June 26, 2008

Blue Ribbon Creamy CheesecakeCombine graham cracker crumbs and butter, mixing well. Press into pie pan to form crust. Combine cream cheese, eggs, 3/4 cup sugar, 2 tsp. vanilla and lemon juice in bowl, mixing well.

 

Veggie Pasta SaladCook 2 cups of tri-color rotini pasta according to package directions. While the pasta is cooking, gather any or all these veggies, just choose whatever you like and if you think of any that are not on this list, throw them in also.

 

Meatball DinnerCombine first 9 ingredients in bowl, mixing well. Shape into small meatballs. Place in baking dish. Bake at 400 degrees F for 10 minutes. Layer meatballs and veggies in baking dish.

 

Basic Apple PieLine 9 inch pie plate with half the pastry, allowing 1 inch overhang. Combine next 5 ingredients in bowl. Add apples, tossing to coat. Sprinkle with lemon juice. Turn into pastry-lined pie plate. Dot with margarine.

 

Butter TartsCombine 1 1/2 cups flour and salt in bowl. Cut in shortening until crumbly. Add 3 tablespoons water, mixing well. Divide dough into 24 portions. Roll out and line tart or muffin cups.

 

Popcorn and Apple PiePlace popcorn, 1 cup at a time, in electric blender container. Process to crush. Beat egg whites until soft peaks form. Add sugar, gradually, beating until stiff. Fold in nuts and crushed popcorn. Spread in buttered pie pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 15 minutes.

 

Peanut Butter and Jelly CookiesPreheat oven to 375 degrees F. Using an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar in a medium bowl. Beat in the peanut butter, egg yolk and vanilla. Stir in the flour and salt.

 

Microwave Calico Bean PotPlace bacon in 3 qt. microwave dish. Microwave for 4-5 minutes or until crisp. Remove bacon and add onion. Saute' onion in bacon drippings for 3 minutes. Combine remaining ingredients with onion, mixing lightly.

 

Chili MananaBrown ground beef in skillet, stirring until crumbly. Pour off drippings. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt, pepper and chili powder. Simmer for 5-10 minutes. Add next 4 ingredients.

 

Apple SaladThis is a quick snack. Mix 1/2 block cream cheese to 3/4 cup (to taste) confection sugar, mix well. Chop apples into small bites (I prefer to leave the skins on). Mix apples with cream cheese mixture, add trail mix and toss.

 

Crockpot Chicken Shrimp JambalayaCut chicken into 1 inch pieces. Put all ingredients (except shrimp and rice) in crockpot. Cover; cook on low for 8 hours. Add shrimp the last 20 minutes of cooking. Stir in rice before serving.

 

Herb SticksCut bun halves into 4 long strips each. Combine remaining ingredients in bowl, letting stand for several hours. Brush butter mixture on all sides of bread. Place on cookie sheet.

 

Charlotte's Sloppy JoesCook and drain ground beef (I use regular ground beef, drain and rinse very well, this will make it as lean as the 93% lean beef), stir in ketchup, sugar (or splenda), mustard, and garlic salt/powder. Simmer on low for 10 - 15 minutes.

 

Vegetable SandwichesDrain vegetables thoroughly. Soften gelatin in 1/4 cup cold water in medium bowl. Add 1/4 cup boiling water, stirring until dissolved. Stir vegetables into gelatin. Add mayonnaise, stirring to mix.

 

Au Gratin Stuffed Tomatoes Using a small spoon, scoop out centers of each tomato half. Place tomato halves in a medium shallow baking dish. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat.

 

Cleaning a Greasy Oscillating FanI use a small, oscillating fan in my kitchen and it seems that overtime the cover gathers a greasy film with dust attached! To quickly and safely clean this off, I unplug the fan and remove the cover. I take the cover outside and spray it with FUME FREE oven cleaner.

 

Save Money By Saving TreesI save money and the environment by reusing paper to print on. I reuse printable paper from my own household, as well as my children's papers that come home from school, to print on the blank side.

 

Harley-Girl (Golden Retriever Mix)Harley-girl is our Golden Retriever mix and will be 5 years old this August. Her favorite hobby, besides chasing squirrels and catching frisbees, is digging for moles. She has been helping to keep the mole population in our yard down for the last couple of years, while entertaining us...

 

Store Chips in a Christmas Cookie TinA tip from my husband - after opening a bag of chips, put them in the tin you saved from the cookies last Xmas and they will stay fresh and crispy!

 

Recycled Message BoardThis will keep your whole family organized! Using recycled materials, you can create a beautiful message board to display in your entry way.

 

Cocoa Bean Mulch Can Be Toxic to DogsPet owners should avoid use of cocoa bean mulch in landscaping around dogs with indiscriminate eating habits.

 

Craft: Recycled Plastic Bag KeeperRecycle a soda pop cup into a plastic bag keeper. This is an easy recycled craft project for kids and adults. Here is the picture tutorial link with step-by-step instructions.

 

Don't Use Banks For Your BankingI never set foot in a bank. I only do my "banking" at credit unions where I am never charged a fee for any services. Interest and other rates are comparable or better than banks, and service is way better, as credit unions are member owned and they are federally insured.

 

Make Your Own Irrigation for SaplingsWe planted starter trees from an online nursery this year and I wanted to share our experience as to how to keep them watered well without irrigation. I planted trees as to nursery instructions but it said to keep them watered well through summer.

 

Magnetize Your ScrewdriverHaving two brothers who loved to tinker around the house, they enjoyed showing me a few tricks. I surprised my darling husband with this one: When you rub a screwdriver or other metals with a magnet you create a magnetized screwdriver, etc.

 

Buy Individual Chapters Of Your TextbookI am currently attending college and found that the teachers will usually give reading assignments from just a few chapters of the expensive textbooks; however, they are usually known ahead of time when the teacher hands out the syllabus.

 

Camping Food SafetyThere are a few basic cardinal rules when it comes to food safety. These rules will keep you and your family on the right track and help avoid a trip to the emergency room for food poisoning.

 

Make A Freezer Pac With RiceTo make a excellent cold pac, fill a large tube sock about 3/4 full with rice. Keep in freezer for those headaches, aches and pains, etc.

 

Vintage Wooden Toolbox PlanterTake something old and make it new! This vintage wooden toolbox (a $2 yard sale find) now holds pretty flowers instead of ordinary old tools.

 

Keep Your Kitchen Shears From Getting StickyWhenever a recipe calls for cutting up marshmallows, (or anything sticky and sweet, such as dates, dried apricots, etc.), dip your kitchen shears in confectioners sugar between cuttings to keep them from sticking to the blades.

 

Make Your Own Kitchen Towel RackI recently got tired of opening my cabinet doors under the sink to have my hand towel fall off. I came up with a great idea. I went to Walmart and got 2 over the door coat hooks. I slipped them on the "junk drawer" (you can also use a cabinet door)and put a leftover leg support from those plastic shelf units you put together.

 

Gas Grill with a Low FlameWhen cooking on a gas grill, if the flame isn't as high as you think it should be, use the wooden end of a wire brush and tap the regulator, in case you have dirt or grease in the line. This may solve the problem of the low flame and keep you from having to purchase a new regulator.

 

Use Heat To Remove Lug NutsHeat the lug nuts with a butane cigarette lighter. The heat causes the nut, but less so the bolt, to expand making it easier to loosen. And, of course, loosen nuts a bit before jacking car.

 

Planting A Hydrangea?I am trying to find out how to transplant a hydrangea from a pot to the ground.

 

Burnt Food on Stove Burners?How do you clean greasy, grimy, burnt on food from the top of your stove? It is probably a few years of burnt on cooking around the burners.

 

Underage Clubs Near Revere, MA?My daughter Samantha is turning 16 on July 19th. She wants to have her birthday at an underage club but I can't find one. Could you help? We live in Revere, MA.

 

Venting a Dryer Inside?What are the dangers of venting an electric dryer indoors?

 

Grass Not Growing Under Trees?I live in Indiana and have a number of maple trees in my yard. I used to have a very nice lawn, but in the last several years as the trees have grown, all the grass beneath the maple trees has died. Is there any type of grass hearty enough to grow under maple trees?

 

Broken Board Inside a Sofa?The wooden board inside of my sofa that holds the springs in place and gives support is broken and now the sofa sags all the way when you sit down. Can this be repaired and how.

 

Nail Polish on a LCD Monitor?I have nail varnish all over my LCD screen. Does anyone know how to get if off without any damage?

 

Remedy for Flies and Gnats on Horses?What can I use to keep flies off my horses. I can't use commercial sprays and wipes as they make my eyes red and swollen.

 

Getting Rid Of Zoysia Grass?We plant zoysia grass in places where other grass would not grow. Now it has taken over and spread into my flowers and is ruining my flower beds. How can I get rid of it?

 

Mold in a Camping Trailer?I have a 98 Jayco that I stored outside and didn't use for two seasons. This weekend found it loaded with mold and several spots where it leaked. Apparently the middle seam on the roof leaked as well as the corners

 

Oily Scalp Tips?Does anyone know how to manage healthy hair for those with an oily scalp? i read that to help maintain healthy hair, you should skip washing it one or two days. I can't accomplish this because my hair literally starts to grease up the next morning! How can i help this?

 

Credit Card Spare Key?Where can I find a spare key made out of a credit card that you put in your wallet?

 

Am I Getting a Good Deal at My Farmer's Market?I am just wondering how I can know if I am getting a good deal at my Farmer's Market? We only have one available near me from the first Saturday in May until the last Saturday in October. Saturdays from 9am-2pm.

 

Getting Rid of Sun Flowers?Sun flowers are destroying my grass. How do you kill them?

 

What are these bugs?I have tiny white somethings (bugs?) in my home and cannot get rid of them. I have no idea what they are. I can feel them when they get on me and cannot see them unless they get on something dark. Once they are on something they are too small even with a magnifying glass to see what they are.

 

Best Paint Roller for Tongue and Groove Paneling?What is the best type and size of roller to use when painting over tongue and groove paneling?

 

What is this bug? (Japanese Beetle)What bug that looks like a small black fly with a red underside eats hibiscus plants? What kills them?

 

Ink on My Laptop Cover?How do I remove ball point pen ink from my laptop cover?

 

Using Vinegar to Clean Above Ground Pools?Can you use vinegar to safely clean your above ground pool?