Almanac for Homemakers

June Potpourri for Homemakers It's the end of the month. I can't believe we are already here. It seems like last week I was writing about the end of May. Time is just going by too fast. Per tradition in our Almanac, the last day of the month is for a mix of friendly advice. "Save old toothbrushes." Ew. I get it. The idea here is use them for cleaning. Brush around faucets, counter edges, knobs. But old toothbrushes are riddled with bacteria so I'm not sure how effective you will be at cleaning unless you disinfect them first. "A bathtub is a good substitute for a washtub." We talked about using your bathtub in this April Post  as an emergency for clothes washing. The idea in this tips is to also use it for washing things that need to be hand washed that won't fit in a sink such as your curtains or drapes. "Tie the cords on such garments as pajamas, sweat pants, and jackets before washing." Ever l...

May Potpourri for Homemakers   As is tradition around here, the last day of the month is dedicated to a mix of tips for the homemaker. Let's see what our Almanac has for us on this last day of May. "Git rid of leftovers or other refrigerated foods promptly if you have the slightest suspicion about spoilage. It's better to lose the price of the food than to pay doctor bills." You might have to move around some items in your fridge just to make sure that you don't miss a tub of chili from January. Brush up on your Food Safety tips from this March Post. "Keep model numbers and direction booklets for appliances where you can find them in a hurry. The needed information will be at your fingertips when you call the repairman." I actually do this. One reason is that if I ever want to sale it in a garage sale I can include it. The other reason is just in case it decides to become possessed and I need the troubleshoot guide. ...

Pointers about Buying Vegetables "Vegetables are low in calories and a number of them rank high in vitamins and minerals." We have talked some about vegetables in this blog before In February, we talked about Grades of Canned and Frozen Veggies. In April, we talked specifically about Asparagus. Today is about fresh veggies and their healthy traits. Vitamin A Most Dark Green and Deep Yellow vegetables are great sources of this vitamin. It is a good idea to include carrots, spinach, sweet potatoes, and other dark leafy greens or squash into your meals. These vegetables are also great sources of other vitamins that we need everyday. Protein Usually when we think of protein we think of meat. But stop and think where our meat source got their protein rich meat. Many vegetables are substantial protein sources. Some of the most popular are dry legumes. Beans and peas are outstanding sources of protein. Low Calorie Raw vegetables are...

Welcome May Look at these happy people. Planting flowers for the spring garden. You do you boo. ... Pointers About Storing and Thawing Fish "When you buy fresh fish or someone brings home a catch, wrap the fish and get it into the refrigerator quickly. Always use fresh fish within two days." Today's Almanac Post is about fish! Typically, if you get fresh fish, it is best to eat it asap. When you are shopping for fish look for these signs of Freshness: 1. Fish should have a mild smell, not sour or with a hint of ammonia. 2. They eyes should be clear and bulge out a little. Sunken eyes are a sign of an old fish. 3. Fish fillets should be firm with no milky slime. 4. Avoid any packages that have ice crystals which could a sign that the fish was thawed and refrozen. ... If you have purchased frozen fish, Follow these guidelines: 1. Thaw gradually in the refrigerator over night 2. Thaw under cool water. A...

April Potpourri for Homemakers Welcome to the last day of April! As is tradition, we have a mix of ideas, tips, and what have you's for the Homemaker. Create your own raincoats. Scotch-guard sprayed on any coat will make it water repellent. Follow the directions on the can. I looked up this tip and really it is recommended that you use Scotch-guard on rain coats to help them out if they have lost some of their water resistant coating. Teach all family members to stretch out both the shower curtain and the liner so that they dry after showering. I would go even further to remind your growing sons to not pee on the shower curtain during a shower. If you are a mom and confused just imagine a sprinkler going around the garden. Except its your kid in the shower. Save grocery bags and use them to line waste baskets. If you don't already do this, you are a jerk. Keep a list of Toll Calls near your telephone. Check the list against the bill...