Fast Apple Dessert

Simple, fast Apple Dessert. Cut apples in halves. Put halves, skins facing downward, on broiler pan. Put in broiler. When lightly brown on the outside and soft on the inside take out. Sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon. Let cool before serving. You can also do the same with pears. Some people like to sprinkle their pear with a touch of fresh lemon as well as using sugar and cinnamon.

Find how to Shop and Save for your Family

Here are some ways to shop and save!

1- Get a Costco card. The card costs money to get, but you can buy in bulk and save. (Find out what day(s) your area's Costco gives out free samples of foods.) Get grocery store savings cards as well. They should be FREE. Also, ask at other stores if they have savings cards. The more money you save the better.

2- See if your city's Sunday newspaper carries coupons. If they do, buy one. Cut coupons and save.

3- Sign up for store newsletters if they give you store discounts. But make sure they don't share you're email with other businesses.

4- When you shop online look for coupons, coupon codes, discounted items, the clearance section and for free shipping. This goes for retail stores as well. Look for bargains. Sometimes if a piece of clothing or a product is slightly damaged (a tear in the seam you can sew or a hardly noticeable scratch on a lamp) you can get a price break. Also, find out if your insurance company or other businesses will give you a discount if you sign up online.

5- When you shop ask the cashier if they have any coupons you can use (I have gotten free coupons this way).

6- At antique stores, flea markets, consignment stores, and garages sales ask for a lower price on an item. (I frequently get discounts this way too)

7- Paying by cash sometimes can get you a lower price. You can get price breaks at certain gas stations and other places by doing this. DO ASK if you can get a break on a price by paying cash at antique places and other mom and pop businesses. Stop using credit cards if you can. This will help you stay within your budget. And you won't have to pay the outrageous interest rates.

8- See if your grocery store has a policy of giving customers 5 cents back for every paper shopping bag that is reused.

9- Wait before you shop. You could save. Call a store and see if they have a sale coming up and what kind. See if they have weekly or monthly days were you can save a percentage (10%, 15%, etc.) on a purchase. And find out if there are days where they give out free samples/trials of products. Try free trials first to see if you like a company's product or service.

10- If you plan to buy an expensive item, furniture, or you intend to have work done on your house, get more than one price comparison. If you like the more expensive company, tell them so. Then say you got a lower price from another company and would they lower their price. It's worth a shot. It's worked for me.

Tip for cleaning fruits and vegetables

To clean fruit and vegetables that you buy at the store. Put drain stopper in your sink. Fill sink with water, then add some white vinegar. A cup of vinegar to a sink filled half way. Don't use too much vinegar because you don't want your fruit to smell. Get a scrubber and lightly scrub fruit and vegetables in this solution. Don't bruise fruit while brushing. When done, let water out of sink and rewash fruit and vegetables with plain cold water. Dry food well before putting in frig.

Picture Book Review

“Henry the Dog with No Tail,” by Kate Feiffer. Pictures by Jules Feiffer. A cute tale about a tail. The pictures are simplistic but do the job. Henry the dog has no tail. He wants a tail so he goes to a tailor. The tailor makes him a tail. Having a man made tail ends up not being so terrific after all.

Movie Review- Nims Island

Movie Title- Nims Island. Adventure. Rated PG. Movie based on a book. This is a fun movie, but I found it rather disturbing that a father would leave his eleven year old daughter alone on a deserted island for two nights. What happened if an earthquake occurred or she got hurt? Basic plot- A widower and his daughter, Nim, live on an island nobody knows about. The father is a scientist. He has to go away to find an eco-specimen for two nights. His daughter is left by herself with some pets. There is a big storm and she needs help. Her father can’t help because he’s on a boat which is wreaked in the storm. All communication is lost with his daughter. Nim emails someone her father knows, an author of a book she likes. I’ll leave it there in case you want to watch the movie. Jodie Foster does a nice job as the writer who has border line agoraphobia.

Make an Erupting Volcano

Make an Aluminum Foil Volcano which really Erupts!
I’ve done this science experiment with kids at least three times for school projects. It’s always a hit because kids like seeing the volcano erupt. Simple explanation for how it works: Baking soda is a base substance whereas vinegar is an acidic substance. When the two are added together it causes a reaction. In this case an erupting volcano.
To make a volcano fit for a science fair you might want to make it more life like, like painting it brown. Or making your volcano out of Paper Mache or clay. To make this basic volcano you need: Two paper cups, paper plate, aluminum foil, pen, masking tape, scissors, two tablespoons of vinegar, tablespoon of baking soda, one and half tablespoons of warm water, old cookie sheet.
This experiment should be done with an adult present.

1)Place cup side up on middle of plate. Keep it place with masking tape. Now totally cover cup and plate with aluminum foil. Tape extra foil under plate.

2)Using your pen, poke hole through aluminum foil in very middle of cup. Using scissors inside cup, cut four slits in aluminum foil from poked hole to edge of cup. Fold aluminum foil down inside cup and tape securely.

3)Place your newly made volcano on the cookie sheet. Put one tablespoon of baking soda in middle of volcano (cup). Add one and half tablespoons of warm water to this. Mix gently. In another cup put in two tablespoons of vinegar. (If you were taking this volcano to school you should carry needed vinegar amount in a small container or leave in bottle. Every time I’ve done this project kids like to see the volcano erupt over and over, so bring enough ingredients to erupt volcano at least three times.)

4)Get ready for an eruption! Pour vinegar into middle of volcano cup. Up comes the lava.

Sand Box Tip for parents

Before letting your wee one play in a park's sand box make sure there isn't any cigarette butts, cat poop or broken glass in it. Note: Cigarette butts are dangerous for dogs. Don't let your dogs eat them.