Time for Tips Tuesday.....

Bit of Jam or Jelly Left In a Jar?

Don't throw it out! Instead, pour in some milk, cover and shake. You will have a yummy fruity shake. Good to the last drop!


This tip is one I use every so often: I have this little pocket sized Composition book that I use for writing down ingredients (not directions)of different recipes that I find and I want to try or ingredients of foods that I like but don't make often. If I'm ever at the grocery store and I want the ingredients for that new recipe....I have it with me in my handbag! I also like to make menus....often, I will pull this composition book out to write the menus because I try to use similar ingredients for the week (or month)that I'm writing the menu for.

Here's an easy summer snack to make for the kids (and ADULTS as well!)YUM!!!!!

COOKIES & CREME PUDDING POPS

3.9 oz pkg chocolate instant pudding
2 cups cold milk
6 Oreo cookies
1/2 cup thawed Cool Whip whipped topping

Beat pudding mix and milk in bowl with whisk 2 min. Place cookies in plastic bag, seal bag, crush cookies. Add cookies and Cool Whip to pudding, stir until blended. Spoon into 9 small paper or plastic cups. Insert wooden pop stick or plastic spoon into each for handle. Freeze 5 hours or until firm. To remove from cup---Place bottom of cup in bowl of warm water 15 seconds. Press up on bottom of cup, then serve. MAKES 9 SERVINGS...

Well... as I said... I like to make similar recipes with the same ingredients so maybe at the end of the week, you can use the OREOS and the COOL WHIP for this dessert:

FROZEN GRASSHOPPER SQUARES

28 Oreo cookies
1 1/2 quart container mint chocolate chip ice cream, softened
8 oz tub Cool Whip whipped topping, thawed
1 square semisweet chocolate, grated

Line 13x9" pan with foil, with ends of foil extending over sides. Crush 20 cookies, sprinkle crumbs onto bottom of pan. Spread ice cream over crumbs in pan, top with Cool Whip and chocolate. Freeze 3 hours. Remove from freezer 15 min. before serving. Let stand at room temp to soften slightly. Lift dessert from pan with foil handles, cut into 16 squares. Cut remaining cookies in half, place 1 on each square, then serve. MAKES 16 SERVINGS...
so.........all you have to buy is the mint ice cream and the semisweet chocolate.....TWO COOL SUMMER DESSERTS MAY SATISFY YOUR CHOCOLATE CRAVING AND COOL YOU DOWN FROM THIS SUMMER HEATWAVE!!!!!

Here's an AWESOME STEAK SANDWICH that I want to share with everyone (I should have made this a recipe post!) (NEW BLOG IDEA)

AWESOME STEAK SANDWICH

16 oz bag frozen gourmet onion rings
9.5 oz box frozen Five Cheese Texas Toast
1 pound 1" thick boneless sirloin steak + 1/4 tsp each salt and pepper

Heat oven to 425 degrees. 2 rimmed baking sheets lined with foil. Spread onion rings on 1 sheet. Texas toast cheese side up on the other. Bake onion rings 15 min. or until crisp. Heat a skillet. Sprinkle steak with salt and pepper, put in skillet and cook, turning once until desired doneness. Remove to a cutting board, let stand 5 min. Bake toast until cheese melts. Slice steak across grain. Arrange on toast, top with onion rings and serve. MAKES 6 SERVINGS OF STEAK SANDWICH.*

DIFFERENT TAKES

Instead of onion rings, top steak with sauteed sliced onions and peppers.

Add sliced tomato or roasted red peppers to the sandwich.

Use skinless boneless chicken breasts in place of steak, or portobello mushroom caps for a meatless version.

SERVE ICE CREAM TREATS EFFORTLESSLY

Use a muffin pan to create a make your own sundae serving station. Simply place an assortment of toppings---sprinkle s, cherries, chocolate chips, candy pieces, etc. in the pan's wells. Your guests can customize their ice cream instead of taking orders and racing back and forth from the kitchen.

To keep celery longer, wrap in aluminum foil.

MINCE GARLIC WITH EASE

Sprinkle a few drops of cooking oil over the garlic cloves. The oil coats the cloves so they slip off the knife easily and remain on the cutting board.


5 THINGS TO DO WITH ZIPTOP BAGS

MAKE A CHANGING MAT---Tear open the side seams of a gallon size bag and lay flat for an emergency diaper changing area.

PACK ACCESSORIES- --Organize by category (jewelry, scarves, hosiery, etc.) so they are easier to find in your suitcase.

KNEAD DOUGH---Use 2 quart size bags as gloves to avoid getting your hands sticky. You can also use a bag to store extra dough.

CREATE A TEMPORARY FUNNEL---Improvise a funnel for anything from shampoo to childrens beads and glitter.

CLEAN A SHOWERHEAD-- -Pour a little white vinegar in a bag, rubber band it to showerhead and soak for a half hour..