Double-Duty Kitchen Ingredients . . .Works For Me Wednesday

When our Works For Me Wednesday hostess, Kristen from We Are THAT Family, announced that this week's WFMW would be a "frugal-themed" version, I'll admit, I was a little nervous.

I'm thrifty when it comes to buying clothes and housewares; I love a shopping trip to the local Marshall's, but when it comes to baking and groceries...ummmm...I'm not exactly thrifty. I don't automatically buy the most expensive ingredients, but I don't scrimp, either.

So, for my part, I'm bringing you "double-duty" kitchen ingredients today.

1. Granulated Sugar: Want a mini-manicure while doing dishes? Pour a little granulated sugar onto wet hands, rub and rinse. Voila! Smooth, exfoliated hands!

2. Lemon + Kosher Salt: Sprinkle a cut lemon with kosher salt and use it to scrub a stainless steel sink (I'm pretty sure I stole this idea from Martha.) :)


3. Baking Soda: A girl's best friend! There are SO many uses for baking soda. Here are 3 of my favorites:

• Combine baking soda with a little water and use to scrub stainless steel pans. It works wonders removing that sticky reside and burnt on food.
• Use it to clean produce. This is why I am constantly buying baking soda. All-natural, I love it!

• Most important...as shampoo. I have curly hair...lots of it. :) I also live where it is really humid...blech! Therefore...I use LOTS of product. Once a week washing my hair with a mixture of baking soda and water does the trick to get the gunk out. (Follow with a good conditioner.) This is the best piece of advice I've ever received from a hairdresser.

4. Vanilla Extract: Perfume! Here's how it normally happens in my house. I've been in the kitchen all afternoon, now coated head-to-toe in a light dusting of flour. I hear my husband's car pull up in the driveway. No time to dash for the lipstick...I grab the vanilla extract and dab a little behind my ears. ♥ He thinks I naturally smell like cookies! ♥

I want to know....what are your double-duty ingredients?

A few of my previous WFMW posts:

• Perfectly RED icing
• My main squeeze (squeeze bottles)
• Royal Icing 101