Use A Rubber Mallet In The Kitchen

I had a pasta sauce jar that wouldn't open, no matter what I did). Out of desperation, I tapped it lightly with a rubber mallet. It worked!

I've seen many TV cooking shows in which a sharp long sturdy knife is partly sliced into an acorn or other hard shelled squash, and then a rubber mallet is used to tap on the knife until the hard squash is cut all the way through. So I bought one for $5.00. We like acorn squash sliced thin and BBQ'ed on the grill, but I can't make it unless DH is home to cut the squash. Usually, I poke a few holes in it and microwave it until it can be cut with a knife. By then, it's too soft for the grill if I haven't caught it in time and stopped the microwave. Haven't tried this particular model of mallet on an squash yet, but it's a dandy jar opener. Just be sure not to hit the lid on the glass jar too hard.

By Holly from Richardson, TX