4 cups regular oats (not quick oats)
1 cup rolled wheat
1 cup instant dry milk
1 cup coconut flakes
1 cup peanuts
1 cup sunflower seeds
1 cup wheat germ

½ cup oil
½ cup applesauce
1 cup honey
¼ cup brown sugar
1 Tablespoon vanilla

2 cups raisins,  craisins, or dried blueberries
1 cup sweetened carob chips (optional)

Mix first seven dry ingredients in large roasting pan.  In a saucepan mix oil, honey, brown sugar, applesauce, and vanilla; heat until mixture is warmed and runny, then pour over first mixture in roasting pan, and stir until well mixed.  Bake at 250 degrees for 60 - 90 minutes, until desired brownness, stirring every 15 minutes.  (60 minutes will be light brown and softer, 90 minutes will be dark brown and crispier.)  Let cool, stirring every 10 minutes three times.  When completely cool add dried fruit and/or carob chips.

Use with milk for a cereal, or use as a topping on yogurt or ice cream.

This is the tastiest homemade pizza sauce recipe that I have been able to find.

2 cups tomato juice or sauce
1 - 6 oz can tomato paste
5 Tablespoons grated parmesan or romano cheese
3 or 4 cloves of garlic, crushed
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1 Tablespoon oregano leaves
1 ½ teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
¾ teaspoon black pepper
¾ teaspoon marjoram
¼ teaspoon chili powder

Mix all together.  Make 3 cups.

Make your own Halloween make up from simple ingredients you have in your kitchen.

1 Tablespoon corn starch
2 Tablespoons shortening
Food coloring

Cream cornstarch and shortening well.  Divide into 4 different bowls; add food coloring sparingly and stir well.  Using too much food coloring will stain skin.

Small area of Little Red Hen during September sale

The Little Red Hen Home Comforts shop brings a twist to the saying, ‘Reduce, reuse, and recycle’; at the Little Red Hen it could be rephrased as, ‘Redecorate, refresh, and revive’.   Owners Kent and Brenda Rydberg have brought the occasional sale concept to Dassel, Minnesota, where their shop is open the last Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of each month.

Kent and Brenda, both professional painters, spend weeks before each sale repairing, repainting and refinishing used, and often very unique pieces of furniture.  Each month the store is stocked with wonderful and unique pieces of furniture, vintage collectibles, hand-crafted items, and both new and gently used home accessories.  About fifteen gals, who all happen to be ‘collectors, decorators and thrifters’, bring items for consignment and help the Rydbergs’ keep the inventory replenished and interesting.

Each month a theme is chosen, lending additional fun and intrigue to each sale.  For example, in June there was a bridal theme, showcasing vintage wedding dresses, and wedding punch along with wedding cake was served as a treat to customers.  In July a patriotic theme was present, and August was back to school, with a school room set up so charmingly nostalgic that it made you want to stand up and recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag in the corner.

After having attended occasional sales of this kind for years such as Second Hand Rose, Three Sisters, Barn Chix, and This ‘N That, in Buffalo, Minnesota, the Little Red Hen in Dassel has become my favorite.  It is evident that many hours are spent each month prior to a sale rearranging and decorating the entire shop, down to the smallest details.  The top-notch decorating expertise of the gals involved in this venture inspires customers to return each month for ideas, bargains, and of course, for socializing.  There is always free coffee, punch, and treats, door prizes, and even a baby corner where mothers can set sleeping infants in their car seats while they browse.

If you want to redecorate, refresh, and revive your home without breaking the bank, visit the Little Red Hen Home Comforts shop, or sign up for a decorating class held at the Little Red Hen.  ‘Decorating on a Dime’ is a fun and popular decorating class offered by consignee and gifted decorator, Deb Halonen.  Call D-C Community Education to sign up for this popular class at (320)286-4120.

Little Red Hen Home Comforts  ~  261 Atlantic Ave W, Dassel, MN  ~ 320-275-9725

October Sales ~ October 23, 24, 25   9 a.m. - 6 p.m.

November Sales ~
Holiday Open House - November 7 - 8       9 a.m - 6 p.m.
Regular Sales - November 20, 21, 22      9 a.m. - 6 p.m.

December Sales ~ December 11, 12, 13 (held earlier than usual)     9 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Map to Little Red Hen:  http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Dassel&state=MN&address=261+Atlantic+Ave+W&zipcode=55325

12 cups tomatoes, blended
1 large onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
4 Tablespoons butter
½ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon pepper
1 ½ teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
2 bay leaves
¾ cup sugar (less if desired)
4 beef bouillon cubes
1 large can tomato paste

Bring all ingredients EXCEPT sugar and tomato paste to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for about 45-60 minutes, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are well cooked and sauce is starting to thicken.  Remove bay leaves, then add sugar and tomato paste, combine well.  Place in clean jars or containers, leaving head space for sauce to expand when frozen.

For canning this recipe instead of freezing, pour spaghetti sauce into clean quart or pint jars, and seal with canning lids.  Put filled jars in a hot water bath canner, covering jars by at least one inch of water.  Bring water to a rolling boil, and keep water at a rolling boil for 30 minutes if canning pints, and 35 minutes if canning quarts.

Makes 7 pints or 3 1/2 quarts.

Here’s a recipe to make dry Ranch Dressing dip mix.  Save money by making your own mix from scratch, save even more by purchasing the spices in bulk at your grocery store.

1 cup dried parsley flakes
½ cup dried minced onion
½ cup garlic salt
½ cup onion salt
¼ cup garlic powder
¼ cup onion powder
2 Tablespoons dill weed
¼ cup Saco buttermilk powder

Mix well and store in airtight container.

To make prepared Ranch Dressing mix well together:

2 Tablespoons mix
2 cups Miracle Whip or mayonnaise
2 cups milk

Make your own delicious, nutritious, summertime freezies; both kids and adults love these!

½ cup sugar
2 cups boiling water
6 oz. frozen orange juice concentrate (not diluted)
2 ½ c. crushed pineapple with juice (20 oz. can)
1 - 10 oz. pkg. frozen strawberries
5 mashed bananas

Dissolve sugar in boiling water. Add other ingredients, then blend in two batches in blender. Pour into small 3 oz. Dixie cups, freeze partially, then add popsicle sticks and finish freezing until completely firm. Peel off Dixie cup before eating. Makes about 24 treats.

Substitute other berries or frozen juice to invent new flavors!

This verdigris fence in my garden was a twin size day bed a few months ago.

As we were taking apart this extra bed I started thinking it might be really cute in my garden. My husband drilled new holes so we could put it together with the ends attached to the middle the long way instead of crossway. Then we popped off the protective tips on each post so they were hollow and we could push them into the ground.

Viola!! We created our own garden fence out of a bed we no longer needed!  You can do it yourself with a metal daybed or a crib; look for them at garage sales, the hunt is half the fun!

For 30 years I’ve been saving money when washing windows by making my own window cleaning solution.

For washing inside windows Aunt Elaine gave me this thrifty tip years ago and it works great; in an ice cream bucket half full of warm water add 2-3 drops of liquid dish soap. Use a damp sponge to wash the windows and a piece of newspaper to dry them (the glossy ads will not work.) Your hands will get gray from the ink on the newspaper, but your windows will shine with no streaking!  I’ve also seen recipes where you can add 1 Tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice to the water.

Here’s a recipe for washing outside windows, and the kids can help! Wet down a window with the garden hose, then wash with the window cleaner solution.

OUTDOOR WINDOW CLEANER SOLUTION

1/2 gallon warm water

1 Tablespoon liquid ‘Jet Dry’

2-3 Tablespoons laundry or dishwasher detergent

Mix above ingredients. Brush or sponge onto window, then immediately hose off window; water will sheet off, no drying necessary.