October 28, 2008

Italian BreadsticksIn a large bowl, combine 2 cups flour, yeast and salt. Add 2 cups warm water. Beat with electric mixer at low speed 30 seconds, scraping the sides of bowl constantly. Beat at high speed 3 minutes. With spoon, stir in as much remaining flour as possible.

 

Warm Mulled CiderUsing a vegetable peeler, peel the zest from the orange to create long strips. In a medium pot, bring the cider, honey, allspice, cloves, nutmeg, ginger, and orange zest to a simmer.

 

Chicken with AlmondsBrown chicken in butter, remove and keep hot. To pan, add garlic and onion and cook three minutes. Add tomato paste and flour, stir until smooth. Stir in chicken stock. Bring to a boil. Return chicken to pan.

 

Mocha PuddingSift 3/4 cup of white sugar, flour, baking powder and salt. Melt butter and chocolate in double boiler over warm, not boiling water. (Or melt in microwave) Add to dry ingredients with milk and vanilla.

 

Peanut Butter Dog BiscuitsMix ingredients together well. Form into a ball, roll out to 1/4 inch thickness with a rolling pin. Cut into desired shapes, place on cookie sheets and bake in 325 oven for 30 minutes, or until browned.

 

Baked Lima BeansCook the beans and drain most of the liquid from them. Combine molasses or brown sugar, sour cream, and seasonings with beans and put in 3 qt. casserole. Add some of the liquid from the beans. Put bacon on top. Bake in 350 degree F oven for 1 hour.

 

Cashew FudgeGrease a 9 inch square pan. In a saucepan, melt the butter and add brown sugar. Cook over low heat for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the milk and continue cooking, stirring until the mixture boils.

 

Easy Sesame Chicken StripsCombine mayo, onion and mustard. In another bowl, combine crackers and sesame seeds. Cut chicken lengthwise into 1/4 inch strips.

 

Lighten the Fuel LoadA recent CNN report stated that airlines are reducing fuel costs by lightening airplanes. Drinking glasses have been replaced by plastic ones, and any unnecessary item such as an old cooking oven in the stewards' area has been removed.

 

Cheesecloth Ghosts In My House!Simple and easy and cheap! Blow up a balloon and dip a square of cheesecloth into fabric stiffener. Drape over balloon. Let dry and then pop the balloon. Add felt eyes or use a dark marker.

 

Garden: Squirrel in a Ponderosa PineHave been feeding and taking pictures from my balcony of the squirrels that hang out in the courtyard of my apartment building for a few months now ...

 

Use Your Lawn Mower To Move LeavesThis is gardening tip and a how to. We have 3 English walnut trees. When the leaves fall, we like to clean them up because we heard the leaves are toxic. Every fall we blow them in a pile then unto a large tarp.

 

ICE - In Case of EmergencyIt is called ICE (In Case of Emergency). We all carry our mobile phones with names and numbers stored in its memory but nobody, other than ourselves, knows which of these numbers belong to our closest family or friends. If we were to be involved in an accident or were taken ill, the people attending us would have our mobile phone but wouldn't know who to call. Which number is the contact person in case of an emergency?

 

Product Review: Goody's Headache PowderIf you get real bad headaches like I do sometimes around that time of the month or just bad ones that will not go away, over at dollar general is a medicine called Goody's headache powder. Get the orange flavored. Man does that work good.

 

Warning About Treadmill Dangers For ChildrenI have a warning about treadmills for any of you with small children or grandchildren. A friend of mine was telling me yesterday how her 4 year old grandson grabbed a treadmill while it was running and it removed the muscles and tendons on both hands.

 

Pumpkin BatsMini pumpkins and a few other common materials are all you need to add a few bats to your Halloween decor for this cute craft.

 

Use Bacon Plastic Sheet for Glue Gun Work SurfaceDoes your glue gun make a mess on your work surface? I wash up the plastic sheet that comes under a pound of bacon and I place it under my glue gun and the drips will peel right off and your work surface will stay clean!

 

Feather (Peek-a-Poo) And Geo CachingThis is Feather. He is a 10 month old Peek-a-Poo. He loves Geo Caching. The picture is of Feather and one of the 15 Geo Caches we found on our summer camping trip to the Oregon Coast. Geo Caching is a great outdoor activity for families or almost anyone. All you need is a hand held GPS unit (you can get them for less than $100).

 

Halloween Popcorn Hand Party FavorThese favors are always a hit with children and adults too. They get a kick out of receiving the favor because of the "novelty" of the use of the glove.

 

Use Warm Water When Frosting CakeWhen frosting a cake with a rubber spatula, first dip in some warm water then proceed to frost. It helps apply smoothly and and preventing little pieces of the cake from coming off. Reapply the dipping method as needed.

 

Pumpkin-Carving PartyThink Superbowl and plan a pumpkin-carving party for your friends and family with children. Everyone brings a pumpkin and a food contribution.What a great way to open the holiday season!

 

Planning for RetirementRetirement, so you think you are ready or close to the magic age. Be prepared. Make sure you haven't any bills to pay out, like a car or house payments. Do you have your second insurance to cover you and your spouse when you see a doctor, or be rushed to the hospital?

 

Apple Candles For Teacher GiftsFor teacher gifts, I buy apple scented sampler candles, wrap them in holiday fabric, and tie with wired garland. Now that the kids are older and have several teachers they have a little something for each one.

 

TortizzasThe other night, after making tacos and the following night we made spaghetti, my husband and I had a great idea for the left overs - tortizzas!!

 

Wooden Cabinet Stained My Carpet?The carpeting got wet under a cheap, "wooden" bookcase and became stained. I'm guessing it's some sort of wood stain, although the cabinet is laminate over particle board. I've tried a carpet shampooer but it didn't even lighten. I was thinking of diluted bleach next; I've got nothing to lose.

 

Using Loamy Soil When Planting In Sandy Soil?I live in the tropics, on the beach. The ground of course is very sandy. I am aware of certain plants/trees that love sandy soil - coconuts, tropical pine, papaya, mangoes, citronella, passion fruit. There are many tropical fruit trees (guava, banana, avocado) that need a loamy type of soil which I do not have.

 

Laundry Powder Recipe Without Washing Soda?Does anyone know a good recipe for homemade laundry powder without washing soda? I haven't had any luck finding it in my neighborhood grocery stores, and I don't have a car to go farther afield. I know that it's orderable online, but the shipping is really expensive. Would equal parts soap, borax, and baking soda work? Any advice appreciated!

 

Finches Sitting on Infertile Eggs?My finches have been sitting on their eggs for over 2 weeks. I'm not sure of the sex. I have a "fawn" female/male and a "chocolate" female/male. I've had them a little over a month and a few weeks ago I realized they were sitting on eggs.

 

Decorating a Corn Crib?In the vacant lot next to our house there is a Corn crib and I have decided to decorate this for the holiday of each month as our little town is celebrating its 125th year. I am stumped for November. I have Halloween already done and ideas for the rest of the months except November.

 

Shout Color Catchers Sheets?Where can I find Shout Color Catcher sheets?

 

Getting Rid Of Invasive Ferns?How do I safely rid my yard of invasive ferns?0

 

Red Wax on White Polyester Dress?How do I get red wax out of a white polyester Christmas dress? Last Christmas my daughter twirled her dress and knocked over a wax melt onto her dress.

 

Discontinued Wallpaper: Imperial Wallcoverings #CS8042?I am looking for Imperial Wallcoverings wallpaper. The item# is CS8042 and the lot # is 000188678. It is a stripe pattern with 2 different shades of blue and white. Does anyone have it or know where I can get it in North Jersey?

 

Winterizing Roses?In winterizing roses, do they have to be confined by cones. I am tempted to try hilling alone and wish to use shredded leaves mixed with top soil. Does this make sense? Also, I would like to cut up cross sections of paper leaf bags to act as restraining devices for the leaf/soil mix. Any advice gratefully received.

 

Getting Rid of Odors in a Cement Basement?I live in a 75 year old house and the cement basement smells horrible. It has a small pantry and a furnace room only. When I use the furnace the smell comes through the heat vents upstairs. I have mopped the floors with bleach, placed Damp Rid and other odor eaters down there and nothing seems to get rid of it. I have dryer sheets over the vents upstairs to mask the smell. Any ideas?

 

Crafts Using Small Baskets?Does anyone have a craft using small baskets (3 in. long and 2 in. high)?

 

Lasagna Polenta Recipe?I noticed info regarding the Lasagna Polenta. I searched the website looking for the recipe - but did not locate it. Did I miss it in one of the newsletters?

 

Looking For Biz Detergent in Florida?I love Biz and need to know where I can find it in my area. I have been to the local stores and NO ONE has it. Please let me know where I can find BIZ in the Clearwater, Florida area. To me Biz is the best product ever made and I need to get some more.

 

Using Polyurethane On Outdoor Furniture?I want to know if anyone has ever put polyurethane on a table for the outside. I am worried about run off and it becoming sticky in the summer heat. Any suggestions are welcomed. Thanks.

 

Extracting Citronella Juice from a Plant?I know that citronella keeps away mosquitoes. I have access to lots of citronella plants. How do I make citronella juice or extract? I want to mix it with a regular bar of bath soap (how do I melt the soap?). I would also like to mix it with candles to make citronella candles?

 

Olive Garden Style Chicken Gnocchi Soup Recipe?My family ate at Olive Garden the other night. Does anyone have a recipe for the Chicken Gnocchi Soup? It was wonderful!

 

Looking For Yo-Yo Patterns?Does anyone have yo-yo patterns they would like to share? I have one for a Christmas Tree and a basket that can be put on towels. I am in the process of attaching yo-yo to form a Christmas tree to finger towels for Christmas presents. But I would be interested in other uses also.

 

Putting New Tiles on Top of Old Tiles?I used the wrong type of tiles (wall tiles) to floor my bathroom. Now these tiles, which are porous, have collected scum and algae in the tiny porous holes. They are impossible to bleach (with Clorox) or acid clean. So now I want to replace these tiles. Can I just lay new tiles on top of the old ones without removing the old tiles first? It would save me a lot of time. Thanks.

 

Arm and Hammer HE Laundry Detergent?I have been looking at my grocery store for Arm and Hammer Laundry Detergent HE for over a year and they do not carry it. I have tried a few other stores in the area and they also do not carry it. Could you please let me know where I can purchase it? I have been using that detergent for over 15 years and if I can't find it, I will need to find another detergent to use.

 

Accessories For 1/24 Scale Doll House?I am looking for things to make and print out for my 1/24 scale doll's house. Any ideas?

 

Freezing Scalloped Potatoes?I would like to know if you can freeze scalloped potatoes. I do make mine low fat; I use non fat milk, butter buds and sometimes I use unflavored soy milk or unflavored rice milk. You can't even tell the difference.

 

Preventing Toilet Clogs?How can I prevent a toilet from clogging?