Kitchen Crafts 'n' More "Recipes, crafts and help around the home." Issue #470 February 17, 2006 ~11,000+ SUBSCRIBERS~ ================================= ...KCnM Advertising... Info by emailing christinam @ nucleus.com Please support the KCnM newsletter ...by clicking on these sponsor ads... ================================= 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: * Bedtime Bath (Kitchen Crafts) * Chocolate Bubble Bath (Kitchen Crafts) * Creamed Spinach (Traditional) * Homemade Lotion with Vaseline (Recipes Found) * Hot Caramel Apple Cider (Traditional) * Pink Popcorn (Recipes Found) * Sugarless Cookies (Traditional) * Vanilla Coffee Creamer (Recipes Found) ~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~** READER'S QUESTIONS ~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~** Ask a question, or provide an answer! :) Email questions or answers to Christina at christinam@nucleus.com Thanks! ----------------- EVAPORATED MILK TIPS Arlene writes: Thanks to Brenda & Wanda for suggesting chicken broth instead of milk for mashed potatoes! I will surely try it! Any other hints or using evap milk in recipes? You guys are the best! BATHTUB CLEANING One reader asks: I HATE cleaning the bathtub. Do you guys have any suggestions on how to make it an easier chore? ~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~** 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) ----------------- FACIAL RECIPES Wow, we got a lot of responses for new facial recipes! Check out all of the fun new facial recipes you can try at: Homemade Facial Recipes and Ideas WATER RETENTION HELP Helpful replies on how to treat water retention naturally. Water Retention Treatments MORE GLASSTOP STOVE CLEANING IDEAS Karen wrote: "To clean glass topped stoves and burners...I have used a soft soap (don't use the kind with citrus on brass) on my glass top and under the burners. Dribble some on, rub it around, let it sit a little while and then wipe off. For the burners when they are quite bad, I put them in my sink, spray with oven cleaner (non-smelly) and leave overnight. In the morning they are easy to rinse off." Margaret says: "When I was growning up, we had a glass top stove and we used to use Bar Keeper's Friend Cleanser. Make a paste and let it soak on the burnt on food. It still may take a little elbow grease, but it will get the job done and it will not harm the surface." Sue G. wrote: "Christina, I have had my smooth top range since late 1995 and it still looks like new. This is after many years of canning tomatoes and many, many messes. When I got the stove it came with a big bottle of "Cook Top" and a small razor blade scraper. I use this faithfully and have had some pretty bad burned on messes. This stuff is wonderful. I even use it to keep my stainless steel tea kettle shining!! And it's the same age as the stove. I get the big 20 ounce bottle at Sears for I think 6.99. It lasts a long time. When you use the scraper be very careful how you hold it. It's like scraping paint off glass. Watch your edges you don't want to scratch it. And if it's really bad it might take a few times. Recently had to have some one come in for the control panel and he was amazed at how nice the top looked. Said he would never have guessed it was 11 years old. " ~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~** 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: ~~~ Starbucks Aussie Bars Christine asked: "I have a recipe request for Starbucks Aussie Bars. These are so good, but I can't find a comparable recipe. Thanks!" Mahogany Cake Barbara asked: "Does anyone have a recipe for Mahogany Cake? It is red velvety chocolate cake recipe that includes 6 oz of tomato paste." ~~~RECIPES FOUND:~~~ Our Entire Collection of RECIPES FOUND -- Click Here ------------------- HOMEMADE LOTION FORMULA WITH VASELINE 15 oz baby lotion ( like Baby Magic or any pink baby lotion) 15 oz jar Skin Cream with Vitamin E Medium size jar of Vaseline. Mix together in a ziplock bag and knead. Cut corner to squeeze lotion into container. You can pick up the 3 items at Family Dollar, General Dollar, or Dollar Tree store for about $3.50. If lucky you may find some nice container there too. I have made a double batch, but don't use a bag for it....can get real messy. Better to use bowl & your mixer. Just be sure to clean them well! ------------------- Coffee Creamer Recipe Found! :) I'm excited about this one too, since I love flavored coffees. With this recipe, try using different extracts to create a wide range of flavored coffee creamers! Requested Recipe Found: Homemade Vanilla Coffee Creamer ------------------- PINK POPCORN ~Submitted by Paula~ 2 c. sugar 1 c. milk 1 tsp. vanilla Red food coloring 10-12 c. popcorn Boil 20 minutes to form a soft ball in cold water. Stirring, pour into hot popcorn slowly until candied. ~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~** 'KITCHEN CRAFT' RECIPES ~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~** Bath and beauty products, home remedies, craft recipes, food mixes, natural cleaning formulas, fun kids recipes and other unique recipes! ======================== Why do we love a long, soothing bath? Because it eases away the stresses of the day and gives us a little 'me' time! Next time you have a chance for a nice, long bath, try one of these simple ideas to make it even more special: Chocolate Bubble Bath How can a CHOCOLATE bubble bath be anything BUT luxurious? This is a special bath treat to make when you really want to splurge...Or it would make a great gift for a chocolate loving pal. Chocolate Bubble Bath Bedtime Bath Sometimes sleep doesn't come easily. Soaking in this relaxing, all-natural bath will help you feel more peaceful and relaxed and ready to sleep. Sleeptime Bath Recipe ~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~** ARTICLE OF THE DAY Feeding a Family on a Budget ~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~** If you only had $300 a month to spend on groceries for a family of four, could you do it? What sort of food would make the list and what would stay tauntingly on the store's shelves? Could you save $25 a month on groceries? How about $50 or $100? Possibly you could cut your bill by almost 50% if you consider some of the following suggestions... Finish reading the article at: Saving Money on Groceries ~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~** TRADITIONAL RECIPES ~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~** The family favorites everyone loves! Please submit your recipes to christinam @ nucleus.com and I'll include them in an upcoming issue. =================== Sugarless Cookies 1 cup dates 1 cup raisins 1 cup water 1/2 stick or 1/8 lb. butter 1 cup whole wheat flour (or pastry flour) 1 tsp baking soda 2 eggs 1 tsp vanilla 1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional) Boil dates, raisins and water for 3 minutes, or until thickened. Add 1/2 stick of butter before cooling. Cool thoroughly. Add remaining ingredients. Mix well. Drop by spoonfuls on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes (depends on your oven). --------------- Creamed Spinach 5 Tbsp. butter OR margarine - divided 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 1/4 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. black pepper 1 dash ground nutmeg 1 cup half and half cream 4 oz. cream cheese - low-fat okay 1 small onion - minced 2 (10 oz.) pkgs. frozen chopped spinach - thawed 1/4 cup water 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese In a 2-quart saucepan over medium-low heat, melt 3 Tbsp. butter; stir in flour, salt, pepper and nutmeg; slowly whisk in cream; stir in cream cheese. Increase heat to medium; whisk mixture constantly until thick and smooth; remove from heat and set aside. In a skillet over medium-high heat, sauté onions in remaining 2 Tbsp. butter until transparent; stir spinach and water into pan. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover; simmer, stirring occasionally, for 8 minutes. Stir spinach mixture into creamy mixture; return to medium heat; heat, stirring often, until warmed throughout. Remove from heat; fold in Parmesan. Serves: 6-8 -------------- Hot Caramel Apple Cider 1/2 Gallon fresh apple cider 1/4 cup packed brown sugar 1/4 cup caramel ice cream topping 1 cup frozen whipped topping, thawed In large saucepan, combine the cider, sugar and caramel topping over medium heat. Simmer until hot and well blended, stirring frequently. Pour into mugs and top with whipped topping =============================== --THANKS FOR READING THIS ISSUE Thanks for reading this edition of Kitchen Crafts n' More! ===============================