Household Swap Shop

Summer Holiday

2006-06-17T08:36:00.000-05:00

Household Swap Shop is going on a summer holiday - we'll see you all in September!

Book Review - The Lady and the Unicorn

2006-06-12T13:44:00.000-05:00

The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier

After reading Girl with a Pearl Earring by the same author, I was excited to read another book by Chevalier. It was a very quick read - I read it in about a week. Each chapter in the book is from a different character's point of view, which worked extremely well in telling the story and developing the characters.

This novel is again based on a real piece of Art - this time a 15th century set of tapestries detatiling a lady and a unicorn, that currently hang in the Museum of the Middle Ages in Paris. It is known, that the tapestries were probably created for Jean Le Viste, a Paris nobleman and probably weaved in Brussels. From the few fact known about these, Chevalier re-creates 15th century Europe with vivid descriptions, and the story is captivating - leaving me at the end of the novel, wanting more.

This confirmed for me my love of Chevaliers writing, and I look forward to a summer reading her other 2 novels!

Free directory assistance from cell phones

2006-06-06T21:50:00.000-05:00

I have always hated calling 411 from my cell when I needed to as it is very expensive but I just found this number on fishingfor deals:
1-800-free-411

Potato Gnocci---a tasty and..dare I say..cheap? dinner

2006-06-06T14:01:00.000-05:00

On Sunday I made this recipe from a great cookbook called "Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone." I rarely make many things from this book because the instructions are usually complicated and it calls for a million ingredients that I can't afford. But, inspired by a horrorific view of Lane asking for french fries from McDonalds, I decided to crack open the book and mark several recipe's that I could do. This was one of the first, and I will make it many more times. It was delicious!!! I hope you enjoy it. I am going to give it to you by memory because the more I repeat, the easier it is to remember for me...I hate having to look at the cookbook every 2 min.

Baked Potato Gnocci

2 large russet potatoes (2 lbs)
1 1/4 c. flour
salt and pepper
1/4 c. shredded parmesean cheese
3 Tbsp. Butter

Bake your potatoes at 400 for 45 min-1 hour or until you can puncture them easily with a knife. Peel off the skins while they are still hot and place the potatoes in the bowl. The cookbook suggests putting the potatoes through a food mill, which I don't exactly know what that is, but the general idea seemed to be to make it light and fluffy. I did this with 2 knives cutting the potatoes quickly until they were all broken up and a light, fluffy consistency. After it is there, you wait 15 min. for the potatoes to cool. Then you dust the potatoes with the flour and mix it all together with your hands. This is your dough. Make sure not to overwork the dough, but knead it until it is a smooth, workable dough. I veered a little from the book here: it says to roll it into a rope and cut it. This seemed very difficult, and so I just rolled it into little balls, the size of large marbles. It should yeild 100 of these balls. Place them on a cookie sheet and put them in the fridge as you go. After they are finished, you can keep them in the fridge for later, or you can start boiling them right away.
Boil the gnocci 10-15 at a time until they bob up to the top of the water. Count to 10, then remove the gnocci. Place it into a greased gratin baking dish, or a smaller cake pan. When all has been boiled, shred the cold butter onto the top of the gnocci followed by a thick layer of the parmesean cheese. Bake this at 400 for 20 min, or until the cheese is bubbly and turning golden brown.
Serves 4-6.

I really recomend this recipe, because it really was good, but it looks and sounds impressive but is pennies to make! I love cheap recipes in our house, especially when they taste so good and are not that difficult to make. Good luck and let me know if you make it!

Speed Cleaning - Clean Faster

2006-06-01T12:08:00.000-05:00

Clean one room at a time rather than dusting each room, then vacuuming each room etc.

Put all supplies in a laudary basket or bucket, to keep supplies together.

Keep Kitchen counters clear so you don't waster time romoving and cleaning around things left out.

Use both hands!! e.g. spray mirror with one hand and wipe with the other

Predict your child's height

2006-05-26T22:20:00.000-05:00

I don't know how accurate it is but according to this my son will be 5.11 when he's 18.
http://parentcenter.babycenter.com/calculators/heightpredictor/index.jhtml?_requestid=144516#form

The Birth Order of Children

2006-05-24T11:04:00.000-05:00

Your Clothes: 1st baby: You begin wearing maternity clothes as soon as your OB/GYN confirms your pregnancy. 2nd baby: You wear your regular clothes for as long as possible. 3rd baby: Your maternity clothes ARE your regular clothes.

Preparing for the Birth: 1st baby: You practice your breathing religiously. 2nd baby: You don't bother because you remember that last time breathing didn't do a thing. 3rd baby: You ask for an epidural in your eighth month.

The Layette: 1st baby: You pre-wash newborn's clothes, color-coordinate them, and fold them neatly in the baby's little bureau. 2nd baby: You check to make sure that the clothes are clean and discard only the ones with the darkest stains. 3rd baby: Boys can wear pink, can't they?

Worries: 1st baby: At the first sign of distress -a whimper or a frown- you pick up the baby. 2nd baby: You pick the baby up when her wails threaten to wake your firstborn. 3rd baby: You teach your three-year-old how to rewind the mechanical swing.

Pacifier: 1st baby: If the pacifier falls on the floor, you put it away until can go home and wash and boil it. 2nd baby: When the pacifier falls on the floor, you squirt it off with some juice from the baby's bottle. 3rd baby: You wipe it off on your shirt and pop it back in.

Diapering: 1st baby: You change your baby's diapers every hour, whether they need it or not. 2nd baby: You change their diaper every two to three hours, if needed. 3rd baby: You try to change their diaper before others start to complain about the smell or you see it sagging to their knees.

Activities: 1st baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics, Baby Swing, and Baby Story Hour. 2nd baby: You take your infant to the park. 3rd baby: You take your infant to the supermarket and the dry cleaner.

Going Out: 1st baby: The first time you leave your baby with a sitter, you call home five times. 2nd baby: Just before you walk out the door, you remember to leave a number where you can be reached. 3rd baby: You leave instructions for the sitter to call only if she sees blood.

At Home: 1st baby: You spend a good bit of every day just gazing at the baby. 2nd baby: You spend a bit of everyday watching to be sure your older child isn't squeezing, poking, or hitting the baby. 3rd baby: You spend a little bit of every day hiding from the children.

Swallowing Coins (a favorite): 1st child: When first child swallows a coin, you rush the child to the hospital and demand x-rays. 2nd child: When second child swallows a coin, you carefully watch for the coin to pass. 3rd child: When third child swallows a coin you deduct it from his allowance!!

Book Review: Girl With A Pearl Earring

2006-05-23T10:01:00.000-05:00

Have you ever wondered when looking at a painting - I wonder who that is? What made the painter choose that pose? Well, this is the basic premise for Girl With A Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier. It is a work of fiction, bring to life the famous work of art by Johannes Vermeer.

17th century Delft really comes to life, as Chevalier tells the story of Griet, a servant in the Vermeer household, who catches the eye of one of Vermeers patrons. For this patron, Vermeer paints Griet. It is a secret from his wife, which can never end well, for him or for Griet.

The characters are detailed and descriptions wonderful. I loved this book, and can't wait to read others by Chevalier.

Up to 75% off on Amazon toy sale!

2006-05-21T21:37:00.000-05:00

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/browse/-/528156/ref=amb_center-1_181620901_1/104-3469689-1139122

For example:

Spiderman bean bag sofa

List Price:
$29.99

Price:
$7.50

You Save:
$22.49 (75%)

Easy Cake idea

2006-05-19T08:50:00.000-05:00

This is the cake I'm going to be (attempting!)to make for William's birthday this year! It's simple, yet fun for little boys!

Spring into action!

2006-05-18T12:06:00.000-05:00

Now that Spring seems to be well and truly here in the UK, I thought I would share some thoughts from a local newspaper titled above. (shortened version!)

1. Go Green
It is time to give up stodgy comfort food in favour of all things fresh, light and green.

2. Workout update
If you work out regularly, now is the time to perhaps change your routine as your body has probably got used to the old one and needs refreshing. If you don't work out regulary, perhaps now is the time to start!

3. Lighten up
Forget baking, roasting and stewing. Preserve the nutrients by lightly steaming, grilling and stir-frying.

4. Scrub up
Scaly legs and flaky feet are easy to hide in winter, but not this time of year. Try body brushing for 5 min before your morning shower. Start at your feet and work towards your heart using firm circular motions.

5. Exercise al fresco
Try tennis, cycling, a run in the park, a weekend hike or even horse-riding.

6. Sunshiny day
Get out in the sun. US researchers found that 30 min of bright light a day can lift your mood, alleviate depression and helo to ease stress.

7. Buff your brain (if you still have one that is. Sometimes I wonder where mine has gone)
Don't let cobwebs clog your mind. You could boost your brain's power by 40% and reduce your risk of Alzheimer's, say researchers from Trinity College, Dublin. Try brushing your teeth with the wrong hand or take a new route to work.

8. Upt the antis
Anti-oxidants reduce your risk of cancers and prevent sun damage to your skin. Stock up on brightly coloured fruit and veg such as peppers, broccoli, mangos, watercress and berries.

9. Rise and Shine.
The sping sun makes it easier to bound out of bed. make the most of mornings by working our first thing.

10 Water - cooler
Drink more water. "Water is vital to spring cleaning your body," says Maggie Nutt of Living Nurtition. "Just a small degree of dehydration can lead to brain fog, lack of energy, and stop your digestion working properly. Keep a big bottle on your desk and finish it all."

Kids Birthday Party Idea

2006-05-17T11:05:00.000-05:00

I found this great idea for a birthday party with kids - a cooking party, where all the guests do some cooking - like pizza faces or decorate cup cakes! I'll have to remember it for Mary I think!!

How well will you age?

2006-05-14T20:59:00.000-05:00

This interesting article on the BBC News website, provides a link to a Scottish website where you can submit a photo of yourself, answer a few questions and they'll email you a picture of yourself aged 30 years.

Although it's a bit of fun, it's aim is also to have you think about planning for your retirement, by which time there may be no pension/social security. Planning ahead is always good!!

New Redbox codes for May

2006-05-01T21:45:00.000-05:00

Here are the new free movie codes as follows:

MAY 1 THRU 6: STONE
MAY 7 THRU 13: HOUSE
MAY 14 THRU 20: WHEN
MAY 21 THRU 27: DOZEN

Seasonal Recipes

2006-05-01T09:35:00.000-05:00

Check out what's in season, and try a recipe for rhubarb!

Happy Birthday Your Majesty!

2006-04-26T11:56:00.000-05:00

There's an interesting article in Newsweek about the Queen and her longevity.

The Queen has turned 80 in the past week - and is still very much admired and loved by the British public. I for one am proud to be British and have her as our Monarch - she does a great job!!

Happy Birthday Ma'm!

Cleaning Tips

2006-04-24T07:41:00.000-05:00

Click here for some 'emergency' cleaning tips like vomit on clothes, and the secret cleaner you should always have on hand!

Spagetti Crust Pie

2006-04-21T11:11:00.000-05:00

This is a resipe that I used when I was a little girl and had a child's cookbook. Until today, I really like it. It is easy to make and usually the ingredients are always around.

1/2lb hamburger--you could substite grilled vegtables if you'd like
10 oz of spagetti
2 eggs
1/3 c parmesan cheese
spaghetti sause to taste
2 T butter
1/3 c mozarella cheese if desired

Cook hamburger meat completely (you can add onion if you'd like) and add the sause until you get the meat fairly wet. As the hamburger is cooking, you can cook your spaghetti noodles. When the noodles are done, drain and place in bowl with butter. Stir until the butter is melted and the noodles have cooled. Wisk the eggs and add them to the buttered noodles. Then add the parmesan cheese. Place the noodles in a pie plate and smooth it around until it looks like a pie crust (it will vaguely resemble one). Then pour the hamburger mixture in for the filling. Add cheese on top for a little extra flavor.
Bake in oven at 375 for 20 min.
Serve as you would a pie. It tastes good and it makes it a little more fun for kids to eat spaghetti!

Confessions of a Google addict!

2006-04-20T21:47:00.000-05:00

It's true I'm addicted to all things Google. It's the only search engine I use. I LOVE having all the features of Google email (gmail), and I love Google chatting with my friends. My latest aquisition is Google Calendar. You don't have to have a gmail account to have your own calendar, but there are some features available only to gmail account holders. I'm still working it out, but so far, as with everything Google - it's nice looking and easy to use.

Robin's sweets

2006-04-19T14:41:00.000-05:00

The following has been converted and gives English (lbs and oz) and Amercian (Cup) measurements. In future you can use the weight converter in the links section to convert!

These are named after the fellow who first gave them to us many years ago. I quite often make them at Christmas and give to friends, but good for a treat at any time!

4 oz/1/2 C Icing sugar
2 oz/1/4 C Unsalted Butter
3 oz/1/3 C Dessicated Coconut
2 oz/ 1/4 C Glace cherries chopped
2 oz /1/4 cWalnuts or Almonds chopped
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
Melted chocolate for dipping

Cream butter and sugar together. Stir in other ingredients and form into small balls. Put into fridge to harden. Dip in chocolate and return to fridge again.

Enjoy - they won't last long!

The Great Outdoors

2006-04-18T11:51:00.000-05:00

My family and I spent Spring Break in Florida. It was a nice holiday. We drove back and decided to seee a little bit more of America before we leave in the summer. We drove up part of the Blue Ridge Parkway which was breathtaking and really appreciated the wonderful gift that is nature.

Happy Easter

2006-04-15T21:23:00.000-05:00

Happy Easter and Happy Spring everyone. Hope you all have a great weekend with your families.

Wildlife in the city

2006-04-14T22:21:00.000-05:00

Apart from all the racoons we see here nightly a neighbor of mine spotted 3 adult deer galopping through our neighborhood yesterday and I just saw a large fox in my neighbors yard. Mind you, we actually live in the city! I used to see these animals when I still lived in the mountains in Austria. But you surely wouldn't expect them here.

Up to 40% discount at Children's Place

2006-04-14T22:01:00.000-05:00

www.childrensplace.com
and add code SNAE46 for an additional 20% off!!

Quick, inexpensive & yummy recipe

2006-04-12T08:10:00.000-05:00

I found that in the Family Fun magazine, tried it out and it was quite good. Even my picky son liked it and gobbled it up.

QUICK CORN BREAD, DEEP DISH PIZZA

for the crust mix a 8 1/2 oz box of corn muffin mix with one large egg, 1/2 c of milk and 1/2 c parmesan cheese (beware this is different than the instructions on the muffin box!).
Heat the oven to 375F. Grease a 9x13 in baking dish. Spread the batter evenly in the baking dish.
Heat a little oil in a large skillet, then saute one large chopped onion and one chopped garlic clove for about 2 minutes, until translucent. Add a 26oz jar of pasta sauce, some oregano, salt and pepper. Cook the sauce until it thickens, about 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
You will ned some sort of cooked and sliced or diced (1 lb) sausage. Arrange half of that sausage on the batter, pour the sauce over it and then layer the remaining sausage. Bake for 15 minutes, then top the mixture with Monterey Jack cheese ( I had and used mixed shredded Mexican cheeses). Bake for an additional 10 minutes, cut into slices, serve and enjoy.

New free Redbox Codes!

2006-04-10T17:40:00.000-05:00

from 4/9-4/13 you can use code WOLF
from 4/16-4/20 you can use JAM
from 4/23-4/27 you can use TENNIS

Book Review from Marion

2006-04-08T07:32:00.000-05:00

For the past month at my bookclub, we have been reading some of the novels of Charles Dickens. I think there was a general consensus that some of his books could be a little hard going!

Mr Dickens was born in Landport, Portsmouth, my home town on the south coast of England. It is interesting that this area of Portsmouth is now quite run down and has been for some time. I feel I want to some research and try and find out what it was like at the time of Dickens. Of course at that time, Portsmouth was probably made up of small villages, Landport being one of them.

We asked ourselves the question as to whether his books were popoular during his lifetime. It is evident that he had a great social conscience which was probably not shared by most of the population that were able to read, bearing in mind that many of those he wrote about did not have this skill. I suspect that his books became more popular following his death, but something else I will include in my research.

Although, much of what he wrote was rather bleak, he did display a great sense of humour, even in the naming of some of his characters. Mr Pumblechook in Great Expectations speaks to me of a round bumptious man, exactly what he was. Compared to more modern writers he could seem a little long winded (not economical with words as one bookclub member put it), but his descriptions really set the imagination reeling and you can really feel that you are there on the page with the characters.

I always thought that the "National Debt" was something of our generation, but Pip says, "...a money box was kept on the kitchen mantel-shelf, into which it was publicly made known that all my earnings were dropped. I have an impression that they were to be contributed eventually towards the liquidation of the National Debt, but I know I had no hope of any personal participation in the treasure."

I am hopeful that through my research I will learn more of the man and come to appreciate his writings to a great degree. In the meantime, I will seek to finish "Great Expections".

Review: The Chronicles of Narnia - The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

2006-04-06T08:00:00.000-05:00

Tuesday marked the release of this wonderful family film on DVD. As an English person, I grew up with the tales from C.S. Lewis, and the BBC version of this book, so I was very excited to see it and for my 6 year old to enjoy the same story I had for years. I loved it. I thought it was everything a family film should be. The casting of the four Pevensie children was excellent. Superb in the case of Lucy, and the rest of the cast did a wonderful job. It was visually beautiful, the battle scene great and effects that brought Aslan to life in a way that couldn't have been done 5 years ago.

I don't have the DVD yet, but on the 2 disc special edition, there is also over 10 hours of extras, including behind the scene featurettes and a documentary on C.S. Lewis. This edition is fairly pricy though, so if opting for the single disc edition you can still enjoy a commentary by the director and four children who play the Pevensies and the option of having 'pop ups' on the screen with facts about the story, actors and the film.

For me this was the best family film of last year, and for anyone with kids (or not!!) a must for the DVD collection.

You can buy it here for the US and here for the UK

Redbox free movies

2006-04-05T09:54:00.000-05:00

I just found this through one of the sites I frequent and it apparently posts daily free codes for redbox movies. I haven't used that particular site yet but I clicked on one of the codes and they give you the different cities they are used in. So I guess it's worth a try for free movies!
http://www.insideredbox.com/index.php/codes

How Little Things Become a Joy

2006-04-04T13:31:00.000-05:00

Although I don't have any recipe's to report, I hope this post isn't too off the course. I have been reading lately and I am so happy to learn little details from the books that seem to push me to decide to be happy. As a stay at home mother, with a husband in graduate school, money is hard to come by and can often become my main goal. So as I was reading "The Winter of Our Discontent," by John Stienbeck, the main character keeps mentioning the money he wants to obtain. Not for money's sake, but for different things, like his wife wanting a big enough water heater for 4 people to shower and still have warm water to do the dishes (I can relate). Anyway, Stienbeck, in true American form (I know I am the only one), shows how one can change their moral base just with the justification of earning money. Not that I want to go into the evils of capitalism, but I was just thinking as I was reading Julia's blog about crock-pot recipies, how I love the simple things in family life. I love to play the game of saving money, and making money stretch as far as possible. Doesn't life kindof loose its savor when we give up and just buy out of convenience instead out of need? The Winter of Our Discontent is a grim reminder of what really brings the joy in life, quite simply: love. It sounds terribly unoriginal, but it is good to have a reminder once in a while. Is there anything any of you would like to talk about that brings you joy? Just to name a few:
The way my sweet daughter looks me in the eye
Making up a crazy stroganoff last week because it was the end of the month and we were out of grocery money
Walking to the bus stop to pick up my husband on a beautiful day
Springtime

Sorry this message is so sentimental---and cheezy really. The moments of litte joy are the ones that get me through the rest I guess.

Crock pot recipes?

2006-04-03T21:51:00.000-05:00

I am opening my own business in a couple of weeks and have purchased a crockpot to be able to still cook somewhat healthy meals for my son and myself. I have cooked for over 20 years but have no experience with a crockpot and would appreciate recipes from those of you who know what to cook in it. So far I have used it twice and made a coconut, curry chicken dinner with veggies, barley and quinoa. It turned out pretty well. I also made a stew with potatos, german sausage and veggies which was pretty decent. I am looking for some recipes that don't include meat and can be left cooking on low for most of the day without distroying the whole meal. Thanks.

Fat

2006-04-03T12:39:00.000-05:00

The facts about fat, as detailed in Newsweek.

Vegetarian Lasagne

2006-03-31T17:21:00.000-05:00

All of my children love this even though they are not vegetarian like mum and dad. However, it is one of those receipes I "throw" together and so measurements and timing are not exact!

1 large onion
2 leeks
Mushrooms
Cooked sliced carrots (can be can/tin)
large can sweetcorn

I cheat and buy a lasagne mix
1 Jar of Passata/large tomato sauce

1 pint of cheese sauce
Lasagne sheets

Gently fry onion and leek for a few minutes and then add mushrooms and cook for a further few minutes. Add carrots, corn, lasagne mix and Passata (Becky can give American equivalent) and mix well together.

Make cheese sauce in usual way or if you are having a hectic day, use a ready prepared one from the supermarket.

Layer in usual way, mix, lasagne sheets, cheese sauce X 3. Sprinkle with a little cheese on top and put in the over 200 c for about 20-30 minutes.

Serve with salad and french bread.

Enjoy!

What I am reading

2006-03-29T14:00:00.000-05:00

Having given up on Bleak House by Dickens as it was so terribly bleak and very hard to get in to, I am now reading his Great Expectations which is a much better read. Dickens was born in Portsmouth the same town I was born in. Having said that I am not one of his biggest fans! However, I am sure that is nothing to do with this literary genius, but more to do with me.

I am at the age where I enjoy something a little lighter! Hence, I have started reading Georgette Heyer novels again. She writes in the main, of the Regency period and there is always a hero and a heroine and a happy ending. Very well written though and you can almost feel that you are back in that period. I believe she wrote her first book for a younger brother who was recovering from an illness at the time, and continued on to write nearly 40 such novels. I am currently reading her Regency Buck.

I have also just got two biographical books from the library on C.S. Lewis and will report on those later.

Free printing offers from VistaPrint

2006-03-29T09:29:00.000-05:00

Vistaprint
offers end 4/30/06
Get all of the below FREE!
250 premium business cards (reg $19.99)
100 postcards (reg $24.99)
25 small magnets (reg $12.99)
10 large magnets (reg. $12.99)
10 note cards (reg. $7.99)
Try a small rubber stamp for free. I think you can get ALL of the above in a single order. You just have to pay shipping on each item. Click on "Pricing & detail" under each item to see how much the shipping is. Have fun shopping!!!

Chocolate Fridge Cake

2006-03-29T08:29:00.000-05:00

Another family favourite. However, this receipe does contain raw egg and so some of you may choose not to make it.

4 ozs (1/2 cup) of margarine
1 egg, beaten
3 tablespoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon vanilla essence
1 cup raisins
1/2 lb (1 cup) crushed digestive biscuits (Graham crackers, I think)
1 tablespoons cocoa
4 ozs melted choc for topping

1. Melt marg and sugar gently in largish saucepan
2. Remove from heat and add beaten egg, essence and cocoa and mix well
3. Add raisins and crushed biscuits
4. Put a large piece of greaseproof paper over 7 inch sandwich tin and empty mixture onto top of greaseproof paper. Press down with metal spoon.
5. Put in fridge for 2 hours
6. Pour over melted choc and return to fridge to set.

Not one to make if you are on a diet! One I take to friends to cheer them up, much to the chagrin of my family as they see it disappearing from the house!

Bon Jovi

2006-03-28T23:00:00.000-05:00

Friday on 20/20 there will be a segment with Jon Bon Jovi it is called Up from Nothing!

New member

2006-03-28T13:51:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone! I am Serena Cherry, and this is my first ever blog experience. (I sound like an AA meeting or something). Anyway, I have been living here in Baltimore for almost 2 years. My husband is doing Grad school in Cell Biology and we have a beautiful baby girl named Lane. I am excited for this swap because I don't feel naturally inclined to be a great housewife and I feel like there is a lot I can learn. I am originally from Colorado and I love it there, we hope to return one day. Becky is a wonderful friend and I am glad to be part of this blog with great people. I don't know if there is anything else I need to say, but please feel free to ask whatever question you would like. Thanks for my new membership.

Recipe - Crunchy Chick Peas

2006-03-28T08:46:00.000-05:00

The following is great added to a rice salad, as a topping for a green salad instead of croutons or as a snack.

Drain a can on chick peas (garbanza beans), and put in a bowl
Drizzle with Olive Oil and stir to coat
Sprinkle with paprika and stir to coat
Season with salt a pepper
Cook on a baking tray at 400F/200C for about 20mins
Can serve hot or cold

Star Wars Watch for Men

2006-03-27T22:36:00.000-05:00

For the Star Wars fans of you out there (you know who you are :) )
Sale Price: $8.95
HSN Price: $29.95
You Save: $21.00
Shipping & Handling: $4.95
http://www.hsn.com/cnt/search/searchresults/default.aspx?Ntt=star+wars+watch&N=0&Ntk=Std&st=1&criteria=boolean&days=&minprice=&maxprice=&o=esearch
There are also other Star Wars itmes on sale for children!

DVD Review

2006-03-25T13:00:00.000-05:00

A couple of weeks ago, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire was released on DVD. It was the first of the Harry Potter francise to be given a PG-13(US)/12A(UK) rating, and rightly so. Although most of the film is no scarier or darker than the others, the climatic scene where Voldemort returns, kills Cedric and duels with Harry would be extremely frightening for young children.
The film overall is very good, and for any Harry Potter fan - a must see.

The extras on the DVD for me are just ok. The deleted scenes are always worth seeing, but as with the other Harry Potter DVDs, abundant in games that as an adult, I'm just not interested in playing. There are some good behind the scenes footage though, and a good interview with the cast by Richard Curtis, who is the well known British writer of films like Love Actually, Four Weddings and a Funeral and Notting Hill.

And for those of you who love a little film trivia, you can go here to find out fun facts about this film

Homemade Air Fresheners for Household Odors

2006-03-24T22:24:00.000-05:00

Homemade Air Fresheners for Household Odors

Most commercial air fresheners do not freshen the air at all. Instead, they mask one odor with another, coat your nasal passages with an undetectable oil film, or diminish your sense of smell with a nerve deadening agent. For a safer alternative, you may wish to consider an alternative method:

Ventilation - Open windows or doors in the house for at least a short period every day. This will also help to reduce toxic fumes that may be building up indoors.

Cinnamon and Cloves - Boil these spices for a fragrant smell. For ease of cleaning, make a cheesecloth bag to contain these spices, and boil the cheesecloth bag. An excellent alternative when entertaining is to steep spiced tea or cider.

Potpourri - Buy or make your own potpourri from your favorite herbs and spices. Place the potpourri in a small basket or jar or in small sachet bags.

Oil of Wintergreen - Dampen cotton balls with oil of wintergreen and place out of sight but where air will touch them.

Vinegar - Distribute partially filled saucers of vinegar around the room or boil 1 tablespoon of white vinegar in 1 cup of water to eliminate unpleasant cooking odors.

Vanilla - Place pure vanilla on a cotton ball in a small saucer. Place the saucer in the car or refrigerator to remove odors. It is renowned to remove even skunk odors. Keep the cotton ball out of reach of children; vanilla has a high alcohol content.

Baking Soda - Place a partially filled saucer of baking soda on the refrigerator shelf. Replace every two months and when you do, pour the contents of the used box down the drain to remove odors and keep the drain clean. Baking soda can also be used to deodorize bottles by filling them with undiluted baking soda and allowing the bottles to soak overnight. Then wash as usual.

Borax - Empty the garbage frequently and clean the can as needed. To inhibit growth of odor-producing molds and bacteria, sprinkle 1/2 cup Borax in the bottom of the garbage can.

Vinegar or Celery Stalk - To avoid or remove onion odors from your hands, rub white vinegar on your hands before and after slicing. Rubbing hands with the end of a celery stalk will also remove the odor.

The Chronicels of Narnia

2006-03-24T15:38:00.000-05:00

The Chronicles of Narnia - The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (WS/DVD)English, French, Spanish DVD Widescreen

List Price:
$29.99
Our Price:
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This title is not yet released! This item will be available for shipment starting on 04/04/2006. In order to assure you Overstock.com's low price on this pre-order, we will charge your credit card when you place the order. Your item will be shipped as soon as it is available.Shipping: Only $1.40Catalog #: 10190895
www.overstock.com

Deal of the Week

2006-03-24T09:16:00.000-05:00

UK: Flowers by Mail by Tesco. It's Mother's Day in England this week, and Tesco flowers are reasonably priced, and shipping is free. I've sent them before to both my mum and mother in law who have both been impressed.

Kohl's 2 Day Mega Sale

2006-03-24T08:52:00.000-05:00

In-store Power Hours:Night Owls Friday 3pm – 11pm (local time)Early Birds Saturday 7am – 1pm (local time)
Online Power Hours:Friday 3pm – Saturday 4pm (EST

Carpet Cleaning

2006-03-24T05:05:00.000-05:00

I have found that the Orange Mr Muscle here in the UK is excellent for cleaning small dirty spots on carpets. Just spray a little on a soft cloth and rub over the spot. So far I have only used it on light carpets and it does not appear to have "bleached" them, but you should do a test spot in an inconspicious place first, just in case!

Harry Potter Rain Poncho

2006-03-23T23:08:00.000-05:00

Big Boy's Harry Potter Rain Poncho By Totes
Retail Price $14.00
Sale Price $3.99 !
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free shipping with code: LCSHIP

New Blogger for HSS

2006-03-21T09:26:00.000-05:00

Welcome to Marion, our newest blogger at HSS

Hello everyone,

I am Becky's mum and mother to 4 sons as well. All grown up now and mostly flown the nest except for Paul and Luke. Married to John who is a qualified Social Worker and I have recently retired from a job in Public Affairs. Proud grandmother to Stella, Jacob, William and Mary too.

Thoroughly enjoying retirement, but not enough time to do all that I want!

My daughter is a much better cook than I am (takes after her grandmother), but I will try and find some interesting recipes along the way and other items also.

Look forward to sharing with you.

Marion

Breast Cancer Teddy Bear in a Coffee Mug $1.50 at Walmart

2006-03-21T08:43:00.000-05:00

Health - Avian Flu

2006-03-16T16:12:00.000-05:00

Avian Flu was on the news again the other night. The report was saying that it was getting harder to predict and therfore give warning about. There was also talk about how it had already altered making the millions of vaccines created possibly useless.

FYI here are the 'facts' as described by the World Health Organization

Bath & Body Works

2006-03-16T08:41:00.000-05:00

Order from them online, use code "GLOW3" and get $10 off a $50 purchase.
www.bathandbodyworks.com

Best Deal Magazine offers

2006-03-15T14:31:00.000-05:00

with the code "Irish17" you can get 17% off, for example for the Family Circle Magazine:
Term:1 Yr 15 Issues List Price: $15.00 Sponsor's Contribution: $14.74 * Plus $4.69 processing fee Special price: $4.95 After code: $4.11
There are other magazines for bottom prices as well.
www.bestdealmagazines.com

Pollen alert

2006-03-14T22:33:00.000-05:00

If you have children with allergies as I do with my son, here's a great website for your local pollen count and what's blooming or causing pollen. Unfortunately the next 2 days are high again here in Baltimore.
www.pollen.com

Free Redbox Movie

2006-03-14T22:30:00.000-05:00

Chuck E Cheese coupon

2006-03-14T21:38:00.000-05:00

If you take your kids there for play with playmates as I do and want to split tokens here are some good deals. (I use mostly the second one without food). http://echo.bluehornet.com/clients/chuckecheese/coupon_us.htm

Cleaning Tip - Grease and Oil

2006-03-14T09:10:00.000-05:00

This tip comes from The Queen of Clean:

To deal with a grease stain, you need to know whether it is from animal oil, vegetable oil or automotive. Be aware that grease and oil can leave a semitransparent stain that turns dark from all the soil it attracts. To remove a grease stain, first remove as much of the greasy substance as possible without forcing the grease further down into the fabric fibers. Use a paper towel to blot and absorb all the grease that you can. Next apply a drawing agent such as baking soda, cornstarch or talcum powder. Rub it in and let it sit for 15 to 30 minutes to allow it to absorb and draw the grease out of the fabric. Brush the powder off thoroughly and check the stain. If it looks like you can absorb more grease repeat the process.

Sometimes grease stains can be stubborn and we need to fall back on the idea that grease removes grease. Therefore, you want to spray the grease spot with WD-40 Lubricant and let it soak for 10 minutes and then work in undiluted dishwashing liquid and work well between your thumbs. Flush with the hottest water you can for the fabric, pre-treat and launder as usual. Do not use this method on silk or crease-resistant finishes.

Recipe - Meringue

2006-03-12T20:24:00.000-05:00

A recipe I always get comments on is Meringue. I steared away from making it for a long time, but found it to be really simple and extremely yummy!

Ingredients:

3 egg whites
1 cup or 8oz of sugar

Tip - use either a glass or metal bowl to whisk as it's important the bowl is grease free. You can always wipe with some vinegar to make sure.

Method:
*Preheat oven to 300F/150C/Gas Mark 2
*Put egg whites in bowl and whisk with an electric beater at high speed until form soft peaks.
*Add sugar 1 tablespoon at a time, beating in well
*Keep adding until all sugar is used and egg whites have stiffened somewhat.
*Cover baking tray with parchment/wax paper
*Spead meringue into desired shapes - nests, bites, larger circle(for pavlova)
*Cook for 30 mins. When time is up, leave meringues in oven until completely cool.

Tip - if stored in an airtight container, they will last for a couple of weeks

Shrove Tuesday

2006-02-27T18:21:00.000-05:00

Today is Shrove Tuesday, fat Tuesday, Pancake Day!

Whatever you choose to call it, today is the day you traditionally use up all the foods you're giving up for lent that will perish before lent is over.

Nowadays, it's just traditional to eat pancakes - or crepes for the Americans!

Here's a classic Pancake Recipe.

Remember they can be sweet or savoury!

Household Tips

2006-02-15T22:35:00.000-05:00

These were sent to me via email. I haven't tried them yet, so let me know if they work!

* Crayon marks on walls? A damp rag, dipped in baking soda. Comes off with a little effort.

* Use vertical strokes when washing windows outside and horizontal for inside windows. This way you can tell which side has the streaks. Straight vinegar will get outside windows really clean. Don't wash windows on a sunny day. They will dry too quickly and will probably streak.

* Place fabric softener sheets in dresser drawers and your clothes will smell freshly washed for weeks to come. You can also do this with towels and linen.

* Spray your tupperware with nonstick cooking spray before pouring in tomato based sauces and there won't be any stains.

* For icy door steps in freezing temperatures: get warm water and put Dawn dishwashing liquid in it. Pour it all over the steps. They won't refreeze.

Book Review: A Lady's Life in the Rocky Mountains

2006-02-10T22:51:00.000-05:00

Isabella Byrd spent several months in 1873 in the Rocky Mountains experiencing the real "Wild West". She was an English lady and avid adventurer and traveler.
Her entire book is a collection of letters she sent to her sister in England while traveling through mostly Colorado living with settlers as she made her way across. Her discriptions of the wildlife and surrounding mountains are incredibly detailed and you can easily imagine the beauty of the part of the country she so deeply loved and lived. I was fascinated and more and more drawn into her adventures as she rode on horseback mostly alone during the worst winter storms never giving up or complaining. It is most interesting how she explains in detail the people, sleeping quarters, food and daily routines of the settlers which she adopts as her own while living with the various people. She also tells that she never met any children who were "children" but all "little adults" out of the necessity of the harsh lives they had to live. They were expected to carry the work load just as their parents did.
Isabella Byrd wrote eight more books on her various travels through China, India, Hawaii and other countries.
I loved the book and will try to read some of her others as well.

Book Review: The Boy Who Loved Anne Frank

2006-02-07T14:18:00.000-05:00

The Boy Who Loved Anne Frank by Ellen Feldman

The book starts.."Nothing set him apart from the crowd, except the fact that he did not want to stand out."

This novel is kind of what if book. What if Peter van Pels escaped Amsterdam and emmigrated to America? Well, we know the real Peter died in Mauthausen concentration camp days before the end of the war, so this is truely fiction, but I found it a very interesting read. I have read 'The Diary of Anne Frank' more than once, and last year visited Anne Frank House in Amsterdam. It was a very sobering experience and at the end where you can read what happened to each of the people who hid there, I shed a tear, for a time where hatred was so great, that such hiding places were necessary.

The book tells of Peter's struggles. He sheds his religion, and tries to rebuild his life. He marries a Jewish girl (who thinks he's a non-believing Christian), has children and builds a successful business. No one knows his past, and he tries to eliminate it from his mind.

His life is turned upside down, when Anne's diary is found and later published. His wife raves about the book, the play and the film, and he slowly unravels under the weight of the secrecy he has kept for so long.

Ellen Feldman did her job really well. If I hadn't know any differently, I would totally believe that this was Peter's story after the war. It was easy to read and gripping in parts. I felt really connected to Peter and drawn into his world. It was a relief when he finally tells his wife and her family and you can feel them re-connect after the distance created by his secrets.

Overall, a good read. 3.5/5

Cinnamon-Raisin Breakfast Buiscuits

2006-01-30T09:30:00.000-05:00

8 oz firm silken tofu
1/4 c apple juice
1 c wholewheat flour
1 c all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 ts salt, optional
1/2 c chopped walnuts (I don't usually put them in)
1/2 c raisins
1/4 c maple syrup, optional

Preheat oven to 450F. Oil baking sheets.
Blend tofu until smooth. Blend in apple juice & 3 Tbs maple syrup. Transfer to a mixing bowl and set aside.
Sift together the next 6 ingredients and fold them into the tofu mixture. Gently stir in the walnuts and raisins. Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface and form into a ball. roll out dough to a 1/2 in thikcness. Cut with a cookie cutter ( I usually use the rim of a small glass). Using a pastry brush, glaze with the remaining syrup if you wish. Bake for 12 minutes.
Enjoy, they are delicious and if you have leftovers they freeze well.

Favourite Dish

2005-10-31T12:36:00.000-05:00

This week... Chicken

Chicken Balti

1 lb chicken, cubed
8 tomatoes, sliced
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 tbsp curry powder
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cumin
5-floz water
4 tbsp vegetable oil
1 tbsp fresh cilantro

Heat oil in wok
Add tomatoes, cook for 5 minutes, stirring
Add chili powder, cumin, salt and garlic. Cook 2 –3 minutes
Raise heat and add chicken. Stir-fry for 5 minutes.
Pour in the water, bring to the boil, then simmer for 20-30 minutes, until sauce is thickened and chicken cooked through.
Serve with fresh cilantro to garnish

Perfect side is Naan bread,(from Indian food shops) or can be served with rice.

This is a variation of a curry that is massive in England. We look forward to home in the summer, and eating aat a Balti place - very cheap and very yummy.

My Favourite....Dish

2005-10-17T15:05:00.000-05:00

On a weekly basis I'm going to ask for recipe contributions using a particular ingredient.

This week, please submit your favourite recipe using EGGS.

Here's one of mine:

(recipe is for 1 - just times it by however many people you are cooking for)

Baked Spanish Omelette

1 tomato, chopped
1 potato, cooked and diced
1/2 green pepper, chopped
1oz or 1/8 Cup grated cheese
2 eggs, beaten

Mix vegetables and cheese together
Add eggs
Season with salt and pepper (a little paprika is also nice)
Pour into greased dish
Bake 10-15 minutes at 425F (or until inserted skewer comes out clean)

New System

2005-10-15T15:57:00.000-05:00

Due to the amount of spam we are getting, you will be asked to verify a word in a box when you comment. Thanks!

Halloween creations

2005-09-26T13:05:00.000-05:00

Here are some Halloween crafts and a cake with a "spiderweb" that we made over the weekend.

Natural Allergy Relief?

2005-09-25T09:41:00.000-05:00

My 4 year old son seems to suffer from allergies with runny nose, puffy eyes, dry cough during the night and I don't want to keep giving him Benadryl or frozen Pedia-Pops to make him feel better. Does anyone have a child with allergies and gives something natural for relief?

Ditching Diapers?!

2005-09-21T09:17:00.000-05:00

I saw this article in Newsweek and found it quite interesting as I have two children in diapers. A 2 year old and an 8 month old. I realise that my 2 year old is getting ready for potty training as he often says 'poo' to me about 5 minutes before he actually does. I guess I'm procrastinating with him a little, but we will start soon. My oldest was 2 and a half before we potty trained. Starting my 8 month old would be a completely different kettle of fish though. I like Jill Lekovic's idea of "diaper free before 3", but does that really mean starting potty training at 8/9 months?? I KNOW I'm not ready to do them both!! I guess I subscribe to, they'll do it when they're ready. Do we really need to push them for something they may not be ready for?

Summer is definitely over!!

2005-09-14T11:07:00.000-05:00

Well, the weather is still great, but it's back to normal life after wonderful summer holidays!!
I spent the first few weeks being back getting stuff ready for my oldest to start kindergarten. He started a few weeks ago and the easier life I thought going from 3 kids down to 2 hasn't happened! My 2 year old now only has me a his play pal for most of the day, so I'm exhausted!! Anyway, he showed me yesterday that he can't be trusted for even a second, while I go to the bathroom. When I was done, he pointed to a brownish smear on his leg. I thought he's either cut himself or smeared poo all over himself. It was then I saw it on his shorts, my couch and the carpet!! On closer inspection, it was my lipstick!! I scrubbed the carpet and sofa, and they're fine. If anyone has any great ideas for getting grease based stuff out of clothes, I'd love to know!!

We're all going on a Summer Holiday.....

2005-05-24T12:16:00.000-05:00

I'm off to England for a couple of months, and Julia will be off to Austria and Switzerland soon, so you'll probably not see too much for the next couple of months, but look out in August when we get back!!

Long distance phone service

2005-05-12T08:18:00.000-05:00

We have had a long distance carrier that doesn't charge a monthly fee, only 7 cents at any time to Austria and 3 cents any time anywhere in the US. This has considerably cut down our phone bills since I call Austria a lot. The problem we have been having for a while is that their lines must be so busy on sundays that I can almost never get through to any cell phone overseas but have no problem with the landlines. I can only reach certain family members on their cells and am only able to reach them on sundays. This does pose a problem even though the price is incredible. I was wondering if anyone knows of a company that is compatible but more reliable with their lines? Thanks.

YummyCinnamon-Raisin breakfast biscuits

2005-05-04T20:10:00.000-05:00

Just made them this morning. We all loved them. Here's the recipe to try, it's quick and easy.
8oz firm silken tofu
1/4 c apple juice
1c whole wheat flour
1 c all purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 c walnuts, chopped (optional)
1/4 c raisins
1/4 c maple syrup
Preheat oven to 450F. Oil baking sheet. Blend tofu until smooth. Blend in apple juice and maple syrup. Transfer to a mixing bowl and set aside.
Sift together the other ingredients and fold into the tofu mixture. Gently stir in the walnuts and raisins.. Turn dough onto a lightly floured board and form into a ball. Roll out dough to a 1/2 inch thickness. Cut with a cookie cutter ( I used a slim drinking glass). Using a pastry brush glaze with some syrup if you wish. Bake for 12 minutes.

Sneaking in veggies....

2005-04-17T21:26:00.000-05:00

My son was an avid vegetable eater until about 2 months ago. Now he will only touch raw carrots, go figure. But like all mommies, I have gotten inventive and came up with a solution. He loves pureed soups like split pea soup. Now I cook different veggies and starches and make a whole meal, puree it, tell him it's a soup and he eats it! Done :)
One meal I made yesterday was with potatos, carrots, zucchini, green beans, peas, kidney beans, tofu, fresh ginger root, cilantro, garlic, salt and parsley. It really was a delicious and complete meal, even for us adults. It looked horrible but it was tasty and most importantly, it was really healthy.

Queen of Clean

2005-04-14T10:53:00.000-05:00

I got given this info by someone from a book called Talking Dirty with the Queen of Clean by Linda Cobb. It outlines 5 must have household items for cleaning. I'll cover one at a time.

Number 1 - White Vinegar

Can remove heavy soap scum and mineral deposits from showers, tubs and sinks. Warm and put in a spray bottle.Let soak for 10-15 mins before scrubbing with a scrubbing brush/pad.
Add 1/4 cup to the washing machine during final rinse to soften clothes and remove lint from dark clothes
Apply, undiluted to the skin with cotton ball as a bug repellant. The odor will not stay on your skin but will deter the bugs!
Clean vinyl floors with 1/2 cup to a gallon of warm water

These are just a few of the ideas. I'll let you know once I've tried them. If they work though - what a cheap cleaning product!!

Service

2005-04-09T12:21:00.000-05:00

I really believe that to be a good christian involves ongoing acts of service. Be they large or small, they're important. My thoughts on this in the church have been published at Feminist Mormon Housewives. For those readers who aren't Mormons you can read a little about what Releif Society is here.

Reading

2005-04-05T10:04:00.000-05:00

Has anyone found some good beginners readers books?? My 5 year old recently started reading and we have some books that grandparents bought over of fairy tales. They're great but I was looking for a series maybe? In England when I was growing up we had Topsy and Tim. It went through all the different reading levels for Elementary School. I'm wondering if there's anything similar??

Terrible Twos

2005-03-31T12:11:00.000-05:00

My 20 month old has hit the terrible twos early. Tantrums have started. But that doesn't bother me. I can handle that. My problem is he's into everything, and he's a climber! The bunk beds, furniture, dining room table, even the bookcase. This of course worries me most, because it's dangerous. He could fall and hurt himself. I find myself shouting at him to 'get down' often, but he takes no notice of me. I'm shouting bacause of the immediency of the danger, but it doesn't work or deter him. What can I do to help him understand when he doesn't understand what danger is?

Advise on printing pictures

2005-03-29T22:37:00.000-05:00

I just aquired a digital camera and am now faced with a question that never occurred to me with a normal camera. Is it cheaper to take my memory card to Target and get the pictures there for $0.20 a piece or print them at my computer with a color cartridge costing me about $32.50 a cartridge (not sure yet how much the paper runs). How do I figure out how many pictures I can print with one cartridge? Thanks for any advise or experience any of you had. I have a Dell computer and printer and a Canon digital Elph.

Suggestion on neighborhood

2005-03-29T09:25:00.000-05:00

The sister of a friend of mine wants to move to Baltimore in June after graduating from college. She wants to live in the city, not in the county, in a nice, affordable neighborhood. Any suggestions?

Easter treats

2005-03-20T12:19:00.000-05:00

I thought I might share the traditional foods eaten in England for Easter.

In advance a hard-core cook would make a Simnel Cake. This is a type of fruit cake with a layer of marzipan in the middle and marzipan balls on the top to represent the apostles (11 or 12 depending on whether you include Judas Iscariot!) I also found this not so traditional chocolate version.

Traditionally on Good Friday you'd eat Hot Cross Buns, which symbolize the crucifixion.

A good old English Easter Dinner would be roast lamb (symbolizing Jesus as the Lamb of God), with roast potatoes, Yorkshire puddings and vegetables.

Of course no Easter is complete without chocolate. The Easter eggs in England are large hollow chocolate eggs, symbolizing the empty tomb, with whatever candy bars on the side.

I'd love to hear how other countries celebrate Easter through food!

Customer Service

2005-03-17T16:10:00.000-05:00

I'm a dispensing optician by trade. I spent many years learning and teaching others how to give good customer service. It was something I prided myself on. I liked that there were certain customers who only wanted to see me to advise them of their frame choice or adjust their glasses for them. Because of this I'm really irritated when I don't get good customer service. I often give the benefit of the doubt, but will complain when it's really bad. I feel though I'm often treated with disdain. Is it because I'm a woman? 'Just' a housewife? Or maybe just because they hate their job or something? Am I the only one who feels like this? Do I expect too much??

Yummy Salmon!

2005-03-13T14:59:00.000-05:00

I got given a recipe book by a friend of mine a couple of christmases ago. It has recipes from all around the world. This is one we really liked.

Baked Salmon

Salmon Fillet

Topping:
Breadcrumbs
Minced (or very finely chopped) onion
Parsley (I use dried)
Small can evaporated milk

Mix the above ingredients for the topping. Let sit for a few minutes. Spread out on top of Salmon fillet. Put in shallow baking pan. Put a couple of small knobs of butter on top. Put about 1/2 cup water around the salmon. Bake on 350F for about an hour. Serve with sliced lemon. I usually serve with potato wedges and a little salad. Even my 5 year old likes it!!

Baja Fresh fund raiser this thursday

2005-03-08T22:40:00.000-05:00

Luca attends Central Presbyterian preschool. They are doing a fundraiser for his school this coming thursday at the Baja Fresh in Timonium. If you bring in a flyer that I have and purchase a meal between 2pm and 8pm the school will get 15% of the proceeds. If you are interested in participating, please let me know and I will scan and email the flyer for you to print. Thanks.

Lunches

2005-03-08T17:39:00.000-05:00

More ideas needed - what can I give my kids (5 years and 20 month olds) for lunch that is a little bit inventive?? I sense their boredom with the same old sandwiches or toast and crackers and fruit. Is there a different way I could present their lunch or any great lunch ideas??

Funeral Potatoes

2005-03-05T12:21:00.000-05:00

On the last post, Lisa asked for ideas on funeral potatoes. I have no idea what this is. Is it an American thing? A Mormon thing? Both? So calling all for your recipes.....

Breakfast recipe

2005-03-04T08:34:00.000-05:00

I have a recipe for "Cottage Cheese Pancakes" that I have used for years. It's easy to make and very tasty. Here it is:
With an electric hand mixer combine 1 cup cottage cheese,
1/4 cup flour
3 eggs
2 tablespoons oil or margerine (I use canola oil)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
1 teaspoon orange extract (optional)
dash of cinnamon (optional)
Pour in a baking dish and bake at 350 degrees F for about 20 minutes. I have an old stove and oven and it actually takes 400 degrees for about 35-40 minutes in mine. A fork needs to have to come out clean when inserted and the whole pancake mixture will at least double in size before ready.
I serve it topped either with apple sauce, syrup or frozen pureed fruit (with a little sugar and a tsp of sour cream). Enjoy!

Welcome to Julia!!

2005-03-03T12:50:00.000-05:00

We welcome a new contributor to HSS - Julia. She's a fellow foreigner living in the US (although she's Austrian, not British!) I'll let her do her own introduction, but I'm glad to have her on board!

Welcome!!

2005-02-28T14:30:00.000-05:00

Welcome to my new blog. The aim of which is to share secrets of success/ideas of anything to do with stuff in the home - recipes, housework tips, childcare etc.

I'm really dying to get into recipe swapping, but that can wait a little bit. I need advice. I have a 5 week old girl. She's adorable of course, but as babies do at that age, has the most horrendous poop. It's bright yellow and grainy. A few times it's leaked on to her clothes, and although I soak and hand wash it straight away, and apply stain remover before washing it doesn't seem to come out. Any suggestions???