Wednesday, March 31, 2010

PILLOW CLEANING TIPS

IT'S SPRING CLEANING TIME GALS!
I saw these ideas in a Heloise column, and just in case you didn't get to read them, I thought they'd

be worth some time to share with you here. I've wondered about these things myself...

These are helpful hints for cleaning fluffy pillows:


Check the ticking to be sure it is strong and the seams are firmly sews...otherwise, you'll end up with a washer full of feathers!


Wash only two pillows at a time.


Fill the washer with water and gentle detergent FIRST, then submerge the pillows and wash for four to eight minutes. Rinse in warm water two or three times to remove all detergent.


Dry on low heat. If your pillows are all down, that could take several hours. It's better to use low heat for a longer time than high heat for a shorter time.


You can also give just the pillow cover a sponge wash with a gentle detergent and water.


Or, if you choose to have them dry-cleaned, be sure to air them out for a while before using them.

Friday, March 26, 2010

Friday, March 19, 2010

Mini Brownie Treats


This recipe will be in my cookbook - a very 'easy peasy' two ingredient recipe that everyone will love!  These go fast at bake sales...and at home too!  A small treat for school lunches.

1 package (9" X 13" pan size) fudge brownie mix
48 striped chocolate kisses, unwrapped

Preheat oven to 350. Prepare brownie mix according to package directions for fudge-like brownies.  Fill paper-lined miniature muffin cups 2/3 full.  Bake 18 - 21 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Immediately top each with a chocolate kiss.  Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.  Yield: 4 dozen yummy little treats

Linked to Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms Blog
Weekend Potluck

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Window Washing Cleaner

This is one of those valuable 'Hints from Heloise' that has been passed down from generation to generation. It not only works great, but is money-saving as well.

HOMEMADE WINDOW WASHING RECIPE


Mix 1/2 cup nonsudsing ammonia with 1/2 cup rubbing alcohol and 1 tsp. dishwashing liquid with enough water to make 1 gallon of cleaner. Put in a clearly marked spray bottle. Drying with crumpled-up newspaper will give you a streak-free window too.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Caramel Apple Salad - MMM!

A favorite! It doesn't last long at my house...there have been times I took a bite, put the spoon in the sink...grab another spoon...put it in the sink...and another...and then laugh at myself cause I just couldn't stop 'tasting' this great dish!

A great dish to serve to company - as a salad or dessert!

                                                                        

Caramel Apple Salad



1 sm. pkg. sugar free instant butterscotch pudding (dry)
20 oz can crushed pineapple, slightly drained
4 apples, unpeeled and diced
1 8-oz. tub fat free cool whip, thawed
1/2 cup chopped peanuts



Stir pudding into pineapple and stir until blended well. Add apples and cool whip. Sprinkle with peanuts just before serving. (If you stir them in, they tend to soften - yuck!)

This is my ultimate Weight Watchers recipe - and it's so quick and easy too.



Weight Watchers points - 1/2 cup = 2 points

Linked to Foodie Friends Friday

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Making Mealtime Easier

credit: Beverly & Pack
I am one who is always wanting to try a new recipe, so the biggest complaint from my family is not enough repeated meals! I know it isn't that case for very many families, so I thought I'd share some ideas to help you 'get in gear' for easier meal planning.

Use time on the weekends to plan out meals for the upcoming week.  Browse food websites and cookbooks, and ask your family to share their favorite meals. Then fill in your schedule with these suggestions.

I love the idea of planning a week's worth of meals from one cookbook - (mine is coming together nicely - hope to have it in my hands by Labor Day) make a list of the items needed (and don't forget to mark the page) as you read.  I like keeping recipes in a pile on my counter so I can quickly browse through them and see which one will suit my taste buds for that moment.


Keep a file or folder of favorite family recipes and browse through them occasionally to get a glimpse of a dish you haven't prepared in some time. 

Oh how I love US! =)

Today my Sweetie and I are celebrating 42 years of wedded bliss (well, atleast most of it has been bliss =) I'm so proud to be his helpmate and the woman in his life and just wanted to let the world know I'm thrilled to be Mrs. Ronald E. Baker! I still get goosebumps when I look at him....and am very proud of his service to our country. I surely did enjoy being a military wife. This picture was taken a couple of years ago after he spoke for a veterans day service at our county fair.  OOOOHHH - how I still love to see him in uniform...be still my heart.

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