October 24, 2008

Banana Granola CookiesGrease 2 cookie sheets. In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar with an electric mixer at medium speed. Add the egg, vanilla, and bananas, beating until well blended. Add the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt, and mix until blended.

 

Hot or Sweet Italian Sausage SoupBrown sausage, onion, green pepper and celery. Drain any fat. Pour chicken broth, and vegetables into a soup pot and spoon in browned sausage and vegetables. Add additional water if needed to increase liquid level.

 

Easy Homemade Bagels Using Dough Cycle on Bread MachineMy family loves the bagels at the local bakery that are stuffed with cheddar and jalapenos and those stuffed with feta and dill. The problem is that they cost about $3 apiece.

 

Mocha Brownie PiesPreheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a small bowl, combine hot water and coffee granules; set aside. In a large bowl, combine brownie mix, oil, 1/2 cup coffee mixture and egg. Mix until dry ingredients are moistened.

 

Three in One Cheese BallCream together all ingredients. Separate into three sections, roll into ball with floured hands or gloves. Roll each ball into one of these three ingredients: course cracked pepper, minced fresh parsley, and finely chopped pecans. Chill one hour in covered container.

 

Yummy Hash BrownsGrease 9x13 inch baking dish. In a large bowl, combine the cheese, soup, sour cream, onion, green and red pepper, 1/4 cup butter, salt and pepper. Mix well. Fold in the thawed hash brown potatoes.

 

Pork Chops in Soda PopPlace pork chops in baking pan. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Mix ketchup and soda pop and pour over pork chops. Sprinkle with brown sugar. Bake, uncovered, in 350 degree F oven for 1 hour or until tender.

 

Baked AlaskaTrim the sponge cake to measure 1 inch larger on all sides than the ice cream. Place on a wooden cutting board. Add sugar to the beaten egg whites and beat until stiff peaks form. Place ice cream on top of trimmed sponge cake.

 

Chocolate Cream Cheese MuffinsCombine and beat:8 oz. cream cheese (softened), 1/3 cup sugar, 1 egg and a pinch salt.

 

Creepy Halloween BugsEvery year I buy those little sponge creatures that grow when you put them in water from Walgreens like spiders, creepy bugs and things like that. About 2 weeks before Halloween, I fill those big pretzel containers with water and food coloring and then line them all along the sidewalk.

 

Try Beans with Peanut ButterI just had to share this with you. Have you tried baked beans (in tomato sauce) with peanut butter? It's absolutely delicious :p

 

Halloween Scary Outside MonsterThis is made of scrap wood, a scary mask, recycled children's clothes and shoes. It looks like a small child with a big mask.

 

Halloween Moon GhostI tried to take a photo of the most awesome looking moon tonight through the trees but couldn't capture it the way I wanted to :-( Emailed it to a friend even though I was disappointed and he said, "You tried to take a picture of the moon but a ghost got in the way" ;-)

 

Saving Money on Health Care and InsuranceTips for Saving Money on Health Care and Insurance as suggested by the ThriftyFun community. Our family has always had health insurance through where I work and have always been grateful for that.

 

Decorate Cheap Christmas StockingsIf you need Christmas stockings because you missed out on last year's after Christmas sales, you can make really fun ones without sewing and for a little cost. Just buy the cheapest red felt stockings you can find (try drug and discount stores) and sheets of felt at a craft store.

 

Freezer-to-Oven Roast BeefRemove frozen meat from freezer and wrap loosely in foil. Turn oven to 400 degrees F. Make sure foil is wrapped, but loose across the top and at the ends of meat to allow heat to circulate. Place meat in oven.

 

Using Dragon FruitThe Dragon fruit is simply an amazing fruit, like no other. On the outside the fruit is bright fuchsia with lime green on the tips of the long leathery leaves that spurt off the entire fruit. When cut open the fruit reveals its stunning white pulp speckled with tiny black seeds...

 

Saving Money on PopcornTips for saving money on popcorn as suggested by the ThriftyFun community. Buy the bulk popcorn kernels. Our local movie theater uses coconut oil, so if you can locate that, do.

 

Glue "Legs" on Your Laptop for AirflowHot glue things, such as a row of pencils or a medium size bead (like beaded car seats are made of) or clothespins or any other thing, to each corner of the underneath side of your laptop to give way to circulation. It can be cool rather than buying a product made especially to do the same thing.

 

Fixing Elastic In Knee High Hosiery?Does anyone have suggestions for fixing elastic in knee high hosiery for women? I have several pair that have not been worn but the elastic is loose from being exposed to changing temperatures. I don't want to throw them them out but they slip down to may ankles after walking for only about 5 minutes.

 

Removing Polyurethane From Fiberglass Tub?Does anyone know what to use to get dried polyurethane off a fiberglass tub? Thanks.

 

White Cookies with Marshmallow and Coconut Topping?I am looking for a cookie recipe that my family loves and I of course have lost! They are a delicious soft white cookie that you roll and cut out, then when they are baked and cooled they are topped with a marshmallow topping which is made from Knox unflavored gelatin. You then dip the topped cookies into coconut and let them dry. I have looked on the Knox site and no luck. We moved and I lost my favorite little recipe box. They have always been a holiday favorite. Help? Thanks so much.

 

Is Planning Your Own Birthday Party Tacky?I decided to plan my own 30th birthday party next year because I want to make sure it's really special and exactly what I want. But I have received a lot of feedback that planning my own party would be tacky. The more I think about it the more it bothers me. Is it really that bad?

 

Vinegar and Dish Soap Not Working for Gnats?I have gnats or fruit flies. I got rid of most of them, but the apple cider vinegar and dish soap is not working any more. Now they are mostly staying on the ceiling in the kitchen . I keep putting down fly paper, then I slide a broom near them and they fly into the paper. What are your tips?

 

Guinea Pig Is Biting Me?My guinea pig bites me. Any ideas why?

 

Giving Teachers Plants As Gifts?Teachers, would you like a potted plant for Christmas? Our children have grown plants all year round and they are looking pretty good. Would these be appropriate Christmas gifts from kiddos or would they just be seen as more work? Thanks for your input.

 

Protecting A Geranium Plant In Winter?I have a huge geranium plant planted in a pot and would love to try to save it. However, I really have nowhere to sit it indoors. I know I've seen on this website suggestions about how to save them when dormant for the next growing season.

 

Child Will Not Eat Hamburger Meat?I have a five year old that will not eat hamburger meat whatsoever! Does anyone have any ideas for some recipes on a strict budget?

 

Green Slime on Surface of Pond?We have a green (almost a fluorescent green color) algae-like material covering the whole surface of our pond. If you put your hand in it to scoop it up it looks almost like a bunch of tiny seeds and slime that sticks to your hand. Each year it gets worse and this year there are actually plants growing about 6-10 inches high on it. It hardly resembles a pond any more. Does anyone know what this is and how to get rid of it?

 

Power Pro Riding Lawn Mower Won't Start?I have an 18 hp Power Pro riding mower (MTD) which doesn't start. I bought it at a yard sale, replaced battery with a new one rated for this hp, but it didn't start. I replaced the starter switch, plugs, cleaned all contacts/switches, put in new fuel and filter. I jumped the solenoid since the ignition and on/off switch does nothing along with amp gauge on the dash not giving a reading. The starter barely clicks while the engine barely turns over 2 or 3 times. Please help. Thanks in advance.

 

Budget-Friendly, Healthy Recipes?Does anyone have any recipes that are healthy and also budget-friendly? Thanks!

 

Tips For Tiling Bathroom Floor?Does anyone know how to tile around a bathtub and toilet? We are doing it all ourselves and never have done tiling period! We're handy, just need to know the secret. We have a wet saw we can use just don't know how to make round edges. Thanks!

 

Making Adult Cry Baby Costume?I need easy ideas for making my own adult cry baby costume, or the adult in the high chair costume.

 

Altering A Formal Dress Smaller?I was wondering how hard it would be to take in a dress if it's too big. I found my dream dress to wear at a special occasion next year but I have been losing weight. I'm afraid that if I order the dress a size or two too small then I might not lose all the weight. But if I order at my size I may have to alter it. The dress is silk and has boning in the bodice. Anyone know if that will be too hard to take in?