Linda's Tip of the Week

Before I clean, I declutter by going through a room and placing unwanted, unused items in a trash bag for donation. I then put the bag in the garage. If I find I really need it, I know where it is. If I don't, it is given to the next pick-up charity that calls.The less I have in my house, the easier it is to clean....and keep clean.

A Recipe for a Clean House

1 wand
2 magic words

Combine and stir. Enjoy!

If only it were that easy. :)

Calling all house cleaning 'recipes'!

Does anyone have any house cleaning tips, tricks, success stories? Please share!

Food Eggstravaganza Recipes

Peanut Butter Granola
(from Katie C.)

1/3 c oil
1 c peanut butter
1 c brown sugar
7 c rolled oats

In a large saucepan, heat oil and peanut butter over low heat until it is melted and smooth. Remove from heat and add sugar. Add oats and stir well until combined. Spread onto a cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 18-20 minutes, stirring at least once. Cool and store in an airtight container.

Basic Granola
1 1/2 c brown sugar
1/3 c water
2 tsp vanilla
1 c oil
6 c rolled oats
1/2 c whole wheat flour
1 jar wheat germ
1 tsp salt

In a medium saucepan, combine brown sugar and water. Bring to a boil and boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and add vanilla and oil. In a large bowl, mix together oats, flour, wheat germ and salt. Add cooled liquid and stir until combined. Bake at 200 for 1 hour and stir. Then bake for another hour or until dry.

Whole Wheat Bread
2 Tbsp dry yeast
1/2 c warm water
5 c hot tap water
2 tbsp salt
2/3 c honey
2/3 c oil
12 c whole wheat flour

Dissolve yeast in the 1/2 c water. Combine hot tap water and 7 c flour until thoroughly mixed. Add salt, honey and oil. Mix until well blended. Add 1 c flour and yeast/water mixture to dough and blend thoroughly. Add 3-4 c additional flour and knead dough for 10 minutes until the dough is the consistency of cookie dough. Oil hands and shape the dough into four greased loaf pans. Cover pans with a towel or plastic wrap and let loaves rise until doubled. Bake in 350 oven for 45 minutes. Remove loaves from pans and cool on wire racks.

Magic Mix
2 1/3 cups dry powdered milk (non-instant)
1 cup all-purpose flour (or 1/2 cup cornstarch)
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, at room temperature
Combine dry milk, flour or cornstarch, and butter into a large bowl. Mix with electric hand mixer until it looks like cornmeal. Keep mix tightly covered in the refrigerator for up to eight months.

To make white sauce:
2/3 cup Magic Mix
1 Cup Water
In saucepan, combine Magic Mix and water. Stir rapidly over medium heat until mixture starts to bubble and thicken.

Magic Mix Pudding
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup Magic Mix
2-3 Tbsp Cocoa
2 cups water
1 tsp vanilla

For more magic mix recipes and other great food storage ideas, visit http://everydayfoodstorage.net/

Roasted Wheat Berries
1/4 cup wheat berries
1/2 Tbsp oil
1/8 tsp. salt
Heat a small amount of oil in a skillet. Add wheat berries and cook until they pop (they exapand slightly - not as much as popcorn). Swirl kernels around in the pan to prevent burning. Sprinkle with salt while hot.

Food Eggstravaganza Freezer Meal Info

Information for freezer meal.
Burritos - 6 qty - cost approx. $5.00
Meat, burritos, green salsa and cheese will be provided.
You will need to bring a container to freeze your burritos in, rice mixture - recipe below -and anything else you might want in them such as black beans.

Cilantro-lime rice
1 c. uncooked rice
1 tsp butter or margarine
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 c water
1/2 cup chicken broth or put chicken bouillon in water and increase water by 1/2 c.
2 tbs lime juice
2 tsp sugar
3 TBS fresh chopped cilantro

In saucepan combine rice, butter, garlic, chicken broth & water. Bring to a boil. Lower heat, cover and cook 15-20 minutes, until rice is tender. remove from heat. In a small bowl combine lime juice, sugar and cilantro. Pour over hot cooked rice.

One more thing - don't forget to bring an 8x8 or 9x13 inch pan to put your burritos in. :)

April's Weekday RS Meeting

Food 'Eggs'travaganza! Check back soon for information about the freezer meals.