Italian Dressing Recipe

Italian Dressing Recipe
Ingredients
• 6 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
• 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 2 garlic cloves, chopped
• 1 teaspoon basil, crumbled
• 1/4 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
• Pinch of dried oregano

Directions
1. Combine all ingredients in small bowl and whisk to blend.
2. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
3. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)



I have also used herb infused vinegars & I have also used lime juice instead of lemon. next time I make this I am going to change some of the herbs & see how it taste.

*Fresh Herbs are better but I usually use dried.

Outdoor Window Cleaner

I got this recipe last summer when one of my daughters travel softball teams did a fund raiser for washing windows.
we washed A LOT of windows... this works very well.



for outdoor window cleaner
1/4 C rubbing alcohol
1/3 C vinegar
1-2 squirts liquid dish soap
put into a large spray bottle & then add Hot tap water & shake.
then spray on windows
(I do use this inside as well, lately I have been using Vodka due to the flu season & trying to disinfect everything.)
this is also wonderful on the car windows!

the dish soap cleans, the vinegar removes spots & the rubbing alcohol dries so there is not the dreaded streaks!

there is a possibility that you might need to use a glass scraper if they are very old water spots, we cleaned some windows last summer that probably haven't ever been done in 20 years & they turned out sparking clean!

*side note this doesn't smell the best, but it is better than some window cleaners I have bought in the past.

Air Neutralizer!

So a few months ago my car was smelling like a locker room...
Ugh 4 growing kids playing sports & my car was the actual locker room.
I was beside myself as to what to do. it was to cold to drive around with my windows down all the time.
so I thought what have I heard is the best thing to use.
then one night I remembered talking with a friend who's kids had shoved a sippy cup full of milk under her seats where it didn't get noticed till they returned back from a trip where her car was parked out in the sun & it SMELLED bad.
she bought an airspong.

I went a hunting these babies down. they were almost 10
but it still smells the way it did the day I opened it.
my car no longer smells like sweaty feet.
it took almost a week for it to work it's magic. but now it doesn't smell in there.
seeing how my kids leave there sport bags in my car for the most part I am THRILLED it works so well. & the best part is it has only evaporated about a 1/4 of the way.
so I am thinking that $10 investment was actually a killer deal.
I have had it for almost 5 months.

another good thing they do is the label comes off & it goes well in your bathroom.

I also bought one & put it in our master bathroom & it has hardly evaporated at all.
I think they evaporate quicker in the car due to the ever changing temperature.
& if you happen to be looking for these they are in the paint section at "Yellowstone do it yourself center." I looked in at the other home stores & they don't have it or anything like these.

Dishwasher detergent.

by request.

I have been using this since Oct 09

I like it. the only thing is REMEMBER to put in the Vinegar where the jet dry goes or you will have dull dishes. :(



1C Baking Soda
1C Washer Soda
1C Borax
1T Tang



you put in your dishwasher about 2T.

in my washer I can't close the detergent door.
(I never have been able to even when I used the gel packets.)

The BEST cleaning agent EVER!

Now this will sound really odd to some people.
but after last night where my boys tried to make popcorn by them-self...
they cooked a mini bag of Popcorn for who knows how long. every piece in the bag was burnt along with the bag. :(
my microwave was a Horrible burnt mess.
sadly before that, my oldest decided to heat up the leftovers of the night before's Tortellini & no lid no nothing to stop tomato sauce from splattering all over the microwave. :(
I decided to do so research to see what I could use or do to clean it & take the smell away.

well the good news it I found an article on uses of Vodka

awhile back bought the stuff & put it into spray bottle then forgot about it.

I started by cleaning the front of the door to see just how well it worked

I was so shocked that with all the grease from my hubby cooking bacon that I thought I should share this. I wiped the front of the door off the spray made it so it only took 1 swipe. I usually have to go over the door a few times & then there is always a streak of grease that just won't come off.
I opened the smelly burnt door.
to see this. (I am embarrassed that it looked so bad.) :(

I sprayed everything inside & put my focus on the door.
I sprayed & wiped & it came off without anything begin scrubbed with a fingernail. =)
then I worked on the inside I cleaned it out the first round & then sprayed it again & it was clean. well other than the burnt spot on the back side of the microwave down at the bottom I think it's where the bag of popcorn tried to stopped when they stopped the microwave. :(
But it was clean in maybe 4 minutes.
I usually spend 20-45 depending on what the kids have done.
this was the worst my microwave was plus it had burnt on stuff.
I am happy with the outcome.

another plus side is for the most part the nasty burnt popcorn smell is pretty well gone. even when the microwave is being used. =)
then because we have the microwave over the stove I had no choice but to clean my stove top.
now I find it hard to keep my stove top clean.
it is a gas stove top & it's glass, everything comes off to clean the glass other than the knobs... & those I usually have to bring out an old toothbrush & scrub.
but this time I sprayed & wiped of the bigger gunk. sad to say this is my stove top. :( again embarrassing. all the grease that splatters is just sad.

but I this is what I am just the most amazed at.
my stove top can take as little as 15 minutes to hours...
I will admit my stove has been a lot worse than that.
but with using the Spray it wiped up & no toothbrush was used to clean.

it is virtually streak free on top of that & the burners when turned on don't give that funny odor that other cleaners have made.
before I normally use 2 cleaners to clean my stove top. a grease cutter & then Windex to get the glass clean.
another good thing I don't wear gloves I hate how long it take & how my hands sweat inside then, I usually have to wash my hands a couple times & they still smell like the cleaner & my hands are always dry for awhile after even with lotion.
this I just washed my hands once & put on the normal lotion & no problems. =)

lastly I got this email awhile ago just haven't really thought about it. so nothing below is tried by me, but I am planning on cleaning bathrooms tomorrow with it to see if it does all it's suppose to.
21 Uses for Vodka
1. To remove a bandage painlessly, saturate the bandage with vodka. The solvent dissolves the adhesive.
2. To clean the caulking around bathtubs and showers, fill a trigger-spray bottle with vodka, spray the caulking, let set five minutes and wash clean.
The alcohol in the vodka kills mold and mildew it is a great disinfectant.
3. To clean your eyeglasses, simply wipe the lenses with a soft, clean cloth dampened with vodka. The alcohol in the vodka cleans the glass and kills germs.
4. Prolong the life of razors by filling a cup with vodka and letting your safety razor blade soak in the alcohol after shaving. The vodka disinfects the blade and prevents rusting.
5. Spray vodka on vomit stains, scrub with a brush, then blot dry.
6. Using a cotton ball, apply vodka to your face as an astringent to cleanse the skin and tighten pores.
7. Add a jigger of vodka to a 12-ounce bottle of shampoo. The alcohol cleanses the scalp, removes toxins from hair, and stimulates the growth of healthy hair.
8. Fill a sixteen-ounce trigger-spray bottle and spray bees or wasps to kill them.
9. Pour one-half cup vodka and one-half cup water in a Ziplock freezer bag, and freeze for a slushy, refreezable ice pack for aches, pain, or black eyes..
10. Fill a clean, used mayonnaise jar with freshly packed lavender flowers, fill the jar with vodka, seal the lid tightly and set in the sun for three days. Strain liquid through a coffee filter, then apply the tincture to aches and pains.
11. Make your own mouthwash by mixing nine tablespoons powered cinnamon with one cup vodka. Seal in an airtight container for two weeks. Strain through a coffee filter. Mix with warm water and rinse your mouth. Don't swallow.
12. Using a q-tip, apply vodka to a cold sore to help it dry out.
13. If a blister opens, pour vodka over the raw skin as a local anesthetic that also disinfects the exposed dermis.
14. To treat dandruff, mix one cup vodka with two teaspoons crushed rosemary, let sit for two days, strain through a coffee filter and massage into your scalp and let dry.
15. To treat an earache put a few drops of vodka in your ear. Let set for a few minutes. Then drain. The vodka will kill the bacteria that is causing pain in your ear.
16. To relieve a fever, use a washcloth to rub vodka on your chest and back as a liniment.
17. To cure foot odor, wash your feet with vodka.
18. Vodka will disinfect and alleviate a jellyfish sting.
19. To remove cigarette smoke in your home or office mix one part vodka and three parts water and spray the clothing, then launder and let dry.
20. Pour vodka over an area affected with poison ivy to remove the urushiol oil from your skin.
21. Swish a shot of vodka over an aching tooth. Allow your gums to absorb some of the alcohol to numb the pain.

Vodka who knew?

Dressing #3

same thing as before shaker cup & open.
this one takes a bit not as fast & east as the other 2
but worth it.

Tzatziki sauce
it is usually on Gyro's
but I love taste on salads with cucumbers & sprouts!




2 small cucumbers grated
1 & 1/4 plain yogurt
2T olive oil
4 cloves garlic minced or pressed
1 T dill or mint
1 lemon juiced or 1/3 C bottled
pepper to taste

notes
Cucumbers after peeling grate them, they are very watery so it's tricky, but I have a soft cheese grater & so I put them in that & it make it much easier.

once you get the cucumbers grated, take in your hand & squeeze out excess water

combine all shake & this does need to set for a couple hours, something with the herbs to bring out their flavor.

if this is to thick you can add some milk to thin is down. :)

I prefer the mint herb in this. but dill is more common.

Dressing #2

drum roll please!

I finally made Brad's favorite- Catalina.

SUPER easy to make.

take out your shaker bottle & open it

Catalina
1-C oil (I use olive but vegetable works also)
2/3-C Ketchup
1/2-C Vinegar
grated onion to taste (I use my dehydrated 1-T)
1/2-tsp dry mustard powder
1/2-tsp celery seed
1/2-tsp chili powder
1-dash Paprika (1 quick shake)
2-tsp salt
1-C sugar



again shake well & put in fridge if you can.
it taste great w/o but better in the fridge

& again I only do 1/2 of everything.

Salad Dressings #1

I have thought how I can do these.
the best way is to post them 1 by 1
mainly cuz when I have made some I forget to take a picture.

now the first thing you want is a Shaker glass
they make then supper easy to shake & refrigerate & pour.

saying that the first one is a Newer favorite for me.
Ceasar!
(I don't like very many & I have to control how much dressing most places you have Caesar soup with a little salad sticking out.)

Caesar
1 C Mayo
1 T Lemon Juice
1 tsp Worcestershire
1 clove garlic
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1/2 C Parmesan cheese
1/4 C milk




now the best part is you throw all ingredients in the shaker container & put it in the fridge it is better if it has a few hours to combine the rich flavors.

I have found that I cut the recipe in 1/2 & it works well for my family.
these don't keep to long in the fridge.

Side Notes:
*1- you don't have to put in that much garlic or any if you don't like it, I have tried it with some dehydrated onion that I have & it makes it a little different.

*2- Parmesan cheese is better if it's shredded but not necessary. I have used both Shredded & Grated (canned) both have different hints of flavor but both are very good.

*3 you can also play with other herbs in this dressing, so far I have put in Rosemary, dill (not dill seed), parsley & a little mint.

*4 if it's to thick add a little more milk to make it easier to pour.

MIA once again..

it's been awhile.
but I am working on a few things to post soon. :)

so when was the last time you cleaned out your fridge?
& not just the left overs turn to science experiments.

last week I was cleaning out my fridge thanks to a kid of mine.

anyway as I was cleaning it out I got the shelf clean & noticed it was all over the inside of the door. :(

so as I cleaned out my bottles of junk.
I started to think Hmmm..
when did we open this bottle of salad dressing? or when did we last use this bottle of Dijon mustard...

then I thought EWwwwwE as I realized.

I have been making my own salad dressing now for about a month & any mom knows that if you make it you want it used. so we have been using what I make & after a month I know about how much my family will use, so I only make what we eat. now these aren't Fat Free or Diet, but I do know Exactly what is in them. I will post some picture & recipes of the ones I have done. soon :)

back to my story, I threw out a bunch of stuff & decided unless it's a well used thing- i.e. Pickles, Ketchup, Yellow Mustard, etc. then I am buying the smallest bottle or container they have, it's a little more expensive ounce-per $$ but at least you don't waste as much. this has sent me on a mission to go back threw my cabinets & see what is still good.

I am also adopting to write the date it was opened. so if it set's to long I can chuck it & not have the build up that was in my fridge like before.

I am also writing on all containers like Cool Whip, Sour Cream etc.
nothing worse then opening a sour cream container & having your nose want to hide behind your head! ;o)

Clean Laundry!!!

I have heard about a homemade soap last Spring.
but did not think about trying it until someone else did!
I wanted to see how hard it was to make & how it cleaned.
Boy was I surprised...
the main recipe calls for a 5 gallon bucket.
I opted for 1/4 that.
mainly I didn't have room for something that size, that you have to refill a bottle once a month or so. I found an old bucket that had a lid.
I am glad I did 1/4 the stuff I have no idea how you would stir a 5 gallon bucket & make it smooth!...

this is the recipe for a 5 gallon bucket & how far it is suggested that it will go-
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


*Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap- Front or top load machine- best value

- 4 Cups hot tap water

- 1 Fels-Naptha soap bar

- 1 Cup Washing Soda

- ½ Cup Borax

- Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over
medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.

-Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing
soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top
with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.

- To make it easy to use, pour it in to an old laundry detergent container.

-Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once
soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil.

-Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 5 gallons.

-Top Load Machine- 1/4 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads)

-Front Load Machines- 1/8 Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


as I said I did 1/4 this. it will almost make it 3 months for a family of 6.



I also added 2 Tablespoons of Tang.
2 reasons, 1 to color it so I could tell when it was fully mixed, & 2 Tang can be added to cleaners to help crisp the colors. it sounds weird but it works.


I use 2 Tablespoons of this detergent where I have a Top Load Washer.
I found that this is just enough for me. I would suggest that you do a load of Towels & see what works for you!


I also started using 1/4 C Vinegar instead of Fabric softener, it does not dull the colors & it makes everything Soft & non-staticy!


between the Homemade Laundry Soap & the Vinegar our clothes are nice & soft & they smell Summer Fresh. =)

Dish Soap does what?

I found this quite usefull!
I have been having the hardest time finding a toilet cleaner that works to take the ring off. we have Soft water & I thought it would be easier to clean seeing how there isn't the hard water deposits left in the toilets, but the Soft water does leave some sort of deposit. & the cleaners don't quite work. I have tried everything. & nothing takes that fully ring out. Then through the grapevine I had heard of a cheaper better smelling way to sparkling clean the toilets. first you need to clean out one of the old toilet cleaner bottles.

then you put in Dawn or even the cheap store brand dish soap & squirt it on into the toilet. let it set for 15-20 minutes & then scrub with the toilet brush & Presto no deposits & no ring around the toilet.
This works for Hard or Soft water. plus it leaves a non chemical fresh smell. I use the Green Apple. I have been using this for 2 weeks, & an added bonus it cleans your toilet brush & leaves it fresh smelling also!

Heartburn..............

lately I have been having horrible heartburn. first I chewed Tums then they got to the point they were not working. then I go to the point where I started using Zantac. which did not work to well so I figured I would start looking on the net to see what I could do if anything to combat the Acid Reflux & Heartburn. I found the oddest thing. I heard about it a few years ago when I did not take any over the counter medicine but I did not have a problem so I never thought about it. till I read the articles on the net. I found quite a few so I thought Hmm what do I have to loose.

it was simple Take 2 Tablespoons of Apple Cider Vinegar. in the past 2 weeks I have taken it 3 times. which is quite different from taking medicine everyday to a few times a day. even Orange Juice. which has given me Heartburn the past couple years every time I drink it. I have had it 2 times & NO heartburn.

When I first took it I thought Yuck what did I just do it took a few minutes but it worked it started clearing out my throat & I felt it all the way to my stomach & it neutralized the stomach acid. better than Pepto or any other liquid medicine that I have taken. even after there was no Heartburn burps. nothing. I mean nothing.

if you google Apple Cider Vinegar then you can see for yourself the helpful effects of it. I was just really impressed with what it did for me & how fast it worked.

Recycled Tank-Top???

Okay so as I am sifting through websites about Healthy or Green I found a hot tip that I just couldn't pass-up.
Recycling your old Tank Tops into a fashionable Purse
they call it a Tote but to me it's kind of like Potato or Patato!
any way the first website has lots of fun idea's
http://tipnut.com/tank-top-totes/
but they take you to a craft sewing website
http://www.craftynest.com/2009/10/tank-top-totes-six-pockets-or-gathered/
take a look around & see what both have!
before you go look at what I made from this Tank Top I haven't wore for years-
it turns to this-
you can make these as big as you want to as small as you want & you can add your own flare!

Going Green(ish)

this is actually something healthy but I figure it's all tied in.

this is probably the EASIEST thing I have ever done.
actually I have been doing this for 15(ish) years.

"APPLE SAUCE"

but it's only been the last 2 years I have made my own. my kids have always loved apple sauce, when they were little we use to buy the apple sauce cups. now they just get a bowl. lol!

but that's not what I mean by being healthy.
it's using Apple Sauce as a Recipe substitute for Oil & Butter, Etc!
it makes the Cookies, Brownies, & Cakes M-O-I-S-T-E-R.
I use it in everything of that nature from preboxed mixes to things made from scratch.
I have also been using it in Muffins, Sweet Breads, & Waffles.
the only things I don't substitute Apple Sauce in is the Spritz Cookies.

as an added thing I thought I would try this year I made Pear Sauce.
now when you use this you don't need as much sugar.
(I actually used hardly any sugar on my Apple Sauce & Pear Sauce.)
Pears are naturally sweet.



using the Apple Sauce
or Pear Sauce
it all looks the same as
if you used oil or butter.

I have decided I am going to change my Blog...

I am going to change how I do things...
so if I miss LONG periods of time it won't look as bad. we shall see!
I have decided in many ways to go GREEN.
not only for the health benefits of knowing what exactly is in your body, but what exactly is put on your body.
Going Green doesn't have to be lots of $$$ by buying everything at the Health food store.
over so time I am going to post a few things that my family and I are changing out.

now don't get me wrong you can't change everything over because the cost of things, and it would also shock your system. (our bodies are use to all kinds of chemicals.)

it's what you can do in small steps.

Part of going Green for us means (frugal). but if it works I will gladly share the info.

One other note somethings may work for us but that doesn't mean they will work for everyone. if you see something you like try it & see for yourself!

there are a few products that my family & I use that may not be so cheap but the health part is worth it in the end result.

these are my TOP 3 favorite things.

#3- Bio Freeze!
for my household with 4 kids in athletics & a very active husband. we have ran the gambit of muscle relievers! One of my girls Softball coaches said to use this & my girls won't use anything else. they describe it as a easy to use long lasting Ice Pack in a bottle. there is times they won't even take an Advil. My oldest will use this if she has a Headache. she loves it better than my next favorite. about 3 weeks ago all 4 kids were sick & we even used it just 2 lines on their backs while they had a fever & it helped break it faster. when I bought these I bought about 6 bottles. at the time they were about $12 we still have 3 & that was about a year & a half ago. & anyone who knows us knows my girls especially are always involved in something sporty.
(you should be able to pick these up at a Physical Therapy outsource place)

#2- Fever Patches!
I discovered these things when my kids were babies. I use to cut them in 1/2 length ways & put them on there foreheads when the were going through a fever or on their necks. I even found if they were congested they worked really well on their chest to open up their breathing. I found they work for headaches! then after I found they they did put them out for a couple years off & on. but they costed more, more times than not. I have been using these for my headaches w/o added medicine whether Advil or Tylenol or anything inbetween. they cost just under $3 a box that holds 4 sometimes they is 2 more. so in the long run they are not cheaper than pain medicine but you aren't putting that medicine into your body. so it's up to you to decide. btw: this works fpr 6-8 hours & that is 4-6 hours longer than head-on! that stuff is $$

#1- Crystal Light!
I use to drink a soda a day & at family functions I might have 2. but soda isn't cheap anymore nor is it good for you & Diet soda is even worse. so I went back to Crystal Light there is about 12 different flavors now. :) I have been drinking 60-75oz of water a day & I need something that tatse good. this product has come a long ways from harsh tasting Lemonaide I like The Morning Rise kind. it taste a lot like Sunny D but better for you! I also like the berry & Peach flavors. I even have the kids drinking this. they love it!

Last but not least I will do my best to post all the Blogs with pictures!
nothing worse then reading about a product or how to do something with out real pictures!
Thanks for reading!!!