Strawberry Container Garden

 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.

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

 RECIPE:

Bread and 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

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

RECIPE:

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.