July 31, 2011

Oriental Green Bean CasseroleThis is a neat variation on the usual green bean casserole recipe.

 

Mock Chicken SpreadI always loved this as a child, loved the taste of the herbs. I used to sometimes have this in my sandwiches for school. It can also be used as a dip.

 

Organizing Aquarium SuppliesIf you are like most fish lovers, you have lots of aquarium supplies. Try using the plastic containers that you get from large bulk stores like Costco; their grapes containers for example.

 

Kelly (Long Haired Calico)Kelly is a 6 year old long haired, calico cat. We got Kelly from a friend who is moving from Washington to Michigan. She has been living with us for three months now. Kelly is very loving, playful, and flirty cat.

 

Rice To Stabilize Drying CraftsWhenever I am using glue to anchor an eyepin into a top-drilled jewelry component, I grab my dried rice, pour it into an appropriate-sized container, and set the piece in there so I can keep on going.

 

Harvesting PotatoesIf you like potatoes, consider planting a few hills in your garden. For the small amount of space they take up, they will easily earn their keep by providing you with a high return on your investment. Here are some tips for harvesting and storing them.

 

Lift Off the Fat from Soups and StewsYou sage cooks out there already know this. But, we all had to start from scratch when learning to cook, so this tip is for the "newbies"!

 

Use Lonely Sock as Powder PuffI searched high and low in every store and could not find a good, old-fashioned poofy powder puff. In the midst of searching another store, my husband suggested I take an old sock and fill it with powder and use that.

 

Marking Stains On ClothingBefore you put stained clothes in the hamper to wash, tie a knot if possible or fix so it has to be looked at before putting in the washer. When I find a knot or clothing not the usual way it should be, I know to look for a stain on it.

 

Ripening an AvocadoThere are 2 ways to ripen an avocado; you can sit it on your windowsill for a few days until it is ripened, or the best way is to place them in a brown paper bag and keep them at room temperature.

 

Coyote (Colorado Springs, CO)This coyote ran across the road in front of my husband and I at Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, CO. As soon as it ran across, it stopped and I was able to snap this photo.

 

Peeling ApricotsI have a serrated peeler. I use it for peeling tomatoes and fruits. All you lose is just the peel.

 

Crochet While Feeding BabyI found time to crochet when my children were babies, by crocheting while I breastfed them. I was able to make little jute plant pot covers in about 20 minutes; just the same amount of time as the breastfeeding. It worked out well.

 

Freezing Corn on the Cob?What is the best and easiest way to freeze corn-on-the-cob?

 

Eating Sun Scalded Tomatoes?Are sun scalded tomatoes safe to eat?

 

Removing Hard Water Stains in the Shower?How do you get hard water stains off the shower and keep the stains from sticking in the future?

 

Bleaching Agent Left Yellow Stains on White Shirt?I have a white embroidered shirt with a bit of stretch in, it's 5% elastene, 95% cotton. I put some Ariel stain remover and whitener powder in the wash that was a certain % chlorine bleaching agent. The shirt has come out of the wash with a yellow tint and I'm really upset.

 

Baking Cupcakes in a Microwave?Can I bake cupcakes in the microwave?

 

Tomato Jam?When I was a little child, I had tomato jam, spread on bread (I think). I have looked for it many times and haven't ever been able to get it. I would like to find the recipe.

 

Kitchen Wall Color Advice With Black Granite and Beech Cupboards?I have black granite worktops, beech kitchen cupboards, and yellow and blue tiles on the wall were the hob and oven sit. What colour can I either paint or paper the rest of the walls?

 

Riding Mower Won't Start Without Spraying Gas into Carburetor?I have a riding mower with a Kohler engine. My starter is good, there is a new coil, it's getting gas thru both lines on the pump, but won't run unless we keep spraying gas in the carburetor. Any idea why the gas is not getting into the carburetor?

 

Freezing Cucumbers?Can I freeze cucumbers?

 

Dachshund Kicking Back Leg Out?I have a little mini dachshund named Dixie. She is 7 years old. In 2009 she became paralyzed in her back legs and we had to rush to the ER vet. After 2-3 months she was back to walking.

 

Riding Mower Won't Start Without Spraying Gas into Carburetor?I have a riding mower with a Kohler engine. My starter is good, there is a new coil. It's getting gas through both lines on the pump, but won't run unless we keep spraying gas in the carburetor. Any idea why the gas is not getting into the carburetor?

 

Activities for a 15th Birthday Party?I am having my 15th birthday party and I need some good fun ideas for games and activities, but nothing kiddish! They need to be fun things for teens! Any ideas?

 

Freezing Potato Soup?Can I freeze potato soup? Is it safe?

 

Housebreaking an Older Dog?We are considering purchasing an 18-month old male Cocker Spaniel. He has been used as a show dog, so he has not been housebroken. The breeder said to just train him the same as a puppy, but I am concerned about buying him if he is not housebroken at his age.

 

Remedy for a Bad Hair Cut?What if you got a bad hair cut. You're tempted to cover it with a hat, but you don't have a hat and you're broke. What do you do?

 

Redoing the Lettering on an Antique Sewing Machine?My husband and I have been refurbishing my great grandmother's Singer sewing machine. We used soap and water to clean the machine itself and the gold lettering came off.

 

What Can I Make With These Ingredients?What can I make with rice, spaghetti sauce, pinto beans, flour, sugar, and seasonings?

 

Cleaning Tub Stains?What can I use to get rid of those horrible dark (I guess mildew and soap scum) stains in my tub?

 

What Can I Make With These Ingredients?What can I make with eggs, water, flour, sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon?

 

Cotton T-shirt Stained by Peroxide?I tried to remove a stain from a white t-shirt by using hydrogen peroxide, then setting it in the sun. The stain seems to be gone, but anywhere the peroxide was, the shirt turned yellow. Is there any way to get the yellow out caused by the peroxide?

 

Transplanting a Christmas Cactus into Larger Container?How do I trim the length of a Christmas cactus to replant it in a larger container?

 

Gnats on Elephant Palm?I have gnats on my plant, it's a palm plant, some say elephant (has large truck base). I cannot get rid of these nasty gnats. Any ideas would be a blessing. Thank you.

 

What Breed is My Dog?I was wondering if anyone can help and let me know what kind of pup I have?

 

Pruning Kiwi Vines?Do I need to prune a Kiwi that has yet to fruit?

 

Cucumbers Turning Yellow and Falling Off Plant?We have healthy looking plants, but the cucumbers turn yellow and fall off. Why?

 

Canning Small Potatoes?I want to know how to can small potatoes from my garden. I know it can be done; I just want to do it right the first time.

 

Organizing Recipes in Your Purse?When I am in the doctor's office or at the hair salon reading a magazine, I always seems to run across a recipe I like. However, when I write it down, I can never find it again. Any advice on how to keep recipes organized in your purse?

 

Getting Rid of Flies in the House Naturally?We just returned from a week's vacation to find flies all over the place! No one was in the house and I did not have them before we left, so we have no clue where they are coming from. Does anyone have any idea how to get rid of them aside from a fly swatter or vacuuming them?

 

Keeping Bees Off Hummingbird Feeders?I have been using vegetable oil around the holes to keep bees off. It really works! It is very sticky when cleaning though. Has anyone else tried this?

 

Front Load Washer Leaves Clothes Hard?I have recently bought a front loader and I am not happy with it. I use front loader detergent, but for some reason all the clothes and particularly the towels have become extremely hard. I use softener, but it makes no difference. Any ideas? I am ready to send it back.

 

Canning October Beans?This is my first time growing October beans. I need to know the best way to can these, please. Any ideas?

 

Rights of Inheritance for Minor Children?My daughter's mom passed away. Is my child entitled to all of her mother's belongings? She is her only heir; she is a minor child.

 

Refurbishing an Outdoor Plastic Table?I have a white plastic table on my deck that is fairly large (seats 4). It has become weathered and stained and I can't wash it off. Does any one know what I can do to refurbish this table?

 

Best Water Temperature for Washing Clothes?In an effort to save money, I have decided to wash my pants suits in the washing machine instead of sending them to the dry cleaners every month. These are nice suits that I wear to work, but they are also washable suits.

 

Growing Mint from Seed?It is difficult to germinate mint from seeds. Does anyone have some tips as to how to grow mint from seed?

 

Growing Cantaloupe?This is my first time growing cantaloupes and the vines are beautiful with nice large fruit, however, the fruit is not sweet at all. I do not pick them until they are ripe and have come loose from the vine. Do I need to add something to the soil to make them sweeter?

 

Finding Free Furniture?Where can I find free furniture? We are struggling and have no money for new things. My old couch is years old. We are down to the metal; sitting on it is hard and hurts. May God bless as you touch our lives. Thank you so much. I will be praying for someone to help. Thanks.

 

Freezing Red Cabbage?Can you freeze red cabbage raw or cooked?