From Sundy:
Something to consider:
"What I must do is all that concerns me, not what the people think....you will always find those who think they know what is your duty better than you know it. It is easy in the world to live after the world's opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude."
~~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Wish it green!
From Sundy:
A few weeks ago, I was taking my (now adult) sons in the car on some errands. While we were stopped at a red light, I suddenly remembered when they were little and fighting in the backseat.
I had been at my wits' end one day with all of their yelling and carrying-on. I was ready to pull my hair out just to distract them from whatever three year olds fight about. Then I realized I could distract them another way.
"Hey! Hey, boys!" They looked up at my eyes peering at them through the rear-view mirror. "Look, the lights red, guys....can you wish it green for me?" And we'd all stare at the light, silently wishing it green. (Ah...the silence was BEAUTIFUL!)
Of course, it always worked! :)
A few weeks ago, I was taking my (now adult) sons in the car on some errands. While we were stopped at a red light, I suddenly remembered when they were little and fighting in the backseat.
I had been at my wits' end one day with all of their yelling and carrying-on. I was ready to pull my hair out just to distract them from whatever three year olds fight about. Then I realized I could distract them another way.
"Hey! Hey, boys!" They looked up at my eyes peering at them through the rear-view mirror. "Look, the lights red, guys....can you wish it green for me?" And we'd all stare at the light, silently wishing it green. (Ah...the silence was BEAUTIFUL!)
Of course, it always worked! :)
Window Washing
From Sundy:
Actually, this one is from my Mom! :) Thanks for reading and contributing, Mom!
"Here's a tip for washing really dirty windows on the outside. It works well for car windshields too. You'll need a window squeegee, dishwashing liquid (JOY), paper towels,any old clean rag and a bucket.
"Put one capful of dishwashing liquid in about a half gallon ofwater, swish some. Using any old clean rag, wipe over the window with the soapy water. If it is a large window, split it up in sections, working top to bottom.
"After you wash over the window with the mixture, use your squeegee -- one swipe -- then wipe the squeegee with the towel and swipe again. As long as you dry the squeegee after each swipe, you won't have streaks and no smears, because the JOY is cutting through the grime that has built up on your windows.
WINDEX? SAVE YOUR MONEY! This does a better job."
Actually, this one is from my Mom! :) Thanks for reading and contributing, Mom!
"Here's a tip for washing really dirty windows on the outside. It works well for car windshields too. You'll need a window squeegee, dishwashing liquid (JOY), paper towels,any old clean rag and a bucket.
"Put one capful of dishwashing liquid in about a half gallon ofwater, swish some. Using any old clean rag, wipe over the window with the soapy water. If it is a large window, split it up in sections, working top to bottom.
"After you wash over the window with the mixture, use your squeegee -- one swipe -- then wipe the squeegee with the towel and swipe again. As long as you dry the squeegee after each swipe, you won't have streaks and no smears, because the JOY is cutting through the grime that has built up on your windows.
WINDEX? SAVE YOUR MONEY! This does a better job."
Friday, September 26, 2008
Let's talk gravy!
From Sundy:
I remember when I absolutely despised cooking. Mostly, it was a confidence thing. I had no clue what to do! In fact, I was teased unmercifully by my college roommates if I had to refer to a cookbook on those rare occasions that I attempted to cook something. And because I didn't have any practice at cooking, those meals were generally not all that tasty. Vicious circle of self-doubt there!
Then when I became a parent and my children were smaller, I didn't think I had the time or the know-how to make a meal from scratch. I know now that I simply needed to learn a few basics and practice, practice, practice. I'm not saying I'm a fabulous cook, but I do get compliments from time to time now. :)
One of the most versatile basics of cooking that I learned was how to make gravy from scratch.
I know, I know...some of you are probably thinking the same things that I did. "Mine always has lumps in it" or "Mine usually just tastes like flour" or "But the mix is so EASY!" Making gravy, once you get the basics down pat, is super easy and quick, too...and you just have to remember that the key secret is constant whisking. I taught my son (over the phone) how to make it when he was 13, and he mastered it fairly quickly.
The Better Times webzine has a great webpage on gravy and all of it's variations, such as cheese sauce, mornay sauce, etc. Here are the basics for white gravy.
You are going to use equal amounts of butter and flour (usually 1 to 3 tablespoons of each) to each cup of milk. And yes, you can substitute margarine or oil or pan drippings, but no, you cannot make it in the microwave. After a few times, you'll be able to "eyeball measure" the amounts. (Oh, and make sure you have your three basic ingredients with you right from the start, because once you get started, you cannot stop or you'll ruin your gravy. Don't worry...it really only takes a couple of minutes.)
Are you ready? Go!
1. Melt the butter over medium heat in a saucepan, then whisk in the flour.
2. Slowly pour in the milk, whisking the entire time. (Better Times suggests removing the pan from the heat, then pouring in the milk, then returning to the heat, but I've never had a problem keeping it on the heat.)
3. Keep whisking over the heat, until your gravy begins to thicken. Spice to taste.
Refer to the gravy page on Better Times for ways to vary this recipe to make brown gravy, cheese sauce, etc. :) They also list a gravy rescue method, just in case your gravy doesn't thicken the way you want it.
Remember: Constant Whisking! :)
I remember when I absolutely despised cooking. Mostly, it was a confidence thing. I had no clue what to do! In fact, I was teased unmercifully by my college roommates if I had to refer to a cookbook on those rare occasions that I attempted to cook something. And because I didn't have any practice at cooking, those meals were generally not all that tasty. Vicious circle of self-doubt there!
Then when I became a parent and my children were smaller, I didn't think I had the time or the know-how to make a meal from scratch. I know now that I simply needed to learn a few basics and practice, practice, practice. I'm not saying I'm a fabulous cook, but I do get compliments from time to time now. :)
One of the most versatile basics of cooking that I learned was how to make gravy from scratch.
I know, I know...some of you are probably thinking the same things that I did. "Mine always has lumps in it" or "Mine usually just tastes like flour" or "But the mix is so EASY!" Making gravy, once you get the basics down pat, is super easy and quick, too...and you just have to remember that the key secret is constant whisking. I taught my son (over the phone) how to make it when he was 13, and he mastered it fairly quickly.
The Better Times webzine has a great webpage on gravy and all of it's variations, such as cheese sauce, mornay sauce, etc. Here are the basics for white gravy.
You are going to use equal amounts of butter and flour (usually 1 to 3 tablespoons of each) to each cup of milk. And yes, you can substitute margarine or oil or pan drippings, but no, you cannot make it in the microwave. After a few times, you'll be able to "eyeball measure" the amounts. (Oh, and make sure you have your three basic ingredients with you right from the start, because once you get started, you cannot stop or you'll ruin your gravy. Don't worry...it really only takes a couple of minutes.)
Are you ready? Go!
1. Melt the butter over medium heat in a saucepan, then whisk in the flour.
2. Slowly pour in the milk, whisking the entire time. (Better Times suggests removing the pan from the heat, then pouring in the milk, then returning to the heat, but I've never had a problem keeping it on the heat.)
3. Keep whisking over the heat, until your gravy begins to thicken. Spice to taste.
Refer to the gravy page on Better Times for ways to vary this recipe to make brown gravy, cheese sauce, etc. :) They also list a gravy rescue method, just in case your gravy doesn't thicken the way you want it.
Remember: Constant Whisking! :)
Homemade Essential Oils
From Aliisa:
I began wondering the other day if there was a way to make my own essential oils since they are so expensive. It would be nice to put them in my laundry soap or in the dishwashing soap and have wonderful smelling stuff. So I did some research and here is a site that tells you how to do it. I started a very small batch today with orange peel since I had some oranges in the house. I dont know how it will turn out, but if it does...wow that would be an inexpensive solution. If you want to try it, click here for the website.
I began wondering the other day if there was a way to make my own essential oils since they are so expensive. It would be nice to put them in my laundry soap or in the dishwashing soap and have wonderful smelling stuff. So I did some research and here is a site that tells you how to do it. I started a very small batch today with orange peel since I had some oranges in the house. I dont know how it will turn out, but if it does...wow that would be an inexpensive solution. If you want to try it, click here for the website.
Me and the Wii
From Aliisa:
Yesterday we broke down and made a not so frugal purchase...we bought a Nintendo Wii. So here I am today at almost 4pm in the afternoon, I havent gotten much done on the house and Im just now sitting down to blog but I assure you, my Wii has gotten much attention today...*lol* I have had to literally pry myself and my daughter away from the games to get something done but oh how much fun we have had. We have spent much time standing in front of the tv and bowling, playing golf and baseball and we have even gotten out our little steering wheels and drove on the great tracks, racing around like nascar drivers looking like Mario and Luigi. Thank God tonight is family night so I dont have to have an excuse to play our video games *lol*
Yesterday we broke down and made a not so frugal purchase...we bought a Nintendo Wii. So here I am today at almost 4pm in the afternoon, I havent gotten much done on the house and Im just now sitting down to blog but I assure you, my Wii has gotten much attention today...*lol* I have had to literally pry myself and my daughter away from the games to get something done but oh how much fun we have had. We have spent much time standing in front of the tv and bowling, playing golf and baseball and we have even gotten out our little steering wheels and drove on the great tracks, racing around like nascar drivers looking like Mario and Luigi. Thank God tonight is family night so I dont have to have an excuse to play our video games *lol*
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Dishwashing Detergent Recipe
From Aliisa:
I did some research last night on how to make detergent for the dishwasher. I came across alot of recipes but many talked about a film left on their dishes. I dont know about you but I would rather pay the money for the stuff at the store than deal with a film left on my dishes. Then I came across one that talked about the film and what to do to solve it. Apparently you need Citric Acid. So here is the recipe I found:
To use, put a tablespoon or so into each cup of your dishwasher.
Im almost out of dishwashing detergent so I will be trying this out very soon. I will let you know the verdict.
I did some research last night on how to make detergent for the dishwasher. I came across alot of recipes but many talked about a film left on their dishes. I dont know about you but I would rather pay the money for the stuff at the store than deal with a film left on my dishes. Then I came across one that talked about the film and what to do to solve it. Apparently you need Citric Acid. So here is the recipe I found:
Dishwasher Detergent
In a plastic container with a firmly fitting lid, mix:
In a plastic container with a firmly fitting lid, mix:
1 cup borax (20-Mule-Team Borax, available in any supermarket)
1 cup baking soda
1/4 cup salt
1/4 cup citric acid (available in brewing stores among other places--if you haven't tracked it down yet but must try this formula, use two packets of Lemonade-Flavored Kool-Aid, ONLY lemon, or you'll dye your dishwasher! and ONLY unsweetened Kool-Aid!)
30 drops citrus essential oil--lemon, grapefruit, orange, tangerine, or a mixture
Put all of it in the container, shake it up.
Put all of it in the container, shake it up.
To use, put a tablespoon or so into each cup of your dishwasher.
Im almost out of dishwashing detergent so I will be trying this out very soon. I will let you know the verdict.
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