July 27, 2010

Black Russian CakeThis is a very moist and delicious cake. Although its beginning lies in a boxed cake mix, the finish is spectacular and memorable. The Kahlua liqueur gives it an exceptionally rich and unique flavor. Definitely for the adults.

 

Grilled AsparagusEasy and flavorful! The easiest way to grill asparagus is to thread several asparagus spears on to two parallel soaked wooden skewers and repeat, if necessary, until all are skewered before coating with the oil mixture.

 

Foo Young TossToss salad ingredients with dressing just before serving. Serves 6-8

 

Homemade Vanilla Ice CreamFrom the early 1950's. It doesn't require cooking. Add instant pudding to milk and beat in egg, adding the powdered sugar a little at a time to blend together. Add in whipping cream and half and half, mixing all the time. Stir in vanilla.

 

Chicken KormaMix together yogurt, spices, garlic, and lemon juice in a medium bowl. Add chicken, turning to coat. Let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat.

 

Mexican Tortilla-Less WrapsWhen we were on a low carb diet I discovered we could enjoy all the taste of tortillas without the carbs.

 

Keeping Trash From SmellingI live in the country and don't have a disposal. I bag up my "stinky" stuff every day and take it to the dump once a month. In the meantime, I don't like to keep it in the house, so I put it in a double bagged can out on the porch.

 

Scenery: Boys At SunsetThis is my 7 year old son and his friend who stopped skipping stones to watch the sun go down.

 

Scenery: Sunsets (St. Lucie, FL)This sun-setting was amazing, it almost looks as if there was a hole in the sky. This was taken from the back of my house in Port St Lucie, Florida.

 

Garden: Sunflower as the Sun Goes DownThis photo was taken just before the sun went down last week. The sky was awesomely blue. Do you see the Bumble Bee?

 

Garden: Under the Trumpets In this picture the trumpets are up to 7 ft tall here in Port St Lucie. When I came back from Costa Rica I brought with me some stalks, and the reason I called this picture under trumpets is because of the fact that when they were in full bloom I took the picture from underneath.

 

Re-Use Take Out ContainersWhenever you get one of those clear acrylic, clam-shell type to-go food containers, especially the smaller ones, wash them out and save them.

 

Travel: USS Arizona War Memorial (Pearl Harbor, Hawaii)We had a time out in the car. We came to see the monument at the USS Arizona in Pearl Harbor while on a layover in Hawaii. Our kids were insistent on begging for ice cream and having tantrums, so we sat in the car for a few moments.

 

Warning: Sugar Damaged Glass Top StoveThis is a warning for anyone that has a glass ceramic cook stove. If you cook anything with a lot of sugar in it and it boils over onto your stove, get it off IMMEDIATELY or the food will eat into the glass top. This happened to me last Christmas when I boiled over fudge.

 

Store Jewelry in Zip-Lock BagsTo keep all your silver jewelry looking like new and keep it from tarnishing, keep it locked in a zip lock bag in your jewelry box. The air will not get to it and you will not have to worry about tarnish and cleaning!

 

Sharing Headphones Can Spread LiceIf you let your kids use those headphones at media centers or music stores, it is the same as sharing a comb with all the people who have used it before. Lice can climb into their hair this way.

 

How To Keep Your Pets From DiggingI have 3 dogs and when I planted a shrub or a tree, the dogs would go to the new plantings and start digging it up. I started to leave the dogs indoors while I planted, so they could not see what I was doing.

 

Use Peanut Butter Containers for Travel Pet WaterWe go to the lake with my dogs all the time, and I like to bring water for them even though they do get in the water. I take a clean peanut butter jar and fill it with ice water. The lid acts as a bowl for them to drink out of.

 

Donate Blood When You CanI have given blood off and on what seems like my whole adult life. I recently went to give blood, and they said that they couldn't take it because I had a right bundle branch block.

 

Living The Good LifeFrugal? I have been "wealthy" yet savvy enough to ALWAYS save 10% of my salary. I had a big city condo downtown, never wanted for anything. And yes, I got hit by the stock market drop just like everyone else.

 

Projects from Old Craft SuppliesI am using up all my discount craft materials! I tied a bow on the top of a large size paperclip and this is the result- a paperclip and ribbon bookmark.

 

Paper GlobeSimple folded paper circles are glued together to create a fun globe. Decorate with paper globe topiary or make several globes and thread on to a length of embroidery silk or thin wire to make a garland.

 

California DeltaI have lived in California for 37 years and only now have discovered the beauty of the California Delta.

 

Travel: Polperro, Cornwall (UK)Polperro is a fishing village. We have a 400 year old fisherman's cottage which we are restoring. All the cottages are built out of the cliff face. It is very popular and has tourists from all over the world coming to take pictures of it

 

Avoiding Feast And Famine In The Vegetable GardenFeast or famine in the vegetable garden. Either everything is ready at once, or you're waiting for something to be ready. One day you're overwhelmed by a giant harvest, and the next day you're looking at empty rows. Sound familiar?

 

Good for You GravyFor more nutrition, I use bean liquid remaining after cooking beans to replace water when making gravy. I use 2 Tbsp. butter, 2 Tbsp. flour, and 1 1/2 to 2 cups bean liquid.

 

Daisy Duke and Hailey (Bull Dog)Here are Daisy Duke and Hailey, they are 1 year old Bull Dogs. I got them after returning from deployment at a pet shop.

 

Display Rock Collection In GardenI've been collecting rocks for quite a while, a lot of agates, but I also love bizarre rocks. I realized it was a waste to keep them in containers in the house, so I created this garden for all to enjoy.

 

Extra Counter Space In The KitchenI have a very small computer desk that didn't have enough surface space. It has one drawer. I had a small metal cookie sheet that I wasn't using, so I covered it with a piece of an old plastic tablecloth.

 

Baby RobinsA robin built a nest in a little tree right outside my window. There was a total of three hatchlings, but this one seemed the most demanding!

 

Add Decorative Applique to ApronI just love the many how-to projects that I've found on the internet. I do a lot of charity projects for Vietnam Veterans of America so they can raise money for their college scholarship fund. I've been busily sewing tea towel aprons with matching hot mitts.

 

Paddy (Labrador - Terrier)Paddy is 15 years old. He is a mongrel cross between a Labrador and a Terrier. He was gonna be thrown onto the motorway by some people who owned his mum. An old lady took their unwanted dogs. She knew I wanted another dog and called me.

 

Use Honey as a Rooting Hormone for CuttingsUse honey as a rooting hormone. Prepare cuttings and dip ends of the cuttings in honey.

 

Using On Line Pay Day Loan Services?Has anyone ever used an online pay day loan service?

 

Dog Losing Fur?I have a 9 yr. old Chow, who is losing her fur, on her bottom and now along the sides of her body. The vet gave me medicine for allergies, but it is not working. She does not scratch the areas, and it is not irritated. Does anyone have any suggestions that may help her?

 

Searching for Copy of Childhood Book: Korean Version of - The Legend of the White Serpent?When I was a child my father was stationed in South Korea for a year. While over there he sent me an old book that I think used to belong to a library over there. The story in the book was a variation of The Legend Of the White Serpent.

 

Showing Support for Adult Child's Career Making Decisions?How can I show my daughter I support her? She just graduated from high school and I have been offering suggestions and giving her advice about her career because she is undecided ...

 

Washing Machine Not Draining?My washer is not emptying water after washing and getting ready for rinsing.

 

Teaching a Cat to Use the Toilet?Is it possible to teach or train a cat to use the toilet and flush it? She likes to go in the bathroom and stick her paw in the toilet. If so, how do you do it? It would save tons of $ on litter and cat pans.

 

Dog With Giardia?I took my dogs for their yearly checkup and shots last week and the fecal exam showed Toby had giardia. The vet put him on a 5 day treatment of Metroniazole. I was given a little information on giardia, but...

 

Name Ideas for Builder/Handyman Business?I'm helping my dad make his new business. He is a builder/ handyman and he needs a name, we have been trying to think of a name for him for a month now and my family and I are just hopeless. I will be grateful for your help!

 

Finding the Correct Sized Organizer Bin to Use as a Cat Box?I recently posted a question about using alternative ideas for litter boxes like huge organizer bins. I tried one and it seems to be working, except it is too high for her. Does anyone have a plastic organizer box that is at least 21L x 14W x 11H inches? Where did you buy it?

 

Replacing a Bathtub Drain Cover?Where do I find a replacement bathtub drain cover that screws off counter clockwise?

 

Replacing the Ceiling of a Pop-Up Camper?I would like input and pictures on replacing the roof on a 2001 Coleman Santa Fe pop up tent trailer. Thank you.

 

Cleaning Steam Iron of Calcium Deposits?How do you clean calcium deposits from a steam iron?

 

How Do I Dye Velvet Drapes?I have some light blue velvet drapes. Is there any safe way (shrinkage prevention) to dye them a darker or brighter blue?

 

Uses for Cloth Diapers Other Than as Cleaning Cloths?How can cloth diapers be reused after your child is potty trained? We use the diaper service quality prefolds. I have more than 8 dozen diapers of various sizes so I need more clever ideas other than "use them as cleaning cloths".

 

Carpet Color to Coordinate With a Red Couch?What carpet color do I need to coordinate with a red couch?

 

Is Borax Safe to Use Around Dogs?Is borax safe to use in the house when a dog is the house at all times?

 

Removing Odors from the Gasket in the Lid of a Slow Cooker?How can I remove the food smell that lingers in the gasket, in the lid of my slow cooker, after it has been thoroughly washed? This is a Crock Pot brand slow cooker.

 

Making a Tree Out of Jewelry?How do I make a Christmas tree out of jewelry?

 

Help with Homework Assignment Creating Business Names?I need to make two names up and I am absolutely hopeless. First of all, I am doing a school assignment and I am pretending to work for a graphic design company and I need to think of a name for that.

 

Getting Rid of Snails?I seem to be having an explosion of new snails on my plants. What are you using to stop the cute little things?

 

Paint Color Advice for Kitchen with White Cupboards and Floor?What color should I paint my kitchen walls where I have all white cabinets and white tile floor?

 

Choosing a Home School Curriculum?My children are still very young, but I've been looking at many different home school curricula and am pretty sure of what I'm getting.

 

Looking For Suede Shoe Dye?Does anyone know where on earth I can get hold of purple suede shoe dye or restore purple suede? I have one faded shoe and one not.

 

Writing a 50th Wedding Anniversary Announcement?How do I put the names of deceased children in a anniversary announcement? Or should I? It's for their 50th anniversary and I am at a loss on how to write it up. It is for my boyfriend's parents and he is the only surviving child.

 

Getting Rid of Large Caterpillar Cocoons on Beech Trees?Help! I have a garden full of native beech trees, and over the last week or so I have an infestation of web like cocoons covering my trees and tree shoots.

 

Furniture Placement and Color Schemes for Combo Rooms?I have a sort of L-shaped living/dining, with an open kitchen and a corner fireplace. In spite of trying 2 different furniture placement settings, I'm still not happy with how it looks.