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Thanks! Monica Resinger
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Zucchini Overload? 11 Ideas and Recipes to Get You Through Zucchini Time |
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Get your Family Racing to Complete Chores!
By Monica
Resinger, Editor of The Homemaker's Journal http://homemakersjournal.com
My family went on a mini vacation a few years back which included a stay at a very nice hotel. During our stay, I admired how clean the room was and wished my home could be that clean. We had a long drive home and I thought about how I could start keeping my home that clean or close to it. The reason my house wasn’t as clean as I liked was because I didn’t do everything that needed to be done when it needed to be done—in other words, I didn’t have a system.
What I came up with was a chore schedule list. I started out by writing down every chore that needs to be done for each room in the house, then I labeled them with either a D (for daily), a W (for weekly), an M (for monthly) or 1-3 x a year. Then I went to the computer and opened up 4 new documents and saved them as Daily, Weekly, Monthly and 1-3 x a year. On each of these documents I listed each chore that needs to be completed in that time frame and left an area for checking off each chore on each day, week or month when completed.
It has been a while since I created these chore schedules and since then, I’ve come up with an excellent way to get my family to help. Here’s what I did: I made the chores schedules into tables with spaces to write in whoever’s initials completes the chore. At the end of the week, we tally up initials and we come up with 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th place winners (4 people in my family). First place is the one who has the most initials and so on. We give $10 to 1st place, $7.00 to 2nd, $5.00 to 3rd and a giant candy bar to 4th. To even be considered for a prize, a family member must have at least 7 chores completed.
This method has members of my family racing to get as many chores done as possible within a week trying to win 1st place! The house has been much cleaner and my kids are learning housecleaning skills while having fun trying to win. Of course it has been much less work for me so it is well worth the money paid for prizes. If you don’t agree with paying money for chores, then you could give other types of prizes such as time spent with mom or a day at the park, etc.
If you’d like to cut the work of creating your chore schedules, I have them available here:
http://homemakersjournal.com/choreschedules.htm
About the Author: Monica Resinger publishes an e-mail newsletter Mon-Fri for homemakers that poses fun questions to readers about organizing, crafting, gardening, frugal living and other homemaking subjects; readers can respond to the questions and receive the resulting, very informative 'tip sheet'. If you'd like to join the fun, send a blank e-mail to:
HomemakersJournal-subscribe@yahoogroups.com to subscribe.
Reprint permission: This article may be reprinted in its entirety as long as the above bio
is included and a courtesy copy of the publication is sent to
Plantldy98@aol.com.
Three Tips that will Help you Rid Lice for Good!
By Monica
Resinger, Editor of The Homemaker's Journal http://homemakersjournal.com
A couple of years ago, my daughter had the misfortune of getting lice. It was a terrible experience that I hope none of you have to go through, but if you do get it, I’d like give you three tips that helped me rid lice for good. When you buy the lice treatment, please follow the instructions included for treating lice and cleaning your home, then use my tips as additional measures to ensure you have rid them for good.
First off, I'd like to ad that this can be extremely hard to get rid of so don't feel like a failure if you have tried to get rid of them and it didn‘t work. I had an extremely hard time getting rid of them - so hard that I finally visited our doctor to find out how to get rid of it for good.
TIP #1: His first recommendation was to get a metal, fine-toothed comb to comb the lice out rather than using the comb provided in the lice shampoo package. It is imperative to get every single egg out of the hair so you have to be meticulous. The metal combs are sturdier and the teeth are spaced closer together so you will have a better chance of getting them all. If you don’t see these combs in the lice section, ask the pharmacist. They are expensive, but worth it. Don't think like I did... The lice box says it kills lice and their eggs so I thought if I didn't get every one, they would be dead anyway... WRONG... you need to get them all out just in case one survives. It may take a long time to do this especially if your daughter has long hair as mine did, but it will save you hours of time later by ridding it for good.
TIP #2: My doctor then told me the most helpful thing anyone could ever learn about lice, and for this reason, I can't understand why this isn't told to us parents! (maybe because the lice product companies want to sell as much as they can). What he told me was that full-strength vinegar dissolves lice eggs! I took this to heart and knowing that vinegar can actually be good for your hair, I had my daughter and the rest of my family (even though the rest of the family didn‘t get lice) rinse their hair with it after every shampoo. I still have my daughter do it as a precaution. I figure if one lice bug were to get in her hair and lay eggs in a day, the vinegar she uses to rinse her hair should dissolve them out before they can hatch! So far, so good!
TIP #3: Lastly, I had heard that blow-drying hair will help; I think because they don't like heat or styling products (probably why I didn't get it). So, we began blow-drying my daughter's hair every morning after her shower.
By following the cleaning regimen like the lice shampoo instructions tell and following the tips above, we finally got rid of lice for good. Remember to have your children keep their hair up in ponytails or braided if it is long and tell them to never share combs, brushes, barrettes (or other hair things), hats, coats or other clothing when they go to school, daycare or other place with lots of children. Please spread these tips in an effort to help battle this epidemic! Thank-you!
copyright, 2002, Monica Resinger
Reprint rights: This article may be reprinted in its entirety as long as the following bio and this note are included and a courtesy copy of the publication is sent to Plantldy98@aol.com.
About the author: Monica Resinger is the Editor of The Homemaker's Journal Ezine, a jam-packed e-mail e-zine that publishes the collective advice of thousands of homemakers in all home and garden topics like organizing, cooking, parties, decorating, cleaning, family life, gardening, crafts and much more! Become a part of our family and receive this fun and informative resource Monday through Friday. Join now by sending a blank e-mail to: HomemakersJournal-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Ten Helpful Kitchen Cleaning Tips
By Monica Resinger, Editor of The Homemaker's Journal http://homemakersjournal.com
Here are ten money and time saving tips to help you in your kitchen.
1. Use those leftover slivers of soap to cut expenses! Cut a small pocket in a sponge and place small slivers of leftover soap into it for a sudsy washing sponge.
2. Hold a scouring pad underneath a sponge when scrubbing. This will give you a better grip and protect your hands.
3. Save time on the dinner dishes. Before serving dinner, run a sink full of very hot soapy water. When everyone is finished eating dinner, tell them to wash and rinse their own plate.
4. Use a paint scraper or putty knife to remove baked on or cemented goo from stovetops, countertops or floors.
5. Use a toothbrush to scrub hard to reach surfaces such as behind and on faucets.
6. Baking soda makes an excellent scouring powder.
7. By keeping a spoon rest on the stove, you'll avoid a lot of messy clean-ups.
8. Place sticky (honey, syrup, molasses and oil) containers on plastic lids in the cupboard or fridge to avoid sticky messes.
9. To get odors out of plastic containers, place crumpled newspaper inside the container and seal it overnight.
10. Keep a fillable wand near the kitchen sink and when you have a few spare minutes, wash a few dishes with the wand. This may help you cut down on doing full loads of dishes.
©, 2001, Monica Resinger
Reprint rights: This article may be reprinted in its entirety as long as the following bio and this note are included and a courtesy copy of the publication is sent to Plantldy98@aol.com.
About the author: Monica Resinger is the Editor of The Homemaker's Journal Ezine, a jam-packed e-mail e-zine that publishes the collective advice of thousands of homemakers in all home and garden topics like organizing, cooking, parties, decorating, cleaning, family life, gardening, crafts and much more! Become a part of our family and receive this fun and informative resource Monday through Friday. Join now by sending a blank e-mail to: HomemakersJournal-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
How to Air-Dry Flowers
By Monica
Resinger, Editor of The Homemaker's Journal http://homemakersjournal.com
Air-drying flowers is a simple, fun hobby that can save you money by
providing free material to make dried flower decorations for your home
or to give as gifts.
It's very simple to air-dry flowers. All you need is a place to hang
them out of direct light, rubber bands and either paperclips or
florist wire. I have used wooden pegged coffee cup hangers and pieces
of lattice attached to the kitchen wall as places to air-dry flowers.
You can also insert cup hooks into a wall and use those.
Once you have a place to hang them set up, you can begin to find
flowers to dry. Hopefully you have a variety of flowers growing in
your yard to experiment with. If not, you can find wildflowers growing
alongside roads or in forests. If you are using these flowers, be sure
to take care of the plants you take the flowers from. This ensures
that there is plenty of plant growth for insects, birds and other
wildlife to use.
Some flowers that have air-dried well for me are: Yarrow (Achillea
millefolium), pompon Dahlias (Dahlia hortensis), Poppy seed heads
(Papaver somniferum), Roses (Rosa), Marjoram (Origanum vulgare),
Delphinium, Larkspur (Consolida ambigua), Lavender (Lavandula
Augustifolia), African Marigold (Tagetes erecta), Strawflower
(Helichrysum bracteatum), Globe Thistle (echinops ritro), Cornflower
(Centaurea cyanus), Statice (Limonium sinuatum), Globe amaranth
(Gomphrena globosa), and Love-in-a-mist (Nigella damascena) seed
heads.
To find flowers that air-dry well, it's good practice to experiment.
If it doesn't dry well, you gain the knowledge not to use it next
time. Sometimes, an air-dried flower that doesn't look good to one
person may look pleasing to another.
With most flowers, the best stage to dry them is when they are just
beginning to open. Depending on the flower, if you hang it too late,
the petals will fall off. You will learn this as you experiment.
Others, you will want to wait until the seed head is developed because
this is the decorative part.
The best time to cut flowers for drying is late morning after the due
has dried and on a dry day. I like to take a wicker basket with a
handle and my scissors with me and take a walk around the yard
snipping what looks appealing.
Once you have your flowers picked, you can prepare them for
air- drying. To do this, bundle eight to ten stems with a rubber band
at the cut end of the flowers. The rubber band works especially well
because as the flowers dry, the stems will shrink and the rubber band
will shrink to the appropriate size of the bunch. Now you can insert
an unraveled paper clip or florist wire inside the rubber band and
bend it to form a hook that the bunch can hang over a peg, piece of
lattice or hook. Hang the bunch of flowers upside down and depending
on the weather, they will probably take anywhere from one to three
weeks to dry completely. You can tell they are dry completely when
they feel crisp to the touch.
Air-drying flowers make a fabulous decoration by themselves, but when
they are dry, you can take them down and make dried flower
arrangements, Christmas ornaments, dried flower wreaths and more.
©, 2001, Monica Resinger
About the Author: Monica Resinger is the Editor of The Homemaker's Journal Ezine, a jam-packed e-mail e-zine that publishes the collective advice of thousands of homemakers in all home and garden topics like organizing, cooking, parties, decorating, cleaning, family life, gardening, crafts and much more! Become a part of our family and receive this fun and informative resource Monday through Friday. Join now by sending a blank e-mail to: HomemakersJournal-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Reprint permission: This article may be reprinted in its entirety as long as the above bio and this note are included and a courtesy copy of the publication is sent to
Plantldy98@aol.com.
How to Make a Grapevine Wreath
By Monica
Resinger, Editor of The Homemaker's Journal http://homemakersjournal.com
Is your grapevine beginning to look like a mini jungle? If so, take out your
clippers and make grapevine wreaths! If you don't have a grapevine, but
would still like to make grapevine wreaths, maybe you have a friend or neighbor
that has one that needs trimming.
How to make it:
First, take a long, fresh vine and form a circle in the diameter you want the
wreath to be. Most likely, you will have excess vine; wind this excess vine
around the vine circle you just formed. When the vine is to the end, tuck that
end firmly inside a space between two wound vines; on the first round, there
might not be two wound vines to tuck the end into, so just hold the end of the
vine until it is wrapped in with the second vine. Now take another vine, insert
the beginning end between two wound vines and begin the winding and ending
process all over again. Keep doing this until you have a wreath in the thickness
you desire. Keep in mind that the wreath will shrink quite a bit as it dries, so
you will want to make it thicker than your desired thickness.
When you have finished assembling your wreath, you can lay it in the sun to dry
for a couple weeks, or bring it in the house and hang it to dry. If you
hang it to dry, you may want to change its position every couple of days so the
shape will remain circular.
These wreaths make great gifts to give to friends and family as-is or fixed up
with dried flowers, herbs and ribbons. To attach anything to your wreath, hot-glueing
is the easiest method, but wiring things on with florist wire is another method.
They are also great to hang on the front door or on your walls as decorations.
About the Author: Monica Resinger is the Editor of The Homemaker's Journal Ezine, a jam-packed e-mail e-zine that publishes the collective advice of thousands of homemakers in all home and garden topics like organizing, cooking, parties, decorating, cleaning, family life, gardening, crafts and much more! Become a part of our family and receive this fun and informative resource Monday through Friday. Join now by sending a blank e-mail to: HomemakersJournal-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Reprint permission: This article may be reprinted in its entirety as long as the
above bio and this note are included and a courtesy copy of the publication is
sent to Plantldy98@aol.com.
By Monica Resinger, Editor of The Homemaker's Journal http://homemakersjournal.com
Painting rocks is something my kids and I occasionally enjoy. We get a lot of our ideas from the ‘Painting on Rocks’ books, however, this is not necessary.
Some ideas are:
~ Make address rocks for neighbors, friends or family by painting the rock a color that coordinates with the house that you are making it for. Paint on the address number and a few little flowers or other decorations.
~ Have the kids paint them into ‘creatures’ or insects to decorate your garden.
~ Sometimes rocks come in unusual shapes such as hearts - accentuate that shape with paint. My daughter once used fabric paint and outlined a heart-shaped rock with one color, then kept making new heart shapes inside each new heart in a different color. Some outlines she did as polka dots, some as dashed lines and some as full lines. It was really cute, but best of all, she had fun doing it.
~ Paint them into large flowers - sunflowers and daisies are easy flowers to paint. You can set these into a planter for a ‘rock garden’.
About the Author: Monica Resinger is the Editor of The Homemaker's Journal Ezine, a jam-packed e-mail e-zine that publishes the collective advice of thousands of homemakers in all home and garden topics like organizing, cooking, parties, decorating, cleaning, family life, gardening, crafts and much more! Become a part of our family and receive this fun and informative resource Monday through Friday. Join now by sending a blank e-mail to: HomemakersJournal-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Reprint permission: This article may be reprinted in its entirety as long as the
above bio and this note are included and a courtesy copy of the publication is
sent to Plantldy98@aol.com.
Basil Fact Sheet
By Monica
Resinger, Editor of The Homemaker's Journal http://homemakersjournal.com
Name/Botanical Name: Basil, Ocimum Basilicum
Description: A highly flavored tender annual herb that is used in many
dishes. Sweet basil can reach 2-3 feet tall. It attracts butterflies
and beneficial insects to the garden.
There are many different varieties of Basil such as lemon Basil,
cinnamon Basil, sweet Basil and more. The best way to find variety is
to shop for seeds. I have noticed a few lesser-known varieties of
seeds in the stores, but you will find more variety through specialty
seed catalogs.
Plant requirements: Basil likes well-drained soil that is rich in
nutrients. It also likes full sun and lots of water. Basil also likes
warm weather and will not do well if the weather turns cold.
Propagation: You can start seeds early indoors 6-8 weeks before the
last frost or take cuttings. Germination of seeds takes at least 2
weeks. Directly seeding outdoors after frost has passed and soil has
warmed will also do well.
Planting: Plant Basil in the garden after all danger of frost has
passed and temperatures are consistently 60*F or more. Space plants
about 12 inches apart.
Care: Slugs and snails love Basil so you'll need to protect your
plants from them. You can crush eggshells and put a ring of them
around the base of each plant or put a ring of gravel. Pinch back
often to encourage bushy growth.
Harvest just before flowering or while flowering. You can also pick
leaves as needed anytime.
Uses
In the Garden: Basil can be grown in containers or in the garden as an
ornamental plant. Grow purple leaved varieties next to the green
leaved varieties for a beautiful contrast.
Companion Planting: Basil is said to improve the growth and flavor of
asparagus, tomatoes and most vegetables except cabbage and snap beans
and is said to repel whiteflies. It is also a great companion to roses
by improving their growth and providing some protection from insects.
Culinary: There a many different ways to use Basil in the kitchen.
Here are just a few. The purple or red varieties make beautiful herb
vinegars. Lemon Basil is a great addition to fruit salads or to use
when cooking poultry. Lemon or cinnamon basil can be used in jellies,
honeys, vinegars and baked goods. Sweet basil is excellent with
Italian dishes such as spaghetti.
Crafts: Use lemon or cinnamon Basil in potpourri. Basil is symbolic
for best wishes and warm friendship; this could be taken into account
if you are making an arrangement for a special occasion. Basil can be
dried and used in herb/dried flower wreaths.
Repel Insects: Rub the leaves on your skin or grow in a container near
a troubled area to repel insects such as mosquitoes. You can also burn
sprigs of it on the barbecue or fire to repel them. Place fresh sprigs
of it over bowls of food to prevent flies from landing.
As you can see, Basil is a very useful, decorative and valuable herb
that is well worth the minimal effort to grow. I hope you'll try it if
you haven't already.
©, 2001, Monica Resinger
About the Author: Monica Resinger is the Editor of The Homemaker's Journal Ezine, a jam-packed e-mail e-zine that publishes the collective advice of thousands of homemakers in all home and garden topics like organizing, cooking, parties, decorating, cleaning, family life, gardening, crafts and much more! Become a part of our family and receive this fun and informative resource Monday through Friday. Join now by sending a blank e-mail to: HomemakersJournal-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Reprint permission: This article may be reprinted in its entirety as long as the above bio and this note are included and a courtesy copy of the publication is sent to
Plantldy98@aol.com.
Garden Tidbits - Daylily and Strawberry
By Monica
Resinger, Editor of The Homemaker's Journal http://homemakersjournal.com
PROPAGATING DAYLILY...
If your Daylily plant is a large clump you should divide it so it can
become healthier. When it’s large and clumped together, the middle of
the plant cannot get the water and nutrients it needs so it will
eventually die out if not divided. You may also want more plants in
your garden or to give away to friends and family.
When it is finished flowering, dig up the clump and divide it into
many plants then re-plant as many as desired. It can sometimes be
pretty tough to divide a large clump because the roots get tightly
woven together -- you might have to slice through it with your shovel
a few times to loosen the clump. Try not to worry about damaging the
plant when doing this - Daylilies are very tough. As long as you have
a piece of root, it will grow into a plant. When you are finished
planting the divisions, be sure to water thoroughly.
PROPAGATING STRAWBERRY PLANTS...
If you grow your own strawberries, you probably have noticed that
runners will grow from the main plant and root themselves somewhere
nearby. These rooted runners are new plants. Simply cut the runner
from the main plant to the new plant after the new one has rooted and,
voila, a new strawberry plant.
There is a variety of strawberry plant that doesn’t send off runners
but instead grows offsets. To propagate this type, simply dig it up
after harvest, divide into smaller plants, re-plant the offsets and
water well.
RECIPES
DAYLILY EDIBLE?
Did you know Daylily flowers are edible? Well, they are. They taste
like a sweet lettuce and are a tasty, colorful addition to any salad.
I like them so much I munch a petal almost every time I walk into the
garden.
* * * * *
Fresh Strawberry Pie
6 servings
1 Baked 9-inch Pie Shell
1 1/4 C. Sugar
1 Tbsp. Cornstarch
3 Tbsp. Lemon Juice
3 oz. (1 pkg.) Strawberry Gelatin
1 qt. Fresh Strawberries
1 1/2 C. Water
Clean and hull strawberries.
In medium saucepan, combine sugar and cornstarch; add water and lemon
juice. Over high heat, bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cook and stir
until slightly thickened and clear, 4 to 5 minutes.
Add gelatin, stir until dissolved. Cool to room temperature. Stir in
strawberries; turn into prepared pastry shell.
Chill 4 to 6 hours or until set.
Serve with whipped cream if desired. Refrigerate leftovers.
* * * *
Chilled Strawberry-Mint Soup
1 1/2 cups sliced fresh strawberries
3/4 cup sour cream
3/4 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons orange juice
2 tablespoons honey
1 1/2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh mint leaves
Fresh strawberry slices, kiwi fruit slices, or fresh mint sprigs
In a food processor or blender, place the strawberries, sour cream,
heavy cream, orange juice, and honey; whirl until smooth. Stir in
mint. Taste for sweetness; if necessary, add more honey. Refrigerate
until well chilled. To serve, put into cold soup bowls and top with
strawberry slices, kiwi fruit slices, or mint sprigs. Makes 2
servings.
©, 2001, Monica Resinger
About the Author: Monica Resinger is the Editor of The Homemaker's Journal Ezine, a jam-packed e-mail e-zine that publishes the collective advice of thousands of homemakers in all home and garden topics like organizing, cooking, parties, decorating, cleaning, family life, gardening, crafts and much more! Become a part of our family and receive this fun and informative resource Monday through Friday. Join now by sending a blank e-mail to: HomemakersJournal-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Reprint permission: This article may be reprinted in its entirety as long as the above bio and this note are included and a courtesy copy of the publication is sent to
Plantldy98@aol.com.
Garden Tidbits - Iris and Rhubarb
By Monica
Resinger, Editor of The Homemaker's Journal http://homemakersjournal.com
GET IRIS TO FLOWER...
When Irises are planted too deep, they won't bloom. A great guide
for planting depth is to pretend the rhizome is a hand resting on top
of the soil and the roots are the fingers clutching on.
RHUBARB CRISP...
My rhubarb is growing in the worst soil in the yard. It's very rocky
and needs amendments yet the rhubarb does just fine there. I would
suspect that if you grew it in better circumstances than this it
would flourish. I just made rhubarb crisp last night. Had it with
vanilla ice cream.
___________
Rhubarb Crisp
5 cups fresh or frozen unsweetened sliced rhubarb
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup regular rolled oats
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg, ginger or cinnamon
1/4 cup margarine or butter
For filling, thaw rhubarb, if frozen. Do not drain. Place fruit in
an 8x1 1/2-inch round baking dish. Stir in sugar and 3 Tbsp. flour.
For topping, in a mixing bowl combine oats, brown sugar, flour, and
nutmeg, ginger or cinnamon. Cut in margarine or butter till mixture
resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle topping over filling.
Bake in a 375* oven for 30-35 minutes (40 minutes for thawed fruit)
or till fruit is tender and topping is golden. Serve warm with ice
cream or light cream, if desired. Serves 6.
©, 2001, Monica Resinger
About the Author: Monica Resinger is the Editor of The Homemaker's Journal Ezine, a jam-packed e-mail e-zine that publishes the collective advice of thousands of homemakers in all home and garden topics like organizing, cooking, parties, decorating, cleaning, family life, gardening, crafts and much more! Become a part of our family and receive this fun and informative resource Monday through Friday. Join now by sending a blank e-mail to: HomemakersJournal-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Reprint permission: This article may be reprinted in its entirety as long as the above bio and this note are included and a courtesy copy of the publication is sent to
Plantldy98@aol.com.
Organic Weed Control Guide
By Monica
Resinger, Editor of The Homemaker's Journal http://homemakersjournal.com
Weeds can spoil the look of a flowerbed, rob valuable nutrients from the soil and can be a general nuisance. If you don't keep up with them, they can be even more troublesome to get rid of. While they can be difficult to get under control, don't lose hope, it just takes a little persistence and know how.
Here are some organic methods for controlling weeds:
Use of a stirrup hoe:
The best method I have found for controlling weeds works best in a vegetable garden planted in rows and on young weed seedlings. You use a stirrup hoe to cultivate the ground at least once a week. This hoe is like a regular hoe, but instead of the flat surface, there is a round or squared off metal hoop at the end. The side closest to you has a sharp edge, which cuts the weeds roots as you are hoeing through the soil. It doesn't take much time to go out and work your hoe down each row and by doing this, no weeds can grow because seedlings are uprooted or cut off before they have a chance. You will have to weed by hand up close and in between garden plants because the stirrup hoe can uproot or damage them if worked too close.
Use of a pitchfork:
By using a pitchfork in a new and/or large bed with little or no existing plants, you will be able to get most of the roots of long rooted weeds. It also enables you to cover a large area faster. To use a pitchfork for weed control, push it under a group of weeds and lift them. Shake the soil off the weeds and dispose of them in the compost pile.
Vinegar or boiling water:
If you spot a weed growing in the sidewalk cracks of your sidewalk or in your driveway, try pouring boiling water or vinegar over them. Don't do this in your flowerbeds because it could also kill neighboring plants.
Mulch:
Use lots of mulch. As long as mulch is applied thick enough to keep sunlight from reaching the soil, it will keep new weeds from sprouting. You can use grass clippings, shredded and chipped branches, beauty bark, hay, leaves or compost.
Hand picking:
Take a walk through the yard equipped with a bucket and gloves as often as possible and hand pick weeds. Try to pick them before they flower to prevent them from going to seed and seeding themselves all over the yard. Also, be sure to get all the roots; if you don't, the weed will more than likely be back in a couple of weeks.
I hope this guide can help you in controlling your weeds. The key to getting and staying weed free is persistence. You have to stay on top of it by checking your gardens regularly and maintaining what needs to be done.
Copyright ©, 2000, Monica Resinger
About the Author: Monica Resinger is the Editor of The Homemaker's Journal Ezine, a jam-packed e-mail e-zine that publishes the collective advice of thousands of homemakers in all home and garden topics like organizing, cooking, parties, decorating, cleaning, family life, gardening, crafts and much more! Become a part of our family and receive this fun and informative resource Monday through Friday. Join now by sending a blank e-mail to: HomemakersJournal-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Reprint permission: This article may be reprinted in its entirety as long as the above bio and this note are included and a courtesy copy of the publication is sent to
Plantldy98@aol.com.
Save Money and Grow Your Own Herbs
By Monica
Resinger, Editor of The Homemaker's Journal http://homemakersjournal.com
I'm sure you have noticed the high price of herbs at the grocery store; a small bottle can sometimes run $4 or $5 or more. Why not save some money and grow your own? It's simple, provided you have a sunny area to grow them.
How to Grow Them
To grow herbs, all you need is a sunny area, fertile soil and a little of your time. If your soil is clay or sandy, you will need to add organic material such as compost or manure to get the best results. Once your herbs are planted, make sure they get at least an inch of water each week and keep the area weeded.
If you have added plenty of organic material to the soil prior to planting, you probably won't have to worry about feeding the plants for a while. All I do is work in a layer of compost around the plants each season and my herbs grow fine.
If you don't have a whole area to devote to herbs, that's okay, you can squeeze them into your flower beds or vegetable garden. Herbs make a pretty combination to flowering plants and some will actually benefit nearby plants by repelling insects. Just be sure the area gets plenty of sun and the soil is fertile and weeded.
You can also grow them in containers provided they get enough sun. If you do this, you will have to water on a daily and sometimes twice daily basis. Be sure to check the soil often to see if it is drying out. You will also have to fertilize the plants often because as you water, the nutrients get leached out of the soil.
What it Will Cost You
An herb plant at the local nursery will cost you between 99 cents and $5 depending on the size of the herb. I usually purchase the smallest size to save money because I usually don't need a huge amount right away. If this herb is a perennial, it's going to be there year after year supplying you with fresh leaves for cooking and will be growing bigger each year which will allow you to propagate plants by division, cuttings or seed which means more herb! If the herb you purchased is an annual, that's okay because it will supply you with enough herb to still make it worth the purchase. You can also propagate annual herbs by collecting the seeds or by taking cuttings. If you'd like to save more money yet, you can start the herbs from seed or get a division or cutting from a friend, neighbor or relative.
How to Use Herbs
Through the growing season, you can use the herb fresh. If your recipe calls for one teaspoon of dried herb, substitute one tablespoon of freshly chopped herb.
Drying and Storing
You can dry your herbs for winter use or convenience. To dry them, cut them early on a dry day after the dew is gone. Bundle 8-10 stems of the herb with a rubber band at the cut end and hang them upside down in a well-circulated area out of direct sunlight.
I have a piece of lattice hanging on one of my kitchen walls for this purpose and I also use a pegged, wooden coffee cup holder which is made to hang on a wall. They both make pretty decorations with all the herbs and flowers hanging from them drying.
In about a week or so (or less if weather is hot and dry), check the leaves to see if they are crispy to the touch and no moisture remains. If so, remove the leaves from the stem, crush and put into a lidded container, label and store out of direct sunlight. When removing the leaves, it helps to do it over a piece of paper so you can catch any fallen leaves.
Growing my own herbs has saved me a bundle of money and has provided an enjoyable hobby, fresh taste and something to offer my friends and family. You can even make your own herb seasoning mixes to bottle in pretty jars to give as gifts as an additional way to save money. I'm sure you'll find it worth the small effort too.
To help in your research about herbs, check out The Homemaker's Journal
'Getting to Know Mint' E-book: http://homemakersjournal.com/ebooklets.htm
©, 2001, Monica Resinger
About the Author: Monica Resinger is the Editor of The Homemaker's Journal Ezine, a jam-packed e-mail e-zine that publishes the collective advice of thousands of homemakers in all home and garden topics like organizing, cooking, parties, decorating, cleaning, family life, gardening, crafts and much more! Become a part of our family and receive this fun and informative resource Monday through Friday. Join now by sending a blank e-mail to: HomemakersJournal-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Reprint permission: This article may be reprinted in its entirety as long as the above bio and this note are included and a courtesy copy of the publication is sent to
Plantldy98@aol.com.
By Monica Resinger, Editor of The Homemaker's Journal http://homemakersjournal.com
For a lot of us, warm sunny weather is only here 3-4 months out of the year. Because of this, we should put in the extra effort to enjoy it to the fullest while it’s here. Here are 10 ways to do so.
1. Brew a pot of sun tea. Put desired amount of tea bags in a sun tea jar or other glass jar, fill with water and set in the sun. Add fresh herbs at this point if you wish. Let sit in the sun until tea has reached color you desire. Sweeten to taste, chill and serve over ice.
2. Cook on the grill whenever possible. Not only is this a pleasant way to cook but you don’t heat up your kitchen and the food is delicious.
3. Lay in the sun and read a good book. Be sure to put your sunscreen on!
4. Take a drive to the country, the mountains, the ocean, the desert or other place of nature. Pack a picnic if you wish or stop to get hamburgers at a small-town hamburger shop. The burgers are much better than city fast food!
5. Take a bike ride around your neighborhood. Look for ideas people have used to decorate their yards and use them yourself. Enjoy the blooming flowers and nature.
6. Play outdoor games. Frisbee and badminton are great if it’s just your family. If you can get a group together, try volleyball or baseball.
7. Pack a picnic and go fishing. This is fun with or without a boat. Be sure to bring sunscreen.
8. Go yard saling. What a great way to have fun and find many bargains! A lot of local and freebie papers have yard sale directories to help you map out a plan of action.
9. Have a yard sale. Get rid of clutter and earn some cash. Fill a cooler with pop and sell individual cans or have the kids sell lemonade.
10. Play in the water at the local pool, water park or lake.
Above all be sure you take advantage of the warm summer months and enjoy as much as possible!
©, 2001, Monica Resinger
About the Author: Monica Resinger is the Editor of The Homemaker's Journal Ezine, a jam-packed e-mail e-zine that publishes the collective advice of thousands of homemakers in all home and garden topics like organizing, cooking, parties, decorating, cleaning, family life, gardening, crafts and much more! Become a part of our family and receive this fun and informative resource Monday through Friday. Join now by sending a blank e-mail to: HomemakersJournal-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Reprint permission: This article may be reprinted in its entirety as long as the above bio and this note are included and a courtesy copy of the publication is sent to
Plantldy98@aol.com.
Giving Homemade Mixes in a Jar
By Monica Resinger
Mixes in a jar are thoughtful and inexpensive gifts to give to anyone for any occasion. The idea is to layer dry ingredients of a
cookie, cake, biscuit, muffin, beverage or other recipe decoratively in a jar and add directions of how to complete the recipe.
The jar can be a mason jar or a recycled, clean mayonnaise or other large jar that has a lid and can then be decorated with fabric, ribbons, paint, etc.
I have seen these jars of mixes sell in retail stores for around $8.00! Imagine the savings if you were to make your own! A few inexpensive ingredients like flour, brown sugar, chocolate chips and a jar don't cost very much! Gift recipients will love receiving a homemade mix from you so they can easily prepare a treat to enjoy and when they prepare the treat, they'll be thinking of how thoughtful you are.
Mixes in a jar are excellent for gifts that need to be shipped because you don't have to worry about baked goods getting
smashed or getting stale. A mix will allow the gift recipient to freshly prepare the treat when it is craved or needed. They are
also great to give to children's teachers, neighbors and acquaintances because of the ease and money savings involved.
Here is a delicious mix recipe for you to try:
Peanut Butter Chocolate Cookie Mix in a Jar
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 1/2 cups packed confectioners' sugar
3/4 cup cocoa
1 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder and salt. Layer
ingredients in order given in a 1 quart wide mouth canning jar. Clean the inside
of the jar with a dry paper towel after adding the confectioners' sugar and
after adding the cocoa powder. Be sure to pack everything down firmly before
adding the flour mixture, it will be a tight fit. Store in a cool dry place away
from a heat source so condensation and clumping does not occur.
Instructions to attach to Jar:
Peanut Butter Cookies
Empty jar of cookie mix into large mixing bowl. Thoroughly blend mix.
Add:
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla.
Mix until completely blended. Shape into walnut sized balls and place 2 inches
apart on a parchment lined baking sheets. Press balls down with a fork. Bake at
350F degrees for 9 to 11 minutes until edges are browned. Cool 5 minutes on
baking sheet then transfer to a cooling rack to finish cooling. Makes 3 dozen
cookies.
If you'd like more mix recipes, Creative Home has published 'Creative Mixes' and
'The Beverage Mix' e-cookbooks that you can get free.
Details: http://homemakersjournal/ebooklets.htm
©, Monica Resinger, 2002
Reprint permission: This article may be reprinted in its entirety as long as the following bio and this note are included and a courtesy copy of the publication is sent to Plantldy98@aol.com.
About the author: Monica Resinger is the Editor of The Homemaker's Journal Ezine, a jam-packed e-mail e-zine that publishes the collective advice of thousands of homemakers in all home and garden topics like organizing, cooking, parties, decorating, cleaning, family life, gardening, crafts and much more! Become a part of our family and receive this fun and informative resource Monday through Friday. Join now by sending a blank e-mail to: HomemakersJournal-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
by Monica Resinger
Sun tea is very easy to make and is a nice thing to do on a sunny day. It also tastes great and sipping it at the end of a hard day is a great way to relax. If you're having company over, it's a great summer beverage to serve. When you flavor sun tea with herbs, you really have something special.
To make herb flavored sun tea, you'll need a covered glass beverage container, water, six or seven teabags, and 3 or 4 washed, fresh herb sprigs.
For herbs, try mint, lavender, lemon balm, sage or any type herb that sounds appealing. If you don't have access to fresh herbs, you can add an herbal teabag or two depending on your taste. Most retail stores have containers made especially for iced tea.
Fill the container with cold tap water and add the tea bags and herb sprigs or herbal teabags. Put the lid on and set in a sunny, protected area. I put mine in an out of the way, sunny area of our deck. The warmth of the sun will gradually heat the water and the tea will begin brewing. Now all you have to do is wait until the tea gets as strong as you like. I usually let mine sit out in the sun almost all day.
When your tea is as strong as you like, bring it inside and take the teabags and herbs out, squeezing them to release any flavors back into the tea. Sweeten with honey or sugar and add a bit of lemon juice or a few lemon slices if you wish. Set the container of tea in the refrigerator and chill until very cold. Serve over ice and enjoy!
©, 2000, Monica Resinger
About the Author: Monica Resinger is the Editor of The Homemaker's Journal Ezine, a jam-packed e-mail e-zine that publishes the collective advice of thousands of homemakers in all home and garden topics like organizing, cooking, parties, decorating, cleaning, family life, gardening, crafts and much more! Become a part of our family and receive this fun and informative resource Monday through Friday. Join now by sending a blank e-mail to: HomemakersJournal-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Reprint permission: This article may be reprinted in its entirety as long as the above bio and this note are included and a courtesy copy of the publication is sent to
Plantldy98@aol.com.
Making Pasta Salads for a Rest Easy Summer
by Monica Resinger of The Homemaker's Journal http://homemakersjournal.com
With the warmer months coming soon, or for some of us, already here, salad making can be a valuable asset. Why? because when it's warm, most of us would rather be doing something other than cooking like relaxing in the sun, visiting with family and friends, or gardening. Pasta salads can be made ahead and when served with grilled meat, dinnertime can be hassle free which will allow for more sleeping in the sun or doing what YOU want to do.
I happen to be very fond of pasta salads not only because they taste good, but because they are so versatile. They can also be a complete meal by themselves. But even though they can be a complete meal, I usually serve them with grilled meats. Here are some ideas for making pasta salads.
Make a unique pasta salad by using ingredients from each of the following categories:
Pasta: your choice; macaroni, spaghetti, bow ties, spiral, or whatever you want; prepare according to package directions.
Dressing: your choice of purchased salad dressing, homemade dressing, or a dry mix. Tip: if you want low-cal, use a dry mix with nonfat sour cream, plain yogurt and/or reduced fat mayonnaise.
Vegetables: your choice of chopped vegetables; peppers, mushrooms, tomatoes, snap peas, celery, onion, cucumber, zucchini or whatever you have on hand. Sometimes the vegetables (green beans and carrots are examples) taste better if you cook them for a minute or two in boiling water.
Meat (optional): pepperoni, chopped roast beef, chopped bologna, tuna, salmon, bacon, leftover meat or any meat you may have on hand.
Cheese (optional): cubed or shredded mozzarella, cheddar, Monterey jack, colby or whatever you have on hand.
Other (optional): chopped dill or sweet pickles, chopped fresh herbs, or chopped olives.
By using this method, you get a different salad every time you make one!
My favorite pasta salad is spaghetti salad. My mom first served this at a Fourth of July gathering and we have been hooked on it since. All you do is cook spaghetti noodles, drain, run them under cold water to cool them down and drain again. Add the drained noodles to a bowl, add purchased Italian Salad dressing (to taste), your choice of chopped vegetables and, if you want, chopped meat. Chill.
Be sure to make pasta salads ahead of time and refrigerate them to let the flavors blend and to save preparation work at dinnertime. If for some reason you don't get to make it ahead of time, don't worry about it, the salad will still taste good.
You can garnish your pasta salads with fresh herbs, or, if you don't have any fresh, sprinkle some dried herb on top.
I hope you'll be making more pasta salads than ever this summer so you can spend more of your time enjoying the summer the way you want.
©, 2002, Monica Resinger
About the Author: Monica Resinger is the Editor of The Homemaker's Journal Ezine, a jam-packed e-mail e-zine that publishes the collective advice of thousands of homemakers in all home and garden topics like organizing, cooking, parties, decorating, cleaning, family life, gardening, crafts and much more! Become a part of our family and receive this fun and informative resource Monday through Friday. Join now by sending a blank e-mail to: HomemakersJournal-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Reprint permission: This article may be reprinted in its entirety as long as the above bio and this note are included and a courtesy copy of the publication is sent to
Plantldy98@aol.com.
How to Make Dilled Garlic Vinegar
by Monica Resinger of The Homemaker's Journal http://homemakersjournal.com
Use this delicious herbal vinegar in sauces, marinades, salad dressings, on seafood and any other ways you normally use vinegar. It will also make a delightful gift to a cook or homemaker - just attach a ribbon and a recipe.
You’ll need: ~ white or red wine vinegar (don’t use plain white vinegar because it’s too strong)
~ sterilized glass container with a plastic or plastic-covered metal lid (metal can interact with vinegar and make it unpleasant). You can use mayonnaise, jam or other jars that have been previously used, but cleaned. To sterilize, run the jar and lid through the dishwasher or boil them in water to cover for a few minutes.
~ a handful of washed and dried dill weed (either from your garden or from the produce section at your grocery store)
~ 4 smashed and peeled garlic cloves
Put the dill weed and garlic into the sterilized glass jar. Pour vinegar over to cover and to within 1/4 inch of the rim of the jar. Put the lid on and label the jar with the name and date. I also put the date the vinegar will be ready, which is 30 days from the date of making it.
©, 2002, Monica Resinger
About the author: Monica Resinger is the Editor of The Homemaker's Journal Ezine, a jam-packed e-mail e-zine that publishes the collective advice of thousands of homemakers in all home and garden topics like organizing, cooking, parties, decorating, cleaning, family life, gardening, crafts and much more! Become a part of our family and receive this fun and informative resource Monday through Friday. Join now by sending a blank e-mail to: HomemakersJournal-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Reprint permission: This article may be reprinted in its entirety as long as the above bio and this note are included and a courtesy copy of the publication is sent to Plantldy98@aol.com.
The Benefits of Dehydrating Produce
by Monica Resinger
Dehydrating produce is a great way to preserve produce that takes up less space and is less work than canning or freezing. Dehydrating foods is a simple process of exposing foods to heat and air which evaporates the moisture from the foods. A food dehydrator will dry produce, meats, herbs and flowers. This article will discuss drying produce.
Generally, to dry fruits and vegetables, you slice them thin, and depending on if it browns or not when exposed to air, dip the slices in lemon juice. You then place the slices onto the racks of the dehydrator and turn it on. My kids have a good time helping me prepare the food for drying and are getting a valuable lesson in food preservation not to mention quality time with mom. After a matter of time (it depends on which fruit or vegetable you're drying), you will have the finished product ready to be stored in glass jars, baggies, canisters or whatever you'd like to store them in. It usually takes quite a few hours for the produce to become dry. When you purchase a food dehydrator, it comes with an instruction book listing approximate times, directions and a few recipes that include the finished product.
Since the finished product is dried, the natural flavor is concentrated into chewy, healthy snacks. Dehydrated vegetables are great thrown into soups, casseroles and stews. Dehydrated fruit is good in muffins, cake, granola or pancake batter to name a few. This is when you get to be creative and come up with your own great ideas.
Dried food is great for hikers and campers for the obvious reasons of lighter food to carry and no spoilage. It's also great for people trying to get their children or themselves to eat healthier and for garden growers that like to preserve their harvest for later use.
A food dehydrator can save you a lot of money. For one, the cost of dried fruit at the grocery store is pretty high, so you can save yourself quite a bit of money by drying it yourself. For two, if you have purchased too much of something, you can dehydrate it for use later instead of letting it go bad. Not only will food dehydration save you money, but it will also save you valuable shelf space in your kitchen. The finished product takes up a lot less space compared to canning or freezing and you don't need expensive canning jars or freezer containers. One last benefit is there is considerably less work involved when compared to canning or freezing.
To sum it up, if you are a person that wants to eat healthier, save money, cook creatively and/or have a great way to preserve food, then a food dehydrator is for you.
About the author: Monica Resinger is the Editor of The Homemaker's Journal Ezine, a jam-packed e-mail e-zine that publishes the collective advice of thousands of homemakers in all home and garden topics like organizing, cooking, parties, decorating, cleaning, family life, gardening, crafts and much more! Become a part of our family and receive this fun and informative resource Monday through Friday. Join now by sending a blank e-mail to: HomemakersJournal-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Reprint permission: This article may be reprinted in its entirety as long as the above bio and this note are included and a courtesy copy of the publication is sent to Plantldy98@aol.com
The Benefits Crock-Pot Cooking by Monica Resinger
A lot of us have a very efficient and time saving appliance sitting high on a kitchen shelf collecting dust. What is it? It's the crock- pot! I have taken mine down from that high shelf and have actually purchased another one because I have found them to be so helpful. How are they helpful? Read on.
There are a lot of days that it's very hard for me to get a meal on the table either because I lack the motivation or because we are busy. Lacking motivation stems from being tired at dinnertime. I have had an active day and by 5:00 p.m., I'm just plain worn out and am not in the mood to cook. Because of this, we end up eating fast food more often than we should or we eat a meal that tastes like there was no effort put into it.
I have found a solution to this problem and that is the crock-pot! In the morning when I am ambitious and creative, I prepare the basis of our meals by adding meat, liquids, seasonings or other ingredients to the crock-pot. Then at dinnertime, all I have to do is prepare side dishes such as heat and serve rolls and a green salad. Sometimes I even prepare the side dishes early too so that way I have hardly anything to do at mealtime when I'm lacking energy. If you have two crock-pots, use them both at the same time with the main dish in one and a side dish in the other.
Another benefit of the crock-pot is that it doesn't heat up the kitchen. This can be valuable in the summer but don't limit it to summertime cooking. It's an any-season appliance. You'll be pleased smelling the delicious aroma of your food cooking all day long in the fall, winter and spring. You can even cook desserts in them such as apple dumplings.
For those of you that work away from home, the crock-pot is safe enough to leave turned on low all day. When you get home, most of your dinner is cooked and ready to eat!
You can buy crock-pots at any retail store for around $30.00 for the average size and more or less for a bigger or smaller one. But why spend $30.00 when they are abundant in thrift stores and yard sales? I purchased my second one at a thrift store for $2.99! If you decide to purchase one at a thrift store or yard sale, be sure to plug it in and see if it heats up.
Here is one of my favorite crock-pot meals.
Pork Ribs and Kraut
Brown desired amount of pork spareribs in a frying pan over medium heat; season with seasoning salt and place in crock-pot. Stir sauerkraut juice into the pan you browned the ribs in and stir with a fork to loosen brown bits. Add this juice to the crock-pot along with desired amount of sauerkraut. Set crock-pot to low and cook 6-8 hours.
For a side dish to this meal, I make homemade rolls using the bread machine to make dough, or I just serve plain old bread and butter. A crusty loaf of French bread would be good too.
Chunky Applesauce
This would make a great side dish to the meal above. Peel and cut desired amount of apples into 1/2 - 1 inch chunks. Place the chunks in your crock-pot and add about 1/2 cup water. Set the crock-pot to low and cook 4-6 hours or until the apple chunks are very soft. Mash with a potato masher to desired consistency and add sugar to taste if desired.
If you need crock-pot recipes, check out The Homemaker's Journal 'Slowcooker E-cookbook:
http://homemakersjournal.com/ebooklets.htm
I hope this article brings you the inspiration to dust off your crock- pot!
About the author: Monica Resinger is the Editor of The Homemaker's Journal Ezine, a jam-packed e-mail e-zine that publishes the collective advice of thousands of homemakers in all home and garden topics like organizing, cooking, parties, decorating, cleaning, family life, gardening, crafts and much more! Become a part of our family and receive this fun and informative resource Monday through Friday. Join now by sending a blank e-mail to: HomemakersJournal-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Reprint permission: This article may be reprinted in its entirety as long as the above bio and this note are included and a courtesy copy of the publication is sent to Plantldy98@aol.com.
Zucchini Overload? 11 Ideas and Recipes to Get You Through Zucchini Time
by Monica ResingerIt's that time of year when it seems you don't have enough friends and family to give zucchini to. I have come to love zucchini time because over the years I have gathered quite a few ideas and recipes. Here are eleven ideas and recipes to help you through zucchini overload time.
1. Freeze it. Shred it, measure it into the correct measurement for your favorite zucchini bread, then freeze in a freezer bag. When you want fresh zucchini bread this winter, all you have to do is thaw a bag out and add it to the recipe.
2. Freeze zucchini bread. Make zucchini bread loaves (see recipe below) and freeze them for later. These are handy for bringing to potlucks or giving as Christmas gifts.
3. Add to... You can shred zucchini and add it to spaghetti sauce and meat loaf. This adds nutrition and bulk.
4. Deep-fry it. Make your favorite beer-batter for making fish and chips, dip slices of zucchini in it and deep fry for a delicious treat. Dip in ranch or barbecue sauce.
5. Fry in butter. Dip zucchini slices into egg wash, then flour, then fry in butter and season with salt.
6. Eat it fresh. Cut it up and dip it in your favorite vegetable dip such as ranch.
7. Stir-fry it. Zucchini is excellent stir-fry material. Add it to your next stir-fry, or stir-fry it all by itself. Heat a wok or large frying pan on high heat, add a little oil and stir-fry until crisp-tender. Add stir-fry sauce or eat it plain, either way is good.
RECIPES
8. Zucchini Bread
3 cups shredded zucchini (about 3 medium)
1 2/3 cups sugar
2/3 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla
4 eggs
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease bottoms only of 2 loaf pans that are 9x5x3 inches. Mix zucchini, sugar, oil, vanilla and eggs in large bowl. Stir in remaining ingredients. Pour into pans. Bake 50 - 60 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes. Loosen sides of loaves and remove from pans.
9. Zucchini Relish
2 cups chopped zucchini (about 3 medium)
1 cup chopped onion (about 1 medium)
2 tablespoons salt
1 3/4 cups sugar
1 cup cider vinegar
1 teaspoon ground mustard
Combine zucchini and onion. Sprinkle with salt and cover with cold water. Let stand 2 hours. Drain; rinse and drain thoroughly. Combine remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Add vegetables; simmer 10 minutes. Pack hot relish into hot jars, leaving 1/4-inch headspace. Adjust two-piece caps. Process 10 minutes in a boiling- water canner.
10. Chicken Zucchini Parmigiana
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
2 tablespoons oil
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast
seasoning salt to taste
1 large or 2 medium zucchini, sliced
4 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/2 cup tomato sauce
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon dried basil
In a large, heavy skillet saute chicken breast and garlic in oil about 8 minutes or until lightly browned. Sprinkle with seasoning salt to taste. Remove from skillet; set aside. Add zucchini to skillet, sprinkle with seasoning salt to taste and cook and stir 5 minutes or until zucchini is crisp-tender. Push to sides of skillet. Arrange chicken in middle of skillet. Top chicken with cheese, tomato sauce and herbs. Cover, cook 3 minutes or until cheese melts and sauce is hot.
11. Black-Bottom Zucchini Bars
1/3 cup canola oil
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups shredded zucchini
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup baking cocoa
In a mixing bowl, combine oil, sugar, egg and vanilla until. Blend in the zucchini. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; add to zucchini mixture and mix well. Divide batter in half. Add cocoa to half; spread into a greased 13x9x2-in. baking pan. Pour remaining batter on top and spread out evenly. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until bars test done. Cool. As you can see, zucchini is very versatile. I hope you'll come to appreciate it as much as I have.
About the author: Monica Resinger is the Editor of The Homemaker's Journal Ezine, a jam-packed e-mail e-zine that publishes the collective advice of thousands of homemakers in all home and garden topics like organizing, cooking, parties, decorating, cleaning, family life, gardening, crafts and much more! Become a part of our family and receive this fun and informative resource Monday through Friday. Join now by sending a blank e-mail to: HomemakersJournal-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Reprint permission: This article may be reprinted in its entirety as long as the above bio and this note are included and a courtesy copy of the publication is sent to Plantldy98@aol.com.
Front Porch Fix-up By Monica Resinger of The Homemaker's Journal http://homemakersjournal.com
Having a nice pretty front porch will make you feel good about your home and is a nice way to welcome guests. The first thing to do is clear away any clutter that doesn’t belong so you can have a clean canvas to work with. Here are a few ideas to get your creative juices flowing:
~ Consider the time of year. Since summer’s on it’s way, maybe you can decorate your porch with a summer theme like sunflowers. Grow mini sunflowers in pots, make or buy a wreath or straw hat that includes silk or dried sunflowers, put up a welcome sign with painted sunflowers, get a sunflower welcome mat or paint rocks as sunflowers. You can use these same ideas with any other summer themes -- sail boating, the sun, the beach, shells -- the sky’s the limit.
~ Attach thin strips (6-10" or so) of lattice to the roof of your porch lengthwise with nails, then intertwine silk or real vines, leaves and flowers for a cute cottage look border.
~ To save money and also look for creative ideas, shop thrift stores and yard sales. You’ll find all sorts of neat stuff like baskets, old cans, silk flowers, plants, welcome signs, wreaths and other odds and ends that you can use in your porch fix-up. When shopping, keep in mind how you could fix some of the things you find up. For example, maybe you’ll find a plain grapevine wreath you could attach your own silk flowers or pretty ribbon to later, or maybe you’ll find a basket you like the shape of, but it needs a paintjob so you could spray paint it later. This kind of thinking will save you money and can give you something to do.
I hope these ideas will give you inspiration to fix-up your front porch.
©, 2002, Monica Resinger
About the Author: Monica Resinger is the Editor of The Homemaker's Journal Ezine, a jam-packed e-mail e-zine that publishes the collective advice of thousands of homemakers in all home and garden topics like organizing, cooking, parties, decorating, cleaning, family life, gardening, crafts and much more! Become a part of our family and receive this fun and informative resource Monday through Friday. Join now by sending a blank e-mail to: HomemakersJournal-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Reprint permission: This article may be reprinted in its entirety as long as the above bio and this note are included and a courtesy copy of the publication is sent to
Plantldy98@aol.com.
Decorating with Thrift Store
Finds
By Monica Resinger of The Homemaker's Journal
http://homemakersjournal..com
There is so much variety at thrift stores that it's hard to not find anything
that would fit into your home. With a little creativity, the sky's the limit.
Here are some items I have found with ideas for use in decorating.
Sheets. They can be cut and made into curtains or pillows. You can also use
sheets as a slipcover for chairs and couches. Of course you can use the sheet
as a sheet; there is such variety that the chances are great that you'll find
something to fit into your decorating theme.
Shelves. Plastic, wood and metal shelves can be found in a myriad of designs
and colors. If you like the design but not the color, spray paint it.
Area rugs. These can be a great instant change.
Wicker Baskets. These are great used in decorating themes because they serve
two purposes: decoration and storage. Sit one on an end table and use it to
store remote controls. A larger one can hold magazines. One on the kitchen
table can hold in-season fruit or vegetables.
Knick Knacks. Whatever your decorating theme, you're sure to find knick
knacks to match.
Pictures. If you like the picture but not the frame, you can either look for
a different frame while you are there, or spray paint it.
Picture frames. Family pictures always warm the room. You'll find a wide
variety of frames with great prices at the thrift stores.
Silk Flowers. Put one or more in a pretty vase and you have a decorative
item. You can also hot glue individual flowers to picture frames or lamp
shades.
There are many other decorating items to be found in thrift stores. If you
want a new decorating theme, going to the thrift store may inspire you. For
me, it's a great way to get the creative juices flowing. Look around and take
note as to what's catching your eye. What colors or themes are emerging?
Decorating this way not only brings creativity and unique items, it saves you
a ton of money. It's so cheap in fact, that you can change your decorating
theme on a whim. Keep in mind that you don't have to get everything all at
once. Decorating is an on going and ever changing process and going to the
thrift stores over a period of time will give you an even bigger variety
because each time you go, there is different items.
©, 2001, Monica Resinger
About the Author: Monica Resinger is the Editor of The Homemaker's Journal Ezine, a jam-packed e-mail e-zine that publishes the collective advice of thousands of homemakers in all home and garden topics like organizing, cooking, parties, decorating, cleaning, family life, gardening, crafts and much more! Become a part of our family and receive this fun and informative resource Monday through Friday. Join now by sending a blank e-mail to: HomemakersJournal-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
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