Monday, March 17, 2014

good to know - cake 101





To keep a baked cake from crumbling, let it cool for at least an hour before removing it from the pan. If it sticks, wrap both cake and pan in plastic wrap and freeze for at least six hours. Run a butter knife or offset spatula around the edges of the frozen cake to loosen it. Flip the pan over; tap an edge on a cutting board while holding the pan at a 45-degree angle to pop the cake out.

Monday, October 14, 2013

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Wednesday, September 25, 2013

~ 2 ingredient cake ~




2 Ingredient Cake! Easy and low on calories! 1 box strawberry cake mix 12 oz. diet 7-up Combine the cake mix and the 7-up in a bowl and beat with an electric mixer until well blended. Bake as directed on box. (decreased the temp to 325° and decreased the time by 5 minutes.) Cool and frost with Cool Whip or any frosting of your choice.

Going to try this one at our next BBQ with the in-laws since my "mom-in-law" can't have chocolate!!!

~NOT my Mama's Brunswick Stew ~


1 15-16 oz pkg Lloyds BBQ beef
1 15-16 oz pkg Lloyds BBQ pork
1 15-16 oz pkg Lloyds BBQ chicken
2 large cans diced tomatoes ( use the juice and tomatoes) 
2 med. cans cream style corn
2 med cans whole kernel corn (Drain this corn)
1 med onion, chopped
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
1/2 can or 1/2 box of chicken broth
Optional you can just use 1 cups of can of water.
1 bottle hickory smoked flavored BQ sauce ( To Taste)
1/4 cup red bull hot sauce (or to taste)
Serve with Saltine Crackers or corn bread
Mix all ingredients together.
Cook over low to medium heat, until corn and onions are done.
Stir and scrape bottom of pot "very" often because corn is starch and will stick.
Will make about a gallon and a half... you will need very large pot. Freeze any extra in zip lock bags when cooled or place stew into Ball quart jars leaving head space for expansion when frozen and put into freezer with no lid. After frozen put lid and band on and place back into freezer. DO NOT TRY and SEAL LID.
Tighten loosely.

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

~the ultimate chocolate lasagna~

stuff you need:
1 package regular Oreo cookies
6 Tablespoon butter, melted
1 8 ounce package cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 Tablespoons cold milk
1 12 ounce tub Cool Whip, divided
2 3.9 ounce packages Chocolate Instant Pudding
3 1/4 cups cold milk
1-1/2 cups mini chocolate chips

what to do:
crush the Oreo cookies (you can use a food processor or a large ziplock bag and crush them.
 **when the Oreos have turned into fine crumbs, you are done** :)

in large bowl mix Oreo crumbs and (6) tablespoons of melted butter (use fork to mix) place mixture in a 9 x 13 baking dish and press into bottom of pan - making a crust **I like glass dish to see final product** place pan in refrigerator while you work on additional layers

mix cream cheese (with mixer) until it is light and fluffy - add (2) tablespoons of milk and 1/4 cup of sugar...mix well stir in 1-1/4 cups cool whip - spread mixture over the crust - place back in refrigerator 

combine chocolate pudding with 3-1/4 cups cold milk - whisk for several minutes until pudding starts to thicken - spread over cream cheese mixture - place back in refrigerator for at least 5 minutes to allow the pudding to thicken

spread remaining cool whip over the top sprinkle mini chocolate chips over the top place in freezer for 1 hour or refrigerator for 4 hours before serving

**made this for a family BBQ - it was easy to make the night before and everyone LOVED it**

Friday, July 26, 2013

~fried green (and red) tomatoes~


what you need
4 large green tomatoes 
(if using Red tomatoes make sure they are FIRM!)
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup cornmeal
1/2 cup bread crumbs
2 teaspoons coarse sea salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 quart vegetable oil for frying

what to do
slice tomatoes 1/2 inch thick (discard the ends)
whisk eggs and milk together in a medium-size bowl
scoop flour onto a plate
mix cornmeal, bread crumbs and salt and pepper on another plate
dip tomatoes into flour to coat
then dip the tomatoes into milk and egg mixture
dredge in breadcrumbs to completely coat

In a large skillet, pour vegetable oil (enough so that there is 1/2 inch of oil in the pan) and heat over a medium heat. Place tomatoes into the frying pan in batches of 4 or 5, depending on the size of your skillet. Do not crowd the tomatoes, they should not touch each other. When the tomatoes are browned, flip and fry them on the other side. Drain them on paper towels.

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

~45 uses for vinegar that i never knew~


Unleash the power of white vinegar―an all-purpose cleaner, brightener, herbicide and more. Just a bit of this multitasker, straight up or mixed with water, can replace many pricier products huddled under your sink. Try these tips to see how vinegar can make your life cheaper and easier.

1. Freshen up the fridge. Clean the shelves and walls with a solution of half water and half vinegar.

2. Brighten coffee cups and teacups. Gently scrub stains with equal parts vinegar and salt (or baking soda)

3. Eliminate odors. Swab plastic containers with a cloth dampened with vinegar.
4. Kill bathroom germs. Spray full-strength vinegar around the sink and tub. Wipe clean with a damp cloth.

5. Save a garment. To remove light scorch marks on fabrics, rub gently with vinegar. Wipe with a clean cloth. This technique also works on antiperspirant stains.

6. Tidy up a toilet. Pour a cup or more of diluted white distilled vinegar into the bowl. Let sit several hours or overnight. Scrub well with a toilet brush and flush.

7. Lose the carpet stain. Make a paste of 2 tablespoons white distilled vinegar and ¼ cup salt or baking soda. Rub into the stain and let dry. Vacuum the residue the next day. (Always test an out-of-sight part of the carpet first.)

8. Renew paint brushes. To remove old paint, place brushes in a pot with vinegar. Soak for an hour, then turn on the stove and bring the vinegar to a simmer. Drain and rinse clean.

9. Wipe off a dirty faucet. To get rid of lime buildup, make a paste of 1 teaspoon vinegar and 2 tablespoons salt. Apply to sink fixtures and rub with a cloth.

10. Stop static cling. Add ½ cup of white distilled vinegar to your wash cycle. The acid reduces static and keeps dryer lint from sticking to your clothes.

11. Make old socks look new. Get the stains out of old socks and sweaty gym clothes by soaking them in a vinegar solution. Add 1 cup of white distilled vinegar to a large pot of water, bring to a boil and drop in the stained clothes. Let them soak overnight, and in the morning stained clothes are fresh and bright.

12. Restore handbags and shoes. Wipe white distilled vinegar on scuffed leather bags and shoes. It will restore their shine and help hide the marks.

13. Banish weeds. Pour white distilled vinegar on the weeds growing in the cracks of your walkway and driveway. Saturate the plant so the vinegar reaches the roots.

14. Liven droopy flowers. Don’t throw out cut flowers once they start to wilt. Instead, add two tablespoons of white vinegar and one teaspoon of sugar to a quart of water. Pour the solution into your vase, and the flowers will perk up.

15. Put an end to itching. Dab a cotton ball soaked in white vinegar on mosquito bites and insect stings. It will stop them from itching and help disinfect the area so they heal faster.

16. Whiten your teeth. Brush your teeth once a week with white distilled vinegar. Dip your toothbrush into the vinegar and brush thoroughly. It will help prevent bad breath, too.

17. Make nail polish last longer. Before you apply your favorite polish, wipe your nails with a cotton ball soaked in white distilled vinegar. The clean surface will help your manicure last.

18. Keep car windows frost-free. Prevent windows from frosting over in a storm by coating them with a solution of three parts white distilled vinegar to one part water. The acidity hinders ice, so you won’t have to wake up early to scrape off your car.

19. Let your dog shine. Spray your dog with one cup white distilled vinegar mixed with one quart water. The solution is a cheap alternative to expensive pet-care products, plus the vinegar will help repel pests like fleas and ticks.

20. Battle litter-box odor. Cat litter can leave behind an unwelcome smell. Eliminate it by pouring a half-inch of white distilled vinegar into the empty litter box. Let stand for 20 minutes, then rinse with cold water.

21. Kill bacteria in meat. Marinating in vinegar knocks out bacteria and tenderizes the meat. Create a marinade by adding ¼ cup balsamic vinegar for every 2 pounds of meat to your own blend of herbs and spices. Let the meat sit anywhere from 20 minutes to 24 hours, depending on how strong you want the flavor, then cook it in the morning without rinsing.

22. Prevent cracked eggs. Prevent eggs from cracking as they hard-boil by adding two tablespoons of white vinegar to the water. The eggs will stay intact, and the shells will peel off more easily when you’re ready to eat them.

23. Steam away a microwave mess. Fill a small bowl with equal parts hot water and vinegar, and place it in the microwave on high for 5 minutes. As the steam fills the microwave, it loosens the mess, making clean up a breeze.

24. Repair DVDs. If you have a worn DVD that skips or freezes, wipe it down with white distilled vinegar applied to a soft cloth. Make sure the DVD is completely dry before reinserting it into the player.

25. Get those last drops. If you can’t get that final bit of mayonnaise or salad dressing out of the jar, dribble in a few drops of vinegar. Put the cap on tightly and shake. The remaining condiments will slide out.

26. Rinse fruits and vegetables. Add 2 tablespoons white distilled vinegar to one pint water. Use the mixture to wash fresh fruits and vegetables, then rinse thoroughly. The solution kills more pesticide residue than does pure water.

27. Brighter Easter eggs. Before your kids dye Easter eggs, mix 1 teaspoon of vinegar with ½ cup of hot water, then add food coloring. The vinegar keeps the dye bright and prevents the color from streaking.

28. Loosen a rusted screw. Pour vinegar onto the screw, and it will easily un-stick.

29. Remove gum. To remove gum from fabric or hair, heat a small bowl of vinegar in the microwave. Pour the warm vinegar over the gum, saturating the area. The gum will dissolve.

30. Keep cheese from molding. Wrap cheese in a vinegar-soaked cloth, then place in an airtight container and refrigerate.

31. Renew a loofah. Soak your loofah in equal parts vinegar and water for 24 hours to dissolve soap residue, then rinse in cold water.

32. Remove wax. If you get melted candle wax on your wood furniture or floors, gently wipe it away with a cloth soaked in a solution of equal parts white vinegar and water.

33. Take a relaxing bath. Add ½ cup of vinegar to warm bath water for a cheap spa session at home. The vinegar removes dead skin, leaving you feeling soft and smooth.

34. Brighten your hair. Remove hair product buildup by rinsing a tablespoon of vinegar through your hair once a month.

35. Freshen fabrics. Fill a spray bottle with white vinegar and spritz your home to neutralize odors in fabrics, carpets, shoes or any sprayable surface.

36. Erase crayon. If your kids get crayon marks on the walls or floor, dip a toothbrush in white vinegar and gently scrub. The vinegar breaks down the wax, making for an inexpensive, nontoxic way to clean up after children.

37. Sticky stickers. Don’t scratch at the residue left by stickers or price tags. Instead, apply vinegar to the gunk, let it sit for a few minutes, then wipe the glue away.

38. Clean the dishwasher and coffee pot. Reduce soap buildup and food residue by pouring a cup of vinegar into your empty dishwasher or coffee pot once a month and letting it run a full cycle.

39. Sanitize pet accidents. You can remove the stain―and smell―of your pet’s accident by mixing ¼ cup vinegar with a quart of water and blotting the mixture onto the mess with a washcloth. Continue dabbing until the spot is gone.

40. Prep for summer grilling. To remove charcoal buildup from your grill, spray white distilled vinegar on balled up aluminum foil and scrub the grate thoroughly.

41. Restore showerhead pressure. If your showerhead gets clogged with mineral deposits, soak it for 15 minutes in a mixture of ½ cup vinegar and 1 quart water.

42. Clean your scissors. When your scissor blades get sticky, wipe them down with a cloth dipped in full-strength white vinegar. Unlike soap and water, vinegar won’t ruin the blades or rust the metal.

43. Unclog drains. For a natural, nontoxic way to clean clogged pipes, pour one cup of baking soda, followed by one cup of white vinegar, down the drain. Let the products bubble and foam, then flush the pipes with a pot of boiling water.

44. Eliminate dandruff. If your scalp is feeling dry or flaky, vinegar can be a simple at-home remedy. Once a week, pour one cup of apple cider vinegar over your scalp, and let it sit for 15 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with cool water.

45. Soften your feet. Summer sandals leaving you with cracked heals and calluses? Soak your feet for 20 minutes a day in one part vinegar to two parts warm water. The vinegar removes dead skin, leaving your feet soft and smooth.