Showing posts with label Homecraft. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Homecraft. Show all posts

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Strawberry No-Bake Cheesecake

Ingredients:
12 Graham crackers, crushed (2 c. crumbs)
6 Tbsp. margarine, melted
¼ cup, ¾ cup and 2 Tbsp. sugar, divided
4 8 oz pkgs Cream Cheese, softened
½ cup strawberry preserves
2 cups fresh strawberries, mashed
1 tub (8 oz.) Cool Whip Topping, thawed

Directions:
Mix crumbs, margarine and ¼ cup of the sugar.
Press onto bottom of 13x9 inch pan. Refrigerate.
Beat cheese and ¾ cup sugar until well blended.
Add preserves and mix well.
Mix strawberries with 2 Tbsp. sugar in small bowl.
Stir strawberries, Cool Whip into cheese mixture.
Spoon over crust, refrigerate 4 hours or until firm.
COOL USES FOR ALKA-SELTZER
•Clear drain by dropping in 4 tabs, add 1 cup vinegar, wait 15 min., add hot water.
•Clean the commode by dropping in 4 tabs, wait 20 min., swipe with a brush.
•Vases sparkle by dropping in 2 tabs, fill vase with warm water, wait then air dry.
•Soothe insect bites by covering a tab with ½” of water, apply to a bite.
•Clean casserole dishes by distributing 6 tabs, add water, wait 20 min., rinse.
•Place jewelry in a glass of water with two tabs for 5 min., rinse, dry.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

MONEY SAVING TIP

Great way to stretch your liquid hand soap. Here's How!

What You Need:

* Liquid hand soap
* Water
* Empty foaming soap dispenser
* Measuring spoons

1. Pour one tablespoon of liquid hand soap into an empty foaming soap dispenser.

2. Fill the rest of the dispenser with water (leaving a little space at the top of the container).

3. Screw on the lid and shake.

Tips:

1. Warm water works best.
2. Pump the dispenser a few times to get the foaming started.

Saturday, April 25, 2009

For those who thought they knew everything...

Most dust particles in your house are made from...
DEAD SKIN!

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Why Eggs Aren't Just for Eating

The egg is a symbol of Easter, and of rebirth, as well as one of our most versatile foods. But it is so much more…

The egg is one of the most versatile items used in cooking, but its list of uses does not really end within the borders of a frying pan.

It can be used in many other activities including arts and crafts, skin care, creation of musical instruments and even gardening. If you have plenty of spare eggs at home, you can try out the some of these cool egg-based items.

Make your life “eggciting” by enjoying the many uses of eggs.

Yolk-Based Facial Cleanser

Egg yolks are rich in Vitamin A, that moisturizes skin and keeps it healthy. Mix a couple of yolks together and add a little water. You’ll get a facial cleanser that helps delay some of the signs of aging.

White-Based Facial Cleanser

The egg white cleanser is a good supplementary material for its yolk-based counterpart. If the yolk facial cleanser prevents skin aging, the egg white cleanser smoothens the skin. It removes the puffiness beneath the eyelids, blurs the pores and makes the skin tighter. You can alternate both facial cleansers nightly for maximum results.

Shampoo

The egg is a natural moisturizer, making it a good ingredient for shampoos. To create egg shampoo, crack an egg and mix the yolk with olive oil and water. You can start using the solution once it lathers. Apply the egg shampoo on damp hair for a few minutes before rinsing. The egg’s fat and nutritional contents will add shine and bounce to your hair. This shampoo is perfect for hair damaged by pollution, chlorine and excessive sunshine.

Food Paint

If you want to add color and style to your pastries, just decorate them with egg yolk-based paint. Prepare the paint by mixing the egg yolk with 2 ml of water. Place the mixture in different containers then add food coloring to each. Now, you can paint cool patterns on your cookies right before baking them. The paint not only adds design, but it also gives your pastries a richer flavor.

Pots for Small Plants

In terms of getting nutrition, small plants often get bullied by weeds and larger plants. To ensure their survival, you can plant them in soil that is half-filled with egg shells . The calcium from the shell will promote the young plant’s growth and keep it healthy. When the plant reaches the height of three inches, you can transfer it to your garden. As for the eggshell, you can use it as a pot for another plant or use it as compost material.

Compost Material

Eggs, being nutritious food products, can provide soil with enough nutrients to make your garden plants healthy. When making compost, simply mix crushed eggshells with the green component. The calcium content of your compost will greatly increase, making the soil richer. Your plants, in turn, will be more robust.

Leather Cleaner

Egg white can be used to clean and restore leather. Its thick and sticky base easily removes dirt from a leather surface, upon scrubbing. The base also forms a protective covering on the leather, that gives the surface luster and some protection from temperature changes. To prepare the cleaning solution, crack two eggs and separate the whites. Place the whites in a bowl and you can start cleaning your leather items.

Glue

Egg white is naturally sticky. If you touch it, it will cause your fingers to stick the moment it dries. Try using the egg’s sticky base when mending light items like paper and cardboard. You will notice that it works just like all-purpose glue, with the nearly the same amount of holding power. You can even use egg white to create paper mache paste, if you mix it with flour, water, sugar and alum.

Pest Repellent

Scattering crushed eggshells on the leaves of plants can keep soft-bodied pests away from your plants. Snails and slugs, known as notorious leaf eaters, will hurt their bellies if they run over the jagged corners of crushed eggshells. Once they get hurt, they will move away from your garden as soon as possible.

Musical Instruments

With the current popularity of the acoustic setup, many live acts use egg shakers as percussion instruments during their gigs. You can create an egg shaker by removing the egg’s contents while maintaining its shell intact. Put two teaspoons of uncooked rice or mung beans inside the shell, then cover its opening with tape and superglue. When your egg shaker is ready, you can practice using it with the acoustic guitar. You’ll be amazed at how a small simple-sounding instrument can blend well with the guitar’s music.

Candle Mold

Are you amazed with an egg’s perfect oval shape? Why not make candles using the eggshell as a candle mold. Pour molten candle wax inside an eggshell, then add the wick and a little perfume. When the wax dries, crack the eggshell open. You will find a nice egg-shaped candle to stylize your home or illuminate your room during power outages.

Home Ornaments

From an artistic point of view, the egg’s perfect oval shape is a thing of beauty. You can paint patterns on the eggshell and eventually turn it into a good ornament for your home. Observe your home’s interior. Paint patterns on the eggshell that perfectly suit the theme of your home. Set the painted eggs in a visible corner of your room to wow your guests.


Life Hack. Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Cheap Way to Make Room Smell Nice

Don't throw out perfume card samples from magazines or samples from stores. Instead put the card samples (or pour a tad of perfume onto a cotton ball, paper towel or tissue) and place into the bottom of a wastebasket.

Friday, April 3, 2009

Neiman Marcus Cake

1 yellow cake mix
1 stick butter, melted
1 egg well beaten

1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
2 eggs, well beaten
1 box (16 ounces) powdered sugar
Mix cake mix, butter and 1 egg well and pat into 9 x 13 inch greased dish. Mix cream cheese, 2 eggs and powdered sugar well and spread over first mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Let cool and sprinkle with powdered sugar.
HOUSEHOLD TIPS

  • Use an egg-slicer to slice small fruit such as strawberries.
  • Use a Ziploc bag to have hands free mixing for such things as meatloaf.
  • When greasing and flouring a pan to bake a chocolate cake, use cocoa powder instead of flour.
  • Rubber dish gloves make great grippers for loosening stubborn jar lids.
Vacations on a budget
To learn about house-swapping go to these links for more information:
www.homeexchange.com
www.homelink.org
www.intervac.com
or just try googling house swap.
Do learn about the pros and cons before agreeing to a house swap.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Recipes—Let’s Get Cooking - Karen’s Chili

The following recipe was used to make
chili for the UNCA BSU luncheon on Feb 12th

Karen’s Chili contributed by Amy Summers
• 1 lb ground chuck, browned (drained)
• 1 pkg French’s Chili-O seasoning
• 1 15 oz can crushed tomatoes
• 1 15 oz can diced tomatoes
• 1 15 oz can chili beans (undrained)
• 1 15 oz can kidney beans (undrained)
• 1 15 oz can pinto beans (undrained)
• Cumin is optional (about ¼ tsp)
Combine all ingredients and simmer for 30 minutes.
After tasting, add Salt & pepper if needed.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Household Tips
  • No More Mosquitoes . . . Place a dryer sheet in your pocket. It will keep the mosquitoes away.
  • Squirrel Away! To keep squirrels from eating your plants sprinkle your plants with cayenne pepper. The cayenne pepper doesn't hurt the plant and the squirrels won't come near it.
  • Flexible vacuum . . . To get something out of a heat register or under the fridge add an empty paper towel roll or empty gift wrap roll to your vacuum. It will bend or flatten to get in narrow openings.
  • Reducing Static Cling . . . Pin a small safety pin to the seam of your slip and you will not have a clingy skirt or dress. Same thing works with slacks that cling when wearing panty hose. Place pin in seam of slacks and -- ta da! -- static is gone.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Soda Gone Flat?

Don't throw it out because the fizz is gone. Instead, pour it into ice cube trays and freeze. Pop into your new soda to chill, so the cubes won't dilute it.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

When Using Night Light Bulbs

If you buy 4-watt bulbs with a clear finish instead of 7-watt ones, they will be just about as bright, and best of all, will use almost half the energy. Every little bit of conserving will help save on your electric bill.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

New Use For Onions
It's easy to get your indoor grill sparkling with the cut side of an onion! Simply stick a fork in one end and rub the onion on the still-warm grate. It contains chemicals that scrub off stuck-on bits.

Friday, February 13, 2009


MAGNETIC BOOKMARK

This cute craft is a magnetic bookmark courtesy of Sharon Canter. Very simple and makes a great gift for someone that reads a lot. For the pattern and more information contact Mary Dotson or Sharon Canter.
tofconnections@gmail.com

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Barbecue Cups
2 lbs. ground beef
2 cans Hungry Jack biscuits
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup hot & spicy barbecue sauce

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Brown and drain beef and onion. Stir in barbecue sauce and simmer while preparing biscuits. Separate biscuits and place in greased muffin tins. Press biscuits against bottom and sides of tins to form cups. Spoon about 1/4 cup of beef mixture into each biscuit cup. Sprinkle cheese over the meat. Can be covered, refrigerated and baked later or baked immediately for 12 minutes.

This recipe is from the Trinity of Fairview cookbook "Sharing Our Best" and was submitted by Margaret Allen. The cookbooks can be purchased at the Welcome Center for $5.00.

Friday, February 6, 2009

WORD OF THE DAY

Furndents - those pesky spots in your carpet left when you move the furniture!!! NOW...how to fix them.

If there are dents in your carpet where furniture has been placed and you've moved it, get your steam iron out. Hold it an inch or two above the carpet (do not let it touch the carpet) over the dent and press the steam button several times. Allow the steam to hit the carpet dent. Then fluff up fibers with your fingers.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

ANOTHER VALENTINE CRAFT
Here is another cute Valentine gift box but this time it holds 4 Ghirardelli Chocolate Squares! Want to know more, contact Mary Dotson at tofconnections@gmail.com.


Sunday, January 25, 2009

Valentines Day Treat

It's almost Valentines Day and everyone is looking for something for that special person. Here is a craft idea (courtesy of Sharon Canter) that is easy, cute and sweet. This little purse is crafted of card stock and designer paper, glue/tape, ribbon, a tiny brad and it holds a Hershey's Nugget candy. For details on how to make this cute craft, contact Mary Dotson or Sharon Canter at tofconnections@gmail.com.

Friday, January 23, 2009

Household Tips

  • Reheat Pizza . . . Heat up leftover pizza in a nonstick skillet on top of the stove , set heat to med-low and heat till warm. This keeps the crust crispy. No soggy micro pizza.
  • Easy Deviled Eggs . . . Put cooked egg yolks in a zip lock bag. Seal , mash till they are all broken up. Add remainder of ingredients , reseal , keep mashing it up mixing thoroughly , cut the tip of the baggy , squeeze mixture into egg. Just throw bag away when done easy clean up.
  • Expanding Frosting. . . When you buy a container of cake frosting from the store , whip it with your mixer for a few minutes. You can double it in size. You get to frost more cake/cupcakes with the same amount. You also eat less sugar and calories per serving.
  • Reheating refrigerated bread . . . To warm biscuits, pancakes, or muffins that were refrigerated, place them in a microwave with a cup of water. The increased moisture will keep the food moist and help it reheat faster.
  • Newspaper weeds away . . . Start putting in your plants, work the nutrients in your soil. Wet newspapers put layers around the plants overlapping as you go cover with mulch and forget about weeds. Weeds will get through some gardening plastic they will not get through wet newspapers.
  • Broken Glass . . . Use a wet cotton ball or Q-tip to pick up the small shards of glass you can't see easily.