Keeping the Castle - Housekeeping & Homemaking Tips

Easy Tater Tot Casserole

I made this casserole again last night and it was so yummy.  I thought I’d share it with you.  Everyone loves it and there aren’t many leftovers.  I always make enough to go into a 9 x 13 pan.

1 1/2 lbs ground beef

1 large can cream of mushroom soup

milk

32 oz bag of tater tots

Brown ground beef, drain well, place in bottom of casserole dish (optional - season meat with salt or other desired seasoning).  Place tater tots on top of ground beef.  In a bowl, mix together the cream of mushroom soup and a can size amount of milk.  Evenly pour the milk and soup mixture over the casserole.  Bake about 45 minutes on 350 until the tots are brown.

Some other variations I sometimes try:

I use 1 lb of ground turkey and 1 lb of hamburger instead of all hamburger.

Just before adding the tater tots, throw a little corn, green beans or mixed vegetables in the casserole.

Use low fat cream of mushroom soup.

Add a little cheese to the cooked casserole and bake for 5 more minutes, until the cheese is melted.

You can also make a smaller pan using 1 lb ground beef, 16 oz tater tots, a regular size can cream of mushroom, and milk.

Enjoy!

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By Karen Weideman -- 0 comments

My Favorite Fabric Softener

I’d like to introduce you to my favorite fabric softener. Meet white vinegar.  There are a few reasons why white vinegar is my favorite.

1)  It’s cheap.  You can buy 2 gallons of the stuff at Sam’s Club for about $3.40.

2)  It doesn’t aggravate my skin.  I have eczema and extremely sensitive skin.  White vinegar isn’t harsh.  There is no fragrance left on your clothing either.

3)  No waxy build up.  Unlike other fabric softeners, vinegar doesn’t leave a waxy residue on your clothes.  This makes towels and cloth diapers more absorbent.  Plus, you don’t have to worry about that waxy issue in your dryer. 

4)  It’s safe.  We’ve heard a lot lately about how cleaning supplies and products are unsafe for our families.  You don’t have any worries with vinegar.

5)  It has other uses.  I like having vinegar on hand because it has so many uses.  I’ll tackle that topic another day.  Also, you can add a little vinegar to your whites to help get them clean.

What do you think about using white vinegar as a fabric softener?

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By Karen Weideman -- 2 comments

Easy Scroll Napkin Rings

I just love the Better Homes & Gardens website.  It always has nice ideas for cooking, decorating, and more.  Check out these scroll napkin rings.  These napkin rings simply use chenille stems (pipe cleaners) and they are such an easy and inexpensive way to add a decorative touch to your table. 

image from bhg

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By Karen Weideman -- 2 comments

What Will You Serve for New Year’s?

I confess.  When it comes to the Thanksgiving and Christmas menu I am a traditionalist.  I expect there to be turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, and more.  However, when it comes to New Year’s Eve, Easter, St. Patrick’s Day, and other holidays the menu just doesn’t seem to matter. 

People if ask me if I’m having ham, black eyed peas, and those other things for New Year’s.  Honestly, I don’t even know what the traditional meal is for New Year’s. 

I’m curious to know . . . Do you serve a traditional New Year’s meal?  What do you cook?

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By Karen Weideman -- 0 comments

Rachael Ray in the Hot Seat

Tune in this Wednesday to the Rachael Ray Show.  Rachael will be in the hot seat answering questions from viewers.  I saw the previews today and they say that no questions are off limits.  Some of the questions are about guests Rachael has had on her show to secret ingredients in her recipes. 

Also, check out Rachael’s giveaways page.  She is giving away a set of her pots and pans, Jessica Simpson’s perfume, and more!

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By Karen Weideman -- 3 comments

New Writer Comes On Board

Hello everyone.  I’d like to take a moment to introduce myself.  My name is Karen Weideman, but you may also know me as Thrifty Mommy.  I have been writing for the b5media Thrifty Mommy blog for over two years now.  I’ve enjoyed getting to know the b5 bloggers and the close knit network that we have here.

Now a little about myself . . . In previous years I was an elementary school teacher, but have taken a break from that for a while until my children get a little older.  I have two children, ages 5 and 3.  You may see me refer to my five-year-old girl as Alligator and my three-year-old boy as Cuddlebug.

SP Bragg has done an excellent job writing about housekeeping and homemaking.  I plan to search the archives to get an idea of topics already covered. 

Please feel free to introduce yourselves and/or leave a comment letting me know some of the topics you’d like to see here at Keeping the Castle.

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By Karen Weideman -- 2 comments

You are Going to Need this Little Guy

Whether you are making sugar cookies or gingerbread men in the coming days, you are going to need one of these. A plate of these just makes the house feel like Christmas. I just love how many variations of Gingerbread Men you can make with the same cookie cutter.

If not Gingerbread Men, then what is your all-time favorite Christmas cookie??

Photo Credit: Crate and Barrel

And a little more bits to keep you busy. ;) 

Gingerbread Recipes and Crafts from Canadian Living

Gingerbread People from Kraft… (there’s pudding in the recipe!)

Plantain Gingerbread… yes, your regular kind of recipe but with a little plantain thrown in for good measure.

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By SP Bragg -- 0 comments

Do You Have Any Christmas Spirit??

It seems that there a lot of people out there who simply can’t get into the Christmas Spirit this year. It could be the fact that we are the ones who are doing all the work, not like it was when we were the kids and did nothing but dream about what we were going to get for Christmas. Now I must tell you about my Mom.  She had everyone’s Christmas spirit… which makes me wonder if that’s why there is so little to go around. For Mom, Christmas officially began the minute we went back to school. Yes, I’m talking September and continued until we went back to school in January. It’s not that we had a lot of money or anything… she simply enjoyed all the simple things that Christmas should be about. What that woman could do with crepe paper was amazing.

So, do you have any Christmas Spirit?? I found you an on-line form to let you know just how well you are doing. It should take you a couple of minutes tops… and it might give you a few things to add to your to-do list which just might put you in the Christmas Spirit!!

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By SP Bragg -- 0 comments