January 22, 2009

Oven Fried Chicken ParmesanCombine crushed cereal, Parmesan, parsley, garlic, and salt. Dip chicken in butter and roll in crumb mixture. Place pieces of chicken, skin side up, so they do not touch. Bake at 375 degrees F for 45 minutes.

 

Make Oats OvernightI want to feed my family whole grains and have found by experimenting that I can (wash first) one cup of oat groats and add 4 cups of water and cook the groats overnight (6 to 8 hrs) on low in my crock pot. They are ready in the morning.

 

Strawberry Rice SaladMix gelatin with boiling water. Add cooked rice and let cool until it begins to jell. Add remaining ingredients and chill.

 

Easy Chickpea Curry for a CrowdThis recipe is wonderful and freezes really well! Great if you want to feed a crowd of people without too much fuss, time, or money. I make this and freeze it for lunches.

 

Sweet Potato PoneGrate potatoes. Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs which have been well beaten. Mix potatoes, spices, milk and salt. Beat well and pour into a well-buttered pan. Bake at 300 degrees F for about 1 hour.

 

Sausage and Cabbage CasseroleChop cabbage, cook in boiling water with salt. Drain and save 2 cups liquid. Fry sausage and drain. Combine drippings and flour and add milk and cabbage water. Cook 5 minutes, stirring.

 

Sausage and Pecan DressingBake cornbread according to package directions. Cool and crumble into a large bowl. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook sausage until brown and crumbly, remove from the skillet but keep the oil in the pan.

 

Cherry Whip CakeMix cake mix as package directs. Pour into a 13x9-inch baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 to 35 minutes, cool for 15 minutes. Poke holes at 1/2-inch intervals, using a wooden spoon's handle. Mix Jell-o and water. Pour all over the cake.

 

Chicken ParisienneBrown Chicken on both sides in a large skillet. Arrange chicken, onion and mushroom in casserole. Mix remaining ingredients and make sauce. Pour over chicken. Bake in oven at 400 degrees F for 40-50 minutes.

 

Quickie MeatloafCombine all ingredients. Divide mixture into 12 to 15 equal parts and place in greased muffin tins. Bake for 15 minutes at 375 degrees F.

 

Summer Squash And Hamburger CasseroleBrown ground beef, onion, salt and pepper. Add remaining ingredients. Simmer or bake at 350 degrees F for 1 hour.

 

Ask for the DiscountWhen I was recently shopping at a well known kitchen ware shop, I found the grater I wanted with a slightly bent handle. At the checkout, I asked for the item to be discounted because of the handle, and it was the only one. 10% was taken off the whole price.

 

Time to Get Ready for Spring GardeningIt's winter, and I am covered in mailorder catalogs. I often have two or three open at a time, carefully making my selections of what I think I can grow this coming year. I also know some of the stores will have seeds for sale, very soon.

 

Set Up a Kids Christmas TreeAs empty nesters with a house emptied out, I decided to do something new this Christmas. Having just given our sun room a make-over, into a den just for us, I thought of putting up 2 trees, as each had access to a big window and these are the two rooms we spend our time in (living and den).

 

Fill Watering Cans When Waiting for Hot WaterWe have an instant on demand water heater, so while waiting for the cold water to run out of the pipes, instead of just letting it run, I put my flower watering pots on the counter and fill them until the water gets hot.

 

Use Tin Foil to Deter Cats from House PlantsI have read questions on how to keep cats out of your house plants. Simple, use tin foil. Lay tin foil around the plant on the dirt. Don't push it down onto the dirt or you will start to get some mold. Just lay it on top. Your cats will hate it, and your plants will be fine.

 

Make Gift "Baskets" in Useful Storage ContainersI hate Easter basket type gifts! This might sound harsh but what I really hate is the basket that these gifts come in. What do you do with them after the gift is gone?

 

Use a Divided Toddler Plate for DietingIf you started your New Year out with a resolution to slim down, then I have a great tip for you: buy a toddler sized three plate divider with a plastic lid. I purchased mine at Target for less than 2 dollars.

 

Dismantle Old Jewelry to Make New TreasuresInstead of throwing out old inexpensive beaded necklaces, bracelets, or mismatched or single earrings I no longer wear; I dismantle them and recombine them into a new piece of jewelry for myself or for a gift.

 

Use Olive Oil to Massage BabiesI took an Infant Massage Class when my son was born and the instructor had us use regular olive oil to massage our babies. It is cheaper than massage oil for babies. It is non-toxic according to our instructor and all natural.

 

Scenery: Lincoln City SunsetHere is a late summer photo from Lincoln City, OR. Those are my two little boys in the distance. I grew up in the Pacific Northwest and I love this time of day at the beach, right before sunset.

 

Valentine's Day CouponsMake this Valentine's Day special with the "14 Days of Valentine's" coupons! I made them using Photoshop, but you could also make them with craft paper, stickers, magazine cut outs, or printed items from your computer.

 

Yo-Yo PillowsI learned to make a yo-yo pillow at our local senior center which was so much fun. We used the Clover large round template. I also made my daughter one in purples with a dark purple background which turned out really nice.

 

Easy Caramel PieThis recipe will blow your mind! Take the labels off 2 (14 oz) cans of sweetened condensed milk and boil (in the unopened cans) for 3 hours, turning every 1/2 hour.

 

Use Scotch Tape to Help Clasp a BraceletNeed help clasping your bracelet on your wrist? Use Scotch tape to hold down the "eye" end, now just open clasp for attaching.

 

Fuzzy (Domestic Shorthair)Fuzzy is a 4 year old domestic shorthair cat. We adopted Fuzzy from a local rescue along with his brother, Pinky in February of 2007.

 

Take Photos of Your Garden in Different SeasonsThroughout the spring and summer, snap photos of your gardens so that when planning the next year's gardens, you can refer to photos and decide what to plant where, what needs to be moved to where, etc. Unless you have a steel trap mind, this is very handy for remembering!

 

Hang Bath Mat to DryTo keep your bath mat from molding, hang it on a towel rack. Do this as soon as you get out of bath or shower.

 

Garden Surprise for Valentine's DayThis takes some pre-planning but worth yearly returns. "Sneak" and plant very early blooming spring bulbs in someone's garden or lawn, prominent where they are sure to be seen. Try (easily) to find those that should be in full bloom during the week of the holiday.

 

Paying for College?I need suggestions for how to pay for college.

 

Where Do You Let Your Dough Rise?Where do others put their sour dough starter to rise when the house gets cold at night? On top of the water heater is where I used to put it but, the new water heater feels cool on top. It is in a small pantry and may be warm enough but our house is allowed to cool to 65 at night. My last batch just soured and didn't turn out. I think I got it so hot that it killed the yeast because I put it on the hearth. Any help from you pros would be appreciated!

 

Paint Color Ideas for Room with Maroon Carpet?I want to paint my living room which has maroon colored carpet. I would like to use some brown colors but I'm not sure where to start or what to use for walls and trim. Any suggestions?

 

Dachshund with Skin Problems?I have two mini dachshunds, short-hair. One has had the usual problem, short term, with summer grass, but the other has a far more significant problem that is ongoing. He scratches constantly and has raised lumps, especially on his underside.

 

Patterns for Crocheted Doll Furniture?I'm looking for patterns for crocheted doll furniture of all kinds. Can anyone help?

 

Build-Up on Shower Curtains?I bought a shower curtain that claims to not get build-up but it ended up getting it anyway. Does anyone know how best to clean them or what is the best one to buy so there is no build-up?

 

Nautical Themed Wedding Favors?My friend is having a July wedding and her theme is nautical. She's looking for favors that have that theme but can be of use later and not left on the table after the reception. Any ideas are appreciated and thank you in advance.

 

Dog is Throwing Up After Eating?I have a 1 year old poodle who has just recently started throwing up her food quite often. I have tried different dog food, changing her water bowl and giving her small amounts at a time, several times a day. Nothing seems to help.

 

Room with Honey Colored Parquet Floors?I'm moving into a new apartment with honey-colored parquet floors and I don't know how to decorate to complement/minimize these floors. Traditionally, I have always had dark wood furniture. Can I somehow decorate to minimize the clash between the two wood tones? Do I need to re-think my furniture (ie: paint it all white or visit Ikea?).

 

Jobs Working with the Elderly?I am just starting out in the gerontology program and I'm trying to find my place. I would like to work with elderly who are still fairly active and healthy. I have an art and design background, have done construction, love to travel, read and listen, dance and play. Are there opportunities for me?

 

What Breed is My Dog?What breed is my dog? He's 10 weeks and 12.5 lbs. His mom was a boxer/bulldog mix. The vet is estimating him to be a 40-45 lb dog. Any thoughts? We love him no matter what he is but we're curious. Thanks!

 

Dog Will Only Listen to Me?Can you tell me why my aunt's dog will only listen to me?

 

Mounting Photo Collages?I have ten 12x18 collages, one of each of my 10 grandchildren. I cannot afford to frame each one, so would like ideas on how I might be able to mount them as a group on a wall. It would be okay to tack them onto something, but would like ideas about what that something might be.

 

Conditioning a Dry Leather Purse?What can I use to condition a leather purse that looks dry? I would like to use something that I already have in my home.

 

Dirt Stains on Coat?My daughter's school coat has ground in dirt that I cannot get out, especially around the cuffs. I have sprayed stain remover and it does not help. Any suggestions?

 

Shower Water is Cold During the Winter?We have plenty of hot water in the shower during the summer months, but when cold weather sets in within a matter of a couple minutes it slowly gets cool. As the years go on it gets worse and this year I don't even have time to wash my hair. When summer comes we have hot water during the full shower, including the hair wash. It seems to be only the shower that this happens to, other faucets are normal, including the tub.

 

Storing Frozen Vegetables?What is the best way to store frozen veggies? Should they be cooked or uncooked? I would like to save them for soups etc.

 

Diet that is Lowfat and Low-Carb?I am looking for recipes that fit with both low-carb and lowfat lifestyles. My honey and I both lost 60+ lbs doing the low-carb thing but after a recent sickness, I must now do lowfat. Any ideas will be very appreciated.

 

Rustic Outdoors Themed Wedding?My oldest son is getting married 2-14-2009, and has requested that I do the food. The theme is rustic/outdoors including turkey hunting decor. I have the menu of BBQ pork, slaw, tater salad, hot wings, shrimp, fruit and veggie trays. What I need are rustic/thrifty ideas to serve this food on. This is not a traditional wedding, the couple has requested guest to "come as you are". Any and all ideas are welcome. Thanks to all.

 

Preparing a Home for Someone With Cat Allergies?I am in the process of buying a townhouse but the previous resident had a cat or cats in the home and my daughter is allergic to cats. How can I throughly clean the house so my daughter doesn't end up having allergy attacks or asthma attacks? I am wondering whether it is worth it to buy this home if I have to invest in a lot of money just to clean it before we move in. Thank you.

 

Fireplace Smoke in the Basement?Why do I get smoke in my basement fireplace whenever I start a fire in my first floor fireplace?

 

Looking for Homes for Sale?How do you find real homes? All I get is the various foreclosure rip off sites.

 

Melting Plastic Containers?Does anyone know how to safely melt plastics to recycle them? I once visited a class in a California high school that was doing that. They cut up and melted down milk jugs and poured them into molds for little games. Then they sold the games to raise money to finance more equipment for their class. I think that would be fun, maybe 2 liter soda bottles, too?

 

Recipes for "Food Fest" Fundraiser?I'm involved with the Drug-Free Scholarship Foundation and every year we have a fund-raiser called "Food Fest". We have foods from around the world and people pay to sample them. My problem? Some of the vendors have not been able to come this year, so we have many extra spots to fill.

 

Backyardigans Themed Birthday Party?I am on a budget and need low cost easy ideas for my son's 1st birthday. His theme will be the Backyardigans. I need help.

 

Floating Silicon Egg Poacher?Has anyone tried those floating silicon egg poachers? Do they clean easily?

 

Crustless Quiche Recipes?I am looking for crustless quiche recipes. They would need to be gluten and wheat free. Thank you!

 

Min Pin /Shih-Tzu Mix?I have a male min pin and I have a female shih-tzu mixed with pekingese. They have been breeding and they hung together last night. Does anyone know where I could go to find out what their pups would look like?

 

Dog Not Coming Inside After Walks?My American Bull Dog does not want to come inside after his walks. He is walked 2 times daily and then I put him in the back yard. From the backyard he has access through a door to come into the house as well. He spends his day in and out of the house.

 

Mayonnaise Separated After Being Frozen?I bought a gallon of Hellman's mayonnaise and it got pushed to the back of the fridge and froze! Does anyone know what I can do to fix the separation? I put it in a blender but it didn't work. I paid a fortune for this gallon of unused mayo.

 

Removing Paint Odors?How do I remove paint odors in new paint before painting my walls?

 

Shooting Pain in Neck?Ever since I was a teenager, I get a shooting pain in my neck when I turn my head right. What could it be? Does a pinched nerve last that long? I am 31 now and it started when I was like 15.

 

Shower Curtain Made from Fabric Scraps?I would like some ideas for making a shower curtain using scrap fabric (like the country heart pins). I love the country theme. I am looking for something semi-simple. Any suggestions would be great!

 

Storing Canned Goods on Unheated Porch?Is it ok to store canned goods on a back porch that is not heated? Or would they freeze?

 

Sugar-Free Syrup Recipes?I need recipes for sugar-free syrups. Torani Sugar-Free Almond Syrup is hard to find and shipping costs are too high.

 

Toilet Seat Keeps Getting Loose?What can be done to make the plastic screws on a toilet seat stay on tighter? Mine keeps getting loose and then the toilet seat shifts. It is very annoying! Thanks for any help you can offer here.

 

Reviews of Hydroxycut?Has anyone ever tried Hydroxycut and if so what did you think about it? Thanks.

 

Cat Urine Bleached Leather Couch?I have a leather couch that our cat decided to use rather than the cat box. Unfortunately, there are a few areas that the urine or vomit took the color out of (merlot color). I've cleaned the couch and replaced the foam cushions, but is there a way to re-dye the areas that seem to be bleached out and are a little rough feeling? I've tried shoe polish, but it didn't work. Thanks!

 

Using an Epilator?My partner bought me an Epilator for Christmas but I'm scared to use it as I have heard it is very painful. If anyone has any tips on how to diminish a little of the pain that would be great. Thanks.