Q & A - Making Cut Flowers Last

Question: How do florists make cut flowers last?
1. They remove any leaves that would be below the waterline.
2. They cut a bit off the bottom of the stem to discourage bacteria from multiplying.
3. They use lukewarm water, not cold.
4. They add cut-flower food.
5. They add water daily.

Linguine with Clam Sauce

Linguine with Clam Sauce

2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons flour
1 cup milk
dash of salt
1 clove garlic
1 can chopped clams (drained)

Melt the butter, add the flour and cook until light brown. Slowly add the milk, salt and garlic. Add the chopped clams and wait for the sauce to thicken. Serve over cooked linguine. Makes enough for two.

The Bare Cupboard- June 22, 2009

Welcome to the June 22, 2009 edition of the bare cupboard.

desserts

Mama Bear presents Strawberry Rhubarb Pie posted at Suitable For Consumption.

main dishes

Renee V. Rouse presents Frugal-Living-Skills Blog: Family Meals for Under $5 - Tater Tot Casserole posted at Frugal-Living-Skills Blog, saying, ""...Weekly grocery circulars often read “feed a family of 4 for under $10!”. I’m sure most of you have laughed at this as I did. As a result, I began to wonder what does dinner really cost for my family of 8? So I set a challenge for myself and I figured if I kept it under $5, I was doing good...""

jim presents Make Your Own Dog Food posted at Blueprint for Financial Prosperity, saying, "Tips for cooking/making your own dog food."

Local Nourishment presents Kohlrabi. Weird plant, yummy food posted at Local Nourishment.

tips

Brooklyn White presents Radiography Schools » 100 Best Cooking Tips for Cancer Prevention posted at Radiography Schools.

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of the bare cupboard using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

Technorati tags: the bare cupboard, blog carnival.

Q & A - Oleander Bushes

Question: I recently visited Southern United States and I loved the oleander bushes. I live in a colder climate, so I can't grow them outside. Will they work as houseplants?
Nerium oleander (scientific name) can be grown as houseplants where there is lots of sun. Oleander bushes will begin to bloom when they are around 18 inches tall. You can keep them prumed to the length you desire. I would keep pets and young children away from these plants, because they are poisonous.

Hot Chicken Salad

Hot Chicken Salad

2 cups cubed cooked chicken
2 cups thinly sliced celery or ¾ cup peas
½ cup chopped toasted almonds (optional)
½ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons grated onion
1 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons lemon juice

Mix all ingredients. Pile lightly in baking dish. Sprinkle with ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese and 1 cup toasted bread cubes. Bake at 450° for 10-15 minutes or until bubbly. Makes 4 servings.

Gobble to Goop from my son (five-years-old)- My Prayer

Our Father, who are in Heaven hallowed be thy name thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give is this day, are daily bread Amen. (This is what my son thinks is the first part of this prayer.)

Q & A - Varigated Plants

Question: Is it harder to keep variegated plants healthier than all-green plants?
Yes, it is harder to keep them healthier, because the leaves of the variegated plants don't have as much chlorophyll. It is the chlorophyll and the light that build the plant's strength.

The Bare Cupboard- June 12, 2009

Welcome to the June 12, 2009 edition of the bare cupboard. These look like some great recipes. Thank you for submitting and I am sorry this edition is late, but where I am the phone has not been working. Remember to comment and socially bookmark.

breads

Chrysa presents Thrifty Jinxy: Use Leftover Cereal to Make Yummy & Healthy Muffins posted at Thrifty Jinxy, saying, "This is a great recipe to use up any leftover cereal you have on hand and end up with yummy, healthy muffins."

desserts

Christa Visperas presents A Fruity Life posted at Great Things to Buy, saying, "Fruits are one of the things basic to our existence. Fruits need no transformation, cooking or processing, for us to eat them. They are all-natural, with only sunshine, soil and water to urge them into fruition. And once they are ripe, you can even pick them right off the tree and eat them!"

main dishes

Melanie Romay presents The Incredible, Edible "Poached" Egg posted at Mel-Mel, saying, "When it comes to breakfast, people seem to forget about poached eggs. Why not give them a try!"

tips

Susies presents Kilimanjaro Foods’ Versatile Jerk Sauce « Sauce Talk posted at Sauce Talk, saying, "Discover some delicious and creative ways to liven up your next meal."

vegetables

goo presents Hedgerow Pesto posted at sustainablelivingproject.co.uk.

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of the bare cupboard using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

Technorati tags: the bare cupboard, blog carnival.

Date Bread

Date Bread

4 cups flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1 cup sugar

Mix and add:
1 cup ground nuts
1 ½ cups chopped dates

Mix and add:
2 eggs
2 cups milk

Pour into greased loaf pan. Makes one large loaf or two smaller loaves. Bake after standing for 20 minutes at 350° for 45-60 minutes. You will know when it is done when you stick in a toothpick and it comes out dry.

Gobble to Goop from my son (five-years-old)- Our Day

A blogger was in a house one morning long, so was Dinoco and Lightning McQueen and all the other cars and Mater. Everybody was in the house even my sister and momma. I was playing a game where Mater towed the cars away to truck jail. It was a nice day outside. And I played outside. It was lots and lots of fun. Don’t you want to go outside? We have a swing set. And my side hurts kind of today, but so I won’t swing today. We are going to Wyoming soon.

Q & A - Bird's Nest Fern

Question: Are Bird's Nest Ferns difficult houseplants?
Bird's Nest Ferns are not easy to grow, because they need a lot of humidity. They do well with a humidity tray, regular misting and partial shade.

June 5th Edition of the Bare Cupboard

Welcome to the June 5, 2009 edition of the bare cupboard! Thank you so much for the wonderful submissions. I enjoyed looking at them. I am hungry now. Please remember to comment and socially bookmark.

desserts

Melanie Romay presents Oh My! Oreo Pie! posted at Mel-Mel, saying, "A quick, easy and delicious dessert that everyone will enjoy."

main dishes

jim presents Homemade Pork & Shrimp Dumplings posted at Blueprint for Financial Prosperity.

Brian Mounts presents A Dinner Light on Calories posted at How To Live a Longer Life, saying, "Cutting calorie intake is widely known to promote longevity and over all health assuming proper nutrition is adhered to. I proposed the following solution for a bare budget, cupbord, and person looking to eat a healthy meal low in calories."

J Knight presents Baked Chicken and Orzo posted at Better Homemaking: Recipes & Kitchen Tips.

MC presents It IS What?s for Dinner posted at Shibooya.

Travis presents How to Make a Good Soy Burger posted at Personal Web Guide, saying, "Even for you non-vegetarians out there, you'd be surprised how delicious a properly made soy-burger can be!"

side dishes

Katie presents Recipe Connection: Homemade Guacamole posted at Kitchen Stewardship, saying, "An easy, quick recipe for frugal guacamole, plus how to cut an avocado."

Noel Chapman presents Tomatoes Casablanca:Make Your Picnics Memorable posted at Noel's Kitchen Tips, saying, "Make your picnics memorable with some fabulous recipes!"

tips

Sahara Reins presents How to Make Hard Boiled Eggs posted at Fowl Visions.

vegetables

Lucynda Riley presents Make your own Ketchup posted at Green Dreams, saying, "Save money and the environment by making your own ketchup"

Local Nourishment presents Green Smoothies posted at Local Nourishment.

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of the bare cupboard using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

Technorati tags: the bare cupboard, blog carnival.

Banana Split Dessert

Banana Split Dessert

2 cups graham crackers or vanilla wafers (crushed in fine crumbs)
1 cup softened margarine
2 cups powdered sugar
3 bananas
2 ½ cups crushed pineapple or fruit cocktail (well drained)
1 large container cool whip

Melt one stick margarine and mix with crumbs. Place in the bottom of a 9x13 pan. Beat powdered sugar and other stick of margarine at medium speed for no less than 15 minutes. Spread mixture on crumbs. Slice bananas over top. Spread pineapple or fruit cocktail over the top. Cover with cool whip. Garnish with chopped nuts and maraschino cherries. Refrigerate over night. Serves 10-12.

By My Daughter Age 3- My Life Part 2

Help you not to be cross. A story like a kangaroo. The bear who ate the cookies. We had supper with Johnna and we had a nice nice day. Santa Clause is on this card.

The Bones of an Organization

I have no idea where this came from, so I have no idea who to give the credit to. I really enjoyed it though.

"The body of almost any organization has four kinds of bones:
1. The WISHBONES who spend all their time wishing someone else would do the work.
2. The JAWBONES who do all the talking but little else.
3. The KNUCKLEBONES who knock everything that everyone tries to do.
4. The BACKBONES who get under the load and do all the work.
ANYONE WILLING TO BE A BACKBONE? Lets hear from you."

Gobble to Goop from my son (five-years-old)- Little Kangaroo and Shoes

A little kangaroo jumped out and played forever and ever. He ate shoes. That was his meal. Anyway he loved eating shoes. He just loved eating shoes. They were so yummy. He never stopped. The End.

Q&A - Geraniums

Question: My geranium leaves do not have dark green rings and the plants have no flowers. What is wrong?
Not all geranium varieties have leaves, but it could be that there is not enough sunshine. The soil might be too wet. Keep your geranium in more sunlight, keep the soil drier and your plants should develop properly.