6 D.I.Y. Homemade Cleansers

Small Changes, Big Difference

Keeping your home clean is important. Keeping your home safe and cancer-free is even more crucial. These homemade cleansers cost pennies to make, get your house gleaming and best of all, they're made from natural ingredients and don't contain any potentially toxic chemicals. So make them, use them, and feel good about your clean and healthy home.

Kitchen

Table salt is your best weapon when cleaning wooden kitchen areas, like counter tops and butcher blocks. Cover grease splatters with salt, wait an hour, and brush away the salt. To erase permanent-marker stains from finished wood floors or solid-surface counter tops, simply pour rubbing alcohol onto a cotton ball and gently polish. For overall kitchen cleaning, mix one cup white vinegar with one cup water. Clean drains by pouring straight vinegar down the drain. Let sit for 30 minutes and then flush with cold water.

Mirrors

Looking for an alternative streak-free mirror-cleaning solution? Mix in a spray bottle: one cup rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol, one cup water, and one tablespoon white vinegar. Or wipe mirrors with a soft, lint-free (microfiber) cloth saturated with rubbing alcohol, gel hand sanitizer, or antiseptic mouthwash.

Stove tops

One of the best ways to clean stove tops is with baking soda. Pour directly onto a damp sponge and scrub to remove food residue from stove tops and refrigerator.

To clean burners, soak them in one gallon warm water plus 1/2 cup baking soda for 30 minutes. Rinse and dry. Table salt also works wonders: If there’s a spill in a still-warm oven, pour salt on the spill to soak it up. When the oven cools off, wipe the spot with a damp sponge.

Bathrooms

Vinegar works wonders in bathrooms! To clean toilet bowls, mix one cup of vinegar with 1/4 cup baking soda, pour into the basin, and scrub with a brush. For moldy tiles, spray vinegar on the affected areas. Let stand for about 15 minutes, then rinse and let dry thoroughly. To tackle mineral deposits on showe rheads, pour vinegar into a plastic bag (grocery bags work best), and knot the handles over the neck of the shower head, securing with rubber bands. Let soak overnight and rinse with water in the morning.

Carpets

Even carpet stains don't require harsh chemicals to lift them. Simply mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Spray directly on stain, let sit for several minutes, and clean with a scrub brush or sponge socked in warm, soapy water. To get out (fresh) grease spots, sprinkle corn starch onto spot and wait 15 to 30 minutes before vacuuming. For a heavy-duty carpet cleaning method, mix 1/4 cup each salt, borax, and vinegar. Mix into a paste and rub into carpet. Leave for a few hours and then vacuum up.

Credit: Read more: http://www.grandparents.com/gp/content/your-life/your-health/article/homemade-cleaning-products.html#ixzz22lTmVDit

3 Vegetarian Recipes: Cheese Eggplant Squash Bake, Stuffed Tomatoes, Stuffed Zucchini

Cheesy Eggplant Squash Bake

Serves: 6

Cooking Time: 1 hr

What You'll Need:

    1/2 cup (1 stick) butter

    1 medium-sized eggplant, peeled and cut into ½-inch chunks

    4 medium-sized yellow squash, cut into ½-inch chunks

    2 medium-sized onions, chopped

    1 1/2 cups milk

    2 eggs

    2 cups (8 ounces) shredded sharp Cheddar cheese, divided

    1/2 cup instant rice

    1/2 teaspoon salt

    1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

    Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 3-quart casserole dish with cooking spray.

    In a large skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add eggplant, squash, and onions, and saute 6 to 8 minutes, or until vegetables are slightly tender.

    Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine milk, eggs, 1-1/2 cups cheese, the rice, salt, and pepper; mix well. Add vegetable mixture to egg mixture; mix well.

    Pour into prepared casserole dish then sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup cheese over the top and bake 50 to 55 minutes, or until rice is tender.

Old Fashion Stuffed Tomatoes

These stuffed tomatoes are old-fashioned tasty and new-fashioned easy! They really color up a plate, too.

Serves: 4

Cooking Time: 25 min

What You'll Need:

    4 large ripe tomatoes

    4 tablespoons olive oil, divided in half

    1 medium-sized onion, chopped

    6 garlic cloves, minced

    6 anchovies, chopped

    1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

    1/2 cup dry bread crumbs

    2 tablespoons dry white wine

    1/4 teaspoon salt

    1/4 teaspoon pepper

    Grated Parmesan cheese for sprinkling (optional)

Instructions

    Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

    Cut tops off tomatoes; remove the center pulp; set tomato shells aside. Chop the center pulp and set aside, discarding excess juice.

    In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil; add onion and garlic and saute just until softened. Add tomato pulp, anchovies, parsley, bread crumbs, wine, remaining olive oil, salt, and pepper; mix well.

    Fill tomato shells with mixture and place in a greased 8-inch square baking dish. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, if desired.

    Bake for 20 minutes or until cheese is melted and lightly golden.

Stuffed Zucchini

Want to get the kids to beg you for veggies? Make 'em look and taste like this clever little stuffed treat and they'll gobble them up!

Serves: 6

Cooking Time: 1 hr

What You'll Need:

    3 medium-sized zucchini, sliced in half lengthwise

    2 tablespoons olive oil

    1 (4-ounce) can mushroom stems and pieces, drained and chopped

    1 small onion, chopped

    2 plum tomatoes, diced

    1/4 cup Italian-flavored bread crumbs

    1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese

    1/2 teaspoon salt

    1/4 teaspoon black pepper

    1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions

    Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. With a spoon, scoop meat out of zucchini halves; set aside shells and chop zucchini meat finely.

    In a medium-sized skillet, heat oil over medium heat and saute chopped zucchini, mushrooms, onion, and tomatoes 6 to 8 minutes, or until tender. Stir in bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper until well mixed.

    Stuff zucchini shells evenly with vegetable mixture and place in a 9- x 13-inch baking dish that has been coated with cooking spray.

    Cover tightly with aluminum foil and bake 35 minutes. Remove foil and top evenly with mozzarella cheese.

    Bake 8 to 10 minutes, or until zucchini are tender and cheese is golden.

Credit: All recipes are from www.mrfood.com in their Vegetarian section. © 2012 by Ginsburg Enterprises Incorporated. All rights reserved.

Closed: Review & Giveaway: Tribal Sugar Skull Apron

 Giveaway: Tribal Sugar Skull Apron
($24.50 value)
Giveaway WINNER is Dana R. (tat2gurlzrock) 
Congratulations and Thank You to Everyone who entered this giveaway.

Product Information
Spice up conversations in the kitchen or around the BBQ with this tasty-looking apron (made of high-quality cotton twill, it's rugged and wears great too). Ideal for cooking, baking, grilling or bartending, it's perfect for foodies of all sizes. Simply slip the apron over your head and pull the waist-level drawstring to tighten it around your neck and waist. Two generous pockets hold utensils and more.

31" long & 29" wide

100% heavy cotton twill

Machine washable

I was sent this palm reading apron for review. What I like the most about this apron is the deep pockets, durability, easy fit , and stylish logo in front. We hang our apron behind the pantry door for easy access. Must mention again that since it is adjustable all sizes can wear this lovely apron. My husband enjoys cooking and I always assist him so we keep aprons. This is such a wonderful gift for a guy or lady due to the unisex logos. Check out this nice selection of men's, women, and kids apparel and gifts. Here are just a few more product selections from GoldenEel.com. Hurry over to visit for so much more!

Disclaimer: All photographs, and product description copy is property of www.GoldenEel.com. I own my photograph and the review in italic is my own opinion.

Dessert Recipe: Healthified Banana Pudding

"healthified" banana pudding

Recipe from

Go bananas with a made-over dessert favorite that won't pack on the pounds! It has 32% fewer calories, 87% less fat, and 90% less sat fat than the original recipe.

Yoplait is a registered trademark of YOPLAIT Marques Internationales SAS (France) used under license.

Ingredients

3    cups   fat-free (skim) milk

2    boxes (4-serving size each) French vanilla instant pudding and pie filling mix

4    containers(6 oz each) Yoplait® Original 99% Fat Free banana creme or French vanilla yogurt

1    container(8 oz) frozen fat-free whipped topping, thawed

48    reduced-fat vanilla wafer cookies

6    small bananas, sliced

Additional banana slices for garnish, if desired
Directions 1. In large bowl, beat milk and pudding mix with electric mixer on low speed until well mixed; beat in yogurt. Fold in whipped topping.

2. Place 24 vanilla wafers in a single layer in ungreased 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish. Spoon half of the pudding mixture over wafers. Place 6 sliced bananas over pudding mixture. Spoon remaining pudding mixture over bananas. Arrange remaining 24 vanilla wafers over top of pudding.

3. Cover; refrigerate at least 3 hours but no longer than 8 hours. Just before serving, garnish with additional banana slices.