December 22, 2010

Zucchini MilanoMelt margarine in skillet. Add onion, green pepper and oregano and saute until tender. Add zucchini. Cover and cook about 15 minutes over low heat. Stir in tomato.

 

Peppermint Meringues Prepare two baking sheets by lining them with parchment paper. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F. Mix the sugar and cornstarch together in a small bowl.

 

Golden Breakfast MuffinsCombine flours, baking powder and salt. Make a well in the center. Lightly beat egg, stir in melted margarine, sugar and milk. Pour all at once into the flour well.

 

Lentil Pasta SaladBreak the thin spaghetti into 3 inch lengths before cooking. Cook the lentils until tender but firm. Drain well. Combine with cooked spaghetti and vegetables.

 

Bake Your Own Dog Treats!My dog waits in the kitchen when I make these for his stocking!

 

MeatloafPreheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a large bowl, combine the beef, egg, onion, milk, and bread OR cracker crumbs.

 

Tuna TostadaIngredients include most food groups and is cheap and easy. All ingredients are to your specifications and you can change them around. You can add cilantro, lime juice, or salsa or all.

 

Christmas Red CabbagePlace the cabbage in a large saucepan, and stir in the sugar, vinegar, salt and water. Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer over medium heat for 1 hour.

 

Creamy Mash and Bake PotatoesA yummy way to use leftovers to make fried mashed potato patties.

 

Butterfingers BarsCream margarine and sugars. Add the oats. Bake in 9x13 inch pan at 350 degrees F for 15 minutes. Melt the chocolate chips and add the peanut butter and frost. Cut into bars.

 

Put Electric Blanket Under Pet BedI have a great way of keeping my dogs' bed warm. I have an electric "throw" blanket. I got mine at Walmart, and have seen them at Target and K-Mart too, even Big Lots. I put it on the floor underneath my dogs' bed and turn it on low.

 

Scenery: Wyandotte, OklahomaWhile visiting Wyandotte, Oklahoma, a small Native American reservation on the border of Arkansas and Oklahoma, we stopped at a pow wow. The scenery in the area was beautiful.

 

Peppermint Oil for Mice ControlThis is the time of year we get mice. We live back off the road and there are barns behind us so we get about 3 a year. My husband read in Mother Earth news, that you can make your mouse problem go away for good.

 

Make Your Own Flavored Cream CheeseJust take the desired amount of regular "brick" cream cheese and soften to room temperature. Stir in desired ingredients and mix well. Place in refrigerator container with a tight fitting lid and store.

 

Scenery: Somewhere Over the RainbowThese are my two youngest grand children who went out to watch the beautiful rainbow after a storm. Their older sister took the photo and sent it to me.

 

Add Items to Grocery List as They are Used UpSometimes when life gets hectic, it is difficult to keep track of pantry and freezer contents before setting up a grocery list. Instead of going through them to see what I need, I purchased a cheap (dollar store) magnetic dry erase board and keep it on the fridge.

 

Baking Breads in a CanUse a soup or vegetable can to bake breads, such as date nut bread. Just wash can, take paper off, spray with cooking spray, and bake. Open the other end with can opener, and the bread will slide out. Makes great little individual loaves for gift giving.

 

Baby Jesus PinSimple, easy and adorable Baby Jesus pin to celebrate and remind of the Savior's birth!

 

Marley Joe (Bichon)Marley Joe is a 6 year old Bichon and I'm a bichon rescue mom. He loves to run around and turn his bed upside and sleep under it. Marley is a fun loving and very affectionate dog.

 

Grind Cloves in Coffee GrinderDon't you just hate it when you are ready to prepare something special for the holidays and realize that you don't have ALL the ingredients? Well, this happened to me today.

 

Cadberry (Cat)Here is Cadberry Juanita Bonita at age four. She is my friend. She likes to chase her sisters around the house. She is a very small cat and is really lovable. She always sleeps by my feet.

 

Gee Gee (Great Pyrenees-Collie Mix)Gee Gee is 5 years old and a Great Pyrenees and Collie cross. Gee Gee's mother was found in the country with 3 puppies in the middle of winter. When we brought Gee Gee home, she was terrified of people, very withdrawn and shy. Now she is the belle of the ball!

 

Making Pillowcases for GiftsI am always trying to find inexpensive Christmas gifts I can make for everyone in my family. This year, I made pillowcases. I bought a yard of soft flannel for each case, with patterns on it that reflect what each member of the family likes.

 

Organizing PlugsWe have so many electronics and plugs, that I had to devise a way to remember which plug goes with what item. So each time I get a new device (phone, computer, mp3, etc.), I get a large label and write on it what the plug is for. I fold it in half over the cord.

 

Warning: Pine Cones in the FireplaceDo NOT use pine-cones as fire starters in your fireplace. When burned they emit creosote, a sticky residue that is highly flammable. It accumulates in your chimney and can cause a chimney fire.

 

Use Chicken Feed as Kitty LitterFor an outstanding scoopable, clumping, odor controlling cat litter, try using chicken feed or chick starter crumbles. This is available at feed stores and farm and home stores. It costs about $10.00 for a forty pound bag.

 

Treating Bee StingsIf you have a bee sting, you can put a paste of baking soda and water on it. Just mix the baking soda and water together until it is very thick. Apply to bee sting after the stinger has been removed.

 

My Frugal Life: A Winter MiracleI wanted to share with you all what our "stay at home married ladies" group at church did several years ago at Christmas. We were a Wednesday night group of about 15 women who met weekly for Bible Study and grew rather close.

 

Contain Glitter With a Dryer SheetWhen using glitter, teeny weeny beads, or even sequins, I find they fly around because of static electricity. If you take an ordinary dryer sheet (softener) and wipe everything that will touch the glitter "except" the item you are glittering, nothing will stick or fly away.

 

Christmas Cactus In BloomMy Christmas cactus bloomed just in time for the holiday this morning. You can see another blossom ready to open, maybe I'll see it on Christmas morning. It is one of my favorite plants because even in the coldest days of winter I can still see the beauty of a flower.

 

Recycle Your Christmas Tree For the GardenOnce January 1st rolls around, millions of Americans find themselves looking for a way to dispose of their Christmas trees. Although most communities offer curbside Christmas tree recycling program, there are also some great ways to put your post holiday tree to work for you in the garden.

 

Keeping Cookies SoftAfter you have cooked your cookies or brownies and they have cooled, when putting them in the storage area, like a bag or plastic container, put 1-2 pieces of "white" bread in with them. The moisture of the "white" bread will help keep the cookies or brownies soft.

 

Mending a Knitted Sweater?I am interested in the best way to save a family sweater that has been passed down already for two generations. It is in amazingly good shape, except for the cuffs that are greatly damaged. How can I best re-knit the cuffs so that they look as best done as possible?

 

Environmentally Friendly Way of Getting Rid of a Bleach and Paint Mixture?What is a eco friendly way to get rid of bleach with ornament paint?

 

Best Flour to Use When Making Cheesecake?What type of flour do I use for cheesecake? I actually want a specific type of flour that is used for cheesecake.

 

Best Dye for Fondant?For fondant, what is better to use for dye? Powdered or gel/water? Does anyone know how much it costs?

 

Cooking Time and Temperature for Roasting Chickens?How long do I need to roast two chickens (1.8KG) at the same time? What oven temperature?

 

Replacing a Woodburning Fireplace Insert with a Gas Insert?Does anyone know where I can find DIY information about replacing a damaged woodburning fireplace with a new gas fireplace? The old wood burning fireplace rusted all the way through and is no longer useable.

 

Which Types of Rice Are Safe to Use in Microwave Heat Pads?I've made heat pads before and had no problem with them, but I do not remember what kind of rice to use. I'm concerned about fire.

 

Help Getting a Car for Low Income Families?I am a single mother living in a rural area. I am trying to find a legitimate organization or charity that can help me obtain a car. I would need to know the organization and if possible a contact person or a web link. I truly appreciate any help, if any.

 

Savory Lime Jello Recipe?I am looking for a lime Jello recipe that has Jello, cottage cheese, celery, pimento, and maybe nuts and onions, or green peppers. It is served as a accompaniment to ham.

 

Shopping for Covers for Bathtub Jets?Where can I find plastic clip on covers for my Air Jet massage bathtub. The plastic covers clip on over the jet holes on the bottom of the bath.

 

Lifespan of a Gerbil?How long do gerbils tend to live?