Tipnut’s Weekly Update: {February 8th, 2012}

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It’s time for Tipnut’s Weekly Update! Here’s what’s new today: 80+ muffin recipes (and tips), a list of meat tenderizers (and why they work), updates to the Valentine’s site and as always, a fresh batch of new projects and freebies to check out. Enjoy!

• Muffin Mania! 80+ Recipes Plus Quick Tips: I added dozens of new recipes (organized into groups for easier browsing) and moved the muffin baking tips to this page.
• 11 Meat Tenderizers & Why They Work: You just might be surprised at what you can use on those cheap cuts of meat (and prime steaks) to make them juicy and tender.
• Tipnut’s Valentine’s Day Freebies has had another dozen or so goodies added. The site made it to just over 450 freebies with this year’s additions but not quite 500 yet…let’s see what happens next year . Thanks very much to everyone who sent projects in.

This past week I’ve been tweaking quite a few things behind the scenes here on Tipnut and ran out of time to get all my new articles published but I should have things back on track for next week.

One thing you’ll notice is the home page has been re-done, I’m not 100% happy with it yet so more changes are likely. I answer a few of the most common questions I receive (including whether or not I’m legit or just trying to achieve blogging fame and fortune, lol).

Need an idea for dinner tonight? I had a housefull of visiting relatives all last week and one of the meals I made was this recipe for Chicken thighs roasted with red onions (#2 on my collection of Recipes For Chicken Thighs: {Oven Cooked}), and it was delicious! $20 for the main dish to feed 8 people can’t be beat! It can be tricky satisfying everyone’s tastebuds, but this group was very happy with their meal and made sure to grab a copy of the recipe before they left.

Here’s a quick vintage quote I came across while looking through my notes this week, I thought it was cute…

The mixer is more than a tool, it’s a friend; it will keep
Your energy cost low
Your success record high
Your daughter on tiptoe to learn cakemaking

From Woman’s Home Companion (1941)

Ready to check out the latest crafts, DIY and printables to Tipnut this week? Here you go, have fun…

• Collection: 40+ iPad & Kindle Covers, Cases To Make: {Free Patterns}; Direct Link: Woven Felt Case
• Collection: Purse Organizer Patterns & Tutorials: {Free}; Direct Link: Shabby French Organizer
• Collection: Make An Ironing Board Cover: {Free Patterns & Tutorials}; Direct Link: Portable Pressing Board
• Collection: Crafty Gadgets & Gear For The Garden: {DIY}; Direct Link: DIY Thumb-Controlled Watering Pot (Clever!)
• Collection: Fun With Felt: {Free Crafts & Projects}; Direct Link: Chapstick Holder Keyfob
• Collection: Homemade Baby Gift Ideas: {Toys & Playthings}; Direct Link: Play Time Crinkle Toes

• Collection: Crafty Ways To Cover A Book: {How-To}; Direct Link: DIY Paperback Book Covers
• Collection: Crafty Bracelets & Bangles: {30+ Free Projects}; Direct Link: Woven Leather Watch Band
• Collection: DIY Bird Feeders: {Tutorials & Recipes}; Direct Link: Popsicle Sticks Feeder
• Collection: DIY Gear For Tomato Plants; Direct Link: Ladder Cages
• Collection: 20+ Decorative Votive Holders: {DIY Crafts}; Direct Link: DIY Concrete Tealight Holder
• Collection: Free Pincushion Pattern List #2: {Sewing}; Direct Link: Sundaes Best Pincushion

• Collection: 20+ Stuffed Animal & Doll Patterns: {Knit & Crochet}; Direct Link: Crocheted Bearies
• Collection: 15+ Crochet Bag & Tote Patterns: {Free}; Direct Link: Simple Shoulder Bag
• Collection: Free Gifts In A Jar Recipes, Tags & Tips; Direct Link: Sweet Pot Covers
• Collection: 20+ Crafty Projects For Pets; Direct Link: Knit Dog Bones
• Collection: 20+ Hot Water Bottle Covers & Cozies: {Free Patterns}; Direct Link: Knitted Hottie Cover
• Collection: 30+ Free Scarf Patterns: {Knitting}; Direct Link: Shifting Sands Scarf

• Collection: Laundry Stain Treatments: Tip Sheet; Direct Link: Handy Stain Chart To Frame: Years ago Martha Stewart offered this lovely chart to frame and hang in the laundry room, I was sure I shared it on Tipnut at that time but I must have missed doing so. Adding it now to the master Stain Treatments tipsheet.
• Collection: Paper Crafts Fun: Dozens of Assorted Freebies To Print; Direct Link: Paint Stash Labels
• Collection: 20+ Free To Do Lists To Help You Get Organized; Direct Link: 12 × 36 Weekly Schedule
• Collection: Needle Pointers: Quick Tips For Crafters; Direct Links: Fabric Swatch Cards and Knitter’s Gauge Cards and Standards & Guidelines For Crochet & Knitting (pdf resource packed with charts & tips)

• Use An Electric Heating Pad To Help Frozen Bread Dough Rise Quicker
• Use A Potato Masher To Make Bows
• Learn How To Make Your Own Taco Bowls
• Sticker Trick To Help Preschoolers Figure Out Which Shoe Goes Where
• The Basics Of Craft Adhesives (What To Use)
• Keep Sliced Apple Pieces Together With A Rubber Band To Prevent Browning (great idea for lunch boxes)

That’s it for today, I’ll have a fresh batch of goodies for you to check out next Wednesday…enjoy your week!