February 13, 2011

Jalapeno and Lime Kettle Potato ChipsI love Kettle brand baked potato chips as a treat and I also love jalapeno flavored chips, but Kettle brand doesn't have the baked chips flavored with jalapeno. I want to thank Des at Life's Ambrosia for the idea that you can flavor chips on your own!

 

Barbecued MeatballsMoisten crumbs with milk and add to meat and seasonings. Form into balls and brown quickly in skillet. Put in casserole and pour the sauce over top.

 

Crockpot Chicken PortabelloThis a crockpot Weight Watchers PointsPlus recipe (5 Points+). It's so delicious and easy to make. Portabello mushrooms and chicken with a mustard cream sauce!

 

Butterhorn RollsIn a small saucepan, combine shortening and milk. Heat until shortening is melted; set aside to cool. Dissolve the yeast and 1 teaspoon sugar in the warm water.

 

Sirloin Steak SpecialCut steak into small pieces. Cook until done. Pour soups and mushrooms in. Stir until heated well. Serve over rice or noodles.

 

Vegetable CasseroleEnjoy this vegetarian casserole with chopped frozen vegetables or fresh vegetables cut up coarsely.

 

Strawberry DivinityCombine sugar, syrup, and water. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Then cook without stirring to 260 degrees F on candy thermometer. Combine beaten egg whites and jello.

 

Oops Makeover CookiesA yummy (easy) cookie to redeem a previous cookie disaster. We've all done it - forgotten the cookies were in the oven and either the timer wasn't working or we forgot that, too! I don't mind a little carbon and I don't want to throw them out.

 

German Farmers Breakfast CasseroleBreakfast Casserole that is hot and filling. Great to eat anytime of the day, but makes you feel warm and cozy when its cold out. Can also be prepared ahead of time and reheated.

 

Pink SaladWhip sweetened condensed milk and then the whipped topping together. Fold in pie filling, pears, pineapple, and nuts. Chill or freeze as desired. Spoon into a large bowl to serve or freeze in a 9x13 inch pan.

 

Sterilizing SpongesI put kitchen sponges in my dishwasher and run the cycle with a cup of bleach. After the dishwasher disinfects of the kitchen sponges, I spray them with a disinfectant spray and place in the microwave for about 50 seconds on high power.

 

Haley (Cavachon)Haley is a 3 year old Cavachon. My parents bought her for my birthday a couple of years ago. She likes to snuggle with me! She will just give any person kisses, even strangers!

 

Use Rice to Absorb Excess Moisture in ElectronicsI washed my cell phone in the washing machine. I got it out , took it all apart, and placed it in a bag of rice. It is working fine now.

 

Brown Hamburger In BulkTo help save time in the kitchen when I know it is going to be a busy week, I will buy a large amount of lean ground beef at Costco or Sam's. I purchase, say, a 5 1/2 pound package.

 

Cleaning ProduceUse a clean micro-cloth moistened with water to clean/scrub fruit and vegetables before using. You can also use a bit of vinegar for an extra cleaning boost.

 

Hindu (German Shepherd)Hindu is my 12 year old German Shepherd. I got him from a registered breeder. He likes to walk along the beach, play with his "Frisby", and sit at window and watch people/dogs passing by.

 

Growing Roses in ContainersHave you always wanted to grow beautiful roses but can't find the extra garden space? Are there varieties you want to try that are not hardy to your zone? Do you wish you had greater ability to move color to where you need it throughout the growing season?

 

Dry Your Own Celery LeavesWhen celery is real cheap, I buy several bunches to use when the price goes too high or I need some and don't have any fresh. After washing the celery and letting it dry, I remove all the leaves. I put them, whole, on baking sheets lined with paper towels.

 

Read Magazines OnlineIf you're like me, you love the Parenting-type Magazines, but don't want to pay for them. If you're already paying for the internet, why not just "subscribe" to their online version instead, and save a bundle? Not to mention saving a bundle of trees.

 

Mia and Triinu (Boston Terriers)Meet Mia and Triinu, aged 5 years and 2 years respectively. Mia was "inherited" from an old roommate. Triinu was adopted from a breeder. They really enjoy playing with each other.

 

My Frugal Life: Focus On What's Important (Part 1)I have mantras or adages that in the worst of times have always focused my thinking and my will power to look at problems directly at what I can control. Believe me, as a single mother ,with no child support, there are things you can't control.

 

Reuse Pet Food Bags For Household WasteIf you buy pet food, feed, or flour/sugar/salt in large bags, save those bags when empty. They are just the right size for a kitchen trash can and are very sturdy - more so than the plastic trash bags.

 

Use Sharpie to Decorate FabricDo you have a child or teen's birthday coming up? How about a church youth group? Here is something we did that youth of all ages enjoy. We bought a package of colored Sharpies.

 

Warm Up With CleaningIf your kitchen is the central gathering place and you are trying to keep your heat bill down, then schedule your "hot" cleaning for the colder times of the evening.

 

Remove Water When Cleaning ToiletTo really get your loo clean, use your toilet brush/swab to remove all the water from the bowl. This way your cleanser will come in direct contact with the surface and not get watered down.

 

Making Guests Feel WelcomeHave family coming to stay overnight that you haven't seen for a while? Gather a few photos and make a collage from them or copy them and put them in an inexpensive photo album.

 

Scenery: Meadow (Stroud, Oklahoma) There's beauty all around us. The beauty can seen be as near by as meandering around in the nearest meadow. The meadow brings us a peacefulness we can only experience should we choose to see it.

 

Paper Rose and Heart BouquetA cute idea and easy table decoration in an array of colors to brighten up your table after the winter storms and to celebrate Valentine's Day.

 

Use Cutting Boards to Save Counter TopsTo save my white counter tops in the kitchen, office, bath, and laundry/sewing room, which are expensive to replace as we know, I go to K-Mart and buy their clear acrylic or glass cutting boards in as close to the size of the area I need as possible.

 

Doilies over Gift WrapUse doilies over plain paper wrap for smaller gifts. The doily can be used again.

 

Recipe Box for Paint SamplesHave you ever moved into a home that needed a little paint touch up but had no paint? Every house should have a recipe box of paint samples! Once a room is painted, I take a piece of card stock and coat one side with paint.

 

Use a Mechanic's Creeper to GardenI'm not about to give up gardening because I'm disabled, but it hurts too much to bend over all the time. So I figured out that if I use a mechanic creeper, then I can sit on it, be closer to the dirt, carry my supplies, and I don't have to bend over.

 

Lola (Cat)Lola is a six year old mixed breed cat. My grandson found her and her sister Roxie, abandoned on a construction site. She loves chasing birds. Lola is loving when she wants to be and loves to be rubbed under her chin.

 

Removing Blood from FabricBlood stains on clothes? Not to worry. Just pour a little hydrogen peroxide on a cloth and proceed to wipe off every drop of blood. Works every time!

 

Free Patterns for Hand Embroidery?I am looking for free hand embroidery patterns to download. I am unable to purchase them any longer.

 

What Breed is My Dog?What is my dog's breed?

 

Removing Water Marks on Windows?I've tried to clean my house windows with cleaners such as Windex, Bon Ami, vinegar, Colgate toothpaste, Cascade, Dawn, and baking soda. They are stained with water spots and grime.

 

How Do I Get Rid of Scale Insects on House Plants?I have "scale" on my spider-plant that came from an aloe plant. I have been hand picking the ones that I find from the shrimp plant. Those 3 are the only plants they seem to really like. What can I do to get rid of them? Thanks for your help.

 

Other Uses for Awesome Cleaner from Dollar General?Can I clean my couch with Awesome cleaner?

 

What Breed is My Dog?What is my dog's breed?

 

French's Mustard Mac and Cheese Recipe?Does anyone have the recipe for mac and cheese where you put French's mustard in it? I think I saw a commercial on TV for it.

 

What Does the Term French Braid Mean in Quilting?In quilting I have read about "french braid it". I don't know what that means.

 

Teflon Coming Off George Foreman Grill?Can I recoat my original George Foreman grill on the bottom half with Teflon?

 

Strawberries Not Blooming?I planted 500 strawberry plants last year, they did not bloom the first year. Do I need to clip off this year's blooms? I heard if they have runners it is OK to harvest the crop.

 

Dye Transfer on Jeans?How do I get blue rinse from a t-shirt out of white jeans?

 

Removing Salt Stains on Wooden Platform Shoes?I have shoes with wood platforms that have been salt stained. How do I safely remove the salt stains? Also, is there a way to treat them to prevent this from happening again?

 

What is the Annual Growth Rate for Wild Cherry Trees?What is the growth rate per year for wild cherry trees?

 

Why Do My Fawn Brand Cargo Pants Squeak When I Walk?I recently bought a pair of Fawn cargo pants which I really like, but the

 

Where Can I Cash a Tax Refund Check from H&R Block?Does Walmart check a person's credit report to cash an H&R Block tax refund check?

 

How Can I Fix Cookie Dough That is Too Gooey?I am making peanut butter cookies and the dough is too gooey. How do I fix it?

 

Help With Basic Audio Visual Connections?Does anyone know how to hook up a DVD/VCR if you only have the basic coax cable? I am talking about the one that has the in and out. They are making all of the DVDs with the one.

 

Rust Spots on a Refrigerator?Can rust on a refrigerator door just below the icemaker/water dispenser be repaired? The refrigerator is white.

 

How Do I Remove Ink from a Faux Suede Couch?My daughter has drawn all over my newish, red, fake suede couch with a Biro. How do I get the ink out if my couch?

 

Craft Ideas for Old Wooden Spools?Does anyone have an idea for use of old empty wooden thread spools?

 

College Graduation Gift Idea?I would like help with gift ideas for a female graduate from university with a commerce degree.

 

Potato Chip Bag Purse?I would like to know how to make a purse from chip wrappers.