Buying Sugarfree Peanut Butter?
I know of two brands available in the Northeast: Teddy, and Smuckers, both called natural peanut butter. Teddy sells peanut butter with and without sugar, so make sure its their natural PB. Most commercial peanut butters not only have sugar added, but also...
Seasoning Suggestions for Microwave Fries?
Try these: garlic powder onion powder chili powder chipotle or cayenne parmesan cheese (also great on popcorn) Fishercat
Removing Paint from a Interior Window?
You can use a metal paint scraper or putty knife. Itll take work, and youll have to be careful not to scratch the glass, but it should come off. There are also really nasty chemicals that you can coat the paint with first to soften it up before going after...
Removing Hair Dye from Hands?
A few thoughts: **IF** your hair dye smells like ammonia, you could try using a weak ammonia solution: put 1 or 2 capsful in a quart of warm water and wash your hands with that. Ammonias fairly toxic, and itll be really hard on your skin, so if it doesnt come...
Getting All the Lotion Out of Bottle
Good idea! I always turn the bottle upside down, but then have to deal with it falling over. Ill do this the next time Ive got a bottle to drain. Fishercat
Fertilizing Houseplants?
Compost (naturally decomposing vegetable matter) is hands-down the best fertilizer for any plant. You say youre a lazy gardener, so you probably dont make your own. But many towns provide free compost to anyone who comes down to pick it up. If you use compost...
Freezing Soup Containing Cabbage?
Yes, and yes. Cabbage freezes well. I havent noticed much textural difference between cooked cabbage that Ive frozen and that I havent. I cook it for a fairly long time, but Ive never had it fall apart - its pretty tough stuff. Fishercat
Freezing Soup Containing Cabbage?
Yes, you can. Cabbage freezes very well. I dont know what you mean by soggy. I always cook cabbage until its tender, and Ive never noticed any textural difference when eating previously-frozen leftovers. If the cabbage in your soup was only briefly cooked (crisp...
Cleaning Dirty Luggage?
Get a couple of basins or bowls, two clean light-colored rags, and a clean towel. Use a whisk or sink sprayer and hot water to fill the first basin with lots of mild soap suds. Fill the second basin with cool water. Use one rag to rub suds into the fabric, and...
Thrifty Facial Moisturizer?
Get a bottle of glycerin and an eye dropper at the pharmacy. Fill a small bottle (like an empty spice jar) with any light, edible oil; grapeseed, olive, and canola are all excellent. After cleansing, splash water on your face to make sure its good and wet. Smooth...
Ideas for Girl's 12th Birthday?
What are her interests, and what kind of a kid is she? Is she shy, outgoing, does she have lots of casual friends or just one or two close ones? Match the party and activities to her style. If shes more on the shy side, invite her close friends to join you...
Homemade Sour Cream Did Not Set?
Unless your cream or milk were unpasteurized (very unlikely in the U.S.), your buttermilk probably didnt have the bacteria cultures necessary to make your sour cream set. Commercial buttermilk is thick and tangy because it has those cultures added - like yogurt...
Storing Artificial Flowers?
You can use cleaned, empty oatmeal tubs if the bouquets fit. Push the stem end through a small hole poked in the lid, and theyll hang upside down without touching the sides of the tub. If you dont think you managed to get the tub quite clean enough, you can...
Cat Won't Use Cat Box?
Hang out with her in the bathroom for a while after she eats. When she starts to poop, pick her up and put her in the box. If she stays and finishes her business, reward her with kind words and petting. If she tries to get out, keep putting her back in. Do...
Fifteen Birthday Party Ideas?
Do any of these appeal you to you? rollerskating rock climbing (Austin Rock Gym) concert* I understand that Austin has a great music scene, and is a big college town. You might be able to find free or very low-cost concerts on one of the local college campuses...
Reducing Dog's Shedding?
Daily brushing will help at least some, no matter why he sheds so much. Supplementing his diet will only help if the excessive shedding is due to a nutritional deficiency. Otherwise, its pointless. Honestly, Id suggest giving your vet a call. Either the vet...
Cheap Tree Guard?
Hardware cloth is cheap and effective. Its also labor intensive, which is why its cheap. :-) A 10-foot roll of 3-foot wide hardware cloth will cost about $30.
Energy Efficient Griddle Choice?
Standard household current in the U.S. is 120 volts; big electrical appliances like stoves and dryers are on a double circuit, thats 240 volts. The amount of electrical power an appliance uses is measured in watts, not volts. Even if you compared the wattages...
Ripening Fruit in Paper Bag?
No, it wont, as long as you dont shake or squish the bag, as might happen with your lunch. Also, since you should be washing the pear right before eating it anyway, any remaining smell from the banana should be gone before you sink your teeth in. You probably...
Coupons for Military Families?
Mr. and Mrs. Lee, You can probably find all the help youll need at the following website: http://www.ocpnet.org/. If you still have questions after looking at the site, just write to them and theyll answer them. Fishercat
Cleaning a Refrigerator Water Dispenser?
If its the inside of the tube thats stained, soak a cotton swab or pipe cleaner (depending on how big the tube is) with vinegar, then push it in and scrub a bit. Pull it out, then turn on the dispenser to rinse thoroughly. You could also try hydrogen peroxide...
Reviving Hardwood Floors?
You might need a finish reviver. Ive never used it myself, but Old House Journal.com recommends a product called Floor Revive. Different floor finishes need different cleaning methods, and if youre not sure what kind of finish your floor has, you should test...
Homemade Oxi-Clean
You should either mix this up each time youre going to use it, or keep it in an opaque container. The reason hydrogen peroxide *always* comes in a dark brown opaque bottle is that exposure to light changes it chemically so it stops working.
Formica Counter Tops Faded?
I dont know of any way other than painting to color formica. But you could restore shine by thoroughly cleaning it then polishing with a thin layer of car wax.
McDonald's Creamy Oatmeal?
Ive never had McDonalds creamy oatmeal, but any oatmeal will be creamier if you start it cooking in cold water or milk, rather than heating the liquid before adding the oatmeal. In fact, I believe thats true of all grains. Starch dissolves in cold water.
