The Etiquette of Accepting Lunch or Coffee While Cleaning

April 28, 2009
The Etiquette of Accepting Lunch or Coffee While Cleaning
Some housekeepers are offered coffee, juice and even elegant lunches when they clean. Should they accept them?

These tips should help you decide what to do:
• If you are offered lunch, it seems fine to accept it, as long as having the lunch doesn’t mean you neglect some house cleaning you would have done otherwise. Make sure you will be comfortable eating it and that you clean up after yourself.
• If you are paid by the hour and you are offered lunch, it would be appropriate not to charge for the time spent eating.

Cinnamon Rolls III

Submitted by: MISS ALIX

Home Town: Wiesbaden, Hessen, Germany
Living In: Bakersfield, California, USA
Here's an easy alternative to buying those famous cinnamon

PREP TIME 2 Hrs
COOK TIME 20 Min
READY IN 2 Hrs 20 Min
Original recipe yield 16 rolls

INGREDIENTS
1/4 cup warm water
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/2 (3.4 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix
1 cup warm milk
1 egg, room temperature
1 tablespoon white sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 cups bread flour
1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast

1/4 cup butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar
4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3/4 cup chopped pecans

1/2 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 teaspoons milk

DIRECTIONS
In the pan of your bread machine, combine water, melted butter, vanilla pudding, warm milk, egg, 1 tablespoon sugar, salt, bread flour and yeast. Set machine to Dough cycle; press Start.
When Dough cycle has finished, turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and roll into a 17x10 inch rectangle. Spread with softened butter. In a small bowl, stir together brown sugar, cinnamon and pecans. Sprinkle brown sugar mixture over dough.
Roll up dough, beginning with long side. Slice into 16 one inch slices and place in 9x13 buttered pan. Let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 45 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Bake in preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes. While rolls bake, stir together cream cheese, softened butter, confectioners' sugar, vanilla and milk. Remove rolls from oven and top with frosting.

Source: All Recipies
Grannies Kitchen

Make Mother's Day Memories

Make Mother's Day Memories
By: Patti Luzzi

Grab your digital camera and extra batteries, and cook up some memorable moments while Mom enjoys time to relax.

Moms love flipping through photos of their precious little (or not so little) ones, so why not take photos of the day and make a Mother's Day memory book? Buy a good-quality scrapbook at a craft store, along with some photo mounting squares. Then, each year you can add to the book, creating a unique record of the holiday--and a family heirloom.

Source: Grannies Kitchen
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5 Kitchen Staples to Help Save Money

Ever wonder how our ancestors always seemed to have food on the table even in lean times? When we are visiting the grocery store every week to the tune of hundreds of dollars, we long to know their secret. In fact it isn’t a secret at all. It is actually good planning and preparation on their part. Once we realize this and begin doing as they did, we too will see our dollar stretch further.

The items that we have on hand are what determine how far our food will go. Filling your cabinets or pantry with a few useful staples can be the difference between a trip to the grocery store each and every week versus once or twice a month. Stocking just a few choice items is all you need to create wonderful meals.

1. Flour. Flour is a starter item for many recipes. You can add it to some water and make gravy in the pan for many meat dishes. Flour is used to make bread (biscuits, rolls, loaves) and to coat chicken. It can also be used to coat a round or square cake pan to prevent the cake from sticking. Of course, one of the favorite uses for flour is in cookie recipes that make scrumptious desserts.

2. Rice. My husband loves rice so much that we once bought a fifty pound bag from a grocery store in his hometown. Fifty pounds! Rice is a side dish, but it doesn’t have to be plain. It can be jazzed up with veggies to accompany dinner. My mother uses leftover rice for a dessert called sweet rice. Just add evaporated milk and some sugar to a bowl of rice and warm it in the microwave. It is a tasty treat for after dinner. Another popular dessert is rice pudding. Rice can also be mixed with leftover meat and a cream soup to form a casserole. Rice has many uses and your sure to find a few that your family will love.

3. Pasta. There are many different pasta choices and all have great uses. Manicotti can be stuffed with tomato sauce and cheeses. Macaroni can be used to make a creamy salad and also is great combined with cheese or spaghetti sauce. Spiral pasta is used in many different pasta salads. Spaghetti can be used in a casserole topped with cheese or in the traditional way with tomato sauce and meat.

4. Spices. There are other ways to season food besides salt and pepper. In fact, many spices taste better than salt. Even diehard salt-a-holics won’t miss the salt in foods if other seasonings are used. Cayenne pepper, chili powder, nutmeg, cinnamon, oregano, and garlic powder are all useful tools in your flavor arsenal to give foods a fresh new taste.

5. Beans. There go those beans again. Beans can top your salad (edamame), make an awesome dip (black beans), and go well with grilled foods (baked beans). They provide a good source of protein with very little fat. Beans are good in soups, stews, and over rice for a simple yet filling meal.

Do you have these staples in your kitchen? You can probably think of several more that will enhance your pantry and save money. Start with these and grow your own list of basic kitchen staples that are versatile and economical.

5 Kitchen Staples to Help Save Money
Source: Grannies Kitchen

A native of the Midwest farm country in Iowa, Marcia Chumbley has lived in a number of locations. She has resided in Chicago, Illinois; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Minneapolis, Minnesota., Living in rural and metropolitan areas taught Marcia to always look for the best opportunities each community could offer. She now lives in a rural area of Minnesota that has a small city flare and closeness to the land. Marcia’s work experiences outside the home include over 30 years in the medical and insurance field in manager, investigator and administrative roles. She has also worked as a contract administrator for a world wide security company. Marcia has work in the corporate world outside of her home and has various home based businesses over the years. She holds a degree in business management and is CMOM certified.Marcia is the founder and publisher of " Christian Work From Moms and Grandparents" web site, Faithful Grannies.com "Work At Home Divas Online for Boomers, Crafters and Stay At Home Moms, www.workathomedivasonline.com and Work At Home Moms Choices www.wahmchoices.com She is a well known published and featured author through out the internet.

I Love My KitchenAid® Stand Mixer

I Love My KitchenAid® Stand Mixer

Ask any cooking/baking enthusiast you know: their mixer is, by far, their favorite kitchen appliance—or at the top of their wish list. It is mine by far along with all the attachments makes everything so easy to.

Frozen Easter Eggs

Frozen Easter Eggs

What You Need:

3 pt soft vanilla ice cream
1 C mixed candied fruit
1/4 C light rum
1 C heavy cream
2 T sugar
Pastel food coloring
Plastic mold such as a melon, egg or ice cube tray
Freezer wrap

How to Make It:

Place the ice cream in a large mixing bowl.
Add the candied fruit and rum.
Mix together well - working quickly so the ice cream doesn't melt.
Place the ice cream mixture into the mold.
Place in freezer and freeze until firm, a few hours or even overnight.
Place a serving platter in the freezer for about 30 minutes.
Un-mold ice cream and place on the chilled platter.
Place back in the freezer for about 20 minutes.
Place the heavy cream and sugar into a mixing bowl.
Mix until stiff.
Remove ice cream and frost each egg with part of the cream mixture.
Return ice cream to the freezer.
Divide the remaining cream mixture into as many bowls as you would like colors for the eggs.
Tint each cream mixture with a different color of the food coloring.
Remove ice cream from the freezer.
Use a pastry bag or baggie with one corner cut out to pipe the colored cream mixture onto each egg.
Return to the freezer and freeze until firm.
Once firm remove and wrap each egg in the freezer wrap.
Maybe stored in the freezer for up to 1 month.

Source: Grannies Kitchen
A native of the Midwest farm country in Iowa, Marcia Chumbley has lived in a number of locations. She has resided in Chicago, Illinois; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Minneapolis, Minnesota., Living in rural and metropolitan areas taught Marcia to always look for the best opportunities each community could offer. She now lives in a rural area of Minnesota that has a small city flare and closeness to the land. Marcia’s work experiences outside the home include over 30 years in the medical and insurance field in manager, investigator and administrative roles. She has also worked as a contract administrator for a world wide security company. Marcia has work in the corporate world outside of her home and has various home based businesses over the years. She holds a degree in business management and is CMOM certified.Marcia is the founder and publisher of " Christian Work From Moms and Grandparents" web site, Faithful Grannies.com "Work At Home Divas Online for Boomers, Crafters and Stay At Home Moms, www.workathomedivasonline.com and Work At Home Moms Choices www.wahmchoices.com She is a well known published and featured author through out the internet.

Strawberry Surprise Freezer Jam

Strawberry Surprise Freezer Jam

What You Need:

1 pt boxes of fresh strawberries, washed, drained and hulls removed
2 1/2 C of fresh pineapple, peeled and finely chopped
7 C sugar
2 pkgs (1 3/4 oz) powdered pectin
1 C cold water
4 pt freezer containers with lids

How to Make It:

Place strawberries in a large mixing bowl.
Crush the strawberries with a potato masher.
Measure out 2 1/2 C strawberries and place in a separate bowl.
Add the pineapple to the strawberries.
Slowly add the sugar and stir until well combined.
Place the cold water in a saucepan over medium heat.
Add the pectin.
Stir continuously until water begins to boil.
Boil 1 minute.
Remove from heat.
Pour the water mixture into with the fruit.
Stir well to combine.
Continue stirring 4 minutes.
Pour into the pt freezer containers and cover.
Let stand at room temperature for 24 hours.
Freeze after 24 hours.
Jam will stay good in the freezer for up to 6 months.
To use, remove from freezer and allow to come to room temperature, about 1 hour.
Cover and refrigerate for up to 3 weeks.

Source: Grannies Kitchen

Thank You Mother

You are the embodiment of love,
You are like a boon from above,
Like you there's no other,
You're the only one, you're my mother.

Thank you Mother.

Peanut Butter Hot Dogs

Peanut Butter Hot Dogs
SUBMITTED BY:Nick Strand PHOTO BY: Carrie

"This recipe couldn't be quicker or tastier, plus, it's easy to make and fun to eat! I usually dress it up by using cinnamon-raisin peanut butter."

INGREDIENTS
2 tablespoons peanut butter
2 slices whole wheat bread
1 banana, peeled

DIRECTIONS
Spread a tablespoon of peanut butter onto one side of each slice of bread. Break the banana into two pieces, and place one half onto the center of each peanut buttered bread slice. Wrap the bread around each banana and eat like a hot dog!

Source:All Recipies

Spring Recipies

Spring Recipes

Spring means more fresh fruits and vegetables are available in the market, especially strawberries and asparagus, two foods particularly associated with spring.

I'm dusting off my charcoal grill this weekend. Join me and celebrate spring with these fabulous spring recipes.

Fresh Strawberry Fool
Source: Better Homes and Gardens

Ingredients:
1/2 cup whipping cream
1/3 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 - 8-ounce carton lemon yogurt
3 cups sliced fresh strawberries or 2 cups fresh blueberries
1/2 cup coarsely crumbled shortbread cookies (5 cookies)

Directions:
1. Beat whipping cream, powdered sugar and vanilla in a medium mixing bowl with an electric mixer or rotary beater until soft peaks form. By hand, fold in yogurt and half of the berries.
2. Spoon some of the whipped mixture into the bottom of 10-ounce individual glasses.
3. Top each with some of the remaining berries, the rest of the whipped cream mixture, and then the rest of the berries. If you wish, cover and chill up to 2 hours. Before serving, sprinkle with the crumbled cookies. Makes 4 servings.