August 19, 2010

RumptopfThis spirited dessert is usually prepared as summer fruits come into season but here, this old-time European favorite has been adapted to the off-season using fresh ingredients if available, frozen berries and canned fruit where necessary.

 

Orange Beef SteakStir the gravy, orange zest, orange juice, and garlic powder in a 1-quart saucepan. Heat the broiler. Place the beef on a rack in a broiler pan.

 

Favorite Salad DressingMix thoroughly. May substitute horseradish mustard.

 

Cranberry Yogurt Nut LoafA fruit and nut whole grain quick bread recipe for the holidays.

 

Vegetable Burger SoupLightly brown the chuck; drain off fat. Mix ground chuck with the other ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 3-4 hours.

 

Southern Barbecue ChickenPreheat oven to 225 degrees F. Remove skin from the chicken. Place chicken in pan with fat portion up. Mix sauce ingredients and spoon 1/3 of the sauce on the chicken and bake for 2 1/2 hours.

 

Porridge-Fruit MelangeThis is a different way to have your oatmeal. Place apple with banana and lemon rind in a blender and process on low until smooth.

 

Oriental Cucumber SaladSprinkle cucumbers with salt in a bowl and toss. Add sugar, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, sesame oil, and toss. Sprinkle with sesame seeds, toss, marinate for 20 minutes and serve.

 

Hot Dog in a Milk CartonFun way to cook hot dogs while camping. Kids love doing this.

 

Use Lingerie Bag to Wash LettuceI have a salad spinner, but I want to be sure the greens were as clean as possible, So I purchased a lingerie bag with a drawstring. I put the greens inside, fasten it up, and slush them through several rounds of clean water, take it outside, spin it around, and shake it.

 

Cold Sack From Cat Food BagRecycle a small cat food sack into a cold sack. Cat food bags are plastic coated and have multiple layers. Turn them inside out, wash by hand and you have a cold sack that really works great.

 

Saving ButtonsOne of the things I remember from my childhood is my Mamaw's button box. She must have had a billion buttons in it. She kept a large tin box about 10 inches high full of buttons.

 

Lubricate Nails Before Hammering into Hard WoodsTo drive nails into hard wood without bending them, try dipping the points into lard or other grease. You can accomplish the same end by moistening the points of the nails in a can of water.

 

Kitchy ApronThis is cute apron that is feminine with the ruffles, yet kind of tailored because of the prints chosen. Aprons are really making a comeback and you will enjoy making this one!

 

"X" Old Messages and Keep Using PaperIf you are like me, you have a tablet and pen beside the phone. Once a message is written and dealt with, I then put a big "X" through it, telling me it's no longer valid.

 

Practical Gift IdeasI was in Walmart the other day, mainly for me and my kids to walk around, as that is the main thing people do in our small town, and we were looking at the aisle that had locks on it. I was thinking a lock, with a key might be a good gift for an older child to practice on.

 

Use Water Balloon Attachment as Pressure WasherFor an easy way to pressure clean small areas, use the hose attachment that comes with water balloons. It focuses the water into a small area and creates a lot of pressure.

 

Turtle BurgersThese "Turtle Burgers" are just so very cute, creative, and fun that they definitely need to be shared with my entire ThriftyFun family and not just the recipe lovers! A little crispy and not too crunchy; just how a turtle should be.

 

Biscuit (Chicken)This chicken's name is Biscuit (shortened from Biscuits and Gravy). We have 9 chicks and they have been fun to raise so far.

 

Wipe Down Shower After UsingThere are all sorts of products (purchased and homemade) for cleaning showers, but I don't use anything on my ceramic tile shower walls except for an old towel. When I finish my shower, I wipe down the walls with a small, old towel. It takes less than a minute.

 

Use Two Shower Curtains for Opulent LookUsing two shower curtains, instead of one, makes your bathroom look pretty opulent. I use two (of the same pattern/colors/design), and they gather up nicely and look better than just one flat one. I try to find inexpensive ones, of course, and fabric curtains work best.

 

Use Leftover Meat on PizzaIf you have leftover burgers, sausage, etc. from grilling, slice or crumble them and use on a homemade pizza. If you don't want to make the pizza right away, slice or crumble the meats and freeze in a zip-lock bag.

 

Wildlife: Spider and WebI was leaving my apartment to go to the market and the sun was hitting this spider web just right to be able to notice it outside of my neighbors apartment. I just had to go back inside and fetch my camera!

 

Use Toilet as Yard ArtA good use for an old toilet and a good yard art! Arizona is closing almost all of the rest areas. My husband acquired this toilet so we made good use of it!! He finally got his "Golden Throne".

 

Daisey (American Pit Bull Terrier)Daisey is 2 1/2 years old and an American Pit Bull Terrier. We picked her out of the litter of 12 puppies, my son's dog was the stud, we picked her because she kept following me around.

 

Molly (Dachshund)Molly is 2.5 years old and a Dachshund. I was given Molly in Sept 2008 by her owner who was traveling a lot and wanted a good home for her.

 

Cheap Carpet DeodorizerSprinkle baking soda on carpets to neutralize pet odors then vacuum.

 

Reserve Pickle Juice to Make New PicklesWhen you are done with the pickles in a jar (the cold variety), save the liquid. You can buy pickling cucumbers at the market, cut them up the way you like, and put back into the mix. In 3 or 4 days, you will have some good tasting new pickles.

 

Naomi and Boneless (Domestic Short-Hair)Naomi is 5 and Boneless is 6 months old, they are domestic short-hair cats. Naomi came to us as a stray, and Boneless is her kitten. Naomi is enjoying being spayed after about 6 litters of kittens, and is enjoying putting on weight finally and looking more healthy.

 

My Frugal Life: Starting EarlyAs the youngest of 5 sisters, my frugal life began with hand-me-down clothes, even when I didn't quite yet fit in them. As I grew, my mom made sure I was FRUGAL, by not wasting any food on my plate!

 

Use Non-Slip Mat When Trimming Pet's NailsA little tip for those of you who trim their own pet's nails. I found that it is very easy to stop your pet from slipping around on the table or bench by using a piece of non-slip rubber mat that can be bought from many stores.

 

Sugar as an ExfoliantRecycle an empty plastic spice bottle that you've used up and fill with sugar. The ones with holes are especially handy to clean out then fill with sugar. Then it's safe to use in the shower, as sugar works as an excellent and natural exfoliant for your skin.

 

Scenery: Ocean (CA)This picture was taken in California in November of last year. I think the ocean and they sky look so pretty, the same colors in each.

 

How Do I Get Rid of Mold in My Flower Garden?I have mold in my flower garden. Is there a homemade way to get rid of it?

 

Make Powdered Sugar from Granulated Sugar?How do you measure homemade powdered sugar? That is, when you grind up one cup of granulated sugar does it equal one cup of powdered sugar?

 

Why Did Plastic Bottles of Bleach Leave Rust Stains in Porcelain Tub?Plastic bottles of Clorox that were left in a porcelain tub for a long period left rust stains in the tub. Why?

 

Covering Scratches on Dark Furniture?How can I get rid of small scratches on my dark wooden table?

 

Recipe for Torte Wafer or Wine Wafer?Can anyone tell me if a torte wafer, a wine wafer, and the Carlsbad Oblaten are all the same type wafer? Does anyone have a recipe for either of these? Many thanks!

 

Can Flushing a Cigarette Butt Down the Toilet Damage a Septic System?A couple weeks ago, my friend put a cigarette butt down our septic system toilet before I knew it. Could one butt ruin the system?

 

Making a Copy of Lady Gaga's Outfit from Bad Romance Video?I'm open to any suggestions for quickly recreating the outfit Lady Gaga wears with her dancers at the bath haus in the Bad Romance video. I've got snaps, rivets, upholstery thread, and thin white vinyl. I don't have sewing experience or more than a day to get this done.

 

Homemade Laundry Powder?I'm looking for a laundry detergent recipe.

 

Using a Cooks Coffee on the Run Coffee Maker?I have a Cooks Coffee on the Run coffee maker. It makes 2 cups at once, but I don't know how much coffee to put in it. Help me please.

 

How Can I Tell if a Cleaning Product is Really "Green"?How do I check to confirm that an, advertised as green, cleaning product like this one: http://getwipeout.com, is really green? What ingredients shouldn't be there in order for it to be environmentally friendly?

 

Ridding a House of Fleas?We just bought a new house and while we were painting we discovered it had a flea problem. I have sprayed with Sentry Home household flea and tick spray which says it kills fleas, their eggs, and larvae.

 

How Do I Grow Lavender?What is the best way to grow lavender?

 

Protecting a New Puppy from Parvo?I just lost a puppy to parvo. She hadn't even had chance to be vaccinated. I have a year old Rat Terrier who is current on shots and has been doing great. I bleached everything bleachable, scrubbed my house, and got rid of everything the puppy came into contact with.

 

Eliminating Cat Pee Odor from a Potted Plant?My cat has peed in one of my plants and I want to know how I can get the cat smell out of my plant without replanting it?

 

Wheels on Yard Machine Riding Mower Will Not Turn?The rear wheels on my Yard Machine riding mower won't turn. If I raise the rear wheels off the ground, the wheels will turn in opposite directions of each other.

 

Homemade Lasagna Recipe?Does anyone have a tasty homemade lasagna recipe they would like to share?

 

How Do I Dry Herbs?I grew some wonderful lemon basil this summer. How do I dry it so I can enjoy it in the winter time? Many thanks for this great site. I have learned so much!~Stitch~

 

Seafood Bisque Recipe?I would love a seafood bisque recipe if anyone is willing to share.

 

Black Streaks on Roof (Mold)?I have black streaks of mold on the shingles on the roof of my house. How can I clean it?

 

Crafts Using Round Salt Boxes?I need craft suggestions using those round containers that table salt comes in. It's such a sturdy little jar thingy. I want to make something out of it. Thanks.

 

Plants for Shady Garden?What grows best in the shade? We have a raised box 15 x 4 next to the house. It is almost completely shaded by our carport. I don't think this area gets more than a couple hours of sun, if that, so it can't even be considered partial shade.

 

Cloudy Turtle Tank?My turtle's water is very cloudy (to the point of not being able to see him though the water) and stinks very badly! I am changing the water every single say and have a very good (and expensive) filter. What is causing the cloudiness and what do I do to stop it?

 

What Do I Do if the Canning Lids Did Not Seal?The canning lids on my jam jars did not pop and seal. How do I correct this?

 

Freezing and Cooking With Eggplant?I have a good size crop of eggplant this year. I'd like to freeze it for later on, but I don't want to bread and fry it all. Does any one have suggestions on how to do it up? What have others done?

 

Cleaning Nail Polish Off a Wall?The other day my three year old daughter colored the wall with nail polish. Does any one know how I can remove the stain from the wall? I desperately need a solution other than re-painting the walls.

 

How Can I Stop My Jeans from Bleeding in the Wash?I have very dark jeans that continually bleed. I wash them alone in hot water to try to release some color. I've done this 5 times already and nothing is working. Is there something I can add to the wash cycle to break this down and stop my problem?

 

How Much is a Stick of Butter?My mother's recipe for chocolate pound cake calls for 6 sticks of whipped butter. I can only find the whipped butter in 8 oz. tubs. How many tubs of whipped butter will I need to equal 6 sticks of whipped?

 

Riding Mower Won't Run With the Choke Off?I have an MTD riding mower, 18hp twin power. I have a carburetor issue, if I choke the carb and cover the little hole with my finger, the engine starts right up. If I remove my finger, it will die. I run the rider with choke pulled out fully.

 

Left Over Halloween Candy Recipes?With Halloween coming up I would like to know if anyone has a cookie or brownie type recipe to use up left over candy.

 

Where Can I Buy Tiffany Blue or Aqua Wrapping Paper?I would like to know where to find Tiffany blue or aqua wrapping paper in Los Angeles, CA.

 

Best Material for Replacing the Subflooring in a Mobile Home?What is the best material to use to replace sub flooring in my mobile home? Also, what kind should I use in the bathroom?

 

Removing Hard Water Spots on Car Paint?How do you remove hard water spots from a car's exterior paint?

 

Getting Rid of Mold and Fungus on Peaches?I have a Red Haven dwarf peach tree and this year I noticed it had mold and fungus on the peaches. The season is over and the peaches were all full of bugs and worms. I want to help this tree for the future, so I pruned it and cleared all the debris off the ground.