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Preserved Peaches

July 30, 2010 By Jeanne Leave a Comment

It is not just Georgia where fantastic peaches are grown. Here in the Willamette Valley in western Oregon, we get peaches that can’t be beat anywhere in the world. And I have to say that, as with all foods, a large part of peaches’ deliciousness is in how they are served, and the way I like them best is still on the tree. I have been u-picking peaches at Oregon farms since I was a little girl, and my mom and I still go out to Sauvie Island and pick on those wonderfully perfect days in … [read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Canning Recipes, Featured, Food & Drink Tagged With: canning, DIY, food, homemade, Occasions, recipe

Dry Your Way to Safety

July 29, 2010 By Lacy Leave a Comment

Clean the clothes dryer filter after each load and clean the dryer duct regularly.  Clogged filters and ducts restrict airflow, decrease energy efficiency and can be a fire hazard. … [read more...]

Filed Under: Energy Tips Tagged With: energy tip

Cool Down to Go Green

July 22, 2010 By Lacy Leave a Comment

Turn your water heater down to 120 degrees fahrenheit to save money on your energy bill.  If you have children in the house, this is also a safety measure. … [read more...]

Filed Under: Energy Tips Tagged With: energy tip

Feather Favor

July 22, 2010 By Rachel 2 Comments

Whether you’re celebrating an engagement, wedding or birthday, finding the perfect decorations and favors can be both expensive and time consuming to make. Here is an inexpensive and simple - yet unique - party favor for the free-spirited celebration. Supplies: Feather Ribbon String MOL personalized tag Step one: color palette When gathering your supplies, keep in mind the color palette for your table. You may have a collection of feathers you have gathered over … [read more...]

Filed Under: Birthday, Blog, D.I.Y. Ideas, Decorations, Featured, Grown-Up Party Ideas, Occasions, Place Cards, Wedding Tagged With: decorations, DIY, favors, party

8-Day Sweet Pickles

July 19, 2010 By Jeanne Leave a Comment

Pickle making has been a part of my life since about the time I learned to walk. I remember chasing after little toys under the kitchen table, and seeing Mom, tall and young, wearing a flowered apron and with her hair in bobby pins and a bandanna, pouring a big pot of pickle water out into the sink. It happened every year at about the same time we picked peaches from the tree growing outside the kitchen window. I also remember the kitchen filling up with the sweet-sharp smell of sugar, vinegar and … [read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Canning Recipes, Featured, Food & Drink, Occasions Tagged With: canning, DIY, food, homemade, recipe

Circulate to save

July 15, 2010 By Lacy Leave a Comment

Convection ovens consume up to one-third less energy than standard ovens.  Heated air is continuously circulated by the oven's fan, for more even heat and reduced cooking times. … [read more...]

Filed Under: Energy Tips Tagged With: energy tip

Mexican Wedding Cookies

July 12, 2010 By Jeanne 1 Comment

In Oaxaca, Mexico, these cookies are a traditional wedding favor for guests, where they are served in delicate pouches of ruffled white tissue paper. They are so delicious that many countries have their own variations. They are known as Russian Tea Cakes, Austrian Kipfel, Greek Kourambiethes, and in the U.S., Almond Butter Balls or Snowballs. The Mexican version is made with pecans, but pine nuts or slivered almonds are also very, very good. Use real butter for the full effect. The recipe below is … [read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Featured, Food & Drink, Gifts & Favors, Treats & Desserts, Wedding Tagged With: decorations, favors, food, homemade, recipe, weddings

Light up with Green

July 8, 2010 By Lacy Leave a Comment

Use outdoor lights with a photocell unit or a motion sensor so they will turn on only at night or when someone is present.  A combined photocell and motion sensor will increase your energy savings even more. … [read more...]

Filed Under: Energy Tips Tagged With: energy tip

Homemade English Toffee

July 8, 2010 By Jill 2 Comments

Candy making seems so mysterious. So difficult. I mean, baking bread? No problem. Cakes or cookies? Got that covered. And main dishes? Well, they've got a whole television network designed to help us figure out what to make for dinner. But candy? Scary! Seriously, they have special thermometers just for candy making! And I've heard stories about people who've had their chocolate "seize" on them in the middle of a recipe. What do you do if your chocolate "seizes?" Call 911? For these … [read more...]

Filed Under: Birthday, Blog, Christmas & Holiday, Featured, Food & Drink, Graduation, Holidays, Occasions, Thank You, Treats & Desserts Tagged With: candy, favors, homemade, Occasions, recipe, thank you

Dog Soap

July 5, 2010 By Jill Leave a Comment

Michelle Palmquist  is the mind behind this genius. She makes custom soaps and sells them at local farmer's markets and on-line at The Custom Soap Shop and Dogspaw.us. Michelle is also a dog owner who likes to pamper her pooch.  "I started the new line of doggie products because I had such a hard time finding things for my dog that were reasonably priced and made with natural oils, and since I was already making specialty products for our dog, I thought, "why not share these great products with … [read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Featured, Occasions Tagged With: customers, Occasions, pets, soap
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