WFMW: Need some creative pumpkin ideas?

Want some new ideas for carving pumpkins this year? Check out this gallery of Wild and Wacky Pumpkins here

My favorite is #21, "Mooning 2"

See lots of Works For Me Wednesday tips here

Works for Me Wednesday: Win Ugg Boots!

Seriously!

I don't have a pair. Diva tells me Ugg Boots are so 2004, but they are all the rage here in my tiny little town, which finds the trends at least 5 years after they hit N.Y. and L.A. So of course she wants a pair too.

The main reason I don't have a pair is that I can certainly find better uses for the hundred or so bucks that they cost. But they do look really comfy. I saw this and couldn't resist. Go here to enter.

See other Works for Me Wednesday tips here.

Works for Me Wednesday: Don't Cry!

This tip will be a quick & simple one, dear readers, because it's #3's FIRST BIRTHDAY today and I'm busy, busy, busy with work and birthday celebration preparations. A post with pictures (and maybe even a video, if I can figure out how to get it here) coming tomorrow or Friday about #3's big day. But for now:

HOW TO AVOID STINGING, TEARY EYES WHILE SLICING ONIONS:

No, I'm not going to tell you to wear swim goggles. That totally works, but when the goggles are outside by the pool or in the bottom of summer camp bags, that really doesn't make your life easier.

I'm no Martha Stewart, but this is what she told me (and the million other viewers of her show), and I've done it ever since - it really works:

Burn a candle (any candle, doesn't have to be a fancy one) near the cutting board while slicing onions, and the candle vapors will neutralize the stuff that makes your eyes water while slicing onions.

Do this, and you won't have smudgy mascara streaks running down your face at the dinner table. And if you use your favorite smelly candle, a fringe benefit might be that you just may relax a little while cooking dinner. Works for me!

Told ya it would be a quick & simple one today. See more Works For Me Wednesday tips here.

Works-For-Me-Wednesday: Coca Cola Sloppy Joes

This is another recipe from one of my favorite cookbooks: The 5:30 Challenge: 5 Ingredients, 30 Minutes, Dinner on the Table. According to the book, "Coca-Cola gives the sauce caramel sweetness and peppery spice. I am a Coca-Cola addict, so this sounds yummy (and easy) to me!

Coca-Cola Sloppy Joes

1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef or turkey
1 large onion, chopped
1 cup Coca-Cola
1 cup thick, tomato-based barbecue sauce
6 hamburger buns

In a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, brown the beef or turkey with the onion until onion is soft and meat is no longer pink, about 5-10 minutes.

Reduce heat to medium; stir in cola and barbecue sauce and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until sauce is thickened to desired consistency, another 10-15 minutes.

Season to taste with salt and pepper. Toast cut side of buns, if desired, under broiler or in a skillet. Heap mixture onto buns and serve.

Suggestions: If it's not spicy enough for your taste, shake in some hot sauce. Serve with cole slaw (pre-made from the deli or homemade: using bagged slaw mix, add a little mayo, some sugar and a touch of vinegar)

Nutrition info: Per serving: 385 calories, (percent of calories from fat, 35), 27 grams protein, 34 grams carbohydrates, 2 grams fiber, 15 grams fat, 75 milligrams cholesterol, 645 milligrams sodium.

WFMW: Best Window Cleaner Ever

BEST GLASS/SURFACE CLEANER, EVER: DIRTEX

I was alerted to Dirtex by our wonderful house painter, Jesse. He swears by it. I went and got some, and now I swear by it too.

No, it's not cheap (around $4 per can) No, it's not green (I use the aerosol can version). No, it's not easy to find (I get it at my local paint store - try a paint, hardware, or home improvement store).

But, like me, if you have a dog who constantly slobbers all over sliding glass doors, and kids who somehow get toothpaste ALL OVER the bathroom mirror every time teeth are brushed, you, like me, may be a bit less concerned about being cheap and green. Forget my carbon footprint, I want gleaming sliders you can see through and mirrors that don't cast a reflection through smeared toothpaste and spit.

When I bought my first can, the owner of the paint store told me he has 5 cans of Dirtex open at all times in various places in his house. I can see why. Spray, wipe, done. Sparkling, absolutely NO streaks. I now buy multiple cans to keep in the kitchen and bathrooms, just like he does.

See more Works For Me Wednesday tips at We Are That Family.

WFMW: Easy Brownies From Scratch

What works for me: FROM SCRATCH BROWNIES

Need a quick dessert for an impromptu summer evening gathering with the neighbors from ingredients you most likely already have in your cupboard? Try this recipe for brownies - no 5pm Saturday run to the grocery store needed.

FROM SCRATCH BROWNIES

1 stick butter, melted

1 c. sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

2 eggs

1/2 c. flour

1/3 c. cocoa

1/4 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 c. chopped nuts (optional)

Blend butter, sugar and vanilla in large bowl. Add eggs; beat mixture well. Combine flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt; gradually blend into egg mixture. Stir in nuts. Spread in a greased 9-inch square pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes or until brownie begins to pull away from edges of pan. Cool, and frost with Creamy Brownie Frosting if desired (recipe below). Cut into squares and serve. Yields: about 16 brownies.

CREAMY BROWNIE FROSTING

3 tbsp. butter, softened

3 tbsp. cocoa

1 tbsp. light corn syrup or honey

1/2 tsp. vanilla1 c. confectioners' sugar

1 to 2 tbsp. milk

Cream butter, cocoa, corn syrup and vanilla in small mixer bowl. Add confectioners' sugar and milk; beat to spreading consistency.

To see what's working for everybody else today, stop by We Are THAT Family!

Works for Me Wednesday: Summer Boredom Edition

This WFMW is themed: How to combat SUMMER BOREDOM. See more tips here

We don't have much summer boredom at my house, because Hunter and I both work all summer, so the kids go to super-active fun summer camps and are usually exhausted when they get home. And on the weekends we try to spend some time out by our pool, so that always keep them busy.

Nonetheless, when I hear the inevitable "Mom, I'm bored," they know what's next: they get assigned a job.

That's right. They are put to work around the house. I'll assign them a task (like vacuuming a room, cleaning a toilet - for some reason they love using the toilet brush- or cleaning out a drawer).

It's a win-win whether they do it or not. Most of the time they'll do it, and it's great to have some unexpected help. Once in a while they refuse, but in doing so, they find something else to do, FAST. Problem solved, they are no longer bored. Pretty simple tip, but it works like magic for us.

Happy Wednesday!

WFMW: Guilt-free yummy treat!

This is a quick and easy one. I am on a big-time diet in anticipation of my early June vacation, so I have been looking for guilt-free treats. Discovered this quite by accident and it SO works for me...

Pudding that tastes LIKE CAKE BATTER!

• 1 box fat-free, sugar-free Cheesecake instant pudding mix
• 1 box fat-free, sugar-free Butterscotch instant pudding mix
• nonfat milk

Mix together according to package directions, and chill in fridge for 5 minutes. Makes enough to last a few days - grab a spoon and dig in when the sweet tooth hits, with no guilt!

If your diet allows, toss a few chocolate chips on top - YUM!

See more tips at We Are That Family.

WFMW: Cheap & Green Household Cleaners (from stuff you probably already have!)

This week's Works-For-Me-Wednesday has a money-saving theme. See more financially conscious tips at We Are That Family.

My tip is not only frugal, but green. Below is a list of non-toxic cleaning solutions made from stuff you likely already have around the house. For those only mildly or not at all frugal and/or environmentally conscious, don't stop reading here.

The list would come in handy when you want something cleaned RIGHT NOW and are fresh out of whatever you would normally use, the story of my life!

Cleaning Solutions:

Furniture polish: three parts olive oil, one part white vinegar

To clean mineral-scale buildup in humidifiers – use distilled white vinegar

Soap scum removal: Apply baking soda (it is non abrasive). Scrub with a damp cloth or sponge. (Whatever you do, don’t try “Pam” spray for soap scum. I read that somewhere once and tried it, it didn’t work and made my shower greasy & gross!)

Granite & Marble Cleaner: 2 cups water, 1/2 cup distilled white vinegar, 1 tsp pure castile soap (peppermint, etc.), 3/4 cup hydrogen peroxide, 20 drops tea tree oil, 20 drops lavender or lemongrass essential oil. Mix all ingredients in a 32-ounce plastic spray bottle. Cleaner can be used to clean surfaces of acrylic, ceramic tile, wood, marble and granite

Carpet stains: Use cornstarch or club soda

Carpet deodorizer: Sprinkle baking soda around the room. Optional: add some dried crushed lavender or basil. Wait about 1/2 hour, then vacuum

Grease stains: use cornstarch

De-yellow silk or wool: Mix 1 tablespoon white vinegar in 1 pint of water. Sponge with this solution and rinse. Wash as usual

Silver polish: Rub silver with plain old toothpaste and rinse with water

To prevent odors/mold in garbage cans: sprinkle 1/2 cup Borax in the bottom of the garbage can

For Scratches: Mix equal pans of lemon juice and salad oil. Rub into scratches with a soft cloth until scratches disappear

Remove streaks from stainless steel sinks: Rub with olive oil

Remove metal rust: Mix 2 tablespoons salt with 1 tablespoon lemon juice. Apply and rub well

Bathroom mold: Mold in bathroom tile grout is a common problem and can be a health concern. Mix one part hydrogen peroxide (3%) with two parts water in a spray bottle and spray on areas with mold. Wait at least one hour before rinsing or using shower

Marks on walls and painted surfaces: Many ink spots, pencil, crayon or marker spots can be cleaned from painted surfaces using baking soda applied to a damp sponge. Rub gently, then wipe and rinse

Stickers on walls: I find Spiderman, etc. stickers all over my house. Everywhere. To remove, sponge vinegar over them several times, and wait 15 minutes, then rub off the stickers. This also works for price tags (stickers) on tools, etc

Water Rings on Wood: Water rings on a wooden table or counter are typically the result of moisture that is trapped under the topcoat, but not the finish. Try applying toothpaste or mayonnaise to a damp cloth and rub into the ring. Once the ring is removed, buff the entire wood surface

WFMW: Hot Crab Dip recipe from a favorite restaurant

See more tips at We Are That Family .

This recipe is from the Old Key Lime House, one of my favorite restaurants in my old stomping grounds of Palm Beach County, Florida. It was published recently in the Florida Sun-Sentinel, who described it as a "deliciously flavorful dip with the spicy kick of cayenne." Works for me!

To get you in a happy hour Crab Dip mood, below are pictures of the historic Old Key Lime House. If you are ever in the Lantana, Florida area, check it out. We've spent many a good time watching the sunset on this deck while letting the kids throw pennies in the koi pond in the middle of the restaurant!

Hot Crab Dip

Prep ahead of time so flavors have time to meld.

Ingredients:

• 12 ounces cream cheese (not low fat), at room temperature

• 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste

• Large pinch fresh-ground white pepper, or to taste
• 2 1/2 tablespoons medium-dry sherry

• 1 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

• 8 ounces crab claw meat*

• 2 1/2 tablespoons chopped scallions

In a large mixing bowl, cream the cheese on the low speed of an electric mixer until very smooth. Add the cayenne and white peppers, the sherry and Worcestershire sauce. Blend well with the mixer on medium speed, scraping down the side of the bowl as needed. Add the crab meat and scallions; mix well with a spoon.

Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours. Transfer to a microwave-safe serving bowl and heat thoroughly in microwave before serving. Makes about 2 1/3 cups.

*We used the Phillips brand of Pasteurized Claw Crab meat available in the refrigerator section of the seafood department in most supermarkets.

Enjoy with some tri-color tortilla chips and Coronas. It's 5 o'clock somewhere!

WFMW: Quick, Easy, Delicious Turkey Recipe

Today's WFMW tip: Quick, Easy, Delicious Recipe: Turkey with Lemon and Capers

I got this from a cookbook I got from the library which TOTALLY works for me: The 5:30 Challenge: 5 Ingredients, 30 Minutes, Dinner on the Table. I copied a bunch of recipes from it before I returned it. As my photocopied recipes are quite splattered, I think I will just suck it up and buy a copy of the book. It's a keeper.

My family loved this, although I did have to explain to Diva and Daredevil what capers were. (I said: "You like salt, right? Well, capers make things salty." That worked for them.)

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup all purpose flour
  
• 1 pound turkey tenderloins, tough white membranes removed, cut into 1-inch pieces
  
• 1 14.5 ounce can reduced-sodium chicken broth
  
• Juice of 1 lemon (I keep one of those little plastic lemons in the fridge, that worked fine!)
  
• 2 tablespoons capers

Directions:

• On a plate, place flour, 1/4 tsp salt, and a few grindings of pepper. Lightly dredge the turkey in flour.
• In a large, well-oiled skillet over high heat, saute the turkey pieces for 2-3 minutes, or until golden brown, turning once.
  
• Transfer turkey to a plate.
  
• Add broth and lemon juice to the pan and bring to a boil, scraping up any browned bits clinging to the pan.
  
• When the sauce has been reduced by about half, return turkey to pan and add capers.
  
• Cook for 2-3 minutes, or until turkey is cooked through and sauce reduces to syrupy consistency.
• Makes 4 servings
  

Per serving: 231 calories, 30 grams protein, 8 grams carbohydrates, trace fiber, 8 grams fat, 74mg cholesterol, 319 mg sodium.

Suggestions:

• Serve with angel hair pasta tossed in EVOO and steamed Brussels sprouts (I know, Brussels sprouts are a hard sell to kids . . but they are one of my faves)
  
• Enrich the sauce with a few tablespoons of heavy or light cream added in the end. (I'm sure this would be great, but I NEVER have cream on hand)
  
• For lower sodium, substitute white wine for part of the chicken broth

See more tips at We Are That Family and Happy Wednesday!

WFMW: Collective Birthday Parties

Today's tip: Collective Birthday Parties

I have two Girlfriends from college that live within driving distance of me, and we have 6 kids between us. We love to celebrate birthdays. But, 6 birthday parties throughout the year, when we live 45-minutes to an hour and half away, is a bit much for our busy schedules (not to mention expensive).

So, we started having ONE birthday party a year, where us 3 girls and the kids get together to celebrate ALL our kids' birthdays at one time. We usually do it in the spring as that's when the majority of actual birthdays are. We draw names to buy gifts, and each kid gets ONE gift.

Why this works for us:

• One party instead of six to fit into our crazy schedules
• Our kids (and us girls!) get to spend quality time with each other without a bunch of other people and kids around (we all still have the normal kid birthday parties for families and friends)
• Less expensive - we all pitch in - 1 person brings the cake, one is in charge of dinner, one brings snacks, etc.
• 1 present per kid - the kids don't get a whole lot of stuff they don't need
• We rotate between our houses and sometimes try to do a fun activity around it...my kids still rave about going to C's house near Baltimore last year and walking around the Inner Harbor. They love a road trip.

Slightly off the topic, but this certain group of Girlfriends all turn 40 in 2010, so we are contemplating a collective girls only trip to celebrate our 40ths. This will definitely not involve kids!

See more tips We Are That Family and Happy Wednesday!

P.S. HAPPY 40TH BIRTHDAY HUNTER!

Works for Me Wednesday: Easy (and green!) Way to Remove Tomato Based Stains

Works For Me Wednesday is hosted by We Are That Family.

My tip: Use the SUN to bleach out tomato stains on fabrics. This method is FREE and environmentally friendly!

Tomato stains. You know them. From Pizza, Spaghetti-o's, Ketchup, etc. (Why do kids karate uniforms have to be white???) Spray and Wash, although I swear by it, doesn't always work on these types of stains.

The sun does. That's right. Just lay your clothes in the sun and voila - an hour or two later, your tomato stain will be GONE. It even works through a window on cold days (yes, I've done it.) Keep checking on it though, you don't want to leave clothing out too long or the sun may fade your colors. This even works on hazy or partly cloudy days (probably due to the thinning ozone layer). Not so much on completely overcast days.

I learned this from my Mom, who gave me this advice back in college when I worked in an Italian restaurant and had to wear a white oxford cloth shirt every day. I would come home with all kinds of tomato sauce all over it (a testament to either my work ethic or clumsiness, I don't know which). I would just wash the shirt and hang it out on the line every day and it would look perfect.

Check out more tips here !

Works for me Wednesday: Cheap Extra or Replacement Car Keyless Remotes

This is my inaugural Works-For-Me Wednesday. Read more about it at RocksInMyDryer

Here's my tip:

My keyless remote for my 2002 Yukon XL died recently. Not battery-dead, really dead. In trying to replace the battery I broke the little piece that held the battery inside it, totally screwing it up. Totally not fixable.

I called my local GMC dealer to see about replacing it. The price for a new one was over $400, so I thought I was out of luck.

Now that I have 3 kids, one of which is carried around in a infant seat, a remote has become oh-so-important. So one day I checked E-bay. I found and bought one that matched my truck (same FCC ID) for $16.95 + 6.95 shipping. That's right, $23.90 total. A little less than $400!

I have to program it myself, but the instructions seem simple:

For most 02 GMC trucks:

1. get in truck and close doors
2. insert key in ignition
3. press and hold unlock button on driver's door
4. turn vehicle on and off (as far as you can without starting) twice
5. release lock button on door. Door locks should unlock and lock to indicate programming mode
6. hold lock and unlock buttons simultaneously on remote you want to use. Make sure it is the correct code for the vehicle year. Repeat #'s 5& 6 for additional remotes\.
   
7. Then turn the ignition key on and off to end the programming mode.

Need an extra keyless remote for your car? Check Ebay or other auction/store sites. Make sure the FCC ID matches your current remote and that the seller gives you programming instructions.

Check out the other fantastic ideas at Rocks in my Dryer. Have a great week.

UPDATE: I got my remote in the mail, and followed the instructions above to program it. The programming took all of 30 seconds, and it works PERFECTLY! I am so happy with it I ordered another for my husband, whose had lost his.