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Vinegar 101
One of my favorite meals is a Swiss classic called Raclette. It consists of pungent melted cheese served alongside fingerling potatoes, cornichons, and pickled pearl onions. It's delicious, but has a terrible by-product: a lingering, sour, left-over cheese odor.
Recently my Aunt Ursula gave me a great tip (for regular readers, yes, it's true, not only is my Mom named Ursula, but my two Swiss aunts are as well). To eliminate unwanted cooking odors from your home, fill several ramekins with a few tablespoons of vinegar. Set two to three bowls in each room, and the unpleasant smell will disappear overnight.
Yesterday we had Raclette. After finishing the dishes I dutifully (albeit skeptically) placed several vinegar-filled ramekins in the living room, dining room, and kitchen. The next day--no smell! The last time I made this dish, it took two weeks of keeping the windows open in mid-winter for the odor to disappear.
Stinky cheese may not be on your menu plan, but bacon, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and many fried foods can leave lingering odors as well. If your home smells less than fresh, put vinegar to the test.
