Preparation - Meat, Poultry & Fish ​

 

If you are unable to use your hands to hold the meat in place, I find the following methods very useful when butterflying meats, fish, or poultry. Place the meat flat on a cutting board. Using a fork or large carving fork with a thick handle (if you are unable to use your hand to hold a standard size fork, use the large carving fork), spear the meat right in the middle.

Preparation Method - Peeling & Coring

Cutting and/or coring and removing skins apples, pears, potatoes, small summer squash, mangoes—things of that nature—can become a challenge. There is a simple solution to cubing when your hands just are not up to par. Using an apple cutter works miracles. To cut any of the above (except

There is a simple solution to cubing when
your hands just are not up to par.
Using an apple cutter works miracles.

mangoes), use a mango cutter when cutting mangoes. Simply place an apple cutter/corer on the top of the item you would like to chop or dice, position the cutter so that one handle is next to your body and the other is away from your body, and place your forearms on the handles, using your weight of your body. Firmly press down. The item is not only sliced, but cored. If any item will not stand firmly, remove a thin slice off the bottom for stability.

Preparation Method - Heavy Items

Get a cup any size you can handle
and scoop the batter from the bowl
into your pan. A small plastic
measuring cup works wonderfully.​

When making cakes, soups, and stews, I find it hard to lift heavy batter bowls and pots with liquid in them. To make this problem go away quickly, simply get a cup any size you can handle and scoop the batter from the bowl into your pan. A small plastic measuring cup works wonderfully. When you get to the bottom, use a spoonula. This is a spatula that has a spoon/spatula appearance. It’s the perfect tool for that last little bit remaining in the bowl.

Preparation Method - Cutting & Chopping

When there is a lot of chopping and shredding involved in a recipe, of course a food processor would be the easiest and quickest means of completing the task. Some of us simply do not own a food processor. If you have the means to purchase one, it would definitely be worth its weight in gold to the physically challenged!

Preparation Method - Mixers ​ ​​

This is a fairly simple process. Let the mixer do all the work. If you are unable to whisk by hand, use a small, handheld drink mixer. This works wonderfully with no pain to you. The drink mixer has a

Substiuting a hand whisk
for an electric drink mixer
or immersion blender

thick top that makes for easy grasping for those sore hands that do not close. They are very affordable—under ten dollars. If you have a problem holding the drink mixer in you hands, place the mixer in the bend of your arm at the elbow and squeeze tightly to hold in place. This allows you full control with no use of the sore hands.​