It is time for spring cleaning, and many of us are amazed at how much stuff has collected over time. We put away items, thinking we will need them some day, and if your house is like mine, you forget you even had the thing in the first place. You know the saying, “one man’s junk is another man’s treasure.” Why not try a garage sale?
Kathy Peel, author of The Family Manager’s Everyday Survival Guide, shares some tips on turning trash into cash:
- Take inventory to determine if you have enough stuff to put on a good sale. If you do not, invite friends, family or neighbors to join you.
- Set aside an appropriate date. Avoid holiday weekends since many garage sale regulars may be away, unless you live in a resort town.
- Decide what time to start and finish. Experienced shoppers will likely come early for the best pick of the merchandise. Plan on half as many people to drop by in the afternoon.
- A week or two before the sale, place an ad in the local paper. Be sure to include dates, times, a sampling of the merchandise, your address and brief directions.
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Do not include your phone number unless you are selling specific items that people may have questions about.
- Make notices of your sale to put up on community event boards, at the coffee shop, grocery store and corner posts that allow posters. Signs should be legible and eye-catching. Secure them in the locations by using tacks and heavy stakes. Put them up the week of the sale.
- The week before the sale, clean, sort and repair items for sale.
- Price the merchandise with stickers or masking tape.
- Make prices easy by sticking to amounts that require the least amount of change.
- You may want to put together grab bags of small items. They are crowd pleasers.
- If the item is damaged, be sure to mark it accordingly with a sign “as is.”
- Consider a free grab box to get rid of odds and ends.
- If merchandise seems to be moving too quickly or slowly, it may be priced too low or too high.
- Prices should be at least 20 to 30 percent of current retail value, depending on the condition of the item.
- Go to the bank and get at least $20 in quarters, dimes and nickels, bills in various denominations and $50 worth of loonies and toonies.
- Advise neighbors about your sale and if they do not want people parking in front of their home, make signs that read “Do not park” to be put up on sale day.
- Have extension cords available to check items that require power.
- Set up as much as possible the day before the sale. If you have an enclosed space, arrange the merchandise, and if the sale is in your driveway or yard, set out tables and racks if weather permits and have merchandise arranged for easy set-up in the morning.
- After the sale, take down the signs you posted.
- Pack unsold merchandise to donate or save for your next sale.
Substitute flour
Dear TEAM: I have a recipe that calls for self-rising flour, and since I can’t buy this flour where I live, I was wondering if there is an equivalent that I could use by adding baking powder to regular flour? If so, in what proportions? – I.C., Gravelbourg, Sask.
Dear I.C.: I recently baked a loaf that required this simple substitution. For each cup (250 mL) of self-rising flour, place 11/2 teaspoons (seven mL) of baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon (two mL) of salt in a measuring cup. Add all-purpose flour to measure one cup (250 mL).
For those readers whose recipe calls for cake flour, measure the required amount of all-purpose flour, and take out one tablespoon (15 mL) from each cup (250 mL), replacing with one tablespoon (15 mL) of cornstarch.
Simple treats
Here are some quick and easy recipes for picnics and camping trips. Thanks to V.B., Grimshaw, Alta. for this soda cracker smacker’s recipe.
Line a cookie sheet with tin foil, then line sheet with 42 soda crackers.
In another bowl mix one cup (250 mL) of margarine or butter and one cup (250 mL) of brown sugar. Melt and pour over the crackers.
Bake for five minutes or until bubbling on top at 350 F (180 C).
Remove from the oven and sprinkle two cups (500 mL) of chocolate chips over this and return to the oven for one or two minutes until chocolate is melted.
Remove from the oven and put into the deep freeze for about one hour. Remove from the freezer and break into desired size for pieces.
- Variation: Sprinkle one cup (250 mL) of chopped walnuts or pecans and press down slightly over melted chocolate and then put into the freezer.
Chocolate coffee cake
This recipe was given to me and it works great for those of us who always have leftovers in the coffee maker.
2 cups sugar 500 mL
13/4 cups all-purpose 425 mL
flour
3/4 cup baking cocoa 175 mL
2 teaspoons baking soda 10 mL
1 teaspoon baking 5 mL
powder
1 teaspoon salt 5 mL
2 eggs
1 cup strong brewed 250 mL
coffee
1 cup buttermilk 250 mL
1/2 cup vegetable oil 125 mL
1 teaspoon vanilla 5 mL
extract
icing sugar to cover cake
Combine the first six ingredients in a mixing bowl. Add eggs, coffee, buttermilk, oil and vanilla; beat on medium speed for two minutes. Pour into a greased and floured 10 inch (3 L) bundt pan. Bake at 350 F (180 C) for 45-50 minutes. Cool and sprinkle with icing sugar.
- Note: As a substitute for buttermilk, add 1/2 teaspoon (two mL) baking powder to one cup (250 mL) milk. You can also place one tablespoon (15 mL) vinegar in a measuring cup and fill with milk to one cup (250 mL).
