Readers' Tips

Here's an idea on how to save on the cost of meats. Buy from a local farmer. Ask any local farmer that raises beef if they will "finish" a cow for you. Offer them $1.00 lb. The cows at auction are bringing around .60lb. Most small family farmers will be happy to do it. They will finish the cow on corn so that you will get the marble affect. The farmer should take the cow to the butcher for you. You pay the farmer for the "live" cow. After processing, you pay the butcher .20 to .30 per lb for a large supply of wrapped meat. Take it home and put it in the deep freeze for a year of good eating. A side benefit is that the beef will not have any hormones or antibiotics in it. It also helps to keep small farms in business.
Tim D. in Kershaw, SC

In the last newsletter one person suggested to purchase mistints from their paint supply store in order to save money. The problem with this is that you can't usually find more than one gallon of a mistint. Chances are your room will need more than one gallon. My solution to this is to buy two or three similar colors and mix them together so that they all match. Now you have a few gallons of the same color.
Rob from Pennsylvania

From the Peninsula Humane Society, San Mateo, Ca

• 1/2 cup cornmeal
• 6 tbsp Oil
• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 2/3 cup water or broth

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients together well. Roll out to 1/4 inch thick. Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutter. Bake 35-40 mins, let cool and store in tightly sealed container.
Lori

I have a recipe for dog biscuits! Most people should have almost all of the ingredients at home. It does call for baby food but I don't know why you couldn't make your own. Here goes:

• 2 3/4 C. whole wheat flour
• 1/2 C. powdered milk
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
• 1 egg
• 6 Tbs. veg.oil
• 8-10 Tbs. water
• 2 small jars strained baby food (beef, chicken, lamb, or liver)

Mix all ingredients together and knead for 3 min. Roll out to 1/2 inch thick. Use a dog bone shaped cookie cutter, and place biscuits on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake in preheated oven at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 min. Makes approximately 2 dozen doggie biscuits.
BN

Editor's note: more dog biscuit recipes and web resources at http://www.stretcher.com/stories/981130a.htm

A friend of mine just gave me this recipe and I thought I would share it with all of you out there that might be interested in a recipe for Orange Cranberry Bread, made in your bread machine.

Orange Cranberry Bread

• 8 1/2 oz. (1 cup and 1 tablespoon) water
• 2 3/4 cup bread flour
• 2 tablespoons powdered(dry) milk
• 1 l/2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 l/2 teaspoons salt
• l l/2 teaspoons orange peel
• 2 tablespoons butter or margarine
• l l/2 tsp. bread machine yeast or 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 3/4 cup cranberries
• l/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Mix and bake according to bread machine directions.
Note Dried cranberries can be used if you soak them in water. They plump up after being soaked in water.
Monroe

My husband drives a fuel tanker as well; I have found that adding 1/2 to 1 cup of baking soda when I add detergent helps remove the odors and stains from his work clothes. If the baking soda doesn't help try pre-washing in Pine-Sol or Mr.Clean, either one removes the stains and oily residue from the clothes.
Denise G.

Try rubbing mechanic's hand soap (GoJo Creme is a common brand name)on the oily spots, then wash as normal. The best type is the kind that doesn't need water, contains lanolin and is commonly found in a plastic tub (for about $.99). I got this trick from a woman who always wore white and worked with me in a machine shop(!), at the end of the day she would put some hand soap on any (the many) spots and they always came out. I've since found out it will remove almost any stain.
Eric W

Editor's note: more suggestions on removing fuel smells (and other tough odors) from clothing at http://www.stretcher.com/stories/981130b.htm

I have a tip for woman that shave their legs in the shower or tub. I've been doing this for years and I can tell you that it truly works. First of all ladies, you know how you always seem to use up the shampoo more and there is always a lot of conditioner left over. Well, instead of soaping down your legs and shaving, try putting some of that conditioner on your legs and shaving. Lightly rinse your legs and when you get out of the shower, you won't even have to put moisture cream on those legs. They will be soft!! I used to use regular soap for shaving my legs and then when I got out of the shower, my legs were so dry. When you use the conditioner to shave, it also acts as a moisturizer. Try it, you'll never go back to soap.
Becky L. from Jacksonville, FL

For the person looking for quality adult day care. Check with your local office on aging for this and many other concerns for the elderly- usually located in the phone book blue pages under local or county government services.
Robin L.K.

As a social worker who works with geriatrics I would like to offer the following suggestions: States differ but in my state there is a new law that requires them to be licensed. This is important. Also, don't assume that you won't qualify for assistance from the state. We have a wonderful adult day care down the street from our hospital and it costs $35/day (in the midwest). Many people qualify for some assistance. Even if you can't get all of it paid, you might be surprised how much help you can get. Also, in checking for good quality. It's a good idea to take 2 tours. Schedule one first so you're sure to get the whole picture and you're not rushed. On your next tour, make it a surprise visit. This way, if you're pleased with what you see, you'll know they weren't expecting you. One last thing: Pinching pennies is important to all of us but this is one place where cutting corners may not be the best idea. You need to make sure the activities they supply are meaningful. Maintaining dignity is very important to an aging person. Sometimes it's all they have left.
Debbie

Editor's note: more suggestions for adult daycare at http://www.stretcher.com/stories/981130c.htm

Hello, just wanted to address the lady, who said she ran out of Miracle Whip, in the middle of a recipe & didn't have the money to buy Miracle Whip @ $3.50+ a jar. I just want to tell her, there are grocery surplus stores out there, that sell products cheaper than regular grocerystores. Recently, I picked up Miracle Whip Light, 1 Qt. jars @ $1.25 ea. At that savings, I'm able to buy a few extra jars to have on hand, for those times, I empty a jar in the middle of a recipe. The important thing is Space, if you live in a small apt. just remember where you store your extra goodies. Also, I was told the other day, that the expiration date on an item, isn't exactly when it's time to toss out the item, that several items like cold cuts, salad dressings, etc. are still good past the expiration date.
Terri, NV

My husband and I recently went shopping for a "slightly used" car for our family's main mode of transportation. We were frustrated that a typical family car or van a couple of years old would have so many miles on it, as much as 60K in some cases, and still be out of our price range. Then we happened upon a car typically thought of as an "older person's car." Although it was OLDER, it had LESS miles on it, had MORE ROOM ,was BETTER TAKEN CARE OF, and because of it's age, COST HALF the price of the other cars. I ended up with a 1992 Mercury Grand Marquis Luxury Sedan with 44K miles on it, in PERFECT condition. I've never had a car so beautiful. We paid $7,900 for that car, and I'm proud to say it's paid for! And it is WONDERFUL on long trips. So when shopping for a family car, don't neglect to look at the larger luxury cars. In many cases, they will actually be less costly!
T.

I too have a bread machine that I use much more than I ever thought I would. I found the most expensive part of bread making is the yeast. Grocery stores in my area sell 3 packets for $1.29. I found some BIG packages of Red Star yeast at Sam's, 2 one-pound bricks for $3. I stored the opened package in the freezer and it has lasted over a year and still makes good bread. If you don't have a Sam's membership, you might try looking for these large packages at a restaurant supply store or somewhere where they sell bulk food.
Pat

I used to work in a convenience store, and our gas buying customers often had problems with the gas pump shutting its self off frequently while filling their cars. In fact my husbands GMC pickup does this. Its happening because the neck of the gas tank is curved at such a sharp angle that the gasoline is backsplashing off the wall and notifying the pumphead sensor that it's touching gas--hence telling it to shut off automatically. What to do?? Over the years I helped many people with this problem simply by inserting the nozzle of the pumphead (thats the part you hold in your hand and squeeze) into the tank UPSIDE DOWN! Its hard to describe, but easy to do! You'll want to hold the part you squeeze in your hand UP over the nozzle instead of the usual "hanging down under the nozzle" way-so the gas nozzle is pointing straight down and curving away from you. You might need to use both hands to squeeze the trigger since it won't be ergonomically correct to fit your palm... but it really does work! Something about the angle of the bend in the nozzle changes the flow in that position and the gasoline will pump and pump for you!! Practice this a few times and you'll be pleased.]
Kimberly

The December issue of Sunset Magazine had a wrapping paper idea that was both pretty and surprisingly frugal: iron out sheets of newspaper and spray them with various colors of spray paint. Nearly everyone has newspaper, and chances are good you have a spray can or two with a few stray ounces of paint sitting in your garage. If you want to be fancy, you can spray on a background color, cut out stencil stars or paper doilies, arrange them on the paper, then spray again with a secondary color.
SH

I picked this up during my semester of student teaching. The teacher I was with helped her class make bath salts for their mothers/grandmothers for Christmas. She gave each student a baggie, about 2 cups of epsom salt, a drop or two of potpourri oil, and a drop of food coloring. The student squished and mixed up the contents of the bag for a minute or two, then she tied the baggies off with a scrap of pretty ribbon and presto! A pretty gift of bath salts! My own children are making them this year at home for their grandmothers and teachers, and we found beautifully colored, unusually shaped glass containers with corks for under a dollar each. And they're so proud of their work!
Lori R

Editor's note: Please send your tips to tips@stretcher.com. If we use your tip or reply to 'Can You Help' in any of our publications we'll send you the next three issues of our print newsletter as a 'thank you'.

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