Handy Tip #6

Don't you just love left-over pizza.  Let me show you a quick and easy trick for warming it up.

If your household is like mine, there is usually only a couple of slices left to eat the next day.

Run your slice under the faucet to dampen it.

Shake off the excess water.

Microwave the slice for about 30 seconds, more or less.








Enjoy!  It won't be soggy like you would think.  I promise.  It steams it nicely. Be careful though, because it will burn your mouth with just that little of heating.

I actually do this with a variety of foods.  Hamburger patties especially. You would be surprised how many things can take the water splash.  Try it and let me know how yours turns out.

Handy Tip #5

This tip is about buying ground beef in bulk.  It's usually cheaper per pound when you buy larger packs.  The problem is, it can ruin before it is all cooked up.  Right?  Here's my solution.

This is a 3 pound pack.

I cook the entire pack all at once.  Usually I will go ahead and add my chopped onions and bell peppers.  This time I didn't because I am using most of it for tacos, and I prefer my onions uncooked.

How do you like my iron skillet?  I couldn't live without it.

As you can see, it makes a lot of grease and it's only half way through.  I go ahead and drain this out, and then do a final drain once thoroughly cooked.

At this point, I will turn the meat every so often to help it dry out and cool down faster.

While I'm waiting on the meat to cool, I label my ziplocs.  These are just regular quart bags that I put 1 pound of meat in per bag. Normally, for this 3 pounds, I would have 3 labelled bags.  Right now though, I'm going to be using 2 pounds for Tacos tonight, so 1 bag is sufficient.

I put one-third of the meat (1 pound) into my bag.  Before sealing, I push all the air out.  It helps to fold the top half over and seal most of the way. Then kinda lean onto it to help push the last of the air out.

This is about one inch thick.

Nice and flat for stacking.  Although I wouldn't stack them on top of each other until they are frozen.  That's for safety reasons.








Now my next meal already has the meat cooked.  This is so easy to pull out at the last minute and add ingredients to for a quick meal.  Very handy when you haven't taken anything out to thaw ahead of time.

And one more thing...doing it this way means that there is no more grease to mess with later.  This comes out very lean.  Win-win.

Handy Tip #4

I'm a coffee lover.  I have a coffeemaker with a timer on it so that my java is ready in the morning as soon as I step into my kitchen.  Believe me, no one wants to be around me before that cup or two is in me.

For those of you who don't own a coffeemaker with a timer....well, all I can say is...you have my sympathy.  Maybe this tip will help you to get that first cup a little bit quicker.

This is what I keep my coffee in.  It fits into the drawer that sits below my coffeemaker.

Don't let the emptiness fool you.  I have plenty more in the can down in the cabinet.

Take as many filters loose as you have room for in your container.  I like to do seven because that means I only have to do this once a week.

Go ahead and put the right amount of coffee into each of the filters.  Tamp or shake each of them down to roughly even out the bottoms.

Stack each of them together and put into your container.

Now, all you have to do is take one out and insert it into your coffeemaker.  This is especially convenient when you have to continually make more pots of coffee, like unexpected gatherings.








I guarantee that if you start doing this, it will become a habit that you can't live without doing it.

Handy Tip #3

I love ice cream.  I bet you do too.  Here's a quick and easy way to serve it.

Side note:  Have you ever tried the Kroger Value brand Vanilla.  As you can see, it's not considered ice cream.  The box says Frozen Dairy Dessert.  Try it.  It's only $1.75 and it tastes close to homemade ice cream.  I love it.  But the chocolate is not so good.

First, open the box at all seams as shown.

Now, using a large knife, cut down in about 1 to 2" segments.  It really doesn't matter if they are not all equal.

Next, cut crosswise.  You now have fairly equal portions cut and ready for when you want a bite. And if you have kids, they can't fight over who got more.  It's all equal.

As you can see, when you're through cutting, the box will close back easily.









Now, how easy is that!  And this is great to do before a party.  It makes serving to guests quick and easy.

Handy Tip #2

I'm back with another handy tip.

These cardboard containers are so neat.

You just pop the top and pour.

Trouble is, the container doesn't empty totally.  It always leaves some liquid behind.

Well, I'll show you my solution for this.

Pull both end pieces loose where they are glued down.

Clip a corner off.  You can do this parallel or adjacent to the top.  It doesn't matter.

Now you can pour the remaining liquid out.  Problem solved.

Doesn't my leek soup look delish. (It was!)

Now, don't just throw that container in the trash as is.  That would take up too much space.  Always reduce when possible.

Lay it on it's side and flatten it down.

It may take a little pressure but the bottom will fold down flat too.

See?  Just think how much more trash can fit into your trash bag now.








I know this idea is common sense but I'm sharing it with you in case you haven't thought of it before.

Oh, and one more thing...you can buy these at the Dollar Tree for only...you guessed it, $1.00.  Or if they are out, as they sometimes are, you can get them from the Dollar General for $1.25.  Either way, that's way better than paying over $2.00 at the grocery stores.  Double tip.   Score!!

Handy Tip #1

Are you one of those people who dump leftover food in the trash?  Or don't have anything to put your hamburger grease in to throw away?  I figured there had to be a better way.  There is, and it's so easy.

Everyone has bread and sugar, right?

Take an empty bread bag and insert it into the empty sugar bag.  The sugar bag will stand upright easily.

Bring the top of the bread bag down around the sugar bag.  It is now ready to start filling.  Instead of putting food in the trash, dump it here.  Trashy grease can also be put in this because it will not leak.  Just be sure to double check for holes before filling though.  Just keep adding until it's full.

I just roll the top closed and keep it in the refrigerator until I have filled it, or until I am ready to put the trash out.

When ready to close for good, twist the bread bag good and tight.  Then use the bread twister tie to close it.

Now roll it down below the top of the sugar bag.

Roll the top of the sugar bag closed and throw into the trash.









No more smelly, messy trash.  You're welcome!