THINGS YOUR MOTHER SHOULD OF TOLD YOU
1. Stuff a miniature marshmallow in the bottom of a sugar cone to prevent ice cream drips.
2. Use a meat baster to “squeeze” your pancake batter onto the hot griddle and you’ll get perfectly shaped pancakes every time....
3. To keep potatoes from budding, place an apple in the bag with the potatoes.
4. To prevent eggshells from cracking, add a pinch of salt to the water before hard-boiling.
5. Run your hands under cold water before pressing Rice Krispies treats in the pan and the marshmallow won’t stick to your fingers.
6. To get the most juice out of fresh lemons, bring them to room temperature and roll them under your palm against the kitchen counter before squeezing.
7. To easily remove burnt on food from your skillet, simply add a drop or two of dish soap and enough water to cover bottom of pan, and bring to a boil on the stovetop.
8. Spray your Tupperware with nonstick cooking spray before pouring in tomato-based sauces and there won’t be any stains.
9. When a cake recipe calls for flouring the baking pan, use a bit of the dry cake mix instead and there won’t be any white mess on outside of the cake.
10. If you accidentally over-salt a dish while it’s still cooking, drop in a peeled potato and it will absorb the excess salt for an instant “fix me up.”
11. Wrap celery in aluminum foil when putting in the refrigerator and it will keep for weeks.
13. Place a slice of apple in hardened brown sugar to soften it.
14. When boiling corn on the cob, add a pinch of sugar to help bring out the corn’s natural sweetness.
15. To determine whether an egg is fresh, immerse it in a pan of cool, salted water. If it sinks, it is fresh, but if it rises to the surface, throw it away.
16. Cure for headaches: Take a lime, cut it in half and rub it on your forehead. The throbbing will go away.
17. Don’t throw out all that leftover wine: Freeze into ice cubes for future use in casseroles and sauces.
18. If you have a problem opening jars: Try using latex dishwashing gloves. They give a non-slip grip that makes opening jars easy.
19. Potatoes will take food stains off your fingers. Just slice and rub raw potato on the stains and rinse with water.
20. To get rid of itch from mosquito bites, try applying soap on the area and you will experience instant relief.
21. Ants, ants, ants everywhere … Well, they are said to never cross a chalk line. So get your chalk out and draw a line on the floor or wherever ants tend to march. See for yourself.
22. Now look what you can do with Alka Seltzer. Clean a toilet. Drop in two Alka-Seltzer tablets, wait twenty minutes, brush and flush. The citric acid and effervescent action clean vitreous china. Clean a vase. To remove a stain from the bottom of a glass vase or cruet, fill with water and drop in two Alka-Seltzer tablets. Polish jewelry. Drop two Alka-Seltzer tablets into a glass of water and immerse the jewelry for two minutes. Clean a thermos bottle. Fill the bottle with water, drop in four Alka-Seltzer tablets, and let soak for an hour (or longer, if necessary). Unclog a drain. Clear the sink drain by dropping three Alka-Seltzer tablets down the drain followed by a cup of Heinz White Vinegar. Wait a few minutes, then run the hot water.
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Friday, September 30, 2011
Bachelor's Roast
BACHELOR’S ROAST:
Place roast (about 3 lbs) in Bean Pot & pour 1 cup of coke & 2 cups of catsup over it. Cover with lid and
bake for about 30 minutes per lb. at 325 degrees.
Optional: Add onions, pressed garlic.
How easy is that?!
More recipes can be found on my website!
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Do you know 10 uses for banana peels?
Scrapes and cuts: For a speedy recovery, disinfect the sore and massage the wound with the white side of the banana peel for 1 minute.
Whiten teeth: Massage your teeth with the inside of a banana peel, rubbing in a circular motion for 2 minutes. Repeat once a day for 2 weeks.
Glossy houseplants: Stroke each leaf with the rough side of the banana peel.
Spice up your hot chocolate: When heated the peel releases lutein, an antioxidant that provides nutritional support to the eyes for strong healthy vision.
Warts: To remove, cut a coin-size piece of the peel and place it pulp-side down on the wart. Secure with a bandage. Leave on overnight an remove in the morning. Re-apply nightly for about 2 weeks.
Bug-bite itch: To relieve the annoying bite, rub the inside of the peel against the inflamed area.
Ink stains on skin: Rub the white side of the peel on the affected area.
Scratched CD: Use the skin's inner layer to stroke the disc in a circular motion for 30 seconds. Wipe clean with a cloth.
Keep flower garden aphid-free: For a DIY pesticide cut up three banana peels, place on a baking tray and bake at 100 degrees for 15 minutes. Dig a 2½ cm deep hole at the base of the plant and place the dried pieces in the soil. The high concentration potassium will make aphids disappear.
Scuffs and spots on leather: Rub with the white side of the peel and buff with a clean cloth.
Scrapes and cuts: For a speedy recovery, disinfect the sore and massage the wound with the white side of the banana peel for 1 minute.
Whiten teeth: Massage your teeth with the inside of a banana peel, rubbing in a circular motion for 2 minutes. Repeat once a day for 2 weeks.
Glossy houseplants: Stroke each leaf with the rough side of the banana peel.
Spice up your hot chocolate: When heated the peel releases lutein, an antioxidant that provides nutritional support to the eyes for strong healthy vision.
Warts: To remove, cut a coin-size piece of the peel and place it pulp-side down on the wart. Secure with a bandage. Leave on overnight an remove in the morning. Re-apply nightly for about 2 weeks.
Bug-bite itch: To relieve the annoying bite, rub the inside of the peel against the inflamed area.
Ink stains on skin: Rub the white side of the peel on the affected area.
Scratched CD: Use the skin's inner layer to stroke the disc in a circular motion for 30 seconds. Wipe clean with a cloth.
Keep flower garden aphid-free: For a DIY pesticide cut up three banana peels, place on a baking tray and bake at 100 degrees for 15 minutes. Dig a 2½ cm deep hole at the base of the plant and place the dried pieces in the soil. The high concentration potassium will make aphids disappear.
Scuffs and spots on leather: Rub with the white side of the peel and buff with a clean cloth.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
What Do You Mean Summer Is Almost Over??
Just as I was getting into it...it's snatched away already! ::sighs:: Spring is definitely my favorite season of the year. Summer is a very close second! I enjoy the sunshine, the warmth, the greenery, the fresh produce, the garden, the flowers...I could just go on and on. I just can't believe that it's almost over!
However, I must be mentally prepared for it because I've been creating lists of all that I have to do to prepare for the fall and winter months. I love the hustle and bustle of getting ready for a new season even if I don't enjoy the season so much.
I've added several new items to my season change "to-do" list this year because we are making several major changes in our household right now. We have made a conscience effort to "go green" and organic in our household. This encompasses everything from composting to recycling to healthier eating habits. We've decided it's time to revamp our entire lifestyle - and get it right. I have even found healthier ways to use my beanpot! Now you know I'm serious!! If you're interested in knowing how to steam veggies in your beanpot - by all means, send me a message! I'm happy to share. It will appear in an upcoming blog - but I'm happy to spill the beans ahead of time. No pun intended. Ok, pun intended.
In addition to my own to-do list, I've started researching what I need to do to winterize my home. I'm so used to the husband doing this that I'm not really sure what it all entails but I'm eager to learn and get started. In doing so, I stumbled across the following article on About.com and thought I would share it with you.
Enjoy the rest of your summer...and look for a couple of new recipes on my blog in the next few days!
All the best,
~Tammy
Winterizing Your Home
Preparing Your Home for Winter
By Elizabeth Weintraub, About.com Guide
The fall Equinox is a good time of year to start thinking about preparing your home for winter, because as temperatures begin to dip, your home will require maintenance to keep it in tip-top shape through the winter.
Autumn is invariably a prelude to falling winter temperatures, regardless of where you live. It might rain or snow or, as David Letterman says, "Fall is my favorite season in Los Angeles, watching the birds change color and fall from the trees." Did you know there is only one state in the United States where the temperatures have never dipped below zero? Give up? It's Hawaii.
Here are ten tips to help you prepare your home for winter:
1) Furnace Inspection
Call an HVAC professional to inspect your furnace and clean ducts.
Stock up on furnace filters and change them monthly.
Consider switching out your thermostat for a programmable thermostat.
If your home is heated by a hot-water radiator, bleed the valves by opening them slightly and when water appears, close them.
Remove all flammable material from the area surrounding your furnace.
2) Get the Fireplace Ready
Cap or screen the top of the chimney to keep out rodents and birds.
If the chimney hasn't been cleaned for a while, call a chimney sweep to remove soot and creosote.
Buy firewood or chop wood. Store it in a dry place away from the exterior of your home.
Inspect the fireplace damper for proper opening and closing.
Check the mortar between bricks and tuckpoint, if necessary.
3) Check the Exterior, Doors and Windows
Inspect exterior for crevice cracks and exposed entry points around pipes; seal them.
Use weatherstripping around doors to prevent cold air from entering the home and caulk windows.
Replace cracked glass in windows and, if you end up replacing the entire window, prime and paint exposed wood.
If your home has a basement, consider protecting its window wells by covering them with plastic shields.
Switch out summer screens with glass replacements from storage. If you have storm windows, install them.
4) Inspect Roof, Gutters & Downspouts
If your weather temperature will fall below 32 degrees in the winter, adding extra insulation to the attic will prevent warm air from creeping to your roof and causing ice dams.
Check flashing to ensure water cannot enter the home.
Replace worn roof shingles or tiles.
Clean out the gutters and use a hose to spray water down the downspouts to clear away debris.
Consider installing leaf guards on the gutters or extensions on the downspouts to direct water away from the home.
5) Service Weather-Specific Equipment
Drain gas from lawnmowers.
Service or tune-up snow blowers.
Replace worn rakes and snow shovels.
Clean, dry and store summer gardening equipment.
Sharpen ice choppers and buy bags of ice-melt / sand.
6) Check Foundations
Rake away all debris and edible vegetation from the foundation.
Seal up entry points to keep small animals from crawling under the house.
Tuckpoint or seal foundation cracks. Mice can slip through space as thin as a dime.
Inspect sill plates for dry rot or pest infestation.
Secure crawlspace entrances.
7) Install Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Some cities require a smoke detector in every room.
Buy extra smoke detector batteries and change them when daylight savings ends.
Install a carbon monoxide detector near your furnace and / or water heater.
Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they work.
Buy a fire extinguisher or replace an extinguisher older than 10 years.
8) Prevent Plumbing Freezes
Locate your water main in the event you need to shut it off in an emergency.
Drain all garden hoses.
Insulate exposed plumbing pipes.
Drain air conditioner pipes and, if your AC has a water shut-off valve, turn it off.
If you go on vacation, leave the heat on, set to at least 55 degrees.
9) Prepare Landscaping & Outdoor Surfaces
Trim trees if branches hang too close to the house or electrical wires.
Ask a gardener when your trees should be pruned to prevent winter injury.
Plant spring flower bulbs and lift bulbs that cannot winter over such as dahlias in areas where the ground freezes.
Seal driveways, brick patios and wood decks.
Don't automatically remove dead vegetation from gardens as some provide attractive scenery in an otherwise dreary, snow-drenched yard.
Move sensitive potted plants indoors or to a sheltered area.
10) Prepare an Emergency Kit
Buy indoor candles and matches / lighter for use during a power shortage.
Find the phone numbers for your utility companies and tape them near your phone or inside the phone book.
Buy a battery back-up to protect your computer and sensitive electronic equipment.
Store extra bottled water and non-perishable food supplies (including pet food, if you have a pet), blankets and a first-aid kit in a dry and easy-to-access location.
Prepare an evacuation plan in the event of an emergency.
However, I must be mentally prepared for it because I've been creating lists of all that I have to do to prepare for the fall and winter months. I love the hustle and bustle of getting ready for a new season even if I don't enjoy the season so much.
I've added several new items to my season change "to-do" list this year because we are making several major changes in our household right now. We have made a conscience effort to "go green" and organic in our household. This encompasses everything from composting to recycling to healthier eating habits. We've decided it's time to revamp our entire lifestyle - and get it right. I have even found healthier ways to use my beanpot! Now you know I'm serious!! If you're interested in knowing how to steam veggies in your beanpot - by all means, send me a message! I'm happy to share. It will appear in an upcoming blog - but I'm happy to spill the beans ahead of time. No pun intended. Ok, pun intended.
In addition to my own to-do list, I've started researching what I need to do to winterize my home. I'm so used to the husband doing this that I'm not really sure what it all entails but I'm eager to learn and get started. In doing so, I stumbled across the following article on About.com and thought I would share it with you.
Enjoy the rest of your summer...and look for a couple of new recipes on my blog in the next few days!
All the best,
~Tammy
Winterizing Your Home
Preparing Your Home for Winter
By Elizabeth Weintraub, About.com Guide
The fall Equinox is a good time of year to start thinking about preparing your home for winter, because as temperatures begin to dip, your home will require maintenance to keep it in tip-top shape through the winter.
Autumn is invariably a prelude to falling winter temperatures, regardless of where you live. It might rain or snow or, as David Letterman says, "Fall is my favorite season in Los Angeles, watching the birds change color and fall from the trees." Did you know there is only one state in the United States where the temperatures have never dipped below zero? Give up? It's Hawaii.
Here are ten tips to help you prepare your home for winter:
1) Furnace Inspection
Call an HVAC professional to inspect your furnace and clean ducts.
Stock up on furnace filters and change them monthly.
Consider switching out your thermostat for a programmable thermostat.
If your home is heated by a hot-water radiator, bleed the valves by opening them slightly and when water appears, close them.
Remove all flammable material from the area surrounding your furnace.
2) Get the Fireplace Ready
Cap or screen the top of the chimney to keep out rodents and birds.
If the chimney hasn't been cleaned for a while, call a chimney sweep to remove soot and creosote.
Buy firewood or chop wood. Store it in a dry place away from the exterior of your home.
Inspect the fireplace damper for proper opening and closing.
Check the mortar between bricks and tuckpoint, if necessary.
3) Check the Exterior, Doors and Windows
Inspect exterior for crevice cracks and exposed entry points around pipes; seal them.
Use weatherstripping around doors to prevent cold air from entering the home and caulk windows.
Replace cracked glass in windows and, if you end up replacing the entire window, prime and paint exposed wood.
If your home has a basement, consider protecting its window wells by covering them with plastic shields.
Switch out summer screens with glass replacements from storage. If you have storm windows, install them.
4) Inspect Roof, Gutters & Downspouts
If your weather temperature will fall below 32 degrees in the winter, adding extra insulation to the attic will prevent warm air from creeping to your roof and causing ice dams.
Check flashing to ensure water cannot enter the home.
Replace worn roof shingles or tiles.
Clean out the gutters and use a hose to spray water down the downspouts to clear away debris.
Consider installing leaf guards on the gutters or extensions on the downspouts to direct water away from the home.
5) Service Weather-Specific Equipment
Drain gas from lawnmowers.
Service or tune-up snow blowers.
Replace worn rakes and snow shovels.
Clean, dry and store summer gardening equipment.
Sharpen ice choppers and buy bags of ice-melt / sand.
6) Check Foundations
Rake away all debris and edible vegetation from the foundation.
Seal up entry points to keep small animals from crawling under the house.
Tuckpoint or seal foundation cracks. Mice can slip through space as thin as a dime.
Inspect sill plates for dry rot or pest infestation.
Secure crawlspace entrances.
7) Install Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Some cities require a smoke detector in every room.
Buy extra smoke detector batteries and change them when daylight savings ends.
Install a carbon monoxide detector near your furnace and / or water heater.
Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they work.
Buy a fire extinguisher or replace an extinguisher older than 10 years.
8) Prevent Plumbing Freezes
Locate your water main in the event you need to shut it off in an emergency.
Drain all garden hoses.
Insulate exposed plumbing pipes.
Drain air conditioner pipes and, if your AC has a water shut-off valve, turn it off.
If you go on vacation, leave the heat on, set to at least 55 degrees.
9) Prepare Landscaping & Outdoor Surfaces
Trim trees if branches hang too close to the house or electrical wires.
Ask a gardener when your trees should be pruned to prevent winter injury.
Plant spring flower bulbs and lift bulbs that cannot winter over such as dahlias in areas where the ground freezes.
Seal driveways, brick patios and wood decks.
Don't automatically remove dead vegetation from gardens as some provide attractive scenery in an otherwise dreary, snow-drenched yard.
Move sensitive potted plants indoors or to a sheltered area.
10) Prepare an Emergency Kit
Buy indoor candles and matches / lighter for use during a power shortage.
Find the phone numbers for your utility companies and tape them near your phone or inside the phone book.
Buy a battery back-up to protect your computer and sensitive electronic equipment.
Store extra bottled water and non-perishable food supplies (including pet food, if you have a pet), blankets and a first-aid kit in a dry and easy-to-access location.
Prepare an evacuation plan in the event of an emergency.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Squash! Squash! And More....Squash!
It's summer time and most gardens are billowing over with yummy summer squash and zucchini. Are you running out of ideas of what to do with your squash? Wondering what's for dinner at the Darrows? Here's a new recipe for you to try!
Happy Gardening....and Happy Cooking!!!
Zucchini Casserole
4 cups of diced zucchini (or a combination of summer squash and zucchini)
2 cups of grated cheddar cheese
1 medium onion, chopped
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp oregano
1 diced tomato
1 cup bisquick
3 eggs
1/2 cup oil
In a large bowl mix the first 8 ingredients. Mix well and put in greased 9x13 baking dish. In a small bowl, beat eggs and oil well and pour over mixture in baking dish. Bake 40 minutes at 350 degrees.
Happy Gardening....and Happy Cooking!!!
Zucchini Casserole
4 cups of diced zucchini (or a combination of summer squash and zucchini)
2 cups of grated cheddar cheese
1 medium onion, chopped
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp oregano
1 diced tomato
1 cup bisquick
3 eggs
1/2 cup oil
In a large bowl mix the first 8 ingredients. Mix well and put in greased 9x13 baking dish. In a small bowl, beat eggs and oil well and pour over mixture in baking dish. Bake 40 minutes at 350 degrees.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
White Potato Pie
Today in the Darrow kitchen I will be preparing White Potato Pie. As soon as some got wind of this...they wanted the recipe right away. So, here...at your request!
White Potato Pie
3 med. white potatoes, cooked and mashed
2/3 c. butter
4 eggs, beaten
1 c. sugar
1/8 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 c. milk
2 tbsp. lemon extract
1/2 c. whipping cream
Combine potatoes, butter, sugar, and salt. Mix well. Slowly add the rest of ingredients. Add beaten eggs last. Bake 50 minutes at 350 degrees or until knife cuts cleanly in a regular round pie shell (prepared uncooked) pie shell. Serve with Cool Whip, if desired, when pie has cooled.
Enjoy.....and do let me know how yours came out....and how you liked it!
Happy Baking!
~Tammy
White Potato Pie
3 med. white potatoes, cooked and mashed
2/3 c. butter
4 eggs, beaten
1 c. sugar
1/8 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 c. milk
2 tbsp. lemon extract
1/2 c. whipping cream
Combine potatoes, butter, sugar, and salt. Mix well. Slowly add the rest of ingredients. Add beaten eggs last. Bake 50 minutes at 350 degrees or until knife cuts cleanly in a regular round pie shell (prepared uncooked) pie shell. Serve with Cool Whip, if desired, when pie has cooled.
Enjoy.....and do let me know how yours came out....and how you liked it!
Happy Baking!
~Tammy
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