photo by almostbunnies
DEAR SARA: I’m always looking for new gift-wrapping ideas. Everyone loves the way I wrap their gifts. I’d like to use the first letter of a friend’s name on a wrapped gift box, but I’m out of ideas on what material to use to form the letter. I don’t want to use cording, satin ribbon or glitter because the wrapping is natural-looking. Any ideas? — Paula, e-mail
DEAR PAULA: Look for baby-leaf boxwood garland. It’s easy to bend and form into letters. It works well as a natural-looking ribbon or edging, too. If you have a hard time finding it, you can buy it from Sunshine Discount Crafts (www.sunshinecrafts.com); (800) 729-2878. If you’re looking for a more frugal material, you can use paper, raffia, jute twine, mini pine cones, seeds, hard candies or crafter’s dried fruit or flowers, fabric, twigs, pine or bark. Give satin, organza or grosgrain ribbon a try. You might discover you actually like the combination once you see it paired.
DEAR SARA: I have two young kids in elementary school. I’m looking for frugal ideas to send to their classrooms for their birthdays other than the standard goodie bags. Help. — Jill F., Ohio
DEAR JILL: School supplies such as crayons can be bought cheap. Look for sales. A box of crayons makes a practical and sugar-free gift. You can add curling ribbon or stickers for an added touch.
DEAR SARA: I have so much frozen ground beef in the freezer. I bought way too much, and I need to use it up, but my family will scream if I make meatballs or meatloaf again. Please help me think of a new way to use up ground beef. — Dana P., Massachusetts
DEAR DANA: Here are two family-friendly recipes.
Stroganoff Burgers
1-1/2 to 2 pounds ground beef
3 slices bacon, chopped
1/2 cup chopped onion
1-1/2 tablespoons flour
salt and pepper to taste
1 can cream-of-mushroom soup
1 cup sour cream
10 hamburger buns or French bread, cut lengthwise
Brown ground beef with bacon and onion in skillet. Drain grease. Add flour and salt and pepper; mix well. Stir in soup. Simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Mix in sour cream. Serve on toasted buns. Optional: Spread hamburger onto French bread. Add diced tomatoes, diced green peppers and shredded cheese on top for added flavor. Toast in the oven at 350 F for 15 minutes or until cheese is melted. — Denise, Illinois
Taco Soup
1-1/2 pounds ground beef, browned and drained
1 large onion, diced
1 package Hidden Valley Dry Ranch Dressing
1 package taco seasoning
1 can stewed tomatoes
1 can rotel tomatoes
1 can corn
2 cans pinto beans
2 cans navy beans
1 can green chilies (optional)
Cook ground beef with onion, drain, and place in slow cooker or stew pot. Add remaining ingredients. Do not drain any of the liquid from the cans.
Slow cooker: Cook 4 hours on low.
Stovetop: Simmer for an hour.
Serve with corn chips and shredded cheese. — Kathy, Texas
DEAR SARA: Do your kids get a new school backpack every year? — Anna, e-mail
DEAR ANNA: My kids get a new backpack as needed. September (after school has already started) is a good time to look for discounted backpacks. You can decide whether you want to buy cheaper backpacks that wear out quickly and need to be replaced, or spend more money up front on higher-quality backpacks.
译文:
创造性的包装带来别样的感受
摄影 almostbunnies
亲爱的莎拉: 我总是在寻找包装礼物的新点子。大家都很喜欢我包装礼物的方式。我想要在礼物的包装盒上弄出朋友名字的第一个字母，但现在我想不到用什么材料来做。因为整个包装是走自然风的，所以我不想用灯芯绒面料、缎带或者闪光的材料来装饰。你有什么好点子么？
——宝拉（通过电子邮件求助）
亲爱的宝拉: 找一个用黄杨木的嫩叶做的花环。这种材料柔韧性很强，把它弯曲起来做字母很容易。另外，它也很适合用来作带有自然风的包装带或者边缘装饰。如果你没时间去找这种材料，你也可以从“阳光工艺折扣店”买到（http://www.sunshinecrafts.com/），电话是 (800) 729-2878。如果你想找一种更朴素的材料，你可以用纸、酒椰纤维、黄麻绳、小松果、种子、硬糖或工艺干果、干花、树枝、树皮之类的材料。其实缎带、透明硬纱或者罗缎带也是可以试试的——说不定搭配起来以后你会发现这种组合也还不错哦。
亲爱的莎拉: 我有两个上小学的孩子。我想要在他们生日的时候给他们送一些简单的礼物到教室去——不要那种俗气的礼包。请帮帮我。
——吉尔 F.，俄亥俄州
亲爱的吉尔: 学校的办公用品——譬如彩色粉笔——都还蛮便宜的。你可以去买一些打折的。一盒彩色粉笔既特别又健康。你还可以在上面加一些彩带什么的来增加生日礼物的感觉。
亲爱的莎拉: 因为买的时候太豪迈，我在冰箱里存了好多冷冻的绞细牛肉。这些牛肉必须吃完，但是如果我再做肉丸或者肉片之类的菜色我的家人就要崩溃了。请帮我想个办法把这些牛肉给解决掉吧。
——达娜 P.，马萨诸塞州
亲爱的达娜: 给你两份比较适合你们家这种情况的菜谱吧
酸奶蘑菇肉丝汉堡
1磅半到2磅的绞细牛肉
3片切碎的熏肉
半杯洋葱丁
一茶匙半面粉
适量盐和辣椒
1罐蘑菇酱汤
1杯酸奶油
10 片纵向切片的汉堡面包火法国面包
把绞细牛肉和熏肉、洋葱在长柄浅锅里煎成褐色。 沥干油水，加入面粉、盐和辣椒，并充分混合。用小火将汤汁煨15分钟，其间搅拌一两次。在汤汁里混入酸奶油。将混合酱汤涂到面包片上。另一种做法是：把碎牛肉涂到法式长棍上，在最上层放一些番茄丁，青椒丁和少量奶酪来调味。用350华氏度的烤炉烤15分钟直到奶酪融化。——丹尼斯，伊利诺斯州
墨西哥玉米面豆汤
1磅半绞细牛肉，煎至棕色并沥干油水
1个大洋葱，切丁
1包“隐藏的山谷”干敷料牌
1包玉米面豆调料
1罐番茄酱
1罐新鲜番茄
1罐玉米
2罐斑豆
2罐菜豆
1罐青椒（备选）
把绞细牛肉和洋葱一起烹调，沥干油水后放到文火上或者焖锅里。把剩下的材料都加进去，注意不要把罐头里的汁水给倒掉。
焖煮4个小时（文火）
注意不要让汤烧开1个小时
加上一些玉米片和奶酪丁就可以上桌了。
——凯西，德克萨斯州
亲爱的莎拉: 你的小孩每年都会换个新书包么？——安娜，（通过电子邮件）
亲爱的安娜: 如果有需要，我的孩子们就会换新书包。九月（开学之后） 确实是买打折书包的好时候。你可以选择买一个比较便宜的书包——但这种书包很容易用坏，之后你就必须再买一个新的——或者是多花些钱买一个质量好一点的。