Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Hello from Wisconsin ( olive oil tip )

This is snail mail from Wisconsin. My daughter is a stay at home mother and I couldn't be happier but we need to get passed dial up internet service. I just wanted to revise my olive oil tip. This tip is for removing sap etc from your hands after gardening. Pour a table spoon on a cloth, than rub until clean. Plus it is a GREAT moisturizer. I talk to Jackie and I wanted to get this update on the blog. I was glad to hear that we had some reponce to our tips. When I return home on the 6th it will be time for side dish recipes for November. I look forward to that. Jackie should have great one because she is a very good cook. I love spending time with my mother and children. Wisconsin right now is in fall color. Wednesday is trick or treat here and besides Lukas, we have 4 other cousins that will go. I enjoy this very much. I will leave you for now. Wish me a safe flight home because I hate to fly!

Monday, October 29, 2007

Back Home From GA

We came back last night, but, I didn't have the energy to go online. Sorry. We had a great weekend with the kids and their families and are so glad that we went. I am going to write this little tip and then go to get some chores done. I have to crowd all the chores into today through Thursday because Friday we are going to our niece's high school homecoming outside of Charleston. We will spend the night there with our daughter and son-in-law and have to be back home Saturday afternoon. Our church is having a potluck supper Saturday evening that we want to attend. Then, of course, there is Mass on Sunday, church brunch afterwards and helping in our church's resale shop for about an hour. Then home to fix dinner. So all my weekly chores I have to get done in the next few days. Busy, busy, busy.

Chris called this morning and we talked for awhile. She is enjoying being there with her family and, especially, her grandson. I mentioned before how she is so good at decorating and doing things. Well, she has put in a new toilet in her mom's house. I could never, ever even begin to know where to start to do that. Bill was in the middle of remodeling our house when he had his strokes. Naturally, work has been at a standstill and I hate to have anyone come over to my house until I get things under control. Her and Dennis, her husband, are such great friends that they came and put in our laminate floors for us. Bill, my brother, our nephew, 2 of our grandchildren and myself helped with little things. They did the majority and the hardest of the work. Things that I need done they are going to come show me how to do.

Okay, getting to my tip of the day. With Christmas coming up there will be a lot of packages being mailed out. You should always make sure that the label on any package that you send has clear tape placed over it. That way you don't take a chance on it getting smeared or ruined in transit. You, also, should make sure that an address is on the inside of the package. That can be with a label or just written on a piece of paper. That last is a good tip for checked baggage, too. Always make sure your address is on the inside and the outside of your baggage.

Now I am off to get my chores done. Don't forget we would love to have comments on our posts.

Saturday, October 27, 2007

Window Washing Tip

Instead of using a rag, paper towels or something like that to wash your windows, use old newspapers. This way there will be no streaks. When I learned this trick I did it for years until I bought my household steam cleaner. The newspapers worked great, but, now I just do the steamer with a squeegee on the end.

Bill and I are in GA now and had a great day with our daughter and son-in-law. The four of us spent the day with their three sons (our handsome grandsons) and their families. Our great-grandson is really skateboarding! And he just turned two!! One of his presents was a scooter, so he is, also, on that. Good thing one of our presents to him was a Thomas and Friends helmet and pads set.

Friday, October 26, 2007

Olive Oil Tip

Chris just called from Milwaukee. She is at a park with her grandson and had an idea for a tip for me to put in. I hope I get it right. She said olive oil is not just for cooking and salads anymore. I believe she said it can be used to remove those nasty little gummy messes that are left when you take a label off of something. Also, instead of using turpentine to get paint off of your hands, use olive oil instead. Besides cleaning your hands, it makes them softer! I really should have written this all down when she told me, but, I was in the middle of doing the "kitchen substitutions" one. At my age, my head only holds so much information at a time!! Anyhow, she can elaborate on the uses of olive oil when she gets back on the computer.

Handy Kitchen Chart for Ingredient Substitutions

I clipped this from a magazine over 15 years ago and still have it hanging on the inside of my spice cabinet.

  1. 1 Tbsp cornstarch (for thickening) = 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
  2. 1 tsp. baking powder = 1/2 tsp cream of tartar plus 1/4 tsp baking soda
  3. 1 cup sugar = 1 cup packed brown sugar OR 2 cups sifted powdered sugar
  4. 1 cup molasses = 1 cup honey
  5. 1 square (1 oz.) unsweetened chocolate = 3 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder plus 1 Tbsp shortening or cooking oil, OR 1 oz. envelope premelted unsweetened chocolate product
  6. 6 squares (6 oz) semisweet chocolate = 1 6-oz. pkg semisweet chocolate pieces, OR 6 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder, plus 1/4 cup sugar and 1/4 cup shortening
  7. 1 cup whole milk = 1/2 cup evaporated milk plus 1/2 cup water, OR 1 cup water plus 1/3 cup nonfat dry milk powder
  8. 1 cup buttermilk = 1 Tbsp lemon juice OR vinegar plus enough milk to make 1 cup (let stand 5 minutes before using) OR1 cup plain yogurt
  9. 1 cup light cream = 1 Tbsp melted butter plus enough milk to make 1 cup
  10. 1 cup dairy sour cream = 1 cup plain yogurt
  11. 1/2 cup liquor (rum, bourbon, or whiskey) = 1/4 cup unsweetened fruit juice or broth
  12. 1/2 cup wine = 1/2 cup apple OR white grape juice (for white wine), OR 1/2 cup unsweetened grape juice (for red wine). (Taste recipe before sweetening, you may need less sugar.)
  13. 1/4 cup fine dry bread crumbs = 3/4 cup soft bread crumbs
  14. 1 small onion, chopped = 1 tsp onion powder OR 1 Tbsp dried minced onion
  15. 1 Tbsp prepared mustard = 1/2 tsp dry mustard plus 2 tsp vinegar

I hope you find this helpful sometime. Now I am going to tape it back on my kitchen cabinet door where it has been for the past 15 or so years. I have to get some chores done to get ready for our drive to GA later today. Bill and I are going for our great-grandson's 2nd birthday. I will take my laptop so I will still be in touch on this blog.

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Corn and Potato Chowder

This is a variation of a soup I would make when our neighborhood used to have a little get-together the night that we held our luminary display. Our entire neighborhood would be swathed in candlelight and some of us would gather at the Harvey's home on the corner to watch all the cars drive by looking at our handiwork. This was our luminary display for Christmas, so naturally there would be a chill in the air. To ward off the chill each family that came to the little get-together brought soup, chili, hot apple cider or hot chocolate.

CORN AND POTATO CHOWDER

3 slices of bacon
3 or 4 medium potatoes, boiled and diced
1 small onion, chopped
6 tbsp flour
2 cups half and half
1 cup milk
1 can condensed chicken broth
2 cups corn (I use frozen)
Salt & pepper to taste

Fry bacon very crisp in a deep pan. Remove from pan and place on paper towels to drain. Stir flour into bacon drippings in pan and saute just until transparent. Stir in the milk and half and half next making sure it is mixed well. Add the potatoes and corn. Heat thoroughly. Make sure not to boil.

I hope you enjoy it. Chris just called to tell me that she just arrived in Milwaukee -- 4 hours late!! Poor thing, she sounds pooped and I don't blame her. Plus now she has to go to baggage and pray that her bags are there. It is so difficult to fly anywhere nowadays. I am an airline retiree and my husband and I get to fly free and very, very seldom do. I would rather drive. Bill would rather fly because it is so uncomfortable for him in those airline seats. So we drive when we can or buy a ticket when necessary so we are not standby.

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Gone to Wisconsin

I will be in Wisconsin for the next 12 days and hope to send off new tips and recipes from there. My daughter's computer is slower than a snail, so it is up in the air as to how much patience I will have. Jackie will keep things going if I can't. Needless to say, we will be in touch no matter where we are. BE SAFE!

I'm Baaaaaaack!!

And glad to be be!!!! I forced myself to write Sunday and Monday, but, just couldn't yesterday. Chris and I just started this and already I feel as if part of my life is missing if I don't do something here. Anyone who knows me well knows that I have to get on the computer every chance I can. The last few days were miserable without my computer fix. When I awoke yesterday morning I felt a bit better than when I went to bed the night before. So foolishly, I thought, I'm better so I'll go throw together some homemade chicken soup. By the time I cleaned the chicken and had it on boiling, I realized how wrong I was. So my chicken soup was made this way....... I put in some salt, pepper, garlic and onion powder in the water as it boiled. I, also, put in some chicken bouillion granules and some chicken broth. I went back to bed. After awhile, I got up, back down to the kitchen and put some chopped garlic, green onions and shredded carrots in. Back to bed. Back down to the kitchen again and my soup. I then put in some frozen corn and frozen okra. Maybe you are getting the idea that I am adding ingredients as I am thinking about them. You are absolutely correct!! I put thin spaghetti noodles in the last half hour. If I do say so myself, it turned out quite delicious.

I am officially out of my sick bed. Yayyyyyyyy!! Just a little worn, but, that comes with age. I will miss Chris, but, will still be in constant contact with her. I am attending a small social affair this evening with my husband for the Knights of Columbus group that he belongs to. Afterwards I will come home, rest up and tomorrow try to get a little farther along with this project. One of my daughters told me to put a corn chowder recipe in that I make and she loves. I will definitely get it on here.

Also, Chris and I welcome any and all comments. Thanks.

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

New England Fish Chowder

This is a recipe from 1992. Good one to try. Jackie and I are on the phone as I type this out. She has been under the weather for the last couple of days. She will be up and on the blog very soon. I will be up north visiting my children and Mother. I hate flying and wished I made the decision to drive. There will be a lot of nervous moments if the weather is bad.
Here is the chowder recipe----
4 C water
1 pound of cod fillets or other white fish
2 T margarine
3 T shredded carrot
2 T diced celery
2 T minced fresh onions
2 T plus 1 t all purpose flour
3 1/2 C skin milk---divided
2 C peeled, diced baking potato
1/4 t salt
1/4 pepper
Bring 4 cups of water to a boil in a large skillet. Add fish; cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 7 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork. Remove fish with slotted spoon and set aside.
Melt margarine in a medium to large saucepan over medium heat. Add carrot, celery, and onion. Saute 2 minutes. Stir in flour. Gradually add 2 1/2 cups of milk, stirring constantly with a wire whisk. Add potato, salt, and pepper; reduce heat, and cook uncovered, 30 minutes, stirring occastionally. Add fish and remaining 1 cup milk; cook addional 10 minutes or until heated.
It should serve 1 1/2 cups each---4 people
My typing skills are very bad. I should of practiced more in class many many years ago. Thanks and have a good nights sleep. Later!

Monday, October 22, 2007

Monday Morning Tips

Today is laundry day. Monday was always wash day in our house and all the neighbors. My Grandmother and Mother had the whitest clothes. My sister and daughter still hang their wash out to dry on a nice day. Saves money and smells great. I have 3 tips today from many years ago--
#1- When frying in butter, first grease the skillet with vegetable oil. When it's hot, add the butter. The butter stays at the top of the oil and will not burn.
#2-Bake meatballs instead of frying them 350 for 35-45 minutes. Time will depend, on how big you make your meatballs. This one really saves time and a big mess frying.
#3- Pour salt on spills on the oven bottom. The salt stops the smoke and odor, and the spill clean up easier.
Thank you Andy for your nice words of support. ( Andy is Jackie's brother ) Have a safe day EVERYONE !

Sunday, October 21, 2007

My soup contribution for the day

I am making a quick contribution to our endeavor here. I woke up this morning with a slight migraine that I haven't been able to shake so I have been taking it easy all day. Luckily Chris had saved Bill and I seats at church this morning so I wasn't squeezed in. She always makes it to church before we do and saves seats. Anyhow, this is another soup recipe that I got from a Pittsburgh newspaper. It is only about 230 calories a serving.

GOLDEN ONION-CHICKEN SOUP WITH EGG DUMPLINGS

1 cup chopped sweet onion (again, I use Vidalia)
4 cups chicken broth (use low-sodium broth for low-salt diet)
1/2 cup shredded carrots
1 cup cooked chicken meat
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup flour
2 tbsp milk
Soy sauce, to taste (omit for low-salt diet)
Toasted sesame seeds

Combine onion and chicken broth in large saucepan. Bring to boil. Cover and simmer 10 minutes. Add carrots and chicken. For dumplings, combine egg, flour and milk. Drop by teaspoons into bubbling broth. Cook 2 to 3 minutes or until dumplings float. Season to taste with soy sauce. Sprinkle sesame seeds over each serving. Makes 4 servings.

I guess I have Chinese food on the brain because since I didn't feel like cooking today, I ordered and picked up Chinese for dinner.

One Line Tips

These are what we use to refer to as OLD SCHOOL tips.

To keep spaghetti or macaroni from boiling over, put a tablespoon of butter or margarine in the water.
Curb odor of cabbage, cauliflower, etc. when cooking by adding a little vinegar to cooking water.
If soup or gravey is too greasy, drop an ice cube in it. Grease will collect on ice, just remove the cube.
To keep egg yolks from drying out, place in cup and cover with cold water.

Jackie and I helped at the resale store, at our church this morning. We both attend the same church. Jackie is the one who discovered this small congregation and invited me to come there over 2 years ago. This is another thing we share in our lives.

Saturday, October 20, 2007

Makeup Tip for the Ladies

Ladies, you know how sometimes when we put lipstick on somehow it eventually gets on our teeth. We don't know it until someone has enough nerve to tell us or we look in a mirror. Well, here's a tip that I learned that some models do. After you put your lipstick on, stick the tip of your finger in your mouth, close your lips and pull your finger out. Any excess lipstick is on your finger. Sounds silly, but, it works.

Savory Cheese Soup

Being born and raised in Wisconsin anything with cheese is good. Jackie and our friend P.J. like cheese stuffed olives. We got tegether for a girls trip last April in Las Vegas and they had them in their cocktail. We had a great time with old friends. All women need a yearly get together. It is great therapy!
This one is easy--
1/4 C chopped onion
3T of butter
1/4 C all purpose flour
1/4 t salt
1/8 t pepper
1/8 t garlic powder
2 C milk
1 can (14-1/2 ounces ) chicken broth
1/2 C shredded carrots
1/2 C finely chopped celery
1-1/2 C ( 6 ounces ) shredded cheddar cheese
3/4 C shredded jack cheese
Fresh dried chives, optional
In a large saucepan, saute onion in butter until tender. Add flour, salt, pepper, and garlic powder; cook and stir over medium heat until thick and bubbly. Meanwhile, bring chicken broth to a boil in a small saucepan. Add carrots and celery; simmer for 5 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Add to milk mixture and stir until blended. Add cheeses. Cook and stir until melted( do not boil ). Garnish with chives if desired.
This recipe serves 4 creamy bowls of soup. Hope you try this one and I am sure you will go back for seconds.

Bill's Favorite - Onion Soup

Yesterday when Bill and I were collecting donations for the Knights of Columbus tootsie roll drive (for those intellectually challenged) there was a pretty good breeze blowing. On the wings of that breeze were delicious smells coming from the restaurants across the street. Naturally, I got to thinking about food and what soup recipe I would put in our little blog. I decided my first entry would be Bill's all-time favorite. I got this particular recipe from a Pittsburgh newspaper years ago and it is baked casserole style.

FORK 'N' KNIFE ONION SOUP
3 medium sweet onions (Being in the South, I use delicious Vidalia onions)
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1 tbsp flour
1 cup beef broth
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
Salt & pepper to taste
8 slices French bread, cut 1/2 inch thick
2 cups grated Swiss cheese

Peel and thinly slice onions. Melt butter or margarine in large saucepan. Add onions and saute 20 minutes or until lightly browned. Stir in flour. Gradually stir in beef broth and wine. Cover and simmer 10 minutes. Season with Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper. Layer half of bread and cheese in 3-quart casserole. Pour in soup. Top with remaining bread and sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake in a 400-degree oven 12 to 15 minutes or until bread is golden. Makes 4 to 6 servings.

Friday, October 19, 2007

Quick tip

I just thought of this tip from my high school days. When we wanted to get our class ring to gleam we would put a little bit of lipstick on a kleenex and wipe it all over the ring. Afterwards, when we wiped the lipstick off the ring would sparkle. I would guess it could be used on other gold items.

I think Chris's idea of soup month is great. I don't know if I will get a recipe in today because I am trying to get some things done before I go to an appointment with my husband. He belongs to the Knights of Columbus and they are having their Tootsie Roll drive this month. We are going to take our turn collecting donations this afternoon. We hold a container for donations in one hand and a box of large Tootsie Rolls in another. Some people just donate and don't want the T.R. in return. Sometimes a child will come by and look longingly at the candy. If the adult says okay we will give the child one. We enjoy doing it and meeting and greeting people.

October is Soup Month

I called Jackie this morning to ask her what she thought about recipes added to our tips. Jackie is always supportive of me no matter what. So this October will be soup month. I found a soup recipe in a international book that was given to me by a person I met along with jackie in the Philippines. Her name is Inger and her husband also work for Westinghouse. She is Swedish born and now lives in the United States and became a citizen many years ago.

This Pumpkin soup is very good and worth a taste. Here we go---Pumpkin Soup
3 Cups canned pumpkin
2 Cups Milk
1 Cup Cream
1 small onion, chopped & sauteed in (yes) 1 T Brandy and 3 T Butter
3 t chicken bouillon
1 scant teaspoon prepared mustard
1 t curry powder
1/2 t salt
1/4 t pepper
Scald milk and cream together. Add mashed pumpkin. Add remaning ingredients.
Puree in blender for smoother consistency. Heat gently and serve.

If I can make this anyone can. Since my husband retired, he does all the cooking and is GREAT!
I would rather clean than cook.

Thursday, October 18, 2007

ONE LINER TIPS

I have been out of the loop for a couple of days. As you can see Jackie has been putting together great tips and stories. I have a couple of one line tips. Heat oranges before peeling, in a hot oven. No white pulp will remain on the fruit. Here's an oldie, burn a candle in a smoky room to eliminate odor. I light one when cooking things like cabbage. It really helps cut the smells. Add lemon to rice water for whiter rice-1t per quart. Ballpoint pen stains may be removed with hairspray. A pinch of salt in hot oil will help eliminate spattering when frying.



I hope to get more tips together soon. My sister just went through another surgery. She had brain surgery in July and this time she had leakage into her brain. We hope this will be the last one. She came home today. Have a great day--life goes to FAST!

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Grease stains

I just remembered that I heard before that using dishwashing liquid that has a degreasing agent in it is good to use on clothes or materials that have a grease stain. Just dab the stain with some of the detergent and wash.

One of my sisters and I just came back from the store where I saw one of Chris's other friends. I told her about our "Helpful Hints" blog and she said that she had two hints that would be good. I told her to get in touch with Chris so she can put them on our blog. She told me some of it and they are going to be goodies!!

Another tip for removing blood stains

I was talking to my other sister-friend, P.J., who lives in Vegas. We have, also, been friends for over 20 years and are definitely like sisters. I met her, also, in the Philippines. Her family was already living there when my family arrived. Chris and her family came a bit after that. P.J.'s family left the P.I. earlier than we did because they changed paths to go into the restaurant business and opened a Burger King in Kingman, AZ. We have remained very close friends throughout. The things we have experienced and been through is another story so I will just leave it at that. Anyhow, I was telling her about what Chris and I are doing and she gave me another tip for removing blood stains that she says works great, also.


Rinse the spot in cold water. Pour meat tenderizer on the area and rub in. If the spot is not too old, it should rinse right out. If it has been washed and gone through the drier, it might take several tries but it will come out. Meat tenderizer breaks down protein so that is why it works.

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Inaugural Helpful Hint

I was amazed to learn that blood stains can be easily removed with peroxide. A neighbor of mine had a beautiful throw that had several big spots of blood on it. She had used it for comfort when she went for her dialysis. She asked me if I would come over to help her remove the stains. Naturally, I did. When she told me to just pour the bottle of peroxide on it that she had sitting there, I was amazed. I placed the throw over the sink, poured and the stain ran down the drain!! It was just regular peroxide that you can buy cheap. This can be a very helpful hint to know especially for those with kids.