Friday, October 27, 2006

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Just thought I'd post a recipe I just got in a group, which just sounds so yummy Image

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Ingredients 
1 3/4 cups sifted flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt


Procedure

In a separate bowl, cream well:

1/3 cup shortening
Add gradually and continue creaming until light and fluffy:
2/3 cup sugar

Add and beat well:
2 eggs, well beaten

Add creamed mixture to flour mixture:
Stir in 1 cup mashed bananas (2 to 3 bananas)
Beat until smooth.

(optional ) Stir in 1/2 cup walnuts and 1/4 c. chocolate chips.

Turn into a well-greased bread pan (8 1/2 x 4 1/2 x 1/2) and bake one hour at 350 degrees or until bread is done.
Makes one loaf.

Sounds absolutely just delicious, can you smell it
Image

Surprising Expiration Dates

A handy, who-knew guide for 77 foods, beauty products, and household goods.

Certain items in your house practically scream "toss me" when their prime has passed. That mysterious extra white layer on the Cheddar? A sure sign it needs to be put out of its misery.

Chunky milk? Down the drain it goes.

But what about that jar of olives or Maraschino cherries that has resided in your refrigerator since before the birth of your kindergartner? Or the innumerable nonedibles lurking deep within your cabinets and closets:

Stockpiled shampoo and toothpaste, seldom-used silver polish?

How do you know when their primes have passed?


With help from experts and product manufacturers, Real Simple ( Real Simple: Life made easier) has compiled a guide to expiration dates.

These dates are offered as a rough guideline. The shelf lives of most products depend upon how you treat them. Edibles, unless otherwise indicated, should be stored in a cool, dry place. (With any food, of course, use common sense.)


Household cleaners also do best in a dry place with a stable temperature. After the dates shown, beauty and cleaning products are probably still safe but may be less effective.

Food

Beer
Unopened: 4 months.

Brown sugar
Indefinite shelf life, stored in a moistureproof container in a cool, dry place.

Chocolate (Hershey bar)
1 year from production date

Coffee, canned ground
Unopened: 2 years
Opened: 1 month refrigerated

Coffee, gourmet
Beans: 3 weeks in paper bag, longer in vacuum-seal bag (After this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume.)
Ground: 1 week in sealed container

Coffee, instant
Unopened: Up to 2 years
Opened: Up to 1 month

Diet soda (and soft drinks in plastic bottles)
Unopened: 3 months from "best by" date.
Opened: Doesn't spoil, but taste is affected.

Dried pasta
12 months

Frozen dinners
Unopened: 12 to 18 months

Frozen vegetables
Unopened: 18 to 24 months
Opened: 1 month

Honey
Indefinite shelf life

Juice, bottled (apple or cranberry)
Unopened: 8 months from production date
Opened: 7 to 10 days

Ketchup
Unopened: 1 year (After this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume.)
Opened or used: 4 to 6 months (After this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume.)

Maple syrup, real or imitation
1 year

Maraschino cherries
Unopened: 3 to 4 years
Opened: 2 weeks at room temperature; 6 months refrigerated

Marshmallows
Unopened: 40 weeks
Opened: 3 months

Mayonnaise
Unopened: Indefinitely
Opened: 2 to 3 months from "purchase by" date (After this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume.)

Mustard
2 years (After this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume.)

Olives, jarred (green with pimento)
Unopened: 3 years
Opened: 3 months

Olive oil
2 years from manufacture date (After this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume.)

Peanuts
Unopened: 1 to 2 years unless frozen or refrigerated
Opened: 1 to 2 weeks in airtight container

Peanut butter, natural
9 months

Peanut butter, processed (Jif)
Unopened: 2 years
Opened: 6 months; refrigerate after 3 months

Pickles
Unopened: 18 months
Opened: No conclusive data. Discard if slippery or excessively soft.

Protein bars (PowerBars)
Unopened: 10 to 12 months. Check "best by" date on the package.

Rice, white
2 years from date on box or date of purchase

Salad dressing, bottled
Unopened: 12 months after "best by" date
Opened: 9 months refrigerated

Soda, regular
Unopened: In cans or glass bottles, 9 months from "best by" date
Opened: Doesn't spoil, but taste is affected

Steak sauce
33 months (After this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume.)

Tabasco
5 years, stored in a cool, dry place

Tea bags (Lipton)
Use within 2 years of opening the package

Tuna, canned
Unopened: 1 year from purchase date
Opened: 3 to 4 days, not stored in can

Soy sauce, bottled
Unopened: 2 years
Opened: 3 months (After this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume.)

Vinegar
42 months

Wine (red, white)
Unopened: 3 years from vintage date; 20 to 100 years for fine wines
Opened: 1 week refrigerated and corked

Worcestershire sauce
Unopened: 5 to 10 years (After this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume.)
Opened: 2 years

Household Products

Air freshener, aerosol
2 years

Antifreeze, premixed
1 to 5 years

Antifreeze, concentrate
Indefinite

Batteries, alkaline
7 years

Batteries, lithium
10 years

Bleach
3 to 6 months

Dish detergent, liquid or powdered
1 year

Fire extinguisher, rechargeable
Service or replace every 6 years

Fire extinguisher, nonrechargeable
12 years

Laundry detergent, liquid or powdered
Unopened: 9 months to 1 year
Opened: 6 months

Metal polish (silver, copper, brass)
At least 3 years

Miracle Gro, liquid
Opened: 3 to 8 years

Miracle Gro, liquid, water-soluble
Indefinite

Motor oil
Unopened: 2 to 5 years
Opened: 3 months

Mr. Clean
2 years

Paint
Unopened: Up to 10 years
Opened: 2 to 5 years

Spray paint
2 to 3 years

Windex
2 years

Wood polish (Pledge)
2 years

Beauty Products

All dates are from the manufacture date, which is either displayed on the packaging or can be obtained by calling the manufacturer's customer-service number.

Bar soap
18 months to 3 years

Bath gel, body wash
3 years

Bath oil
1 year

Body bleaches and depilatories
Unopened: 2 years
Used: 6 months

Body lotion
3 years

Conditioner
2 to 3 years

Deodorant
Unopened: 2 years
Used: 1 to 2 years
For antiperspirants, see expiration date

Eye cream
Unopened: 3 years
Used: 1 year

Face lotion
With SPF, see expiration date. All others, at least 3 years

Foundation, oil-based
2 years

Foundation, water-based
3 years

Hair gel
2 to 3 years

Hair spray
2 to 3 years

Lip balm
Unopened: 5 years
Used: 1 to 5 years

Lipstick
2 years

Mascara
Unopened: 2 years
Used: 3 to 4 months

Mouthwash
Three years from manufacture date

Nail polish
1 year

Nail-polish remover
Lasts indefinitely

Perfume
1 to 2 years

Rubbing alcohol
At least 3 years

Shampoo
2 to 3 years

Shaving cream
2 years or more

Tooth-whitening strips
13 months

Wash'n Dri moist wipes
Unopened: 2 years
Opened: Good until dried out

Great tips for a lot of aches & pains



Keep this on the Fridge
Did You Know That? Drinking two glasses of
Gatorade can relieve headache pain almost immediately -- without the unpleasant side effects caused by traditional "pain relievers."

Did you know that
Colgate toothpaste makes an excellent salve for burns.

Before you head to the drugstore for a high-priced inhaler filled with mysterious chemicals, try chewing on a couple of curiously strong
Altoids peppermints. They'll clear up your stuffed nose.

Achy muscles from a bout of the flu?
Mix 1 Tablespoon of horseradish in 1 cup of olive oil. Let the mixture sit for 30 minutes, then apply it as a massage oil, for instant relief for aching muscles.

Sore throat?
Just mix 1/4 cup of vinegar with 1/4 cup of honey and take 1 tablespoon six times a day. The vinegar kills the bacteria.

Cure urinary tract infections with
Alka-Seltzer . Just dissolve two tablets in a glass of water and drink it at the onset of the symptoms. Alka-Seltzer begins eliminating urinary tract infections almost instantly -- even though the product was never been advertised for this use. ( Note : Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold Medicine is not the same..and contains aspirin, which can cause stomach bleeding if you have ulcers.)

Honey remedy for skin blemishes
... Cover the blemish with a dab of honey and place a Band-Aid over it. Honey kills the bacteria, keeps the skin sterile, and speeds healing. Works overnight.

Listerine therapy for toenail fungus
... Get rid of unsightly toenail fungus by soaking your toes in Listerine mouthwash. The powerful antiseptic leaves your toenails looking healthy again.

Easy eyeglass protection
... To prevent the screws in eyeglasses from loosening, apply a small drop of Maybelline Crystal Clear nail polish to the threads of the screws before tightening them.

Coca-Cola cure for rust
... Forget those expensive rust removers. Just saturate an abrasive sponge with Coca Cola and scrub the rust stain. The phosphoric acid in the coke is what gets the job done.

Cleaning liquid that doubles as bug killer
... If menacing bees, wasps, hornets, or yellow jackets get in your home and you can't find the insecticide, try a spray of Formula 409 . Insects drop to the ground instantly.

Smart splinter remover
...just pour a drop of Elmer's Glue-All over the splinter, let dry, and peel the dried glue off the skin. The splinter sticks to the dried glue.

Hunt's tomato paste boil cure
....cover the boil with Hunt's tomato paste as a compress. The acids from the tomatoes soothe the pain and bring the boil to a head.

Balm for broken blisters
...To disinfect a broken blister, dab on a few drops of Listerine ... a powerful antiseptic.

Heinz vinegar to heal bruises
... Soak a cotton ball in white vinegar and apply it to the bruise for 1 hour. The vinegar reduces the blueness and speeds up the healing process.

Kills fleas instantly
. Dawn dish washing liquid does the trick. Add a few drops to your dog's bath and shampoo the animal thoroughly. Rinse well to avoid skin irritations Goodbye fleas.

Rainy day cure for dog odor
... Next time your dog comes in from the rain, simply wipe down the animal with Bounce or any dryer sheet, instantly making your dog smell springtime fresh.

Eliminate ear mites
... All it takes is a few drops of Wesson corn oil in your cat's ear. Massage it in, then clean with a cotton ball. Repeat daily for 3 days. The oil soothes the cat's skin, smothers the mites, and accelerates healing.

Quaker Oats for fast pain relief
....It's not for breakfast anymore! Mix 2 cups of Quaker Oats and 1 cup of water in a bowl and warm in the microwave for 1 minute, cool slightly, and apply the mixture to your hands for soothing relief from arthritis pain.



Kitchen Cleaning Tips

Another bunch of tips I snagged from a friend and sharing

Enjoy :)



"Kitchen Cleaning"

Instead of using commercial waxes, shine appliances by using rubbing alcohol.
To whiten appliances that have begun to yellow, apply a mixture of 1/2 cup bleach, 1/4 cup baking soda and 4 cups warm water. Let set for 10 minutes before rinsing and drying.
Clean stainless steel burner pans on stoves by putting them in a large pan, adding enough water to cover, and 3/4 to 1 cup baking soda. Simmer on low for about 1 hour, then wash with regular detergent. Any stains that remain can be removed by rubbing lightly with a steel wool soap pad.
Run greasy stove hood filters through the dishwasher.

Blender

To clean the blender, fill part way with hot water and add a drop of detergent. Cover and turn it on for a few seconds. Rinse and drain dry.

Broiler


To clean the broiler pan, sprinkle the hot pan heavily with dry laundry detergent. Cover with a dampened paper towel and let the burned food set for a while. The pan should require little scouring.
When broiling, put a cup of water in the bottom of the broiler pan before starting. Cleanup is easier, and the drippings create instant gravy. This also eliminates smoke.

Butcher Block


Minimize stains and cover scratches by rubbing mineral oil on surfaces. Mineral oil is odor-free and nontoxic.

Can Opener


Loosen grime from a can opener by brushing with an old toothbrush. To thoroughly clean blades, run a paper towel through the cutting process.

Cast Iron


To clean cast iron skillets, clean the OUTSIDE of the pan with commercial oven cleaner. Let set for 2 hours and the black stains can be removed with vinegar and water. After cleaning pan, take a piece of wax paper and, while skillet is still warm, wipe around the inside to prevent rusting. Or, when clean, rub a small amount of oil on the inside of the pan to keep it seasoned.
To remove charred food and burn spots from cast iron skillets, boil vinegar and salt in the skillet.
Put a coffee filter into cast iron skillets when you put them away. The filter absorbs moisture and prevents rusting.

China


To remove coffee or tea stains and cigarette burns from fine China, rub with a damp cloth dipped in baking soda.

Coffee Pot


Perk one tablespoon powder dishwashing detergent and a full pot of water through the coffeemaker to get it clean without any scrubbing.
Remove stains from a glass pot by rubbing them with a lemon slice.

Copper


Remove tarnish from cooper cookware by mixing equal parts of salad and vinegar or salt and lemon juice. Rub it into the tarnished area with a paper towel. Restore the copper's shine by scrubbing it with a wet steel wool soap pad. (Avoid abrasives on soft tin linings.)
Wipe tarnished cooper with undiluted tomato juice applied with a soft, clean cloth and your pot bottoms and candlesticks will shine! Make sure that you rinse thoroughly.

Crystal


Vinegar is a must when washing crystal. Rinse in 1 part vinegar to 3 parts warm water. Air dry. Crystal will be spotless!

Cutting Board


To rid cutting board of onion, garlic or fish smell, cut a lime or lemon in two and rub the surface with the cut side of the fruit.
Pour liquid bleach on the cutting board to clean and sanitize it. Rinse well, then apply a bit of mineral oil.
Pour liquid bleach on the cutting board to clean and sanitize it. Rinse well, then apply a bit of mineral oil.
To make a stained cutting board look like new, mix a couple teaspoons of liquid bleach into a dishpan full of warm water. Scrub the board. Rinse the board several times with very hot water.

Deodorizer


Boil a little vinegar or a teaspoon of cloves in a half-cup water to dispel cooking odors.

Detergent


Always use the cheapest brand of dishwashing detergent available, but add a few tablespoons of vinegar to the dishwater. The vinegar will cut the grease and leave your dishes sparkling clean.

Dishes


To quickly remove food that is stuck to a casserole dish, fill it with boiling water and add 2 tablespoons of baking soda or salt.
Use the cheapest brand of dishwashing detergent available. Add a few tablespoons of vinegar to the dishwater. The vinegar cuts and grease and leaves dishes sparkling clean.

Dishwasher


To clean, use regular powdered laundry bleach instead of dishwasher detergent in an empty machine. It cleans and disinfects.
Before loading the silverware tray, place a sponge in the bottom. It will prevent small utensils from falling to the bottom.
To remove stains from the inside of the dishwasher, set a cup of bleach in the bottom of the dishwasher and run it through the entire cycle. Then run a cup of vinegar through an entire cycle. DO NOT mix the bleach and vinegar as it will cause poisonous gases in the dishwasher.
When removing dishes from the dishwasher, unload the bottom rack first so that water that has pooled in glasses or cups on the top rack doesn't drip onto the dishes below.

Disposal


Grind a half lemon or orange rind in the disposal to remove any unpleasant odor.
Deodorize it by running lemon, orange or grapefruit peel through it.

Food Grinder


After using a food grinder, get all the ground material out and make the grinder much easier to clean by running a slice of bread through it before dismantling.

Formica


Scrape dried food spills off counters with a square plastic tab such as that found on bread bags. It won't scratch as a metal utensil might.
Polish Formica tops to a sparkle with club soda.

Freezer


A piece of charcoal in your freezer will keep it smelling sweet.
To clean a frost-free freezer, mix 1/2 cup of isopropyl alcohol with a dishpan full of lukewarm water. The alcohol loosens any icy matter. Sponge away the dirt. The alcohol evaporates rapidly, so you do not have to dry.
After defrosting the freezer, spray it with alcohol or vegetable oil spray. It will be less work the next time you defrost.

Life isn't...........................

Here is something nice to share with you all.

Life isn't...

Life isn't about keeping score.
It's not about how many friends you have Or
how accepted you are.
Not about if you have plans this weekend or
if you're alone.
It isn't about who you're dating, who you used to date,
how many people you've dated,
or if you haven't been with anyone at all.

It isn't about who your family is or how much money they have,
Or what kind of car you drive.

It's not about how beautiful or ugly you are.
Or what clothes you wear, what shoes you have,
Or what kind of music you listen to.

It's not about if your hair is blonde, red, black, or brown,
Or if your skin is too light or too dark.
Not about what grades you get how smart you are,
how smart everybody else thinks you are, or how smart
standardized tests say you are.

It's not about what clubs you're in or how good you are at "your" sport.
It's not about representing your whole being on a piece of
paper and seeing who will "accept the written you."

Life just isn't.



Life Is...

But, life is about who you love and who you hurt.
It's about who you make happy or unhappy purposefully.
It's about keeping or betraying trust.
It's about friendship, used as a sanctity or a weapon.
It's about what you say and mean, maybe hurtful,maybe heartening.
It's about what judgments you pass and why.
And who your judgments are spread to.
It's about who you've ignored with full control and intention.
It's about jealousy, fear, ignorance, and revenge.
It's about carrying inner hate and love, letting it grow and spreading it.
But most of all, it's about using your life to touch or poison
other people's hearts in such a way that could have never occurred alone.
Only you choose the way those hearts are affected, and those choices are what life's all about.

Life is today...and today is a gift from God...that is why it is called the present!

Uncommon Uses of Common Kitchen Herbs


REMOVAL OF SPLINTERS, THORNS, SLIVERS OF GLASS, REMAINING TICK PARTS:
Rather than reaching for the tweezers or sterilized needle, here's a much gentler way to remove something that has embedded itself in the skin. Cover affected area with a piece of ripened banana peel (pulp side to skin); affix with surgical tape and leave on overnight. In the morning, the foreign material will have been drawn to the surface of the skin by the enzymes in the banana.

Deeply embedded material may need up to 3 nights treatment.

BLEMISHED SKINThe drawing enzymes in banana come to the rescue again! When my son was an adolescent he spread the pulp of a ripened mashed banana on his face overnight to clear his broken out skin.

BRUISES, BUMPS, SPRAINS AND STRAINSThe smelly yellow onion reduces inflammation, swelling and pain. Simply slice and apply to unbroken skin. Bind in place with surgical tape, a lightly applied elastic bandage or gauze.

BLEEDING CUTS
I've never seen a more dramatic healing than the effect of powdered cayenne pepper on a cut that won't stop bleeding. Cover the affected area with the pht powdered cayenne (it does not burn!) and the bleeding will stop in 10 seconds!

HEADACHES, SINUS CONGESTION, NAUSEA, INDIGESTION
Peppermint is an extremely versatile healer. It can be used fresh or dried, prepared as a tea infusion (steep 1-2 teaspoons of the herb for 15-30 minutes). Alternatively, a single drop of the natural oil of peppermint in a cup of warm water produces a faster therapy. Either way, close your eyes while sipping and inhaling the aromatic properties of the herb because when peppermint is of good quality, it can sting the eyes.

MUSCLE ACHES FROM SPORTS OR GARDENING
Adding a handful of powdered ginger to the bath water helps muscles to relax. Ginger is a powerful stimulator of circulation therefore those with heart stress or high blood pressure should not use it in the hot bath.

WATER RETENTIONIf PMS or salty food has left you feeling bloated, simmer a handful of flat-leafed parsley in a pint of water for 20 minutes or until reduced to one cup. Drink a cup 3-4 times throughout the day to help the body rid itself of the excess fluid.

BUG BITES AND STINGS
The lowly onion strikes again! To reduce the itch, inflammation and swelling of bug bites or stinging insects, apply a slice of yellow onion to the area. The itch from mosquito bites is relieved by rubbing the juicy, freshly cut surface of the onion on the area. Reapply as necessary.

SUNBURN
Stayed too long in the sun? Apply the inner gel of the aloe plant you should be keeping in your kitchen for kitchen burns. Or, soak in a cool bath to which you've added 2 cups apple cider vinegar. Plain, organic whole milk yogurt can soothe a burned face. Apply thickly, leaving on for 30-45 minutes. Rinse with cool water.

ENERGY DRAIN
Often an outing in the sun leaves us feeling drained of energy. Soaking in a peppermint bath will quickly revive you. Steep 4 tablespoons fresh or dried peppermint leaves in a quart of boiled water for 30 minutes. Strain, reserving leaves, adding tea to bath water. Wrap reserved leaves in a washcloth, binding closed with a rubber band. As you bathe, rub the peppermint filled cloth all over your body.

CLOGGED SKINGenerous applications of sunscreens can leave the skin feeling like it needs a good scrubbing. Combine a ½ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg with 1-2 tablespoons honey and apply to face for 20 minutes. Before removing with cool water, create a pulling sensation by tapping all over your face with your fingers. This stimulates circulation and makes your skin feel alive.

Kitchen Tips

Kitchen Tips
* No "curly" bacon for breakfast when you dip it into cold water before frying.

* When working with dough, don't flour your hands; coat them with olive oil to prevent sticking.

* Use a gentle touch when shaping ground beef patties. Overhandling will result in a firm, compact texture after cooking. Don't press or flatten with spatula during cooking.

* Never heat pesto sauce - the basil will turn black and taste bitter.

* Butter pie pastry scraps: sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar, and bake like cookies.

* A jar lid or a couple of marbles in the bottom half of a double-boiler will rattle when the water gets low and warn you to add more before the pan scorches or burns.

* When mincing garlic, sprinkle on a little salt so the pieces won't stick to your knife or cutting board.

* If your cake recipe calls for nuts, heat them first in the oven, then dust with flour before adding to the batter to keep them from settling to the bottom of the pan.

* Noodles, spaghetti and other starches won't boil over if you rub the inside of the pot with vegetable oil.

* Brown gravy in a hurry with a bit of instant coffee straight from the jar... No bitter taste, either.

* To hasten the cooking of foods in a double boiler, add salt to the water in the outer boiler.

* Stuff a miniature marshmallow in the bottom of a sugar cone to prevent ice cream drips.

* To keep potatoes from budding, place an apple in the bag with the potatoes.

* Cure for headaches: Take a lime, cut it in half and rub it on your forehead. The throbbing will go away.

* Don't throw out all that leftover wine: Freeze into ice cubes for future use in casseroles and sauces.

* If you have a problem opening jars: Try using latex dishwashing gloves. They give a on-slip grip that makes opening jars easy.

* Add a little lemon and lime to tuna to add zest and flavor to tuna sandwiches. Use cucumbers soaked in vinegar and pepper in sandwich instead of tomatoes.
Use mustard instead of Mayo to cut the fat and add a tang.

* Instead of the water your recipe calls for, try juices, bouillon, or water you've cooked vegetables in. Instead of milk, try buttermilk, yogurt or sour cream. It can add a whole new flavor and improve nutrition.

Origins of United States Names

What is the origin of the name for each of the 50 states?

- Alabama, Means "tribal town" in the Creek Indian language.

- Alaska, after the Aleut word "alaxsxaq" meaning "the mainland."

- Arizona, based on Pima Indian word "arizonac" for "little spring place."

- Arkansas, a French interpretation of the word "acansa," in Sioux meaning "downstream place."

- California, comes from "Califia" a mythical paradise in old Spanish romance word.

- Colorado, means "Reddish" or "Color Red."

- Connecticut, Based on Mohican and Algonquin Indian words for a "place beside a long river."

- Delaware, for the early Virginia governor, Lord De La Warr.

- Florida was a Spanish territory, and the name is in Spanish too. Florida means "Flowered."

- Georgia, Named for King George II of England

- Hawaii, which of course is in native Hawaian could be based on their word for homeland, "Owhyhee."

- Idaho, is just an invented word.

- Illinois, word in Algonquin Indian for "warriors."

- Indiana, from "Land of the Indians."

- Iowa, Indian word for "a beautiful land."

- Kansas, from the Sioux Indian for "south wind people."

- Kentucky, based on the Iroquois Indian word "Ken- tah- ten," meaning "land of tomorrow."

- Lousiana, Named in honor of France's King Louis XIV, this territory had French influence.

- Maine, assumed to be a reference to the state region being a mainland, different from its many surrounding islands.

- Maryland, named to honor Henrietta Maria, wife of England's King Charles I.

- Massachusets, Named after local Indian tribe whose name means "a large hill place."

- Michigan, for the Chippewa Indian word "meicigama" meaning "great water" (for the big lakes).

- Minnesota, based on the Dakota Sioux Indian word for "sky-tinted water," referring to the Minnesota River or the state's many lakes.

- Mississippi, probably based on the Indian "mici zibi," loosely meaning great river.

- Missouri, named after the Missouri Indian tribe.

- Montana, based on the Spanish word "Montaña" that means Mountain.

- Nebraska, Name based on an Oto Indian word that means "flat water," referring to the Platte River.

- Nevada, comes from a Spanish word that means "snowy" or "snow-clad."

- New Hampshire, named after the area of Hampshire in England.

- New Jersey, named after the area of Jersey in England.

- New Mexico, from the country of Mexico.

- New York, named after the city of York in England.

- North Carolina, named in honor of England's King Charles I.


- North Dakota, for the Sioux or Dacotah Indians.

- Ohio, comes from the Iroquois Indian word for "good river."

- Oklahoma, a Choctaw Indian word for "red man."

- Oregon, may have been derived from that of the Wisconsin River shown on a 1715 French map as "Ouaricon-sint."

- Pennsylvania, for the Admiral William Penn, father of the state's founder, William Penn.

- Rhode Island, after "Roode Eylandt" by Adriaen Block, Dutch explorer, because of its red clay.

- South Carolina (see North Carolina).

- South Dakota (see North Dakota).

- Tenessee, named after Cherokee Indian villages called "Tanasi"

- Texas, comes from the Spanish "Tejas" when it belonged to Mexico (they exchanged the J for X as an English contribution).

- Utah, from the Ute Indians (people of the mountains).

- Vermont, from the French "verts monts," meaning green mountains.

- Virginia, named for England's "Virgin Queen," Elizabeth I.

- West Virginia (see Virginia).

- Washington, after the first President of the US.

- Wisconsin, from the word "Ouisconsin" believed to mean "grassy place" in the Cheppewa tongue.

- Wyoming, Indian word meaning "large prairie place."

Odor buster hints for bathrooms and other things


1. If you have plastic bowls or dishes that smell simply make a paste of baking soda and water and rub all over the surface. Let set overnight then rinse well.

2. If the sink in your kitchen or bathroom smells, give this a try: put in 1/2 cup baking soda and then follow with 1 cup of cheap household vinegar. Let It foam and bubble, then follow by running cold water for at least 30 seconds or longer. If there is a sink that is seldom used, pour in some plain old vinegar to kill the bacteria that causes the bad smell.

3. If your cutting board smells from onions, garlic or even fish, pour on a little vinegar, let it set a minute or two, wipe, rinse, and the odor should be gone. If your hands have also absorbed the odor, rub them together with vinegar and rinse. You can also use mouthwash or toothpaste as deodorizer.

4. Don't waste your money on commercial potpourri! Here’s a formula to cook up your very own refreshing and cleansing citrus deodorizer. Fill a large pot with water and simply add any citrus (lemon is wonderful as are orange and grapefruit) rind or even slices or leftover wedges. Put in some cinnamon sticks (or a dash of cinnamon) and then simmer on low heat. You can spice this up by adding apple peels or slices, other spices such as nutmeg or allspice, and even a peppermint stick or candy. CAUTION: Do not leave this on the stove unattended and don't let it boil dry.

5. Lemon and orange extract are just the thing to freshen up any room! You can dab some on a cotton ball, place in a bowl or small jar with lid (punch holes in it to let the fragrance out) and place around a room, closet or even in your automobile. CAUTION: Extracts are concentrates that have a very high alcohol content and should not be used around small children or where pets may ingest them. Do not let the extract come in direct contact with any wood, painted surface, marble or granite.

6. To eliminate cat litter box odors: When you clean the litter box, rinse it out and pour about 1/2 inch of cheap white vinegar in the box. Let it stand for 20 minutes or so, then swish it around, rinse with cold water, and dry the box. The acid in the vinegar neutralizes the ammonia smell.

7. You can also add vinegar to your pooch's bath water should he come in contact with a skunk. Vinegar also works well with those summer smells that all dogs seem to acquire. Again add it to their bath water.

8. Add a few drops of eau-de-cologne to the water in your steam iron to give clothes a fresh fragrance.

9. To remove the smell of cigarette from lingering in the room, put half teaspoon of baking powder in the ashtray, or keep a cup of vinegar in the room to absorb the odor.

10. Bathroom Odors: Place a shallow dish of baking soda behind the toilet to absorb bathroom odors.

11. Fireplace Soot Odor: To diminish and remove this odor, after you clean out the ashes, place a shallow pan of baking soda for a few hours or overnight in the fireplace.

12. Kitty Litter: To keep cat litter fresh smelling, mix baby powder in with the litter.

13. Pet Urine on Carpet: First, blot up what you can with paper towels. Mix one-teaspoon mild dishwashing detergent in one cup warm water; dip a clean towel in the liquid and, working from outside in, dab at stain. Do not soak. Rinse with fresh water and blot dry. Next, add on-third cup white vinegar with two-thirds cup water and dab on stain. Rinse with water; blot until dry. Once area is totally dry (after at least 24 hours), sprinkle entire carpet with baking soda or rug deodorizer. Vacuum after a few hours.

14. Smelly Sneakers: Simply fill knee-high stockings with unused litter, tie the ends and tuck them in overnight for a quick refresh. Add baby powder, too! Another refresher for smelly sneakers is to simply take a few teaspoons of baking soda and put in the center of a cotton cloth. Tie the cloth and rubber band the edges securely creating a baking soda sachet, which you put in the shoes overnight as well. These sachets can be used over and over in any kind of shoe.

15. To naturally remove bathroom odors. Place a shallow bowl of vinegar behind the toilet to absorb the bathroom odors. Vinegar does not mask the smell, it totally absorbs them.

Assorted handy tips - must try some of these :)

Castor oil works well on insect bites as well as headaches and upset stomachs.

Apply warm salt water on a burn and it will help reduce pain as well as prevent infection.

Honey helps relieve chest congestion and you can also heat it

With a touch of whiskey and apple cider vinegar to help heal cold and flu symptoms.

You can create your own homemade cough syrup with a mixture of sugar and whiskey and heat till thickened.

To relieve colic, dissolve a tablespoon of baking soda in water; do not give to children under 12.

Salt and warm water applied into ear with a dropper dissolves wax buildup and reduces ear pain.

To reduce Garlic breath or bad breath for that matter, chew on some fresh parsley or fresh celery. There are also teas you can drink to help reduce bad mouth odors.

A tablespoon of peanut butter may very well cure hiccups.

One old time remedy for asthma was to breathe in salty water up your nose several times a day; also good for relieving nasal congestion and avoiding sinus infections if snorted with a touch of baking soda.

A mixture of warm honey, whiskey, and apple cider vinegar is an old time remedy for arthritic bones.

For extreme body odor, pour a cup of pure tomato juice in your bath water and soak half hour. This procedure works on pets as well.

To relieve itching on scalp or body, apply apple cider vinegar. Rinse off after application.

A warm castor oil pack applied on soar muscles will relieve pain. For better penetration use a heating pad over applied oil

Castor oil mixed with baking soda is an excellent treatment for ingrown toenails as well as warts. Simply mix equal amounts, leave on half hour and rinse clean.

Castor oil may be taken as an antitoxin as well as may be useful in the battle against infuenza...works to strengthen the immune system.

Rub a lemon slice on skin to instantly reduce oils also works well for age spots and lightening hair.

A note on Body Care: Do not over-exfoliate your skin or it may cause over drying and flakiness. Always remember to moisturize after exfoliationting especially for drier skins.

When using astringents, it is best to use alcohol free products. Using a cotton washcloth with a mild soap daily is more than enough exfoliation for the body.

Footcare: If you suffer from dry ruff feet, simply put them in warm water and Epsom mineral salts for approximately 30 minutes..remove and rinse with lukewarm water and a mild soap. Apply pure vitamin E moisturizer or break apart a vitamin E capsule and rub all over foot and ankle area. Put on a pair of socks and closed shoes. Repeat for about a month and feet will look and feel more supple.

This also works with discolored and brittle toe nails due to over use of nail polishes, which by the way are not healthy for toenails. The structure of toenails is different from that of finger nails. By constant application of polish to toenails, you are not allowing the nail to breathe causing a lot of the fungus infections we see today. A comfortable shoe will help with your foot restoration process.

Deep Thoughts for Those Who Take Life WAY Too Seriously

1. Save the whales. Collect the whole set.

2. A day without sunshine is like . . . night.

3. On the other hand, you have different fingers

4. 42.7 percent of all statistics are made up on the spot.

5. Remember, half the people you know are below average.

6. He who laughs last thinks slowest.

7. Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.

8. The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese in the trap.

9. Support bacteria. They're the only culture some people have.

10. A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.

11. Change is inevitable, except from vending machines.

12. If you think nobody cares, try missing a couple of payments.

13. How many of you believe in psycho kinesis? Raise my hand.

14. OK, so what's the speed of dark?

15. When everything is coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.

16. Hard work pays off in the future. Laziness pays off now.

17. Every one has a photographic memory. Some just don't have film.

18. How much deeper would the ocean be without sponges?

19. Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

20. What happens if you get scared half to death twice?

21. I couldn't repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder.

22. Why do psychics have to ask you for your name?

23. Inside every older person is a younger person wondering what happened.

24. Just remember - if the world didn't suck, we would all fall off.

25. Light travels faster than sound. That's why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

Quick tip for air freshener

Air freshener



Put some cinnamon in a bowl or cup of water in the microwave.

Turn on for a few minutes and the house smells like cinnamon.

Make sure you have a deep enough cup or bowl so that it doesn't over flow.

This can be used over and over about 10 times or so.

Store it the microwave so it's ready at a moments notice...you know

When unexpected visitors stop by you can just walk past and turn on

The microwave to freshen the air.

If Tomorrow Starts Without Me

A few weeks ago a woman was killed in an auto accident. She was very well liked, so the office shut down for her funeral and it was on the news and so on. On the day the workers came back to work, they found this poem in their e-mail that the deceased woman had sent on Friday before she left for home.

"If tomorrow starts without me,
And I'm not there to see,
If the sun should rise and find your eyes
all filled with tears for me;
I wish so much you wouldn't cry
the way you did today,
While thinking of the many things,
We didn't get to say.
I know how much you love me,
As much as I love you,
And each time that you think of me,
I know you'll miss me too;
But when tomorrow starts without me,
Please try to understand,
that an angel came and called my name,
And took me by the hand,
And said my place was ready,
In heaven far above,
And that I'd have to leave behind
all those I dearly love.
But as I turned to walk away,
A tear fell from my eye,
For all my life, I'd always thought,
I didn't want to die.
I had so much to live for,
So much left yet to do,
it seemed almost impossible,
that I was leaving you.
I thought of all the yesterdays,
The good ones and the bad,
I thought of all that we shared,
And all the fun we had.
If I could relive yesterday,
Just even for a while,
I'd say good-bye and kiss you
and maybe see you smile.
But then I fully realized,
That this could never be,
For emptiness and memories,
would take the place of me.
And when I thought of worldly things,
I might miss some tomorrow,
I thought of you, and when I did,
My heart was filled with sorrow.
But when I walked through heaven's gates,
I felt so much at home.
When God looked down and smiled at me,
From His great golden throne,
He said, "This is eternity,
And all I've promised you."
Today your life on earth is past,
but here life starts anew.
I promise no tomorrow,
But today will always last,
and since each day is the same way,
There's no longing for the past.
So when tomorrow starts without me,
don't think we're far apart,
For every time you think of me,
I'm right here, in your heart "

Send this to all those you care about.... and back to the one who sent it because you never know what's going to happen tomorrow... Show them how you care, before it's too late... May God watch over you and your family now and always. There is no right time to do the wrong thing.... there is no wrong time to tell someone you care.


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Walnuts 'combat unhealthy fats'


Eating walnuts at the end of a meal may help cut the damage that fatty food can do to the arteries, research suggests.
It is thought that the nuts are rich in compounds that reduce hardening of the arteries, and keep them flexible.

A team from Barcelona's Hospital Clinico recommend eating an ounce (28g) of walnuts a day.

The study, which appears in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, also showed walnuts had more health benefits than olive oil.




The protective fat from walnuts actually undoes some of the detrimental effects of a high-saturated-fat diet
Professor Robert Vogel

The researchers recruited 24 adults, half with normal cholesterol levels, and half with levels that were moderately high to the research, which was partly funded by the California Walnut Commission.

Each was given two high-fat salami and cheese meals, eaten one week apart.

For one meal, the researchers added five teaspoons of olive oil. For the other, they added eight shelled walnuts.

Tests showed that both the olive oil and the walnuts helped to reduce the sudden onset of harmful inflammation and oxidation in arteries that follows a meal high in saturated fat.

Over time, this is thought to cause the arteries to start to harden - and increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.

However, unlike olive oil, adding walnuts also helped preserve the elasticity and flexibility of the arteries, regardless of cholesterol level.

Arteries that are elastic can expand when needed to increase blood flow.

Lead researcher Dr Emilio Ros said eating high fat meals disrupted production of nitric oxide by the inner lining of the arteries, a chemical needed to keep blood vessels flexible.

Key chemical

Walnuts contain arginine, an amino acid used by the body to produce nitric oxide.

The nuts also contain antioxidants and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), a plant-based omega-3 fatty acid with health giving properties.

Dr Ros is starting a new trial to see whether the ALA in walnuts can help people with abnormal heart rhythms.

He warned against people assuming they can eat what they like so long as they accompany it with walnuts.

"Instead, they should consider making walnuts part of a healthy diet that limits saturated fats."

Professor Robert Vogel, of Maryland University in Baltimore, said: "This demonstrates that the protective fat from walnuts actually undoes some of the detrimental effects of a high-saturated-fat diet, whereas a neutral fat, such as olive oil, does not have as much protective ability.

"This raises a very interesting issue because many people who eat a Mediterranean diet believe the olive oil is providing the benefits.

"But this research and other data indicate that's not true.

"There are probably other factors in the diet, including that it is a relatively rich source of nuts.

"This is not to say that olive oil is bad, but it's not the key protective factor in the Mediterranean diet."




Source: BBC News

Ice Sculptures

Harbin Ice Festival is an annual event held in Harbin, the capital city of Heilongjiang Province. Usually falling on January 5 and lasting a month, the festival exerts a strong draw on both local residents and visitors.



The city boasts its neat, impressive and artistic ice and snow sculptures, carvings, and buildings in parks and on frozen rivers. World famous monuments like some grand cathedrals, pyramids, Potala Palace and the Great Wall are all carved out of ice, in spectacularly giant sizes! Some of them, embedded with colored lights, are designed for nighttime observation. Ice sliding and skiing are popular activities in the occasion.




moscreations's Ice sculptures album on Photobucket


Tiny Yorkie "Jilli" Plays Poker

This is just the cutest and a must see video :)





Laundry Hints


Blankets

Set the cycle, add detergent, and let the machine fill. When all the soap is dissolved, add the blanket. Let it soak, and then wash on gentle. Add 1 1/2 cups white vinegar to the final rinse. It will give the blanket a clean smell and give it a little fluff.

Blood Stains

Remove with hydrogen peroxide.

Blue Jeans

To soften new blue jeans, soak them overnight (or for 12 hours) in cold water with plenty of fabric softener. Then wash as usual.

Body Oil Stains

To remove body oil stains from collars and cuffs of colored shirts and blouses, rub hair shampoo directly on the stains. Rinse out the shampoo, then wash the clothes as usual.

Color Transfer on Clothing

This solution was submitted to recipegoldmine by Katie Dunagan. ~

To remove colors that have bled onto clothes, run at least two inches cold water into bathtub, mix 1 part bleach to 2 parts white vinegar and add to cold water, mixing together well. Add clothing 1 piece at a time. If solution is mixed right, you should see the colors (that bled) disappear instantly; otherwise, add more cold water. Hint: you should not be able to smell the bleach over the vinegar and always be in a well-ventilated area. To prevent color transfer add anywhere from 1 to 2 cups white vinegar to wash cycle.

Delicates

Slip them in a covered jar with a little cold-water soap and shake until they are clean.

Designer Jeans

The first time you wash them, soak them for two hours in cold, heavily salted water (3 tablespoons per gallon). This will set the dye. Then wash, using the cold water setting.

Detergents

If you use concentrated liquid detergent, keep a plastic cup handy by the machine. Use it for measuring. After you pour in the detergent, throw in the cup (or the plastic cap for the bottle if you use this to measure). The wash will pick up all the excess that was left in the cup.

If you are out of laundry detergent, substitute 1/4 cup powdered dishwasher detergent per load. Use this ONLY if the clothes you are washing can stand a little bleach.

Fabric Softener

To make your own fabric softener sheets, dab a little liquid fabric softener onto a washcloth. Throw it into the dryer.

If you run out of fabric softener, add a little of your hair cream rinse to the rinse cycle. Clothes will be soft and fluffy.

Grease

Remove grease by using a few drops of coconut or banana oil, then mild suds.

Ink Stains

To remove ink stains from clothing, scrub with a washcloth dipped in rubbing alcohol. Rinse with clean water.

Squeeze lemon juice on the stain, place stained item between two pieces of cloth, and press ink stain onto the surrounding fabric. Wash as usual.

Ironing

To clean your steam iron, fill it with white vinegar. Let it steam until the big bursts are over. Turn it off, and pour out the vinegar after it has cooled.

Fill a clean catsup dispenser with water for your steam iron. Keep it near the ironing board to save steps.

Lingerie

Make some very strong tea and soak dingy lingerie until it is just a little darker than desired. Rinse quickly once in cold, clear water, and the dye is set.

Dye dingy lingerie with onion skins. Simmer the dried skins of 8-10 onions with 1/2 cup salt and 2 tablespoons alum in a large pot of water. Add several items of lingerie at a time. Cook the dye bath over low heat, stirring gently but constantly, until the desired shade is achieved. Depending on the fabric content, onion skin dye will color lingerie from gold to rust.

Add cologne to the final rinse water.

Panty Hose

Add a dash of liquid fabric softener to the final rinse when washing panty hose. It lubricates the fibers, and adds life to the hosiery. You can keep it handy in a leftover dishwashing detergent squirt bottle.

Sweaters

Outline the sweater on an old framed screen. Make the outline in white chalk. After you have washed the sweater, block it to fit the outline. Put the screen upon bricks so that the air circulates. Or rest the screen over the tub to catch drippings.

Whites

Soak white laundry in lemon juice and water. Lemons have a natural bleaching ingredient and can be used to whiten clothes



Everything about bananas you ever wanted to know

Never, put your bananas in the refrigerator!!!
This is interesting.
After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again.

Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy

Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.

But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit.

It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

Constipation: High in fibre, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and crisps. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.

Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand, for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.

Smoking & Tobacco Use: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.

Strokes: According to research in The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!

Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, "A banana a day keeps the doctor away!"

Just For Today

...smile at a stranger

...listen to someone's heart

...drop a coin where a child can find it

...learn something new, then teach it to someone

...tell someone you're thinking of them

...hug a loved one

...don't hold a grudge

...don't be afraid to say "I'm sorry"

...look a child in the eye and tell them how great they are

...don't kill that spider in your house, he's just lost so show him the way out

...look beyond the face of a person into their heart

...make a promise, and keep it

...call someone, for no other reason than to just say "hi"

...show kindness to an animal

...stand up for what you believe in

...smell the rain, feel the breeze, listen to the wind

...use all your senses to their fullest

...cherish all of your TODAYS

Never be sick again - Important information

I got this in my mail today and just had to post it for everyone to see it.









Happy Anniversary

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TO US
Yup, today is out 37th wedding anniversary, and I haven't gotten my card for him yet, so I'm going out right now to run some errands and get that too.

I don't know where the years have gone, it all goes so fast once you're past 21, it's just a blur, but certainly, I could never be with anyone else, he's the one for me, for now and always, and should he go before me, I'm definetely not re-marrying, I could never do that, which is not to say that everyone else should be like me, that's just how I feel.

He definetely is my best friend, confident and everything else in between.

And to all those out there who are married, I wish you all the same love and happiness that I share with my husband. He is THE best anyone would ever want, so it's not surprising that I wouldn't want to be with anyone else.

Thursday, September 28, 2006

Useful Work Tips

Here are some incredibly useful phrases you can use when in the workplace...
If you don't know what it is, call it an 'issue'…
If you don't know how it works, call it a 'process'…
If you don't know whether its worth doing, call it an 'option'…
If you don't know how it could possibly be done call it a 'challenge' or an 'exciting opportunity'…
If you want to confuse people, ask them about 'customers'…
If you don't know how to do something, 'empower' someone else to do it for you…
If you can't take decisions, 'create space' for others to operate…
If you need a decision, call a 'workshop' to 'network' and 'ground
the issue', followed by an 'awayday' to 'position the elephant in the room' and achieve 'buy-in'…
Never criticize or boast, call it 'information sharing'…
Never call something a failure or mistake, its a 'positive learning experience'…
Never argue, have an 'adult conversation'…
Here are some helpful ways to get along at the workplace...
If you can't get your work done in the first 24 hours, work nights…
A pat on the back is only a few centimeters from a kick in the butt…
Don't be irreplaceable, if you can't be replaced, you can't be promoted…
It doesn't matter what you do, it only matters what you say you've done and what you're going to do…
After any salary raise, you will have less money at the end of the month than you did before…
The more crap you put up with, the more crap you are going to get…
You can go anywhere you want if you look serious and wear a lab coat…
Eat one live toad the first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day…
When the bosses talk about improving productivity, they are never talking about themselves…
If at first you don't succeed, try again. Then quit. No use being a damn fool about it…
There will always be beer cans rolling on the floor of your car when the boss asks for a ride home from the office…
Keep your boss's boss off your boss's back…
Everything can be filed under "pending."…
Never delay the ending of a meeting or the beginning of a cocktail hour…
To err is human, to forgive is not our policy…
Anyone can do any amount of work provided it isn't the work he/she is supposed to be doing…
Important letters that contain no errors will develop errors in the mail…
If you are good, you will be assigned all the work. If you are really good, you will get out of it…
You are always doing something marginal when the boss drops by your desk…
People who go to conferences are the ones who shouldn't…
If it wasn't for the last minute, nothing would get done…
At work, the authority of a person is inversely proportional to the number of pens that person is carrying…
When you don't know what to do, walk fast and look worried…
Following the rules will not get the job done…
Getting the job done is no excuse for not following the rules…
When confronted by a difficult problem you can solve it more easily by reducing it to the question, "How would the Lone Ranger handle this?"…
No matter how much you do, you never do enough…
The last person that quit or was fired will be held responsible for everything that goes wrong…

Thursday, September 21, 2006

Kitchen Cleaning Tips



Another bunch of tips I snagged from a friend and sharing

Enjoy :)

"Kitchen Cleaning" 

  
Instead of using commercial waxes, shine appliances by using rubbing alcohol.
To whiten appliances that have begun to yellow, apply a mixture of 1/2 cup bleach, 1/4 cup baking soda and 4 cups warm water. Let set for 10 minutes before rinsing and drying.
Clean stainless steel burner pans on stoves by putting them in a large pan, adding enough water to cover, and 3/4 to 1 cup baking soda. Simmer on low for about 1 hour, then wash with regular detergent. Any stains that remain can be removed by ribbing lightly with a steel wool soap pad.
Run greasy stove hood filters through the dishwasher.



Blender

To clean the blender, fill part way with hot water and add a drop of detergent. Cover and turn it on for a few seconds. Rinse and drain dry.

Broiler

To clean the broiler pan, sprinkle the hot pan heavily with dry laundry detergent. Cover with a dampened paper towel and let the burned food set for a while. The pan should require little scouring.
When broiling, put a cup of water in the bottom of the broiler pan before starting. Cleanup is easier, and the drippings create instant gravy. This also eliminates smoke.

Butcher Block

Minimize stains and cover scratches by rubbing mineral oil on surfaces. Mineral oil is odor-free and nontoxic.

Can Opener

Loosen grime from a can opener by brushing with an old toothbrush. To thoroughly clean blades, run a paper towel through the cutting process.

Cast Iron

To clean cast iron skillets, clean the OUTSIDE of the pan with commercial oven cleaner. Let set for 2 hours and the black stains can be removed with vinegar and water. After cleaning pan, take a piece of wax paper and, while skillet is still warm, wipe around the inside to prevent rusting. Or, when clean, rub a small amount of oil  on the inside of the pan to keep it seasoned.
To remove charred food and burn spots from cast iron skillets, boil vinegar and salt in the skillet.
Put a coffee filter into cast iron skillets when you put them away. The filter absorbs moisture and prevents rusting.

China

To remove coffee or tea stains and cigarette burns from fine China, rub with a damp cloth dipped in baking soda.

Coffee Pot

Perk one tablespoon powder dishwashing detergent and a full pot of water through the coffeemaker to get it clean without any scrubbing.
Remove stains from a glass pot by rubbing them with a lemon slice.

Copper

Remove tarnish from cooper cookware by mixing equal parts of salad and vinegar or salt and lemon juice. Rub it into the tarnished area with a paper towel. Restore the copper's shine by scrubbing it with a wet steel wool soap pad. (Avoid abrasives on soft tin linings.)
Wipe tarnished cooper with undiluted tomato juice applied with a soft, clean cloth and your pot bottoms and candlesticks will shine! Make sure that you rinse thoroughly.

Crystal

Vinegar is a must when washing crystal. Rinse in 1 part vinegar to 3 parts warm water. Air dry. Crystal will be spotless!

Cutting Board

To rid cutting board of onion, garlic or fish smell, cut a lime or lemon in two and rub the surface with the cut side of the fruit.
Pour liquid bleach on the cutting board to clean and sanitize it. Rinse well, then apply a bit of mineral oil.
Pour liquid bleach on the cutting board to clean and sanitize it. Rinse well, then apply a bit of mineral oil.
To make a stained cutting board look like new, mix a couple teaspoons of liquid bleach into a dishpan full of warm water. Scrub the board. Rinse the board several times with very hot water.

Deodorizer

Boil a little vinegar or a teaspoon of cloves in a half-cup water to dispel cooking odors.

Detergent

Always use the cheapest brand of dishwashing detergent available, but add a few tablespoons of vinegar to the dishwater. The vinegar will cut the grease and leave your dishes sparkling clean.

Dishes

To quickly remove food that is stuck to a casserole dish, fill it with boiling water and add 2 tablespoons of baking soda or salt.
Use the cheapest brand of dishwashing detergent available. Add a few tablespoons of vinegar to the dishwater. The vinegar cuts and grease and leaves dishes sparkling clean.

Dishwasher

To clean, use regular powdered laundry bleach instead of dishwasher detergent in an empty machine. It cleans and disinfects.
Before loading the silverware tray, place a sponge in the bottom. It will prevent small utensils from falling to the bottom.
To remove stains from the inside of the dishwasher, set a cup of bleach in the bottom of the dishwasher and run it through the entire cycle. Then run a cup of vinegar through an entire cycle. DO NOT mix the bleach and vinegar as it will cause poisonous gases in the dishwasher.
When removing dishes from the dishwasher, unload the bottom rack first so that water that has pooled in glasses or cups on the top rack doesn't drip onto the dishes below.

Disposal

Grind a half lemon or orange rind in the disposal to remove any unpleasant odor.
Deodorize it by running lemon, orange or grapefruit peel through it.

Food Grinder

After using a food grinder, get all the ground material out and make the grinder much easier to clean by running a slice of bread through it before dismantling.

Formica

Scrape dried food spills off counters with a square plastic tab such as that found on bread bags. It won't scratch as a metal utensil might.
Polish Formica tops to a sparkle with club soda.

Freezer

A piece of charcoal in your freezer will keep it smelling sweet.
To clean a frost-free freezer, mix 1/2 cup of isopropyl alcohol with a dishpan full of lukewarm water. The alcohol loosens any icy matter. Sponge away the dirt. The alcohol evaporates rapidly, so you do not have to dry.

After defrosting the freezer, spray it with alcohol or vegetable oil spray. It will be less work the next time you defrost.