June 25, 2007

Salmon ChowderIn a Dutch oven or soup kettle, combine the potatoes, vegetables, onion, celery seed and water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20 minutes or until vegetables are tender.

 

Mac Broccoli Berry SaladMix pasta with dressing. Add broccoli and toss. Add sliced strawberries (if frozen, slice while still frozen). Add raisins and toss.

 

Greek Loaf (Bread Machine)In bread machine pan, place the first seven ingredients in order suggested by manufacturer. Select basic bread setting. Choose crust color and loaf size if available.

 

French Green BeansCook green beans according to package directions; drain. Add mushrooms and keep warm. Combine butter, rosemary and basil; drizzle over bean mixture and toss to coat.

 

Frozen Diet Peanut Butter CupI've been on the South Beach Diet (low fat, healthy carbs) for several months and have lost about 30 pounds so far. Here is a recipe for one of my favorite treats for that evening sweet tooth. It has saved me many times!

 

Jumbo Cookies At medium speed in a large bowl, beat margarine or butter with brown sugar. Add white sugar and beat until creamy. Blend in vanilla and egg and soda.

 

Sweet and Savory BrisketPlace half of the brisket in a slow cooker. In a bowl, combine the ketchup, jelly, soup mix, and pepper; spread half over meat. Top with the remaining meat and ketchup mixture.

 

Pepper JellyCombine pepper strips, vinegar and jalepano peppers in a blender. Process to desired fineness. Combine with sugar in saucepan and bring to a boil. Boil 5 minutes. Remove from heat and skim to remove foam.

 

Cookies and Cream FluffIn a bowl, whisk milk and pudding mix for 2 minutes or until slightly thickened. Fold in whipped topping and cookies. Spoon into dessert dishes.

 

Plastic Watering Can For Rinsing ShowerI use my plastic indoor watering can (purchased half price at the dollar store) to rinse down my shower walls and bathtubs after cleaning.

 

Get As Much Mileage from Products As PossibleSaving money is great! I try to get as much mileage as possible from products I buy. When the bottles are completely empty, before I throw away shampoo, conditioner, laundry detergent, dish detergent, etc., I fill them with water for one last use.

 

Welcome To My Tea ParlorMy curio cabinet display: I am a lover of tea, teabooks, teacups, teapots, etc. I recently bought a double curio cabinet and placed a portion of my collection in the cabinets.

 

Improving the Flavor of SoupHaven't had a hearty bean soup in a while - although the weather is warm, I'm making one for dinner. Will put baby spinach leaves in each bowl, then pour the hot broth on it to wilt them.

 

Good News for Spatini Fans!Todd posted this in the feedback: Good news for Spatini fans! I just posted my clone recipe for homemade Spatini.

 

Reduce Meat In Recipes By HalfOne of the easiest ways to save money on the grocery bill is to cut down on the amount of meat used in a recipe. When making casseroles, soups, stews, pasta dishes, and other meals where meat is not the main dish it is easy to reduce the meat in half.

 

Summer Book Club and Book SwapAre you getting ready to have your first yard sale of the summer yet? Have your kids gone through all of their books to add to your sale? If you have got a lot of kids that hang out at your house, why not start a Summer Book Club and book swap.

 

Summer Water Conservation TipsThe hot Summer is here again and I think we all need to reminded to save water. It not only is considered green living, it also saves you greatly on your water bill. Here is a review of some good tips, plus a couple new tips to consider.

 

Artichoke Birthday CakeI never make birthday cakes for my sons. I observe very well what their favorite food is pre birthday, and I turn the concept into a birthday cake.

 

"Olden Days" Evening When Power Goes OutIf the power goes out and the children begin to fret, you need to cook dinner, the kids need a bath, etc. DON'T PANIC! Tell them you are having an olden days evening (morning or whatever).

 

Maggie (Yorkie)Maggie is a 19 Month old Yorkshire Terrier. Maggie was a family Christmas present in 2005. Maggie loves her "roommate", Tucker the cat. They play all the time.

 

Paper Plate Lady BugThis is a cute lady bug made from paper plates. Take one paper plate and paint it all black, this is the body. Then take another paper plate and cut in half and paint whatever color you want the wings.

 

Removing Dark Skin Around Eyes?I have some dark skin near my eyes on both sides. What should I do to remove these spots?

 

Tips For Mattress Shopping?Any tips on mattress shopping? I have found it difficult to comparison shop.

 

Removing Fingernail Polish from a Laminate Floor?Does anyone have suggestions on how to remove fingernail polish from laminate hardwood floor? It is an engineered floating floor, which means it has a very thin layer of real wood.

 

Need Help Growing Basil?My basil is very short lived. By the time the plants are big enough to harvest a goodly quantity of leaves, the flavor is bitter and the tips are going to flower. When planting, I always cut off the growing tips to encourage bushing out.

 

Deodorizing Outdoor Cat Waste?Cats are using my front garden as a litter box with the result that, if I open my two windows in the family room, my house smells like a litter box.

 

Removing Nail Polish Off a Car?My car was vandalized yesterday. Someone broke into the car next to mine, found a purse and decided to pour nail polish all over my car. I want to try and use nail polish removal but I am concerned about damaging the finish.

 

American Bull Dog With Small Children?How can I tell if my American bull dog will get on well with my 7 month old son?

 

Removing Moss From Rock?How do I remove moss from rock?

 

Suggestions For an HDTV for a Kitchen?My very old kitchen 13 1/2 inch TV set is doing a going...going... almost gone. Thought I'd replace it with a small size HDTV.

 

Joints Cracking While Doing Yoga?I have just started trying to do yoga by watching Namaste Yoga on FitTV. One thing I notice is that my joints crack a lot. Will that subside the more I do it? It's a little annoying.