Cleaning an Electric Grill

I've had several electric grills and truly love using them, they are so convenient and make the best sandwiches.

However, I didn't have the good sense to buy one with removable grills and don't even know if they were available in the market when I bought my first one so long ago.

I HATE cleaning these guys, so I don't use them as often as I should.

Karen at Sew Many Ways has come up with a quick and painless way to clean them!  I must try her technique very soon :)

Click here for her tutorial.

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Oatmeal . . . so many uses for this frugal item

Oatmeal is one of my favorite breakfast options, along with.being a healthy and very inexpensive item.  But did you know there are so many other uses for oatmeal?

The following list is from Tip Hero, where you can get tips and helpful information . . . it is a money saving guide!  It is a website all frugalistas should have bookmarked . . .


Other uses for oatmeal:

Make Face Masks: in desperate need of a facial? Mix 1/2 a cup of oatmeal with 1/2 cup hot water and 1/4 cup honey in a food processor. Apply to your face and let sit for 10 minutes before rinsing with cool water.


Make a Healthier Flour: when you need flour to make cookies (or any other recipe) process some oatmeal into a fine powder. Then use it in place of flour to make healthier treats.


Breadcrumb Substitute: put your oats through a processor and use them to bind meatballs, meatloaf and veggie burgers.


Make Clay for Kids: mix a cup of instant/rolled oats, 2/3 cup all-purpose flour and 1/2 cup water. You'll have a play-doh-like clay that will stay moist as your kids create a masterpiece. Then once they're done, their sculpture will harden overnight.


Neutralize Odors: oatmeal can work in the same way as baking soda in the fridge. Just throw a bowl of uncooked oatmeal in the fridge to keep odors under control.


Soothe Itchy Skin: grind up some oats into a fine powder and put into a cheesecloth or pantyhose. Then just tie it in a knot around the bathtub faucet and draw a bath. Soak in that bath to treat poison ivy, rashes and chicken pox.

An organized freezer

What does an organized freezer have to do with being frugal?

I've written about buying food in bulk, especially those items we use often. Imagine having a place for all those frozen items where you can actually find them when you need them!

Samantha from the blog Simply Organized has some great ideas for getting your freezer under control.  Look at the photo . . . isn't that an outstanding looking freezer?

Click here to go to her blog post for some great ideas and lots of photos.

7 Plants You Can Start From Kitchen Scraps

Written by:  Mick Telkamp from HGTV Gardens

Instead of throwing kitchen scraps into the compost bin, re-grow them!

Many of us have had the experience of reaching into a bag of onions to find new growth as fresh green shoots have sprouted within. Plants love to grow and it’s easy to simply cut away the new sprouts and get on with dinner, but for the intrepid gardener, the new growth possible from vegetable scraps or an unexpected surplus of produce is an opportunity to get a jump on propagating new crops. Before relegating kitchen scraps to the compost pile, consider these anxious growers and repopulate a bountiful garden using parts of the vegetable usually left behind.

Celery
Cut celery stalks from the base as usual, but instead of tossing that base away, place it in a shallow cup of water on a sunny windowsill, leaving the top exposed. In a matter of days, you’ll notice fresh green growth emerging from the center. Change the water every couple of days and watch the plant flourish, even as outer stalks lose their color and fade. Once the new growth has established, transfer the growing celery into the garden or a pot of soil to continue its development.

Green Onions
Use the white root normally discarded to effortlessly provide a steady and renewable source of green onions. Simply place the roots in a glass, leaving the cut end above water. Left on the kitchen windowsill, the green shoots will continue to grow. Change the water occasionally and an endless supply of this cooking staple is always at hand. This same method may be used to keep fresh leeks or fennel always within reach.

Cabbage
Like celery, cabbage (as well as bok choy and romaine lettuce) can be regrown from the root base. Although cabbage can also be started in water, starting out in shallow soil is sometimes more effective. Make sure to keep the soil especially damp for the first week or two to encourage new growth.

Potatoes
A favorite grade-school project, the eyes of potatoes readily sprout new growth (sometimes even in the pantry). Cut potatoes into pieces and nurture the sprouts in water. Once new sprouts are established, plant in damp soil to grow your own potatoes.

Avocados
That golf ball-sized pit is a giant seed ready to grow into your very own avocado tree. Press three toothpicks into the pit along its center and suspend it in a glass with water covering the bottom half. Change the water regularly and after a few weeks stems will form. Growing this tree is a little more challenging than some other kitchen scrap projects, but is worth the effort. Check out this article for more details on growing your own avocado tree.

Garlic
Plant a clove of garlic in a pot of damp soil and place it in a sunny location. As the garlic scapes (stalks) grow, cut them back to divert the plants resources to developing that glorious root. Garlic scapes are a treat in their own right and the peppery stalks can be roasted or used in pesto.

Ginger
Ginger rhizomes (the “root” used for cooking) are easy growers inside the house, but take a little longer. Plant a piece of the rhizome in damp soil and place in a sunny room, but out of direct sunlight. Shoots will become evident fairly soon, but it will take several months before there has been enough growth to harvest. Once the ginger has developed sufficient growth, pull the plant from the soil for use. Don’t forget to cut off a piece to re-plant!

An Abundance of Oranges?

This post is for those who are fortunate enough to have orange trees on their property or if you have an abundance of oranges for one reason or another.

For the first time in many years, we are blessed with an abundance of oranges since our baby orange trees have matured and put out lots of sweet oranges.  Yes, this makes me happy, happy, happy since oranges, even in the State of Florida, have become rather expensive.

Of course I have lots of recipes using oranges that I will be posting on my food blog, but the following are general pages about the use of orange marmalade.

Click here for a page dedicated to cooking with orange marmalade.

Recipes using orange marmalade from Thrifty Fun

Different uses for orange marmalade from eHow

If orange marmalade is not your thing, here are some other ideas for using oranges . . .

Uses for oranges from eHow

Household uses for oranges

10 Unique Uses for Orange Peels

Beauty Uses of Oranges

24 Uses for Oranges

Bulk food buying

You want to save money buying your groceries in bulk, but where do you start.  Where do you go to find those bargains?  Don't know how to store all that food?  Is couponing worth it?  What about splitting those bulk purchases with friends?  How do I plan it all?

I've done it before, but it was a long time ago.  The greatest lesson I learned . . . you don't save money if you buy too much and end up throwing it away.

It takes time to plan your purchases, organize your pantry and refrigerator and menu plans for efficiently using the food, which can be an exhaustive commitment if you really don't have the time.  You will learn my lesson . . . if you don't have the time to make a plan, you will end up throwing money away and not saving at all.

You can do it on a small scale like we do . . . when there is a good price on an item we use often, like butter, rice and pasta, we stock up on the item since we know the item will not be wasted, how it will be stored and how long it will take us to use it.

If you have the time and patience, the following are some great resources for guidance.

You Bought in Bulk...Now What?

How to Buy Food in Bulk

10 Tips for Buying Food in Bulk

Is Buying Groceries in Bulk at Wholesale Clubs Always Cheaper?

How Does Buying Food in Bulk Save Money?

Bulk Food Storage, Build your Foundation On the Basics

Lemons, lemons, lemons

When life brings you lemons . . . rejoice!!

We are lucky enough to be blessed with a healthy lemon tree on our property, along with limes and sour oranges.  We love cooking with them, but there are so many other uses for lemons!  Since I have an overabundance of sour oranges, I plan on experimenting to see if they are as effective as lemons.

Did you know that lemons can be frozen whole?  Place whole lemons in a bag to keep them all in one place.  Thaw them out when you are ready to use them. The juice will taste fresh, however, the texture of the lemon will be soggy.

Jillee of One Good Thing, one of my very favorite blogs, has written numerous posts on the many uses of lemons.  Her latest post is all about the health benefits of lemons, which also includes links to past posts on other uses for lemons.  Check out the rest of her blog while you are there . . . love her DIY recipes, a must for other frugalistas out there!

Click here to go to the article

Glory Foods Gift Basket Giveaway

What is better than Southern comfort

 food homemade from scratch?

The answer is a Southern comfort

 food made from Glory Foods products!

Glory Foods is the category leader in Southern-style, heat-and-serve products including seasoned canned vegetables, cooking bases, hot sauces and fresh greens. They have an array of ready-to-eat and fresh products, including spinach, fried apples, low-sodium green beans, cornbread mix and fresh kale.

How would you like to win

a free gift basket full of 

Glory Food products?  

Frugal Follies is hosting a giveaway!

Click here to enter!

This giveaway ends on Friday,

 October 26, 2012, at 12:01 am.

Paradise Grove Avocado Giveaway

The avocado is one of my favorite things!

My latest discovery is using it in place of mayonnaise for a chicken salad sandwich.  Usually I love to have it mixed in a salad or serve sliced with salt and pepper.

Life in the Lost World is hosting a giveaway for a box of Haas Avocados from Paradise Grove Avocados  . . . click here to enter.

Hurry!  The giveaway ends on October 23!

Homemade Deodorizing Disks

Being a fabulous frugalista sometimes means making your own stuff.  Actually, I prefer homemade items for cleaning since I control what goes into it.  No more toxic fumes and burnt, stuffy nose from my old method of using bleach and other harsh chemicals for just about everything.

Let's face it, cleaning items are expensive!  It doesn't matter how many coupons you gather up, it adds up quickly . . . unless you have a free coupon.

You probably already have the simple ingredients in this recipe for deodorizing disks . . .

2 cups baking soda

1 – 2 cups distilled water (or you can boil your water for 10 minutes.)

Lavender essential oil (or whatever oil you choose. Citrus would be good too!)

Silicone mold or muffin pan

Click here for the tutorial from one of my favorite blogs . . . One Good Thing by Jillee.

WOW! $600 Gift Card Giveaways!! Ends tonight!!

It has been a while, but I'm back in the swing of entering sweepstakes and giveaways!

The world of giveaways, sweepstakes and freebies has exploded since I last participated.  I'll be featuring my favorite ones regularly!

Tonight I went on a mission of finding awesome sweepstakes and sought out an old friend, Icefairy's Treasure Chest.  I hit the jackpot of giveaways in just one blog!!  I've placed her blog button on my sidebar . . .

Rather than try to explain it myself, I'll use her words . . .

This month I've teamed up with some great blogs to give you the chance to win over $600 in cash or gift cards! Each participating blog is giving away a gift card or cash prize valued at $25 or more. Be sure to enter them all and receive one extra entry for each giveaway you have entered! 

The bad news is that all the giveaways end September 21, so hurry up and enter the giveaways . . . I love gift card giveaways!

Click here to go there!

Natural Lemon Vinegar Cleaner (updated)

This cleaning recipe is a frugalista's dream!

I'm really excited about finding so many natural cleaners without toxic chemicals to use around the house.  Especially when it is stuff I already have!  

Our lemon and lime trees produce lots of fruit, so there is an abundance of lemon and lime peels that usually get throw into the compost pile or the trash.  And I always keep a large jug of white vinegar to keep the drains clean and smelling good!

Click here for instructions . . . can't wait to try this cleaner!



UPDATE:  
Click here for 25 uses for lemon peels
from One Good Thing by Jillee

Clothes dryer problems?

Appliances are one of those things that I hate to go out and buy.  Being the frugal person that I am, all home remedies are exhausted before even calling the repair man . . . they are very expensive too!

It has been a while since the clothes dryer has been acting up and not drying the clothes in one cycle. We would have been grateful for two drying cycles!  It would take forever to get laundry done!

After cleaning out the lint vent and replacing the thermostat (ugh, the part alone was expensive . . . The Captain changed it out, saving on labor costs), it still was not working properly, although a little better.

Stubbornly frugal and still not wanting to give in and buy an expensive dryer, I decided to do some digging around the internet to see if anyone else was having the same problem.

I finally found the answer that eventually solved the problem and I am so sorry that I can't think of where I found the information since I am so grateful to whoever that was!!

Sometimes it is simple, little things that make a difference in the way things work.  It was so simple, I almost felt silly for even trying the suggestion . . . and I dismissed it for a while.  After continuing to struggle with the laundry, I thought, why not try?

Fabric dryer sheets and fabric softener container waxy ingredients that clog up the lint screen, making it impossible for proper air ventilation.  I imagine it could also start a fire!

So . . . out came the lint screen for a good cleaning . . . and voila . . . the dryer is working perfectly!

Check your lint screen out and see if water doesn't penetrate it.  Water will just bead up on the screen if it needs to be cleaned.  All it takes is water, a little dishwashing liquid and a toothbrush.  Problem solved or prevented!

Most people would go out and buy a new one.

Anyway, it sure is nice to be able to get the laundry done quickly :)

The Wonders of Dawn Dishwashing Liquid

TUB AND SHOWER CLEANER

Take a spray bottle and fill it halfway with white vinegar. Heat in the microwave. Fill the rest of the way with blue Dawn. Put lid on and shake to mix well. Spray on your tub and shower walls. Allow to sit for a few minutes and rinse away. It will totally melt all the gunk, slime, sludge and other stuff that builds up including a bathtub ring.

Click here for an awesome article . . . Original Blue Dawn, Not Just for Dishes Anymore from the blog One Good Thing by Jillie, where you will find a listing of lots more uses for Dawn that will save you money!

Simple's Cleansing Facial Wipes . . . a Klout perk!

I just received my newest Klout perk today!

Simple, sensitive skin experts, and UK’s #1 facial skincare rage, is now available in the US. Simple has no dyes, artificial perfumes or harsh irritants that can upset your skin. 

The product I really loved . . . the cleansing facial wipes!  Since we live in Florida and spend a lot of time outdoors, these cleansing wipes come in handy.  They leave the skin feeling clean and refreshed . . . love them!  I will be purchasing more when the free product is used up :)

Do you qualify to receive full size samples of Simple's Cleansing Facial Wipes and Replenishing Rich Moisturizer?  Click here to find out!

Influencer disclosure: 

I was given a free product or sample because I'm a Klout influencer. I was under no obligation to receive the sample or talk about this company. I get no additional benefits for talking about the product or company.

Join me on Klout!

Free body lotion from Burts Bees Gud

My newest Klout perk for being an influencer was this awesome "gudee box" of three full sized products from Burts Bees gud.  So far, it is one of my favorite perks :)))  

The body lotion is one of the best I have tried . . . the smell of  Floral Cherrynova is awesomely delicious and left my skin smooth and silky!

Get your free sample of body lotion

 while supplies last!

I love being a Klout influencer :)))

I was given a free product or sample because I'm a Klout influencer.

 I was under no obligation to receive the sample or talk about this company.

 I get no additional benefits for talking about the product or company.

You have to smell it to believe it. Good thing we are still giving out samples! Share this post to tell all your friends about how they can get a FREE Body Lotion sample!

Samples available in the U.S. only while supplies last. Limit one per household. Ages 13+. Takes 4-6 weeks for delivery.

CLICK the link below to request a sample: http://www.facebook.com/Gud/app_173756732737396

Treats for your Sweetheart . . . freebie eCookbook

Download your free copy of Treats for Your Sweetheart: 14 Valentine's Day Desserts eCookbook today.

Sweet Treats!

Gina's Italian Kitchen, my food blog, 

will be featuring sweet treats

 now until Valentine's Day!

Come by and check it out the

sweets for your sweetie :)

Kitchen Stuff on Sale Now

Stock up on these following items

 while the stores have too much

 inventory left from the holidays!

It happens every year . . .

1. Fruit & Citrus: These items are usually heavily stocked, intended as holiday gifts.  If you can't use them right away, citrus can be juiced, pureed or even frozen (most fruits can be frozen).  Plan your menu around these items while they can be purchased for a fraction of their original price!

2. Baking Supplies:  Look for discounts on flour, sugar, baking soda (which can also be used for your cleaning needs) . . . Basic staples are stocked in large quantities for holiday baking.

3. Pie Crusts & Phyllo Dough:  Take advantage of discount prices . . . same as baking supplies!  Grocery stores buy these items in bulk for holiday baking. Stock up!  Don't forget you can freeze pies :)

4. Cookie Cutters & Icing Supplies:  You will find inexpensive cookie cutters and icing tips at discount prices, although the inventory could be picked over . . . you never know!

5. Yogurts:   We tend to make our resolutions to lose weight in January, so it is logical that yogurt and other assorted "healthy" items will be purchased in large quantities by the stores and sold at a discount.  Just stick a popsicle stick in the top of yogurt you anticipate will not be used by the expiration date and pop them in the freezer for some handy healthy treats.

6. Sponges & Cleaning Supplies: You can count on deals for pricier specialized items like hand brooms or single sponges that might otherwise be over your budget.

7. Cookie Mix-Ins: Just when you made your resolution to lose weight, you will be tempted by the deep discounts on items like wrapped caramels, chocolate chips, marshmallows, chocolate bars, candies, nuts, dried fruits, sprinkles and other assorted cookie items for the next several weeks.

8. Winter Alcohol Packs: Beer, wine, hard liquors and gift sets are sold at reduced prices this time of year . . . stock up for that Super Bowl party! 

9. Super Bowl Foods:  Time for the start of the big push for party items like soda, chips, crackers and cheeses.  

10. Festive Beverages & Mix-Ins: Be on the lookout for holiday items like gingerbread and peppermint teas, holiday coffee creamer and flavorings . . . big markdowns on these items this time of year!

Happy Frugal Shopping!