July 20, 2005

Soda Cracker CakeBeat egg whites until stiff. Add sugar and cream of tartar to egg whites and beat until well blended. Add cracker crumbs, nuts, and vanilla.

 

Sauce for SteakBoil 5 minutes in small pan. Pour over meat and bake at 350 degrees for at least 2 hours.

 

Tangy Lemon BarsPreheat oven to 350 degrees. In mixing bowl combine crust ingredients. Mix at medium speed until well mixed and particles are fine, 2 to 3 minutes. Pat into ungreased 13x9x2" pan. Bake in 350 degree oven for 18 to 22 minutes or until very light brown at edges.

 

Oatmeal Pancakes (or Waffles)Pour 1 cup milk over 3/4 cup rolled oats, let set 5 minutes. Add 1 tsp. vanilla, 1 Tbsp. sugar, 1/2 tsp. salt, 3 Tbsp. vegetable oil, and 1 beaten egg. Mix well.

 

Crock Pot VeggiesPrepare veggies as directed on package. While they are cooking, put Cheese Whiz and soups in saucepan and melt. Drain veggies and pour mixture over them.

 

Winter Vegetables with RosemaryIt is important to cut the veggies as directed, so that they all bake in the same time. Heat oven to 350 F degrees. Place turnips, parsnips, and carrots in ungreased 9x13 inch baking dish. In small bowl, combine oil, rosemary, salt, pepper, and garlic; blend well.

 

Slow Cooked Pepper SteakCut beef into 3x1 inch strips; brown in a pan. Transfer to slow cooker. Combine next 7 ingredients; pour over beef. Cover and cook on low 5 to 6 hours.

 

German Chocolate Upside Down CakePlace nuts and coconut into the bottom of a greased 9x13x2 inch baking dish. Mix cake mix according to pkg. directions and pour on top of the nuts and coconut.

 

Barbecue Round SteakBrown round steak in serving pieces. Mix remaining ingredients. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Add water, if needed.

 

Berries and Grape NutsTake advantage of summer berries on sale! Added to yogurt, and sprinkled with generic grape nuts, this makes a great breakfast treat for even my picky eaters! Of course, it can be served anytime, as an afternoon snack or desert.

 

Dealing with Mail and Shipments While on VacationIf you are into traveling a lot, you probably already have someone to pickup your newspapers, mail (or have the post office to hold it), but what about anything you might have dropped off to your home by UPS or FED-EX?

 

Sharpening Shears or a Pruning KnifeYou can sharpen a pruning knife or shears with a clay flowerpot. Just use the edge of the pot as a sharpening stone.

 

Keeping Cheese FreshTo keep cheeses fresh, dampen a piece of paper towel with vinegar and place it in the container with the cheese. This works with shredded cheeses as well as blocks.

 

Keeping Track of Boxed and Canned GoodsAfter purchasing boxed goods and canned items, write the month and year on them with a permanent marker. You'd be surprised at how long you end up keeping food.

 

Removing Crayon from Wood FurnitureTo remove crayon marks from wooden furniture, rub some mayonnaise into the crayon mark. Let it soak in for a few minutes, then rub the area clean with a damp cloth.

 

Tips for Adopting a New PetTips to consider when adopting a new pet. Post your ideas.

 

T-Shirt PillowThese are a great way for you to preserve your old t-shirts rather than keeping them in a drawer. Often our t-shirts have messages that bring us back to events in our lives with fond memories.

 

Luna Belle Laughing (Chihuahua?)Talk to your dog, to make her/him laugh!

 

Soaping the Outside of Campfire PotsAlways take soap with you. Of course you can clean up with it, but it is also useful for protecting your pans from smoke and fire damage.

 

Add Milled Flax Seed to MeatloafTo add nutrition to meatloaf and other foods, I add milled flax seed to it instead of oatmeal or bread. This way I am sneaking great nutrition into my families dinner, but they don't even know it.

 

Returning Products by MailIf returning a product through the mail, when you send it back always get a delivery confirmation. That way, someone there has to sign for it and cannot dispute you and say they never received it.

 

Shopping with CashI always spend less money if I use cash instead of my debit card or check book. An excellent tip that I have used for years is so easy. When I shop...

 

Pool Party IdeasTips for throwing a pool party. Post your ideas.

 

July Best BuysApricots, Beans, Beets, Berries, Carrots, Celery, Cherries, Berries, Corn, Cucumbers, Fish, Grapes, Lemons, Limes, Melons, Nectarines, Onions, Peaches, Peas, Peppers, Plums, Potatoes, Salmon, Summer squash, Tomatoes, and Watermelon.

 

Borrow Wedding DecorationsMy biggest tip for wedding decorations is borrow, borrow, borrow! We borrowed as much greenery, lights, tulle, gossamer, etc. as we could. We also borrowed dishes, punch bowls, serving bowls, etc. for the reception.

 

Storing Fenugreek?I would like to know tips for storing fenugreek leaves (along with stems, no roots).

 

Making Your Own Curtains?I need help making curtains for my new home. Does anyone have any ideas or helpful tips?

 

Smelly Leather Couch?I have an old comfy orange leather couch that needs help. After enduring 15 years of two dogs and two kids, it's a bit stained and smelly. I've tried Febreeze and leather cleaner but the stains are still there (and so is the smell).

 

Controlling the Humidity in a Parked Motor Coach without Electricity?I need some Ideas for our motor coach. it is parked at a permanent camp site, and this year it is holding the humidity in so bad. I can not use a dehumidifier, because we are gone for 1 to 2 weeks at a time so the electricity is off during that time.

 

Using Up Body Lotion?I have so many bottles of nice body lotion. There is only so much of it that can be used before it loses its color or fragrance. Is there a way to combine the lotion with liquid soap to make a nice fragrant hand soap?

 

Stella De Ora and Dianthis Seeds?I have collected Stella De Ora and dianthis seeds I want to know if I need to put them in the refrigerator for six weeks before trying to grow them.

 

Expiration Dates on Food?When I buy yogurt, sour cream, pre-packaged deli meat, etc, I know they have an expiration date. Sometimes the date may be a month or two away. My question is, once I open sour cream (for example), is it still good till the expiration date or is that date more for purchasing?

 

Coupon Tips?Tips for finding and using coupons. Post your ideas.

 

Preserving Fig Jam Without Canning?Does anyone have an easy fig jam recipe, that can be frozen, instead of going through the canning process? Or is there any other way to cook and freeze fig jam to use it at a later date?

 

Ralto Autoshift Crockpot Advice?I just bought a used slowcooker. It's a Ralto Autoshift Crockpot. The button has only 2 choices - "hot" and "autoshift". Who can tell me what to do with a recipe that says cook on "low" for 6-8 hrs? How does this autoshift feature work? Any help would be much appreciated.

 

Dog With Eye Infection?My Maltese left eye has become infected over the last 2 to 3 days. He's keeping it shut but opens more when excited about getting his treat. He seems to be sleeping more and shivering more than normal. What do you think? I

 

3rd Foods / Stage 3 Coupons?I am looking for stage 3/3rd foods coupons. Most I see are $1 off 12 and I would like to save more than that. I figured out the cost and it is cheaper for me to actually buy the baby food than make it, plus, I have no time to make his food.

 

Soy Crisps Recipe?Does anyone have a recipe to make soy crisps similar to those you can purchase at the grocery store?