April 6, 2005

Skillet FudgeCombine ingredients (except vanilla) in a cold 12-inch iron skillet (nothing else will do). Bring ingredients to a hard boil and boil for exactly 1 minute. Pull skillet off range and allow to cool for 5 minutes (do not stir).

 

Gooseberry CobblerPut gooseberries in the bottom of a buttered 9x13 inch baking dish. Mix sugar, milk, baking powder, oleo, flour, and salt. Spread this mixture over berries. Mix topping ingredients and sprinkle over batter.

 

Mother's Sugar CookieMix together and roll out and cut with cookie cutter. Sprinkle with white sugar. Put on ungreased cookie sheet and bake around 10 minutes till light brown in 350 degree oven.

 

Sugar 'n Spice Angel Food CakePreheat oven to 375 degrees. In medium, with fork, mix flour, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, confectioner's sugar and 1/4 tsp. salt; set aside.

 

Danish PuffMix flour, 1/2 cup butter, and 2 Tbsp. water with a fork and round into a ball. Divide in half. Shape into 2 3x12 inch strips. Place 3 inches apart on ungreased baking sheet.

 

Easter Egg Dye Marking Boiled EggsI'll be buying Easter coloring kits after Easter and using them to mark my boiled eggs during the year.

 

Ran Out of a Wallpaper Border?To the person who ran out of wallpaper border, this happened to my daughter. I copied the border onto a good grade of paper after it was on the wall you could not tell the difference.

 

Use A Flea CombI use a fine tooth flea comb on my cats daily and never have any flea problems!

 

Using Dryer Sheets When QuiltingWhen quilting with thin, flimsy fabrics, use "used" fabric softener sheets as an inexpensive backing. It gives it body and makes it a whole lot easier to work with.

 

Birthday Message On TapeMy friend did a neat thing when a large group of us went out to eat for her birthday. She passed a small tape recorder around the table and asked each person to leave her a message. Of course, it was totally impromptu, but that made it even more fun.

 

Keeping The Lid On Your Garbage CanTie your garbage can lids to the handles of your garbage can to keep the lid from blowing away on windy days.

 

Make a Quilt With Cartoon Character SocksWhen my boys were small they loved wearing the character socks (Batman, Spiderman, Looney Tunes, etc.) As they grew older or wore out a pair, I saved them to make a quilt. I'm going to use the socks that don't have holes in them to make a "wheel" pattern and use solid fabrics as the background.

 

Gorilla JokeA clean joke, one of my favorites... Why does a gorilla have such big nostrils?

 

Sanitizing DishesI love clean dishes! I use a little bleach in my dish water. Not only does it help sanitize them, the dishes actually dry faster!

 

Blue Anemones, Daffodils and PrimulasDear ThriftyFun, I really enjoy your site, so many helpful hints and recipes. Thanks to all who send them in. Here is a picture of my blue anemone, they are so vivid and pretty, mixed in with the yellow daffs & burgundy primulas in a bed.

 

Doggy Tug-O-War Movie - Buffy (Lab) and Waclaw (Pit Beagle)My two dogs, Buffy (the Yellow Lab) and Waclaw (the Pit-Beagle) were playing tug-o-war with their rope. When I pointed the camera at them, THIS is what happened. Never before, and never again. Just good luck on my part.

 

Vacuuming Delicate ItemsTake an old piece of pantyhose wrap around the end of the vacuum cleaner crevice tool (keep in place with an elastic band). Then vacuum, only the dust can get through.

 

Storing Cookie CuttersTo save yourself some space, string together your cookie cutters and other such items with a length of ribbon or string and hang them from a hook inside your kitchen cabinets.

 

What Matters to Mothers for Mothers DayMothers Day is one of my least favorite holidays. WHY? Because kids go out and spend money they don't really have to spare when a simple hug and a 2/$1 card means so much more. One of the sweetest cards I ever got was from my oldest son saying it takes someone special to be a single Mom. I could tell by the reading inside that he hadn't just grabbed up something to bring me. It's the little things that make a mom feel special on Mothers Day and TIME spent with her is what she REALLY wants. Sharon, KY

 

Always Blooming Flowerbeds?I had a neighbor who had the most beautiful flowerbed. Seemed like every week or something new came up to change the look of it. I always wondered what her secret planting method was. I'd love to know.

 

Boston Terrier Barking?Our 18 month old boston terrier has started barking at any noise in or outside the house. It is an awful bark that makes you jump out of your skin. Is there a way to stop him from this behavior?

 

Making Nylon Painted Butterflies?I am looking for instructions for making a butterfly from nylon. These are the ones you see that have a wire frame and the nylon is painted.

 

Breastfeeding Advice?How do you honestly know if the milk you're producing is sufficient for the baby? Just going through the process doesn't guarantee that the baby is getting enough to satisfy it? My new grandbaby acts like she's still hungry.

 

Uses For Tortilla Chips?Have some tortilla chips that are a little stale or some crumbs left in the bottom the bags? Here are some ideas for using those chips.

 

Non Toxic Rust Remover For a Resin Plastic Toilet?If anyone can help with a non toxic rust remover for my toilet. It is not porcelain. It is like a resin type plastic. The rust is hardened on and I do not like to use anything that is caustic or harmful.

 

Uses for Club Soda?Ideas for using club soda. Post your ideas.

 

Cleaning Burnt Sediment Of Your Coffee Pot Burner?Does any one know how to keep or remove the burnt sediment off of your coffee pot burner?

 

Removing Insta-Foam From Clothing?My husband was working in his garage and got "insta-foam " all over some of his clothes. I have tried "goo-gone" and laundry soap to get it off but no luck. Anyone have any ideas?

 

Affirmations To Help You Save?A reader named Jill submitted a tip that reciting the Lord's Prayer helps her keep her finances in order. Is there anything that you do on a regular basis that helps you keep your spending habits under control?