Nutty Flavored Coffee
For a delicious, nutty-flavored drink, try adding some real vanilla to coffee grounds when brewing a pot of coffee.
Lasagna Made Easy
Ever had trouble trying to spread the cottage cheese in Lasagna? Add it to your tomato sauce instead and presto! It's a snap!
Avoid Soggy Corn
Instead of heating corn in a sauce pan, try this mouthwatering alternative that tastes like corn roasted on a barbecue: place corn in a casserole dish and dot with butter, salt, and pepper. Bake uncovered in oven (325-350) until corn is crispy and browned.
An Easy Way To Remove Grease From Gravy
Trying to skim grease from the top of gravy can be time consuming. There's an easier way: place your saucepan in the freezer. Grease will rise to the top, solidify in one chunk, and can be lifted off easily.
Eliminate Burned Bottoms
If your cookies and biscuits get too brown on the bottom, try doubling up on your baking pans. Double-panning eliminates burned bottoms.
Rosebuds As An Ice Cream Topper
Use rosebuds to decorate bowls of ice cream, for an edible and eye-catching special occasion dessert item!
Clipping Plants
Cat nail clippers work great when you are trimming leaves and stems from plants. The circle-shaped opening fits around stems for a clean and easy cut.
Reduce Drawer Clutter
Here's a simple system I learned from my grandmother to reduce drawer clutter: top drawer: paper, pens, odds and ends; 2nd drawer: underwear & socks; 3rd drawer: shirts & sweaters; 4th drawer: pants and leggings.
Hassle-free Bed Making
Do you hate changing sheets? There's any easy way to cut the job in half. Make your bed up with all of your clean bottom sheets. Each week, pull off one bottom sheet to reveal the clean sheet underneath.
When You Don't Have Time To Vacuum
If company is arriving at any moment and you don't have time to vacuum, sweep your carpet. That's right! A quick once over with the broom and your visitors won't be any the wiser.
Avoid Scratching Your Kitchen Floor
Use those old-fashioned round (metal on one side, carpeting on the other) furniture leg protectors for the screws on your kitchen stove. Your stove will slide out easily for cleaning and linoleum will be protected from scratches.
Ice Cold Beverages For Hot Days
If you want to keep a large container of juice cold all day, place your container in the freezer overnight (leaving enough room for expansion). The juice will freeze into a large chunk of ice and will take all day to melt. This is great when you are providing drinks for a picnic or a beach party.
Reduce Noise When Traveling
If you find your kids are getting too noisy in the back seat, hold a "quiet contest." The winner earns a candy.
When Kids Fight About The Larger Portion
If your kids argue about who has the larger portion, solve the dilemma by getting one child to divide portions, while the other one gets to pick. This works every time.
Couple Buying Strategy
If you and your mate can't agree on which household items to buy first. Make a pact: you'll support him in his choice if he'll then support you in yours. Take turns and see how well this works.
Sleep Remedy
If you can't go to sleep, lying in bed trying to fall asleep seldom works. Instead, sit up and read. You will relax, your eyes will grow heavy, and soon you will drift off to sleep.
Stress-free Mornings
If you hate rushing to work in the morning, you can cut your "getting ready" time by taking your shower the evening before. You'll still be clean in the morning, but instead of using your time showering, you can use those precious minutes to have another cup of coffee and read the paper or a favorite book.
Co-worker Co-operation
If you are having trouble getting a co-worker to co-operate, before the next task, give a compliment and then ask for his or her opinion. You'll find they'll be more willing to work with you instead of against you!
Healthy Work Lunches
If you enjoy hot soup or chili at lunchtime, you can cut costs and eat better. Make a large batch of soup or chili in your crock pot, then freeze in lunch size containers. Every time you feel like a hot lunch, bring one of these to work.
Cast Your Bread Upon The Waters . . .
For years now, I've made a habit of taking baking to my neighbors: a loaf of homemade bread, a plate of cookies, fresh buns. I've received back so much more: shoveled driveways, lawn mowing, debris removal.
Making A Life Plan
We all know that life is too short. Make a life plan and stick to it, no matter what. Tell yourself and others the following: My life plan doesn't include failure, poverty, or settling for something I don't want.
