Kitchen Crafts 'n' More "Recipes, crafts and help around the home." Issue #469 February 15, 2006 ~11,000+ SUBSCRIBERS~ ================================= ...KCnM Advertising... Info by emailing christinam @ nucleus.com Please support the KCnM newsletter ...by clicking on these sponsor ads... ================================= Weekly Drawing - Win a FREE Gourmet Soy Candle 16 oz and yummy to the bottom of the jar! Enter up to once a day at - Click here to Enter Candle Giveaway NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® - Sign up for great baking advice, recipes - and SAVINGS! Also, check out other free samples, money-saving coupons, exclusive discounts and other quality offers Click Here for Baking Newsletter ~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~** IN TODAY'S ISSUE ~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~** RECIPES: * Athlete's Foot Remedy (Kitchen Crafts) * Berry Smoothie (Recipes Found) * Black Walnut Bars (Recipes Found) * Homemade Caramels (Recipes Found) * Liquid Soap Replacement (Kitchen Crafts) * Low-Fat Layered Banana Pudding (Recipes Found) * New Orleans Red Beans (Traditional) * Old Fashioned Creamy Rice Pudding (Traditional) * Sweet Potato Pancakes (Recipes Found) * Taffy Apples (Traditional) ~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~** READER'S QUESTIONS ~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~** Ask a question, or provide an answer! :) Email questions or answers to Christina at christinam@nucleus.com Thanks! ----------------- No questions today! If you have a question, send it on in... ~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~** HELP FROM READERS ~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~** Help a fellow reader - send an answer to one of the above questions, and we'll post it here! (Send to christinam@nucleus.com) ----------------- MASHED POTATOES WITHOUT MILK Brenda K. says: "This is for Arlene who asked about mashed potatoes. Instead of milk, use chicken broth. You use the same amount as you would have for the milk. They won't look as white, but they are pretty tasty and good for you too." Wanda wrote: "Instead of using milk or cream try some fat free chicken broth for the added moisture you need.I sometimes add some fresh chopped herbs. What ever looks good from the herb bed.You will like the new flavor experience." REMOVING RUST ON UTENSILS/CAST IRON J.S. wrote: "I just recently read that rust can be removed from kitchen utensils by soaking the item in cider vinegar for 2-3 days, letting item dry then brushing off the rust. I have not tried this yet, so cannot vouch for it's validity. As far as removing rust from cast iron cookware, yes it can be done but it takes a lot of time and elbow grease. Use a steel wool pad (with or without soap) to first remove as much surface rust as possible. Then keep scouring until the rust is gone. This may take a time - hours or days, depending on how bad it is. If you get tired of scrubbing, you can rest. Now I know you might think what I am about to tell you is crazy, but you can leave the pot submerged in water. Oxidation (rust) occurs when the pot has some water on it but is in contact with the air. If the pot is completely submerged, it won't rust. After you have removed all the rust, you will have to re-"season" the pot. This is done by coating the inside of the pot completely with a small amount of vegetable shortening, then placing the pot in your oven at about 400o for about 20 minutes. Be very careful when removing the pot IT WILL BE HOT!! Wipe out any excess shortening. Wash the pan with WATER ONLY. DO NOT USE SOAP!! The shortening creates a "glaze" on the surface of the pan, which does not allow food to stick (unless badly burned). If food gets burned on, you will have to re-season the pot. Using soap, will remove the "glaze." I have found the best thing to use to clean my iron pans is the yellow "Chore Boy," which is actually a treated terry cloth fabric, which I purchase at BiLo grocery stores." MORE HELPFUL RESOURCES: Starting a Gift Basket Business Some handy tips on how to start this fun business! Gift Basket Business Article 100+ ways to Use Avon's Skin So Soft This is a great page to bookmark or share with friends. Who KNEW this stuff could be used in so many ways! Skin So Soft Uses ~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~** REQUEST A RECIPE ~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~** One of the most popular sections of our newsletter - request a recipe or send in requested recipe. Contact: christinam @ nucleus.com ======================== ~~~RECIPE REQUESTS: ~~~ FRENCH VANILLA COFFEE CREAMER Janie asks: "I love the french vanilla coffee creamer but, it has gotten so expensive (4.50 for 1/2 gallon of International brand and coffee mate is 2.50 for a little bottle). It is hard to justify buying it anymore. Is there anyone out there that might know how to get the french vanilla flavor without having to buy the expensive creamers in the stores. Thank you in advance for any help in finding an alternative." NO BAKE CHEESECAKE (SPLENDA RECIPE) Vivien asks: "I'm looking for a recipe that I had years ago and lost. It's a no bake cheesecake made with ground walnuts for the crust. It is sweetend with Splenda and has no flour or sugar." ~~~RECIPES FOUND:~~~ Sweet Potato Pancakes 1 1/2 cups sifted all-purpose flour 3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1 1/4 cups mashed cooked sweet potatoes 2 eggs, beaten 1 1/2 cups milk 1/4 cup butter, melted PREPARATION: Sift dry ingredients into a mixing bowl. Combine remaining ingredients; add to flour mixture, stirring just until dry ingredients are moistened. Drop by tablespoons onto hot greased griddle or skillet and fry, turning once, until browned on both sides. Makes about 24 pancakes. ------------------- Black Walnut Bars ~Submitted by Paula~ 1 1/2 cups honey graham cracker crumbs 1 1/2 cups Black Walnuts, chopped 1 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk Pinch of salt Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Put graham cracker crumbs and black walnuts into a medium sized bowl. Slowly add condensed milk and a pinch of salt. Mix with a wooden or plastic spoon. The batter will be very thick and gooey. Pack and press into a nonstick 8-inch square pan or 9 1/2-inch round pan. If you don`t have a nonstick pan, line bottom with parchment paper. Wet your hands with cold water and smooth top of mixture. Bake 25 or 30 minutes. Let it cool completely before cutting. Wrap any leftovers in plastic wrap. This will keep for weeks and flavor improves as it ages. ------------------- MORE RECIPES FOUND Berry Smoothie Recipe Homemade Caramels Recipes Low-Fat Layered Banana Pudding ------------------- ~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~** 'KITCHEN CRAFT' RECIPES ~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~** Bath and beauty products, home remedies, craft recipes, food mixes, natural cleaning formulas, fun kids recipes and other unique recipes! ======================== Homemade Athelete's Foot Balm Recipe Liquid Soap Replacement - not a recipe, a cool idea! ~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~** TRADITIONAL RECIPES ~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~** The family favorites everyone loves! Please submit your recipes to christinam @ nucleus.com and I'll include them in an upcoming issue. =================== Old Fashioned Creamy Rice Pudding 1 quart milk, scalded 1/4 cup long grain rice 1/4 cup granulated sugar 1/2 teaspoon vanilla Preheat oven to 300°. In a 1 & 1/2 quart baking dish, combine all ingredients. Bake for 2 & 1/2 hours, stirring every 20 minutes. This will give the pudding a creamy texture. --------------- New Orleans Red Beans This vegetarian main dish is cholesterol-free, virtually fat-free, and chock-full of vegetables. 1 lb dry red beans 2 qt water 11/2 C chopped onion 1 C chopped celery 4 bay leaves 1 C chopped green pepper 3 Tbsp chopped garlic 3 Tbsp chopped parsley 2 tsp dried thyme, crushed 1 tsp salt 1 tsp black pepper Pick through beans to remove bad beans; rinse thoroughly. In a large pot combine beans, water, onion, celery, and bay leaves. Bring to a boil; reduce heat. Cover and cook over low heat for about 1-1/2 hours or until beans are tender. Stir. Mash beans against side of pan. Add green pepper, garlic, parsley, thyme, salt, and black pepper. Cook, uncovered, over low heat till creamy, about 30 minutes. Remove bay leaves. Serve with hot cooked brown rice, if desired. Yield: 8 servings--Serving Size: 1-1/4 cup -------------- Taffy Apples 1 can Eagle Brand milk 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup white Karo syrup 1/3 cup brown sugar 1 Tbsp. butter 1 & 1/2 tsp. vanilla Cook first 4 ingredients until you can make a firm ball in cold water. Remove from heat; add butter and vanilla. Mix together. Coat apple =============================== --THANKS FOR READING THIS ISSUE Thanks for reading this edition of Kitchen Crafts n' More! ===============================