September 22, 2009

Bean SandwichesI got this from my Dad who made it during the Depression. Beans are protein rich, and with the grain in the bread make a complete complex protein!

 

Caramel ApplesLove this! Another golden oldie! Brown butter in a large skillet. Add apples. Turn after a few minutes. Add brown sugar and water.

 

Buttermilk PieMix preceding ingredients and pour into unbaked pie shell. Mix sugar, flour, and salt together before adding to rest of ingredients.

 

Chicken to Die ForThe best 'sauce' or gravy you'll ever have and it goes on everything!

 

Creamy Baked Chicken BreastMix sour cream, mushrooms, soup, chicken bouillon cubes and 1 1/2 cans water. Pour over raw chicken pieces; bake uncovered in a long, narrow baking dish at 350 degrees F. for 45-60 minutes.

 

Tossed Vegetable SaladPlace vegetables in large bowl. Mix oil, vinegar and seasoning thoroughly together.

 

White CrunchSweet, salty, and fairly healthy. Combine first 5 ingredients in large bowl. Combine chips and oil in small bowl. Microwave on medium power for 2 minutes.

 

Velveeta Crab DipSaute finely minced onion in butter in a double boiler, not browning, but just slightly tender. Put in Worcestershire sauce, red pepper, pinch of salt.

 

Instant Iced CoffeeOne for the coffee lovers ;-) Combine the instant coffee, milk, vanilla, sugar, ice, and chocolate in a blender and blend until smooth.

 

Oven Cleaner for Fabric StainsTo remove stains on clothing as well as car seats and other color fast items try heavy duty oven cleaner. Spray and wash. Works wonders.

 

Recycled Round FrameRecycle the lid from a margarine tub to make a round frame for a picture. With lid right side up, and doing a few at a time, glue a row of beans close together just inside the rim of the lid.

 

Halloween Mailbox DecorationWith a mailbox planter for a container to be seen by all who pass by or enter our home, I created this fun Halloween display. I used an artificial spider plant and painted it black, adding last year's harvest gourds and mini-pumpkins.

 

Stove Burners as a Cooling RackWhen you need a cooling rack for a baking sheet full of cookies or a cake pan just removed from the oven, remove one of your stoves burner grills and set it on the counter top to set the cooling pan on top of it, so air can circulate beneath it.

 

Use Caution After a Natural DisasterWho would have known that the tornado going over a house might cause the water to be pushed out of the toilet and onto the floor of the bathroom (our safe room) where we went to hide from the dangerous winds and pressure.

 

Reuse Discarded Silk FlowersWhen my kids were little, money was sparse, and we lived way out in the backwoods. There was little, if any, activities we could afford. We did discover one, however, that may sound a little morbid at first, but is actually wonderful.

 

Photograph Your Contact Info for Lost Digital CameraIn case my digital camera was lost, I capture a photo of my e-mail address on the camera itself. In a word processing program, using a large font, I type 'If found, please e-mail '____'. Thank you.

 

Making Your Own Bread CrumbsMake your own bread crumbs with a blender or grater. Place the crumbs on a baking tray and bake at 212 degrees F. Crumbs are dry and crisp.

 

Organizing Photos Using a Shoe OrganizerOver the years, I have taken many pictures. On a rainy afternoon, I started to sort through them so I could start putting them into albums.

 

In Memory of MillieThis is Millie, she is now deceased. She was a mixed breed cat that I got at the Pet Store.

 

Fighting The FluIt's flu season, and here are some tips for fighting the flu. The best defense against the flu really is to get your flu shot. Children over 6 months of age, pregnant women, people with chronic illnesses and people over 65 are all considered high-risk.

 

Use Plastic Wrap to Remove Sticky LabelsTo remove stickers or other "sticky" types of labels from hard surfaces, wet the sticker or label with water, then cover it with a piece of plastic wrap. Smooth down the plastic wrap the best you can, to remove air bubbles, and then let it sit for a while.

 

Pumpkin PlanterLast fall I took a large pumpkin and cleaned it out, filled it with potting soil and put a mum plant in it. I used it as a decoration on my front porch. At the end of the season, I took the mum/pumpkin and planted it in the ground.

 

Biggie Smalls (Hairless Chinese Crested)Biggie Smalls is a 6 month Hairless Chinese Crested. I bred him. He likes to run as fast as he can in circles, play "keep away"(from me), and eat dandelions.

 

Garden: Pumpkin PlanterSince it's coming up for Halloween, I thought after making my soup I'd put my pumpkin to good use. With some of my summer plants gone, I think this adds a bit of colour.

 

Filling Containers FrugallyLike so many other gardeners, I lust after the magazine cover decks and porches pictured overflowing with color. But I've also priced out some of those containers at over $40 each, just to buy the annuals needed to fill them. And that can be ONE container.

 

Reuse Dryer Sheets with Fragrance Drops in DrawersUsed dryer/softener sheets can be recycled to freshen drawers and closets by adding a few drops of your favorite fragrance or oil on them. Then place them in a corner of the drawer or closet.

 

Making Personalized Gift WrapTo make personalized gift wrap for moms, dads, and grandparents use a common brown grocery bag. Cut along one side in the corner crease to the bottom of the bag, then turn and finish cutting out the bottom of the bag leaving a nice rectangular sheet of paper.

 

Frugal "Oprah's Favorite Things" Gift PackagesOne year I surprised colleagues with a bag of goodies that I claimed were my favorites of that year. Unfortunately, you can't always do like Oprah and give people thousands of dollars worth of products but there are definitely frugal ways around this.

 

Using a Web Cam?Are web cams hard to use and hard to learn how to use?

 

Homemade Grand Marnier?I am trying to make Homemade Gran Mariner from the recipes this site lists. It says to mix orange peels and liquor together and let "steep 2-3 weeks". Should I cover the mixture? Please help to explain this for me.

 

Stomach Cramp Remedies?I am looking for remedies for tummy cramps.

 

Homemade Natural Shampoo and Conditioner for Color Treated Hair?What is a good homemade recipe for an after-coloring deep conditioner for hair? I regularly highlight my own hair, but I don't want to keep buying the salon conditioners for after color treatment.

 

Washing Microfiber Cushion Covers?Can I wash my microfiber cushion covers in the washer on the delicate cycle? They seem to have water rings on them when I wipe them.

 

Using Regular Crayons to Decorate Fabric?How do you color with regular crayons on t-shirts?

 

Coffee Stains on a Corian Sink?How do I remove coffee stains from a Corian sink?

 

"Dance as though no one is watching" Cross Stitch Pattern?Does anyone have a cross stitch pattern with the following saying: Dance as though no one is watching you. Love as though you have never been hurt. Sing as though no one can hear you. Live as though Heaven is on earth. Thanks.

 

Shelf Life of Sour Cream?When I buy sour cream it is usually on sale, and I use coupons if I have one. It isn't something I use often, and sometimes I forget it is in the frig.