February 5, 2005

Ground Beef Vegetable CasseroleBrown meat, onion, celery lightly. Parboil potatoes and carrots in separate pans. Dilute tomato soup with water from cooked vegetables. Put ingredients in 2 qu. casserole that has been buttered, alternate layers. Bake 30 minutes in 325 degree oven.

 

Applesauce Cake in a JarBlend dry ingredients into applesauce mixture. Pour into six well greased pint jars, filling 2/3 full. Bake at 325 degrees for 45 minutes. Remove jars from oven. Put lid on jar and seal tight. Jars will seal as cake cools. Use wide mouth jars. Slice and serve with cool Whip.

 

Robin's Hot Tuna SandwichMix all ingredients. Spread on buns. Heat through in microwave.

 

Cupboard Garbage Bag HangerDoes your kitchen garbage bag fill up and fall off the wire rim? I solved this problem with two small hair clips, one on each side of the bag. Never had the bag fall off since. By Ann

 

Start Meat in the Crockpot, Finish It in the OvenI cook my meat in my crockpot for a few hours while I'm gone. Then I pop it in the oven for 20 or 30 minutes to brown and crisp up before serving.( while I fix the rest of dinner) My husband does not like meat from the crockpot. He never guesses. By charleeta

 

Waxing the StoveTo prevent food from getting baked onto your stove top, rub it down with car wax on occasion to make it easier to clean.

 

Using Half an OnionIf you need only half of an onion, use the non-root half. Save the root half as it will last longer.

 

Fred Watching TVMy name is Fred and I think I am 7 years old. I am a shorthair extremely large cat. My owners got me at the local animal shelter in 2001. I had been there the longest and they felt sorry for me. They found out why someone gave me away.

 

Labeling Your TotesUse Magic Marker to mark on your bags or totes to know what is in them. If you need to remove the Magic Marker, just use hair spray and a little elbow grease.

 

Extra Flavor for the GrillTo add extra flavor while grilling, save the loose skin on onions and garlic to toss into the fire just before grilling meats or vegetables. Throw dry fennel tops on the fire when grilling fish.

 

Craft Ideas Using Twist TiesWhat do you use with your twist ties?

 

Saving Energy and Humidifying the HouseIf you use a dishwasher, save energy by shutting the machine off when it reaches the dry cycle. Just leave the door a jar, and let the dishes air-dry. This will also add humidity to the air -- good in the winter when your house tends to get dry. By Becki in Indiana

 

Happy ChickadeeThe weather up in the mountains has been very cold. This day the temp went up to 35 degrees and the chicadees were very happy!

 

Keep The Essentials Close At Hand When MovingMake sure to pack some bathroom items and a few essential kitchen items in your car for use once you get to your new home.

 

Removing Citrus Zest for Later UseBefore you eat an orange, wash it well under running water. Then using a really good zester start grating the orange peel being careful not to peel any of the pith.

 

Carpet Damage?I need ideas on how to fix my carpet from pet damage. There is a line of bald carpet damage under my bedroom door. How can I fix that and not spend a lot of money. Help! maria_mccas

 

Detergent Spill on Suede Boots?I have just dripped washing machine detergent down my dark brown suede boots. Can I do anything to get it out of the material? Can professional cleaning help? Thanks, Anna

 

Decorating Melamine Plates?My daughter is wanting to decorate melamine plates for Passover to send to Jewish troops overseas. Any idea what kind of paints or markers that could be used?

 

Side Draining Drainboard?I don't know if you can help or not but I am looking for a drainboard that drains from the side so that it doesn't take up so much counter space. Can you help me? Mary Ann

 

Letting Someone Know You Like Them?Okie dokie. Here's the deal. My little brother is on a basketball team. His coach is 19 and very sweet and cute and all that good stuff. The problem is I don't think he even actually knows I exist. I was talking with one of the parents of one of the boys on the team and she told me to go for it. Then again, so does my best friend who has known him since grade school. I wanted to do something to let him know that I really like him. Any ideas? Don't forget, I am so super shy it isn't funny. My ears turn really bright red whenever I talk to him. So please, nothing too dramatically creative. Thanks Heather

 

Dye Out of Leather Furniture?I would like to know how can I remove dye out of leather furniture? Erica