of motion - I have never, ever had a single drop of liquid leak.
But until I get some strength back in my hands....
I have the grippers, elastics, whack with knife spine, whack on counter, whack on floor.
Truth? had forgotten the spoon trick, knew it but have never used it.
For me:
a flat slam on the lid,
turn on its side,
place on towel at edge of counter (preferably at the sink, just in case),
wrap lid with elastic -
and twist!
I rarely have a failure with that. Plus if you pay attention and stop at the very slightest hint of motion - I have never, ever had a single drop of liquid leak.
But until I get some strength back in my hands....
GotGarlic
Chef Extraordinaire
The elastic requires hand strength that I don't have anymore, and it sounds like you don't, either. Like my mom says, it ain't easy getting old
