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Hello,
I hope everyone is enjoying the Holiday season and not spending too much time at the mall, in traffic, or both. We have quite a few new holiday related requests. Including one from a person who is looking for ideas on what to do for a neighbor whose house has recently burned down.
Thanks for reading,
Susan
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Today's Tips
Today's Family Tradition...
Our Christmas traditions started about 15 years ago when we moved a long distance from our family. It was just us, our own little immediate family of 4. We knew that we needed to start some of our own traditions so every year on Christmas morning my husband reads the Christmas story from the Bible and then we all open presents.
The biggest change in our lives, though, has been that now, instead of sharing Christmas with our extended family, we share Christmas with all the close friends we have made over the past 15 years. Those friends have become our family and we are so thankful for them. One Christmas we spent with one of our closest friends and their family playing games, talking and laughing until 2:00am. Another time was a two New Years ago. We spent it with another family and sat up until 4am just laughing and talking. It was such fun! It is a true blessing to have such close friends now that we live so far from our extended family.
By Robin
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Share Your Christmas Family Tradition
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Candle making is an OUTDOOR activity.
Yep.
Ask any fireman.
If you heat wax on a stove, and kids or the phone sidetrack
you, and the wax overheats or boils over, you might as well
have a major firebomb go off in the kitchen.
The closed lid of a barbecue works fine, so does a cheap single element electric hot-plate, or an electric frying pan. With an electric frying pan you can even set the temperature. It is quite safe to put different cans with different colors of wax side by side onto the electric frying pan. Pyrex measuring pitchers are fine too.
For ALL candle making, except sand candles, use the lowest temperature at which all the wax melts. Otherwise it shrinks too much when it cools, and you wind up with air pockets and other problems.
Have FUN!
DearWebby
http://webby.com
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Easy Dessert "Christmas Cherry Salad"
Ingredients:
To Prepare:
Combine all ingredients BUT DO NOT DRAIN PINEAPPLE. Mix well, refrigerate for 3 hours before serving, be sure to chill well.
;-)
By south_land
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Festive Napkin Rings With Cookie Cutters
Seasonal cookie cutters make great festive napkin rings and can be a little party favor, too. Just add a bright bit of ribbon or raffia.
By Linda
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If you get stung by a Bee, if the stinger is still in your skin, gently scrape it off, then sprinkle a bit of meat tenderizer directly on sting and add a few drops of water to make a thick paste.
This works great! But if you are allergic to stings get medical treatment also.
By Bill Robinson
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I'm sure everyone has had ring baloney boiled in pieces for dinner at one time or another in their life time. There are not many ways to fix this cut of meat. But, this one I've been using for years and people have been pleasantly surprised when served this dish.
Ingredients:
Directions:
Add both to skillet over med-high heat and cook until onions are soft and meat begins to brown and liquid is evaporated.
I serve this with fried potatoes and baked beans to round out a thrifty supper.
By Ruth
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I'm sure everyone has had ring baloney boiled in pieces for dinner at one time or another in their life time. There are not many ways to fix this cut of meat. But, this one I've been using for years and people have been pleasantly surprised when served this dish.
Ingredients:
Directions:
Add both to skillet over med-high heat and cook until onions are soft and meat begins to brown and liquid is evaporated.
I serve this with fried potatoes and baked beans to round out a thrifty supper.
By Ruth
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Carry a small safety pin on your key ring. You can use it if your glasses lose a screw or you need to make a small wardrobe repair.
By Linda
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Heat hot packs or foot warmers in the microwave! These can also be made cheaply by using some fabric and dry beans or rice.
By Robin
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Holiday Broccoli Rice Casserole (no wheat, no meat, no egg, no corn)
I came up with this combination for Broccoli Rice Casserole for a Holiday potluck party for work. We have several vegetarians, plus one allergy to egg, one to corn and one to wheat. This is the altered result. It would probably be easiest to divide this into approximate thirds for smaller groups.
Holiday Broccoli Rice Casserole Feeds 30-40 (no egg, no wheat, no meat, no corn)
Ingredients:
Directions:
By Lynn Thomas
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Basic Dough:
For Brickle-Caramel Thumbprints:
Directions:
Combine dough and brickle chips; knead to blend. Refrigerate dough 30 minutes. Heat oven to 350-degrees F.
Shape dough into 1-inch balls, place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. With thumb, make imprint in center of cookie. Bake for 11 to 14 minutes, or until lightly browned around edges. Immediately remove from cookie sheet; cool completely.
In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt caramels and half-and-half, stirring until smooth. Spoon 1/2 teaspoon filling into center of each cookie. Makes about 3-1/2 dozen cookies.
By Chell
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Ingredients:
Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Cream together butter, shortening, 1-1/2 cups sugar, eggs and vanilla. Blend in flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt. Shape dough by rounded teaspoonfuls into balls.
Mix together 2 Tablespoons sugar and the cinnamon. Roll balls of dough in mixture. Place 2-inches apart on ungreased baking sheets.
Bake 8 to 10 minutes, or until set but not too hard. Remove immediately from baking sheets. Makes about 4-dozen.
By chell
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Ingredients:
Directions:
In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar; add vanilla. Stir in flour; knead until well mixed. Reserve 1/2 cup of dough; shape remaining dough into 1-inch balls.
For filling, combine cream cheese and milk in a small bowl. Stir in sugar, candy and food coloring; mix well. Make a deep well in the center of each ball; fill with 1/4 teaspoon filling. Use reserved dough to cover filling. Reshape if necessary into smooth balls. Place on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350 degrees F. for 12-14 minutes.
Combine topping ingredients; roll cookies in mixture while still warm. Cool on wire racks. Yield: 4 dozen
By Chell
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Uses for Cardboard Wrapping Paper Rolls
Uses for those cardboard rolls that you get with wrapping paper. Post your ideas.
Use for Christmas Wrapping Rolls
Save those used Christmas wrapping paper rolls for the storage of Christmas lights at the end of the season. Just start wrapping around the tube ! Much easier for next year instead of that bundled mess You used to have.
By Chell
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As a kid we always had animals and on Christmas Eve would put a box of hay on the porch for the reindeer. Every Christmas morning it would be all gone, eaten by the reindeers. Made me a believer!
By Lois
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Refresh Stale Food - Crisping Chips and Cereals
Refresh stale potato chips, crackers or other snacks of such type by putting a plateful in the microwave oven for about 30-45 seconds. Let stand for 1 minute to crisp. Cereals can also be crisped.
By Robin
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Using a round dish instead of a square one eliminates overcooked corners in baking cakes.
By Robin
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Removing Stamps From An Envelope
Here's A Tip For Stamp Collectors. Place a few drops of water on stamp to be removed from envelope. Heat in the microwave for 20 seconds and the stamp will come right off.
By Robin
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Ingredients:
Directions:
Place bacon slices in bottom of heavy Dutch oven. Layer remaining ingredients as listed. Pour water over. Cover and let simmer, after coming to a boil for 1 1/2 - 2 hours until meat is tender. Serve with hot biscuits and honey. Delicious!
By Robin
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Whenever you go to a potluck type party, label your dish with a return address label. Don't forget to label your utensil (i.e. spatula, serving spoon), too.
By Linda
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If the cold dry air causes you to have nosebleeds, put a little vaseline in each nostril with a cotton swab every day.
By Linda
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Address Labels Inside and Outside
Be sure to put an address label inside and outside of any packages your are sending. If the exterior gets ripped or is illegible, the postal department can still figure out what to do with it.
By Linda
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Gift Cards - Check Out Terms and Expiration Date
Not all gift cards are a good deal. Check on expiration dates and such before you buy. Some companies deduct money from the card every month the account is open. Why should you pay up front, and then have them charge the recipient for the privilege of holding your money?
By Linda
Editor's Note: Also, if you are sending a card to a post office box make sure that gift cards can be sent to one. We ordered a Home Depot Gift Card for a contest winner and they never informed us that it couldn't be sent to a PO Box while we were ordering it.
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You know how you pick up a hint somewhere and it sits around for a year before you get around to trying it? Well here's one.
Ingredients:
Directions:
Mix well and put some in a spray bottle. I tested in an out of the way spot first. It worked. Floor, sink, bathroom & painted wall.
By Great Granny Vi
Editor's Note: Make sure this solution never comes into contact with bleach. When bleach and ammonia are mixed it creates a gas that is extremely dangerous to inhale.
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Just made these and they are tasty and so easy.
Ingredients:
Directions:
Mix well and roll into small balls.
Bake at 400 degrees F for 15 minutes, then while still warm add a few at a time to a paper or ziplock bag with powdered sugar and shake to coat. Let cool and coat or roll in powdered sugar again. I got 125 cookie bites from this recipe. About the size of a black walnut.
By Great Granny Vi
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Fixing Loose Glasses With Rubberbands
This morning my glasses were so loose they were sliding down my nose. I keep a package of assorted rubber bands, and I selected two of the tiniest.
I doubled them and slipped them onto the ends of the glasses legs, then looped them once more, to make them as tight as possible. Then I slid them up the legs and into the hinges holding the glasses together. Voila! Now my glasses fit tightly again.
By Janet45101
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New Requests:
Peanut Butter Fudge Using Vanilla Frosting
In the past someone told me how to make peanut butter fudge using vanilla frosting, they do not remember the recipe and I have lost how to make it. Can anyone tell me what this recipe might be? Thanks,
Happy Holidays - Lisa
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This morning the house across the street from us burned down (all people and pets are safe). We have lived in our home less than one year and don't know the family, other than a friendly wave. I need help with ideas on what, as a neighbor, I can do for these people in this difficult time. Thank you.
Jodie from Missouri.
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Dog Urine Stains and Smell Off Furniture
I recently got a female puppy. After a few days I relized that my male dog was "marking" on everything the female was laying on, including my bed and living room furniture. How do I get the dried stains and smell out of my stuff?
Angie
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Preventing Fudge From Sugaring
How do you prevent fudge from sugaring? What am I doing wrong?
Jen from Ohio
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I would like to make my own lavender heat pack, but I'm not sure whether you use lavender flowers or lavender seeds in them. Does anyone have the answer to this dilemna for me?
Thanks,
SallyK
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Juice pouch (bag) wallets and checkbook covers.
I would like to make a juice pouch (bag) wallet for my husband and a belt and checkbook cover for me. Can anyone tell me how or pictures of how?
Thanks,
Marisa
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Keeping Clasps on Dog Chains From Freezing
I have several inside dogs and a real problem in the winter is the hooks that are on their chains left outside freeze up and it makes it so hard to hook them out when they need to take a trip outside in the winter time. I sprayed with WD-40 but I don't know if this will help. Any suggestions?? Thanks,
Donna Gros
Below freezing in Pa.
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Looking for Small, Elegant Treat Ideas
I have a cute idea on how to package gifts for my friends but I can't seem to find any elegant yet small treats or candies to make to put in it. Any ideas would be helpful, thanks!
Sofia from Maryland
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Can anyone suggest a good rug shampooer that is not too expensive and easy to use? Thanks and Merry Christmas!
Monica from PA
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Today's Sponsor
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More Reading:
5 Tips for an Easier Holiday Season
By Angela Billings
Use gift bags instead of wrapping gifts.So much easier and you can still use cute little package tie ons for the bag handles such as candy canes, ornaments or anything you can think of.
View Article: Click Here
Christmas Cookies Scrapbooking Layout
By Rachel Paxton
One of my favorite family holiday traditions has always been making Christmas cookies. It is a tradition that has been passed down through our family, and I am continuing it on today with my daughter. This year my daughter decided she wanted to try to make them herself, and they turned out great! I was the official documenter, taking pictures and recording the decorative results for our family scrapbook.
View Article: Click Here
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