Just For Fun

GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED Just for fun, I’m going to randomly give away a copy of Home-Ec 101: Skills for Everyday Living – Cook it, Clean it, Fix it, Wash it Home-Ec 101: Skills for Everyday Living. No purchase is necessary must be 18 years or older, and for shipping purposes, you must live in the United …

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Drying Sweaters

Dear Home-Ec 101,I love, love, love my sweaters!  I anxiously await the autumn weather so I can wear them again. When I dry them in the dryer (even without heat) they get beat up and often the seam (especially where a turtle-neck is attached) will begin to unravel and fray.  I have attempted hanging the …

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How to Clean Velveteen

how to clean velveteen

Dear Home-Ec 101, I’m making my husband a velveteen cloak for Halloween, and it’s already got cat hair all over it just from measuring and cutting the fabric. Can I throw it in the washing machine, or does it have to be dry cleaned? Signed, Hairy in Hailey Heather says: Do not throw your velveteen …

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Apple Cider Oatmeal

Autumn mornings demand the scent of apples and cinnamon. This apple cider oatmeal gets all the sweetness it needs from the naturally occurring sugars in the cider, apples, and raisins. Please taste it before adding any additional sugar at the table. I’m certain you’ll agree that it’s perfect as is. If you want to make …

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Spaghetti Sauce Recipe

My inner twelve-year-old is having a field day as I try to describe this spaghetti sauce recipe without sounding like a pervert. In fact, I give completely up, snicker away. It’s a thick and meaty sauce perfect over spaghetti noodles or sauteed vegetables for the gluten-free and low carb crowd. Personally, I prefer zucchini and …

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Can I Save My Rust Spotted Knife?

Dear Home-Ec 101, This morning I stumbled out to the kitchen to discover whoever (I have my suspects on a short list) had done the dishes last left my good knife in a sink full of water overnight. This is what it looks like now. Can it be saved? Are these rust spots harmful? Will …

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What About Soap Nuts?

soap nuts for washing clothes

Dear Home-Ec 101, Are soap nuts ok to use in my high efficiency washing machine? Since HE washers don’t agitate like standard top loading washers, I was curious if the soap nuts would be effective. Signed, Curious in Cupertino Heather says: I have never used soap nuts, so my answer is based on the manufacturer’s …

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Can I Substitute Chicken for Fish in a Recipe?

Dear Home-Ec 101, I see a lot of recipes that sound really good that call for fish–salmon, tuna, and so on. The thing is that I don’t like fish. With recipes like “Glazed Salmon,” can I substitute chicken in the recipe? Thanks, Truly Chicken When it Comes to the Sea. . .food Heather says: Absolutely. …

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