5 Things To Do With Table Salt

Salt and Pepper I

Y'all know I'm all about using what's handy, available and cheap, whether it's in cooking, cleaning, or entertaining. Plain old table salt has so many uses, it's natural and you probably already have some in your pantry.

1. Scour tiles with a mixture of salt and vinegar. They'll be shiny in no time.

2. Remove kitchen odors from your hands. If your hands smell like garlic or onions, make a little paste of vinegar and salt and scrub with it (provided you don't have any cuts on your hands because - ouch!).

3. Clean cast iron. If you have food stuck on your cast iron skillet, don't use soap, just sprinkle with salt, scrub and rinse.

4. Set tie-dye. Before you wash your lovely and artistic creation soak it in a mixture of 2 cups warm water to 1/3 cup salt for about 20 minutes.  We made tie-dye t-shirts at VBS one year and didn't do this before we washed them.  The colors ran and the kids were so disappointed that their shirts didn't stay vibrant and pretty.

5. Sprinkle salt on a lemon half and use it to scrub your copper pots to restore their shine. Rinse thoroughly afterward.

My Favorite Place

My favorite place isn't a luxury hotel or a swanky restaurant. My favorite place is my own house, Casa Loca (Spanish for crazy house) as we like to call it. :)

We laugh at dumb jokes, dance (very badly in my case) in the kitchen, watch corny movies, and hang around in our ratty shorts. We can be cranky and get on each other's nerves and then we make up and hug.  We share our favorite books and then accuse the others of hogging all the cookies.

It's far from perfect, and there's always something that needs cleaning, fixing or painting, but I love it and the people in it.

We've lived here for 8 years this month and our house is full of so many happy memories.  I wouldn't change a thing!

Planning a Menu

Close-Up of Restaurant Menu on Blackboard

I know that planning menus and making grocery lists saves money, time and headaches, but somehow year after year, my planning and good intentions fly out the window in late summer. I find myself making way too many trips to the grocery store and wandering down the aisles trying to decide what's for supper.  But now that we are back on a schedule, it's time for me to get back in the menu planning groove.

Some people like to plan menus for a month at a time, but it makes more sense for me to plan once a week because I shop once a week (hopefully not more than that).  I don't have room for more than a week's groceries, plus if I bought food for a whole month, my family would have it eaten within two weeks.  Apparently there is something about seeing lots of food in the pantry that makes husbands and teenagers even hungrier than usual.

I start by looking in my pantry and fridge to take a quick inventory and see what I already have. Then I pull up a list that I have saved on my computer of all the meals that I could come up with that my family likes. I have about 40 meals listed including breakfasts. I like to print some pretty menu planning forms to write my menu on, and then I can keep it and put in in my menu notebook to use again later.

Next I consider my budget for the week. If the budget is particularly tight, I can focus on the more frugal meals that I have listed and look through my coupons. Then I gather my recipes so I can write down every item I need.  Once I've made the list, I can pencil in the prices (from either my price book, or past receipts), subtract coupons, and then I'll have a good idea of what my groceries will cost before I head to the store and I know which coupons I'll be using. If I need to shave a few more dollars off I can make adjustments before I leave. That works better for me than trying to do math in my head while pushing a grocery cart or getting flustered trying to change up my menu on the fly and then forgetting what I changed it to by the time I get home.  Don't forget to include any non-food items that may need to be included on your list.  Sometimes I get these things at CVS or Walgreens, but sometimes I need to pick them up at the grocery store.  We wouldn't want to run out of toilet paper or shampoo (yes, I've been there and it's not cute)! 

Do you have any menu planning tips?  How do you stay motivated to stick with it?  Please share!

Flavor of Fall

Nothing gets me ready for Autumn like the crisp taste of an apple. I've gathered the tempting apple recipes that I've posted in the past to help us make good use of a bountiful harvest.


Crock Pot Apple Butter
Apple Muffins
Fruit Swirl Coffee Cake
Baked Apple Oatmeal
and of course, we can't forget:
Apple Cobbler
I also love to use apples in a homemade potpourri.  Simmer apple and orange peels with a little cinnamon and your kitchen will smell like you've been baking something delicious without turning on the oven.

Apples are so versatile and good in many types of recipes, both sweet and savory. What are your favorite apple dishes?

A Hint of Fall

There's just a hint of fall in the air today. The morning is cool and breezy and the sun is less intense. I've enjoyed the summer, but it really makes me look forward to flannel sheets, corn mazes, a simmering pot on the stove and bread fresh from the oven.

"The breezes taste
Of apple peel.
The air is full
Of smells to feel-
Ripe fruit, old footballs,
Burning brush,
New books, erasers,
Chalk, and such.
The bee, his hive,
Well-honeyed hum,
And Mother cuts
Chrysanthemums.
Like plates washed clean
With suds, the days
Are polished with
A morning haze."
- John Updike, September

Cooking With Cast Iron

I have two cast iron skillets and I love them! I have a small one that I use mostly for making cornbread and a large one that I use for all sorts of country cooking. A good seasoned cast iron skillet will last for generations if you take care of it. The "seasoning" makes it non-stick and also makes anything you cook in it uniquely flavorful.

A new cast iron skillet is gray, but a well seasoned loved skillet is black.   How does it get that way?  Season your skillet by rubbing a thin layer of shortening or lard all over it.  Don't use liquid vegetable oil because it won't work as well and might leave the surface sticky.  Place the coated skillet upside down on the top rack  in a 350 degree oven with a cookie sheet on the rack below to catch any drips.  Bake for an hour, turn off the oven and leave the pan inside until it is cool.  This process may need to be repeated several times.  The first few times you use it, cook something high in fat like bacon. 

Keep your skillet in great shape by rinsing with water while it's still warm and scraping out any food.  Avoid using soap and definitely don't put it in the dishwasher.  Make sure that it's completely dry before you put it away.  My mother-in-law taught me the little trick of putting it on a warm burner for a few minutes after washing it to make sure all the moisture is gone.  Just don't forget about it! :)

Now you can enjoy cooking your light and fluffy homemade biscuits and fried squash in a future heirloom that you can be proud of.

School Morning Breakfast

 Make ahead breakfasts are perfect for school mornings. You can do all the work the night before and send the kids off with plenty of fuel for a busy morning of learning.

Baked oatmeal is so easy to mix up, cover and refrigerate on a school night and then all you have to do is pop it in the oven the next morning.

I make several variations on this recipe.
Here's the original:

Ingredients

• 3 cups rolled oats
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup milk
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup melted butter
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup dried cranberries

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a large bowl, mix together oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt. Beat in milk, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla extract. Stir in dried cranberries. Spread into a 9x13 inch baking dish.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 30 - 40 minutes. 

Instead of cranberries this time I chopped up a couple of apples. I thought that was perfect for back-to-school.  I usually bake it in a 9"x9" pan and I cut the sugar back to 1/2 cup.  It makes 6 servings and is a great way to fill up hungry teenagers.

Cake for Breakfast!

Every time I make coffee cake I am reminded of the time I made it when Marcia was a little tiny thing.  She had reached that stage of questioning everything (OK she still does that).  She wanted to know what we were having for breakfast.  When I told her we were having coffee cake she was at first unbelieving that I was really going to let her eat cake for breakfast (even if it didn't have any frosting), and then decided she wasn't going to eat it because it must have coffee in it.  I explained to her that it was named coffee cake because it went well with coffee, not because it had coffee in it.  I have no idea if that's actually how coffee cake got its name, but it sounded right so I went with it.  She finally decided that it smelled good enough to taste and proceeded to eat every last crumb on her plate.  I can't believe I had to convince my child to try cake!

This cinnamon coffee cake is a quick and easy weekday breakfast or afternoon treat. I made it this morning and it was gone before I knew it. It's an easily customized recipe too. You can add nuts, fruit, even chocolate chips.

Happy baking!

Avoid Decorating Depression!

Tony Shalhoub's Country Cottage via Country Living

Do you watch decorating and DIY shows and read decorating and DIY blogs? I love these types of shows and blogs and have found heaps of inspiration and ideas. It's fun to plan projects, search for bargains and pick out paint chips.  The sense of accomplishment I feel when I completely change the look of a room with a gallon of paint or a few yards of fabric is marvelous.

There are days, however, when instead of feeling inspired, I feel intimidated and dissatisfied.  I don't have granite countertops or gorgeous hardwood floors.  My appliances are not the latest models, and my light fixtures are builder bland.  I'm sure a TV decorator could point out all sorts of things that would need to be re-done if we wanted to sell our house. 

So what do I do when the discontent begins?  The first thing is to step away from the computer and the TV.    Then I remind myself that a real family with a real (i.e. almost non-existent) decorating budget lives here.  Meals are prepared here, homework is done, bathtimes and bedtimes and ordinary routines go on day after day.  It's not carefully staged for TV or a magazine.  Toys and books get pushed under the bed, and there are crumbs under the couch cushions.

What I really want guests to notice when they come to my home is not how fabulous the decor is, but how comfortable and welcome they feel so I do my best to make sure that happens.  I make sure that my house is relatively clean (notice I didn't say sanitary and perfect - that's not going to happen in a house with children and pets) and that the horizontal surfaces are somewhat free of clutter.  I also make myself feel better about my house by re-arranging.  Sometimes I move the furniture around and other times all it takes is changing the mantel arrangement.

Make your home beautiful to you and don't worry about what is all the rage on HGTV. 

"That house was a perfect house, whether you like
food or sleep, or storytelling, or singing, or just
sitting and thinking best, or a pleasant mixture of
them all.  Merely to be there was a cure for
weariness, fear and sadness. "
J.R.R. Tolkien

Back to School Organization

Bright Red Apple on Desk of Teacher in Classroom

Back to school time is when things start to get hectic around here, but every year I'm newly inspired and full of enthusiasm about getting organized. I love the excitement of brand new school supplies and fresh starts.  It's a great time to establish new routines and habits.

A month or so before school starts is the best time to begin, but if school is right around the corner for you as it is for our family, that's OK too.  Just start where you are.

 A Month Before School Begins (if possible):
Checkups with the doctor and dentist.
Arrange car pool.
Try on clothes and shoes to see what still fits and make a list of needed items.
Get list of needed school supplies (our schools have them on the district website).
Start shopping for clothes and supplies.
Gradually start introducing an earlier bedtime.

A Week Before School Starts:
Consolidate all the supplies you have so far.  List what is still needed and finish shopping.
Designate a drop zone for backpacks, lunch boxes, band instruments, sports equipment and homework - hooks and baskets will help.
Designate a homework area, preferably quiet and away from the action of the house.
Plan and shop for meals.  Make sure to include lunchbox items and after school snacks.
Start a "school binder" to keep paperwork and handouts organized.  Use dividers for each child.
Make checklists for school nights and for school mornings and hang them up where the kids can see them.  (I actually made spreadsheets for you to print, but I couldn't get them to upload to Google docs.  I'm not sure why it won't work.)  If you laminate them, you can use them for the entire school year.

The Night Before School Starts: 
Fill out any forms that need to be turned in on the first day.
Go through school night checklist and review morning routine.
Set table for breakfast and get as much of it prepared as possible.
Make sure your camera and/or video camera are charged and ready to go.
Get a good night's sleep! :)


Have a fantastic school year!

A Housewife's Life - August

Welcome to A Housewife's Life! Please join me and link up your journal of an ordinary day. All you need to do is grab the button(copy and paste the code) and add your link to the Mr. Linky thingy at the end of this post. Links should be to your post and not to your blog's home page.

<a href="http://50shousewife.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd151/maggie50shousewife/button.jpg" alt="50sHousewife" width="125" height="125" /></a>

My ordinary day started much earlier than my usual summer morning does. I had to be at the dentist at 8:00 so I got up about 6:40. I wanted to make sure I had time to shower and dress and make the drive across town. I didn't eat breakfast because I have a bit of a white coat phobia and my stomach was feeling tied up in knots. You would think at my age I wouldn't be such a chicken, wouldn't you?

Needless to say, I was starving by the time I finally arrived back home. The kids were still sleeping (except Bobby who was already off at summer band) so I had time to calm down a little and made my favorite WW friendly breakfast of a low-fat, high fiber tortilla wrapped around a slice of melted fat-free cheese, egg beaters, turkey bacon and salsa.  The other kids had cereal when they got up.

I spent the rest of the morning making my bed, doing laundry, checking email, emptying the dishwasher, and bringing in a few things from the garden.  Yes, one of the tomatoes is green, but it fell of the vine so I went ahead and brought it in. Maybe I'll fry it if I get a couple more.

Bobby has had a summer job this year and he decided he wanted to treat us all to Mexican food for lunch.  The portions are huge so Cindy and I shared chicken nachos.  We all ate entirely too much, but at least we skipped dessert!

After we got home I was so sleepy I could hardly keep my eyes open.  I didn't sleep well last night (due to the looming dentist appointment) so I decided to lay down for a few minutes.  I read a few sentences of my book and then feel asleep for a half hour power nap.  I felt so much better when I woke up!

The girls and I spent the afternoon going through their closets so they could try everything on and decide what still fits and what doesn't.  I needed to take inventory before we go back to school shopping.  Marcia has grown so much that she needs almost everything.  We ended up with two big bags of clothes to donate.

 
About the time the girls finished trying on clothes (and I was almost ready for another nap) the doorbell started ringing.  There are several younger girls in the neighborhood who think my big girls are the best entertainment ever and they usually start ringing our doorbell around 5:00...and don't stop until the girls come out to play. They haven't quite learned to ring once and then wait (and then go away if no one answers).  Today the girls didn't mind accommodating their little friends and took the sidewalk chalk outside.

Supper was the easiest thing I could think of on a hot summer evening. We had pimento cheese sandwiches, salad and chips.  I didn't have to heat up anything!

After I got the small amount of dishes loaded up in the dishwasher, some of the kids went for a 2 mile walk with me.  It's a good way for me to get a little exercise and it's at least somewhat enjoyable for the kids.  Several other families in the neighborhood had the same idea and were out riding bikes, jogging, and walking dogs.

Then we played Wii for awhile and the kids beat me at everything but bowling. Bowling is my favorite Wii game because it's the only one I have even a tiny chance of winning...that and being the singer on Rock Band.

And now it's late and I'm trying to blog, but I'm almost asleep at the keyboard, so you'll have to excuse any glaring typos that you might find.

I can't wait to see how you've spent your day in the life of a housewife!




The Mr. Linky is being a little weird (probably because I don't really know how to use it) so go ahead and click on it to add your link and then I will come back here and add it to the post. Thanks!

And Baby Makes Four
Cherish
Leigh
Jennifer
Marytoo
Amanda

A Housewife's Life

Welcome to my very first linky party! I plan to journal an ordinary day in the life of a housewife and I would love to have you join me. Your post can be as detailed as you like and of course it doesn't have to be only about homemaking. We all have days when we spend more time in the car than at home, don't we? That's all part of daily life. You don't have to be a full time homemaker to participate and if you don't have a blog, you can tell us about your day in the comments.

<a href="http://50shousewife.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd151/maggie50shousewife/button.jpg" alt="50sHousewife" width="125" height="125" /></a>

I'll be taking pictures and documenting my day today (which begins with an early morning dentist's appointment, aren't I lucky?). I'll get a Mr. Linky thinga-ma-bob set up tonight and you can link up your posts! I ask that you use the little button I've created somewhere in your post (just grab the code) and please use the Mr. Linky to link directly to your post and not to your blog's homepage. I can't wait to see how you've spent your Monday! Who knows, maybe we'll even make this a regular thing.

Much love,

Random List

Sometimes I have little snippets of information I want feel compelled to share with you that don't fit into a regular blog post. Today is one of those days that calls for a random list. Aren't you the lucky ones and don't you love the creative title of this post?


1. I feel sorry for Bobby (my third born) because he has two-a-day football workouts plus summer marching band practice every day until school starts in the 142 degree heat. He loves it though.

2. I don't want to cook anything this week that involves turning on the oven,

3. My girls are watching a 1992 movie (released before they were born) called Pure Country and they love it!  I guess there's just something about George Strait's music...

4. I love this vintage style video from a German band called The Baseballs!


5. I really need to go through my cookbooks and get rid of some, but I just can't bring myself to do it.  I love them!

6 . We got new pictures of our Compassion child today and we are so excited!  I need to write her another letter.

7.  I would rather pay double the sales tax than shop on Tax Free Weekend.

8.  It's wonderful to have a friend that you can tell about your "I'm not so smart moments" and know that she thinks you're great anyway.

9.  My garbage disposal quit working and I would like very much to whine about it.

10.  I'm going to see a musical with a group of friends this weekend and I can't wait!  It's in an outdoor setting and we're pitching in to bring picnic items.  I lucked out and all I have to bring are the paper goods. :)

Enjoy your weekend!

Start a Blog!

Remington, Typewriters, UK, 1950

I'm not an expert blogger with a book deal in the works (although publishers, you are welcome to call me if you want a book on homemaking with a vintage flair ), but I have been blogging since 2007(!!!) and I've learned a few things since my first post.  Blogging has been a wonderful way for me to gather my thoughts and learn how to communicate them to an audience.  I've also gained an incredible amount of knowledge and support through your comments and from your blogs.

New bloggers (like the darling Elise - be sure to pop by and tell her I said hello while you're there) sometimes ask me for blogging advice.  I can't tell you how to get thousands of readers per day or make lots of money with ads as I'm doing neither, but I can give you a few tips to get you started.

The first thing to do is to decide what you want to write about.  Obviously, it's best to write about what's important to you and what you know.  You may want to write about your family, your hobby, current events, food, or all of the above.  You'll also want to find a name for your blog that tells your readers a little about what you'll be writing about.  Don't worry about how many comments you are getting, they will come with time.  Just keep blogging (I'm picturing Dory singing to you..."just keep blogging, just keep blogging.  Oh wait, that's not what she sings, is it?).

Be consistent with your blogging.  People are more likely to read your blog if it is updated regularly.  Maybe you can start with 3 days a week and see what sort of blogging schedule works for you.  I like to blog during the week and keep the weekend for family and church.  My favorite time to blog is late at night while my husband is reading, working on his computer, or watching TV.  It's a great way to sit through an action movie that I'm not particularly interested in.

Comment on other blogs and participate in blog carnivals and link parties.  It's a great way to build community and  helps others to find your blog.  Also make it as easy as possible for people to comment on your blog.  If they have to go through multiple steps to leave a comment, they usually won't.

Be careful with music on your blog.  Some of you have playlists that I absolutely love and I've been known to click on your blogs just to listen to music. However, sometimes I forget to turn the volume down first and wake someone up and some of your readers may be reading while babies are napping.  As a general rule it's probably best not to have your playlist turn on automatically.  That doesn't mean that you shouldn't have music, just have it so that your readers can start it after they click on your blog.

Blogging is worth it and I encourage you to go ahead and start if you've been considering it.  The more of our voices out there, the better.  Don't worry about having a perfect blog and don't compare yourself to other bloggers.  You can do it!

My "Studio"

I have a little niche in our bedroom that serves as my "studio". It's not really a separate space, just a corner. The lighting is really only good in the morning and there's not quite enough work space, but I love having a spot that's just for me and I can close the door when I need to. I have my paint on the shelf for easy access and a basket under the table for other supplies.  Luckily the master bathroom is nearby for when I need to wash out my brushes.

I also use the space to display some of my favorite mementos.  I like to be able to look at them every day.

Do you have a craft area in your home?  Do you like your craft supplies out where you can see them, or in boxes or baskets where you can easily put them away?

The Calm Before the Storm

Summer on The Sand

School starts in 2 weeks. I can't believe that summer is on its way out. Is it just me or does it go by faster and faster every year? The next two weeks will have plenty to keep us busy, like breaking the bank buying school supplies, but I want to savor every shred of summer that we have left.

I want to hang on to a few things just a little while longer:
sunscreen and swimming pools, 
bare feet and the smell of freshly cut grass
homemade ice cream and late suppers
washing the car in the driveway
meandering through the museum because we have the time
the sprinkler and the garden hose
afternoon naps under the ceiling fan
farmer's markets and fresh peaches

The first few weeks of school are an exciting whirlwind of PTA meetings, football games, back to school picnics and homework.  I'll be ready when it begins in two weeks, but in the meantime I'm enjoying the last lazy days of summer.

Vintage Shopping

1950S Diner

I love to find retro bargains! My favorite vintage items are aprons.  I especially love the ones that are a little faded and threadbare because I know that they have a history. I feel like I go back in time a little when I put one on. Suddenly I'm wearing a smart pair of capri pants, a polka dot blouse, and a chiffon scarf while listening to Buddy Holly (or maybe even The Guiding Light) on my radio, getting a casserole ready for the oven and a congealed salad in the fridge.

I love all sorts of vintage things that have been passed down a generation or two.  It's especially nice to have something that your own mother or grandmother used, but finding retro goodies at garage sales, flea markets and thrift stores is great too.  You may have to sift through lots of junk, but the thrill of finding something fantastic at a bargain price makes it all worthwhile.

From vintage books, to vintage glassware, I love it all!  Maybe I'm impossibly romantic, but  I like to imagine the story behind it.  I wonder who rolled out biscuits for her family with the rolling pin I bought at a garage sale.  How did it get the little burn mark on it?  Did she roll out pie crusts too?  What about the original owner of the pretty dishes I found at the thrift store?  Did she save them for special occasions or use them every day?

I thought I would share with you a few of my favorite "gently used" finds.

Milk glass that is currently on my summer all-white mantel. Some belonged to my grandmother and some I bought.

A pewter candlestick.  It doesn't have any markings on it so I have no idea how old it is, but I love the classic Americana look of it.  I've had it for years, but I think I only paid a dollar or two for it.

A darling toile pillow I found for $2!  Totally worth it!

An inherited ruby glass bowl on a hand embroidered garage sale find tablecloth.



Do you like to shop at garage sales and thrift stores?  What are some of your favorite finds?