The Tell-Tale Stain

The last time we talked I told you about the snowstorm in my area. By the time it was over we had a foot of fluffy snow at the house, which was on the high end for the metro area. Hubby Tony and I shoveled twice-once on Friday night and again on Saturday morning. By the afternoon the temperature rose just above freezing, which helped melt the dregs on the shoveled areas. The roads looked pretty clear, so we drove to church and a nearby restaurant for dinner.

This afternoon I ventured out again to run some errands, including a produce run. One of the things I brought home was some fresh beets. My plan was to roast them and have them on hand for snacks. I carefully peeled the two pounds of beets, chopped them into pieces, and put them into the oven.

I didn't have any rubber gloves to wear, but I thought that if I was careful I wouldn't get beet juice on my hands. I thought wrong.  By the time I was done my hands were red. The cutting board was red. There were red spots on the counter, and even a blob on the floor where one piece of peel fell.

Yuck!

I washed my hands thoroughly with soap and water, but the stain remained so I turned to my friend Google for advice. The first site I visited suggested I rub the stain with a raw potato. I didn't have any potatoes in the house, so I moved on. The next one recommended a combination of lemon juice and salt, which helped a little. The third site told me to use a paste of cornmeal and lemon juice. Bingo!

All better

As an added bonus, the cornmeal also did a good job of exfoliating my hands.

Five years ago today: You're Only As Old As You Feel