Tip of the Day: Cleaning a Glasstop Stove
Here's an oldie but goodie tip, from a newsletter from back in 2006. A fabulously frugal way to clean your glasstop stove...Marilyn in Florida suggests:"I know that most people know about the virtues of baking soda, but I would like to put my two cents in! I have spent countless hours trying to scrub my ceramic cook top to get all the burnt on foods off. I've used the commercial cleaner that came with my stove, SOS pads and even the Mr. Clean Magic Erasers. I finally poured baking soda on the food, dampened it with water to make a paste, and let it sit for 15 minutes or so. The burnt food came off in one wipe! I am now a true believer in the power of baking soda! I've saved money, time and my elbows."

Favorite Things: Lampe Berger Lamps
One little appliance can do so much! Lampe Berger lamps originated in France, originally intended to help hospitals keep the air clean, and to remove odors. Now available widely in North America, people use them for keeping the air in their homes cleaner - they are proven to remove 67% of airborne bacteria, and they add a lovely scent to your home. Learn more about this handy home helper, at 3 Ways I Use My Lampe Berger Burner . The scented fuels available range from grapefruit or green apple, to fresh linen or luxurious perfume blends.

Kitchen Gadgets That You'll Use - Let's be honest; some gadgets only look good in the store, but then live a pretty boring life in your kitchen cabinets! But some gadgets are really useful. The gadget of the day is: The Trudeau Perfect Mix oil and vinegar bottle - it perfectly pours out just the right proportions of oil and vinegar. This is one of the hottest, handiest gadgets of the season! It is just right for any salad lover...

A Few Cleaning Hints

• Cleaning plastic toys, made easy! (And all-natural at the same time.)
• How to clean brass.
• How to make cleaning the cat litter easier (and less stinky!)

Frugal, Filling Lentil Soup - Finally, here's a filling and delicious soup to make while the weather is so cold! It's inexpensive, healthy and makes a lot - so you can fill the freezer with leftovers to heat up for a simple supper another time.

Labels: cleaning brass, cleaning cat litter, cleaning toys, Lampe Berger, oil and vinegar dispensers, Trudeau gadgets

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Frugal and Filling Lentil Soup

Do you ever just crave a bowl of hot soup, fresh and steaming? Are you looking for frugal meals to put on the table that are both nourishing and filling? Here is a simple, delicious lentil soup that I've created myself, and have been making often. It's nothing fancy, but boy does it taste good on a cold day! As with many homemade soups and stews, it tastes even more delicious the second or third day.

Frugal and Filling Lentil Soup

4 quarts water (approximately - more or less to fill your soup pot)
olive oil
1 large or 2 small onions, chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped
1/2 lb carrots, peeled and sliced
4-5 cloves garlic, peeled and minced (or garlic powder to taste)
1 or 2 chicken or beef stock cubes
1 or 2 potatoes, peeled and diced
1 small package red lentils
salt and pepper to taste
hot sauce to taste
fresh parsley, optional


Heat a couple of tablespoons of olive oil in a pot (the one I use is a 5 1/2 quart lime green Le Creuset - a definite investment, but oh so worth it when making homemade soups).

Saute onions, celery, carrots and garlic until softened. Add water, stock cubes and let soup simmer together to blend flavors. Flavor with salt and pepper and hot sauce, all to taste. Add in chopped potatoes and cook about 5 minutes. Add in the entire package of lentils. Simmer together until soup is the consistency you like - I like the potatoes cooked down and quite soft, as they also help to thicken the soup.

In the last few minutes of cooking, throw in some fresh chopped parsley, if you have it around. Makes a TON of soup - great for leftovers for lunch the next day, or to stock the freezer. :) Enjoy, soup lovers!

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Keep your grocery costs under control, and
learn how to make a frugal life more fun!
Please check out my book, Living Large on Less:



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Labels: cold weather food, comfort food, family favorites, frugal recipes, homemade soups, lentil soup, vegetarian recipes

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Wednesday, December 22, 2010 Treat of the Day 2 Ways: Ghirardelli Hot Chocolate or Brown Sugar Hot Chocolate

Here's a post that should have everyone smiling...an ooey gooey treat of the day. Today it is gourmet Ghirardelli premium hot chocolate that will comfort you on the coldest, snowiest winter's day. Top with a fluff of freshly whipped cream or a few marshmallows, and you have guaranteed comfort in a cup.




Or, if you feel like whipping up a hot chocolate treat instead of buying it, how about Brown sugar hot chocolate, which you'll find on our Beverages Recipe Page

Labels: chocolate, ghirardelli, gourmet food items, hot chocolate, hot cocoa mix

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Sunday, December 19, 2010 KCnM Newsletter: Financial Help, Coupon Tips and Hints and

Kitchen Crafts 'n' More Newsletter

for Sunday, December 19, 2010

Since everyone is trying to save more money, or make do with a lot less - here are some useful resources from our website to help you out!

Brand new article: "Does Using Coupons Really Save You Money?" 5 Tips and Hints to Help Discover how to use coupons to their maximum benefit to really save mucho money on the grocery bill.

In The Simple $10 Debt Elimination System, you'll learn how just an extra ten bucks on your debt can help reduce the overall time you're left paying off debt.

Grocery Shopping on a Budget gives you some more ideas on stretching your grocery dollars even further - something all families are looking to do!

Looking for further inspiration on having a happier life, while spending less? My new book Living Large On Less: A Guide to Saving without Sacrifice should help you do just that.

Labels: eliminate debt, frugality tips, living large on less, using coupons

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Wednesday, December 15, 2010 Newsletter: Skin so Soft,

Kitchen Crafts 'n' More Newsletter for

December 15, 2010

Health & Beauty
Question of the Week: "What do the rest of the readers do to combat REALLY dry winter skin? My skin gets so dry it cracks! Does anyone have a natural and simple solution?"
Please send YOUR reply to christina@happyslob.com - and thanks for your help!

• It's amazing what one little bottle of Avon's Skin So Soft can really accomplish! Not only does it keep you looking and feeling great, but it's also a little powerhouse around the home. Our list of over 100 ways to use Skin So Soft includes tips like using it to soften very dry skin (for the reader above!) and using it in the garden, and for cleaning purposes.

Ooey Gooey Treats

Maybe it's the cold weather, but this time of year it seems like we're all craving something extra decadent to treat ourselves! Try the recipes for:

• Caramels: On this page you'll find recipes for some of the most mouthwatering caramel candy recipes ever, including chocolate caramels and shortcut caramels. Yummm-aroo!
• Easy Bake Oven Recipes - this is still the #1 page on our website! Tons of yummy recipes for the little ones in your family to try. And, in case they don't have an Easy Bake oven yet, check out this link for one for under $20: Easy Bake Oven
  

Bestselling Cookbooks

Time to get in the kitchen and try out a delicious new meal, or a whole new way of cooking. These bestselling cookbooks will give you some new inspiration to get cooking!

1. Barefoot Contessa How Easy Is That?: Fabulous Recipes & Easy Tips
   Ina Garten (Barefoot Contessa) - How Easy Is That? Find inspiration with simplicity and style, with my favorite Food Network host of all time - the Barefoot Contessa. Never read one of her books before? You will not be disappointed! (And the recipes are all simply divine.)
2. Rachael Ray's Look + Cook - makes cooking easy for anyone, with step-by-step pictures to make your end result look as good as they do in the book. Genius!

__Tell a Friend__
Our sweet and simple newsletters have little gems of helpful hints and ideas for around the home. Tell a friend about Kitchen Crafts 'n' More! It's absolutely free to get updates, which they can do by sending an email to kitchencraftsnmore-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. :) Thanks for your support.

Labels: bestselling cookbooks, caramel recipes, ina garten, rachael ray, skin so soft

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