Here are some fun and helpful recipes and ideas that I have gathered over the years. They have all been tested and found to be very helpful.
Bunny Porridge - This is a great recipe for a sick bunny who wont eat, or to give as a treat. Bunnies LOVE it!
1/2 of a carrot
Broccoli spears (I cut off the tops and give to my kids)
1/2 cup of oats
2 Tablespoons of fruit yogurt of your choice (mine like strawberry)
1/8 of an apple
Mix together in a blender. Sometimes I add more yogurt or even some water to get a consistency that is good to suck up in a syringe.
Rabbit Rehydration - A friend gave me this recipe when I walked into the barn and noticed lots of runny
poo stuck to my rabbits bum (yuck!) My rabbit wasnt acting the
same, and needed some serious attention. But after a couple of days, she made a
comeback!
1 cup water
2 teaspoons
sugar
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/16
teaspoon salt or you can use a rounded 1/8 teaspoon.
Dog Ear Infection Recipe - A very smart scientist developed this recipe for his wife that bred Cocker Spaniels (they ALWAYS have ear problems!) So I tried it on a dog I had with chronic ear problems. She hated it! The ingredient sizzled and stung her ears, however, after only a couple of days, the infection cleared up. I used it once a month as an ear cleaner, and my dog never had an ear infection again. This recipe was a godsend on my wallet, I never had to go to the vet again for ears!
MIX SOLUTION IN ORDER GIVEN
6 oz. Alcohol
1/2 Tablespoon boric acid powder - (shake well) You will have to go to your pharmacist to get it as they have put it behind the shelf now because of people using it to make illegal drugs.
2 oz. white vinegar (shake well)
1 tsp generic betadine or iodine - Because this solution is orange you may want to apply it to your dog in an area that is not going to stain. (outside or in the tub)
Apply daily for a week or two then apply once a week then once every two weeks between treatments.
Laundry Detergent - I love to save money, and one of the greatest ways to do that with a family of 5 is to make my own laundry soap. This recipe is almost as good as tide, depending on how you tweak it.
1 cup washing soda (Arm & Hammer) Approx. $3
1/2 cup borax Approx $4
1 bar soap (Any kind. Sometimes I use a bar and a half, sometimes I use two. Approx. $1-$4 depending on what kind you buy.)
Approximately 3 gallons water
Bucket to hold about 3 gallons of water Approx $3
Start by chopping or even grating your soap. The smaller the pieces the easier and faster it boils down. Add grated soap to about 4 cups of boiling water. Boil on med high heat. Watch carefully so it doesnt boil over.
While soap is boiling mix 3 gallons of water with the borax soap and washing soda.
Once the soap is melted down, add it to the water mixed with borax and washing soda.
Stir well and let it sit for 24 hours before using. Depending on what kind of water you have and the soap you use, your mixture will either look like a slimy jello, or it may look like regular laundry soap. Sometimes it may even develope a slimy goop on the top of the water. Either way, it is still good to use. Just stir it up and call it good. Start up cost for this is around $15 (high end) but you should be able to get at least 28 gallons from the borax and washing soda. The overall savings is amazing.
Dish Washer Detergent - Since I already make my own laundry detergent I have these ingredients on hand. There are many different variations to this online, but this is the one I use in a pinch.
1 cup of borax
1 cup of washing soda
vinegar
Mix borax and washing soda together. The vinegar is put in the compartment you would normally put the jet dry stuff in. It isnt necessary to use this, but i like it. All it takes is 1 Tablespoon in the washing compartment, and one Tablespoon in the prewash compartment. I like the commercial stuff the best, but this works great for me when I have run out of the store bought stuff, and I really dont feel like going out.
1/2 of a carrot
Broccoli spears (I cut off the tops and give to my kids)
1/2 cup of oats
2 Tablespoons of fruit yogurt of your choice (mine like strawberry)
1/8 of an apple
Mix together in a blender. Sometimes I add more yogurt or even some water to get a consistency that is good to suck up in a syringe.
Rabbit Rehydration - A friend gave me this recipe when I walked into the barn and noticed lots of runny
poo stuck to my rabbits bum (yuck!) My rabbit wasnt acting the
same, and needed some serious attention. But after a couple of days, she made a
comeback!
1 cup water
2 teaspoons
sugar
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/16
teaspoon salt or you can use a rounded 1/8 teaspoon.
Dog Ear Infection Recipe - A very smart scientist developed this recipe for his wife that bred Cocker Spaniels (they ALWAYS have ear problems!) So I tried it on a dog I had with chronic ear problems. She hated it! The ingredient sizzled and stung her ears, however, after only a couple of days, the infection cleared up. I used it once a month as an ear cleaner, and my dog never had an ear infection again. This recipe was a godsend on my wallet, I never had to go to the vet again for ears!
MIX SOLUTION IN ORDER GIVEN
6 oz. Alcohol
1/2 Tablespoon boric acid powder - (shake well) You will have to go to your pharmacist to get it as they have put it behind the shelf now because of people using it to make illegal drugs.
2 oz. white vinegar (shake well)
1 tsp generic betadine or iodine - Because this solution is orange you may want to apply it to your dog in an area that is not going to stain. (outside or in the tub)
Apply daily for a week or two then apply once a week then once every two weeks between treatments.
Laundry Detergent - I love to save money, and one of the greatest ways to do that with a family of 5 is to make my own laundry soap. This recipe is almost as good as tide, depending on how you tweak it.
1 cup washing soda (Arm & Hammer) Approx. $3
1/2 cup borax Approx $4
1 bar soap (Any kind. Sometimes I use a bar and a half, sometimes I use two. Approx. $1-$4 depending on what kind you buy.)
Approximately 3 gallons water
Bucket to hold about 3 gallons of water Approx $3
Start by chopping or even grating your soap. The smaller the pieces the easier and faster it boils down. Add grated soap to about 4 cups of boiling water. Boil on med high heat. Watch carefully so it doesnt boil over.
While soap is boiling mix 3 gallons of water with the borax soap and washing soda.
Once the soap is melted down, add it to the water mixed with borax and washing soda.
Stir well and let it sit for 24 hours before using. Depending on what kind of water you have and the soap you use, your mixture will either look like a slimy jello, or it may look like regular laundry soap. Sometimes it may even develope a slimy goop on the top of the water. Either way, it is still good to use. Just stir it up and call it good. Start up cost for this is around $15 (high end) but you should be able to get at least 28 gallons from the borax and washing soda. The overall savings is amazing.
Dish Washer Detergent - Since I already make my own laundry detergent I have these ingredients on hand. There are many different variations to this online, but this is the one I use in a pinch.
1 cup of borax
1 cup of washing soda
vinegar
Mix borax and washing soda together. The vinegar is put in the compartment you would normally put the jet dry stuff in. It isnt necessary to use this, but i like it. All it takes is 1 Tablespoon in the washing compartment, and one Tablespoon in the prewash compartment. I like the commercial stuff the best, but this works great for me when I have run out of the store bought stuff, and I really dont feel like going out.
Home Made Pedialyte
A good recipe if you dont want to leave home, or are short on money. It also lasts a little longer than the typical pedialyte which you have to use in a 48 hour time span. I have used this recipe on my kids, dogs, and goats.
4 cups water
1/2 tsp baking soda
3 Tbsp sugar or honey
1/2 tsp salt
Basic Recipe:
Mix all ingredients together and sip on as desired. Refrigerate if a cold
drink is prefered.
Flavored Recipe: (do not give to animals)
Add 1/2 packet of Kool-aid to Basic Recipe.
Orange Juice Recipe:(do not give to animals)
Add the soda and salt to orange juice mixed with water.
4 cups water
1/2 tsp baking soda
3 Tbsp sugar or honey
1/2 tsp salt
Basic Recipe:
Mix all ingredients together and sip on as desired. Refrigerate if a cold
drink is prefered.
Flavored Recipe: (do not give to animals)
Add 1/2 packet of Kool-aid to Basic Recipe.
Orange Juice Recipe:(do not give to animals)
Add the soda and salt to orange juice mixed with water.
Dog Collar and Leash
I Love this tutorial! Easy and a neat way to personalize a collar for your dog (or goat).
Have Fun!
http://sew4home.com/projects/fabric-art-a-accents/637-summer-fun-dog-collar-a-leash
Have Fun!
http://sew4home.com/projects/fabric-art-a-accents/637-summer-fun-dog-collar-a-leash
Fire Starters
I LOVE to burn candles. But sometimes when the candle gets to the very end, it stops burning and there is still some wax leftover. Well here is a good way to put it to use!
Extra wax from candles
Shavings or lint (whatever you decide to use.)
cupcake liners
An old cupcake pan.
I melt the candle wax down in a double boiler type method. For those who have extra wax in jars, just put some water in a pan and place the jar in the water. Melt on med/low heat.
While the wax is melting prepare your old cupcake pan by putting in the liners. Grab a couple of handfuls of shavings (or lint) and put into a bowl you dont mind getting ruined. (I dont know the exact measurements but if you only have a small amount of wax try using only a handful of shavings. Then you can add more if needed) When the wax is melted pour onto shavings. Mix with a spoon or your hands but be careful, it is melted wax after all! Press mixture into your cupcake pan. Let cool and viola! Sometimes I add some fancy shredded paper to the top. I press it in after the mixture is added to the cupcake pan. You can light these paper and all. These make great little gifts for friends or family that are going camping.
Extra wax from candles
Shavings or lint (whatever you decide to use.)
cupcake liners
An old cupcake pan.
I melt the candle wax down in a double boiler type method. For those who have extra wax in jars, just put some water in a pan and place the jar in the water. Melt on med/low heat.
While the wax is melting prepare your old cupcake pan by putting in the liners. Grab a couple of handfuls of shavings (or lint) and put into a bowl you dont mind getting ruined. (I dont know the exact measurements but if you only have a small amount of wax try using only a handful of shavings. Then you can add more if needed) When the wax is melted pour onto shavings. Mix with a spoon or your hands but be careful, it is melted wax after all! Press mixture into your cupcake pan. Let cool and viola! Sometimes I add some fancy shredded paper to the top. I press it in after the mixture is added to the cupcake pan. You can light these paper and all. These make great little gifts for friends or family that are going camping.
Rabbit Cookie Treats
1 small carrot, pureed
1/2 banana, mashed until really creamy
1 tbsp honey
1/4 cup rabbit pellets, ground finely in a coffee grinder (measure after grinding)
1/4 cup ground oats, ground finely in a coffee grinder or blender (measure after
grinding). Mix pureed carrot, banana and honey in a medium bowl. Alternately,
you can use a food processor to puree the first 3 ingredients together. Add pellet
powder and ground oats. Mix until blended. Knead in your hands for 1-2 minutes.
Roll out the "dough" in 1/8- to 1/4-inch thick layers between sheets of plastic
wrap. Cut into small cookies (about 3/4 inch across). You can also use very small
cookie cutters, available in many stores that carry specialty cooking supplies.
Place cut shapes onto a parchment paper covered cookie sheet. Bake at 325
degrees for about 30 minutes (check to make sure they are not browning too
much). Turn off the heat and let the cookies sit in the warm oven for an hour or
so. Thirteen out of my fifteen rabbits approve!
Honey Treat Sticks For Pet Birds
Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
Ingredients:
1 cup mixed seed/pellets
1 tsp. honey (or use corn syrup and it works just as good )
2 tsp. smooth peanut butter
1 egg
1 tsp. unflavored gelatin (knox)
Cookie Cutter. (try using cookie cutters that are very basic. Ones with lots of nooks and crannies may not keep the shape)
Bird safe string or something else to hang them up with.
Put honey,egg,and peanut butter in a bowl and mix very well. A wire whisk works best.
WHILE STIRRING (important, otherwise you will have lumps) sprinkle gelatin over the mix. Stir well again.
Add the seed/pellets to the mix and stir to coat.
Let the mixture set up for a minute or so. (The next step is tricky). Spread the mixture out on your cookie sheet. Try to keep it as thick as your cookie cutter will allow. Starting from the top , press your cookie cutter into the mixture. (Here comes the tricky part) While you are pressing your cookie cutter in place, separate the seed mixture from around the shape. Still keeping the cookie cutter in place, make a hole in the top of shape with either a straw or tooth pick, if you use a toothpick make sure the hole is going to be big enough to put your bird safe string through. You can now lift the cookie cutter. It is very important to make the shape where it will be left to cook. Making the shape and trying to move it to another spot on your cookie sheet is not easy. Now, re-spread your honey mixture and continue making in the same manner until the mixture is all used up.
* If you dont want to do the recipe this way, you can always drop small spoonfuls onto cookie sheet, and then add to the birds dish during feeding time, but for some reason, I think it is cute to use up my cat shaped cookie cutter to make the treats for my birds. They seem to be bigger, and I like to give my birds another way to explore and exercise.
* If you use large eggs, you can put in a little more seeds. Measurements do not have to be exact. Experiment with the seed mixture add chopped dried fruits, vegatables, nuts, chili peppers, or bits of cuttle bone without the shell. Bake for about 20 - 25 minutes at 300 degrees they may be a little brown. When cooled down, put your string through the hole and hang up for your birds to enjoy.
Good Luck!
Ingredients:
1 cup mixed seed/pellets
1 tsp. honey (or use corn syrup and it works just as good )
2 tsp. smooth peanut butter
1 egg
1 tsp. unflavored gelatin (knox)
Cookie Cutter. (try using cookie cutters that are very basic. Ones with lots of nooks and crannies may not keep the shape)
Bird safe string or something else to hang them up with.
Put honey,egg,and peanut butter in a bowl and mix very well. A wire whisk works best.
WHILE STIRRING (important, otherwise you will have lumps) sprinkle gelatin over the mix. Stir well again.
Add the seed/pellets to the mix and stir to coat.
Let the mixture set up for a minute or so. (The next step is tricky). Spread the mixture out on your cookie sheet. Try to keep it as thick as your cookie cutter will allow. Starting from the top , press your cookie cutter into the mixture. (Here comes the tricky part) While you are pressing your cookie cutter in place, separate the seed mixture from around the shape. Still keeping the cookie cutter in place, make a hole in the top of shape with either a straw or tooth pick, if you use a toothpick make sure the hole is going to be big enough to put your bird safe string through. You can now lift the cookie cutter. It is very important to make the shape where it will be left to cook. Making the shape and trying to move it to another spot on your cookie sheet is not easy. Now, re-spread your honey mixture and continue making in the same manner until the mixture is all used up.
* If you dont want to do the recipe this way, you can always drop small spoonfuls onto cookie sheet, and then add to the birds dish during feeding time, but for some reason, I think it is cute to use up my cat shaped cookie cutter to make the treats for my birds. They seem to be bigger, and I like to give my birds another way to explore and exercise.
* If you use large eggs, you can put in a little more seeds. Measurements do not have to be exact. Experiment with the seed mixture add chopped dried fruits, vegatables, nuts, chili peppers, or bits of cuttle bone without the shell. Bake for about 20 - 25 minutes at 300 degrees they may be a little brown. When cooled down, put your string through the hole and hang up for your birds to enjoy.
Good Luck!
Perfect Iced Coffee
So I am thinking Spring, actually Summer. Its the end of February here in Maine, and I am REALLY looking forward to things warming up. So here is a recipe that I found to be FABULOUS!!
Ingredients:
1 pound Ground Coffee (good, Rich Roast)
8 quarts (2 gallons) Cold Water
Half-and-half (healthy Splash Per Serving)
Sweetened Condensed Milk (2-3 Tablespoons Per Serving)
Note:
Can Use Skim Milk, 2% Milk, Whole Milk, Sugar, Artificial Sweeteners,
Syrups...adapt To Your Liking!
In a large container, mix ground coffee with water. Cover and allow to sit at room temperature eight hours or overnight.
Line a fine mesh strainer with cheesecloth and set over a pitcher or other container. Pour coffee/water mixture through the strainer, allowing all liquid to run through. Discard grounds.
Place coffee liquid in the fridge and allow to cool. Use as needed.
To make iced coffee, pack a glass full of ice cubes. Fill glass 2/3 full with coffee liquid. Add healthy splash of half-and-half. I use the flavored creamers, and like it a little better. Add 2-3 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk (can use plain sugar instead but the sweetened condensed milk is a more smoother taste) and stir to combine. Taste and adjust half-and-half and/or sweetened condensed milk as needed. Sometimes I add a little chocolate syrup to give a mocha taste. Another good idea is to put the ice in a blender. It makes a good coffee coolatta. (especially topped off with some whipped cream!) If you havent noticed, I like things a little sweet. :)
Ingredients:
1 pound Ground Coffee (good, Rich Roast)
8 quarts (2 gallons) Cold Water
Half-and-half (healthy Splash Per Serving)
Sweetened Condensed Milk (2-3 Tablespoons Per Serving)
Note:
Can Use Skim Milk, 2% Milk, Whole Milk, Sugar, Artificial Sweeteners,
Syrups...adapt To Your Liking!
In a large container, mix ground coffee with water. Cover and allow to sit at room temperature eight hours or overnight.
Line a fine mesh strainer with cheesecloth and set over a pitcher or other container. Pour coffee/water mixture through the strainer, allowing all liquid to run through. Discard grounds.
Place coffee liquid in the fridge and allow to cool. Use as needed.
To make iced coffee, pack a glass full of ice cubes. Fill glass 2/3 full with coffee liquid. Add healthy splash of half-and-half. I use the flavored creamers, and like it a little better. Add 2-3 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk (can use plain sugar instead but the sweetened condensed milk is a more smoother taste) and stir to combine. Taste and adjust half-and-half and/or sweetened condensed milk as needed. Sometimes I add a little chocolate syrup to give a mocha taste. Another good idea is to put the ice in a blender. It makes a good coffee coolatta. (especially topped off with some whipped cream!) If you havent noticed, I like things a little sweet. :)