August 17, 2009

Budget Spaghetti and MeatballsUse your blender to create budget spaghetti sauce and make perfect Italian meatballs with leftovers, with half the usual amount of ground beef.

 

Last of the Lettuce SoupI know this sounds a little weird. Okay, a lot weird. But, this recipe is a great way to clean out the getting old and bitter lettuce in your garden, and it's also good enough to merit using regular lettuce.

 

Enchilada CasseroleBrown ground beef in skillet, stirring until crumbly. Pour off drippings. Stir in soups and seasonings, mixing well. Layer chips, ground beef mixture and cheese alternately in large baking dish until all ingredients are used, ending with chips.

 

Yum YumsCream shortening, sugar and eggs. Add flour, salt, cinnamon, baking soda to shortening; then water to dates and nuts to rest of mixture.

 

Sausage Cream Cheese CrescentsCrescent rolls filled with a cheesy cream cheese and breakfast sausage filling, then baked in the oven. This is such a simple but delicious recipe.

 

Sausage StuffingThis has been handed down for years I just love it. My husband and I and the neighbor ate a 12 inch skilletful the night before Thanksgiving, right off the stove and 3 forks. Had to run to the store to be able to make it again.

 

Bubble CakeGrease bottom and sides of Bundt pan generously. Sprinkle pecans in bottom of pan. Place frozen rolls in pan. Mix pudding and brown sugar together and sprinkle over rolls. Place pats of butter/margarine over rolls.

 

Chicken Salad SpreadBoil chicken pieces with bay leaf and parsley in water to cover in saucepan until tender. Bone chicken and cut into bite-sized pieces. Combine chicken, pineapple, celery and mayonnaise in bowl, mixing well.

 

Personalized Photo BookmarkI wanted to come up with a homemade personalized gift for my best girlfriend of 42 years. She happens to be an avid reader and this is what I came up with, and with items I already had on hand :-)

 

Spending ListsWhen it comes to our finances, they're very abstract. Check cards and electronic bill paying don't make it much easier; the concept of exactly how much money is spent is a difficult one to grasp.

 

Recycling Newspaper Throughout The HouseBesides reading the newspaper, I find many uses for it around the house. Whenever we put a new trash bag in our kitchen trash can, we put a layer of the paper at the bottom. This will absorb any liquids that sometimes leak.

 

Use Clip-on Earrings as AccessoriesJust because money is tight doesn't mean you can't be "hip"! I had been admiring the cute costume rings that are all the rage right now, but no way was I going to spend money to buy one.

 

Single Crochet PotholderIf you can single crochet, you can make this heavy double thickness potholder. Updated with new instructions!

 

Ornamental Pepper PlantI just love the color on this ornamental pepper plant. The contrast of red and green is stunning.

 

Store Dried Herbs With Silica PacketsI save the little silica packages that come in bottles of vitamins and place them inside my containers of dried herbs. It really maintains their freshness for a longer period of time!

 

Olive Oil for Sensitive, Dry SkinI have really dry skin, and have tried many types of lotions to help. Most lotions that I used ended up leaving my skin slippery, which might leave a residue on fabrics I'm working with or get in the way of my work.

 

Using "Soft" PotatoesIf the potatoes are not rotten, but just "soft", simply peel and soak in a bowl of water overnight. Cut them for hash browns or french fries. Let them soak for another 10-15 minutes. Remove potatoes from water and cook. Use the water on your plants.

 

Keeping Diaper Smell Out Of Your HouseIf have a baby, you have dirty diapers that can smell quite bad. My daughter had two in diapers at once and you never smelled dirty diapers in her house or trash.

 

Groovy Gift FrameKids and grown-ups alike will enjoy receiving these fun photo frames crafted from inexpensive acrylic frames and dimensional t-shirt paints.

 

Dobey (Golden Retriever)Dobey is 3 years old, and a Golden Retriever. I was at the end of my pregnancy and my Aunt's dog had puppies. I swore I would never get a puppy but I felt it would be the right thing for my child to have growing up!

 

Beware Of Alcohol Poisoning from Use of Hand SanitizersThis tip is regarding the use of alcohol based hand sanitizers. Be very, very careful if using this near children. If a child uses this on their hands and then licks their hands they can get very sick and, in some cases, alcohol poisoning

 

Use Salt Scrub to Clean a BathtubYou can use salt scrub that you use on your skin also to clean your shower or tub. I take a scrub brush and put a heaping tablespoon across the bottom. Then I spray water around the tub with the showerhead to make the tub damp.

 

Peanut (Miniature Schnauzer) and Ma...This is Peanut, a 13 year old Miniature Schnauzer, and Ma Chat, a 6 year old Blue-Point Mitted Ragdoll cat. They both came from breeders when babies.

 

Gift Card BudgetingThis one works great! Hubby pointed out that he saw big fluctuations from month to month on our grocery spending. I've decided that $400 should be enough for a month of groceries.

 

Red Hat Society Bra HatTo make a red hat out of a bra for your red hat chapter. Cut straps off red bra, and sides, just leave the cups. Fold left over material under, decorate with purple or lavender lace, and jewels.

 

Clean Hair Bows With Dish SoapMy daughter wears bows in her hair and they are always getting dirty. Instead of spending $5-$10 to replace the dirty bows, I used a small brush and Dawn dishwashing liquid and scrubbed the bows clean.

 

Wildlife: Royal Terns (Florida)I hadn't been to the ocean in about forty years! It was on my "bucket list" to go again. I finally made it last February. This photo was taken in Florida. These birds are Royal Terns. Aren't they gorgeous?

 

Organize Pantry With Like Items TogetherThis is a really simple hint, but it helps me with my tiny pantry, just a few shelves in my kitchen. I try to keep like types of items together.

 

"Pup" Tent For Dog ShelterI have always worried about my dogs being left outside with no shelter from the cold or rain if I have to depend on someone else to let them in and out if I have to be away (in the hospital for example). So I came up with this idea.

 

Use a Covered Bucket as a Camping ToiletToilet for camping or emergencies. If you have need of a toilet when there isn't one around or there is no running water, you can improvise one by using a covered plastic bucket and urinating into the bucket.

 

Beach WindchimeI have collected so much stuff from the beach, finally I put it to use. I hot glue gunned two pieces of beach glass, shells and rocks to string, then tied one end to a piece of wood (stick), then took a piece of ribbon and tied it to the end of the stick.

 

Refinishing a Henry Link Cabinet?I just purchased an old cabinet at a second hand store. It is pale yellow with painted flowers on it. On the inside drawer it says "Henry Link". I looked this up, and apparently I bought a nice vintage piece from the fifties for $22.

 

Eating Tomatoes From Plant With Blight?My tomato plants have blight. If they live until harvest, are the tomatoes safe to eat?

 

Crafts Made With Wine Corks?Uses for wine corks?

 

Steam Mop Leaves Water on Floor?I have purchased a steam mop and I notice that it leaves more water on the floor than I would like. Any tips on using the steam mop with less water results?

 

Removing Semi Permanent Hair Color?Will Dawn remove semi permanent hair color?

 

Cat Urine Odors?My cat peed in my plant. Is there a way to get rid of the smell without re-potting?

 

Idli Recipe ?What should we add to idli batter to get idlis white?

 

50th Class Reunion Award Suggestion?I need an award suggestion for a 50 year class reunion.

 

Young Teens Dating?My 13 year old daughter wants a boyfriend. Should I let her?

 

3 Month Old Puppy That Bites?I have a 3 month old puppy who tries to bite me whenever I take her food bowl or any object she may have in her mouth or near her. Can anyone please give me some advise on how I may be able to stop this? I have children and I don't want them to get bitten.

 

Best Mattress for Back Problems?What is the best and most affordable mattress for people with back problems?