July 2, 2010

House NachosThis recipe came from eating some wonderful nachos in a restaurant in Dallas, TX years ago. I tried to copy them. These are a big hit and you can keep the ingredients on hand for a quick snack or meal.

 

Gourmet Mushroom CasserolePlace mushrooms in crock pot. Melt butter with marjoram, chives, salt and pepper and place in crock pot. Add chicken bouillon and water. Stir well.

 

July 4th Bowl DessertAn easy dessert for Independence day and it looks great too! Beat cream cheese in large bowl with mixer until creamy. Gradually beat in milk and dry pudding mixes. Gently stir in 2 cups of whipped topping.

 

Marsha's Banana-Walnut Tea BreadThis is a very rich and delicious tea bread. So much flavor locked into every bite and it's about as easy to make as anything can be. Whether eaten for breakfast, lunch, dinner or a bedtime snack, this tea bread will let you know just how much "somebody loves you".

 

Aunt Frances' LemonadeIt is different and would be very refreshing on a hot day in a tall glass filled with ice, or even frozen until slushy to eat with a spoon!

 

Mocha CoolerMix milk, cocoa mix, and coffee in electric blender. Add ice cream in several sections and blend until smooth. Makes 1 serving.

 

Corn and Quinoa Salad with Lemony Mint DressingPull the husks of the corn back, but not off. Remove the silk from each ear of corn and then pull the husks back up. Roast the ears over a hot grill for 5 minutes, turning the ears several times so that they roast evenly.

 

Sage Ranch Chicken KabobsThese kabobs are really nice served over your favorite rice cooked in chicken broth and then very lightly flavored with a bit of lemon juice.

 

Toffee Cookie SquaresCream butter and sugar. Add egg, vanilla and flour. Bake at 350 degrees F for 25 minutes or 375 degrees F for 15-18 minutes. Frost with melted chocolate bars. Cool and cut into squares.

 

My Frugal Life: Reusing Plastic Grocery BagsUses for plastic grocery bags (the one time use/disposable): To carry groceries home: Most can be used more than once to get groceries home

 

How Gardeners Can Help Monarch ButterfliesMonarch butterfly populations are in trouble. Each fall, hundreds of millions of them migrate from the United Stated and Canada to the mountains in Mexico where they wait out the winter. Each spring, they make the long trip back in order to breed.

 

Scenery: My Neighbor's FlowersSpring brings out the flowers, car rides and cameras to capture that moment of enjoyment!

 

Raised Garden BedI upgraded my boxes this year, bigger and taller.

 

Garden: Rock WaterfallMy husband built this waterfall two years ago and it was just featured in our local newspaper today! We live on a hillside in an area called Mountainview so the waterfall looks very natural. Cars stop often to look at it.

 

Raised Garden BedHere is a raised bed that my husband put together this weekend. It is 4x10 feet and 20 inches high.

 

Styrofoam StarsMake Styrofoam plates into cute hanging stars after rinsing and letting dry (or brushing off crumbs). I used a stencil of a star for my patterns and cut these out using craft scissors. They are strung on regular sewing thread with a few beads at the top.

 

Petlynx for Lost PetsThere is a free service that will greatly increase the chances of reuniting lost pets with their families. You can post your lost pet (or pets you may find) on the "Lost and Found" section on PetLynx. (This is a free service.)

 

Product Review: Quantumatic Automatic Dishwasher DispenserThis is an automatic dishwasher detergent dispenser which you latch to the top rack of your dishwasher. The dispenser holds twelve loads worth of soap. A little indicator on the top lets you know how many loads are left.

 

Cover Birds To Keep Them QuietIf you have parakeets (budgies) who annoy you or your family with their screeching all day and all night, throw a light cover over their cage. You can buy or make one or you can simply use an old cotton tablecloth.

 

Use Open Office For Free Office SoftwareIf you can't afford Microsoft Office and need to use something comparable, there is a program called OpenOffice.org that is compatible with Microsoft Office and is free to download to use. I have been using it for a few months now and it works fine.

 

Baking Soda for Fireworks FiresPlease be careful as usual this Fourth of July and always take along a box of baking soda in case any small fire starts. Baking soda will put it out quickly. I keep one in the car also.

 

Check Hospital Websites for JobsSearch hospital websites for jobs. I've been looking for work for months. Everyday I search the internet for new postings. Then I started thinking of places that employ a lot of people and thought of the hospital.

 

Buy Soda (Pop) By the CaseI had been upset for a long time that name brand pop (or at least Coke in my area), was only sold in 12 packs. I used to buy by the case (24 pack), but all of the sudden they disappeared and I was paying about the same for half as much pop!

 

Shoes Should Be In PairsShoes come in pairs, you wear them in pairs, and you put them away in pairs - so why do they end up SINGLE? I have so many nice things, I am trying increasingly to shop in my own closet.

 

Jensen (Cockeranian)Jensen is a 7 month old Cockeranian. My daughter didn't have enough time for a pet with her long work hours, so to my surprise, my boyfriend brought Jensen home to me when he was about 4 months old.

 

Maii (Uromastyx)Mali is over 6 years old. She is a Uromastyx. My daughter bought it while working at Petsmart. She thought that she looked sad always hiding under a rock. She likes to eat dandelions! It gives me new purpose to 'WEEDING' now!

 

Create Stick Sculptures to Attract BirdsThis tip is "for the birds" in your garden. I don't throw away large sticks that fall during storms, instead I keep them and use them to make stick sculptures for the birds.

 

Load Gift Card to Limit SpendingTo control your budget for grocery spending, load a store gift card with whatever amount you have for groceries for the month. Keep some spare cash from the budget to shop for items from other stores that might be on sale.

 

Spray Inside of Tin Foil When BakingBefore you cover your baking items with foil, spray the side of the foil that touches the food with non-stick cooking spray. No more sticking to the foil and no more ruining your pretty dish

 

Mop Floor with Dishwasher DetergentHere is a really good hint. If you have a floor that you mop, or needs to be mopped and just gets a quick "lick and a promise" (as my mom would have said), I can give you a hint that will put it back in shape with a minimum of work.

 

Beautiful SunriseI took this shot at 6:30 in the morning as the sun was just getting up. The trees, mist, water and sunlight just gives a magic look.

 

Scenery: July 4th Beach Sunset (NJ)This was taken July 4th 2009 at the beach at sunset at Beachwood, New Jersey. A Typical Jersey Shore Town!

 

Paper Plate Flower BasketThis is a great summer craft to keep the kids busy for a while. All you need are some paper plates, colored paper, chenille stems (pipe cleaners), scissors, and glue.

 

Pebbles (Chihuahua/Dachshund Mix)Pebbles is a 6 month old Chihuahua/Dachshund mix. She was a surprised when my sister's male Chihuahua mixed with her son's older Dachshund who had never been able to get pregnant in six years. She likes to wrangle toes, wrangle noses, and chase the cats.

 

Oil Free Fried ChickenIf you don't have any cooking oil and want to fry chicken, find a cast iron skillet and fry the chicken in its own juices. It will be just as finger lickin' good as KFC, only healthier.

 

How Do I Freeze Fresh Green Beans?How do I freeze fresh green beans?

 

Consignment Websites for Selling Clothing?I have a large quantity of women's slightly used and new clothing which I would like to sell wholesale in lots to consignment buyers. I have tried eBay, but found it not to work for selling in lots. I have seen ads for this in the past, but do not recollect how to locate them.

 

Icemaker Overfills with Water?I have a Kitchenaid refrigerator, model #ksrj25cnss00. The icemaker has water coming over the front panel of the icemaker and making a large icicle in my freezer. Any advice?

 

How Do I Repair the Binding on a Book?Where can I get the cover to an old family bible rebound. The front cover is cracked on the edge and is falling off. I would like to repair it correctly instead of just taping it.

 

Recipe for a Dog With Kidney Problems?I have a 4 year old American Bulldog and he's been losing weight for the past 3-4 weeks. I have taken him to the vet and he says Dot (my dog) is in kidney failure. I am desperate to find food that he will eat.

 

Buying Pre-cut Plastic Letters?Where can I find pre-cut plastic letters?

 

Power Lines in Front of a Window?There are electrical power wires outside the upstairs window of our rental. Our tenant is concerned if he ever needed to jump out of the window in a fire. They have been there for 20 years. What can we do?

 

How Old is My Dog in Human Years?How do you know how old a dog is in human years? And how do you know how old a human is in dog year?

 

Keeping Squirrels from Eating Hammock Strings?How can I keep the squirrels from eating my hammock strings?

 

Manual for Cello E1906DVB Television?I am looking for a instruction manual for a Cello E1906DVB 19 inch HD ready LCD television. Can anyone tell me where I can get one?Kind regards.

 

Tomato Plants Dry Up After Blooming?My tomato plants get blooms and then dry up in the middle. Any solutions?

 

Strawberry Jam Did Not Set?I made strawberry jam, it didn't set. Can I do anything to correct this?

 

First Communion Party Ideas?How can I host a first holy communion party for my daughter?

 

Courgette (Zucchini) Flowers Are All Male?Why are all the flowers on my 4 courgette (zucchini) plants all male?

 

Paint Color Advice for a Beige and Brown Bathroom?I would like to update my bathroom with paint and new fixtures. I have a beige sink, counter top, toilet, and tub. My cabinets are brown. What paint colors would nicely accent my beige and brown bathroom and not be boring?

 

My Cat Has Dandruff?I just got back my black cat from a friend who could no longer keep her. She is full of dander/dandruff. I brush and brush, but can't get rid of it. Any ideas or suggestions are appreciated. She was eating only dry food, but now I have her on both dry and canned food.

 

Suffolk Punch Petrol Mower Will Not Restart After Shut Off?I have a Suffolk Punch Petrol lawnmower with a Centura S engine. When I pull the lawn mower cord for the first time it starts no problems.

 

Choosing an Additional Dog for the Family?I am looking to adopt another dog to join our family. We have a spayed female and an unneutered male. Has anyone had any experiences with a neutered male and an unneutered male? Once they figure out their pecking order, are they okay to be around?