January 21, 2011

Deeli's Crab, Avocado, and Tomato SaladThis is perfect for a light but filling meal for two and tastes lovely accompanied with a glass of Chardonnay.

 

Turtle BarsMix the cake mix, 1/3 cup evaporated milk and melted margarine. Spread half of the batter in a greased 9x13 inch pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 10 minutes.

 

Marinated Chuck RoastWipe roast with damp paper towel. Sprinkle with unseasoned meat tenderizer and set aside. Combine marinade ingredients together and mix thoroughly.

 

Mushroom SaladSlice mushrooms, cored green pepper and onion into thin slices. Combine vinegar, sugar and oil and add to veggies. Chill. Let marinate at least 3 hours.

 

Make Your Own Brown SugarThis is real Brown Sugar and tastes fresh - better than grocery stores. It doesn't get hard because of the preservatives. I did not know you could buy brown sugar until I was 25.

 

Scented KleenexI discovered that if you put your generic box of Kleenex on top of a favorite scented candle in a jar, after a few weeks your Kleenex will have the same scent as the candle. Very easy way to have nicely scented kleenex.

 

Scenery: Whirlpool State Park (Niagara, NY)The Niagara River makes a 90 degree turn at one point which causes natural whirlpools to appear, momentarily, and then they swirl away. You have to be quick on the shutter button to capture them!

 

Lavender Bubble BathTo make lavender bubble bath, you'll need: 1 bunch lavender, 1 large bottle clear organic shampoo, 5 drops oil of lavender, and a clean wide-neck jar with screw top. Place lavender head down in the jar.

 

The Top 2011 Gardening TrendsThe numbers have been crunched, the receipts tallied, and the survey responses read. Once again, based on consumer behavior, Garden Media Group has released the top gardening trends for 2011. So put your garden gloves on and join the fun because apparently 'Gardening with a Purpose' is taking root.

 

Wash Silicone Cell Phone Cases In DishwasherIf your silicone cell phone case is dirty, toss it in the dishwasher if it is a one piece case. Plastic cases with multiple, glued-on parts might come apart if you give them the dishwasher treatment.

 

Volunteer Places You Can Get Free TrainingThis tip is for adults, who may wish you had additional training or schooling, but can not afford it. Consider volunteering for an organization that works along the lines of what you would like training in.

 

My Frugal Holiday: Resolve to Eat HealthierNew Year resolutions are not something I ever make, I regret them all year long after I break them. This year we weren't given a choice but to make resolutions.

 

Shammy for Drying DogThe best thing I have found to dry off my dog after her bath, is a micro-fiber shammy used to dry off your car. They absorb so much more water than a bath towel and cuts down on using the hair dryer on her which she hates.

 

Product Review: Eco-Clean Laundry BallThis laundry ball is used in the washer and reduces consumption of laundry soap by 75%. It enhances the cleaning of clothes. It is solar powered so you put it in the sun once a month.

 

Keep Spare Gas for EmergenciesI had leftover gas in my containers for the lawn mowers and not enough gas in my truck. Instead of throwing this gas away, knowing it was still good, I used it in my truck to get to the closest gas station. It worked like a charm.

 

Lettuce for Chickens in Freezing WeatherWith the snow as deep as it is now and with more to come, heading over and breaking frozen water bowls in the chicken coop in the morning is a cold proposition!

 

Elk (Jackson Hole, WY)This is a beautiful bull elk near Jackson Hole, Wyoming. There is a wonderful place called The National Elk Refuge, where the elk come out of the mountains to eat and bed down for the winter.

 

Uses for Old Floor MatsDon't toss old floor mats from your car. Use them under your car in the garage to catch leaking fluids, as door mats to store shoes on, or to keep dirt and debris from being tracked into your home.

 

Black Eyed Susan VineI wish I was out watering my flowers. Looking at the 5 inches of snow on the ground today, takes me back to the warm summer day that I took this photo.

 

Microwave Portion Of Meat For Taste TestWhenever I want to test the seasoning for something that I don't want to eat raw, like meat loaf, or tuna patties, I pinch off a few tablespoons of the raw mixture and cook it in the microwave for a few minutes.

 

Use Rags Instead of Paper TowelsIf you use paper towels, think about going green and switching to rags. You can make your own non-paper towels with your own old t-shirts, baby blankets, flannel shirts, etc., or you can find them cheap in thrift shops.

 

Clean Glass Coffee Carafe With Used FilterI just spoke with one of my sons and he gave me a great tip. He uses an auto drip coffee maker. When he empties the carafe, he rinses the filter and uses it to scrub the inside of the glass carafe. He tells me the glass shines like new money.

 

Scenery: Antique Farm Rake In SnowThis is a photo of an antique rake we have in our yard near the pond. I usually have mums and flowers of all sorts growing through-out the year around this nice piece of history.

 

Travel: Kyle of Lochalsh Public Toilets (Scotland)Thought you might be interested to see a photo of the public toilets at the Kyle of Lochalsh in the Highlands of Scotland. The toilets have won awards for cleanliness and uniqueness and have become something of a tourist attraction!

 

Tomato Paste for BoilsCover a boil with Hunt's tomato paste as a compress. The acids from the tomatoes soothe the pain and bring the boil to a head.

 

Homemade Baby Food TipsSalt and sugar are never needed when making baby food. Omit these items, preferably at all times, in your baby's everyday meals! Other spices such as cinnamon, garlic powder, pepper etc. may be introduced as early as 7 months with your pediatricians consult

 

Use Sink Sprayer to Fill Coffee MakerPouring water from the carafe into the coffee maker usually included a lot of water spilling onto the counter. To avoid this mess, I pull the kitchen spigot which has the hose for rinsing the sink, etc. out and over the coffeemaker.

 

Making Doll House Furniture?How do I make doll house furniture?

 

Removing Tree Sap from Clothing?How do you get pine sap off a coat?

 

Car Alarm Goes Off for No Apparent Reason?My car is a 1999 Volvo S80 and all of a sudden the alarm gets activated most of the time at the end of a trip after I lock the car. Sometimes it starts beeping in the middle of the night and I am sure it disturbs my neighbors, who so far, have not complained.

 

Daycare Name Ideas?I am looking for the perfect name for my daycare. I am trying to name it after my mother who died, by using her initials, which are "B.J.Y." Her name was Bobbie Jean Young. Can you help me please?

 

Troubleshooting a Breaker that Keeps Tripping?My circuit beaker keeps tripping on my dishwasher, garbage disposal, and light above sink. I changed the breaker and light switches and it still won't turn on help?

 

Name Tag on Suede?What is best method to remove a sticky name tag from a suede jacket?

 

Thawing the Tubing for an Icemaker?I read about the possibility of making a nonworking icemaker good again by using a hair dryer on the icemaker tubing. Can someone please give me an estimate of how long should I apply the heat and how long should I wait to find out it it did the job before calling for service?

 

What are the Most Cost Effective Leftover Food Storage Products?I was wondering if any of you have ever done a cost comparison on which product is the least expensive to use for leftovers: aluminum foil, plastic wrap, or plastic storage bags?

 

Kitchen Paint Color to Match Maple Cabinets?I have dark green granite countertops and honey-maple cabinets in my kitchen. What paint color would look best with these?

 

Where to Purchase a Drip Tray for George Foreman Grill?I am looking for George Foreman grill machine drip pan and scraper that got lost.

 

Recommendations for Someone with Pigmentation Marks?I have had pigmented spots on my stomach for years. I have tried creams suggested by the doctor, but it doesn't help for the spots and also leaves black scar marks. Please help me.

 

Stains From Jeans on Suede Shoes?I wore a pair of new bluejeans before I washed them and the dye rubbed off on my light colored suede boots. How do I clean them?

 

Litter Box Training a Puppy?How do I litter train a Blue Nose Pit puppy?

 

How Can My Dog Ride in the Car Safely?My dog loves to ride in the car, but keeps jumping between the front and the back seat. This is dangerous for both of us. How can I keep her from doing this? My car is too small for a crate large enough for her to fit in.

 

11 Year Old Birthday Party Ideas?I am just looking for some ideas on having a party for a 11 year old girl and we might have a joint party with her brother who will be 14. Any ideas welcome. Thanks in advance for your help.