Budgeting Tips II

Key to any chicken salad is red onion.

Want chicken salad but don't have too much time??? Use one LARGE can of chicken breast not drained, one packet of hidden valley ranch powder, red onion, salt and pepper, and 1 block of cream cheese VERY softened, add mayo to make what consistency that you like. COME TO THINK OF IT, I would add 2 large cans of chicken breast, one drained and one not.

Make your own DISHWASHER DETERGENTS:
Equal parts:Borax (in green box found at some walmarts and most krogers)
Arm and Hammer SUPER washing Soda
Baking Soda
(can add lemon powder (koolaide) if you want. Mix equal parts and use 1 - 2 tablespoons in each load of dishes.

Homemade Laundry Detergent (uses most of the same ingredients as dishwashing detergents)
1/3 bar Fels Naptha Laundry Soap, grated (found at ace hardware)
6 cups water
1/2 cup washing soda
1/2 cup borax
Heat 6 cups water and soap in a large pan until dissolved. Stir in washing soda and Borax. Mix and heat until dissolved. Boil 15 minutes. Remove from heat. (It will have the consistency of honey.*)
In a 3 or 5 gallon bucket, add 1 quart of hot water, then add the soap mixture. Mix. Add enough cold water to make a 2 gallon mixture. Mix until well blended. Let sit 24 hours. The soap will gel*. Use 1/2 cup for each load.
Makes 2 gallons. (Approximately $ .40 per gallon)
*If the detergent doesn't gel or reach honey consistency it will still work.
Notes:
Stir before each use as this soap does separate. Detergent can be stored in a liquid detergent bottle. Just shake it up each time you use it.
This detergent will not suds up in the washer, but it is still getting your clothes clean.
If you have extra hard water the soap may not clean as well. Add 1/2 cup borax or washing soda to the load and that may help.
If you do not like this laundry soap, you can still use the Fels Naptha bar for spot cleaning and to rub on stains. The Borax and Washing Soda are great to add to your regular detergent for extra cleaning.

Deviled eggs as a side dish for suppers, they are cheap and easy and refreshing on a hot summer day. If you need to know a recipe let me know.

I am trying not to use my oven at all in the summer if I do not have to, so salads and sandwiches for supper mostly. BUT I tell you CROCKPOT is the way, you can basically cook anything in there. Say I know I will need chicken soon for chicken salad or anything, soup, anything, I cook it in my little crockpot for about 6 hours with some water and seasonings, then freeze or refrigerate it till needed.


Those soups that come in a package with all ingredients except the water are KEY, they are all delicious, and I just add all of the water and some chicken and put it in my crockpot for a few 5 - 6 hours and its supper, and there is a TON!

Do not forget DOLLAR TREE, the one off exit 13 at Kroger is GREAT! Don't forget Big Lots too.

EASY Angel Food Cake:
You will need:
1 box of angel food cake mix
1 large can of crushed pineapple undrained

Mix dry cake mix with pineapple and its juice. Pour into tube pan or cupcake pans and bake at 350 for about 20 minutes or until done.

If you don't have a tube or bundt pan go to goodwill.

Wash your dog with Dawn Dish Detergents, it is less than one dollar for 15oz as opposed to 4 or 5 dollars for dog shampoo, you can use less dawn, it lathers better and kills fleas.

Speaking of Pineapple, we had over company this weekend and they told me of pineapple cobbler, Now that sounds good to me! So if I were going to make it heres how id do it:

I would use 2 cans of chunk pineapple (big size) I would drain one.
1 cup of flour
1 cup of sugar
1 cup of milk
1/2 tsp cinnamon (opt)
1/2 tsp of vanilla (opt)
1 stick of butter

In 9x13 casserole dish put stick of butter and melt while preheating your oven to 350.
Once butter is melted add all pineapple and the juice of the one can on top of butter.
In a bowl mix flour, sugar,milk, cinnamon and vanilla well.
Pour over top pineapples and bake at 350 for 1 hour.