Inflation Busters

 My mom passed along to me this list of "inflation busters", which she got from my grandmother.

 My grandmother grew up in the Great Depression, and learned to be very resourceful with simple ingredients! It would serve us well to learn to be that resourceful again – and we may have to soon out of necessity! This is a LOT of information, on how to make your own baking mixes, how to make your own cleaning supplies, and much more!

BASIC COOKIE MIX

8 cups all-purpose flour

2 ½ cups granulated sugar

2 cups brown sugar, firmly packed

4 tsp salt

1 ½ tsp bkg soda

3 cups vegetable shortening

In a large bowl, combine flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, salt and baking soda until well-blended. With a pastry blender, cut in shortening until evenly distributed. Put in a large airtight container. Label. Store in a cool, dry place. Use within 10-12 weeks. Makes about 16 cups of BASIC COOKIE MIX.

Very Vanilla Cookies

3 cups Basic Cookie Mix

3 tbsp milk

1 ½ tsp vanilla

1 egg

Sugar or frosting, if desired

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease baking sheets. In a large bowl, combine basic cookie mix, milk, vanilla and egg. Blend well. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto prepared baking sheets. Sprinkle with sugar, if desired. Bake 10-15 minutes, until edges are golden. Frost, if desired. Makes about 2 dozen.

Variations:

Spice Vanilla Cookies: Add 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice and ½ cup nuts to dough.

Cocoa Cookies: Add 2 tbsp cocoa and increase milk to 2 tbsp. Frost, if desired.

Holiday Pinwheels: Divide dough in half. Color half green and half red. Cover each half with wax paper and roll out to rectangles of equal size. Remove wax paper. Place one rectangle on top of other and roll like a jelly roll. Chill 2-3 hours. Cut into 1/8 inch slices.

Sweet and Spicy Cookies

2 cups Basic Cookie Mix

4 tbsp molasses

½ tsp vanilla

1 egg, beaten

½ tsp ginger

½ tsp cinnamon

½ tsp allspice

Sugar

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease baking sheets. In a medium bowl, combine basic cookie mix, molasses, vanilla, egg, ginger, cinnamon and allspice. Stir until blended. Drop by teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets. Flatten with the bottom of a glass dipped in sugar. Bake 8-10 minutes, until edges are browned. Makes about 24 cookies.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

3 cups Basic Cookie Mix

2 tbsp water

1 tsp vanilla

1 egg

1 cup chocolate chips (6 oz pkg)

½ cup nuts or coconut (optional)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease baking sheets. In a large bowl, combine Basic Cookie Mix, milk and egg. Blend well. Stir in nuts or coconut and chocolate chips. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto prepared baking sheets. Bake 10-15 minutes, until golden brown. Makes about 36 cookies, 2”-2 ¼” each.

Peanut Butter Cookies

3 cups Basic Cookie Mix

¼ cup brown sugar, firmly packed

1 tsp vanilla

2 eggs

½ cup chunky peanut butter

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease baking sheets. Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl. Blend well. Shape dough into 1 inch balls. Place on prepared baking sheets and flatten with fork tines. Bake 10-12 minutes, until edges are browned. Makes 30-36 cookies.

Variation:

Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies: On baking sheets, press thumb into center of balls. Do not flatten. Fill with grape jelly.

Date-filled Drop Cookies

4 cups Basic Cookie Mix

½ tsp cinnamon

2 eggs, beaten

1 tsp vanilla

¼ cup water or buttermilk

Walnut halves

Date filling:

1 cup chopped dates

3 tbsp sugar

3 tbsp water

¼ cup chopped nuts

Prepare date filling as follows: In a small saucepan, combine dates, sugar and water. Cook over med heat about 5-10 minutes, stirring, until thick. Remove from heat. Cool slightly. Stir in chopped nuts. Set aside to cool.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease baking sheets. In a large bowl, combine Basic Cookie Mix, cinnamon, eggs, vanilla and water or buttermilk. Blend well. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto prepared baking sheets. Spoon ½ tsp of filling on top of each cookie, depressing dough slightly. Cover each with another tsp of dough. Top with walnut half. Bake 10-12 minutes, until browned. Makes 30-36 cookies.

Many years ago, my mother-in-law gave me some information on “inflation busters”. She grew up in the Great Depression, and learned to be very resourceful with simple ingredients! It would serve us well to learn to be that resourceful again – and we may have to soon out of necessity! It is a lot of information, so I am going to break it down into several different posts.

This first one is about ways to use salt.

SALT

-To clean up a dropped raw egg, pour salt liberally over it and let set 10-15 minutes. Pick up with a paper towel.

-Sprinkle a little salt into the frying pan to prevent splattering.

-To brighten up a bathtub which has yellowed, rub with a solution of salt and turpentine.

-Sprinkle salt on damp mud spots. Give the salt at least 15 minutes to soak up the mud, then vacuum up and away!

-Pour salt on a grease spill immediately. The salt will absorb the grease and prevent staining.

-Fleas will “flee”, if you place some fresh pine needles in the doghouse or underneath the dog’s bed pad. Or, salt the crevices of the doghouse and wash him periodically with salt and water.

-Salted boiling water will immediately kill grass or weeds growing between crevices in cement walk.

-Following a spill in the oven, sprinkle with salt immediately. When oven is cool, brush off burnt food and then wipe with a damp sponge.

-There is less need to scrub the fireplace if you throw salt on the logs occasionally. This will reduce soot by 2/3.

-When a drain is clogged with grease, pour a cup of salt and a cup of baking soda into the drain followed by a kettle of boiling water. The grease will usually dissolve immediately and open the drain.

-You can prevent sticking in a skillet by sprinkling the pan with salt and then warming it in the oven for five minutes. Remove the pan, wipe out the salt, and use as usual.

-To renew or freshen a sponge, soak overnight in salt or baking soda water.

-If regular shampooing is impossible, make your own dry shampoo by mixing together 1 tbsp salt and ½ cup cornmeal. Transfer to a large holed salt shaker, sprinkle it on oily hair lightly and then brush out dirt and grime.

-Clean artificial flowers by putting them in a large plastic bag, flower side in first, to which cornmeal or salt has been added. Shake vigorously.

PART TWO

This second one is about ways to use vinegar.

-To clean your washing machine, fill the washer with warm water and pour vinegar into it. Run the machine through an entire cycle. The vinegar will cleanse the hoses and unclog soap scum from them.

-Vinegar is a natural meat tenderizer and makes a fabulous marinade.

-Final rinse for brunettes and redheads: rinse hair with water containing a several tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. For blonds, rinse with water containing a few tbsp of lemon juice. Both will remove soapy film and give the hair a beautiful shine.

-Vinegar is a must when washing crystal. Rinse in 1 part vinegar to 3 parts warm water. Air dry.

-To remove lime deposits from a tea kettle, fill with equal parts vinegar and water. Bring to a boil and allow to stand overnight..

-Vinegar brought to a boil in a new frying pan will prevent foods from sticking.

-Save time and money by using the cheapest brand of dishwashing detergent available, but add a few tbsp of vinegar to the dishwater. The vinegar will cut the grease and leave your dished sparkling clean.

-Spots on stainless steel sinks can also be removed with white vinegar.

-To keep cheese from drying out, wrap in a cloth dampened with vinegar.

-Try soaking fish in vinegar and water before cooking it for a sweet, tender taste.

-White vinegar will help remove a permanent crease. Sponge the material liberally with the vinegar and press with a warm iron.

-You will eliminate the lint problem by adding 1 cup white vinegar to the final rinse cycle.

-Vinegar is a must for hand washing. It cuts down soap so fast you will only have to rinse two times.

-To remove grease from suede, sponge with a cloth dipped in vinegar or club soda. Restore nap of suede by brushing with a suede brush.

-To soften hard paint on brushes, soak in hot vinegar. Follow with a wash in warm, sudsy water.

-When smokers are in your home, a dish of vinegar placed inconspicuously in the room will help absorb odors. When they leave, put out a dish of ammonia to freshen the room or put vinegar and water on a towel and swing it around.

-To remove polish build-up, use a mixture of ½ cup vinegar and ½ cup water. Rub with a soft cloth that has been moistened with solution, but wrung out. Dry immediately with another soft cloth.

-Use full strength vinegar to remove lime deposits from bath hardware.

-For a quick shine for glass shower doors, rub with a sponge dampened in white vinegar.

-Dark stains in aluminum pans often can be removed by boiling water containing either vinegar or 1 tbsp cream of tartar per quart of water.

PART THREE

This third one is about ways to use baking soda. Baking soda is no doubt one of the most versatile consumer products. While once it was used almost exclusively for baking, it now is in demand daily by homemakers for scores of additional uses throughout the home. It is found today not only in the kitchen, but in the bathroom, the baby’s bedroom, the garage and workshop as well. Baking soda’s purity and safety make it first choice where food, children, pets and sensible homemakers congregate.

-A completely opened box of baking soda deodorizes the refrigerator and reduces taste-transfer between stored foods better than anything else.

-A solution of three tablespoons baking soda dissolved in one quart of warm water safely cleans and deodorizes all interior and exterior surfaces.

-A handful of baking soda tossed in the bottom of the dishwasher between loads helps reduce odor from a day’s soiled dishes stored there between meals.

-Cleaning the kitchen is the main, on-going job for baking soda, either in solution or dry on a damp sponge. Baking soda’s effervescence lifts off food spills from glass oven doors, chrome trim, plastic knobs and the porcelain enamel exterior and neutralizes them. Its mild abrasive action scours without scratching.

-Sprinkle burnt pots liberally with baking soda, adding just enough water to moisten. Let stand for several hours. You can generally lift the burned portion right out of the pan.

-Even after deodorizing in the refrigerator for two months, baking soda has enough power left to clean and deodorize food waste disposers and drains. Pour the contents of the box down the drain and chase it with hot water.

-Wash teapots and coffee makers in a solution of three tablespoons baking soda to one quart hot water to eliminate bitter off-tastes and remove stains.

-When a drain is clogged with grease, pour a cup of salt and a cup of baking soda into the drain followed by a kettle of boiling water. The grease will usually dissolve immediately and open the drain.

-For bad stains, make a paste of baking soda and bleach.

-For relief of sunburns, apply a paste of baking soda and water.

-Apply a baking soda paste to an insect bite after the stinger is removed to draw out the irritation.

-A cupful of baking soda added to bathwater softens water and minimizes the need for soap.

-Baking soda may be used as a coolant and smothering agent for small kitchen grease or electrical fires.

-If baby bubbles a bit after feeding and must have his shirt changed frequently to keep him smelling sweet, try this: Moisten a cloth with water, dip it in baking soda and dab at the dribbled shirt. The odor will disappear.

PART FOUR

This fourth one is about ways to use Fabric Softener Sheets

a. It will chase ants away when you lay a sheet near them.

b. It takes the odor out of books and photo albums that don't get

opened too often.

c. Repels mosquitoes. Tie a sheet of Bounce through a belt loop when outdoors during mosquito season.

d. Eliminates static electricity from your television screen. Since Bounce is designed to help eliminate static cling, wipe your television screen with a used sheet of Bounce to keep dust from resettling.

e. Dissolve soap scum from shower doors. Clean with a sheet of Bounce.

f. Freshen the air in your home. Place an individual sheet of Bounce in a drawer or hang in the closet.

g. Prevent thread from tangling. Run a threaded needle through a sheet of Bounce before beginning to sew.

h. Prevent musty suitcases. Place an individual sheet of Bounce inside

empty luggage before storing.

i. Freshen the air in your car. Place a sheet of Bounce under the front seat

j. Clean baked-on foods from a cooking pan. Put a sheet in a pan, fill with water, let sit overnight, and sponge clean. The antistatic agent apparently weakens the bond between the food and the pan while the fabric softening agents soften the baked-on food.

l. Eliminate odors in wastebaskets. Place a sheet of Bounce at the bottom of the wastebasket.

m. Collect cat hair. Rubbing the area with a sheet of Bounce will magnetically attract all the loose hairs.

n. Eliminate static electricity from venetian blinds. Wipe the blinds with a sheet of Bounce to prevent dust from resettling.

o. Wipe up sawdust from drilling or sand papering. A used sheet of Bounce will collect sawdust like a tack cloth.

p. Eliminate odors in dirty laundry. Place an individual sheet of Bounce at the bottom of a laundry bag or hamper.

q. Deodorize shoes or sneakers. Place a sheet of Bounce in your shoes or sneakers overnight so they will smell better in the morning.

PART FIVE

This one is about ways to use bars of soap, Vaseline, and castor oil.

BARS OF SOAP

-Especially for children, put a piece of soap into a loose sock and tie the end up. They prefer it to a plain bar as it will not slip out of their hands, and it is sure cheaper than liquid soap!

-Bars of soap will last longer if left opened for several days before using. In the meantime, they can be stored in lingerie drawers in place of sachets.

-A bar of soap makes an ideal place to stick needles and pins. It lubricates them so they will go through stiff fabrics with ease.

-Before sewing stiff fabric, rub the seams with a bar of hard soap. The machine needle will go through the material with ease.

-For reluctant dresser drawers, rub soap on the runner of the side that seems to be sticking.

-If you have a cranky metal zipper, lubricate it by rubbing the teeth with a bar of soap.

VASELINE

-Shampoo will not run into the eyes if you put Vaseline on baby’s eyebrows and eyelids. The soap will always run sideways instead of downward.

-Oily skin holds perfume scents longer than dry skin. So, before applying perfume, rub a very thin layer of Vaseline on your skin and you will smell delicious for hours.

-Give your patent leather shoes a bright shine by rubbing with a dab of Vaseline.

-For easy removal of pain, rub Vaseline on exposed skin.

-For sensitive eyes, Vaseline works wonderfully to remove eye make-up.

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CASTOR OIL
-For a terrific eye cream, apply castor oil around your eyes. Make sure it is the odorless form.

-For oiling houseplants, feed your plant a tablespoon of castor oil, followed by a good drink of water.

MIRACLE WHIP BEAUTY TIP

Miracle Whip salad dressing removes dead skin, and only miracle whip, not mayonnaise. Rub a small amount into skin and let it dry for a few minutes. While the skin is still slightly moist, start massaging face with fingertips rubbing vigorously. You will be surprised at how much dead skin will roll right off! This treatment is especially good for feet, elbows, knees and face

PART SIX

This one is about ways to use hair spray and ammonia.

Hairspray

-Spray any cut flower with hairspray to make it last longer without shedding. Hold the spray can about a foot away from the bouquet and spray in an upward direction, so as not to cause the flowers to droop.

-To save your child’s artwork, give each drawing a good coating of hairspray and it will prevent the colors from fading or wearing.

-Saturate ball point ink stains with hairspray. Dry, then brush lightly with a solution of water and vinegar. Alternatively, rubbing alcohol alone may remove the stain.

-To stop a run in pantyhose (when clear nail polish is not available) apply hair spray.

-If a wasp or bee gets into your house, reach for the hairspray. Most insect sprays only infuriate them, but the hair spray stiffens their wings, immobilizing them immediately. This works well on all winged insects.

-Spray a bit of hairspray on your finger when threading a needle, and then apply it to the end of the thread. The thread will stiffen just enough to ease the job of finding the eye.

-After polishing shoes, spray with hair spray to prevent polish from coming off so easily.

Ammonia

-For a room freshener, boil water to which a little ammonia has been added.

-To take away the odor of fresh paint, set out ammonia, vinegar, or a bowl of water with an onion slice floating in it.

-To wash ceramic tile, mix a solution of ½ cup ammonia, ½ cup white vinegar, ¼ cup washing soda, and one gallon warm water.

-For cleaner work clothes, add ½ cup household ammonia to the wash cycle.

-For quick clean-ups on appliances, rub with equal parts of water and household ammonia.

Make Your Own Glass Cleaner

This is easy to make, and MUCH cheaper than commercial varieties and works just as well. Another great thing about making things yourself is that you know exactly what goes in them!

3 tablespoons ammonia

1 tbsp vinegar

Water

Blue food coloring, if desired

Combine ammonia with vinegar in 12 oz spray bottle. Finish filling with water. Add a few drops of blue food coloring, if desired.

Make Your Own Furniture Polish

1/3 cup linseed oil

1/3 cup turpentine

1/3 cup vinegar

Pour all ingredients into container and shake well before using. Easy, cheap and effective!

Pancake Mix Recipe

Buying commercial pancake mix IS easier than making your own from scratch, but it is not the most cost effective, nor is it the healthiest. By making your own mix, you can benefit from the convenience of a mix in the morning, while saving $$$, and controlling exactly what goes into your family’s breakfast.

PANCAKE MIX

10 cups all-purpose flour

1½ cups instant nonfat dry milk

½ cup sugar

¼ cup baking powder

2 tbsp salt

Combine all ingredients in large bowl. Stir well to blend. Put in a large airtight container. Label. Store in a cool, dry place. Use within 6-8 months. Makes about 13 cups of pancake mix.

I have picked up large Tupperware canisters at garage sales and thrift shops which are perfect for storing this sort of thing in! I recommend that you write or print out the recipe below and tape it to the container you store your pancake mix in, so that when you get ready to make your pancakes, it will be right there ready and you don’t have to go hunting for the recipe. 

PERFECT PANCAKES

1½ cups pancake mix (above)

1 egg, slightly beaten

1 cup water

3 tbsp oil

Put pancake mix in medium bowl. Combine egg, water and oil in a small bowl. Add egg mixture to pancake mix. Add more water for thinner pancakes. Blend well. Let stand 5 minutes. Cook on a hot oiled griddle for about 3-4 minutes, until browned on both sides. Makes 10-12 four-inch pancakes.