Category: MISC

Thursday Thirteen ~ 13 Things to clean in the kitchen that are often forgotten

  1. *The top of the refrigerator.
  2. *The vents at the bottom of the freezer.
  3. *The vents behind the refrigerator.
  4. *The tops of the cabinets if they don’t reach the ceiling.
  5. **The handles on the refrigerator.
  6. **Door and drawer handles.
  7. **Canister sides and backs.
  8. **Backs of the faucet handles.
  9. Utensils that are in a crock ~ I run mine through the dishwasher once a week, crock and all.
  10. the screen in the oven vent ~ I run mine through the dishwasher once a week.
  11. Toaster crumb tray ~ I run mine through the dishwasher once a week.
  12. Chair and table legs ~ I do these whenever I do the floors.
  13. Light fixtures ~ I do these just before I do the floors.
*I do these at least once a month.
**It only takes 5 minutes if you do it every night as you are wiping down the counter tops and stove.

Don’t forget to stop by and visit Barbara over at Candy Hearts and Paper Flowers for the September Homemaking Shape-up – we’re getting ready for winter for a serious fall cleaning.
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Watchin' What We Eat Wednesday ~ Slow Cooking Thursday ~ Tasty Thursday ~ Freezer Food Friday ~ Favorite Ingredient Friday ~ Sweet & Sour BBQ Pork

WOW, Watchin’ What We Eat Wednesday, Slow Cooking Thursday, Tasty Thursday, Freezer Food Friday and Favorite Ingredient Friday are all bumping into each other this week. This is a relatively good for you, tasty slow cooker recipe that is great for the freezer and a favorite of the kids, especially when you put it on a roll like a sloppy Joe. This is another recipe that I like to make in large portions and then freeze in portions after the initial meal which is great for week nights. In this case I will freeze the remainder for the Christmas Holiday gang we’ll have.

6 pounds boneless pork sirloin roast
1/2 pound bacon, cut into pieces
1 large sweet Vidalia onion, sliced into rings
1 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1 1/4 cup apricot pineapple jam
2 1/2 cups brown sugar
1/4 cup molasses
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup soy sauce
3 teaspoon minced garlic, jar
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon white pepper

  • Cut the bacon into small pieces.
  • Cut all large portions of fat off the roasts.
  • Spray the crock pot with PURE and set for high.
  • Place bacon on bottom with the roasts arranged over it.
  • Slice onion into thin rings and layer over roasts.
  • Whisk together the vinegar, soy sauce, molasses and honey.
  • Add the brown sugar until dissolved.
  • Whisk in the seasonings, garlic and jam.
  • Bring to a SLOW BOIL.
  • Pour over meat and onions.
  • Cook on high for 4-6 hours.
  • Remove roast and shred meat. Return meat to slow cooker and cook another hour.
  • For a more adult meal I thicken the gravy and serve it over mashed potatoes.
I do the memes: Menu Plan Monday hosted by Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie, Favorite Ingredient Friday hosted by Kathryn at Overwhelmed with Joy, Freezer Food Friday hosted by MJ at mjpuzzlemom, Scrumptious Sunday hosted by Meredith at Mercedes Rocks, Tasty Thursday hosted by Pumpkin Patch, Watchin’ What We Eat hosted by Lorie at Honey I Shrank Myself and Slow Cooking Thursday hosted by Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. Doing them all make great additions to help keeping me on track and finding so new recipes!

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Happy Accident = New Recipe = Tropical Apricot Mango Bread

I was trying to make beer bread last Sunday to go with our chili when I had a happy accident. Well it wasn’t so happy at the time, it actually ticked me off. You know how you reach for something and don’t think at the same time? I reached for a beer, but grabbed a Bartles & Jaymes Tropical Mango. I had twisted the cap and poured it in before I realized it was the wrong bottle. I didn’t want to throw out the entire batch so baked it anyway and was pleasantly surprised. I baked it again adding diced dried apricots and then slathering on fresh honey butter and the results were PURE heaven!
  • 3 1/2 cups self-rising flour
  • 2 Tablespoons sugar
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 12 oz. Bartyles & James Tropical Mango
  • 1/2 cup dried apricots, cut into small bits
  • 1 stick butter, melted

Mix flour, sugar, salt, apricot bits and topical mango together. Add a couple of ounces of the butter. Knead together uniformly, but do not over work. Form into a well greased loaf pan. Pour remaining butter over top of loaf. Bake for 1 hour.
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Cococnut Peach Crisp

I needed a dessert for tonight and didn’t have time to run to the store so I grabbed a bunch of stuff from the cupboard and made this. I think I’ll call it Coconut Peach Crisp and boy was it yummy!!

1 can peach chunks, drained
1 small can pineapple
1 box Jiffy White cake mix
1/4 cup crushed pecans
1/2 cup shredded coconut
1/4 cup regular or golden raisins
1/4 cup melted butter

  • Spray a 9×9 baking dish with PURE
  • Drain the peach chunks.
  • Mix together the pineapple and peach chunks in the bottom of the dish.
  • Top with the DRY cake mix evenly.
  • Sprinkle raisins and pecans on top of that.
  • Top with coconut.
  • Pour melted butter over top as evenly as possible.
  • Bake for 45 minutes at 350 degrees.

I can’t wait to try it with fresh peaches and the golden raisins!
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Homemaking September Shape Up ~ Deep Cleaning & a really productive day

Barbara over at Candy Hearts and Paper Flowers has been helping us shape up our homes during the month of September. And while I know she will get to these things as the month progresses, I thought in the spirit of the theme, I’d share what I did today.

Last night we experienced our 4th (that I know of) frost and so when today turned out cool, brisk and clear (at least it started that way) I decided to undertake the major fall deck transformation. Here in the north woods we get a significant amount of snow so I always put away EVERYTHING versus just covering it. Thank God for the barn!

So this morning I started with:

  • Straightening the barn and making room for everything.
  • Then I tore apart the BBQ and ran all the pieces (grills, grease traps, tools and burners) through the dishwasher.
  • I picked up all the various sprinklers, hand nozzles, trowels, plant supports, rakes and shovels and put them away.
  • Then I made sure the lawn mower and trimmers were put away too.
  • I emptied the dogs pool and scrubbed it clean with soap and water and set it aside to dry.
  • Then I drug and I do mean drug (I think they gained weight over the summer) all the lawn furniture into the middle of the yard and rinsed them off.
  • While everything was drying I collected all the summer lawn stakes and bird feeders (we use only suet hangers in the winter) and put those away too.
  • I got out the fall lawn stakes and my stacking pumpkins. I’ll leave the rest of the Halloween decorations till next month. These are just my harvest ones.
  • When the lawn furniture and dog’s pool were dry I drug them up to the barn and put them away.
  • After the dishwasher finished I put the BBQ back together, covered it and stored it in the barn also.

These two didn’t help at all either – spoiled brats – LOL – this is all they did while I was out there with them.

I tracked a lot of stuff into the house and then had to vacuum too! While I was on a roll I drug out the shop vacuum and did the basement stairs and basement too! WHEW! I’m tired and it’s only lunch time.

We ended up with a surprise visitor(Eric) for the week so I’m editing my menu plan quite a bit and am making Taco Ring Salad tonight. I decided while I was at it I’d do enough meat to freeze 1/2 for the meal during the Christmas gang’s visit. So all in all it was a VERY productive day!

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The Revival of Common Courtesy ~ Table Settings


I have read and reread the chapter in Emily Post regarding table settings. I could do a formal post on formal settings including tablecloths, napkins, place cards, menu cards, silver, crystal. china, centerpieces, candles, etc… but I have decided after talking to many people that it is more important to concentrate on the basics.

I took a poll amongst my bowling league and various others I ran across this week and asked 1 simple question, “Where do you eat dinner?” I was utterly amazed at the answers. When I actually figured it out as a percentage, less than 10% ate at the table as a family. No wonder many of these kids do not know how to set a table properly, carry on a mealtime conversation or be meal time polite.

Consistently the answers were that they ate in front of the television and many said dinner was a free for all where everyone made their own. I have to admit I was appalled. When I was a kid, it didn’t matter how many activities were going on at school or scouts, I was expected home for dinner at a certain hour, no exceptions. I also had the chores of setting the table and cleaning up after.

So today’s topic is table settings. There are specific measurements, but we won’t get into those here. The basics are that the plate goes in front of the chair with the fork to the left of it, the knife and spoon to the right and all of them neatly placed. The napkin should be under the fork, to the left of it or if using napkin rings centered neatly on the plate. The glass goes just above the knife.

Bu sure you stop over and visit Diana over at Forgetfulone as she has wonderful diagrams of table setting layouts.

I want to expand on the basic topic and ask, How do you bring your family to the table for dinner, or do you? How do you teach your children table settings and do they have the chore(s) of setting the table and cleaning up?


Future themes are:
September 16th ~ Professional & Public Manners
September 23rd ~ Travel & Tipping
September 30th ~ Interrelationships Manners
October 7th ~ Babies & Showers
October 14th ~ Engagements & Weddings
October 21st ~ Deaths & Funerals

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The Simple Woman's Daybook

I originally found this over at Sandra’s place, Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. And now I participate regularly in The Simple Woman’s Daybook, sponsored by Peggy at The Simple Woman. It is a great way to start off the week! Stop by Peggy’s blog to see who else is participating and read their entries, then think about joining us next week! For Today…

Outside my Window… it is a bit overcast and clear to see that the beginnings of fall are here. Our high is only supposed to be around 60 degrees and I LOVE it.

I am thinking… that I never seem to be able to pinpoint what I’m thinking because there are just too many jumbled thoughts in there – LOL.

I am thankful for… hubby healing quickly and with very few problems.

From the kitchen… I have a pot of chili started for Monday Night Football and several other dishes that I’m going to freeze for the houseful over Christmas.

I am still creating… lots bread recipe posts for the upcoming bread round-up here at 3 Sides of Crazy.

I am going… to bowling league and errand running.

I am wearing… Levi’s, flip flops and my favorite T-shirt

I am reading… Tempting Fate by Carla Neggers and The Manning Brides by Debbie Macomber

I am hoping…to finish the wall quilt from last week and start working with my birthday fabric from Jenn.

I am hearing… the chili bubble and birds outside my window.

Around the house… still hoping to get the kitchen trim molding and the decorative done.

One of my favorite things… family and their support

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week… medical appointments, VFW meeting, 82nd airborne meeting, volunteer bartender shift for the Packer’s game next Sunday.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you… the fantastic fabric Jenn sent me for my birthday.

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Stain Cleaner Tips

The other thing I use besides Hydrogen Peroxide for stains which is inexpensive and works wonders is GOOP – the automotive hand cleaner, about $1.37 a tub at Walmart – with it I’ve gotten out yellow highlighter and red pen. Smear it on, let it set, wash as normal.

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