August 23, 2007

Summer Celebration Ice Cream CakeA rich chocolate cake to bake, and create this delicious treat for any summer occasion.

 

Meatball CalzonesIn a large bowl, combine the eggs, bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese and Italian seasoning. Crumble beef over mixture and mix well. Shape into 1 inch balls.

 

Peanut Pudding DessertIn a bowl, cut butter into flour until crumbly. Stir in peanuts. Press into an ungreased 9x13 inch baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees F for 16-20 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool crust on a wire rack.

 

Vegetable CheesecakeIn a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil. Add potato slices in batches and cook over medium heat until softened and browned. Drain thoroughly on paper towels. Make a layer, overlapping, in a 8-inch springform pan.

 

Floret SaladIn a large bowl, combine the broccoli, cauliflower and onions. In a small bowl, combine the remaining ingredients.

 

Ease the Kitchen Clean-upOn days when the family is home, keep a dish pan of soapy water in the sink. As family members use plates and glasses throughout the day, give them a quick wash in the soapy water and rinse under the faucet.

 

Staying in One Place Saves MoneyI have joked that for a penny pincher staying in one place is a way to save money! But it's true that moving is a costly business. So think twice before re-locating! For all the fact that we like to travel, my whole family has always liked a settled "home".

 

Watering the Garden in a Heat WaveIn an intense heat wave, I have saved my garden produce from sunburn and kept the plants green by covering them with old bedsheets.

 

Extra Toliet Paper Stored on Plunger HandleThe extra toilet paper was never close enough to get to it when needed. I took 3 rolls and put them on the plunger handle. The plunger has an inexpensive cover. It sure has come in handy and it does double duty.

 

Great Photo Storage TrickI store my daughter's 8 x 10 inch school portraits in the same frame, with the latest one on top. Every year, when we put the new photo in, we lay out all the old ones and compare hairstyles, additions of braces, or glasses.

 

Finder Fee For Auto Dealer ReferralsI'm not sure if most people know this or not, but this is a tip if you buy your new vehicle from a dealership. Afterwards, send your friends and/or family members to the same dealership and salesman and have them purchase a vehicle.

 

Getting Kids Ready For Back To SchoolHere are some tips for getting kids ready for back to school. Start putting the kids to bed earlier every night so that by the time school starts they are used to a school time bedtime.

 

Shower Cake For Baby ShowerThis is the 14 inch cake I made for my daughter's baby shower! The shower is made with a candle and a fluted pastry tin. The bath tub and bubbles were made out of fondant.

 

Watch Out For Vinyl Bibs From ChinaI just read in the newspaper that some vinyl bibs from Toys R Us were being recalled because some of them had too much lead. Made in China. It's possible that some of the bibs ended up at other stores under different labels.

 

(Billy Goat) Gruff(Billy Goat) Gruff was born on August 2, 2007. He is a newborn Pygmy/Fainting Goat. Snap the Pygmy mom finally had her kid on Thursday. Gruff loves to jump and play already.

 

Reheating Bread, Pizza and Rolls in the MicrowaveWhen reheating bread that has been refrigerated, put in the microwave with a cup of water. It saves pizza, pancakes, muffins and bread from getting dried out or rubbery.

 

How to Harvest Pumpkins ProperlyTo make sure your pumpkins last as long as possible, they must be harvested, cured, and stored properly.