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Today's Tips
Today's Family Tradition... Christmas Ornament Tradition
Ever since our kids were born we have given them a Christmas ornament for the Christmas tree each year. The year we went on a holiday to Florida I used the sea shells, added a bow and some gold thread to hang the shell with. I picked up key chains in the shape of little Cuban cigars, grass topped huts, and shakers when we were in Cuba.
Piano lessons were taken one year... so I found notes (1/4, 1/8). When they are playing football or soccer... I find football or soccer items. When we went to Dallas, Texas we brought back little cowboy boots and hats. The kids are always making Christmas ornaments in school. Each child has a separate box, with a recipe card inside of it to keep track of the description of the ornament and the year they got it.
When they leave home and have their own Christmas tree they will have something to decorate it with that means something to them.
By Valleyrimgirl
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If you have yellow ring-around-the-collar stains or underarm stains, try adding a little vinegar to your wash water.
By Robin
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For a quicker and easier apple pie, follow the recipe for mixing the apples with spices, flour and cinnamon, but only make 1/2 the crust recipe. Put the fruit in a pan or pie dish and cover with the top crust. You still get the flavor of homemade pie but without the calorie and fat laden bottom crust. This can be adapted for any recipe that calls for a top crust.
By Lynn
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Homemade Gifts Bring Greater Appreciation
I have found that homemade gifts for Christmas or birthdays tend to not only be cheaper, but they are appreciated more because the recipient knows you took special time and effort to do something just for them.
By Robin
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Lower Premiums with Higher Deductibles
If at all possible keep house and car insurance deductibles at $1000.00 to lower your monthly premiums.
By Melanie
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If you need to use hot glue for crafts then cut chunks of glue sticks into an old pan and warm on the stove, then dunk things that need to be glued into the glue. Use the pan over and over after glue cools and just reheat. You could also use a mini crock pot. Just be careful not to get burned.
By Melanie
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My hair is long, to the middle of my back, so to cut my own hair I take my curling iron (cold and not turned on) then grab a section as though I was going to curl it, sliding the curling iron down almost to the end then I hold the iron out in front of me and then trim off the 1/2 inch of uneven ends. I go around all of my hair this way, just pinning out of the way what's already been cut. I never need help and I save a fortune!
By Melanie
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When bacon goes on sale stock up the freezer as it freezes fine. Then when ready to use just thaw it out, place on cookie sheets and bake in the oven on 350 degrees till crisp-no yucky splatters to clean up.
By Melanie
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For nice homemade Christmas presents try making pumpkin or banana bread loaves to give out. Wrap in plastic wrap then with curl ribbon wrap a big plus sign all the way around the bread, pop on a matching bow and walla. I am using my pumpkins left from decorations so I figure each loaf will cost .50 cents to make if even that much...
By Melanie
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A quick and easy Christmas tree ornament can be made by using clear glass ornament balls. Drop paint in through the hole and then turn it upside down and let sit overnight. The paint will spread out and coat the inside of the ball. Swirls of red and white or green and white make really pretty ornaments. Put the top back on the ball when dry. Add a ribbon on the top.
A five second search on Google found me a place that sells clear glass ornament balls: http://www.save-on-crafts.com/clearglasorb10.html A box of 9 balls is $4.89 If you search longer, you might find even better deals.
You can also cut different colors of foil, for example from chocolate bars into narrow strips and throw them into the balls. Trimmings of gift wrap can also be cut into tinsel and neatly stuffed into the balls.
I have done this many times, and it also looks wonderful to add different colors of glitter and shiny easter-basket style grass. Then write names, years or special messages on the outside with glass-paint pens.
By Cynthia Heitzler
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Reusing Candle Wax for Tart Burners
I buy a little more expensive cake candles in Amish Country yet they still have a tendency to burn out leaving about 2" of candle. I started saving those pieces of candle in a large baggie. Then when I have quite a bit, my husband breaks them up for me with a hammer, still in the bag, so no mess. And I use those small pieces in my tart burners. Now I don't have to buy the tarts anymore, and get dual use out of those candles.
By Marilyn
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Ingredients:
Directions:
THREAD marshmallows on lollipop stick to resemble a snowman. ATTACH peanut-butter cup to wafer with half of the peanut butter. Place on top of snowman for the "hat," securing with remaining peanut butter. Insert pretzel sticks into middle marshmallow for the "arms." CUT fruit roll-up into desired length for the "scarf;" wrap around snowman. Decorate with candies as desired.
By Anna
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Holiday Sweet and Crunchy Snack Mix
Ingredients:
Directions:
MIX all ingredients in large bowl. STORE in tightly covered container at room temperature.
By Anna
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Ingredients:
Directions:
PREHEAT oven to 400°F. Bake potatoes 1 hour 15 minutes or until tender. Cut potatoes in half lengthwise. Scoop out inside of each potato half, leaving thin shell. Place potato flesh in medium bowl; mash with electric mixer or hand masher until smooth. Set aside.
COOK and stir onion in margarine in small skillet until tender; stir in mustard. Add to potatoes along with 1/2 cup of the cheese and the pepper. Beat with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Pipe or spoon potato mixture into potato shells; sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup cheese. BAKE an additional 20 minutes or until potato filling is heated through and cheese is melted.
By Anna
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Ingredients:
Directions:
HEAT oil in large skillet on medium-high heat. Add vegetables; cook and stir until crisp-tender. STIR in vinegar and salad dressing mix; cook until heated through, stirring occasionally.
By Anna
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Ingredients:
Directions:
MIX all ingredients except noodles, cherries and cinnamon sugar until well blended. Add noodles and cherries; mix lightly. SPOON into 13x9-inch baking dish; sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. BAKE at 350°F for 50 minutes to 1 hour or until lightly browned. Cool at least 10 minutes; cut into squares. Serve warm.
By Anna
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Christmas Origins and Traditions at Care2.com
"Santa Claus gets his origins from St. Nicholas, a generous man from the 4th century A.D. who helped the children and the poor, often throwing gifts through children's windows to make them happy. Brought to America by Dutch immigrants in the 1600s as "Sinter Klaas," Americans soon began calling him "Santa Claus." Through the imagination of various authors and illustrators, Santa evolved into the fat, jolly, red-suited man from the North Pole we know today."
Recommended By Chell
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Paint Wall in Playroom With Chalkboard Paint
If you have an available wall in a playroom or basement, paint the lower half with chalkboard paint. The kids will have a ball writing on the wall!
By Chell
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I prefer fresh farm-grown chicken about 2 1/2 - 3 lbs., cleaned and sectioned.
Place chicken in a large mixing bowl and cover with top grade buttermilk. Let soak several hours to overnight. Carefully drain before dipping in flour that has been seasoned with favorite spices, salt, & pepper. Re-dip in batter, then back into flour. Place in prepared skillet.
A heavy skillet is the best to use for frying chicken. I fry my chicken at 350-360 degrees. We like our chicken more done than some people, so I will lower temperature when sufficiently browned and cook about 30 minutes all together.
By Robin
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Ingredients:
Directions:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Remove wrappings from ham. Place in roasting pan and bake 20 minutes per pound. Thirty minutes before the end of cooking, remove ham from the oven. Make 1/4 inch deep slits across top of ham both ways, forming a diamond shapes. Place pineapple rings over ham placing a cherry in the center of each ring. Mix brown sugar and pineapple juice from can to make a glaze and spoon over ham. Return it to the oven. Bake 15 minutes, then re-drizzle glaze over the ham. Bake 15 minutes more, then drizzle just before removing from the oven. Pour coffee in the pan. This deglazes the pan and makes a delicious gravy.
By Robin
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Ingredients:
Directions:
Wash apple and grapes well. Pare apple, leaving skin on and dice. Peel and slice banana. Dice grapes. Add celery and broken pecans and marshmallows. Whip cream, adding flavorings and powdered sugar. Pour over salad and serve.
By Robin
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Ingredients:
Directions:
Mix flour, salt and Crisco until crumbly. Beat egg, vinegar and water together. Add to flour mixture. Work together quickly. A soft dough will be easier to handle if you let it rest for about 15 minutes. Roll out on a floured pastry board. Place in pie plate and bake at 350 degrees until lightly browned.
By Robin
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Ingredients:
Directions:
Combine sugar and eggs, beating until creamy; blend in salt, corn syrup and butter. Stir in pecans. Pour into unbaked pie shell and bake in preheated oven at 350 degrees for 50 minutes. To test for doneness, pierce center of pie with a knife. If it comes out clean, pie is done. Cool and cut. Freezes well up to 60 days.
By Robin
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New Requests:
I need a recipe for homemade seasoning salt. I have completed my shopping for my Christmas cooking, but forgot to buy seasoning salt - and its critical to one of my recipes. I probably have the ingredients on hand, but I don't know exactly what I need, or how much of each ingredient. If any of the great cooks on this site have a recipe for seasoning salt I will be very grateful if you can share it.
Thank you,
Judy
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I wonder how do you get on a mailing list to receive free address labels.
- Robin
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We accidentally left some fresh fish from the market in our starex van for 2 days under the sun. It's been nearly a month since but our van still smells of rotten fish. We've tried putting a pack of charcoal inside the van for a week already but to no avail. Car fresheners can't mask the smell either. Any other suggestions? Thanks, Alex T.
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Natural Ways To Maintain Your Furnitures Luster
This is regarding wood furniture: What are some good, natural ways to help keep it's luster. I have heard about bees wax but where would you go to get it?
Thanks,
~Jennifer
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My wife bought a gallon of milk which spilled in the car on the carpet in the passenger seat. Fortunately, we live in a cold climate state. What should I do to prevent the milk smell from coming up?
oded
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I saw somewhere, perhaps on your site, a receipe for cake or maybe bread, that you actually bake in a jar. I would appreciate any information anyone could give. I thought these would be neat Christmas girft that were economical as well as fun.
Linda from Iowa
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Craft Projects You Can Make Out Of Your Christmas Cards
By Abigail Beal
It is always a fun part of the holiday season giving and receiving Christmas cards. But what can you do with them after the holidays? It is often a shame simply to throw them out - they have beautiful holiday scenes and many of them now have sentimental value. Here are some craft projects to give a new life to your Christmas cards.
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Fun Winter Cookie Pops
By Amanda Formaro
If you are looking for a fun and easy recipe to do with the kids, try these deliciously simple Winter Cookie Pops. The kids will smile and giggle while making these treats, and will have something fun to give to family and friends!
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Help! I can't afford Christmas
By Colleen Moulding
The less money you have to spend on Christmas the earlier you have to get started. Bargains go quickly as we all know. Firstly, make sure you get along to any car boot/garage/yard/tag sales in your area, looking out for baskets that you can package gifts in, pretty china, toys in excellent condition with all the pieces present, inexpensive hand made crafts and second hand books that look brand new.
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Gardenscape on a Shoestring
By Sara Noel
Many of us flip through garden magazines, all the while thinking that it takes years, a professional, or tons of money to landscape the gardens featured in the glossy pictures. This isn't necessarily true. You can design a breathtaking garden and be the envy of the neighborhood by following some of the following tips.
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By Lois Ann from New York (Guest Post)
12/14/2004
For those with extra long, long hair, you may considering donating the cut off hair to Locks of Love in Florida. (they are online) They make wigs for children with medical conditions--chemotherapeutic patients, alopecia sufferers, etc.
They request at LEAST 10 inches of hair.
My daughters and I donated a total of 36 inches. If it gets too long, instead of throwing it out, donate it. It is greatly appreciated by the kids of Locks of Love. http://www.locksoflove.org/
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