January 3, 2012

Polka DotsOur local newspaper runs really good recipes. This issue has cookies that sound so good. The readership is small, and these recipes should be shared.

 

Vegetable ChowderGreat vegetable soup recipe!

 

Homemade GatoradeSince it is flu season, here is a recipe for Gatorade. Great to drink when you cannot keep anything else down.

 

Microwave Peanut BrittleMy husband just loves peanut brittle and this recipe is super easy to make. It's yummy too. Cooks in the microwave so there's no more slaving over the hot stove, guessing and hoping you have boiled it long enough for the peanut brittle to turn out.

 

Homemade Sweetened Condensed MilkBoil water. Blend all ingredients in a heat safe bowl, use blender to mix. It will be thinner at first than actual canned stuff. Refridgerate for a while and it thickens up. Lasts about 2 weeks. Better than store bought.

 

Avocado MayonnaiseThis is an easy, healthy substitute for traditional mayonnaise. You might find that you like it even better. It also makes a good dip.

 

Sweet Potato SurpriseMy husband and kids love this recipe!

 

How to Organize Helpful TipsI used to have a habit of reading through a collection of helpful tips or frugal living ideas and thinking, "I'll have to remember that". Then, that suggestion, tip, or idea would simply get lost in mental clutter.

 

Cleaning Teflon PotsHow can I clean my scummy Teflon pots and pans? Actually, this is an answer to that question from my mother.

 

Soda Bottle for Bee TrapThis past summer our hummingbird feeder was attracting more bees than birds. My husband cut the top off a regular sized soda bottle. He put it on the same rod that holds our humming bird feeder and it attracted a lot of bees. Once the bees found their way in they couldn't get out.

 

Mock Mosaic Birthday CardUsing a photo of a flower cut into paper tiles, one can create a mock mosaic effect on a birthday card.

 

Cones As Edible Snack ContainersPour snacks such as trailmix, Goldfish crackers, animal crackers, popcorn, fresh fruit, mini marshmallows, and pretzels into a waffle cone or sugar cone. You can also add pudding or yogurt.

 

Homemade HairsprayThis homemade hairspray really works and doesn't polute the atmosphere or put toxic chemicals on your hair. Just chop 1 lemon (or orange for dry hair) and place in a pot with 2 cups water.

 

Scout Camping on a Shoestring BudgetWhen my son was younger, I was the Cubmaster for his pack. Most of the scouts had single moms. The whole family goes camping in Cubscouts, but money was an issue.

 

No Need for Shaving GelI recently discovered that when I'm in the shower and have my hair all lathered up, that I can just use the lather from my hair to soap up my legs for shaving. Works like a charm!

 

Cleaning Hard To Reach Bathroom CornersAfter many years of using old toothbrushes and anything else I could think of to clean the hard to get at spots in the bathroom, I stumbled across an easy solution.

 

Fleece Door Draft StopperIf you have doors or windows in your home that let in the cold winter air, here is a very simple draft stopper idea that I use. I purchased 1 yard of fleece fabric from the "bargain" table. This 36 inch length should work at any exterior door.

 

Denim Tuna Can Change HolderThis is a handy item to use for spare change, car keys, misc. items.

 

Bella (Shar-Pei/Lab Mix)Bella "No No" Kirkus is a 1 year old Shar-Pei/Lab mix. We adopted her when she was 5 weeks old. The vet office found a litter of pups in a box by a dumpster and the rest is history!

 

Using Leftover Party FoodNormally I make sure I take an extra box of resealable plastic bags to family events. I choose between sandwich and quart size. There are always a lot of left-overs and the family that prepares the food usually has enough saved.

 

Green PackagingYears ago I heard someone say that popped popcorn was a good packaging material instead of the peanuts. It occurred to me that when a box is opened the unsalted popcorn could be thrown out for birds and other hungry critters.

 

Freezing Bulk Chicken PiecesWe live in the mountains, pretty far from the nearest store, so we buy what goods we can in bulk. Chicken breasts are always bought in bulk packages.

 

Uses for Plastic Coat Hanger ClipsPlastic coat hangers, usually gotten when you purchase clothes, have two clips on them. Cut the clips off and use for closures on bags of chips, etc. They are sturdy, last a long time, and are free.

 

Add Lighting To Save MoneyYou can actually save money on your power bill by adding more lighting options to a room. One overhead light is often more light than you need while in a room.

 

"Straw"berry HullingUse a plastic straw to hull your strawberries in a wink!

 

Reuse Vacuum BagsWhen your vacuum bag is full, cut open the end of the bag to dump. Then staple it back together and use it again.

 

Refrigerator Lights Don't Work?My LG fridge has 2 lights that won't come on when I open the doors. There is a brief and small light visible in the bulbs, but they don't come on. What is wrong?

 

Energy Efficient Griddle Choice?Which would use less energy, a griddle on top of 220 volt stove or an electric griddle?

 

Saving Money on a Cross Country Move?Does anyone know of a cheap way to move some things cheaply?

 

Removing Scuff Marks from Matte Painted Walls?I'm looking for a tried and tested method of washing walls to remove scuff marks as part of a spring clean! I live in a rented flat so just repainting the walls isn't an option. I don't want to wash the existing matte paint off by scrubbing too hard!

 

Removing Mildew from Carpet?I would like to know how to remove mildew from carpet.

 

Repairing Broken Arm Framework on Couch?The wood frame in both arms of my sofa is broken. The wood panel is broken on the inside of each arm. A tall person was laying on the sofa, their feet extended all the way to the arm. They accidentally pushed on the arm with their feet and the wood snapped.

 

Using Bisquick?I would like to know about Bisquick dough.

 

Shopping for Comfortable Clothes for Female Nursing Home Patient?I'm trying to find elastic waist, washable skirts as well as "house dresses" for my granny. She's staying in a nursing home for rehab after a stroke and they have lost or ruined the majority of her clothing. I'm at a loss on where to find this type of thing.

 

Removing Dog Urine Stain on Speaker Fabric?My dog peed on my speaker. I tried to remove the stain with dish soap and now I have a white stain were the pee was. What can I use to remove it?

 

4 Year Old Lab Started Peeing in the House?We (Tessa and I) have recently moved to Florida with my sister-in-law and their Beagle-Lab mix dog. My 4 year old Lab is peeing a significant amount of urine in the dining area lately, even when we are in the house!