The wonders of bicarbonate of Soda -

Bicarbonate of Soda

Not just for baking

I don't remember how it started, but it ended up as a joke between my mum and I.  All the things that you can do with bicarbonate of soda.  Every time we needed to do something in the house, "get the bicarb out"

Why bicarbonate of soda? It's a chemical compound that's a type of salt. Historically it's been used in one form or another since the Egyptian times, when it was used in natural form as Natron.

It's seen as Eco friendly, which is something we all need more of in this world.  It's the one kitchen item you can use to bake a cake, then clean the oven it was baked in.  

The Kitchen helper

- Chopping Board: To get rid of strong smells and odours from your chopping board, sprinkle on 3 tbsp of Bicarb followed by enough water to moisten.  Leave for 15 Min's, the rub well clean then dry.

- Worktops:  Use the same principle as above, to clean down your worktops.  Only use hot water instead.  

- Microwave: Fill a mug half full with hot water, then add in 2 tbsp of bicarb.  Place in your microwave and nuke for 15 Min's.  Then wipe down the inside, to clean it.  

- Drains: Put a handful of bicarb down your sink plughole.  It helps clean it and get rid of unwanted smells.  Leave for 15 Min's the wash through with hot water.  To clear a blocked drain pour vinegar after the bicarbonate of soda and leave as long as possible.  

- Oven Cleaning:  Make a paste of bicarbonate of soda and water.  Scrape the worst off first, then rub on the paste and leave on overnight.  Wipe off the next day with hot water.  

- Hands: Sprinkle onto damp hands and rub together, it helps get rid of fish and onions smells when you are cooking.

- Fridge:  Leave an open container of bicarb in your fridge, and it will absorb any smells or strong food odours.  It should last for about 3 months.

- Pots: Used in paste form it can clean and buff up silverware and copper pots.  You could added lemon juice and a little oil to turn it into a polish as well.

- Kitchen Garden:  Sprinkle 1 tbsp of bicarb onto the roots of tomato plants when your potting them up.  It should help reduce the acid in the tomatoes that grow.  

- Cabbage: Add 3 tbsp of bicarb to the cooking water of your cabbage.  It will reduce the gaseous side effect, eating it will cause the next day.

- Dried Beans: Add 1 tsp of Bicarb to the water you soak your dried beans in overnight.  This will help soften them, reducing the cooking time.

- Tinned Beans: Add a pinch to your pot of beans as they heat up and cook, this will reduce the gaseous effect.  

You can also add a pinch of bicarb into your tomato sauce as your cooking to reduce acidity. Adding bicarb to your cauliflower and green vegetables, while cooking it will help keep there colour.  

Recipes

Instead of buying expenses sports drinks, why not make your own and save some money.  

Sports drink

1 tsp bicarbonate of Soda

1 tbsp salt

5 tsp sugar

4 pints of water

or sugar free drink

Mix together then put in the fridge to chill.  Use a reusable drinks bottle, to help cut down on plastic waste.  

A traditional old fashion sweet.  There was one called the dipper when I was a kid.  It came with a lolly pop that we could dip into the sherbet.  It also works great with liquorice.  A fun recipe to do with kids.

Sherbet

2 tsp Caster sugar or icing sugar

1 tsp citric acid powder

1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda

Put into a sieve, then combine together in a bowl.  

It's the same ingredients they use to make the sour coating on sweets and candy.  You could try adding flavours, however they need to be in powder form like spices or freeze dried fruit.

 Puff candy - Puff candy is the name we use in Scotland.  It also goes by honeycomb or crunchy toffee.  This guardian article and recipe is really good guide to all the different versions.  

Irish Soda Bread - Soda bread is a great basic recipe.  I would use the recipe to bake my dad scones.  He died in August of Cancer so this recipe means a lot to me.

If you have IBS avoiding or limiting foods that cause stomach gas, is really important.  They can irritate the digestive system and act as a trigger.  Bicarbonate of soda is a great way of stopping this happening.  Reducing the acidity of food is also great for me , as I have acid reflux.  

Gluten free Bicarbonate of soda is also available, so it's allergy friendly.  You can't buy large quantities in the shops, but you can find it readily on Amazon and other shopping sites.  

Oh dear I sound like I need to be rubbed out and drawn in again.  I have Fibromyalgia and there are a lot of symptoms that relate to it.  One of these is sinus problems, so I use bicarb to make a saline solution for nasal irrigation.  What can I say, bicarbonate of soda is really handy to have around the house and kitchen.