Cooking Mama Recipes

I will not leave you as orphans; I WILL COME TO YOU. John 14:18

On this blog you will find easy recipes that don't require a lot of strange ingredients that nobody has on hand. There are now over 1000 recipes here, and I am adding new things all the time, so why not Just FOLLOW ME -------> I have added pictures of my people throughout the blog, because I love my family even more than I love food..that's' A LOT!! The "Kids" category lists things that either kids would enjoy making, or things kids would enjoy eating. The "Restaurant Copies" category has good imitations of favorites at the restaurant listed. If you're looking for something specific, please use the search option at the very top left of this page, or look through the catagories to the right, or just sit back and cruise all of the great recipes listed on the blog. While you're here, check out the helpful "Advice from Mama" hints section shown at the right--> This is the place for great food, great hints, and updates on family news. I love this blog,it's one of my favorite hobbies. Why not enter your email and FOLLOW me?!

Couscous Salad

2 cups cooked couscous-cool to room temp.
1 scallion- cut thin
1 small cucumber- peel and dice small
1 tomato- diced
1 small bell pepper- seed and dice
1/2 cup mozzarella cheese- shredded
1 clove garlic- minced
1 Tbls. olive oil
2 Tbls. red wine, or balsamic vinegar
basil, oregano, pepper to taste

In small bowl, whisk together the oil and vinegar. Mix in garlic, scallions, and seasonings, set aside.
Mix cooled couscous and vegetables. Add cheese and fold gently. Drizzle with dressing as you fold. Refrigerate until serving.

Posted by Cooking Mama

Labels: Salad-Appetizers-Side Dishes

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ADVICE FROM MAMA

All of the advice listed here is advice I have read about, been told about, or have tried myself. I am not a medical expert and take no responsibility for these bits of advice, I'm just passin' it on :o)

MAKIN' BACON

Did you know you can cook bacon in the oven? No..seriously you can! Preheat oven to 400 degrees, line a cookie sheet with foil (cause it'll be messy if ya don't) lay the strips out and bake it for 20-35 minutes depending on how crispy you want it.

NOW your bacon is healthy...well not really but they DO say baked is better than fried, and I'm gonna go with that!

SOAK AND SMILE

If you have some nasty crud stuck on your Corning Cookware there is an easier way than crubbing forever to get it clean! Fill the dish with hot water and drop in 2 denture cleaning tablets..let soak for 30-45 minutes then wipe clean. To be even MORE efficient..throw your dentures in!

Oh yeah, brushing your teeth AND getting the dishes done at the same time, truly amazing!!

POLISH TO THAT FURNITURE

Mix one cup of vegetable oil with 1/2 cup of lemon juice and rub it into your wooden furniture, then buff with a soft cloth and watch it shine!

Ok seriously.....let's not get all "Martha Stewart" here!

For 2 bucks you can buy some furniture polish at Dollar General, just sayin'

TIE UP THEM HAIR TIES

If you have a Daughter, and she has hair (lots of them do) then you probably have hair ties laying in drawers, on the floor, on the sink..well, you get the idea. I have a Daughter with a LOT of hair and a LOT of hair ties so my answer was to put the hair ties on a shower curtain ring. All together, easily stored. Oh.... take the ring off the curtain first.

STOP THOSE PESKY WINGED CREATURES

If a wasp or bee gets in the house, attack them with a can of hairspray(spray them, don't hit them with it) The hairspray stiffens their wings, immobilizing them.
Word of caution: they're not big fans of having their wings styled and sprayed, so just stick with the spray.

STINKY FRIDGE BUSTER

Some foods can leave a smell in your fridge, that can even be absorbed in other foods. To guard against this place a small charcoal briquette in your fridge to absorb the smell. OR you can clean out your fridge more than once a year, before the fur starts growing.. I'm just sayin'

FRENCH TOAST TRICK

Cinnamon in french toast is like the icing on the cake, but grrr it always floats on top so only the first few pieces get cinnamon. Here's a trick: whip the cinnamon into the eggs BEFORE adding the milk, then the cinnamon will blend in juuust right. OR... just throw a Pop Tart in the toaster and forget the cinnamon all together!

MOM THOSE CANKER SORES

If you have a stubborn canker sore try taking some Milk Of Magnesia (or Mylanta) but dont swallow it...instead swish it around your mouth and let it coat the sore.
Once again MOM takes care of the bad things that come out of (or in this case; stay in) your mouth!

HONEY DO

For softer skin, just add 1/4 cup if honey to your bath water..and while you have the honey out try massaging 1/2 cup of honey into your hair and leave it on for 20 minutes before you shampoo for some silky shine.
I would seriously suggest doing this in the winter months...you may attract a lot of insect critters with all that sweetness. You know what they say: You get more flys with honey..........

PEEL OUT!

Peel a banana from the bottom up, then you won't have all the little stringy things, that's the way the primates do it. You could get real creative with this and hang from a tree to peel it..but be warned the nice men in the white coats may come knocking at your door.

STINKIN' MOSQUITOS

Fill a spray bottle with Listerene mouthwash and spray around wherever you're sitting or playing. Gets rid of those little rascals for quite some time. Hey...what have you got to lose? If nothing else the mosquitos will have minty fresh breath when they bite you.

BURNED PAN HELP

Burned food can be removed from an enamel saucepan by filling the pan cold water with 2-3 Tbls salt, then let it sit overnight. The next day, cover the pan and bring water to boil. OR: Throw the pan away and explain to those people you cook for that you can't POSSIBLY prepare dinner until SOMEONE buys you new pans..then you get to eat out or get new pans...it's a win, win. Gotta go...got pans to burn!

POTATO HAIR HIGHLIGHTS

After you've boiled potatoes (with the skin on) you can use the water to put subtle highlights in brown hair. Just dip a pastry brush in the potato water saturate sections of your hair (be careful not to get it in your eyes). Wait 30-45 min. then rinse thoroughly with cool water. Repeat every few weeks to retain highlights. Where else can you get highlights AND a meal??!!

BRIGHT, SHINY CD'S

Got an old scratched up or outdated CD? Why not use them as a reflector? Fasten to a tree, post, or fence by your driveway to be able to see your turn better at night.
Oh.... you may want to turn on your headlights at night, they tell me that helps :o)

HANDY LITTLE BOTTLE KITS

Got some empty pill bottles? Make them into mini kits...
Fill one with a couple band-aids, a wet naps, little foil packs of antibiotic ointment and you have a mini medical kit OR how about a mini sewing kit? Put in a couple of needles, a couple pieces of thread in different colors, a thimble, and there ya go! SEE... that perscription addiction really CAN pay off!

TUMMY UPSET?

Instead of soda crackers, try animal crackers. A lot of the children's hospitals are using these with better results.
Besides...they are way more tasty!

EARACHE PAIN

To try and ease the pain of an earache, turn your blow dryer to a warm, low setting then hold the dryer 18-20 inches from your ear and aim that warm air into your ear.
OR...if you know someone that "blows a lot of hot air" invite THEM over :o)

FEED YOUR HAIR

Got dry hair? Try this: Take a couple of old rotten (black even) bananas and mash them together with an old mushy rotten avocado. Put it on your hair and let it sit for about 15 min then rinse in the kitchen sink (might wanna use the side with the disposal!)

USE THE CAN!

Here's some uses for those aluminum cans:
Large coffee cans: stick a plastic bag in one and use it for a mini trash can in your car, patio or bathroom.
Tuna can: Cut the top and bottom out and use as a cookie or biscuit cutter (unless you like tuna flavored cookies, be sure you wash it good)
Soup cans; use as a scoop for pet food, kitty litter or salt for your driveway.
And you thought all I did was cook :o)

ADULT FLU FIGHTER

Got a cold or nasty flu? Try this powerful potion:
1 cinnamnon stick
2-4 whole cloves
2 cups water
1-1/2 Tbls blackstrap molasses
2 shots whiskey
2 tsp lemon juice.
Boil the cloves, cinnamon and water in a pan for about 3 min. Remove from heat and add other stuff. Cover the pan and let it sit for about 20 min. drink 1/2 cup every 3-4 hours, heating it up again before drinking. If this dosen't work, increase the whiskey till you pass out and you won't even realize you're sick!

REDUCE CHOLESTEROL

To help reduce bad cholesterol levels by as much as 17% eat one fresh garlic clove a day.
Of course you won't get any kisses...but hey... no vampires either!

REMOVE CRAYON

Somebody get creative with a crayon on the wallpaper? Set your hair dryer on high and hold on the marks until the wax softens. Then wipe the wax off with a few drops of Murphy's Oil soap on a damp cloth. Put the brat in time out and take away the crayons :o)

FURNITURE MOVING

If you have a heavy piece of furniture to move across a wood or tile floor, stick a towel under each end so you can slide it across the floor without scratching the floor...better yet, get someone else to move it :o)

FUN KID PROJECT: Crystal Palace

1/2 cup water
1/4 cup epsom salts
1 sponge
shallow bowl

Boil the water in a pan, remove from heat and add the epsom salts; stir till completely dissolved. Put the sponge in the bottom of the bowl and pour the salt sloution over it. Put the bowl in a sunny spot and keep a close watch on it, as the water evaporates crystals will form all over the sponge. If the kids don't like this, stick 'em in front of the TV and get yourself something to drink :o)

KEYBOARD DUSTY?

A large cosmetic brush makes a great duster for your office. Perfect for cleaning the nooks and crannies in your fax machine, computer keyboard, the computer's fan cover, and anywhere else that's hard to get to. OR...throw the whole thing away and get a new one :o)

CLEAN THOSE DIRTY WALLS

If you have some dirt you need to get off the walls, try this magic potion. It works on oil based paint or latex:
1/2 cup ammonia
1/4 cup washing soda-available in hardware stores or laundy section of the supermarket.
1/4 cup white vinegar
1 gal. warm water.
Mix in a bucket and scrub your cares away. Store leftovers in a sealed container in a cool, dry spot. If you don't want to go to all this work, buy one of those "Mr Clean" erasers and use that! :o)

DIVIDE BISCUITS

Use a metal ice cube divider to cut biscuits in a hurry. Press into the dough, and biscuits will seperate at dividing lines when baked. Don't want to do this? Buy the frozen ones and call it good..better yet, give them bread and butter :o)

SAVING OVER-RIPE BANANAS

Over-ripe bananas can be peeled and frozen in a plastic container until it's time to bake bread or cake.
OR skip the whole thing and just buy a bag of Oreos :o)

NEED A PINCUSHION IN A PINCH?

Grab a pencil eraser and stick 'em in there!
OR never buy straight pins, just use masking tape..it won't hurt if you step on it :o)

EASE MINOR BURNS

If you get a minor burn, try slicing off the end of a raw potato and rub the burn gently with the cut surface.
OR stop cooking and ironing then you won't have to worry so much about burns :o)

CROCK POT INFO

Just an FYI: One hour on high heat in your crockpot is equal to about 2-1/2 hours on low heat. Heat can vary from brand to brand, but this is a general rule of thumb. Also: lifting the lid on a crockpot lengthens the cooking time by 30 min. to an hour, so STOP peeking and tasting :o)

TOO MUCH OF MAMAS GOOD FOOD?

For minor acid indigestion try eating 1-3 tsp. honey.
OR quit "pigging out" :o)

WEED KILLER

To make a potenet weed killer, mix 2 Tbls rubbing alcohol with one pint of water in a hand held spray bottle and "fire away". Just be careful to aim carefully so you don't kill the plants you want to keep. Or simply let the weeds and flowers mix, maybe you'll create a new breed of flower :o)

A DANDRUFF SOLUTION

Mix one part minty mouthwash with 10 parts water, and apply to your head after shampooing. Massage into your hair and scalp , but don't rinse. You'll have hair that's sqeaky clean, flake-free, and minty fresh.

MAKE YOUR CUT FLOWERS LAST LONGER

Have some beautiful cut flowers? Make them last a little longer by filling the vase with a solution of 2 Tbls. clear corn syrup per quart of water.

MARK YOUR TERRITORY

To mark the entrance to your driveway or sidewalk, nail 3 or 4 old CD's to a wooden stake, and pound it into the ground at the appropraite spot. They are reflective, so you won't miss your turn!

IN A PINCH FOR A FUNNEL?

Need a funnel for a one time messy job like putting oil in a lawnmower? Double over a piece of aluminum foil and roll into a cone.

TAKE THE SWELLING DOWN

For hands-on relief of aches and pains, fill a new rubber glove with half and half mixture of rubbing alcohol and water, pop it in the freezer. The next time you need an ice pack just pull it out. Because alcohol will not freeze, you'll have a cold, but pliable "hand" to drape over your sore spot.

CLEAN YOUR VASE

To get the bottom part of a vase clean where all the "gunk" settles, fill the vase halfway with water and drop in 2 denture cleaning tablets. Let stand for an hour or two then rinse well.

INSECT STINGS OR BITES

If you get a nasty bite or sting, dissolve two antacid tablets in a glass of water. Moisten a soft cloth with the solution and hold it on the bite for 20 min.

Frozen Car Lock

If the lock on your car door is frozen, heat your car key with a
lighter, or match and then try to insert in the keyhole.
Or..stay home and use this as an excuse not to go out in the cold!

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