Need Valentine's Day Recipes?
Id probably go with Angels on Horseback. Basically, it is oysters wrapped with half a slice of bacon and broiled until the bacon is done, but there are a number of seasoning variations. The aforementioned sites should have some interesting recipes, but if you...
Quick Meal for the Family
This sounds really good, but Id probably add two cloves of minced garlic and an onion, along with a healthy dose of worchestershire sauce (hope I spelled that right). Id probably also dump in a bit of chili powder just to crank it up a bit. Also, about a teaspoon...
Recipe Ideas for Canned Ravioli?
Id probably throw them at the dog, unless the kids were being particularly unruly. Seriously though, all earlier suggestions sound good. Id say the main thing is cheese... and grate your parmesan fresh; got to have lots of parmesan. You will not believe the...
Chili is Too Sweet?
Id probably try adding more cider vinegar and yellow mustard first, a little at a time, tasting as you go. More onions might be in order as well. Another trick you might try is adding a bit of unsweetened or semisweet cocoa powder or perhaps a little instant...
Parmesan Cheesy Garlic Bread
This stuff is very good with tomato based dishes. I make similar toast with a few variations: instead of butter (or margarine) try heating a couple ounces of good olive oil and put the garlic in there, heating until garlic begins to brown. Brush the oil/garlic...
What is Hamburger?
Everyone has a personal preference but to me, chuck has the most flavor. I dont always do this (it depends upon whats on special at the market) but I like to grind my own chuck into hamburger. I generally prefer about an 20/80% fat to lean ratio, but that really...
Poll: How often does your family eat meat?
As a family of two... myself and my cat... I can speak for my family: meat is essential. Veggies are nice and look very cool next to a large piece of red meat, but they cannot constitute a meal. I also love pork, slowly barbecued with lots of smoke, and ditto...
Homemade Beer Tips?
Hi, Jim! Ive been looking into this myself over the years (after one misguided attempt which produced a rather vile malt wine). I hope to try again in the near future, and found a couple of sites to be interesting. Note that there are many others (try Google...
Red Hot Fusilli
I just ran across this recipe and it sounds interesting. I may play with it a bit for the benefit of my vegetarian friends, using tofu instead of chicken. A block of tofu can be placed between paper towels, then that placed between several thicknesses of newspaper...
Paint Can Cookie Jar
Super idea, but of course my twisted mind had to do something curmudgeonly with it. So go for it! Use your imagination with this and theres no telling what you might create! You dont even have to be an old curmudgeon like me, you could be a young child who...
Vegetable Stew
This recipe sounds very good, It is similar to my mothers recipe, upon which Ill base a few suggestions you might want to play with: First, Mom used a good bit of butter or good margarine... probably one stick for this amount of soup. Also, the only canned...
Using Bleach With Homemade Laundry Soap?
I dont know, but if you have a county extention service give them a call. I try to avoid chlorine bleach because it causes cotton fabrics to rot. I dont think chlorine would react with the other ingredients but I could be wrong. Best to get an expert opinion...
Healthy Beverages?
I think the most healthy beverage is probably just plain old water. I dislike the stuff though, so I seldom drink it. I love tea, iced or hot, but I like it brewed about as strong as my coffee with just a touch of honey to sweeten it. If youre looking for a...
Kielbasa with Cola?
Ive never tried this, but what I would do: brown the sausages in a small amount of butter. Then just toss them in with a couple of cans of coke, simmering. I cook most of my stuff with either beer or wine, but I expect coke would work pretty well with Kielbasa...
Main Dishes That Don't Use Mushrooms?
The cream of chicken substitute works great, or pretty much cream of ... anything. Also, one of my old tricks for thickening things is using potato flakes. I havent used flour to thicken in years; the potato flakes taste better and are better for you. Personally...
What is Flash Freezing?
Precisely right. I did a service call years ago on a machine which pressed out hamburger patties, flipped them on a belt and flash- froze them, and it was amazing. I think the closest you can come to this at home is to put it in the part of the freezer where...
How to Make Dilled Garlic Vinegar
Heres something Mom used to do and it came out very nicely. She grew garlic in the back yard garden, and shed just put the whole garlic flower in vinegar and let it soak for awhile. Note that I am not talking about the garlic cloves, but the flower. The resulting...
Garden Solutions from the Kitchen, Bath and...
I have seen several uses for vodka or gin in homemade weed killers, stain removers, etc. What I cant figure out is why plain old rubbing alcohol wouldnt work just as good or better. I just checked the label on a bottle and its 70% alcohol by volume. Since it...
Buying in Bulk
Most things I dont buy in bulk, I just wait for a good special and load up. One thing though, stuff like beef stew, chili, etc. I make a big pot of it and freeze the left-overs in single serving freezer bags. I live alone so I have to be careful doing stuff...
Buying in Bulk
BTW, one thing that comes to mind is whole Sirloin Tips. When they put a really good deal on them I like to get one and either cut it up two or three ways (one for stew, one for roast, maybe grind one for chili, etc.) I have used a whole one to make a large...
Buy Choice Meats
Very true, Terri, the texture is usually better too. Lots of supermarkets just advertise their beef as USDA inspected, but that doesnt tell you much. It means some inspector probably looked at the carcass and decided it used to be a cow and if youre lucky it...
Inexpensive Ideas For Entertaining Toddlers?
I cannot over-emphisize this: read to them. Read your tiny children poetry, even though you know they wont really understand it. Read them childrens poetry that they will understand, and then teach them to read it themselves. Have them reading proficiently...
Cooking for One?
Ive been single for a long time so have had to deal with this problem. Part of the problem is that the best deals on meat are often in value pack or family size packages or a 10 lb. bag of chicken leg quarters, etc. The only way I can take advantage of such...
Freezing Soups or Chili in Bowls
Great idea, Nikki! I freeze mine in freezer bags but bowls (reusable and microwave-safe, of course) would save time and money. Ill keep my eyes open for some stackable, covered plastic bowls for this... they should be made to take up as little freezer space...
Clean the Fridge Once a Week
Good advice, Melanie. Some years ago I lived in an apartment in Atlanta and the place had a fridge... but it wasnt frost-free. It also had a bad (worn out) gasket on the door, so the freezer frosted up pretty fast. I defrosted it with a propane torch every...
Keep Lists Handy
I always keep a stuff to buy list in my shirt pocket, along with a pen (I think I was born with a pen, a pocket knife, and a cigarette lighter). I write things on my stuff to buy list as I think of it. Mostly its groceries, but it can include hardware, a bottle...
Think Safety! Don't Be a Target When Shopping
Very good advice, Syd! And if you can legally do so, carry a small pistol in one of those pockets (be sure its loaded, and that you know how to use it). If this is not an option, a small can of mace or pepper spray could come in handy. Look around and try to...
Have Food Backups in the Pantry
Rosemary, thats a great idea, but I wanted to add this: watch for specials at your local stores. When an item you use (in the brand you prefer) goes on special, buy lots of it. If the store is out of the item ask for a rain check. Where I live most stores will...
Reminder of Love for College Students
Robin, I think that is a beautiful idea, and you will probably never know how much it means to her. Of course, if it were my daughter Id probably also bake her a nice pecan pie as well. Or some cookies, or... well, you get the idea. And a barbecue... Ill break...
Using Cornstarch to Thicken Gravy or Sauces
Linda, that is true and important to know. I seldom use cornstarch as a thickener. I mostly use instant potato flakes. Ive found that it usually works great and I think its probably healthier than cornstarch or flour.
Removing Decoupage From Table?
Yup, Id probably sand it down and re-finish it. Not knowing the compound with which it was begun, I cant suggest a solvent I would trust. One has to be careful with that stuff; sometimes it creates more problems than it solves. Also Id check around with my...
Cleaning Up Dried-on Egg
Ive never used salt to clean dishes but it sounds like a good idea. Thats all I ever use to clean my cast iron cookware. I never soak it and I dare anyone to come near it with soap. Just hot water, a clean soap-free rag, and salt is all I need. I just scrub...
I Need a Good Multi-Grain Bread Recipe?
Anna, Id hate not having a bread machine, and my brother bought one from a friend who was having a yard sale. It was an old model but had hardly been used at all, and she sold it to him for $2.50. If you shop the yard sales and thrift stores you should be able...
Hot Buttered Rum Batter
Liquor is optional? Bwahahahaaaaa! No, seriously, my first thought upon reading this recipe was, Hmmm... Ill bet it would be nice to use with hot cider (not necessarily hard cider) instead of water or milk. I confess to a fondness for dark rum, so Id probably...
Favorite Stores?
I have to say it depends upon what Im shopping for. The Dollar Store, Family Dollar, Freds, Big Lots, etc. are all very good and offer good values. If Im shopping for groceries I prefer Aldi, Food Lion, or Winn-Dixie. There is a small menswear store in town...
Help, I dont have a whole lot of money and it's Christmas time!
Your brother likes Rap Music? There is no such thing. There is Rap and there is Music. They have nothing to do with one another. Ive been making music for forty years, so I am pretty sure I know what music is, and Rap aint it. As far as a Christmas gift, my...
Make Your Own Etched Glass Bottles
This sounds like a great idea, though I must confess I have no idea what an etching medium is. I expect you could also do pretty much the same thing with a Dremmel, though Ive never tried... and you would surely want to wear eye protection and a face mask that...
Sock Matching Made Easy
Ive been doing this myself for quite some time; I have one brand of white cotton tube socks, and one of black cotton socks. When I buy them I buy a bunch, a couple or three dozen pair. I figure the less time I spend washing socks, the more time I have to fool...
Sock Matching Made Easy
I remember the old Gold Cup socks days, when every guy had to have a pair of socks to match his shirt. I think the socks were four dollars and fifty cents a pair, and were talking 1966 dollars here. They were great socks, but I sure wouldnt pay that for them...
Faster And Less Painful Dog Nail Clipping
I think every do-it-yourselfer should have a Dremel. Those tools are truely amazing. And buy the best one you can afford along with attatchments and you will never be sorry. Youll be amazed at the stuff you can do with these things! One note of caution: dont...
Lemon-Sage Turkey with Wild-Mushroom Gravy
Kathy, this sounds like a great recipe. I only have two problems with it: discarding the giblets and adding water. Those giblets are going into my gravy, and I seldom add water to anything unless Im making stock. (You can make this with the giblets and neck...
Locate the Bargain Bins
I mostly check out the deals on beef and lamb. They often mark it down if its a day out of date, and I find really good prices. Tip: steaks and beef roasts are generally better if theyve gone slightly out of date. They are most tender and flavorful just before...
Teen Senior Lounge?
The main thing Id say is get a good, efficient coffeemaker. The second thing Id suggest is a nice dart board. Also, you might consider putting in some bookshelves and setting up a book-swap program that everyone in the senior class can use. Bring one, take...
Teen Senior Lounge?
Oh, one other thought: I took woodshop all through junior high and high school, and Id have jumped all over an idea like this! If your school has a woodshop class youll probably find members who will build you most of what you need, furnature-wise. That should...
How do I make a head board for my bed?
Yeah, I wouldnt touch pressboard for that. My dad built one years ago out of cedar that was really nice, but if I were building one Id make it out of solid oak, walnut, etc... some kind of hardwood. Put it together with wooden pegs and glue. You can pass it...
Too Much Liquid in Stew?
Sounds like a great idea! I will have to try that too. For my beef stew, I have several tricks I use and I think its the best I ever tasted. One, the liquid I use is beer (I seldom use water to cook anything unless making stock). Then I add a very small amount...
Reprogramming the Universal Remote
Hi, Linda! White-out has been handy for a lot of projects for me. Ive used it on black construction paper, along with white shoe polish and a black Sharpie to do some pretty cool posters. The black Sharpie is mostly to correct mistakes, and I do not claim to...
Don't Lend The IRS Your Money
Absolutely right. Ive had a lot of friends who intentionally paid more withholding tax than they should have so they could get a big tax refund. I told them, that is just plain crazy. You get no interest on it; why not open a savings account and put your extra...
The High Cost of Baby Food
Years ago, parents would just chew up a small bite of whatever they were eating and then poke it in the babys mouth. This seems pretty crude today, now that we have better ways to do it, but before there was Gerber (or blenders or food processors) thats how...
Winterizing Your Mower
Pam, it is not supposed to be acceptable to drain this stuff on the ground because it eventually drains down to the water table, polluteing wells and such. I consider this pretty much hogwash. When I worked at an auto repair shop, wed buy junk cars now and...
Make a Keepsake Collection
Im not pitching for Hallmark, but they also have the best gift wrapping paper youll find, and some great tree ornaments. Tip: if you can, buy this stuff right after Christmas and store it for the next year. Most places put it on special with great After-Christmas...
Crispy French Fry Tip
Yup, use ice water. I like to slice mine thin and cook them really crisp, then salt them well and pour cider vinegar (or malt vinegar if its handy) on them. If youre into ketchup that works too, but I dont have much use for that stuff.
Cooking Cabbage
I havent tried this with cabbage but it will probably work. When cooking brussels sprouts I add a celery leaf to the pot. It cuts down the odor and takes the bitterness out of the sprouts. Its amazing what that one little celery leaf can do! And you dont have...
Tar on Car?
Many years ago a friend of mine and I were double-dating a couple of girls and the road to their homes was being paved. We were in my friends dads brand new Pontiac and got tar all over it. We took it off with kerosine, but then had to wash it immediately with...
Stretching That Gourmet Coffee
Yup, but you have to experiment with the mix. Years ago (before I lost my sense of smell) I used to keep pounds of gourmet coffee beans in my freezer. I love Kona, but it doesnt have quite enough bite for me. I was paying (back then; its more now) fifteen bucks...
Insulating a Pet Door for Winter?
If the pet door is fit pretty loosely you could snug it up with weather stripping. Also, it sounds like your critters are house trained, so I expect if you sealed the door up they would ask to be let out when they need to go. Housebroken dogs dont like to go...
Corn Bread Tips
Ive found the best thing to cook cornbread in is a well-seasoned cast iron skillet. The way I do it is melt a couple tablespoons of bacon grease in the skillet and swish it around good to coat the pan, then pour it into my batter and mix it in, then pour the...
Frost in my Frost-Free Freezer?
Make sure your defrost motor is working. It blows warm air through the freezer from time to time, to take out the frost.
Keeping Kitchen Food Staples Stocked
This is a great idea, and can also be a big money-saver. My Mom used to catch certain things on special and load up on them. When a local store had a really good deal on her brand of coffee, chicken broth, mayonaise, bathroom tissue, etc. shed usually buy their...
Scratched Plastic Bath Tub?
Julia, this is just a shot in the dark but I suspect there are auto-body products that would be perfect for such a job. McGuires makes a great line of such stuff, as do several other companies. You might want to talk with someone in an auto parts store that...
Looking for Meatloaf Advice?
I use about 2 parts lean ground chuck to one part hot pork sausage and very little bread or crackers. Also usually tomato paste instead of ketchup in the mix, and an egg or two (depending on how much Im making). Beyond that pretty much anything goes... garlic...
Thrifty Uses for Salt
Great salt tips! Using it to control fleas is a great idea; Id never heard of that. I use boric acid for a number of pest control problems but it must be used very carefully so pets and children cant get to it. I use salt or baking soda for scouring many things...
Keeping Track of Leftovers in the Refrigerator
Good ideas! I have a particular problem with this because some years ago I lost my sense of smell. Now it is difficult for me to tell if leftovers are still good. I think Ill combine both methods to help keep track of this stuff. One trick I learned many years...
Clutter Control Tips?
Yup, thats me. Im a 53 YO male packrat from a long line of packrats (on my Moms side). This fact of course results in a lot of clutter. There are a lot of great tips here but one just occured to me and I intend to start today. The plan is this: set aside a...
Help for Sluggish Dishwasher?
My ex-wife was a sluggish dishwasher. There was no help for her. (Sorry folks, I just couldnt resist that one).
Homemade Chocolate Syrup
This sounds interesting... Ill give it a try! The one Ive been using is from a book that came with my old microwave. It is easy and very good on ice cream: 2 oz. unsweetened chocolate 1/4 cup milk 1/2 cup sugar dash of salt 1/4 teaspoon vanilla Combine chocolate...
Avoiding Ironing
Except for a few cotton dress shirts (which I usually only wear to weddings and funerals; I wish people would quit that foolishness!), I never iron anything. I buy clothes that say little or no ironing, and I always choose no. But yes, hanging or folding things...
Inexpensive Dry Cleaning?
This is a bit strange and I wouldnt try it on just anything, but automotive brake parts cleaner seems to be about the same stuff as dry cleaning fluid. I tried it on a favorite old wool cap which had become quite soiled with motor oil, grease, dirt, etc. After...
Best Computer for My Money?
Personally (and Im no super-geek) I prefer to build or re-build my own boxes. Im not a gamer or graphic artist so I dont need a hot rod, just something to get the job done. I have an old Pentium III 450Mhz, and it works pretty well though Id like to double...
