November 12, 2008

Gift Mix: Russian TeaThis makes such a nice gift for the holidays, especially put in a pretty jar with the recipe and mixing instructions on a nice little card and ribbon! Or, you can buy a nice cup, put some of the tea in a plastic bag, and give it wrapped in colored cellophane and a bow!

 

Turtle SquaresPreheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Make the cake according to the directions. Pour about 3/4 of the batter into a nonstick jellyroll pan and bake for 10 minutes.

 

Fool-Proof Dark Rye BreadDissolve the yeast, in warm water, with the lard. Add the salt, rye meal, sugar and white flour. Knead together and let it rise for 2 hours. Put into 2 greased pans and let rise again.

 

Ranch Jack ChickenBrown the chicken strips in olive oil and add salt and pepper, to taste. Place the chicken strips in a glass baking dish, sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Pour the ranch dressing over the top of each strip and add the Monterey Jack cheese.

 

Easy Fried Cheese SticksWrap your mozzarella sticks with egg roll wraps then fry in oil. They come out crunchy, not greasy,and there's no mess. My friends and family love them.

 

Old Fashioned Butterscotch PiePut the butter and 3/4 cup sugar in skillet and brown. Add warm milk egg yolks, cornstarch; cook until thick. Add vanilla and pour into baked pie shell.

 

Reuben RollHeat the oven to 400 degrees F. Unroll the pizza dough and lay the pastrami on top of the dough, leaving 1/2 inch border around the edges. Spread the Russian dressing over the pastrami and spread the sauerkraut over each pastrami slice.

 

Rhubarb-Apple ChutneyTie cloves in small cheesecloth bag. Put rhubard, apples, raisins, onion, garlic, brown sugar, salt, ginger, cinnamon, vinegar and water in a large heavy saucepan. Add bag of cloves and bring to boil. Turn down heat and boil gently, uncovered, until thick about 1 1/2 hours Stir often.

 

Don't Cook Your Turkey in the OvenOne way we have found to decrease the time in the kitchen on Thanksgiving and other holidays is to use an alternate source for cooking the main course - turkey, ham, etc.

 

Turkey Pumpkin CenterpieceStep by step instructions on how to create this beautiful centerpiece, PDF instructions to print are included.

 

Check Return Policies If Shopping For Christmas EarlyThis tip is regarding returns to stores. If you are like me you like to shop early for Christmas. I went into a shop at the end of October to purchase a gift for my sister-in-law.

 

Healthy Pets: 5 Tips For Organic Flea ControlDoes your dog or cat have a flea problem? So instead of running to the pet store, here are 5 safe and effective remedies to cure flea infestations organically.

 

Make Your Own Photo Wrapping PaperHere's a way to personalize all your gifts in a way no one else can. Select your favorite photos or make photos that are meaningful to you (the giver) or the recipient.

 

Tucker (Retired Racehorse)This is Tucker, an adopted ex standard bred pacer racehorse. He's 20 and doing great. Adopting a racehorse is an inexpensive way of getting the use of a well bred and well trained horse! You don't own the horse, you just get to pay for all the expenses and of course, get to enjoy the animal.

 

Product Review: Gray Magic Color AdditiveSomeone on Thriftyfun recommended Gray Magic for hard to color gray hair. I tried it last week and it worked. The instructions recommend 10 drops for one ounce of color.

 

Freshen House While You VacuumHere's a good way to freshen your house while you vacuum. When putting a new vacuum cleaner bag in your machine, place a cotton ball soaked in clove or you favorite scented oil inside the bag (or in the plastic container on the bag-less models).

 

Scenery: MonacoMonaco

 

Puzzle Piece PinsA ways back, someone asked what she could do with puzzle pieces. I tried to describe these, but until I found them, could not do a good job. So, here they are!

 

Use Recycled Items For Homemade DollhouseMy daughter, Eryn, created her own recycled doll house out of recycled items from around our home. Large cardboard box for the house, cereal boxes as dividers for the rooms, lids, wrapping paper for wallpaper, bows, glitter glue and paint, plastic applesauce containers for a table....

 

Use Maps as Wrapping PaperThis wrapping paper idea came from one of my friends years ago. Use outdated atlases and maps for colorful, cool-looking, and good quality wrapping paper. I use mostly for birthday gifts, but cut out a silhouette of Santa in his sleigh and/or reindeers and attach for Christmas gifts.

 

Easy No Sew Window ValanceI took a dust ruffle from a bed and cut it lengthwise first for the length of the window. I had 2 windows side by side. I left enough of the white part of the sheet to make into tabs because I don't sew.

 

Craigslist Bargains at the End of the MonthI do a lot of shopping on craigslist. I have found that I get the best bargains at the end of the month when many people are moving, and don't want to move something to their new home.

 

Frozen Foods at Dollar TreeI recently found that my local Dollar Tree carries high quality brand name frozen foods. I got Green Giant steam in the bag vegetables for a dollar a pack, which is much less expensive than at my local supermarket.

 

Temporary Fix for a Hose LeakCreate a temporary seal for a water hose or small air hose leak, with the labels from some of the plastic drink bottles. The label will come off, if you crush the bottle into itself. Then slip the label sleeve over the leaking water hose, or air hose and apply heat using a hair dryer.

 

Get Rid of Mice with ExlaxWe owned and operated a seasonal fishing camp/resort out in the bush. Our cabins, lodge and washroom facilities were basic & simple. It was a summer business. In the fall we closed down, and in came the mice, although we lived year round on site with 5 cats!

 

Getting Bouncy, Shiny Hair?Does anybody know of anything that will make my hair bouncy, shiny, and lustrous without making it too dry, too greasy, or too frizzy?

 

Looking for a Non-Electrical Washing Machine?Looking to buy a non electrical washing machine. I had one and it got lost somehow. You add hot water and crank to wash. It has a faucet in the bottom to drain and has a crank to wring. I have seen one made by Mennonites called a "James Washer" for slightly over $700 minus tax ans S/H. Thanks for any ideas.

 

Places to Live After Retirement?I am thinking about moving when I retire to northeastern GA, eastern KY or eastern TN. I would like to live in a place with around 15,000 people or less. I am looking for ideas and/or suggestions. Thank you in advance.

 

Painting Non-Laminate Countertop?I have a yellow countertop in my bathroom that I don't like and I was planning to paint it. However, it's not a laminate countertop but a solid-surface (resin-acrylic or modified polyester) instead. Can I still paint it?

 

Ideas for Positive Incentives for Good Behavior?I am looking for ideas of toys and children's items to give to our children as a positive incentive for good behavior.

 

Help With a Wild Pit Bull?I'm wondering if I could get any tips on this: I have come to live with my grandparents in the country, and heard that there was a pit bull someone had dumped, running wild in the area.

 

Root Beer Stains on Curtains?I have new curtains that are colonial blue. They are 55% polyester, 45% cotton, with 100% acrylic backing. Someone has splattered root beer on one of them. How can I remove root beer stains on curtain panel?

 

Halloween Window Slime Stains on Oak Table?Halloween red slime for windows has stained my light oak dining table like a bad tattoo. I've tried bleach pen, Windex, Tilex, Hydrogen Peroxide, Rubbing Alcohol, soap and water, to no avail. How can I clean this beautiful table, please?

 

Game Ideas for Family Easter Dinner Celebration?I am looking for fun games and activities. I am in charge of entertainment for our annual progressive dinner multiple family Easter celebration. I need ideas for a mixed age group. Games such as scavenger hunts, funny suppers, or an amazing race. I have done all of the above but am now looking for some more ideas for non-board game and non-computer activities.

 

My Dog Barks All The Time?Help me with my pom! I recently adopted a dog from a local no-kill animal shelter. I love him, but he is driving me crazy. At the top of the list is his barking.

 

Preserved Barbecued Squid Recipe?Does anyone have a recipe for bottled, barbecued squid? I want to bottle (preserve) some squid but want to try barbecue.

 

Canned Watermelon Rind?Does anyone have an easy, yet tasty, preserved watermelon rind recipe?

 

Hollywood Themed College Ball?My college is throwing a Hollywood themed ball. Does anyone have any good ideas we could use? We have a month and a $250 budget so the cheaper the better but I'm open for anything! We need ideas for centerpieces, general decorations (things to be hung up and things for the walls), decorations for the dance floor, balloons, etc. There will be about 300 people in attendance and an open bar! I really appreciate this and so will everyone at my school!

 

Cleaning Mineral Deposits From Vases?My crystal vases and crystal glasses that were left with water for more than a couple of days have mineral deposit rings where the water level was.

 

Removing Mothball Smell from Bras?I bought brand new Playtex bras second hand. The catch is I can't get rid of the mothball smell. I've tried vinegar and left it in water over night. Yet the smell is still there. Any answers?