A few hints from the book " 15 minutes house and budget Manager

[bee9984]

I just got this book the night before last and have read a few hints and tricks which I thought I would post. There are so many ideas but these are the ones which I have written down in a notebook so far.

(1) Don't keep an address book for home use. Instead buy a small 3"by 5" card file box. Use 3"by 5" cards to list names alphabetically and file them in the box. You'll never lose the box or spend money replacing old address books. When someone moves or changes a phone number, just replace the card. Add cards when needed. On the back of the card you can write important information about the person; directions to home, favorite colours, names of family members, birthdays, favorite foods etc. This will give you a great source of information about the person.

(2) Try to make Dr. appointments for the first appointment in the morning so that you wont be delayed by someone ahead of you and you will still have most of the day left when you finish.

(3) Make your own cracker crumbs in the blender.

(4) Get more juice from a lemon , microwave on high for 30 seconds. You will get twice as much juice and the vitamins wont be destroyed.

(5) To easily remove shish kebab meat and veggies from the skewers, give the skewers a quick light coating of salad oil or vegetable cooking spray before you put the meat on them. It also makes for a quick clean-up.

(6) To keep wax paper from curling up or slipping around when rolling out pie crust, wipe the counter top with a damp cloth or sponge before placing the waxed paper on it. The moisture will keep the paper flat and prevent it from sliding.

(7) Instead of buying cakes, pies or cookies, make your own and cut the sugar by a third or even a half.

( Use clean squeeze type catsup and mustard containers to decorate cakes. Their narrow spouts are great for writing and drawing with icing.

(9) To avoid a pot boil-over, apply a thin coat of cooking oil around the top of the inside of your pot.

(10) A great way to clean mushrooms is to add 3 to 4 tbsp of flour to a meduim size bowl of cold water. Wash muchrooms in water. The dirt adheres to the flour particles amost like magic. The mushrooms come out very clean.


I wanted to let you all know in case noone has tried or heard of this before (like me lol ) that I tried hint #9 tonight for supper and I couldn't believe it, it totally worked!!!! No more boiling over pots for me

I poured a bit of oil in a teaspoon and just dipped the tip of my finger into the oil and then rubbed the oil around the inner edge(just below the rim) of the pot and put my potatos on high to get the water boiling, as soon as it started to boil I left it ( with the pot cover on )just to see and by Gosh, the water in my pot did not boil over the rim!! I will be doing this in the future for my rice (when first starting it ) pasta and all veggies . I am doing the happy dance!

[jlxian]

Great tips. A fellow I work with uses the index cards for all his contacts' addresses and phone numbers. Its very handy --- and you can cross reference the cards --- John Doe, the Plumber can be filed under D for Doe and P for Plumber.

Thanks for sharing!

[Emerald_Mommy]

Great tips! I definitely have to try the pot one. I'm forever boiling over my pots

[baxjul]

Thanks!

[frugalnana]

Thank you for the hints. I like the address book idea, if its a close friend or something I could probably write on the back what they wear, size etc. Hmm probably could rate a few businesses also.

[PrairieRose]

Very good tips! Thanks!

[Pepper]

Thanks for the tips!!

[SHOPGIRL]

I always put a little olive oil in my water when I boil pasta. It helps it from boiling over and sticking together.

[Persimmon Lace]

Thank you for the tips!

[bee9984]

You are all very welcome I read some more tips this evening and i will try to post them tomorrow.

I did the oil again with my spaghettie noodles and it still worked but a couple of times I thought it just might boil over so I did lift the cover for a second to check but it didn't boil over , I had to give the noodles a stir anyhow.lol.

I cooked my broccoli and did the same trick with the oil and it went perfectly......I am really having so much fun!

[MandiDawn]

My BF is going to love that tip!! He is always complaining to me that I mess up the stove, since all my pots boil over and since He is in charge of cleaning the stove, he hates that. lol
He just cleaned the stove a few weeks ago, so it's all clean now, and with trying that tip, hopefully I can keep it looking clean!!

[guest7]

Bee Thanks for the tips...
got anymore?

[waterlover]

Thank you for the great tips. I use the early appointment one as much as I can. Lately I switched Doctors and her appointments start at 7:00am, I'm an early morning person so this works out great.