April 3, 2007

Baked Cod With Lemon-Herb ToppingAdjust the oven rack to the middle position and heat oven to 450 degrees F. Grease baking sheet with butter. Toss cracker crumbs and 1 Tbsp. parsley together in medium bowl.

 

Tuna and Egg PocketsCut pocket bread open with scissors. In large skillet, melt butter. Add green onion: saute over medium high heat until soft. Flake tuna. Add to onions. Saute a few minutes more. Lightly beat eggs and half and half together.

 

Confetti Pasta SaladCook tortellini according to package directions; drain. In large bowl, combine tortellini, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, onion, garlic, dressing and pepper sauce.

 

Italian Egg CookiesThis is our family's Easter specialty.

 

Wilted Leaf LettuceWash lettuces thoroughly, dry and cut coarsely. Add shallots or onions, sugar, salt and pepper. Fry bacon until golden brown. Dice it and add to the lettuce.

 

Buttery Herbed Corn on the Cob In small bowl, combine butter, garlic, parsley, basil, thyme, salt and pepper. Rub corn generously with butter mixture. Wrap each ear in heavy duty aluminum foil.

 

Spicy Nutmeg CarrotsYou won't have to coax your family to "eat all your carrots" anymore. Just pour this delicious spicy nutmeg butter over them and watch them disappear!

 

Taco RingPreheat oven to 375 degrees F. In medium skillet, cook and stir beef over medium high heat until browned. Remove from heat; pour off drippings. Stir in seasoning mix, cheese and water; set aside.

 

Easter CD BasketsIt's that time again when we need to be creative about what goes into that Easter Basket so that we don't put our kids on chocolate overload. Personally, I like to put inexpensive toys like crayons and books in their baskets, but recently I was asked by my grandson William if I could get him some coloring pages to color when he had to spend some extended time here.

 

Easter Basket Shoe BoxGet a shoe box, take a ice pick or screwdriver and put holes on all sides of the box. Stick tissue into each hole and you have a beautiful basket for decoration.

 

Have Kids Make Egg SaladIf you use hard boiled eggs, try this after you have your egg hunt. Let the kids in on more fun rather than letting the eggs go bad. Let them turn their treasures into delicious egg salads.

 

Planting TimeIt's time to plant our gardens:

 

Rope Dresser HandlesWhen we were younger we bought our kids dresser at a garage sale, but the handles were missing. We couldn't afford to buy any. So, my husband strung rope through the holes and tied a knot inside to hold it in place.

 

Nautical Themed LampMy husband is a sailor and loves nautical decor. He reproduced a lamp with a nautical theme by getting a plain brass lamp from a thrift shop and then decorating it with a nautically themed wallpaper border.

 

Pine Sol for Clean SmellI sometimes pour a small amount of Pine Sol into my sink drains and toilets when I want the fresh smell of clean and don't actually need to clean or "feel like cleaning"!

 

Think: What Would Great Grandma Do?Our ancestors were very frugal and remembering some of the penny pinching ideas they employed is helpful even now. Gram Mac was as tight as bark to a tree, but remembering what she would have done ha saved me a trip to a store recently. How?

 

Storing Onions and PotatoesWhen my pantyhose get a run, I launder them with a regular load of laundry in the washer and then cut them off at the thigh. I use them for holding root vegetables. I put an onion in the toe and then tie a knot, and then add another onion, repeating.

 

Dottie (Dalmatian)Our new addition Dalmatian Dottie. This is Dottie. She comes from a long line of champion Dalmatians. We don't plan to breed or show.

 

Calling You MomWe can only get our happiness back when we see a small child running towards you and calling you mom.

 

Valentine Collection of Tulips and CrocusThis is my Valentine collection of red tulips and white crocus. We just had a rain and then the sun came out. I love taking pictures with raindrops on the plants!

 

Remembering To Use Coupons?My husband and I dutifully cut coupons every Sunday. Problem is, we usually have to go back and get them at the house once we get to the grocery store! Does anyone have suggestions for a good organizer to make them easier to remember to take with us?

 

Putting My Sewing Machine Back Together?The needle wasn't coming up, after going down into the bobbin area, so I removed the lid off the bobbin area and took out the pieces in there. Now I can't figure out how to put (the 3 pieces) back in. It's the bobbin holder, the thing that goes in, and an outer ring.

 

Washing a Satin-Backed Crepe?Is it possible to wash satin-backed crepe in cold water with Surf? I recently found one of my bridesmaids' dresses - 32 years old! - in a wardrobe. The dress is in perfect condition, but I would like to have it clean as well.

 

Numb Spot On My Thigh?I have a numb spot on my thigh, I can't feel anything in that one spot but sometimes little pains go through it and it really hurts! (Especially if something touches the spot.) My doctor said it was "nerve damage" and that I could take Vitamin B6 to restore some feeling but it hasn't done a thing.

 

Marbleized Easter Eggs?Years ago my mom made marbleized Easter eggs. They didn't just look like them they really were the real thing. Does anyone know how to do this? I do know they wrapped silk cloth around them to make a pattern and boiled them for a long time.

 

Removing a Tick from a Dog?I found a tick on my dog. How do I safely remove it?

 

Checkbook Didn't Come With a Duplicate Flap?I bought a checkbook wallet and it does not have a duplicate flap. You know the little plastic flap that goes between the duplicate checks so that when you are writing a check, the writing wont go thru to the next check.

 

Removing Masking Tape from Hardwood Floors?I taped the hardwood floor with masking tape a long time ago to paint the moldings. I'm just getting around to removing it and having an awful battle! Anyone have any solutions to try?

 

Foxtail Palms Damaged By Cold?I have two foxtail palms that have suffered from this year's rough winter. All the fronds have died and I have cut them off. I then cut about 6" from the top of the stalk to see what it looked like inside.