For an instant picture hanger, pop the tab off a soda can and glue it to the back of the frame of a picture or hanging. It's easy to position it exactly where you want it so the picture hangs perfectly. For light weight pictures, use a straight (stick) pin – put it in the wall at an angle and hang the picture, etc. at the wall end of the pin. If you put it directly next to the wall and the hanger is thin, the pin will support a great deal of weight- some even hang mirrors this way and save making large holes in walls – also save money from not purchasing hangers.

There are many, many entries on this web site. Be sure to scroll back through to the beginning for all the recipes and tips. The “calendar” area has class listings of many types of classes and locations that I teach cooking, homemade pet foods, homemade soap and personal products and many more items. If you would like a class in “home-making”, sewing without a machine or with a machine or any other subject, please contact me and we can arrange a class in my home or any location of your choice. Please contact me for more details. Classes for all ages are available, including children – hands-on or presentational style.
Gift certificates area available for weddings, holidays or “your are special” gifts or any other reason.
Team building with cooking classes is fun. Join co-workers and create recipes or learn about each other while cooking.
I am available to teach cooking classes or food related subjects in your home or give presentations or classes for your organizations or groups. Contact me at the following e-mail address:
creativecook@sbcglobal.net
Cooking classes currently scheduled can be viewed by clicking on the “Calendar” icon. The schedules will be updated as they change.
Interactive questions, comments, suggestions, etc. can also be posted on this website.

Start now to save your empty egg shells to add to your starter plants for the spring or in the garden when you make holes to plant flowers or other plants.  The egg shells will give drainage in any pots and will provide nutrition to your plants in pots or the garden.  The shells can be collected in a container, bag, jar or anything that is open so that they dry and don't mold or become “sour”.  When you are ready to use them for planting, first soak them in a container with water.  After a day or 2 the water will become “milky” colored and is ready to be used to water your plants and offer free fertilizer, calcium, protein, and nutrition for the plants.  Now take the shells to your planting area and use them once more as noted at the beginning of this paragraph.  Happy gardening!!

There are many, many entries on this web site. Be sure to scroll back through to the beginning for all the recipes and tips.

I am available to teach cooking classes or food related subjects in your home or give presentations or classes for your organizations or groups. Contact me at the following e-mail address:
creativecook@sbcglobal.net

If a recipe states that you should sift the flour (takes out lumps, adds air, mixes it well with dry ingredients) and you don't have a sifter, remove 1 tablespoon per cup of flour required to equal the amount of “measurement increase” that is achieved by “sifting” the flour.  (Place the flour into the measuring cup, level it off and then use a tablespoon measuring spoon to remove the “1 tablespoon” of extra flour (sifted volumn) and return the tablespoon of extra flour to your canister for use at a later timel.

If you are buying a sifter, I highly recommend the type that has a wire that goes around the sifter not the type with a 2 part handle that you squeeze and it simply moves a set of metal bars back and forth across the bottom of the sifter.  This type will only remove lumps and does not add air nor mix your dry ingredients as effectively as the wire type will do for you.  It is also important to purchase the largest sifter you can find, since some recipes call for several cups of dry ingredients and when sifting, the can escape out of the top of the sifter making a real mess to clean up, with a loss of ingredients.  I like a heavy guage stainless steel type (can be found at Kitchen Center stores in shopping outlets) since they will seldom rust and they don't wear out as easily.  I have worn out the “cheap” aluminum kind in the past, now have purchased the good stainless steel one that is big enough to do what is needed without making a mess.
There are many, many entries on this web site. Be sure to scroll back through to the beginning for all the recipes and tips.

I am available to teach cooking classes or food related subjects in your home or give presentations or classes for your organizations or groups. Contact me at the following e-mail address:
creativecook@sbcglobal.net

Lemonade is great for cleaning and costs very little, plus it saves another bottle of caustic or dangerous cleaner in your cabinet:

Dishwasher cleaner:
Once a month run your empty dishwasher using lemonade mix instead of detergent.  The citric acid in the lemonade will dissolve any gunk and hard-water buildup.

Tenderizer:
Marinate your chicken or pork in prepared lemonade mix to tenderize it and give a nice flavor boost.

Hair cleaner:
Rinse your hair with prepared lemonade mix to remove grease and dirt!  Afterward, shampoo as usual.  This will also reset your PH level on your hair and cut through any buildup of additives used on your hair.

Stains on hands:
Rub a paste of lemonade mix and water on hands to erase stains from preparing carrots, eating berries or doing other foods that stain your hands.  It will also leave them smelling nice if you prepared onioins or garlic. First rub your hands on a wet stainless steel item like a large serving spoon and then finish with the lemonade paste to rid them of smell and stain.
There are many, many entries on this web site. Be sure to scroll back through to the beginning for all the recipes and tips.

I am available to teach cooking or food related subjects in your home or give presentations or classes for your organizations or groups. Contact me at the following e-mail address:
creativecook@sbcglobal.net
 

For the best value in purchasing turkey, if buying a tom turkey, be sure it is at least 13 pounds and if a hen turkey, it should be at least 10 pounds or more.  If you buy turkey with less weight, you are getting more bone than meat ratio.  Often the turkeys are not marked as to gender, so if not, it is best to get at least a 13 pound turkey to be sure.  If you don't need the entire turkey, purchasing the breast is the best value (if you like white meat).  I put the breast in a baking bag with the celery, etc. as recommended on the package, and put it in the microwave.  It gets brown, is juicy, and flavorful without the mess.  This is also a quick way to make it and save on energy costs of baking it a long time in the oven.

There are many, many entries on this web site. Be sure to scroll back through to the beginning for all the recipes and tips.

I am available to teach cooking or food related subjects in your home or give presentations or classes for your organizations or groups. Contact me at the following e-mail address:
creativecook@sbcglobal.net
 

Save the mesh bags for onions, etc. and roll into a ball and tie for a quick scrubbie for thin frost on your windows of your vehicle.  Another item from your kitchen that works great is the nylon scrubbie meant for dishes.  It is small enough to fit in your pocket or purse if necessary to have handy when you get to the car or if it frosts up while driving.

There are many, many entries on this web site. Be sure to scroll back through to the beginning for all the recipes and tips.

I am available to teach cooking or food related subjects in your home or give presentations or classes for your organizations or groups. Contact me at the following e-mail address:
creativecook@sbcglobal.net

Keep a container of sidewalk salt in your trunk to sprinkle on the ground or road  to save falling if you have car trouble or to get off of a slippery spot.

Keep an old car mat or shower mat in the trunk to put under the wheels if you are stuck.

Keep a spray bottle of windshiled (cold weather version) to spray on the windows to help thaw them.

Battery powered equipment is now available to thaw key locks and windshields.  The key lock warmer is small enough to put on your key chain and be handy when needed.

Keep a blanket and a bottle of unsalted peanuts in the car incase you are stranded.  The blanket will help keep you warm and the peanuts have protein for nurishment.  By getting the “un”salted ones, you will avoid getting more thirsty from the salt.

There are many, many entries on this web site. Be sure to scroll back through to the beginning for all the recipes and tips.

I am available to teach cooking or food related subjects in your home or give presentations or classes for your organizations or groups. Contact me at the following e-mail address:
creativecook@sbcglobal.net.

Save your egg shells in a container until you have several collected.  Then add water and allow them to soak for a few days.  Your water will become cloudy with lime from the shells.  This water is great to use for watering your plants since it has protein and lime mineral.

They can also be crushed and used as drainage in the base of your planters and flower pots.  They also make good bulk in your potting soil to keep it loose and emit nutrients into the soil.  Since it is a “base” it will help neutralize the acid in your soil if it becomes acidic.

They can also be added to your compost pile.

There are many, many entries on this web site. Be sure to scroll back through to the beginning for all the recipes and tips.

I am available to teach cooking or food related subjects in your home or give presentations or classes for your organizations or groups. Contact me at the following e-mail address:
creativecook@sbcglobal.net.