June 16, 2008

Sensational Strawberry ShortcakePreheat oven to 425 degrees F. Beat 1/2 cup of the milk, the sour cream and 3 Tbsp sugar in large bowl with wire whisk until well blended. Stir in baking mix until just moistened. Spread evenly into greased 9-inch round cake pan. Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until top is golden brown. Remove from pan to wire rack; cool completely.

 

Steak'n'Cheese SandwichesI never measure the ingredients in this delicious recipe, I just "eyeball" everything.

 

Chicken-In-A-GardenCombine chicken, soup, veggies and half the onions in bowl, mixing well. Pour into pie shell. Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes. Sprinkle remaining onions over pie.

 

Lemon Cheese DessertFirst Layer: 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup margarine, 2 Tbsp. powdered sugar. Mix and press into 9x13 inch pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 10 minutes. Cool.

 

Cheesecake CookiesIn a mixer bowl, beat butter for 30 seconds to soften. Add the brown sugar and beat until fluffy. Beat in flour and nuts. Set aside 1 cup of this mixture.

 

Ro-Tel ChickenCombine first 5 ingredients in saucepan. Heat to boiling point; set aside. Spread half the corn chips in greased 9x13 inch baking dish. Layer half the chicken and soup mixture over chips.

 

Country-Braised Pork ChopsCoat pork chops with flour. Brown onion in oil in skillet until tender. Add pork chops and brown on both sides. Stir in remaining ingredients. Heat to boiling point; reduce heat.

 

Zucchini Beef SkilletSaute beef, onions, green pepper, and garlic. Add remaining ingredients. Cover and simmer 10-15 minutes.

 

Crispy Mashed Potato CakesTimes like this when food prices are rising I am so glad for the simple and thrifty dishes my mother and grandmother taught me. One that I always loved and decided to put a new twist on is leftover mashed potato cakes.

 

Raspberry Creme PiePour over raspberries in pastry shell. Bake at 375 degrees F for 35-40 minutes until crust is brown and filling set. Good served warm.

 

Yogurt AmbrosiaDip bananas, apple, and pear in lemon juice; drain. Combine with orange sections in glass bowl. Chill for 1 hour. Fold in coconut and yogurt.

 

Pickle Meat Loaf MealCombine first 7 ingredients in blender container. Process until smooth. Add to ground beef in large bowl, mixing until well blended. Shape into 9x15 inch rectangle on waxed paper.

 

Ham Souffle'Spread butter on both sides of bread. Place in bottom of 9x13 inch baking dish to cover completely. Combine next 3 ingredients in bowl. Spread over bread. Mix eggs and milk in bowl.

 

Microwave Taco CasserolePlace ground beef in 1 1/2 qt. microwave casserole. Microwave for 4-5 minutes or until beef loses it's color, stirring after 2 minutes. Pour off drippings. Add next 3 ingredients, mixing well.

 

Horseradish RelishCook all ingredients on medium for about 5 minutes, spoon into jars. You can refrigerate or process if you make a bigger batch to can.

 

Check With Your Utilities for Cheaper Rate TimesSome utility companies, such as water and electric offer 2 or more rate times through out the day. Check and see if yours does, and then act accordingly. Try and run your appliances, during the times when the rate is the cheapest.

 

Take Your Forgotten Coupons to Customer ServiceHere is an additional way to use your coupons: Have you ever not purchased an item you needed because you had left the coupon at home, necessitating a trip back to the store at a later date? OR worse yet, paid full price, grumbling all the while?

 

Frozen Watermelon Smoothies or DaiquirisWe travel to the Bahamas several times a year and due to customs laws we are not allowed to bring in any fresh fruits or vegetables. However, I found that if I freeze them first, it was allowed, which is how I came up with this idea.

 

Character Popcorn Holders and Party HatsThese are made from a triangle shape template and reusing McDonald's large fries containers. Print your image onto plain paper or card stock and cut out with template. Cover by using glue or staples. Use as popcorn holders or party hats. Ideal for any theme parties. Kids will love making them!

 

Combine Errands to Save GasTo cut down on driving, keep a list of all the errands you need to run. Don't make a trip until you can combine at least a couple errands.

 

Cherry Card and TagThis flat cherry note card with a matching gift tag is made from cardstocks in natural red, white, brown, and green. You might want to mass-produce this card as it is simple to make and wonderful as gifts.

 

Wanda's Succulent GardenSucculent garden I started in the fall as an experiment. I'm really pleased with the growth in only six months.

 

Ask For Discounts On Clearance ItemsI save money on things at big name stores by looking through the clearance items and mark downs and then approaching an assistant manager or floor manager about a further discount. You would be amazed at how often they just want to get rid of something.

 

Recycle Pantyhose and Avoid Panty LinesDo you hate panty lines as much as I do? I have tried the "thong" approach, and let's just say, they are not for me. I created an answer that also recycles too.

 

Relaxing LakeI find this is a very relaxing picture. I remember after taking this, my husband had wandered off, so I sat down to wait for him. There was a warm breeze, the sound of the water gently lapping at the edge of the lake, and the sounds of the birds singing just before night time. Very relaxing.

 

Make Catnip Toys From SocksOur cats shred the store bought toys we have given them. So we decided to try out making a thriftier version. I use the old mismatched socks we end up with on the folding table. I put approximately 1/4 cup of dried catnip into an old sock and then knot the top.

 

Barbasol Shave Cream For Cleaning Greasy HandsBarbasol shave cream dissolves grime. Use it by your workbench to clean your hands. It doesn't need to be used with water. Of course, you'll need a dry cloth handy.

 

Pixie (Dachshund Mix?)Pixie is 5 1/2 months old. We are unsure of her breed but think part Dachshund? We got her from a lady walking in Walmart looking for puppy food. She saw our 2 year old and told us of the puppy she wanted to get rid of because she didn't have time for her. She thought Dakota would make her a wonderful owner

 

Craft: Easy Pleated Tote BagThey are easy to make and loads of fun creating your own design. I modified the original one by making straps wider and adding them to the top of the bag at the pleats instead of at the band.

 

Origami LED Light EmbellishmentsThis is a great way to embellish your lights at anytime of the year. These do take some time, but if you get the whole family working on them, they can make nice decorations for your summer parties.

 

A Salad Bar at Outdoor PartiesThere's just some things that you have always done and forget that it could be a tip to someone else!

 

Save Water - Build a Path!If you have a spot in your yard that is hard to reach with water, or you simply want to save on your water bill or conserve, build a path!

 

Keeping Your Identity SafeTips to keep your identity safe:

 

Repurpose a Computer Desk as a Potting BenchI was given a computer desk but already had 3! My boyfriend did some adjustments and weather proofing and it is now a "potters bench" secured to my shed. A great place to store gardening items and stand to pot plants.

 

Reuse Junk Mail AddressesBefore I throw out the junk mail that comes through the post (in the recycling bin of course) I cut out the address.

 

My Frugal Life: How Coupons Made Me RicherI have a weekly grocery budget of $25.00. It was tight enough before, but now with rising prices it could be very tight. My husband raises a beautiful garden and fruit trees and I can the produce, and he even raises our own beef, and we have a milk cow because we raise baby calves. What we mainly needed was some variety. Coupons have made all the difference.

 

Run Stairs During Commercial BreaksI get at least 10 minutes of workout during commercial breaks when I watch my favorite TV shows that span for an hour or more. All I do is run up and down the stairs till the commercial is over.

 

Barbecue Food SafetyCooking outdoors was once only a summer activity shared with family and friends. Now more than half of Americans say they are cooking outdoors year round. Use these simple guidelines for grilling food safely.

 

Product Review: Dawn Simple Pleasures Dishwashing LiquidI found a new product called Dawn Simple Pleasures dishwashing liquid with air freshener beads attached to the bottom. My kitchen smells great! And when the detergent is gone, I drop the air freshener beads on the floor and vacuum them up. Every time I vacuum now, the whole house smells fresh and clean.

 

Get The Most Of Your Propane TankWe used to return our empty gas tanks for our BBQ grill to the local retail store and exchange for a new filled tank. Now, we just take out "empty" tank to the local propane company or to a local store that sells propane to fill our tank for us.

 

Is Borax Safe To Use Around Children?Is Borax safe to use around children? My poor kitty has been infested with fleas, as well as my home! I have searched and searched about carpet remedies for fleas and have found a lot on Borax, but with differing results about the use around kids. I have a 4 year old. Is Borax safe to put all over the carpets with him?

 

Making a Hat From a Bra?I am looking for instructions for making a bra hat and purse.

 

How do I dry rose petals for potpourri and sachets?Can someone tell me the best way to dry individual rose petals that have fallen from the flower, to make potpourri? I would like to preserve the color if possible.

 

Good Housekeeper Sewing Machine User Manuals?My mother has an old Good Housekeeper sewing machine that needs a manual. It is a Deluxe automatic zig zag precision sewing machine made in Japan, Model 400. I was wondering if anyone could help me in locating a manual for it.

 

Musty Raincoat?How do I get rid of a musty smell from a rain coat?

 

Furniture Repair: Upholstery Damage From Cats?We are moving from a trailer to a house and I need help! I have a couch that my cat ripped up the sides and front. It is comfortable and sturdy. I hate slipcovers. They seem to fall off every time you sit down. Is there any other way to bring it back to life?