January 7, 2009

One-Pan Banana BreadIn one bowl or in your baking pan... Mix in order until moistened, then beat vigorously for 1 minute. Pour into loaf pan (9x5x3 inches) that has been greased generously on bottom and sides.

 

Mock Pizza Burgers

 

Beef Chili BakeIn skillet cook beef and onions until meat is browned; drain excess fat. In small mixing bowl, combine cornstarch and water. Stir into meat mixture along with condensed soup, milk and seasoning mix. Cook and stir until slightly thickened and bubbly.

 

Taco TreatsSince the most economical way to prepare a meal is to see what you have on hand before starting, we get new recipes all the time. They don't always please us, but this one did. It reminds me of the jalapeno pepper popper things in the frozen food section of the grocery store, except that it has beef added.

 

Growing Edible FlowersMany cultures have used edible flowers in their traditional dishes for centuries. Whether you grow them alongside your vegetables or in containers, edible flowers are a wonderful way to bring added color, texture and flavor to your favorite summer dishes.

 

Use Leather Shoelaces To Repair BasketsMy sisters and I have been going through our parents' personal things since their deaths. One of my children found a vintage picnic basket but the caning on the back that held the top to the bottom was broken. Rather than toss the basket, I put my thinking hat on.

 

My Frugal Life: Finding a Use for "Useless" ItemsWell, I work as a social worker with a non-profit. This generally means that we have no money. My job is to look at things in a new way and find a new or application for them. We recycle everything!

 

Buffy (Toy Poodle)Buffy is a toy poodle, she will be 2 in November. My Bf bought her as a Valentine's gift for me in February of '07

 

Pinecone TreesThese trees are quite easy to make and they would look great on a table or any small place you would like to put them. They also seem to be the right size to go with the miniature villages that are so popular these days.

 

Keeping Kids Hands Clean in the YardI have four children and in the summer time when they are outside a lot, I save small pieces of soap and put them in a knee high (or pantyhose) and tie the knee high to the outside water tap so that they can easily wash their hands without running in and out of the house so much.

 

Good Enough for the Queen's DogWhat is good enough for the queen's dog is good enough for my Pug. Our Pug was suffering from very bad skin allergies. It was so bad that there were raw patches in her skin. So we took her to the vet and they took care of the symptoms, but not the source.

 

Use a Baby Bottle Nipple for Transferring LiquidsThis could be recycling, too. When you need to transfer something from a larger bottle to a smaller one, I use an old baby bottle nipple.

 

Homemade "GAK" RecipeMix together 8 oz Elmer's Glue with 3/4 cup water + 2 drops food coloring (optional). Dissolve 1 tablespoon "20 Mule Team Borax" (found in laundry aisle) in 1/4 cup warm water.

 

Roll Sweatpants for a Tidy DrawerI lay my sweatpants flat, fold them in half, then take the bottom of the legs and roll up to the waist.

 

Print and Frame Regularly Used SchedulesThis is a tip for decorating and organizing at the same time. I love to decorate meaningfully. I recently scanned a garbage collection schedule distributed to households by the government, divided the image into two parts, printed each on a standard photo paper and put the photos in a nice picture frame.

 

Savanna and Daisy (Cat)This is Savanna peering out the window at Daisy.

 

Different Christmas TreeHappy holidays to all the great folks on here. I just had to show everyone my decoration for a different tree, least it has some Xmas effect for me. Happy Holidays.

 

Save Money, Buy Men's DeodorantMen's deodorant is usually a lot cheaper than women's deodorant. I often buy the men's stuff in unscented. It's nice to have it last longer and I have noticed no difference in using it. It works great.

 

Thrifty Fabric for Sewing ClothingI have made shorts and blouses from a large bed sheet, also curtains, pillow cases, etc. It's often cheaper than fabric from fabric store.

 

Try a Bowling Birthday PartyBowling parties for birthday parties are fun for the whole family. My niece lives near a bowling alley in her town. Her house has become too small to have everyone over. She organizes bowling parties for her 2 boys birthdays.

 

Use Microfiber Instead of Furniture PolishInstead of buying expensive furniture polishes, just buy 2 microfiber cloths from the super market. Wet 1 of them wring it out so its just damp and use that to wipe over the furniture and dry with the other one. I do this because I get bad dermatitis on my hands.

 

Wedding and Reception Locations in New Orleans, LA?I'm looking for somewhere to do a wedding ceremony and a reception (cocktail, buffet, or whatever) for 100 people in New Orleans this June. It doesn't matter if it's all in one place or two locations. I have a max budget of $4000 for everything. Any suggestions?

 

Green Themed Birthday Party?My daughter's 10th b-day is at the end of April. I'm not sure what games to play. She loves the color green. Any suggestions?

 

Buying Something to Play Music?My soon to be 80 years old husband has a number of old time singers that he likes and I want to know what kind of equipment will play the music.

 

Crystallized Cat Urine?I have two adult cats, one about 13 and the other about six or seven. I have read lots about cats having difficulty urinating, urinating in odd places, etc. and crystals in their urine. During the past few months I have found small yellowish deposits which strike me as being what a mixture of water and brown sugar would look like after the water has evaporated.

 

Growing Amaryllis in Texas?I live in San Antonio, TX but I do not know my zone. Can amaryllis thrive in the yard? It gets hot here in the summer. Could I plant them under a crape myrtle? Is special soil required? Thank you.

 

Decorating a Shared Bedroom?We need ideas on how to decorate a room that is going to be shared by a boy and a girl. Our son is 3 1/2 and is in to sports and our daughter is almost 1 and we're doing a princess theme. Unfortunately we just moved into a house that is smaller than our other house and they are having to share a room. I'm wanting to paint it in a way that matches both of their themes! Any ideas? We are on a budget too!

 

What Breed is My Dog?I would like to know what breed my dog is. I'd say that he has some Husky in him but my friend told me that it has no Husky. I'd like to know your opinion on what breed you think my dog is. He doesn't howl like Huskies, but it's a challenge to train him.

 

Event Reminder System?I was using Red Envelope for an event reminder, but they stopped sending notices. Does anyone have a system that works? One that reminds 2 weeks and 3 days before the event?

 

Making Muffin Tops Crunchy?I would like to know what Dunkin' Donuts or supermarkets use to make the top of their muffins so crunchy and yummy? It could be something as simple as sugar. I've tried without any success in getting that nice crunch.

 

Male Cat Nurses Itself to Sleep?I know this is very odd but I'm at my wits end. My 9 month old male cat who is been neutered "nurses" himself at night. He seems to do this every night in my bed and he has to be touching me. To me it seems to be a form of self pleasure for him. I know this is a bad topic but if anyone can help me I would be grateful. I love my cat very much and want him to be healthy. I also have his sister but have not noticed any odd behaviors from her. Why does he do this? And should I be worried?

 

Removing Black Paint from Clothing?My daughter got black paint on her lilac winter jacket and it's a real mess. I tried the rubbing alcohol, the hand sanitizer and the Goo Off. Nothing is working. Please help. She also got some on her jeans and I have tried all of the above without any luck too.

 

Substitute for Olive Oil?Everywhere I look for healthy diets and healthy fats its olive oil this and olive oil that. Well olive oil, even the smell of it, literally makes me ill. Is there any not too drastically expensive substitute for olive oil that has somewhat the same benefits?

 

Recipe for White Wine and Meat?I am not a wine expert but as a gift I received a bottle of Chardonnay and Zenfedel wines. Is the old saying white wine goes with white meat still apply? If this is true I am in need of a casserole recipe that will feed 5 people and I have on hand some pork tenderloin. Would that be considered white meat or would it have to be chicken etc.? I need the recipe for a dinner at our house just before the new year or soon after. Thanks in advance.

 

Repairing Wood Paneling?I have one room in my house that is all paneling. Every wall is floor to ceiling. At first I really liked it, but it is mostly a spare room and when my outdoor chain link fence fell, I kept my big, completely outdoor dogs in that room as I did the repairs. Needless to say the beautiful wood paneling is now scratched and nicked and hideously damaged in more than one spot from my dogs jumping up on the door, window sill, etc.

 

Washing a Down Jacket?We have been gifted a small sized 75% down jacket, for a petite person. I fixed the zipper, and now we have to find a new owner! So, since we now have a nice little down jacket, how can I launder it safely? The label says "dry clean only" but I do not permit dry cleaning chemicals to touch my skin, much less the unsuspecting new owner.

 

Using a Crockpot to Make Fudge?I started making fudge and am using a double boiler on my stove to melt the chocolate chips and butter. Does anyone use a crock pot or any other method for this? I am always looking for shortcuts! Thanks.

 

Boiling Partially Frozen, Raw Chicken Breasts?Is it safe to boil partially frozen raw chicken breasts?

 

Preventing Fleas from Moving With You?I am moving and don't want to take any fleas with me. How can I prevent this?

 

Removing Wheel on MTV Riding Lawn Mower?We have an MTV Riding Lawn Mower and my husband has been trying to take off the back wheel. He removed the bolt and tried to pull it off. It wouldn't come off, so he sprayed it with WD40. No luck,so he bought a puller and he said all it was doing was bending stuff. Can you tell me what the problem is and how he can get it off safely without tearing something up on it. We would be so grateful. Blessings to all of you and thank you.

 

Reusing Pasta Water?Is it safe to re-used water that pasta has been cooked in? Say I'm cooking pasta for dinner when my roommate comes home and is going to the same. Can I drain water from my pasta into another pot and have her re-use it?

 

Weight Gaining Recipes?Does anyone have any healthy weight gain recipes? I have always been slender and fit but I can't seem to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight of 125lbs. I keep floating in between 110lbs and 115lbs.

 

Knifty Knitter Dog Sweater Patterns?I make lots of hats and scarves, and love them. Especially the hats, they are really fun. I want to know how to make sweaters for my two chihuahuas if anyone has a pattern.

 

Protecting Hardwood Floor from Cat Pee?Is there something I can put under a rug to keep cat pee from getting on the hardwood floor? When I have gone on vacations, my cats pee on the rugs, beds or what ever they find that is fabric. Their way of saying they don't like me leaving. I was hoping someone might know what I can put under the rugs to prevent cat pee from going on my hardwood floor.

 

12 Year Old Learning to Use a Sewing Machine?My 12 year old daughter is interested in a sewing machine. She has never used one, nor have I for that matter. If I purchase a cheap model, can she learn how to use it by following directions that come with the machine and of course patterns? Just a thought for Christmas next year. Thanks.

 

Food Sticking to Stainless Steel Skillet?I brought a 10' stainless steel skillet from Bed, Bath and Beyond for $25.99. Does anyone know why it sticks while I am frying in it? There's more batter stuck in the pan than on the fish when I'm done. Please help.

 

Selling Plywood Yard Art?Is plywood yard art a big seller and are there many people doing it?

 

Bugs on Plants That Were Brought Inside?I have brought plants inside for the winter and have little tiny brownish colored bugs all over a new sprout. They fall from the windowsill to the counter and they are getting really aggravating. I have tried wiping them off with a wet paper towel but they just come back. I have also tried spraying them and the whole plant with a mixture of water/dawn dish liquid. Any suggestions?

 

Getting Rid of Dog Eye Stains?How do you get rid of eye stains on dogs? Are there home remedies that actually work, that are safe?

 

Ezekiel Bread Recipe?Does anyone have a recipe for the Ezekiel Bread, like you buy at the Health Food Store? My husband is on a No Sugar, No Flour diet and this bread is very expensive to buy. I would appreciate any help from you. Thanks.

 

Planning a Driving Trip?Starting at New Orleans, LA, driving to the Grand Canyon, to Vegas, to Los Angeles, and then back to New Orleans. Can this be done, with sightseeing, with a 2 week schedule? I want to see and do everything possible. This is actually my honeymoon! Thanks.

 

Christy's Seafarin' Salad Recipe?Kudos for the Roumelade recipe from Christie's, my all time favorite restaurant. I have been looking for Christie's "Seafarin' Salad" recipe and would like to know if anyone has it. Also, I noticed a Christie's now open in Houston, and was wondering if this is the same family. Thanks!

 

Discount Grocery Stores Near Philadelphia (19140)?Is there a discount/salvage supermarket in Philly (near 19140) besides Save-a-Lot?

 

Recipes Using Mashed Potatoes?I am looking for a recipe for leftover mashed potatoes besides potato cakes.

 

Caring for a Suede Jacket?I received a hand-me-down suede jacket, how would I spruce it up? How do I waterproof it? What happens when it gets rained on? Any advice you extend would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

Finnish Wedding Cake Recipe?Does anyone have a recipe for Finnish Wedding Cake? It is a very moist yellow cake and it has fruit in between the layers and on top of the cake it is piled with different fruits (strawberries, grapes, bananas, oranges, etc.) in a centerpiece arrangement.

 

Cabinet Front Has Turned White?The dark wood kitchen cabinet front above the microwave has an area that has turned white. What caused this? Steam? How do I clean it?

 

Training a Husky for Sledding?How do we train a Siberian Husky for sledding? What types of commands and strategies do we use for this activity?

 

Easy Cracker Recipes?I am looking for easy recipes to make crackers. I don't need anything fancy.

 

Games to Use for Homeschooling?I'd like to get some of the games like Diner Dash and such for my kids to use as part of their homeschooling. I was wondering if anyone knew what I could use them as subject-wise. Math, Economics, etc.

 

Hanging Holly Under Windows?I noticed this year a lot of people had a flat piece of holly with a red bow in the center placed on their windowsills on the outside of the home. I would like to do this next year and was wondering how to keep it in place.

 

Getting Kids to Sleep Through the Night?I have 3 year old twins that have recently started waking up during the middle of the night, off and on for 2 or more hours. I'm exhausted, and so is my husband. Please share any tips you have to help them stay asleep!

 

Organizing a Charity Dog Walk?I would really like to devote some time to launching a charity dog walk this summer or fall. It would benefit a wonderful organization in my area, which provides no-questions-asked reduced price spay/neuter services. Sometimes they even drop their price to $10 per pet, and they take a deeper loss just to get more pets fixed. Any advice on where to start with something like this (plus prizes, locations, etc.) would be greatly appreciated!

 

Identifying Purity of Silver Platter?I found a silver fruit plater at a carboot. I know that pure silver is marked 925 but can any one tell me what S431 means. I am nearly one hundred percent sure it is silver but I am not sure how pure.