May 17, 2010

Banana Cream PieMix flour, 2/3 cup sugar and salt. Gradually add milk. Cook over moderate heat, stirring constantly until mixture thickens and boils. Cook 2 minutes, remove from heat.

 

Beef Casserole Combine all ingredients and mix well; pour into large casserole. Bake for 20 minutes at 400 degrees F, reduce to 375 degrees F and bake 45 minutes to 1 hour.

 

Molded Jello SaladMake gelatin with 2 cups boiling water. Add cranberry sauce, pineapple and 1/2 cup water. Chill until partially set. Add walnuts. Pour into a 6 cup mold. Chill until firm.

 

Easy MeatloafIt's the easiest meatloaf I've ever made.

 

Maple Fruit DipI love Maple anything. Combine yogurt, whipped topping and syrup in a bowl. Cover and refrigerate, allowing the dip to chill and flavors to blend, for about a half hour.

 

Philadelphia Cheese Steak SandwichesIt's the molasses that gives this recipe it's unique flavor. In a large nonstick skillet heat oil over med. heat. Saute onions and meat until onions are soft; about 3 minutes.

 

Carrots L'OrangeCook carrots in boiling salted water in saucepan until tender-crisp; drain. Combine brown sugar, cornstarch, ginger and salt in small saucepan. Add orange juice.

 

Frozen Graham Cracker SandwichesSuper easy and requires only 2 ingredients.

 

Scenery: Shopping at the Farmer's MarketJust last week we dropped by this roadside flower, fruit and veggie stand to get our fruit and veggies for the week and I spotted this lovely view.

 

Use Permanent Marker to Label Hard to Read ContainersI literally see nothing but a blur without my glasses and hate to admit how many times in the shower I've confused body wash, shampoo, and conditioner since bottles from the same manufacturer look nearly identical and the product print is too small to read.

 

Added Nutrition in Mashed PotatoesMy son, because of his wife's work schedule has taken over the duty of cooking dinner each evening. He gets home a couple of hours earlier than she. He gave me a wonderful tip when he was here for Mother's Day.

 

Wildlife: Mynah Bird in MauiWhile taking a drive and looking at the beautiful scenery in Maui, we stopped at a beach and saw a Mynah Bird sitting in a tree. What a chance for a photo op.

 

Buy Secondhand Shoes for GardeningI love to garden and, more often than not, I ruin my shoes when I'm immersed in black dirt. I constantly go outside to garden. Sometimes I'll actually remember to slip on my plastic garden shoes...

 

My Frugal Life: Preschool At HomePreschoolers at home need education and variety- as do their daytime caregiver! In my case, embracing being a stay-at-home-mom has led me to explore, adapt, and use the many free ways to teach my children some basics to prep them for school, life and to have fun with them!

 

Children's Fancy Dinner PartyEvery summer when my children were home and wondering what to do, they would plan a family "restaurant dinner" night. They had to come up with the menu, cook the food, set up a fancy table, and even make menus.

 

Model To Get Professional Photos for FreeNeed a gift idea for the man in your life? Check your local paper or craigslist for ads looking for models. Often it's a photographer looking to expand his portfolio.

 

Magazine Organizer From Recycled Wine BoxI'm sure I'm the only one who drinks boxed wines, but in case there are others of you, here's a great idea. I had the box laying on the dryer waiting to be torn down for the recycle bin when I noticed the size is just about the same as a cardboard magazine organizer.

 

Quillie (Hedgehog)Quillie Nelson is an 8 month old Hedgehog. I got him March 2010. He likes to stick his nose in the grass and forage for food.

 

Tooty (Catahoula Leopard Dog)Tooty is a 6-8 month old Catahoula Leopard Dog. She was a stray that we adopted. Best dog ever! She's a work dog so she enjoys chasing whatever you want to throw. She likes to dig, too. We have a sand pile for her to bury all her "prized possessions!"

 

Sunny (German Shepard)Sunny is a 7 year old German Shepard. We got her from a pet store. She likes to play with our kids. She is so the best pet ever!

 

Making Your Own Hanging Tomato BasketsTake your terracotta pot and make the bottom hole larger by nipping it very very carefully with wire cutters. Drill three holes around the top rim of the pot. Thread three equal pieces of wire through the holes and pull them together, forming a loop.

 

Growing Vanilla Beans In IndiaI am from Mumbai, India, which is located on the coastal region of West India.

 

Three Easy Crafts For BoysIf seems like there are always crafts for girls, but when it comes to boys crafts are a little hard to come by. School will soon be out and they will be needing something to do besides computers and electronic games. Here are a few I came up with.

 

Recycled Craft OrganizerThis is an organizer for crafts, office supplies, anything small. Wash jars and let dry completely. Lightly sand the muffin pan, paint it black. Paint each jar a different color, make designs, symbols, etc.

Paint the lids different colors, let dry completely.

 

Bromeliad FlowerThis photo was taken in the hallway of the Travelers Towers bldg in Southfield, MI

 

Bed Making TipsKids don't make beds anymore or they don't make them properly. I have two tips just for the bed.

 

Setup a "Salad Club" at WorkAt work we have a "Salad Club." There are currently five participants so we have five different lists of ingredients which we rotate weekly. We include 2 types of lettuce, spinach and other various toppings and veggies.

 

What is the Best Way to Crush Sea Shells?I want to crush some sea shells. Has anyone ever done this? Aside from taking a hammer to them, there really is not a special way to do so. Is there?

 

Beverly's Restaurant Strawberry Pie?I am looking for a strawberry pie recipe served many years ago at Beverly's Restaurant in Sedalia, MO. It had a cooked crust, powdered sugar, and fresh strawberries. Does anyone have a similar recipe? It doesn't seem to have cream cheese, but maybe some lemon flavoring. That's about it. Thanks.

 

Looking for a Cabbage and Hamburger Recipe?I am looking for a recipe. It had cabbage, ground meat, macaroni, and Zesty Italian dressing mix in it. The Zesty Italian dressing mix was the dry kind that comes in a envelope and is by the bottled salad dressings in the grocery store.

 

Growing Vanilla Beans In India?Can we grow vanilla in Phaltan, which is close to Baramati (100 Kms from Pune)? I would also like to know all the details, like duration, how much water is required, etc.

 

Leg Cramps from Kidney Disease?My husband has kidney disease and is at about 11 percent right now. He's been suffering from severe leg cramps at night and hurting. He has a history of high potassium so they put him on meds to help keep it under control.

 

Ideas for Collecting Sewing Materials for a Non-Profit?I work for a non-profit organization and we are making pillowcase dresses and shorts for our nearly 1,000 orphans in Kampala, Uganda.We are in desperate need of fabric, ribbons, buttons, sewing materials, and so forth. Can you help us?

 

Making Dill Pickles At Home?Does dill from the garden need to be dried or brown to make dill pickles?

 

Daily Routine for Stay at Home Mom and 9 Month Old?I am a 21 year old, stay at home mom, with a 9 month old daughter. Although we have somewhat of a routine, I am wondering what are other stay at home mom's daily routines. Any advice will be helpful.

 

Dyeing White Hair Salt and Pepper?I have all white hair and would really like to get it back to salt and pepper. I am 49 years old and it ages me. Has anybody ever done this? Thanks.

 

Clean Your Toilet with Baking Soda and Red Wine Vinegar?Last month, Connie from Paintsville, KY, posted a tip about cleaning a toilet with baking soda and red wine vinegar. Several TF readers asked for more specifics (how much of each product do you use?), but I never saw Connie's answer. Does anyone know?

 

Groups for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren?Does anyone out there know of any groups that deal with grandparents raising grandchildren?

 

Can Only One Vaccinated Puppy in a Litter Get Parvo?Recently, over a week ago I sold five puppies from a litter of eight I have. I hadn't heard back from this one person until a couple of days ago. She's had her puppy from me for well over a week, and told me days later her pup had to have an overnight vet stay because it has parvo.

 

Feeding a Six Week Old Puppy?What do I feed a 6 week red nose Pit Bull?

 

Teaching a Dog Not to Bite?I have a Labradoodle called Poppy, she is just over a year old, about 13 and a half months When I bought her she was very obedient and learned commands quickly, but she never learned to stop biting.

 

Garlic is Poisonous to Cats?I thought cats were highly allergic to garlic, yet a lot of people on this site seem to include garlic in their homemade cat food recipes and to avoid fleas on their cats. Is garlic toxic to cats?

 

Letting Someone Else Use Your Repair License?I rented out a commercial garage and I am letting them use my auto repair permit. Only the garage rental is in our contract. Can I just tell him he cannot use my permit any more, with a couple of days notice?

 

Using Doilies, Table Runners, and Placemats in Craft Projects?What are some unique ideas for using antique doilies, table runners, or placemats?

 

Inexpensive Wedding Hall in Chicago?Does anyone know where there is a cheap hall I can rent in Chicago? I am planning my wedding reception but just need a hall. I found a couple but I would have to buy liquor through them and I don't want to do that. Please help!

 

Displaying Merchandise at a Flea Market?I am showing Avon products at flea markets. Any selling, displaying or other tips? Any good ideas for displaying jewelry at flea markets?

 

Removing Dry Eraser Marker From Carpet?How do you get dry erase marker out of carpet?

 

Average Weight of Male Beagle Lab Mix?What is the average weight of a male Beagle Lab mix?

 

Trouble With a GFI Switch?I replaced an electrical outlet with a GFI switch. I plugged in a small fountain pump and it blew the fountain pump twice. Any thoughts on how to fix the electrical issue?

 

Keeping a Butcher Block Outside?I have a very old and heavy butcher block. I would like to use it on the front porch of my old farmhouse. The floor of my kitchen wouldn't hold the weight. Will it hurt the butcher block to be outside?

 

Color Ideas for a Bathroom With Cream Fixtures?What colors would look good in a bathroom that has cream colored fixtures?

 

Freezing Breaded Fish?How do you freeze fish with the breading on it like you get at grocery stores? How do you get the breading to stay on?

 

Permanent Marker on Metal?My niece wrote in permanent black marker in the metal facing of the heater. How can I get rid of it?

 

Getting Rid of Flying Insects Outside?I would like to get rid of the mosquitoes, gnats, and other flying things away from where I sit on the porch in my backyard. But I don't want anything that will hurt the lizards, snakes, insects or other helpful animals that eat the "bad" bugs.

 

Setting Up an Internet Site to Honor Service Members?If there were a site on the internet that people could list, for themselves, their loved one(s) that are serving or have served in the military branches who are alive or passed to honor our military persons do you think anyone would take the time to read or look at the pictures even?

 

Slogan for an Upscale House Cleaning Business?I need a catchy slogan for my house cleaning business. It needs to be something referring to upscale homes, as this will be the home that I will be working for. Do you have any ideas for a catchy slogan or for a logo as well? Thank you for your time and suggestions.

 

Pedometer Reviews?If you use a pedometer when walking I'd like to hear your opinions on the brand and model you use. Has anyone used an Omron pedometer? I owned a cheap one I bought at WalMart one time but it wasn't very accurate.