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"Home and Garden Tips" Home and Garden Tips can help with time management, action management and make your household
run like clockwork!
 My new book, Granny's Book Of Good Old Fashioned Common Sense, is packed full of great ideas and tips - and is available to pre-order right now!.
 Supermarket Survival Tips Supermarkets can drain your pocket, your energy and your time. Here are nine supermarket survival tips for successful supermarket shopping.... 1. Eat before you go - an empty stomach is sure to guide you towards the chocolate and snacks. 2. Don't take the kids - they always find something they 'must have.' 3. Do it online - no petrol costs, no browsing the shelves wondering what treats to buy. 4. Prepare a detailed list - and stick to it! 5. Be brave and check out shop's own brand - some are good and often a lot cheaper. 6. Avoid sweets and snacks aisles - you don't NEED to visit these shelves - so don't. 7. Buy one get one free if you NEED it - not just because it's half-price - twice as much chocolate is twice the calories and sugar if not twice the cost. 8. Go on your own or with a good mate - on your own you can think more clearly, and a good mate can steer you in the right direction! 9. Don't 'pop-in' every day - if you have a freezer, a montly shop could work. "This blender from Amazon (US deliveries) should help get those healthy smoothies made!"   ***************************************************
Cut - Don't Chop! Rather than chopping herbs with a sharp kitchen knife and running the risk of cutting off the end of your finger, or even worse, your new acryllic nails :-), try using a regular pair of scissors. Scissors sold in stationery stores are usually light, easy to handle and fairly sharp. Have more control over your chopping board and less nail clippings! *Grow herbs on your windowsill as well as in the garden.
This set of herb pots from Amazon (US deliveries) will pretty up your kitchen
 and Crocus UK have an elegant Victorian Wheel herb planter, amongst others!
 When you land on their homepage, click on 'product search' then 'pots and containers' and then to find the product pictured here click on 'plastic pots'. *************************************************** Evict the Dead Heads! Sometimes the garden looks scruffy and you can't put your finger on why. Check for dead-heads, they lurk in the most unlikely places. Unless you are growing plants specifically for drying and using in craft projects or flower arranging, all dead heads in the garden need to go. Use a sharp pair of secateurs or shears and cut all dead stalks, flower heads etc; Checking for dead plants regularly will also help you keep in touch with the finer points of your garden and you'll spot the weeds as they come up, rather than later when they are spreading seed all over your vegetable patch. Evicting the dead heads tidies up the garden and allows more space for your newer plants. Amazon are selling a useful pair of secateurs perfect for your pruning jobs (US deliveries)  And Crocus UK have a number of different styles like this pair  Type 'pruner' into the search box on their homepage. ***************************************************
Dressing for summer! Rather than using regular or 'light' mayonnaise to dress your salads. Try experimenting with other healthier ingredients: Natural yoghurt and creme fraiche mixed with chopped chives. Olive oil and apple cider vinegar with a hint of dijon mustard. Nut oils mixed with fresh chopped herbs Make your summer salads as tasty as possible. Leafy
green vegetables are high nutritional food sources and
the more interesting we make them to eat the more of
them we eat!
 What no chives??!! Get your seeds from Thompson and Morgan and start them off now... Thompson and Morgan herbs for US deliveries Thompson and Morgan herbs for UK deliveries Thompson and Morgan Global homepage *************************************************** Designer Leftovers When you're pushed for time, designer leftovers can be a great help in the kitchen. Prepare your meals with two days in mind: Bake too many jacket potatoes one day ... and slice and fry them the next. Make a big pot of bolognaise ... and add some chilli spices on day two. Roast a large chicken or turkey ... make a chicken salad or chicken curry on day two. Steam or boil twice as many potatoes ... make a potato salad the next day. Boil or steam rice one day ... rice salad or stir fried with veggies the next. Green salalds don't keep well as they are high in water content, but there are many foods that will store successfully overnight, leaving you with less slaving over a hot stove. Experiment with one-pot cooking and include soups and stews in your menu. They store well and more vegetables can be added daily. If you can get your head round it, have a baking day once a month and freeze lots of home made meals. NB: All foods kept overnight should be properly cooled,
covered and stored in the fridge. And meat products must
be re-heated thoroughly until piping hot right through.
Invest in a good set of pans and your life will be much more straighforward in the kitchen!  *************************************************** * Send in your tips and great ideas, and check back from time to time for new Home and Garden Tips! More general home and garden advice on this page: Home and Garden
Happy Gardening! More "Home and Garden" reading
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