May 19, 2009

Super ChiliBrown hamburger and onion in skillet. Drain.

 

Purslane Potato SaladIn a medium pot, boil potatoes until tender. Drain and set aside to cool. In a bowl, mix cucumber, purslane, and scallions. Add potatoes and mix well.

 

Refreshing Citrus SlushCombine pineapple and orange juice concentrate. Add frozen lemonade and bananas. Stir well and freeze overnight. Stir again, as banana slices will have floated to the top.

 

Lemon Pudding Cake Tasty, refreshing, moist cake.

 

Creamy Peach PieIn a large sauce pan, heat 4 cups of marshmallows, orange juice, and lemon juice stirring constantly until melted. Pour into large mixing bowl.

 

Pickled BeetsBoil and pour over beets and seal in jars.

 

Chestnut ChickenFancy enough for a dinner party. This recipe can be prepared on a moment's notice if you just keep the ingredients on hand. My family loves it and guests think I'm a gourmet cook! You can easily add a couple more chicken breasts if you need to stretch it a little.

 

Find Plants on FreecycleThis spring, I put a request for perennial plants on a site called freecycle.com and received so many replies I picked up more plants than I could use. The extras, I shared with friends and family.

 

Use Your TV for Dough RisingSo you have not updated to one of those slick, slim TVs yet, and you want to bake some bread? Believe it or not, if your TV is on, it make a nice warm spot for you dough to rise.

 

Kids Car GamesHitting the road with the kids means hours in the car listening to them complain about being bored. Well, never fear the old games we used to play are still around and to top it off you can create some new car fun. Who needs the car video player or hand held games?

 

Don't Let Your Dog Chew on Corn CobsI know some bigger dogs love corn on the cob, but PLEASE don't let your dogs eat the leftover cob! It doesn't digest in their stomach and if it gets clogged, he could need surgery to get it out.

 

Making Smooth White FrostingThis makes a silky smooth pure white frosting. Simply replace the butter with white shortening in your favorite vanilla frosting recipe and add clear butter flavoring and clear vanilla.

 

Recycled Clay Pot Wind ChimesUse up your old scrap pieces of wood and clay pots to create this summer wind chime to enjoy. I used a sailboat theme with an old scrap piece of wood, little clay pots, white nylon cording for strings and added big washers for the chimes.

 

Protect Your Important Documents in Your FreezerProtect your important documents (insurance info, car titles, warranties, etc.) by placing them is a zip lock bag in your freezer. Should a fire occur, they will not be burned.

 

Product Review: Spray and Forget Roof and Siding CleanerThis product is amazing! You spray it anywhere you want to remove algae and moss, or to stop it from to growing. Just put it into a garden sprayer, and spray it on once a year, then every time it rains, it binds with the rain and starts working.

 

Grocery Bags As Garbage BagsOur family has recycled grocery plastic bags as trash bags for years. We use small plastic trash container about 12 inch diameter and 14 inches high. We have one in each bathroom, kitchen and laundry room.

 

Variation for Knitting a ShawlOne way to vary the knitting on all of your shawl projects is to practice using different knitting combinations of purl and knit to make patterns. (A knitting book will show you how).

 

Keep a Sock Bag for Mismatched SocksWe're constantly losing one sock in a pair. I started keeping unmatched socks in a bag as I put laundry away. Every time I'm putting a load of laundry away, I check the unmatched sock bag in case I can find a sock to match the "new" unmatched socks.

 

Frugal Wrinkle ReleaserInstead of buying pricey wrinkle releaser, when the fabric softener bottle is almost empty fill it half way with clear water, shake and pour into a spray bottle. It works exactly the same was as the $4.00+ per bottle stuff in the stores.

 

Shoo Fly Jars in Every RoomTime to get those large glass jars out and fill them with crinkled up (very important) aluminum foil and water and then set them around to repel flies. It takes up to a day for them to notice they are there.

 

Pearl Button PinThis is a pin I made from saved pearl type buttons. It is very easy. Use any buttons that you have cut off clothes. The white pearl buttons are easy to find. Use different sizes to keep it interesting but fairly close in size.

 

Keeping Clutter Off My Kitchen CountersAn old wicker shelf, a large cup-hook and some plastic bins help to organize all the miscellaneous "stuff" that winds up in the kitchen. Then distribute items once a day to their "proper" homes!

 

Gemma (Siberian Husky and Shepherd Mix)Gemma is a 10 month Siberian Husky/ German Shepherd mix. We bought her from an ad in the paper at 6 weeks old. We wanted a shepherd cross and thought it was an interesting mix.

 

Make Your Own Sugars For BakingIf you don't have decorator sugar, you can make some by placing 1/4 cup granulated sugar into a re-sealable plastic food bag. Add the desired food color, one drop at a time.

 

Drink Cone FunnelThis could also be in cooking, frugal living, and more. This was rattling around in my daughters car, and I asked her what it was. She said it was from a Chuckie Cheeze drink cup. Immediately my mind went into overdrive.

 

Footprint ButterfliesKids will love it when they get to use their feet to make these cute butterfly prints. No matter the age, all feet will get a tickle from the paint being applied to their footsies. So much fun!

 

Using Wallpaper to Line Drawers?How do I line wooden drawers with wallpaper?

 

Re-shaping a Leather Jacket?I have two new leather coats that were hung on hangers for over a year and now they have "bumps" in the shoulders from the hanger. Is there anyway that I can remove these stretched out bumps?

 

Installing Curtains in an Old Tent Trailer?I need to install new curtains in an old tent trailer. The channel is already mounted. I cannot find a way to attach curtains to the channel.

 

Uses for Leftover Rug Yarn?I have lots of rug yarn, the 4 inch pieces. I don't know what to do with them. What do you do with left over rug yarn?

 

Homemade Masks for a Masquerade Party?I'm planning a masquerade ball for my 17th birthday! The only problem is, I live in a small town and I'm not sure if all my guests can get masks. The closest place is an hour away!

 

Looking for Other Cojack Owners?Can anyone direct me to parents of other Cojacks (Jack Russell/Corgie mix)?

 

Making a Fake Campfire?I need to make a fake campfire for my VBS this year. Any suggestions? It will be inside.

 

Vegetable Casserole Using Veg All?I am looking for a recipe for Mixed Vegetable Casserole, using canned mixed veggies, mayonnaise, cheese, water chestnuts, and Ritz crackers.

 

Removing Pencil Marks from Wallpaper?How do I remove a pencil drawing, without damaging the wallpaper? The paper is pink and has love hearts that are raised.

 

How To Keep Deer and Rabbits From Eating Your Plants?I am having problems with either rabbits or deer eating my Monkey Grass. I have tried a commercial spray that stinks. Does anyone have a "home" remedy?

 

What Breed is My Dog?I would like some feedback on what breed my dog is. Everywhere I go people tell me she's a pit bull. I've been doing some research and she sure looks like an American pit bull terrier to me.

 

What Breed is My Dog?My dog isn't like any other miniature pinschers we've ever seen. We are trying to find out if he is a mix. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Cleaning Sticky Scissors?How do you remove sticky residue from scissor blades?

 

What is This Plant? (Swedish Ivy)What kind of plant is this? I know it's not a mint because the stem is round, not square but it does run. I know it's not a Charlie, but the leaves are about the same size. It has a distinct odor that is not very pleasant.

 

Non-Chemical Cures for Head Lice?I am a huge fan of Dawn soap. You can let it sit on stained clothing and it takes the stuff right out. But the best thing for the use of this soap other than it's cleaning ability is for lice.

 

Crochet Toilet Seat Cover (Bath Set)?Does anyone have any crochet patterns for toilet seat and tank covers? Also hopefully, matching hanging toilet paper roll covers, a rug, and any other "pretty's" for the bathroom?

 

What is this Song? "The Lightning Express"My mother used to sing me a song when I was a child, 50 years ago. The song was about a little boy traveling on a train to visit his mother but doesn't have the fare.

 

Pattern for a Toddler Shrug?I am looking for a knitted shrug pattern for a toddler.