September 7, 2010

Pasta Salad a la JessWarning: You may quickly become addicted! This recipe makes a lot (perhaps 2-3 pounds worth or more), so you may have to play with it to scale it down if you want to make it at home and not have to eat it for a week, lol!

 

Herbed Zucchini SoupPlace broth, zucchini, and tarragon (or dill) in a medium saucepan; bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce to a simmer and cook, uncovered, until the zucchini is tender, 7-10 minutes.

 

Filipino RoastPreheat oven to 400 degrees F. Combine steak, pork, onion, green pepper, bread crumbs, salt, pepper and egg in bowl; mix well. Shape into roll. Place in roasting pan.

 

HashThis is a great recipe that I came up with one day because we didn't have a lot of money and Payday was 2 days away! My kids call it "Vomit" as a joke.

 

Blizzard Party MixSpray 9x13 inch pan with non-stick cooking spray. Combine first four ingredients in large bowl. Microwave white chocolate chips in medium bowl on medium power for 1 minute.

 

Baked Tomato OmeletThe flavor of the Swiss cheese and chives is what makes this one extra tasty. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Beat eggs, cheese, chives, salt, and pepper in a bowl with a fork or whisk.

 

Thai Chicken Kabobs with Peanut Dipping SauceGrilled chicken kabobs with a nutty dipping sauce makes a wonderful main dish

 

Uncooked Frozen CornTo get 20 cups corn: Insert ears into boiling water. Boil 6 minutes. Take out and put in ice water. Cut kernels off ear. Then measure for above recipe.

 

Mittens and Cottontail (Cats)Mittens and Cottontail were 'sisters' (I had 3 of them originally) from a farm on Gower. Although they used to play, they became increasingly 'catty.' This peaceful picture belies the deadly animosity that existed between them normally!

 

Neighbor (Hound Dog)Neighbor is a 10 month old Hound. He is a frequent and friendly visitor to our farm. He likes to make friends and play rough and tumble games. We are a non-profit farm working with and for people with autism and this gentle neighbor dog has taken to attending events.

 

How to Tell if Your Dog is PurebredThis is an unusual, but interesting dog tip. The palate of a pure bred dog's mouth is one solid color from the very front of it's mouth to all the way to the back of it's throat, where a mixed breed isn't.

 

Skillet Handle Hot PadsA handy hot pad. Trace around your skillet or pan handle for a pattern. Add about 1 inch on your pattern for seam allowance before cutting fabric.

 

Why Seeds Fail To GerminateAlthough horticultural vegetable and flower seeds have been developed to germinate as easily and reliably as possible, things don't always go as planned. If some of your seeds failed to germinate this year, here are some clues to what might have gone wrong.

 

Cleaning Stuck Food Off CookwareWhen cleaning a mucky frying pan, put water and a squeeze of dish washing liquid into it and bring to a boil. After the water has boiled for a few minutes, it will be easy to clean without much scrubbing.

 

Turn an Old Headboard into a Coat RackTo turn an old decorative wooden headboard into a coat rack. Find the center of the board from side to side and top to bottom. This is the placement for your first knob. Use old dresser knobs and place as many as you choose on the header.

 

Wind Steel Wool to Tighten ScrewsMy front door became difficult to open. Upon examining it, I realized that the screws had come loose and the strike plate was sticking out which made it difficult to open. I had a book of household hints that I had bought at a yard sale.

 

Keeping Fingerprints Off MicrowaveWhen placing something in your microwave, instead of using your finger on the key pad, use the knuckle of your index finger. It won't leave a finger print.

 

Maxwell (Standard Poodle)Maxwell Brown is 8 years old. He is a Standard Poodle. I purchased Maxwell at 8 weeks of age. He likes to play ball and shake your hand. He is a lovable and well trained dog.

 

Homemade Natural PesticideTo make a pesticide, combine 1 head of peeled garlic and 2 cups water in a blender and blend on high until garlic is finely pureed. Store covered for one day and strain out pulp.

 

Buying Kraft Roka Blue Cheese SpreadLooking for Kraft Roca Blue Cheese for your holiday cheese dip? It's coming back this year (2010). Kraft has decided to start remaking the spread, because the complaints from customers were too many not to respond to.

 

Make Pan Liners from Paper BagsWhen baking layer cakes, I cut pan liners out of brown paper bags. I lay the pan down on a bag and draw around it, then cut it out. If there is any printing on the bag, put it face down.

 

Homemade Letter SoapA very easy, cute gift that looks hard to make.

 

Shred Wax Paper to Lubricate ShredderDo you use a paper shredder for disposing of sensitive documents like I do? After a while, the blades need a little lubrication. Run a piece of waxed paper through the shredder to make it work like new again!

 

Beautiful Flower (Chicory)I'm not sure what this flower (or weed?) may be, but I think it's beautiful!

 

Organize Your Shopping List By AisleWe have all heard that you should make a list before heading to the grocery store, but that list needs to make sense, or you'll spend your whole time running back and forth through the store.

 

Blessing Bear BasketThis is an amazingly inexpensive gift, party favor, etc. You will want to make several and keep one for yourself!

 

Emma (Cat)Emma is a 9 weeks old. After our cat Zoey passed away about 1 1/2 yeas ago it took me some time before I was ready to get another pet, but my 5 year old really wanted to have a new kitten.

 

Travel: Pennsylvania State Capitol BuildingWhile in Harrisburg for CHAP (Christian Homeschool Association of Pennsylvania), my husband and I decided to see our state's capitol building. Neither of us had ever been to Harrisburg before and enjoyed our site seeing trip.

 

Use Bird Stand for Craft TableWhen sewing or crafting, use your bird stand for a roll-around table, to hold your supplies. You can easily wheel it around from place to place where you are working, without having to transfer all your supplies from one place to the other.

 

Decorate Flip Flops With Craft SuppliesTake a pair of flip flops from simple and cheap to beautiful and different. You can create these flip flops with few supplies. You only need silk ribbons in different colors, needles, nylon, rhinestones, fabric glue, and creativity.

 

Scenery: Naples Zoo (FL)Naples Zoo in Florida. I took pic of palms and dear hubby got the Florida panther. Just loved the nature.

 

Discontinued Wallpaper: Pink Flocked Paper Maybe a Sanderson Product Circe 1987?I am searching for a roll or two of flock wallpaper circa 1987 which is now I assume discontinued. It is a floralish pattern and a salmony pink. Sorry to be vague, but I do have a sample photograph. I think it may have been a Sanderson wallpaper, but again not sure.

 

Mustard Greens Are Blooming?I would like to know what to do when mustard greens bloom.

 

Island Stove Top Results in Grease Splattering on Carpet?My stove top is in the island. Oil splatters over into the carpeted walkway in back of it and also to the right side. I have been tying to figure out what I could put behind the stove that would be easy to take to the kitchen sink for cleaning.

 

Concerns For Daughter Who Recently Has Been Depressed?My daughter has always hated summer and wears tank tops to block out the heat. All of a sudden she's been acting depressed. This is unusual because she's always happy. And now she wears long sleeves. I'm concerned that she's cutting herself. What's going on?

 

Repairing Bleach Spots on Sheets?I have a question on dyeing sheets. If Clorox has spotted or whitened high thread count dyed sheets, then how do you rectify this problem and get the sheet back to original color?

 

Ice Maker Does Not Work After Changing Water Filter?I changed the water filter on the refrigerator and now the ice maker will not make ice. The arm for the maker is in the right position to make ice.

 

Food Coloring Stain on Clothing?I just washed a load of clothes and before putting them in the dryer, I noticed orange stains all over everything. It was gum, I had left a whole pack in my pocket. What in the world do I do to get the stains out?

 

Macaroni Salad Recipes?I would like some macaroni salad recipes.

 

What Do I Do When Arugula Blooms?What to do when arugula blooms?

 

Preparing Beds for Spring Sunflower Planting?After harvesting sunflowers, what's the next step? Is it best to remove the stalk and roots before winter? How do I prepare beds for spring planting? How necessary is "total" crop rotation?Thank you for sharing your expertise.

 

Ideas for Expanding a Sports Bar Business ?I purchased a sports bar that is already up and running. How do I get the ideas to improve on the production and its look?

 

Ice Maker Dispenses Ice On Its Own?My Kenmore ice maker dispenser suddenly starts dispensing ice on its own. It happened twice in the last couple of hours. Opening the door temporarily stops it. I finally had to remove the ice bin, but the dispenser motor still randomly comes on on its own.

 

Dog Hiding From Her New Puppies?My female Pit Bull just gave birth to 4 puppies about 4 days ago. She is acting really weird. She leaves the puppies and tries to hide underneath the mother-in-law house out back. She has never done this before. Is this common for her to leave her puppies and hide for hours?

 

Bedroom Paint Color Advice?I'm 15 and my room needs a serious make-over. My bed has a black head and foot board. My favorite colors are onyx black, crimson red, and midnight blue. I can have one base wall black, but I don't know how to go from there. I need some serious help. Please and thank you!

 

Cleaning a Pop-up Camper?We have a pop up camper and it has green stuff on the outside of it. What kind of cleaner can we use to get if off?

 

MTD Lawn Tractor Not Getting Gas in the Right Cylinder?I have an MTD lawn tractor with a Briggs and Stratton motor. It won't start, even with new plugs and a new coil. It's getting gas to the left cylinder and gas in carburetor, but no gas to right cylinder. I tested the compression on both sides and it tested normal.

 

Paint Color Advice for Kitchen With Red Tiles and Dark Faux Granite Countertops?I am slowly trying to transform my (very old) kitchen on a very tight budget. The back splash tiles are so ugly. The wall by the sink has a black and white checkerboard pattern of ceramic tiles and the wall by the stove has bright red ceramic tiles.

 

Paying Taxes on On-line Sales Income?My husband and I are both retired and want to sell natural handmade soap from an online distributor. The soap distributor doesn't require a tax ID either. So, who pays the taxes and do we need a Tax ID?

 

Candle Wax on Wood Furniture?How do you remove candle wax from wood furniture?

 

Can I Make Candle Holders Out of Recycled Wine Bottles With the Labels Intact?I want to find out if anyone knows the legalities of using recycled wine bottles with their labels still intact to make candles and sell them at a craft fair. I have seen a few web sites that make serving trays out of liquor bottles with their labels.

 

Maple Trees Raining Sap?We have a couple of maple trees in our yard. For about the last 2 years they have been raining sap and I mean raining. What can we do if anything? Will tapping them help?

 

Ceramic May Have Burnt Off the Eye of My Stove Top?I left a pot of boiling water on my ceramic top stove by mistake til the water boiled dry. The pot has a copper bottom, but I think the ceramic burnt off the eye of the stove. Do I have to replace the whole top?

 

Pattern for Christmas Mouse Renuzit Air Freshener Cover?I made a Christmas mouse several years ago for the Renuzit Fresheners. I cannot find a pattern to make more since I no longer have the one I had. Does anyone know where I can find a pattern?

 

Eliminating Urine Odor in Bathroom Trash from Disposable Underwear?My spouse has prostrate problems and wears disposal underwear for accidents. Even if he puts them in a plastic bag our bathroom and the trashcan smell horrible. What can I do?

 

Box Elder Suckering from Stump?I recently had a box elder tree cut down and now I'm getting all kinds of branches growing out of the trunk. I could not have the stump removed because it's growing into a fence. How do I get these branches to stop growing out of the stump? It looks terrible. Thank you.

 

Companion Planting in the Vegetable Garden?We want to build a raised garden next spring and had heard that there are certain vegetables that grow well together, the "three sisters", but we can only remember corn. Does anyone know about this or have suggestions?

 

Why Does My Sunflower Have Multiple Flower Heads?I have a multiple flowering sunflower (30 flowers and more to come) which is 15 feet tall. I read your explanation for why this would occur, but it is growing near my house and no pesticides have been used. Any other explanation and is this rare?

 

Buying the Sticky Paper Refills for Nightlight Flea Traps?Where can I buy the sticky paper refills for the flea trap using nightlights? I have had these for years and cannot find the refills.

 

Recipe for Pears Preserved in Liqueur?Does anyone have any recipes for preserving pears in liqueurs?

 

Puppy Will Pee Outside But Not Poop?I have a pet Schnoodle who is 12 weeks old. I have had him since he was 8 weeks old. I am having problems with toilet training him to do solids outside. He has been fine with liquid waste and will go whenever he is put outside and instructed to do so.

 

Fundraising Ideas for High School Trip?What are some ideas for raising money for a high school trip to Egypt?

 

Should I Be Concerned About the Rat Snake Living Under My Porch?I have a black rat snake living near my front porch and have found several snake holes around the porch. I understand that they are non-venomous, but I am concerned if they can still bite or hurt one of my kids.

 

Lost Power to Closet After Changing an Outlet?I changed our wall outlet plug in our 2nd floor bedroom from a two prong to a three prong and now I don't have power to my closet. I've tried various configurations to remedy the problem; however, none of them seem to work.

 

Noodle Recipes Without Cheese, Tomato Sauce, or Butter?I am looking for simple noodle recipes that do not use cheese, tomato sauce, or butter. Thank you in advance.