We have a very special guest post today from Crock Pot Recipe Exchange! Ginger is here today to let us know how to easily clean our crock pots without causing any damage to them…..because that would cause anyone major trauma. |
The ease of using the crock pot to cook your meals in is undebatable. Sometimes the cleaning of the crock pot is not so simply answered.The first thing you want to insure you do to make cleaning your crockery easier is to empty any remaining food out as soon as possible. The sooner you get the food out the sooner you can fill the crockery up with dish soap and water. The only thing I warn against is to make sure your crockery has cooled completely. Drastic changes in temperature of the water to the crockery can cause it to break, and no one wants that to happen. [Read more…] |
Archives for September 2011
Lumberjack Macaroni
I know there are some of you out there hanging on for dear life to your Hamburger Helper. Admit it. Even though it’s got TONS of additives and not-so-good stuff for you in it, you keep it. Like a safety net or a blankey. But guess what? You can make your OWN Hamburger Helper and it will taste even better. Bye bye additives and artificial coloring! Hello Lumberjack Macaroni! This post is for you, Tia Thomas!Guest posting for me today is my very close and dear friend, Brandy. You’ll probably get used to seeing her around here because I like her point of view. Thanks Brandy! [Read more…] |
A Simple Way To Improve Your Dish Drainer
I’m easily grossed out by certain things. Hair. Hair really grosses me out…..but mostly just hair in public bathrooms. AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Okay, sorry. Another thing – cleaning out the drain. Why? Well because there is HAIR down in there. Gobs of it. You’d think we were bald by seeing how much is in there. One more thing – rotten vegetables. They get all slimey and scary. Whew! Who knows what will happen if you touch that? It is essential to get Hydrojet Drain Cleaning San Francisco with the help of professional drain and septic tank cleaning services to keep your drains clog-free. Bund Wall Lining is a proactive safety investment. And finally, the dish drainer. We don’t have a dishwasher (by my choice) so I air dry my dishes. I hate how gooey and slimy that silly mat underneath gets. It gets yellow…..and green…..and did I mention, slimy? In a perfect world, I’d just clean it every day……but then again, in a perfect world I’d also get 8 hours of sleep every night and it’s easier to call in a drain cleaning as well as a sewer cleaning expert to do the task. If it’s not working, then that’s the time to call a plumber who provides plumbing repair in North Palm Beach, FL. [Read more…] |
Meal Plan for 9/27-10/3
-Breakfast: Baked Oatmeal, fruit -Lunch: Crock Pot Chicken Enchilada Soup (recipe coming soon), tortilla chips, fruit -Dinner: Meatloaf, Butternut Squash Puree |
-Breakfast: Leftover Baked Oatmeal, fruit -Lunch: Leftover Chicken Enchilada Soup -Dinner: Skillet Pizzas, chips, fruit [Read more…] |
Adventures In Water Kefir!
So, you might recall that I told you that our family had cut out most of our caffeine….at least caffeine in the drinkable state. So, that meant I was drinking only water and decaf coffee. I hate tea, so that is 100% out. BLECH! In a state of homemakerness, I decided to order some water kefir grains from Cultures for Health and try my hand at that. Basically, water kefir is like dairy kefir…..but with WATER. Wow. I bet that threw you for a loop. It’s a fermented drink, high in probiotics – very good for you. I also ordered some for my friend Brandy to try – because I just figured that misery loves company. Or something like that. So, here is how it all went down. [Read more…] |
Staying OUT of Trouble with the IRS
Ever wonder how long you should keep around all that paperwork about the washer and dryer you bought in 1978 and the car repair you had done on the car you sold 16 years ago? The IRS has its opinion and since I’m sure you completely trust the government to tell you exactly how to run your life, I guess this can be a short post. What?! You don’t trust them for that either? Hmmm…well, I guess we should discuss this idea briefly, then. What I’ve found works for me may not be what works for you, but it will give you an idea of some things you might try. I have a pretty simple system that follows these rules: [Read more…]
Chocolate Peanut Butter
Holy cow. I am about to BLOW YOUR MIND. I made chocolate peanut butter. Yes, it’s true. Let me tell you something else…..so far, I haven’t shared it with anyone. No one. Not even Annie. If you make it, you won’t share it either. You’ll hide it in a deep dark corner of the fridge so that you alone can find it. I’m just warning you. I’m also warning you that if you have no self restraint, this is NOT the recipe to make. I’ll just be honest…….I dropped a little bit of this on the counter when I was scooping it into the jar. I tried to get it up with my finger……there was still some left. I licked the counter. Yes, it’s true. I, Stacy, licked the peanut butter off the counter. Is there a 12 step program for that? [Read more…] |
Meal Plan for 9/20-9/26
-Breakfast: Overnight Baked Oatmeal, Raisin Sauce, fruit -Lunch: Leftover Corn and Green Chili Rice, veggies -Dinner: Crock Pot Chicken Enchilada Casserole, veggies |
-Breakfast: Leftover Baked Oatmeal, Raisin Sauce, fruit -Lunch: Leftover Enchilada Casserole, veggies -Dinner: Crock Pot Spaghetti Sauce, noodles, green beans [Read more…] |
Homemade Vanilla Extract
Okay, so just about every single food blogger under the sun has a post on homemade vanilla extract…..except me. And I’m about to remedy that. So, here it is! I know Dianne from Baking 4 Six has been waiting for this (ha! ha!) However, I just want to let you know that this whole endeavor about drove me CRAZY! Seriously. There are about 40 hundred thousand opinions on how to do it. So, I did it one way…..and then the next day, I did it over. About a week after that, I did something else different. And about 40 hundred thousand times, I changed it again. So, if you want to go crazy and have your own vanilla extract, this is the place for you! And if you do go crazy, at least there is liquor right there for the taking. [Read more…] |
Powdered Butt Syndrome
There is a disease from which virtually every parent suffers. It is called “Powdered Butt Syndrome.” Simply put, Powdered Butt Syndrome is when your parents have the concept that since they powdered your butt, they don’t want your unsolicited advice about money. I know this is true for two reasons: 1) I have parents and I’ve tried it and 2) I’ve heard about it and seen it before from others. Very scientific of me coming to that conclusion, wasn’t it? I’m commonly asked what you can do if you see your parents misbehaving with money. You’ve probably tried to talk to them about money and offer your advice, and they roll their eyes or glaze over with the look that says, “I’m not listening to you; I still smell the baby powder I put on your butt 35 years ago.” Maybe it’s because you’re totally broke and just think you have all the answers. Or maybe…just maybe…you really do have the answers for your parents’ financial woes! This week, let’s talk about how to handle money with your parents. [Read more…]