Cleaning Out your Spices

Many don't even think about about spices expiring. 

I'm fine with using spices that are only a few months past expiry date, But no more then 6 month Because they tend to lose their flavor after time.

Here is an idea of how long spices can be kept for

Expiry Guide:

• Ground Spices: 3 years
• Whole Spices: 4 years
• Herbs: 1-3 years
• Seed: 4 years
• Poppy & Sesame Seeds: 2 years
• Seasoning Mixes/blends 1-2 years

Tip:When you purchase spices from the store check the expiration date first to ensure that you are purchasing one that will not expire within the next year.

Grand Gift Basket Giveaway!!!

Its that time again, Giveaway Time!

Grand Gift Basket Giveaway!

Becoming the ultimate housewife is giving one winner this Grand Gift basket full of stuff.

A couple of weeks ago i gave a gift to a family member and posted photos of it on our Instagram and so many of you said you wanted one and how much you would love to have it, Well Here It is. Here is you Turn To get ONE! I have made another and its ready to find its home.

Whats In it? Details Below...

 

                 ~Dish Soap                                                                       ~Body Soap

                 ~Room Spray                                                                   ~Shaver

                 ~Shaving Cream                                                               ~Toothbrush's

                 ~Toothpaste                                                                     ~Men & Woman's Deodorant

                 ~Makeup                                                                         ~Icy Hot

                 ~Tums                                                                             ~Cold Meds 

                ~Flu Meds

                   ~Mix of Caned Soup's                                   ~Mix of Caned Broth  
                   ~Mix of Beans                                               ~Several Kinds of Cereal

 

And much more Not listed and not shown...

a Rafflecopter giveaway

How To Freeze Milk!

                                         I Know I Know sounds a little Crazy. But Yes you can Freeze Milk!

Milk is a staple in most homes. Some Family's of only 4, 2 being children will go through 2-3 gallons of milk a week. Now add teenage boys to that number at it will go up to 3-4 gallons a week. At a cost of $4-$6 a Gallon in most grocery stores this can really start putting a dent in your Food Budget.

So what should we do?

 One word SALE, SALE, SALE!

Find a good sale on milk, buy a couple of them wall they are at a good price. Then Freeze them, After all when Frozen they last up to 2 months.

How to Freeze Milk:

1. Open each milk container. Because the milk will expand when frozen, empty out an inch or more of milk.
2. Write down your own expiration date the would be 2 month from date frozen. (the factory-printed expiration date will be inaccurate once the milk is thawed)
3. No place in your freeze for a later time (see super easy)

How to Defrost: 

1. Take milk out of freezer and wright Defrost date on it. (once milk is defrosted it will only last 10 days)
2. Put milk in Refrigerator.
3. Give milk a good shake before opening because it can separate during thawing process.

Tips:

• Repackage the milk in smaller containers if there isn't enough room for milk jugs in the freezer.
• Freezing can change the texture of the milk once it's thawed, so consider testing it out in a small batche to make sure you like the results.
• you can store the milk for up to 2 months in the freezer
• To speed up the defrost process, place it in a sink filled with cold water (Not Hot!). 
• Because it can separate during the thawing process, always shake before using

For Mom's - Sick Day's!

It's So hard Being a Mom and Getting sick! What Do you do?

When you are sick  its easy for everything to get out of control, the wash and dishes get left and start to pile up. Dose this sound about right?

Well when your sick and just need some time to rest and get yourself back to good health how do you keep your home from looking like this...

Or Maybe you have a very Nice hubby or Older Child to help you out when your sick, Lucky! 

But for those of us who are on our own and the wash and dish have to wait tell you can pick yourself up and clean.  It can be over whelming once you feel better, how out of control the home got. 

So today we are going to look a a few ways to help us through this hard time so that its not so over whelming once we start to feel better. So we will not just want to go crawling back in bed and never come out.

 1 Plan Ahead:

You never know when your going to be sick, it can hit you at any time. So here are somethings you can do ahead of time, to help you when your sick.

• Stock your medicine cabinet
• Stock some tissues in you cabinet

I always have some kind of frozen meals in my freezer, homemade or from the store. I Always have it on hand for those times that I just don't have time to cook, or I'm just to lazy. This is also a good idea for if/when you get sick.

• Stock easy go to meals in your freezer/pantry
• Have healthy pre-made snacks on hand and were the kids can get to then easy by themselves. 

2 Keep on Top of The Laundry

When were sick we sometimes have that little window of time about 10-15min that we feel a little better then were down again. Most of the time this comes after taking a shower or bath.

Use this OK Feeling time 10-15min to do a load of laundry. Try to at least fold, but if your to sick then lay each peace flat on top of the dryer so it will not get wrinkly then the next time you feel a little OK fold it. 

don't bother with trying to put it away if your to sick. but at least try your best to do the above.

3 Switch Things Out

How to help keep the Germs in check!

• Change your pillow case

It would be ideal if you had the energy when your sick to change all you bedding but then again your sick so of course you don't, However changing to just a fresh clean pillowcase can make such a big difference. you should do this for your kids when there sick as well.

• Change or Clean You Toothbrush

Each Time after brushing your teeth run you toothbrush under Hot water for 2 min. Then once you done being sick toss that toothbrush out and get a new one! 

If you have a Electric Toothbrush with a LED lite. (Photo to right) to kill germs every night put it in and press start. Once you are All over being sick get a new head.


4 Dirty Dishes

I hate if after I'm sick i walk into the Kitchen and the sink is piled with dirty dishes. Nothing more then that makes me what to just be sick again... (Not really but you get my point)

This is a good job to give to your kids when your sick, But if that's not possible. Try to find at least 10 min to wash even just a few dishes. if you have a dishwasher this will be much easier. But not all of us do so if you don't then wash them and just let them air dry. You can put them away later. its better then having dirty dish's around. But again if you feel up to it then put them away.

5 Be Kind To Your Body

last but not least the most important part, Be Kind to your Body. When Can't always be super Wife or Mom and do Everything, and trying to when your sick is just going to make you worse or make you sick for longer.

So when your sick try and take some down time and get some sleep and take a hot bath, what ever your body needs.

Don't Not ask for help, sometimes our partners can be a little blind to our needs so don't not ask when you need some help. all you need to say most of the time is please.

example: "Honey I've washed the dishes would you mined putting them away for me please."

How to Give your Microwave a Good Clean!

I give my microwave a wipe once a week.  My microwave manual recommends not to use harsh chemicals or abrasives, so This is what I do and it works so well! and it's easy!

HOW TO CLEAN a MICROWAVE

1. Half fill a glass jug, add 1 tablespoon of vinegar.  Place in microwave and turn on for 5 min. (this will loosen all the food)
2. Remove glass jug
3. Remove the glass turntable from microwave, clean and dry. (to wipe it all clean I just use a wet sponge)
4. Remove the rotating element the plate sits on, clean and dry. This will give you easier access to the dirt in the microwave.
5. Wipe over inside of microwave
6. Place element and turntable back into microwave
7. Wipe over outside of microwave, polish if stainless steel.

If you have a Microwave on your counter do the following once a month:

1. Remove microwave from shelf.
2. Wipe shelf to remove all dust.
3. Wipe the microwave electrical cord, removing all dust particles and give the outside a wipe down too. Place back on shelf.
4. If there are any sticky or grimy parts, wring sponge slightly for a small amount of water to sit on top of grim for a minute.

Tip of the Day- Black ring on your stove stop

Question from a reader: "I left a pan on high on my stove top, and now there is a black ring on my glass stove top. I have tried to get it off but it will not come off. What can I do?"

Ultimate Housewife's tip:
1.) Rub the stain with a silicon spatula; small circular motions will loosen debris and fade the color. 

2.) Make a paste with 4 tablespoons of baking soda plus a little water and spread it on the stain. 

3.) Place a warm damp rag on top and let it sit for 30 minutes. 

4.) Wipe the area clean.

If the stain persists, make another paste using 4 tablespoons of baking soda and 1 tablespoon of distilled vinegar. Let the mixture sit for about a minute on the stain, scrub it in with a microfiber cloth, then remove the residue with a wet cloth. 

The next time you clean the stove, apply a glass cook top cleaner to the stove top, then polish with a paper towel.

Hope this is helpful. 

Do you have any ideas or tips?

Please comment below.

Tip of the day- hard to open cabinet or dresser drawers

You can use a bar of soap to make your cabinet or dresser drawers open and close more easily just pull out a drawer, flip it over, and rub the bar along the bottom edges and the drawer slides.

How to Clean & Disinfect your Brush

It's Important to Regularly clean and sterilize your Combs and brush's to keep away little buggies and clean away buildup from hair products, dandruff, dirt and skin particles that may build up over time. 

You would be Surprised what can come off and out of you brush, I know I was. Gross!

How to Clean:

     1.) Remove all hair from brush/combs.

     2.) Place Brushes & Combs in dish big enough to hold all of them

     3.) Cover Brushes & Combs with hot water but not boiling 

     4.) Add 1 tablespoon of dish detergent & 1 tablespoon of vinegar. (the vinegar is very important it will kill any bacteria and germs.)

     5.) Let soak for at least one hour or over night

     6.) Rinse each brush & combs under running hot water to remove dirt build up & soap

     NOTE:You could use an old toothbrush to remove build up from in between comb

     7.) Shake away excess water

     8.)  allow to dry the brushes and combs on a towel (For Brushes let dry face down on a towel over night)

Table of 8

Table of 8

"There comes a time in your life, when you walk away from all the drama and people who create it.

You surround yourself with people who make you laugh.
Forget the bad,  and focus on the good.

Love the people who treat you
right, pray for the ones who don't. Life is too short to be anything but happy.

Falling down is a part of life, getting back up is living." 

Tip of the Day- How to Heat Corn Tortillas

I hate it when my tortilla falls apart while I'm trying to fill it! Today we are going to look at 3 ways to Heat a corn tortilla the right way

1.) Microwave: Wrap tortillas in a damp paper towel or cloth and microwave for 30 seconds to 1 minute.

2.) Toast: Heat them In a lightly oiled cast-iron skillet. Wrap in a dish towel to keep therm warm as you go.

3.) Steam: Wrap tortillas in a dish towel and place in a steamer basket over boiling water for 1 minute. Turn off heat, cover, and let sit in the pan for 15 minutes to warm through.

Have a Neighbors Messy Yard in your Face?

Everybody has one, that neighbor that has a messy yard. There is not to a lot you can do, but there are some things you can try.

1.) Is the mess a health and safety issue? Is it attracting vermin's or creepy crawlers? Is the neglect attracting vagrants? Well then you need to deal with the issue right away. Find out if your town's regulations address the matter. Many municipalities have ordinances that govern property maintenance. Then take action: snap a photo of the offending house, bring it to the proper office at City Hall, and ask the authorities to enforce their own laws.

2.) Before confronting your neighbors, engage them in conversation to learn more. Maybe your neighbors is struggling with finances or illness. If so maybe you can offer to help them work in the yard.

3.) If you have kids that want a little money for work, have them make a little flyer with a price on it and give it to the neighbor. This one always seems to work.

4.) If all else fails, there is nothing more you can really do. Try building a fence or planting a hedge to protect your view.

Have you had this problem?

What did you do about it?

Go any ideas people could try?

Please comment below or email me! 

Panhandle Beef Brisket

This Tender, Texas-style brisket is so yummy. and pretty easy to make. It's a good meal to make when your having cooler weather.

What you will Need:

2-1/4 cups ketchup

1-1/2  cups beef broth

1 large onion, chopped

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup white wine vinegar

2 tablespoons chili powder

2 tablespoons worcestershire sauce

3 garlic cloves, minced

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 fresh beef brisket (5 to 7 pounds) most people will trim it but I don't.

2 Tablespoons liquid smoke, Optional but dose make a big difference. 

                                                                                                                                                                   

1.) In a large saucepan, combine the first nine ingredients. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat. Remove 2 cups sauce to a bowl; cover and refrigerate for serving.

2.) Place brisket in a shallow roasting pan; brush with liquid smoke if desired. Pour remaining sauce over meat. Cover and Back at 325F for 3 hours or until meat is tender.

3.) Let stand for 5 minutes. Heat reserved sauce. Thinly slice meat across the grain. Serve sauce with meat.

Notes: This Dish is very nicely served with Mash potato's and Steamed veggies.