Recycle Your Work Clothes

Dress For Success

The organization accepts new or nearly new women's suits (pants and skirts), blouses, shoes, and accessories, including handbags and jewelry. All donations should be appropriate to wear to work, as well as clean, stylish and in good condition.

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Steps to Scan a Document:

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Eco-Friendly Sandwich Wrap and Snack Bags

Crafty Stylish

Possible Races for Fall/Winter 2009/2010

5K on October 31
5K on November 28
Tri-U-Mah Triathlon on February 10

Bananas

If you bananas are starting to turn brown just stick them in the fridge to get a few more days out of them

How To Find A Book Club Pick

Book Movement.com

Websites About Races

Need To Race

Cooking Onions

If you don't want to dirty a pan, but a recipe calls for cooked onions, simply pop them in the microwave on high for one and a half minutes, stir, and then cook longer if needed. May need to drain before adding them to your recipe depending on how juicy the onion was and how many onions you are cooking in the microwave.

Crockpot Cheeseburger Sandwiches

These turned out pretty good! Here is the recipe:


1 lb. lean ground beef
1/4 cup ketchup
1-2 Tbsp. yellow mustard
1 teaspoon dried basil leaves
2 cups cubed pasteurized process American cheese
10 hamburger buns

Cook ground beef in large skillet until thoroughly cooked, about 5 minutes. Stir frequently to break meat up into small pieces. Drain beef thoroughly.
Combine in slow cooker with ketchup, mustard, and basil and mix well. Add chopped onion, if desired. Top with cubed cheese. Cover crockpot and cook on low for 3-4 hours. Stir beef mixture gently. Serve beef mixture in hamburger buns. 10 sandwiches

**I did not use mustard and they still turned out pretty good. Next time I think I would only cook for 3 hours instead of 4 because they got a little dry

Homemade Hashbrowns - Easy

Potatoes (however many you want to make)
Lawry's Seasoning Salt

Cut the potatoes into little squares and spread onto a foil lined pan sprayed with nonstick spray. Sprinkle with Lawry's Seasoning Salt

Bake at 425 for 15 - 20 minutes.

Delicious!

Nickelodeon Universe

Receive a FREE all-day unlimited ride wristband to Nickelodeon Universe on your birthday. A parent or legal guardian must register for children under 13 years of age. Free admission valid for guests 18 years of age and younger.

Free Birthday Cake

Lunds & Byerly's

Celebrate Baby’s 1st birthday with a FREE 7 inch cake decorated for your little one (serves 8-12)! Simply bring in your child’s birth certificate in person a few days before you’d like your cake (they won’t keep it…a copy is fine). The cake can be decorated with balloons, packages, baby booties or roses. Choose from white, marble or chocolate cake and white or chocolate frosting. They’ll even personalize your cake with a special message.

Hungry Girl

Hungry Girl is my one stop shop for low fat/low cal recipes and for fun tips!

Recycle Your Jeans

Natural Built Home.com

Natural Built Home was founded in October of 2005. Our mission was to create a one-stop shop for the safest and most sustainable building supplies. We initially provided these products to our customers on the world wide web through our e-commerce website. Our first brick and mortar showroom opened in Minneapolis on Earth Day in 2006. Since then we have continued to seek out the best green building products to bring to our customers. We want to thank all of our customers for making our first year a success. We look forward to helping you with your new projects in the near future!

In June, 2009 we were able to collect over 300 pair of jeans during our denim recycling drive. These jeans will be made into cotton insulation that will be used to insulate homes that have been damaged by hurricanes, tornadoes, and other natural disasters. Your jeans will keep clothes out of landfills and build houses for families to live in! Thank you so much for making our denim recycling drive a success! Stay tuned for future recycling events.

Recycle Your Shoes

Souls 4 Soles

Soles4Souls facilitates the donations of shoes, which are used to aid the hurting worldwide. Shoe companies, retailers, and individuals can donate footwear (both new and used). Soles4Souls is a 501(c)(3) recognized by the IRS, and donating parties are eligible for tax advantages.

For the shoes that they don't give to needy people they recycle them into mulch for playgrounds and such. 98.5% of the shoes they receive they can reuse and then they recycle 1.5% (as heard on the Ian and Margery show on August 7, 2009)

Chicken Spectacular

This is a greate casserole to give away as a gift for a person who just had a baby or just needs an extra meal.

Received recipe from Allison Kiel:

3 cups chopped cooked chicken
1 pkg Uncle Ben's quick Wild Rice - cook as directed
1 can cream of celery soup
1 med jar pimento-drained
1 med onion - chopped fine
1 can french style green beans-drained
1 cup mayo or Miracle Whip
1 can sliced water chestnutssalt & pepper to taste

• Mix altogether, pour into 2-1/2 qt casserole dish.
• Bake at 350 for 45 minutes or so.
• Freezes well, but don't cook prior to freezing.

Fiesta Dip

Received recipe from Allison Kiel:

4 avocados
1 tub softened cream cheese (spreadable kind in a tub)
1 small jar picante sauce or salsa
shredded cheese

smach up the avocados, layer cream cheese, then picante, then cheese - serve with chips

Cinese Pineapple Chicken

1 lb chicken breast diced
1 tsp cornstarch
pepper
1 garlic clove, crushed
3 tsp soy sauce
Oil
1 8-0z can pineapple chunks
2 T. water
1 T. cornstarch

Mix chicken with 1 tsp cornstarch, pepper and garlic and 1 tsp soy sauce. Fry chicken in a little oil until underdone. Add pineapple. Simmer 3 minutes. Set aside. Mix 2 tsp soy sauce, water, leftover pineapple juice, and 1 T cornstarch. Add sauce to chicken in pan and cook until thick. Serve on rice


Recipe comes from Miserly Moms by Jonni McCoy

Poor Mans Steak

1 lb ground beef or turkey
1/2 cup crushed saltines
1/2 cup water
2 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper

Combine all ingredients and mix. Pat into patties and fry


Recipe comes from Miserly Moms by Jonni McCoy

Homemade Pizza

1 Cup warm water
1 pkg or 2 1/4 tsp dry yeast
1 tsp sugar
3 Cups White or wheat flour
2 T. oil (preferably olive)
1 tsp salt

In a bowl, mix the yeast, sugar, and water, stirring to dissolve the yeast. Let is rest 5 minutes. Add the other ingredients. Knead the dough on a floured board, adding more flour until its not sticky. Place in a bowl and cover, letting it rise from 5 min - 2 hours, depending on the texture you would like. The longer you let it rise, the more bread-like the dough will become. Punch down the dough and shape into a large pizza crust.

Topping:

Top with any combination of toppings and bake at 450 for 15 minutes

Recipe comes from Miserly Moms by Jonni McCoy

5 Ingredient Recipes

Here is a link to a website that has 5 ingredient meals that I would like to try:

Kid Craft Websites

Free Kid Crafts.com

Great Egg Substitute

I found myself in the middle of making cornbread and realized I didn't have an egg. I quick hopped on the internet and found a discussion board where a woman said to use 2 Tb. of cornstarch in place of an egg. I did so and my muffins turned out great! I added a touch of extra milk to make up for the missing liquid.

Homemade Babyfood Websites

Homemade Babyfood Recipes.com
Vanilla Pumpkin
Cheap Babyfood - The Mother Load
Homemade Recipes - The Mother Load
Organic Babyfood? From Organic Mania
Homemade Babyfood Recipes
Simply Babyfood Recipes.net

What to feed baby: 12 - 24 Months

Here is some information from the dairy council

Whole milk, yogurt, cheese : 4 servings/day

• whole milk or yogurt (1 serving is 1/2 cup)
• cheese (1 serving is 1/2 oz)
• cottage cheese (1 serving is 1/4 cup)

Cereal, pasta, rice, bread, muffins, rolls, and/or crackers: 4 - 5 servings/day

• Cereal, pasta, or rice (serving is 1/4 cup)
• Bread, muffins, or rolls (serving is 1/4 piece)
• Crackers (serving is 2 crackers)

Cooked Fruit, Fresh Fruit, or Fruit Juice: 2 servings/day

• Cooked or Juice (serving is 2 Tb/3 - 4 oz)
• Fresh (serving is 1/2 medium)

Cooked or Raw Vegetable: 4 - 5 servings/day

• Cooked (serving is 2 Tbs/4 oz)
• Raw (Serving is 2 - 3 pieces)

Fish, Chicken, Turkey, Beef, Pork, Cooked or Dried Beans, Peas, Egg: 3 - 4 servings/day

• Fish, Chicken, Turkey, Beef, Pork (serving is 1/2 - 1 oz)
• Cooked or Dried Beans/Peas (serving is 2 Tbs)
• Egg (serving is 1 whole)

Things to keep in mind:

• Add cows milk now
• Offer small portions and never force your toddler to eat.
• Food jags are common now. Don't make a big deal out of them
• Respect your toddlers likes and dislikes. Offer rejected foods again.
• Make meals fun and interesting. Serve colorful foods that are crunchy, smooth, or warm
• Toddlers need meals and snacks. Feed your toddler at least three snacks every day

View great links to babyfood websites here

What to feed baby: 8 - 12 Months

Here is some information from the dairy council

Breastmilk or Formula: 3 - 4 servings/day (6 - 8 oz each)

• Can start to offer cheese (1/2 oz), plain yogurt (1/2 cup), and cottage cheese (1/4 cup). Make your own yogurt in a crock pot!

Baby Cereal: 2 servings/day (2 - 4 Tbs), can offer bread (1/4 slice) or crackers (2 crackers)
Fruit: 2 servings/day (3 - 4 Tbs) and/or Fruit Juice (1 serving/day at 4 oz). Juice should be from a cup
Vegetable: 2 servings/day (2 - 4 Tbs)
Meat: Chicken/Beef/Pork, 1 serving/day (2 - 3Tbs)

• Can start to offer cooked, dried beans or egg yolks

Items to keep in mind:

• Wait until baby's first birthday to feed egg whites. Some babies are sensitive to the egg whites. It is ok to give baby the yolks
• Be patient. Babies make a mess when they feed themselves
• Always taste heated foods before serving them to baby

View great links to babyfood websites here

What to feed baby: 6 - 8 Months

Here is some information from the dairy council

Breastmilk or Formula: 3 - 5 servings/day (6 - 8 oz each)
Baby Cereal: 2 servings/day (2 - 3 Tbs), can offer bread (1/4 slice) or crackers (1 - 2 crackers)
Fruit: 2 servings/day (2 - 3 Tbs) and/or Fruit Juice (1 serving/day at 3 oz). Juice should be from a cup
Vegetable: 2 servings/day (2 - 3 Tbs)
Meat: Chicken/Beef/Pork, 1 serving/day (1 - 2 Tbs)

• Add strained fruits and vegetables at first. Add mashed or finely chopped fruits and cooked vegetables later on.
• Feed only one new fruit or vegetable/week
• Take out of the jar the amount of food for one feeding. Refrigerate the remaining food.
• Try giving baby fruit juice in a cup
• Add strained meats now
• Feed only one new meat a week

View great links to babyfood websites here

What to feed baby: 4 - 6 Months

Here is some information from the dairy council

Breastmilk or formula - 4 - 6 daily feedings (6 - 8 oz each)

ADD:

Baby Cereal - 2 daily feedings (1 - 2 Tb each)

Baby cereal should be iron fortified.

Offer baby 1 - 2 tbs of baby cereal in a bowl once a day at first then increast to 2 times a day. Breakfast and dinner work well.

Feed baby only one new cereal a week. This way you can tell if this new food bothers him.

Start feeding baby in a high chair when he can sit up.

Mix 1 tbs of cereal with 4 tbs of breastmilk or formula. The cereal will be thin. Your baby is learning how to move solid food to the back of his mouth. When baby can do this make the cereal thicker.

View great links to babyfood websites here

Spaghetti Herb Mix

1/2 cup garlic powder
1/2 cup onion powder
1/2 cup dried oregano
3 T dried basil
3 T thyme
3 T salt
2 T sugar

Mix well and store in airtight container. Makes 10 servings or uses. To use, blend 16 oz diced tomatoes with 1/4 cup of the mix.

From Miserly Moms by Jonni McCoy

Low-Fat Brownies

1/2 cup flour, sifted
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 tsp salt
2 large eggs
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup + 1 T unsweetened applesauce
1 T vanilla

Grease and flour an 8 x 8 square baking pan and set aside. Combine flour, cocoa and salt. Mix well. In a seperate bowl, wisk eggs, sugar, applesauce and vanilla. Stir in flour mixture until just blended (do not overmix). Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake 25 minutes at 325 or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool at least 15 minutes before cutting

From Miserly Moms by Jonni McCoy

Tortilla Roll-Ups

1 pkg 8 inch flour tortillas
2 pkgs salmon flavored cream cheese spread
1 small can diced black olives
1/2 red onion, diced finely

Spread salmon-flavored cream cheese onto a tortilla. Sprinkle with olives and red onions. Roll up the tortilla as tightly as you can. Slice sections (use a serrated knife for best results) about 1/2 inch thick. Lay them flat on a platter. They should look like pinwheels. For extra flavor (and cost), add crumbled smoked salmon and capers to the cream cheese)

From Miserly Moms by Jonni McCoy

Oatmeal Bread

2 pkgs (or 4 1/2 tsp) dry yeast
1 1/4 cup warm water
1 1/4 cup warm milk
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup honey
2 T vegetable oil
2 cups quick cooking oats
6 cups bread flour
2 tsp salt

Dissolve yeast in water and add milk. Add sugar and honey and stir. Add the rest of the ingredients. Mix well. Knead for 5 minutes. Then let rise to double in size. Punch down, then knead again. Let rise once more to double in size. Shape into two loaves and let rise to double again. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.

From Miserly Moms by Jonni McCoy

Soft Pretzels

3 1/2 cup flour
2 T sugar
1 tsp salt
2 pkgs (or 4 1/2 tsp) dry yeast
1 C water
1 T shortening
1 egg yolk
1 T water
Coarse salt

Mix 1 cup of the flour with the sugar, salt, and dry yeast. In a seperate container, heat water and shortening to 120 degrees. Slowly add the flour mixture. Beat well for 2 minutes. Ad 1/2 cup more flour and heat again for 2 minutes. Stir in the rest of the flour. Knead for 5 minutes. Set in a greased bowl and let rise in a warm place for 40 minutes or until doubles in size. Punch down.

Divide dough into 12 pieces and roll each one into a long rope (18 - 20 i nches). Shape into pretzels or other shapes. Place on a greased cookie sheet and let rest for 5 minutes. MIx egg yolk and 1 T water. Brush on the pretzels and sprinkle with the salt. Bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes

From Miserly Moms by Jonni McCoy

Chocolate Syrup

1 cup cocoa powder (unsweetened)
2 cups sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup cold water
1 T vanilla

Combine cocoa and sugar and blend until all lumps of cocoa are gone. Add salt and water and mix well. Cook over medium heat, bringing to a boil. Remove from heat once it boils. When cool, add vanilla.

*Recipe from Miserly Moms by Jonni McCoy

Nonfat Granola

3/4 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup concentrated apple juice from frozen concentrate
1/2 cup nonfat dry mmilk
1/3 cup honey
5 cups quick-cooking oats
2 T. cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup dried fruit

Mix sugar, juice, dry milk, and honey in saucepan and heat over medium heat only until sugar dissolves. Combine dry ingredients and fruit in mixing bowl. Pour sugar mixture slowly over dry mixture and blend well. Place on cookie sheet and bake at 375 for 10 - 20 minutes - stirring after every 10 minutes

You can add peanuts, sunflower seeds, coconut, sesame seeds or peanut butter

*Recipe from Miserly Moms by Jonni McCoy

Maple Flavored Syrup

2 Cups Sugar
1 Cup Water
1 tsp maple extract

Bring water and sugar to a slow boil over low heat, stirring constantly. Remove from heat before it comes to a rolling boil (to keep crystals from forming). Add flavoring as it is cooling. Store in the refrigerator.

For thicker syrup replace half of the water with corn syrup. You may also add butter flavoring purchased from the store. Both of these items will increase the cost.

*Recipe from Miserly Moms by Jonni McCoy

Pancakes

2 eggs
2 1/2 cups buttermilk or sour milk
1 tsp baking soda
2 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp sugar
4 tsp melted butter or vegetable oil
1 T. baking powder
1 tsp salt

Beat all ingredients together until smooth. Spoon onto greased hot griddle. Flip over when bubbles appear

*Recipe from Miserly Moms by Jonni McCoy

Baking MIx

8 Cups flour
1 1/4 cups nonfat dry milk powder
1/4 cup baking powder
1 T salt
2 C shortening

Combine flour, milk powder, baking powder, and salt in a very large bowl. Cut in shortening until it resembles coarse cornmeal. Store in tightly closed covered container in a cool place (cupboards are fine). Makes about 10 cups

*Recipe from Miserly Moms by Jonni McCoy

Instant Cream Soup Mix

2 cups nonfat dry milk
3/4 cup cornstarch
1/4 cup instant chicken bouillon
1 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp dried basil
1/4 tsp pepper

Combine these ingredients and store in an airtight container.

To use for soup, combine 1/3 cup of the mix and 1 1/2 cups of water. Bring to a boil while stirring often. Add a vegetable for more flavor or texture, such as diced celery, sliced mushrooms, or diced broccoli.

To use in any recipe calling for a can of cream of mushroom, chicken, or celery soup, add 1/3 cup of the mix to 1 1/4 cups of water. Boil for a few minutes, stirring often.

*Recipe from Miserly Moms by Jonni McCoy

Pea Soup (Not Split Pea Soup)

2 1/2 cups chicken broth
1 12 oz pkg frozen peas, thawed or 1 cup cooked
1 tsp tarragon
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 T butter
1 T flour
2 T lemon juice
1 cup milk

Put broth, peas, and spices in a blender and bled until fairly smooth. It will be a bit chunky. In a pan, melt butter and add flour to form a paste. Pour the blender contents into the pan and bring to a boil. Boil, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and add lemon juice and milk.

*Recipe from Miserly Moms by Jonni McCoy

Quick and Easy Black Bean Soup

2 (15 oz) cans black beans (or 2 cups prepared beans)
1 (15 oz) can stewed tomatoes
1 (14 oz) can chicken broth
1 onion
1 garlic clove
salt and pepper to taste
1 T. Oregano
2 T. Lime Juice

Combine all ingredients (except lime juice) in a large pan and simmer until thoroughly heated. Add the lime juice after soup is cooked.

*Recipe from Miserly Moms by Jonni McCoy

Candy Bracelet

I
Supplies:

Licorish Rope
Fruit Loops

Thread the fruit loops onto the licorish rope and then tie around wrist.

Here is an example of what we did but instead of string we used licorish rope

Butterfly Craft

Supplies needed:

Coffee Filter
Clothes Pin
Pipe Cleaner
Two Beads
Watercolor Paint

Step One: Fold the coffee filter in half and paint with water colors - you can make it as colorful as you want!


Step Two: Unfold the coffee filter

Step Three: Squeeze the filter in the middle

Step Four: Clamp the clothes pin over the middle so the "butterfly" shape holds

Step Five: Twist the pipe cleaner around your finger and stretch out and twist in the beads on the ends of the pipe cleaner

Here is the finished product!

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