• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 (1 ½ ounce) package taco seasoning mix
• 1 bag of iceberg salad lettuce
• 8 ounces cheddar cheese
• 1 (16 ounce) bottle Sweet Honey Catalina dressing
• 1 (14 ½ ounce) bag Doritos , crushed

Brown meat and then drain the grease. Add the taco seasoning and mix together. Set aside so that it can cool.
While meat is cooling, mix together the lettuce and shredded cheese.
After the meat has cooled, mix it with the salad lettuce mixture. Cool in the refrigerator. Right before serving, add the dressing, and crushed Doritos to lettuce.

• 2 cups whole milk
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup sugar
• Coarse sea salt and whipped cream for topping

In a small bowl, whisk 1/4 cup of the milk with the cornstarch, vanilla and salt, until smooth. Set aside.
In a large saucepan, combine the sugar with 3 tablespoons of water and bring to a boil. Cook over medium-high heat until a light amber caramel forms, about 5 minutes. Watch it closely. The caramel should not smoke, or it will burn.
Remove from heat. Very gradually whisk in the remaining 1 2/3 cups of milk, a little at a time.
Put it over the heat again and whisk until the caramel has dissolved again. The milk will foam up quickly as it comes to a simmer. Simmer over moderately low heat until the mixture thickens just slightly and deepens in color, about 10 minutes.
Gradually whisk the cornstarch mixture into the caramel. Cook again over heat, whisking constantly, until the pudding thickens, about one minute. The pudding will thicken up more as it sets in the refrigerator cooling.
Scrape the pudding into 2-4 ramekins or serving dishes and refrigerate until chilled and set, about 2 hours. You can run it through a strainer to make it really smooth although I skipped this step and my pudding was fine.
To avoid a pudding “skin”, press a piece of plastic wrap onto the surface of each pudding dish as it chills.
Serve with a sprinkle of coarse sea salt and a dollop of whipped cream (optional).

Make even more convenience foods right at home! You’ll save money, control ingredients, and avoid expensive “fast foods” when you start making your own favorite convenience foods.

Click on here to find out about our informative resource Homemade Convenience Foods – and dig into over 200 recipes for handy convenience foods you can make at home.

Eliminate those prepackaged foods from your pantry, eat healthier and cheaper while still cooking fast. Order your copy today!

• 2 cups cooked lentils-add enough water when cooking to have water covering them when done
• 1 onion, chopped (I grate mine over the pot)
• 1 1/2 cups regular oatmeal
• 1 can evaporated milk
• 1/2 teaspoon sage
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup oil (can be omitted if you don’t have it on hand or want to cut calories)
• 1/2 cup chopped nuts (if you have them-optional)

Cook lentils and then just scoop up to measure juice and all. Add remaining ingredients. Mixture will be VERY watery-don’t panic!

Put in greased 8X8 pan, loaf pan or casserole dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 45-60 minutes until just set in center.

I cover mine loosly with foil because I like it moist.

For more delicious casserole recipes and helpful cooking tips, grab a copy of my ebook Casseroles Made Simple – Tasty Meals In One Dish.

You will go from the oven to the table with a mouth watering meal for you family in no time!   Hearty homemade meals, easy clean up, saving time, saving money… what’s not to love about casseroles!

Just click on Casseroles Made Simple to order your copy today!


http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/ebooks/casserole.htm

I think most people have some idea of the struggle I speak of. For instance, my desk just seems to get covered in an avalanche of papers. Many folks have the same problem in their entryway with a table piled high with mail or other items that get deposited there. Some folks struggle with a bathroom counter top that has bric-a-brac scattered about. You may not be able to easily vacuum because you first must move mountains of magazines, books, toys, remote controls, or whatever seems to gather around the chairs and sofas.

If this sounds familiar, then you know how doing a simple cleaning task becomes more complicated. When you walk into your bathroom armed with your scrubbing and shining tools, if you can’t get at the surfaces that need cleaning, do you get a little frustrated? I know when I’m faced with sorting piles of clutter on surfaces before I can clean, I may just turn around and leave it for another day.

Decluttering using a few feng shui strategies to lift your spirits has become a very popular method.  The reasoning is that in the midst of clutter, we can become immobilized, our mind starts to spin.  When our mind is cluttered, we often become motionless. Our best laid plans come to a halt. Faced with clutter, we often just retreat.

The idea of using feng shui in cleaning means surrounding yourself with pretty colors, good light, pleasant aromas, and pleasing sounds, as you reduce your clutter.  I outlined these strategies in another post.  Click on The Feng Shui post to see what you can do to help you get past the confusion of the clutter, which is the first step to getting your house clean!

Won’t it be nice when you can grab your cleaning supplies and head in with determination and not be discouraged and become motionless by the clutter you encounter? The clutter is gone and your “mental motion” is restored.

Clutter is an obstacle that needs to be removed from your path. Take the first step today so your path is clear when you’re ready to move ahead!

P.S.   Are you ready to declutter your home?  With the use of a few simple feng shui strategies, you have a good start!  Now, how would you like to make progress every single day and have the whole house cleaned in 30 days!  You can with 30 Days to an Organized Home.

This step-by-step guide walks you through specific tasks each day for 30 days so you can get your whole house clean, finally!

Tracy Roberts of MomsInABlog.com is the author of 30 Days to an Organized Home, and she has a plan!

Work your way through organizing and decluttering every room in your house in 30 days with easy to follow daily tasks that keep you from getting overwhelmed with the task at hand.

You’ll also find helpful printable checklists that will keep you on task and allow you to track your progress.

Get your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/organizedhome

So, what method do you prefer when you clean your house?  There are two basic cleaning styles to consider:

• Small tasks.
• Big project.

For instance, are you more apt to break cleaning up into small tasks each day to get your house clean, or are you more likely to clean your house in several big projects?

Do you get the whole family involved, or do you prefer to do it yourself while everyone is out of the house?

Are you more likely to vacuum all the floors in the house at one time and wash all the windows at another time, or do you prefer to clean one entire room, floors and windows, at one time?

I know spring cleaning for many people is a big “haul everything out and clean it” production. But, have you given any thought to your own preferred cleaning style?

This may be an important issue because it could make the difference between getting your house cleaned and enjoying it, or getting exhausted and frustrated.

It’s easy to imagine that if you are the type of person who really dislikes turning your house upside-down, living in chaos even for a moment, then perhaps a big spring cleaning day or week is not for you. If you were to haul everything out of its resting place for a good cleaning, the disruption may not sit well with you or your family at all. You may want to consider smaller projects spread over a period of time so as not to wreck havoc on your peaceful domicile.

If, however, you are the type of person who likes the challenge of a huge production, then by all means, rip your house apart and start cleaning! Once you get the cooperation of your family (because this method does produce chaos) your spring cleaning should go pretty fast. Yes, you may have to do some tricky maneuvering around dinnertime, but it will be worth it to get the job done in the style you prefer.

Whether you prefer cleaning jobs broken up into small tasks or cleaning jobs tackled in large projects, there are tips for cleaning your house that will make all your jobs go easier.

1) Use multi-purpose cleaners and tools. The fewer bottles and brushes you have to carry around, the better. You’ll basically need something to scrub with and something to shine with. Look at your cleaning products and see if you can narrow down your number of supplies.

2) Gather your products. Use a plastic caddy or similar item to move your cleaning stuff around with you. How you sort your products will depend on your cleaning style, again. If you’re going after a room at a time, then you’ll need everything for that room. If you’re cleaning all the bathtubs first, then you’ll only need your bathtub scrubbing things.

3) Set a timer. Big projects and small projects both need a time limit. Just because you’re tearing apart the refrigerator, for instance, doesn’t mean you should make it a never-ending task. With a timer running, human nature will take over and you’ll try to beat the clock. Dragging a cleaning task out beyond what’s necessary to get the job done is counterproductive; you’ll be less productive and you’ll waste a lot of time. It’s amazing how much you can accomplish in less time when you know the timer’s running.

4) Get help when you need it. This used to be one of my worst time-wasters. Rather than ask for help, I’d struggle moving the sofa, beds, dressers, and other furniture around to vacuum around the baseboards. The time it took me to wiggle those big pieces of furniture around could have been cut in half with just one request for help. The same goes for hauling out a step stool, cleaning something above your reach, then putting the step stool back. If someone else can reach what needs cleaning, ask them to clean it. This is a great time-saver that makes sense to me, now. If the kids are at an age to help, you may want to give them the opportunity with their very own kid-friendly cleaning tools. This may or may not be helpful, but at least it will keep the little ones busy.

They may seem simple, but sometimes when we are in a habit of cleaning a certain way, we never spend any time to re-think our methods.

Give your own “cleaning style” some thought before you tackle any spring cleaning you may have planned. If your plans don’t match your style, consider rearranging those plans so you, and your family, emerge with a clean house and smiling faces!

P.S. You’ve got your house cleaned now, but how about organized? Are you as organized as you want to be? If not (and who is?!) we can help you with that, too!

Tracy Roberts of MomsInABlog.com is the author of 30 Days to an Organized Home, and she has a plan!

Work your way through organizing and decluttering every room in your house in 30 days with easy to follow daily tasks that keep you from getting overwhelmed with the task at hand.

You’ll also find helpful printable checklists that will keep you on task and allow you to track your progress.

Get your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/organizedhome

• 3Cups of Chocolate chips – I use Semisweet but you can use milk chocolate as well
• 1 can Sweetened Condensed Milk (or make your own)
• 4 Tablespoons Butter or Margerine

Prepare your pan (8 X 8 or 6 X 9) by greasing it and lining it with wax paper.

Put all into a microwave safe bowl and microwave on high for 2 minutes. Stir and microwave for another minute if needed. Stir and add 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla if you like. Pour into pan and spread into corners. Cool completely either in the fridge or in the winter an unheated room. Cut to the size you like and enjoy.

Recipes for making the Sweetened Condensed Milk are easy and there is a good one on this site. It really is a whole lot less expensive than buying it!

Make even more convenience foods right at home! You’ll save money, control ingredients, and avoid expensive “fast foods” when you start making your own favorite convenience foods. Click on here to find out about our informative resource Homemade Convenience Foods – and dig into over 200 recipes for handy convenience foods you can make at home.

Eliminate those prepackaged foods from your pantry, eat healthier and cheaper while still cooking fast. Order your copy today!

Here are just a few of my favorite all time sauces that I am sure you will love just as much as I do! Those Superbowl fans of yours will be rooting for more of your homemade goodies just as well as rooting for their team!

Best Buffalo Wing Sauce:

• 8 tbsp hot sauce (Texas Pete’s workswell)
• 8 tbsp unsalted butter or margarine
• 1 1/2 tbsp white vinegar
• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1/8 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• salt to taste

Place all ingredients in an saucepan
and cook on low heat bringing it to a simmer. Pour over wings. Store any unused sauce in the refrigerator.

Barbecue Sauce:

• 2 cups apple cider vinegar
• 4 ozs tomato paste
• 1 1/2 tbsp sugar
• 1 1/2 tbsp peanut oil
• 1 1/2 tbsp salt
• 3/4 tbsp steak sauce
• 3/4 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 tbsp hot sauce

Place all of the ingredients in a sauce pan and simmer for 10 minutes on low heat.Stir occasionally. Pour over
chicken wings.

For extra yummy wings, marinate in the sauce overnight and continue to baste
them while they are cooking.

Wing Sauce For Diabetics:

• 1/4 cup tomato paste
• 1 cup sugar free cola (Dt. Pepsi or Dt Coke)
• 1 tbsp dry onion flakes
• 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp salt

Place all ingredients in a sauce pan and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes on low heat. Pour over chicken wings.
This recipe is not completely sugar free. However, it is much better than sauce from the grocery store.
If you want to add some extra tang to your sauce, you can add 1 tsp of mustard.

Make even more convenience foods right at home! You’ll save money, control ingredients, and avoid expensive “fast foods” when you start making your own favorite convenience foods. Click on here to find out about our informative resource Homemade Convenience Foods – and dig into over 200 recipes for handy convenience foods you can make at home.

Eliminate those prepackaged foods from your pantry, eat healthier and cheaper while still cooking fast. Order your copy today!

• 2 ½ pounds small red skinned new potatoes
• 3-4 green onions chopped
• 4 slices bacon
• 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
• 1 cup chicken broth or stock
• 1 ripe tomato, chopped
• Salt and pepper
• Sour cream (optional)

Cut the potatoes into approximately one-inch pieces. Place the potatoes in a pot with lightly salted water. Bring to a boil and cook for 12 to 15 minutes or until tender.
Take the scallions and cut off the root ends and tough green tops, then cut crosswise into ¼ to ½ inch pieces.
Cut the bacon up into small bite size pieces. Cook the bacon 3 to 5 minutes until it begins to crisp and has rendered most of its fat. Drain on paper towels. Then return the bacon to the pan and add the scallions. Cook 3 to 5 minutes more until scallions are tender.
Drain the potatoes and return them to the hot pot. Start smashing the potatoes with about half the chicken stock. Add the bacon, scallions, cheese, and tomatoes to the potatoes and continue to smash. Add more chicken stock as you work to obtain a thick, chunky mashed potato consistency. You want the finished dish to be chunky, not smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve with a dollop of sour cream if desired.

Cleaning your home does not have to turn into this huge daunting task. If you take it in baby steps, you can accomplish all your cleaning goals. Below is how I am tackling my house over the new few days.

Baseboards–I have dogs in my home, so my baseboards usually have dirt and dog hair on them. I try to make it a point to clean them at least once a month to keep this from happening. Instead of trying to clean a whole room, I choose one day and designate that one task to that day. My first chore is cleaning the baseboards in every single room.

Doors and woodwork–The next day I clean, my task will usually include the doors and woodwork. I wipe down all the dust that has accumulated and I sanitize the door knobs to keep the germs at bay.

Walls and mirrors–Walls take a bit longer than all the other aspects, so I usually take two days to do this one. Room by room I clean and wipe down any smudges and dirt from the walls. I sweep spider webs out of corners (if there are any) and also clean any mirrors.

Windows–I take one day a month and clean all the windows in my home. If you have new replacement windows then cleaning them is a breeze. If you have older windows, this might take some extra effort, so plan for a couple of days to clean windows.

Dusting Furniture and ceiling fans–One day a month I go around and dust all the furniture, including pictures and ceiling fans. Once this task is done for the day then I am done with this chore.

Vacuuming and cleaning carpets-I do all of this in one day. I try to save it to almost the very last. This way any dust particles that have been flying around in the home have settled and will now be cleaned up by the vacuum and the carpet cleaner.

By breaking your cleaning chores down into segments like these and doing like jobs on the same day, you cut down on your stress levels and you will have your house spotless in week!

P.S. You’ve got your house cleaned now, but how about organized? Are you as organized as you want to be? If not (and who is?!) we can help you with that, too!

Tracy Roberts of MomsInABlog.com is the author of 30 Days to an Organized Home, and she has a plan!

Work your way through organizing and decluttering every room in your house in 30 days with easy to follow daily tasks that keep you from getting overwhelmed with the task at hand.

You’ll also find helpful printable checklists that will keep you on task and allow you to track your progress.

Get your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/organizedhome

Those are pretty popular, but there is one resolution that is right up there at the top of the list:

Get the House Clean and Organized

Like many homemakers, I make that resolution each year.  Then around this time, I start plotting.  How will I ever attempt this?  I can’t tolerate the whole house ripped apart for spring cleaning, yet I want to get the job done quickly.

So, this year I sat down and organized my thoughts and put together a short room-by-room guide to help me (and you!) get through the task without total chaos.  This FREE resource is my gift to you in hopes that you will be able to tackle your resolution to get the house clean and ready for summer fun.

Just click on the pdf link below and you will instantly have my step-by-step guide to cleaning your house a room at a time, without total chaos!

Spring Clean Your House A Room At A Time (PDF)

Enjoy!

Susanne – The Hillbilly Housewife

P.S. You’ve got your house cleaned now, but how about organized? Are you as organized as you want to be? If not (and who is?!) we can help you with that, too!

Tracy Roberts of MomsInABlog.com is the author of 30 Days to an Organized Home, and she has a plan!

Work your way through organizing and decluttering every room in your house in 30 days with easy to follow daily tasks that keep you from getting overwhelmed with the task at hand.

You’ll also find helpful printable checklists that will keep you on task and allow you to track your progress.

Get your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/organizedhome