I am not planning to do any blogging for the next few weeks. I know this disappoints some of you, but I felt that it would be good if I didn't spend so much time on the internet. I want to see if I can refrain myself from it for a while. Please keep the comments coming and I hope to take more pictures so that once I start blogging again, I can supply you with a lot of pictures. There is a lot of things that I should have been doing but since I spent more time on the internet, typing tips and more, I haven't got them done. I hope to get some of these things done like baking, sewing (a comforter), darning socks, studying for my learners, reading biographies, reading to the children, sorting pictures, and many other things. I know that sounds like a lot and I probably won't get it all done, but I hope to spend my time wisely,
See you later,
Yesenia
Friday, 27 January 2012
Tuesday, 24 January 2012
Tips, tips, tips, and more tips. (cont'd part 7)
1. To easily remove pumpkin peels, cut a hole on top and remove the seeds and pulp. Then set the pumpkin in a pan of water and bake at 300 degrees for about an hour. The rind will peel right off without wasting any meat.
2. Use nonstick cooking spray to spray the inside of your pot before cooking pasta, to prevent pasta water from bubbling over.
3. To remove the fat from gravy, remove the meat and add a small piece of ice. The fat will harden and adhere to the ice.
4. If you're in a hurry for more ice cubes, leave three or four cubes in the tray when you refill it. The 'old' cubes will chill the water faster and you'll have new cubes ready quicker.
5. Wrap a rubber band around the handle of your mixing spoon if you have trouble with it falling into the gravy or whatever you're cooking. The rubber band will keep the spoon from sliding into the pan.
6. To keep rolls warm longer, place a sheet of tinfoil under the napkin in the bun basket,
7. To keep water from leaving a lime deposit at the bottom of a double boiler or steamer, add about 1 tablespoon of vinegar to the water.
8. When celery loses its crispness, place it in a pan of cold water along with a sliced raw potato. Let it stand for a while and the celery will again be crunchy.
9. For volume in beaten egg whites, let stand to room temperature before beating. Use a glass or metal bowl (not plastic) with a tapered bottom and a wide top.
10. When mashing potatoes, use hot milk. If you have been using cold milk, you'll be amazed at the difference in lightness of the potatoes.
11. Pancakes will brown just beautiful if you add 1 Tbsp. of molasses to your batter.
12. Potato salad is much simpler to prepare if you peel and dice the potatoes before cooking. No more waiting for the potatoes to cool or burning your fingers on hot potatoes. P.S. The potatoes might not have so many nutrients if you cook them without the skins.
13. To keep fruit pies from bubbling over, cut small vents in the top of the pie and place a macaroni piece upright in each vent. The juice will boil up inside the macaroni and won't boil over in your oven.
14.The seeds from grapefruits or lemons can be planted and will grow into pretty green plants that are nice for the kitchen windowsill.
15. To prepare perfect whipped cream, chill cream, bowl, and beaters before whipping.
16. To keep rabbits out or your garden, place dried sulfur around the edge of your garden, You can get sulfur at just about any farm or garden supply store.
17. Use ice cubes to water indoor plants. The ice cubes melt slowly and won't spill over.
18. If you cut the bottoms out of gallon sized milk jugs, they make excellent covers for garden plants. Just remove the caps to let in fresh air. They are transparent enough to admit sunlight.
19. Start seeds indoors with a small amount of dirt, gradually adding more as the plants grow. This makes plants stronger after you set them outside.
20. If you have a large garden, but don't have a lot of time to weed, put two layers of newspaper between your rows. This keeps the weeds down which saves you a lot of time. Weigh it down with rocks.
2. Use nonstick cooking spray to spray the inside of your pot before cooking pasta, to prevent pasta water from bubbling over.
3. To remove the fat from gravy, remove the meat and add a small piece of ice. The fat will harden and adhere to the ice.
4. If you're in a hurry for more ice cubes, leave three or four cubes in the tray when you refill it. The 'old' cubes will chill the water faster and you'll have new cubes ready quicker.
5. Wrap a rubber band around the handle of your mixing spoon if you have trouble with it falling into the gravy or whatever you're cooking. The rubber band will keep the spoon from sliding into the pan.
6. To keep rolls warm longer, place a sheet of tinfoil under the napkin in the bun basket,
7. To keep water from leaving a lime deposit at the bottom of a double boiler or steamer, add about 1 tablespoon of vinegar to the water.
8. When celery loses its crispness, place it in a pan of cold water along with a sliced raw potato. Let it stand for a while and the celery will again be crunchy.
9. For volume in beaten egg whites, let stand to room temperature before beating. Use a glass or metal bowl (not plastic) with a tapered bottom and a wide top.
10. When mashing potatoes, use hot milk. If you have been using cold milk, you'll be amazed at the difference in lightness of the potatoes.
11. Pancakes will brown just beautiful if you add 1 Tbsp. of molasses to your batter.
12. Potato salad is much simpler to prepare if you peel and dice the potatoes before cooking. No more waiting for the potatoes to cool or burning your fingers on hot potatoes. P.S. The potatoes might not have so many nutrients if you cook them without the skins.
13. To keep fruit pies from bubbling over, cut small vents in the top of the pie and place a macaroni piece upright in each vent. The juice will boil up inside the macaroni and won't boil over in your oven.
14.The seeds from grapefruits or lemons can be planted and will grow into pretty green plants that are nice for the kitchen windowsill.
15. To prepare perfect whipped cream, chill cream, bowl, and beaters before whipping.
16. To keep rabbits out or your garden, place dried sulfur around the edge of your garden, You can get sulfur at just about any farm or garden supply store.
17. Use ice cubes to water indoor plants. The ice cubes melt slowly and won't spill over.
18. If you cut the bottoms out of gallon sized milk jugs, they make excellent covers for garden plants. Just remove the caps to let in fresh air. They are transparent enough to admit sunlight.
19. Start seeds indoors with a small amount of dirt, gradually adding more as the plants grow. This makes plants stronger after you set them outside.
20. If you have a large garden, but don't have a lot of time to weed, put two layers of newspaper between your rows. This keeps the weeds down which saves you a lot of time. Weigh it down with rocks.
Monday, 23 January 2012
Grocery Shower (or fellowship evening)
 |
| The ladies sitting in front of the table of groceries, visiting. |
 |
| The beginning of the line, |
 |
| Next, |
 |
| The next part, |
 |
| Almost done?, |
 |
| Yes, almost, |
 |
| And here we are. |
Wednesday, 18 January 2012
They're Back!!
Janice and Nacho are!! They came back on Monday evening from five months in Mexico. We were all very excited. Yesterday, we had them over for breakfast. That was lots of fun. Joshua got a violin in Mexico and because violin has been my 'thing' for a long time, that was exciting. I couldn't even hold it right which surprised me because I have imagined it so often. It was still fun. The boys played ping-pong. (Of course)
The younger boys stayed at our house and I got to go with them to help 'move'. It was so cold that we didn't get any of the stuff out of storage. Uncle Rudolf told them not to move because it was so cold but they couldn't figure out when they were supposed to move if yesterday was too cold already. :-) We just emptied the trailer full of stuff that they brought along from Mexico. Then we cleaned that up and I wiped the cabinets. We also went to Taber a bit. In Wal-Mart they said that it was supposed to be -51 Celsius this morning. That was with wind chill but it was very cold this morning. (-35)
Back to the subject. They didn't have a rug at the door yet so there was a big puddle from melted snow. My shoe laces were laying in it and after I had been outside for a little bit, they were frozen hard. It was very cold!
Our aunt in Mexico had sent a bag of second-hand dresses with them. Once we got home, we girls had a grand time going through it. We love looking through clothing. That's off the subject again. This evening we are planning to have a grocery shower and "Welcome Home" party. We are also going to have supper there. We are already looking forward to it. I had better get going as I still have quite a bit of schooling looking forward to me. :)
Thanks for reading my ramblings,
Yesenia
The younger boys stayed at our house and I got to go with them to help 'move'. It was so cold that we didn't get any of the stuff out of storage. Uncle Rudolf told them not to move because it was so cold but they couldn't figure out when they were supposed to move if yesterday was too cold already. :-) We just emptied the trailer full of stuff that they brought along from Mexico. Then we cleaned that up and I wiped the cabinets. We also went to Taber a bit. In Wal-Mart they said that it was supposed to be -51 Celsius this morning. That was with wind chill but it was very cold this morning. (-35)
Back to the subject. They didn't have a rug at the door yet so there was a big puddle from melted snow. My shoe laces were laying in it and after I had been outside for a little bit, they were frozen hard. It was very cold!
Our aunt in Mexico had sent a bag of second-hand dresses with them. Once we got home, we girls had a grand time going through it. We love looking through clothing. That's off the subject again. This evening we are planning to have a grocery shower and "Welcome Home" party. We are also going to have supper there. We are already looking forward to it. I had better get going as I still have quite a bit of schooling looking forward to me. :)
Thanks for reading my ramblings,
Yesenia
Thursday, 12 January 2012
Tips, tips, tips, and more tips. (cont'd part 6)
1. Don't throw away any shriveled lemons. If you soak them in water overnight, they will be fresh and usable in the morning.
2. When you have to slice, dice, mince, or chop an onion, always cut off the top and leave the root end alone. As long as the root isn't cut, it will not make you cry.
3. For the lightest pancakes or waffles you ever tasted, use club soda instead of usual milk. But you must use all the batter as soon as it's made because it can't be stored.
4. If brown sugar is hardened, use a grater to shave it off.
5. If you dip your beaters into cold water before using, the shortening won't stick to them.
6. Does your pasta stick together when you refrigerate it? Add a little vegetable oil first.
7. Keep your flour sifter, measuring cups, and measuring spoons in a plastic ziploc bag, so that you don't have to wash them after each use. (Of course, you wouldn't do this with sticky or wet ingredients :))
8. Put a piece of lettuce into your brown sugar to keep it from getting hard.
9. Put a layer of marshmallows in the bottom of the pumpkin pie. Then add the filling. It will make a nice topping as the marshmallows will come to the top as it bakes.
10. Slice cinnamon rolls with dental floss. It doesn't stick to the dough. Or, bake the roll and slice it afterwards. It makes for a lot less work.
11. Store onions in an old piece of hosiery, with a knot tied between each one. This enables you to remove one of the sprouts without harming the others.
12. If you burn biscuits on the bottom, don't throw them away. Instead rub them gently over a cheese grater to remove the burned layer.
13. If muffins stick to the pan after baking, place hot pan on a wet towel and they will slide right out.
14. If you frequently use grated or shredded cheese, process several pounds at a time. Then divide it up into reusable margarine containers or sealable bags. Freeze them and then thaw as needed.
15. Spray paper cupcake liners with nonstick cooking spray before filling them with batter. They won't stick to the cupcakes.
16. To chop nuts quickly without a mess, put the nuts into a plastic bag and give it a couple quick hits with a rolling pin.
17. Instead of buying waxed paper, use linings from cereal boxes.
18. If it's cool in your house, and you want to raise bread or doughnut dough, take a heating pad and place a tea towel on it. Then place the pan of dough on that and cover with another tea towel. Wrap the bowl with a third towel to keep it warm. Your dough will rise beautifully. P.S. It also works well without the many towels, although you need one at the top.
19. If you need to remove heavy appliances in the kitchen, first rub a small amount of vegetable oil on the linoleum. The appliance will slide easier and won't scratch the floor.
20. Instead of discarding orange peels, cut them into small pieces and place in water in a teakettle or covered pan. Simmer over low heat, adding more water as it cooks away. Your house will have the delightful aroma of a citrus grove.
2. When you have to slice, dice, mince, or chop an onion, always cut off the top and leave the root end alone. As long as the root isn't cut, it will not make you cry.
3. For the lightest pancakes or waffles you ever tasted, use club soda instead of usual milk. But you must use all the batter as soon as it's made because it can't be stored.
4. If brown sugar is hardened, use a grater to shave it off.
5. If you dip your beaters into cold water before using, the shortening won't stick to them.
6. Does your pasta stick together when you refrigerate it? Add a little vegetable oil first.
7. Keep your flour sifter, measuring cups, and measuring spoons in a plastic ziploc bag, so that you don't have to wash them after each use. (Of course, you wouldn't do this with sticky or wet ingredients :))
8. Put a piece of lettuce into your brown sugar to keep it from getting hard.
9. Put a layer of marshmallows in the bottom of the pumpkin pie. Then add the filling. It will make a nice topping as the marshmallows will come to the top as it bakes.
10. Slice cinnamon rolls with dental floss. It doesn't stick to the dough. Or, bake the roll and slice it afterwards. It makes for a lot less work.
11. Store onions in an old piece of hosiery, with a knot tied between each one. This enables you to remove one of the sprouts without harming the others.
12. If you burn biscuits on the bottom, don't throw them away. Instead rub them gently over a cheese grater to remove the burned layer.
13. If muffins stick to the pan after baking, place hot pan on a wet towel and they will slide right out.
14. If you frequently use grated or shredded cheese, process several pounds at a time. Then divide it up into reusable margarine containers or sealable bags. Freeze them and then thaw as needed.
15. Spray paper cupcake liners with nonstick cooking spray before filling them with batter. They won't stick to the cupcakes.
16. To chop nuts quickly without a mess, put the nuts into a plastic bag and give it a couple quick hits with a rolling pin.
17. Instead of buying waxed paper, use linings from cereal boxes.
18. If it's cool in your house, and you want to raise bread or doughnut dough, take a heating pad and place a tea towel on it. Then place the pan of dough on that and cover with another tea towel. Wrap the bowl with a third towel to keep it warm. Your dough will rise beautifully. P.S. It also works well without the many towels, although you need one at the top.
19. If you need to remove heavy appliances in the kitchen, first rub a small amount of vegetable oil on the linoleum. The appliance will slide easier and won't scratch the floor.
20. Instead of discarding orange peels, cut them into small pieces and place in water in a teakettle or covered pan. Simmer over low heat, adding more water as it cooks away. Your house will have the delightful aroma of a citrus grove.
Monday, 9 January 2012
Butterflies and Butter
Mama is playing a memory game of nature pictures with Leandro and Elfrieda. While they were playing with the butterflies and trying to find a pair with it, Leandro asks, "Do butterflies make butter?"
The other day, Samuel said that he would not like to sew with Speed-Sew. (sewing glue)
"No," Edgar says, "I wouldn't either, zip, zip, zip, here's your dress. And it will soon rip" He figured that if he would glue a dress together, it would soon rip.
The other day, Samuel said that he would not like to sew with Speed-Sew. (sewing glue)
"No," Edgar says, "I wouldn't either, zip, zip, zip, here's your dress. And it will soon rip" He figured that if he would glue a dress together, it would soon rip.
Tips, tips, tips, and more tips. (cont'd part 5)
I hope you blog readers are still enjoying our tips, because here are some more.
1. Here's a new use for brown grocery sacks. Soak the entire bag in water .Then put your hard bread or rolls in the wet sack. Turn on the oven to warm,put the bag in and watch carefully for the bag to dry out.It takes only minutes.Then turn the oven off and remove the warm bag.The rolls or bread will be as soft as fresh.
2. To quickly remove silk form corn, rub ear with a dry piece of nylon net.
3. Keep your just baked homemade cookies soft by placing a slice of white bread on top of them the cookies will taste oven-fresh for hours.
4. Store your brown sugar and marshmallows in the freezer. They never get hard or stale.
5. Need a little thickening for gravy? Add instant potato flakes till you get the right consistency. This is best with potatoes, but works with noodles and other things too.
6. If you slice an onion before you peel it, the peel comes right off.
7. If your cakes always stick to the pan, even if you use shortening and flour; try using sugar and shortening. Let the cake cool for ten minutes before popping it out of the pan. With the sugar, the cakes will hardly ever need glaze.
8. To easily peel hard cooked eggs, pour off all the water from the container in which the eggs were boiled. Cover the container and knock the eggs around to loosen the shells. Add cold water and the shell will fall off.
9. To keep bananas for a week or two, put them in a white, not clear, plastic bag. Store them in the crisper of your refrigerator. The skins will darken a little but the bananas will stay white and solid.
10. For lighter, creamier, mashed potatoes, add a teaspoon of baking powder before vigorously mashing.
11. To keep strawberries fresh for several days, put fresh, unwashed, berries in a container and top it with a folded napkin. Cover the container, turn it upside down, and store it in the refrigerator.
12. Tomatoes sliced vertically, rather than horizontally, will stay firmer in your salad and help to keep your salad dressing from turning watery.
13. To measure less than a cup of solid shortening, fill the measuring cup with the amount of water that equals 1 cup. For example, if you need 1/3 cup shortening, pour 2/3 cup of water into the measuring cup and then add shortening until the water reaches the 1 cup mark. Pour off water and use.
14. When a cake or cookie recipe calls for molasses or corn syrup, first use a nonstick cooking spray on your utensils and cups. You'll be surprised at how easily everything comes off later.
15. Adding a tablespoon of vinegar to your homemade pie crust while mixing, helps prevent sogginess.
16. When food sticks to pans after cooking, the best way to ensure an easier washup later is to remove the food from the pot or pan. Then put the lid on right away. When it comes time for washing, the cleanup will be much easier.
17. Add zip to your popcorn by adding dry salad dressing mix. Don't use to much. A little goes a long way.
18. When you're frying bacon, does it sometimes sizzle and pop all over your stovetop? Throw a few celery leaves in the pan with the bacon. This will keep the bacon from splattering.
19. To make perfectly round hamburger patties, use a hollow ring from a large mouth canning jar. Press the meat into a circle and push out onto the paper.
20. Before using your cheese grater (or knife), spray it with nonstick cooking spray. That makes cleanup a breeze. The cheese washes off easily.
1. Here's a new use for brown grocery sacks. Soak the entire bag in water .Then put your hard bread or rolls in the wet sack. Turn on the oven to warm,put the bag in and watch carefully for the bag to dry out.It takes only minutes.Then turn the oven off and remove the warm bag.The rolls or bread will be as soft as fresh.
2. To quickly remove silk form corn, rub ear with a dry piece of nylon net.
3. Keep your just baked homemade cookies soft by placing a slice of white bread on top of them the cookies will taste oven-fresh for hours.
4. Store your brown sugar and marshmallows in the freezer. They never get hard or stale.
5. Need a little thickening for gravy? Add instant potato flakes till you get the right consistency. This is best with potatoes, but works with noodles and other things too.
6. If you slice an onion before you peel it, the peel comes right off.
7. If your cakes always stick to the pan, even if you use shortening and flour; try using sugar and shortening. Let the cake cool for ten minutes before popping it out of the pan. With the sugar, the cakes will hardly ever need glaze.
8. To easily peel hard cooked eggs, pour off all the water from the container in which the eggs were boiled. Cover the container and knock the eggs around to loosen the shells. Add cold water and the shell will fall off.
9. To keep bananas for a week or two, put them in a white, not clear, plastic bag. Store them in the crisper of your refrigerator. The skins will darken a little but the bananas will stay white and solid.
10. For lighter, creamier, mashed potatoes, add a teaspoon of baking powder before vigorously mashing.
11. To keep strawberries fresh for several days, put fresh, unwashed, berries in a container and top it with a folded napkin. Cover the container, turn it upside down, and store it in the refrigerator.
12. Tomatoes sliced vertically, rather than horizontally, will stay firmer in your salad and help to keep your salad dressing from turning watery.
13. To measure less than a cup of solid shortening, fill the measuring cup with the amount of water that equals 1 cup. For example, if you need 1/3 cup shortening, pour 2/3 cup of water into the measuring cup and then add shortening until the water reaches the 1 cup mark. Pour off water and use.
14. When a cake or cookie recipe calls for molasses or corn syrup, first use a nonstick cooking spray on your utensils and cups. You'll be surprised at how easily everything comes off later.
15. Adding a tablespoon of vinegar to your homemade pie crust while mixing, helps prevent sogginess.
16. When food sticks to pans after cooking, the best way to ensure an easier washup later is to remove the food from the pot or pan. Then put the lid on right away. When it comes time for washing, the cleanup will be much easier.
17. Add zip to your popcorn by adding dry salad dressing mix. Don't use to much. A little goes a long way.
18. When you're frying bacon, does it sometimes sizzle and pop all over your stovetop? Throw a few celery leaves in the pan with the bacon. This will keep the bacon from splattering.
19. To make perfectly round hamburger patties, use a hollow ring from a large mouth canning jar. Press the meat into a circle and push out onto the paper.
20. Before using your cheese grater (or knife), spray it with nonstick cooking spray. That makes cleanup a breeze. The cheese washes off easily.
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