Linda's Lunacy

Faith, Home, & Family

Homemade Cleaners

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I like to make my own cleaners. Vinegar and baking soda are favorites of mine. I use vinegar for just about everything. It cleans windows to a shine, it dis-infects as it cleans sinks and counter tops. I use it as a fabric softener and a drain cleaner.

For the drain cleaner, I put baking soda down the drain, then heat up a couple of cups of vinegar, and pour down the drain. It will bubble up and clean the drains. It works well in the bathroom as well as the kitchen.

Sodium bicarbonate CNImage via Wikipedia

I sprinkle baking soda on the carpet, let it sit for a few minutes, then vacuum. It freshens the carpet. If you mix a few drops of essential oils with the baking soda, before sprinkling on the carpet, it leaves a nice scent.

I make a paste of baking soda and water to spread in the oven. Let it sit for a little while, then wipe off. It will soften and clean baked on spills. For tough ones, though, you may have to repeat. I prefer to repeat the process, than use chemicals.

Here’s a recipe for Homemade All Purpose Cleaner.

Here’s a recipe for Safer Bleach Alternative

Edited to add: I just found another link for 6 cleaner recipes!

You can make all kinds of cleaners yourself. It will save you money, as well as keep chemicals out of your home. That’s a win – win combination.

For more frugal ideas, visit Frugal Friday at Life as Mom.

Macaroni Salad Recipe

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I got this recipe from an email list a few years ago. I think this makes the best macaroni salad. This is my favorite macaroni salad recipe for everyday eating, and for cookouts. It makes a lot, so if you don’t need that much, the recipe is easy to cut in half.

 

Macaroni Salad

 

Macaroni Salad Recipe

 

2 1/2 cups elbow macaroni – uncooked (equals about 6 cups cooked)
4 tablespoons pickle relish
4 tablespoons white vinegar
4 tablespoons sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
3 -4 hard boiled eggs
1 1/2 cups mayonnaise
1 carrot (medium sized, about 1 cup) shredded

 

To hard boil eggs, place eggs in a pan and cover with cold water. Cook over medium heat until it comes to a boil. Remove from heat, and let sit for 20 minutes. Cool eggs by placing them in cold water.

Cook macaroni according to package directions. Drain and cool.

Chop eggs, place them in a large bowl with macaroni, add the shredded carrots.

Mix together the pickle relish, white vinegar, white sugar, and salt. Add this to the macaroni, along with the mayonnaise and mix thoroughly.

Refrigerate for at least an hour before serving.

 

macaroni salad

Keeping Recipes Handy

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When I’m cooking or baking, I like to keep often used recipes close at hand. I don’t want to have to get out the big cookbook every time I make our favorites.
To keep those recipes handy, I hang them on the inside of the cabinet door.
Yeah, I didn’t even trim the recipe I ripped out of the flour bag. lol You could, of course, make it look neater. 🙂  The recipes I keep here, are always changing. Sometimes I have computer print-outs, and sometimes, actual recipe cards. lol I use tape to hang the recipes, unless I write them on large post it notes, like the white sheets are in this picture. I also use the tacky stuff that you can buy for hanging papers on the wall. You’ll have t o experiment to see what works best on your cabinet doors.
This is the cabinet that I keep my measuring cups, baking spices, vanilla, yeast, baking powder, baking soda & salt in. It’s very convenient to keep the recipes here, as I have to open the door to get the ingredients.

For more homemaking tips, visit Homemaker Monday, and Tammy’s Recipes.
For more ideas, visit Works For Me Wednesday.
Raising Homemakers

What’s For Dinner?

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Well, I had another week of not sticking to the menu. That’s ok. A menu is a tool, it’s not written in stone. Besides, there’s always next week!

Now for this weeks menu:

Saturday – beef – Cook out at married daughters house, we brought macaroni salad, cupcakes & marshmallows.

Sunday – sandwich day – Sandwiches with leftover macaroni salad & carrot sticks

Monday – chicken – Baked Chicken, baked potatoes, squash, coleslaw

Tuesday – beef – Steak, rice, salad

Wednesday – super simple – leftovers, coleslaw

Thursday – chicken – Asian Chicken Wraps (from the $5 Dinner Mom Cookbook), coleslaw

Friday – Friday Night Fire – Hamburgers with lettuce & tomatoes, macaroni salad or potato salad, carrot sticks

For more Menu Plan Monday ideas, visit I’m an Organizing Junkie.

Cheesy Chicken Crescents

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This meal was a result of leftovers, and no time. They went together very quickly. We put one pan in as soon as it was ready,  and kept going until they were all cooked. We had 3 pans full. It was faster that way.
You don’t really need a recipe for this meal, just leftover chicken, shredded cheese and crescent rolls. How many rolls depend on how big your family is. How much chicken and cheese you need depends on how many rolls you use, and how full  you make them.
My daughter and I laid out the crescent rolls, then placed the shredded cheese and leftover chicken on top. 
We then rolled the crescents up and put a little cheese on the top.

They turned out really well.

And they were so good! Be careful, though! The chicken inside stays hot longer than the roll. I should know, I burnt my tongue!

For more recipes, visit:
Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays,
Tasty Tuesday
Tuesdays at the Table
Yummy Monday
Delicious Dishes
Dish It
The Ultimate Recipe Swap at Life as Mom
What’s on Your Plate?

What’s For Dinner?

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I ended up not sticking to last weeks menu. I have found,though, that even if I don’t stick to the menu, it is still a great help. If I get off track for some reason, I can jump right back on the menu plan, instead of resorting to not so nutritious foods.

Now for this weeks menu:

Saturday – beef – Husband & kids ate out as they went to a ball game. I had leftovers.

Sunday – sandwich day – Chicken tacos

Monday – chicken – Dirty rice with hamburger, yellow squash

Tuesday – beef – Roast in the crockpot with veggies (didn’t have this last week)

Wednesday – super simple – leftovers, salad

Thursday – chicken – Turkey (from the freezer), mashed potatoes, yellow squash

Friday – Friday Night Fire – Hamburgers with lettuce & tomatoes, macaroni salad or potato salad, carrot sticks (No fire last week, trying for this week!)

For more Menu Plan Monday ideas, visit I’m an Organizing Junkie.

Disposing of Medicine

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When my son finished treatment for leukemia, we had some of his medicine (oral chemo) left. The doctor told me to flush them down the toilet.
I didn’t do it, because we have a septic tank. I thought the medicine would disrupt the balance of bacteria in the tank and cause us problems.
I recently found this website Dispose My Meds, that has a pharmacy locater. There are now pharmacies that will take your old and no longer needed medicines and dispose of them.
Homeopathic medicineImage via Wikipedia

It seems that the need is even greater for those with city sewer. There have been studies that show the high level of antibiotics and other medicines in the water supply after the water has been treated!

That’s pretty scary!

So if you have outdated or no longer needed meds, you can visit Dispose My Meds to find a pharmacy near you that will accept your old meds for disposal.

For more homemaking tips, visit Homemaker Monday, and Tammy’s Recipes.
For more ideas, visit Works For Me Wednesday.

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