May 12, 2009

Crab PuffsSomething different, and simple, but fancy enough for guests. This can be made ahead, and kept in the freezer.

 

Taco PizzaPreheat oven to 400 degrees F. If you don't have a pizza stone or round nonstick cooking sheet, lightly grease a regular round cooking sheet. Cook ground beef in skillet, drain and spoon evenly on pizza crust dough.

 

Recipes Using a Homemade Soup BaseWe use this one at home and when in the RV. This easy-to-make soup base will keep in your refrigerator. Then, simply use it as the creamy soup base mix in both of the recipes below for a quick and healthy weeknight meal.

 

Best Strawberry Pie Slice strawberries and place in the pie crust. Cook remaining ingredients in saucepan until clear. Or you can cook in microwave but stir often). Cool slightly.

 

Scotch SconesSift together first 4 ingredients. Add shortening and cut in as for biscuits. Beat eggs until light and fluffy; add milk. Add this mixture slowly to dry materials to form soft dough.

 

Sloppy Gumbo JoesBrown hamburger and drain fat. Add the soup and barbecue sauce. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

 

Fruit KabobsI had a Luau birthday party. My mom and I were thinking of how to make the fruits look cool. We had kabobs that same night, that's when I thought of it: Fruit Kabobs.

 

Coffee Filters for Small ServingsA great use for coffee filters are single serving plates for chips (or anything that is not moist or leaky) for kids. This is especially handy in a group or class, and combines easy clean-up with much less waste than a regular plastic or paper plate.

 

Oil Absorbent for FertilizerHere's a great tip for you gardeners. You can buy a large bag (approx. 20lbs) of oil absorbent from your local auto parts store for less than ten dollars, and it has multiple benefits. It also acts as a great fertilizer; says so right on the bag.

 

Seasonal Wall For Easy DecoratingThe various seasonal holidays have always been fun to celebrate with lots of decorations throughout the house. But I now find my storage space is more limited and I often am rushed to get all the decorations up in time for the holiday.

 

Birthday Party Ideas for GirlsHey Girls! If it's your birthday coming up, of course you're going to want to have an awesome party. It can be so hard to decide what to do, especially on a budget so I hope these tips help!

 

Super Soaker for Cat FightsI have a cat who protects his territory! Like most cats he will chase other cats out of his yard and this can lead to fights. I was looking for a safe way to break up cat-fights without getting hurt in the process when my mother told me of her "secret weapon".

 

Use Shredded Paper in the GardenTo stop the birds eating my newly sown seeds, I cover them with a small amount of paper from my shredder. I also use this shredded paper in the strawberry patch to keep them off the ground and as mulch where ever it is needed.

 

Kittie and Buster (Cat and Dog Mixed Breeds)This is "Kittee" and "Buster". Kittee is 6 yrs old and Buster is 9 yrs old. Buster was rescued from under a dumpster when he was only 6 weeks old. Covered with fleas and ticks, the vet said he would not have survived another week.

 

Store Detergent in Name Brand BoxI have a kind of sneaky trick to share. My husband insists on my using Gain laundry detergent and nothing else, but I want to buy what is on sale.

 

Ready for the Rainy Day?The irony of saving is that it is more important now than ever, yet it's harder to save today than it was a few years ago. What's the method of savings some extra money without cutting back on the things that you love?

 

Save With Fund Raising Silent Auction ItemsEvery year our school has a fundraiser for the PTO (Parents and Teachers Organization). They do a carnival with food, games, face painting, cake walks, balloon sales, raffles, and a silent auction for donated items.

 

Remove Adhesive from Fingers With SandpaperRub your fingers on a sheet of sandpaper laid flat on the bench. This will get off all types of adhesives that you want to get off your hands before washing them.

 

Making Planters from Plastic Trash CansWhen the city converted to robot trash and recycle pick-up, I had five extra 32 gallon Rubbermaid trash cans. I have limited space for gardening, so I cut the bottom half of the trash cans off, drilled three holes (about 3/4 inch) on the bottom of the sides for drainage.

 

Scenery: Blue Ridge MountainsView off Blue Ridge Parkway in NC.

 

Teach Young Children to Use the ComputerStart young children on the computer. They love the quality time spent with them, plus they learn to spell so quickly. My granddaughter started at 3 years old. She learned the alphabet and spelling so quickly.

 

2 Litre Bottle Hanging Tomato Planter?Does anybody know how to make hanging tomato planters from a 2 litre soda bottle?

 

Displaying Clothes at Yard Sale?I have some clothing I'd like to sell at my yard sale. However, I have no rack, clothesline, or fence to display them on. What can I do or use to display my clothes?

 

Environmental Jobs in China?I work in an environment agency in a central city of China. I hope to find a part-time job at home which can improve my living. I would like a job that can push forward the environment enterprise in our province.

 

Tomato and Macaroni Soup Recipe?Does anybody have a recipe for a Tomato and Macaroni soup? It is usually served in restaurants as a "Soup of the Day". It is thick and very delicious. Thanks in advance.

 

Getting Rid of Baby Oak Trees?Does anyone know how I can get rid of all these baby oak trees? How do I prevent them from sprouting like this again? Our back yard has lots of oak trees and we love them for the shade, plus we just love trees. But the acorns this year have sprouted like never before.

 

Something is Eating the Leaves on Canna Lilies?I have a few canna lily plants. They are developing holes in the leaves. What type of bug would do this? How do I find the bug, and how do I remove them?

 

How Long Can Puppy Have Undiagnosed Parvo?I recently sold a puppy from my litter, and the buyer has come back 6 weeks later saying that the puppy has been diagnosed with Parvo. He took the dog at 8 weeks promising me that he would have it vaccinated within the next few days.

 

Uses for Self-Rising Flour?Can you use Presto self rising flour to cook chicken wings ?

 

White Haze on Colored Plastic Chairs?There is a white haze on my green resin chairs. How can I get rid of it?

 

Preservatives for Homemade Laundry Detergent?I am working on a green laundry detergent recipe. I understand that soap nuts with a few other natural ingredients works great for what I am trying to do but the liquid version of it has to be used within 3 to 4 days. Do you have any suggestions for a longer shelf life?

 

Caring for a Crab Apple Tree?My husband and I just moved into our new house and there is a beautiful crab apple tree in our front yard. Does anyone have any helpful info about the tree and apples? Any information about maintenance or what to use the crab apples for?

 

Baby is Not Crawling?My son is 9 months old today, and he is still not crawling. It worries me. He has three older brothers (ages 1, 2, and 4) and none of them took this long.

 

Adding Chicory to Ground Coffee?Has anyone ever added chicory root powder to their ground coffee prior to brewing? I have heard it creates a nice "mellow" flavor. Thank you!

 

Paying for Wedding Guests' Parking Fees?We have rented an enclosed pavilion for our reception at a park. However the park charges $1.50 per car for an entrance fee. What is a "tactful" way to give our guests the money for the fee?

 

Smoothie Ingredients?Does anyone have any suggestions for what to put in smoothies? I use a normal blender and Soya lite milk. Thanks.

 

Keeping Moths Away from House?Usually every May I start to get moths in the bed room. On the ceiling, drapes, etc. Does anyone know how to stop this? It will be much appreciated. They're not in the closets. Thanks. Bevvie

 

Removing Chlorine from Hair?If you swim daily in a pool for physical therapy or recreation you'll want to remove that nasty chlorine from your hair without drying it out with excess washings. I simply buy conditioner from the dollar store.

 

Massage Oil Stains on Sheets?Any suggestions on how to get massage oil out of sheets?

 

Sweet Gum Tree Losing Leaves?I have sweet gum tree in my front yard. It's leaves are dying, turning into curl. What should I do to cure that? I don't know what kind of disease it has.

 

Overheated Pot Changed Colors?I left my stainless steel pan on the burner with water boiling on high. I came back after a while and the water was evaporated. The pan was over heated and had turned a bronze color. How can I remove the bronze color on the bottom?

 

Selling Antique Furniture?I have some antique furniture that I would like to sell at the right price. I do not want to be ripped off. How do I do this?

 

Something Eating Leaves on Bing Cherry Tree?I planted two semi dwarf bing cherry trees. The leaves look like something has been chewing on them. What should I do?

 

Teaching a Child to Knit?I am looking for instructions books to teach a child to knit and crochet. Does anyone have any idea where I can find them?

 

Cleaning Vinyl Boat Cushions?I have white seats in my boat that are black now. I tried Mean Green, bleach, and other stuff. Nothing will make them white again. Any suggestions?

 

Making Your Adult Children Feel Loved?What are some of the ways that you let your grown children feel loved, special and very much needed?

 

Paying Debt to Improve Your Credit Score?I was told that I shouldn't bother paying off my debts (other than student loans), because paying it out won't change my credit score at all. It will still be lousy, so I might as well keep my money. True?

 

Hair Dye on Vanity Drawer?I have permanent hair dye color on my vanity drawer. How do I remove this?

 

Wax on a Truck Bed Liner?How do I get wax/polish off of a pick-up truck's bed liner?

 

Decorating a Birthday Chair?Has anyone ever decorated a chair for the birthday person? If so what materials did you use? How did you decorate it?

 

Temperature Plug for George Foreman Grill #GGR200RDDS?I need the temperature plug for my George Foreman grill #GGR200RDDS.

 

Gift Ideas for Children in Another Country?I am looking for ideas for USA gifts for 5 yr old S. Korean students learning English. My son is teaching English in S. Korea. His students are so wonderful. I'd love to send them something personal from the USA that would be useful to them.

 

Patterns for Crocheted Necklaces?I am looking for a pattern for necklaces using Eros and Lion brand yarn. Does anyone have one? I saw some the other day that were crocheted and they are absolutely stunning.