MEATBALL MANIA! Copyright 2004 Deborah Taylor-Hough Used with permission. All rights reserved. Recipes adapted from " Frozen Assets: How to cook for a day and eat for a month " http://hometown.aol.com/dsimple/ Cooking up a large batch of meatballs in advance to store in the freezer goes a long way toward establishing a supply of quick and easy meals. And if you take advantages of sales on ground beef and stock up, this can be a tremendous boon to your family budget, too! In addition to stirring meatballs into spaghetti sauce, you can also use them in soups, serve them on skewers (kids love this!), or heat in brown gravy or a warmed can of cream of mushroom soup served with mashed potatoes. The following recipes prepare a large batch of freezer meatballs and also include examples of ways to use frozen meatballs. The sauces require some preparation, but the meals go together quickly with your stockpile of precooked meatballs in the freezer. MILLIONS OF MEATBALLS (this makes a lot -- at least four dozen, depending on size) 12-ounces tomato sauce 1 1/2 cups dry bread crumbs 4 eggs, lightly beaten 1/2 cup onion, finely chopped 1/4 cup green pepper, finely chopped 1 teaspoons salt, optional 1/8 teaspoon dried thyme, crushed 1/8 teaspoon dried marjoram, crushed 4 pounds ground beef In a large mixing bowl, combine first eight ingredients. Add ground beef and mix well. Shape into meatballs (use a small cookie scoop if available) and place on boiler pan so grease can drain while cooking. Bake uncovered in 350 degree oven for 30 minutes. Divide into meal-sized portions. To prevent from freezing into a solid meatball-mass, freeze individually on cookie sheets and then place in freezer bags. Label and freeze. To serve meatballs, thaw completely and reheat with your choice of sauces (six sample sauce recipes follow). SWEET-N-SOUR MEATBALLS (5 servings) 1 (14-oz) can pineapple tidbits or chunks, undrained 1/4 cup brown sugar 2 tablespoons cornstarch 1/2 cup water 1/4 cup cider vinegar 1 teaspoon soy sauce (or more to taste) 1 family meal-sized portion of freezer meatballs 1 (5-oz) can water chestnuts, drained and thinly sliced 1 green pepper, cut in strips Drain pineapple tidbits, reserving syrup. In medium saucepan, combine brown sugar and cornstarch. Blend in reserved syrup, water, cider vinegar and soy sauce. Cook and stir over low heat until thick and bubbly. Carefully stir in meatballs, water chestnuts, green pepper strips and pineapple. Heat to a boiling. Serve over hot cooked rice. CHILI-DAY MEATBALLS (5 servings) This recipe sounds a little strange (chili sauce and grape jelly?), but it tastes like burgundy sauce (only without the wine) 1 (12-oz) jar chili sauce 11-oz. jar grape jelly 2 tablespoons lemon juice 1 cube beef bouillon dissolved in 1/2 cup water 1 family meal-sized portion of freezer meatballs Whisk together chili sauce, grape jelly, lemon juice and bouillon, breaking up all clumps. Simmer on low heat until sauce starts to thicken. Add freezer meatballs; cook in sauce until meatballs are fully thawed and heated through. Serve over hot cooked noodles or rice. MEATBALL SANDWICHES (6 servings) 1 family meal-sized portion of freezer meatballs (approximately 4-5 meatballs per person) 6 hot dog buns (or hoagie rolls) 6 thin slices mozzarella cheese 2 cups prepared spaghetti sauce Thaw meatballs and spaghetti sauce (if using frozen). Place both in medium saucepan. Heat until hot. Place meatballs into warmed buns. Ladle small amount of spaghetti sauce onto each sandwich; place mozzarella slice onto each sandwich. TOMATO-SAUCED MEATBALLS (5 servings) 1 (10 3/4-oz) can condensed tomato soup 1/2 cup water 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 1 family meal-sized portion of freezer meatballs Mix together soup, water and Worcestershire sauce. Place meatballs in a medium sized saucepan; pour soup mixture over meatballs. Simmer until meatballs are heated through.Serve over hot cooked rice. MEATBALL STROGANOFF (5 servings) 0 3/4-oz) can condensed cream of mushroom soup 1/2 cup sour cream or plain yogurt 1 cup mushrooms, sliced and cooked in butter until soft 1 family meal-sized portion of freezer meatballs In medium saucepan, mix together mushroom soup and sour cream. Gently stir in mushrooms and meatballs. Simmer until meatballs are heated through. Serve over hot cooked rice or over egg noodles tossed with melted butter and chopped parsley. CATALINA MEATBALLS (5 servings) medium onion, thinly sliced 2 teaspoons olive oil 1 bottle Catalina salad dressing 1 family meal-sized portion of freezer meatballsSaute' onion slices in olive oil until softened. Place frozen meatballs in medium skillet. Pour dressing over meatballs. Cover skillet and cook over low heat until dressing caramelizes on meatballs and onion, and the meatballs are fully thawed and heated through. Serve over rice. About The Author: --Deborah Taylor-Hough (free-lance writer and mother of three) edits the Simple Times and Bright-Kids e-newsletters. She's also the author of several books including Frozen Assets, Frugal Living For Dummies(r), and A Simple Choice: A practical guide for saving your time, money and sanity (recently featured in Family Circle magazine). Browse Debi's books and subscribe to her free email newsletters at: http://hometown.aol.com/dsimple/ . Used with permission. All rights reserved. Permission granted for use on DrLaura.com More >>

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Pack it Right Making Lunchboxes Healthy By Leanne Ely, C.N.C. Over the years, the school cafeteria has become a place of too many choices--from franchise fast food offerings to the usual stuff we grew up with--most kids don't know how to pick a healthy lunch or are not inclined to do so considering the many tempting offerings. The alternative is packing your child's lunchbox and is probably one of the healthiest things parents can do for their school-aged children. Like anything else, lunch is a time to balance your child's meal. Having a decent protein/carbo ratio in your child's lunchbox, will help him or her finish the day with energy to spare. And while sandwiches are okay, the Ultimate Tortilla Roll-ups (see recipe) is perfect lunchbox fare. Not only are they easy to make and pack well, kids truly love them. There are hundreds of variations on this theme, too--you don't have to just stick with any one recipe. Tortillas make great transportation for almost any filling--experiment a little bit and try different things--even your basic PB J takes on new meaning when wrapped in a tortilla. Most kids feel their lunch box isn't quite packed unless there are chips aboard--not the healthiest food around. Baked tortilla chips are a good option or even better are baked Pita Chips (see recipe). Not only are they healthy and inexpensive, they're simple enough to make that your 5th grader can crank out a whole slew of them for the week. If you're going to make chips, you might as well throw in a little dip and some veggies. Basic Black Bean Dip (see recipe) could be made in mass quantities and frozen in little plastic containers to save time. It couldn't be easier to make, but it's even easier to thaw. The only trick is getting the container home! Don't skimp on the fruit. Bananas are great for lunchboxes--convenient, a great source of potassium and come in their own carrying cases. Pack it on the very top though, and wrap it in a couple of napkins for protection-nothing worse than a bruised and mushy banana. And for a great dessert, pack a Puffy Grain Chewy Bar (see recipe), a much healthier alternative to the marshmallow-laden rice crispie bars. This is another easy recipe the kids can make themselves. But what about a beverage? Where's the juice, soda or milk? According to the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) drinking too much juice (yes, even 100% fruit juice) can contribute to the problems of cavities, childhood obesity, diarrhea and other gastrointestinal problems, such as excessive gas and bloating. Get your child into the good habit of drinking water. Try freezing a small bottle of water instead of the usual juice and flavored drinks. Most children don't drink enough water and packing that frozen bottle is a smart move. By the time lunch rolls around, the bottle has served two purposes: hydrating your child and keeping his lunch cold. Besides, those goofy blue ice thingies always seem to leak their blue stuff everywhere. Packing a healthy lunch isn't a big deal and something you can easily train your child to do. As a matter of fact, children who learn to pack a healthy lunch are the kids who learn to make responsible nutritional decisions as they grow up--good habits that will serve them for a lifetime. Allowing your children free range in a school cafeteria can be hazardous to their health, unless they can make good choices. That is, if there are even any good choices available. Great Easy Packables Curds and No Whey--no kidding! Try drizzling a little honey over the top of that cottage cheese and some cinnamon. Kids think it's great. Cue the Carrots--the produce department keeps making it easier for busy moms. Those little carrots are indispensable for packing it right and the price is reasonable, too. Cheese on a String--or whatever other type of cheese, ready to go in the cheese section of the dairy case. All Dried Out--like just a handful of raisins for example. Get the itty-bitty boxes and encourage your child to put them on their cottage cheese. It's really good that way! Apple This Way--quarter the apple and sprinkle with cinnamon in a baggie. You won't have to hear about it turning brown and the flavor is just like apple pie. Put a little plastic container with some peanut butter for dipping in there too, and you've got some protein thrown in on the side, too. RECIPES: All Recipes are from Healthy Foods: An Irreverent Guide to Understanding Nutrition and Feeding Your Family Right (Champion Press) The UltimateTortilla Roll-Up Makes One flour tortilla -- *health food stores have a sprouted wheat tortilla that is delicious 1/2 ounce low-fat cream cheese -- you can use less 1 ounce chicken breast without skin -- tuna, or whatever you have on hand 2 slices tomato -- chopped 1 romaine lettuce leaf -- shredded 1 green onion -- minced fine (optional) 1 teaspoon vinaigrette -- whatever you have on hand Lay tortilla flat and spread cream cheese all over. In a small bowl, toss lettuce, tomato and optional green onion with vinaigrette. Set aside. Lay chicken out evenly over cream cheese. Spread lettuce mixture evenly on top of the chicken. Roll up like you would a sleeping bag and secure with a toothpick or just place on a plate, seam side down. If this is for a lunch box, wrap securely with plastic wrap. Per serving: 373 Calories (kcal); 11g Total Fat; (26% calories from fat); 16g Protein; 54g Carbohydrate; 21mg Cholesterol; 483mg Sodium Chips for Dips Serves 12 (as an appetizer) 12 corn tortillas -- or pita, whole wheat tortillas, whatever non-stick spray (health food stores have ones without the propellant or use an oil pump)Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Spray a cookie sheet generously with non-stick spray. Stack the tortillas and cut them into 6 even pieces, sort of like a pizza. Place on the cookie sheet and lightly spray the tortillas. Bake for 8 minutes or so checking to make sure they don't get too brown. Let cool and serve with hummus or Black Bean Dip. Put a generous portion of veggies out with the chips, too. NOTE: Make sure you only use the non-stick sprays from the health foodstore. The others are full of propellant and unless you plan on flying your food, propellant doesn't belong there. Or buy an oil pump that uses air to help spray. Available at Wal-Mart and other stores, for under $10. Great investment. Per serving: 56 Calories (kcal); 1g Total Fat; (9% calories from fat); 1g Protein; 12g Carbohydrate; 0mg Cholesterol; 40mg Sodium Basic Black Bean Dip Serves 12 (as appetizer) 1 black beans, canned (15 oz.) -- drained 1 can green chili peppers -- drained 1/4 cup salsa -- use what you have 2 teaspoons cumin 1 teaspoon garlic -- pressed 1 squeeze lime or lemon Dump it all into a food processor and whir like mad. When it's done, blop it into a bowl and serve with any type of chip that turns your key. But preferably with a healthy one you made from these recipes. Per serving: 14 Calories (kcal); trace Total Fat; (11% calories from fat); 1g Protein; 2g Carbohydrate; 0mg Cholesterol; 58mg Sodium Puffy Grain Chewy Bars Serves 12 1 cup each: Puffed kamut, brown rice, millet from the health food store or use 3 cups regular puffed wheat from the grocery store. Or try Kashi cereal. 1/2 cup peanut butter -- or almond butter 1/2 cup honey 1 teaspoon molasses, blackstrap Dump the cereal in a big bowl. Heat the honey, peanut butter and molasses together. Pour into cereal mixture, working quickly to get it mixed. Press very firmly into a 13 X 9 inch pan. Let sit for as long as you can wait (the longer, the harder) and then dig in. Per serving: 108 Calories (kcal); 5g Total Fat; (42% calories from fat); 3g Protein; 14g Carbohydrate; 0mg Cholesterol; 51mg Sodium NOTE: Variations of a theme: Try using brown rice crispies in place of the puffed rice, and toasting the millet and kamut on a cookie sheet (425 oven till toasted) for a crispy texture instead. For more variety, use this recipe as a base and add raisins, chopped dates or chopped nuts. Leanne Ely is a nutritionist, former caterer and the author of Healthy Foods: An Irreverent Guide to Understanding Nutrition and Feeding Your Family Well (Champion Press). Ely is also the editor of Menu-Mailer, a weekly e-zine that provides menus, grocery lists and recipes and answers the question, "What's for Dinner?" For more information, send an email to: More >>

Dream A Little Dream With Me By Cheryl Gochnauer As an at-home parent, It's important to surround yourself with people whosupport your family-focused decision. To illustrate this point, this week I'm including part of a message board posting from a Homebodies reader,Shelly, and some responses her posting: "Ever since I was a little girl, I dreamed of being married to my handsomeprince, having babies and making my home a safe harbor for my family andfriends. It was a simple, non-glamorous dream, but it was my heart'sdesire. "I am the only lady to stay home with children in my husband's family, andevery now and then I get feedback as to my lifestyle. Recently, I washaving a conversation with my sister-in-law, who doesn't have any kids. Wewere talking about working, and she commented, 'Well, I could never seemyself staying home with my children, because I wouldn't want to lose touchwith reality and having a structured life.' "When I get these little jabs, it hurts. But I have never felt the need tobe like everyone else; in fact, as I get older, I try very hard to be myselfand am thankful I am what I always wanted to be: a wife, mother andhomemaker." - Shelly When Shelly's posting went up, several Homebuddies jumped in to encourageher: "When I was a stay-at-home mom, my life wasn't structured. That's what Iloved about it. We woke up when our bodies told us to; we played outsidewhen the weather let us; we went with the flow. As far as being in touchwith reality, that is a common problem with some SAHMs. If you aren'tcareful, your entire life will revolve around sippy cups and potty training." - Jennifer "My own sister is married and doesn't have kids. For a long time she usedto harass me about staying home and doing 'nothing' all day. Until shewalks the walk, she's not going to know. Don't let people get to you. Youknow your heart; stand by what you believe." - Terri "Although your desire was to be a mom all along, lots of us dreamed of acareer, house, hubby AND kids, so it may be very hard for your sister-in-lawto imagine that your dream was different. It wasn't until we had all thosethings that some of us realized our values had changed." - Mary I appreciate the thoughts expressed in each of these ladies' postings. Areyou looking for the same sort of support as you're tackling your at-homeparenting role? Visit the message forums at Homebodies (www.homebodies.org)and link up with new friends with common goals. Not connected to the Internet? Check with your local churches and boards ofeducation to discover parenting support groups in your area. Like Jennifersaid, at-home life is more than "sippy cups." Mix up your routine bymeeting other like-minded moms, whether in person or on the Web. (Advance copies of Cheryl's new "Stay-at-Home Handbook: Advice onParenting, Finances, Career, Surviving Each Day Much More" are nowavailable [$10.99 plus $3.00 shipping/packaging]. "Stay-at-Home Handbook"has 42 chapters, featuring the insights of 60 families and a foreword by Dr.Laura Schlessinger. To order your autographed copy, email Cheryl@homebodies.org . Autographed copies of Cheryl's Mother's Day book,"Mom to Mom" are also available by going to this link: http://www.homebodies.org/mom2mom.htm ) More >>

Make Time For Your Teen By Patti Chadwick We live in a fast-paced world. Our lives are so full of things that need to be completed that from morning until evening we are in perpetual motion. Amidst the hustle and bustle we need to carve out the time to spend with our teens. You are probably wondering just how to do this. You are busy#133;your teen is just as busy! Make no mistake, it will take both time and effort, especially if you have more than one child, but it will be worth it. Begin by looking at the schedules of the entire family. Can you find free times and make a #147;date#148; with your teen to get a soda, have lunch, or go for a walk in the park? If your schedules are impossible #150; all is not lost! You just need to be resourceful! Do you need to take your teen to the dentist or doctor? Take a little extra time to make the time alone special. Use your time alone in the car to talk instead of listening to the radio. After the appointment, stop at a coffee shop for a drink and a chat. Do you have an errand to run? Ask one of your kids to tag along. Does your teen have a project due? I bet they could use an extra pair of helping hands. Maybe they just need someone to bounce ideas off of #150; let that someone be you! Let#146;s not forget dinnertime. Try to eat as many meals together as possible #150; and make mealtimes a relaxing time filled with good conversation as well as great food. I encourage you to be creative. Think outside the box. Find the time to spend with your teenager. You both will benefit from the times you share together. More >>

Asking Great Questions By Patti Chadwick Do you want to know what your teen is really thinking? Try asking great questions. Too many times we ask closed questions that require only a #147;yes#148; or #147;no#148; answer. Does this sound familiar: #147;How was school?#148; #147;Good#148; #147;Do you have homework?#148; #147;No#148; #147;How was the game#148; #147;Okay#148; We need to learn to ask specific questions that require thought and will encourage conversation. Why not try some of these: Was that test in Spanish as hard as you thought? What were some of the questions on it? Which question was the hardest for you? Who scored the highest in the basketball game after school? Were there any amazing plays? How many people came to Lindsay#146;s birthday party last night? What kind of presents did she get. On a more personal level why not try asking things like: What do you think Heaven looks like? What kind of person would you like to marry? What#146;s the nicest thing I ever did for you? What#146;s the best thing you remember from your childhood? If you could travel anywhere in the world #150; where would you like to visit? Why? The list could go on and on#133;and it should! Why not make your own and begin asking your teen questions that will lead to meaningful conversations. Patti Chadwick is the creator of Parents Teens found at www.parentsandteens.com . She is also the author ofMISSION POSSIBLE: RAISING GREAT TEENS! and LOOK UP! A 30-Day Devotional Journal for Teens. Both books are available on her website in both ebook and print formats. Click to purchase Permission granted for use on DrLaura.com More >>

The Importance of the Family Dinner Table By Leanne Ely Copyright (c) 2002 "Dinner! Come to the table!" Do you remember your mom hollering that very statement when you were a kid? Do you remember running down the stairs to familiar smells and rushing to take your place at the table? The family dinner table is a place of communion, fellowship and a means of reconnecting with those we care about the most. Over a simple dinner of scrambled eggs or more elaborate family fare of meatloaf and mashed potatoes, important stuff happens. Relationships are realigned, the news of the day is exchanged and coming events are discussed. More importantly, memories are made for both adults and children. One day, your child will look back on all those dinners around the family table with fondness. One day, you too will look back wistfully, actually missing the chaos of trying to get everyone to the table while the meal was still hot! Unfortunately, today's family dinner table is all but missing from the home. We have sacrificed our family table for all manner of activities and way too often, our meals are situated around the blue glow of the family television. Conversation is limited to pass the salt and stony silence while the blare of TV fills the room. But actually making the meals is a big issue, too. Women are busy, tired, exhausted and overwhelmed with responsibility. Mom works hard at home all day. Making menus to post on the refrigerator doesn't happen anymore because there is "no time". Going to the grocery store usually means going without a list and throwing a bunch of prepackaged stuff into the cart because dinner needs to be easy and fast. The simple practice of making a menu each week will not only help you provide some structure to the family dinner hour, but also will save you a lot of money on your food budget--so very important to stay-at-home moms. A simple thing like keeping a running grocery list on the fridge will help you avoid last minute trips to the grocery store. Your family will be eating healthier and you won't be as stressed out because you know what's for dinner Tuesday night. And while you might not be able to pull off a Norman Rockwell picture perfect family dinner every night, I bet you could do it at least one night a week. Menus aren't just for restaurants. They deserved a special place of honor on every family's fridge. Leanne Ely is the author of Healthy Foods: An Irreverent Guide to Understanding Nutrition and Feeding Your Family Well and the editor of a weekly paid subscription newsletter called Menu-Mailer. Menu-Mailer will give you the menu, healthy family recipes and a grocery list every week delivered right to your email address. Send mailto: leanneely@aol.com for more information. Author, nutritionist and editor of Menu-Mailer, the answer to that perplexing question, "What's for Dinner?" Need help in the kitchen? more-info@ds.xc.org for more info (autoresponder only) Permission granted for use on DrLaura.com More >>

Facing The Daycare Dilemma By Cheryl Gochnauer "In my nearly 9 years of motherhood, I've always wanted to be a stay-at-homemom," says Kass, who has three young sons. "It's not just because I don'tlike working outside the home. It's not because I'm not particularlycareer-minded, or because I love to spend every minute of the day with mywonderfully obnoxious, energetic boys. It's because I simply dread thewhole 'gotta find a babysitter/childcare provider/daycare' baloney!" "In nearly every job I've had, I've left or had to change jobs becausechildcare issues affected my attendance and productivity at work," shecontinues. "Either the kids aren't happy or adjusting, the provider isn'twilling to work with me, or she can't accommodate my working hours anylonger, or I just plain can't afford it." Kass found no help at church or her homeschooling group. Her neighborshaven't worried about daycare in 15 years, and aren't the babysitting type,anyway. Local childcare referral agencies only disappointed her. "One hascats, oops allergies - she's out. Two don't speak English, oh bother. Fourcan't do Saturdays, which I really need to keep my job. The rest want myright arm and left leg - up to $50 more a week than I earn."After a stint as an at-home parent, Kass stepped back into the workforce toput more money in the checkbook. But daycare expenses and aggravationovershadowed the gains she anticipated. "I know childcare providers mustearn a decent living, and so must set their rates to adequately compensatefor their long hours, hard work and expenses," Kass says.She's right; we're not faulting daycares or dedicated people who care forothers' children. But if you're encountering the same headaches as Kass,take a moment to revisit your decision to work outside the home. Are youexploring all your options? Take Daycare Costs Out Of The Equation Work during school hours,telecommute from home, or work an opposite shift so your spouse can watchthe kids. Ask Your Spouse To Work Overtime. Though it's slowly changing, men arestill usually paid more than women. Why work 10 hours if your husband canmake the same amount in 5? (Plus, you won't have to pay for 10 hours ofdaycare.) Look At The Budget --Again!. As Ben Franklin said, a penny saved is a pennyearned. A frugal mindset is an at-home parent's best friend. Cut coupons;shop sales; be creative in using what you've got. For some money-savingideas, read my article, "Dollars and Sense: How I Carved $1000 from OurMonthly Budget", at www.homebodies.org/dollars.html Joanne Watson has written a book I'd like to recommend: "Team Work: How toHelp Your Husband Make More Money, So You Can Be a Stay-at-Home Mom." It'sa unique look at helping your spouse in determining if he is underpaid,negotiating his raise, hunting for a higher-paying job or building abusiness of his own. Definitely an idea-sparking book that may provide somealternatives you haven't considered. Request it at your local library orfavorite bookstore. (Comments? Write Cheryl@homebodies.org or visit her website at www.homebodies.org Copyright 2002 Homebodies.Org, LLC. Permission granted for use on DrLaura.com) More >>

Emergency Kitchen Substitutions Copyright 2003 Deborah Taylor-Hough Used with permission on DrLaura.com. All rights reserved. http://hometown.aol.com/dsimple/ Do you ever find yourself all geared up and ready to makea favorite recipe ... but then discover you're staring at anempty container of a needed ingredient? Ugh. You don'twant to run out to the store right now. So what do you do? Well, that's when emergency kitchen substitutions comein handy. I've printed out the following list and keep acopy taped to the inside of my pantry door at all times. Although these substitutions will work in a pinch, I don'trecommend always substituting ingredients in your recipes.The recipes will technically work with substitutions, but oftenthe finished product won't be exactly the same as when youuse the original ingredients called for in the recipe. Also, be sure you don't make more than one substitutionin a particular recipe at once. The more ingredients yousubstitute, the more "off" your product will be when you'refinished. EMERGENCY SUBSTITUTIONS: For: 1 Tbsp fresh herb Use: 1/3 to 1/2 tsp dried herb (of the same kind) For: 1 clove garlic Use: 1/8 tsp garlic powder For: 1 egg in baking Use: 1 tsp cornstarch plus 1/4 cup water For: 1 whole egg Use: 2 egg yolks plus 1 Tbsp water For: 1 cup whole fresh milk Use: 1/2 cup evaporated milk plus 1/2 cup water, OR 1/3 cup dry milk plus 1 cup water For: 1 cup buttermilk Use: 1 cup plain yogurt, OR 1 cup sour milk (4 tsp white vinegar OR lemon juice plus milk to make 1 cup -- let sit for five minutes before using) For: 1 cup sour cream (in baking) Use: 7/8 cup buttermilk OR sour milk plus 3 Tbsp butter For: 1 cup sour cream (in salad dressings, casseroles) Use: 1 cup plain yogurt OR 3/4 cup sour milk plus 1/3 cup butter For: 1 cup cream Use: 1/3 cup butter plus 3/4 cup milk For: 1 cup corn syrup Use: 2/3 cup granulated sugar plus 1/3 cup water For: 1 cup brown sugar Use: 1 cup granulated sugar plus 2 Tbsp molasses For: 1 3/4 cup confectioners sugar Use: 1 cup granulated sugar, packed For: 1 cup margarine or butter (in baking or cooking) Use: 1 cup hard shortening OR 7/8 cup vegetable oil For: 1 square unsweetened chocolate Use: 3 Tbsp cocoa plus 1 Tbsp oil For: 1 ounce semi-sweet chocolate Use: 1 ounce unsweetened chocolate plus 4 tsp sugar For: 3/4 cup cracker crumbs Use: 1 cup bread crumbs For: 1 cup cake flour, sifted Use: 7/8 cup all purpose flour, sifted (1 cup minus 2 Tbsp) For: 1 tsp baking powder Use: 1/3 tsp baking soda plus 1/2 tsp cream of tarter, OR 1/4 tsp baking soda plus 1/3 cup sour milk For: 1 Tbsp cornstarch for thickening Use: 2 Tbsp flour For: 1 Tbsp flour for thickening Use: 1 1/2 tsp corn flour, arrowroot, potato flour, OR rice flour; OR 2 tsp tapioca For: 2 Tbsp tapioca for thickening Use: 3 Tbsp flour ABOUT THE AUTHOR: --Deborah Taylor-Hough (wife and mother of three) is theauthor of the bestselling book, 'Frozen Assets: How tocook for a day and eat for a month,' and the new book,'Frugal Living For Dummies(r)' (Wiley, 2003). You cansubscribe to her newest free newsletter by sending anemail to: tips-and-quips-subscribe@yahoogroups.com Visit Debi at: http://hometown.aol.com/dsimple/ . More >>

Moments for Mom If I were to ask you to picture your closest friend, does one particular person come to mind? Is it a female??? I would like to share a lesson with you that I am currently working on. Our husbands are our friends. Some of you may be thinking, 'Duh? Of course he is.that's why I married him.' But is he really? And if he isn't, why not? Are you possibly the hindrance in the friendship? I read somewhere that you are your husband's best friend. Even if you can't picture that, look around his life - more than likely he is sharing more with you and depending more on you than he is anyone else. For him, you're it! What are you doing on your end to be his friend? A girlfriend was sharing with me how she noticed that when she talks on the phone with her husband, she was matter-of-fact and curt, even showing disappointment with him. But that when she talked with her girlfriends on the phone, she was lighthearted and kind. I asked my husband a while back what I could do in our marriage for him to be happy. His answer (that cut through my heart and pride), 'be nice to me'. Ouch. Why is it that we forget so quickly that the guy we married - you know, the one we eat with, sleep with, spend with, worship with, have kids with - is actually our friend? So here is something I am currently working on --- I have resolved to myself just recently that I will share with Kevin first. I'm not just referring to stuff about Kevin or our marriage, but church stuff, friend stuff, things I'm struggling with. If I haven't shared it with Kevin, I won't share it with anyone else. As far as specific marital problems go - please don't share these with all of your friends. Either seek out counseling if it's serious enough or if you just feel stuck, or find a woman you can trust who can mentor you in your marriage. Don't allow yourself to get together with your girlfriends and husband-bash. It really does no one any good. So bottom line - ladies, we need to go to our husbands first. Your husband needs to be the most important person in your life. And I don't say this lightly - no matter the state of your marriage relationship. We are called to be wives before and long after our calling to mothering.so please commit with me to make this a priority in your heart and with your time. Elisabeth K. Corcoran, 2002 Elisabeth K. Corcoran is the author of Calm in My Chaos: Encouragement for a Mom's Weary Soul (2001), which can be purchased directly through her publisher, Kregel Publications at #1-888-644-0500, online at amazon.com or through your local Christian bookstore. This column is original and not excerpted from her book. You can catch Elisabeth at the National Conference of Hearts at Home in Bloomington, IL this March 15-16. She'll be speaking on "Calm in My Chaos" and "When Life Feels Harder Than You Think It Should Be". Permission granted for use on DrLaura.com More >>