Keeping tall boots upright

Keeping our gorgeous boots looking gorgeous has always been an issue so we buy inflatable things or if you are like me I use my winter sweat shirts inside them ROFL.

here is a great tip

POOL NOODLES cut to size and problem solved

The Quiet Achiever 

NO calorie SOUR CREAM.

Have I got your attention lol

plain nonfat or low fat YOGHURT. It is a great replacement for sour cream. Use it to make salad dressings, I even add it to soups and sauces when I don’t have evaporated milk on hand.

STOP USING sour cream, and start using non fat yogurt instead – you will be AMAZED by the difference it makes.

Using these 3 substitutes  a day will  save over 2400 calories each week – YES, that is per WEEK. I was wondering how it just got a bit easier for me to not gain extra weight – that’s because of these 3 little things!

THE QUIET ACHIEVER

Reduce calories in SAUCES and SOUPS.

How to reduce calories in SAUCES and SOUPS.


Evaporated milk has the texture and the flavor of cream but without the fat. Each cup contains 80 grams less of fat and 600 fewer calories than heavy cream. Imagine!

Using these 3  substitutes a day  will save over 2400 calories each week – YES, that is per WEEK. I was wondering how it just got a bit easier for me to not gain extra weight – that’s because of these 3 little things!

The Quiet Achiever

Furniture Polish DIY

Three ingredients  what could be easier

1. 1/2 cup white vinegar
2. 2 teaspoons of olive oil,  grape seed or any other good quality oil ( I Prefer linseed or flax)
3. 6 drops of essential oils such as lavender or lemon ( I actually like citronella lol)
put in a spray bottle and off you go. Spray and wipe

Wax on wax off (for those who saw the movie lol
Do not use a lot of oil as it can go rancid so in this case LESS IS MORE  it is not wiped off

Home made is the best and of course the healthiest plus lets not forget the cheapest so try this wonderful furniture polish and have a healthy home..

Thanks to Mummy Musing for the instructions and photos

The Quiet Achiever

Drip Irrigation

It’s time to water your plants frugally. You have two precious commodities. Water and your time.
I fill my bottle drippers with the garden hose. This is quick and saves time. It reduces water loss via evaporation from the leaves.

Saves water and helps you recycle plastic bottles

You can recycle plastic bottles.

The used bottles are buried between plants. They take seconds to fill. 

The materials:
* 2 litre plastic soft-drink bottle or water bottle
 * Sharp small screwdriver, pointed hole-maker or drill

This can be used in
Using your pocket knife, make 2 small slits in the bottom of your bottle. Make two more small slits half way up your bottle. Then fill your dripper bottle with water to test it. Does it drip slowly? Or empty too quickly?
Dig a hole next to your tomato plant. Place the bottle right-way-up in the hole. Fill the bottle with water from the hose. Add liquid fertilizer from time to time.

Thanks to Hank in Irrigation for the step by step instructions

THE QUIET ACHIEVER

More DIY Blackboards

What a great idea for using old picture frames and chalk board paint on board

The Quiet Achiever

Amazing Cheese Crackers

You will love these melt in your mouth cheese crackers  created in Kaths kitchen


Well, I now have a new favorite homemade cheese snack! These cheese crackers have a terrific cheesy, tangy flavor. They’re not as crisp as commercial crackers; they have a flaky tenderness similar to what you’d get if you baked little squares of pie crust. The amount of red pepper flakes is just right to give them a bit of a tang without adding heat.
This recipe is super-simple if you have a food processor. If you don’t, you could probably use a pastry blender to mix it together.
These will keep in the refrigerator in a sealed container for 2 days. The recipe doesn’t really make very many, so I can’t imagine they would last 2 days.

 YOU WILL NEED

Makes about 70 1-inch square crackers

~

1½ cups (6 oz) grated extra-sharp Cheddar cheese
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, softened and cut into pieces
¾ cup (90 g) flour, plus more for dusting
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon milk

HOW TOO

1. Preheat oven to 350˚.
2. Put everything except the milk in a food processor. Pulse the processor, 5 seconds at a time, for about 5 or 6 times, until the dough is in coarse crumbs.
3. Add the milk and process until the dough gathers together in a ball.

4. Roll the dough out on a floured board with a rolling pin that has been floured until it is about 1/8 inch thick.

  5. Cut the dough into 1-inch squares with a sharp knife or pizza cutter. You can put a bit of flour on the blade of the knife to keep it from sticking.Use the flat end of a wooden skewer to poke a hole in the center of each cracker.

6. Place the crackers at least ¼ inch apart on parchment paper on a baking sheet.

7. Bake for 12 – 15 minutes until the edges are just starting to brown. (Mine took 13 minutes.)

8. Put the baking sheet on a rack and let the crackers cool completely.

9. Eat! Or store in a covered container to eat within a day or two.

The Quiet Achiever

Instant Pudding easy icing

 This is the most amazing icing and once again it is really easy.

YOU WILL NEED

1 packet of instant Pudding
Philly Cheese or Cream whipped
Make instant putting up with half the milk required.
when thick mix it with either the philly Cheese or whipped cream

ALL DONE all you need to do now is to ice your cake or cupcakes and this is the best tasting icing and of course these puddings generally come in three flavours, vanilla, chocolate and or strawberry so you have great choice.

The Quiet Achiever

2 ingredient Banana Biscuits

These are my kind of Biscuits and who doesn't love cooking made easy.


YOU WILL NEED 

2 Banana's
1 Cup of quick oats
Put ingredients in a bowlYou can also add raisins, nuts, chocolate chips etc if you wish

Mix Together

Spoon onto tray

Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes

Now how easy is that

The Quiet Achiever

Tinted Lip Balm DIY

How to use up old lipstick and save money by making your own lip balm

Too easy and so practical

Melt vaseline and a little lipstick together

I use a glass or cup in a pot of water which has just boiled. (not much heat is needed to melt the two items need)

Pour into a little tin or jar

All DONE and very cost effective

 THE QUIET ACHIEVER

Herb infused Honey

So simple, and so tasty Thanks The Kitchn for the photos and tips.

How to Make Herb-Infused Honey

USES, YOU WILL LOVE THIS

How might one use herb-infused honey? The possibilities are endless. Use it to sweeten tea, lemonade, fruit, and baked goods; stir it into salad dressings and marinades; or serve it with a cheese plate. Herbal honeys may also be used medicinally, for example, sage honey to relieve a sore throat or chamomile honey to promote relaxation. I generally like to create single-herb honeys, but you can also get creative and prepare a blend – maybe your own signature honey!

What You Need

INGREDIENTS 

Basic formula: Use about 1-2 tablespoons of dried herbs per 1 cup (8 ounces) of honey.
Honey: A light, mild flavored honey generally works best. (Use the and support your local bees and beekeepers.)
Herbs: Use a single herb or a combination. Rosemary, sage, thyme, mint, lemon balm, lavender, chamomile, rose petals, and pine needles all make lovely infused honeys. You can also use spices like vanilla beans, cinnamon sticks, and star anise. Herbs should be dry; see instructions below.
Equipment
Clean, dry jars and lids (half-pint and pint mason jars work well)
Chopstick, wooden spoon handle, or other stirrer (avoid metal, which can scratch jars)
Clean cloth for wiping jar rims
Strainer

INSTRUCTIONS 

1. Prepare herbs: Herbs should be dry (see safety note, below) and may be in the form of whole sprigs or separated leaves, buds, and petals. Chopped herbs may infuse more quickly, but they may also be harder to strain out. (To dry fresh herbs, use an  dehydrator, microwave or oven. (The sun works well also)
2. Combine herbs and honey: Place herbs in the bottom of a jar and fill the jar almost to the top with honey. Using a chopstick or other implement, stir to coat the herbs with honey. Top off with more honey to fill the jar. Wipe the jar rim with a clean cloth and cover tightly.
Tip: Label the jar with the contents and date so you don't forget!


3. Infuse: Let the herbs infuse for at least 5 days. If the herbs float to the top, turn the jar over a few times to keep them well coated. For a more intense flavor, infuse for another week or longer.
4. Strain: Strain the honey into a clean jar. Depending on the volume of honey and herbs and the size of the strainer, you may need to do this in stages.
5. Store: Store the honey in a tightly covered jar in a cool, dry place. It will last indefinitely.

A Note on Safety:

Although some people make infused honeys with fresh herbs, this process calls for dried herbs in order to limit water activity and the growth of Clostridium botulinum spores. For more details, see Clemson Extension's

EASY INSTRUCTIONS 1.2.3

Pour honey over dried herbs

LEAVE FOR 1-4 WEEKS, THEN STRAIN (depending on how strong you want the flavour to be)

LABEL AND STORE (DATE)

BEAUTIFUL

The Quiet  Achiever


Honey for a BBQ or for those who use honey on a regular basis in teas

If you are having  a BBQ and want to make a glaze or a marinade then use fresh herbs in the honey as it will last for a couple of weeks as  the fridge. This ads a fresh beautiful taste to anyone BBQ

Slow Cooker / Crock Pot Bread

Everyone is trying to save money especially when it comes to electricity and of course for me personally living in the sub tropics and dealing with the humid heat I will do anything to avoid turning the oven on in the summer lol.

I make no knead bread a lot because it is just so easy and inexpensive but cooking it in the oven kind of detracts from the savings I am trying to make especially with electricity so I decided to give my slow cooker a go and my bread turned out so fantastic I had to share it.
 I  hope you also enjoy making, eating and saving money with this bread

No Kneed Bread recipe is really simple

3 cup of plain flour
1/4 teaspoon of instant yeast
and enough water to make sure your dough is mixed well and wet not dry.
 Mix these ingredients in a bowl and cover with glad wrap (or shower cap to save on plastic)  leave on your bench for at least 12 hours.

here is a link if you want see full  instructions on making no Knead bread 


http://murwillumbahlivingonless.blogspot.com.au/2013_10_01_archive.html

once you have made your dough 

YOU WILL NEED

 A slow cooker lined with grease proof paper or brown paper

flour the paper

Turn your Cooker to HIGH and put on lid

COOK FOR TWO HOURS on high  and try to not remove the lid as it lets heat out

here is the end result,  beautiful bread which is lovely and soft and perfect for sandwiches , it is crisp on the bottom

and if you want a crusty bread the  put under your grill for a few minutes to get it to look like this 

here is what the bread looks like inside and it has not been under the grill as I like soft bread

The Quiet Achiever