Within Your Walls

Miracle Cleaner

12 March 2010 By 1 In Cleaning

As much as I use natural cleaners, there is one I simply cannot do without, Barkeepers Friend. This was a cleaner I came across purely by accident; nonetheless, one I always have in my cabinet.

My husband and I had just purchased our first set of stainless steel pots and pans, or cookware, when we open the box I noticed this small pouch of cleaner. After using the pans for a while I noticed they had a film on them. I didn’t know what to use on them to clean it off, so I pulled out the cleaner in the pouch and tried it. WOW! After I used it I was amazed, they looked like new. Now I use it every time I cook. I truly think my friends don’t know I can cook. Especially when they look at my cookware.

This is one of those cleaners that doesn’t get a lot of mainstream recognition. This just makes cleaning and taking care of what you have so much easier. If you decide to give it a chance, here’s what to do. Wash your pan as normal, don’t worry if you can’t get all the cooked on food off. With a little bit of water in the pan, sprinkle barkeeper’s friend in and start to work it into the pan. Like magic, you’ll notice your pan cleaned with half the effort.

You can find Barkeeper’s Friend at most grocery chains, Wal-Mart, and hardware stores for less that $3.00. You will be surprised at how long it lasts and what you can clean with it.

Bar keepers Friend, cleaner, cookware, grocery stores, hardware stores, must-have, pots and pans, under $3.00, Wal-Mart

Budget Recipe of the Week

12 March 2010 By 0 In Budget Recipe of the Week, Family, Meal Planning

Every week I’m going to feature a budget recipe; this can be budget on money, time or both. Either way it will be easy enough for a busy family to get dinner on the table and spend some quality time together. Who knows, you may even get your kids and family involved.

This is such an easy flavorful dish. A great recipe when dinner needs to be put together in a rush. They are a bit on the spicy side, so watch which red chili sauce you choose if you have family members that don’t like spice.

Thai Pork Wraps

Makes: 10 wraps
Prep: 10 minuets
Cook Time: 10 minuets

2 Tablespoons Vegetable oil
¾ lb. boneless pork chops, cut with the grain, into ¼” x 2” strips
1 bag (16oz.) Cole slaw mix
2 cups shredded carrots
1 bunch of scallions, trimmed and thinly sliced
4 cloves garlic, chopped
½ cup sweet red chili sauce
10 large bib lettuce leaves
½ cucumber seeded, peeled and cut into matchsticks
Fresh mint and lime wedges

In a large nonstick skillet, heat 1 Tbsp. of the oil over medium-high heat. Add the pork and cook for 3 minuets until cooked through. Remove to plate and keep warm. Add remaining tablespoon of oil, Cole slaw mix, scallions, and garlic. Cook 6-7 minuets, stirring occasionally, until tender. Stir in sweet chili sauce and reserved pork and heat through.
To serve, place about ½ cup filling in center of each lettuce leaf. Add some cucumber and mint. Spritz with lime, roll up and serve. Can also be served with rice flour tortillas.

Per wrap: 142 calories; 4g fat (1g sat); 8g protein; 16g carbohydrates; 2g fiber; 410mg sodium; 21mg cholesterol.

Budget Recipe of the Week, easy, spicy, Thai pork wraps, time saving

Budget Recipe of the Week

05 March 2010 By 0 In Budget Recipe of the Week

Every week I’m going to feature a budget recipe; this can be budget on money, time or both. Either way it will be easy enough for a busy family to get dinner on the table and spend some quality time together. Who knows, you may even get your kids and family involved.

This is a recipe that you just need to have, and is simple. I am a big advocate against canned icing; it’s the easiest way to ruin a good cake! So, here is a good, easy, and kid friendly icing recipe. This is also a very flexible recipe to change. So whether you want vanilla, chocolate, peanut butter, etc… just add it in.

Fluffy Vanilla Frosting

Makes: 4 cups
Time: 10-15 minuets

1 ½ cups (3 sticks) Unsalted Butter at room temperature
1 lb. (4 cups) Confectioners Sugar or 10x sugar
½ teaspoon Vanilla Extract

With an electric mixer (or stand mixer) beat butter @ med/high speed until pale yellow and creamy (about 2 minuets)
Reduce speed to medium. Add sugar ½ cup at a time, beating well after each addition, raise speed to high for 10 seconds to aerate, then return to medium (this should take about 5 minuets) Frosting will be pale and fluffy.
Add Vanilla and beat until frosting is smooth.

This will keep for 10 days in an airtight container, in the refrigerator.

Budget Recipe of the Week, flexible., frosting, kid friendly

Bathing Beauties

05 March 2010 By 0 In Budgeting, fitness

It’s March, and this is the time of year I dread. It’s close enough to spring but definitely not warm enough (at least where I am). It’s also the time of year we are bombarded by swimsuit catalogs, storefront mannequins clad in summer shorts and barely there “bikinis”, diets, and fitness products. In addition to this, we all realize we have a few pounds to shed so that we can look good in all those clothes in the storefronts. Now I don’t know about you, but I don’t necessarily put this sort of thing in my budget. However, if it is a priority of yours and your trolling this website for some insight (pardon the rhyme…I just had to) here are a few suggestions.