Unusual Uses for Ice Cube Trays & My Ice Coffee Recipe

Sometimes my ice trays get too dinged up to use in the freezer. But I can think of several money-saving, time-preserving uses for those old ice trays: The little stackable compartments are great for storing coins, buttons and other trinkets.

New trays--super cheap-- at the dollar store can also be used for several organizational and culinary purposes. In my kitchen, we even use ice trays to prepare gourmet iced coffee drinks. Here's how:

1. Take brewed black coffee. (We use the extra coffee in the pot, which is also great --when cooled-- for darkening grey hair.)
2. Pour the coffee into an ice tray and freeze the tray.
3. As needed, pop out the coffee cubes and toss them into a blender.
4. Add in sugar, cream, milk, Cinnamon, vanilla or chocolate.
5. Blend the mixture
6. Pour the drink into a tall glass. Add whip cream and a straw.

The August 28 issue of Woman's World also has some great tips for ice trays. Here's a summary of that magazine's list.

• Office supply tray: Stash stamps, paperclips and thumbtacks in an ice tray.
• Paint holder: Use the compartments to hold and separate the small portions of paint during a craft or DIY project. (This seems great for painting furniture.)
• Pre-packaged cookie dough holder: Mix up the cookie dough, then freeze and store pre-measured, but unbaked cookie dough in the compartments of the ice tray. Remove the cookie dough cubes for baking as needed.
• Loose Change: An ice cube tray represents a low-tech, old-school cash register that is more organized than a jar of change.

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