October 7, 2010

Instant Oatmeal PacketsMake your own "instant" oatmeal bags. Measure out a weeks worth of oatmeal and place into ziploc snack bags. To each bag, add 1 tsp. chopped nuts and 2 tsp. chopped dates for date nut flavor.

 

Cheese Topped Ham Egg and Asparagus BakePreheat oven to 425 degrees F. Lightly grease an 8 x 8 inch baking dish. Mix ham, onion, red bell peppers, and asparagus in the prepared baking dish.

 

Canning Fruit in the OvenIt works like magic, just put them in the oven and take them out when done! Pack your fruit in jars. Add the Fruit Fresh then make your syrup. Combine sugar and water; boil to dissolve sugar. Cover your fruit with syrup.

 

Meatballs

 

Scalloped TomatoesMix bread crumbs and melted butter. Pat into a greased 9x13 inch pan. Melt butter in pan; add onions and lightly brown. Add tomatoes, sugar, tapioca, salt, and paprika and cook 5 minutes.

 

Heavenly Chocolate CakeThis recipe is courtesy of my husband's cousin, Judy. Very rich and yummy cake! Mix chocolate cake according to directions on box. Bake at 350 degrees F for 30-35 minutes. Take out when done and poke holes with wooden spoon handle.

 

Green Slime DipPerfect for Halloween! Drain spinach; squeeze dry. In food processor, puree spinach, cheese, sour cream, salsa, onions, garlic, salt, and pepper.

 

Rice Cereal BreakfastHere's a super-frugal breakfast, to be used as either a side dish or as a light main dish. The night before, cook rice in your rice cooker or cook some instant rice in the morning.

 

1 Chicken: 16 ServingsI had a dilemma. I needed to make a single whole chicken feed my family of five for two days. We had been going through some thin times and I had been as creative as I could while trying to stretch every dollar to it's limit.

 

Sudburri (Chinchilla)Sudburri is a 4 year old Chinchilla. I got Sudburri at a pet store.

 

Keeping Toddler Out of PantryMy toddler was constantly getting into the pantry and helping himself to crackers or other snacks the minute I turned my back to focus on dinner. Between the ruined appetite, spilled boxes of cereal, and dents in the floor from dropped cans, I decided I HAD to keep him out.

 

Glitter Foam BookmarksHomemade bookmarks made from glittery craft foam. Accents can either be purchased or cut out.

 

Paper Plate AlternativeTo make a homemade paper plate, place a paper towel over a plate or saucer. Have a sandwich, cheese and crackers, or those cookies we all love. Remove your paper towel revealing your clean plate. Then dust off any crumbs from your paper towel and replace your clean plate.

 

Angel (Cat)Angel is 6 years old. She is Heinz 57 but bordering on a Bengal. I prayed her in so I would have something to love and cuddle.

 

Wildlife: Daddy Long LegsGranddaddy long leg spider on tomato plant.

 

Washing Brushes and CombsTo clean my combs, brushes, hair picks, etc., in the morning I fill a large empty Cool Whip bowl (or you can use any bowl not used for cooking) with hot water and dishwashing detergent.

 

Scenery: Loch Lindores (Fife, Scotland)This was the scene from the cottage we rented for our holiday. The loch was just across the road. The other photograph shows swans on the loch at dusk.

 

Mount a Spice Rack on the WallI do a lot of cooking and have always had problems with where to store my spices. My solution? Mount the spice rack on the wall

 

Garden: FlowerThe other evening I was taking sunset pictures when I noticed these tiny little flowers growing. Again, I have no idea what these are, but they turned out so pretty! I am terrible when it comes to knowing flowers of any type.

 

In Memory Of Ginger Snap (Cat)Ginger Snap, a loving and adorable pet passed on recently. She had quite the personality. I came into the room one day and found her on tiptoes on the back of a chair, poking her head up beneath the window blind trying to keep an eye on the neighborhood!

 

Warning: Glass Will Explode if Left on BurnerExploding glass! My daughter and I just finished cleaning up large shards of glass in the kitchen. She did not know that a glass pie plate was so close to the electric burner and it exploded.

 

Vanilla Extract as Odor RemoverI recently inherited a piece of furniture that had unfortunately been in a fire; nothing was wrong with the dresser other than the smell of smoke. My colleague told me to try this, and it worked wonders at eating the odor!

 

Guitar Picks from Repurposed ItemsI recently found an old wallet from somewhere I lived years ago. In it I re-discovered old library cards, bank cards, etc. Instead of throwing them out, I grabbed my snips and made myself some guitar picks! For softer strengths, use milk jugs or plastic lids.

 

Diaper Ointment RecipeDon't buy diaper rash treatments when you can make this for much less money! This works so well, you'll never go back!

 

Mae Mae (Porkie)Mae Mae is a 4 year old Porkie (half Pom half Yorkie). She was the last of a litter that were supposed to be Poms. The lady that had her mother and father said her parents were full Poms.

 

Scenery: Kyle Carvers Orchards (Cosby, TN)A view of Kyle Carvers Orchards in Cosby, TN. I took this picture on our annual trip to the apple orchard this past weekend.

 

Floor Wax to Restore Damaged Varnished SurfaceIf you damage a varnished surface with ammonia, try applying a thin coat of liquid floor wax to restore the texture and shine. If the first coat is uneven because the wax is soaking in, reapply.

 

Cleaning Your Steam IronTo remove burned on starch from the iron place a towel dampened with vinegar on the ironing board and sprinkle generously with table salt. Set iron on warm dry setting and run over a towel until the stain is removed.

 

Double Rainbows over the OceanThis is a photo of my front yard. Beautiful morning! Double rainbows over the ocean. You have to look close to see the other one. Glorious!

 

Other Uses for Plastic KnivesPlastic knives are the least used in sets purchased or given with to go meals. They make handy stir sticks for coffee, etc. They also are useful as garden markers. You can write on them with permanent marker or nail polish.

 

My Frugal Life: Of Grandfathers, Gleaning and Gluttony On Sunday mornings, Grandad would sometimes call for my younger brother and sister and I take us for long, exciting walks in the countryside around the small rural town where I spent my childhood.

 

How to Make a Garlic BraidIf you use a lot of garlic for cooking, making garlic braids to hang in your kitchen is a fun and functional way to store your harvest. Braiding not only makes the bulbs look attractive, it also provides each bulb with good air circulation, which prolongs storage.

 

Homemade Dog BiscuitsOur dogs love peanut butter dog biscuits. To make some at home, mix 3/4 cup powdered milk, 1 egg, 1 cup peanut butter (smooth), 2 1/4-2 1/2 cup whole wheat flour, and 1 Tbsp. baking powder. You can customize the recipe by adding and subtracting ingredients your dog likes.

 

Repairing Scratched Corian Countertops?I need to remove scratches on my Corian countertop.

 

Cutting heating Costs By Blocking Open Doorways?I need your advice. My 2 largest rooms, between them, have 3 open doorways, yet I seldom use these areas (at least for now). My gas heat bills can be enormous, and blocking the vents alone doesn't quite solve the problem.

 

Super Fresco Wallpaper #10720, Batch001?I've run out of wallpaper 1 strip short of finishing. It's Super Fresco #10720, batch001. Can anyone tell me where I can get some?

 

Removing Rubber Sole Shoe Marks from Waxed Tile Floors?How do I clean rubber sole shoe marks from tile floors with out damaging the wax?

 

Lighted Fish Bowl Snowman?I am looking for the instructions for a lighted fish bowl snowman.

 

Looking for Free Fabric Samples?I am looking to start quilting for the first time. Is there any place that gives free scraps of material?

 

Tips for Sweeping Up Hair?I work in housekeeping at a resort. We have a hard time sweeping up hair in the bathrooms. Does anyone have a trick for making this easier? The hair seems to want to go everywhere, except in the dust pan. Thank you.

 

Storing Cranberry Sauce?How long can you store cranberry sauce in Mason jars?

 

Crocheted Pot Scrubber?I would like instructions for making nylon net scrubbies.

 

Teaching a Puppy to Use a Puppy Pad?How can I get my puppy to use a puppy pad to poop?

 

Cleaning Antique Wood Furniture?How can I clean fine, antique maple furniture without hurting the finish?

 

Pressure Canning Pumpkin at Home?Is there a safe way to pressure can pumpkin at home?

 

Removing Lipstick from Washable Fabric?How do I get lipstick out of washable fabric?

 

Name Ideas for an Interior Design and Cleaning Business?I need a name for my new business I'm wanting to start. I will be doing interior design and cleaning and want my name (Lisa) in it. So if anyone has any ideas let me know. Thanks.

 

Manual for a Handy Stitch?I bought a Handy Stitch at a yard sale and need an owners instruction manual. I am also looking for a place to buy accessories for it.

 

How Do I Get Rid of Mice?What is best way to get rid of mice?

 

Attaching Window Boxes to a Shed?I have just bought 2 wonderful wood window boxes with liners for my shed. They are great but came with no hardware or instructions on how to mount them. The shed is Amish built, wood construction with siding cover.

 

Winterizing a Fuchsia Plant Indoors?I would like to know how to winterize my fuchsia plant indoors for the winter.