February 18, 2009

Chocolate Chip Cake Mix CookiesBlend cake mix, oil, water and eggs. Stir in chocolate pieces and nuts. Drop from teaspoon onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees F for 10-12 minutes. Top of cookies will be pale. Make 3 1/2 dozen.

 

Asparagus DipIn a blender, combine all the ingredients, and whip until smooth. Adjust the seasonings to taste. Serve with corn chips.

 

German Sweet Chocolate PiePlace milk, chocolate, butter, eggs and sugar in electric blender container. Blend at medium speed for 15 seconds. Pour into 9 inch pie plate and sprinkle with coconut and pecans. Bake for 35 minutes at 350 degrees F. Cool. Store in refrigerator.

 

Chicken Vegetable Pot PieOver medium heat on your stove top, coat a large pan with cooking spray, saute garlic for a minute, add chicken pieces season with thyme, salt and pepper to taste (I use A LOT of thyme and garlic salt.

 

Baked Ginger PearsPreheat oven to 350 degrees F. Drain pears, reserving juice. Arrange pear halves close together in a baking dish cut side up. Set aside.

 

Zucchini Ground Beef LasagnaPeel zucchini in strips with a cheese knife. Salt the zucchini strips and lay them between paper towels to drain excess moisture for 30 minutes.

 

Apricot-Cheese Salad with Fruit-Cheese ToppingChill drained fruits. Dissolve gelatin in boiling water; add fruit juice. Chill until slightly congealed. Fold in fruit and marshmallows. Pour into 11x7 baking dish which has been rinsed with cold water.

 

Frugal Substitute Dishwashing LiquidI have seen tips on using baking soda as a substitute for dish washing liquid or powder but they usually involved adding some other cleaning element as well, and I have seen the use of vinegar for many cleaning uses but I have not yet seen these two in combination.

 

Gardening: Mini Greenhouse for a Head StartThis is over one of my 4x4 foot raised beds. I have garlic planted in it, I'm hoping this will give it a head start this coming year. The bulbs normally grow only about 1-2 inches in diameter, so we'll see if I get bigger ones this year.

 

Time Saving Tips for LasagnaMost everyone loves lasagna but it is time consuming. I make mine on the weekends and either freeze or refrigerate until I bake them. I make several at a time.

 

The Basics of Fertilizing TreesTrees rely on sun, rain, and soil nutrients, to support their growth. When left to nature, trees are self-fertilizing, and competition for nutrients from surrounding plants is limited by the availability of these three resources.

 

Keep Small Scissors Available When Doing Cross StitchI love to do cross stitch, but I am always misplacing my small scissors. I found a nifty and quick solution. I had an extra clip from a name badge; the ones that have a plastic loop with a snap on one end and a clip on the other.

 

Paper Star PinMaking a star pin with paper and thread, raffia, and buttons.

 

Jury (English Mastiff)Jury is a 2 year and 2 month old pure bred English Mastiff. We got her from a breeder in Manitoba when she was 10 weeks old.

 

Peg Board Bathroom OrganizingI have a small bathroom with not much room for storage. So I had my husband put a couple of strips of wood on the wall with pegboard over it. The strips of wood make the pegboard stick out from the wall to enable hooks to be used on the pegboard.

 

Keep Track of Your Seed OrdersWhen doing garden seed orders from catalogs, keep the catalog, cut out the section describing your seeds, and affix it to an index card or piece of paper.

 

Skateboard Rail GrindGetting the right angle, and composition in a picture isn't easy, but when my son was skateboarding with his friends, he took this shot, and I was blown away by how well it came out.

 

Reminders Sent with Free Greeting CardsTo remind myself for an upcoming event or task days, or even months in advance, I send myself a free greeting card from Yahoo. I schedule it to be sent the day before it happens, and forget about it.

 

Counting Seasonal BirdsSome of us in the warmer climate are getting ready for the season of flowers and vegetables. This month, the National Bird Society is taking notes with all bird species by counting each bird.

 

Add Leftover Cheese to SaucesI love different cheeses, but I don't always get to finish them, so if I have some leftover that has gone moldy I cut off the mold and make them into a cheese sauce.

 

Soup SavvyI save all veggie peels, cooking water, cores, meat bones, etc., and always have a pot simmering on the woodstove. I am assured of having homemade soup stock on hand at all times. However, as much as we love it, my finicky teenaged daughter refuses to sample my soups du jour.

 

Use 2 Liter Bottles for Watering Your GardenIt is always so hot here in the summer and I like to have flowers and vegetables on my deck and in the yard, but can't afford the water bills to keep them watered between times of rain.

 

Gardening: PetuniasPetunias at our mail box, very pretty.

 

Recipes Using Wishbone Western Salad Dressing?Does anyone have the recipe for Wishbone Western Salad Dressing?

 

Wireless Optical Computer Mouse Pen?Has anyone used the wireless ergonomic optical computer mouse pen? It is used just like a pen and it doesn't have to be used on a flat surface. You can use it on your leg or anywhere rounded. I would like to know if anyone has one and how they like it or dislike it.

 

Salts Effect on Paint Pigments?I am an artist. I need to know how salt causes the paint pigments to separate and cause a starburst effect?

 

Recipes for a Sandwich Maker?I just bought a sandwich maker from a thrift shop (the one that seals the edges in triangles). It did not have an instruction booklet with recipes. I know a few basic sandwiches but was wondering if anyone has come up with some new ideas.

 

Removing Adhesive Residue on Microwave?How do I get adhesive residue off the front of my microwave without ruining the plastic? GooGone ruined my plastic front on my trash compactor.

 

Pattern for a Child's Poncho?I am looking for a child size poncho pattern (2-4). I have the adult lion brand pattern #40433 which I printed off their website, but was unable to find the children's size. I would appreciate any help, thanks.

 

Game Ideas for Church Senior Group?I need ideas for fun games for our senior adult group at church. Paper and pencil games, bingo ideas and maybe some easy, physical games.

 

Recipes Using Stale Rolls?What can one do with older rolls that are getting hard yet not moldy? I would like to make something yummy, but will give them to the birds if I must.

 

Dog With Soft Stool?My 2 month old puppy has soft stool, what do I do?

 

Craft Ideas for Church Yard Sale?I need some cheap and easy to make craft ideas for our church yard sales. Can you help?

 

Stacked Terra Cotta Pot Plant Stand?I am looking for instructions how to make an upright plant stand out of terra cotta pots. I have seen them at flea markets and craft shows in TX. I think they have a steel rod that goes through the hole in the bottom and the pots are kind of zig zagged.

 

Changing Color in a Cross Stitch?I am working on this cross stitch pattern and I need to change the colors in the hand to that of an African-American Baby. I could really use your help.