Your "All Around the House Guide" filled with household hints, bath and beauty formulas, tips for cleaning and so much more!
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About Me
Name:Christina From::Canada
I'm a freelance writer with a laid back approach to most everything! Happily married to my truest friend, who believes in me even when it doesn't make sense to. View my complete profile
Hate house cleaning? Yeah, we all do! Drop by my cleaning website today and
get your copy of:
The Happy Slob's Guide to
Housecleaning for the EASIEST solution to house cleaning ever! It's fun, practical
AND will help you spend WAY less time cleaning...so you can do all that other stuff you love.
Make your cup of coffee something extra special with this homemade coffee creamer recipe. The thing I love about this is that you can use any type of flavored extracts to create your own creamer blend. Top with a little whipped cream and some sprinkles of cinnamon or chocolate shavings to make it over the top!
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Chocolate Covered Caramels - Candy Recipes
Makes about 10 dozen.
1 cup sugar 1 cup butter 1 cup dark corn syrup 14-oz can sweetened condensed milk 1 tsp vanilla extract 2 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate morsels 2 tbsp shortening
Bring first 3 ingredients to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat; cook for 7 minutes without stirring. Stir in condensed milk and bring to a boil; cook stirring constantly for 10 minutes or until candy thermometer reaches 245F. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Pour into a lightly greased aluminum foil-lined 8x8-inch baking dish. Let stand 8 hours at room temperature. Cut caramel into 1/2-inch squares and shape into balls. Melt chocolate and shortening in a saucepan over medium heat; remove from heat. Dip balls into melted chocolate and place on wax paper. Chill 8 hours. ~*~
Here's a lovely, and very different type of mask to make from ingredients already in the pantry. Make a boring old day at home into something spectacular by putting on some soothing 'spa-like' music, and treat yourself to a frugal homemade facial mask. Lovely! http://www.kitchencraftsnmore.net/wheatgermmask.html
P.S. I'm always on the lookout for YOUR favorite facial mask recipes, facial tips and ideas. If you have any to share, please send them to me anytime at christina@happyslob.com
Posted by HappySlob ::
11:11 AM ::
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This is one of those recipes you should bookmark - it's just that handy! Instead of paying a lot on pricey commercial shower cleaning sprays, try this simple alternative: http://www.kitchencraftsnmore.net/dailyshowercleaner.html
Posted by HappySlob ::
11:09 AM ::
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Just wanted to let you know that I'm heading out on vacation this week. :) I'll be returning at the end of the month...at which time I'll post a great, better than ever newsletter!
Hugs, Christina
Posted by HappySlob ::
9:21 AM ::
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Big thanks to Christi for this wonderful Lavender bubble bath recipe. :) Any of you who know ME know that I'm quite fond of lavender - it smells homey and comforting and just plain wonderful. More bath & beauty recipes: http://www.kitchencraftsnmore.net/bath.html
Lavender Bubble Bath 1 bunch Lavender 1 large bottle clear organic shampoo 5 drops oil of Lavender
Clean wide-neck jar with screw top. Place Lavender head down in the jar. Cut down to fit. Add shampoo and Lavender oil. Close and place in sunny window (sorry if you are not in a place the sun reaches this time of year! I am lucky enough to be in California.) for 2-3 weeks and shake occasionally. Strain and re-bottle. Use 1 tbsp in a bath. From "The Complete Book of Herbs" By Andi Clevely and Katherine Richmond
Posted by HappySlob ::
9:17 AM ::
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with essential oil! Thanks to Collette for this great idea:
Take Away the Paint Smell Paint can make any room look brighter, but the smell lasts quite awhile and the process of painting is not very uplifting to the spirit or mind with all those fumes.
Add one (1) 5ml bottle of your favorite essential oil to any five gallon bucket of paint. Stir vigorously and viola! You've got your own personal paiint odor to help you get the job done with a more energetic or brighter outlook!
Posted by HappySlob ::
9:16 AM ::
0 comments
Sunday, May 14, 2006
Hints: Sharpening Knives and Scissors
This is one of the neatest tips I've ever come across. Recently we bought a new set of knives, and while they're still nice and sharp, I was wondering how to sharpen them once they began to get dull.
Here's the great tip I found for you -- use the unglazed ceramic bottom of a coffee cup! Just drag the edge of the knife along that, and you'll be shocked by how well it sharpens the knife! :)
Another tip, this time on sharpening kitchen shears or scissors: fold a piece of aluminum foil a few times and cut the knives or shears through that about 4-5 times. This works to sharpen the blades! Again - I was shocked by how well this worked.
Friday, May 12, 2006
Dinner Recipes: Dorina's Meatloaf
We all dread that question: "What's for dinner?" So, I'll be posting lots of new dinner recipes regularly - to provide some inspiration and ideas to deal with the dreaded dinner dilemma.
Thanks to Dorina for this first recipe - a yummy sounding meatloaf with a mushroomy twist!
Dorina’s Meatloaf Ingredients: 1 1/2 pounds ground beef 1/2 pound sausage (sweet or hot) 1 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs 1 onion, chopped 1 (4.5 ounce) can mushrooms, drained 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup 1 egg
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
2. In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, sausage, bread crumbs, onion, mushrooms, soup and egg. Mix together well and place in a 5x9 inch loaf pan.
3. Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 50 minutes.
Posted by HappySlob ::
3:07 PM ::
0 comments
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Tim Hortons Copycat Ice Cap Recipe
Tim Hortons Iced Cap - Copycat Recipe :) If you're Canadian, you'll understand! These are utterly addictive, and Nikki came up with a recipe to make her own and let me post it on my blog at: http://coffeecreations.blogspot.com
Give it a try and let me know what you think! Hugs, Christina
Posted by HappySlob ::
3:35 PM ::
0 comments
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Recipes Found: Ernest Borgnine Stew
Ernest Borgnine Stew This one was a HUGE challenge, but Collette finally managed to find it for the reader who recently requested it. :) Enjoy!
Heres a recipe I found in a VERY old cookbook I had kicking around!!! Hope this is the one your looking for!
Ingredients 4 lb beef round; cut in 2"squares or sirloin tips bacon grease salt and pepper 2 md onions; coarsely chopped 2 lg garlic cloves; mashed 3 shallots; chopped 1/3 c butter 1/2 c flour 3 c dry red wine 2 c beef stock 1 ts sugar 1 c tomato sauce 1/2 ts dried basil 1 1/2 lb fresh mushrooms butter for cooking mushrooms 24 sm carrots; or sliced carrots 24 sm white pearl onions 10 oz frozen peas
Instructions Dry beef thoroughly, then brown on all sides in a skillet in hot bacongrease.Remove pieces to a large casserole (5 quart) as they are browned. Pour outgrease, then add 2 cups of the wine to the skillet and deglaze the pan.Pourthis over beef in casserole.Using the same skillet, saute onions, garlic, and shallots in the butteruntilgolden and tender. Stir in the flour. Gradually add the remaining wine,beefstock, and tomato sauce and stir constantly until sauce comes to a boil.Addsalt, pepper, sugar, basil, and pour over beef. Mix sauce and beefgently.Cover tightly and place in a 275ø oven. Bake for 3 or 4 hours or untiltenderbut not falling apart. Remove from oven, taste for seasoning and cool.REFRIGERATE OVERNIGHT to blend flavors.The next day remove any congealed fat from casserole. Saute mushrooms (cutinhalf if very large) in some butter for a minute or two. Cook carrots andonions separately until barely tender and drain. Add these vegetables tothebeef, stir, taste again for seasoning, then cover and place again in a 300øoven until very hot. Remember to just heat and not cook it. Add thefrozenpeas just before serving and again heat through to thaw and slightly cookpeas. Serves 8 to 10
Posted by HappySlob ::
9:04 AM ::
0 comments
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
Craft Recipes: Chocolate Mint Mousse Soap (Soapmaking)
This one sounds good enough to eat - but don't! :) Thanks to Christi, who sent it in. She tells me that it's from the Country Living - Handmade Soap Book. It would be a wonderful gift soap to make for friends & family...it has real cocoa, dark chocolate AND white chocolate in this soap! YUM...
Chocolate-Mint Mousse Soap 2 oz. White Chocolate 16 oz. Olive Oil 1/4 C. Cocoa Powder 1 oz. Dark Chocolate 15 oz. Tepid Water 6 oz. Lye 18 oz. Coconut Oil 4 oz.Palm Oil 2 oz. Cocoa Butter 1 oz. Peppermint EO (This recipe is from Country Living - Handmade Soap Book....it makes a 40 oz. batch, which is 2.8 lbs. I would adjust the EO amount to suit your particular quality EO)
1) Prepare the molds. 2) Melt the white chocolate with 1oz. of the olive oil. 3) Blend in the cocoa, set aside in a warm place. 4) Melt dark chocolate with 1 oz. olive oil. Set aside in warm place. 5) Blend water and lye. Set aside to cool to 110*F. 6) Melt coconut, palm, and cocoa butter. 7) Blend in remaining (14oz) olive oil. Cool to 110*F. 8) Slowly blend the lye solution into the oils. 9) Stir to trace. Add EO and stir well. Pour 1/3 into mold. 10) Add the white chocolate to soap and blend lightly. May get marbled effect. 11) Pour half of soap into the mold. 12) Add the dark chocolate to the rest of the soap, blending thoroughly. 13) Pour into mold. Let it rest 24-36 hours before releasing from mold. 14) Cure 4-6 weeks.
Want to know more about soapmaking and making luxurious soaps at home? Here are my favorite books on the subject:
Sinful Strawberry Cake Big thanks to Debbie for sending in this SCRUMTIOUS sounding dessert recipe! This is always a hit when I make it and everyone wants the recipe. So refreshing and delicious!! Since strawberry season is almost here...What you will need:
1 box of strawberry cake mix and ingredients to make cake as directed on box 1 box instant vanilla pudding 1 cup milk 8 oz. cream cheese Cool Whip Bag or container of strawberry glaze About half a quart of fresh, ripe strawberries
Make a strawberry cake mix according to box. Bake in a 9X13 pan and cool.
Mix together: 1- 8 oz cream cheese (softened ) 1 box instant vanilla pudding 1 cup milk 1/2 of a big Cool Whip Beat till creamy. Spread over cooled cake. Over the above layer, spread a bag or container of strawberry glaze. Slice fresh strawberries on top of glaze.Top with remaining Cool whip. Garnish with strawberries on top. Chill. This must be kept in the refrigerator and is better the second day.
Posted by HappySlob ::
9:55 AM ::
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Another great submission from Connie...this one is a handy way to re-use an old squeeze bottle.
TIP: After washing out a mustard squeeze bottle, fill itwith your favorite cooking oil and keep it on your pantryshelf. It squeezes out a tablespoon of oil for a recipe orfor your frying pan with no drips. No more bulky bottles,except to refill your squeeze bottle!
Posted by HappySlob ::
9:51 AM ::
0 comments
Monday, May 08, 2006
Removing Pets Fur from Furniture
As the owner of two cats, this is a fantastic tip! :) Hopefully you'll find it useful too...
"For my couch and chair, I use a rubber glove and a small bucket ofwater (to be able to easily rinse off the glove). It works wonderfully - I get the fur and the layer of dust that settles on everything. Perhaps you could find a larger rubber item, like apiece of piping or maybe some shoe covers, and just dip it/them intoa bucket of water, give a quick shake, and then run it over thecarpet. The fur will stick together and ball up, making it easy toremove. Also, buy one of those shedding loops and a couple of different brushes, and brush your dog outside AT LEAST once a week.I'd also try bathing more often, if you have the time."
Posted by HappySlob ::
8:11 AM ::
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It's Monday! :) And thankfully I did get a new computer last week to replace the old one that finally stopped altogether. This new computer is so much faster than the old one - I feel a bit like a little kid with a new toy.
Anyway, here's a great bath treat sent in by Christi (who's the queen of toiletry recipes, if you ask me - hehe). It uses real crushed rose petals and fragrance oil in the bath salts recipe. You could try other types of your favorite flowers and match the scented oil with it to make all sorts of custom blends. Enjoy!
Epsom Bath Salts 2 cups epsom salts 1/2 teaspoon food coloring if you want it 1/2 tsp. fragrance oil -- up to 1 1/2 cup dried rose petals crumbled to near powder
Mix all ingredients. Lovely bath salts.
Posted by HappySlob ::
8:06 AM ::
0 comments
Hi all - just to let you know - yesterday my computer crashed and died a very dramatic death. :) Thankfully my husband and I found a great deal on a new computer, but we're still trying to get it set up and working properly. Right now I'm TRYING to configure emails, but so far it won't let me send any out. By tomorrow I'm sure I'll have things up and running as usual!
Christina
Posted by HappySlob ::
6:08 AM ::
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Blue Sea Bath Salt Recipe Now, doesn't this sound DIVINE? :) Connie just sent this one in to me and I hope all of you enjoy it.
1 cup Epsom salt 1 cup baking soda 4 drops blue food coloring 3 drops Jasmine essential/ fragrance oil 4 drops vanilla essential/ fragrance oil 2 tablespoons liquid glycerin (skin moisturizer) (optional)
Directions:
Combine dry ingredients, mix well. Add color and scents one at a time. Keep stirring until mixed well. Break up any clumps. Keep mixing until you have a semi fine powder. Add glycerin and mix well.
Posted by HappySlob ::
5:52 AM ::
0 comments
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
Chocolate Mint Sorbet Pie (Dessert Ice Cream Recipes)
CHOCOLATE-MINT SORBET PIE Sent in by recipe researchers extraordinaire, Sue B. You could absolutely substitute chocolate ice cream if you can't find the sorbet mentioned in the recipe. This sounds SO great!
INGREDIENTS: 1 pint chocolate sorbet softened, 12 miniature peppermint patties (about 5 ounces) chilled and coarsely chopped, 1 prepared crumb crust, 3/4 cup heavy cream chilled, 6 tbsp's. confectioners' sugar, 1/8 tsp. pure peppermint extract.
DIRECTIONS: Combine the sorbet and peppermint patties in a large mixing bowl and mash the mixture with the back of a wooden spoon until the peppermint patties and sorbet are well combined. Turn the sorbet mixture into the prepared crust and smooth it with the back of a spoon. Place the pie in the freezer while yu continue with the recipe. Combine the heavy cream, confectioners' sugar and peppermint extract in a medium-size mixing bowl and using an electric mixer, beat the cream until it holds soft peaks. Remove the pie from the freezer and spread the whipped cream over the top with a rubber spatula. Cover the pie with plastic wrap and freeze it until the filling is completely set, at least 3 hours and up to 1 week.MAKES: One 9-inch pie, 6 to 8 servings.
Posted by HappySlob ::
8:32 AM ::
0 comments
I asked for tea time recipes and Jeannie has sent in all sorts of lovely ones to share with all of you! For now, here is a delicious Spice Cake recipe to start with...perfect with a strong cup of tea, if you ask me. (Interestingly, it has a strong cup of tea right in the batter too! I've never seen a recipe for cake with tea in it before...)
Spice Tea Cake Ingredients: 1 1/8 cups sugar 1 1/2 cups flour 1/2 tsp. baking soda 1/2 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. lemon zest 1/2 tsp. orange zest 1 tsp. ground cinnamon 1/4 tsp. ground ginger Pinch each of grounds cloves and nutmeg 1/2 cup choppped pecans 3/8 cup of strong brewed tea 1/3 cup oil 1/2 cup honey 1/2 cup buttermilk 1 large egg Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Sift the dry ingredients into a bowl. Mix the wet ingredients in another bowl. Add the wet mixture to the dry mixture and stir in nuts. Pour into well greased bread pan (8x4x4) Bake for an hour until center of cake tests done with a toothpick. Sprinkle with sifted confectioners' sugar or glaze.
Posted by HappySlob ::
8:22 AM ::
0 comments
Loofahs aren't Grown in the Sea! (Gardening Beauty Hints)
Loofahs Don't Grow In The Ocean What a great hint - sent in by Shannon Did you know that loofahs don't come from the sea? They are actually grown in the garden and are related to the cucumber family AND they are easy to grow. From one vine, you can actually get 25 loofahs. Seeds can be found in many seed shops or mail order catalogs!
Posted by HappySlob ::
8:16 AM ::
0 comments
Monday, May 01, 2006
Copycat Hardee's Mushroom Swiss Burger (Recipes)
I have a funny feeling that this will be a popular one. :) I'll have to go add it to the copycat page too (that's at Copycat Recipes ). Anyway, this burger recipe, submitted by Roberta, sounds like a great summertime BBQ feature. :) Enjoy you guys...
Oh, and I'm including Roberta's comments too...in the instructions when it says not to press the burger patties, that's just to keep all the moistness inside the burger patties instead of squeezing it out!
I just love Hardees Mushroom Swiss Burger but its 40 miles to the closest so I searched for a recipe and found this one and it is sooo close. Hope others enjoy too.
Hardee’s Mushroom Swiss Burgers
1 Can Campbell’s Golden Mushroom Soup
1 Can Sliced Mushrooms
1 Teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
4 Slices Swiss Cheese
4 1/4 Pound Burgers
½ Teaspoon Accent Seasoning
½ Teaspoon Seasoned Salt
¼ Teaspoon Ground Pepper
Mix the first three ingredients together, put on low heat and let simmer. Mix the Accent, Lawry's and pepper together and put in a shaker. Season the patties with this and fry or grill until done-don’t press on the patties-you must resist this impulse! Put patty onto a bun, then the Swiss, then the sauce and you're done.
Posted by HappySlob ::
8:36 AM ::
0 comments
If it's a BLAH and boring Monday where you are, why not try this simple facial mask for an at-home spa treat? This is simple luxury - it only takes 2 ingredients to slap this mask together! Big thanks to Connie for submitting this one.
Ingredients: 1 Lg Avocado 1 Tbsp Honey
Directions: Peel and slice avocado. Puree with honey. Pat it gently to the face and continue patting until the mask feels extremely tacky to the touch. Relax and leave the mask on 20-30 minutes. Rinse with warm water. Big savings.
