6-12-10

Here is a great site to use to see how long
food will last in the refrigerator or freezer
whether it's cooked or raw. Is it still
good past the expiration date and for how long?
STILL TASTY

Here's an example:

Can you freeze raw eggs?
fresh eggs will generally freeze well for up to a year.
This is good to know when eggs go on sale :0)

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LINE DRYING CLOTHES

Do your clothes feel stiff after line drying?
Try these tips to help soften them up.

-use less soap. Use about 1/4 to 1/2
of your laundry soap when washing.

-use fabric softener in the water when washing.

-use a cup of vinegar in place of your regular
fabric softener in the rinse cycle.

-give the clothes a good snapping shake before hanging.


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Have ant problems?
Try planting mint around the perimeter of
your home or in your flower and vegetable gardens.

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USES FOR CUCUMBERS

-Are grubs and slugs ruining your planting beds? Place a few slices in a small pie tin and your garden will be free of pests all season long. The chemicals in the cucumber react with the aluminum to give off a scent undetectable to humans but drive garden pests crazy and make them flee the area.

-Looking for a fast and easy way to remove cellulite before going out or to the pool? Try rubbing a slice or two of cucumbers along your problem area for a few minutes, the phytochemicals in the cucumber cause the collagen in your skin to tighten, firming up the outer layer and reducing the visibility of cellulite. Works great on wrinkles too!!!

-Stressed out and don't have time for massage, facial or visit to the spa? Cut up an entire cucumber and place it in a boiling pot of water, the chemicals and nutrients from the cucumber with react with the boiling water and be released in the steam, creating a soothing, relaxing aroma that has been shown the reduce stress in new mothers and college students during final exams.

-Looking for a 'green' way to clean your faucets, sinks or stainless steel? Take a slice of cucumber and rub it on the surface you want to clean, not only will it remove years of tarnish and bring back the shine, but is won't leave streaks and won't harm you fingers or fingernails while you clean.

-Want to avoid a hangover or terrible headache? Eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed and wake up refreshed and headache free. Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish essential nutrients the body lost, keeping everything in equilibrium, avoiding both a hangover and headache!!

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PICTURES OF MY FIRST GARDEN

Yesterday I found a bowling ball at a
yard sale for $1.00. I put it on the bottom
of my bird bath as weight to keep it from
toppling over. Total cost to make my bird bath
from scratch $2.00!




EGGPLANT


PARSLEY & CHIVES


BROCCOLI


CABBAGE


BANANA PEPPERS


BUTTERCRUNCH LETTUCE


BELL PEPPERS


HUNGARIAN HOT PEPPERS


CUCUMBERS


CELERY


ROMA TOMATO PLANTS & PEAS


TOMATO PLANTS


WAX BEAN


GARDEN BEAN


ZUCCHINI


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I've tried sand boxes
in the past and they get pretty yucky.
I saw this neat idea of a portable sand box.

"My husband came up with a great idea for a small sandbox: an under-the-bed storage container. This container has a hinged top but the hinge broke so I put it in the garage for another day. My husband filled it 1/2 way with play sand and our daughter loves it. We can play with sand in the garage (if it is raining outside), on the back porch or take it to Grandma's for the afternoon. When we are done we just put the top over it and slide it under the stand that holds the yard tools or under the workbench."

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I used to have fishing maps of all the areas
in central Ohio. You can buy these at any
bait store. BUT I have located them online
where you can print them out for FREE!

Ohio's Lake, Reservoir and River Fishing Maps

All kinds of info for fishing in OHIO.

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12:30PM

Just back from Kroger.
Found some mark downs.

8 dozen eggs .50 cents each
regular $3.39 each!!
gave 4 dozen to mom.

4 loaves of bread .49 cents each
regular $1.00 each

3 packages Italian Sweet Bread
6 loaves total
$1.39 each
regular $2.69 each.

Tony splurged and got
4 sirloin patties for out george foreman.
paid $3.78
regular $6.31!!

I got 2 packages of Skittles
and 2 packages of Starbursts
for .09 cents each with the
coupons I found at Speedway.







2:30PM

Spent a little time this afternoon
cutting back weeds along the chain link
fence. I sure wish the neighbor would
chop all his crap down along the fence
so I wouldn't have to deal with his
weeds coming through our fence!!
I want to put flower and vegetable
beds along the fence and I know it's
going to be a pain keeping weeds back.
We're almost half tempted to ask the neighbor
if we could go over there and chop
the crap down along the fence!

I did get 8 sweet potato plants
planted today. I keep squishing
more plants in, lol.
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Found this recipe in ALL YOU

Watermelon Lemonade

Stir 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water
over low heat until sugar dissolves.
Puree 1/2 cup chopped watermelon;
strain.
Mix syrup, 1 cup fresh lemon juice,
5 cups cold water and watermelon juice.
Serve over ice.

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The kids have been eating this for breakfast
and keep requesting more...

I add a couple tablespoons of vanilla
yogurt in a bowl and top it with
"honey bunches of oats", Kroger brand.

Instead of buying these sugared cereals
that kids crave try the not so kid friendly
cereals with the yogurt to get them to eat better.

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BP SPILLS COFFEE VIDEO

6-11-10

Got up this morning at 7:15am.
This ain't even right during vacation time.
Especially when I went to bed last
night after midnight.
But mom wanted me to drive her and
my step-dad around to some yard sales.
Managed to find 2 church sales
and other sales before it started
pouring down rain.
I didn't want to take kids with us
as they start getting the "I wants"
and I end up with more things we don't
need.

Let's see what did I get...

Kids have been needing some face masks
and another float ring for the pool
because the last time we went one
ended up with a hole.

I got 3 large floaty rings for .50 cents each.
3 face masks, 2 were .50 cents, one was .25 cents.






I got Tony's dad a nice Browns ball cap for .50 cents
for Father's day to go with his Brown's parking sign.


Wooden stilts for the kids. Will give
them something to do in the yard with their
friends. They tried some of these when we
visited Slate Run Farm. Paid $2.00.
I looked these up online and they go
for $40 to $65!! CRAZY for a pair of
just wooden stilts!!





Got a radio controlled Jeep with battery,
controller, charger and directions for $1.00.


Sega Portable Game System with 1 game $5.00.




New chain wallet .50 cents
putting back for Damien for Christmas.


And lastly, because I have been wanting one,
an ice cream machine. Ice cream gets expensive
and I think by making our own would save us
a little money. Paid $4.00.
It's a double ice cream maker.
It makes two different quarts at a time.
Uses ice cubes and regular table salt.
The lady said it was used maybe 5 times.
She says it's one of things that hardly
gets used. I say to her, well you haven't
been to my house. When it comes to saving
money stuff like this will get used all the time!




Once home from garage sales I took about
a 3 hour nap. Got up around 5pm and we headed
out to Pickerington to look at a Trans Am
we saw on Craigslist.
I would consider selling or trading our
blue Trans Am for just a go getter Trans Am
that's original and not done up to race.
We walked away from this car tonight.
It needed waaaay too much work.
Pictures looked good but when you see
it in person is a whole different story!
It's got dings, dents and rust in different
places on the body along with underneath.

After Pickerington we took the kids
by the airport to watch the planes.
The rain had let up some to enjoy the
sunset.

It's almost 10pm and time to chill
for the night. If it's not raining
in the morning we might go out to
the flea market.

I have been wanting to tint the windows
on our tracker. I have had the roll of tint
for awhile and keep forgetting to do it.
So maybe this weekend I'll get it done.

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Trying to find some easy ice cream recipes.
Maybe something that is sugar free.

Here are a few I found whether sugar free or not.

Old-Fashioned Frozen Vanilla Custard
Serves 8


Ingredients

* 1 cup half-and-half cream
* 2/3 cup sugar
* 3 eggs, beaten
* 1 cup whipping cream
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. In a heavy saucepan, combine first three ingredients. Cook, stirring constantly, until thickened. Cool. Pour into chilled ice cube trays without dividers or a shallow pan. Freeze to a mush (do not freeze hard). Whip cream; add vanilla and salt. Fold into partially frozen mixture. Return to trays or pan and freeze.

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Easy Pudding Ice Cream

SERVES 12 , 2 quarts

Ingredients

1 (14 ounce) can condensed milk

* 1 (3 1/2 ounce) box instant pudding mix, your choice
* 4 cups milk
* ice
* rock salt

Directions

1
Mix well.

2
Pour into ice cream freezer. Freeze according to freezer instructions.

3
NOTE: recipe can be doubled.

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Chocolate Pudding Ice Cream Recipe
1 Cup whole milk

1/2 Cup granulated sugar

1 3-1/2 ounce box instant chocolate fudge pudding

2 Cups whipping cream

1 Teaspoon vanilla

Mix all ingredients with a whisk in a medium bowl. Cover, refrigerate, and chill for 2 hours. Whisk again before pouring into your ice cream maker.

Following the directions on your ice cream maker, pour the mixture into the container and let mix until thick, about 15-20 minutes. Can be enjoyed immediately or if you want a firmer ice cream, transfer into an airtight freezer container and place in the freezer at least 2 hours.

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No ice cream maker ice cream

# 1 small box instant pudding prepared, chocolate or flavor of choice shopping list
# 1/2-2/3 cup heavy cream or half and half

* Take prepared pudding and put into ice cube tray
* Freeze
* When frozen, put cubes into processor with steel blade
* Pulse a few times until cubes break up a bit
* With machine running slowly pour cream in
* Add enough to get a creamy ice cream texture
* Put into freezer for about 20-30 minutes

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Jonathan has been wanting pumpkin ice cream
which usually can only be found around
Thanksgiving time. So if you can find
canned pumpkin (last I checked it was not
restocked on the shelves at Kroger for awhile
now and HERE is the reason why) here is a good recipe to try. Will have to check the Dollar stores or
Big Lots for some.

Pumpkin Ice Cream (Custard??)

Ingredients:

* 1 cup fresh pumpkin puree or canned
unsweetened pumpkin puree
* 1 tsp. vanilla extract
* 2 cups heavy cream
* 3/4 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
* 5 egg yolks
* 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
* 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
* 1/4 tsp. salt
* Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
* 1 Tbs. bourbon-
I think this is to keep the ice cream
from getting so hard.

Directions:

In a bowl, whisk together the pumpkin puree and vanilla. Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours or up to 8 hours.

In a heavy 2-quart saucepan over medium heat, combine 1 1/2 cups of the cream and 1/2 cup of the brown sugar. Cook until bubbles form around the edges of the pan, about 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a bowl, combine the egg yolks, cinnamon, ginger, salt, nutmeg, the remaining 1/2 cup cream and the remaining 1/4 cup brown sugar. Whisk until smooth and the sugar begins to dissolve.

Remove the cream mixture from the heat. Gradually whisk about 1/2 cup of the hot cream mixture into the egg mixture until smooth. Pour the egg mixture back into the pan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon and keeping the custard at a low simmer, until it is thick enough to coat the back of the spoon and leaves a clear trail when a finger is drawn through it, 4 to 6 minutes. Do not allow the custard to boil. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl.

Place the bowl in a larger bowl partially filled with ice water, stirring occasionally until cool. Whisk the pumpkin mixture into the custard. Cover with plastic wrap, pressing it directly on the surface of the custard to prevent a skin from forming. Refrigerate until chilled, at least 3 hours or up to 24 hours.

Transfer the custard to an ice cream maker and freeze according to the manufacturer's instructions. Add the bourbon during the last minute of churning. Transfer the ice cream to a freezer-safe container. Cover and freeze until firm, at least 3 hours or up to 3 days, before serving. Makes about 1 quart.

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Peach Frozen Yogurt

1/2 cup sugar

1 teaspoon gelatin

1/8 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 cup milk

2 tablespoons corn syrup

1 1/2 pound peaches, peeled & quartered

1 cup plain yogurt

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Combine the first 3 ingredients in a saucepan. Stir in milk; let stand 1 minute. Place over low heat; cook 5 minutes or until the gelatin dissolves, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; stir in the corn syrup. Let the mixture cool completely. In a food processor add the peaches and process until smooth; scraping the sides of the processor bowl occasionally. Combine the peach purée, gelatin mixture, yogurt, and vanilla in a large bowl; stir well. Cover and chill 8 hours. Pour mixture into a ice cream machine and freeze according to manufacturer's instructions.

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Sugar-Free Chocolate Ice Cream

1 tsp. plain gelatin

2.5 cups low fat milk

1/2 cup Nestle Quik Sugar Free chocolate drink mix

1 cup drained yogurt (the solid half of 2 cups yogurt strained overnight)

1 tsp. vanilla extract

dash salt

Soften gelatin in 1/2 cup milk. Heat in a small saucepan until gelatin dissolves. Remove from heat and place saucepan in another bowl of cold or ice water to cool mixture to room temperature. Pour mixture into a blender or food processor. Add remaining milk, Quik, yogurt, vanilla and salt. Blend until smooth. Cover and chill in the refrigerator until ready to freeze. Blend for a few seconds before pouring into the ice cream maker. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for freezing. Makes about 1 quart.

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Oven Baked Ice Cream Bowls

You will need a non-stick cookie sheet and small bowls to form the ice cream bowls.

3/4 cup sugar

1 large egg

2 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 cup milk

1/2 cup all-purpose flour, sifted

Preheat oven to 300 F. In medium mxing bowl, beat the sugar into the egg until it is thickened and pale yellow. .Beat in the butter, vanilla, and milk. Gently stir in the flour. Grease a large non-stick cookie sheet and spread 1.5 tablespoons of the batter into a 6 inch circle using a thin, flexible spatula. Bake for 15 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove each cookie from the sheet and place directly over a clean, inverted bowl. The cookies will fall around the sides of the bowl and harden as they cool. harden as they cool so work as quickly as you can.

for cones-

Remove each cookie from the sheet and wrap around a cone shaped mold, sealing the point. The cookies harden as they cool so work as quickly as you can.
Insert marshmallow in inside bottom of cones.

6-10-10

Yesterday we went and saw Diary of a Wimpy Kid
at the theater. I know you are not supposed
to bring food or drinks into the theater
but the whole idea of a $1.50 theater is
to save you money. I cannot afford $5
a popcorn for everyone PLUS drinks.
Everyone can make fun of my large purse
but ya know it sure suits me well.
I managed to get four 20 ounce bottles
of pop along with 2 small bags of
chips in there. Total cost of $5.22
from Speedway. I used a $1.00 off
two 20 ounces of Dr. Pepper.
I still have a bunch of those coupons
and they do come in handy!
I'm telling ya, scope out Speedway for coupons
during the Summer months! I found
more coupons for .35 cents off
Skittles or Starburst. I can take
them over to Kroger and get those
coupons doubled to .70 cents off
probably making those candies free
or almost free when on sale!!
Unless coupons specifically say Speedway
on them you can use them at any grocery store.

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From about 11 to 3:00
we went up to Delaware Dam area.
All our fishing holes were spoken for.
You would have thought it was the weekend
with so many people fishing and putting
boats in the water!
We ended up at Hoover.



DOES ANYONE SEE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS
PICTURE????






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Got home and got some grub in the bellies.
Then me and Tony worked on getting the "new"
hood and hinges on the blue Trans Am.
It originally had hood pins and you had
to totally remove the hood to work under the hood.





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8:00pm

Tonight we're going to go see Marmaduke
and possibly Shrek
(depending how tired we are)
at the drive-in-theater.
Taking along a jug of Kool-Aid
and 2 bags of premade microwave popcorn.
Always looking for ways to do things
and save money at the same time :0)

I guess me and mom will be doing some
yard sales tomorrow morning.
Late to get to bed and early to get up.
I see my butt will be dragging tomorrow!
So I am currently sitting here
mapping our route of sales I found
in the SNP or Craigslist.
Looks like we'll be hitting this area
and Westerville as usual.

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MIDNIGHT

Just returned home from the movie.
Kids went straight to bed.

GARDEN 6-9-10

Checking out the garden since we've been back.
All the plants are growing like weeds, lol,
with all this rain!
My friend Kendra gave me some
sweet potato plants! Have to
get those into the ground soon.