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My daughter and I both suffer from severely dry skin — bumpy, cracked, peeling, scary alligator-type stuff. We’ve tried every expensive brand of lotion on the market … each time a new one comes out, we’re first in line to try it to see if THIS will finally be the magic cure we’ve been searching for.

Well, surprise, surprise. Nothing’s worked. Things would help a little, but never enough to make a big difference.

On a whim last week, I bought a bottle of Corn Huskers Lotion at the grocery store. I remembered my grandfather using it on his hands after a day working outdoors on his ranch. So I figured if Corn Huskers Lotion could help his dry, parched “ranch hands,” maybe it could do something with our “normal” but severely dry skin.

Well, guess what? IT WORKS! Better than any of those other expensive products with the slick advertising campaigns, fancy packaging, and designer scents. I’m now a sold-out believer in the wonders of Corn Huskers Lotion!

If you’ve tried everything else and nothing seems to work, give this a try. What have you got lose? Besides, it’s cheap. And cheap is good.

~Debi

This article was submitted to my email newsletter, Simple Times, and I thought I’d add it to my blog, as well.  Great ideas and easy recipes.  Thanks, Tawra!  

~Debi

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PUMPKIN RECYCLING
Copyright Tawra Kellam
Used with permission.  All rights reserved.
http://www.LivingOnADime.com/Peter Piper picked a profoundly plump pumpkin — but now what does he do with it?

Every fall I get many questions about what to do with pumpkins. Many people find curious fascination in imagining what it would be like to grow these versatile little gems, as if growing something that produces a large fruit is somehow more respectable than growing, say, a serrano pepper.

Many people eventually venture into pumpkin experimentation. Some succeed and many fail. Much like a dog that chases a car, many people never give thought to what they would do if they actually succeeded in successfully raising a patch of these fall favorites.

Whether you have found yourself with more pumpkins than you know what to do with or you are one of the people who had to buy pumpkins and duct tape them to the vine, these tips for roasting and using pumpkins are sure to help you make the most out of them (no matter how you acquired them)!

How to Roast a Pumpkin

You can only do this with a freshly carved pumpkin! Don’t use on a pumpkin that has been carved and sitting out for several days.

To bake a fresh 6 to 7 pound pumpkin, halve the pumpkin crosswise and scoop out the seeds and strings. Place halves, hollow side down, in a large baking pan covered with aluminum foil and add a little water. Bake, uncovered, at 375 for 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until fork‑tender. Remove. When cool, scrape pulp from shells and puree, a little at time, in food processor or blender. Mix with a little salt.

To freeze pumpkin puree. Put 1‑2 cups in freezer bags along with spices and use in pies.

To use pumpkin puree for recipes: Line a strainer with a double layer of  cheesecloth or a flour sack dish towel and let the pumpkin sit to drain out the extra moisture BEFORE cooking with it.

Pumpkin is very moist, so in order for your recipe to come out correctly, you MUST strain it.

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Boil seeds in water for 5 minutes. Drain well.  Sprinkle with salt or seasoned salt. Place a thin layer on a cookie sheet. Bake at 250. Stir after 30 minutes. Bake 1/2‑1 hour more or until crunchy. *Squash seeds may also be used.

Pumpkin Smoothies

• 1/2 cup pumpkin
• 3/4 cup milk or vanilla yogurt
• 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp. nutmeg
• 2 tsp. brown sugar
• 4 ice cubes
• whipped cream (optional)
• sprinkles (optional)

Place all ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth. Pour into 2-3 glasses. Serve with a small amount of whipped cream on top. You may also add orange sprinkles if you like.  Serves 2-3.

Pumpkin Pancakes

• 2 cups flour
• 2 Tbsp. brown sugar, packed
• 1 Tbsp. baking powder
• 1 1/4 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1/2 cup nuts, chopped (optional)
• 1/2 cup pumpkin
• 1 large egg
• 2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
• 1 cups milk

Combine ingredients. Stir just until moistened; batter may be lumpy. Heat griddle or skillet over medium heat; brush lightly with vegetable oil. Pour 1/4 cup batter onto hot griddle; cook until bubbles begin to burst. Turn and continue cooking 1 to 2 minutes. Serve with Pumpkin Maple Sauce (recipe to follow) and nuts.

Pumpkin Maple Sauce

• 1 cup maple syrup
• 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice
• 1 1/4 cups pumpkin

Mix together until well blended.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: –In five years, Tawra Kellam and her husband paid off $20,000 personal debt on an average income of $22,000 per year. Tawra is the author of the frugal cookbook Dining On A Dime. Dining On A Dime has over 1200 recipes and tips to help you eat better and spend less. For more free tips and recipes visit her web site at http://www.LivingOnADime.com

Later today I’m going to be adding a small pile of used books to my eBay store.  I’m in the midst of trying to do some serious decluttering around my house.  Wish me luck! 

A number of the books will be about financial and simple living topics that might be of interest to readers of this blog.  Plus, there should be some children’s books, educational materials, and classic literature, as well.

So far, I’ve listed several books in the Core Knowledge Series (What Your Kindergartner [1st, 2nd, 3rd grader] Needs to Know).  I also have an unused (and unopened) copy of Quicken Personal Finance 2007 Home & Business software.  And due to popular demand from several friends, I’m going to list a couple of photographs that I’ve taken and had made into 8″x10″ prints and matted in 11″x14″ mattes.

Feel free to stop by later and see if there’s anything that interests you or your family.

http://stores.ebay.com/Simple-Pleasures-Books-and-Gifts

~Debi