August 25, 2004

Prune Puree for Low Fat BakingI found some information at an extension site about using prune puree in place of butter in baking. You use it along with margarine to replace butter in some baked goods.

 

Salvaging Paint BrushesIt's always good to clean your paint brushes after each use but if you forget and the paint dries on the brush you still may be able to salvage the brush. Just soak the brush over night in cleaning solvent for the type of paint you used.

 

Preparing a Salad Ahead of TimeEvery day my husband and I have a homemade vegetable salad. Most of the time I serve it for dinner but once in a while, depending on what's going on we have it for lunch. To save time I have most of it prepared ahead of time. Here is what I do.

 

Measure Twice, Cut OnceThe saying, "measure twice, cut once", is as old as the hills. It's generally used in carpentry to help prevent the wasting of materials, but it's really a good tip for all crafts. It's a good rule when working with fabric, leather or any material that needs to be cut to fit a particular purpose.

 

Outrageous Meat Prices?We just moved to Florida and I noticed meat prices are very high here. I have searched high and low for somewhere to shop for discounted prices. Even the sale items are expensive. Does anyone know of a good website to buy meat or anywhere in central Florida. Our family is about to become vegetarians unless we can get a break on these meats. Danielle from Florida

 

Keeping Drapes Clean While CleaningA simple coat hanger will help protect drapes from damage while you're cleaning your carpets or floors. Fold the drapes in half like pants or slacks over the hanger and place the hanger on the curtain rod!

 

Let Older Children Handle Their Clothing BudgetGive older children and teenagers their own reasonable clothing budget. They quickly learn that the money only goes so far. If they want designer jeans, fine, but they'll have to cut back somewhere else or earn the extra money themselves.