February 9, 2010

Chocolate IcingA great way to save a dry cake. Bring to a boil and cook for 5 minutes on medium-low heat and pour on the cake.

 

Pork and Bean BreadMoist and delicious your family and friends will never guess it has P&B in it. Add raisins to boiling water and set aside. Mash beans with a fork in a large bowl until very smooth. Add sugar, eggs, oil and vanilla. Mix well.

 

Uncooked RelishPut all vegetables through a food chopper using a coarse blade. Drain off and discard liquid. Measure each vegetable after chopping. Mix vegetables with the salt and let stand overnight.

 

30 Minute 3 Bean Beef SoupBrown beef in butter in Dutch oven over medium heat. Stir in tomatoes, consomme, barley, onion, salt, marjoram, and thyme. Simmer 10 minutes. Add lima beans and simmer 10 more minutes.

 

Crock Pot Cubed SteakMy husband loved this. Soak deer cubed steak in vinegar and water mixture for about 1 hour. Slice onion and put in the bottom of crock pot. Drain water off cubed steak and brown lightly in a skillet.

 

Salmon Squares with Mushroom Pea SauceThis is a great recipe that uses canned salmon.

 

Chocolate Drop CookiesCream sugar and shortening; beat in egg. add milk, cocoa and flour. Dissolve soda in a little hot water and stir into mixture. Drop by spoonful on cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees F until done.

 

Kitty Valentine CardWith some fabric scraps, cardstock, and a few other supplies, kids can create these cute kitty Valentine cards in no time at all.

 

Reuse Food Containers for Packed LunchesSave your plastic containers from store bought items to reuse at home. My husband uses butter bowls to take soups, spaghetti, etc. to work. Then throws the bowl away and has nothing to keep up with.

 

Samson (Rottweiler/Lab)Samson ("Sammy" to his friends) is 5 years old. He is a Rottweiler and Lab mix. We got him in late May of 2004. Sammy was adopted as a birthday present for Mommy.

 

Use Fabric Softener in the DryerInstead of buying expensive fabric softener sheets, I put fabric softener in a spray bottle diluted 1:1 with water, spray Pellon interfacing material or a soft washcloth with about a dozen sprays, and throw it in the dryer.

 

Shamrock CakeThis is an 8 inch white homemade cake with lemon filling for a former priest. My husband and I try to stop in and pay him a visit during Christmas time and his birthday. He's Irish so I drew some tiny shamrocks with a writing tip.

 

Rascal and Smokey (Dutch Rabbits)Rascal and Smokey are almost 4 years old. They are Dutch Rabbits. They were an Easter surprise for our sons from my husband. They enjoy chewing on and tearing up a box or paper.

 

Link: Expressing A Dog's Anal GlandsI took my little Cocker girl to the vet and he charged me 75 bucks to explained to me why my dog was constantly scooting and licking her butter. Dogs have anal sacs that fill with a horrible smelling fluid that occasionally needs to be removed.

 

Stay Hydrated With Diluted Fruit JuicesWe are all told to drink more water and stay hydrated but I know I get bored with plain water very quickly. I've found that you can make great tasting flavored water simply by diluting good quality bottled fruit juices.

 

Keep an Email List of Gift IdeasI used to "make a mental note " after uncovering someone's likes or wishes for future gift giving, which then evolved into a notebook filled with names and ideas.

 

Recycling PoinsettiasThe holidays are all done and the pretty poinsettias are put away. My church had decorated the stage area with these beautiful 3 foot high poinsettias. I called my church to ask what they were going to do with them after the celebrations were over.

 

Laminate Envelopes to Store Small Flat PiecesI remember seeing this when I had my regular job with a school district. One of the Pre-K teachers had small bulletin board pictures and game pieces for her class stored in a large brown envelope.

 

Ask Your Kids "Are We There Yet?"Out of sheer frustration of going on long trips, I once decided to beat my daughter to the punch and asked her 10 minutes into the trip, "Honey, are we there yet?" She got SO flustered and short-wired that she didn't ask me that question for the rest of the trip!

 

Decorated Frame and Camera Gift for KidsThis is a great craft/gift idea for kids throughout the year I purchase cheap picture frames from the dollar store or garage sale, thrift stores, etc. I also purchase reduced sewing notions (beads, fake pearls, those jiggly-googly eyes, pretty stones, etc.).

 

Love of Sewing PinUsing a wooden heart for a backing, this pin shows off your love of sewing!

 

Soap Wrappers for Scented ClothesDon't throw away your scented soap wrappers. Put them in your clothes to keep them deliciously fragrant. It helps keep away moths too!

 

Use Pencil Topper Erasers for Replacement Glue TopsWedge shaped pencil erasers (pencil toppers) make good replacements for lost glue bottle caps. The round hole fits many of the "squirt" type bottle tips, while the wedge end will go into the slotted type end that comes on many wood glues.

 

Craft Projects for the Elderly and DisabledThere are so many small craft projects, with assistance that the elderly, handicapped and disabled can do! My most important suggestion is not to involve them in a lengthy project, but one they can accomplish in a short time frame.

 

Growing Your Own SproutsFrugal sprouting bin from free clear plastic food container, file clips, and gauze or netting.Start with a clean clear plastic container and a piece of gauze or netting to fit snuggly over the top of the container.

 

Free Beauty SamplesI love the feeling I get from wearing a perfume that smells wonderful on me, but don't appreciate the expense and disappointment when a scent doesn't compliment my body chemistry just right.

 

Brutus (Harlequin Great Dane)Brutus is now nearly 18 months. This picture was taken when he was about 3 months. He is a Harlequin Great Dane. We drove two hours to get Brutus in 100+ degree heat in 2008.

 

Your "Leather" Sofa May Not Be LeatherIf your sofa has a very high gloss and feels very stiff/inflexible, it is very likely that it is bi-cast and not genuine leather.

 

Guy Noir (Domestic Shorthair)Noiry Guy is 7 years old. He is a Domestic Shorthair. He was rescued by our grandchildren and then given to us. He likes to entice the dog to chase him

 

Have Older Kids Help Plan Their Own PartyWhen planning a party, it can get very stressful. The parents always feel pressured, and think that they have to do all the work preparing and planning it. They don't always realize that sometimes the kid wants to help with it or plan the party.

 

Removing Fat From Cooked FoodsIf you cook soups, stews, or pot roasts that have fat in them, there are a few simple ways to get the fat out while leaving the flavor in.

 

Homemade Gardening Pots?I use homemade papier mache pots for my seedlings, but I don't use salt in the paste mix. Can I use salt to prevent mold or will it kill the plants?

 

Effectiveness of Petodorremoval.net Products?Has anyone used petodorremoval.net to get out cat and dog odor/smell?

 

Japanese Style Curry Recipe?While traveling in Japan, I was served a delicious curry at a number of restaurants. It was dark in color and had a slightly soupy consistency so that one could eat it either plain or on rice. Does anyone please have a recipe for Japanese style curry?

 

Washing Silverware in the Dishwasher?Should silveware be washed in a dishwasher?

 

Removing Cooking Odors from Leather Furniture?I bought leather couches from people of Indian culture and when I got the furniture home it smells like the food they cook. How do I get the smell off leather furniture? The cushions are not removable. Any ideas?

 

Pyrex Glass Measuring Cups Stuck Together?I have two 4 oz Pyrex measuring cups stuck together. Does anyone have any advice to "unstick" them?

 

Paczki - Polish Prune Filled Donut Recipe?I am looking for a recipe. It's a polish donut with prunes in the middle.

 

Oven Burns the Bottom of Baked Goods?I have a problem with my oven baking cookies, biscuits, etc. too quickly on the bottom and they often burn. I've tried different remedies to correct this, but they don't work. Does anyone have a solution? Thanks.

 

Looking for Summer Salad Chutney Recipe?At a craft fair recently I sampled a pickle (chutney?) called "summer salad" and it was delicious. It looked a lot like salsa, but tasted sweeter and I thought I could detect brown sugar in it, but I'm not sure. I

 

Post Delivery Care Advice for Dogs?My Dachshund is pregnant. The good thing is, it's to our male Dachshund, but I want to know if there is any post delivery care I need to give her?

 

Using Heavy Textured Wallpaper on Ceilings and Side Walls?We live in an old brick house with stress cracks in the original plaster. Is there anyone out there that has used the heavy textured wall paper on the ceilings and side walls?

 

Ballpoint Ink on Cotton Polyester Fabric?My daughter is 1 year old. She scribbled on her baby blanket with a ballpoint pen. It's Mother Care brand and it says the material is 80% cotton and 20 % polyester. I was hoping I could show the picture, but it's not loading.

 

Reviews of Tiffany East Catering?Has anyone ever heard of Tiffany East Catering in Baltimore, MD? I can't find reviews on them and I am interested in their services.

 

E-mailing a Webcam Photo?How do I take a still photo with my web cam and put it on an e-mail?

 

Making Salt and Pepper Hair White?My hair is the salt and pepper, gray color. Is there a way to make it all white?

 

Painting Kitchen Cabinets?How do I refinish kitchen cabinet doors? I want to paint some old cabinets and replace the center with frosted glass. It looks like there is a gloss finish on the cabinets and they are old. I don't want to hurt the wood.