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