Homemaking Insight

Dishwasher Detergent

2010-09-07T13:24:00.000-07:00

I have a stainless steel dishwasher and some times the cups and dishes are really cloudy. I know you can buy jet dry but it is expensive. I have found that a clothes softer does amazing. I just use the white king and put about 1 tbsp. in. It works very well. I use it for a couple of times then stop using it. Let my dishwasher run without it until it starts to get cloudy again. Then I add it for a few days again. You will love it.

Making Fruit Leather

2010-08-03T12:26:00.000-07:00

I have been making a lot of apricot leather lately. I have found that if you use honey or Karo syrup to sweeten your leather with, it will make it nice and soft. Sugar tends to make it brittle. Also I had about 1/8 to 1/4 tsp. of lemon or about 1/4 cup pineapple juice to help it keep that wonderful orange color. I add about 1/4 cup of honey or more according to your taste. It is tart but very delicious. I put it on my tampoline to dry on cookie sheets that are lined with plasic wrap. I put two long sheets of plastic wrap on the sheet and make sure they are stuck together in the center or at least laying over each other well. I blanch my apricots and the skin slids right off. If the skin doesn't come off I use them with the skin on. They can only give more fiber to the body. Then I put it in my blender and blend it with everything I add, then pour it on the cookie sheets. Good luck in making some beautiful leather.

Save On Cilantro and Parsley

2010-02-12T20:36:00.000-08:00

I find that I can put cilantro and parsley in the freezer when have used what I need. Because I can cook with them or put them in dressings right out of the freezer. It is a great way to preserve the great flavor of each of these wondeful herbs.

Stains.

2009-12-30T13:54:00.000-08:00

I have found that they no longer make detergents with phosphates. You need to mix a little dishwashing detergent with water and lay your shirt in it. Don't leave it to long because it will cause the shirt to be really white, whiter than a white shirt. You will hate it and wish you had not donte it. So only leave it for about 5 hours. After a while you need to rub some napha soap on it and scrub it for a minute between two hands. Leave for another 1/2 hour. Then take some soda and hydrogen preoxide and make a paste with them. You rub that into the stain good, then let the shirt sit in the mixture over night. It takes everything out.

Yellow Stains Under the Arms

2009-12-30T13:53:00.000-08:00

After much experimentation I found the solution to the Stains we all have. If any of you need this just let me know. I can share it.

Lice

2009-12-30T13:51:00.001-08:00

I have the solution for getting rid of lice. If anyone out there needs this solution, make a comment. It is done with simple house items. I discovered it while living in Florida, because we had such a problem.

Cleaning Solution For Mold

2009-12-30T13:46:00.000-08:00

My daughter just moved into a new apartment. She opened the refrigerator and there was mold growing inside. I know how upsetting that can be. I use to live in Florida and there was mold growing in my shower weekly so I used this little tip. Mix 1/2 cup of vinegar to 1/2 cup of bleach in 1 quart of water. You can cut it in half if you would like. Put it in a spray bottle and quickly squirt on the effected area. Leave for 1/2 hour then go back and whip it right off. I loved this, it saved me a lot of time.

Fungis on Toes

2009-12-06T19:41:00.000-08:00

I don't know if any of you out there has a terrible fungas on your toe, but I do. I would like an answer to cure this. I just heard of a new one. It is to take listerne and soak your toe in it for 15 minutes for 3 days. Then let your toe nail grow out. I hope that it works. If any one wants to try it out with me. Let me know how it works.

Miracle For Unlite Christmas Lights

2009-12-06T19:35:00.000-08:00

If any of you have ever had the frustration of decorating your tree with all those beautiful lights and sudden find a strand that no longer lights, I can feel your pain. But my daughter told me of a miracle that will help this. It is found at Lowe's. It is a little gun. You shot it into one of the unlit bulbs 3 times. Plug back in your lights and low and behold a miracle has happen. You have your lights working again. She tried it and told a friend about it. It is truly a miracle. Especially if you have a 12 foot lite tree. Thank-you for the modern conveniences of this world.

Cleaning Those Hard To Clean Pans

2009-12-01T23:06:00.000-08:00

Have you ever had those pans that you hate to clean. The ones that you burn hashbrowns on the bottom, of you burn eggs. Actually a pan that you burn anything in. Put a dryer sheet with hot water in the pan and cook it for a couple of minutes, then it will easily come clean.

Thanksgiving Over

2009-11-27T09:45:00.000-08:00

Now that Thanksgiving is over we boil the turkey carcass, pull any meat off. Pour broth and meat into a ziplock bag and freeze it. Later I will us it for turkey noodle soup. That is when my children are no longer sick of turkey. It is a great way to have something ready for a quick soup.

Coconut Cream Pie

2009-11-25T22:19:00.000-08:00

I make the filling for the coconut cream pie the night before Thanksgiving. It needs to cool. So when it is done I put it in a bowl and lay plastic wrap right against the pudding, then it won't get the hard nasty stuff on the top.

Thanksgiving

2009-11-25T22:15:00.000-08:00

We are preparing for Thanksgiving right now. It is fun to learn new and different things. I make my own stuffing out of bread that I have made. I cut it up and then cook it on 350 degrees for about 10 minutes. Then I check it and and mix it up. I do the 10 minute thing then check it. Sometimes it takes about 40 minutes at 10 minute intervals. Other times it takes less, but it dries it out beautifully. So your stuffing will be fantastic, and it is all home made.

White Vinegar

2009-09-01T19:29:00.000-07:00

There are many uses for vinegar. It can make a salad taste better. If you add a little, like a teaspoon it enhances the good flavor. It also can be added to apples to make a good apple butter. But when I was a child and there wasn't much cream rinse to rinse your hair with in our house. We always use white vinegar.

Buttermilk or Sour Milk

2009-08-24T16:12:00.000-07:00

If your recipe calls for Buttermilk or Sour Milk you can add a teaspoon of vinger or lemon to one glass of liquid and accomplish the same thing.

Cobwebs

2009-08-24T16:08:00.000-07:00

Take one of your little floor mops and wrap a couple of dryer sheets around it. You can reach high places and it will remove dust or cobwebs that you have in the corners.

Windows

2009-08-24T16:06:00.000-07:00

I have spent the last few weeks cleaning all the windows in my house. I've learned alot in doing this, you can get hard water deposits off of your windows if you will fill a spray bottle full of white vinegar and of course one with your ammonia. I put 2 tbsp. of ammonia to 1 pint of water. You can also add about the same amount of white vinegar to the ammonia if you have no hard water deposits. It is also great for any crome around the house or mirrors. Saves a lot of time.

Clean black scuff marks off your floor

2009-08-24T16:03:00.000-07:00

My son just got home from Russia. My husband was talking about how difficult it is to get scuff marks off the stairs he was having to clean. My son piped up and said, that is easy. Just use a tennis ball. He said they attach them to the end of a stick in Russia and they rub their floors with them. It will take the marks right off. I wonder if you can do this same thing on your doors. I will have to try it.

Rice and Noodles

2009-06-30T13:54:00.000-07:00

An easy way to warm up your rice or noodles is to put them in a colander, put them in the sink and run really hot water over them. The hottest that the sink in the water can get. It will warm them up quickly and you don't have to take a lot of time to do it.

Great Taste To Plain Noodles

2009-06-30T13:50:00.000-07:00

This is a great thing that my son-in-law taught me about plain noodles. A lot of the time I have left over noodles in the refrigerator with nothing to pour over them. My son-in-law put some butter on the burner in a pan and scorched it. To that he added a lot of pepper and a little salt, then he warmed the noodles and dumped the fried butter over the noodles. It was incredible.

CHILDREN WIILL EAT CARROTS

2009-06-30T13:44:00.000-07:00

This is a simple thing that my son-in-law has taught me. When he cooks carrots he adds a little honey to them. In the water he cooks the carrots he adds a couple of Tbsp. of honey. Honey is extremely good for you. Try it you will like it. It will make your children eat them, and both ingredients are very nutritious for them.

Substitute for Unsweetened Chocolate

2009-06-30T13:38:00.000-07:00

When a recipe calls for unsweetend chocolate. This is an easy substitute. Melt 3 Tbsp. of butter on your oven burner on a low temperature so it does not scorch. To this add 1 Tbsp. of cocoa. Each Tbsp. of cocoa with butter added will make one square of your Unsweeted chocolate.

Apricot Jam

2009-06-30T10:57:00.000-07:00

I know that you already know how fun apricot jam is and how good it tastes, but try it will some pineapple juice in it. It makes a fantastic flavor. I know that people use pineapple in it, but I prefer pineapple juice. To the ground fruit that was needed I added about 1/6 the amount in pineapple juice. Makes a new a exciting jam.

Jams

2009-06-30T10:46:00.000-07:00

I have been making jam lately. I found out something that I didn't know before and I am sure you will appreciate this information. I've been traveling a little this last month and have been to St. George on several occasions. I and my daughter were looking around the graveyard there and my daughter showed me some plum trees in the graveyard. She said, "These are flowering plum trees and everyone thinks that the plums are poisonous. They are not, you can use them for jam. Just pull the steams off and cook them on the stove until they are soft. then dump the juice off and smash the rest of the fruit, then strain this part. It makes excellent tart jam." She said, "No one knows about it, all people do is curse them because they fall and make a mess. "It takes a few years for the flowering plum trees to become mature enough to produce fruit, but they do. They look like a Bing Cherries, they even have a stem like a Bing Cherries. Now you can steam them, if you have a steamer, but this jam will become your favorite. I make syrup out of it as well.

Making A Great Summer Drink

2009-06-30T10:26:00.000-07:00

We have created the greatest summer drink, you will become addicted. You take two lemons and peel them with a knife. You can leave all the white on the lemon, you don't have to make it perfect. Throw the 2 lemons in your blender and blend them up a little water about 1/2 cup and add 1/3 to 1/2 cup of sugar depended on how sweet you like it. Then fill your blender with ice. Put water up to about 1 inch away from the top of the ice. Now make sure your blender is full to about 2 inches from the top of the blender because it needs space to blend. Blend this really good just like a good smoothie. After it is blender add 10 fresh mint leaves. I use peppermint. You can find it growing wild everywhere. Blend. The greatest refreshing drink, you will thoroughly enjoy.

Ribbons

2009-05-29T22:15:00.000-07:00

Ribbons can be very pretty on little girls dresses and in their hair, but the bad thing with them is that they fray and began to look very nasty. The easy way to cause them not to fray is to cover the very end in clear finger nail polish. It works wonderfully.

Babies Sore Bottoms

2009-05-29T21:59:00.000-07:00

When my children were little a lot of times when I changed their diapers their little bottoms would really be sore. I used some of the store boughten remedies out there but sometimes the creams would feed the sore. I found that the best thing to do was just sprinkle corn starch on it. It would dry out their little bottoms out and make the sores better faster.

Making Bubbles

2009-05-14T17:47:00.000-07:00

We made bubbles with our children when they were little. My daughter got into it again with her children, thanks to her mother-in-law. But she found a new recipe, we have always used glycerin, but it is super expensive. She found a recipe with corn syrup. It is 1/2 cup corn syrup, 1/2 cup detergent and one gallon of water. Then you can use hangers and make the biggest bubbles ever. Your children will love them.

Yellow Stains Under Arms

2009-04-23T11:26:00.000-07:00

We have discovered the greatest thing for this bad stain. If you take 3 aspirin mix them with 1 Tbsp of cream of tartar and 1/2 glass of water, this will make kind of a paste. Rub this on the stain and let it sit for 24 hours. Then wash as normal. If you can put it in the sun for awhile it will help. Now I have tried this on my husbands white shirts. The stains are old. I have done it twice and each time they have faded a little bit more. I think by the 3rd time they will be gone, so it will depend on how long the stain has been there. If they are new one time should do it. Go ahead experiment, you will be amazed.

Unwanted Pet Hair

2009-04-20T09:13:00.000-07:00

Put a plastic glove over your hand and rub your furniture or wherever the dog hair happens to be. Then it will not stick, you can vacuum it right off. It is amazing. No more dog hair.

Cheap Oatmeal for Breakfast Ideas

2009-04-17T10:39:00.000-07:00

Items you will need: 3 cups oats (quick works the best), salt, sugar, 8 small zip lock bags or sandwich bags: Blend l cup of oats in a food processor or a blender on high until it is powdery. Set this aside. Then put the following into each baggie. Add 1/4 cup plus 2 Tbsp of the regular oatmeal, add 2 Tbsp of the flour oatmeal you have just ground. Add 1/8 tsp. salt. Add 1 Tbsp of sugar then put in your bag. When you cook it dump into a bowl and add 1/2 cup of water. Microwave for 1 minute in the microwave. Now if you like it a little more moisture in it you can add a little more water, up to 2/3 of a cup. Some fun things for you to try is as follows: Cinnamon sugar, add 1 Tbsp brown sugar and 1/2 tsp of cinnamon. For raisin just add 1 Tbsp of raisin. You can add about anything that you would like wheat germ, or nuts or coffee creamer, or even dried fruit, craisins just anything you would like to add. In all of these cases just add one Tbsp of your choice. Have fun with this one. It can save yourselves a lot of money.

Sewing Threads

2009-03-31T17:18:00.000-07:00

When sewing I find myself needing to unpick occassionally. When that happens there are always little threads that I need to clean off the fabric. I find that using a lint roller is so much easier than taking the time to pick each little thread off.

Kitchen Cabinets

2009-03-20T08:22:00.000-07:00

I hate the dirt that seems to accumulate on Kitchen Cabinet's. So I have been trying different products to get the grim off. I finally found the answer, it is alcohol. Just take a rag and dump straight alcohol on it and rub. Be careful not to rub to hard or you may take off more than you want. But rub hard enough to get the grime off. Don't be afraid, you will find out how much to rub pretty easy.

Adding Things At The Right Time

2009-03-07T13:52:00.000-08:00

I make a lot of soups with sour cream in them, and Parmesan cheese or other cheeses. Here is a little tid-bit where that is concerned. Make sure your soup is completely cooked before you add these ingredients. Make sure the soup or sauce is on medium and no longer needs to boil. You will not have the soup with curds in it, or little lumps. It will be perfectly smooth.

Potato's In Refrigerator

2009-03-03T18:51:00.000-08:00

I have a problem because I often have mashed potato's left over, put them in my refrigerator and forget they are there. When I remember I find they are bad. I have found a solution to this problem if you are having the same problem. I take the potato's form them into a patty and fry them in a little butter. I put the patty in a piece of plastic wrap and wrap it up. I re-wrap it to be safe. I stick it in the freezer. When I pull it out I warm it in the microwave for about 2 minutes. The greatest potato's you will want to eat for a snack, or lunch or whatever you chose to eat it for. Great Potato's

Don't Let Your Rice Go Bad

2009-03-03T17:33:00.000-08:00

I have found an amazing way to keep your left over rice good. I use to have a large family but they are leaving my home quit fast, so I am always making to much food. I put it in the refrigerator and leave it, it ends out going bad. I have found a solution to this problem. I take a large spoon of left over rice and lay it on a piece of plastic wrap and wrap it. Then I wrap it again so it is double. It is the amount that you would consider a single serving. I then freeze it in the freezer and when I need rice again I pull out the individual packages and microwave one rice packet for 1 1/2 minutes. So I can eat rice at any time and enjoy it hot. I can be ready to eat in seconds.

Pudding

2009-03-03T15:28:00.000-08:00

If you make pudding and put it into the refrigerator you will find that it gets a funny film on the top. To prevent that just put your saran wrap against the pudding its self. It will solve your problem.

Garlic

2009-03-03T15:21:00.000-08:00

You cannot get the full flavor of Garlic unless you cook it first. I find myself not loving garlic, all that well. I've found that the flavor can be amazing if you will follow this simple rule. Cook it before you put it into things that are not be cooked, like salsa. Melt some butter or use a little olive oil then put your minced garlic in it and cook it for 8-10 minutes. What ever you do don't turn your stove above simmer. It will scorch the garlic. It doesn't matter how much your recipe calls for, cook it and then put it in your recipe. You will absolutely love the flavor. Try it you will like it. If you are cooking with garlic in a casserole or something else, just make sure whatever it is you cook that thing for 8-10 minutes

Potato's

2009-02-27T12:33:00.000-08:00

We have some potato's that we bought in 50 lb bags. They are starting to grow because we can't eat them fast enough. We took them peeled them all and shredded them and blanched them for 3 minutes,(check carrots on my blog to learn this process)rinsed them under cold water, in a colander to get them good and cold. It will rinse the starch off as well and make them so they are not sticky. We then put them in freezer bags. I now have hash browns that can be cooked in minutes, or I can use them in quiche, or funeral potatoes. I think they call them that because they are often found at funeral lunches. It can make things to make for dinner, or others a whole lot faster.

Carrots

2009-02-27T12:29:00.001-08:00

We have had carrots in our garden all winter long. They are huge. But as the spring comes the ground becomes warmer and we know that we need to get the carrots out of the ground to start a new garden. The problem is is that there are so many of them that we can't use them all. So my dear husband pulled them all up peeled them and sliced them. Then we blanched them for 3 minutes, put them in a collander and get all the hot water off of them and cool them. I usually rinse them in the collander in cold water. Put them in freezer bags, and into the freezer they go. Now to blanch something you just put it on the stove. Fill water over it and boil it. Once it hits the boiling point you time for 3 minutes. Amazing! Then you can pull them out any time and use them in about anything you would like. In stews, or just as a vegetable. In a chicken pot pie. Enjoy.

Our Children Are Special

2009-02-21T19:26:00.000-08:00

Over many years of raising children I have found that positive reinforcement works. My daughter called me a few days ago and announced that it really works for her. She said her little boy loves to help her. She is always saying, "You are my best little boy." Suddenly he wants to do more, and proceeds to help her all day long. My suggestion to you today is give those little ones a lot of positive reinforcement and miracles will happen for you.

Making Pie Crust Easy

2009-02-21T19:00:00.000-08:00

To make pie crust easier takes a few things. This is what I use. Take your rolling pin and put an old nylon sock on it. I take my old pant hoes wash them. Cut off one of the legs and and pull it over the end of your rolling pin and tie it in a knot at the other end. This will make it so that your pie crust won't stick to the rolling pin. Then take a piece of wax paper sprinkle some flour on it and put your piece of dough on it and roll it out. Then when you have it all rolled out to the shape you want, take the wax paper fold it in half, then pull bake the wax paper. Take the dough at the side and fold it again, so it is in fourths. Pick up your piece of dough lay it in the pie pan and unfold it. Perfect. Then make sure it is in the pie crust nice, and cut off excess edges.

Kneading Bread

2009-02-18T10:15:00.000-08:00

When making bread in a mixer you need to be aware of how long the bread is being kneaded in the machine, because if you knead whole wheat bread to long it will actually break down the gluten and make it seem as though it was never really kneaded. (I have the Bosch Mixer. You can get the Bosch Mixer in two different sizes. One is the Compact which will make 3 loaves and the other is the Universal which will make 6 loaves. If you are interested in one. I am a distrubutor. Just send me a comment we will work out the details and I can get you one.) Knead your whole wheat bread for 10 minutes, knead your half white and half whole wheat for 7 minutes. Knead your white bread for 5 minutes. Don't over knead it. (I also sell a cookbook on E-bay that is used for the Bosch Mixers and the Nutri Mill. It is $12.99 and is excellent. ) Just watch how much you knead bread and the end result will be amazing.

Saving Money

2009-02-16T13:22:00.000-08:00

My daughter went to Thrift Store and bought a mans shirt so she could create herself a shirt. She picked out one she thought would work, here is how she did it and what she came up with. It is an easy way to save money. You look like you have just gone out an purchased your shirt form an expensive clothing store.

TRANSFORMATION OF A T-SHIRT

Lately I have been turning old ugly items of clothing to something new and more interesting. I found this men's large t-shirt at the thrift store for 1.99. I laid it flat and laid one a t-shirt that fit me on top of it. Then I just went to town cutting.

I trimmed the t-shirt fabric from the ribbing.

Then I quartered the ribbing and the neck of the t-shirt. Then I stretched and sewed the ribbing back into the neck. Then I sewed the side seams.

Then I gathered the top and bottom of the sleeve. I reattached the sleeve into the t-shirt. Then I took the little piece I trimmed from the bottom of the sleeve and used it as ribbing for the bottom of the sleeve. I cut this piece big enough to fit my arm and then sewed right sides together. Then re-attached the piece to the gathered base of the sleeve.

And easy as pie you have a new fitted t-shirt with a cute sleeve. Have fun experimenting with t-shirts. If you have any questions, hollar.

Green, Red, Yellow Or Orange Peppers

2009-02-16T12:53:00.000-08:00

They are excellent for the body. There is a lot more vitamin C in these great vegetables, then there is in oranges. So I found them on sell the other day for 20 cents a piece. That is a great deal especially since most of the time they are $1.50 a piece. We bought about 4 bags of them, sliced them and froze them in the freezer. When you take them out you can cut them smaller or just use them as they are. A great way to save some money.

Get Rid Of Pin Worms

2009-02-16T12:48:00.000-08:00

It sounds a bit disgusting but unfortunately it happens. We lived in Florida for a while and yes my kids picked up pin worms playing in the sand. I was frustrated with running to buy something that I didn't want to give my children so I talked to someone at an Herb store. They told me it is so simple just buy some flax seed and have your children eat a handful every day. The Flax seed is very slippery and it will carry the pin worms right out of the body. Try it, it was a life saver for me.

Sewing

2009-02-16T12:43:00.000-08:00

I have been taking some drapes and cutting them off so they will be shorter. I had to sew a 3 inch seam in them for the rod pocket. I realized that may sewing machine doesn't have a mark to sew at 3 inches. So I marked 3 inches out from the needle and put a long piece of masking tape. It makes it so much easier to sew and I never get off, when it comes to the 3 inches that I need

Apple Pies

2009-02-03T12:29:00.000-08:00

For years I have made apple pies. My family loves them. I have found a way to make them much cheaper than I use too. I use to go to the store and buy the apples fresh, or buy pie filling from the store which I couldn't take because it was way to sweet and spicy, so here is your answer. When apples are in season I buy about 5 bushel. The ones I love the most we can't seem to find, they are the yellow transparent, so I use golden delicious anything tart and yet sweet. Sometimes you can even get them free if people are sick of them. I bought my own glass bottles years ago and do a lot of canning in the summer. So I take the glass bottles fill them as full of the apples as I can and then fill them up with hot water. That's right hot water, no sugar! Then I Waterbath Can them. Bring them to a boil and boil them for 10 minutes. All during the year I can use them. I take the bottled apples dump the water off of them in a pitcher than pour the apples in a pan. When I do this I make about do about 6 quarts this makes 4-10 inch apple pies. I add anywhere from 3/4 cup of sugar to a full cup depended on how sweet the apples are. You can taste them to decide. Then I add about 1 cup of flour. Add 1/2 tsp. of salt, 2 tsp. of cinnamon and a dash of nutmeg. I also add 4 tbsp. of lemon. It is fantastic apple pie, you will love it. Ask questions if you need any help. By the way I add a little lemon to the apple juice and drink it, it is delicious.

Acid ReFlex Disease

2009-02-03T12:22:00.000-08:00

Not a fun thing to have. You can't sleep at night unless you practically sit up. If you slide down at all opps you are running to the bathroom to throw-up. You can't eat to late or while you are sleeping you suddenly find yourself running to the bathroom to throw-up. You are burping up stuff constantly. It is not great to be the wife of someone who has to go through this, but we found the unbelieveable answer. It is so simple. Just exercise at least 4-5 times a week from 30-60 minutes. The miracle will happen for you as well. Get on that exercise machine or whatever you have available. Good times will be yours again.

Extra Vegetables From Your Garden

2009-02-02T20:31:00.000-08:00

I hate wasting food. Maybe it is because I grew up in a family of 19 and food was very important to each and every one of us. So when I have left over vegetables from my garden I dehydrate them. That usually ends out being zucchini squash, tomatoes, green peppers and others. After dehydrating them I put them in my blender turn it on high and make a vegetable powder. I keep it in my freezer in a quart jar. I take it out to put in soups for flavor. It is an amazing flavoring and talk about good for you. You will love this idea. Also if you have tomato juice you can put it in that. There you go V-8 juice. It is alot cheaper especially if you put up your tomato juice.

No More Nasty Taste

2009-02-02T20:25:00.000-08:00

When I was growing up it hated baking powder biscuits. I would not eat them. As I have grown older I have come to understand that it wasn't baking powder biscuits that I hate at all, it was the aluminum in the baking powder that was being used. If you are like me you need to look for baking powder that does not have it in. Yes there is such a thing. I've found it in Costco. I think it is Red Star. Another name brand is Rumford. Save your taste buds and reduce your chance for Aleichem's disease. Get good baking powder.

Important If You Have Children

2009-02-02T20:21:00.000-08:00

When my children were little they didn't nap very well so I had a certain time during the day where we had quiet time. I told them to go in their bedrooms and find something quiet to do, read a book, play with your toys quietly in the corner I didn't care just as long as they were quiet. When they didn't stay quiet I would tell them whatever they did it had to be on their bed and I would prefer it be to look at a book. It saved me, it was time that I had to myself so I could actually get something done.

Making Homemade Tortilla's

2009-01-26T15:28:00.000-08:00

I make my own tortilla's. It is amazing how easy they are. I have a simple recipe that makes about 50 tortilla's. You can divide it in half if you chose to do so. It is easy. Measure out 8 cups of flour in a bowl, if you have a Bosch Mixer pour it in the mixing bowl. Add 3 tsp. of salt and 2/3 cup of oil, blend together with dough hook. Then add 3 cups of hot water. As hot as you can get it out of the tap. Mix all together. If you have a Bosch Mixer mix enough to get all the liquid mixed into the flour. Do not over mix, I can't stress that enough. Do not over mix. Just mix until flour is all mixed in. If you are doing it by hand do the same. Make sure the dough is very soft. You may have to add another tiny bit of hot water. About 2 tbsp. Your next step is to form into balls. About the size of a golf ball. Let them all sit covered for about 30 minutes. Then roll them out. A little rolling pin is the greatest thing to use. Because you can actually make them into a circle. Have fun.

Cleaning Glass Top Stoves

2009-01-26T15:24:00.000-08:00

Cream of Tartar is an excellent cleaner. Just add a little water make a paste and rub on the class top burners. Let is sit for at least 15 minutes befor you try to clean it. Make sure that your burners are a little warm when you do this, it makes things work better.

Clean Your Oven

2009-01-13T20:22:00.000-08:00

To clean an oven preheat to 200 degrees. Leave it on for about 10 minutes. Turn off the oven. Dump some ammonia into the oven and let sit for 30 minutes. Everything will wipe right off. I usually dump enough ammonia in to cover all the bad spots on the bottom of the oven.

Pink Eye or Any Eye Irriation

2009-01-10T15:16:00.000-08:00

The best remedy for this one is Boric Acid. It comes in a powder and you can find it at most pharmacies. We found it at Rit Aid. Mix a little over 2/3 of a tsp. with one cup of water. Dip a clean rag into the solution and wipe out the eye. Do this a couple of times a day. For my daughter it took one day of doing it twice. Good luck!

Amazing Muffins

2009-01-10T14:58:00.000-08:00

I have a Sister-in-law that is amazing when it comes to cooking. In a way we should all think like her. If you have a problem with something figure it out and change it. My daughter went to her house and she had incredible muffins there. She asked how did you make those. Sil answered simply well what is wrong with your muffins. Daughter answered they are dry and don't rise well. Sil said add more levening and more liquid. Here is picture and the recipe my daughter came up with for all to use.

HEALTHY PUMPKIN CHOCOLATE CHIP MUFFINS

3 cups White Wheat Flour (High altitude add 1/3 cup more)

1 1/4 cups White Sugar

2 tsp Baking Powder

2 tsp Baking Soda1

1/2 tsp Cinnamon

1 tsp Salt

1/2 tsp Nutmeg

2 Eggs

1 (15 ounce) Can Solid Pack Pumpkin

1/2 cup Unsweetened Applesauce

1/4 cup Oil

1 cup Chocolate Chips (or Walnuts, which are a great substitute!)

1 1/2 cup Warm Water

Mix together dry ingredients and wet ingredients separately. Then combine wet and dry ingredients.

Mix enough to incorporate the wet and dry ingredients. Do not over mix. Handle as little as possible once the wet and dry ingredients are combined. Then add Chocolate Chips or Walnuts to the mixture. Coat 12 average size muffin cups with nonstick cooking spray. Fill till heaping with muffin batter. Bake at 350 degrees F for 22-25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Don't open the oven door, except near the end of the cooking time to check for doneness, or stomp around the kitchen because the muffins can easily flunk. Let the muffins cool for 5 minutes before removing from the tins. Then let cool on a wire rack.

Something To Help A Headache

2009-01-10T14:50:00.000-08:00

Drink water. My son has had problems with headaches ever since he was little. If I made him sit down and get a quart of water and sip it his headache would soon disappear. I believe a headache comes from dehyration and it is the bodies way of saying I need liquid. Another way is 2 cups of Gatorade. You will notice an immediate difference.

Hints For Baking Bread

2009-01-09T20:25:00.000-08:00

When baking bread it is always best to cook on a lower temperature, because then the bread will cook from the inside to the outside. You can preheat your oven on 400 degrees, when you are ready to put the bread in turn it down to 325. Cook for 30 minutes. Of course if you are absent minded like me you can just preheat it to 350 and cook it for 30 minutes. It works great either way.

Adjust Your Cookie Recipe

2009-01-08T11:09:00.000-08:00

This comes from the cookie lady as well. In all recipes she adds equal parts of margarine, butter and shortening. This makes your cookies chewy rather that puffy or flat. So if your recipe calls for 1 cup of butter add 1/3 cup of shortening, 1/3 cup of margarine, 1/3 cup of butter. It makes them great.

Baking Cookies

2009-01-08T11:06:00.000-08:00

I have a friend and she is called the cookie lady. She makes incredible cookies. Here is a help hint that might help your cookies be better. She cooks her cookies on 400 degrees for about 8 minutes. It makes the cookie done on the outside and chewy in the middle.

A Problem With Serging Thread Constantly Breaking

2009-01-05T20:50:00.000-08:00

My daughter called me on the phone the other day and happened to be sewing while I was talking. She kept getting frustrated. I said,Why are you so frustrated? She announced that everytime she had to re-thread her serger the threads just keep breaking. I said, "Don't you know that you have to have all the threads threaded and totally seperate from each other, then make sure they are all pulled a few inches behind the pressure foot. "So each one has to start at where it is threaded all the way to the back totally seperate from the other." Well she made sure that was the case and announced, "Why haven't you ever told me that". We as a family have been sewing for years and I just assumed she knew, because she had watched me so many times. Glad I was able to help.

Threading Sergers

2009-01-05T20:43:00.000-08:00

I've worked with sergers for many years and have learned a few techniques to make threading them easier. Cut the thread close to the spools which are already attached. Then tie each new strand of thread to the old strand that is hanging, that you have cut off. The next step is either to serger them through or pull each one through seperately. The knot won't go through the small headed needles so you will have to thread them by hand. But a whole lot easier then doing all 4.