New uses for old things

I love to find interesting ways to reuse stuff I was going to throw away.  Here is a running list of ideas for turning "trash" into treasures that you can use around your house. If you have any ideas for reusing stuff around your house, let me know and I will add it to this list!

1.  Paper Towel or toilet paper tubes as a hair tie holder.  I thought it would be cute to paint the tube or wrap it in scrapbook paper... Secure all your hair ties to the tube...barrettes or bobby pins can fit nicely on the top.

2. New shine to old shoes:  add a dab of veggie oil to a rag and rub gently on patent leather shoes. It gives a beautiful shine and makes them look brand new.

3. Tiny travel sewing kit:  Get a match box...tuck a few essentials into it and hide it away in your overnight bag for emergencies. This would also fit securely in your purse or glove box.

4.  Kleenex box for a plastic bag holder.  Shove all your bags you get at the grocery store for an easy grab when you need them.

5. Rubber bands used to hold tank tops or strappy dresses on hangers. If you don't have those hangers that have the holes specifically for tank tops, why not tie some rubber bands at the end of the hanger. These keeps your tanks nice and secure without falling off.

6. Contact lens container for a pill container when traveling.  Empty contact lens cases work perfect for a pill container. If fits easily in a purse, pocket or carry on.

7.  Use a clear elastic band to keep flowers nice and tidy in a vase. Secure a band around the bottom of the flowers and let them fall naturally

Greek Pasta Salad

This is definitely a great recipe and a really good way of using leftover veggies. It's heaped full of pasta goodness, veggies and OF COURSE Feta Cheese. I love Feta Cheese.

Traditionally, there are olives in this recipe, but I do not like olives, my husband does... So I left them out. I was thinking of putting a little bowl on the side for him with some chopped olives? If you love olives, add a 2.25 ounce can into the recipe. I would probably drain it first.  I had the leftovers after it was in the fridge for a while chilling and it was tasty, although the pasta had soaked in the dressing... so you may want to add more dressing the next day.

Greek Pasta Salad

16 ounce rotini pasta (I use garden blend and it's so pretty to look at)
2.25 can of olives, drained (optional)
1/2 red bell pepper, chopped
1/4 cup diced red onion (I actually kept some on the side and put more on my salad. I love red onions)
1 cucumber, peeled and diced
1-2, 1.5lb pkgs skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into cubes
Greek seasoning (sprinkled on the chicken)
Greek dressing
2 ounce crumbled feta cheese

Cook pasta according to the package instructions, drain.  Cube chicken and season with Greek seasoning liberally. Cook in pan on medium high heat until done.  Add all ingredients to a very large bowl. Stir to mix well. Cover with as much greek dressing as you like and top with feta cheese.

Jewelry Cleaner

I found a great "recipe" for jewelry cleaner online today and HAD to share. Normally I just use plain old toothpaste, but most of my rings that I own have small intricate details or raised stones and it's very hard to clean underneath the setting.  I don't take my engagement ring off alot and that's the worst to clean. This recipe is super easy and after a 10 minute soak, my rings were completely dazzling!

Jewelry Cleaner

1 cup water
1 T dish soap
1 T baking soda
1 T salt
cereal bowl (or smallish bowl)
a piece of aluminum foil that roughly covers the bottom of the bowl

Put aluminum foil on the bottom of the boil. Microwave water on high for 1 to 2 minutes.  Pour water in the bowl, add additional ingredients and let your jewelry soak for 5 to 10 minutes.  Remove jewelry and dry completely.

BLING BLING!

*Note* I only have tried this on my white gold and gold rings. I have no idea how it will work other jewelry materials.

Fish Po' Boys

These filling and (semi)healthy sandwiches were so quick and easy to make.  They were very tasty and I probably wouldn't change a thing about them...except maybe buy more bread so I could make more!

Fish Po' Boys

1-2, 1lb packages tilapia fillets, thawed
2 T Extra Virgin Olive oil
1/2 cup mayonaise
2 t hot sauce (I use Texas Pete)
1T lemon juice
hardy rolls, open and toasted ( i used ciabatta rolls and I am so glad I did)
lettuce
tomato slices

Heat oil in a medium pan; fry fish fillets until no longer opaque in the middle--or a little longer for a more crispy texture.  Combine mayo, hot sauce and lemon juice. Stir until smooth.  Before fish is done, toast bread if desired.  Assemble sandwiches with fish, mayo mix, lettuce and tomatoes.

I served chips on the side and some leftover Easy Glazed Honey Dew I made the night before.

Enjoy.

Mexican Shredded Pork

Mexican night made easy! This is a CROCK POT recipe... who doesn't love crock pot recipes really? How can you hate something you start first thing in the a.m., go about your crazy hectic day and when you get home, you get to throw dinner on the table like you are a rock star?  Pretty sure the answer is you can't hate that.  So try this recipe out.

Mexican Shredded Pork

2 lb pork loin
1 pkg taco seasoning mix
1 cup water

Place pork loin, taco seasoning and water in a crock pot. Cook on low 8-10 hours. Remove roast, shred. Return meat to crock pot to soak up the juices and heat through.

I served this pork shredded with some Spanish Rice and some Fiesta Grillin' beans from Bushs. I love those beans by the way. I had never bought them before, but they were good!  I cut up some veggies like tomatoes, onions, lettuce and we made burritos/soft tacos.

Company Tilapia

Did you feel fancy reading that title? When I think of this dish, I feel fancy. It makes me want to host something...anything... and bring this dish. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this tilapia. To be honest, I had never made fish before this recipe. Sure, I had made shrimp before, but it's pretty hard to mess up shrimp.  This was my first attempt and I was so pleased with the outcome.  This is definitely "company" tilapia because whether you are serving friends or just your small family, you will feel like super mom serving this fish.

Company Tilapia

1+lbs, 4-6 tilapia fillets, thawed
2 T fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup grated parmesean cheese (spring for the actual shredded parm... the can stuff is not the same)
4 T butter softened
3 T mayo
1/4 t salt
1/4 t seasoned salt
1/4 dried basil
1/4 t pepper
3 T finely chopped green onions

Lay fillets in a single layer in a buttered casserole dish. Brush tops with lemon juice.  Bake fish in a 350 degree oven 10-20 minutes or until fish just starts to flake. Combine cheese, butter, mayo salt, seasoned salt, basil, pepper and onions. Mix well with fork. Spread cheese mixture over fish; bake until golden brown, about 5 minutes.

**The fish was a tad on the salty side. I personally like salt... but if you don't as much, you might want to reduce the salt on this recipe... Maybe put a shaker on the side. I wouldn't reduce the seasoned salt, just the regular salt.**

I served this dish with some long grain wild rice and summer squash.

Summer Squash

This is a great side dish to nearly anything you make. The flavors are mellow so it's not going to overpower the star of dinner. It's subtle but really really tasty.

Summer Squash

1 onion, sliced
1/4 cup of butter
3-4 medium yellow squash, sliced

Saute onion in butter until tender.  Add squash; stir until squash begins to soften. Cover; cook on low 20-25 minutes until squash is nice and tender. Season with salt and pepper.