Fun Spring Project. Growing Herbs!

via
You can't go wrong with growing your own herbs. Many herbs can be grown right on your kitchen window sill. It's so much fun to be able to just snip off what you need for a recipe. Even just a few pots of herbs growing by your back door is convenient enough. Think of it as edible and beautiful not to mention the medicinal benefits.
To get started, buy a small pot of chives, thyme, and oregano. These are three of the easiest to grow and can be used in a lot of your basic recipes. If you can find a lemon thyme, get it. Rub your finger on the leaves and smell. Ahhh wonderful lemon scent. It is wonderful in green beans or a fresh salad.
How neat is this? Grow you herbs in water right in your kitchen! Pricey, but I believe it would pay for itself.

AeroGarden

Herb Container Gardening
5 Best Herbs For Containers
Make an Instant Herb Container Garden
Container Herb Gardens

Get Thinner With Chocolate? - Dr. Weil's Weekly Bulletin

 Godiva Large 72% Dark Chocolate with Almond Bar
one of my favorite ways to get my healthy chocolate!

Get Thinner With Chocolate? - Dr. Weil's Weekly Bulletin

Healthy Recipe: Mediterranean Couscous - Dr. Weil's Daily Tip

Healthy Recipe: Mediterranean Couscous - Dr. Weil's Daily Tip

The Two Healthiest Diets in the World - Dr. Weil's Daily Tip

The Two Healthiest Diets in the World - Dr. Weil's Daily Tip

BACKWOODS SURVIVAL BLOG: Guest Post: Building Your Own Bug Out Bag

example of a basic prepacked bug out bag or grab and go bag via


BACKWOODS SURVIVAL BLOG: Guest Post: Building Your Own Bug Out Bag: The point of this article is to teach you how to build your very own bug-out bag for you and your family. A bug-out bag is a survival kit th...

Using bleach to kill those mean viruses and bacteria

Mix 1 tablespoon of bleach and 4 cups of water
Use regular bleach to disinfect counters, sinks, and any other area that can be washed. First wash with soapy water. Spray or wipe down with the bleach mixture. Let it dry.

12 Smart Ways to Use Bleach
1. Clean off mold and mildew Bleach and ammonia are both useful for removing mold and mildew both inside and outside your home. However, the two should never be used together. Bleach is especially suited for the following chores:

Wash mildew out of washable fabrics. Wet the mildewed area and rub in some powdered detergent. Then wash the garment in the hottest water set-ting permitted by the clothing manufacturer using 1/2 cup chlorine bleach. If the garment can’t be washed in hot water and bleach, soak it in a solution of 1/4 cup oxygen bleach (labeled “all fabric” or “perborate”) in 1 gallon (3.7 liters) warm water for 30 minutes before washing.
Remove mold and mildew from the grout between your bathroom tiles. Mix equal parts of chlorine bleach and water in a spray bottle, and spray it over grout. Let it sit for 15 minutes, then scrub with a stiff brush and rinse off. You can also do this just to make your grout look whiter.
Get mold and mildew off your shower curtains. Wash them — along with a couple of bath towels (to prevent the plastic curtains from crinkling) — in warm water with 1/2 cup chlorine bleach and 1/4 cup laundry detergent. Let the washer run for a couple of minutes before loading. Put the shower curtain and towels in the dryer on the lowest temperature setting for 10 minutes, then immediately hang-dry.
Rid your rubber shower mat of mildew. Soak in a solution of 1/8 cup (3.7 liters) chlorine bleach in 1 gallon water for 3-4 hours. Rinse well.
Get mildew and other stains off unpainted cement, patio stones, or stucco. Mix a solution of 1 cup chlorine bleach in 2 gallons (7.5 liters) water. Scrub vigorously with a stiff or wire brush and rinse. If any stains remain, scrub again using 1/2 cup washing soda (this is sodium carbonate, not baking soda) dissolved in 2 gallons (7.5 liters) warm water.
Remove mildew from painted surfaces and siding. Make a solution of 1/4 cup chlorine bleach in 2 cups water and apply with a brush to mildewed areas. Let the solution set for 15 minutes, then rinse. Repeat as necessary.

2. Sterilize secondhand items Remember Mom saying, “Put that down. You don’t know where it’s been”? She had a point — especially when it comes to toys or kitchen utensils picked up at thrift shops and yard sales. Just to be on the safe side, take your used, waterproof items and soak them for 5-10 minutes in a solution containing 3/4 cup bleach, a few drops of antibacterial dishwashing liquid, and 1 gallon warm water. Rinse well, then air-dry, preferably in sunlight.

3. Clean butcher block cutting boards and countertops Don’t even think about using furniture polish or any other household cleaner to clean a butcher block cutting board or countertop. Rather, scrub the surface with a brush dipped in a solution of 1 teaspoon bleach diluted in 2 quarts (2 liters) water. Scrub in small circles, and be careful not to saturate the wood. Wipe with a slightly damp paper towel, then immediately buff dry with a clean cloth.

4. Brighten up glass dishware Put the sparkle back in your glasses and dishes by adding a teaspoon of bleach to your soapy dishwater as you’re washing your glassware. Be sure to rinse well, and dry with a soft towel.

5. Shine white porcelain Want to get your white porcelain sink, candleholder, or pottery looking as good as new? In a well-ventilated area on a work surface protected by heavy plastic, place several paper towels over the item (or across the bottom of the sink) and carefully saturate them with undiluted bleach. Let soak for 15 minutes to a half hour, then rinse and wipe dry with a clean towel. Note: Do not try this with antiques; you can diminish their value or cause damage. And never use bleach on colored porcelain, because the color will fade.

6. Make a household disinfectant spray Looking for a good, all-purpose disinfectant to use around the house? Mix 1 tablespoon bleach in 1 gallon (3.7 liters) hot water. Then fill a clean, empty spray bottle and use it on a paper towel to clean countertops, tablecloths, lawn furniture — basically, wherever it’s needed. Just be sure not to use it in the presence of ammonia or other household cleaners.

7. Disinfect trash cans Even the best housekeepers must confront a gunked-up kitchen garbage pail every now and then. On such occasions, take the pail outside, and flush out any loose debris with a garden hose. Then add 1/2 to 1 cup bleach and several drops of dishwashing liquid to 1 gallon (3.7 liters) warm water. Use a toilet brush or long-handled scrub brush to splash and scour the solution on the bottom and sides of the container. Empty, then rinse with the hose, empty it again, and let air-dry.

8. Increase cut flowers’ longevity Freshly cut flowers will stay fresh longer if you add 1/4 teaspoon bleach per quart (1 liter) of vase water. Another popular recipe calls for 3 drops bleach and 1 teaspoon sugar in 1 quart (1 liter) water. This will also keep the water from getting cloudy and inhibit the growth of bacteria.

9. Clean plastic lawn furniture Is your plastic-mesh lawn furniture looking dingy? Before you place it curbside, try washing it with some mild detergent mixed with 1/2 cup bleach in 1 gallon (3.7 liters) water. Rinse it clean, then air-dry.

10. Kill weeds in walkways Do weeds seem to thrive in the cracks and crevices of your walkways? Try pouring a bit of undiluted bleach over them. After a day or two, you can simply pull them out, and the bleach will keep them from coming back. Just be careful not to get bleach on the grass or plantings bordering the walkway.

11. Get rid of moss and algae To remove slippery and unsightly moss and algae on your brick, concrete, or stone walkways, scrub them with a solution of 3/4 cup bleach in 1 gallon (3.7 liters) water. Be careful not to get bleach on your grass or ornamental plants.

12. Sanitize garden tools You cut that diseased stalk off your rosebush with your branch clipper. Unless you want to spread the disease the next time you use the tool, sterilize it by washing it with 1/2 cup bleach in 1 quart (1 liter) water. Let the tool air-dry in the sun, then rub on a few drops of oil to prevent rust.via

Sanitize scrub pads

I like to make things last as long as possible. When I buy those scrub pads I always cut them in half. To me it's an easier to manage size and a bonus I get twice the amount. To keep them clean and as bacteria free as possible I always wash and rinse and place them in the microwave for 1-2 minutes. All clean and ready for the next round of pot scrubbing. The stainless steel scrubbers that I use on my old pots also need cleaning and sanitizing but how? I wash those out with soapy water rinse and then I drop them in a pot of boiling water and let them boil for a few minutes. I have a magnetic knife holder above my sink so I attach my scrubbers to it with clothespins. Not so pretty but they are right there for the next time I need them.
Oh and a word of caution. Do NOT wash these in the dishwasher. I learned the hard way. The fuzz will come off the pads and clog up your dishwasher. We had to take my dishwasher apart and clean out all of those pieces. It was time consuming and lesson learned!

Freezer Fail Detector

via

Freezer Fail Detector: Here's a simple one: what happens if your power goes out while you're on vacation? Well your food will thaw, then go bad, then refreeze, and you'll be none the wiser when you go to eat it. The freezer fail detector is just a jar filled half-way with water then frozen on its side. Put the jar upright and glance at it whenever you open your freezer. No more salmonella!

Chili Beans and some helpful tips

Fall is almost here so Chili Beans are on the menu for tonight’s supper. We call dinner supper in the South. :)
When we have Chili Beans dh always insist we have cornbread and slaw. I just made the slaw and that reminded me of the times I’ve accidentally added too much vinegar or lemon juice, mayonnaise or sugar. To salvage my slaw I’ve poured half or all of my slaw into a strainer and rinsed it briefly with water. I let it drain and start over.
For the cornbread I’m just making it from Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix. Dh and the boys like it better than homemade (I like homemade) but I’m out of buttermilk and I don’t like to substitute it by mixing vinegar or lemon juice in milk. If you’ve read any of my recipes you’ll notice that I improvise a lot! I had about 2 tablespoons of sour cream in the fridge so I just added that to my cornbread mix along with the milk and eggs. No sense in wasting it. When I’m making cornbread from a mix I double it and pour it in a baking sheet that I sprayed with oil or Pam. It bakes faster and everyone likes that they get more crunchy bites. I cut my cornbread into serving pieces and store it in my cake keeper. I take the crumbs that are left and pour that into my pot of Chili Beans. Why waste it? It helps to thicken the Chili Beans too.
For the meat I use ground chuck. But sometimes I’ll use ground Sirloin. Food Lion has a sale several times a year on Sirloin Tips. When they’re on sale it’s much cheaper than ground beef or ground chuck. Most people don’t realize that your butcher will grind it for you. They will cut it into roast, cube steak, grind, or cut it into stew beef. Most of the time I have him cut half for a roast and grind the rest. If they have any roast on sale sometimes it’s cheaper than the ground beef and I’ll have that ground. I’ve also cut up roast into beef stew because it was cheaper. Substitute half or all of the meat with TVP (textured vegetable protein) for a healthier and cheaper meal.
For the Chili Beans I have no certain recipe. I usually soak 2 pounds of pinto beans with about a teaspoon of baking soda for about 8 hours. I always check the beans for dirt or any foreign objects then I rinse several times before I soak. I pour off the water I soaked them in and rinse again and pour fresh water back into my pot of beans. I bring my beans to a boil and turn down the burner to about medium. Depending on the age of the beans but it takes several hours. I brown the ground chuck with fresh diced or dried minced onions and drain. I pour that into my beans along with 2 cans of tomato sauce. Today I used a pack of tomato sauce from the freezer that I made last month. I’ve used chopped tomatoes in place of the sauce before. Canned or fresh will work. For the spices I use Chili Powder, Turmeric, Cayenne Pepper, Curry powder, Clove powder, salt, and black pepper. But I have a secret ingredient. It’s chocolate! Well I think now days most of you have heard of that. Use just a few small pieces of any chocolate, dark, Hershey’s kisses, or even cocoa powder. It really enhances the flavor. This is one meal that everybody in the house loves. Another tip! LOL Mama adds a big scoop of peanut butter to her pinto beans. I would say about 1/3 cup. You can add about ¼ cup or more in your Chili Beans for another level of flavor. And no it doesn't make it taste like peanut butter!
Fall is my favorite time of the year. Right now it’s cool out and softly raining. I was able to cook a meal for my family today and get a little cleaning done. I am blessed.

10 Canine Commandments

How to Sweat Vegetables

Photograph by Rachel Sanders

How to Sweat Vegetables

Sweating vegetables is often a preliminary step in recipes calling for a longer cooking method. For vegetables such as onions, carrots, celery, garlic and shallots, sweating helps to soften cell walls and draw out moisture, which in turn builds the flavors that can enhance a dish. The process is simple: Dice or chop the larger produce - onions, carrots, celery - and mince garlic and shallots; aim for uniformly shaped pieces. Heat a pan to low-medium and add a tablespoon or so of oil. Let oil heat for a few seconds, then add the larger vegetables and a pinch of salt (which helps draw water out of the vegetables). Keep the heat low enough so you hear a gentle sizzle - you do not want the vegetables to brown - and stir frequently, for about five minutes. About 30 seconds before the larger vegetables are soft and translucent, add the garlic and shallots, and continue stirring. Once sweating is complete, the flavors should be intensified and you can continue with the recipe. from Dr. Andrew Weil's newsletter
more on Sweating vegetables here

Free Rolls of Paper

photos courtesy of Memory Makers Magazine

You can pick of end rolls of paper at your Newspaper office for free or a small fee. Just call ahead to check if they have them and the price.
When the boys were little I cut off pieces for them to draw on.
Ideas for using newspaper print:
1. Have the lie down on the newsprint and draw an outline of their body. Let them draw and color or paint their on features and clothes.Cut them out and hang them up.
2. Use for wrapping paper. You can stamp designs on, wrap red ribbon on in diagonal like candy canes, stencil it, wrap your gift in the paper and then wrap a pretty strip of printed gift wrap or scrapbook paper then wrap a band of ribbon. Wrap a small gift and tie with red and white butchers twine.
3. In a pinch you can cut out and make "tissue paper" flames to top off a gift bag.

photo courtesy of Retail Packaging.
Another cool site "The Simple Dollar" has a list of 15 uses for newspaper rolls. One I hadn't thought of was making paper seedling pots Here is another tutorial for paper seedling pots This one is made like a paper cootie catcher. LOL cool hey?

photos of the Cootie Catcher seedling pots courtesy of spring up dundee

More tutorials and ideas

Repurpose White Waste Paper Into Doves For A Beautifully Wrapped Wedding Gift
DIY Gift Wrap by Grey Likes Weddings
life size ghost
Make Gift Wrapping Paper With Kids
Gold Gift Wrap
Pink and White Book/DVD Gift Wrap using a pencil

Saline Sinus Rinse Recipe

Lately mama's been having sinus/allergy problems. I asked her if she was using a sinus saline rinse. She said she was out of the packets of rinse solution. I said just make you some. She said I don't remember the recipe. LOL
Today is her birthday so I made her a bottle of the solution, labeled it, tied a hemp string around it and added a little coin charm. On the label I wrote in large letters "Saline Rinse" along with the instructions, "add 1 teaspoon to 1 cup water". This will last her a long time and with the label, string, and coin she can't miss it in her cabinet! :D
The recipe is on the link above. I made a batch with 12 Tablespoons sea salt and 4 Tablespoons baking soda.

Emergency Car Kit

This site has a good list of items to keep in you car.
http://beprepared.com/article.asp?ai=41&sid=INEM1070&EID=ALL0811d&lm=emer
(I'm having problems add links. Not sure if it's blogger or Firefox. You can copy and paste)