Dee

I have been watching ever since the story first came across the wires.... God Is Great

Ring Binders and Baseball card holders You can get a couple of Binders and Plastic baseball card holders at the Dollar Store and store printed out tips, info and even recipes in them. Just print and Cut and slide them in the plastic holders back to back. You get 15 to 30 plastic pages for 1 dollar so I usually buy several packs and store recipes in one binder and home tips in another. I also have my coupons, pencils, and couponing stuff in another binder that I take to the grocery store with me.

You can get a couple of Binders and Plastic baseball card holders at the Dollar Store and store printed out tips, info and even recipes in them. Just print and Cut and slide them in the plastic holders back to back. You get 15 to 30 plastic pages for 1 dollar so I usually buy several packs and store recipes in one binder and home tips in another. I also have my coupons, pencils, and couponing stuff in another binder that I take to the grocery store with me.

Here we go! Lots of great tips here! Send us yours! Another use for Baking Soda - make a paste by mixing a small amount of baking soda with a little bit of water in your hands for an excellent skin exfoliator. Great for dry skin on face, feet & elbows. Also good for skin irritations. Thanks! Pamela To fill a plastic baggie with liquid items, first put the baggie into a drinking glass. This way the baggie has support while pouring. Save the snap top lids of your toothpaste tube. Wash & reuse on the next tube. Sometimes you can get toothpaste really cheap & the snap top lids keep the paste in the tube Clean-up - Rub grater with oil before using it, then it will wipe clean. Odors - To take foul odors out of plastic containers, fill with black & white newspaper, cover overnight. Sinks - To clean out stains, line bottom with paper towels, them pour on bleach. Let stand for 1/2 an hour, then wipe clean. Sinks - To remove water spots from stainless steel, wipe with rubbing alcohol or white vinegar. Soap - If you buy bars of soap that are rectangular instead of curved, cut them in half crossways because then they won't break in half before they're worn down.

Lowie I miss ya.. wer be ye Lassie?

LOL Debs! Sounds like People Magazine is just a little bit Jealous of National Geographic one of the most well respected, educational magazines in the Country. Thats where Petes story was first published. People magazine can't compete with NG!

@@@@@@@ HAPPY BIRTHDAY FRAN @@@@@@@

I hear you Cat! I will tell you I make it a habit to save 4.00 a week for the two of us to go to the discount movie theater especially if there is something we want to see. With fixing up the house the expense is draining our finances so we have really had to tighten up our belts around here and pinch pennies. I can't go back to teaching until 2004 of the Fall because of my surgery recovery according to the surgeon. Between taxes, water and sewer ( even though we have a well on the property with good water) school taxes and increase in all prices in the area in food and other its becoming increasingly hard for many families in our area to keep their homes.

Get all sizes of candles you have hanging around the house and get an old serving plate that isn't being used and arrange the candles on the tray. You won't have to look far for lighting up the house if your power goes out because you will have the centerpiece at hand. When not in use you can also decorate the around the candles with dry flora

A study in Consumers Reports a while back showed that uses of powered laundry detergents had an access of clogged water and plumbing problems because of the laundry detergent caking and plugging up lines.

1. Washcloths- the average washcloth is 10" x10". So cut your towel into squares of 10 1/2" x 10 1/2" and sew a double hem around them. If you have a serger then you just need to serge around the edge cutting off the inch. 2. Rags-This is the easiest part. You can convert the towel into cleaning rags by cutting it into 12 x 12 squares. You can hem the squares as for the washcloths or just leave it. 3. Washing Mitts- Measure around your hand or your child's hand. Add a 1/2 inch seam around the outside of your drawing and then cut two pieces of towel in that pattern. Sew around the edge 1/2-inch seam and hem the bottom. 4. Apron-You can make a half apron by draping the towel around your front and cutting accordingly. Attach pieced strips to make the ties or use material scraps. You can also piece together more than one towel and make a full apron. You just need another smaller square for the top half and pieces for neck strap. 5. Make dishtowels-Cut the towel in a rectangle 25" x 16 " and hem. 6. Make into a hair cap for after the shower. You know when you get out of the shower and wrap that towel around your head and you look down and it falls off. Why not make a fitted cap and wear it everywhere--put the kids on the bus, go to the store, attend church...maybe not. 7. Make a dog bed liner. Piece together pieces of towels and either sew them into a dog pillow or make a washable blanket for the dog bed. 8. Cut into smaller towels to use in the car for kid messes. 9. Cut them into 6 1/2" x 6 1/2" pieces and put some filler between them to make potholders. 10. If enough of the towel is reusable cut it into a large bag to store wet swimming suits. If it is not large enough them piece several towels together. Put a seam at the top and draw through a rope or tie.

Sunday For at least one day this week, challenge yourself not to spend any money on anything. Enjoy the feeling of keeping your cash in your wallet. Monday When you do spend, put yourself on a "cash only" system. Give your credit cards and even your checkbook a rest by buying only what you can pay for with cash. Tuesday Try not to purchase anything this week at full price. Use coupons, buy on sale, or simply delay your purchase until you can get the item at a discount. Wednesday Put off a trip to the grocery store as long as you can this week. Be creative in using up what you already have in your pantry. Thursday - Surf the Internet for new ways to save money. Sign up for a free e-mail newsletter or discussion list that will provide ideas and encouragement. Friday For the next seven days, don't spend any money on entertainment. Brainstorm with your family to come up with things you can do that are free: visit a library, do some mall-walking, or read some good books. Saturday Look for ways to save gas and give your car a break this week. Combine errands, do business online or get some exercise by walking to places that are within walking distance.

POSTED BY RECI Dying Easter Eggs--the Natural way! This Easter, why not color your eggs using nature's very own dyes? It's possible to come up with a great number of colors using natural ingredients that can easily be found in almost any kitchen. Pale Red: Fresh beets or cranberries, frozen raspberries Orange: Yellow onion skins Light yellow: Orange or lemon peels, carrot tops, celery seed or ground cumin Yellow: Ground turmeric Pale green: Spinach leaves Green-gold: Yellow Delicious apple peels Blue: Canned blueberries or red cabbage leaves Beige to brown: Strong brewed coffee To dye the perfect Easter eggs the natural way, here's what to do: Put eggs in a single layer in a pan. Pour water in pan until the eggs are covered. Add about a teaspoon of vinegar. Add the natural dye appropriate to the color you want your eggs to be. (The more eggs you are dying at a time, the more dye you will need to use.) Bring water to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove the substance you used to color the eggs. Put eggs in a bowl. If you want your eggs to be a darker shade, cover them with the dye and let them stand overnight in the refrigerator. Onion Skin Eggs One of my favorite egg dyes is with onion skins! Gather lots of onion skins; the dry outer layers. (try to get a good variety of colors--I like plain brown best; red onion also makes a good color) Gently wrap them around*raw* eggs and hold them in place with rubber bands. Hard boil the eggs like usual. Unwrap them and WOW! Beautiful colors and designs! You may polish with vegetable oil for a nice gloss. This is a natural dye and the eggs are still quite edible. Happy eggs-ploration! Wax Eggs It's fun to write something on the egg with a light colored crayon - white is the most fun. The dye doesn't stick to the wax crayoned letters and they appear white (or brown if it's a brown egg) after the egg is dyed. Rubber Band Wraps Materials: Egg dye: For and extra bright color use food coloring paste, available at party supply shops. Dissolve a dab of paste or 6 drops of regular liquid food coloring in a cup of hot water. Stir in 1/4 cup of vinegar Rubber bands, cut in various length widths long enough go around the egg several times Wrap rubber bands around the egg, covering it completely. When you dip the covered egg, the dye will seep under the bands in some areas and be blocked out in other areas. Remove from the dye when the color is bright enough. Blot dry with paper towels and remove the rubber bands. If you wish, repeat with a new color. If the rubber bands pop off the egg, try using thicker ones. Marbelized Eggs Materials: Egg dye 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil Lightly stir the oil into a bowl of egg dye. Immediately dip the egg into the liquid. Or stand the egg in a small cup and slowly spoon the oil-water mixture over it. When the egg dries, repeat the steps with another color for an interesting color combining effect. TIP: For cleanup, wash all dipping containers in hot soapy water and rinse with vinegar to get rid of oil. Fingerpaint Eggs Materials: Paper plates Tempera paint Put a few colors of paint on the paper plate. Hold the egg n the ends with your thumb and finger so you can rotate it while you're stamping. Dip your finger in the paint, dab off the excess on a paper towel, then gently press your finger onto the egg. Crepe Paper Eggs Materials: Boiled Eggs Tissue Paper or Crepe Paper Wet the egg and place pieces of colored tissue paper on it. Set it aside to dry. When the egg dries the tissue paper falls off and the colors stay behind. Polka Dot Eggs Dip a boiled egg in yellow dye. When dry glue on hole punched dots. Great for improving fine motor skills

Cracked Wheat Patties 2 c. cooked cracked wheat (see directions above) 2 T. dry milk powder 2 eggs or 2 egg whites 1/2 c. chopped onion 1 T. dried parsley 2 t. chicken or vegetable bouillon Mix all ingredients. Drop by tablespoon onto oiled frying pan. Brown on both sides. Delicious hot or cold. These can be made into hamburger-size patties and served on a bun or topped with cheese. They freeze well and reheat well. Try the toaster! Serves 4. Honey Maple Nuts 3 c. wheat flour 1/2 c. dry milk powder 1/2 c. brown sugar 1/2 t. salt 2 t. maple flavoring 1/4 c. melted honey 6 T. water Mix dry ingredients. Using electric mixer or rotary egg beater, add maple flavoring, honey and only enough water to moisten. Mixture should be very fine, just like commercial Grape Nuts (NOT doughy). Spread on 2 or 3 baking sheets and bake at 325° for 10 minutes. Stir to break up granules and bake 5-10 minutes longer, until golden brown. Cool and store in air-tight container.

Honey Maple Nuts 3 c. wheat flour 1/2 c. dry milk powder 1/2 c. brown sugar 1/2 t. salt 2 t. maple flavoring 1/4 c. melted honey 6 T. water Mix dry ingredients. Using electric mixer or rotary egg beater, add maple flavoring, honey and only enough water to moisten. Mixture should be very fine, just like commercial Grape Nuts (NOT doughy). Spread on 2 or 3 baking sheets and bake at 325° for 10 minutes. Stir to break up granules and bake 5-10 minutes longer, until golden brown. Cool and store in air-tight container.

Become friends with the person in charge of your local flower department in the big super centers. When plants get a little tired looking, they may give them to you free! All you need to do is give the plants some TLC! Recently in our local grocery super center, they were selling spring bulbs. In a short while, the flowers had faded and the plants were no longer wanted by shoppers. Most folks have no idea that these plants can be planted outside for spring flowers next year. Just ask if you can have the "old" flowerpots after the flowers fade! Keep your eyes open for Easter lilies. When placed outside, they can grow up to 4 ft. with many more blooms than you see in that little pot. While walking around larger greenhouses, I've noticed all of the large garbage cans throughout the place filled with soil, clippings, and old plants. Ask for their clippings for your compost pile, then use what you can to make new plants by rooting them, and throw the rest into the compost heap.

Mint and honey sounds good Homey! I think the possibilities are endless here!

1. Tuna Patties- $1.25 for a batch: 2 cans tuna, drained 1 egg 8 crackers, crushed 1 tsp Worcestershire or soy sauce dash garlic powder, salt & pepper Mix all ingredients until combined. This should be just sturdy enough to make a patty-they will be a bit moist, but not falling apart. If too wet to hold a patty, add a couple more crackers. If too dry, add a dash of soy or w. sauce. This should make 4-6 patties. In a large skillet, heat enough oil to cover bottom of pan. (I don't substitute the oil with cooking spray because it takes the outer crunch away) When oil is hot, place patties in skillet and cook on each side until golden. Just a couple of minutes on each side. Drain on paper towels. You can eat this on a bun like a burger, or just as you would a meat entre'.

BBQ Meatloaf Aussie Style Ingredients: 1 lb Ground beef - lean 1/2 c Water 1 lb Sausage stuffing 1 tb Parsley - chopped 1 c Breadcrumbs - fine 1 Egg - beaten 2 Onions - medium, chopped 1 each Clove - crushed Fine 1/2 c Milk 1 tb Curry powder Salt and pepper to taste SAUCE 1 Onion - chopped very fine 2 tb Vinegar 1/4 c Water 1 tb Instant coffee 1/2 c Ketchup 1/4 c Brown sugar - packed 1/4 c Dry red wine OR beef stock 1 oz Margarine 1/4 c Worcestershire sauce -Lea & Perrins 2 ts Lemon juice Preparation: Combine meats, breadcrumbs, onions, salt, pepper, garlic, parsley, curry and egg in large bowl. Mix well. Mix milk and water and add to meat mixture a little at a time until smooth but firm. Shape into loaf and put into greased baking pan. Bake 30 minutes at 375F. SAUCE: Saute onions in margarine until golden and add all other ingredients. Bring slowly to a boil, lower heat and simmer 10 to 15 minutes. (great with ribs or chicken). After loaf has cooked for 30 minutes, pour half of the sauce over the meat, return to oven and bake 45 minutes more, basting often with remaining sauce. Serve loaf hot in thick slices with remaining sauce. Also makes great sandwiches.

1 1/2 pounds lean stew meat 1/2 teaspoon salt, pepper, paprika, parsley 1 large onion 2 cups mushroom 1 cup white flour 1 tablespoon Crisco 3 cups water or beef Bouillon Cut onion fine, put in hot Crisco oil, fry golden brown. Then add meat, salt, pepper, paprika, parsley and fry it until brown. Add water or beef Bouillon. Simmer until meat is tender. Add mushroom and make white flour sauce for gravy. Taste for flavor. Serve with German dumplings or potatoes.

1 pound zucchini, cut in 1/4-inch cubes 8 scallions, thinly sliced 1 Tablespoon olive oil 1 cup feta cheese, crumbled 1 teaspoon fresh dill, finely chopped 1/2 teaspoon fresh mint, finely chopped 1/2 teaspoon lemon peel, grated Pepper 4 eggs, separated 1/4 cup flour oil for frying pinch of salt Saute zucchini and scallions in olive oil until brown but still firm. Place in bowl and stir in feta, herbs, lemon, and pepper. Add egg yolks and flour to zucchini mixture and stir until just blended. In a separate bowl, beat egg whites with salt until stiff peaks form, and then gently fold into zucchini mixture. Drop 1/4 cup of mixture into hot skillet with a thick layer of vegetable oil. Fritters are done when the outside is brown and the inside is moist. Makes 12 to 14 fritters.

1 can asparagus or 10 fresh stalks, cooked 5 eggs 1 C. 2% or skim Milk 1 small Onion, Chopped Salt/pepper 2 T. fresh Basil, chopped 1 C. low-fat Swiss cheese, grated Spray pie plate with "Pam." Preheat oven to 350o. Place asparagus (drained) in pie plate. Beat eggs, add milk, onion, salt, pepper, basil and pour over asparagus. Top with cheese. Bake for 1/2 hour until set. Cool 5 min. and serve.

(Fry 1 1/2 cup hash browns) Mix ingredients 3 eggs 1/8 th cup whole milk 3/8 cup shredded cheddar cheese 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese 1 tbls parsley 1/4 tsp pepper 1/2 tsp salt Dash of Mrs. dash Pour ingredients over prepared hash browns in an 8" sauce pan and top with cooked bacon. Bake in 350 oven for 13 minutes. Cut in half it serves two generous portions.

This is really creamy and if you want a more sweet taste to it add a little splenda to it! Acquire your favorite non-citrus fruit and let it ripen Cut into about one inch squares/pieces as though ready to eat (no cutting needed if berries) Put in Ziploc bags in single layer and freeze In a small food processer with the cutting blade inserted add: 1 cup of the frozen fruit pieces 1 heaping tablespoon frozen white grape juice concentrate and blend adding a smidgen of water if needed to make smooth

Tonights delight is simple to make. Its shopping night so this will be a no fuss no muss dinner. Mushroom Cheeseburgers with all the trimmings Celery and Carrot Sticks Fresh Fruit No Sugar Sherbet loaded with strawberrys, blueberries and melon. Total price per plate per person: 1.15