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Best Homemade Dog Shampoo: All Natural Oatmeal Dog Shampoo

I found this DIY dog shampoo at this link.  Within the post is a link to her homemade flea shampoo.  https://www.freebiefindingmom.com/b...

Friday, December 19, 2014

MYO Sweetened Condensed Milk

MYO Sweetened Condensed Milk:





Sweetened Condensed Milk (equivalent to a 14-ounce can)
  • 1/2 cup of boiling water
  • 1 cup nonfat dry milk
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 3 tablespoons melted butter
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
Directions:
Heat 1/2 cup water to boiling, add the butter and stir to melt.  Pour into blender and add dry milk, sugar & vanilla.
Cover and blend on high speed for about 20 seconds or until smooth.
Use immediately, store in refrigerator in a covered container for one week or freeze for up to six months.




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Thursday, December 4, 2014

Cute Corner Bookmarks!

Cute Corner Bookmarks!:



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These are hyper cute corner bookmarks that can be made in less than 5-minutes with any square piece of paper lying about in the house!
fun and easy to make!
Materials - paper, scissors and glue.

Step 1: Paper and cutting

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  • cut the paper in a 12 cm x 12 cm square. Then divide it into 4 parts as shown.
  • cut out the part shaded with pencil.

Step 2: Folding and gluing

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  • fold according to the pictures. apply glue and fold the other part too.

Step 3: You're done!

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add some details to beautify your bookmark and you're done!
these can be made in all shapes, sizes and colours and are perfect gifts for children!
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Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Brookies

Ingredients:
-Brownie Mix and ingredients listed to make
-Packaged Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
How to Make:
1 scoop of brownie batter + 1 scoop of cookie dough in a muffin pan = brookies!
Make brownie and cookie mixes according to box directions. Bake as directed on box BUT start checking about half way through the directed time so your brownies stay moist (remember they are a smaller cook area when made as a muffin size and it will vary a little for each oven)
Suggestion: Bake on 350 degrees F for 20 minutes, but start checking around 12-15 minutes...Yum!!!

Monday, June 23, 2014

60 Minute Dinner Rolls Recipe (By Hand and KitchenAid Mixer Instructions)

60 Minute Dinner Rolls Recipe (By Hand and KitchenAid Mixer Instructions): "0 Minute Dinner Rolls
Print
Recipe type: Side Dish Author: Cassie from The Thrifty Couple Prep time: 45 mins Cook time: 12 mins Total time: 57 mins Serves: 24
A quick, homemade version of Rhodes Rolls or soft, doughy rolls!
Ingredients
½ cup low-fat milk
¼ cup sugar
2 tps. salt
3 tbps. butter or margarine
3 packages of dry active yeast or 6¾ teaspoons from bulk jar
1½ cups warm water (105F - 115F)
5 - 6 cups flour of choice (some flours, like brown rice flour, will need extra modifications, but if you are use to working with these, you probably know the modifications to make :))
*Please note, this recipe works best with the ingredients at room temperature, but sometimes I forget to get them out earlier and it still is fine :)
Instructions
• In a bowl or a KitchenAid type mixer, you will want to dissolve and soak the yeast in the warm water.
• While this is soaking, in a saucepan on the stove, you will want to mix milk, sugar, salt and butter together on low heat until all ingredients are mixed, dissolved and warmed.
• Then cool slightly to lukewarm.
• Then add the mixture from the saucepan to the dissolved yeast/water mixture along with 4-4.5 cups of the flour and start "mixing" in your mixer on low with the dough hook or by hand. This will be about 1-2 minutes.
• Then add the remaining flour ½ cup at a time and about 1 minute between additions until you have added all of the flour.
• Then "mix" for another 2 minutes, or knead by hand until the dough cleans the bowl and is a little sticky to the touch!
• Finally, remove your dough hook and it should fall into a nice ball of dough.
• Pick up the ball and set in another greased bowl or remove this ball from this bowl for a minute while you grease this one.
• Put the dough back in the greased bowl and rotate it a couple of times so that the whole thing is "greased."
• Cover with a towel in a warm spot for 15 minutes.
• At this point, flour a surface so that you can roll out the dough flat!
• Then, using a roller, roll it flat to about ¼ of an inch thick.
• After it is flat, then just use a pizza cutter to "cut it up" into as even as possible squares/rectangles - you will want 24. I personally stink at trying to get my dough square to cut squares, so I often combine the uneven corners to form a roll :)
• Then pick up each cut piece and tuck in the corners on the underside of the roll to form the roll and place the roll with the seams down on your baking pan! I personally cook them in a circle on a pie plate. I like the shape that they turn out to be when doing this. But you can also put them in muffin tins or square baking sheets too!
• Then cover your pan with the prepared/formed rolls with a towel and set in a warm place for another 15 minutes.
• Then you are ready to bake them in the oven set at 425 degrees for 12 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown!
• Brush with butter after they come out if you want!
• Serve warm!
Notes
• These can be made ahead of time and then warmed in the microwave for 15 seconds before serving too
• You can also freeze the shaped dough and then when ready to make them, just thaw on a pan and pop in the oven when they have thawed and risen.
• This recipe makes 24 rolls, which is way too much for our family (or rather, I know we would all happily eat 24 rolls, but we shouldn't in one sitting!) and so you can cut the recipe in half, or freeze half of the dough for your own homemade Rhodes rolls!"



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Monday, May 26, 2014

Refill Swiffer Wet Jet

My mother-in-law just ran out of fluid in her Swiffer Wet Jet cleaning bottle.  So, I found a screw/bolt, matched a drill bit to the size.  Drilled a hole in the opposite end from the one that gets inserted.  Filled with Pine-Sol and water.  Screwed the bolt in (no leakage when right side up).  No need to remove the original lid.

Similar to this but only one hole drilled.  Less chance of spillage.

Save big on Swiffer Wetjet

20 Weird Ways to Save Money | love library

20 Weird Ways to Save Money | love library: "
"



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Relaxshacks.com: SIX FREE PLAN SETS for Tiny Houses/Cabins/Shedwork...

Relaxshacks.com: SIX FREE PLAN SETS for Tiny Houses/Cabins/Shedwork...: FIRST, want to be part of our THIRD "Relaxshacks.com Tiny House/Building Workshop" outside Boston, MA?- well, we'll have more...

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Caprese Lasagna Roll Ups

Caprese Lasagna Roll Ups -
loaded with Mozzarella, fresh tomatoes and fresh basil!
Ingredients
8 lasagna noodles, uncooked
14 oz freshly shredded, low-moisture part skim Mozzarella cheese, divided
3/4 cup Ricotta cheese
1 large egg white
1/3 cup freshly, finely shredded Parmesan cheese (about 1 1/4 oz)
freshly ground black pepper
3 - 4 medium Roma tomatoes, thinly sliced (about 1/6 inch thick slices)
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil, plus more for garnish
1 cup marinara sauce, recipe follows
Simple Marinara Sauce
2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup finely chopped yellow onion
2 cloves garlic finely minced
1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook pasta according to directions listed on package to al dente. Drain pasta (DO NOT rinse with water) and align lasagna noodles in a single layer on a large sheet of parchment or wax paper.
For filling, in a large mixing bowl, whisk together ricotta cheese and egg white until well blended. Stir in Parmesan cheese. Mix in 12 oz. of the Mozzarella cheese and season with black pepper to taste (I wouldn't recommend seasoning with salt just because the cheeses already have plenty of salt).
Place 1/4 cup of the cheese mixture over each lasagna noodle and spread into an even layer, going from one end of the lasagna to the other. Align 4 thin tomato slices over cheese mixture then sprinkle fresh basil over top. Snugly roll lasagna noodles to opposite end. Spread about 1/4 cup pasta sauce in the bottom of an 11 x 7 inch baking dish. Align lasagna roll ups, seam side down in dish. Top each roll up with about 2 Tbsp of the pasta sauce (covering edges of pasta so they don't dry out while baking). Sprinkle top with remaining 2 oz. shredded Mozzarella. Bake in preheated oven 30 minutes. Remove from oven, plate pasta and garnish with plenty of basil ribbons. Serve warm.
Simple Marinara Sauce
Heat olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium high heat. Add onions to hot oil and saute about 3 minutes until soft, adding garlic during last minute of sautƩing. Pour in crushed tomatoes and season with salt and pepper to taste. Bring mixture just to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer and allow sauce to cook for about 25 - 30 minutes (which will allow some of the water in crushed tomatoes to evaporate) while you prepare pasta and lasagna filling (you can freeze or refrigerate left over sauce in a small airtight container for later use, adding fresh basil if desired).
Posted ~7

Baby Cucumbers

Be careful as these are addictive!
Be sure and save to your wall to prepare later.
Cucumbers with a BANG!
Baby cucumber
Lemon juice
Olive oil
Salt and pepper
Chile powder
Instructions
Chop a baby cucumber and add lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper and chile powder on top

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Brazilian-Style Chicken & Rice

Brazilian-Style Chicken & Rice

Chicken

  • 1½ cups orange juice
  • ¾ cup lime juice
  • 1½ Tbsp. olive oil
  • 2¼ tsp. fresh minced garlic
  • ¼ cup + 2 Tbsp. fresh mint, chopped fine
  • ¼ cup + 2 Tbsp. fresh minced cilantro
  • ¾ tsp. jalapeƱo peppers, seeded, diced
  • 1/8" 1 Tbsp. ground cumin
  • ¾ tsp. chili powder
  • 1½ tsp. kosher salt
  • 4 Tbsp. grated orange rind
  • 1 Tbsp. grated lime rind
  • 6 chicken breasts (4 oz each), boneless, skinless, raw


1. Combine all ingredients except chicken for marinade. Mix until well-blended.
2. Pour marinade over chicken. Hold refrigerated for 4 hours to marinate.
3. Drain and discard any excess marinade.
4. Arrange chicken on oven-safe pan.
5. Bake in a 400°F standard oven for 10 to 15 minutes and minimum internal temperature is 165°F (for 15 seconds). Cool quickly.

Rice

  • 1-5/8 tsp. canola olive oil
  • 1/3 cup diced yellow onions,
  • ¼" 1 cup white rice, converted
  • 2-1/3 cups hot water
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • ½ cup plum tomatoes, chopped, fine

1. Combine all ingredients except chicken for marinade. Mix until well-blended.
2. Pour marinade over chicken. Hold refrigerated for 4 hours to marinate.
3. Drain and discard any excess marinade.
4. Arrange chicken on oven-safe pan.
5. Bake in a 400°F standard oven for 10 to 15 minutes and minimum internal temperature is 165°F (for 15 seconds). Cool quickly.
1. Heat a sauce pan over medium heat. Add oil and onion. SautƩ until onion is translucent.
2. Add rice. Stir constantly. Cook for 3 minutes.
3. Add water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a low simmer. Cover and cook for 20 minutes or until rice is tender and liquid is fully absorbed.
4. Gently fold tomato into rice. Transfer to serving bowl.



Grilled Chicken Tortilla Soup

Grilled Chicken Tortilla Soup

Instructions

  • 8 - 6" yellow corn tortillas, julienne 1/8" strips 
  • ½ teaspoon granulated garlic 
  • Dash ground black pepper 
  • 8 oz. chicken breast, boneless and skinless 
  • 1½ tablespoons canola olive oil blend, 80:20 
  • 2½ oz. yellow onions, fresh, diced ½" 
  • 3 tablespoons garlic, fresh, minced
  • ¾ teaspoon ancho chili powder 
  • 1/8 teaspoon chipotle chili powder 
  • 1½ whole bay leaves 
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin 
  • 6 oz. tomato puree, canned 
  • 4¾ cups low-sodium chicken broth 
  • 2 tablespoons cilantro leaves, fresh, chopped 
  • 2 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon cornstarch 
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • ½ teaspoon Kosher salt



1. Evenly coat tortilla strips with vegetable oil spray (not listed).
2. Place in a single layer on sheet pans. Do not overcrowd. Bake in a preheated 400°F standard oven for 5 to 8 minutes, or until crisp and lightly browned. Cool quickly. Place baked tortilla strips in a food processor. Process until finely ground. Hold for use.
3. Combine granulated garlic and pepper until
well-blended. Sprinkle the seasoning on chicken to evenly coat. Marinate in the refrigerator for one hour.
4. Preheat char broiler over medium heat. Place seasoned breasts, and cook for 2 to 3 minutes on each side.
5. Place chicken on sheet pan. Bake grilled chicken in a preheated 400°F oven for 13 to 15 minutes, or until fully cooked. Cool quickly. Dice the chicken into ½" cubes.
6. Heat large stockpot over medium-high heat. Add oil, onions and garlic. SautƩ for 2 to 3 minutes, or until aromatic and lightly browned.
7. Add ancho and chipotle chili powder, bay leaves and cumin. SautƩ for 1 to 2 minutes.
8. Stir in tomato puree and chicken broth. Bring to a simmer.
9. Stir in finely ground tortilla until dissolved.
10. Combine cornstarch and water until
well-blended. Whisk into soup. Return to
a simmer.
11. Stir in chicken and salt. Simmer for 2 minutes. Keep hot before serving, remember to remove bay leaves before serving.
NOTE: Remove all bay leaves before service.
Yield: 1.5 quart
Portions: 6 (8 oz.)

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

10 Things You Won’t Find In A Godly Marriage

10 Things You Won’t Find In A Godly Marriage

Pre-Made Bulk Muffin Mix to Make Any Muffins

Recipe type: Breakfast
Author: 
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 12
This is a super easy, practical and affordable way to replace those boxed and pouch muffin mixes that you get in the store.
Ingredients
  • Here's the ingredients for the base mix:
  • 8 Cups of All-Purpose Flour or wheat flour if you prefer
  • 3 Cups of Sugar
  • 3 Tablespoons of Baking Powder
  • 2 Teaspoons of Salt
  • 2 Teaspoons of cinnamon
  • 2 Teaspoons of nutmeg
  • Mix all of these dry items together and store in a container in your pantry for you to use when you need it!
Instructions
  1. To actually make our muffins:
  2. two and ¾ths cups (2¾) of the above mix
  3. beaten egg
  4. cup of milk
  5. half cup (1/2) of melted butter
  6. Mix the beaten egg, milk and butter together and pour into muffin mix. Mix with a fork until well blended. Then add your add-ins and mix again. Pour into your muffin tin (2/3 full) or cake pan (for a cake like muffin) and bake at 400 degrees for 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
More ideas:
    These taste good on their own, but here's some mix-in ideas that you add at the time of preparation (there are literally thousands of ideas, these are just to get the ideas rolling).
      I usually add around a cup of something. Whether it will be ½ cup of this and a ½ cup of that for 1 cup total. For example, today I added ¾ cup of Craisins and ¼ cup of brown sugar. My kids LOVED it!
      1. Good add-ins: (add your ideas too!)
      2. Blueberries
      3. other berries
      4. apples
      5. peaches
      6. apricots
      7. Pumpkin puree
      8. cranberries
      9. craisins
      10. raisins
      11. cinnamon
      12. brown sugar
      13. chocolate chips
      14. nuts
      15. coconut
      16. instant coffee granules
      17. Flax seeds
      18. Wheat Germ
      19. OR make them like they are and then once baked roll in melted butter and then roll in sugar and cinnamon mix for what is called "French Muffins" (one of my mom's traditional muffins for special occasion breakfasts!
      Notes
      See more recipes and bulk pantry ideas at http://thethriftycouple.com/category/home-life/recipes/

      Free power from a recycled washing machine, generating enough to live of...


      Saturday, March 29, 2014

      Tuesday, March 18, 2014

      Hawaiian Bread


      Friend of mine, Jennifer Lojuk, just sent me this bread recipe.  Can’t wait to try it!!


      6 cups flour
      2 cups pineapple juice
      ½ tsp ginger
      2 pkg yeast
      3 eggs
      ¾ cup sugar
      1 tsp vanilla
      1 stick margarine

      **Beat eggs, add pineapple juice, sugar, ginger, vanilla and melted margarine.  Put 3 cups flour in large bowl.  Add egg mixture and stir until well mixed.  Sprinkle in yeast 1 pkg at a time, mixing well.  Gradually add the other 3 cups flour.  Batter will be hard to mix with spoon, may have to use hand.  Make sure it is mixed well.  Leave batter in bowl and cover with cloth.  Place in a warm place and let rise 1 hour.  Remove from bowl and knead in ½ cup flour.  Knead about 10 times.  Divide into 3 equal parts and place in well-greased round cake pans. (I use bread pans too)  Cover and place in a warm place and let rise another hour.  Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes. 

      Friday, March 14, 2014

      Range/Stove/Oven Repair - Replacing the Door Gasket (Whirlpool Part # W1...

      So, oven quit heating/cooking like it should.  Got to looking at the gasket last night, and part of it is flattened.  Going to attempt this before I look at buying another oven.



      Wednesday, March 12, 2014

      chicken, green beans, potatoes


      Love this idea.  All in one pan so less to clean up.  Very healthy too.

      In a 9x13 pan, cut 3 chicken breasts in half, add 2 cans green beans on one side and cut up red skin potatoes on the other. Sprinkle a packet of zesty Italian dressing mix over the top. Drizzle a stick of melted butter over it. Cover it with aluminum foil and bake at 350 for 1 hour.
      In a 9x13 pan, cut 3 chicken breasts in half, add 2 cans green beans on one side and cut up red skin potatoes on the other. Sprinkle a packet of zesty Italian dressing mix over the top. Drizzle a stick of melted butter over it. Cover it with aluminum foil and bake at 350 for 1 hour.

      Monday, February 24, 2014

      Liquid Fence

      http://www.survivorjane.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=148:now-you-see-it-now-you-dont-making-a-liquid-fence&catid=47:sustainable-living&Itemid=64


      1 egg, 5 garlic cloves (or five tablespoons of minced garlic) and 5 gallons of water.
      Luckily I had everything with the exception of the 5 gallon containers (which I just had to wait until I finished with my milk cartons and used them.)
      To make this stuff, you crack open an egg and put it into one of the gallon containers.  Then fill the container with water. Divide the egg/water mixture equally into all the containers.  Once this is done, fill the containers full of fresh water and place one crushed clove of garlic (or tablespoon full each of minced garlic) in each container.  Let the containers set out for several days – in the sun light preferably.  Once it has fermented (baked in the sun) its ready.  Pour in on and around your plants you don’t want deer or rabbits to eat. 
      Good news – the smell will dissipate as it dries and then YOU won’t be able to smell it, but the deer and rabbits will! (If it rains, you will need to reapply – so I keep a couple gallons in waiting at all times)
      - See more at: http://www.survivorjane.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=148:now-you-see-it-now-you-dont-making-a-liquid-fence&catid=47:sustainable-living&Itemid=64#sthash.qIJsdbjl.dpuf

      Friday, February 21, 2014

      Homemade Flour Tortillas


      HOMEMADE FLOUR TORTILLAS:

      3 cups flour
      1 tsp salt
      1 tsp baking powder
      1/3 cup oil
      1 cup warm water

      Combine all ingredients until it forms a dough. Roll into a big ball and take about 1"-2" pieces off. Pat flat with your hands or use a rolling pin. Put on a griddle on the stove and let the sides cook until there are lil brown specks.✔ Like ✔ “Share” ✔ Tag ✔ Comment ✔ Repost ✔Follow me
      To SAVE this , be sure to click SHARE so it will store on your personal page.
      For more fun, amazing ideas... recipes and motivational weight loss tips
      Click and join us here--https://www.facebook.com/groups/ForeverFitWithPattihttp://
      FRIEND REQUEST ME PATTI LUPER BROWN

      Make More Plants with Cuttings From Your Own House and Garden Plants

      http://gardening.about.com/od/gardenprimer/ss/Cuttings.htm

      Heat Your Home With 240 Recycled Aluminum Cans

      Heat Your Home With 240 Recycled Aluminum Cans

      Here Are 30 Brilliant Ways To Use Old Stuff You’re About To Throw Away. #12 Is Pure Genius.

      http://www.viralnova.com/upcycled-products/

      Before you throw anything away, really think about it. For example, if you’ve finished burning a candle that comes in a big glass jar, don’t waste it. Instead, drain out the leftover wax and use it as storage. This is called “upcycling.” Upcycling is “the process of converting waste materials or useless products into new materials or products of better quality or for better environmental value.”
      And it’s not just for people who love arts and crafts. These ideas are worth trying (and will make your home a whole lot cooler).
      Now, I don’t feel so silly for refusing to throw away every wine bottle I’ve ever purchased. If I had any talent or time, I could be making chandeliers out of them. Upcycling is good for the environment and good for design.
      Source: Bored Panda