September 12, 2008

Hot Creamy Crab DipLet cream cheese soften. Cream thoroughly and add sour cream and everything but crab. When it is well mixed, gently stir in crab. Top with remaining cheese. Bake at 325 degrees F for 30 minutes. This recipe freezes well. Serve with Frito's Scoops as a hot dip.

 

Tuna ToppersMix the tuna fish and Miracle Whip. Put a heaping tablespoon of the mixture on each muffin half. Top with a slice of cheddar cheese. Broil until hot and brown. This happens very quickly so watch closely!

 

Easy Hamburger Lasagna CasserolePrepare noodles as directed on package. Measure and spread in bottom of a 1.5 liter casserole dish. Scramble fry beef. Drain fat. Add onion, garlic, tomato sauce, salt and pepper to meat. Simmer gently 15 minutes.

 

Banana Pound CakeCream shortening and sugar together in bowl. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add bananas, mixing well. Add remaining ingredients, mixing well.

 

Rum-Glazed CarrotsMelt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add carrots and toss to coat. Cook until just tender and beginning to brown, about 30 minutes, turning every 10 minutes.

 

Orange SmoothieIn a blender, combine all the ingredients and blend until smooth. Poor into glasses and enjoy. I used skim milk and Splenda and still tasted great.

 

Creamy Chicken SpaghettiThis is one of my favorite recipes. Break the spaghetti pasta in half and cook; drain and set aside. Boil the chicken breasts until done and set out to cool. When cool, cut into bite size pieces. Saute lightly the onions, bell pepper, and celery in the margarine.

 

Corn RelishCut corn from ear, shred cabbage and chop onions and peppers. Mix rest of ingredients to make syrup. Mix. Boil 30-45 minutes. Put in jars and seal.

 

Saving Money on Your CellphoneTips for saving money on cellphones as suggested by the ThriftyFun community. The main thing you have to be careful of with a cellphone company is whether or not you'll have good coverage.

 

Saving Money on School Sports SuppliesDo you have any ideas for saving money on school sports supplies? Here are some tips from the ThriftyFun community. Many people with growing kids have a garage full of outgrown or little used sports equipment.

 

Use Space Above Cabinet For DisplayMy kitchen cabinets don't set against the ceiling so I use this space to display my ginger jar collection, or I will put a flower swag on top and let the flowers hang down.

 

Hang Shirts Directly From WasherI save time and money in the laundry room THIS way. When I take my clothes from the washer I hang almost all of the shirts on hangers, button the top button on button-downs, straighten the collars, tug on the sleeves, pull and smooth, etc.

 

Oliver (Chocolate Lab)Oliver is a 2 and a half year old chocolate Lab. My husband surprised me with Oliver in May of 2006.

 

Saving Money on Outdoor FurnitureTips for saving money on outdoor furniture as suggested by the ThriftyFun community. As you know, outdoor dining tables with their umbrellas cost a fair piece of change.

 

My Frugal Life: 106 Ways To Save In The Kitchen - Part 2Try to use resealable and reusable containers instead of foil, Saran wrap and such. I make my own "convenience items" such as hamburger helper and cookie mix. Then when its busy, we get those out and just add the last remaining wet ingredients, and bake.

 

Easy Clay Pot TopiaryThis quick and easy clay pot craft uses a green pom-pom and fake flowers to make a decorative topiary bush. A great kids craft that can also make a cute addition to any Barbie/Bratz home or dollhouse.

 

Serve Cupcakes For BirthdaysThis isn't my tip but I thought it was clever. Instead of cake at a kid's birthday party, make cupcakes. You can push them together if you want and ice the whole lot to look like one cake or do what my daughter did. She saw in a magazine a barnyard cake ...

 

Small Savings Add UpI just talked to a friend who has to come up with $1000 every October and she has nothing saved up. I asked her if she could save $19.25 on a weekly basis. I told her if she did that each week for a year, she would have her $1000.

 

Keep Track of Your Water IntakeDon't bother printing a copy of the water intake chart, here's a better way! Place 8 pennies on the window ledge over your sink (or someplace you see them all day if you have no window).

 

Saving Money on WindowsTips for saving money on windows as suggested by the ThriftyFun community. If you can get quality windows, even at a discount building material store, you will do well to get smaller ones that have the wooden or metal/plastic frames in the windows.

 

Dog JokeI was just sent this joke by email and laughed all evening. As the mother of two grown daughters who were very close together in age, I can say that I could have written that note once upon a time! If you think your readers will enjoy it, please feel free to post it.

 

Make A Birthday Calendar To Take ShoppingDo you ever get to the store and wonder who has a birthday this month ? I have found to take a calendar with plastic cover works great. Inside the plastic, slip in the word BIRTHDAY so you can see at a glance what the calendar is for.

 

Keeping Salt and Sugar Free Flowing?What can I do to keep my salt and sugar shakers pouring? I am having a hard time with moisture right now.

 

Painting Kitchen With Sage Green Counters?I need advice about what color I could paint my kitchen. My counters are sort of a sage brush green and all my cabinets are white and my house has never been painted. The floor is pretty neutral. I like country cozy but I need help.

 

Tree Skirt Made With Old Christmas Cards?Does anyone have instructions to make a Tree Skirt using old Christmas Cards? I had this pattern years ago and have lost it. Any replies are appreciated. Thank you.

 

Cleaning Up Olive Oil?I accidentally broke a bottle of olive oil on our concrete floor. Any help on how to clean this up and keep it from turning rancid and stinking?

 

Ideas for a Girl's 16th Birthday?A very sweet daughter of a friend is turning 16 soon and I would like to get her something a little more special than I usually do. What do 16 year old girls like these days? I'm open to suggestions of any dollar amount, as they may inspire me to think of other things on my own. Thank you very much!

 

Transplanting a Weeping Cherry Tree?I want to transplant my weeping cherry. It started as a baby sprout. The trunk is only 4 inches tall and 1 inch wide, and has a 6 foot shoot branching off in the right direction (northeast). Right now it is laying on the ground. When I transplant the tree, can I turn the tree to make it stand up. Do I post it, or do I prune the shoot? It is healthy and has many smaller shoots on it.

 

Uses For Cookie Tins?What can I do with those left over cookie\candy tins? I know that there have to be some type of crafting I can do with them but I need ideas!

 

Do I Need To Replace My Lawn?My lawn is covered in tall growing, light blue flowers, tough grass and dandelions. Is there any hope for it, or do I have to tear it all up? Please help!

 

Ideas For Using 3-Tiered Plate Rack?Anyone have any creative ideas for a 3 tier plate rack other than plates? Thanks.

 

Removing Plastic Wall Anchors?I'm getting ready to repaint and have taken down all wall hangings. They will not be placed as they are now. I wonder if I could use an electric drill to remove plastic wall anchors, drill in a bit and then reverse to pull out the anchor? These anchors have wide heads and cannot be hammered into the wall and spackled over.

 

Giving Furniture a Distressed Look?I have an older bedroom set that is very dark and very worn. I would like to give it a lighter, maybe antique look. I was thinking of spraying it with an off white or ivory color. To get some of the dark to show through do I need to wipe it before it dries or sand lightly afterwards? Then maybe put a faux marble laminate on the tops of the items.

 

Older Dog With Dislocated Hip?My 9yr old Yorkie was hit by a truck on Sunday and dislocated her hip and broke her leg. The vet said he could do surgery, place a pin and put her hip back in socket but due to her arthritis it would be a long recovery and only 50% chance hip would stay in socket.

 

Harvest Festival Ideas?My sons school is having a Fall Harvest. I am looking for ideas on games and crafts that the kids can do. There are 430 kids at his school. I do not have much $$ given to me for this event. I am looking for cheap ideas. The children are allowed to dress up. Thank you in advance for any ideas.

 

Is Vindale Research A Scam?Is Vindale Research a scam?

 

Looking For Tiffany's Boxes?Where can I find different sized Tiffany's boxes to make a centerpiece for my daughter's bridal shower. Can you help me? Also trying to find a large martini glass.

 

Calculating Grocery Savings?I am trying to find a store that will list average grocery store prices of popular items. We are going through tough times in our household with food and budgeting (my hubbie was in the mortgage business).

 

Microwave Crisp Maker?Does anyone in England know where I can buy a microwave crisp maker? I've tried eBay (ten pounds! I don't think so!), tried Lakeland and Kleeneeze. I am on the Slimming World diet so I'd really like one. Many thanks.

 

Growing Lupine?Is Lupine OK to grow in southeastern MA?

 

Painting Kitchen With Stained Concrete Counters?I have black kitchen appliances, new Italian maple cabinets, and beige ceramic tile floor. The counters will be stained concrete, probably mottled brown and black. What colors can I paint the walls?

 

Cutting Board For Gas Stove?I am looking for a cutting board to place over a gas stove.

 

Removing Strawberry Plants From Lawn?How do you eliminate Wild Strawberry plants in a lawn?

 

"Pandemonium" Themed Float?I need float ideas for the theme "Pandemonium".

 

Sewn Rag Rug Patterns?Directions for a 'rag rug' (not braided) made with several 1in x 3in cloth strips sewn on canvas or burlap backing.

 

Transferring Paint Into Smaller Containers?I have paint in very large containers that my painter used to paint my entire house. How can I put some in smaller containers that I can actually use to touch up small areas?