March 13, 2009

Chicken and Veggie CasseroleThis is the BEST casserole I've ever had. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In large casserole dish or dutch oven spray with non-stick cooking spray. Layer all the chicken on the bottom. Add frozen broccoli. Spread mayonnaise over the top of broccoli.

 

Sweet and Savory Meat BallsMix beef, crumbs, onion, egg and garlic; shape into meat balls. Brown meat balls. Add remaining ingredients, except rice. Cover; cook over low heat 20 minutes or until done. Stir now and then. Serve with rice.

 

Beef Vegetable Soup With DumplingsWhen buying soup bone, ask for the upper part of the shank. Boil the soup bone and cut the ribs of beef in the water. Skim and add cut vegetables to stock when soup meat has boiled about 2 hours in a slow boil. When soup is done, add dumplings.

 

Chicken Fried SteakRecipes for Chicken Fried Steak

 

Caesar Salad for OneMake dressing by mixing ingredients together. Cook bacon and rip into bits. Wash lettuce and tear in bits. Mix the lettuce, bacon, croutons, cheese, and dressing in a bowl. Enjoy!

 

Marinated CarrotsSlice carrots and boil in water a few minutes. Alternate slices of carrots, peppers, and onions. Boil last seven ingredients until thickened. Pour over carrot mixture. Marinate at least 12 hours before serving. This will keep 3-4 weeks.

 

Fudge-Full Peanut Butter Bars

 

5 Star Lemon TartsThis recipe is for anyone who loves Lemon Meringue pie, but doesn't like all the work. I saw this recipe on the Food Network and had to try it. No browning the tart shells, no cooking the filling on the stove! This takes less than 5 minutes to make and tastes great.

 

Cabbage SoupBrown the meat in a very large soup pot, sprayed with non-stick spray. Pour off all of the fat. Add all the other ingredients and cook for a least 2 hours. It can be frozen in plastic containers.

 

Keep Your Move OrganizedWhen I moved a few years ago, I stumbled upon a system that kept me sane before, during and after the move. When packing a box, put a large pad of lined paper next to it. As I wrapped and put things in the box, I wrote down precisely what I had packed.

 

Use the Sun to Dry DishesI have a portable dishwasher, and just the other day, I had this idea of letting the sun dry the dishes instead of using the energy it takes for the dry cycle. I am turning the washer around so the sun that comes in through the window can dry them.

 

Buffy (Chihuahua Mix)This is Buffy she is a Chihuahua mix. She weighed not even 1 pound when I got her (rescued owner didn't want her and her brother because they were mixed breed). We have had her for 3 years now.

 

Use Bandannas for Cloth NapkinsFor a cute, country touch to your dinner table, use colorful bandannas for napkins. We used to use a roll of paper towels, instead of paper napkins, but then I discovered how inexpensive bandannas are, when purchased through online websites.

 

Saving Money on CheeseTips for Saving Money on Cheese. Post you ideas below. I buy shredded cheese at Costco. It costs $10 for 5 pounds, cheaper than buying a block of the same brand, and all the work is done.

 

A Squirrely Situation: Keeping Squirrels OutWe weren't aware of the tenacity of squirrels when they are trying to get into your home looking for food until we bought a cottage on a lake.

 

Saving Small Amounts of LeftoversUsing leftovers can be tricky. The hardest leftovers to use are those in the in-between size. It's too much to add to one's own dinner portion, too much to throw away, yet not enough to make a full-sized meal portion.

 

Basket LampshadesI want to share a photo of one of my projects from several years ago. I found a great wicker basket with a fluted edge and it had a handle on it. I kept looking at this basket and flipped it over and decided to cut off the handles and make it into a lampshade for a lamp I had.

 

Making Old Tissue Paper Look Like NewWhile making gift bags for the local nursing home, I realized I had a lot of tissue paper from events past. All the pretty colors and patterns, I couldn't bear to throw it away so I flattened it out and decided to iron it. Worked like a charm.

 

Eggshell Mosaic Easter EggsIf you're looking for a fun craft that all the family can do at Easter, then why not try decorating some eggs with eggshell mosaic. All you need to do is to save some eggshells after cooking, paint them and break the segments into lots of little pieces to make your mosaic designs.

 

Scenery: Winter Creek BedA creek at a camp I went to that I thought was pretty and just took a picture of.

 

Hanging Curtains Over Wooden Blinds?I just installed new 2 in. wooden blinds. The blinds stick out 4" from the wall; therefore I need a curtain rod that extends out from the wall more than 4". The curtain rods are not deep enough to cover the blinds. Where can I find simple curtain rods that are 5-6 in. in depth?

 

Undoing a Childproof Lock on a Microwave?I accidentally childproof locked a second-hand Panasonic 1100 watt microwave. Does anyone know what buttons I have to press to unlock it?

 

Inexpensive Styrofoam Beanbag Filling?Where is the best and cheapest place to buy the styrofoam "beads" like the ones in a beanbag chair?

 

Polish for Laminate Countertops?I am looking for a polish for laminate countertops.

 

Losing 20 lbs. in Two Months?My friends asked me to join them on a trip to Egypt in 2 months. My problem is that I need to lose 20 pounds by then. I should start a diet, but which one? I googled some diets but I didn't find one that I really like. Which one do you follow?

 

Cat Repellent Spray?I know there is a spray that you spray around your house where you don't want dogs to go. Is there also a spray to keep cats away? There are tons of cats around my house and you can smell cats when you leave the house.

 

What Breed is My Dog?I was wondering if anyone knows what breed this puppy is?

 

Having a Mohawk With Curly Hair?I have wanted a Mohawk for some time now, but my mom gets in the way. She's worried I wouldn't look good with one. I have really thick, really curly, brown hair. On a white girl it's unique, but to me it's getting old. Would a Mohawk or Chelsea-Hawk look good on me?

 

Too Much Exercise for a Puppy?I am in the military and go on road marches a lot. I have a 3 month old Boxer. Would taking him on a 6 mile walk in 1 and 1/2 hours be too much? What about when he gets older?

 

Diluting Blood Meal?I have a 5 lb plastic bag of blood meal that sat under a drip and the bag filled with water. I sure don't want to throw it away, but not sure how much to dilute it. Any suggestions on how much water to mix it with?

 

Washer Doesn't Spin Properly Using Cold Rinse Cycle?Why would my front load washer only have a successful final spin with warm water? If I do a cold rinse it always comes back as an unbalanced load.

 

International Night Dinner Party?We are planning a dinner party for 10 adults. Our theme is International Night. Each couple will bring an ethnic main dish to share. I'm looking for a game or anything to get people talking that is somehow related to the theme. Not all the guests know each other. Thanks.

 

Neighbor Dumps Dirty Cat Litter in Alley?I just bought a home and have discovered a neighbor dumps dirty cat litter box in the alley way. We love animals and we walk our dogs and we drive in this alley. I am really concerned about health issues and hate to start trouble already with the neighbors.