The Forgotten

Many times the little things we forget about make a big overall difference. The small scuffs, dings, and marks on one thing are no big deal but usually they're on lots of things and can give a shabby appearance. So as part of my cleaning before the holidays I try to spiff all that up. Today I'm concentrating on trim and doors.

All you need is paper towels, windex or a bowl of water, magic eraser, and maybe some touch up paint (white out can work too!). Start in whichever room you want, my suggestion is to do the hardest room first. Wipe down the trim with a paper towel and cleaner, use the magic eraser to get off most scuffs and marks. Do the same around the doors and on the doors. Use the paint or white out to get anything the magic eraser won't take off. If the doors are really dirty, scrub it then paint it, same with the trim.

Make sure you do all the rooms including the bathrooms. This gives a nice sharp appearance to the rooms.

Soft Pumpkin Cookies

These are wonderful cookies - I couldn't mess tham up if I tried! One of the nice things about them is I usually have all the ingredients, except pumpkin, on hand.

Cookie:
2 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. shortening (butter flavored)
1 c. 100% pure pumpkin
1 large egg
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Glaze:
2 c. powdered sugar
3 Tblsp. melted butter
1 tsp. vanilla

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease baking sheet.
2. Combine first six ingredients in a medium bowl. Beat sugar and butter in large bowl until well blended. Beat in pumpkin, egg and vanilla, until smooth. Gradually add flour mixture. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto prepared baking sheets.
3. Bake for 15 minutes - until edges are firm. Cool on baking rack completely.
4. Combine glaze ingredients in small bowl until well blended. Drizzle glaze over cookies. They usually need about 2 hours to fully dry.

Spiff up those vents

It seems all the small odd things pop out at me when people are over, things I never noticed before. So as part of my deep clean before the holidays I like to go through the house looking at each room as if company were with me and making note of everything. Air conditioning vents (in the ceiling and in the wall) are one of those things.

If you want to go beyond just dusting them there are a few options. Option one is to buy new ones at your local hardware store. This option tends to add up pretty fast though. The second option will only cost you about five dollars. All you need is sand paper and spray paint! There are spray paints made for appliances, these work best especially in the bathroom where they will get damp. If you can't find that or prefer a color that will blend with your wall, put two coats of the regular spray paint and then one of a clear laquer (also spray paint).

Take down all the vents that are discolored or rusty, sand them with fine sandpaper (really well if they are rusty) then clean and dry them well. Next spray them with. Two coats are usually sufficient for the desired outcome. I also like to paint the screw tips (poke them in the flap of a cardboard box to spray them) for a finished look. Let them dry 20 to 30 minutes then put them back up. It takes very little money and effort but makes a big difference.

Tip: For a smooth look with spray paint, use quick, long sprays no closer than one foot away. To keep away runs and globs don't worry about immediate coverage, it's better to put on several coats, dried in between, to get full coverage than trying to get it right away. Below are before and after from my bathroom vent.

Bed Room Deep Cleam

Though the bedroom isn't a room needing cleaning for company coming, it will bring more things for a yard sale and leave you feeling more relaxed.

First off declutter. Nothing belongs in your room but personal items, get rid of anything else or find a new home for it; this includes whatever is under the bed. When that is finished clean the fan, curtains and all high objects. Dust everything-high and low, remembering the window sills and around the vent. Flip your mattress and vacuum.

Now comes the hard part. Take everything out of your closet and dressers. While it is empty decide whether you need to rearrange or add to your closet shelves and racks; if so-do it!

One by one go through the items and put them in three categories 1. keep, 2. maybe, 3. get rid of. This should be a quick process(that's why you have the maybe pile). The keep clothes go back in the closet or drawer and should only be what you wear and love. This is a a great time to really organize; hang types (long sleeve, short sleeve, dresses, etc) together and sort in groups by color, this makes finding what you want really easy. Now the really hard part! Go through the maybes and try to get rid of most of them. A good trick I've used, to see what I actually am wearing, is to put the hangers on "backwards" when putting everything back in. A year from now anything you haven't worn will be easily identifiable.

You should now have a clean room, more money from your yard sale and more space for new clothes!

Tip: While your closet is empty paint it a fun color that you like but aren't brave enough to use elsewhere.

Pumpkin Trifle

I just love holiday baking, once October rolls around I start on my "fall" recipies. This is a very simple dessert that looks and tastes very impressive! Many times people decline saying they don't like pumpkin desserts but after I talk them into trying it they find they do in fact like it and usually ask me to make it again (probably because there really isn't much pumpkin in it).

3 c. baked unfrosted spice cake, crumbled and divided
2 pkg. (3 ½ oz.) instant vanilla pudding mix
16 oz. can pumpkin
1 lg. Cool Whip
2 ½ t. pumpkin pie spice
3 c. cold milk

Set aside ½ c. cake crumbs for topping. Sprinkle 1/2 of the cake crumbs into the bottom of a large glass bowl or triffle dish. In a large bowl, combine pumpkin, spice, milk, and pudding powder until smooth. Spoon half of the mixture on top of cake crumbs and then half of the whipped cream. Repeat: cake, pudding, whipped topping. Sprinkle the reserved crumbs on top. Cover and chill for 2 hours.

Tip: I often make the cake a day ot two ahead and crumble it into large zip bags and refrigerate them; then I put it all together the day I need it. If you make the whole thing in advance it tends to get mushy.

Handy Bags

I love finding ways to reuse boxes and containers. I also love corraling loose items. Here are some handy tips for keeping all those plastic grocery bags on hand and confined.

The soda boxes made to keep in the fridge are wonderful for keeping plenty of bags on hand in the kitchen. It fits easily under the sink, in the pantry or a cabinet. I also keep one of these near the litter box for easy clean out.

Empty tissue boxes keep a smaller amount of bags available. These fit well under the seat in your car, in a baby's room (for diapers) and in a bathroom cabinet-they are great trash can liners!

Living/Family Room Deep Clean

The living/family room is usually more about decluttering than cleaning so make sure you have the yard sale box handy again! Declutter first so cleaning is easier and remember to put things that go in other rooms just outside the door and deal with it after your done. Go through toys, dvds, coffee table books, magazines, and any other clutter that may be hanging around and get rid of whatever isn't loved or often used.

Once again start at the top and work your way down. Get any cobwebs with a vacuum or broom, then dust the fan, light fixtures and other high items you may need a ladder for. Continue dusting everything else in the room, top to bottom, not forgetting the electronics, frames, window sills and behind things. To remove dust from curtains, without removing or washing them, use a lint roller-it works wonders! Be sure to clean out any light fixtures that may have dust or dead bugs in them.

Now for the floors. If you have hard floors, sweep and mop everywhere. If you have carpets vacuum everywhere; move the furniture if you can and get under everything (you never know what may get moved when guests are over and it can be so embarassing when furniture is moved and it's filthy underneath). Vacuum in the couch and chairs as well. It's usually a good idea to clean your carpets at this point; you can borrow, rent, buy one, or pay a company to do it.

With regular clutter control it will be easy from this point to spot clean and keep it looking good through the holidays.

Tip: The living/family room an easy room to collect clutter in. Here are a few ways I have found to disguise some of it in my home.
1. Ottoman with storage room inside holds video games.
2. Old tin keeps blocks and other toys on hand.
3. Short long basket holds magazines and books and can slide right under the couch.
4. Hope chest serves for seating, holds toys and throw blankets.
5. Power strip runs from the plug in to behind the television so there is only one cord visible, the rest plug into it.

Swedish Meatballs

1 1/2 –2 lbs ground beef
1 small onion, grated
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 large can mushroom soup
1 tsp sage
1 egg
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup bread crumbs or oatmeal

Preheat oven 350 degrees. Combine all ingredients well, add ground beef last. Roll into meatballs and cook on broiler pan for 30 minutes. Add to warmed mushroom soup and serve on a bed of rice or mashed potatoes.

Serves 6 generously

This is my husbands favorite meal! There is always plenty leftover.

Paper Corral

Like everyone else I had a "junk drawer" that I could never find anything in. I also had miscellaneous papers, reciepts, catalogs, etc. that had no home. To help solve a bit of these problems I got out three folders and labeled them "keep", "temporary keep" and "menus".

In the "keep" folder I put a printed list of addresses, buisness cards, a list of traditional and contemporary anniversary gifts, lists of things I want to do to the house, and other random papers that I want on hand but have no particular place to keep them.

The "temporary keep" folder holds reciepts, catalogs, paint swatches, anything that I want on hand but not for long!

Obviously menus go in the "menu" folder! It's so much better than when I had them stuck all over the fridge. Writing the phone numbers for frequently used restaurants on the front of the folders saves a lot of time.

It's a good idea to go through the "temporary keep" folder every month and throw out anything you no longer need. If the folders are different colors it makes quick identification easier. I keep my folders in my junk drawer in the kitchen because it is long and flat and so nothing gets put on top of them. If you don't have a drawer like that it may be easier to "stand" them in a cabinet. Just make sure it's an easy reach spot.

Bathroom Deep Clean

Bathrooms tend to be the next hardest thing to clean. Tackle them all at once or do one a day to make it easier.

Start the same way as in the kichen...dust the ceiling (near the vent), tops of light fixtures, pictures, tops of cabinets, etc. Next empty your medicine cabinet and get rid of outdated or unused items (your pharmacist can dispose of old medicines for you), then clean inside with all-purpose cleaner and paper towels. Do the same under the sink cabinets (leftover hair products you no longer use are often welcomed by teenagers or college students and old or worn towels should go in the rag bin).

Now you're ready for the real cleaning! Turn your shower on as hot as possible and put toilet cleaner in the toilet. As you wait for those to work clean the mirror-all of it, counter, sinks (remember under the faucets) and cabinet fronts; don't forget the soap, tooth brush and cotton ball holders! By now the steam from the shower should have loosed the grime, scrub tub, wall, etc. as usual. Clean the toilet...all of it! Now the floors. I find it easiest to use cleaner and paper towels. Be sure you clean the shower curtains. Plastic ones wash well in the washing machine. Use 1/2 cup detergent and 1/2 cup baking soda (throw in a few towels as well). Add a cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle, then hang back up to dry.

To keep the shower looking great buy a squeegie and run it over the tile/walls and door each time you shower, this cuts time between cleaning immensely.

Tip: When you're cleaning try your best not to leave the room, if there is trash or clutter that goes in another room just set it outside the door to be dealt with when you're done. This way you can't be easily distracted. I also try to keep my phone with me so I can keep working if I get a call.

Creamy Baked Chicken

This is a wonderful and easy dish. The "gravy" it makes goes really well over mashed potatoes or rice.

1 fryer chicken, cut up
1 can (10 3/4oz. ) condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
1 can (10 3/4oz. ) condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted
1 c. (8oz) sour cream
½ c. water
1 t. snipped chives
Salt and Pepper to taste
½ t. paprika

Place chicken in a greased 13x9x2 baking dish. In a bowl, combine the soups, sour cream, water, chives, salt and pepper; spoon over chicken. Sprinkle with paprika. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until juices run clear. Yield: 6 servings.

Tip: You can substitue boned for boneless chicken just adjust the bake time.

Handy Hint

Just an egg slicer you say? No way! It can do more. I love using my egg slicer to slice strawberries. Simply cut off the tops and slice! Mine is the double like the picture so I have the option of which way I want them sliced. This saves so much time when I'm making Strawberry Shortcake.
Not only is it good for eggs and strawberries but mushrooms too! However, I don't recomend doing all three at once :)

Fall Cleaning

Fall is here and the Holidays are coming! If you're like me when those holidays roll around I never seem to have much time, which makes cleaning when people are coming over very stressing. That's why I take advantage of October and the begining of November to do some deep down cleaning, so when the holidays come a quick go over is plenty to welcome guests.

The easiest way to do this is to break it down in rooms, starting with the hardest: the kitchen. It's also one of the most important to have thoroughly clean because many guest like to help in the kitchen. To start get a box (or 3) to set aside stuff for a yard sale, this is great for decluttering and extra Christmas cash! This is how I go about it at my house...

1. Start at the top and work down. Get your vacuum and put on the long and brush attachments. Use it to "dust" the walls, ceiling, fan, cabinet tops, top of fridge, blinds, curtains, and any other high or large pieces of furniture.
2. One cabinet at a time go through and get rid of anything you don't use regularly, if you use it only once or twice a year consider getting rid of yours and borowing when you need it. Throw away any out dated food and give away what you won't use. Reline if necessary.
3. Do the same with the drawers. Empty them as you go and vacuum them out.
4. When cleaning out the cabinets that hold your cleaning supplies don't hesitate to throw cleaners you don't use in the yard sale box. You'd be surprised what people will take from a "free box". Your cleaning supplies should fit in an old dish pan. Any more and it's just clutter.
4. Put oven cleaner in before you start so it is working as you do. When you clean it out line the bottom with aluminum foil so when things spill it will be easy clean up!
5. Take filter off oven vent and soak it in soapy hot water, scrub and dry thoroughly before putting back up. Clean rest of vent, top and underneath, including light bulb cover.
6. Clean oven top. If you have an old style stove replace the grease catchers.
7. Clean out freezer, refrigerator, and microwave.
8. Wipe down walls (the magic eraser is wonderful for this!) don't forget above the stove.
9. Get rid of old or unwanted food from the pantry.
10. Clean garbage can inside and out.
11. Pull out stove and fridge to sweep behind and under.

It's not so bad if you set aside a Saturday or afternoon and just do one room. Even easier if a you and a friend work together at your house one day and then hers another (or if your as lucky as I am you can get your husband to help).