Natural Drain Cleaner

Got a slow kitchen or bathroom sink drain?  Try this natural drain cleaner.  I tried it and it really works!  Remember, this is only for a drain in which you notice to be slower than normal.  Like when you're brushing your teeth and then run the water and the sink starts to fill up even though the drain is open.  That's when I notice our bathroom drain is slowing down. Now I'm able to prevent this from happening without the use of toxic chemicals.

I used 4 tablespoons of baking soda, 3/4 cup vinegar, and a gallon of boiling water.  I followed the directions from the link below. I didn't use their recommended measurements because I didn't think the drain was slow enough to use that much ingredients. But you might want to use more if your pipes are running really slow!

Make sure to pour the vinegar "very slowly" to get a chemical reaction. I poured a little, about a tablespoon, then waited a minute. Then poured a little more, waited. I did this until all of the vinegar was gone. The drain bubbled, fizzed, and foamed.  A few minutes after I poured the boiling water...the drain was running clear again!

Read all instructions before using this method. If you do this once a month you will never have a slow drain again!

http://www.household-management-101.com/natural-drain-cleaner.html

I hope you have good luck clearing your sink drain!

Use K-Cups Twice

Here's a tip: Have you ever tried using the same K-Cup twice in your Keurig Coffeemaker? I have a 16 oz. coffee mug. First I brew on the large cup setting, then using the same K-cup I allow the water to reheat and then push the small cup button and brew it again.

The coffee is still strong and very good! It actually tastes better than just brewing it once. This is a great idea if you have a 2 cup thermos to take on the road with you. I used the Dark Magic Decaf. Gonna try the Donut Shop Decaf tomorrow.

After all of our K-Cups are gone I'll be utilizing my re-usable K-Cups because I like to make my own coffee blends.

Please Help Feed The Hungry

I like to donate edible canned goods or boxed goods a few times a year to our local food pantry in order to help my neighbors through tough times.  It doesn't take much effort and at this time of year (The Holiday Season) canned goods and boxed goods go on sale quite frequently.

Please don't forget about those less fortunate than you. These are tough times for everyone. Your donation of even one canned good priced a dollar or under will help feed someone's family. God Bless You!

Thanks For Checking In!

Well all I can say is WOW! I've had 2,402 views of my blog. All I can say is thank you! I know everyone stops here and reads because my page is wide open. I would really appreciate it if you would join my blog and post your pic. I don't send annoying e-mails.  Join my Blog and post a comment if you like. See you here!

My Earring Tree!

I got r-e-a-l-l-y tired of digging through my jewelry box drawers every day to match a pair of dangle or snap close earrings so I finally decided to do something about it. I designed my own Earring Tree using craft sticks (aka popsicle sticks). It looks more like a display than a tree. Maybe call it an Earring Holder???Earring Butler??? What do you think???

Earrings are easy on and easy off! Now I have to create a holder for my post earrings...

Save A Little, But Spend Some!

We are all going to get old. It is inevitable. Just have fun while you're doing it. If you have a little disposable income, spend it. Tomorrow isn't a guarantee. It's an opportunity if you get the chance to see it. --Susan Crafts

Tell Someone You Appreciate Him or Her

"When you pay someone a compliment it makes them feel good inside. Words of recognition, taken by surprise. Your pure sincerity cast a glow upon their face, then a smile, making them proud of who they are."
-- Susan Crafts

Home Made Laundry Detergent

So many people interested in learning how to make their own laundry detergent, so I decided to re-post this recipe.

4 Cups Hot Tap Water
1 Fels-Naptha Soap Bar
1 Cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda*
½ Cup Borax
A few drops Essential Oil  (I like to use Lemon or Lavender available at Health Food Stores and Vitamin Shops)

This is soooo much better for our environment.  It takes less time to mix up this batch of detergent than it would for you to get into your car and drive to the store and back.

Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.

Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.

I store the detergent in a 5 gallon bucket that used to hold the chlorine tablets for my pool. I refill my old detergent bottles with the home made detergent as needed using my pyrex glass measuring cup and a funnel.

 When it's time to do laundry, gently shake the bottle 2 or three times.  I tip it upside down and back three times and then pour it into the cup. Don't shake it hard because it will foam up.  It should be a little watery with lots of lumps.  Don't let this bother you!  That's how it's supposed to look. Detergent companies use lots of chemicals to get their products smooth.  But it isn't necessary. 

 If you prefer a powdered detergent, it's quite simple.  Grate the soap and mix it with the rest of the dry ingredients using a wire whisk.  Store in an airtight container.  Could it get any easier than this?

Go here if you would like more information about home made liquid and powdered detergents. http://tipnut.com/10-homemade-laundry-soap-detergent-recipes/

Hot Cocoa with Marshmallows

I thought I would re-post my home made Hot Chocolate recipe now that the cold weather is upon us! Compare my recipe to your store bought brand. Their ingredients looks more like a chemistry experiment compared to mine. Enjoy!

1 1/2 cups Senalac or 2 cups powdered milk (see Tip)
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 cup sugar or sugar substitute
1/2 cup cocoa powder
4 ounces bittersweet chocolate
Mini marshmallows

Combine all the dry ingredients in a large bowl and mix well. Take the bittersweet chocolate and roughly chop it up to give a chunky but consistent size. Mix well with a wooden spoon and
then store in an airtight container.

To make the hot chocolate, simply add 3/4 cup of water per 1/3 cup of hot cocoa mix. Heat in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring with a whisk. Heat until hot, but do not boil, about
6 to 7 minutes. Or heat water in microwaveable mug, add cocoa and stir. Serve with mini marshmallows.

Tip: Senelac powdered milk, found at Super Target, is superfine and dissolves fast. If using granular powdered milk, use 2 cups and run it through the food processor to make it superfine.

Note: I mostly use Splenda when I mix up a batch and you can't tell the difference between that and the one made with sugar.

3 Easy Ways To Kick Your Calories To The Curb!

1. Curb Your Sweet Tooth!

I love chocolate frozen yogurt. Frozen yogurt has less calories than ice cream (about 140 calories per 1/2 cup), but the calories can really add up if it's eaten more than once a week. To save calories I pour myself a 4 oz glass of Unsweetened, Regular Almond Breeze (15 calories), and stir in some sugar-free chocolate syrup (2 Tablespoons,15 calories).

The creaminess and rich flavor of the almond milk mixed with the chocolate syrup is very satisfying and I didn't even miss my 1/2 cup serving of frozen yogurt. Slowly sip it through a straw and savor the rich chocolate flavor. Calories saved? 110! Even if you added a dollop of fat-free whipped cream (Reddi-Whip, 2 tblsp., 5 calories) you still haven't done any damage! If you doubled the amount of milk and chocolate you are still under half the calories of a dish of frozen yogurt!

2. Curb Your Carbs!

I am a self-confessed carbo-holic. I love carbohydrates. The pizza man would be bankrupt without my "almost weekly" consumption of pizza. The pasta man would have to move in with the pizza man if I stopped eating carbs. I love sandwiches, subs and any other carb that likes to hug the innards of my sandwiches. Wraps, pitas, flat breads, biscuits...you name it I love it. There are a couple of things I do to cut calories in all 3 of these meals: sandwiches, pizza and pasta.

I buy Sara Lee Light Multi-Grain Bread (only 45 calories, only 9 grams carbs per slice!) to make my sandwiches. I buy Arnold Multi-Grain Bread (110 calories and 20 grams carbs per slice) for my husband. He likes BIG bread, whereas I find the size of the Sara Lee Bread suits me just fine. When I used to eat the Arnold bread I felt "stuffed" after eating a sandwich. I prefer to feel satisfied, not lethargic after lunch. So try swapping your bread for Sarah Lee Light Multi-Grain Bread and save 130 calories per day! Well, you know how many sandwiches you eat every week. You do the math. Something tells me you're going like this!

Try making a lettuce wrap using a large, dark green Romaine leaf one day each week to totally eliminate carbs at lunchtime.

For the pizza, opt for a honey whole wheat or whole grain pizza crust. All that white flour isn't good for you. If you can't eat wheat, try making a gluten-free pizza dough.

To cut calories, roll the dough thin and load up on the veggies! No meat. My favorite pizza is mushrooms, peppers, black olives, onions and garlic. Use part-skim mozzarella instead of whole milk mozzarella. Lots of tomato sauces contain sugar. Try slicing tomatoes or coarsely chop them (dry them with a paper towel), then place them in a single layer on top of the pizza dough first, sprinkle with basil, oregano and parmesan cheese. Then top with your favorite veggies and cheese.

The key to keeping pasta healthy is to eat the whole grain versions and use the same principal as the pizza. Load up on the veggies and avoid sauces containing sugar. Read the back of the box and find out what qualifies as a serving. Is it 1/2 cup? 3/4 cup, 1 cup? Measure the pasta onto your plate. No seconds!

Curb Your Condiments!

Try making your own condiments. Most condiments contain lots of sugar, high fructose corn syrup, salt, and a whole host of foreign ingredients we can neither pronounce or fathom what they are or where they came from. I have some great home made condiments posted here on my blog: ketchup, barbecue sauce, salad dressing and other home made toppings and concoctions. Go browse!
Don't limit yourself to buying what is on the store shelves. You can search the web to find a wide variety of home made condiments. You'll save calories because you can control how much sugar and what type of sugar you will be using. Sometimes I use Splenda, honey, brown sugar or even just plain old fashioned sugar. But I am controlling how much goes into it which is always much less than anything you can buy in a store. You will also be reducing your sodium intake because you will decide how much goes into your condiment. In most recipes you can eliminate the salt by substituting other spices.

I hope I've empowered and encouraged you to take these small, inexpensive, simple steps as a means of kicking your calories to the curb!

Kids Eat Free At On The Border Restaurant

Every Sunday in October and on Halloween kids 10 years of age and under eat for FREE! What a cool deal for your family!

Sign up for Swagbucks to earn Free E-Gift Cards.

I Love, Love, Love Swagbucks! I got 3 $10.00 Target e-giftcards when I redeemed my Swagbucks! Simply install the Swagbucks tool bar and use it to search any time you have to do a search. Accumulate points, then redeem your points for gift cards at many popular stores! It's that simple! Sign up at swagbucks.com.

Tupperware Free Shipping!!

You can get FREE SHIPPING when you order Tupperware from my friend Jeanne! Click on her link http://www.TWGenie.com and order directly from her! The free shipping code will not work on her website because this is a special offer just for you! You can contact her at jeanne@twgenie.com.

"Mock" Prime Rib Roast

Who doesn't like Beef? Prime rib, steaks, roasts...all so juicy, cooked medium rare, melt in you mouth flavor. Hmmm? But at current supermarket prices it can be quite costly even for a family of 2. But if you love prime rib, you will love the flavor and tenderness of a Spoon Roast also known as a Sirloin Beef Roast. I like to call it "Mock" Prime Rib.

A Spoon Roast is one of those cuts of meat most people don't know how to cook, so they don't buy it. Big Mistake! I posted a recipe to show you how simple it is to make.

A Spoon Roast is much cheaper than prime rib, locally on sale for $2.89/lb. That's under $9.00 for 3 pounds! In my house a 3 lb. roast feeds me and my husband 4 times! We slice and eat it twice, then I cut the rest into cubes and make beef stew for the next 2 meals.

A Spoon Roast is seasoned with garlic and spices then slowly roasted to perfection. Slow roasting this sirloin beef roast leaves it tender and juicy. Feel free to use whatever spices you like. This is how I like to make it.

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 3 hours, 15 minutes

Total Time: 3 hours, 25 minutes

Yield: Serves 4-6

1 Spoon Roast or Sirloin Beef Roast, about 3 pounds

2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil

3 medium garlic cloves, mashed or pressed using a garlic press

1/2 teaspoon chili powder

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

dash ground cayenne pepper

Heat the oven to 325°. Line a roasting pan with foil.

Put the roast in the prepared pan and rub all over with the olive oil. Combine the garlic and remaining ingredients in a small bowl then rub over the roast.

Roast for 15 minutes, reduce heat to 225°, and continue roasting for about 3 hours longer, or until done as desired. For medium rare, the beef should register from 140° to 145°on a meat thermometer or oven probe in the thickest part of the roast. Cook it a little longer if you like your meat less rare.

Let the roast rest for 10 minutes before slicing. Slice thin, and serve.

20 Gluten-Free Recipes Slideshow

Take a look at this Gluten-Free recipe slideshow I found on The Daily Meal website. I haven't tried any of these recipes yet, but I plan on it. I don't have any issues with gluten so I don't have any imminent need to eat gluten-free.

These recipes look so delicious and tempting that even the gluten eaters like myself won't be able to resist making them. You don't have to have gluten issues to enjoy good food! Let me know which recipes you try and post your comments and recommendations here!

http://www.thedailymeal.com/gluten-free-recipes-actually-taste-good-slideshow

Home Made Ketchup

This should be called gourmet ketchup. What flavor! I can't wait to try it on a burger and fries! I had to use a little more water and vinegar than called for. But it might have been my preference to have a thinner ketchup. Make it as thick or as thin as you like. I got this recipe from www.simplyscratch.com.

Makes 2 cups, takes 5 minutes to mix up.

12 ounces tomato paste
1/2 cup dark brown sugar (I used light brown sugar)
1/2 teaspoon dry ground mustard
1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
1/2 scant teaspoon cinnamon
2 pinches ground cloves
2 pinches allspice
1 pinch cayenne pepper
2/3 cup water
4 tablespoons white wine vinegar (I used white vinegar)

Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved. (I used a wire whisk) Store in an airtight container in the fridge and overnight for the flavors to develop. This ketchup recipe should last up to 3 weeks in the fridge. Use wherever ketchup is called for and enjoy!

Best Barbecue Sauce Ever

I found this recipe online and tweaked it to my liking. (Actually, I kind of ripped it apart and changed everything, but I will never admit to that.)

Try to find ketchup that doesn't contain High Fructose Corn Syrup. Locally, Stop & Shop's Organics Nature's Promise Ketchup is a good choice. You can use sugar in this recipe, but I prefer to use Splenda. Even if you do use sugar, the sugar and salt content is much lower than commercially store bought barbecue sauces.

The best part about this recipe is that it doesn't require cooking. You can mix up a batch of great tasting barbecue sauce quicker than you could run to the store and back. Tweak it to your liking and make it your own!

This recipe makes approximately 2 1/4 cups barbecue sauce.

1 1/2 cups ketchup
1/4 cup Splenda
1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
1/2 teaspoon celery salt
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1/2 tablespoon ground red pepper
1/2 tablespoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon liquid smoke

Mix it all together using a wire whisk. Taste. Add additional seasoning if you want to. Maybe you like more of a chili powder taste, or garlic taste, or more smokey flavor. It is very good as is. But don't be afraid to play with the recipe. Use brown sugar in place of the sugar. Add a little honey if you like it sweeter. Use regular vinegar if you don't have any apple cider vinegar. Be sure to write down what you changed so you will remember next time you make this.

Recipe can be doubled. I prefer to make it in small batches. I even cut this recipe in half when I make it because it makes enough for several barbecues for me and my husband. Happy barbecue!

Home Made Granola

4 cups old-fashioned oats
1 1/2 cup sliced almonds or walnuts
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup honey
1 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract
1 1/2 cup raisins or dried cranberries

(I cut this recipe in half when I make it because my husband doesn't like granola. It is easy enough for me to mix up a fresh batch when I run out. But the recipe as is will make several servings.)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a bowl mix the oats, almonds, brown sugar, salt and cinnamon. In a saucepan warm the oil and honey. Stir in vanilla.

Carefully pour the liquid over the oat mixture. Stir gently with a wooden spoon. Spread granola in a 15x10 inch baking pan.

Bake 40 minutes, stirring carefully every 10 minutes. (my oven isn't exactly calibrated so I have to check it and stir every 5 minutes. Don't let it get too dark. If you think it is done after 25 or 30 minutes, pull it out of the oven.) Transfer granola-filled pan to a rack to cool completely. Stir in raisins or cranberries. Seal granola in an airtight container or self-sealing plastic bag. Store at room temperature for 1 week or in the freezer for 3 months.

Note: A few tablespoons of sugar-free maple syrup or pancake syrup can be used in place of the brown sugar. Pumpkin seeds, or any other dried fruit can be stirred in immediately after baking. Also, I prefer almond extract. You'll see why. Yummy!

What I like best about this recipe is that it doesn't clump and harden into chunks. The last recipe someone gave me, I nearly cracked my tooth! This stays nice and loose. You don't even have to add fruit if you don't want to.

Free Website To Lose Weight

My cousin Diana told me about a great website called Lose It! https://loseit.com/

Lose It! Helps you track calories in foods you eat throughout the day, and gives you a daily calorie budget in order for you to reach your weight loss goal!

I signed up a few minutes ago to try it out. I was immediately 745 calories over my budget intake of 813 calories a day, bringing my grand total after supper tonight to 1620 for the day. HAHA! But that's mostly because I decided to eat the leftover pizza in the fridge for lunch, and a few stray Cheetos. Bad idea! Oh well. Now it's gone. Back to tuna, toast, beets and fruit for lunch tomorrow! I had that yesterday and it was very satisfying.

Try Lose It! You won't be disappointed. Very easy to sign up. Now go click on the Lose It link at the top of the page!

Gift Wrap From Magazines

You see pretty pages in a magazine. I see gift wrapping paper! Tear out the pretty pages before tossing that magazine into the recycle bin.  You will be recycling over and over each time you use a pretty page to wrap a gift. You'll also save money and time because you won't have to make a special trip to the store to buy it. Magazine pages are the perfect size for wrapping small gifts. The paper, depending on the magazine, can be more durable and heavier duty than store bought gift wrap. Give it a try! (Shown here I used pages from last month's issue of Martha Stewart Magazine to wrap 2 small gifts.)

Pomegranate Mollasses

4 cups pomegranate juice

1/2 cup sugar

1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice

For Syrup: Place the pomegranate juice, sugar and lemon juice in a 4-quart saucepan set over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has completely dissolved. Once the sugar has dissolved, reduce the heat to medium-low and cook until the mixture has reduced to 1 1/2 cups, approximately 50 minutes. It should be the consistency of syrup. Remove from the heat and allow to cool in the saucepan for 30 minutes. Transfer to a glass jar and allow to cool completely before covering and storing in the refrigerator for up to 6 months.

For Molasses: Place the pomegranate juice, sugar and lemon juice in a 4-quart saucepan set over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has completely dissolved. Once the sugar has dissolved, reduce the heat to medium-low and cook until the mixture has reduced to 1 cup, approximately 70 minutes. It should be the consistency of thick syrup. Remove from the heat and allow to cool in the saucepan for 30 minutes. Transfer to a glass jar and allow to cool completely before covering and storing in the refrigerator for up to 6 months.

Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/pomegranate-syrup-or-molasses-recipe/index.html?oc=linkback