Prudent and Practical

June 3, 2010

Tuna Treats

Filed under: food — K @ 9:52 PM

I’ve done quite a bit of experimental baking lately.  The animals, all five of them, have really enjoyed it as well.  Mrs. Klutzo (that’s me) frequently drops stuff on the floor.  I guess I get a little too enthusiastic ;-) To reward them for taste testing all of my creations, I made them some new treats :-) .  Now that I’m done being sarcastic, here’s a recipe for the cats, and yes, the dogs enjoy them too!

Ingredients:

  • 1 – 6 ounce can of tuna
  • 1/4 cup water drained from tuna
  • 3 tablespoons cooked egg white, chopped
  • 1/4 cup cornmeal
  • 1/2 cup whole wheat flour

cat treats 300x225 photo Tuna Treats

Instructions:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees
  • The original recipe says to add ingredients in steps, but I just dumped it all in a bowl at the same time and mixed it up
  • Knead into a ball and roll to 1/4 inch thick
  • Cut into cat-sized pieces
  • Bake at 350 F for 20 minutes

Note: The original recipe says that this will make 12, 1-inch cat cookies.  Not only is 1/4 inch really big, especially for your cats mouth, how is he or she going to eat a 1″x1″ morsel?  I rolled my dough thinner and made them 3/4″x3/4″ and no, they would not eat the treats because they were so big.  Three cats, two of them will literally eat anything the dogs eat, none of them would eat them at this size.  I ended up cutting the treats into quarters and that worked for them.  These store well in an air-tight container in the fridge.  Oh, and if you roll them out thinner and cut them smaller, this definitely makes a lot more than 12 treats!

cat treats baked 300x225 photo Tuna Treats

Thanks for visiting!  If you’re interested in more recipes you can check out my food and recipes pages.  If you want to know what I’ve been up to this week, visit my front page or subscribe via RSS!

I’m also participating in the following link-ups today!  You can find many more fantastic recipes here:

May 10, 2010

DIY Curb Appeal: 7 Simple Steps to Clean Up Your Exterior

Filed under: saving money — K @ 8:52 AM

DIY Curb Appeal: 7 Simple Steps to Clean Up Your Exterior

It doesn’t take a landscaper or designer to make your house look good on the outside. All it takes is a little organizing, arranging, cleaning and upkeep and you can achieve a gorgeous exterior.  Here are a few simple and inexpensive tips for increasing your curb appeal this spring. Set aside a
Saturday for some shopping to pick up the items you need and execute your curb appeal plan on a Sunday.

Porch 185x300 photo DIY Curb Appeal: 7 Simple Steps to Clean Up Your Exterior

Step 1: Sweep it Up
Get out your broom and start sweeping! Sweeping your porch can make it look much better.  Whether your porch is brick or wood, sweeping removes dust, dirt and other fine particles from your porch. If you have the time, give it a quick rinse with a garden hose.

Step 2: Hang Flower Baskets
A flower basket or two can give your house a great boost. For under $20, you can add charm and life to the outside of your home. Select a flower color that will complement the color of your home. Avoid selecting flowers that are in full bloom. While they look great at the store, it’s a sign that
they’ve been there for a while. Instead, select a basket whose flowers are starting to bloom and bring them to life at home.

Step 3: Trim Shrubbery
Take a few hours to trim the bushes and shrubbery around your home. If you don’t have trimming equipment, ask a neighbor if you can borrow his. You don’t need to be skilled in shrubbery trimming to make your bushes look good. Simply even them out and it will make a huge difference. If minor landscaping is really not your thing, hire a landscaping maintenance service for a one-time spring cleanup. For about $100, you can get your shrubbery trimmed properly.

Step 4: Paint
A fresh coat of paint for your porch is one of the least expensive ways to increase your curb appeal. For a quick job, paint the posts and rails in an exciting new color to complement your brick or siding. Alternatively, paint the entire porch or siding. You’ll probably need to set aside an entire
weekend just for that.

Step 5: Clear Clutter
Homeowners often don’t realize how unsightly small items around the perimeter of the house can look. Remove garbage and recycling bins from the side of your home to the back. If you store bikes, tools, hoses or other items around your home, move them to the back. For under $50, you can
purchase a hose holder that can be affixed to the wall of your home. Your property will look more orderly and have a lot more appeal without a hose lying on the driveway or lawn. Don’t forget about porch clutter. Get a plastic container to store balls and other clutter you may have around your
porch.

Step 6: Lighting
Low-voltage outdoor lighting is a great way to add some light to the outside of your home, as curb appeal counts at night too. There are several different options, from a porch light to driveway lights or various landscape lighting. The least expensive option is a porch light. Visit a local home improvement or gardening store for a wide selection of different porch light styles.

Step 7: The Extras

. Mailbox – If yours is old and worn, replace it. There are some really great innovative and creative mailboxes on the market. See what you can find in your area to add some color and life to your porch or yard.
. Address sign – Make your own or get some fresh new numbers.
. Porch mat – Give yours a rinse or buy a new one on sale.

Marcy Tate is a blogger at Networx. She has been working with lawn care service providers for over a decade on ways to increase curb appeal.

April 23, 2010

More Pancakes!

Filed under: food — K @ 12:00 AM

I hate the word diet.  There are multiple phrases that bother me.  ”Are you on a diet?” What diet are you on?” “I need to go on a diet.”  Someone asked me in January, “You look great!  What diet are you on?”  I froze because I wasn’t on a diet.  I wasn’t trying to do anything special.  So I said, “Um, just eating natural foods and fruits and veggies.”  That’s not a diet, it’s a way of life.  Since then, the coupon experiment has been in full swing and I’ve gained 10 pounds.  I’ve been thumbing through Nourishing Traditions photo More Pancakes! again and slowly putting changes back into my life.  I’m ready to start eating well again!

With some things I go all out and jump right in, but food is a different story.  I ease my way into any changes I make with what I eat.  I also start with the fun stuff, aka dessert type foods and drinks.  Ironic, right?  I feel that if a more healthy or nutritious dessert or sweet recipe tastes good and makes me feel happy (and passes D’s approval), then I become brave enough to try the more interesting things.  So I started with pancakes from Nourishing Traditions photo More Pancakes!.

This recipe needs to be started the night before to allow for the soaking of flour.

Author of NT, Sally Fallon, explains that all grains contain phytic acid in their outer layer.  The acid can combine with minerals in the intestinal tract and block their absorbtion, which can lead to mineral deficiencies and bone loss.  Soaking for as little as seven hours allows enzymes to break down and neutralize phytic acid and enzyme inhibitors.

Pancakes

  • 2 cups – ground spelt, kamut, or whole wheat flour.  So far I’ve only tried this recipe with spelt.
  • 2 cups – an acidic liquid like buttermilk, kefir, yogurt (or 2 cups filtered water plus 2 tablespoons whey, lemon juice, or vinegar)
  • 2 eggs, lightly beaten
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 2 tablespoons melted butter

Yield is 16-20.  This recipe can successfully be halved.

flour yogurt mixture 300x225 photo More Pancakes!

Soak the flour in the acidic liquid in a warm place for 12-24 hours.

pancake batter 300x225 photo More Pancakes!

In the morning (or 12-24 hours later), stir in other ingredients and thin if needed with water

pancakes on griddle 300x225 photo More Pancakes!

Cook on a hot, oiled pan

pancakes 300x225 photo More Pancakes!

Easy and delicious! (My pretty pancakes ~ these turned out great, even though I have a tendency to burn things!)

The verdict:

These pancakes are fluffy and delicious.  D and I prefer the taste and texture of these pancakes to the boxed powders.  And although we both enjoy vegan pancakes, I think it’s safe to say we like these more!  We both like strawberries on the side with them.  D tops his with butter and maple syrup while I like mine with cashew butter and just a hint of syrup or honey.  Yum!  Even if the whole idea of soaking has you confused and it looks like a lot of work, it’s not.  And it’s totally worth trying!

pancakes2 300x225 photo More Pancakes!

Thanks for visiting!  If you’re interested in more recipes you can check out my food and recipes pages.  If you want to know what I’ve been up to this week, visit my front page or subscribe via RSS!

I’m also participating in the following link-ups today!  You can find many more fantastic recipes here:

April 12, 2010

Ultimate Blog Party 2010!

Filed under: General — Tags: free, giveaways, health — K @ 1:13 AM

I’m going to use this opportunity to say I’m back!  For the past three months I’ve felt down in the dumps and unmotivated.  One thing happened in January and it just kind of snowballed.  I’m trying some amino acids from the health food store – I think it’s a combination of that and the beautiful weather that we’ve had lately here in southeast Iowa that’s helping.  Things are looking up and I’m happy :-D

If you’re a subscriber or frequent visitor, thank you for sticking around!  I really appreciate it!

So to help with my “return,” I’m participating in 5 Minutes for Mom’s Ultimate Blog Party 2010! If you’re visiting from the UBP10, welcome!  In short, I like to write about recipes, crafts, and home improvement and diy projects.  Want to know more?  Check out my about me page.  If you’re interested in what I write about, subscribe via email or RSS feeder.  Leave a comment and I’ll return the favor, I enjoy meeting new people and finding new blogs!

And to give some link love to the giveaway bloggers, these are the prizes I’m excited about!

  • It would be great to have a laptop that is quiet and that I can travel with, so I’d love 5 Minutes for Mom’s Toshiba laptop giveaway!
  • I enjoy essential oils and I’d like to try the Young Living Roll-On Stress Reliever from Oils for Wellness.
  • I buy a lot of books off of Amazon so, The Product Review Place’s $25 gift card would be helpful!
  • Other prizes I’m interested in include: US73, US74, US75, US87, US88, US112, USC8.

Anyway, go check out the blog party!  Fun times!

Ultimate Blog Party 2010

March 26, 2010

Fun Party Punch

Filed under: food — K @ 1:49 AM

Spring party season is coming up and it’s time to start planning!  This will make a tasty addition to all the baby showers, bridal showers, and graduations coming up.  I got the following recipe for a fun party punch from my mom who got it from one of her coworkers.  It’s super easy and tastes good.

This is one of those recipes that don’t have specific measurements – it’s pretty much up to the maker.  There is a happy medium and you’ll find it!

The recipe calls for just three ingredients:

  1. 2 quarts prepared fruit drink (for example – KoolAid… I made mine raspberry flavored)
  2. A container of sherbet/sorbet of coordinating flavor (I used raspberry sherbet)
  3. 2 liters 7-Up

Party Punch Ingredients photo 300x225 photo Fun Party Punch

Pour fruit drink so it fills about half of a punch bowl.

Next, little by little add in the 7-Up – this is where you taste test.  The right amount will taste like fizzy KoolAid – not too little that it tastes like flat flavored pop and not too much that it tastes like 7-Up.

Add a few scoops of sherbet/sorbet…

Add sherbet photo 300x225 photo Fun Party Punch(Sorry for the messy photo – this was New Year’s Eve and we had some friends over!)

It will melt….

Sherbet in punch photo 300x225 photo Fun Party Punch

Melting sherbet photo 300x225 photo Fun Party Punch

And finally give a frothy look to the top of the punch while adding some more flavor!  Fun, easy, delicious!

Party Punch photo 300x225 photo Fun Party Punch

Thanks for visiting!  If you’re interested in more recipes you can check out my food and recipes pages.  If you want to know what I’ve been up to this week, visit my front page or subscribe via RSS!

I’m also participating in the following carnivals today!  You can find many more fantastic recipes here:

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