Tuesday Tips

~Crock Pot Ham~

For the past three years, I've prepared my Easter ham in the crock pot. So easy and so delicious! All you do is buy a fully cooked, bone-in, spiral sliced ham. Put a cup of brown sugar in your crock pot. Place the ham in the crock pot,* flat side down, and rub a little more brown sugar on it. That's it! Cook on low for 6 hours. (You don't need to add any liquid, the ham makes it's own as it cooks.)

This is a perfect way to prepare a ham for a noon meal when you are away from home all morning. It's also great for any holiday meal, when you are preparing more than one main dish and need to save room in the oven!

*You do need to have one of the larger, family-size crock pots in order for the ham to fit.

(The first two years of preparing my ham this way, the hams fit just fine. This year the bone was too big and the crock pot wouldn't seal. I just went ahead and took the ham off of the bone and cooked it in slices. We think the ham might have even been better that way!)

Tuesday Tips

After frying or scrambling an egg,

remove the egg to your plate,

turn off the stove,

leave the pan on the burner,

and drop a few ice cubes in the pan.

When it's time to clean up -

the egg comes off easier than if you had soaked the pan.

I don't know why this works,

but it does!

Tuesday Tips

Get creative with the Halloween candy!

~ fun ideas for using up the leftover treats ~

stir M&M's into cookie dough

chop butterfingers, baby ruths, twix & reeses peanut butter cups

for choose your own "ice cream blend-ins"

fold chopped snickers into brownie batter

use chopped heath bars on top of iced cakes

add your favorite candy bar to a milk shake

Tuesday Tips

I thought this was a really neat idea. It comes from "101 Ways to Cut Out the Clutter" by Emilie Barnes. I am forever making lists of projects to tackle when I have bits of time, but this way just sounds like so much more fun. Instead of going to a boring list and just doing what is next, you get to be surprised at what you are going to accomplish! ;-)

The Idea Jar

"If you can't decide what to do next to make your home better organized, try this. Cut some paper into strips and write down the various projects that need to be done on each of those strips. Place them in a jar - mix them up. When you need to decide what comes next, place your hand in the jar and select one slip of paper. If it reads, "de-clutter the pantry," that's what you do next. When you need another task go back to the jar and reach in. Bam! You have your next project! As new projects come to mind, write them down an another slip of paper and then drop them into the jar."

~from "101 Ways to Cut Out the Clutter" by Emilie Barnes

Tuesday Tips

To keep the garbage disposal clean and deodorized ~

weekly
grind citrus fruit (lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit) rinds
grind ice cubes made from 1 part water 1 part vinegar

monthly
pour 1/4 cup baking soda and 1/2 cup vinegar into disposal, let sit for about 5 minutes, flush with warm water

Things to never put down a disposal ~

fibrous material, such as corn husks, onion peels, artichokes, or celery stalks
potato peels
meat bones
grease

Hot water on a regular basis should be avoided. Run cold water before, during, and after the disposal's operation.

Tuesday Tips

~homemade autumn carpet fresh~

3/4 cup baking soda

1/4 cup talcum powder

2 tablespoons corn starch

1 teaspoon cinnamon, nutmeg, or allspice

Mix together.

Sprinkle over carpet and let sit at least 15 minutes.

Vacuum.

Store your carpet fresh in a plastic container,

and poke holes in the top so you can sprinkle it over your carpet.

Tuesday Tips

Heritage Schoolhouse introduces...

~Tuesday Tips~

Since I love to collect little household hints, tricks, and tips,

I thought I'd start sharing them with you each week!

This week's tip - the best way to clean your microwave.

I've been doing this for years and it works like a charm. :-)

Into a microwave safe dish, squeeze the juice of one lemon and add a cup of water. Microwave the mixture for 3-5 minutes or until the water comes to a boil. Leave in the microwave for 10 minutes without opening the door. (This allows the steam to condense on the walls and roof of the oven.) When the time is up, use a soft dishcloth or paper towel to wipe out the microwave. Everything will come up so easily - no elbow grease required! Your microwave will look and smell sparkly fresh and clean! :-)