My Best Friend

I have been given several homemaking tips over the years from homemakers far more skilled than myself. Many times this advice goes in one ear and out the other for a couple of reasons: 1) I am not in the homemaking mood (which is often) or 2) it is just too complicated or overwhelming or whatever. But, there are a few that I am oh so glad to have been taught and have remembered.

The following is a big one.

Meet my best friend:

Please note that this is Oxi Clean in its powdered form.

In my house, we are a sweaty people.  Those white undershirts?  With the yellow stains in the underarm and collar areas?  A good long soak in an Oxi Clean solution, then a good wash in the machine takes right care of that problem.  Blood stains (and any other bodily function stains)?  A good soak in an Oxi Clean bath will take care of those too.  Even stains that have been on clothing for awhile and have been dried in the dryer first.  Oxi Clean is very good on organic stains, i.e. coming from humans (blood, sweat, bathroom stuff) and food (although Dawn dish soap is my favorite for food stains since they so often come with grease).  

Here is what I do:  I buy this large box at my warehouse store.  I use a 5 gallon bucket and fill it with about 1 cup of oxi clean powder and hot water.  I can soak 7-10 undershirts at once.  Or a sheet.  I give it a good long time because I don't want to have to do it again (usually overnight or most of the day).  I could probably use less powder, but again, I don't want to have to soak it again, so I make sure there is a good amount in the water.  When it is done soaking, I squeeze the garments out, and throw them in the machine and wash as usual using warm water.  The stains are gone (for awhile anyway), and the whites are whiter too.

One Dinner At a Time

I tried to make a weekly menu.  I have been trying for awhile.  But I am finding it impossible.  People are always coming and going in our house, and I never know when I will have to go somewhere.  Today, for example, I have to take two of my kids to piano lessons.  We will be gone from 4:40-5:40 ish.  That makes it a little difficult to get a good meal on the table, and I don't care how quick a recipe claims to be, nothing takes less than an hour and more likely two hours, except hot dogs with deli salads and/or canned baked beans.  Or sandwiches.  The problem with either of these choices is that everyone eats at different times, which means that either I am constantly making another sandwich, or someone will come home and instead of making his/her dinner, will have a bowl of ice cream or some other horror instead.  Thursdays are even worse for me during the school year, when I have to take my son to scouts and then my daughter to dance.  Then we are all eating at different times.  Ugh.

Now that my rant is over (for the time being), here is what we will have tonight:

Kitchen Sink Quesadillas (I do not remember where I got this from, so I cannot give credit.  Grr)

1 15.5 oz can black beans, drained
1 11 oz can corn, drained
3/4 C salsa, drained
8 flour tortillas
8 oz shredded cheddar cheese

mix beans, corn, and salsa
lay four tortillas on a foil lined baking sheet
spread 1/2 cheese
spread bean mixture
spread remaining cheese
lay four tortillas on top
bake @ 400 for 10 minutes

I will first make a batch of just cheese or cheese and chopped deli turkey breast (to use up) for the picky ones, which is everyone but my husband and myself.
This still won't be as quick as it sounds because my oven no longer preheats and I will have to give it 20-30 minutes, but that will give me time to throw a quick salad together of iceberg lettuce, celery, carrots, and chopped tomato.

Sandwich Toppers

Today I am eating a chicken sandwich with lettuce.

Lettuce is an okay sandwich topper, but over the years I have tried various vegetables, and have found that I have different favorites depending on the main ingredient.  And here they are:

tuna with sprouts (broccoli sprouts are the best)

turkey with thinly sliced cucumber

roast beef with green pepper strips (even better with sauteed green peppers)

peanut butter and jelly with banana

bologna with shredded iceberg lettuce

hamburgers with sauteed mushrooms and onions

hot dogs with sauteed onions

tomato is a welcome addition if it is garden fresh