3RD TIMES A CHARM?

Good morning kids! How are you today? I am rather nervous as the doctor and hospitals are supposed to be doing my mother’s procedure this morning. I am gonna gather myself here today and go over there and make sure the house is prepped for her return!

OK remember last week when I brought you the things to do with common household things like vinegar, lemons, and baking soda? Well I have some more spots for you to find some great uses for things like Vodka, Oatmeal, Olive Oil, Ketchup, and Aluminum foil! And make sure to hop on over to The Daily Green for tons of great information about Going Green, Recycling, and LOTS more! (Reposting the other links too…)

12 Things you’ve never thought to do with Oatmeal by By Brian Clark Howard

Top 10 Weird Uses for Vodka by Brain Clark Howard

8 Surprising Uses for Olive Oil by Brian Clark Howard

9 Uses for Ketchup that may surprise you by Brian Clark Howard

12 Surprising Ways to reuse Aluminum Foil by Jeff Yeager

40 Fantastic uses for baking Soda by Melissa Breyer

Lovely Lemons: 14 Uses in the Home by Annie Bond

23 Ingenious Uses for White Vinegar by Mel

Well now for those of you who are looking for a craft for today… look no further! Today when you are eating your potato chips with lunch or you walk by the vending machine at work, I want you to think of all the wrapper crafts just waiting in there LOL. As you crunch your chips be thinking of what to do with the bag… and I have an idea for you right here!



Craft Idea of the Day: Recycled Potato Chip Bag

Materials:

Potato chip bags, cleaned, dried and cut so that they lay flat (approximately 20 large bags should be enough to make a purse)
Rotary fabric cutter
Mat to protect the table when the rotary fabric cutter is being used.
Strong carpet thread or nylon thread
Craft needle
Piece of ribbon
Large button

Directions:

Paper chip purses are colorful, fun to make, and a great way of recycling snack bags that would otherwise simply be thrown away. If you have ever made a gum wrapper chain when you were small, the same technique can be used to create a stylish and durable new purse. There are more complicated methods that can be used to construct the purse, but to make a simple purse you only need to make a single shape, plus a long chain to use for the shoulder strap or carrying handle.
Step 1: Cut the potato chip bags into pieces that are 2 inches by 4-1/2 inches, using a rotary cutter.

Step 2: If you've ever made a gum wrapper chain, the technique for making the individual pieces is exactly the same. Lay one cut piece of chip bag on the table wrong side up. Fold it in half lengthwise, creasing the fold. Then, unfold and fold each long edge in towards the center crease. After both sides have been folded to the center, fold the entire piece in half lengthwise, which will enclose the cut edges on the inside. Then, fold the piece in half the other direction, making a crease. Fold the both short edges so that they meet at the center fold and crease. Then, fold the entire piece in half so that the cut short edges are enclosed on the inside of the piece. You will make many of these pieces.

Step 3: To join the pieces, slide the edges of one piece into the slots of another, continuing the process until you have a long chain. If you've never made a gum wrapper chain before, you can check out www.gumwrapper.com/build.htm for pictures.

Step 4: Once you have a long chain made, you can start the purse by creating a circle shape that, when flattened, is as wide as you want your purse to be. Using strong carpet thread or nylon thread and a craft needle, sew the rows together by spiraling one layer above the other, fitting the notches of the chain together as you go. Sew the rows together by running the thread through the gaps of the individual links. Continue this process until the cylinder is as tall as you want your purse to be.

Step 5: Using the thread, sew the bottom edge of the purse closed. You will now have a purse shape with a closed bottom and an open top.

Step 6: Create a chain from potato chip bag pieces that is long enough to serve as the handle or shoulder strap. Attach one side of this chain to either both sides of the open end of the purse.

Step 7: Sew a large button onto the front of the purse. Then, using ribbon or a decorative piece of cord, sew a loop onto the opposite side of the open end of the purse, so that you can close the purse by looping the cord loop over the button.

Alright folks, its time to eat! Long time ago Russian desserts were called "zaedkami", that means "after-eaters", for they were served after the principal meal. Native Russian sweet dishes are kissel, compote, levashen (fruit pastila), sweet pirohi, baked apples and pears, fruit and berry preserves. So for those with a serious sweet tooth, try this recipe on for size! Eat & Enjoy!



Baba Romovaya cake

Ingredients:

3 ea eggs
5 oz flour
5 oz sugar

--Icing:
5 oz cherry juice
2 tbsp rum

--Sauce:
4 tbsp rum
2 ea yolks
8 oz cream
1 tbsp starch

Method:

Beat up eggs with sugar with the mixer until there is foam. Stir in flour very gradually and make dough very quickly. Fill in the form half (the dough wil rise twice) with dough very very carefully. Grease the form abundantly with butter and sprinkle with flour. Close all windows and doors to avoid draughts otherwise "baba" will catch a cold". Put in a warm place, don't move it. As soon as the dough rise up to the top, bake in the oven (180C) until it is golden. It is very important to keep the form of "baba" after baking. Put upside "baba" in the form down on the paper until it is cold. Don't take it out of the form until it is cold. Mix rum with cherry juice in a large bowl and sink "baba" in this syrup. Beat up yolks with cream and starch, pour in rum. Put the mass on a "steam bath" (put a smaller pan with cream mass in a large pan with water) and bring to thickening. Pour the sauce over "Baba" before serving.

Well gang, that’s all the time we have today for Frugal fun and adventure. I am gonna go sit on the end of my chair and anxiously await word on my mom’s procedure, which was SUPPOSED to be today… perhaps 3rd times a charm? Ok gang take care, I love you all, and I will see you tomorrow! HUGS!