February 21, 2008

Creamy Vegetable PenneI threw this together last week and hubby liked it a lot. While the pasta is cooking, saute mushrooms and onions in 1 Tbsp. butter with 2-3 dashes garlic powder.

 

Perfect MeringueBeat 3 egg whites until fairly stiff. Fold in 1/2 small jar marshmallow cream. Will hold it's shape and not tear when cut.

 

Tunamato BakePrepare macaroni and cheese according to box directions. Add remaining ingredients. Pour int a 1 qt. baking dish and bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees F.

 

Baked Cheese BallsBlend together butter, cheese, salt, red pepper, and garlic salt. Then stir in flour; mixing well. Wrap mixture around olives or pecan halves. Arrange on cookie sheet and freeze. Bake at 400 degrees F for 12-15 minutes or until brown.

 

Breaded Chicken BreastsIn one bowl, put wheat flour. In another, put beaten eggs and water. In another dish, mix bread crumbs and spices except for the lemon juice. Take chicken, first dip in wheat flour then in egg mixture and then into bread crumb mixture.

 

White Cheese DipCrumble and brown sausage in skillet until done. Drain excess fat. Return to skillet. Add 1 can of Rotel and cream cheese. Mix ingredients together until cream cheese melts and looks like dip! Serve with Tostitos Scoops. YUM!

 

Butternut Squash BakeIn a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Beat in eggs, milk, and vanilla. Stir in squash (mixture will be thin). Pour into a greased 11x7 inch baking pan.

 

Grilled Apricot HamCombine apricot preserves, mustard, and vinegar. Grill ham steak over high heat, brushing occasionally with the sauce until browned on both sides, about 8 to 10 minutes.

 

Banana Sour Cream Waffles (or Pancakes)Sift together dry ingredients; set aside. Mix together beaten egg yolk, sour cream, milk, butter, and banana. Add to flour mixture, mixing well.

 

Lazy-Day Ovenight LasagnaIn large skillet, brown sausage; drain well. Add spaghetti sauce and water; blend well. Simmer 5 minutes. In medium bowl, combine Ricotta cheese, chives, oregano, and egg; mix well.

 

Frangelico (Jack Russell?)Frangelico (AKA Frannie) is 2 1/2 years old. She is supposed to be a Jack Russell. My daughter and I were running errands and just by chance stopped to see the animals at the humane society. We adopted her that day, thinking she was 6 weeks old, but she was actually only about 3 weeks.

 

DIY Guide To Cleaning Your Garden StatuaryWhether the focal point in your garden is a Roman god, masterfully hand-crafted from Italian marble, or a pink flamingo lovingly manufactured from recycled plastic, years of exposure to weather and airborne particulates can leave them looking shabby and worn out.

 

Animal Crackers as a Cat ToyI have found a cheap toy for our cat. Half of an animal cracker was on the floor, and our cat chases it all the time. This is a cat who won't play with any storebought toy.

 

Wood Shelf with Copper TrimUsing a 50% off one item coupon, I purchased a pine shelf for less than $10.

 

Reinforce Around Windows When Building Your HomeFor anyone who is having a new home built, this is a very valuable suggestion to make it easy to attach curtain rods to wall. Have your builder put 2X4's on the top and sides of your windows.

 

KwikSew Sewing Patterns ReviewEveryone I've asked that's tried "KwikSew" Patterns says they're the best! They say they are super-quick to sew and fit exceptionally well. The only problem: You have to buy them online.

 

My Frugal Life: The Best Type Of CarAfter I got married, it was time for a second car so that my wife would be able to get out and go take care of things while I am at work. I paid off my car earlier that year so that was $300 extra we had.

 

Geranium 'Rozanne', The 2008 Perennial Plant of...Editor's Note: This is such a beautiful plant we decided to republish Ellen's article to reintroduce you to this gorgeous blue geranium.

Recently, The Perennial Plant Association has announced that the 2008 Perennial Plant of the Year is Geranium 'Rozanne' (Rozanne cranesbill geranium).

 

Oil Gelatin Molds for Easy RemovalTo easily remove gelatin from a mold, rinse the mold pan in cold water and coat with vegetable oil. The oil gives the gelatin a nice luster and it can be easily removed from the mold.

 

Bake Meatballs Instead of FryingI love meatballs, but when a recipe calls for browning them on the stove, I have my own trick which is much less messy and I don't have to stand there turning the little buggers.

 

Use Self Cleaning Oven for Hard to Clean BakewareDo you have broiler pans or cookie sheets that have build up on them so bad that no matter how hard you scrub them it will not come off? Don't worry, my husband showed me a way to clean them where I don't even have to touch them.

 

Hand Cream Recipe for Extra Dry SkinI have a terrible time in the winter with dry skin. I do housecleaning, so my hands are in the water a lot so it's probably no wonder!

 

Symptoms of Blood Cancer?Could you please tell me what the symptoms of blood cancer are? I have a hard time getting to my doctor and I was just wondering.

 

Making Candy Easter Eggs with Mashed Potatoes?Does anybody know the recipe for making candy easter eggs with mashed potatoes? My mom made both peanut butter and coconut eggs, and I'd love to include them in my kids treats.

 

Instructions for PVC Lamp Post?I need instructions for a PVC lamp post.

 

Decoupaging Pictures on Wooden Table?I would like to decoupage pictures of my great-grandkids to the top of my coffee table. My question: how do I prep the table before I begin? It has years of spray polish built up and I'm sure that needs to go. Anything else?

 

Chest Pains and Anxiety?My boyfriend has been experiencing these chest pains, directly below his breast, toward the middle of his chest. They are short, shooting, sharp pains. It has been there on and off for 3 days now. He says its not really pain, but just annoying and he is scared it might be his heart.

 

Whippoorwill Pea Seed?I need a source for whippoorwill pea seed. These old-fashioned cowpeas can be tricky to find, but they are wonderful.

 

Putting Up a Backdrop That Can't Be Attached to the Wall?I am decorating for my son's school banquet and the hall will not allow us to attach anything to the wall or ceiling. We want to hang a backdrop behind a display that stands 9 feet tall.

 

Growing an Asparagus Fern?How do you get asparagus ferns to sprout fronds? I have one that has exactly four fronds. It's been this way for years.

 

Painting Cabinets to Go With White Floors and Counters?My kitchen has very ugly, built in the 70's, dark cabinets. I want to paint them or stain them but I don't know what would look good with white floors and white counter tops. I have no clue what to do, any advice? I want to paint the walls too!

 

Crochet Pattern for Breast Cancer Awareness?I have been searching for a crochet pattern that I can do with a breast cancer ribbon in filet crochet. Size isn't a huge issue. My family has lost several to cancer in the past couple years and I have an idea in mind for my cousin who recently lost her mother to the disease.

 

Salad Bar Luncheon for 100 People?I am planning a salad bar luncheon for 100 people. I need to know how much of the various items will feed this many people.

 

Doberman Has Itchy, Flaky Skin?My Doberman has flaky skin and is always scratching.

 

Caring for an Elderly Old English Sheepdog?I am about to inherit my late mother's elderly (15 year old) Old English Sheepdog. Does anybody have any good advice?

 

Downloading Firefox Browser?I am currently on Internet Explorer and am wanting to download Firefox. When I begin the download process, it says to close all programs. My question is: Does that mean I also need to close Internet Explorer before doing the download? I know I do not have to delete IE, but I don't know if I need to close it once I am on the Firefox site. HELP!

 

Preparing Child's Meals During Sporting Event Week?I was wondering if anyone could recommend certain meals that I could prepare for my son the week of a sporting event.

 

Combined Father/Daughter Birthday Party?My husband of twenty-five years will be turning the big 50 on Aug 30th of this year. Our daughter is turning 21 on Sep 1st. I'd like to have a party for both of them on the same day. Any ideas as how I can combine the two? Please help!