Are You Ever Amazed By How Much Extra Liquid or Creamy Substance You Can Get Out of a Tube, Bottle or Jar by Adding Water?

A week ago, I asked one of my daughters, who happens to frequent Dollar Tree, if she could pick up a bottle of liquid dish detergent the next time she was there. She looked over at the current bottle and asked if she should go that evening. At that point, there was not much more than a green film at the bottom of the bottle. I said "no, this should last us another 4 days." Well, here we are, a full week later, and by adding water, we've been able to do all of the hand washing with that little bit. (We also use a dishwasher for most items, so it's not like we washed ever dish, pot, or pan with that tiny amount of detergent.)

I'm just amazed at how much more we could get from that bottle. I think we have enough for another day of those items that need hand washing.

I about panicked when I saw my favorite deep conditioning hair cream jar was about empty. I made a special stop by Walmart to pick up more as a result. Without even opening the next jar, I decided to add some water to the bottom of the current one. I've been able to get enough conditioning substance to get through another week.

I co-wash with cheapo conditioner on a regular basis. When I could no longer get conditioner to come out of the bottle with a squeeze, I downgraded this almost empty bottle to my hair detangler. 

Sometimes, adding water can lengthen the time you have to replace a substance. Sometimes, it's diluted to the point that you have to use the substance differently from its original purpose. Take ketchup. When the ketchup bottle is about empty, I add water and save this ketchup-water to add to soup or baked beans.

Imagine all of the bottles, jars, and tubes that go into the garbage without this extra effort to rinse and continue using to the very last bit. Waste bothers me. But also, I feel sorry for those folks who don't get that same sense of amazement or satisfaction that I get, by using it all up. They're missing out. Not only is this a free satisfaction, but it actually saves money. Maybe this sort of thing isn't on their radar for fun times.

Back to the question -- are you ever amazed by how much extra you can get out of a jar, bottle or tube simply by adding water? Tell me I'm not alone in my frugal fun.

What Are Some of Your Favorite Pumpkin Foods?

'Tis the season to make all things pumpkin.

At my family's request, over the weekend I made a loaf of pumpkin bread. I used the recipe on an old Libby's canned pumpkin label, halving the recipe (to make 1 loaf instead of two), reducing the sugar by a couple of tablespoons and subbing part (3/8 cup) of the all-purpose flour called for with a bit of whole wheat. That last bit meant I could maybe call this a "whole grain." Okay, so not exactly a whole grain food, but better than all white flour.

Pumpkin bread is a family favorite here. We enjoyed it as snacks, breakfast, and dessert.

But we also really enjoyed the pumpkin pudding from a week ago. When there was one cup remaining, my family members had to play a game of rock, paper, scissors to see who would get it.

Other pumpkin dishes I've made this fall include oven-roasted pumpkin cubes as a side dish and curried peanut-pumpkin soup. 

A favorite holiday dessert in my household is this pumpkin cake roll (recipe in this link). I'm thinking this cake roll may find its way onto our Thanksgiving or Christmas menu. It's easier than it looks and always elicits compliments on its appearance.

I still have a bunch of garden-grown pumpkins left to work with. Looking for suggestions and favorite recipes.

So how about you? What are your favorite ways to use pumpkin?