Vinegar, Vinegar, VINEGAR!!!

"What is so awesome about vinegar???" you may ask. Well, I know that I am constantly trying to economize, and let's face it, who isn't?! So I am going to let you in on a little secret... Vinegar is very inexpensive, and can be used to clean just about ANYTHING in your home.

Here are 15 practical and fun ways you can make your life easier with vinegar:

1 Clean stainless steel by wiping with vinegar.

2 Add 1/2 cup vinegar to water in your tea kettle and let sit overnight. No more build up!

3 Make buttermilk (the sour kind). Add a dash of vinegar to 1 cup of milk.

4 Add vinegar to your dishwasher to prevent water spots and soap scum on your dishes (this works also if you hand wash your dishes like I do. Just add a bit of vinegar to the rinse water).

5 Clean formica countertops till they shine with distilled vinegar.

6 Discourage fruit flies by sitting out a little distilled white vinegar near the problem area.

7 Remove soap scum from your bathtub, shower curtains, and tile with vinegar.

8 Brighten your clothes by adding a half cup or so of distilled white vinegar to the rinse cycle. (apple cider vinegar may stain pourous surfaces)

9 Discourage your cat from any area by spraying with undilluted distilled white vinegar. (They don't like the smell.)

10 Get rid of weeds and grass in unwanted areas by pouring undilluted white distilled vinegar on them.

11 Clean your birdbath with distilled white vinegar, and rinse well.

12 Wash fresh veggies with distilled white vinegar and water

13 Distilled white vinegar and oil makes a great salad dressing

14 Add a dash of white vinegar to your water when boiling eggs to keep them from cracking

15 Vinegar and water makes a great facial toner!

Chocolate and Peanut Butter Galore!

This recipe was given to me by my aunt. Someone brought these delightful Peanut Butter Gooeys into her workplace, and she just had to have the recipe! Try it out for yourself. Your taste buds will thank you!

Submitted by: Aunt Susan

Peanut Butter Gooeys

1 Chocolate cake mix
1 egg
1 stick butter, melted

Combine and spread in pan over parchment paper.

Blend the following:
1 cup peanut butter
1 8 oz. cream cheese
3 eggs
1 box (1 lb.) powdered sugar

Blend and spread over the chocolate mixture.

Top with toffee, chocolate chips, nuts or your choice.

Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour.

Do not overbake - the top needs to be gooey.

Enjoy!

Make Your Own Butter! (and buttermilk!)

This is such a fun idea! Kids will enjoy this too! There is something delicious about homemade sweet cream butter. But, who has the time and space to churn it themselves??? You do! All you need is a jar and a marble. Fill the jar half full with heavy whipping cream. Drop in a clean marble, and replace the lid on the jar. Shake until the milk separates from the butter (usually about 45 minutes). Refrigerate the buttermilk until needed. Drain any excess milk from the butter and store in the refrigerator until needed. Wasn't that fun?