• Cleaning household hints - submitted by Sharon from PA - "I take an old rag into the shower with me. When I am done with my shower, I put soap on the rag and clean the shower and tub. Doing this daily keeps it clean and quick." (Hey Sharon, great idea! It sounds very much like the 'uncleaning' shower routine I teach in my Happy Slob's Guide to Housecleaning!
• Household hints (cleaning) - submitted by Patricia N. - "Do one thing everyday and remember that no one's house really looks like a magazine picture all the time, it only looks like that when the kids and husband aren't home."
• Up and down stairs cleaning trick - submitted by Kristina - "If you have stairs never go up with out taking something up, and never go down with out taking something down. It's the one thing I have brainwashed my kids to do. It actually works to keep clutter at bay." (Love this idea, Kristina!)
• New use for coffee filters - submitted by Gretta - "using coffee filters instead of paper towels, they don't stick to fried foods."
• Housecleaning every day - submitted by Peggy - "to do at least some housework every day...otherwise, it multiplies during the night...
  sort of like Captain Kirk and "The Trouble with Tribbles"." (LOL one of the funnier emails I received, thanks Peggy!)
• Cleaning copper household hint - submitted by Gladys - "cleaning the copper bottoms of my pans,,with 2 tablespoons white vinegar and 2 teaspoons salt and was/rub litely with dish rag and rinse,,viola sparkling clean." (Wonderful, Gladys! I'm going to give this one a try, and if it works as well as you says I'll have to post it on my Happy Slob's Housecleaning site too!)
• Cleaning for kids tip - submitted by Cindy - "Assign chores to the kiddos. They make most ofthe mess anyway. It is great for teaching responsibility and a wonderful penalty instead of spanking."
• Cleaning countertops with peroxide - submitted by Tracy Ann - "To get the gunk out from the area where the sink meets the counter top (or sometimes behind the taps where the sink meets the countertop), I pour some peroxide on an old toothbrush I keep for that purpose. The peroxide I get from my drug store in the first-aid section. I find that it lifts that entire gunk out and the counter top looks amazingly cleaner."

Thanks so much for these great new household tips, everyone! I hope all of you subscribers will get to try at least one or two.

Labels: bathroom cleaning, cleaning copper, cleaning the bathroom, cleaning with kids, coffee filters, happy slob, household hints, peroxide, shower cleaning, tips and hints

Posted by HappySlob :: 12:05 PM :: 2 comments

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Tuesday, February 12, 2008 Baking Tip from a Professional Baker - Good for Pie and Tart Baking

You know I love to collect pie recipes! So, here's a great way to use those pie recipes and create delicious pies and tarts that are perfectly baked. A professional baker's tip, no less!

Lindsey Shere, pastry chef, Chez Panisse, Berkeley: Whenever possible, bake tarts and pies on a pizza stone. It makes a big difference in getting the bottom crust to bake properly.

Labels: baking, baking pie, baking tips, household hints, pie recipes, tarts

Posted by HappySlob :: 9:59 AM :: 0 comments

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Favorite Recipes - Requests - Best Banana Bread Recipe (Mom's Recipe) from Carol

Banana Bread
Carol came up trumps and replied to our request for the BEST Banana Bread recipe ever. This is it, she says. :) If you think YOU have the best recipe, email it to me at christina (at) happyslob.com

Mom’s best
Makes one loaf

3 very ripe bananas
¾ cup sugar white or brown
large pinch salt
¼ cup butter or margarine
1 tsp soda
1 tbs. water
2 cups flour, unbleached, white, or wheat
(if dough seems too thick, add one or two beaten eggs)

Mix all ingredients together very well. Makes one bread pan size loaf. Put into greased loaf pan and bake at 350 degrees about 45 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from pan immediately after taking from oven and cool on rack or clean dish cloth.

Labels: bananas, best banana bread recipe, best recipes, recipe requests, ripe bananas

Posted by HappySlob :: 9:57 AM :: 0 comments

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Tuesday, February 05, 2008 Looking for a Recipe - the BEST Banana Bread

Banana bread is a favorite - it's delicious, moist and wonderful. So, do you think YOU have the world's best banana bread recipe? If so, send it on in to me at christina@happyslob.com and I'll post it here on the KCnM blog!

Labels: banana bread recipe, best recipes, recipe requests

Posted by HappySlob :: 6:42 PM :: 0 comments

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Whole Grain Pineapple Carrot Muffins - Delicious Whole Grain Recipes

Pineapple Upside-Down Muffins
Whole-grain muffins packed with pineapple, raisins and carrots. Big thanks to Dorina for this deliciuos whole grain recipe - a fave with our readers!

Topping
2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
2 tablespoons chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
1 10-ounce can pineapple slices

Muffins
3/4 cup whole-wheat flour
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
2 large eggs
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup canola oil
2 tablespoons pineapple juice or orange juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 8-ounce can crushed pineapple (not drained)
1 cup grated carrot (1 large)
1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
3/4 cup raisins, preferably baking raisins
1/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Coat 12 muffin cups with cooking spray.

2. To prepare topping: Sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon brown sugar into each muffin cup. Sprinkle nuts, if using, over the sugar. Stack pineapple slices and cut into 6 wedges. Place 2 wedges in each muffin cup.

3. To prepare muffins: Whisk whole-wheat flour, all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon in a large bowl.

4. Whisk eggs and brown sugar in a medium bowl until smooth. Whisk in oil, juice, and vanilla. Stir in crushed pineapple. Make a well in the dry ingredients; add the wet ingredients and stir with a rubber spatula until just combined. Stir in carrot, oats, raisins, and nuts, if using. Scoop the batter into the prepared muffin cups (they'll be quite full).

5. Bake the muffins until the tops are golden brown and firm to the touch, 15 to 25 minutes.(Note--I baked them for 20 minutes and thought they were a bit dry--check them after 15!) Immediately loosen edges and turn muffins out onto a baking sheet. Restore any stray pineapple pieces and nuts. Let cool for at least 10 minutes. Serve upside down, either warm or at room temperature. Makes 1 dozen muffins.

Nutrition information (per muffin): 211 calories; 6 g fat (1 g sat., 3 g mono.); 35 mg cholesterol; 36 g carbohydrate; 4 g protein; 3 g fiber; 185 mg sodium.

Labels: carrot muffins, crushed pineapple, muffin recipes, whole grain baking, whole grain recipes

Posted by HappySlob :: 6:38 PM :: 0 comments

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