May 24, 2010

Twice Baked PotatoesA nice side dish or snack and tasty heated up the next day too. You can also place them on a baking sheet in the freezer and, once frozen, wrap individually for future use.

 

Orange TapiocaCombine first 4 ingredients and bring to a rapid boil. Let cool. Add mandarin oranges and Cool Whip and whip together with mixer. Refrigerate.

 

Club SaladPlace cherry tomato halves up against side of 3 qt. clear glass bowl. Layer lettuce, 1 cup ranch dressing, chopped tomato, croutons, ham, cheese and turkey in bowl, making distinct layers.

 

Lesa's Bean StewIt is an easy recipe and everyone loves it, even the kids. Brown ground meat and drain grease (do not rinse). Add salt, garlic powder, and Cajun seasoning to taste.

 

Tropical SalsaThis is a delicious and easy salsa that is a change-of-pace from the usual. It tastes like freshness on a fork! You can change it up a little too. Use pineapple instead of mango. Add more/less/no hot peppers.

 

Substitute Whipped CreamThis is a recipe on how to make whipped cream by substituting ingredients. It is quick and easy. It is from scratch and fresh. I love it.

 

Curry Pineapple Fried RiceBring the rice and water to a boil in a saucepan over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the rice is tender, and the liquid has been absorbed, 20 to 25 minutes. Set the cooked rice aside.

 

Hamburger Noodle CasseroleBrown meat in oil. Add next 4 ingredients and saute until well done. Spoon off extra fat. Add olives and mushrooms and all liquids, then simmer for 5 minutes. Mix in noodles.

 

Scenery: Albuquerque Balloon FestivalThis beautiful balloon caught my eye as it drifted by the coloring so matched the clouds, and sky. The sunrays shinning down through the clouds in front of the Sandia Mountains just made the whole picture come together

 

Become a Frugal CrafterFor those of us who have fallen on tough times more recently, this essay is intended to help you find a creative outlet for free and perhaps the chance to make some gifts that will be all the more treasured simply because you made them.

 

Nellie, Annie, Boomer and Smiley (Dogs)Here are Nellie (11 year old Mini-Yorkie), Annie (1 1/2 year old American Pit), Boomer (2 year old Jack Russel) and Smiley (1 year old mutt) from left to right. Nellie is behind Sarah's shoulder.

 

Freeze Dumplings for SoupDid you know you can freeze dumplings? I make homemade dumplings. I roll them out flat, put them in the baking pan I bake biscuits in, let them freeze, then put them in an empty plastic cereal bag.

 

Colored Salts For Better HealthFor salt lovers, healthy salt is a dream come true. It has minerals in it. Look for more colors in your salt and stay away from white (pure white) bleached varieties.

 

Use Scrubbing Bubbles for Hard Water SpotsMy husband read so many solutions on removing hard water spots on windows, but nothing ever worked for him. The windshield on our motor home was so stained from the water that would run down it, that we tried everything on the market just like so many others.

 

Rambo (Brussels Griffon)Rambo is a year and a half old Brussels Griffon. My fiance and I were in Birmingham looking in the pet store. Rambo and his twin sister immediately caught our eyes.

 

Garden: African VioletsWhile trimming the leaves on the violets, I laid some of them down in a pan of moist dirt. I then covered the pan with clear plastic wrap. About 8 weeks later, I had nine little babies to transplant.

 

Use Dawn Dish Soap as a Stain RemoverI really can't take any credit for this tip at all, except to tell you that it works. I used it to remove human urine from the decorative contour rug around our commode. Recently, someone from ThriftyFun suggested it and all credit to her.

 

Robin's Weekly Grocery DealsThere are lots of deals in our area this week from both our grocery stores as well as Wal-Mart. Here are a few of the deals this week at Wal-Mart:

 

Uses for Candle JarsDon't throw out those empty candle jars! Recycle them. I burn the Febreeze candles and they work great for this project, but any glass candle container works.

 

Check Measurements Against Sizes Before Ordering ClothesBefore you decide to purchase clothing from a television shopping channel or a mail order catalog, measure yourself! Some designers use different measurements for different sizes. A size 2 for one designer, might be a size 4 for another.

 

Bi-Ti (Siamese)This my dear beloved Siamese cat "Bi-Ti" (BY-TIE). She is named that because she is just as Bi-polar as my son Tilyr. When she was a kitten, I told jokingly that she acted like him and I was going to call her Bi-Ti and he said no.

 

Imogene (Goat)Imogene is a 2 year old part boer, part not too bright! She was born on our small 20 acre ranch. She likes to eat and get into trouble.

 

Changing Maple LeavesI took this photo one morning when I was out taking a walk down Five Mile Rd. The location is is Redford, MI

 

Drill Drainage Holes In Your Trash Can Make washing out your trash can a breeze: drill several 1/2 inch holes in the bottom. The holes will allow you to hose down the insides without having to dump out the water, and also prevent rainwater from collecting.

 

Allow Dog to "Shred" DocumentsWe had 2 problems. We have never been able to break our 10 year-old dog of her habit of tearing through the garbage whenever we leave the house. Also, although more of a nuisance than a problem, we never seem to find the time to shred our sensitive mail.

 

Pollen Free Flowers Won't Help BeesEvery year I plant lots of sunflowers for the honeybees as they are declining. Yesterday, I picked up my seeds but didn't notice that they were pollen free. These sunflowers will not help the honey bee or other pollinating insects.

 

Summer Fun BoxSchool is almost out! A great surprise gift idea for elementary-aged children, grandchildren, or nieces and nephews is a 'Summer of Fun' surprise package. Try to think of all the things you loved as a child.

 

Hair Bow BoardA useful and pretty bow holder made of inexpensive, if not on-hand, scraps.

 

Plant Your Sprouting Potatoes?I just found a bag of potatoes with sprouts as long as 10 inches; there is no smell to the bag. Can I plant them? And do I cut the potatoes in half with sprout attached or put the whole potato with sprouts in ground?

 

Keeping Cats from Jumping Fence?How do you keep cats from jumping a fence into neighbor's yard? Besides keeping them inside 24/7.

 

Buying Shrubs at Bulk Prices?I am looking for about 50, red tip photinia plants at a bulk rate. Can you suggest a nursery, near by? Most places like Home Depot and Lowe's, want $10 a plant, for a 1 gallon pot. Thanks.

 

Sealing Acrylic Paint for Outside Use?I used an acrylic paint to put a design on a flower pot. It will be used outside and I need to know what to use on it to seal the acrylic paint so that it doesn't chip or run.

 

Ideas for a Unique Feminine Style Bed?I am looking for suggestions on types of beds. I'm in need of a twin or full bed, it needs to be feminine and very unique. I love old fashioned ones, you know from the 19th century and canopies.

 

Buying a Small Commercial Range?Does anyone have any advice about buying a small, 36 inch commercial range? What are the best brands? Any tips for getting a good deal?

 

Cleaning Stainless Steel Grill Grates?What is an easy way to clean my stainless steel cooking grates for my infrared grill?

 

How Do I Make Butterscotch Icing or Sauce?Any ideas how to make butterscotch icing and butterscotch sauce?

 

Mower With a Briggs & Stratton Engine Won't Start?I have a Briggs and Stratton 12hp engine in my ride on mower that will not start. I have replaced the battery and starter, and have cleaned the carburetor.

 

What is This Plant?Here is the second plant I wish to ID. (I submitted a question already, but it only allowed me to upload one picture.) Sorry for the poor quality images.

 

Toddler With Diarrhea?My 2 year old drank too much milk and now she has diarrhea, is there anything I can do? I gave her milk in the morning and then watered down juice. I just gave her water for the rest of the afternoon and she still had it. Are there any ideas that people have?

 

Removing a Mercurochrome Stain on T-shirt?How do you get Mercurochrome out of an off white t-shirt? Please help.

 

Organic Treatment for Plum Curculio Beetles?My fruit trees have insects called curculio that destroy all the fruit when it is about an inch long. The agricultural department says the only thing you can use to kill this long nose insect is serious poisons. Does anyone know of a homemade organic way of getting rid of these little creatures?

 

Keeping Kittens from Climbing on Sofa?What is a good home remedy to keep two kittens from climbing on my sofas? Their little claws are making holes in the material and the store bought spray isn't working. Any suggestions?

 

Groom's Tuxedo Wishing Well Made From a Trash Can?I am searching for instructions on how to make a groom's tuxedo out of a black garbage can. There is a poem that also goes with it and is sent with the shower invites asking the guest to bring a tool to fill the can.

 

Small Brown Bugs With a White Hair on Front and Back?My home is infested with "something". I can't see them most of the time, but they are living in my bed and living room furniture. Sometimes, I can see them; they are a little brown dot with a white hair on the front and back.

 

Kitchen Counters to Go With Beige Stone Floor and Medium Wood Cabinets?My kitchen floor is natural stone, different beiges and a little white. The cabinets are a medium color wood. What color should I buy for the counter top and back splash?

 

Coupons for Military Families?I am clipping coupons to send to a military base. Where do I find an address to send them?

 

Broken Pumpkin Plant Stems?I have two pumpkin plants that are growing beautifully. I don't have any fruit yet and no blooms but the plant themselves are very big and beautiful. This afternoon I went out to check on my garden and apparently my cat thought that was a great place to sit in the shade and broke two of my stems.

 

What Are These Plants?Can you help me ID my plants that I bought today at the Home Depot? They did not come with a tag to ID them and I don't know how to take care of them. Also I'd love to know their type/name! Thanks.

 

Ideas for Expanding a Cleaning Business?My name is Xolisiwe and I am working for a cleaning service. Now I have to come up with ideas to expand the business. Any suggestions?

 

Spin Cycle Does Not Remove All the Water?The spin cycle on my washing machine works, but the clothes are still soaked. Why?

 

Free or Inexpensive Job Training Opportunities for Stay at Home Mom?Does anyone know of some free colleges or somewhere to get some job skills for a stay at home mom? I really need to go back to school. I can't find a job here in California. Thanks.

 

Disinfecting Kitchen to Get Rid of Odors?Our refrigerator died and now there is the worst possible smell in that area. I have lost my appetite and don't want go near that area, its just gross. We have a new fridge coming Tuesday. I was wondering how we can disinfect the area and make the horrific smell go away. Please help! Thanks.

 

Parents of the Groom Asked Not to Attend Wedding?How do you respond when your son and future daughter-in-law request that you not attend the wedding because the future mother-in-law (my wife) did not comply with dress color request? The real question is "should we attend anyway?"