Family Hearth and Home - a place of comfort and refreshment

It is both the physical atmosphere and the relationships within that shape the mood of the home. So we homemakers consider both. We are all drawn to the pleasures of a warm, savory meal. Thoughts of the stirred kettle, freshly baked bread, an early pinch of cookie dough spark fond memories centered around the preparation and sharing of a meal. Home grown and home cooked Slow Food has more nourishment for both body and soul. So the family hearth has always been a place of comfort.

Sometimes the attraction is in the freedom teens feel to debate current issues with parents or other siblings. Or the way younger children are entertained by the stories of loving grandparents. Sometimes the center of the world is a crackling fireplace or a sturdy kitchen table where heart-to-heart talks can go late into the night.

Home is at its best when it possesses some elements of beauty. Much of the historic hand hewn beauty of the past can warmly customize our homes of the present. And a relaxed country interior is not just for our own families to enjoy. Ideally home is a place where many are invited to experience comfort and refreshment.

The homestead model of homemaking creates a true nest. A weary mother bird returns to her own nest finding rest with her chicks in a place that is warm and safe, away from the dangers and distractions of the outside world. So family members should find the home nest to be the most delightfully secure place in their world. One of the great pleasures of homemaking is in providing just such a nest on the homestead.

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03/16/11 - So, how many teaspoons are in 1 tablespoon? If you can't find your tablespoon or it's dirty or involved in a homeschool project you might want to know. And how many tablespoons to a quarter of a cup? Have you ever tried to smash butter into a 1/2 cup and not have any airholes? It's nice to know that 1 stick = 1/2 cup of butter. Print out the Equivalents and Conversions Charts and post on the fridge or inside a cupboard door and you'll always have a quick answer. Convert from ounces to pounds to metric. Find out exactly how much is a pinch or a dash.

Equivalents and Conversion Charts

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Exquisite country artwork

by Robert Duncan

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Homemaking Helps

Don’t forget your blender. Mix pancake batter, then pour straight to the griddle. Mix cake batters (shred carrots in the blender, then add the rest of the ingredients for carrot cake) and spaghetti sauce ingredients all in the blender. For easy clean up, immediately rinse blender and add a couple of drops of detergent and hot water and turn it on for a few seconds. Then rinse. Done.
Plan ahead for a children’s party. The day before, scoop ice cream into a muffin pan lined with paper liners. Cover with plastic wrap. Keep in the freezer until serving time.
Cook bacon in the oven instead of the frying pan. Lay slices on a cookie sheet or in a cast iron skillet and bake at 350 º until crisp and done. Easy cleanup, too.
To remove stains from cookie sheets and pie pans, soak them in a solution of borax and water.
If your jars or glasses look cloudy, fill them with warm water and a a few ddrops of ammonia. In an hour wash and rinse in hot water.
Shine silverware by soaking it in water you boiled potatoes in.
Do not put grease down the sink drain. It will cause a clog eventually. However, should you forget to heed those instructions, here’s how to un-clog the drain: Pour 1/4 cup baking soda down the drain. Follow by 1/2 cup white vinegar. Wait a few minutes and pour a pot of boiling water down the drain.
To clean the oven window, make a paste of baking soda and water. Rub onto the window and let it sit for 15 minutes or so. Wipe clean with a paper towel and clear water. No toxic fumes.
Use a small funnel to separate the white and the yolk of an egg. The white runs right through and the yolk remains in the funnel.
Kill weeds growing in the cracks of the sidewalk or driveway by pouring straight vinegar on them.
Sing while you work. If you’re not in good spirits, people will think you are.
Make lists. Space on the cranial hard drive gets harder to come by with age. Then keep the list where you can’t help but see it.
Line dry your clothes whenever possible. The sun is free. The dryer is not. The dryer wears clothes out faster.
Use plastic shopping bags as wastebasket liners. They tie up nicely.
If the soup or stew is too salty, add cut raw potatoes and discard them once they have cooked and absorbed the salt.
For easy smooth gravy, keep a jar with a mixture of equal parts of flour and cornstarch. Put 3 to 4 tablespoons of this mix in another jar and add some water. Shake and add to drippings.
When brown sugar turns to rock, you can grate it with a hand grater.
You can soften hard brown sugar by placing a slice of soft bread in the package and closing it tightly. In a couple of hours the brown sugar will be soft.
For baked potatoes really fast, slice them in half lengthwise, oil the cut face and place face down on a baking pan. Bake at 425º for 20 to 25 minutes.
You will weep less over cutting onions if you cut the root end last.
Also prevent tears by refrigerating or freezing before cutting.
To reduce sticking when frying or sautéing, heat your pan before adding the butter or oil. A big help with fried eggs.
Sprinkle a little salt into the frying pan to prevent spattering.
Vinegar brought to a boil in a new frying pan will prevent foods from sticking.
When frying, turn a metal colander upside down over the skillet. Steam escapes but fat doesn’t splatter
Meat loaf will not stick if you place a slice of bacon on the bottom of the pan.
If muffins are sticking to the tin pan, place the hot pan on a wet towel. They will slide right out.

Watch for more Homemaking Helps

Sources: 1 Frugal Friend 2 Another by Cyndi Roberts
Mary Ellen’s Best of Helpful Hints
50+ years of doing stuff the wrong way.