Sandwich style cupcake

To enjoy an evenly dispersed layer of frosting in every bite of a cupcake, cut its bottom off and turn it into a sandwich. It is also easier to hold and mess-free.

Perfect iced coffee

To accomplish a perfect and tasty iced coffee, keeping it strong until the last sip, add coffee ice cubes to it, instead of regular ones.

Leftover Champagne

Pour your leftover champagne in an ice cube tray and place it in the freezer. Next time you crave for a mimosa, just pop one or two cubes into a glass of orange juice.

Quickly cool a bottle of wine

Wrap a cold wet dishcloth around the wine bottle and place it in the freezer for about 10 minutes. The icy towel will ensure the right temperature by the time your drink is served.

Smoothie perfection

Keep an ice tray filled with orange juice in the freezer and use fruity ice cubes to replace regular ones in a smoothie recipe that asks for a frosty texture. Plain ice cubes usually reduces the drink’s tangy flavor.

Birthday cake without wax drips

To save a cake from wax drips, insert each candle into a mini (or a fitted piece) marshmallow, then set the confections on top of the frosting. The wax will melt onto the marshmallow, which you can just discard later.

Stuck wine cork

To easily remove a stuck cork from a wine bottle, run a paper towel under hot water and wrap it around the neck of the bottle. The heat will expand the glass but not the cork.

Improvise a table trivet

If you realize that you are missing a table trivet while setting up your buffet, improvise one by using a mouse pad. It will contain the heat of your casserole and protect the table’s surface.

Wine bottle with broken cork

You just broke the cork of your bottle of wine and ended with crumbles mixed with the liquid. Simply strain the wine through a coffee filter and into a decanter to catch stray cork before serving.

Wine bottle missing its cork

If you lost the cork of your wine bottle before finishing it, soften an unscented thin candle in the microwave for 3 seconds. Using a knife cut an inch off the bottom and insert it into the bottle. The wax smoothly seals the container, and when you are ready to drink your wine again pull out the wax just like you would do with a cork.

Sugar-rimmed cocktails

To make sugar-rimmed cocktail glasses look perfect, before pouring the liquid, wet the rim with simple syrup, then dip in a saucer filled with granulated sugar.

Make a dressing dripper

Free-flowing dressings can really heap the calories on an otherwise healthy salad. Instead of removing the entire foil seal on bottled dressing, poke smaller holes in the top with a toothpick, releasing a slower and healthier drip of dressing.

Cake-slicing trick

If you do not want to ruin your special cake, cut 2 slices before pulling out the first. The extra cut gives the first piece wiggle room, making it easier to remove.

Complete a martini

Toothpicks are also great for adding olives to martinis or fruit to tropical cocktails, or even a fancy way to put an orange or lemon slice in a beer.

Serving ice cream in a party

Save yourself time when serving ice cream to your guests, by dishing it out the day before. Scoop and place each ball on a baking sheet, cover it with aluminum foil, and freeze until firm. Come dessert time, just place the frozen scoop in the plate.

Replace a pitcher

Wine bottles are often reused in Europe, even in restaurants, to serve water or carbonated water. The bottles are attractive and take up less space than a pitcher.

Drip-proof your gravy boat

No matter how careful you are, it is hard to pour gravy without leaving tell-tale signs. Protect your linens by rubbing a dab of butter over the spout of the gravy boat. The fat provides a barrier to stop the sauce in its tracks and send it back into the vessel.

Recork wine bottles

Cork expands when exposed to air, that is why it is almost impossible to plug it up again. Rub the end of the cork with a piece of wax paper, lubricating it, and making it easier to wedge it back into the bottle.

Clean cut of cheesecake

Use knife sold to cut soft cheese, like brie cheese, to cut your cheesecake. Its blade is designed with holes to prevent cheese from sticking, and it will work perfectly to get a clean slice of your cheesecake, without mess or waste.

Better flavored wine

Make your inexpensive wine to taste like a good one. Uncork the bottle few hours before serving, giving it some time to breathe and develop flavor.