February 4, 2009

Viva La ChickenCook chicken breasts; remove meat from bone and cut in large pieces. Cut 1/2 package of corn tortillas into strips and place in a large shallow greased casserole. Add 3 tablespoons of chicken broth on top, alternate chicken and salsa.

 

Quick Fruit PuddingThe berries cool the pudding, and heat from the pudding thaws the fruit. Can be served immediately.

 

Poor Man's FilletsTo ground beef, add chopped onion and chopped green pepper to desire. Mix well and make 2 patties per person. Put 1 slice of cheese between patties and wrap 1 strips of bacon around the patties, securing with a toothpick.

 

Walnut HoneydoozersResift flour with soda and salt. Melt shortening and combine with sugar, honey, egg and vanilla. Stir in flour mixture, oats, and 3/4 cup walnuts or pecans. Drop by tablespoonful onto lightly greased baking sheets, and flatten slightly with bottom of glass dipped in sugar.

 

Methodist PieRoll crackers; mix sugar and butter together. Add cracker crumbs and mix well. Line a 10 inch pie pan with graham cracker crust mix. Beat cream cheese thoroughly until fluffy. Add well beaten eggs, sugar and other ingredients. Pour into crust.

 

Cauliflower-Broccoli CasseroleCook vegetables for 10 minutes and drain. Add milk, Cheez Whiz, rice, oil, soup, and onion and bake for 30 minutes at 375 degrees F. Put canned onion rings on top of casserole and bake for 10 minutes longer.

 

Sweet Saucy MeatballsIn a large saucepan, combine the ketchup, jelly and onion. Cook and stir over medium heat for 3-5 minutes or until jelly is melted. Pour over the meatballs. Bake, uncovered, 20 minutes longer or until sauce is bubbly.

 

Fig MuffinsCream butter and sugar. Add eggs and beat well after each. Add fig preserves with syrup. Stir in oatmeal and sifted flour, baking powder, soda and salt. Mix only enough to moisten dry ingredients.

 

Coconut Carrot CakeCombine sugar, oil and eggs; beat well. Sift together flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; stir into sugar mixture. Stir in grated carrots, drained crushed pineapple, nuts and coconut. Pour into greased and floured 9x13 inch pan.

 

Pecan BarsMix in order given. Pour into a 9x11 inch pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 30-40 minutes. Cut while hot. Very good and chewy. Do not over bake.

 

Tuna Jackstraw CasseroleReserve 1 cup of shoestring potatoes for topping. Combine remaining potatoes with other ingredients. Pour into 1 1/2 quart casserole. Arrange reserved potatoes on top. Bake, uncovered, in moderate oven (350 degrees F) for 20-25 minutes until thoroughly heated. Makes 4-6 servings.

 

Southern BurgersSouthern Burgers with ground beef and gumbo soup.

 

Macaroni and Cheese SaladCook box of macaroni and cheese as directed. Cool. Add all of remaining ingredients. Chill several hours and serve.

 

Craft: Valentine's Day Candy DishThis candy dish is made from a terra cotta flowerpot saucer. They're available year-round for under $2.00. Use pink, red, or white craft paint to paint a design inside and/or outside the saucer.

 

Use Muffin Tins for Cooling RacksThe other day I was baking brownies and I realized that I couldn't find my wire racks for cooling. With only a few minutes until the brownies were done, I scrambled around looking.

 

Homemade Yogurt for Intestinal DisordersI made a batch of yogurt and took a container to my sort-of shut in neighbor, she CAN get out but rarely does. She called in a couple of days and asked if she could pay me for some more yogurt.

 

Suet Birdseed WreathA welcome treat for winged winter visitors, this suet/birdseed wreath is a fun and easy project to do with kids.

 

My Frugal Life: Have a Garage SaleI think the best frugal thing I can think of that everyone can do is have a garage sale. I have had one every year for many years either by myself, with my daughter or a friend.

 

Take Seasonal Photos Of Your HomeHere is a tip that you should begin right now, in the event you ever decide to sell your home:

 

Tips For Machine EmbroideryFor machine embroidery, purchase an applique pattern then use your scraps of ribbon by weaving it then use it as a base. You could even use bias binding.

 

Teddy Bear PicnicTeddy Bear Picnic is a beary cute party. We made Teddy bear sugar cookies. Just add Teddy Grahams before you bake them. We made a CD with all Teddy bear tunes for our guests and gave them each a silicone Teddy bear cupcake mold as a favor.

 

Turn Old Sweaters Into Leg WarmersLeg-warmers are back in style and can easily be made from the sleeves of old sweaters, even sweaters with holes! Just turn the sweater inside-out and cut the seam out at the arm-hole using sharp scissors.

 

Craft: Cigar Box 'Generation' Clutch PurseGeneration Clutch for Valentine's Day or any other occasion. Need cigar box with handle painted with acrylic on the outside. Use black and white photos copied on printer paper, cut in different shapes.

 

Saving Money On SoapsI purchase a 64 ounce bottle of liquid refill 'Soft Soap' (it's quite concentrated) at whatever store has it on sale and dilute it with equal parts of water in to empty shampoo bottles, hand soap bottles and dish soap bottles. In a pinch I've even used it as laundry soap!

 

Garden: Gazing Ball Found New LifeHere is DH idea for a recycled garden light. He took an old gazing ball and used it to cover an old Malibu light. It has a soft glow at night. Makes me smile to know it is recycled.

 

Grape Leaf Wine Bottle DecorationSomeone was interested in decorating wine bottles with grapes and how to attach them. I'm interested in sharing my ideas.

 

Red Carpet Dance ThemeOur 8th grade school dance theme last year was a "Red Carpet Affair" fashioned after the red carpet doings for the Oscar or Emmy Awards.

 

Dacoda (Siberian Husky/Timber Wolf)Dacoda is a 1 year old Siberian Husky/Timber Wolf mix. I got Dacoda right after Christmas last year. While taking a walk around the block I saw a bunch of white fluff balls running around in a neighbor's backyard. My curiosity got the better of me and I went over to investigate.

 

Product Review: Mini LED Indoor Plant LightHere's another bargain I found at the Dollar Tree store. It's a black plastic battery-operated indoor plant light.

 

Bamboo Wigwam for Climbing PlantsA handy gadget I've created is based on something I once saw in a catalog that joined bamboo poles together at the top to create a wigwam for vine plants. The company wanted almost $7.00 for a pair so I made my own by using margarine tub tops.

 

Humidify Your House With Your FurnaceOur house is dry in the winter in Ohio, but my dog is afraid of the humidifier. I solved this problem by purchasing a couple of the plastic-coated wire racks used for organizing cabinets, and setting it over our floor registers for our forced-air furnace.

 

Organizing Your Home?I need tips to help organize my home.

 

Freezing Ketchup?Can ketchup be frozen?

 

Lasagna Made with Bread?Does anyone know of a lasagna recipe where you use bread instead of pasta? Someone made it at a company luncheon and I heard it was called Redneck Lasagna. It was so good and really meaty and garlicky.

 

Knitting a Hat on an Oblong Loom?I would like directions on making a knitted hat on a oblong loom.

 

Homemade Nedi Pot Mixture?Has anyone tried to make their own mix that goes in the Neti Pot? The pre-mixed packets cost $7.95 for 50. If you've made your own, where did you get the ingredients? They seem to be high-grade pure components.

 

Making Ham and Cabbage?I love ham and cabbage. I was wondering, when you make ham and cabbage, do you take most of the fat off of the ham before adding the cabbage? I baked a smoked ham, shank end. It is so full of fat that I was wondering if I should remove most of the fat before putting the leftover bone with meat into the pot of water. I would think the fat would all mix in with the cabbage. Thanks.

 

What Breed is My Dog?Sophia is my baby I rescued from a shelter (I always do). They said she is a schnauzer mix. Does anyone have an idea what the other breed in her could be? I would appreciate a clue. Thanks.

 

Getting By on a Low Income?I like many other people are struggling financially. but unlike many others I have been in this boat for well over 5 years. I pay for my own health insurance. I own my car and condo outright.

 

Selling Sports Trophies?I am looking for a place to sell sports trophies given to my children. Can you help?

 

What Breed is My Dog?I rescued this dog a few months ago. They said it was a pure breed Husky. I just wanted a second opinion, and if she does not look like a pure breed, does anyone have any ideas of what she could be mixed with?

 

Manual for George Foreman Grill #GR18PL?We have a George Foreman Lean Mean Fat Grilling Machine Model GR18PL, and have lost our manual instruction. How can we get another manual?

 

Locating Old Christmas Plays?My grandmother used to collect Christmas plays to perform at church. She seems to think that they were included with the magazine Progressive Farmer. Sadly, she loaned these to a friend one day and the friend never returned them, even when she moved away! There was one in particular that she was looking for this past Christmas and it was entitled "If I Could Be a Child Again for Christmas".

 

Dead Rat in a Car's AC System?I know that a rat died in the AC venting system of my mom's& '96 Buick LeSabre. We are over run with Norway rats here. I knew the smell of roadkill immediately upon opening the door.

 

Cleaning a Sharp Carousel Convection Oven?I have a Sharp Carousel Convection/Microwave oven and I love it except for cleaning it. The inside of it is metal. I guess stainless steel. It doesn't say in my manual how to clean this. Food has spattered and it looks filthy. I have used the Magic Eraser and everything else I can think of.

 

Stopping Scam Phone Calls?I keep getting phone calls about warranties that the recording says are expiring. I know I have no warranties so I know it is a scam. I have asked them to take me off the call list about 7 times. The last 3 times they have hung up on me and they didn't listen to what I wanted them to hear.

 

Printing on Contact Paper?Can contact paper with backing still attached be run through an ordinary ink jet printer?

 

Bonsai Plants Leaves Fell Off?I was given a bonsai plant from my daughter for Christmas. I placed it outside in the shade and all its green leaves fell off and now its a brown color. Its still got strong roots so hopefully I haven't killed it. Please help. What have I done wrong?

 

Name Ideas for an Interior and Exterior Design Company?I am starting a business which takes people shopping to help them choose all the interior and exterior finishes for their home when building. It will include everything from kitchens, tiles and timber flooring, air conditioning, pools, and bathroom ware.

 

Stacking a Four Tier Wedding Cake?I have been asked to produce a four tier wedding cake. It will be 12 in. fruit, a 10 in. chocolate, an 8 in. Madeira and a 6 in. Madeira. I know that the first three cakes will have to be doweled, but what about the top tier? Do I have to use a long dowel

 

Alternatives to Plastic Water Bottles?I hear that plastic bottles are not safe if you use them over and over again as a water bottle. If this is so, then what type of bottle would be best for drinking water out of throughout the day?

 

Using Candy Melts on a Cake?I would like to use the candy melts to cover a cake. What can I add to the melts to keep them from hardening so much? I need them to dry so they won't stick to your hands while eating the cake.

 

Reusing Remote Controls?I have several remote controls that I no longer use. Can they be recycled or reprogrammed so they can be used for a different TV or electronic appliance?

 

Dress Pants are a Lint Magnet?How do I get my clothes from being a lint and hair magnet? I'll clean them off with a lint roller, but before I get out the door I've got all kinds of stuff all over them again.

 

Low-Rider Car Information?Where can I find information about low-rider cars?

 

Rubber Ducks Not Floating Upright?I purchased some small, but cute, rubber ducks for a Winter Carnival Duck Pond. I now find the ducks will not float upright but fall over to one side. Does anyone have any ideas on how to weight them or another way of doing them without water?

 

Cigarette Smoke Odors in a Refrigerator?I acquired a relatively new refrigerator from a house where someone smoked. The refrigerator has the smell of stale smoke inside. How do I get rid of this odor?

 

Removing Stains from Plastic Food Containers?How can I get red enchilada sauce stains out of plastic containers?

 

Cleaning a Rotisserie?My son owns a rib and chicken stand in a local farmer's market. I am looking for the best possible method to clean his rotisserie oven. Oven cleaner is not recommended.

 

Asking People to Bring Frugal Gifts?My daughter is expecting her first child in April. Her friend wants to throw her a baby shower. However, my daughter, her friend, and most of the people being invited to the shower are students.

 

Repairing Mirrored Cabinet Doors?The mirrored doors on my medicine cabinet in the bathroom are beginning to lose the mirror on the edges of the beveled doors and are looking rather worn. I would like to be able to fix them if I can as I haven't been able to find anything I like as much.

 

Communicating with Pets?I have noticed when I ask my dogs, I have 4, if they want a treat, they usually shake their heads really fast. I have wondered if anyone else out there has noticed their animals doing this in this way, or is it just our dogs?