Here are some "Short Answers" to some of the questions readers have submitted to Tawra and Jill:
Jill from Michigan asks:
"Tawra – I read your information of cloth diapering and I’m wondering how much vinegar you wash them with and do you use special laundry soap?"
I put in about 1/2 – 1 cup in and don’t use a special detergent.
Janel From New Jersey asks:
"Hi! What can I use to clean wooden kitchen cabinets? Some of them are sticky and greasy (especially over the stove). Thanks, Janel"
I use Murphy’s Oil Soap. You can find it in the cleaning section of the store. Tawra
I use Dow foaming bathroom cleaner. I spray it on the gook literally rolls off. I once had to clean a house in which the cabinets were covered in a thick gummy layer from having a heavy smoker in the house and the Dow just bubbled it right off. I use it more in my kitchen for all grease then I do in my bathroom. Be sure to wipe dry when you are done. Jill
Nancy from Ellinwood, Kansas asks:
"Can you use canned pumpkin to make your pumpkin pancakes, sauce, etc?"
You sure can! It works great!
Mollie From Florida asks:
"What is the difference in types of powered sugar? Usually the recipes call for powered sugar, but not what type. I bought 4x and someone told me that you should only use 10X."
If you are just doing baking at home it doesn’t really matter. Where it matters is for professional bakers who do fancy things like wedding cakes. Whatever I find in the store works just fine for me. I have never had any problems with my baking because of it.
Denise From New York asks:
"Is it possible to freeze chili con carne? I am the only one in the household who eats it. I only make it a couple times in the crock pot because it can be expensive(because of the meat)."
Yes, you can. I just freeze mine in 2 cup portions in zip top bags or 2 cup plastic containers.
Elizabeth Asks:
"I put self-rising flour and all purpose flour in separate containers for storage, however I never marked them. Is there any way to tell which is which before I go to bake, like adding a little liquid to them? "
You might taste them. The self rising would have a bitter salty, baking powder taste to it.
Kathleen writes:
"I see tips frequently about how to re-use vacuum bags. Please remember that the bag is part of the filtration system, and will not work nearly as well after emptying it. You would be doing yourself, and your vacuum a favor by buying the cheap bags and changing them more often, rather than try to re-use them.
Thanks for the tip, Kathleen! We tried this once — ONLY ONCE. The resulting dust cloud quickly made us realize it was a a bad idea!
photo by: valeriebb
Jill, Did you ever use Caster Sugar? I went into a big grocery store that has some products from around the world, and I noticed the Caster Sugar and bought some. It’s used a lot in Europe. It’s a superfine sugar that is suppose to dissolve very easily. It’s good for desserts and icings etc, so that there isn’t that undissolved gritty taste. Also good for use in cold liquids and for meringues. I did a little research on the internet and one site said you could take regular sugar and put it in a food processor to make it superfine like Caster Sugar. Caster Sugar is expensive where I bought it because it was imported from Europe so I was wondering what you thought.
Bea I have heard of it before but never used it. Usually the things I have trouble with sugar dissolving in are mostly drinks like tea or lemonade so I just make a simple syrup (heat up equal parts sugar and water till sugar is dissolved). With my ice tea I just add the boiling water to the sugar and bags which does the same thing, in the case of lemonade I just heat up part of the water I will use for it and pour it over the sugar and lemon juice in the pitcher then add cold water for the rest so because that dissolves it for me I have never needed to try Caster sugar.
I do know putting sugar in the food processor does make it super fine so you might just try that and see how it works.
Thank you so much Jill for the instructions on the simple syrup. I remember reading about that and forgot. Thanks for reminding me.
I have just been told after 1 year of pain that I have gout.
Added to the CF, fibro, nerve damage in my arms, and deteriorating discs in my lower back and an allergy to citrus this was not welcome news. Not complaining since I still have my family though in all corners of the globe but they are there.
My problem is I can’t have any citric acid which is in most things now a days as a mould inhibitor. Now added to this food problem one thing that seems to set off the swelling of gout is potatoes. I am trying sweet potatoes but don’t really care for them too often but is there some vegetable that can replace potatoes for a side dish. I grew up on potatoes at almost every supper. I love vegetables but don’t care for rice or pasta.
Any helpful suggestions would be appreciated.
Hiya Grandma,
First let me say how sorry I am that you are in such pain, but know that I will be praying for you. Now here’s my take on the side dish idea in place of good ole taters, spaghetti squash. Squash is crazy good for you, full of vitamins and tastes yummy too. The way I serve it is to either microwave or bake it until tender. You need to score it a few times with a knife so it doesn’t explode..lol. When you can easily stick a fork or a knife in it, then it’s done. Cut it open, and using a fork go across the grain of the strings and seperate them. They will look like spaghetti. I add garlic, some healthy butter and a little oregano. Even my children love this stuff. You can put spaghetti sauce on it too if you like. I hope this helps out with your side dish quandry. Forgive me if I was too specific, you probably already know how to prepare it, but just in case you know. God bless you. Stacey
Stacey I have been trying to think of something to answer grandma and came up brain dead so what a good idea. You didn’t go into to much detail because many of us (myself included) are afraid of different kinds of squash because we aren’t always sure how to cook them or what to do with them if we get them cooked. Thanks.
I can’t wait to try the spaghetti squash, Stacey made it sound delish!
Well had a telehealth conference with a dr. in Toronto. I am 14 hours away in alight traffic time of year.
He says from what he saw and read about me I have not had fibro ever.
What I have is a bad type of rheumatoid arthritis. It is bad because of the pain but it won’t deform me. So now a lot of different drugs blood test every month and a visit with him every 4 months.
Now about the potatoes he doesn’t think that would cause a problem but since I have found it does I will save them for special treat days.
I love acorn squash but don’t really care for the other. But I had forgotten about them since I am the only one who will eat them.
Spaghetti squash the size we can get here would do me for a couple of months but the acorn ones are perfect for side dish for 2 meals or a just squash meal for one.
I have started making fried rice instead of the plain stuff and tomorrow we are heading for the big city if it is raining and will wander through some larger grocery stores too see what I can find.
thanks for reminding me of squash. I enjoy trying the new vegetables from asia I just have to make sure they are not citrus based before I buy them or they are garbage.
I am really enjoying this site. I love discussing food and house care with others.
Grandma I know you said you didn’t really like rice that well but you might try cooking your rice in chicken broth instead of water. It gives it a really good and different flavor.
I was reading a recipe for “Bath Bombs” in your cookbook last night. And saw that Citric Acid is used. Where do I buy this? I’m thinking of Christmas and wanted to make some for presents. Tbanks.
A health food store, or Amazon.
I found two places online that sell Citric Acid. One is King Arthur Flour Company. A 3.4 ounce jar costs $5.95 and their phone # is 1-800-827-6836. The other place has a 1 pound bag for $3.25 and their phone # is 1-877-627-7883. I will see if a local health food store has it, and if not, will have to order from one of these companies.
Citric Acid is available in most drug stores. Our small town carries it all the time.
I have started eating rice a bit more.
This no potatoes and the new pills I am on are making it so I have lost 5lbs in 3 weeks. Still look like an apple with toothpick arms and legs but the apple is getting smaller.
It is now starting to be fresh vegetables so potatoes always took a back seat to those.
Got our first baskets of Ontario Tomatoes in the store today. Now I know summer has arrived even though the furnace turned itself on this morning.
Wish we could get a longer spring and less winter but not in this area.
Our freezer quit today!
I had a lot of thawed meat in it, so I cooked all the chicken, pork tenderloins, fish sticks, etc. in a 350 degree oven using alittle salt and Pepper. Then I repackaged the meat into one meal portions and after the freezer was repaired I put the meat back in. I now have lots of meals half ready. Got any suggestions? I’m pretty tired, but hopeful that I didn’t lose any meat. Thanks!
I do that all the time and then I just defrost the meat and use in my recipes. It saves me time browning and cooking the meat.
Hi Grandma~
I enjoy spaghetti squash tossed with butter, salt and parmesan cheese while the squash is still warm. I hold a half of the cooked squash with an oven mitt and scrape out the strands with the fork. I usually cook it in the microwave-make sure you puncture the squash several times with a knife to let the steam escape.
Jill, I know you like cream cheese so I thought you might like these recipes for Fall. The first one is “Caramel Apple Dip” and you use, 8-oz. package of cream cheese softened, 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed, 1/2 cup butter, melted, 1 teaspoon vanilla. Combine all ingredients; mix well. Refrigerate for 2 hours. Makes about 2 cups. The other is “Pumpkin Dip” and you use, 8-oz package of cream cheese, softened, 2 cups powdered sugar, 15-oz can pumpkin, 1 teaspoon ground ginger, 1 teaspoon allspice, 2 teaspoons cinnamon. Blend cream cheese and sugar together; mix in remaining ingredients. Makes about 3 cups. Good with gingersnaps.
These sound so good. The pumpkin one is great because I am always trying to find a new recipe to use around Thanksgiving when canned pumpkin is on sell so this will be a great recipe for then. I also make my gingerbread men and this might taste good with them or the gingersnaps (which I love).
Here is another good recipe using cream cheese. “Chocolate Chip Cheese Ball” 8-oz cream cheese, softened, 1/2 cup butter, softened, 1/4 teaspoon vanilla, 3/4 cup powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, packed, 3/4 cup mini chocolate chips, 3/4 cup chopped pecans. Combine cream cheese, butter and vanilla; blend until fluffy. Add sugars; mix well. Fold in chocolate chips. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours. Shape dough into a ball; cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for one hour. Uncover and roll in chopped pecans before serving. Makes about 2 cups. GOOD WITH SUGAR COOKIES AND VANILLA WAFERS.
Oh yum!! I wish you wouldn’t have posted this one. I think I will have a new favorite!
Good! I really hope you and your mom like the recipes, Tawra. I’m so looking forward to Fall and can’t wait to make my Autumn recipes.
Hello,
Regarding caster sugar posted by Bea.
I come from New Zealand and castor sugar is used often, mainly in cake recies, however I used it in other recipes as well. You can substitute it for regular sugar. Makes wonderful sponge cakes and other light cakes. It is less grainy than regular sugar, and makes for a better tasting cake in my opinion. I have lived in Canada for many years now, and this product s very hard to find. Maybe I will try a speciality store. Thanks for the tip. Do you have access to a computer? You could try some New Zealand or Australian reipe sites, or your local library may be able to help. Blessings Yvonne
Jill, I agree that the Pumpkin Dip recipe would be good with homemade gingerbread cookies or even gingerbread cake with a dollop on top. Yum.
can’t post this on kids birthday parties but thought you might like to use it sometime.
a change from the same old birthday cakes.
ingredients.
frozen pound cake.
caramel sauce
crushed peanuts
vanilla pudding.
cut cake to look like chicken nuggets.
dip in the caramel sauce to just coat.
dip in the crushed peanuts.
make up vanilla pudding and put it into a small dish for a dipping sauce.
faux chicken nuggets.
you could use take out dishes to make it more authentic and change the colour of the puddings with food colour to make it look like plum sauce or a mustard honey sauce.
I just saw a picture of a sweet potatoe squash and since I have never heard of them before could you tell me what they are and if you could use them like you do sweet potatoes or give a recipe or two on what to do with them.
My husband loves sweet potatoes and I thought these would be nice as a change.
I have no idea but I’m guessing it’s just a regular sweet potato.
tawra just did a search and was I wrong. I figured it would be a states thing because you guys do sweet potatoes more than any country I know.
It grows in Ontario and it is a squash. You can toast the seeds like pumpkin seeds as well.
It melts down like pumpkin. You just cut it in half scoop out the seeds and roast it with butter.
I have never seen it but will now see if the grocery store will carry it.
learn something new everyday if you don’t it is a wasted day.
not sure I believe that but it sounds good.
Cool! Thanks for letting me know. The plant is large like a squash plant so I thought maybe that was it.
Jill, What is the best surface to roll out cookie dough? I made some cut-out sugar cookies recently and tryed different methods to make the dough not stick to the surface, but I had a hard time. I first used wax paper. I taped it down to the table, and it worked okay, but then the dough started to stick. So then I removed the wax paper and floured the tablecloth (plastic) and that worked a little better. I thought of removing the tablecloth to use the table surface, but wasn’t sure if that would be a good idea. The sugar cookie dough was on the softer side, so that could have been part of the problem. I did store in refrigerator overnight as recipe said. After much effort the cookies came out good, but I thought there has to be an easier way. Do you oil the surface at all, or the rolling pin? And how much flour is “lightly floured surface” that the recipe called for?
Bea, part of rolling out cookie dough comes with practice and getting the feel of things. The first time I made my gingerbread men it took me most of the morning, much hair pulling out and then most of them weren’t eatable. I said never again will I make these. A few years later I was desperate for gifts so I pulled the recipe out again. Now many years later I can bake and decorate 10 dozen (120 cookies) in an hour easily without breaking a sweat.
So you see some of it is practice but here are a couple of things you might try. You don’t want the dough so soft you can’t work with it but if you add too much flour it could make what you are baking tough. I lightly flour- which means just putting a thin layer of flour on the surface- I adjust that though. If the dough is sticky I put enough flour so it won’t stick to the surface which means you can add more the the light flouring it calls for. The minute the dough stops sticking to the surface or the rolling pin you have enough flour and should brush the rest away. If it starts sticking again then add a little more.
Some people use a marble surface which I hear works nice but I don’t have one I have for years used one of those plastic Tupperware sheets to roll my things on and just last year I broke down and had the kids get me one of those new silicone sheets. It works just the same as my old Tupperware one. I have used my table top too. I have one of those 1940′s-50′s metal table which I have rolled out on before and I use to have an old round oak table that I rolled on too. Both did fine. The main reason I use a mat is I just hate cleaning the gook off of my table when I am done and with me making so many (about 5,000 cookies for Christmas) it does go a little faster.
I think the main thing for you to do is to stiffen your dough slightly and that should help and to just keep practicing. I also never liked using a wooden rolling pin (although my mom and Tawra both use one). I use an antique glass rolling pin for almost 40 years until last year when I retired it for a new silicone one too. I’m not sure I like my new one as well but will try it again this year.
So don’t feel too bad if at first you have a little trouble.
Oh and if it keeps sticking to my rolling pin I will rub some flour on it too. To be honest rolling out some cookies does take a little more work that is why I have so many people wanting me to make the gingerbread men for them. My neighbor want to learn to make them and I had her over one day. By the time we were done with just a few cookies she laughed and said never again and you are charging way to little for your cookies.
PS In the next few weeks I have several posts scheduled to come out on cookie and pie baking tips.
Bea, I have always found that when “flouring” the surface for sugar cookies, it is best to use powdered sugar. It keeps your dough from getting too stiff and adds in just a touch more sweetness. You could probably even cut some of the sugar out of the original recipe to allow for your “flouring”. Just an idea. Also, if you have a large, hard plastic cutting board it’s a good idea to freeze that and roll your cookie dough out on that.
Good luck.
Thank you Rhonda for the powdered sugar tip, sounds like a good idea. Also, Jill, Thank you for your help. I guess it’s just not as easy making cut-out cookies as drop ones, but with your suggestions and practice, I will do better. It really is an art and a skill. I have to tell you that I made the sugar cookies in a heart shape, and they went over well at the birthday party I took them to, so at least all my hard work paid off. Whew!!! AND I will be looking forward to your future tips. Also, you making 5000 cut out gingerbread cookies IS QUITE AN ACCOMPLISHMENT. WOW!
Bea, I forgot to tell you too to be sure and use a metal spatula to lift them after you cut them out and go to put them on the cookie sheet. Plus to start out with the smaller the cookie cutter and cookies the easier they are to manage.
Do you have any ideas about where to find inexpensive women’s shoes in narrow sizes? All I can find cost usually $80 up, and usually end up hurting my feet anyway. Thanks, and love all that you two do.
You might try e-bay. Otherwise I’m not sure. Tawra
You also might try some place like QVC or HSH. They have a ton of shoes way under $80 and what is good about them is you can wear them for a couple of weeks up to 30 days and if for any reason they don’t work you can send them back. Their return policy is very easy and good. That way you won’t be out anything but maybe a little postage but that would be better then losing $80.
We have a thrift store which sterilizes their shoes and I get mine there. They have lots of narrow shoes because most people can’t wear them but you may not have a place as nice as that or don’t feel comfortable in buying used so in that case I would try qvc and hsn.
Thank you Jill for the tip about the metal spatula. I didn’t know about that. Also, I was reading some cookbooks over the weekend and one tip I learned is to use 1 part sugar to 2 parts flour to flour surface for cut-out cookies, and that is suppose to help the dough from not sticking, so I will try that too.
Thanksgiving day in Canada is Monday. So we are trying a new thing.
My husband wants to try deep frying one. We are not turkey eaters and there are only the two of us. But since I love him I said ok. Now my question is.
Can I do the same left overs as with a roasted one. Like make soup from the carcass and turkey stew and pot pies, or will the meat be drier than with a roasted one.
If this experiment is a failure I know our two cats will benefit from it anyway.
Thanks in advance. Going out to do our traditional Thanksgiving weekend thing in an hour. We take the guns and go hunting but this year it will be more picture taking than shooting. Too much work to get a 300lb bear ready for the freezer and partridge are too dry when cooked. So hunting for pictures instead. Guns along for protection.
Enjoy your weekend,
Yes you can do the same with the leftovers and they might even be a little yummier having been fried. The meat shouldn’t be drier if done right because the grease being so hot instantly seals the juices into the meat and keeps most of the juices in it. Crispy out side and moist in. Yum. Just be careful doing it because the can catch on fire easily.
sounds good. we will be doing it in the lane way. Just have to move the car and van to the other side of the road. Supposed to be sunny all day tomorrow.
I did deep fried chicken wings in my little inhouse fryer last night and I thought they were cool enough (they weren’t got hot oil all down my lip and chin. boy did that hurt. thankfully no blister but trying to laugh when we were at a friends house later was a bit awkward.
Will definetly let the turkey sit the 15 min recommended before carving it.
Trying all sorts of new ideas this year. Found a recipe for dressing that you do in the slow cooker so will try that one. I know how to it in the bird but also learned how to do it in a pan in the oven. So the slow cooker will another attempt.
The things you learn as you grow older. Would never have attempted frying a turkey if I still had little ones around. They are too curious for me to feel safe doing it.
Might post how it turned out. Let others know to try something different if they get the chance.
Yes do let us know how it went.
Jill,
I have my grandma’s antique glass rolling pin. She used to fill it with crushed ice and put a cork in the open end. It worked so well. She was able to roll out her dough and it would be almost cold. Her cookie cutters always cut sharps edges and she could get them up very easily with a spatula. I remember breaking up ice into pieces for her….maybe she just let me watch come to think of it:) She had a metal meat mallet that she would pound everything with!
Anyway, I got the rolling pin when she passed away. It’s funny-she had things worth more money but I really wanted the things I had happy memories of with her. I’m going to see if I can find a cork to use in the rolling pin-I have been using it without for a long time. This discussion made me recall the ice and cork. THAT’S what I’ve been doing wrong!
Rolling along now………:)
Yes they are suppose to have ice or cold water in them but I have always used mine without either. I need to really break down and try it some time. I’m with you on the things I love which I have from my grandma too. It is little inexpensive things from her kitchen or something like her button box which mean the most to me too.
Grandma, your tradition of hunting, now taking pictures, sounds like so much fun! We spent the day at a tractor pull. MY first time at one of those. Really hot here in Florida. But there was a nice breeze in the shade. Our 3 year old grandson seemed to have a good time. Have a Happy Thanksgiving on Monday! That fried turkey sounds so delicious!
well the trip yesterday was so much fun we have decided that since the turkey is thawed out we will put it in the oven and roast it with the dressing already in it. Put it on at 2 and come back at 6 or 7 and have dinner.
We have about 30 pictures of a beaver swimming around the lake he made and they turned out so you can almost hear the splash of him hitting the water with his tail in the one. We were there for about 1/2 an hour and he just kept swimming letting us get good pictures.
We got one of a partridge sitting in a tree with just branches and the light of the setting sun behind her. It is absolutely fantastic. Black silhouette of the bird against a grey blue sky.
We also shot 2 partridge Don got one and I got the other while he was cleaning his.
So that is what we will be doing while the traditional TGD dinner is cooking.
Will try the frying at Christmas when the roads we take pictures on are roof top of cars covered in snow.
Then we can look at the pictures of these trips.
I always like to think of what I am thankful for at special times and this year I am most thankful that my life long friend’s youngest son is home for a visit from Afganistan safe and sound. He does go back but will be done his tour just before Christmas.
I am a frugal person by nature. Hubby is not. I cannot get him on board with paying off debt and not adding to it. I need some advice on how to handle things. Sunday we went by CVS to pick up a Christmas gift for one of our granddaughters. He disappeared down the candy aisle and reappeared with two $4 bags of candy. I suggested he look in the sales paper and get 4 bags of candy on sale for 4/$10 that counted toward the $30 needed for a gift card. He threw the candy down and huffed out of the store. Then on the way home, he stopped in at the ATM machine to make a withdrawal. I just assumed he got money from the business account. Well he withdrew $100 for our personal account so now I am short of money for the bills. I usually just try to make up the money he squanders by using money that I have put aside from doing surveys and rebates-usually saving $3 at a time. Well I am tired of scrounging to earn a little only to have to use it to make up the shortfall we have when he has a tantrum! Any advice?
Cheryl we get this question so often I guess I need to write another post on it. The thing is it is hard to write advice for a situation like this because there are so many factors involved and without knowing more and more about you as a couple, it is really hard to come up with an answer.
The problem is when couples have money issues it isn’t usually just the money and how to spend it which is the problem it is so many deeper issues. It can be things like just being raised differently or taught differently about money, a control issue or lack of control, self confidence, anger and on and on. Let me give you some examples of what I mean.
One new wife thought she was being so frugal and careful with their money in buying their groceries and making the money stretch. Even though they weren’t in financial trouble she was just very careful. Her husband started getting more quiet with each meal and she didn’t know what was upsetting him. Finally one night her husband got so angry and said are we in serious trouble with our finances? His wife not knowing what was wrong said “No we are doing fine.” Her husband then said “Well we haven’t had steak for weeks!” After much talking come to find out in his home growing up if they had steak once in awhile that meant all was well and if not then things were really bad. He assumed they were having a rough time financially and she thought she was doing so good saving money. She just started serving steak once in awhile and the problem was solved.
A family member of mine had very little when young and she swore when she grew up she was going to have lots of money and spend like crazy. She did too. She became a shopaholic. The thing is I had no more money then she did and as you can tell turned out totally differently from her. She came from a very bad home life so her out look was completely different. It really wasn’t the lack of money in her home which was the problem but the lack of love. When she got older she tried to fill her void with the wrong thing.
So how a person spends money or reacts to money is a symptom of deeper problems then just the lack of or having money. It takes lots of talking things through in a loving manner and trying to figure out what the real problem is. On a more practical level usually there is one spouse or the other who is better in with dealing with money and the bills but I think personally a couple should sit down together and go through the bills and look at the finances. This way they both can see in writing where the money is going compared to how much money is coming in. No one feels like the other one is controlling the other or has more control over the money and many other emotions like that which are involved. Eventually over the years you may get comfortable enough and secure enough that one person can then take over.
I don’t know all your situation but be real careful that you are not encouraging or enabling your husband’s behavior by trying to fix things and covering for your husband when he spends money you don’t have. We all as wives tend to do that in many areas just because it is our nature as peace makers.
Like I said though to start you really need to work out a system where you both can look at the money you have, work out a way so you both pay the bills together and to talk, talk and talk some more when you are both in a good mood (and your husband is well feed : ) )
Help!! Now that the weather is cold, the mice have decided to come inside. What is the best way to get rid of them, we had to put both of our cats down this year and had not planned on getting another. Other than traps, what can I do?
Pat
The main thing is to make sure all of the little holes and spaces are filled in your house which I know can be a job.
I use to use d con the most depending on what part of the house I had them. When I inherited my son’s cat I didn’t want to use that any more and lived in the country with not only bugs (ugh) but mice. I was so desperate because I had tried everything there was and it just wasn’t getting rid of things. I ran across the plug in things which you plug into an outlet in the wall and it somehow runs through your electrical system or some thing. I have not had a mouse one for many years and I live in much older homes.You can get them now at most hardware stores or places like Lowes
It may take a bit for it to start working and I didn’t realize it was working at first except after a couple of years I noticed I hadn’t had any mice. One thing be sure to have one on each level of your home.