Recent Hints
Many meals from one rolled roast
I have found a way to get maximum meals and value from one single rolled roast. I bought a rolled pork roast which was way too big for just the two of us. Not wanting to be living on leftovers all week, I decided to cut it in half before cooking it. As I was about to place the uncooked half in the freezer, I decided to cut it into thinner slices and use the meat as pork chops instead. This has worked well! I also plan to cut the rolled roast into chunks in future, to use for stir fry, sweet and sour pork and so on. Normally you could never get pork chops or stir fry for $7.99 a kilo! There's no reason why you couldn't use this method with other rolled roasts too.
By: Jaye 5 responses in the members' forumDIY 'Cryovac' seals your food at home for free!
My savvy DIY food sealing method has saved me a fortune and is so easy! I like to organise meals ahead of time, and have at times thrown out food due to serve freezer burn. I researched Cryovac machines, but priced at anywhere from $400 - $500, not to mention constantly buying bags, it was out of the question. So I came up with a solution! I fill up a container, or the kitchen sink, and when I have the meals prepared in bags and ready to go, I slowly lower it into the water until it is almost level with the top of the bag. Then I just seal it shut. The water forces the bag together and pushes out the air. It works a treat and I have saved hundreds not having to buy a machine, replacement bags and also power!
By: Jessie Stokes 6 responses in the members' forumHottest Hints
Fluffy towels from cheap conditioner
My washing requires a fabric softener as my laundry gets hard and coarse if they're washed and dried without it, but I hate spending up to $4.00 per bottle, so came up with this cheap solution.
It works brilliantly. I now buy a home brand or extremely cheap hair conditioner (no, NOT a shampoo!) This costs $0.80c to $1.90, per 500 mls or one litre.
All you do is squirt a tiny 10 cent size dollop into your fabric softener holder, then fill up the remainder with very hot water.
I now have fluffy towels all the time, and the cheap conditioner option has worked out to be a bottle every six months or so, instead of spending lots of money per week on commercial 'fabric softeners'.
By: Lisa De lace 16 responses in the members' forumHome made bath bombs
These bath bombs are great to give as gifts or to pamper yourself with! This recipe should give you at least four to five good sized 'bombs' and cost as little as $1.00 to make. All you need are the following:
1 1/2 cups bicarb soda
1/2 cup citric acid
Scent or fragrance of your choice (you can use essential oils if you have them)
Food colouring of your choice
Sweet almond oil or any cooking type oil
Flower petals if desired
NOTE: Make sure everything is dry. Even the smallest hint of moisture will make the ingredients fizz.
Sift the bicarb and citric acid into a large bowl, add petals if desired then divide mix into four separate batches.
In another bowl, mix one tablespoon of oil, enough fragrance to suit you and enough food colouring to get the desired colour. Mix well. This mix is enough for one of your small batches of dry mix.
Add the colour and fragrance mix to a batch of dry mix and mix in with fingers very quickly, making sure that it does not fizz. Mix well to make sure the colour and fragrance are distributed evenly.
Press firmly into lightly oiled moulds. You can use just about anything as a mould. Try using the plastic lid from a can of hairspray or jelly moulds if you have some. You can buy bath bomb moulds from some craft shops. Make sure that you press the mix firmly into the mould, otherwise it will crumble.
Leave in a dry spot for about 24 hours, then gently press them out and enjoy!
By: Ellen Gush 3 responses in the members' forumReceive a Free Newsletter