December 22, 2008

BaklavaMy partner and I don't really celebrate Christmas, so we're usually quite bored on the 25th of December as we have no friends or family around. A few years ago we started making this on Christmas Day.

 

Rest A-Lot StewBrown meat. When browned place meat and all ingredients in a casserole dish with a tight lid. Bake at 275 degrees F for 4-5 hours.

 

Black Bean and Sweet Potato Stew (Vegan)This will easily serve 4-6 people and costs less than $5 to make and has tons of vitamins!

 

Blueberry CrumblePlace blueberries in buttered 1 1/4qt. shallow baking dish. Combine sugar, orange peel, mace and cardamon. Sprinkle sugar mixture and pie crust mix in alternate layers over blueberries.

 

Turkey Broccoli CasseroleA fine way to use turkey leftover. In a greased casserole, mix turkey and vegetables. Season.

 

Jello RibbonGrease lightly an oblong pan. Make 1 package orange with 3/4 cup boiling water and 3/4 cup cold water. Pour in pan and set 30 minutes or until firm. Make second package of orange with 3/4 cup hot water and 3/4 cup condensed milk (cold). Pour on first layer and set 15-20 minutes. Proceed with each color in same manner.

 

Cheesy Hash Browns with Sour CreamIn a heavy saucepan, melt the butter and 2 cups of the cheddar cheese. Stir constantly for about 1 minute and remove from heat. In a large bowl, combine the hash browns, onions, and sour cream.

 

Italian ChickenPlace the chicken breast pieces, single layer, in an 8 inch baking dish. Stir the mushrooms and Italian seasoning into the sauce. spoon the sauce on top of the chicken. Bake at 350 degrees F for 25-30 minutes. To serve, place the chicken on top of the pasta. Sprinkle lightly with Parmesan cheese.

 

Baked Lemon HalibutCut halibut steak into serving pieces. Salt and pepper both sides. Combine the remaining ingredients. Dip halibut. Place in shallow casserole dish and sprinkle with leftover lemon mixture.

 

Ginger Orange Nut BallsDelicious for Christmas time. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients except additional coconut and orange rind. Chill at least 1 hour. Shape into 1-inch balls. Roll in additional coconut mixed with rind. Store tightly covered in refrigerator.

 

Frugal Recyclable Gift CardsI make cards whenever possible but when I have to buy one, I am always amazed at how much they cost. I like to give truly recyclable cards.

 

Thaw Frozen Veggies When Draining PastaWhen I'm making pasta salad or a hot dish with pasta and frozen veggies, I cut out a step this way. I pour the frozen veggies (or even fresh broccoli cut small, fresh peas or shredded carrots) into the strainer first, and then drain the pasta right on top of them.

 

Craft: Christmas Bear In A JarHot glue a small Christmas bear to the bottom of an old fashioned canning jar, add some greenery, include something like the snow shoes or you could add a mail box or a small wrapped gift, etc. add some fake snow and a pretty ribbon on the jar and you've got a very cute original Christmas decoration.

 

Anything WreathsThis are pictures of what I call Anything Wreaths, just to show you can make your own wreaths very inexpensively out of just about anything. Both are made using grapevine bases, which I picked up for pennies at yard sales, and a glue gun.

 

Give "Joy" For ChristmasInstead of plain ol' Christmas cards, I wanted to make something small for everyone at work. I made 50 of these and they were quick, cheap, and easy! It was about $7 for 2 bags of the Almond Joys, I had some card stock at home and printed the little cards out on my computer. I wonder what my co-workers will think when they see these little treats on their desks in the morning!

 

Christmas Santa PurseThis is a cute Christmas purse made from an old Santa's hat you might have stashed away in the Christmas decorations.

 

Flower Pot Christmas GiftI just came back from my weekly thrift store run and found small ceramic flower pots, already painted for 40 cents each. I am adding a envelope (downloaded from Alenka's printables) of seeds from my garden and a candy cane. I will give these as a small gift for office co-workers, since I am known as mother nature--this fits perfect with everyone's thoughts of me.

 

Making New Clothes from Old ClothesWhen my children were growing up I used to take all my husband's, and my old jeans and shirts and make simple shorts with elastic bands for my kids. Then for my girls and myself I would make little sun tops out of strips of material here is how that is done. Here's how...

 

Decorate Holiday CupcakesI decorate cup cakes with cute little marshmallow holiday treats. I just make my own icing from powdered sugar (1 box), 1 cup Crisco, a few Tbsp. milk and 1 tsp vanilla flavoring.

 

Gift Bags for FamilyWith the economy like it is, I have come up with some ideas to save money on family gifts.

 

Chocolate Heaven FundraiserNeeding a successful fundraiser? An organization back where my husband is from, each year has a "Chocolate Heaven" fundraiser.

 

Decorating Small Christmas TreesDecorating a tiny tree? You can use all sorts of odd things on it. I clipped a bunch of hair clips with red decorative buttons on them onto the branches of one small tree, just the right scale.

 

Rosa The DogRosa is 1 1/2 years, approximately. Heaven knows what breed she is, but she's so ugly she's cute! She was adopted from the City Animal Shelter in Nashville, TN.

 

Colorful Christmas PinatasThese fun and colorful pinatas make a great gift and holiday activity for kids of all ages!This project requires three different sessions, each lasting approximately 30 minutes.

 

Finding Coupons for Holiday ShoppingDuring the holidays I always try to spend wisely. This year I am under larger budget constraints than ever, so I decided not to purchase any items online or at stores unless I have a coupon.

 

Craft: Create Your Personal Food TagsI just baked 2 lbs. of Classic Sugar Cookies, made a product tag and will attach it to the cookie tin. I took a picture of the cookies and created a tag using a Microsoft Document.

 

Heat Pinecones In Microwave For Craft ProjectsPine cones can be put into the microwave and heated on low temperature. Cones that have not opened will open up. They will be an undamaged specimen for craft projects. While doing this you will experience another benefit, free room freshener.

 

Thomas the Tank Engine Santa ShirtThis is so simple and involves no sewing! I first bought a green plain t-shirt at a craft store for $2.50 and then cut up a big Thomas from a pillow panel. Next I ironed on wonder under to the Thomas cut out and then peeled back the paper on the wonder under and ironed on the green shirt.

 

Industrial Strength Gift CanAs most of you know, I work in the cafeteria of my local school. Well, the other day the lunch lady was throwing a bunch of the big industrial cans from ketchup and fruit away. I took one look at the nice big cans and thought "I bet I could make something with those" So I promptly pulled them out of the trash.

 

Bulb in LED Flashlight Stopped Working?I left one of those LED wind up flashlights in my car on purpose. Well, the nights have been very cold and although the garage doesn't get down to freezing, you can imagine just how cold it can become. I took a walk around the block with the flashlight fully charged and one of the 4 LED bulbs dimmed out within 10 mins.

 

Reheating a Baked Potato?How do you warm up a baked potato?

 

Thickening Apple Butter?How do I thicken apple butter?

 

Divinity Fudge Not Setting Up?Why won't my Divinity Fudge set up?

 

Rooting the Top of a Norfolk Pine?My new Norfolk pine broke off at the top cluster of branches. Can I root this or plant it? Please help, thanks.

 

Cleaning Wood Vs. Laminate Flooring?I want to install wood/laminate floors in a new home I am buying. I prefer hardwood. I am concerned about cleaning them. I had hardwood in a house that I just moved out of (rented) and I cleaned them with my Scooba Robot using white vinegar and water. It did not seem to bother them, they looked as good when I moved out after 5 years. Any ideas on which kind is easier to clean?

 

Removing Mold on Curtains without Washing?How do you get rid of mold on curtains without washing them?

 

Are Thrifty Store Shoes Safe to Wear?Is it safe to wear thrift store shoes? Some people have athletic feet and foot fungus. Just curious before I buy.

 

Computer Deleted My Emails?I opened my mail this morning and it said I had 12 new messages, I deleted the first one and then suddenly the screen "rebooted", meaning that it went blank then came up again and all my new (12) emails were deleted. Can you help?

 

What Breed is My Dog?I just got this puppy, she was a dump on the side of the road. I have been told that she is a yellow lab/German Shepard mix. I have also been told that she is definitely a pit bull. Can someone help? I love her no matter what, I just want to know.

 

Embroidering a Vine onto a Scarf?Would anyone know of a pattern to embroider a vine on a scarf?

 

Removing Paint from a Wooden Table?How do you get paint off a wooden table without damaging the wood?

 

Reviews of High End Washer/Dryer Sets?Our washer and dryer of 10 years is starting to give out. The set was a cheaper one, and now my husband and I would like to replace it with a really high quality set. We are willing to spend some money if we won't have to replace it soon, and the set is energy efficient. Anybody have a set that they love or hate and why? Just want some input on what brands, style, etc. we should be looking into.

 

Maintaining Curly Hair?Any tips on how to maintain my curls?

 

Chocolate Rum Balls Recipe?Does anyone know how to make chocolate rum balls? We had them before and they were so good. Thanks for your help.

 

Risks of Roundworms for Humans?I'm looking for info about fleas and roundworm health risks to humans. We have had an infestation of fleas from a previous tenants cat that left "salt and pepper-like" droppings everywhere. Our dog has had an on-going issue with roundworms and tapeworms. I've had severe stomach-aches, fatigue, and loss of appetite. Am I just being paranoid? A friend said this can be harmful to humans.

 

Using a Janome 10000 Sewing Machine?Can someone teach me how to use my Janome 10000? I can do basic sewing, but I need to learn the embroidery part of this machine.

 

Fixing Washing Machine Leaks?We replaced the tub seal on the washing machine because it was torn up. After putting it back together we tested the low-water level cycle. It still leaks, but not from tub seal. We're very sure of this. The water comes from the brake/clutch assembly. We then noticed 2 small holes in the center (tubular part) of the inner tub but don't see how that could cause water to get down below. Is that possible?

 

Canceling Delivery of Rachel Ray Diet Supplements?I purchased some Acia Berry diet supplements for the Rachel Ray diet. If I don't cancel in 14 days they will charge my card $75 for this product. I requested the free sample where you pay for the shipping and handling. Please let we know if you have a web site or phone number. Thanks.

 

Triple Sheeting a Bed?I've been wanting to redecorate my room for a while now, but have hesitated because I didn't want to spend money on a new bedspread. The other night I stayed in a hotel where they "triple sheeted" my bed and I enjoyed how that felt and looked.

 

Blind Kitten Has Stopped Using the Litter Box?I saved a kitten that had eye goop and a runny nose. He is now blind and I can't not get him to use the litter box anymore. He did at first but in the past month he has been using the floor, usually right in front of the litter box. I put him in the box when I see him starting to go but sometimes he freaks out when I stick him in there. Why? I need to save my floors, please help!

 

Learning to Use the Computer and Internet?My grandpa wants to learn to use the computer and Internet. Because of my job I do not get enough time to teach him. He doesn't want to go out and take classes. Any other easy ways?

 

How Many Ounces is a No. 303 Can?I have an old recipe that calls for a NO. 303 can of fruit cocktail. What size can would that be in ounces? It is used in a great recipe for a fruit cocktail cake that is very moist. Thanks for any help on this.

 

Purchasing a Casket Online?Did anyone ever purchase a casket on line? Was it delivered on time and as advertised?

 

Water/Ice Dispenser is Leaking?I have a leaky side by side with water/ice dispenser, but no supply line is hooked up to the unit. I have a frozen lake in the bottom of the freezer, how do I fix this? I took everything out of the fridge/freezer for two days to let it thaw. About 2 weeks later I am leaking again. Please help!

 

What Breed is My Dog?Has anyone seen a mixed breed like this? I have been going crazy searching all over the world wide web for pictures that look like our baby Raider. He is now 5 1/2 months., born early July 2008. We adopted him from the Fremont shelter.

 

Enlarging a Hole in a Porcelain Plate?I am trying to enlarge a hole in a porcelain plate. Any tips would help!

 

Keeping Driveway Clear of Plowed Snow?I live in New England. We've had our first snowstorm of the year with more to come (supposedly). Any tips on how to avoid the snowplowed snow from the street from blocking our driveway. Just thought maybe someone had a nifty tip for this.

 

Kittens Scratching Wallpaper?How do you stop kittens from scratching wallpaper?

 

Removing Stains on a Granite Headstone?Red dye from a floral arrangement stained granite a cemetery headstone. Does anyone know how to remove it?

 

Storing Sweet Potatoes?How do I store sweet potatoes?

 

Preventing Suede Shoes from Getting Shiny?I recently bought some rough leather boots at JCPenney's. I have several pair of shoes made of this material. It's not the slick leather, it's more of a suede. The toe area on almost every pair after a few wears begins to wear thin and get shiny. This looks really bad.

 

Black Stains on Ceiling?I have black stains on my ceiling, in the corners and following my truss line. Any ideas what causes this?

 

Measuring Marshmallow Creme for Fudge Recipe?I have a Fanny Farmer fudge recipe calling for 1 pint of marshmallow creme. It is sold in my area in 7 ounce jars. I know 16 ounces is a pint. But a 7-ounce jar contains about 2 1/2 cups of marshmallow creme. How much should I use in a recipe calling for a 1-pint jar?

 

Christmas Gift Ideas for an 11 Year Old Boy?What's the ideal Christmas gift for a 11 yr old boy within a $50 budget?

 

Household Coupons?I am looking for coupons for food and household goods. Thank you.

 

Removing Diesel Smell on Dog's Paws?How do I remove diesel smell from a dog's paws?

 

Tool for Tracking Live Metrics?Is there any test tool that tracks live metrics? Can anyone help me?

 

Freezing Shepard's Pie Made With Previously Frozen Potatoes?Can I freeze mashed potatoes, thaw them, and re-mash them to make Shepard's Pie? Can I then freeze the Shepard's Pie? Will the twice frozen mashed potatoes taste O.K.?

 

What Breed is My Dog?I would like to know if anyone knows what my dog is mix with. They said she is a Staffordshire terrier mix with lab but I don't see the lab part. Anyways if I could get help that would be great. She has a white patch on her chest and on the bottom of her feet.

 

Tying Ribbon to Cat Toys?I want to put ribbons or some long fibers on the balls that my cat likes. Hopefully it will make her run around and get exercise, she's a lay-about kitty. I don't want her to chew them up and get them stuck in her system (previous experience with Mylar). What is your experience? I was thinking grosgrain ribbon, but I'd like something not quite as heavy, but the kitty's health overrides everything else. Thanks for your thoughts.

 

What Breed is My Dog?What is breed is my dog? Is it a golden retriever? She's 3 1/2 months old.

 

How to Tell if a Dog is Sick?My daughter wants to know how to tell if our dog is sick. I can't remember, is it when the nose is cold and wet or dry and hot. Thanks!

 

Japanese Colored Dandelion Flowers?Does anyone know where I can get the Japanese Colored Dandelion flowers or seeds?