Chicken Casserole-30 Minute Meal

Easy-Peasy Casserole

Seriously.

It's so good and takes so little time! I made this for a savory thing at a cold time. You can, of course, substitute frozen broccoli for fresh (just kissed with steam) if you still have it available to you. And chicken/mushroom soup could be replaced with any thick broth. If you can't get wild rice-don't worry about it, it just adds to the texture and appearance. Should take about 30 minutes, unless you're not used to the kitchen so much, then, about 45.

Ingredients:

Water

2 Cups wild rice with 4 cups quick rice

1 Stick of butter-or a bit less...

1 clove of garlic

1 Can cream of chicken soup


1 Can cream of mushroom soup

2 10oz packages of frozen broccoli, warmed with 1 cup water in a small pot and drained


1 Small can of mushrooms

1 Small can of water chestnuts

3 Cups of shredded mixed cheese

Directions:

1)Cook rice with butter and chopped garlic clove and a cup, then add in 5-5.5 cups water in a a medium pot on medium-high heat


2)After cooked add slowly soups, turn down heat a bit to medium


3)In separate bowl mix broccoli, mushrooms, chestnuts and 1/2 of the cheese


4)Mix it all together and get it in a dish-then top it with cheese


5)Bake at 350 deg F for about 20 minutes


6)Let cool and chop ya some chives on that baby (or, those who like those onion crisp things

can add that)!


Serves 12 (maybe...)

Done!

Simple joys.

Laundry Day

What Will it Wash?

An Informal Experiment

So I have been excited to use my new laundry detergent that I made, and I had already discovered the wonders of hydro-suds, but I wanted to test it to see which was better. So, I took a towel that had been soiled with one of the harshest substances-hair dye. I produced my own simple experiment, judging the time it seemed  to take it to do it's job, amount of washes, and if it really met the standards of the regular detergent.

So without further do, I will give an informal and not-professional lab report. We're all friends, right?

The towel sections are best shown here

First, I split up the towel to where there were three smaller towels that were soiled evenly as possible.

I then assigned each cleaner to each towelette and got to washing. I got a bowl of water and scrubbed for 2 minutes and rinsed and repeated until it didn't feel like more was coming out. I recorded time and number of washes. Since they all used about the same amount of substance, I wont account it (two tablespoons) into the equation. I repeated this for the other two then took a picture.

The only problem I had was the stain remover didn't lather and spread around, so it was more of pouring two tablespoons along it than working around with the cloth. Which makes sense-it's a fine spot remover. And the detergent in the big bottle gave me a bit of a headache and was hard to rinse out. This is probably why washing machines use so much water..

As you can see, the other stain removers did a great job, and all did their best and about the same quality in washing abilities. I noticed that the detergent was good for large areas, the hydro-suds were good for really bad stains, and the commercially produced-chemical laced-detergent or whatever you decide to call it was good for nothing. My skin not only broke out from it, but I felt like I couldn't wash anything. The homemade ones didn't irritate my skin at all so I would see that as a plus.

The red bumps on my hand-forgot to wear gloves with abrasive soaps

In the end, I believe that all did their job and did well as a cleaning agent-just for different things. Price, space, and quality should be accounted for when you decide what to use.

Happy washing!

"Oxy-Clean"? Close Enough

Hydro-Suds

Homemade stain remover that does the trick

Some people call it an imitation of Oxy-Clean but I'm not sure if it really is. This simple solution worked out a stain that had been sitting on white eyelet cotton on an Easter dress for a year and a half. If that's not enough for you, the stain was large and on the front and now it looks great on. Here's how to make your own.

Hydrogen peroxide-You get it in the medicinal isle, it is what you use for scrapes in the dark bottles
Dish soap
Baking soda
Table salt
Cup or bowl
Washcloth or scrub brush


Add a cap full of peroxide and 4 or 5 drops of dish soap

Pour on your stain and work it in, scrub it with your cloth, it will start to come out

Rinse and repeat, for terrible stains mix a small spoon of baking soda and about half that much salt and use it as a scrub for the stain.

Will add pics soon!

Some Cheap Laundry Detergent

Soaps for your Ropes

Can you really make your own detergent?

I have been very interested in making my own things, so I started with a smaller version of some recopies I saw for laundry soap. They were so simple I just went with common sense and it turned out great! I made a little over (I spilled quite a bit...) two water bottles in volume so I see that as ok for the amount of time and ease it took.

You'll need:

Bar of Soap-I used Ivory but you can use manyyyyy different kinds, just look up which seems to do the best
Water
Knife/Grater
Pan
Spoon
Plastic container
2 Water bottles

Detergent Emergency

Difficulty: Easy
Time:Making: 30 mins
        Waiting: 1 day

Ever wanted to make your own detergent? Like most make-it-yourself projects, this will save you money! Especially if you want to make it in bulk! I hear you can make 5 gallons for 5 dollars!

I'm sorry for not having any pictures, I didn't think of it at the time. I know it makes it nice, but for few visitors I have, maybe if I do it again I will add them in then.

Step 1

Getting Smaller Pieces

Anyway, grate up your soap or cut it into tiny pieces. For my mini-concentrated formula I used 1/4 bar with about 1000mL water.  I cut mine into tiny slivers, the thicker they are, the longer it takes. This will take the bulk of the time, or at least it did for me. Stir it to keep it melting, most soap will sink to the bottom unless you use ivory then it will float. It will probably be clear and that's fine.

Step 2

Transfers

Simply put the solution from the pot into a container. I made a makeshift funnel using a milk jug top, unscrewing the lid makes for a wide funnel. Let it sit here (I put a "Don't Touch!" not on it) overnight. I let mine sit overnight and all day, so about 24 hours and it turned out just like other's methods. You don't need to cover it or anything either.

Step 3

After the Wait

Now that you've waited for it to transform, you will notice it's a goey, white colored substance. If it's not, you probably have a soap with dye or somehow burned it. You will need to stir it good, it will be chunky in one part and liquid in others. You want a good, even consistency. Transfer this into a bottle, if you don't have a funnel use the top of a water bottle as a funnel...I tried using something like a pipette bag and that was  just a mess and I ended up spilling a lot and it taking awhile. This is your finished product!

Step 4

Put it to Use

Now you're ready to clean, and after a test (that I will post later) I found out this does just as good as regular detergent. Add a spoonful of your gooey cleaning agent when the water is filling and be happy with great results like from expensive brands for less than bargain brands!

Breakfast Bites

Easy and Quick: Breakfast Bites

Difficulty: Beginner

Time amount: 25 minutes

This is a filling breakfast food that can be prepared fast (it can cook while getting you're dressed after it's prepared!) and you can make it truly yours because of the variety of combinations you can discover, and versatility to needs. Also, it's nice for kids because they can eat it with their fingers!

You'll need:

1 large bowl

1 small bowl

Whisk

Mixing spoon

Cutting board

Cupcake sheet

Deep spoon

Metal knife or spoon

Ingredients:

130g (700ml/3Cups?) Pancake Mix

250ml (1Cup) milk

2 eggs

With:

(3-4 eggs not in batter)

2 cups (more?) topping 

     -olives

     -tomato

     -peppers

     -onions

     -shredded hash

     -spinach

1 cup (or however much) meat topping

     -sausage

     -bacon

     -ham

     -turkey

1/2 cup cheese (American, Swiss, Provolone, Parmesan etc)

1 tbsp spices of choice

                -OR-

Fruits-frozen or harvested

     -strawberry

     -blueberry

     -peaches

     -kiwi

     -honeydew/cantelope

     -mango

     -tangerines

     -blackberries

     -raspberries

     -apples

     -bananas

     -pears

     -edible flowers

*inhale*

Cream cheese or yogurt

Granola

Step 1

Batter Up!

Collect ingredients, set topping ingredients aside

Preheat oven to 190C (about 375F)

Whisk the eggs while adding in milk, you should do this quickly but try to avoid bubbles and fluffing

Now, switch to a spoon and fold in pancake mix, if using an electric mixer, setting should be low

Step 2

Pour & Cook

You will need to grease the bottom of each cupcake hole slightly

Pour mixture into pan, make each one about a centimeter thick

If you are planning on making a sandwich kind, pour a little less

Bake on the middle rack about 7 minutes-it wont be fully cooked!

This is when they are ready for step 4.

Step 3

Choppin' Like a Ninja

Begin chopping your ingredients

If you are using meat, begin cooking it as soon as you can so it will be ready

Chop all of your add-ins rather small so they will fit in the holes

Have them in a bowl or another way to have them ready to fill the holes so it will be quick

If you are doing it the first way, whisk your eggs and add spices

Step 4

Filling it Up

Don an oven mitt and rest the pan somewhere safe

Take a spoon and press a hole in all of their tops-the uncooked batter will be on the sides now

If you are doing this sandwich style, loosen half of them and have them ready to cover

Add in either your egg or the cheese

Now fill the cakes to your desire, top with either cheese or granola, or the sandwich layer

Step 5

Waiting

Bake at the same temperature in the same place for 10 minutes

Take out only if the eggs are fully cooked-nothing should jiggle (unless it's cheese)

Let cool, then get them out by running a knife or spoon around them and lifting them out

Enjoy every bite!

Valentine's Day Apron

How to make your own Valentine's Day Apron

Difficulty level: Easy

Time amount: 30min

This is a nice project to have an extra apron, utilize excess fabric, and look cute when making something for your sweetie! 

You will need:

• Large (1mx2m) Piece of cloth (We used fabric that's been sitting around) 
• Small (40 or so cm sq) Piece of cloth (We used an old T-Shirt!)
• Matching ribbon-about a meter total
• White/matching thread
• Thin yarn that matches cloth
• Needle
• Pins

 

Step 1:

Cut out your outline or use the shape of another apron.

Then, cut the size for the top of the apron covering your chest.

Make sure you get the factory made hem for the top of the piece-it looks better.

Step 2:

Hem the edges with pretty thick yarn-it's supposed to be seen so make it neat!

Be weary of the curved edge-it looks pretty when it's also gently curved.

Step 3:

Use some thread across the top to create ruche, then attach the top of the apron to the bottom.

Step 4:

Attach half of the ribbon to the midline-we used iron on hem then sewed it along the middle.

Make sure your ends are heated so they wont unravel.

If you want to hide the seam some, add in another smaller ribbon and bow.

Step 5:

Add on a piece of fabric for a design, or even make it a pocket.

Step 6:

Take the rest of your ribbon and cut it in half, attach it on the backside

of the apron top for neckties. You should make sure it's very secure

because it will be holding the whole apron up.

Step 7:

*Optional

Iron in pleats to your desire to make it look finished and neat.

Add pockets on the bottom if you like!

Enjoy cooking a sweet meal in this cute apron!

Don't forget to try it on!

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!