April 25, 2005

Beef GoulashCook noodles according to package directions; drain. Transfer to serving plate. Heat skillet over medium high heat. Crumble in beef; stir in onion and garlic. Cook until beef is no longer pink, 5 minutes. Drain and discard fat.

 

Crispy Onion RingsSift flour, cornmeal, salt and baking powder. Add oil, eggs, and milk, mixing thoroughly. Dip onion rings into batter. Fry in hot deep vegetable oil for 2-3 mins. on each side (watch closely), till golden brown. Drain on paper towel lined platter and salt lightly.

 

Pina Colada Crunch CakePreheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat 2 (9 inch) round cake pans with cooking spray. Line bottom of each pan with parchment paper; coat with cooking spray. In bowl combine sugar, butter and 1 tsp. cinnamon.

 

Cheese Ham CasserolePreheat oven to 325 degrees. Coat shallow 2 qt. baking dish with cooking spray. In large skillet heat oil over medium high heat. Add onion, garlic, oregano and pepper; cook, stirring often, until onion is softened, 3 minutes.

 

Keeping Animals from Chewing Electrical CordsTo keep your dog or cat from chewing on electrical cords, rub the cord with a bar of soap.

 

Natural Food Colors for IcingsHere are my improvisations for natural food colours as I don't like to use chemical colours. They work great in icings.

 

Bathroom Tile PlanterFor an unusual looking planter, take 5 bathroom or floor tiles and glue together with epoxy (4 sides and 1 bottom).

 

Potpourri In The AshtrayTo keep your car interior smelling sweet, place potpourri in the ashtrays. It can last longer than some air fresheners.

 

After Thanksgiving Shopping FunLast year at 11:00 pm. my sister, daughter and two nieces loaded up in her big vehicle and went on an ALL NIGHT shopping Spree. We had our list all prepared with what stores had the BIG SALES and we made our battle plan.

 

Murphy the Wonderdog (Miniature Schnauzer)This is Murphy the Wonderdog, out 2 year old Miniature Schnauzer. We were lucky enough to have been given him as a 6 week old pup and have loved him ever since. He loves to do anything involving movement: run, jump, play, chase squirrels, fetch squeakies. He is a joy to be around - fun, lovable, playful.

 

The Big Thaw - Safe Defrosting Methods for ConsumersUh, oh! You're home and forgot to defrost something for dinner. You grab a package of meat or chicken and use hot water to thaw it fast. But is this safe? What if you remembered to take food out of the freezer, but forgot and left the package on the counter all day while you were at work?

 

Housecleaning Products I Swear ByI've cleaned many houses in my time and these are just a few cleaning products that, in my opinion, there's not a product on the market to compare to them.

 

GasBuddy.comLooking for the cheapest gas prices? GasBuddy.com is a not-for-profit site to help you find the lowest prices in your neighborhood.

 

Use Your Military Discount at the MoviesBeing young and wanting to go out to the movies with your friends is really expensive. But one advantage that I have and a lot of other teens out there have, is that my dad is still active duty military.

 

Bathroom Cleaning MaintenanceA good way to keep your tub or shower clean is to wipe it down after you use it. You can do it with the towel you use to dry yourself. You tub will require cleaning much less frequently.

 

Janitorial Supply StoresThere really is a product out now to remove magic marker and other permanent markers. Look for it at any janitorial supply. Most towns have a janitorial supply that can help you solve those really impossible problems, like koolaid on the carpet. Quick window cleaning, and safety issues.

 

Using It All - Spray CleanersI have a small 2 oz squirt bottle that I got as a free sample in the mail, it originally held cleaner. Now when I have a small amount of cleaner left in a large bottle, I pour it into my 2 oz bottle so that I don't waste a drop and I can use all of my cleaner!

 

April FlowersSome of my April Flowers in Moorpark, CA.

 

Feeding Toddlers in RestaurantsDining out with hungry toddlers can be challenging. My tip is to order the Chef Salad for myself and have a small plate for my child. The lunch comes from the kitchen pretty quickly and is the perfect meal to share - it's big, and has child-size pieces of ham, egg, turkey and cheese.

 

Las Vegas JokeDuring a training program for new employees, I joined several dozen co-workers on a tour of several sites in the Southwest. Our itinerary included an overnight stop in Las Vegas.

 

Disinfectant CleanerMake your own disinfectant general cleaner. Here's the recipe.

 

Family Member's Old Clothes QuiltAsk one of the elder family members to let you take their old shirts or dresses. Cut them up into strips or squares and make a quilt for the persons child or grandchild. It doesn't have to be fancy. What a treasure this was for my stepdaughter to get a quilt made out of her daddy's old shirts.

 

Help Me Find a Prom Dress?"I want to go to prom but I can't afford a dress!" Helpful hints from the ThriftyFun community. If you have advice on frugal ways to get a prom dress, please post them below.

 

Washing Machine Not Cleaning Clothes?My washing machine is not cleaning my clothes, and there appears to be black grease or something of that sort. How do I get rid of this problem.

 

Reviews Of Olay Beauty Vitamins?Has anyone tried any of the Olay Beauty Vitamins? If so, did you see a difference in your skin?

 

Need Imperial, John Wilmam, Small Prints, #702351B?I need just one wallpaper border: Imperial, John Wilmam, Small Prints, #702351B. It was discontinued by the manufacturer. I need seven feet to aviod having to redo the entire room.

 

Who Makes Shower Power Cleaner?Can someone please tell me who makes Shower Power Cleaner? It comes in a blue spray bottle, has a minty smell? Thank you very much.

 

Spice Jar Labels?I have accumulated about 40 spice jars and want to have them displayed on my counter on one of those 3 tier expandable shelves. I want to label them, but my Dymo labels don't stick very well. They do fine on everything else.

 

English Definitions?This is a strange request, but I was wondering if any ThriftyFun subscribers from the UK could answer this for me: I'm reading a British murder mystery and it talks about someone "sloping" out of the room.

 

Upscale Baby Shower Food and Decoration Ideas?I'll be giving my sister in-law a baby shower in three weeks. I've given a few in the past but never to someone as "picky" as she is. I can give her a nice shower but I would like it to be extra special since we've had to talk her into the whole baby shower thing in the first place.

 

Juice Stain on Mattress?Does anyone know how to remove red juice stain from the mattress. My daughter spilled red juice on the mattress and I cant seem to get it out.

 

The Best Place To Buy Vanilla Beans?Recently there was a tip on how to make your own vanilla extract. Does anyone have an idea of where is the best place to get the vanilla beans?

 

Rottweiler With Health Problems?My rott is having problems with bloody stools and I cannot afford a vet. I have checked the internet for symptoms of hookworm and she does not show any of them for hookworm. Could it be a change in diet or the type of dog food we buy her that can cause this.

 

Gasoline in Van Carpet?I had a 2 gallon gas can unknowingly tip and spill contents in the back of our new Ford Van. 1st thing I did was PANIC. Then I soaked up all the gas that I could with rags and spread that green/piney smelly floor clean-up powder to absorb gas wetness.

 

Stripping and Painting a Table?I just picked up an old wood table which has some sort of shiny finish and a bunch of scratches. I plan to sand it down so I can paint it. I'd like to paint the top in some sort of pattern or design. Does anyone have any good ideas?

 

Easy Crabcakes Recipe?I would like to try my hand at making crabcakes. Anyone have a quick, easy and tasty recipe? Also, what do you serve with crabcakes to make a meal?

 

Sticker Goo From Name Tags On Shirts?My daughter came home recently with name tags on her t-shirt from a school project. I assumed she'd removed them before washing & drying however I just noticed the sticker goo is still on the thin t-shirt fabric. How can I safely remove this from these brand new shirts?

 

Saving Money on Laundry?Tips for saving money on laundry. Post your ideas!

 

Travelling To See Nieces, Look For Advice?I am traveling to florida for the weekend in may to see nieces i haven't seen in 4 yrs. I am very excited. I don't have a lot of money but I am looking for suggestions on...