Monday, February 23, 2009

IHOP - FREE Pancakes tomorrow!


Tuesday February 24th - known also as Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras... and National Pancake Day, which dates back several centuries to when the English prepped for fasting during Lent. Strict rules prohibited the eating of all dairy products during Lent, so pancakes were made to use up the supply of eggs, milk, butter and other dairy products…hence the name Pancake Tuesday, or Shrove Tuesday.

To celebrate Pancake Day, IHOP is offering one free short stack (three) of their buttermilk pancakes. All they ask is that you consider making a donation to suport the local children's hospitals through the Children's Miracle Network , or other local charities.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

HELPFUL HOUSEHOLD HINTS

Did you know...:
CHEESE: Store your opened chunks of cheese in aluminum foil. It will stay fresh much longer and not mold.
PEPPERS with 3 bumps on the bottom are sweeter and better for eating. Peppers with 4 bumps are better for cooking.
BEEF: Add a teaspoon of water when frying beef. It will help pull the grease away from the meat while cooking.
EGGS: To make scrambled eggs or omlets rich, add sour cream, cream cheese, or heavy cream.
BROWNIES: For a cool brownie treat, make brownies as directed. Melt Andes mints in a double broiler and pour over warm brownies. Let set for a wonderful minty frosting.
GARLIC: Add garlic immediately to a recipe if you want a light garlic flavor; add at the end if you want a stronger taste of garlic.
SNICKERS: Leftover Snickers bars make a delicious dessert. Place sliced apples on a baking dish and sprinkle chopped candy bars ontop. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes. Serve alone or with vanilla ice cream. Yummm!
REHEAT PIZZA: Heat up leftover pizza in a nonstick skillet on top of stove, set heat to med-low and heat until warm. Keeps the crust crispy.
EASY DEVILED EGGS: Put cooked egg yolks in a zip lock bag. Seal, mash until they are all broken. Add ingredients, reseal, keep mashing thoroughly, cut the tip of the bag and squeeze the mixture into the egg. Throw away bag - easy clean up!
FROSTING: When you buy a container of cake frosting, whip it with your mixer a few times. You can double it in size...you get to frost more cake/cupcakes with the same amount... less sugar and calories.
BREAD: To warm biscuits, pancakes, or muffins that were refrigerated, place them in a microwave with a cup of water. The increased moisture will keep the food moist and help it reheat faster.
NEWSPAPER WEEDS AWAY: Place layers of wet newspapers around your plants overlapping as you go and cover with mulch. Weeds may get thru gardening plastic, but not wet newspapers!
MOSQUITOS: Place a dryer sheet in your pocket. It will keep the mosquitos away!
SQUIRREL AWAY: TO keep squirrels from eating your plants, sprinkle your plants with cayenne pepper. It won't hurt your plants and the animals won't come close!
MEASURING CUPS: Before you pour sticky ingredients into a measuring cup, fill with hot water. Dump out - but don't dry. Add the ingredient (such as peanut butter) and watch how easily it comes right out!
FOGGY WINDSHIELD: Use a chalkboard eraser when your car windows fog. It works better than a cloth.
CONDITIONER: Use your hair conditioner to shave your legs. It's cheaper than shaving cream and leaves your legs really smooth.
FRUIT FLIES: To rid of pesky fruit flies, fill a small glass with 1/2" Apple Cider Vinegar and 2 drops of dishwashing liquid. Flies will be drawn to the cup and gone!
ANTS: Put small piles of cormeal where you see ants. They eat it, take it "home", but cannot digest it so it kills them. It may take a week or so, especially if it rains, but it works and you don't have to worry about pets or small children being harmed.
CLOTHES DRYER: If you use dryer sheets, they leave a 'film' on your screen that you cannot see. Be sure to clean the mesh screen by washing with warm soapy water and a nylon brush at least every six months. This will help your dryer last longer and avoid a fire hazard!

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Happy President's Day


Today is President Abraham Lincoln's Birthday - and we wanted to give you a head's up, to plan for a great 'family activity' for Monday as we celebrate George Washington's Birthday.
Valley Forge National Park
Visitors meet portrayers of Martha Washington and General Washington in the Visitors meet portrayers of Martha Washington and General Washington in the Welcome Center while listening to period music by the "Colonial Revelers". Children make their own tri-corner hats and design birthday cards for the General in the Encampment Store from 10 a.m. to noon, followed by Mrs. Washington`s presentation and tasting of a birthday cake baked from her own original recipe. Kids may also enlist in the Continental Army, after which General Washington will review and lead the young "troops" in marching and maneuvering drills executed according to General Von Steuben`s training manual. Free and open to the public.

But if Valley Forge is too far, here's a fun (almost educational) project:

LOG CABIN CRAFT
1. Cut the top flap of a milk carton off and tape or glue it closed to form the room.
2. Spread chocolate frosting or peanut butter on the sides of the milk carton then cover with pretzels.
3. Break a square cracker in half for the door, smaller pieces for the window.
4. Stick a Rolo or other tubular shaped candy to the top as the roof.

Monday, February 9, 2009

HUGS & KISSES


This Sweet Treat is an ideal "care package" to that special someone: Start with a layer of pretzels on a cookie sheet. We prefer the "Butter Snaps", they are in the shape of a square with a 'grid pattern'. Place an unwrapped Hershey's Kiss or Hug ontop of each pretzel. Bake for 2-3 minutes at 350. (Note: the white chocolate "Hug" will melt quicker than the milk chocolate "Kiss".) While the chocolate is still hot, place an M&M in the center of each Hug or Kiss... this time of year, we use the Valentine's bags, with pink, red, and white M&M's. Allow to cool, and they may be kept in the freezer. Unwrapping the kisses is a great project for "little helpers" - but be sure to buy extra chocolate!

AND GUESS WHAT??? On this day - February 9th, in 1894, Milton S. Hershey founded Hershey's!! Check out more about that wonderful place called Chocolate World .

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

NEW HOLIDAY created by CSP

Taken from Charlotte Smarty Pants: Please click here to read more about : CSP: Hug-a-Girlfriend Day