Strawberry tips

 When we moved from the country to the city we went from 5 acres to a small city lot, and as a result, the gardening isn't even close to what it was in years past and last year, it didn't happen at all.

 But, I want to continue to grow things. 

For mothers day, I was gifted something that I'd been talking about since we moved in three years ago-

12 Ways to Use Isopropyl Alcohol

 

12 Ways to Use Rubbing Alcohol

from Extraordinary Uses for Ordinary Things

1. Remove hair spray from mirrors
When you are spritzing your head with hair spray, some of it inevitably winds up on the mirror. A quick wipe with rubbing alcohol will whisk away that sticky residue and leave your mirror sparkling clean.

2. Clean venetian blinds
Rubbing alcohol does a terrific job of cleaning the slats of venetian blinds. To make quick work of the job, wrap a flat tool — a spatula or maybe a 6-inch (15-centimeter) drywall knife — in cloth and secure with a rubber band. Dip in alcohol and go to work.

3. Keep windows sparkling and frost-free
Do your windows frost up in the wintertime? Wash them with a solution of 1/2 cup rubbing alcohol to 1 quart (1 liter) water to prevent the frost. Polish the windows with newspaper after you wash them to make them shine.

4. Dissolve windshield frost
Wouldn’t you rather be inside savoring your morning coffee a little longer instead of scrape, scrape, scraping frost off your car windows? Fill a spray bottle with rubbing alcohol and spritz the car glass. You’ll be able to wipe the frost right off. Ah, good to the last drop!

5. Prevent ring around the collar
To prevent your neck from staining your shirt collar, wipe your neck with rubbing alcohol each morning before you dress. Feels good too.

6. Clean your phone
Is your phone getting a bit grubby? Wipe it down with rubbing alcohol. It’ll remove the grime and disinfect the phone at the same time.

7. Remove ink stains
Did you get ink on your favorite shirt or dress? Try soaking the spot in rubbing alcohol for a few minutes before putting the garment in the wash.

Uses For Hydrogen Peroxide

 HYDROGEN PEROXIDE

Here is one of my favorite tips.  Hydrogen Peroxide is one of those things that I couldn't do without.  I soak all our toothbrushes in it to disinfect them and I know it makes a difference. We don't get sick as much. If I get a canker sore I swish my mouth with it and it's gone the next day.

One day my little son face planted and got a major bloody nose. 

Homemade White Bread

 HOMEMADE WHITE BREAD

Recipe:

6 cups hot water
3/4 cup shortening or vegetable oil
6 heaping Tablespoons sugar
3 scant Tablespoons salt
1/2 cup warm water
2-3 Tablespoons yeast
5 lbs. flour

Mix yeast in 1/2 cup warm water, let bloom.  To your bread mixer add hot water, oil, sugar, salt and half the flour.  (I have a Bosch and love, love, love, it.)  

Mix with the dough hook until it looks soupy, then add the bloomed yeast.  After the yeast is blended, add the rest of the flour. 

 Let mix about 8-10 minutes.  Let rise, punch down, let rise again, punch down, shape for loaf pans. 

 

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. 

Makes 4-6 loaves depending on size of loaf pans.

Bread and Butter Pickles

 BREAD & BUTTER PICKLES

8 cups sliced squash, or cucumbers
2 medium onions
2 sweet peppers (one red, one green)
1/4 cup salt
Mix squash, onions and peppers together, sprinkle w/ salt (un-iodized) mix well, cover with water and ice.
This is important to keep the veggies cold.
Let sit for 1-2 hours.
Rinse, drain and set veggies aside.

Brine ingredients:
2 1/4 cups cider vinegar
2 1/4 cups sugar
2 teaspoons celery seed
2 teaspoons mustard seed
1 teaspoon turmeric

Mix brine ingredients in a stainless steel stock pot.  Bring to a boil stirring constantly, let boil 3 minutes.  Add vegetables and bring back to a boil for 3 minutes.  Remove from heat and fill jars to within 1/2 inch of top with mixture.  (Important: liquid must cover vegetables and be within 1/2 of top.)  Place sterilized rings and lids on jars finger tight.  Process in steam canner, or boiling water bath for 5 minutes.  Adjust time accordingly for elevation.

Dutch Oven Peach Cobbler

 DUTCH OVEN PEACH COBBLER

Recipe:

1 box cake mix (white or yellow)
ingredients cake mix asks for except for water (i.e. eggs, oil) in place of water, use peach juice from canned peaches.

1 large can sliced peaches
1 stick butter
1 cup brown sugar

Instructions:

Mix cake mix in separate bowl.
In  Dutch oven melt butter and brown sugar and stir over heat until bubbly and they have caramelized. Remove Dutch oven from heat, layer drained peaches, and mixed cake mix.
Put lid on Dutch oven, place directly over hot coals with 5-6 hot coals on Dutch oven lid.  Cook approx. 15-20 minutes or until done.  Remove from heat.  Cut the sweetness with whipped, or ice cream as it is very rich.

Peanut Butter Chocolate No Bake Cookies

 NO BAKE COOKIES

This is a time tested family recipe. This recipe is perfect all year round, but especially in the summer if you don't want to use your oven.

Recipe:

2 cups sugar
1/4 cup cocoa
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup unsalted butter
1 teaspoon pure vanilla
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup peanut butter
3 cups oatmeal

Instructions:

Mix sugar, cocoa, milk and butter in sauce pan on medium heat until it boils.  Let boil for one minute (1!) (not more or they are dry and crumbly).  Remove from heat stir in peanut butter, salt, vanilla and oats.
Drop by tablespoon on wax paper.  Let cool.
This is a tried and true recipe.  Believe me, we have tried it over and over and over and over...

Minute Fudge Frosting

 Minute Fudge Frosting:

2 cups sugar
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup shortening
2 sq. unsweetened chocolate (2 oz.) cut up
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla

Mix all ingredients except vanilla in saucepan. Stir over low heat until chocolate and shortening melt.  Bring to a full rolling boil, stirring constantly.  Boil 1 minute. (220degrees).  Remove from heat and beat until lukewarm (120 degrees). Stir in vanilla.  Beat until a smooth consistency.  Enough for two 8 or 9" layers or 13x9" oblong cake.

Fudge Brownies

 FUDGE BROWNIES

1/2 cup butter 
2 ounces unsweetened chocolate
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup chopped nuts
1/4 teaspoon salt

1. Grease an 8x8x2-inch baking pan; set aside.  In a medium saucepan melt butter and chocolate over low heat.  Remove from heat.  Stir in eggs, sugar, and vanilla.  Using wooden spoon, beat lightly just till combined.  Stir in flour and nuts.
2. Spread batter in prepared baking pan.  Bake in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes.  Cool in a wire rack.  Cut into bars.  Makes 24 brownies.

Zucchini Bread

 ZUCCHINI BREAD

Recipe:

3 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
2 cups granulated sugar
4 cups grated zucchini
3 teaspoons vanilla
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon cloves
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
3 cups flour
1 cup nuts (optional)

Combine eggs, oil, sugar, zucchini and vanilla. In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients then add gradually to the wet mixture. Coat loaf pan with cooking spray and pour batter in until about 12-3/4 full. Bake at 350 F for 60 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Makes about 3 loaves.

Fruit Crisp

 

FRUIT CRISP

4 cups fruit chopped or sliced.

Cream together:

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 cup all purpose flour

3/4 cup rolled oats
nuts (optional)

Mix and sprinkle over fruit:

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup water

Layer fruit in bottom of 8x12" baking dish. Pour wet mixture over fruit, then, with hands, crumble dry mix over fruit. Add nuts if desired. Bake at 350 F for 40 minutes. Serve warm with whipped cream or ice cream. 

Makes 8-10 generous servings.

Mug Brownie

 

Brownies in a Mug

Ingredients:

Serves: 1

Yield:1 brownie

• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 dash salt
• 4 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 4 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour

Directions:

1. 
   
   In a 12 oz coffee mug, add water, butter, vanilla and dash of salt. Whisk well.
2. 
   
   Add cocoa powder, whisk well. Add sugar, whisk well. Add flour, whisk well.
3. 
   
   Microwave for 60 to 90 seconds. Center should be slightly molten. Careful not to overcook.
4. 
   
   Enjoy with a spoon. Careful brownie will be hot.

Homemade Powder Laundry Soap

 

Homemade Powder Laundry Soap

 Ingredients:

1 grated/shaven bar Fels-Naptha

1 cup Borax Laundry Booster

1 cup Arm and Hammer Washing Soda

Grate Fels-Naptha and mix thoroughly with washing soda and Borax Laundry Booster.  Use 1-2 Tablespoons per load.

Homemade Enchilada Sauce

 

Enchilada Sauce

2 Tablespoons Vegetable Oil
2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 Tablespoons chili powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 8 oz can tomato sauce
2 cups water
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1. Heat oil in large 2-Qt saucepan; stir in flour and chili powder; cook for 1 minute.
2. Add remaining ingredients.  Bring to a boil and simmer for about 10 minutes.

Hummingbird Cake

 

Hummingbird Cake

 

1 package (18.25 oz) plain yellow cake mix

 1 can (8 oz) crushed pineapple packed in juice, undrained

2 medium or 3 small ripe bananas, peeled and mashed (1 cup)

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup vegetable oil, such as canola, corn, safflower, soybean, or sunflower

3 large eggs

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Cream Cheese Frosting

1/2 chopped pecans, toasted

 Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  

Lightly grease two 9 inch round cake pans with solid vegetable shortening, then dust with four.  Shake out excess flour.

Place the cake mix, pineapple with its juice, mashed bananas, water, oil, eggs, vanilla and cinnamon in a large bowl.  Blend with an electric mixer on low speed for 1 minute.  Stop the machine and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula.  Increase the mixer speed to medium and beat for 2 minutes more, scraping the sides down again if needed.  The batter should look thick and the fruit well blended.  Divide the batter between the prepared pans, smoothing it down with the rubber spatula.  Place the pans in the oven side by side.

 

Bake until golden brown, about 30-32 minutes. Cool them on wire racks.

Prepare the cream cheese frosting. 

When cakes have cooled completely, frost with frosting and top with toasted pecans. (or toasted almonds if you don't have pecans and don't want to run to the store...again.)

 

 Cream Cheese Frosting

 1 package cream cheese, at room temperature

8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter, at room temperature

3 3/4 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Place cream cheese and butter in large mixing bowl.  Blend with an electric mixer on low speed until combined, 30 seconds.  Stop the machine.  Add the confectioners' sugar, a bit at a time, blending with the mixer on low speed until the sugar is well incorporated, 1 minute.  Add the vanilla, then increase the mixer speed to medium and blend the frosting until fluffy, 1 minute more.

Homemade Sweet Muffins

 

Mom's Sweet Muffins

3 eggs  

1 1/2 cups sugar  

1 1/2 cups  milk  

6 teaspoons Baking Powder  

3/4 cup vegetable oil  

1 1/2 teaspoons salt  

4 1/2 cups flour

One bowl dump and mix and bake.

400 degrees for 10-20 minutes depending on the size of your muffin tin.

 This is what is considered a base recipe. You can add in many ingredients to make lemon, blueberry, or lemon blueberry, poppy seed, maple nut, or any number of varities.

Rice Pudding

 Heavenly Rice Pudding

(gluten and dairy FREE)

3 cups Minute rice
1 (13.5 oz) can coconut milk plus water to make 3 cups liquid
Cinnamon to taste
1/2 cup dried cherries (or your favorite tart fruit)
1/2 cup shredded coconut
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions:

Add all ingredients except for rice and bring to a boil.  Mix well then add minute rice.  Cover and remove from heat. Let stand for five minutes then fluff and serve.
Voila! 

Dutch Oven Artisan Bread

 Dutch Oven Artisan Bread

RECIPE:

3 cups flour

1 3/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon yeast

1 1/2 cups water

Mix dry ingredients and then add water.  Mix thoroughly. 

Cover and let sit 12-18 hours.

After it sits overnight, plop it out on a heavily floured surface then into the Dutch oven.

Bake at 450 Degrees F. for 30 min lid on then 10-15 more with lid off.