Mud Cake

Ingredients

1 cup butter, melted
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
4 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped pecans, toasted
1 (10.5-ounce) bag miniature marshmallows

Preparation

Whisk together melted butter and next 5 ingredients in a large bowl. Stir in flour and chopped pecans.
Pour batter into a greased and floured 15- x 10-inch jellyroll pan.

Bake at 350° for 20 to 25 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.

Remove from oven; top warm cake evenly with marshmallows. Return to oven, and bake 5 minutes.

Chocolate Frosting

Ingredients

1 (16-ounce) package powdered sugar, sifted
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa

Preparation

Beat all ingredients at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth.

Drizzle Chocolate Frosting over warm cake. Cool completely.

Chewy Peanut Butter and Chocolate Chip Cookies

These are the yummiest of cookies.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup smooth or crunchy peanut butter
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 3/4 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cups peanuts (optional)

Directions:

1. Cream peanut butter, sugar and egg thouroughly.

2. Stir in flour and baking soda; mix well.

3. Stir in chocolate chips and peanuts.

4. Drop by spoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheet.

5. Bake in 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes or until golden.

Serving size: Makes 3 dozen cookies

Banana Raspberry Weight Loss Smoothie

A good ratio of fruits to greens for weight loss is this: 2 cups of fruit to 3 to 4 cups of greens and 1 cup of water. Add additional veggies if desired.

Ingredients:

1 cup raspberries
1 medium banana, peeled
3 cups fresh baby spinach
4 to 6 ounces of filtered water
2 teaspoons chia seeds, soaked for 20 minutes

Directions:
Add all the ingredients to your blender and blend on high for 30 seconds or until creamy. Drink this smoothie several times a week and watch the pounds come right off.

Best Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

"These are just to die for, be careful not to overcook them, you don't want them to be dry! They are divine! I have a tendency to make large cookies, so my recipe never makes the quantity suggested.........lol

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
• 2 large eggs
• 1-1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 cups quick cook oats
• 2 cups raisins
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Pre-heat oven to 350°F. Cream together the butter with both sugars in a large mixing bowl. Add the eggs, one at a time, blending well after each addition.

2. In a separate bowl, blend together the flour and baking soda. Add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture and blend.

3. Add one cup of quick cook oats and one cup of raisins to the cookie dough and blend well. Add remaining oats and raisins and mix well, again.

4. Drop by the heaping teaspoon onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. The cookies should look not quite done when removed from oven. Allow the cookies to set on the warm baking sheet for several minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Makes 3 dozen cookies.

How To Make Natural Glue Using Milk

Ingredients

1½ cups milk
3 tsp white vinegar
1 tbsp baking soda
Water by preference for thinning glue

Directions

1. Heat the milk in a pan until warm, then add vinegar.
2. Keep heating and stirring until the milk separates into curds and whey.
3. Strain the mixture, keeping the solid curds (save your whey for other uses!).
4. Collect the curds and put them back into the pan.
5. Add baking soda and enough water to get the consistency of your choosing and mix/stir thoroughly.
6. Heat the mixture until it starts bubbling a bit, then turn it off and let it cool.
7. Bottle in airtight container upon cooling enough and/or use it right away for gluing!

How to Preserve Lemons

 

Ingredients:
12 organic lemons
3/4 cup sea salt

quart-size mason jar

Directions:
1. Half of the lemons will be preserved and the other half will be used for juice.
2. First, thoroughly scrub and rinse your lemons. This is an instance when you really want an organic, or at least unsprayed, lemon.
3. Next, slice one half of your lemons into quarters. Place the first four quarters in the bottom of the jar, flesh side up. Sprinkle with one or two tablespoons sea salt – be generous.
4. Continue with one set of lemon quarters followed by one or two tablespoon sea salt.
5. Once the jar is packed with lemons, squeeze the remaining lemons to fill the jar with juice.
6. Let sit for at least one month before use.

10 Health Benefits of Chocolate

1. High in Antioxidants
Cocoa contains Flavonols, a type of flavonoid that is only found in cocoa and chocolate. Flavonoids are naturally-occurring compounds that occur in plant foods that act as antioxidants and help counteract free radicals in the body.

2. Blood Pressure Benefits
Dark chocolate has been shown in studies to lower blood pressure in people with elevated blood pressure.

3. Lower LDL Cholesterol
Eating dark chocolate on a regular basis has been shown to reduce LDL cholesterol by as much as 10 percent.

4. Natural Anti-Depressant
Chocolate contains serotonin, a natural anti-depressant. Chocolate also stimulates endorphin production, which creates feelings of happiness and pleasure. In fact, one study found that melting chocolate in the mouth produced feelings of pleasure longer than passionate kissing. This may explain why many people naturally reach for chocolate when they're depressed.

5. Cancer Fighter
Several studies have found chocolate to be one of the best cancer-fighting foods along with foods like red wine, blueberries, garlic, and tea. Two ways that chocolate works as a cancer fighter is by inhibiting cell division and reducing inflammation, though research is ongoing and will probably find additional ways in which chocolate fights cancer.

6. Prevents Tooth Decay
Research has found that the Theobromine in chocolate prevents tooth decay by eliminating streptococcus mutants, a bacteria found in the oral cavity that contributes to tooth decay.

7. Longer Life and Less Disease
One Dutch study followed 200 men over 20 years and found that those who consumed large amounts of chocolate, both milk chocolate and dark, lived longer and had lower overall disease rates than men who ate little or no chocolate.

A Harvard study on the Kuna tribe of Panama resulted in similar findings. The Kuna consumed large amounts of raw cacao every day and the study found them to have lower overall disease rates and longer life expectancy than neighboring tribes who did not consume as much raw cacao.

To further strengthen the case for dark chocolate as a life extender, the world's longest-lived person, Jeanne Louise Calment, lived to the age of 122 and many ascribed her longevity in part to her consumption of 2.5 pounds of dark chocolate a week.

8. High in Magnesium Cacao is higher in magnesium than any other plant. Magnesium is an important mineral that helps in the regulation of the digestive, neurological, and cardiovascular systems. Since many people are magnesium deficient, adding magnesium-rich dark chocolate to the diet can improve overall health.

9. Artery Cleanup
Studies have shown that the antioxidants in cacao work like brooms in sweeping plaque out of the arteries.

10. Brain Health
Many studies have shown that dark chocolate is good for the brain. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University found it can protect the brain after a stroke by shielding nerve cells from further damage. Dark chocolate has also been found to improve memory. Researchers at California's Salk found that a chemical in chocolate called Epicatechin improved the memory of mice.

Here is another image showing the main effects of chocolate - this is from Wikipedia

 

Using Baking Soda in Your Garden

1. Make a Spray to Treat and Prevent Powdery Mildew

Powdery mildew is a problem for many plants, including lilacs, monarda, and zinnias. Squashes and cucumbers are particularly susceptible to it in my neck of the woods. Here is a simple, all-natural spray you can make to treat and prevent powdery mildew:

Ingredients:

1 gallon of water
1 tablespoon of baking soda
1 tablespoon of vegetable oil
1 tablespoon of dishwashing liquid

Directions:
Mix the ingredients together and add them to a spray bottle. Spray your plants weekly, preferably on overcast days to prevent it from burning the foliage

2. Sprinkle Baking Soda on Cabbages (and other Brassicas) to Thwart Caterpillars

If those small green cabbage worms have been making Swiss cheese of your cabbage, broccoli, and kale plants, try this trick: Make a 50/50 combination of flour and baking soda, and dust it all over whichever plants the cabbage worms are eating. They'll eat the combo while munching the leaves, and die within a day or so. Repeat as necessary.

3. Sweep Baking Soda into Sidewalk Cracks to Discourage Weeds

Simply pour or sweep a thick layer of baking soda into sidewalk and patio cracks. The baking soda will kill any small weeds that are already there, and prevent new ones from sprouting.

4. Kill Crabgrass

Crabgrass can be really annoying, and if you're noticing it in your lawn, garden beds, or sidewalk cracks, you can use baking soda to get rid of it. Simply wet it down, then pour a thick dusting of baking soda on it. The crabgrass will start dying back in two to three days. One word of caution: try to be careful where you're applying the baking soda, because you could harm your lawn grass if you get too much of the baking soda on it.

Mini German Pancakes

These pancakes are made in muffin/cupcake tins. Only fill the tin 1/2 full and it will create the crater when it bakes. Great brunch idea!

Ingredients:

1 cup milk
6 eggs
1 cup flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. orange zest (optional)
1/4 cup butter, melted

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Blend first six ingredients (milk thru orange zest) in a blender. Be careful to see that any flour clumps get well-blended.
2. Blend in butter a little at a time in order to temper the eggs.
3. Grease muffin tins well and distribute batter evenly between the tins, with each tin being only half full. Bake for 15 minutes, or until puffy and golden on top.
4. Serve with topping of your choice.

Amazing photos from around the world

Sharing a slideshow I made from pictures I've collected on Facebook and had on Photobucket. I thought I would share those here.

Hope you enjoy it!

Where are the butterflies?

So much talk this year about butterflies, such as the Monarch, which is usually plentiful and is nowhere to be seen this year. As I was looking over the flowers in my yard yesterday, it came to me that we haven't seen ANY butterflies this year. Where have they all gone. Above is a picture I took last year of a Painted Lady Butterfly, which is almost as beautiful as the Monarch. And sadly, none are around today.

I appears that the Monarch's migration has been delayed due to the bad weather we've had this year. So much rain early on in the summer, not to mention the cold weather as well, and in other areas it was the opposite, they  had drought. It could be the same reason for other butterflies to be missing. I sure hope nothing else is the cause for our missing these beautiful creatures.

That's it, just a short blog to add my thoughts on the missing butterflies, and hoping we will see them again soon. Have a great week-end!

Heart Attacks and Water

I just saw this on Facebook and had to share it. Whenever I see something as important as this message on Facebook, I feel compelled to share it with people who visit this blog, and even if it's only for myself, at least I know where to look for the information in the future. So, please read on, it may save your life or of someone you love.

How many folks do you know who say they don't want to drink anything before going to bed because they'll have to get up during the night.

Heart Attack and Water - I never knew all of this ! Interesting.......

Something else I didn't know ... I asked my Doctor why people need to urinate so much at night time. Answer from my Cardiac Doctor - Gravity holds water in the lower part of your body when you are upright (legs swell). When you lie down and the lower body (legs and etc) seeks level with the kidneys, it is then that the kidneys remove the water because it is easier. This then ties in with the last statement!
I knew you need your minimum water to help flush the toxins out of your body, but this was news to me. 

Correct time to drink water...

Very Important. From A Cardiac Specialist!
Drinking water at a certain time maximizes its effectiveness on the body
2 glasses of water after waking up - helps activate internal organs
1 glass of water 30 minutes before a meal - helps digestion
1 glass of water before taking a bath - helps lower blood pressure
1 glass of water before going to bed - avoids stroke or heart attack

I can also add to this... My Physician told me that water at bed time will also help prevent night time leg cramps. Your leg muscles are seeking hydration when they cramp and wake you up with a Charlie Horse.
Mayo Clinic Aspirin Dr. Virend Somers, is a Cardiologist from the Mayo Clinic, who is lead author of the report in the July 29, 2008 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Most heart attacks occur in the day, generally between 6 A.M. and noon. Having one during the night, when the heart should be most at rest, means that something unusual happened. Somers and his colleagues have been working for a decade to show that sleep apnea is to blame.

1. If you take an aspirin or a baby aspirin once a day, take it at night.
The reason: Aspirin has a 24-hour "half-life"; therefore, if most heart attacks happen in the wee hours of the morning, the Aspirin would be strongest in your system.
2. FYI, Aspirin lasts a really long time in your medicine chest, for years, (when it gets old, it smells like vinegar).

Please read on...

Something that we can do to help ourselves - nice to know. Bayer is making crystal aspirin to dissolve instantly on the tongue.
They work much faster than the tablets.
Why keep Aspirin by your bedside? It's about Heart Attacks.

There are other symptoms of a heart attack, besides the pain on the left arm. One must also be aware of an intense pain on the chin, as well as nausea and lots of sweating; however, these symptoms may also occur less frequently.

Note: There may be NO pain in the chest during a heart attack.

The majority of people (about 60%) who had a heart attack during their sleep did not wake up. However, if it occurs, the chest pain may wake you up from your deep sleep.
If that happens, immediately dissolve two aspirins in your mouth and swallow them with a bit of water.
Afterwards: - Call 911. - Phone a neighbor or a family member who lives very close by.- Say "heart attack!" - Say that you have taken 2 Aspirins.

Take a seat on a chair or sofa near the front door, and wait for their arrival and ...DO NOT LIE DOWN!

 
A Cardiologist has stated that if each person after seeing this, shares it with 10 people, probably one life could be saved!

I have already shared this information. What about you?
Do share this message. It may save lives!

"Life is a one time gift"

Carpet Shampoo Solution

1 Cup Oxyclean*
1 Cup Febreze*
1 Cup Distilled White Vinegar
*This homemade version works fabulously!

Pour contents into shampooer tank and mix with hot water to fill tank completely. This will not only clean your carpets it will also deodorize. It will smell slightly of vinegar until the carpet is dry, then will smell like febreeze...

Be sure to test spot with the solution just to be safe, however this should be safe for ALL carpets.

To save even more $$$ make your own Febreze too! For just $0.15 a Bottle! Here is the Recipe...

*** Homemade Febreze ***

What you'll need:
1/8 Cup of fabric softener (I used Downy April Fresh)
2 tablespoons Baking Soda
Hot tap water
Spray bottle (I used my empty 27 oz. Febreze bottle)

Preparation:
Using a funnel, pour fabric softener and baking soda into your spray bottle. Fill spray bottle with hot tap water and shake well. Don't forget to twist the nozzle over to the LOCK position if you're using a Febreze bottle.

Apple Crisp Cheesecake

 

Ingredients

1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup quick-cooking oats
4 teaspoons brown sugar
3 tablespoons butter, melted

FILLING:
2 packages (3 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg, lightly beaten
3 tablespoons sour cream
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
2/3 cup sliced peeled apple

TOPPING:
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon quick-cooking oats
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons cold butter

Directions:
In a small bowl, combine the cracker crumbs, oats and brown sugar; stir in butter. Press onto the bottom of a 6-in. springform pan coated with cooking spray; set aside.

For filling, in a small bowl, beat cream cheese and brown sugar until smooth. Add egg; beat on low speed just until combined. Stir in the sour cream, cinnamon and ginger. Pour over crust Arrange apple slices over filling. For topping, combine the flour, oats, brown sugar and cinnamon in a bowl. Cut in butter until crumbly. Sprinkle over apple.

Bake at 350° for 40-45 minutes or until center is almost set. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight. Just before serving, remove sides of pan. Refrigerate leftovers. 

Homemade Jewelry Cleaner

Here is a recipe I found on Facebook today and thought it was worth blogging about it, if only so I can have it handy to refer to when in need.

Never buy jewelry cleaner again, make your own instead. Here's how:

1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon baking soda
1 tablespoon dish detergent
1 cup water
1 piece aluminum foil

Directions:
1. Heat water in the microwave for 1 or 2 minutes.
2. Cut a piece of aluminum foil that roughly covers the bottom of a small bowl (like a cereal bowl).
3. Pour hot water into bowl. Place salt, soda, and dish-washing liquid into bowl. Place jewelry on top of foil and let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes. Rinse jewelry in cool water and dry jewelry completely with soft cloth. Discard solution after use and make a new batch next time.
4. According to wire-sculpture.com, "this works well for gold-filled, brass, German (nickel) silver, and sterling silver. I have even cleaned jewelry with freshwater pearls, shell cameos and mother of pearl with no problem.".

Easy and Delicious Maple Cream Cookie Sandwiches

These cookies are great for any celebration, but are especially perfect for Canada Day. Maple syrup is a traditional Canadian flavour that makes these cookies just right for our country’s special day.

Maple Cream Cookie Sandwiches

 

What you need:

For the Cookies:

• 1 cup (228 g) unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup (100 g) Redpath Granulated Sugar
• 1/2 cup (100 g) Redpath Dark Brown Sugar
• 1/4 cup (50 mL) maple syrup
• 1 egg
• 3 1/4 cup (288 g) all purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp (5 g) salt

For Maple Cream Filling:

• 1/4 cup (72 g) unsalted butter
• 1/4 tsp (2.5 g) salt
• 5 tbsp (98 g) maple syrup
• 2 cups (200 g) Redpath Icing Sugar

How to prepare:

For the Cookies

1. Beat the butter and sugar together until fluffy.

 

2. Add the egg, maple syrup, and blend until combined.

 

 

3. Add the flour and salt to the butter mixture in a little at a time until a smooth dough is formed. It may help to knead the dough a little on the counter until it comes together.

 

 

4. Once combined, divide dough into two pieces and wrap each with plastic wrap. Transfer to refrigerator for about an hour or until firm.
5. Remove dough from fridge and preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
6. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough and cut into shapes with cookie cutters. We used maple leaves, but feel free to use a cookie cutter of your choice.

 

7. Place cookies on parchment lined baking sheet and bake for 8 – 10 minutes, or until golden brown. Let cool before filling with a spoonful of maple cream filling.

 

For the Maple Cream Filling:

1. Beat the butter until light and fluffy.

2. Mix the icing sugar and salt together.

3. Alternate adding a 1/2 cup of icing sugar mixture with 1 tbsp. of maple syrup to the butter until desired consistency is met.

 

  

 4. Use to fill cookies and enjoy.

 This is a recipe from Redpath Sugar. http://redpathsugar.com/