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Saturday, July 13, 2013

How To Find Hidden Treasures At Yard Sales

You make some nice scores at yard sales when you buy cheap stuff that is worth much more than what you  paid. Look for the following items.

Printed cloth handkerchiefs from the 1970's and earlier.  Look for  those with nice patterns and colors. Some distinctive patterns can be framed as art. Some sell fro about $18 or more.The best examples are hand-hemmed made of fine line or cotton. Also, be on the lookout for scarves from designers like Hermes and Marimekko.

Williamsburg style wood furniture from the 1950's and 1960's. This furniture is not trendy since it has an old fashioned colonial look but is solid wood. Look for pieces made by Baker, Beacon Hill, and Kittinger.
A Kittinger set of library steps brings about $550.

Psychedelic posters from the late 1960's and early 1970's. A lack of pinholes or other signs of age and use might mean its a reproduction. A Peter max poster from 1968 called "Love" sells for $316.

Fisher-Price toys.  Look for toys that are in pristine condition. A racer with no plastic parts brings about $350. Also look for Fisher-Price "Little People" from the 1980's or earlier. They can bring $2 to $5 or more.

Modern Swedish glass. Glass from Kosta and Orrefors have been increasing in value lately.

Decorative garden items. Look for bird feeders, birdhouses, fountains, and iron garden sets. A vintage set of two chairs with a cat design on the back fetched $4,000. People who have garage sales sometimes  forget  to include yard sale items. So take a peek in the backyard and ask if a nice item is for sale.

Give Your Foods A Great Rub Down For Fabulous Grilling

Spice rubs and mixes are an easy way to add delicious flavor to your foods. They can be made in advance and kept in  an airtight container for up to 3 months. And if you package them as gifts, they make a great hostess present.

Sprinkle dry rubs or pat the food with your spices. Never rub hard into the food since you can damage the meat's fiber and texture. Also, if you're going to season the food overnight, leave out the salt since it will dehydrate the food. Just make sure you sprinkle it on about 15 minutes before you start to cook. Normally, about 3/4 to 1 teaspoon of these rubs will cover 3 pounds of meat.

                                                         Sweet N' Spicy Dry Rub

Use as a universal rub for all types of food. 1 tablespoon  of dry mustard, 2 teaspoons garlic powder, 2 teaspoons ground ginger, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1/2 tablespoon sea salt, 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper.
Makes about 4 tablespoons.

                                                            Indian Curry Dry Rub

Use on chicken breast and tofu. 1/2 cup mild curry powder, 2 tablespoons kosher salt, 2 teaspoons crushed red pepper, 2 teaspoons ground coriander, 1 teaspoon turmeric,  1 teaspoon ground ginger. Makes 12 tablespoons.

                                                           Asian Five Spice Rub

Use on duck, chicken, pork carrots and autumn squash. 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon, 2 teaspoons five spice powder, 1 tablespoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1 tablespoon sugar. Make 4 tablespoons.

                                                                    Mocha Rub 

Great on steak. 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder, 2 tablespoons instant espresso coffee, 2 tablespoons sugar, 1 teaspoon kosher salt. Makes about 5 tablespoons.

                                                                  Spice Mixtures   
Mix these spice blends into ground meat before cooking. Each recipe makes about 2 tablespoons to flavor 1pound of ground meat.

                                                               Big Flavor Burger

1 teaspoon ground coriander, 2 teaspoons onion powder, 2 teaspoons ground mustard, 1/2 teaspoon salt.
 
                                                          Spicy Turkey Burger Mix 

2 teaspoons ground coriander, 2 teaspoons caraway seeds, 1/8 teaspoon red pepper  flakes, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon  garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt.