February 18, 2010 | ThriftyFun

Storing and Using Garlic In OilIs it safe to keep garlic cloves in olive oil, if refrigerated?

Braised Beef Chuck Roast Easy and delicious beef recipe. Good to use with less expensive or tougher meat.

Cleaning Chrome FixturesWhat do I use to get water stains (not lime build-up) off tub faucets and shower head?

Tuna NachosThis recipe is quick, delicious, and good for you. In a small bowl, mix tuna with mayo, salt and pepper. Dice all of the vegetables and set aside.

Turtle CakeMix cake according to box directions. Pour half of batter into a greased 9x13 inch cake pan. Bake 15 minutes in a 350 degree oven. Melt caramels with butter and milk.

Broccoli Potato Cheese SoupCook potatoes until tender. Cook celery and carrots in small sauce pan with a little water to cover veggies. Fry bacon with onion; drain.

Super Pizza CasseroleBrown meat well with above seasonings. Add 1 jar spaghetti sauce and 1/2 cup mushrooms and heat through. While heating meat, cook 8 oz. wide noodles in boiling water until tender.

Converting Two Pounds of Potatoes to CupsI am trying to convert pounds to cups. If I have 2 lbs of potatoes, how many cups is that?

Cinnamon Raisin Swirl BreadSoak yeast in warm water, 110-115 degrees for 5 minutes. In large mixing bowl, mix milk, 1/4 cup sugar and salt. With electric mixer, beat in 1 cup flour, egg, shortening and yeast. Beat until well mixed.

Improving Dog's Weight and Muscle Tone I have a Staff Pit cross and I think she a little flabby, not fat just a lil bit too much meat. I would rather get her muscular or ripped. Any advice?

Quick Peach CakeEmpty can of peaches, juice, and all into a greased 9x13 pan. Stir in almond flavoring. Sprinkle dry cake mix over top of peaches. Add butter flavoring to melted margarine.

Using 12 Gauge Wire With a 15 Amp BreakerIs it alright to have a 15 amp breaker hooked up to 12 gauge cable? I know the 12 gauge is rated for a 20 amp breaker, but 15 amps is all that is required here.

Methods for Cutting Baking TimeCan I raise the oven temperature to shorten baking time?

Best Method for Making Payments to Collection AgencyI am paying off an old debt via a collection agency. Do you think it is wise to pay using my debit card on their website or just send them a money order or personal check through the mail? I have to make 3 payments to them. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Tastefully Simple's Bruschetta Cheese Ball MixI love Tastefully Simple's Bruschetta Cheese Ball mix, but it is too expensive to keep buying. Has anyone created a copy cat recipe for that?

Making Small Pieces of Chalk UsefulThank you so much for sharing your ideas re: old diskettes and used papers. Another question for this week is: As teachers we always throw away smaller pieces of chalk. Do you have any idea what to do with it to make it still useful?

Cleaning a Padded Camera BagHow do I clean a padded camera bag?

Removing a Water Stain from Delicate FabricI have a seat mark on a pair of trousers (delicate fabric) from sitting on a damp timber deck. Any ideas for removal of the stain?

Make Extra Lasagna and FreezeWhenever I make a lasagna I make 1 large one and 2 small ones to go in the freezer. Then I have something when I am sick or don't have time to cook.

Dishwasher Not Releasing SoapI have a 9 year old Whirlpool dishwasher that is not opening up the dispenser to release the liquid detergent to wash the dishes. The door opens and closes when we pop it ourselves, but just doesn't open automatically when it is supposed to in order to dispense properly.

Pillow Top Mattress Not Soft EnoughI just bought a brand new mattress with a thick box pillow top. It's soft, but doesn't have that pillowy, sinky feeling like a featherbed.

Meet a Local ThriftyFun MemberThis is an unusual tip but if you have as good as luck as I have with it, it is well worth it. Try meeting up with someone you see posting a lot on here that lives in your area. I met in person a fellow ThriftyFun member yesterday just from a few messages on here and a few emails.

Recycle Lids for Kids GameSave opaque plastic lids of the same kind and make games for young kids. Hide small treats like marshmallows or small crackers under a few of the lids and lay 10-20 of them upside-down on the table altogether.

Washer Fluid Spray Bottle for Ice Free WindowsLiving in a very cold climate I found this to be a very useful tool for winter days. Purchase a gallon jug of the re-fill windshield washer fluid and fill a small spray bottle with the liquid.

Buying Spray and Wash Stain StickI am looking for a place to buy the Dow Spray and Wash Stain Stick. I live in a very small town and don't want to travel the country looking for it.

Annual Midwinter Soup PartyEach midwinter I have a soup party for family and friends. I make several different kinds of soup. I might have potato soup, pea soup, bean soup, chicken or Turkey vegetable; whatever I happen to have on hand.

Fostering A Rescued DogI see, that once again, I have a foster baby. His name is Elrod. He is is an adorable, incredibly intelligent three month old Pibble. which is short for Pit Bull mix.

Wedding Game for Bride and AttendantsWondering if anyone had any ideas about what a bride would need on her honeymoon or during her 1st month of marriage. This is gonna be a fun game the attendants are gonna play with the bride. A joke!

Write Down Microwave InstructionsTake a moment when you get a new microwave oven to write down the instructions for reheat, thaw, quick cook etc., that they now put inside the product. When the door is closed, the instructions are hidden!

Use Your Duster For Cleaning Snow Off Your CarUse your Synthetic Duster with handle as a means to remove the snow from your car. It works really well and it has found a new home in my car. The broom has been retired back to my home.

Wedding Centerpiece IdeasThis centerpiece is just a simple glass cylinder wrapped in scrap book paper glued with permanent adhesive. It is sitting (glued) on a candle holder. It holds a bouquet of artificial flowers.

Reduce Build up on Your HairAs far as the baking soda goes, do you wash you hair before or after using the baking soda?

Packing Hot Lunches In A ThermosMany people already enjoy this food tip, I hope you will too! Some foods you can heat up and insulate in a Thermos (besides soup). I added more ideas to the magazine I found this in.

Looking for Ed Ames Recording of "Morning"This is going to sound strange, but there is an Ed Ames song out there that I am searching for.

Double Thread When Sewing ButtonsTo make sewing a button on easier and much faster, cut a long piece of thread. Select a needle with a bit larger than usual eye and double the thread in half. Thread the doubled end through the eye and now you have 4 strands of thread to work with.

Store Appliances in PillowcasesWhere I have to store my crockpots and cookers is dusty. I have found that if I use old pillowcases and twist the end over, it prevents from having to major clean before using the appliance.

Stain on Nylon/Spandex BlouseHow do I get red soda pop out of a cream colored blouse? The blouse is 92% nylon and 8% spandex.

Tiny Tim (Miniature Schnauzer)My name is Tiny Tim the Terrible Miracle and I am 1 1/2 years old. I'm a Miniature Schnauzer. I'm a product of love between my father Handsome Fella and my loving, beautiful mother Pappys Gretta.

Harley (Mixed Breed Cat)Harley is almost 3 1/2 and he's a laid back breed. I saw a sign and snatched him up.

Clover (Holland Lop)Clover is 2 years old. He is a Holland Lop. We got him at a farm and home store. He loves to nap on our beds. Clover has been a great pet for my young children to learn responsibility for.

Saffron (Maine Coon/Tabby)Saffron is 2 years old. She is a Main Coon/Tabby. I adopted her from a shelter a little over a year ago. She likes to sit on the head rest of the sofa staring out the front window at squirrels and birds. She is the best cat I've ever had.

Snow in TexasI call this "Winter Miracle." You see we live in Texas and as most will know, we never get snow except maybe once every 20 years. If we do get lucky enough to get it, it never sticks. But this was our lucky year to get it and have it stick!

Removing a Fold Line from a Plastic StencilI have a stencil that was stored folded over. It is clear plastic or perhaps celluloid. Is there any way to remove the fold so the stencil lays flat on the wall? I now have it laying between pages in a heavy book, but it is not working.

Picking up Pine ConesI thought it would be a good time to introduce my new neighbor to my homemade bag holder and get some more pictures of how it works.

New Countertops for Less Than $100Well we did it. We went in head first and painted our laminate countertops. We were extremely nervous to try this, but were already considering replacing them with new ones. We thought, why not try it before we get new ones?

Crochet pin cushion in the shape of a cupcake.

Crocheted Cup Cake PincushionPincushions are fun but can be dull. Well, not this one that makes your mouth water every time you use it! And yet, it's completely "Non-Fattening"!

Dry Erase Marker Stains on ClothingHow do you get dry erase marker marks out of clothing?

Coloring Book Baby QuiltWant a durable baby qift that is easy to make, then this is just what you have been looking for.

Recycled Tile BookendsA fun easy craft for a rainy or snowy day is making bookends from 3 or 4 inch tiles. Tiles can be new, but I have done some remodeling and have excess tiles lying about, and it's easy to find extra tiles at garage sales.

Storing Powdered MilkFill an ice cream pail with dry milk and put a 2/3 cup sized measuring cup in the pail. It takes four scoops of the 2/3 cup measuring cup (equals 2 2/3 cup) to make a 2 qt. pitcher of milk.

Student With Sports Scholarship Doesn't Want to PlayI am a parent of a child that is currently in college and is almost done with his first year. In high school he was a football star. He was one of the best players in the state. He got a football scholarship to his University.

What to Do With Extra Amish Bread Starter Kits?Does anyone know how to use the Amish Friendship bread starter kits (after making 1st batch of bread) if you haven't given them away? Can you bake it all in a big batch rather than give away many starters?

Getting Rid Of Buckthorn OrganicallyWhen it first arrived from Europe in the 1800's, buckthorn was heralded as the ideal shrub plant for creating hedges. That all changed a short while later when it began to plunder its way through our natural areas.