April 28, 2005

Quick Potato Salad, From Leftover Mashed PotatoesGot some leftover mashed potatoes in the fridge? Add one raw egg per serving, stir it up, and microwave about 1:20 per egg (the time will depend on your microwave - stir at least once per minute of cook time).

 

Joy's Apricot Glazed HamBake ham fat side up around 10 minutes per pound until internal temperature is 130 degrees. Stir together honey, brown sugar, mustard, and marmalade in small saucepan and cook over medium heat until sugar dissolves.

 

Apple Cream PieMix sugar and flour. Add half and half cream, pinch of salt. Put apples into unbaked shell and pour mixture on top. Sprinkle with cinnamon.

 

Garlic Herb Zucchini BakeMix bread crumbs and seasoning. Layer half the zucchini and half of the tomatoes in a 9 x 11 oiled casserole. Sprinkle 1/3 of the bread crumb seasoning.

 

Shoe Peg Corn Relish SaladDrain all vegetables and mix in large bowl. Combine sugar, salt, pepper, vinegar, oil, and water and bring to a boil, then let it cool.

 

Saucijzebroodjes (Sausage Rolls)Mix dry ingredients. Cut in shortening as for pie crust. Beat the egg and add to dry ingredients. More milk may be needed to make a soft dough to roll out into about 1/4 inch thickness.

 

Grandma Good's Rhubarb PieMix sugar, flour, nutmeg, and eggs with fork. Pour over rhubarb and stir until well coated. Place in unbaked pie shell. Bake at 450 degrees for 10 minutes.

 

Take the Sting Out of Insect BitesPut liquid antacid products on insect bites to relieve the sting and discomfort.

 

Watering Tomato Plants UndergroundTomatoes... our picky plants! Never water from the top. You know those big recyclable 4 gallon milk containers? As you plant each tomato plant, dig a deep hole beside it. Punch small holes in the milk container after it is filled with water.

 

Wedding Reception Slide Show PresentationAt the reception - set up your own slide show or hire a professional to walk your guests through when you met - to the present time. That will keep your guests busy while you take photos.

 

Fire Safety Tools - Going Away Gift BasketGive your college-bound son or daughter a going-away gift basket of fire safety tools. Include a flashlight, smoke alarm, first-aid kit, carbon monoxide detector, a grid for drawing up a fire-escape plan, and extra batteries - total cost, about $100.

 

Wedding Photo TipA great tip is to take most of your "posed" photos before the ceremony even begins - at least with your girls. That will save a lot of time from leaving the guests bored at the reception.

 

Mother's Day and Father's Day Gift ideaWith Mother's Day and Father's Day coming up, the best gift you could ever give is your presence. But if this is not possible, send them several prepaid calling cards so they can keep in touch with you and their grandchildren more often than maybe their budget will allow.

 

Identity Theft and Your TrashBeware if anyone is going thru your trash. I know a lady who isn't at home much during the daytime. One day the UPS man showed up at her house with a whole truckload of packages for her. When she insisted that she'd not ordered anything, he said, "well, they're all addressed to you".

 

A "Do It Yourself" Wedding For Less Than $600When my oldest son married I knew that his fiancee been away from home for years and the expense of the wedding was pretty much up to them. Being the frugal Mom I am I went to bat.

 

The Value of Cell Phones When TravellingMy son and I learned a valuable lesson about cell phones in a car this fall. We left to make a trip to Frankfort (which is probably 100 or more miles away) to obtain a birth certificate copy. Outside Lexington we hit a construction area and picked up a nail having a flat.

 

Sandpaper Collars to Deter SlugsPlace a piece of sandpaper around young plants to prevent snails and slugs from eating the tender leaves. The sandpaper cuts their underside if they attempt to cross.

 

Desserts With Muffin MixesI decided to try to use some of the blackberry muffin mixes I got on sale last year for 29c a pack. I backed them in a shallow baking dish instead of the conventional way of using the muffin tins and papers.

 

"Hurt Finger Medicine"I was visiting my sister when my oldest son was about 2 or 3 and he hurt his hand. You know how kids get when they think there's not a bandaid around. She got out some hand lotion and told him she was going to put some HURT FINGER MEDICINE on it. The crying stopped. Moms, sometimes you gotta outsmart 'em.

 

Thrifty Gift TagsCut the top part of used greeting cards off, then cut this down to whatever size (and shape) you wish, depending on the design. (If it's an angel, just cut her out.) I also like to use hearts or other shapes that perhaps match the occasion for the gift you will use them on.

 

Hailey Hops Miller (Australian Cattle Dog)This is our little baby, Hailey Hops Miller. At the time of the picture she was 3 months old. She is an Australian Cattle Dog. We got her in January. Hailey likes to play with her toys in the creek.

 

Middle School SemiFormal Dance Ideas?I'm in the process of planning the 8th Grade Social for my daughters school. Please send me any and all ideas. It is semi-formal but I don't want it to be semifun. Limbo idea is good. Snowball? More details? Please let me know any and all ideas.

 

Groom's Gift to Bride Ideas?I am trying to decide what to give my bride as a gift on our wedding day. I consider myself rather romantic and usually never have any trouble coming up with gifts, however, I am stumped.

 

Craft Activities to Cure Boredom and Lose Weight?I am trying to lose weight and I eat because well because I am bored. In order to lose weight I need to fill my day with activites, like crafts, so does anyone have fun crafts that will fill my time so i can lose some weight?

 

Groomsmen Gifts Ideas?Ok, all you thriftyfuners, I need your help. My daughters wedding is coming up in a month and a half and we do not have any ideas as to what to give the best man, groomsmen, ushers etc., as gifts. Any suggestions? Honestly I am all "idea-ed" out!

 

Organizing Medication?Tips for organizing prescriptions. Post your ideas.

 

Homemade Swimmers Shampoo and Eye Drops?My son (13) has started water-polo and needs to get the chemicals out of his hair and eyes. Any suggestions for homemade shampoo or eye drops?

 

Organizing My Closet and Drawers?I have a lot of clothes and I can't seem to find the right shirt when I want it, then the next day i find it! It's so annoying, I wish there was some way to organize my closet and drawers.

 

Thick Scum Build Up Around Toilet?I recently purchased a block of flats from some people who didn't clean, I'm having some trouble with the toilet in one of them. The outside of the toilet is covered in some sort of caked on build up, including all the piping and floor around it!

 

Plastic Cups Stuck Together?I have a plastic cup stuck inside another plastic cup, and I have tried putting cold water as well as hot water in them, but cannot get them apart. I would appreciate and tps anyone has.

 

"The Talented Mr. Ripley" Question?Does anyone know the name of the original french film that the movie" The Talented Mr. Ripley" was based on. I am getting married in a few weeks and want to give it to my bride as a gift as, it is the movie we went to see on our first date.

 

Tapeworm Prevention With Dogs?I have a cocker spaniel who has been plagued by tapeworm infections lately. We go to the vet and get the medicine, but invariably, within the month, I am seeing worms in his stool again.

 

Getting Nail Polish Off a Silk Skirt?I just got nail polish all over my new silk skirt. What should I do?