Daily Thrifty Tips - January 13, 2006

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These 'rocks' are made of joint compound and were formed directly on the wall in stages. After each coat dried, I added more compound until I built up the rock. They aren't finished; I will add more color and will use real grout in between the rocks. This look continues across this entire wall and into my living room to give the room a warm and rustic look.

By Sandra from Orlando, Florida

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Milo is 2 years old and is a Toy Fox Terrier. We got him as a pup. He likes to attend birthday parties.

My daughter had a Hawaiian luau for her last birthday and Milo arrived in his Hawaiian ensemble. After winning the limbo contest he decided to lounge in the pool! Doesn't he look delighted?

By Barb from New Philadelphia, Ohio

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When summer comes, and it is *hot*, those of us who either do not have central air or don't want to shock ourselves with a huge power bill but cannot sleep due to the unforgiving heat and humidity, here is a tip.

Keep your sheets in a bag in the freezer until just before you retire for the night. (Clean sheets, of course) About 20 minutes before bedtime, make up your bed, if you have a fan that turns, keep it in your bedroom. By the time you lie down, it'll be cooler and you just may find some comfort from that heat. I have lived in rural NC where the humidity is just draining, and this DOES help.

By KLS8800 from North Carolina

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Cleaning the re-settled dust off closet mirror doors. First vacuum well or as I did for my parquet floors, used the long handled Pledge Grab it cleaner. I then Windex the mirrors. Then put a clean Pledge Grab it cloth on my long handled cleaner and run it slowly over the mirror and the static cling cloth takes up any re-settled dust. You would not want to clean your mirrors first and then the floors and stir up more dust than necessary!

By Linda Jonson from Oceanside, Ca.

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I was tired of tring to find the clickers for the tv, vcr, dvd, stereo, tivo and all the goodies for which we have clickers (remote controls). The cats would walk acrossed them and change the channels while we were gone and we would record the wrong show, they would disappear under a cushion or where ever, you all know how that goes. So I decided to make a place for them that didn't take up much space.

I took all the clickers that I wanted to be able to find for that room, and took 2 pieces of fabric and used one for top and one for bottom. I left extra for top to hang from the lid of a cabinet and little extra for fringe bottom. Then I took clickers and and measured how wide the slots needed to be and started sewing it all together. I slid all the clickers in and there you go, you have a place to hang them without getting lost or stepped on by kitties.

I hope you can understand how this works, it works very well for us. I used fleece for my fabric because I had extra around the house. It also has some stretch in it if you get different ones that are bigger like we have.

By Jen from Eau Claire, Wi

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I have an idea to organize your household bills. I purchased a large recipe box and Index Card Dividers that are already numbered 1-31. Place the dividers inside the box and place each bill based on when it is due behind the respective divider. For instance: if your electric bill is due on the 15th, place the bill behind the index divider that says "15". It's no fun paying bills, but this process will make it a little easier. I said . . a little! ;-D

By Marn from Cumming, GA

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I have been paying many of my bills over the phone with my debit card. It is a win-win situation. Not only do I save writing a check and saving a stamp (which is now 39 cents---ouch!) but my payment gets credited much faster. Just check your creditors to see if they offer this option.
My utilities and insurance companies for the most part all do.

If they don't, they may take automatic payments out of your account each month which would be another option. Still another is to make your payments online.

By Diane from PARADISE PA

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Ingredients

• 2 cups flour
• 1 cup salt
• 3 Tbsp. baby oil
• 1 Tbsp. alum
• 2 cups boiling water
• Food coloring

Directions

Mix together all ingredients with a spoon. Turn out onto slightly floured surface; knead until smooth. Store in refrigerator.

By Robin from Washington, IA

Kids love PlayDough. Make it at home yourself. Mix well.

Ingredients

• 1 cup salt
• 2 cups flour
• 1 cup water
• 2 Tablespoons cooking oil

Directions

Adding a few drops of food coloring is optional. Store in air tight container when not in use.

By Great Granny Vi from Moorpark, Ca.

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<p>Does anyone have any suggestions on getting chewing gum out of a dryer? Apparently, my daughter left gum in her pants pocket and I missed it. It is now dried to to drum of my brand new dryer.

<p>Please help if you can.

<p>Linda

<P><hr width="100%" color="#006600">
<p>
My husband left a pack of gum in his pants pocket, I didn't know this of course until I washed them and found the gum stuck to the side of the washer. I peeled what I could off and then grabbed a used dryer sheet. A little rubbing and it's all gone.
</p>

<p>
By Amy from Upstate NY
</p>

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In the book Your Money or Your Life, author Joe Dominguez makes the point that money is really an exchange for your life force. Every dime spent, represents the time and energy you spent earning it. So, being good stewards of our money really means being good stewards of all of our resources.

When I prepared bankruptcies for a living, I was constantly surprised at the amount of money people throw at their cars. My clients were sitting in my living room discussing their impending bankruptcies. And for many, their biggest concern was holding on to their $600 a month SUV.

Occasionally, if a client seemed interested, I would mention that our entire ugly, elderly mini-van cost $600. This statement was universally met with blank stares, followed by an awkward silence.

The fact that I was dealing daily with people who would file bankruptcy before driving an old car is one reason why I stopped doing it.

Kevin will be working a full-time and a part-time job away from home during our Year of Extreme Frugality. I'm very aware of the sacrifice he's making, especially considering the amount of time he will miss with our baby daughter, Ruby.

I consider it my job to make sure that every penny we earn is well spent. We will be living on less than half of what we earn. That's a big change for a family that has been living on every penny we earn, plus some that we borrow from credit card companies.

If your goal is to live on one income when your debt crash diet is over, start doing that now and use the rest for debt repayment and savings. Sit down and figure out the very least that you can live on, and then vow to spend a year living on that much. Every other penny gets saved.

We were able to reduce our home phone, cell phone, cable television and internet services from nearly $500 a month to less than $200. We gave up cable all together. We're also giving up restaurants and movies in 2006.

What can you give up in the name of being debt-free and job-optional? Can you eek some extra money out of your food budget to use for paying down your car loan? Do you need high speed internet? Could you get by with one car for a year? Maybe move into an apartment until your debt is repaid?

By Shaunta Alburger
http://www.pennywisejournal.com

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I have created an "Instruction Manual" for our family. I purchased a three-ring binder (actually called a presentation binder because it has a clear cover) The cover I created says, "THE SMITH'S INSTRUCTION MANUAL". (Names have been changed to protect the innocent :) )

The inside of the binder contains of information we or a baby-sitter would need at our or her finger-tips. Such as, cell phone numbers, grandparents phone numbers, neighbors phone numbers, doctors, hospital, pizza delivery menus and phone numbers; really anything that is important to you and your family.

We have a built in desk in our kitchen so I keep it in the drawer below the telephone. By the way, all this information is inserted into sheet protectors to make the binder neater.

By Marn from Cumming, GA

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Like a lot of these posts, I need help asking this guy to our Valentines next month! We're not techincally "dating" but he really likes me and I like him, so we have a little thing going on. I want to ask him in a memorable and special way, something that when he thinks back on he goes... "Wow, that was incredible" and hopefully he'll think the same about me! But he plays basketball and golf and he likes the beach, the Ohio State Buckeyes, and he loves music. His favorite artist is Bruce Springsteen. Any ideas at all incorporateing any of those would be more helpful then you could imagine!

Thank you all so much!

Victoria from Ohio

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I have this huge dance coming up and I have never gone to a formal dance before. I need to ask this guy that i like in a cute way. Please help.

Amanda from New Hope, Minnesota

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I am looking fo a homemade version of Betty Crocker boxed "Bisquick" mix. I have used it for years and know it's out there somewhere. It's quicker and easier than the "flour" way, since I usually don't have all the goodies anyway. Thank you for your help.

George Lamb from Leeds, AL

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I would like a colour suggestion for my kitchen that has never been painted. My appliances are white and the rooms that ajoin my bedroom have a peach with orange and yellow mix.

Any suggestions please,
Dee from Mobay, Jamaica

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My daughter's skirt has purple paint stains on it and it has been washed and put into the dryer. It is 94% cotten and 6% spandex. What can I use to remove the paint stains?

eveready01 from San Diego, CA

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I was wondering if anyone out there had their made their own depilatory wax? I was stunned by the prices on very small tubs of wax in the shops and had heard of people making their own.

Cathy from Townsville, Australia

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How do I remove baby powder from a dark green carpet. It seems the more I try the more it spreads a whitish spot around.

Nancy from New Hampshire

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How do you clean grease spots off of a gas black stove top?

Olive Oil from Cola, SC

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I'm looking for a cheap way to decorate my hall and tables. Does anyone have any ideas for decorations and a center peice to go on the middle of the tables?

Stacey From Staines Middlesex

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I'm just wondering if its possible to paint over old wallpaper? Our home is old and there must be 5 layers of wallpaper and we don't really want to have to go through all that trouble of stripping off wallpaper. Our cupboards in the kitchen hide over half of the walls anyway.

We're giving our kitchen a makeover with new cupboards and counters so I wanted to add new paint or something to the old yellowish colour wallpaper that's been up there forever.

Any suggestions on if this is possible or not?

Thank you,

Yvonne from Ontario

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I have a tan suede leather jacket, that can only be cleaned by a dry cleaner and I got navel cord blood on the sleeve and I don't know how to get it out.

Crystal from Arkansas

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Does anyone have the recipe for the new Olive Garden soup that has sausage and chunks of potato in it? The broth resembles a chowder rather than a soup broth and it's delicious. The sausage is all in tiny pieces. I don't know the Italian name but we enjoyed it and would like to make it at home.

Roberta from China, ME

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I want to sell some old jewellery on Ebay and did a search but was overwhelmed by the thousands of choices. Does anyone know a really great and concise website that helps you set up an online auction?

Cathy from Townsville, Australia

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During a 900 mile trip and a 4 month stay at my house, my stepmother stored their leather jackets, chaps and other items in a container with MOTHBALLS! Now she cannot get the smell out. Does anyone have some ideas for us to try?

Trina from Cleveland, TX

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I recently picked up four silver spoons at an auction sale. Two of them are tarnished with dark spots in the center. Any suggestion on how to clean them?

Blessed 2006 to you and all God's richest blessings to you.

Fiona from Barbados

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How do you clean a silver chain? I have been told that vinegar can get it clean. Tina from BC, Canada

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I have a pear, apple and plum tree on the property I am renting. They have a lot of moss all over them. is this common (we have wet winters) or should I look into spraying? Any ideas?

Hardiness Zone: 8a

Kelly from Willamina, OR

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Does anyone know how to remove scratches from eyeglass lenses?

Marie from Petersburg, VA

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Can anyone explain the difference between white, yellow, purple, and any other colors of onions? I'm especially interested in how strong they taste, what recipes the different varieties would be appropriate for, and so forth. Thanks for the input!

Tripleb from Greenville, AL

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I do well growing mung beans in a jar and get good bean sprouts, but when I have tried to grow tiny alfafa and radish seeds in jars and trays I have problems! Either they are hard to rinse, or the radish seeds (in particular) develop a slight but noticeable white mould so they are inedible. Any ideas please?

Browser from UK

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Soup may be the first course of a meal or it can be the whole meal. A steaming hot bowl of soup is wonderful to warm up to on a cold winter day, while a bowl of chilled gazpacho or fruit soup can be perfect for cooling off on a hot summer day.

'Soup' is a basic term used to describe a liquid food made from any combination of vegetables, fruit, meat and/or fish cooked in a liquid. This article will discuss some of the more common variations of soup and offer information and tips on preparing, serving and storing homemade soups.

Common Types of Soup...

Bisque: a thick, rich cream soup usually containing seafood. Newer recipes may use poultry or vegetables in place of seafood. At one time bisques were thickened with rice, but today they are more frequently thickened with roux.

Bouillabaisse: a highly seasoned seafood stew made of fish, shellfish, onions, tomatoes, white wine, olive oil, garlic, saffron and herbs.

Broth & Bouillon (Stock): a strained liquid that is the result of cooking vegetables, meat or fish and other seasonings in water.

Chowder: a thick, chunky soup or stew usually containing seafood, potatoes, and milk or cream. The word "chowder" comes from the French word "cauldron," which means cooking kettle. Vegetables or fish stewed in a cauldron became known as chowder in English-speaking nations (a corruption of the name of the pot or kettle in which they were cooked). The first chowders prepared on the North American continent were brought by French fishermen to Canada.

Consomme: a clear soup made of strained meat or vegetable broth, served hot or as a cold jelly.

Court Bouillon: a broth made from cooking various vegetables and herbs, usually an onion studded with a few whole cloves, celery, carrots and bouquet garni (parsley, thyme and bay leaf), perhaps with a little wine, lemon juice or vinegar; used as a poaching base for fish, seafood or vegetables.

Cream soups: soups that are thickened with a white sauce.

Gazpacho: an uncooked soup made of a pureed mixture of fresh tomatoes, sweet bell peppers, onions, celery, cucumber, bread crumbs, garlic, olive oil, vinegar and sometimes lemon juice which is served cold; also may be served 'chunky-style.'

Gumbo: a Cajun/Creole delicacy of South Louisiana, reflecting its rich history: wild game or seafood (from the Acadians), thickened with okra (from the Africans), file (from the Indians) and/or roux (from the French). Gumbo is a thick, robust soup with hundreds of variations including chicken and sausage gumbo, shrimp and okra gumbo, oyster gumbo and seafood gumbo.

Minestrone: a thick soup of Italian origin containing assorted vegetables, peas and beans, pasta (such as vermicelli or macaroni) and herbs in a meat or vegetable broth.

Stew: a dish containing meat, vegetables and a thick soup-like broth made from a combination of the stewing liquid and the natural juices of the food being stewed.

How to Remove Fat from Soup...

Soup always tastes better and is healthier if the excess fat (grease) is removed during cooking and before serving. Try any of the following techniques to remove fat:

• Use a large spoon to skim the fat off soup as it simmers.

• While cooking soup, place the pot slightly to one side of the burner. The off-centered bubbling will encourage fat to accumulate on one side of the pot for easier removal.

• A leaf of lettuce dropped in a pot of soup will absorb grease from the top.

• To remove the last spots of fat floating on the surface, drag a clean, unprinted paper towel across the top. It will oak up most of the remaining oil.

• Refrigerate cooked stews and soups overnight before serving. The fat will rise and solidify in a layer at the top. The fat may then be removed by breaking it up into large pieces and lifting it away with a spoon.

• When in a hurry to skim the fat from soup, float an ice cube in the soup to help congeal the fat and make it easier to remove.

If the Soup is too Salty...

Try one of the following methods to correct over-salting:

1. Add a whole, peeled raw potato to the soup and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. The potato will absorb the salt. Remove the potato before serving the soup. (Do not discard the potato  it is perfectly good for later use in another recipe.)

2. Stir in 1 teaspoon of vinegar and 1 teaspoon of brown sugar for each quart of liquid.

To Thicken Soup...

The best method of thickening most soups and stews is to remove some of the cooked vegetables, puree them in a blender, and return the pureed mixture to the soup. (Do not fill the blender more than one-third full with hot vegetables to prevent getting burned from splashes of hot puree.)

In the event that the soup is short on vegetables or there are none in the soup, try one of the following thickening techniques:

• Make a paste of all-purpose flour mixed with twice as much cold broth or water. The ratio of flour to liquid is 1-1/2 teaspoons of flour to 1 tablespoon of liquid for every 1 cup of soup. Slowly stir the paste into simmering soup and continue to simmer for 5 to 10 minutes.

• A roux of butter and flour may also be used as a thickener. The longer the roux is cooked, the darker and more flavorful it becomes. Be careful not to scorch the roux or it will give the soup an unpleasant burned taste.

• Cream is another alternative to not only thicken, but add a luxurious richness to soups.

• A cornstarch slurry of 1 part cornstarch to 2 parts liquid will also thicken soup; do not boil or the solution will break down.

Freezing and Reheating Soup... Most soups freeze beautifully. Consider preparing large batches of soup so that there will be extra to freeze and serve at a later date.

• Chill soup in the refrigerator and skim off any fat that rises to the surface before freezing.

• Freezing cream-based soups may cause separation. If the soup does separate while reheating, whisk vigorously with a wire whisk or try blending it in a blender for a few minutes to smooth it out.

• Reheat frozen soups in the microwave or thaw at room temperature and heat in a heavy saucepan over low heat on the stovetop.

• To avoid overcooking starchy ingredients like potatoes, pasta and rice, heat thawed soup only long enough to warm throughout.

  Miscellaneous Soup Making Tips and Info...

• If the soup is not intended as the main course, count on one quart of soup to serve six adults. As a main dish, plan on two servings per quart.

• A hot soup will help recondition the palate between meal courses or after consumption of alcoholic beverages.

• Ideally, cold soups should be served in chilled dishes.

• Adjust seasonings of cold soups just before serving. Chilled foods tend to dull the taste buds and will require more seasoning than hot soups.

• Be aware that herbs will have a more intense flavor if added at the end of the long cooking process.

• Savory soups and stews always taste better if made a day or two in advance, refrigerated and then reheated just prior to serving.

• Wine is a wonderful flavor addition to soups and stews. When using wine in soup, use less salt as the wine tends to intensify saltiness. Wine should be added at a ratio of no more than 1/4 cup of wine to 1 quart of soup.

• Beer is also a good addition to soups and stews. A good rule of thumb is 1 cup of beer to 3 cups of soup.

• Freeze the liquids drained from canned mushrooms or vegetables for later use in soups or stews.

• Since liquids boil at a lower temperature at high altitudes, cooking time may need to be extended at altitudes above 2500 feet.

• Soups and stews should only simmer while cooking, never brought to a hard boil.

"Is it soup, yet?"

Naturally, the best soups are made with a base of homemade broth and fresh ingredients, but this method can be very time-consuming and labor intensive. If you like, time spent in the kitchen preparing soup may be reduced by using canned or frozen broths and vegetables while still yielding an excellent product.

Remember, there are no really good "quick" soup recipes because any truly good soup needs time during preparation for flavor to fully develop. Always plan on providing enough time to prepare a really good soup or stew.

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