Kitchen Crafts 'n' More Newsletter "Recipes, crafts and help around the home." Issue #494 November 1, 2006 ~11,000+ SUBSCRIBERS~ ================================= Today's FEATURE Sponsor Is... Grower Fresh Flowers, Cookie Bouquets and Gift Baskets At Chocolate, Flowers and Unique Gifts, you will find just that! Fine Chocolates, Grower Fresh Flowers, Handmade Cookie Bouquets, Gift Baskets, and Unique Gifts like Flower Pens, Party Gift Boxes, Pewter and so much more... Whatever type of gift you are looking for, we have it at Chocolate, Flowers and Unique Gifts ***** By supporting these sponsors, you support our FREE newsletter. Thank you for your continued support of our valued sponsors. ***** Beckley's Best Blends - All Natural Soy Candles At Beckley's Best Blends, a husband and wife team (along with help from their kids!) carefully create beautiful, all-natural soy candles. No dyes or additives are ever added, and there are DOZENS of scrumptious scents to choose from - or have a candle customized, and create your own scent! Support a family business that creates the highest quality candles by visiting Beckley's Best Blends - All Natural Soy Candles today! ================================= ~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~** NEW on The BLOGS ~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~** Are you NEW to the idea of blogs? All a blog is is a simple WEB LOG - sort of an online diary. :) It's an easy way for me to post LOTS of delish recipes, ideas and all sorts of other lovely things that I know KCnM readers will love. So if you haven't taken a moment, pick a blog or two to visit - and be sure to post a comment while you're there! I read every one. The Always Popular KCnM BLOG Jam packed with even MORE recipes, household hints, craft ideas...everything you've come to love about KCnM! Remember to post a comment while you're there! Recent postings include: - 2 Different B&B Muffin Recipes - Gift from the Kitchen - Butter Rum Cashews Household Hints Loads of great hints submitted by readers, including: - How to Make Black Frosting - Choose Less Oily Coffee Beans - Re-Using Paper Towel Rolls Bath Stuff Blog! For all of us who just LOVE a great bath - and a fabulous bathroom to go along with it. Recent postings include: -Luxurious Scented Bar Soap by Mistral - The Thymes Scented Home Spray The Pie Recipes Blog I am determined to share as many delicious, amazing pie recipes with you as is humanly possible! :) And what a fun challenge to undertake...we're up to 174 pie recipes listed. Recent postings include: - Candy Apple Pie - Lemon Cake Pie - Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Pie The Happy Slob's Housecleaning BLOG Housecleaning, made fun! Recent posts include: - No More Ironing - I'm on the Search for a Great Steamer - Keep Toothbrushes Clean and Free of Germs - Prevent Dishcloths from Getting Stinky The Coffee Creations BLOG - Yummmm All sorts of gorgeous Coffee Creations - recent posts include: - Easiest Gourmet Caramel Coffee Tip - Start an Espresso Machine Repair Business - Cinnamon Caramel Iced Coffee Recipe Frugalites - Fun Frugality Making frugality easy and fun: - I Did It! I Got My Credit Card Interest Rate Reduced! - What To Say to Get Your CC Rate Reduced - Use Canvas Shopping Bags ~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~** A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR ~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~** Hi everyone, Here is a fresh new issue of Kitchen Crafts 'n' More for you to enjoy. :) I've had fun compiling it with loads of delish new recipes, helpful household hints, and all-around great submissions from all of you. You readers are what makes this newsletter something truly special. As such an interactive newsletter, I look forward to your emails - send in your requests, questions, or send in your favorite household hints, answers to questions, or your best recipes. I'll gladly include them in upcoming issues. (You can always contact me at christinam@nucleus.com) Thanks for your help! Take care, Christina ~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~** READER'S QUESTIONS ~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~** Ask a question, or provide an answer! :) Email questions or answers to Christina at christinam@nucleus.com Thanks! ----------------- DEHUMIDIFIER WATER - CAN YOU RE-USE IT? Brenda asks: "Can I reuse dehumidifier water for washing clothing...? It looks clear! Do you know? I get about 5 gallons a day in our rainy weather, I hate to throw it down the drain if it can be reused." ~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~** HOUSEHOLD HINTS & 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) ----------------- Remove Crayon Marks from Walls Stephanie submitted this tip: "Also, use a hair dryer to get crayon off of painted walls and pretty much anything, just heat the wax with the hair dryer and then get a rag with some baby oil on it and rub it off." Tin Foil For Shining Stephanie says: "Shine your stainless steel kettles, toasters and sinks with tin foil. Just rub the metal with the foil and it will come sparkling after a good rinse." These & other tips featured now at: The Household Hints Blog For more great cleaning ideas, visit: The Happy Slob's Guide to House Cleaning ~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~** FREEBIES OF THE WEEK ~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~** Free Febreze Sample A Free Sample of Febreze will make your home smell nice and fresh! Free Sample of Febreze Spray Free Crest White Strips Sample A free sample of Crest White Strips will make your teeth look their best! Get Your Free Crest White Strips Free Coupons on the Products YOU Use Get the coupons you need to save on the products you actually use! Get Your Coupons Now ~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~** 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: ~~~ Please help these readers find these recipes! :) Thanks for your help everyone... Steamed Pudding Recipes One reader asks: "Does anyone have some good steamed pudding recipes? Also - any custard sauce recipes to serve over top? Thanks!" Best Roast Beef Recipe Another reader writes: "What is the easiest and yummiest way to make roast beef?" ~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~** 'KITCHEN CRAFT' RECIPES & CRAFT PROJECTS ~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~** Bath and beauty products, home remedies, craft recipes, food mixes, natural cleaning formulas, fun kids recipes and other unique recipes! ======================== Easy, Natural Body Scrubs You can find all sorts of the simplest scrubs at: Natural Body Scrubs Age Spot Fading Tips from Readers Natural ways to fade age spots. Natural Tips to Fade Age Spots Wheat Germ Moisturizing Mask Recipe Wheat Germ Mask Mix Recipe: Beef Gravy Mix Recipe Make Your Own Gravy Mix Mix Recipe: Homemade Pancake Mix Recipes Homemade Pancake Mix ~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~** TRADITIONAL RECIPES ~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~** The family favorites everyone loves! Please submit your recipes to christinam @ nucleus.com and I'll include them in an upcoming issue. =================== Berry Zucchini Nut Bread Submitted by Dorina Serves 20 Not just for the holidays, serve this any time of the year with softened cream cheese. 3 eggs 1 cup canola oil 2 cups sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 cups zucchini, grated 2/3 cup carrots, grated 3 cups flour 1 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 cup walnuts 3 ounces sun-dried berries, I like cranberries or "Craisins" Preheat your oven to 325 degrees. Grease and flour 2 9x4 inch bread pans. Beat the eggs slightly and add the oil, sugar, and vanilla. Mix well. Add the grated zucchini and carrots and mix well. Sift the flour, salt, cinnamon, baking powder and soda together. Add to the egg mixture and blend until all ingredients are thoroughly combined. Add the nuts and berries. Stir to distribute evenly. Pour the mixture into the floured bread pans and bake for 65-75 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Once the loaves have rested for about 5 minutes remove them from the pans to a cooling rack. Allow them to cool completely. Once cool, wrap them in plastic wrap and chill. ------------------- Pizza Casserole Submitted by Christi 1 pkg. sliced pepperoni (4 oz) 1/3 cut butter, melted 1 medium onion, chopped fine 6 oz. thin spaghetti, cooked for 10 minutes, drained 1 cup grated Swiss cheese (4 oz) 1 pound Mozzarella cheese, sliced thin 2 cans (8 oz each) tomato sauce 1 can mushroom stems and pieces (4 oz), drained 1/2 t. oregano 1/2 t. basil Boil pepperoni to remove fat for 5 minutes in water, then drain well. Sauté onion in 1 1/3 T. butter until golden brown. Preheat oven to 350. Pour remaining 1/4 cup butter into 11 x 7" baking pan. Toss cooked spaghetti in butter. Cover spaghetti with 1 can tomato sauce, add in order listed, half of grated Swiss cheese, half of pepperoni, half of mozzarella all of the mushrooms and onion,then sprinkle with oregano and basil. Top with the remaining Swiss cheese, pepperoni and finally the mozzarella cheese. Bake 20 to 25 minutes at 350. Serves 6 to 8 Source: Cheryl Hall -------------------- Taco Bake Submitted by Christi 1 lb. ground beef 1 medium onion, chopped ( 1/2 cup) 1 envelope (1 1/4 ounces) taco seasoning mix 1 can (16 ounces) tomato sauce 1 can (16 ounces) whole kernel corn, drained 2 C. shredded cheddar or American cheese (8 ounces) 2 C. original Bisquick 1 C. milk 2 eggs Shredded lettuce Chopped tomato Sour cream Heat oven to 325° F. Grease rectangular pan, 13 x 9 x 2 inches. Cook ground beef and onion in 10-inch skillet, stirring frequently, until beef is brown; drain. Stir in dry seasoning mix, tomato sauce and corn. Spoon into pan; sprinkle with cheese. Mix Bisquick, milk and eggs until smooth. Pour over beef mixture. Bake about 35 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes before cutting. Top with shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes and sour cream. For additional flavor, add sliced ripe olives, guacamole and a spicy item such as chopped jalapeno chilies or crushed red pepper. ----------------------- Chocolate Stout Silk Pie Submitted by Sue B. Source: Tapp's Brewpub and Steakhouse in downtown Saint John, New Brunswick INGREDIENTS FOR THE CRUST: 1 1/2 cups crushed graham crackers, 1/3 cup melted butter FILLING: 12 oz. semi-sweet or bitter-sweet chocolate (chocolate chips work well), 24 large marshmallows, pinch of salt, 2/3 cups stout, 1/3 cup evaporated milk, 1 tsp. vanilla, 1 tbsp. creme de cacaso liqueur (light or dark will work). DIRECTIONS: Preheat oven to 350° F. Add melted butter to crushed graham crackers and mix until well blended. Using fingers, press crust mixture into bottom and up the sides of a pie pan. Bake crust for about 6 minutes until set (you can alternatively use a ready made graham cracker crust). Place chocolate, marshmallows and salt in a blender. Blend until well mixed and chocolate is finely ground. In two separate saucepans (in order to prevent curdling), heat stout and evaporated milk until very hot but not boiling. Pour stout and milk into blender and blend for one minute. Add vanilla and creme de cacao and blend. Pour into the crust and refrigerate overnight. Garnish with whipped cream. SERVES: 6 to 8. =============================== --THANKS FOR READING THIS ISSUE Thanks for reading this edition of Kitchen Crafts n' More! ===============================