Sweet and Sour Chicken

OK, so I absolutely LOVE Chinese food, but rarely have the means to take the whole family out.  So I get super excited when I find a good Chinese recipe.  And I have to say.....I found a good one this time.  (Original recipe found at Made it, Ate it, Loved it)

At first, I wasn't sure about this recipe, because I had never coated chicken in straight cornstarch before.  But, I thought......OK, I'll try it once, and if we don't like it, I will go back to the ol' flour standby.  Well, guess what?  I think I will stick to the cornstarch.  It was so yummy!!!
The only thing that I changed from the original was; fresh garlic instead of garlic salt.

To go with our Sweet and Sour Chicken, I picked up some egg rolls from the frozen section, and made homemade fried rice.  The kids (and my DH) gobbled it up.

Chicken Breading:

5 chicken breast
salt and pepper
1 cup cornstarch
2 eggs, beaten
1/3 cup canola oil

Rinse chicken, trim off fat or extras and then cut into 1 inch cubes. season with salt and pepper. Dip chicken into cornstarch and coat all the way and then into eggs. Heat oil in large skillet. Cook chicken until browned. Place in 9x13 baking dish.

Sauce:
3/4 cups sugar
4 Tablespoons ketchup

1/2 cup white distilled vinegar

1 Tablespoon soy sauce
2 cloves finely chopped garlic

Whisk until smooth. Then pour evenly over chicken. Turn chicken so the sauce gets on both sides and then put in the oven at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. turn chicken and then cook for 15 more minutes.

If you have a FABULOUS Chinese recipe, please share, I would love to try it!!

MISSION ORGANIZATION: 52 Weeks of Decluttering!!

I am SO excited!!  Ok, I know it sounds silly to be excited about something like "decluttering", but I really am.  In my recent Necklace Organization post, I commented that I had challenged myself to work on one organization or "decluttering" issue a week. Well, turns out I am not alone.  As I was catching up with one of my favorite blogs, I learned that Crystal from Mrs. Happy Homemaker has decided to and challenged everyone else to do the same.

I am going to try my best to keep up with this challenge, and plan to report my progress every so often.
I realize, I am technically starting to blog this challenge going into the 4th week of the year (better late, than never, right?), but I am proud to say that I have kept up with it on my own accord, with things like my Necklace Organization, Make-up Organization, and my latest feat....my craft room!!!

Ok, I have to brag a little about my craft room.   Over the last two years, the enclosed back porch area has become a catch all for; boxes, junk, and trash. It had become something that I just didn't want to deal with.  I fully believed that if I kept the door shut, then it wasn't there. (That's how it works, right?)
With the help of my DH, we cleared everything out, gave the room a good cleaning.  I set up a table and moved all my craft stuff in.  Believe it or not, it really didn't take us all that long.  Oh, how I wish I would have taken a before picture. But I did take an after one.....or two!!  :)

Thank You Mrs Happy Homemaker for the inspiration!!

Make Up Organization

In my last post, I mentioned my lack of bathroom storage. To solve that problem, I bought some book cases and several baskets. Every thing looked nice and well organized......except for my make-up that is. It looked nice at first, but it was real hard to keep organized all thrown into a basket.  (I guess it was still better than all over my dresser, which is where it was before the basket.)

My Solution:

1 10x13 frame (glass removed)

1 yard of fabric

1 piece of 10x13 sheet metal (I bought at Home Depot, and had my brother cut to size)

Magnets

I cut the fabric just a little larger than the piece of metal, and glued it to the back with hot glue.

Then I placed the covered metal into the frame and replaced the back.

I then added magnets to the back of my makeup.

I had to add several magnets to the heavier pieces.

And then hung on the bathroom wall!!

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Necklace organization

In my never ending quest to make my house a little more "user friendly", I have challenged myself to work on at least one major organization issue a week.  In the past few weeks, I have tackled our movie and book shelves, certain areas of the kitchen, the home school/homework area, and the bathroom (and with no counters or cabinets, that proved to be quite the challenge).  But, I do think my biggest accomplishment so far has been the organization of my jewelry.  I do have to admit I have a bit of a jewelry addiction, and up until recently, the storage for my jewelry consisted of piles on the top of my dresser.  And though he will never admit it, I am sure that my DH was tired of untangling my necklaces all the time.

My solution........

18 in towel bar
1 package of 12 shower curtain hooks (S hooks)

Total cost:  Less than $20

The great thing is, I can add more hooks as my collection grows.

original idea came from here

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More Homemade Household Products

To go along with my new obsession of all things frugal and homemade, I am sharing my favorite recipes for a few more homemade household products.


Homemade Frebreze

For a 32 oz spray bottle

• 1/8 Cup of Your Favorite Fabric Softener
• 2 Tablespoons Baking Soda
• Hot Tap Water - To Fill the Bottle to the Top

Shake it up in your Spray Bottle and you're ready to go and fight those Stinky Dog Odors!
I found that Fake Febreze actually has a bit more "staying power" than regular Febreeze, too!






I was SO excited to find this next recipe (at Lady With the Red Rocker) for homemade dishwasher detergent, seeing as I had most of the ingredients already from making my own laundry soap.  And even more excited to realize that is works far better than the stuff I used to buy!!


Homemade Dishwasher Detergent

• 1 cup Borax
• 1 cup washing soda
• ½ cup *kosher salt (*I used regular table salt, and it worked just fine.)
• ½ cup citric acid (double this if you have hard water)

Mix everything together and store in a plastic container.  Use 1 Tbsp per load.  Use white vinegar in the rinse aid compartment of your dishwasher to help keep your dishes from getting spotty.

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Home Remedies from the Spice Rack

I am always excited when I find home remedies that work.  I worry about giving my family OTC meds all the time. So when I found this list of home remedies over at Tipnut, I just had to share.  Some of theses I have heard of and even used, but a few, I was like "who knew"?

Note: These are simply home remedies, they’re not professional medical advice. Be aware that some spices and herbs may conflict with prescribed medicines–always check with a doctor before treating yourself with any method.

1. Allspice: Relieves muscle aches and pains. First grind Allspice into a powder then add water to make a paste. Spread on a strip of clean muslin and apply to sore area.
2. Anise: Helps congestion from allergies, colds or flu, and settle upset stomach with gas. Make a tea by steeping 1 teaspoon of anise seeds in 1 cup of boiling water. Strain before drinking. Also chew a couple anise seeds as needed for bad breath.
3. Basil: For relief of cough, make a tea of dried basil (1 teaspoon) per 1 cup boiling water. Steep then strain, add a spoonful of honey then drink. Fresh basil leaves can also help with warts.
4. Bay Leaves: Helps with dandruff. Make a rinse by crushing a handful of bay leaves to one liter water (first brought to boiling then removed from heat). Cover and steep for 20 minutes. Strain and cool. Apply to hair and leave for 45 minutes to 60 minutes. Rinse clean.
5. Black Ground Pepper: Stops bleeding, sprinkle a generous amount on a cut and voila! pain free.
6. Caraway Seeds: Chew on a few seeds to help with flatulence. You can also make a tea by steeping 1 tsp seeds per cup of boiling water. Strain before drinking.
7. Cardamom: Digestive aid, brew a tea with 1 teaspoon cardamom and 1 cup boiling water. Steep. Drink tea with meals.
8. Cayenne Pepper: Sprinkle a pinch of Cayenne Pepper on meals to clear sinuses. A gargle made with water and cayenne pepper can help with sore throats. Also a natural appetite suppressant and increases metabolism. Sprinkle cayenne pepper on a toothbrush or add to a glass of water to gargle/rinse mouth–helps prevent gum disease and speeds up healing gingivitis. For toothaches, make a paste with cayenne pepper and water, apply to sore area.
9. Celery Seed: Relief from fluid retention: Make a diuretic tea by roughly crushing 1 1/2 teaspoons celery seed and steep in 1 cup boiling water (20 minutes). If you’re menstruating late, this infusion can be used to bring on menstruation. Also helps with high blood pressure and anxiety.
10. Cinnamon: Mix 1/2 tsp of cinnamon to coffee or tea to help raise good cholesterol levels. Arthritis pain: try 1/2 tsp cinnamon mixed with 1 tsp honey. To help with heavy menstruating, add a bit of cinnamon to tea, coffee or sprinkle on foods.
11. Cloves: Chew one clove for bad breath. For toothache pain, rest a clove against the sore area until pain goes away. You can also chew on a 3 or 4 cloves to relieve nausea. To relieve a sore throat, slowly chew on a few cloves.
12. Coriander: Boil one teaspoon of coriander seeds in 1 cup of water, drink. Helps with high cholesterol.
13. Cumin: Boil 1 cup of water with a teaspoon of cumin seeds, simmer for a few seconds. Strain and cool. Drink for cold relief.
14. Dill Seed: Try swallowing a teaspoon of dill seed to stop hiccups.  Mask bad breath by eating a bit of dill seed.
15. Fennel Seeds: Chew a couple fennel seeds for bad breath. For stomach cramp relief, you can brew a tea by steeping 1 teaspoon seeds per cup of boiling water. Strain before drinking. Crush seeds slightly when making tea and is good for flatulence.
16. Garlic Powder: Mosquito Repellent: Make a garlic powder and water paste. Apply to pulse points, behind knees, on shoes and ankles and a dab or two on your cheeks or somewhere on your face and neck–-keep out of eyes. 
17. Ginger: Brew a tea with 1/2 teaspoon ginger per cup of boiling water. Strain before drinking. Helps with nausea. If you have fresh ginger on hand, chewing a bit is more effective than ginger tea. For headache relief, make a paste of ground ginger and water, apply to temple area.  Mix 1/2 teaspoon of ground ginger with 1 teaspoon of honey for cough relief. Drink tea to fight motion sickness (or chew on a fresh piece). Can also help with heartburn.
18. Mustard Powder: To relieve congestion, mix 1 tablespoon of mustard powder with 1 liter of hot water then soak feet. Mustard plasters have been traditionally used for treating coughs, colds and the flu.
19. Mint (peppermint or spearmint): Brew a tea with 1 1/2 teaspoons dried mint per cup of boiling water. Strain before drinking. Helps with stomach aches and cramps.
20. Sage: Control hot flashes (caused by menopause) by drinking sage tea three times a day. Boil 1/2 teaspoon sage per 1 cup boiling water. Steep (10 minutes), strain and drink.
21. Salt: Canker sore remedy: Apply salt directly to the sore or rinse your mouth a couple times a day with a strong salt water solution–stings.  For mosquito bite relief, make a salt and water paste then apply to bite area.
22. Thyme: Sooth a cough with thyme tea. Brew 1 tablespoon dried thyme in 1 cup boiling water. Strain then drink (for sore throats, gargle with this tea). Helps relieve gas and stomach cramps. Brew a tea with 1 tsp dried thyme per 1 cup boiling water. Strain before drinking.
23. Turmeric: Fever relief: Mix 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder with 1 cup of warmed milk, add a teaspoon of honey.

Make it yourself = Save $$

One of my goals lately has been to get rid of some of our standard cleaners that we use around the house and make them!  Honestly, I was a bit skeptical about this project mainly because I wasn’t sure that homemade cleaners would really get the job done. And being a bit OCD, there’s no way I would use something that doesn't perform well.

So....here is a list of my favorite recipes for homemade cleaners and DIY homemade cleaning solutions.

Homemade Laundry Detergent

• 1/2 cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda (NOT BAKING SODA)
• 1/2 cup Borax
• 1 bar of Ivory Soap
• Water
• Bucket (2 Gallon or larger)
• Empty laundry detergent containers or bucket with lid for storage

Grate the entire bar of Ivory Soap over a large pot or saucepan, and add 6 cups of water.  Heat over medium-high heat until soap dissolves and melts.  Add washing soda and Borax and stir until dissolved. Remove from heat and set aside.  Pour 4 cups hot water into bucket, then add soap mixture.  Stir, then add 1 gallon + 6 cups of additional water.  Stir.  Transfer into a bucket with a lid, or pour into empty laundry detergent containers.  Let sit for 24 hours to thicken.  Stir or shake before each use.

Original recipe from The FrugalGirls

Homemade Fabric Softener

• 6 cups HOT water
• 3 cups white vinegar
• 2 cups of favorite conditioner

Mix conditioner and hot water well, until conditioner is dissolved completely.  Add the vinegar, and mix well.  Store in a large sealable container.  (I use an old fabric softener bottle)

Original recipe from The FrugalGirls

Homemade Shower Cleaner

• 12 oz  white vinegar
• 12 oz Dawn dish soap

Heat vinegar in microwave until hot and pour into squirt bottle. Add the Dawn soap. Put the lid on and gently shake to incorporate.  You now have a powerful cleaning product that will melt soap scum and tub and shower buildup, clean sinks, appliances and just about anything. Just spray it on, scrub, rinse and be amazed. For tough soap scum build-up, spray the mixture on and allow it to sit as long as overnight. Then, scrub and rinse.

Original recipe from Food.com

Homemade Glass Cleaner

• 1 cup water
• 1/4 cup whit vinegar
• 2 to 3 drops Dawn Dish Soap
• Empty Spray Bottle

Combine water, vinegar, and dish soap in an empty spray bottle.  Gently shake.  Ta da, you're done!!

Original recipe came from a friend.

Other ways to save money with household chores:

• cut dryer sheets in half
• use vinegar as a rinse aid in dishwasher

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