Smelly Laundry Tip

If you've ever done laundry, you know that if you forget a load in your washer for too long it will turn dreadfully smelly. I think it depends on your particular atmosphere where you live as to how long this takes. I used to be able to forget for about 24 hours and still be able to dry the load without any negative side effects. Lately, though, it's been a matter of hours.

I have found that simply re-washing the load is not enough to overcome the odor that takes up residence in my clothing. I must first dry it, then re-wash it and finally dry it again.

I discovered, however, that baking soda removes that extra step. It really does work! A cup of baking soda in with the wash removes the smell without having to dry everything first.

I highly recommend that, if you don't already, you keep a steady supply of baking soda in your laundry area.

Tangy Twist on Pancakes

This morning, after discovering that I didn't have enough yogurt for all of the children to enjoy, I decided to find a new use for it. Katie requested pancakes for breakfast so I vowed to find a good way to use the last strawberry yogurt in the meal. I first thought of topping the pancakes with a little dollop, but then I thought of the mess that would occur and I quickly changed tactics.

I used my usual batter recipe and reduced the milk by about 3/4 cup. Then I whisked in the yogurt (or yor-gut if you are one of my twins)and sprinkled in a handful of chocolate chips. (These were really for me, since I needed something chocolate after my morning)
The yogurt added a light tang in the background of flavors and the texture was heavenly. I highly recommend you give this a try the next time your little ones have eaten all but one of the ten thousand yogurts that come in a giant box from your local club warehouse store!

**Note: I use a single recipe right now for my family. The babies don't eat enough yet to warrant any more. However, if you double or triple your recipe, you'll need to do the same with your yogurt. My yogurt was 6 oz. **

Timers, Chores, and Christmas

I use my timer a lot. I have a great little one that my friend Nicole gave me for the kids (it's supposed to help you time the 4 - 6 hours between medicine dosages) but I haven't used it for them once. Instead, I set it for 15 minutes and do my chores. It really makes a big difference.

These days, with Christmas creeping ever closer, I'm doing a lot of baking. I just love to bake things. I spend most of the year looking forward to having a reason to do the mixing and shaping and cooking that I get to do in these few precious weeks before the big day.

And what do you use a lot when baking cookies? A timer! So I recently (yesterday) decided that I could combine my two timed tasks. Every time I replace the cookie sheet in the oven, I have about 7 to 10 minutes to get a chore done. It's less time than I usually allow for things and I often have to go back to it once I've done the next cookie swap, but it makes the chores so much nicer to do, knowing that there is something fun to do every time that timer goes off.

Holiday Mood Setting Tip #1

It seems to go that Momma's mood filters down to the rest of the family. So . . . If you need a little holiday pick-me-up, I highly reccommend that you begin your day with a slight change to your morning coffee.

Add just a pinch of ground cinnamon to your morning coffee along with your sugar and cream or however you usually take it. The spice just says 'Christmas' right from the first sip. You could also add a sprinkle of nutmeg if you like.

Alternately, if you have some on hand, use eggnog in place of your cream or milk.

Enjoy!

Cookie Dough!

Next time you are mixing a batch of your favorite cookie dough ( I really like chocolate chip) make a double batch. Then put the extra dough in a container and store it in the bottom of your refridgerator, near the back is best. It will keep there for at least two weeks and be ready for your next sweet attack!

(I have to admit that I've never had cookie dough waiting that long . . . )

The Grocery Budget

It's challenging to make a few dollars stretch to pay for everything a family needs. After several years of hoping, I learned that the best way to financial peace is a budget. Now, admittedly, I'm not feeling completely peaceful yet, but I have to say that I don't lose sleep over it anymore.

Most things are easy to budget for because, if you save your bills or have online access to them, you can look up how much you spent on your utilities last month, or last year, and get a good sense of what it will be in the coming months. Some things don't change, like rent or mortgage, and some things vary drastically, like the gas bill, but they are all predictable.

The hardest item to budget, for me, was groceries. How was I supposed to figure out what I was going to spend next week? Or next month? It seemed impossible. With just a little bit of planning, though, I've managed to make it all work with room to spare on just $100 per week. (For those of you who don't know me well, I'm feeding my husband, my two toddlers, my infant - who really doesn't eat many groceries right now - and me. We'll count that as 4 people)

Here's what I do:

• Step One: I make a quick list of dinners for the week. I know. I hear you complaining: "What if I get to Tuesday and I don't feel like having (___fill in the blank___)." Chances are that a)since it's already thought out for you, you probably won't complain, b) if you don't feel like having that on Tuesday, switch it with Wednesday, and c) why are you putting meals you don't like in your plan! Keep it simple when planning. Sometimes I don't even plan the exact recipe I'll use, just the main meats. Like I'll write "Pork Chops, Veggies, noodles."
• Step Two: I make a list of items I'll need. I use a regular sheet of paper, not a pad of list paper so that I have plenty of room next to each item. I'll tell you why in the next step. To make my list I keep in mind what I already have on hand. Make sure you think about breakfast and lunch. I don't write these down as I usually rotate through the same few things for breakfast, and lunches tend to be leftovers or sandwiches. I also include diapers or any household products I'm running out of.
• Step three: Go back through your list and write in an estimate of how much you think you'll need to spend on each item. Use old receipts if you need to. I always make sure that I estimate just a little high if I'm not certain of a price.
• Step four: Write in a total of your estimated prices. This gives you an idea of how much it's going to cost to do everything. Is your total too high? Go back and decide what can be purchased next week instead.
• Step Five: Shopping! As you pick up each item, write next to the estimate what it actually costs. Now you can see as you go if you are on budget or not. I am almost always under budget and am able to get something I didn't think I was going to! Or, if you don't need it, put that money away for next week's budget or just put it in savings (That's my current favorite choice!)

The more you do this, the better you will be at estimating. Since starting this I have begun to plan ahead for a few weeks for things I know I'm going to need. I go through more than 90 diapers a week, so I spread out my diaper purchases to keep myself from spending $60 all at once on them and having only $40 for food!

It is certainly worth just a little planning to get your grocery budget working well. (Planning also lets me get great use out of coupons!)

Does anyone have any tips or tricks they use to keep their grocery bill low?

For those of you with mixers . . . or Spaetzle

If you have a Kitchen Aid stand mixer, there are thousands of recipes that are now incredibly easy for you. Before I give you my latest discovery, why don't you check out my sister Jennie's incredible bread recipe? I use this same technique once a week and keep my family in fresh bread with just a few minutes work.

I recommend that you start picking up attachments for your mixer (ask for them for birthday and Christmas!). Most of the attachments do far more than their names imply. My tip today involves the meat grinder.

In a conversation with Jennie (you did check out her bread recipe, right? If you didn't, your really missing out. Go ahead. I'll wait here. Did you do it? Okay . . .keep reading!) a long while ago, she mentioned that she was trying to make spaetzle but didn't have a spaetzle maker. I recommended a cookie press might do the trick, but I have recently found that if you extrude your pasta dough through the meat grinder attachment, with the blade in place, you get a pasta that looks and feels a lot like spaetzle!

If you don't have a stand mixer or just don't have this attachment, you can probably do it with the cookie press. . . Did it work for you, Jen?

Bacon (Updated!)

I recently saw a show about bacon and ways to cook it. I tried one way today and I'm in love!

Take a cookie sheet (the kind with the edges on it) and put a rack inside it (you can use the rack you cool your cookies on). Lay your bacon on it in one layer and broil it for about 5-8 minutes! It's so easy . . .no flipping or getting spattered. The grease collects in the pan and the bacon comes out crispy and flat. If you like it a little chewy, just cook it a minute less.

Enjoy!

** Amber, I saw this on "Good Eats" on the Food Network. One of my favorite cooking shows! Also . . . If you want to add a counter to your blog, just click on my counter and it will take you to the page where you can sign up for free ones.

Beckie, I never liked microwaved bacon. It seems too tough. Try it in the oven one day. You can start it and go ahead and cook your other breakfast items while your bacon takes care of itself. Just set a timer so you don't forget it! lol. **

Getting Better

I took Jennie's advice and started taking away whatever toy Josie happens to hit Katie with. It seems to be helping. She gets upset with me, which is the reaction I was looking for, and tries to get the toy back. After a few moments she moves on to something else.

I can't quantify the results, but I believe we have had fewer hitting incidents since beginning this new campaign.

Thanks, Jennie!