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Recipe For Washing Clothes

March 28, 2015 by 12 Comments

Recipe For Washing Clothes

I never thought of a “washer” in this light before.. what a blessing! — Imagine having a recipe for this !!! Years ago an Alabama grandmother gave the new bride the following recipe: (This is an exact copy as written and found in an old scrapbook – with spelling errors and all.)

WASHING CLOTHES

Build fire in backyard to heat kettle of rain water

Set tubs so smoke won’t blow in eyes if wind is pert.

Shave one hole cake of lie soap in boilin water. Sort things, make 3 piles 1 pile white, 1 pile colored, 1 pile work britches and rags. To make starch, stir flour in cool water to smooth, then thin down with boiling water. Take white things, rub dirty spots on board, scrub hard, and boil, then rub colored don’t boil just wrench and starch. Take things out of kettle with broom stick handle, then wrench, and starch. Hang old rags on fence. Spread tea towels on grass. Pore wrench water in flower bed. Scrub porch with hot soapy water. Turn tubs upside down. Go put on clean dress, smooth hair with hair combs. Brew cup of tea, sit and rock a spell and count your blessings.

Paste this over your washer and dryer. Then, the next time you think things are bleak, read it again, kiss that washing machine and dryer, and give thanks. The first thing each morning you should run and hug your washer and dryer and also your toilet—those two-holers used to get mighty cold! (For you non-southerners: wrench means rinse.)

photo by:ericskiff

Hash Brown Bake

February 27, 2015 by 29 Comments

Delicious Hash Brown Bake

This recipe is a great quick and easy way to use leftovers! You can add fried sausage, crumbled bacon or diced ham to this recipe and use it for breakfast. If you have leftover hamburger, toss it or some veggies in for dinner.

Years ago, one of the mainstays of people’s diets was hash, which is all the leftovers from the previous day thrown together with some finely diced or grated potatoes and fried in a pan. I wonder if that is why they are called “hash” browns because it was what everyone used for hash?

-Jill

Hash Brown Bake

2 lbs. frozen hash browns (slightly thawed)
1/2 cup melted butter
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 can cream of chicken or celery soup
8 oz. sour cream
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
3/4 cup crushed potato chips

Combine all except 1/2 cup cheese and potato chips. Place in a 9×13 baking dish. Cover with remaining cheese and potato chips. Bake for 1 1/4 hours at 350°.

For more money saving recipes and tips, check out the Dining On A Dime Cookbook.

photo by: lindstorm

Easy Ground Meat Sandwiches

February 7, 2015 by 41 Comments

Don’t waste that leftover meat! Try making these easy meat sandwiches, which can be a tasty way to use leftover meat or take advantage of sale prices. [Read more…] about Easy Ground Meat Sandwiches

Fresh Christmas Tree Care

November 28, 2014 by 10 Comments

Fresh Christmas Tree Care

If you are buying a fresh tree this year, remember it needs to be watered and watered A LOT. You don’t have to buy special tree extender stuff or food. Just water it and water it.

In our area I have noticed that most real trees go on sale December 15th, so if you don’t need to have one early you might consider waiting until then.

Also I know we so often think bigger is better but be sure you get a tree that will fit into your house. This seems like an obvious thing but I once sold a nine foot tree to a lady. I kept asking her if she was sure it would fit into her house because, at that time, most people had 8 foot ceilings, but she insisted it would work. A week later she came back and wanted her money back because she couldn’t fit the tree into her living room.

Jill

Your advice on keeping a fresh Christmas tree watered reminded me of a tip I got from the lady we buy our real tree from. She always told us that when we got the tree home, to cut approximately a 1/4″ to a 1/2″ off of the bottom of the trunk. This will give you a new fresh end for the tree to “drink” from. Also, drill a small diameter hole (3/8″ to 1/2″) from the bottom of the trunk up into the center. This will insure that water will get deep inside the trunk as well. We do it every year and it works great!! From: Dave V.

photo by: chippenziedeutch

Breakfast Biscuits

August 9, 2014 by 6 Comments

Homemade Breakfast Biscuits

From: Linda

I loved your breakfast menu tips. I had forgotten that I used to make breakfast sandwiches.

Whenever I made baking powder biscuits (for chicken & biscuits, shortcake, etc.) I made a double batch. I fried an egg for each one, added a slice of cheese, wrapped them in plastic wrap and froze each individually. We zapped them in the microwave l or 2 minutes right out of the freezer (can’t remember how long exactly).

Thanks for reminding me of a quick tasty breakfast. Don’t know why I’ve forgotten about making them!

We often think of making double batches of casseroles and things for dinner but I thought it was a great idea to make a double batch for breakfast which is something we don’t often think about.

Check out your menus and see what can be doubled and used for breakfast the next day. Here are a couple of my ideas:

Take your biscuits and use peanut butter and bananas for breakfast or lunch for the kids. Add jelly and a couple of slices of bacon or a sausage patty.

Don’t forget pancakes. Put peanut butter with maybe some bananas roll them up for a tasty snack or lunch.

I use the Ninety Minute Roll recipe in the Dining on a Dime Cookbook. It makes 1 dozen dinner rolls but I double it (everything but the yeast) and use half for dinner rolls. I quickly roll out the other half, spread with margarine and sugar and cinnamon, roll and cut and I have cinnamon rolls all ready to warm for breakfast the next morning.

When I make rice, I always make extra. I leave it in the pan I made it in. Then I pour just enough milk on it to cover the rice and let it sit in the fridge overnight. In the morning, I just heat it up and add sugar and cinnamon for a nice hot cereal.

-Jill

photo by: mastermaq

How to clean laminate floors – Homemade Floor Cleaner

March 18, 2013 by 1 Comment

Homemade Floor Cleaner To Clean Laminate Floors And More!

From: Tawna
I read your tip about refilling a swiffer mop. I use your all purpose cleaner recipe and spray it on the floor. Then I wipe it up with my reusable mop or tie a rag to the mop head and later throw it in the washer. Works great to clean laminate floors and is very cheap.
Also your laundry stain prespotter is the best I every used. I always spray my husband’s shirt collars and no more collar rings. Unfortunately he must wear dress clothes to work and keeping them clean and new looking can be hard but they are also expensive to replace.

Reply From: TAWRA 🙂

First, other than Tara, I never knew anyone could have a name so close to mine! LOL

I’m so glad that our recipe for homemade floor cleaner works for you. If you want to know how to clean laminate floors this is pretty much what I do, when I do clean the floors. To be honest I only clean my laminate floors about twice a year. Now, before you pass out from your vision of my house being on an episode of Hoarders, I also clean my floors every day. I have 4 kids and we for the most part only drink water which gets spilled at least 3 or 4 times a day. So I just mop my floors as the messes occur. When I mop up the water then I do a 3-4 foot area around it and that’s how I mop my floors. I usually just grab a dishrag from the sink that’s from the day before, wipe it up and then throw it in the laundry. I bleach my dishrags and towels so there’s not a problem with contamination. Then every few months I get out the mop and do a once over of everything. That is how I clean my laminate floors.

Here is the recipe again if you’re interested in trying it.

Tawra

All Purpose Cleaner Recipe

1 gallon water
1 cup ammonia
1/2 cup vinegar
1/2 cup baking soda

Combine all ingredients. Put in a spray bottle to clean showers, toilets, sinks and counters. Great for most cleaning needs. Use all-purpose cleaner to clean your floors. Just spray on and wipe off as you would counter-tops.

This is not a disinfectant. To make it a disinfectant too I add about 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol to the bottle

For more easy cleaning, laundry and homemaking tips to make your life easier, check out our How To Organize And Clean Your Home e-books.

Photo By: David Wagner

Save Money On Your Water Bill Doing Dishes

March 15, 2013 by 19 Comments

Don’t Rinse Money Down the Drain

At an average of 120.00/month, our water bill is our most expensive utility (due to private ownership of the local water company, no regulatory oversight, etc.). One way I save money is to use all of the frugal settings on my dishwasher. I use the water miser, the light wash, and of course, the air dry settings (to save on electricity). All of my savings were going “down the drain”, however, when my 15 year old daughter loaded the dishwasher. She was running the water the entire time she rinsed the dishes, even though I told her how to do it a different, more frugal way. So, I assigned other chores to her and now do the dishes myself. I am happier that it gets done my way and it also saves on our water bill.

-Sharon Y.

Organizing Kids’ Bedrooms – From The Kids’ Point of View

February 25, 2013 by 32 Comments

Boy, can kids’ bedrooms be a challenge! Trying to get kids organized can be tough and trying to get them to keep their rooms clean is even harder. I don’t have the secret to keeping their rooms spotlessly perfect at every moment but I do have a few tips that should make things more bearable for both parents and kids.

Make sure furniture is kid sized.

Every feature and piece of furniture in a child’s bedroom should be kid sized and kid friendly. So often, parents buy tall 3-4 drawer dressers and the kids can only comfortably reach the second drawer for the first 6-7 years of their lives. At the same time, parents expect the children to put their clothes away. This is setting a child up for failure.

Even adults have a hard time keeping our things picked up, even when we can reach the drawers and see into them. How would you feel if you had to put your clothes into a drawer a foot or more taller than you are?

Besides, tall chests can be dangerous in a child’s room. The kids, because they can’t always reach the top, will pull out the bottom drawer and stand on it to reach things. Some children who do this end up tipping their dressers over on top of themselves, which can seriously injure them. Another thing to consider is that if the drawers don’t slide easily, little fingers can get pinched.

Thanksgiving Fun – What to Do After Thanksgiving Dinner

November 9, 2012 by 17 Comments

Creative Thanksgiving Fun

I was going to put off writing this a few more days, but time seems to be speeding by faster than usual this year. I was afraid if I waited any longer, Thanksgiving would have passed before I remembered to give you these ideas. I know that after that big meal most of us take a nap, watch a football game, or play computer games but this year you might try something different. Here are some ideas about what do do after a Thanksgiving meal.

Before your company arrives, set out some board games. Have some games available for all different ages. Put them out in the open where everyone can see them. You will be surprised how many guests will say, “I haven’t played this in years and used to love it!”

Have a stack of family photo albums sitting out for everyone to go through, laugh over and remember. This is a great way for kids to learn family histories. It is also fun because when you see an event in a picture and remember it, you’ll find that your brother or sister will probably remember it totally differently. It is fun for your kids to hear Uncle Bill’s version and how it differs from mom’s or dad’s version of the story.

Have a small table set up with a puzzle on it. I like to put together a Christmas puzzle and if it doesn’t get done that day I leave it up all through Christmas. Then when the kids, grandkids or anyone for that matter come over, they always seem to love adding a couple of new pieces to the puzzle. I have a puzzle of a cute Nativity scene that I always try to have done by Christmas Day.

Having these things set out ahead of time helps to entertain everyone while the last minute meal preparations are being made and to keep some unneeded help out of the kitchen. This year, don’t let your family park themselves in front of the TV or computer once again, but get creative with your Thanksving fun! Put out the games, puzzles and photos and start learning to have fun together in a completely different way.

-Jill

photo by: Mark Strozier

Trash to Treasure in the Garden

April 11, 2011 by 28 Comments

The old windows from my brothers house I used on my arbors.

Trash to Treasure in the Garden

Every year our town has a spring clean-up week and what they don’t want anymore goes to the curb. I start ‘shopping’ early. Over the last few years, I have collected a few lengths of picket fence four feet tall I use for pole bean trellis, an old baby crib I use for peas to climb and old planters, even if they are broken. I use the broken ones for mosaic pieces to adorn the unbroken ones.

Spring is also the time that many people remodel. I collected as many windows of all shapes and sizes and as much useable lumber and built a small but quite sturdy greenhouse! Now I can get my plants started early.

-Jackie

I admit, that some of my favorite garden things are things I’ve found in dumpsters, on the side of the road and begged my brother not to dump during his remodel. Right now my big thing is how to use up all the windows from his house. They are from the 1920’s and just really cool old windows. I put up 6 on our new arbors for a trellis.

I have also saved old sinks, a bed frame (to make a “flower bed”) and of course old wheelbarrows, stoves etc. My poor hubby keeps asking, “What are you going to do with this?” “What did you drag home now?”

-Tawra

I don’t question what Tawra drags home anymore. I know she usually has a really good reason.You can tell how well trained I was when the last time we were moving her brother and I found an old funny looking bucket with the bottom all rusted out. We were going to toss it but after years of good training (her dad was the same way too) we knew we should ask before we tossed it and, sure enough, it was a treasure.

I love the neighborhood clean-ups too. Last year I wasn’t even looking for anything but noticed my neighbor had set out two huge sections of metal fence in perfect condition. I have mostly metal fencing except for a 15 ft. section of wood that is so bad I have it tied with baling wire trying to keep it from falling. The neighbors pieces are exactly what I need and I even have two metal posts already in the ground. God must have been watching over me though because five minutes after I got them, the trucks came by to haul them off. I almost missed getting them!

-Jill

photo by Susie