August 14, 2007

Apple Cake with Cream Cheese FrostingBeat sugar and oil to blend. Add eggs. Beat in rest of ingredients until well blended, 1-2 minutes. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes. Cool.

 

Butterscotch SquaresIn saucepan, stir until butterscotch chips, marshmallows and milk are melted - or microwave to melt. Remove from heat. Stir in remainder of ingredients until well blended and pour into buttered 8x8 inch pan. Chill and cut in pieces.

 

Date Drop CookiesPlace dates in a mixing bowl. Stir soda and water together and add to dates along with remaining ingredients. Mix at medium speed to blend.

 

New Orleans Style ChickenIn a large nonstick skillet, brown chicken in 1 tsp. oil over medium high heat; remove and set aside. In the same skillet, saute the carrots, onion and peppers in remaining oil for 10 minutes.

 

Picnic Salad SkewersPlace potatoes in a saucepan and cover with water; bring to a boil. Cook for 10-13 minutes or until tender; drain. Place onions and water in a microwave safe bowl. Cover and microwave on high for 1-1 1/2 minutes or until crisp tender; drain.

 

Apricot Pork ChopsPlace apricots in a deep bowl. Pour orange juice over apricots. Add preserves, brown sugar, and curry powder, and stir gently. Set aside. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add oil. Cook chops about 3 minutes on each side or until browned.

 

Tomato Bean Sausage SoupThis is wonderful for cold weather. The entire meal is under $7 and will feed up to 8 people. Fry meat and drain grease. Combine all ingredients in stew pot. Add chili powder, black pepper, garlic and cayenne pepper (optional), simmer 45 minutes.

 

Hearty Bean BakeIn a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in bacon and beans. Transfer to a greased 2 1/2 qt. baking dish. In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, ketchup, honey and vinegar.

 

The Many Uses of WD-40Some of the many uses of WD40: Use to loosen rusty nuts and screws, clean garden tools. Cleans piano keys. Keeps wicker chairs from squeaking.

 

Mayonnaise To Clean Plant LeavesApply mayonnaise to your plants to clean them and make them shine beautifully.

 

A Gift Frame For EarringsA friend will be celebrating her birthday soon and I wanted to give her a pair of earrings, but in an interesting way. So I decoupaged a frame, added the velvety paper and glued on a large chunk of cork, stuck the earrings into it and wah la!

 

Romeo (Yorkshire Terrier) and PhillipRomeo is 7 years old, my son, Philip is 23. Romeo is a Yorkshire Terrier. I bought him through a wonderful breeder in New Jersey. He loves to play fetch! He is a wonderful little dog.

 

Peanut Butter For CD ScratchesTo remove scratches from CDs, smear peanut butter on the CD, and wipe clean with a soft cloth or coffee filter. Scratch is gone, and it plays like a charm!

 

Link: Team ContinuumA reader recently asked about helping a family with a young child diagnosed with cancer.

 

New York SkyMy family and I was traveling to New Jersey to visit some family and I just love taking pictures. This is a image of us entering White Plains Rd. That's the Bronx, I think. Enjoy, it's a beautiful sky.

 

Use Spray Leave In Conditioner To Tame Frizzy HairA quick, easy way to beat the frizzies every day is to spray a light coat of leave-in conditioner on your hair in the morning when you comb, brush, or style it. Hair stays shiny and soft and it sure beats those goppy creams, gels, serums, etc.

 

Use Laundry Basket For Transporting GroceriesSince I only have so many hands for shopping bags and hand holding, I now leave a laundry basket in my van when I go shopping. I can usually fit all of the bags into the basket.

 

Tin Can Wedding Flower HolderThese cute and inexpensive tin can decorations are perfect for a country themed wedding. Just clean ordinary tin cans and hot glue a square of styrofoam into the bottom, adding whatever silk flowers you choose.

 

Hedge PeopleWe were on our way home from Toronto, stopped in a small town east of Toronto and spotted this creation. We all thought it was awesome. Just had to share it.

 

Memory Quilt from ChildhoodThis is a tip for people into quilting, or just into family heirlooms. When my son was about two years old he wanted to build a tent. I got out an old white sheet and hung it between two chairs.

 

Need Blade For Regal Kitchen Pro Breadmaker?I need a kneading blade for my Regal Kitchen Pro breadmaker. Where can I get that?

 

Home Spa Birthday Party?I am turning 12 on Aug. 27, but my party is on the 23rd. I need some games to play. I am having a spa party and it is gonna be super fun, but I want some games to play that go along with my theme. Also, we have a hot tub so if you have any just plain hot tub games, no theme that would be awesome!

 

Restoring Vintage Formica Table?I am trying to find out what the "Armstrong/Formica Approved Method" of laminate restoration is for vintage "cracked ice" tables.

 

Is Extended Use Of Fragrance Oils Harmful?I've wondered if the oil fragrance diffusers of any type are actually dispensing an oil film that will eventually become sticky, adhere to furniture, cause environmental and health problems down the road...any opinions?

 

Shihtzu/Maltese Not Eating After Being Spayed?My Shihtzu/Maltese has been spayed seven day ago. She was fine, got some pain medicine and cleaning solution but now she is not eating. She plays good and drinks water, should I worry?

 

10 Year Old With A "Fresh" Mouth?I have a 10 year old daughter who is starting to have a fresh mouth. I have tried punishing her and taking away privileges but nothing seems to be working. My babysitter is starting to complain. I am afraid I might lose her. What should I do?

 

Repairing a Fisher Price Record Player?I found one of the old Fisher Price Record Players (see picture) at a yardsale and bought it (hard to find those nowadays!) Anyway, I plugged it in and tried it with one of my old children's records and when you put the needle on the record, it just sits there.

 

Has Anyone Used StickySheets?STICKYSHEETS: has anyone out there tried StickySheets yet? They're sold as something to remove pet hair from furniture, etc. I've used masking tape in the past to remove pet hair and it always worked great; but this dog I have now has the hardest hair to remove.

 

Smoke Smell in Wood Cabinet?I purchased an oak dining set from my grandmother who was a smoker. It is in beautiful condition but smells very strongly of cigarette smoke. Does anyone know how to remove the odor from this wood set? Is my only option letting it sit outside, which would be difficult for me to do.

 

Helping Cats Get Along?I have two cats. A male 1 1/2 and a female 3 1/2. they don't physically fight - they seem like they just play, but they never groom each other, they never lie near each other. Whenever I play with the male, the female will come from whatever room she's in - and he always runs away.

 

Using Curtains Instead Of Painting?Anyone have any ideas on using curtains instead of painting a room?

 

Free Crochet Sock Pattern?Hi all, I am looking for a free crochet sock pattern that is real easy!

 

How Long Does a Cats First Heat Last?One of my cats (an almost one-year old kitten) appears to be in heat for the first time. How long does this usually last, and can I have her spayed as soon as it's over?

 

Aggressive Young Labradoodle?I have a 16 week old male Labradoodle. His biting problems have gotten out of control, and I don't know what to do. He bites arms, fingers, toes...my arms are so scratched up and he draws blood often.

 

Recipe For Cream Cheese Sandwiches?Does anyone have a recipe for cream cheese sandwiches? My husband takes his lunch to work, but deli meat is getting expensive. Also, I thought it would be nice for him to have something other than ham and cheese every week.

 

White Smoke From Homemade Diffuser Lamp Oil?I am making my own diffuser lamp oil and the problem is white smoke. The whole time it burns and that's till the end, I have white smoke. I am using:

 

Bumper Pads For Girls Crib?I am looking for a bumper pads for a crib, a little girls one.

 

Mexican Cookie Recipe?Anyone have a good Mexican cookie recipe? I'm going to a party Saturday with a Mexican theme. I was asked to bring dessert. Thanks!