Dee

HAHAHAHA! Thats a cutie Ed.

Prayers and Good Positive Thoughts coming your way from me Brig!

This cake is great and very moist! Its great with a scoop of vanilla ice cream! Ingredients 1 (29 ounce) can pumpkin puree 1 (12 fluid ounce) can evaporated milk 3 eggs 1 cup white sugar 1/2 teaspoon salt 4 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice 1 (18.5 ounce) package yellow cake mix 3/4 cup butter 1 cup chopped walnuts Directions 1 Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease one 9 x 13 inch pan (preferably metal). 2 In a large bowl, combine pumpkin, evaporated milk, eggs, sugar, salt, and pumpkin pie spice. Mix well. Pour batter into the prepared pan. 3 Sprinkle the dry cake mix evenly over the pumpkin mixture. Melt the butter or margarine, and drizzle it over the cake mix. Sprinkle walnuts over the top. 4 Bake for 55 to 60 minutes, or until done.

I hope you enjoy them HappyGirl. They are very rich, don't eat to many at first.

Did you know Hilly that the real spaghetti sauce is just a thin watery red juice from the tomato with some garlic added? The Americans americanized the sauce to fit their taste. My Grandmother who came from Avellino Italy near Naples always made her sauce thin but she also simmered meatballs and Braciola, a round steak rolled with spices, fresh garlic and parsley some basil and oregano and some parmesan cheese all fresh and then tied with string and simmered in the sauce for hours. The meat flavor complimented the thin sauce which is lightly dribbled across fresh home made pasta along with a sprinkle of fresh parmesan cheese. I personally like more than a taste of sauce with lots of chunky tomatoes instead of the watery sauce. I do have to say even though Grans sauce was watery it sure tasted good and not a noodle was left in the big serving bowls when all our family got together every Sunday for dinner after church. ------------------

Ingredients 3 sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed 2 Granny Smith apples - peeled, cored and sliced 1/2 cup packed brown sugar 1/2 cup water 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 cup raisins 2 tablespoons butter 1/4 teaspoon salt 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour 3 slices lemon, thinly sliced Directions 1 Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 2 quart casserole dish. 2 In the casserole dish, alternately layer the sweet potatoes and apples. 3 In a medium saucepan over medium heat, mix together brown sugar, 1/3 cup water, cinnamon, raisins, butter and salt. Cook 5 minutes. 4 In a small bowl, stir together remaining water and flour. Combine with the brown sugar mixture. Pour over the sweet potatoes and apples. Place the lemon slices on top. 5 Bake covered in the preheated oven 20 minutes. Uncover and continue baking 20 minutes, or until the sweet potatoes and apples are tender. This is a favorite in our house at holidays. ------------------

I am making this for Christmas Presents for some of the family this year. It should be interesting baking in wide mouth canning jars. Ingredients 2/3 cup shortening 2 2/3 cups white sugar 4 eggs 2 cups mashed bananas 2/3 cup water 3 1/3 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 2 teaspoons baking soda 1 1/2 teaspoons salt 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon ground cloves 2/3 cup chopped pecans Directions 1 Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease insides of 8 (1 pint) straight sided, wide mouth canning jars. 2 In a large bowl, cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, bananas, and water. Sift together flour, baking powder, soda, salt, cinnamon, and cloves. Add to banana mixture. Stir in nuts. 3 Pour mixture into greased WIDE MOUTH pint jars, filling 1/2 full of batter. Do NOT put lids on jars for baking. Be careful to keep the rims clean, wiping off any batter that gets on the rims. 4 Bake at 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) for 45 minutes. Meanwhile, sterilize the lids and rings in boiling water. 5 As soon as cake is done, remove from oven one at a time, wipe rims of jars and put on lid and ring. Jars will seal as cakes cool. Place the jars on the counter and listen for them to "ping" as they seal. If you miss the "ping", wait until they are completely cool and press on the top of the lid. If it doesn't move at all, it's sealed. 6 Unsealed jars should be eaten or kept in refrigerator for up to a week. Sealed jars can be stored in a cool dry place for up to 6 weeks. ------------------

For those of you who love to try new and different recipes. FERMENTY Ingredients 1 cup cracked wheat 1/8 tsp. ground mace 1 quart milk 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon 3/4 cup milk 1/4 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup heavy cream 2 egg yolks 1/2 tsp. salt additional brown sugar Directions In a large pot, bring the water to a boil and add the wheat. Lower heat to simmer, cover, and continue to cook for 1/2 hour, or until, soft. Drain off all the water and add the milk, cream, salt, mace, cinnamon and brown sugar. Continue to simmer, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid is absorbed (20 to 30 minutes). In a small bowl, beat the egg yolks and slowly stir 1/2 cup of the wheat mixture into the yolks. Then stir the yolk mixture into the pot, and continue cooking for another 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Serve sprinkled with brown sugar. ------------------

Colonial cooks made this delight in a skillet with legs (about eight inches tall). It was cooked directly over hot coals. The electric (or gas) stove isn't nearly so romantic as an 18th century working fireplace, but much more efficient. SKILLET CRANBERRIES Ingredients 1 pound fresh cranberries 2 cups brown or white sugar 21/4 cup rum Directions Dump the fresh cranberies in to your indispensable black iron skillet (or oven proof dish). Sprinkle the cranberries with sugar, cover the skillet, and place in a 250 degree oven. After one hour remove the lid (use foil if you don't have a lid) and pour in the rum. Continue cooking until the rum evaporates. And please do not stir unless you have to absolutely have to. Stirring breaks up the cranberries, serves 4 to 6.

Moisturize skin. Massage Wesson corn oil into your skin, wait fifteen minutes, remove the excess oil with Bounty paper towels, then take a hot-water bath. Make bubble bath. Mix two cups of Wesson corn oil, three tablespoons of liquid shampoo, and one-quarter teaspoon of your favorite perfume. Mix the solution in a blender at high speed. Prevent cat hairballs. Add a teaspoon of Wesson corn oil to one cat meal daily. Add a shine to your dog's coat. Add a teaspoon of Wesson corn oil to each food serving. Condition hair. Massage lukewarm Wesson corn oil into dry hair, cover hair with a shower cap for thirty minutes, then shampoo and rinse thoroughly. Remove oil paint from skin. Use Wesson corn oil instead of turpentine. Season a cast-iron skillet. Rub a drop of Wesson corn oil on the inside of the pan to keep it seasoned. Place a sheet of Bounty over and under the skillet when storing. To season a new cast iron skillet, grease with unsalted Wesson corn oil and warm in an oven for two hours. Repeat after washing the skillet for several weeks. Remove rust spots from a cast-iron skillet. Apply Wesson corn oil, let stand, then wipe thoroughly. Repeat if necessary. Prevent car doors from freezing in winter. Rub the gaskets with Wesson corn oil to seal out water without harming the gaskets. Remove white spots or water marks from furniture. Dip a cloth in Wesson corn oil, then into cigar or cigarette ashes. Rub with the grain, across the spot until it disappears. Prevent snow from sticking to a shovel. Coat the shovel with Wesson corn oil. Remove decals. Saturate the decal with Wesson corn oil. Oil wooden spoons, cutting boards, and butcher block. Put Wesson corn oil on a Bounty paper towel, rub it into the wood, then wipe clean. Soothe tired feet. Rub warmed Wesson corn oil into your feet, wrap in a damp hot towel, and sit for ten minutes. Remove glue from furniture. Apply a dab of Wesson corn oil and rub. Remove a splinter. Soak the wounded area in Wesson corn oil for a few minutes to soften the skin before trying to remove the splinter. Break in a new baseball mitt. Rub a few drops of Wesson corn oil into the palm of the glove, place a baseball in the glove, fold the mitt around it, and secure with rubber bands. Tuck the mitt under a mattress and leave overnight. Remove burrs, tar, and sticky substances from a dog's hair. Saturate the area with Wesson corn oil. Wash with dog shampoo, rinse immediately, and brush clean. Clean the sap from a Christmas tree from your hands. Rub your hands with Wesson corn oil and wipe clean with a Bounty paper towel. Remove price tags from appliances or the price-tag sheet from an automobile. Apply Wesson corn oil. Let sit and scrape away. Make cleaning a barbecue grill easy. Before cooking, coat the grill with Wesson corn oil. Clean when the grill is cool to the touch. Remove paper stuck to a wood surface. Saturate the paper with Wesson corn oil, let sit for a while, and gently peel the paper off. Keep your sink shining. Wipe the sink with a few drops of Wesson corn oil on a soft cloth. Treat ear mites in cats. Put a few drops of Wesson corn oil into your cat's ear and massage. Then clean out all debris with a ball of cotton. Repeat daily for three days, and the mites should be gone. The oil soothes the cat's sensitive skin, smothers the mites, and promotes healing. ------------------

Prevent cracked hard-boiled eggs. Add two tablespoons of Heinz White Vinegar per quart of water before boiling to prevent the eggs from cracking. The egg shells will also peel off faster and easier. Prevent ice from forming on a car windshield overnight. Coat the window with a solution of three parts Heinz White or Apple Cider Vinegar to one part water. Prevent lint from clinging to clothes. Add one cup Heinz Vinegar to each wash load. Prolong and brighten propane lanterns. Soak new wicks for several hours in Heinz White Vinegar and let them dry before inserting. Propane lanterns will burn longer and brighter on the same amount of fuel. Remove perspiration stains from clothes. Apply one part Heinz White Vinegar to four parts water, then rinse. Kill unwanted grass. Pour Heinz White Vinegar in crevices and between bricks. ------------------

Filter broken cork from wine. If you break the cork when opening a wine bottle, filter the wine through a Mr. Coffee Filter. Clean windows and mirrors. Mr. Coffee Filters are lint-free so they'll leave your windows sparkling. Protect china. Separate your good dishes by putting a Mr. Coffee Filter between each dish. Cover bowls or dishes when cooking in the microwave. Mr. Coffee Filters make excellent covers. Protect a cast-iron skillet. Place a Mr. Coffee Filter in the skillet to absorb moisture and prevent rust. Apply shoe polish. Ball up a lint-free Mr. Coffee Filter. Recycle frying oil. After frying, strain oil through a sieve lined with a Mr. Coffee Filter. Weigh chopped foods. Place chopped ingredients in a Mr. Coffee Filter on a kitchen scale. Hold tacos. Mr. Coffee Filters make convenient wrappers for messy foods. Stop the soil from leaking out of a plant pot. Line a plant pot with a Mr. Coffee Filter to prevent the soil from leaking through the drainage holes. Prevent a Popsicle from dripping. Poke one or two holes as needed in a Mr. Coffee Filter, insert the popsicle, and let the filter catch the drips. ------------------

1. Fruit and flowers may be preserved from decay and fading by immersing them in a solution of gum arabic and water two or three times, waiting a sufficient time between each immersion to allow the gum to dry. This process covers the surface of the fruit with a thin coat of gum, which is entirely impervious to the air, thus preventing the decay of the fruit or flower. Or spray them with hairspray. 2. Sharpen your own scissors by using them to cut fine grade sandpaper. About a half dozen cuts should do it! 3. Bobbins, thread, and other sewing notions can be hung on a bulletin board with straight pins near your machine. 4. Use iron-on rug binding on men's trousers to prevent "waist-band curing" of trouser tops. 5. Use nylon net to brush lint off dark clothing. 6. To achieve fresher air in the house without paying a fortune for canned spray, squeeze a few drops of a fresh lemon into the dust bag of your vacuum. 7. Close off unused rooms. If you currently heat and cool several seldom-used rooms in your home, you are wasting energy and money. Consider closing the air ducts and doors in rooms used mostly for storage and occasionally for guests. Closing unused rooms may reduce heating and cooling costs by up to 20 percent, depending on the proportion of your home's total square footage the closed rooms comprise. Check with the dealer of the heating and cooling system in your home to determine whether closing off rooms has the potential to harm the system. 8. Always have trouble with that one roll of tape and finding the end of it? Stick a button on the end, then when you use it, just move the button. 9. Rub the pure cornstarch type baby powder into your pet's coat prior to brushing/combing, if there are tangles or mats, it will make them come out much more easily. 10. Tea makes a nice inexpensive, yet permanent stain for unstained furniture. 11. Sprinkle cinnamon on aluminum foil and place it in a hot oven, leaving the door open. As the cinnamon heats, the cinnamon will permiate the house. 12. Spray the inside of a mayonnaise jar white. Store it in the refrigerator as a hiding place for money or valuables. 14. Put a metal spoon into a glass before pouring in any hot liquid - this will prevent the glass from cracking. 15. Soak a cloth in carbonated water and wrap around a rusty bolt and leave for a few minutes. The bolt should loosen right up. 16. Tip for stamp collectors: Place the envelope in the freezer for a few hours. You'll then be able to easily lift the stamps off with a pair of tweezers. 17. Save your change. Empty your wallet, purse, and pockets on a regular basis into a "piggy bank". Occasionally roll the change and take to the bank. It will add up faster than you think. 18. Did you know you can freeze milk? Next time it is on sale, pick up several gallons and freeze it! 19. Freeze candles before using and they will burn longer. 20. The more food in the oven, the more efficient it is. The same goes for your freezer. 21. To keep buttons from dropping off: Dab a drop of clear nail polish onto the thread to secure the buttons. This will harden and make it more difficult for thread to break off. 22. A shot of vodka added to a vase will keep your cut flowers fresher much longer. 23. Potatoes will take food stains off your fingers after your food preparations. Just slice and rub a raw potato on the stain and rinse in clear-cool water. 24. Do not store propane tanks in your garage. They may explode when it gets very hot. 25. Brown sugar will not harden if stored in the freezer. ------------------

I have two lists that I follow to keep my pantry stocked. They contain basic Ingredients For Your Food Pantry: White Flour Wheat Flour Dry (Dehydrated) Milk Powdered Eggs Margarine Sugar Brown Sugar Powdered Sugar Corn Meal Vegetable Oil Shortening Baking Powder Baking Soda Cocoa Powder Yeast Dark & Light Corn Syrup Salt Pepper Garlic Salt Cinnamon Vinegar Vanilla Cornstarch Bouillon Cubes Chili Powder Oatmeal Dried Pinto Beans Dried Navy Beans Dried Split Peas Dried Butter Beans Rice Carob Powder Dried Kidney Beans Egg Noodles Macaroni Spaghetti Maple Flavoring Dry Mustard Honey Molasses Mayonnaise Mustard Bar-B-Q Sauce Worcestershire Sauce Salsa Soy Sauce Fruit Pectin Tapioca Evaporated Milk Tea Crackers Coffee Creamer Graham Crackers Peanut Butter Tomato Paste Tomato Sauce Canned Tomatoes Powdered Cheese Hominy Grits Popcorn Peanuts Pecans/Walnuts Jelly & Jam Quick Oats Coconut Chocolate Chips Syrup Raisins Bottled Water List 2. For the Baking Center Pan Spray Flour Wheat Flour *(or wheat berries if you grind your own flour) Cake Flour Master Mix or Bisquick Wondra Flour Gluten flour Corn Meal Oat and/or Wheat bran Sugar Brown Sugar Powdered Sugar Honey Crisco Canola Oil Yeast Baking Powder Baking Soda Salt Cornstarch Tapioca, tapioca flour Vanilla Extract, powdered Vanilla Almond, Lemon, Coconut Extracts Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Cloves, Allspice, Ginger Condensed Milk Powdered Milk Sweetened Condensed Milk Sucanot Karo Syrup Oatmeal coarse and quick oats Almonds, Walnuts, Pecans Raisins, Craisins, Dried Apricots Coconut Chocolate or Carob chips Graham Cracker Crumbs Lemon Juice Cocoa /Carob powder Unsweetened Chocolate squares Bakers sweet Chocolate 2 Cake Mixes 2 Frosting Mixes Food Colouring Jell-O Instant Pudding - Chocolate and Vanilla 2 Crumb Pie Crusts in foil pans Cup cake liners/parchment paper cut to fit pans The Pantry Shelves Foil - Plastic Wrap - Waxed Paper - Parchment Paper Mayonnaise - Mustard - Ketchup - Relish Oil Olive/Canola/Corn Sesame Oil Dehydrated onion, garlic Minced Garlic Spices (seasoned salt, pepper, seasoned pepper, parsley, dry mustard, Chile powder, celery or garlic salt, lemon pepper, steak seasoning, curry, Basil, tarragon, marjoram, cilantro, dill, cumin seed, turmeric and others) Worcestershire Sauce, Soy sauce, BBQ Sauce - Vinegar - Balsamic Vinegar Rice - Beans - Peas - Lentils - Barley Pastas - spaghetti, macaroni, egg noodles, lasagna, cannelloni Dried soup mixes (for convenience soups, roasts, dips, etc.) Sauces - tomato, tomato paste, stewed tomatoes (or home canned) Spaghetti sauce (even if you make your own, this is convenient) Cream of mushroom/celery/chicken soups Canned soups, chicken and beef broth Chiles, Olives, Pickles Croutons Canned vegetables, fruits (or home canned) Dried fruit/dehydrated vegetables/herbs Peanut Butter - Jam Canned Tuna Canned chicken Canned beans, refried beans Instant Rice / Instant Potatoes / Macaroni ‘n Cheese Multi grain hot cereal, farina, malt-o-meal, Pancake Mix, crepe mix, muffin mix Maple Syrup / Fruit Syrup Soda crackers/graham crackers Popcorn Hershey’s Syrup and Cocoa Nestle’s Quick Hot Chocolate Mix, Marshmallows Coffee’s Vanilla Sugar Teas Herbal Tea For the Refrigerator Milk Eggs Cream cheese Cheese Cream or ½ & ½ Coffee creamer if you or your guests use this Sour cream / nonfat sour cream Butter Yogurt/plain yogurt Cottage Cheese Lemon Juice Salad dressing Fresh vegetables Salad fixings Fruits FREEZER Meats, bacon, fish, chicken Frozen vegetables Freezer jam Juice concentrate Fillo and/or puff pastry dough Sandwich bread / rolls Bagels / English muffins These items are good to have on hand at all times. It saves you from running to the grocery store. ------------------

I thought you might find this interesting. Someone asked me about this a few days ago where they saw that bread wrappers colored print on the bags contained lead-based paint and they wanted to know if it could be harmful. Of course I went on the web and found some great information about this, and thought I would post it here for you especially if you reuse your bread bags for anything and if you have children. The information on lead-based paint used on breadbags came from the West Virginia Poison Center and also the National Lead Information Clearinghouse whose number is provided at the bottom of this article. I hope this answers your question. Sources of lead exposure: *Lead based paint used inside or outside the home. *Soil contaminated by industries that make lead products. *Soil around buildings painted with lead based paint that has chipped off. *Food grown in gardens next to buildings where leaded paint has chipped off into the soil. *Dust created by removing lead paint (indoors and outside) as part of renovation. *Colored inks used in newspapers and magazines, or on plastic bags, such as bread wrappers. *Older furniture, such as cribs, and some toys coated with lead paint or lead based stains. *Pottery made with leaded glaze (usually from foreign countries.) *Lead pipes and plumbing fixtures (check with your landlord or plumber.) *Fumes from burning painted wood and some printed materials. *Hobbies that involve lead, such as making stained glass, lead sinkers, fishing lures or bullets. How to prevent lead poisoning: *Have children 6 months to 6 years of age tested regularly. Ask your pediatrician to test your child. *Keep your children away from peeling paint; don't let the child chew on painted surfaces. *Wash your own and your child's hands frequently to rinse off any dust or dirt that may contain lead. *Wash your child's toys often, especially infant teething toys. *Do not use warm or hot tap water for making infant formula or for cooking. Older hot water heaters may have made with leaded solder. *Flush water from your tap until it runs cold. Flush faucets for 2-3 minutes when the water hasn't been used for more than 6 hours. Use the flushed water for houseplants or other non consumable purposes. *Wet mop dusty surfaces at least once a week with a heavy duty household cleaner. *Do not use decorative pottery or ceramic ware for food storage or service. *Plant grass and shrubs over bare dirt in the yard. *Prepare and serve meals high in Vitamin C, iron and calcium to help prevent lead from being absorbed into the body. Sources of Iron, Sources of Calcium, Sources of Vitamin C Liver, Milk, Citrus Fruits, Fortified Cereal, Yogurt, Green Leafy Vegetables, Cooked Legumes (peas, beans), Cheese, Tomatoes, Spinach, Cooked Greens, Cauliflower, Beef, Sweet Potatoes If you work with lead on the job, don't bring it home: *Shower and change your clothes before you go home. *Wash you work clothes separately from other laundry. *Check with your employer or the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) about safety requirements when working on battery reclamation, radiator repairs, home improvements, bridge repair, plumbing, or weapons. *Test pre-1978 houses for lead paint; take care of peeling and chipping paint, and avoid exposure to dust from renovation and abatement projects. <BR>Test for lead before remodeling, or repairing an older home; if the home contains lead based paint, a trained contractor should do the work. If a homeowner plans to remove lead based paint, he or she should seek advice from the health department before doing so. *Have tap water tested for lead by a state approved laboratory if the house is over 40 years old or has plumbing over ten years old. *Consider replacing windows if they are covered in lead paint; friction bearing surfaces on windows can be an important source of lead dust. *Keep children's play areas away from buildings painted with deteriorating lead based paint. *In high exposure areas, take off shoes before entering the house, wet mop floors, and wash window wells often to get rid of lead dust; unless using a HEPA vacuum, vacuuming can spread lead dust. *Shower and change clothes as soon as possible if exposed to lead at work or through such hobbies as ceramics or stained glass. *Support legislative efforts to promote recycling of materials that contain lead. This information came from the National Lead Information Clearinghouse. For more information on lead poisoning contact the West Virginia Poison Center, local health department or call the National Lead Information Clearinghouse toll free at 1-800-LEAD-FYI.

POSTED BY RECI *Nearly everything can be cut in half -- use only half a dryer softener sheet, half the recommended amount of detergent, half a cotton ball, etc. Try it on anything you can think of - if it works, you save money, if it doesn't, what do you lose? *The same idea goes for quick dinners. If you're putting together, for example, Hamburger Helper (or another "instant" meal), consider using a 1/2 pound of meat per box (or just make up 2 boxes at a time, with a full pound of meat). Most of us actually get far more protein in a day than we need, so cutting back to a 1/2 pound of meat doesn't hurt any of us. *How about instant drink mixes? If you're buying mixes that don't have the sugar added (which, by the way, is cheaper than buying the mixes with sugar already in them), think seriously about how much sugar you mix in. Do you REALLY need to use a full cup of sugar with that small packet of flavoring? Or could you cut it back to 1/3 or 1/2 cup and decrease the amount of sugar your children are getting in each serving? *The next time you're simply following directions on any grocery item, take a moment to evaluate the claim before you do as it says. You may save yourself some money! *Disposing of grease and fat from foods. I save the jars and lids that I get whenever I purchase tomato sauce and mayonnaise. When I have bacon drippings or old oil from fried foods, I pour the fat into these jars. When the jar gets full, I put the top back on and put the jar in the trash. This will prevent your drains from being clogged with this oil and keep your trash cans from getting messy inside. *Save plastic milk containers, fill with water and freeze. Use in camper iceboxes or coolers. Also these can be used to freeze colored water or juices in for later use in a punch bowl. *To avoid tears when peeling onions, slice first, then slip the bands of skin off. *Use an egg slicer to slice apples or mushrooms. *Leftover pancake batter makes good fried onion rings. Separate and let soak in batter for fifteen minutes. Fry in hot oil. *Don't throw out leftover coffee. Freeze it in ice cube trays, and when you don't want to make an entire pot, you can get your cubes out of the freezer and pop them in the microwave. *Dry Mustard will remove onion odors from your hands or cutting board. Rub in, then rinse off. *Use plain baking soda or salt as a fire extinguisher. *Put rice in your salt shaker to keep the salt from getting hard. *Remove odors from your fridge by placing a vanilla extract soaked cotton ball inside. Another popular method is to leave a cup of baking soda or a slice of lemon in the fridge at all times. *Cleaning behind your refrigerator will keep it running longer and more efficiently. Another fridge cleaning tip: Make sure the unit is level. An unlevel refrigerator works harder than it needs to and wastes energy. *Store plastic wrap in refrigerator - it will prevent it from sticking. *A good trick when you go away on vacation is to place a baggie with a few ice cubes in the freezer. If a power failure occurs while you are gone and the food thaws and then refreezes you will know about it when you get home. *Use a powder puff to dust flour on rolling pins, pastry boards and cookie sheets. Store puff in a margarine tub with a small amount of flour for quick dusting jobs. *Leftovers Safety - If food has been contaminated with germs from a person's mouth, it should be tossed. For instance saving baby food when you have fed the baby from the jar is hazardous. (You can pour half out at a time if it won't be used in one feeding.) *You can reheat small portions of leftovers in the same pan. Wrap individually in foil and place in enough water to cover the bottom of the pan. *When converting your favorite recipe for microwave cooking, reduce the liquid by one-fourth. Liquid does not evaporate in a microwave as much as it does in a conventional oven. *To save on electric and water, only run your dishwasher when full. When adding dishes take a handful of baking soda and sprinkle the dishes and bottom of dishwasher to absorb odors. When you run the dishwasher there is no need to add detergent to the first cycle receptacle, only to the 2nd one that stays shut until the second cycle starts. The baking soda will take the place of the detergent in the first cycle. *When you have a spill in your oven, sprinkle some salt on it right away. Then when the oven cools, wipe it off. *Spray your Tupperware with nonstick cooking spray before pouring in tomato-based sauces--no more stains. *Transfer your jelly to a small plastic squeeze bottle--no more messy, sticky jars or knives. This also works well for homemade salad dressing. *To aid in washing dishes, add a tablespoon of baking soda to your soapy water--it softens hands while cutting through grease. *Save your store-bought-bread bags and ties--they make perfect storage bags for homemade bread. (Don't turn them inside out. The labels are painted on the out sides of the bags with lead-based paint.) *If you have problem opening jars: Try using latex dishwashing gloves. They give a non-slip grip that makes opening jars easy. *In my house when I use baggies to store items, after the baggie is empty I wash it out in soapy water, let it dry by sticking it on utensils such as spatulas and large spoons and I reused them over and over. It saves me from spending money each month to buy a box or two. These can get a little expensive in the long run. The only baggies I don't reuse are the ones used for meat because of bacteria. *Put Crackers in freezer ziplock bags and stick them in your freezer using them as needed. I always hated spending money on a product that went stale and that I ended up throwing out. I have found this freezer method keeps the crackers fresh for as long as you have them. *Another use for Baking Soda - make a paste by mixing a small amount of baking soda with a little bit of water in your hands for an excellent skin exfoliator. Great for dry skin on face, feet & elbows. Also good for skin irritations. *To fill a plastic baggie with liquid items, first put the baggie into a drinking glass. This way the baggie has support while pouring. *Save the snap top lids of your toothpaste tube. Wash & reuse on the next tube if it's a plain top. Sometimes you can get toothpaste really cheap & the snap top lids keep the paste in the tube *To clean your microwave, place a (microwave safe) cup of water with a teaspoon of baking soda in it. Run microwave for 2 to 3 minutes. Remove cup and wipe out inside of microwave with a damp cloth. *Use lifesavers candy to hold candles in place on your next birthday cake! Kids love 'em! *Poke an egg with a small sewing needle before hard-boiling, and the egg will peel with ease! *Keep needle handy with a magnet refrigerator clip! *Stuff a miniature marshmallow in the bottom of a sugar cone to prevent ice cream drips! *Zap garlic cloves in the microwave for 15 seconds and the skins slip right off! *Organize your magazines into groups according to Seasons (Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter). This way, you have several handy reference guides for the appropriate Season/Holiday! *Use a meat baster to "squeeze" your pancake batter onto the hot griddle - perfect shaped pancakes every time! *Always spray your grill with non-stick cooking spray before grilling to avoid sticking! *To keep potatoes from budding, place an apple in the bag with the potatoes! *To prevent egg shells from cracking, add a pinch of salt to the water before hard-boiling! *Use a pastry blender to cut ground beef into small pieces after browning! *Sweeten whipped cream with confectioners' sugar instead of granulated sugar - it will stay fluffy and hold it's shape better! *For easy "meatloaf mixing", combine the ingredients with a potato masher! *If you don't have enough batter to fill all cupcake tins, pour 1 tablespoon of water into the unfilled spots...this helps preserve the life of your pans! *To easily remove honey from a measuring spoon, first coat the spoon with nonstick cooking spray! *Run your hands under cold water before pressing Rice Krispies treats in the pan - the marshmallow won't stick to your fingers! *Mash and freeze ripe bananas, in one-cup portions, for use in later baking - no wasted bananas (or you can freeze them whole, peeled, in plastic baggies) *To quickly use that frozen juice concentrate, simply mash it with a potato masher - no need to wait for it to thaw! *To get the most juice out of fresh lemons, bring them to room temperature and roll them under your palm against the kitchen counter before squeezing! *To easily remove burnt on food from your skillet, simply add a drop or two of dish soap and enough water to cover bottom of pan, and bring to a boil on stove-top - skillet will be much easier to clean now! *Spray your tupperware with non-stick cooking spray before pouring in tomato-based sauces ~ no more stains! *Transfer your jelly to a small plastic squeeze bottle ~ no more messy, sticky jars or knives! This also works well for homemade salad dressing! *To aid in washing dishes, add a tablespoon of baking soda to your soapy water - it softens hands while cutting through grease! *When a cake recipe calls for flouring the baking pan, use a bit of the dry cake mix instead - no white mess on the outside of the cake! *If you accidentally over-salt a dish while it's still cooking, drop in a peeled potato - it absorbs the excess salt for an instant "fix me up"! *Next time you need a quick ice pack, grab a bag of frozen vegetables out of your freezer ~ no watery leaks from a plastic baggie! *When making bread, substitute non-dairy creamer for the dry milk - it works just as well! *Slicing meat when partially frozen makes it easier to get thin slices. *Instead of throwing away bread heels or leftover cornbread, use them to make bread crumbs. For use later, store them in the freezer. *Wrap celery in aluminum foil when putting in the refrigerator ~ it will keep for weeks! *Substitute half applesauce for the vegetable oil in your baking recipes ~ you'll greatly reduce the fat content! (Example: 1/2 cup vegetable oil=1/4 cup applesauce + 1/4 cup oil) *To ripen avocados and bananas, enclose them in a brown paper bag with an apple for 2-3 days! *Brush beaten egg white over pie crust before baking to yield a beautiful, glossy finish! *In recipes calling for margarine, substitute reduced-calorie margarine to help cut back on fat! (Same goes with sour cream, milk, cheese, cream cheese, and cream soups) *Place a slice of bread in hardened brown sugar to soften it back up! *When boiling corn on the cob, add a pinch of sugar to help bring out the corns natural sweetness! *When starting your garden seedlings indoors, plant the seeds in egg shell halves. Simply crack the shells around the roots of your plants and transplant them outdoors - the shell is a natural fertilizer! *To determine whether an egg is fresh, immerse it in a pan of cool, salted water. If it sinks, it is fresh ~ if it rises to the surface, throw it away. *Keep the linings from cereal boxes ~ they make great substitutes for waxed paper! *WD-40 will take off almost any residue from stickers on glass & other surfaces! *Peanut butter also takes sticky residue off! *Bags secure - Always keep a bunch of clothes pins in your cupboard, they're very handy for turning down bags, cereal, snacks, etc... *Scuffs - Use nail polish remover to remove scuffs from shoes! My little beauty queen scuffed her brand new shoes this week & this worked great! *Quilts - This week I put out a quilt to dry on the line - it rained - so it stayed on for 1 more day. The next day when I took it off the line, I noticed that the side facing the sun had faded!!! I was not a happy camper! But all is not lost! I've passed this tip to you - so you will never have a bad quilt day Moral? Always hang a quilt to dry top side down! Even though it's prettier the other way - if you don't - it will not be so pretty the next time! *Rusty Bolts - To loosen rusty things, apply a cloth soaked in any carbonated drink. *Sandpaper - If you dampen the back a little it will not dry out as bad, and last longer. *Rule!- When trying to loosen, or tighten anything it’s Lefty loosey - Righty tighty **About 98% of bolts and screws have a right hand thread, but if it is a left hand thread, it will usually be marked by small notches midway down the nut. For an example of this, check your LP gas or propane BBQ tank. Also, there is the "Right Hand Rule." This is a good for nuts and bolts that may be in odd positions, facing away, upside down, etc. To do this simply give a "Thumbs Up" sign, point your thumb in the direction you want the nut/bolt to go and turn in the direction that your curled fingers are pointing. *Sticky drawers - Rub with a bar of soap, or candle, or bar of paraffin wax. *Nail holes - In areas where nail holes are not allowed in walls, use sewing needles - they hold up to 30 lbs. *Sunburn - Apple cider vinegar takes the pinkness, and pain away. (the smell fades) *Shine - For shiner hair, use (blondes) lemon juice - (reds & brunettes) apple cider vinegar. This takes off the soap film, and shines up hair. *Broken lipstick - Melt both ends with a match, then cool. *Showerhead - For a clogged showerhead, soak in vinegar & water. *Shower curtain - To clean your shower curtain, throw into wash with bath towels, and add a cup of vinegar to the normal wash. *Glass shower doors - Clean soap scum with a cloth & warm vinegar. *Steamed mirror - If you have a cabinet with 2 mirror doors, slide 1 open before you shower. When you’re done you’ll have 1 clear mirror. *Steam - If you run an inch of cold water before you run your hot bath, there will be no steam in the room! *Leak - Fix a vase, bottle, etc... by coating it with paraffin wax. *Studs - Find them with a compass - usually when the needle moves. *Spots - For laundry 2 parts water, and 1 part rubbing alcohol are the basic ingredients of commercial spot removers. *White socks - Get really white socks by boiling them in water with a lemon slice. *Creases - To prevent creases in garments hung on hangers, take a paper towel roll (empty) make a cut lengthwise. Slip it over the bottom of the hanger. The round edge prevents a crease. *Collars - For soiled collars, brush a bit of shampoo into stain. Shampoos are made to dissolve body oils. *Ironing - Have you seen the infomercial about the reflecting ironing board? Well it cuts your time in half, because you iron both sides at 1 time. Save yourself $40.00! Line your board with heavy duty aluminum foil, then put your cover on. The heat will reflect off of the foil to iron the backside of your garments ! *Embroidery - Iron embroidery upside down on a pile towel - this gets to all the little in-between parts. *Windows - To dry, use newspaper instead of toweling - no lint. *Table - One day I used toothpaste to get out a stain in my enamel-top table. After I saw the beautiful clean spot, I had to do the whole thing! What a beautiful job! *Window Shades - Use clear nail-polish on small rips. *This works on lots of things including window screens. *Holes - On small holes in the wall, use a dab of toothpaste, then (if a different color) touch-up *Paint - When you paint inside, always put a small amount in a nail polish jar, baby food jar, or small container, and label the area of the house. Whenever you need to do a quick touch-up, you’ll have it handy in a work drawer. *Glass - If you have a small scratch, rub in a little toothpaste. This usually takes it out. *Wood - For dents in wood, place a wet rag on the spot, then use an iron on it. The heat & moisture raises the grain. *Buttons - Sew on with dental floss and they will stay on a LONG time! *Patterns - Keep from ripping, and getting wrinkled by spraying them with spray starch. *Oil spills - Garage floors, driveways, basements, etc.. often get oil spills on them. Lay several layers of newspaper on it, saturate with water, press flat, when dry lift, and spots are gone. *Carpet - Use a fork to fluff up nap carpets. *Wood - When paper is stuck to wood, don’t scratch with a knife, apply oil, wait a sec & wipe clean. *Screws - They go in easier if you first screw them into a bar of soap. *Rugs - Freshen up throw rugs by tossing them into a dryer on low heat. The dirt will come out, and you will never have to beat another rug! *Carpet - To clean ink marks, saturate the spot with hairspray, allow to dry, then brush lightly with a solution of water and vinegar. *Rugs - When braided rugs come apart, use clear fabric glue instead of sewing for quick - and easy repair! *Carpet - To repair a spot on your carpet, take a fiber from a spot that can’t be seen (under couch, under floor molding etc..), then use hot glue to put in place. *Dusting - Stretch a used stocking over your dust mop. When your done remove, and you have a clean mop. *Floors - Protect your floors by cutting small circles of felt (scraps) and gluing them to the bottom of your furniture & chairs. *Scratch - Got a scratch in your furniture? Make a paste of instant coffee & water. This works well! *Onions - Once used and cut in half, rub the leftover side with butter. This way it will keep fresh longer. *Cheese - Keep in vinegar dampened cloth to keep from drying out. *Cooking - Keep cooking ingredients (oats,sugar,spices) out in view, this way you’ll want to cook more Use decorative containers, and it adds to the decor of the kitchen. *Tidy - Keep a pretty dishcloth handy. When company pops in, throw it over your sink full of dishes. It actually adds to the appearance of the room. (use this same idea for in view laundry) *Dish soap - Buy your wet food in pretty containers. Vinegar, oil, and sauces often come in attractive glass jars. Keep your plastic soap bottle top, pour your soap into one of these containers, and screw on the pour spout! Everyone will be asking where you got your beautiful soap container! *Lemons - Store whole lemons in a jar of water in the fridge. They will yield a lot more juice this way. *Candles - Chill for 24 hours before using; they burn longer & don’t drip. *Windows - Wash them with a rag dipped in 1 quart of water & 1 tab cornstarch. This makes windows, and mirrors sparkle! *Garden - Stamp a few mothballs into the ground to keep dogs away. *Mess saver - To make crumbs - bread, graham, place in a ziplock bag, then roll with rolling pin. * Of course rinse and reuse it *Clean-up - Rub grater with oil before using it, then it will wipe clean. *Odors - To take foul odors out of plastic containers, fill with black & white newspaper, cover overnight. *Sinks - To clean out stains, line bottom with paper towels, them pour on bleach. Let stand for 1/2 an hour, then wipe clean. *Sinks - To remove water spots from stainless steel, wipe with rubbing alcohol or white vinegar. *Soap - If you buy bars of soap that are rectangular instead of curved, cut them in half crossways because then they won't break in half before they're worn down. *Soap - Unwrap bars of soap and leave to dry for several months before using them. It really does make a bar last a lot longer.

I usually start baking my Christmas Cookies a few weeks before Thanksgiving. I make them and freeze them in November so I don't have alot of baking to do in December which gives me more time to shop or relax. I also put cookies in tins and keep them in a root cellar I have in the basement, actually it was an empty room between the basement and old coal storage room. Its very cool there and the cookies don't spoil at all.

My mom makes this simple four ingredients cookie that cuts into bars. Some of you may have made it. Graham Kracker Brownie 1 Box of Honey Graham Crackers 2 cans of sweetened condensed milk 1 bag of semisweet chocolate morsels Crush 1 box of Honey Grahams into tiny chunks. Mix together in a large Bowl: Crush graham crackers 2 cans of condensed sweetened milk and add the package of chocolate chips. Mix well and bake in an oblong glass cake pan for 40 minutes or until golden brown on top at 350 degrees. Take out of oven, let the brownie cool then slice into bars and I freeze mine in baggies. I also add chopped walnuts to the mixture sometimes. This is a very rich bar cookie.

Well we have this tradition that happens all the time but has special meaning for us on all the holidays. Every year we volunteer to serve a free Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner, cook and whatever else anyone needs help with cleanup and hand out gifts to the homeless, the seniors or anyone whose alone on the holidays. There are several adults who volunteer at our local high school where the students plan these dinners. I especially like Christmas because we pass out new toys, new coats, mittens and scarfs and blankets and other little gifts and stockings to each person who comes to the dinner. Its like one big family that gets together and its great. I volunteer at the soup kitchen at a local church at lunch hours three times a week so this is nothing new to me. After the annual community dinners are done we come home with some donated pies, turkey,gravy, rolls, stuffing, potatoes veggies, cranberry and applesauce and have our own dinner. I might add that we also go Christmas Caroling every year Christmas week before Christmas with all our neighbors. We all pile in old fashion cutters pulled by horses and visit the different homes in our area. We always get invited in for cookies and hot chocolate and pick up a few stragglers to join our motley group of singers. We have alot of fun and this tradition is a favorite of all who we visit. Everyone looks forward to our caroles each year. I forgot to add we are dressed in Victorian Costume which adds to the flavor of the group. The only thing I hate about my outfit is that darn corset. I feel like a plump blueberry getting ready to be juiced wearing that thing. [This message has been edited by reci (edited November 04, 2002).]

A big WAVE across the Pond to you Stargirl! Nice to make your acquaintence!

Hey Cookie, nice to see you back!

Debbielee your cats eyes are bloodshot on my screen- no kidding- I have to adjust something here- Yikes-

I always cleaned my ears with q-tips until my doctor told me not to. The only time I didn't pay attention to her is when I had to see her so I cleaned my ears as best I could without the q-tips and as she is examining my ears I see her wiping off the scope and I asked her what she was doing and she said wiping ear wax off the tip of the scope. Totally embarrassing. I didn't listen to her so called waxy words of wisdom after that waxy visit and I am back to using the tips.

They are running Frontier House again on our local PBS station. Even though I taped it when it was first on I am watching it over on television. Watching this program sure beats watching some of the other junk thats on tv. I was ticked when CBS pulled Dr. Quinn off the air without explanation. Now the regular stations are plastered with violence and more violence. We get enough violence happening in real life and the tv shows giving us more. Who needs it!

Lots of great big HUGS to you D! ------------------