Truly, the crockpot is the best summer helper ! Take advantage of summer sales on lean cuts of meat (assorted pork chop family packs, London broils, roasts) remove the fat caps or trimmings, and place generous amount of meat in crockpot along w/ quartered onion slices and favorite barbeque sauce. cook all day. Pull meat apart w/ 2 forks. Excellent in tortillas w/ shredded lettuce, a sprinke of chese and sour cream if you like. Freezer bag remainder in portions of the size serving your family. Served w/ fresh corn on the cob, a plate of sliced chilled melon or fruit or green salad, it's a winner that costs little and is easy to do. The next time you serve it, vary the meal by reheating it and serving it on buns, along with a fruit smoothie, perhaps, and crunchy blanched snowpeas. For special meals, buy a whole beef tenderlon on sale (usually about 5.99-6.99 lb) which sounds expensive) it will yield well over a dozen substantial portions at a cost of about 35.00 total. There is little waste, once cut. Some small pieces will be left over, which you can use in a freezer bag to save for fall soups or stews. When have you ever seen filet mignon on a menu for 3.00? Great for brunch or dinner, cooks quickly, tastes like heaven, On the other end of the scale, canned salmon, a great buy for under 2.00, will even out your budget. remove the bones and skin (easy to do; they are together) and mix with a bit of mayo, ranch dressing and plain yogurt. Add frozen peas, a bit of finely diced onion, a squirt of lemon juice (or sprinke with lemon pepper) and serve cold atop mesclun salad mix...or, cover with potato flakes and fry. Again, serve w/ cold side dishes, then; perhaps a cucumber-onion salad and sliced fresh tomatoes. Pasta salads are always a good offering, and as easy as your imagination: combine whatever meat you have with whatever pasta you like, with whatever vegetables are available and fresh and not too labor-intensive, and add your favorite dressing! Chilled fruit soups are easy to make in a blender (see any number of recipes in a search) and then served with cubed cheese and crusty rolls, make a satisfying meal. Summer is hot. Life is short. Dinner should be easy, fun, inexpensive, and good. ... View related article.
A checkbook (there always seems to be an extra one around), an eyeglass case, or a cigarette case-these are easily and very inexpensively obtained at a flea market or thrift store and the insides are pristine! ... View related article.
I have given away all of my cast iron pots and pans; well seasoned and a trademark of my cookery, they were greeted with joy. In their place, I've hung lightweight and inexpensive sautee and frying pans and saucepans against the wall of my kitchen in a pleasing and easy to reach pattern. One burner of my stove, (which is next to my sink) holds a nested arrangement of large pots. When one is needed, I use the burner in front of the nest and fill it by using the spray hose from the sink. To empty the pot, I use a smaller pot or four cup measure to dip out the liquid until it is nearly empty and easy to lift. I have a counter built at the correct height for me ( I am very tall) to avoid stooping and tiring. My cups are hung from hooks and dishes stored above the sink. My foodstuffs in cans are also in the dish cabinets, making retrieving a large can from the bottom shelf much easier than stooping and rising with it. I rely more on using some prepared foods (jams, syrups, biscuit mixes) than I once did. My heavy items (blender, coffee maker, kniferack, are permanently on a counter, although they occupy a lot of space in my small kitchen. (Hence the building of another, higher counter) A footpedalled trashcan is helpful. An electric can opener is a must. Some type of lid-gripper is useful. Frozen, fresh, and boxed foods are more frequent in my kitchen than canned goods. A good friend shops for me bi-weekly. In return, I make large pots of soups for her family, and cut coupons for her shopping. ... View related article.
I find that ANY item can become stain-free (so far) br placing it in a pot on the stove with Oxyclean dissolved in water and simmered slowly. Stir with a wooden spoon. Check after 15 minutes. If stain remains, turn off heat , cover and reheat after water cools. Continue as needed. ... View related article.
Using bath salts (vaseline, calgon) may be less slippery for you as you are disabled. They too, prevent bathtub rings. Also, take a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser (or generic equivalent) to the tub with you. As the water drains, wet the sponge and run it around the tub. It will clean it perfectly without any effort. ... View related article.
An old bicycle wheel makes a great, sturdy wreath frame. You can leave the spokes in and weave ribbon through them to the height you wish, or simply cut them off with a bolt cutter. ... View related article.
Spray the mulch with oil of peppermint; not toxic to the plants, but repugnant to the dog, and inexpensive to do. mix it w/ water and a few drops of diswashing detergent to make it adhere to the mulch so that it is not washed away quickly. Red pepper can also be used, but can be injurious to the mucous membranes of the dog. ... View related article.
