Author Archives: wrks4me

Carpet Cleaner Solution and Spot Cleaner

08 Thursday Oct 2020

Posted by in wrks4me - Life Hacks

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This solution works even better than store bought and at a fraction of the cost and smells great too.

Carpet Cleaner Solution

Ingredients

  • 1/2 capful of Liquid Laundry Detergent (I use a gentle detergent, one that can be used for skin sensitivity) or use 4 Tbsps of dish soap (ie. DAWN)
  • 1 scoop of “Oxy” style stain remover or 1/2 cup of liquid hydrogen Peroxide
  • 1/2 cap of fabric softener
  • 4 Tbsp of white vinegar

Directions

  1. Add ingredients together into a 1 gallon (4.5 litre) container
  2. Pour 1/3 to 1/2 of solution into the carpet cleaner container
  3. Fill remaining with water and use as usual to clean your carpets

Spot Cleaner Solution

  • 2 oz (approx. 1/4 cup) of “DAWN” blue liquid detergent (the one with the little duck on the label)
  • 6 oz (approx. 3/4 cups) of hydrogen peroxide
  • 1 spray bottle

Directions for cleaning spots on carpets (before starting test solution on a hidden area to insure there is no discolouration or damage.

  1. Put “DAWN” into a measuring cup then add hydrogen peroxide and stir well
  2. Pour into a spray bottle (note: the blue colour will disappear due to the hydrogen peroxide)
  3. Use to spray spots on carpets or use of spots on laundry
  4. If using on carpets, whip the area with a damp rag, then spray with solution and wipe with a clean cloth. Finally go over the area again with the damp rag and let dry. Finish by vacuuming.

Directions for use in the laundry.

  1. Spray spot solution onto garment and allow to soak in.
  2. Wash as usual.
  3. Do not put item into the dryer until examining the stain.
  4. If the stain does not come out spray again and allow to soak in, then wash as usual. It should come out.
  5. For very difficult set in stains. Spray item well and allow to soak overnight.

Easy Cinnamon Apple Cake

08 Thursday Oct 2020

Posted by in Baking

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Keep a can of apple pie filling and a roll or two of cinnamon rolls so that if you get unexpected people dropping by or just have a craving, you have a delicious cake at the ready.

Ingredients

  • 1 can apple pie filling (540 ml)
  • 1 or 2 cinnamon rolls with icing (351 g)
  • 1 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Directions

  1. Depending on the how many people you wish to serve you can use 1 or 2 cinnamon roll tubes. (Using 1/2 can of pie filling and 1 cinnamon roll will yield you 6 servings in an 8″x8″ pan) If you use a full can of pie filling you will need 2 cinnamon rolls and a 9″x13″ pan.
  2. Open your tubes of cinnamon rolls and separate the sections
  3. Cut each section into quarters with a knife or scissors and put into a bowl
  4. Open the can of pie filling and depending on how many tubes you are using cut apple slices into smaller pieces, and put them in the bowl with the cinnamon rolls.
  5. Gently fold the apple pieces and 1/2 the pie filling mixture together
  6. Coat the cooking pan with cooking spray and pour the mixture into it
  7. If using pecans, sprinkle over top
  8. Bake in a preheated over at 375 degrees F for 30 minutes
  9. Let cool at least a 1/2 hour before drizzling the icing from the cinnamon tubes over top.

Serve and Enjoy

Special Fried Chicken

30 Wednesday Sep 2020

Posted by in Baking, Main Dishes

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(Check it out against the Colonel’s. Not the same but truly delicious)

This recipe fell out from one of my mom’s recipe books. It’s been there for decades till fate stepped in and fell into my hands. Wasn’t a fan of much of the fried chicken recipes but this one is truly delicious and even better the next day.

Ingredients

  • 2 small frying chickens (cup up)
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1 tbsp salt*
  • 1/2 tbsp celery salt*
  • 1 tbsp dry mustard
  • 1/2 tbsp black pepper
  • 2 tbsp paprika
  • 1/2 tbsp garlic salt*
  • 1 1/2 tbsp meat tenderizer (I think this is actually MSG (Monosodium Glutamate) which I didn’t use)
  • 2 tbsp ground ginger
  • 1/4 tbsp thyme
  • 1/4 tbsp basil
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup milk

Directions

  1. Mix dry ingredients together and put half each into two plastic bags.
  2. Beat 2 eggs and milk together in a bowl
  3. Put pieces in one of the plastic bags and toss
  4. Dip the coasted chicken in the egg mixture
  5. Put one piece of chicken at a time in other plastic bag and toss to coat
  6. Fry 2 or 3 pieces of coasted chicken until lightly brown (3 or 5 minutes)
  7. When all the chicken are fried, put on a rack in the oven at 325 for 1 hour or until done.

*(If using garlic powder and celery seeds, you can can use the salt, but if using garlic salt and celery salt you might want to use eliminate the extra salt)

Enjoy

Earthquake Cake

26 Saturday Sep 2020

Posted by in Dessert

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Ingredients

  • 1 box your favourite Chocolate Cake Mix (do not prepare as directed on box, use instructions and ingredients below)
  • 1/3 cup oil
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 1/3 cups water
  • 2/3 cup shredded coconut
  • 2/3 cup chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans
  • 8 oz cream cheese
  • 1/2 cup or 1 stick, unsalted or salted butter
  • 3 3/4 cups of icing sugar

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Lightly spray a 9 x 13 inch pan with non-stick cooking spray.
  3. Sprinkle the coconut, chocolate chips, and the chopped pecans over the bottom of the pan.
  4. Mix the chocolate cake mix along with the oil, water and eggs using a spatula or hand mixer.
  5. Pour the cake mix over top of the coconut/chocolate chip/pecan layer.
  6. In a saucepan or fry pan, melt the butter and cream cheese together.
  7. Using a spatula or hand mixer on low, add the butter/cream cheese mixture together with the icing sugar until it’s smooth.
  8. dollop the mixture on top of the uncooked chocolate cake in the pan, and swirl using a knife into the cake mix.
  9. Bake for 35-45 minutes. Using a toothpick to test the doneness will not work as the mixture is too gooey. Just make sure it doesn’t wobble too much.

Enjoy

Curry Chicken Salad Sandwiches

12 Saturday Sep 2020

Posted by in Appetizers, Main Dishes

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Ingredients

  • 4 cups cubed cooked chicken breast (or dark meat blend)
  • 1-1/2 cups dried cranberries
  • 2 green onions, thinly sliced (or use 2 Tablespoons of chives or sweet onion)
  • 2 celery ribs, finely chopped
  • 1 cup fat-free mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup chopped sweet pickles
  • 1/2 teaspoon curry powder
  • 1 Tablespoon honey
  • 1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans, toasted
  • 16 dinner rolls (Brioche or soft rolls
  • Butter

Directions

  1. Put chicken, cranberries, celery, green onions, pickles into a bowl
  2. Mix honey, curry powder and mayonnaise together in a separate bowl
  3. Blend together the mayonnaise and chicken mixture
  4. Butter the split rolls and spoon the blended chicken mixture onto the rolls

Enjoy

Note: you can also serve this chicken salad mixture on top of a salad instead

“Buttermilk” Biscuits

19 Wednesday Aug 2020

Posted by in Baking

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Ingredients

  • 2 cups of All Purpose Flour
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 cup of ice cold butter (Frozen the better)
  • 3/4 cup buttermilk (I make my own by adding 2 or 3 tsp of vinegar to milk and stir well)

Directions

I use a food processor but you can mix in a bowl

If using a bowl

  1. Combine all the dry ingredients into a bowl
  2. Slowly add the milk and mix till well blended

If using a food processor

  1. Combine all the dry ingredients into the food processor
  2. Turn on food processor on low and mix till all the butter is combined
  3. Slowly pour the milk into the processor while mixing til it forms a ball of dough

Forming biscuits

  1. Place ball of dough onto a floured surface
  2. Roll out down about 1/2 inch
  3. Fold in half and roll again to 1/2 inch
  4. Fold the rolled out half from bottom to the top and roll out to 3/4 inch
  5. Using a 2 1/2 inch biscuit cutter or large mouth glass cut out biscuits
  6. Place on a silicon lined tray
  7. Brush top of biscuits with buttermilk or melted butter
  8. Bake at 400 – 425 degree F. for 10-15 minutes (check to ensure they don’t burn)

Enjoy

Carrot Cake

21 Tuesday Jul 2020

Posted by in Baking, Dessert

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Ingredients

  • 2 cups (500 ml) all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp (10 ml) baking powder
  • 1 tsp (5 ml) baking soda
  • 2 tsp (10 ml) ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp (1.25 ml) ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 tsp (2.50 ml) ground ginger
  • 1 tsp (5 ml) fine salt
  • 4 eggs
  • 2 cups (500 ml) white sugar
  • 1 cup (250 ml) canola or vegetable oil
  • 1/4 cup (60 ml) melted butter (optional for firmer cake, I leave this out)
  • 2 tsp (10 ml) vanilla extract
  • 2 cups (500 ml) grated carrots
  • 1/2 cup (125 ml) pecan chopped
  • 1/2 cup (125 ml) walnut chopped
  • 1 cup (250 ml) canned crushed pineapple (drained)
  • 1/2 cup (125 ml) raisins (optional)

Icing

  • 1 pkg (250 g) cream cheese
  • 1/4 cup (60 ml) softened butter
  • 1.5 tsp (7.5 ml) pure vanilla extract
  • 3 cups (750 mg) icing sugar

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C)
  2. Grease and flour a 9″x13″ baking pan
  3. Sift together, flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and salt, set aside
  4. In another bowl, whisk together the eggs, sugars, oil, butter and vanilla extract
  5. Pour over dry ingredients and mix until moistened
  6. Sir in carrots, pecans, walnuts, pineapple and raisins (optional)
  7. Pour batter into baking pan
  8. Bake for 35 minutes or until a wooden toothpick comes out clean
  9. Remove from oven and cook in the pan on a rack

Icing

  1. Beat together, cream cheese and butter until smooth
  2. Add vanilla extract and then icing sugar a little at at time until smooth and creamy
  3. Spread over cooled cake and serve

Enjoy

Easy Zucchini Cake

15 Wednesday Jul 2020

Posted by in Baking

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Ingredients

  • 2 cups All Purpose Flour
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 Tbsp Cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp Nutmeg
  • 1 tsp Baking Powder
  • 1 tsp Baking Soda
  • 2 Cups Shredded Zucchini
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
  • 1/4 cup Vegetable Oil
  • 1 Cup Brown Sugar
  • 1 cup of chopped Walnuts

Icing

  • 1/2 to 3/4 cup Powder Sugar
  • 2 tsp Water
  • 1/3 cups chopped Walnuts

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Combine all ingredients and mix well
  3. Pour into an 11″ x 7″ baking dish
  4. Bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean
  5. Cool and prepare icing
  6. Combine icing sugar and water until it is well mixed
  7. Drizzle over the cooled cake and sprinkle with chopped walnuts

Enjoy

Cake Box Cookies

05 Sunday Jul 2020

Posted by in Baking

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This is the easiest way of making cookies and you can do so with any of your favourite cake box recipes

Ingredients

  • Your favourite cake box
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/3 cup of vegetable oil
  • 1 tsp of vanilla (optional)
  • 1 cup of chopped nuts or chocolate chips (optional)
  • 1/4 cup of sugar
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
  2. Open up the cake box and put into a mixing bowel
  3. Add eggs, oil, vanilla and optional nuts or chocolate chips
  4. Stir until well mixed
  5. Put into the refrigerator between 1/2 to 1 hour for firm up batter
  6. Using a 1 1/2″ cookie scope or table spoon, roll batter between hands for make a 1 1/2″ ball of cookie dough
  7. Roll in sugar and place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment or silicon pad
  8. Bake for about 10-12 minutes
  9. Remove and let cool about 1 minute before placing on the cooling rack
  10. To keep moist place cooled cookies in an airtight container

Enjoy