Fresh Smelling Clothes

Keeping your clothes, smelling fresh can be expensive. Most people use those expensive dryer sheets to keep their clothes smelling fresh. Those dryer sheets have so many chemicals in them that are harmful to the environment and yourself.  I know in one of my previous Blog posts I tell you I don’t like to use my dryer very much. For those of you that do use your dryer, I have a much cheaper way to keep your clothes fresher without the use of those expensive dryer sheets. Today I will show you three ways I keep my clothes smelling fresh without breaking the bank. 

1.       Making your own dryer sheets

This is really simple to make and use over and over again. Just take some scrap material and cut into little pieces, place a couple of drops of essentials oils on material and toss it in your dryer with your wet clothes. There are so many different essential oils to pick from and they are pretty cheap. My favorite essential oils that I like to use rose, vanilla, lavender and orange. When you buy those dryer sheets in the store they can be very expensive. Since I don’t like to use my dryer too much I also use these homemade dryer sheets in my drawers to keep my clothes fresh smelling.

2.       Hotel soaps

How many times a year do you stay in a hotel?  All those extra little soap that we all seem to take or get from the grandparents are great for putting in your drawers.  This helps keep your clothes smelling fresher without using a big bar of soap. Over the years, I have received a lot of little bars of soap to fill all my drawers. Just place the little bars of soap in between your clothes.

3.       Candles

Do you have a lot of candles or candles that are almost gone? Place those nice scented candles in your closets to keep your clothes smelling fresh. If you have candles that are almost gone don’t throw them away yet. Take little pieces of the scented candles and put them into your drawers to keep your clothes smelling fresh.

As you can tell I don’t like to throw things out or waste things. These are the three ways that I keep my clothes smelling fresh. Why, spend more when you can make it cheaper. The soaps and candles I already had at home. Most of the candles and soaps were given to me so they were free. Keeping your clothes smelling fresh doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. I hope you enjoy having fresh smelling clothes from Suzie Homemaker.

Homemade Microwave Caramel Corn

Did you ever have Cracker Jacks as a kid? Wouldn’t it be nice if you could make this at home. Today I will show you how I make homemade microwave caramel corn  Carmel corn in the store is very expensive and the boxes are so small. When I was growing up this was a fun snack the whole family could enjoy. This is something the kids will love to help make. Why should you spend more when you can make this microwave caramel corn for less than half the price of a box from the store. You will need a few simple ingredients and a paper bag.

Microwave Carmel Corn

                1 Cup Brown Sugar                               ½ teaspoon salt

                1 stick of Butter                                     ½ teaspoon baking soda

                ¼ cup white carol syrup                         3 to 4 quarts popped corn

In a 2-quart glass bowl combine brown sugar, 1 stick of butter, ¼ cup white carol syrup and ½ teaspoon salt. Place in your microwave oven and bring to a boil.

Continue boiling for an additional 2 minutes. Remove from microwave oven and stir in baking soda.

After stirring in the baking soda, the sauce will look like a caramel sauce.

Pour your popped corn in a paper bag.

Pour your syrup over your pop- corn in the bag.

Close the bag by rolling down the sides. Shake the syrup all around the popcorn. Place the bag in the microwave oven and cook on high for 1 ½ minutes.

Take out bag carefully and shake the syrup around the popcorn for another 1 ½ minutes more. When done, place the caramel corn on some cookie sheets to cool.

Store your caramel corn in a sealed container and enjoy. If you like peanuts, just add about 1/2 cup to your popcorn and mixture as you are baking it in your microwave oven.

                This recipe is one of our most favorite snacks. We love to eat this while watching a movie or TV show. I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as my family did. Enjoy your sweet treat from Suzie Homemaker.

Using Clothes Dryers Verses hanging clothes inside or outside

Clothes Dryers verses hanging up clothes inside or outside.! Here is another way I save money. Now that the weather is getting colder most people use their clothes dryers more, not me. Sometimes I say to myself, why buy a Clothes Dryer. The only time I use the clothes dryer is when I need something in a hurry to be dried. Clothes Dryers are such a waste of money and are very expensive to run. So today I will be showing you 3 ways that I dry my clothes without using A Clothes Dryer.

The first way I dry my clothes most of the year is by hanging them outside on clothes lines my husband put up. He took some two by fours and then some hooks to attach to the garage. String your lines in-between the hooks. If this is not an option string some lines between some trees. Why spend the extra money when the air outside can dry your clothes. I hang everything outside until the temperature starts going below 40 degrees. As long as you have a breeze outside  your clothes will dry.

The second way I dry my clothes is by hanging some lines in my basement. These lines hang right under a couple of heating registers. When the furnace starts up the air blows on my clothes. Yes, this can take a little longer to dry your clothes but much cheaper than using a Clothes Dryer. This is a nice way to utilize the heat from your furnace to heat your home and dry your clothes at the same time. I do this all winter long until spring comes. Then I can begin hanging my clothes back outside again.

The third way I dry my clothes is by using a Clothes Rack. My two girls bought me a metal Clothes Rack for Christmas three years ago and I love it. I am still using this today during the winter along with my clothes lines in the basement. I tried a wooden clothes rack but found them to be weak or cheaply made. I found the dowels were very weak and broke very easily.  So spend a little more on the metal clothes rack it will last longer than a wooden clothes rack. The metal Clothes Racks do not bend or break as easy as the wooden Clothes Racks. Just place the clothes rack in front of a furnace vent to dry your clothes.

This is just another way that I save money on my electric bill. When I hang my clothes in the house, yes it takes a little longer to dry my clothes but I enjoy the fact that I am saving money. You just have to plan out your washing schedule and when you will next need your clothes. Usually, my clothes are dry in about two days. I hope you liked my ideas on how to save money drying your clothes without a Clothes Dryer from Suzie Homemaker.

Water Bath Canners and canning Tomatoes

This time, I would like to show you how to use a Water Bath Canner for canning tomatoes. I have two different types of Water Bath Canners I would like to show you. The blue Water Bath Canner has a round tray in the bottom and holds up to 4-quart jars. My big silver Water bath Canner has a rack inside that holds up to 7-quart jars. Either Water Bath Canner will do depending on how many jars you have to can at the time. Today I will be using the blue Water Bath Canner because I have only 4 quarts of tomatoes to can. Before you begin always wash your canning jars with hot soapy water. Next rub your finger around the tops of your jars to check for any cracks or chips. Never use jars that have chips or cracks because they will not seal correctly.

The first thing I will show you is how to juice tomatoes.

1.       Take your tomatoes and wash any dirt off them.

2.       Core the tomatoes and cut up into four to six pieces and place into a large kettle.

3.       Boil the tomatoes until they are soft.

4.       Pour into a food processor or food mill and squeeze out the juice leaving the seeds and skins behind.

5.       Pour juice into quart or pint jars leaving ½ inch of space from the top of the jars.

6.       For quart jars add 1 teaspoon of lemon juice and ½ to 1 teaspoon of canning salt to each jar. For pint jars add ½ teaspoon of lemon juice and ¼ to ½ teaspoon of canning salt to each jar.

7.       Boil your lids and screw on covers very tight.

8.       Place jars in Water Bath Canner and make sure the water is covering your jars at least ½ inch.

9.       Boil your quart jars for 15 minutes and pint jars for 10 minutes.

10.   Lift jars out with can lifter and let stand for 24 hours before removing covers.  Listen for the popping sound, this will tell you that your jars are sealing. Before storing away, press down on lids to make sure they have sealed correctly. If they pop they have not sealed correctly, put in refrigerator and use or try to use a new lid and can the juice over again.

11.   Label and date your jars with a permanent marker.

Next I will show you how to can tomato pieces or chunks.

1.       Take your tomatoes and wash any dirt off them.

2.       Take a big kettle and bring your water to almost a boil. Place your whole tomatoes in the water.

3.       Watch your tomatoes until the skins start to crack or peel away. Place the tomatoes in a bowl of ice water to cool down.

4.       When the tomatoes are cool enough to handle just peel away the skin. Cut out the core and cut into chunks or pieces and place directly into your clean jars.

5.       Fill your jars with only tomato pieces or chunks and fill to ½ inch from top of jars. Do not need to add any juice or water.  Just add 1 teaspoon of lemon juice and ½ to 1 teaspoon of canning salt to each quart jar. For pint jars add ½ teaspoon of lemon juice and ¼ to ½ teaspoons of canning salt to each jar

6.       Boil your lids and screw on cover very tightly.

7.       Place your jars in your Water Bath Canner and make sure the water covers the jars by at least ½ inch.

8.       Boil your quarts jars for 15 minutes and pint jars for 10 minutes.

9.       Lift your jars out with a can lifter and let stand for 24 hours. Listen for popping sound, this will tell you your jars are sealing. After 24-hours check to make sure your jars have sealed correctly. Press down of the lid, if it pops it did not seal correctly. Place in refrigerator and use or try a new lid and re-can the tomatoes ever again.

10.   Label and date your tomatoes with a permanent marker.

Water Bath Canning is easy and a nice way to preserve your fruits and tomatoes. Having fresh canned food all winter long is another way I save on my food bill. My whole family loves the fresh fruits and vegetables that I can every year. Yes, canning takes a little time but the benefits are well worth it. Knowing what is in my food and that I grew it myself makes me feel like I’m doing something good for my family. Using a Water Bath Canner or a Pressure Canner is a great way to have fresh fruits and vegetables year round. Have fun canning from Suzie Homemaker.