Daily Thrifty Tips November 26, 2004

Hello

I hope everyone in the US had a nice Thanksgiving holiday. We have a full newsletter today, including some recipes for Thanksgiving leftovers.

Tomorrow we are publishing a ThriftyFun News about family gift giving traditions that don't cost a lot of money. If you have any gift giving advice or traditions that work well for your family feel free to send them in.

Thanks for reading,

Susan

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Today's newsletter contains:

Today's Tips:

• Turkey and Rice Soup
• Leftover Turkey Soup
• Turkey Spaghetti
• Mashed Potatoes and Ham Bake
• The World's Greatest Leftover Turkey Sandwich
• Volunteering on Thanksgiving
• Edible Play Dough
• Include Recipes With Your Genealogy Research
• Deterring Purse Snatchers
• Buffalo Shrimp
• I Love to Cook and Hate the Dishes!
• Strong Stain Remover (As a Last Resort)
• I Try To Cut Costs Wherever I Can
• Gifts In Canning Jars
• Cleaning Texture Walls
• Recipe for Shining Metal
• Hard Water Spots on Windows?
• Rainy Day Dog Odor?
• Uses for Overripe Bananas

New Requests:

• Credit Card for Person with Bad Credit
• White Out on Slacks
• Make a Snowman With Plastic Cups
• Looking for a Really Good Starch
• Saving Money on Contact Lens Cleaning and Disinfecting Systems
• Turkey Grease From Leather Boots

More Reading:

• Cleaning Out Your Clothes Closets
• Take A Can Of Gold Spray Paint...

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Today's Tips

Turkey and Rice Soup

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups turkey, cooked and diced
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 1 6-ounce box long-grained rice
• 2 cups celery, sliced
• 1/2 cup onion, diced
• 1 cup carrots, grated

Directions:

In a large saucepan, combine all ingredients with 6 cups of water. Simmer, covered, until rice is cooked, approximately 30 minutes. Great with fresh bread.

By Kathy

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Leftover Turkey Soup

Makes 6 servings, 1 cup each

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1 medium carrot, sliced
• 1 stalk celery, sliced
• 1 Tbsp. vegetable oil
• 2 cans (14-1/2 oz. each) chicken broth
• 2 cups water
• 1 envelope Italian Salad Dressing Mix (such as Good Seasons)
• 2 cups cubed cooked turkey
• 1/2 cup bite-sized pasta, uncooked

Directions:

Cook onion, carrot and celery in hot oil in large saucepan 3 to 5 minutes or until tender-crisp, stirring occasionally. Stir in chicken broth, water and dressing mix. Bring to boil. Add turkey and pasta; cover. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer 10 to 12 minutes or until pasta is tender.

Family Fun: Use fun shapes of pasta, such as stars or alphabets. Smaller pastas may cook in a shorter time, so follow package directions for suggested cooking times.

Also: Serve topped with shredded cheese, grated parmesan cheese or coarsely crushed crackers.

By Kathy

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Turkey Spaghetti

Ingredients:

• 8 oz. spaghetti or other pasta
• 1 can cream of chicken or cream of mushroom soup
• 3/4 c. grated mild cheddar cheese
• 2 c. leftover cooked, diced turkey
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Optional - diced celery and/or diced onion to your taste

Directions:

Prepare cream of mushroom soup as directed. Prepare spaghetti as directed then drain. Combine spaghetti, soup and remaining ingredients. Stir until cheese melts. Serve and enjoy!

By Kathy

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Mashed Potatoes and Ham Bake

Thanksgiving Leftovers Recipe.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups mashed potatoes
• 2 tablespoons mustard
• 2 cups ham, cubed
• 1/2 cup cottage cheese
• 1 cup cheddar cheese, grated

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium-sized bowl, mix mashed potatoes and mustard. Spread potato mixture in the bottom of a greased 8-inch square baking pan. Arrange ham on top of potatoes. In a small bowl, mix cottage cheese and cheddar cheese. Spread over ham. Bake until mixture is heated through, about 30 minutes.

By Kathy

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The World's Greatest Leftover Turkey Sandwich

Everyone will be jealous of your lunch!

Ingredients:

• Leftover Stuffing (works best if the stuffing is moist)
• Cranberry Sauce
• Mayonnaise
• Leftover Turkey, sliced for sandwiches
• Gravy

Directions:

Using a knife or sharp spoon, scoop out the inside of the top half of the loaf, leaving only a shell. Spread stuffing into this shell, replacing the scooped out bread. (about 1/4 to 1/2 of stuffing is usually perfect, but use whatever makes you happy!) Mix together mayonnaise and cranberry sauce in a small bowl. (2 parts mayonnaise to every 1 part of cranberry) Spread this evenly on the bottom half of the bread. Top the cranberry-mayonnaise mixture with turkey slices. Drizzle the turkey with a light coating of gravy. (or a heavy one if you wish  what the heck, its the holidays!) Top the sandwich with the stuffing-filled top loaf of bread.

By Kathy

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Volunteering on Thanksgiving

If you really want to save money on Thanksgiving dinner this year, consider volunteering at your local soup kitchen. You will be helping those less fortunate, and you get to eat for free. I took my (then teen) children one year because I wanted them to experience it and it was the best Thanksgiving we've had to date!

By Glynda Lomax

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Edible Play Dough

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup margarine
• 1/3 cup light corn syrup
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract or flavorings
• 1 lb. powdered sugar
• food coloring (optional)

Directions:

Mix first 4 ingredients together. Add powdered sugar. Knead it. Divide and add food coloring. Keep refrigerated to keep from spoiling when not in use. You can replace vanilla with flavored extracts to give flavor other than just plain sweetness.

By Anna

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Include Recipes With Your Genealogy Research

When Mom died I didn't find her apple pie recipe, it's gone forever. I decided to gather family favorite recipes and put them in the "More Notes" in the genealogy we're working on. That way the kids, grandkids will have a place to look for their childhood favorites. The Family Tree Maker has 36 places for each persons photos and a nice space for short stories, remembrances. That's where the recipes are going. And they are backed up on CD's as new info is added. Hopefully more people will do this for their families. I wish I had thought of this sooner.

By Great Granny Vi

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Deterring Purse Snatchers

We seem to have more than our fair share (?) of purse snatchers in our community. It seems to get worse near the holiday season. My purse always seems very heavy so I like to set it in the child seat of my shopping cart. I try to never take my hand off it. But just in case I do for a brief moment, I ALWAYS loop the child safety strap through my purse handle and lock it! That way if someone does try to snatch the purse they will have a big surprise when the shopping cart tips over or whatever! I still don't leave my purse unattended but it is just an extra precaution that will slow down or discourage the thief who is walking past you in the store!

By Grandma Margie

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Buffalo Shrimp

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. cleaned/deveined shrimp
• Milk

Flour mixture:

• 1 c flour
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 tsp salt 1/4 c corn starch

Buffalo Sauce:

• 1/4 c hot sauce
• 1/4 c butter

Directions:

Allow shrimp to rest in milk while you prepare flour mixture, coat with flour mixture and deep fry in oil. Place on paper towel to drain. Mix the buffalo sauce, and after placing drained shrimp in bowl, pour buffalo sauce over cooked shrimp and toss.

Use as a snack with blue cheese dressing or serve over hot rice with salad for a dinner! it's wonderful.

I used to buy this at a restaurant and for 5 large shrimp it was $20 so I created my own interpretation for much less and I feel tastier!

By Kate

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I Love to Cook and Hate the Dishes!

Always keep a fresh dish pan of sudsy water to clean your cooking dishes while you cook, incorporate your style of cooking and cleaning at the same time, then when your baking is done so are your dishes! Multitasking can be multi-relaxing!

By Kate

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Strong Stain Remover (As a Last Resort)

Ingredients:

1/2 Cup Bleach
1/2 Cup Dishwasher Detergent

Note: The dishwasher detergent cannot have ammonia in it. You should NEVER mix ammonia with bleach.

Directions:

Fill the washing machine with water and the above solution, agitate to make sure it's mixed well. Drop in soiled items and agitate and then let them just soak, depending on how stained they are.

Then spin out and wash with 1/2 Cup laundry detergent.

I've gotten baby formula out of clothing, weather stains out of curtains and many other stains.

Years ago my daughter had a red dress with a white "apron", all one piece. I loaned it to a friend who had very hard water. When she returned the dress the white part was gray and dingy. I figured the dress was ruined anyway, so I dropped it in the solution. It came out white again and didn't hurt the red!

My aunt used it on a delicate fabric that she got cherry juice on.

I do rinse the clothing a couple of extra times since the solution is quite strong.

By Judy

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I Try To Cut Costs Wherever I Can

Since my grocery budget is small I try to cut costs wherever I can. We try to eat salad at lunch and dinner so I always put my veggies into the plastic bags provided by the grocery store. I always try to buy bulk meat when I can.

When I get home I put away the veggies and then cut the hamburger into one pound blocks, I put one piece into the bag and press all the air out of it, tie a knot and then add another piece, tie a knot and one more pound can fit and then tie a knot. When needed cut the bag below the knot so the rest of the bag is still intact. This has really helped with the food bill.

I also save by cooking items from scratch, such as beans. I use my pressure cooker to cook them and that saves time. I make my own tortillas too. For the same amount you pay for 10 tortillas I can make about 30. Freeze them too. Hope this helps someone.

By RoseMary

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Gifts In Canning Jars

Years ago when we decided to make a 110' x 50' garden and we bought about 20 cases of canning jars. We didn't get what we thought we would from the garden. We didn't realize high mountain growing was so difficult. We have tried every year to make the garden produce mass amounts of veggies to can but have not had too many produce for us. Just enough to get us though the summer.

Since we ended up with so many jars I decided to use them for gifts. I get recipes for cookies, brownies, cakes, chili, or whatever I can find and then put all the dry ingredients into the jar. I then decorate the jar with raffia ties, paint, material, or whatever I can find. Last year I tied belles and candy canes on the outside and gave these as gifts at Christmas.

I love giving gifts and since I'm on a limited budget I can purchase the dry ingredients all year long and be able to make many gifts and always have one handy in case I forget someone. It's lots of fun to come up with ideas to put into the jars. One year I made cookies and candies and gave those. Most jars only end up costing $2 since I always buy in bulk. Hope you have fun!

By RoseMary

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Cleaning Texture Walls

When cleaning textured walls, slip and an old sock over your hand. A sponge sometimes tears easily and the old sock will not break in bits and pieces like a sponge.

By Gladys Hill

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Recipe for Shining Metal

In a small bowl mix 1 tablespoon flour, 1 Tablespoon salt. Mix them well. Then add 1 Tablespoon white vinegar. Mix into thick paste.

With a damp cloth or sponge gently wipe some on item to be cleaned. Set aside about an hour, then rinse off, using warm, (NOT HOT) water. Gently polish with soft rag. Re-do if needed.

Caution, This should not be used for cleaning Silver, Silverplate or your jewelry!

By Gladys Hill

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Hard Water Spots on Windows?

Use 1/2 cup white vinegar added to 1 gallon of water. Just mix and apply with soft rag or out of spray bottle. I wear rubber kitchen gloves, as this can be hard on your hands. If the hard water spots are stubborn, I just use straight vinegar. Be sure and wear rubber gloves.

By Gladys Hill

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Rainy Day Dog Odor?

When Fido has been outside in rain and comes inside, smelling like a wet dog, simply wipe him/her with a dryer sheet.

By Gladys Hill

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Uses for Overripe Bananas

Tips and recipes for using overripe bananas. Even when a banana is too ripe to eat by itself it can be a great addition to a recipe. Post your ideas!

Over Ripe Bananas

If you have leftover, over-ripe bananas, don't throw them out. Use them for banana bread or even banana pancakes! Banana pancakes are probably the most moist, heavenly pancakes our family has ever tried!

By Robin

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Other Active Topics

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New Requests:

Credit Card for Person with Bad Credit

Does anyone know of any credit card companies that will give me a card even though I have bad credit? - Kelly

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White Out on Slacks

Help! My retired husband volunteers at my place of business and spilled white-out on his best slacks. I washed it already but it only lightened. - Jer

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Make a Snowman With Plastic Cups

I'm looking for a project to make a snowman with plastic cups and light. If anyone has this crafts project with pictures and instructions I'll be glad to have it. Your truly, Gaby

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Looking for a Really Good Starch

I used to turn in my uniform to a cleaner in Killeen, TX. They used a type of starch that would last for weeks! Can anyone help me find out where to get it?

Jason

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Saving Money on Contact Lens Cleaning and Disinfecting Systems

I am looking for a cheaper, more economical contact lens cleaning and disinfecting system than the one I am currently using, which is the Ciba Vision Aosept system. I have soft, daily wear contact lenses, and I am interested in not only a more economical cleaning/disinfecting system, but also in any other money saving contact lens tips the readers may have. Thank you!

Tori

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Turkey Grease From Leather Boots

How do you remove turkey grease from leather boots?

Bea

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More Reading:

Cleaning Out Your Clothes Closets
By Rachel Paxton

Keeping your wardrobe up to date is easy if you start by sorting through all your unwanted clothing and donate it to charities.

I'm always looking for people to give my daughter's outgrown clothes to. Every 2 months or so my daughter and I sort through her clothes and make one pile for charities, and another pile for the consignment store.

View Article: Click Here

Take A Can Of Gold Spray Paint...
By Colleen Moulding

Add some glitz to your decorations with just a can of spray paint. Choose silver for a cool ice palace look or gold for a traditional gleam scheme.

Below is a list of ordinary items that become beautiful Christmas decorations with a few thin coats of spray paint. Hunt around the house, not forgetting the craft and sewing cupboards and you will probably find lots more items to transform.

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