BACON ONION PAN ROLLS

'These buttery bacon-filled rolls are a favorite item at family get-togethers,' reports Liz Vaughn of Mt. Prospect, Illinois. 'We have to hide them from our two sons-in-law or there wouldn't be any left for dinner!'"

 Ingredients

• 1 (1 pound) loaf frozen bread dough, thawed
• 1/4 cup butter or margarine, divided
• 1/2 pound sliced bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 1/2 cup chopped onion

Directions

1. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/4-in. thickness. Cut with a 2-1/2-in. biscuit cutter; brush with 3 tablespoons butter. Place 1 teaspoon of bacon and onion on half of each roll. Fold over and pinch to seal. Place, pinched edge up, in a greased 9-in. square baking pan, forming three rows of six. Brush tops with remaining butter. Let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes. Bake at 350 degrees F for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.

FRENCH ONION PAN ROLLS

 "A crusty topping of Parmesan cheese and onion soup mix adds lots of flavor to these golden brown rolls from Anne Prince of Elkhorn, Wisconsin. 'They're great with a bowl of soup or a salad,' she says. 'I sometimes use frozen rolls to make preparation even easier.'

Directions

1. Divide the bread dough into 20 portions; shape each into a ball. In a bowl, combine the Parmesan cheese and soup mix. Place butter in another bowl. Roll each ball in butter, then in the cheese mixture. Arrange in a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking dish. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 45 minutes.
2. Bake at 350 degrees F for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pan to a wire rack. Serve warm.

Caramalizing Onions...yummm yummmm

Caramelizing Onions, Step-by-Step

By:   Allrecipes Staff
A step-by-step tutorial for sweetening and bringing out the amazing natural flavor of onions.
You can caramelize any type of onion, but depending on their sugar content, some might caramelize more quickly than others. A standard yellow onion is just fine--it actually contains more sugars than "sweet" onions. (Vidalia onions contain fewer sulfur compounds, which makes them taste sweeter when they're raw.) Caramelized onions are terrific served as a garnish in soups, on sandwiches, or served aside an appetizer platter to add a bit of life to your party!

1. To caramelize an onion, we used 1 medium onion, 3 tablespoons cooking oil or butter, a pinch of salt, a pinch of black pepper (optional), and a pinch of sugar (optional).

2. Slice the top off of your onion. Cut the onion in half from top to bottom and peel it.

3. Place half of the onion, flat side down, on a clean, flat cutting surface. Slice the onion into half-rings. The thickness of the slices is not important, although thinner slices will cook faster. If you prefer a more rustic look and feel, make the slices very thick.

4. Place a large skillet or saucepan on the stove and add a small amount of fat. Heat the oil to a medium-high temperature.
We used 3 tablespoons of olive oil. Butter is also delicious, but it tends to burn more easily, so be sure the pan doesn't get too hot.

5. When the fat begins to ripple, the oil is hot enough.

6. Add the onions to the hot oil.

7. Stir the onions until they are coated with oil.

8. Adding a pinch of salt seasons the onions at the same time it speeds up the caramelizing process. The salt will suck moisture out of the onions and eventually evaporate. Be cautious not to add too much salt. If you would like, add a pinch of ground black pepper and a very small amount of sugar.

9. Continue to stir the onions. After a minute or so, you will notice that they might have begun to stick to the bottom of the pan and turn dark in color. This is okay--in fact, it's what should happen.

10. Continue stirring and watch as the onions' color turns darker and darker.

11. If you feel that the onions are sticking to the bottom of the pan too much, add a very small amount of water, broth, or wine to the pan and stir vigorously; this is called "deglazing." The water will evaporate almost immediately while loosening the onion slices.

12. Continue this process of cooking and deglazing until the onions have reached the color, flavor, and texture you desire. Caramelized onions are perfect to use as the flavor-base of an onion soup, or to garnish sandwiches and other dishes.

60 Uses for Baking Soda

Sixty Uses for Baking SodaBicarbonate of soda or baking soda has many different uses in the household.
Although much more expensive products have been developed over the years to do the same jobs, baking soda can work for you just as well, if not better.
Use it in the following ways:

To make your own baking powder, stir and sift together 2 parts of Cream of Tartar to 1 part baking soda and 1 part cornstarch.

Be sure to keep an extra box of baking soda by your stove in case of grease or electrical fire. Scatter the powder by the handful to safely put it out.

Keep a container of baking soda in your garage as well as in your car to put out a fire. It won´t damage anything it touches.

Baking soda will also put out fires in clothing, fuel, wood, upholstery and rugs.

Clean vegetables and fruit with baking soda. Sprinkle in water, soak and rise the produce.

Wash garbage cans with baking soda

Soak heavily soiled laundry in baking soda/

Oil and grease - stained clothing washes out better with soda added to the washing water.

Clean your fridge and freezer with dry soda sprinkled on a damp cloth. rinse with clear water.

Deodorize your fridge and freezer by putting in an open container of baking soda to absorb odors. Stir and turn over the soda from time to time. Replace every 2 months.

Soda absorbs kitty litter odors. Cover the bottom of the kitty box with 1 part soda; then add a layer of 3 parts kitty litter on top.

Always add 1/2 cup soda to your washing machine load.

Clean combs and brushes in a soda solution.

Wash food and drink containers with soda and water.

Wash marble-topped furniture with a solution of 3 tablespoons of soda in 1 quart of warm water. Let stand awhile, then rinse.

Clean Formica counter tops with baking soda on a damp sponge.

Wash out thermos bottles and coolers with baking soda and water to get rid of stale smells.

To remove stubborn stains from marble, Formica or plastic surfaces, scour with a paste of soda and water.

Wash glass or stainless steel coffee pots (but not aluminum) in a soda solution ( 3 tablespoons soda to 1 quart water).

Run you coffee maker through its cycle with a soda solution. Rinse.

Give baby bottles a good cleaning with soda and hot water.

Sprinkle soda on barbecue grills, let soak, then rinse off.

Sprinkle soda on greasy garage floor. Let stand, scrub and rinse.

Polish silverware with dry soda on a damp cloth. Rub, rinse and dry.

For silver pieces without raised patterns or cemented-on handles: place the silver on aluminum foil in an enamel pot. Add boiling water and 4 tablespoons baking soda. Let stand, rinse and dry.

Reduce odor build-up in your dishwasher by sprinkling some soda on the bottom.

Run your dishwasher through its cycle with soda in it instead of soap to give it a good cleaning.

To remove burned-on food from a pan: let the pan soak in soda and water for 10 minutes before washing. Or scrub the pot with dry soda and a moist scouring pad.

For a badly-burned pan with a thick layer of burned-on food: pour a thick layer of soda directly onto the bottom of the pan, then sprinkle on just enough water so as to moisten the soda. Leave the pot overnight, then scrub it clean next day.

Rub stainless steel and chrome with a moist cloth and dry baking soda to shine it up. Rinse and dry. On stainless steel, scrub in the direction of the grain.

Clean plastic, porcelain and glass with dry soda on a damp cloth. Rinse and dry.

Remove that bad smell from ashtrays with soda and water.

Sprinkle a bit of dry soda in your ashtrays to prevent smoldering.

Clean your bathroom with dry soda on a moist sponge - sink, tub, tiles, shower stall, etc.

Keep your drains clean and free-flowing by putting 4 tablespoons of soda in them each week. Flush the soda down with hot water.

Soak your shower curtains in water and soda to clean them.

To remove strong odors from your hands, wet your hands and rub them hard with soda, then rinse.

Sprinkle baking soda on your wet toothbrush and brush your teeth and dentures with it.

Sprinkle soda in tennis shoes, socks, boots and slippers to eliminate odor.

Add 1/2 cups or more of baking soda to your bath water to soften your skin.

Putting 2 tablespoons of baking soda in your baby´s bath water will help relieve diaper rash irritations.

Apply soda directly to insect bites, rashes and poison ivy to relieve discomfort. Make a paste with water.

Take a soda bath to relieve general skin irritations such as measles and chicken pox.

Take 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda in 1/2 glass of water to relieve acid indigestion or heartburn.

Gargle with 1/2 tsp. baking soda in 1/2 glass of water. Freshens and cleans your mouth.

Used as a mouthwash, baking soda will also relieve canker sore pain.

To relieve sunburn: use a paste of baking soda and water.

Mosquito bites: use a poultice of baking soda and vinegar.

Bee sting: use a poultice of baking soda and water.

Windburn: moisten some baking soda and apply directly.

Making Play Clay with baking soda: combine 1 1/4 cups water, 2 cups soda, 1 cup cornstarch.

Use soda as an underarm deodorant

If your baby spits up on his clothes after feeding, moisten a cloth, dip it in baking soda and dab at the stain. The odor will go away.

When scalding a chicken, add 1 tsp. of soda to the boiling water. The feathers will come off easier and flesh will be clean and white.

Repel rain from windshield. Put gobs of baking soda on a dampened cloth and wipe windows inside and out.

Add to water to soak dried beans to make them more digestible.

Add to water to remove the "gamey" taste from wild game.

Use to sweeten sour dishcloths.

Use dry with a small brush to rub canvas handbags clean.

Use to remove melted plastic bread wrapper from toaster. Dampen cloth and make a mild abrasive with baking soda.