August 7, 2008

Tomato Aspic SaladCombine first 5 ingredients in saucepan. Cook for 10 minutes and set aside. Soften gelatin in 1/4 cup cold water in small bowl for 5 minutes. Add softened gelatin, sugar, paprika and vinegar to tomato mixture.

 

Goodbye Turkey CasseroleStir flour, half of salt, onion salt into melted margarine. Stir in milk. Cook over moderate heat until thickened. Pour Minute Rice into 2 qt. shallow baking dish.

 

Strawberry Delight RollLine greased 10x15 inch jelly roll pan with greased and floured waxed paper. Sift first 3 ingredients together. Beat eggs in bowl until thick. Add sugar gradually, beating until very thick and creamy.

 

Hamburger PinwheelsMix ingredients through onion together in skillet:Cook until hamburger and onion are done. Let cool while you prepare biscuit dough.

 

Strawberry MilkIf your kids love it when you put strawberry sweetener in their milk to make it pink, but you hate giving them all that sugar, I have a solution for you. You can achieve the same results by adding just a pinch of the strawberry powder and one drop of red food color.

 

Pork Medallions with Garlic Strawberry Sauce I made this for dinner last night, it is very good. Would be a great meal for company.

 

Orange Juice CakeBeat first 5 ingredients and 3/4 cup water together in mixing bowl for 6 -10 minutes. Pour into 9x13 inch pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 30-40 minutes. Pierce surface with fork. Combine remaining ingredients in bowl, mixing well. Pour over hot cake.

 

Honey-Baked ChickenArrange chicken in shallow baking pan, skin side up. Combine rest of ingredients and pour over chicken. Bake at 375 degrees F for 1 hour and 15 minutes.

 

Martha Washington's Bread and Butter PuddingPreheat oven to 325 degrees F. Cut crusts from 12 slices white bread. Spread butter; on 1 side of each slice. Butter 8x8 inch baking dish. Arrange 4 slices bread in bottom of dish; sprinkle lightly with cinnamon.

 

Cottage Cheese-Potato SaladCombine first 6 ingredients in bowl. Chill vegetables thoroughly. Blend mayonnaise and lemon juice with seasonings in small bowl. Combine chilled vegetables, cottage cheese and dressing, tossing lightly.

 

Captain's Trout FiletsCombine ingredients, except paprika, in a small bowl. Place the filets in a greased, hinged wire grill or on skewers. Baste fish with sauce and sprinkle with paprika. Cook about 4 inches from hot coals for 5 to 6 minutes on each side, or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork.

 

Save Deadheaded Annuals for Next Year's SeedsIf you have annual flowers that are blooming now, such as zinnias, black eyed susans, asters, four o'clocks, etc., they will bloom better and longer if you deadhead them every few days.

 

Prep Produce And Freeze Waste For StockBuy produce in large quantities and then prep it for the week, then save the ends for lots of uses:

 

Clean Coffee Grinder with BreadIf you use a spice or coffee grinder, here's a handy tip. When you are finished grinding, cut a piece of plain bread in quarters, and grind it. It will flush the spice or coffee dust out of all the nooks and crannies. Then toss the bread crumbs in the yard for the birds.

 

Violet (Parakeet)Violet is a parakeet. She is young, not sure, less than a year. I got her at Petsmart on July 12, 2008.

 

Mexican Hot DogWrap bacon around the hot dog, cook it on a flat pan or grill. Use any pinto beans available and cook them. Get some bread, put the hot dog in put some mustard, mayo, ketchup (if you want). Strain the beans put them on top, then put some tomato and onion.

 

Uses for Shower CapsMy Dollar store sells like 10 shower caps for a dollar. They have endless uses. Great bowl covers at a picnic. I cut 2 little holes in them slide one over my hand when I paint, when I take a break, pull the cap over the brush to prevent drying out.

 

Denim PlacematsMy husband brought home these denim placemats because he liked the pocket for the silverware. I scurried to my "resource" center and got out some material and made 1 inch red bias tape for the edging.

 

Reuse Window EnvelopesSave those unused envelopes with windows that sometimes come with bills. You can use them for your own personal mail by writing the address on a 3x3 inch post-it note (under or over the sticky area) and placing it in the envelope so the address is showing in the window.

 

Use Neosporin to Stop Tree CankersSometimes trees develop wounds called "cankers". These are horizontal cracks in the bark. They slowly expand until they have encircled the tree, cutting all of the "tubes" that carry nutrients from the roots to the branches, killing the tree.

 

Magnetic Teddy for the FridgeThis little wooden bear has a magnet to be used for displaying a child's drawings. Made of wood, but this pattern could also be used with craft foam.

 

Recycled Rock CraftsThese are some recycling crafts that we saw last weekend at a festival. The pictures aren't the best, but they were very nice.

 

Recycle a Water Bottle Into a Cat ToyMy cats are always batting something off the counters and playing with it. So, I remembered something I did as a kid. I put little bright things in a plastic drink jug. You can put beads, paper clips, buttons, and anything that will catch your cats eyes.

 

Cleaning Regime For Pest ControlControlling pests in the home can be easy. It should also be done in the most natural way possible and this means going back to good old fashioned housekeeping. Never wait until pests are such a problem you need to spray chemicals or call a professional.

 

Ideas for Surplus Herbs?This year my herb garden is doing well. I have a nice amount of peppermint and oregano. I have dried some for tea and cooking spice. However I don't want to let the rest go to waste. Any ideas for dried peppermint recipes, and holiday gifts?

 

Remedies for Varicose Veins?Three years ago I really whacked the inside of my left leg on a table. A vein in that leg swelled from the ankle to the abdomen. It went away pretty quickly but a few months later a cluster of varicose veins developed on the inside of my thigh just above the knee (this is where I hit it).

 

Hibiscus Leaves Turning Yellow?I have a hibiscus tree that is potted and placed on my deck. It still has beautiful yellow blooms, but I've recently found the leaves to be yellowing and falling off the plant.

 

Looking for Giant Tennis Balls?Does anyone know where to purchase a tennis ball the size of a basketball? Walmart carried these about five years ago. My yellow lab loved it! He could not pop it because it was too big. I can't find them anywhere. The ball needs to be light enough to roll easily. Thanks!

 

What is This Plant? (Canadian Ground Cover)I bought a plant at a local nursery and noticed that this plant was growing with it so I separated them. Unfortunately I do not know what this is. The white flowers turn to green clusters then the berry like balls turn a black color.

 

Can You Trim A Bush In Hot Weather?I live in Phoenix, Arizona and the high temp here has been around 100 lately. I've got a rose bush that is falling over my walkway to my front door. If I trim the bush in this hot weather, will it harm it?

 

Are Chive Plant Flowers Edible?I have several chive plants that have a light purple flower on the end of each top of the plant. Is this flower edible? And if so, can it be consumed raw, such as in a salad? Thank you.

 

Alternate Rival Vacuum Sealer Bags?I am using a Rival vacuum sealer to freeze my husband's garden goodies. I am almost out of the bags that came with the vacuum sealer. I know they are expensive; does anyone know of a source for the cheapest bags or how to use an alternate bag?