 Glasses
Ever dreamed of having your own butler to sort out all those little domestic dilemmas? Well, Agalinks tracked down one of the best in the business and asked for his tips.
Karl Esterhazie is butler to Clare Throckmorton, of Coughton Court in Warwickshire. Amongst other things, he is involved in the Fine Living courses run at the house. He gives us the lowdown on good glass care.`Never, ever store glasses upside down,` says Carl. `They will absorb various smells and this could effect the taste of drinks. Before using, polish glasses with a clean cloth. Sometimes fine scratches on glasses will disappear if rubbed with mint toothpaste.`
A spoonful of magic
Allowing water to boil over the rim of a saucepan causes plenty of mess and requires unnecessary cleaning up time. But with one simple addition to the cooking process you can help avoid such culinary disasters
The next time you boil some vegetables or cook rice or pasta in a saucepan, place a wooden spoon inside the pan. As the water begins to boil the spoon presence lengthens the time it takes for the liquid to boil over, making it more likely you`ll spot the bubbling before it`s too late.
Another way to stop the water in a pan from boiling over is to place a lid on the top at an angle. With enough space for the air to circulate you should manage to keep things under control.
Metal spoons also have their uses. If you open a bottle of champagne or sparkling wine and want to keep it fizzy before finishing it off, place a teaspoon into the neck of the bottle. When you want to pour another glass, simply remove the spoon and it will taste as good as it did when it was first opened.
Stay non-stick with Bake-O-Glide
Fed up with spending time cleaning baking trays caked with residue from the food you ate at suppertime? If so, Bake-O-Glide may well be the solution. Cut out extra time spent scouring baking trays at the kitchen sink by using Aga-Rayburn`s Bake-O-Glide instead.
These reusable, non-stick baking sheets are perfect for lining tins and save plenty of time and effort. Dishwasher and freezer-proof, the sheets are suitable for all types of cooker, including microwaves, and if looked after a single sheet can last for months. All you need to do is wash the sheet along with the rest of the dishes, or simply throw it into the dishwasher.
Bake-O-Glide is available in a metre roll for you to cut to shape, or in pre-cut shapes designed to fit Aga oven equipment.
 Clean cutting
A wooden chopping board is a kitchen essential, but it can retain the smell of strong ingredients. A quick clean is all it takes to banish the odour.
TIP: Scrub a wooden chopping board with lemon juice and salt to get rid of lingering smells.
Clever kebabs
Kebabs are easy, versatile and make a colourful and spicy addition to a barbecue. But the finished look can sometimes be spoiled when the skewers become scorched
TIP: Soak skewers in water for half an hour before using them to prevent them from scorching
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