Tips & Recipes

Have a little tip or great recipe you'd like to share with our readers? I love to cook, and am constantly on the look-out for great cleaning tips (I have a four year old boy, remember?! ha,ha,ha!). Our Tips can be in any area, but all stuff that will improve your day-to-day lives! I'll share my Favourite Tips and Recipes, and you can drop us a line on our Contact page to add your ideas in, too! Won't that be fun?!

Apple Crumble for One (Yummy and Easy!) This is a fabulous Diet, too -- it helped me to lose 30 pounds!! WooHoo!

Lemon, Honey 'N Onion Drink ( This is an amazing Remedy for any Cold, Flu or other Viral Problem. I'd like to know if any Studies have been conducted on the Chemical Make-up of Onions or Onion Juice, or of this particular combination. It's amazing how well and quickly this works!

I think it would be a very good addition to anyone's regular regime who is dealing with a Chronic Virus Situation. It seems to really boost the Immune System, and if this little recipe helps one other person, then this whole site is sooo worth all the work!

Try it and let me know if it worked for you. You never know -- sometimes it's a simple solution that works...

Grated Cheddar Cheese (optional)
Cover, turn the heat down to Simmer, and leave for at least 20 minutes, or until you remember you were cooking something! ha,ha,ha!
Go ahead and put the water on for the Spaghetti. (one large 'handful' of Spaghetti is usually enough for a family of four). Cook Spaghetti, stirring occasionally.
Strain Spaghetti. Rinse cold water over the noodles so they don't 'stick'.

This is a 'Serve it yourself' meal at our house, so everyone takes the amount of Spaghetti and the amount of Sauce that they want. We serve this with Grated Cheddar Cheese and a nice loaf of French Bread -- Easy and delicious!

If you ever have any extra left over, you can put it in an oven-proof dish, and pop it in the freezer. (Remember you can only do this if the meat was fresh, not frozen. If the meat was frozen, just plan to eat the left-overs the next day...) After you thaw it out for the next time, add some grated Mozzarella Cheese and bake it in the oven. Voila! Baked Spaghetti!

Salsa Chicken

4 Cups of Diced Chicken (it comes this way in your Freezer Section at the grocery store -- I shop at Costco because everything I like is there and in bulk!)
or 4 Chicken Breasts (fresh or frozen)
1 large tin (14oz.) Diced Tomatoes
1 Cup Salsa -- again, I buy this in Bulk...

Simmer for an hour or so (I put this on in the late afternoon and just let it simmer away until dinner time.)
Serve over Rice or Pasta.
Add grated Cheddar Cheese and a nice fresh loaf of bread, if you're fond of that!

How easy is that?! And tasty, too!

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I made this next recipe up a couple of years ago, and now it's one of our favorites! I don't have a name for it so we'll call it...

'Pass da' Pasta!

1 to 4 Cups of Diced Chicken (pre-cooked and frozen), or 4 Chicken Breasts
1 14oz. tin of Diced Tomatoes
2 tbsp. each of Montreal Steak Spice
2 tbsp. Roasted Garlic & Peppers
4-6 tbsp. of dried Basil Leaves

Stir well, Cover, and Simmer for about an hour, or so.

Boil water and add 2 Cups of Tortiglioni noodles, and
2 Cups of Fusilli noodles, the Vegetable one.

Optional: Mushrooms, Green Peppers, Italian Sausage, etc., etc.!

Do a 'taste test' to check when the pasta is ready. Rinse cold water through, first, so you don't burn yourself!

Rinse the pasta, then put back in pot. Add 1/2 Cup of Olive Oil, then carefully add the sauce. ( If you used the Chicken Breasts, cut into bite-size pieces before adding to pasta.) Pour into Large Serving Bowl.

Serve with Grated Cheddar Cheese, or eat it 'plain'. Enjoy!

Of course, as with all good recipes, you can adapt this to suit your own tastes, so if you like things a little milder, cut the spices in half; increase the amounts if you really love spices! You can also play around with the different shapes of pasta -- putting two or three different types of pasta in the same dish makes it interesting and adds texture to the meal.

This is my favorite Cheesecake Recipe – really light and delicious! And it’s a No-Bake Cheesecake, too!

We had the Cherry Cheesecake with Dinner, last Night -- aidan wanted to have it 'For Dinner', which was pretty funny! Not all of it, of course, because it's light but 'rich', so you only need a wee slice... or two!

Anyway, here are some pictures of My Favorite Cherry Cheesecake -- try it when you get a chance -- you'll love it!

(Actually, I just need a minute to go get my Camera, Get them into my Computer -- lots of pushing and shoving, as you can well imagine...! ha,ha,ha), Name them, then put them on the Site -- that's what takes me sooo long, sometimes! Be right baaack!)

So if there's any question of whether your Family will love a tasty Cheesecake, here's your answer in Aidan's cute little face!

You can take this same 'little boy' face and project it onto the face of any grown male, and whammo, everybody's happy!! ha,ha,ha! And the Chicks dig it, too! ha,ha,ha!

1 8oz package of Cream Cheese
1 Cup of Whipping Cream, or One pkg of Dream Whip
1 small pkg of Mini-marshmallows
1 tbsp. milk
1 tbsp. Lemon Juice (optional)
1 tsp. Vanilla

Step 1: Mix the Graham Crumbs and Sugar together. Melt Butter in the Microwave – about 1 minute on High. Stir all together, then press into Cheesecake pan, or any other available baking dish!

Step 2: In a big bowl, cut the Cream Cheese into squares – nothing fancy, just make smaller ‘units’. Let that ‘warm Up’ while you Whip the Whipping Cream. (Remember to use a cold bowl and Whisks – pop them in the Freezer for a few minutes while you’re getting your ingredients together.)

Step 3: In a separate large plastic bowl, pour in the mini-marshmallows and the milk. Pop in the Microwave for one or two minutes to melt it. Give it a good stir to make it smooth.

Step 4: Use your Beater on Low to soften the Cream Cheese. Pour in the melted marshmallows and blend until smooth. Blend in the Vanilla and the Lemon Juice.

Step 5: Fold in the Whipped Cream, then pour onto the Graham Crust. Pop in the Refrigerator for a few hours, or until you can’t wait anymore!

Step 6: Top with Fresh Berries or your favorite Pie Filling. There’s a relatively new Pie Filling in a Jar from E.D. Smith that is fabulous – I just put a variety of flavors on the table, and everyone chooses their favorite. Enjoy!

Using the Low-Fat versions of the Cream Cheese and the Dream Whip with Low-Fat Milk will make this a nice lower calorie treat, and won’t compromise the taste. Fresh Fruit will make it even better!

I usually Double the Recipe, so the Cheesecake is really huge! Just Double the Filling part.

You’re almost done, already! Put the Peaches in a Big Bowl. Give the Mixture a good stir, then pour half of it in with the Peaches. Pour this into the Pie Shell. (A wee drop of Flour in the Shell will prevent a ‘soggy’ crust.) Carefully pour the remaining Mixture over the Fruit, starting from the Edge and working toward the middle. Pop in the Oven at 350 degrees F. for about 45 Minutes. Remove and Add the Tasty Topping. Bake for another 10 to 15 minutes, then cool in the Fridge for a few hours. The cooler it is, the tastier it gets!

1 ½ cups All-Purpose Flour
2 tbsp. Sugar
Quick Dash of Salt
½ cup Vegetable Oil
2 tbsp. Milk

Step 1: Mix the Dry Ingredients directly in the Pie Plate. Draw a little circle in the middle with your finger.

Step 2: Pour the Oil and milk into a jar and put the lid on tightly. Give it a good shake. Pour this mixture into the circle and mix it gently with a fork until completely blended.

Step 3: Press the Pastry against the sides of the Pie Plate, first, then fill in the bottom.

You can Bake this at 400 degrees F. for about 15 minutes if you need a baked shell, or just go ahead and fill it with any fresh or frozen berries and bake for about 45 minutes.

A really easy way to make a nice Fruit Pie is to put the prepared fruit in a bowl and stir in a Half a Cup of Flour with a Half a Cup of Sugar (mixed together), and it’ll automatically make it’s own sauce.

Mix the dry ingredients, then add the butter with a fork. Mix until Crumbly. About 10 minutes before your Pie is done, pull it out of the oven and add this Topping. Pop the Pie back in the oven for another 10 to 15 minutes, or until the Topping is a nice Golden Brown. Quick Tip: Whenever you add any topping to a pie (Crumb or Meringue), start with the Outside Rim, first, then ‘fill in’ the middle.

Another Great Tip! Use an Insulated Baking Sheet for all your cooking – nothing ever burns! WooHoo!

Strain and put in a Jug in the Fridge. (I always cover it with Saran Wrap so it won't 'smell'...)

Cara likes it (or will drink it if she's really sick!) when it has Orange Tablets in it, so I dissolve 2 or 3 Vitamin C Tablets into her cup. This is more palatable for children of all ages -- Dwight included!

I first came across the Base of this recipe...guess where...that's right, on The View! Barabara Walters had a scratchy throat (not good in T.V. Journalism!) and shared her recipe from a friend who happens to be an Opera Star (!) for the Onion and Honey Drink. I was pregnant at the time, had a cold and didn't want to take any medicine, so I tried it and it was horrible! I just couldn't drink it, so I added more Honey and some Lemon Juice, and Voila, it's not only palatable, it tastes good!

I always drink it with a 'Water Chaser' -- a great big glass of cold water so the Lemon Juice doesn't dry out your throat.

Oh, I thought I would be 'pro-active' with this remedy, so I chopped all sorts of Onions up and put them in a big bag in the Freezer. Well, I won't do that, again, because they smelled awful, and the smell spread to other things in the freezer. Now I just leave the onions in a paper bag in the cupboard. No smell, much better!

Blend the Dry Ingredients, then mix in the Butter and Vanilla... just easier that way!

I mix a big batch of this up (use a Pastry Cutter or a fork to mix it), put it in a Large Freezer Bag and pop it in the Fridge. I put a 1/2 Cup measure into the bag for easy measurement when you're ready to use it.

You can add any other fruit -- peaches and stawberries are always delicious, too! You can mix 'n match so you always have 'new' treats!

Sprinkle 1/2 a Cup of the Oatmeal Topping over the Fruit and pop it in the Microwave for 1 Minute on High.

The Cut Fruit will probably require between 2-5 minutes, depending on how soft the apple is.

Voila! You're done and now you have Apple Crumble for One! Good luck with that, though, since it often seems that someone comes into the kitchen just as this comes out of the Microwave who 'just wants a little bite', then they take at least half of it! ha,ha,ha! But at least they're all eating something tasty and healthy! Now, that's a real treat!

Hi, again! Just keep writing out these recipes...here's one for our favourite marinade.

This in the tastiest Marinade around, and it’s soooo easy! You can adjust the amount of the Marinade according to the amount of Meat you’re using. I always mix everything right in the large measuring cups – makes life easy! (Can you tell that’s my main goal, to make life easier?!)

Try using this Marinade on Chicken Breasts, Steak and Pork Loin Strips (then cut into ‘coins’).

This is a unique flavor combination I think you will love – plus, I think the Barley is an Aphrodisiac! No Kidding! You’ll need to let me know if you’ve found it to be that, too! Ha,ha!

1 Large Flank Steak
1 Cup Olive Oil
½ Cup Vinegar
6 tbsp. Dried Rosemary
1 tbsp. Montreal Steak Spice

Mix Marinade and pour over the Flank Steak. Cover and leave in Fridge until ready to cook. As with all marinades, the longer you leave it, the stronger the flavor.

Grill on the BBQ or under the Broiler (watch it very carefully for fire, though…). If you like to Bake your meat, you can put the meat in an oven-proof dish with about 2 cups of water and ½ cup of oil, cover with tin-foil, and bake it at 350 F. for a couple of hours.

1 Cup Pearl Barley, washed
3 Cups Water, Boiled
5 tbsp. Onion Soup Mix
2 tbsp. Butter

Rinse the Barley under cold water – remember to use a sieve! Ha,ha! Boil the water in a pot that has a tight-fitting lid. (Like you would use for Rice…) Once boiled, add the Onion Soup Mix – I always buy this in a large bag at Costco, my favorite store, so I measure it in tbsp., but two packages from a regular box of Onion Soup mix will be about right, too!

Pour the Barley into the pot and give it a wee stir. Turn down the heat to Low. Cover and let cook for at least 25 minutes. (Good time to Cook the Meat!)

That’s it! I happen to like Corn with this meal, but add your favorite veggie and you’ve got a lovely meal! This is the surprising little Aphrodisiac, so let me know if you happen to notice any ‘results’ later in the evening!

*Find the Barley in the Soup Aisle at your regular Grocery Store. Pick up some Soup Starter, too, to make fast and delicious soups! (They’re always right beside one another…)

4 Cups Macaroni
½ Cup Mayonnaise
½ Cup Mustard
1 tbsp. Montreal Steak Spice
Fresh Black Pepper & Salt to Taste

1 Green Pepper, diced
1 Red Pepper, diced
4 Green Onions, chopped
1 Red Onion, diced
Whole Celery Stalk, chopped
2 tbsp. Relish

Step 2: Mix the Mayonnaise and the Mustard in a large Measuring Cup. Blend in Steak Spice.

Step 3: Prepare Veggies. Toss them in a big (and I mean BIG!) Bowl as you prepare each one.

Step 5: Slowly stir in the Macaroni. Sprinkle with Freshly Ground Pepper. Cover and pop in the Fridge. The colder, the better.

I came up with this recipe when Dwight, my husband, said he’d really looove some Macaroni Salad, and I had no idea how to make it, but I can’t stand the usual ‘mayo salad’ that is usually served, so I just started experimenting in the Kitchen (that’s basically how all my recipes are ‘born’! ha,ha!), and this is what I came up with – now it’s a family favorite! We even eat this for Breakfast! I happen to love lots of ground pepper on mine and a wee dash of salt, but it’s personal taste, so add it if you love it!

I'm just about to go upstairs to make these for Dinner, tonight, so I thought I'd share this incredibly easy and delicious Recipe!

That's it -- no kidding! You can find Frozen Meatballs in the Freezer Section of your regular grocery shop -- I always get mine at Costco or M&M's.

We are partial to the Kraft Original BBQ Sauce, but just use whatever kind you like.

I have an Electric Wok that is perfect for this meal, but you can use any Electric Pan, Pot or even pop it into the oven -- whatever you have! (Cover the Meatballs with Sauce, Cover and Bake for 45 minutes @ 350 Degrees F.)

Put the Meatballs in the Pan and Brown Lightly. If I've left the Dinner to the Last Minute (that would be the vast majority of the time! ha,ha!), I just pop the Meatballs in the Microwave for a few minutes to thaw them out.

Pour the BBQ Sauce mixed with a little water (just enough to thin the Sauce) on top of the Meatballs.

I usually Serve this with Rice and a Nice Little Salad. Makes a Light and Tasty Meal!

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TIPS

Tip # 1. Spot Remover (for your skin!)

I just made this discovery, and I can't believe how well this works. As with anything, try this at your own discretion...

There are so many 'solutions' for problem skin (especially Acne) on different shows and in all sorts of articles, but most of them end in 'see your Dermatologist', but it's my guess that the vast majority of people don't have regular (or any...) access to a Dermatologist, so I think there's room for my little idea. Pass the info along if you know someone who might benefit from it!

Have you ever had a really sore spot on your skin? Almost everyone has a bother at one time or another. Here's what to do: put a couple of regular aspirins on a teaspoon, and add a wee drop of water. Set it by the sink for a minute and it'll dissolve completely. Put on enough of this to cover the spot, and let it dry. Leave it on all night if it's a particularly sore spot. If you like, you can mix it with a wee bit of your favourite skin cream, then apply it to the area. You'll see a remarkable difference in your skin in no time!

I also tried this in a Mask, mixing the dissolved aspirin (any kind -- the coating won't make any difference) with some Liquid Antibacterial Soap. It really tightens up the pores. Take extra care not to get this anywhere near your eyes!

Lately, I have started dissolving a whole lot of Aspirin (Bayer dissolves with the smoothest texture...) in a little container (okay, it's a plumbing part, but only because Dwight has these things laying around all over the house! ha,ha!). About 7 or 9 of them -- God knows why I like odd number so very much, but I do! You can use as many as you like.

Anyway, I use them as a Regular Face Scrub, now -- just scoop some of the Dissolved Aspirin & Water into the palm of your hand and add some Liquid Soap. Removes all the make-up or dirt (male/female...whatever you get on your face!). Again, watch you don't get this in your eyes and moisurize your skin afterwards. Very refreshing.
Make sure you moisturize your skin after any of these little 'treatments'.

I happen to like 'experimenting' with different things, so if there's something else (external, for Goodness Sake!) that you think it might work on, try it. You can always wash it off right away, if you experience any discomfort.

Cold Sores (or anything in that family...) -- apply the Dissolved Aspirin and small amount of Vitamin E, Aloe Vera gel or any over-the-counter Viral fighting gel directly to the spot. You'll be shocked at how quickly it goes away (I finally got Dwight to try this, and the problem was gone right away -- No, not Dwight, just the spot! ha,ha,ha!).

I have the worst time with Allergies, and now I can only use completely Unscented Items (with the exception of Citrus, which I'm still Okay with!). This site has all sorts of useful products for folks like me!

When we first got Tia (our wee dog), I had a really bad allergic reaction to her, but we all loved her sooo much, I went in search of a product that might help, and I found one -- Allerpet/d (Allerpet, Inc., Farnam Pet Products). You just rub it on your pet (cover all the fur...) and any 'pet smell' disappears. The bizarre thing is that we only had to do it a number of times over the first two years, then rarely after that...this stuff really works!

Do you have a wee dog? Boy? Husband?? Chances are high that someone will spill something on your carpets, or you might have a really old stain you just can't get rid of...
this is the best Cleaner I've come across, to date, and the least expensive, too! It's Oxi-Clean. We'll see if we can find a banner so you can check it out from our site. Read all the directions on the container, then mix about a Tablespoon of Oxi-Clean in a 16 oz. spray bottle. I start with enough hot water to dissolve the crystals, then fill the bottle with cold water and Shake Well. Try an inconspicuous area, first, to make sure it'll be okay for your rug. If everything is fine, go ahead and spray any spots on the carpets with the Oxi-Clean Substance, then wipe it off with a clean cloth, preferably white. (In case the colour from another towel runs...) This even worked on a mustard stain. I foolishly gave our wee dog, Tia -- a Cockapoo, and very cute -- a piece of a corndog with mustard on it...she immediately took it to her 'dining area' on the Living Room Carpet, and I thought we might have to replace the whole carpet. The stain disappeared immediately! Amazingly enough, when you spray on the Oxi-Clean, you can literally watch the stain 'disappear'. Very cool!

You can use it in the laundry, too, and for a whole lot of other things, but that's my favourite!

Shop for Drugstore & Personal Items...

Tip # 3. For Your Lovelife! (That's right -- this is the Big Sex Tip! ha,ha!)

Wanna improve your Lovelife? Then you gotta 'clean up your act'! ha,ha,ha! Not only should you always be extra-nice to your spouse (surprising how effective that can be!), but you can make yourself incredibly clean and fresh if you wash up with Baking Soda and your regular soap...Sounds simple, but you'll be pleasantly surprised with the results! Keep a container of Baking Soda (a plastic container with a lid will keep it clean, dry and neat) in the Bathroom. Be sure to 'share' this secret with your partner, too!

Now, that wasn't so bad, was it?? Dwight is beside himself that I put that tip on the site, but I think that anything that improves the life of a couple is a good thing for everyone! Plus, it ain't rocket science -- just a little piece of information that I thought you might like and find useful...!

Tip # 4. Whiten Your Teeth -- put Dry Baking Soda on a dampened Toothbrush (preferably Electric or Battery driven...) and give your teeth a good bush. Do this Twice a Day and you'll see a big difference in about a week.

Tip # 5. Facial Scrubs -- mix about a tablespoon of Baking Soda with your regular Liquid Face Soap -- it makes a gentle 'scrub' and removes all make-up or dirt...

And if you haven't tried dissolving 4 Aspirins in a wee bit of water and making a paste with Liquid Anti-Bacterial Soap, give it a shot. Watch out for your eyes!

Here's my Tip for the Day! Do you have annoying marks on your Painted Walls -- scuff Marks from shoes tossed off at the door, finger prints from people who can't seem to keep their paws off the walls (!), God knows what on your bedroom wall (okay, that's me -- and I really don't know what's on the wall, but I do know I better go scrub it off!)...anyway, you can make your walls look like new if you scrub them very lightly with a Scotch-Brite Heavy Duty Sponge. It's the Green and Yellow one, and I buy them in Bulk (of course!) at Costco.

Get the Scotch-Brite Sponge (do not confuse this with a large bottle of Scotch, but if you've already made that mistake, I think I might know what's on your walls... plus, a few more drinks and you probably won't be so terribly worried about anything, let alone the walls...!) and dip it into some hot, soapy water. Wring it out well.

VERY GENTLY rub the Scrapy Green side over the mark on the wall. I always use a circular motion, but that's probably because I really liked that part of The Karate Kid...

Be extra careful not to rub too hard, lest you'll take the paint right off, which will probably not be an improvement...

Turn the Sponge over and give the whole area one last wipe. You'll be amazed at what a nice job this does.

Also, in our last house we had Laminate Countertops, and the only thing that would easily remove Coffee or Tea Stains (and anything else...) was the Scotch-Brite Pads and hot, soapy water.

To keep these clean and fresh, I pop them in the Dishwasher whenever I run it.

Tip # 7. (From At Home with Ailsa) You know how I mentioned about going ahead and coloring your hair if you have been thinking you'd like a change? Well, here's another little tip from my Teaching Years. I used to Teach Grades 5/6, and one of the things we had to do was a Lice Check, which totally freaked me out. (I was very young and naive at the time... and that's when I decided to start working with Older Students...plus, the smaller kids didn't always get my jokes...Teaching is often quite a bit like Stand-Up Comedy, only you have to squish a Lesson in there amongst the laughs!)

Anyway, we used to let Parents know that if the regular Nix Treatments didn't work, they could try Cooking Oil (Olive Oil or Flax Sed Oil) saturated in their child's hair. And that old myth that you have to immediately run out and cut the kid's hair all off is simply not true -- just do the treatment, pop bedding into the Dryer for 40 minutes on high (and other soft toys the child has come into contact with -- and don't forget to pop the pillow in the dryer, too...). Wash the rest of the regular bedding and clothes. Most importantly, stay calm and make sure your child knows this is something easy to deal with and a common part of childhood for many, many children.


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