February 26, 2010

Cheeseburger ChowderIn a large saucepan, cook ground beef until browned. Drain off fat. Stir in potatoes, celery, onion, green pepper, bouillon granules, 1 1/2 cups water and 1/2 t. salt.

 

Mango SaladDissolve Jello in water. Add softened cream cheese. Blend until smooth. Mash mangos with juice and add to Jello mixture. Add lemon juice and chopped pecans.

 

Banana BarsMix together above ingredients. Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Frost, when cooled, with cream cheese frosting

 

Easiest of All Lemon PieSo easy and fresh with lemon! Combine lemonade, condensed milk and cool whip. Pour into pie shell and chill. Serve with a spoonful of cool whip if desired.

 

Hamburger Upside-Down PieIn 10-11 inch oven-proof skillet, brown ground beef and cook celery, onion and green pepper until tender. Stir in salt and soup. Combine Bisquick and milk, roll into a circle slightly smaller than the skillet.

 

Celery And Peas MedleyPreheat oven to 350 degrees F. Melt butter in skillet. Add celery, mushrooms and water. Cover; simmer 5 minutes.

 

Cherry CrispMix flour, brown sugar, oatmeal and margarine together. Put half of mixture in bottom of an 8 inch square pan. Cover with cherry pie filling. Sprinkle rest of crumb mixture on top.

 

Ranch CrackersVery easy to make, and it makes a lot. Everyone seems to enjoy. Mix dry dressing mix with oil. Place crackers in large container with lid or zip lock bag. Pour oil and dressing mix over crackers.

 

Enhancing Store-bought RelishTo make store-bought relish more flavorful, mix in some raw sweet small-diced onions and/or finely chopped red bell peppers and/or small diced carrots. Dump the relish in a bigger jar to allow more room before adding the extras. Shake the jar to mix.

 

Maggie Mae (Cat)Maggie Mae is a 5 year old long haired black kitty. I had been telling my husband I wanted a long-haired black cat for about a year. He said we had enough pets (2 dogs). Then the big C hit. Between my surgery and the start of my 6 month chemo, he found my Maggie.

 

Use Vacuum To Clean Vacuum FilterI own a vacuum cleaner that has a dust bin instead of using a bag. I usually clean by banging it on a cement wall outside. However, we have so much snow this winter here in ND, there is no good place to do this outside.

 

Fabric Softener to Remove Wallpaper GlueTo get the rest of the glue off the walls after removing wall paper try saturating wall with cheap liquid fabric softener; the cheaper the better.

 

Washing Clothes The Old Fashioned WayThis is a photo of me as a child. My parents were missionaries and this is how we washed our clothes in Mexico. In the river! My dad called us his twin tub washing machine. After we washed the clothes, we would carry them on our heads up to the house.

 

Ritzy Glitzy FrameWith some scrap fabric, glue, and embellishments, you can make a nice frame that is elegant and fancy at the same time.

 

Repurposing Large Reusable TotesI received some pretty big reusable bags, but found when filled with groceries, they were too heavy to lift and carry to put in my car. They're very sturdy though, so I didn't want to get rid of them.

 

Old Microwave for Bread BoxOur nice micorwave oven finally gave out and we found out it would be cheaper to buy another than to repair it. My husband realized that the non working microwave would make a great bread box.

 

Buy Locally Grown Food for Green LivingBeing green is not just about recycling and reusing things, turning off the water or lowering your heat. Yes they all help, but there is an area that people don't think about with being green. Eat local grown or raised food meat and veggies.

 

Use Bubble Bath As An All Purpose CleanerThis is the time to go green. Clean green it's easier and cheaper than you think. My favorite cleaning product is Avon bubble bath. It is good for cleaning just about anything, windows and mirrors without streaks (1/2 a capful per 2 cup spray bottle).

 

Store Sliced Cheese In Bread BagI purchase the sliced American cheese (120) slices from Sam's club. I like their American cheese the best. When I get home I put all the slices of cheese in an empty bread bag and it is just as fresh months later as the day I put in the bread bag.

 

Make Extra when Baking SnacksWhen you make snacks in your oven, like fish sticks, burritos, french fries, pies, pizza, or whatever, bake enough at one time for a couple meals. After you eat your snack or meal, just put the rest in the fridge, and then microwave it.

 

Fabulous Winter SalesWhen the winter doldrums keep many inside, there is an encouraging reason to face winter head on-winter sales. Now is the perfect time to search for key items that are marked down for quick clearance.

 

Daisy (Shih Tzu)Daisy is a 7 month old shih tzu. I knew the lady who had the father so before the pups were born, I spoke for one. She loves to play in the snow and chase snowballs when I throw them.

 

Donate Excess Sale Items to CharitiesSometimes when grocery shopping I will purchase a product, usually a "two for the price of one", that is new to me looking to bring something different to the table. This could be a new flavor of a sauce or rice mix, many times a sale item to promote a new product.

 

Tessie LaNae (Jack Russell Mix)This is Tessie LaNae. We believe she is a 3 or 4 year old Jack Russell mix. Maybe with Rat Terrier or Corgi? We found her at a KY Terrier Trial, Mothers Day weekend of '09.

 

Finish Shampoo with Cold Water RinseAfter shampooing and rinsing your hair in warm water, make your final rinse as cold as you can stand. It causes all the "scales" of the hair shaft to close back up (warm water opens them) and your hair will be as silky as can be.

 

What Breed is My Dog?This is Brody. He is 1 1/2 years old and roughly 50 lbs. We know his mother is Dalmatian and Lab. We don't know what else he is mixed with. We are very curious and get asked a lot what his mix is and just have no clue.

 

Sewing Without a Pattern?I am new to sewing and I want to make things without a pattern. I have seen it done online and it looks easy and fast. I would like to make dresses, skirts, and tops for office wear.

 

Keeping Bugs Out of a Light Fixture?How do you keep bugs out of the garage door opening light? There are slots on the sides and they are full of bugs. Yuck!

 

Craft Ideas for Hospital Activities Department?I volunteer once a week at a local hospital in the activities department. After 3 years I'm running out of ideas. I need suggestions. On the average, 12 - 15 residents come in to participate so I must have enough material/supplies for at least 30 of the same projects.

 

Embroidery Stitch Doesn't Work on Singer Model #6268?I have a Singer Sewing #6268 that sews beautiful until I put the embroidery attachment on it, then it won't pick up the top stitches to do the embroidery pattern. Can anybody help me with this problem?

 

Will Sugar Ants Harm Houseplants?Will sugar ants hurt my houseplants? Where I live there are a lot of sugar ants and I can't keep them out of my plants. Please help.

 

Bathroom Accessory Color Advice?My bathroom has ashen tan walls with glass tile of burgundy, dark brown, and clear on the counters. I would like to add color that pops for my linens and accessories. What colors should I go with. I am thinking about aqua and burgundy. Help.

 

Putting Photos on a Quilt?Someone awhile back was able to print a picture and somehow press it onto white or beige material to add it to a quilt, can someone tell me how they did it?

 

What Breed is My Dog?I was told from the shelter that the dog I was adopting was a Boxer/Pug mix. Here is a picture of her; tell me what you think.

 

Banquet Dessert Ideas?I was trying to make a layer cake, twice now, erghh. Both cakes have broken apart when I tried to cut them. They are delicious, but now all in pieces mostly. I don't want to waste them by throwing them out. I need a dessert for 2 different banquets. Any ideas?

 

Discontinued Wallpaper: Royal Traditions Vol. II #94037734 and Border #940B38482?I am looking for Royal Traditions, Vol. II, wallpaper #94037734 and border #940B38482. Thanks.

 

Drafty Window Tips?We live in a modular home and are having problems with wind forcing cold air into the house around the window frames. Caulking would seem to be one answer. How about using an insulating foam bead? Any other ideas? I am lazy and cheap.

 

Hospital Fundraiser Craft Ideas?I need suggestions for unique or different craft items to sell at a fundraiser for our small local hospital that is in financial trouble.