PAULA DEEN'S TIP OF THE WEEK

Roasting Tip

A roast with the bone in it will cook faster than a boneless roast. The bone carries the heat to the inside of the roast quicker.  

CHILDREN'S HOMEWORK ACTIVITY MESSAGE BOARDS

Message Boards

I came across this on one of the blogs I follow.  I think this is an excellent idea that  helps to keep track of everyone's extracurricular activities and homework.  I love the photo and name to make it especially personal for each child.

GRANDDAUGHTER'S SMURF CAKE

My daughter made this smurf cake

for her daughter's

5th birthday!

REPURPOSING THE GUEST BED ROOM

The last several days I have moved my "office" equipment into a guest bedroom.  I had my office and sewing items in my small study and couldn't seem to keep the study clean and be efficient and productive in either endeavor.  Currently my sewing things are scattered throughout the house - wherever I had space to store it.  My goal is to have all the office items in the guest bedroom and move all my sewing things in the study (which will be renamed my sewing room).   Hopefully, this will enable me to be more productive this year and keep both areas clean and organized.  We'll see how it goes!

OFFICE STORAGE

Smart Storage Space

In a small space, take office storage to the walls to keep work surfaces clutter-free. In this space, cubbies were mounted to the wall and magazine holders were screwed into the bottom of the cubbies for an innovative mail sorter. For an easy and affordable work surface, transform a slab door into a desktop by mounting it to a wall and placing bookcases or file cabinets beneath it for support.

BHG JANUARY STORAGE PROJECTS: HOME OFFICE

HOME OFFICE

Create a Mail Station. Set up mailboxes on a desk, wall, or bulletin board. Or give each member of your family his or her own labeled box, bin, or slot.
Stay on Schedule. Hang a large monthly calendar in a spot everyone can see and use it. Choose a paper calendar or dry-erase version, and encourage everyone to write important events, deadlines, and reminders.
Organize Office Supplies. Outfit a desk drawer near your main working area with a divided tray or multiple small bins. Limit the number of office supplies in each compartment. Label each compartment with an adhesive label.
Get Rid of Junk. Test all writing utensils. Toss everything that doesn't work perfectly. Group similar items (pens, pencils, markers, etc) in canisters for easy access.

BHG MONTH BY MONTH STORAGE PROJECTS

12 MONTHS OF STORAGE PROJECTS

A complete overhaul of your home's storage system may sound overwhelming, but focusing on improving the storage in just one room each month can get you the storage you want in a quick but manageable time frame.
We've provided you with quick and easy mini projects to do throughout the month, each month. Combine the projects into one weekend or do one project each week of the month.

KINDLE FIRE

My husband gave me a Kindle Fire for Christmas this year.   I had to upgrade my computer to WiFi so everything would be compatible. Love it.  Thank you Pat!

LADYBUG, LADYBUG, I LOVE YOU ETSYKIDS TREASURY

Ladybug Booties

by

Helens Crafts

Ladybug Antennae Snap Clips

by

Kurli Cues Boutique

Ladybug Baby's Polka Dot Bib

by

Scarlett Daisies Creations

Check for other cute ladybug

creations in my 

EtsyKids Treasury

by

EtsyKids creators

FREEZER STORAGE GUIDE FOR MEATS

Storing Meats in Freezer

With grocery prices at an all-time high, save money by buying in bulk, or stock up with supermarket specials, then freeze the items that you won't be using right away.

Wrap completely-cooled food in heavy-duty plastic wrap or aluminum foil, and place in zip-top freezer bags or air-tight containers to preserve the texture and flavor.

Here's a guide to how long you can store a variety of foods in the freezer and maintain quality.

Meats

Bacon, raw = 1 month

Sausage, raw = 1-2 months

Ham, fully cooked = 1-2 months

Luncheon meats, unopened = 1-2 months

Cooked meats, casseroles = 2-3 months

Cooked soups/stews = 2-3 months

Ground beef, veal, lamb, pork = 3-4 months

Chops = 4- 6 months

Roasts = 4-12 months

Steaks = 6-12 months

Poultry

Ground chicken, turkey = 3-4 months

Cooked, plain = 4 months

Cooked poultry, casseroles = 4-6 months

Cooked, covered with broth, gravy = 6 months

Chicken or turkey, pieces = 9 months

Chicken or turkey, whole = 12 months

THURSDAY'S TRIP TO THE CONTAINER STORE

I am looking forward to a shopping trip and lunch with one of my best friends.  Naturally, we are making a trip to the Container Store and a fabric shop.  Can't wait to find some goodies since two of my attributes are organization and sewing!  Hope everyone enjoys today.

TAME YOUR JUNK DRAWER ORGANIZATION TIPS by BHG

Well-Ordered Drawers

The next time you sit down to watch TV, pull out a drawer, any drawer.  During TV commercials, sort the contents into four piles:  keep, toss, donate or sell, and items to relocate.  Then put back only the keepers, using expandable organizers to keep them tidy.

-- Donna Smallin, author of The One-Minute Organizer: A to Z Storage Solutions

Junk Drawer Strategy

Tackle your junk drawer first. Remove anything you don't use at least monthly, then sort what's left into compartments of an organizer that completely fills the drawer. You won't have room to stash things that don't belong there.

-- Jana Lufkin, stylist

DECLUTTER YOUR PAPER PILES ORGANIZATIONAL TIPS by BHG

On-the-Go Filing

Invest in a tabbed wallet for receipts and coupons. It will make your purse into a mini filing cabinet that puts everything you need for shopping at your fingertips. Label the tabs how you like -- by store, by date, or by category.

Centralized Filing

Give frequently accessed papers (takeout menus, sports schedules, phone directories) a dedicated spot rather than leaving them in a pile on the counter or stuck to the fridge. Three-hole punch all that paper, then store it in a pretty binder with labeled tabs.
-- Aby Garvey, simplify101.com

Recipe for Organization
Have a pile of cookbooks gathering dust? Scan and print the one or two recipes you use the most often, then donate the book. Same goes for recipes in magazines. Tear out the relevant pages, then recycle the rest. Put the pages into clear plastic pockets in a three-ring binder. You've just made yourself a customized cookbook with plenty of room to grow.

-- Lorie Marrero, author of Clutter Diet

SOUVENIR ART

What to do with all the maps, guides, ticket stubs, post cards....from a vacation?  If you don't scrapbook, why not create a collage of the items by gluing them onto a piece of cardstock paper and frame it.  You'll be able to enjoy your memories each time you see the wall art.  Barbara R. Moore from Shelby, N.C. shared this tip in a magazine.  Photos from Martha Stewart's crafting ideas.

OPRAH'S FAVORITE DOUBLE CRUSTED CHICKEN POT PIE

Double Crusted Chicken Pot Pie

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter
• 2 medium leeks, sliced
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 (14.5-oz.) can chicken broth
• 3 cups chopped cooked chicken
• 1 1/2 cups frozen cubed hash browns with onions and peppers
• 1 cup matchstick carrots
• 1/3 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 1 (17.3-oz.) package frozen puff pastry sheets, thawed
• 1 large egg

Preparation

• 1. Preheat oven to 375°. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat; add leeks, and sauté 3 minutes. Sprinkle with flour; cook, stirring constantly, 3 minutes. Whisk in chicken broth; bring to a boil, whisking constantly. Remove from heat; stir in chicken and next 5 ingredients.
• 2. Roll each pastry sheet into a 12- x 10-inch rectangle on a lightly floured surface. Fit 1 sheet into a 9-inch deep-dish pie plate; spoon chicken mixture into pastry. Place remaining pastry sheet over filling in opposite direction of bottom sheet; fold edges under, and press with tines of a fork, sealing to bottom crust. Whisk together egg and 1 Tbsp. water, and brush over top of pie.
• 3. Bake at 375° on lower oven rack 55 to 60 minutes or until browned. Let stand 15 minutes.

Southern Living 
FEBRUARY 2011

OPRAH'S FAVORITE BROWNIES

Kitchen Sink Brownies

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup unsweetened cocoa
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups butter, melted
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 1/2 cups firmly packed light brown sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 1/4 cup brewed espresso or French roast coffee
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup chopped cream-filled chocolate sandwich cookies (10 cookies)
• 4 (1.45-oz.) milk chocolate candy bars with almonds, chopped (we tested with Hershey's)
• 1/2 cup dark chocolate morsels (we tested with Ghirardelli)
• 1/2 cup white chocolate morsels
• 1 cup pecan pieces, toasted

Preparation

• Coat a 13" x 9" pan with cooking spray. Line pan with aluminum foil, allowing ends to hang over short sides of pan. Tuck overlapping ends under rim on short sides. Coat foil with cooking spray; set pan aside.
• Combine first 5 ingredients in a small bowl.
• Beat butter and sugars at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth; add eggs, coffee, and vanilla, beating just until blended. Add flour mixture; beat at medium speed until blended. Stir in sandwich cookie crumbs and remaining 4 ingredients.
• Spoon batter into prepared pan, spreading evenly.
• Bake at 325° for 55 to 58 minutes. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack. Cover and chill at least 2 hours.
• Carefully invert brownies from pan using overlapping foil as handles; remove foil. Invert brownies again onto a cutting board. Cut brownies into squares.
• Note: We like this technique of lining a pan with foil before baking brownies. It sure makes cutting baked brownies neat and easy.

Christmas with Southern Living 2007, Oxmoor House 
JUNE 2007

OPRAH'S FAVORITE BAKED SMOKIN" MACARONI AND CHEESE

Baked Smokin' Macaroni and Cheese

Ingredients

• 1 pound uncooked cellentani (corkscrew) pasta
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 3 cups fat-free milk
• 1 (12-oz.) can fat-free evaporated milk
• 1 cup (4 oz.) shredded smoked Gouda cheese
• 1/2 cup (2 oz.) shredded 1.5% reduced-fat sharp Cheddar cheese
• 3 ounces fat-free cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper, divided
• 1 (8-oz.) package chopped smoked ham
• Vegetable cooking spray
• 1 1/4 cups cornflakes cereal, crushed
• 1 tablespoon butter, melted

Preparation

• 1. Preheat oven to 350°. Prepare cellentani pasta according to package directions.
• 2. Meanwhile, melt 2 Tbsp. butter in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Gradually whisk in flour; cook, whisking constantly, 1 minute. Gradually whisk in milk and evaporated milk until smooth; cook, whisking constantly, 8 to 10 minutes or until slightly thickened. Whisk in Gouda cheese, next 3 ingredients, and 1/8 tsp. ground red pepper until smooth. Remove from heat, and stir in ham and pasta.
• 3. Pour pasta mixture into a 13- x 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Stir together crushed cereal, 1 Tbsp. melted butter, and remaining 1/8 tsp. ground red pepper; sprinkle over pasta mixture.
• 4. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until golden and bubbly. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

THE CHRISTMAS TAKE-DOWN

Christmas is probably the holiday I love the most and have the most fantastic memories of from childhood.  Since the children have their own families, I have parred down to the decorations I want for my house.  Extras have gone to the kids, grandkids or donated to Goodwill.  It's still a lot of decorations!  I am slowly taking it all down and organizing it into clear bins to place in the attic (we don't have basements in Texas).  I also am cleaning as I go from room to room.  Yes, I decorate every room!  So, it is taking longer this year.  Hope you all enjoyed your holidays!

BETTY CROCKER BEST OF 2011 HOLIDAY RECIPES

Company Broccoli Three Cheese Bake

Spinach Cheese Balls

Christmas Cocoa

Luscious Layer Bars

Check out Betty Crocker's

Best 2011

Holiday Recipes