Fantastic Fall

Enjoy these simple hints for a fantastic fall season!

Enhancing Diffuser Reeds

If you are using lovely reed diffusers, and the essential oil has evaporated, you can revive it with eucalyptus oil. I love the fresh fragrance, and like to mix it with bergamot or orange essential oil. I pour in the eucalyptus oil first and add several drops of orange or bergamot oil, along with a little water. Put the reeds in to soak up mixture, and then turn them over-pull them out and put the dry ends down in the liquid. The room smells wonderful in a few minutes. You can make your own special scents for pennies.

PREPARING YOUR HOUSE FOR WINTER

Take a little time to winterize your home because it can save you big bucks on your heating bills. Keeping the outside cold weather OUT and the inside warm IN will significantly cut the money you spend on heating. Contact your utility to do a home energy check (these are usually free). You may be shocked how much warm air escapes from your home!

Here are some Home Hints that you can do.

Outside the House

The Roof

• Look for missing or loose shingles or cracked tiles, which will need to be repaired or replaced. Check for places that varmints can get in and heat can escape.
• Check basement openings to see where freezing air, water or snow could get in.

Inside the House

Air Leaks

Look at windows and doors for potential air leaks, which let cold air get in and heated air out! How to check? Dangle a fine thread near the window or light a candle, blow it out, then hold it in front of draft areas. The smoke will tell you if air is coming in or warm air is going out and that’s money being wasted.

Fireplace

Glass fireplace doors need cleaning? Use 1 tablespoon of sudsy ammonia to a cup of water (8 ounces) or a cleaner created for this task. Leave on for a couple of minutes, and then wipe off with paper towels or newspapers. Clean often to prevent a bad buildup.

Fall Decoration at No Cost

Make a fabulous fall door wreath by gathering colorful fall leaves, berries and branches. You can drizzle several drops of eucalyptus oil on the leaves or branches.

HOSTING FOOTBALL PARTIES?

Here are several economical recipes to help you throw a cheaper bash.

Tri-Color Festive Popcorn

• 24 cups popped popcorn
• 3/4 cup butter or margarine
• 9 tablespoons light corn syrup
• 11/4 cups packed light brown or granulated sugar
• 3 packages (4-serving size) gelatin, in different colors, cherry, lemon, lime.

Preheat oven to 300F.

1. Place 8 cups of a large bowl. Heat 1/4 cup butter or margarine and 3 tablespoons syrup in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir in 1/2 cup of sugar and 1 package of gelatin. Bring to a boil over medium heat and then lower heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Pour syrup over popcorn right away and toss to coat.
2. Spread the coated popcorn on a shallow foil-lined baking sheet in one layer and bake for about 10 minutes, but watch it carefully so it does not burn. Let cool, remove from sheet and break into small pieces.
3. Repeat this twice again and use a different gelatin flavor. Make layers using half of each color in two large bowls. Glass bowls really look pretty!

Cheap & Quick Corn Chowder

You can double or triple this recipe, depending on how many people are coming. And add some cooked chicken to make it a main course and serve with a loaf of crunchy garlic bread.

• 1 potato, medium-size, large if you like extra potatoes
• 1 onion, medium-size-white or yellow
• 1 large can cream-style corn
• 1 cup canned evaporated milk, whole or skim
• 2 slices bacon, cooked and chopped
• Salt and pepper

1. Dice the potato and onion and cover with a little water, about an inch.
2. When cooked, add corn and milk, Drop in bacon.
3. Stir, cook and season with salt and pepper.
4. If soup is too thick, add more milk or water.

For more hints and helpful advice, click here.