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.

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!

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.

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.".

How To Get Rid of Bed Bugs Naturally

Getting rid of bed bugs can be quite a pain, however if you follow these simple methods, you'll take care of them rather quickly.

1. Thoroughly clean everything in your home, but in particular all things that are cloth. Wash all bedding and infested clothing in HOT water. Make sure you vacuum all cracks and crevices, particularly around sleeping areas or food/eating areas. Thoroughly clean your home or effected areas every 7-10 days or until the infestation is taken care of.

2. If you cannot wash an item, seal it completely in an airtight bag for at least 3 days. I would recommend one week. Some use the freezer as well when using this method for more effectiveness.

3. A very useful and important part of the process is to then spray down and wipe all effected areas with an all natural enzyme cleaner such as Kleen Free Naturally (http://amzn.to/Vc4my5

). This will directly attack and eliminate the bed bugs and their eggs.

4. The last yet most important part of the process is to use a most important item called Diatomaceous Earth (http://amzn.to/QwMRcG

). Make sure it is food grade so it will be pet safe and sprinkle it everywhere. In particular you'll want to sprinkle it in cracks and crevices, around any and all furniture, particularly beds. Cabinets, chairs, around the edges of all bedding and in the cracks of furniture where it will be out of sight. Put a bit of this everywhere possible. The DE acts as a drying agent that will dry out and finish off the bed bugs shortly. This is the most effective part of the process, as it not only kills the bed bugs, but it also eliminate any that will come out of hiding later that were missed with the cleaner or while vacuuming.

You can find Kleen Free Naturally here:
http://amzn.to/Vc4my5

You can find Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth here:
http://amzn.to/QwMRcG

Follow the steps above and you will have those bedbugs finished off in approx. 14-30 days, perhaps sooner.

Tip to get rid of flies the safe way

Came across a great tip on Facebook today, thought I'd share it here for all to see. Pretty ingenious I thought.

We went with friends to a restaurant on Sunday for lunch and sat in the patio section beside the store. We happened to notice zip lock baggies pinned to a post and a wall. The bags were half filled with ...water, each contained 4 pennies, and they were zipped shut. Naturally we were curious! The owner told us that these baggies kept the flies away! So naturally we were even more curious! We actually watched some flies come in the open window, stand around on the window sill, and then fly out again. And there were no flies in the eating area! This morning I checked this out on Google.

Below are comments on this fly control idea. I'm now a believer!

Zip-lock water bags: 

#1 Says: I tried the zip lock bag and pennies this weekend. I have a horse trailer. The flies were bad while I was camping. I put the baggies with pennies above the door of the LQ. NOT ONE FLY came in the trailer.The horse trailer part had many. Not sure why it works but it does!

#2 Says:: Fill a zip lock bag with water and 5 or 6 pennies and hang it in the problem area. In my case it was a particular window in my home. It had a slight passage way for insects. Every since I have done that, it has kept flies and wasps away. Some say that wasps and flies mistake the bag for some other insect nest and are threatened.

#3 Says:: I swear by the plastic bag of water trick. I have them on porch and basement. We saw these in Northeast Mo. at an Amish grocery store& have used them since. They say it works because a fly sees a reflection& won't come around.

#4 Says: :Regarding the science behind zip log bags of water? My research found that the millions of molecules of water presents its own prism effect and given that flies have a lot of eyes, to them it's like a zillion disco balls reflecting light, colors and movement in a dizzying manner. When you figure that flies are prey for many other bugs, animals, birds, etc., they simply won't take the risk of being around that much perceived action. I moved to a rural area and thought these "hillbillies" were just yanking my city boy chain but I tried it and it worked immediately! We went from hundreds of flies to seeing the occasional one, but he didn't hang around long.

Only problem for me is that in Canada we no longer have pennies and I don't have any around anymore  

DIY Natural Room Scents

Throw out all those canned room sprays and make your own natural and safe room scents using simmering waters infused with spices, herbs & fruit.

Fragrant items for naturally scenting your home:

Citrus - I've tried other fruits. Some of them smell good initially, but they don't hold up for more than one use. Citrus is sturdier, longer-lasting, and gives these scent recipes freshness. Lemons and oranges are particularly fragrant and have the best staying power in these scented waters.

Herbs - Any herb can be used for making a room scent, but the ones that are sturdier and on woody twigs hold up the best. My favorites for room scents are rosemary and thyme.

Pine or Cedar Twigs/Needles -- There may be other fragrant trees that will work, too; pine and cedar are the two I've tried for their appealing, fresh fragrance.

Extracts -- A touch of vanilla or almond extract improves most room fragrance mixtures. Mint extract has a nice fresh scent.

Spices - You can use ground or whole sweet spices. The whole spices look prettier, if your scented water will be in a location where it will be seen. I have found that cinnamon sticks and whole cloves have the most scent staying power. Cinnamon sticks can be rinsed off and reused several times.

Home made mosquito repellent

HOME MADE MOSQUITO REPELLENT (ALSO FOR ANTS & FLEAS)
(And free from chemicals that poison the body)

 

Ingredients:

1/2 litre of alcohol

100 gram of whole cloves

100 ml of baby oil or similar (almond, sesame, chamomile, lavender, fennel etc)

Preparation:

Leave cloves to marinate in alcohol four days
Stir every morning and evening
After 4 days add the oil
It's now ready to use.

How to use:

Gently rub a few drops into the skin of the arms and legs.
Observe the mosquitoes fleeing the room.
Repels fleas on pets too.

Brussels sprouts you'll actually eat

Description:
Another recipe from Ina Garten's The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook.

Ingredients:
A cup of brussels sprouts, washed with the ends chopped off
2 tsp. olive oil
kosher salt for seasoning


Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Spread the sprouts on an oiled pan and sprinkle with olive oil and salt.
Bake for about 12 minutes, turn, and bake for another 12-15.

The sprouts come out perfectly, with sweet, crinkled caramelized skins and tender, flavorful insides. They're on the firmer side, but plenty easy to eat.

Double Stuff Pumpkin Pie

Category:

Desserts

Ingredients:
* Crust:

1 cup Flour
1/4 Cup Brown Sugar
1/2 Cup Chopped Pecans
1/2 Cup Melted butter

* Filling:

4 oz cream cheese, softened
1 Tbsp. Half and Half
1 Tbsp. Sugar
1 1/2 cup Thawed cool whip
1 cup half and half
2 4-ounce packages of Instant Vanilla Pudding
1 16-ounce can Pumpkin
1 Tsp. cinnamon, ground
1/2 Tsp. Ginger, ground
1/4 Tsp. Cloves, ground

Directions:
* Crust:

Combine all ingredients and spread into a pie dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Cool.

* Filling:

Add first 3 ingredients in a large bowl and stir with wire whisk until smooth. Gently Stir In cool whip and spread on top of crust. Pour rest of the half and half into bowl with vanilla pudding and beat with wire Whisk until well blended (1 or 2 minutes, Mixture will be thick). Stir pumpkin and spices into Pudding mixture and mix well. Spread this over cream cheese layer and refrigerate at least 3 hours.

* Garnish with whipped topping and nuts, if desired

Tips for Québec strawberries - and all others too

Summer is almost upon us (though you'd never know it these days with the change of weather and temperature). So, it's strawberry season again, this blog will give you some tips on how to conserve them and some tips on how to serve them too. Yes I am from Quebec so I have to preach for my region :), Quebec's strawberries are the sweetest I've ever had, bar none, so indulge me and read on, the tips will apply to all strawberries, no matter where they are grown.

Did you know that strawberries are a member of the rose family and that they're the only small fruit covered with seeds? Containing more vitamin C than an orange, a cup of strawberries is a very healthy choice.

How to choose

• Choose bright red strawberries that are fragrant and firm. Strawberries don't continue to ripen once picked, so partially green strawberries will stay that way.
• The smaller the strawberry, the tastier it will be.
• If strawberries are available in a clear plastic container, shake it gently to see if they move around. If they remain stuck together, one or more berries at the bottom of the container is probably moldy. If a container is wet, that's a sign to avoid it.

How to store strawberries

• Strawberries should be eaten within three days of purchase.
• Store them in the refrigerator in a paper-towel-lined, airtight container, each layer separated by a sheet of paper towel. Make sure you remove any spoiled strawberries.
• Don't wash strawberries until you're ready to use them. Avoid soaking them for too long after hulling, or water will seep in making the strawberries soft and tasteless.
• For maximum flavour, place strawberries at room temperature an hour before serving.

Gourmet tips

• Strawberries with balsamic vinegar is a marriage made in heaven! Combine between 750 mL and 1 L (3 to 4 cups) of halved strawberries, 30 mL (2 tbsp.) of balsamic vinegar, and 60 mL (¼ cup) of sugar, and leave in a bowl to macerate at room temperature for 1 to 2 hours. Season with pepper and serve as is or spooned over vanilla ice cream. (Psst!... you can replace the balsamic vinegar with your favourite liqueur and reduce the sugar by half. A classic).
• You can also combine strawberries with prosciutto as a crostini garnish. Add a bit of shaved parmesan, fresh basil, a dash of balsamic vinegar, some pepper, and you have a lovely sweet and sour canapé.
• As for salads, strawberries and arugula make an excellent pair. Toss with some honey vinaigrette, add some crumbled feta, and season with pepper. Simply delicious!
• Hooray for salsa! Combine equal quantities of diced strawberries and avocados. Add your favourite classic guacamole garnishes: red onion, jalapeño pepper, chopped fresh coriander, with lime juice, salt and pepper. Olé! 
• To prepare a quick strawberry coulis, purée 750 mL (3 cups) of cut strawberries, 30 mL (2 tbsp.) of sugar, and 15 mL (1 tbsp.) of lemon juice in a blender. Pass through a sieve and use the coulis to decorate desserts or sundaes. Add sliced strawberries to the coulis for garnishing pancakes, waffles, ice cream, pudding, or shortcake.
• Serving summertime cocktails on the terrace? Drop a strawberry into a glass of sparkling wine for a festive touch.
• How about some strawberry lemonade for the small-fry? Mix together 1 L (4 cups) of cut strawberries and 125 mL (½ cup) of sugar with the juice of 8 lemons. Simmer for 3 minutes, filter using a cheesecloth-lined strainer, and keep only the syrup. Chill and then add 1 L (4 cups) of water and ice cubes. Cheers!

COLOURFUL, FLAVOURFUL PAPILLOTE

Once you taste this colourful, flavourful papillote, you won’t be able to resist! Place some strawberries in foil wrap. Add a bit of sweetness in the form of maple syrup, caramel, pieces of chocolate (dark, milk, or white), or Graham wafer crumbs. To season, add some cinnamon, pink pepper, citrus zest, or fresh herbs (tarragon, basil, or even mint). When assembled, cook on a heated barbecue grill for about 5 minutes. For the most decadent of desserts, top with a scoop of ice cream right before serving!

 

In their simplest form, slice some strawberries and add chopped fresh mint, orange juice and zest, and top with coarse sugar crystals.

No more waste!

Are your strawberries starting to look a bit peaked? Quick – pop them in a skillet or into the freezer!

• Whip together a homemade jam in just 15 minutes. Reduce the strawberries with 125 mL (½ cup) of sugar, or to taste, and the juice of ½ lemon. Stir for 15 minutes, set aside to cool and then refrigerate. It will keep for 1 to 2 weeks in the refrigerator.
• To freeze whole or sliced strawberries, spread them in one layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet, freeze, and then transfer into freezer bags. Now you can use them (preferably frozen) all year round in smoothies, cakes, muffins, fruit sauces, and so on.

The above information was extracted from a local grocers in Quebec, called IGA.

45 Uses for Vinegar

Unleash the power of white vinegar―an all-purpose cleaner, brightener, herbicide and more. Just a bit of this multitasker, straight up or mixed with water, can replace many pricier products huddled under your sink. Try these tips to see how vinegar can make your life cheaper and easier.


1. Freshen up the fridge. Clean the shelves and walls with a solution of half water and half vinegar.

2. Brighten coffee cups and teacups. Gently scrub stains with equal parts vinegar and salt (or baking soda).

3. Eliminate odors. Swab plastic containers with a cloth dampened with vinegar.

4. Kill bathroom germs. Spray full-strength vinegar around the sink and tub. Wipe clean with a damp cloth.

5. Save a garment. To remove light scorch marks on fabrics, rub gently with vinegar. Wipe with a clean cloth. This technique also works on antiperspirant stains.

6. Tidy up a toilet. Pour a cup or more of diluted white distilled vinegar into the bowl. Let sit several hours or overnight. Scrub well with a toilet brush and flush.

7. Lose the carpet stain. Make a paste of 2 tablespoons white distilled vinegar and ¼ cup salt or baking soda. Rub into the stain and let dry. Vacuum the residue the next day. (Always test an out-of-sight part of the carpet first.)

8. Renew paint brushes. To remove old paint, place brushes in a pot with vinegar. Soak for an hour, then turn on the stove and bring the vinegar to a simmer. Drain and rinse clean.

9. Wipe off a dirty faucet. To get rid of lime buildup, make a paste of 1 teaspoon vinegar and 2 tablespoons salt. Apply to sink fixtures and rub with a cloth.

10. Stop static cling. Add ½ cup of white distilled vinegar to your wash cycle. The acid reduces static and keeps dryer lint from sticking to your clothes.

11. Make old socks look new. Get the stains out of old socks and sweaty gym clothes by soaking them in a vinegar solution. Add 1 cup of white distilled vinegar to a large pot of water, bring to a boil and drop in the stained clothes. Let them soak overnight, and in the morning stained clothes are fresh and bright.

12. Restore handbags and shoes. Wipe white distilled vinegar on scuffed leather bags and shoes. It will restore their shine and help hide the marks.

13. Banish weeds. Pour white distilled vinegar on the weeds growing in the cracks of your walkway and driveway. Saturate the plant so the vinegar reaches the roots.

14. Liven droopy flowers. Don’t throw out cut flowers once they start to wilt. Instead, add two tablespoons of white vinegar and one teaspoon of sugar to a quart of water. Pour the solution into your vase, and the flowers will perk up.

15. Put an end to itching. Dab a cotton ball soaked in white vinegar on mosquito bites and insect stings. It will stop them from itching and help disinfect the area so they heal faster.

16. Whiten your teeth. Brush your teeth once a week with white distilled vinegar. Dip your toothbrush into the vinegar and brush thoroughly. It will help prevent bad breath, too.

17. Make nail polish last longer. Before you apply your favorite polish, wipe your nails with a cotton ball soaked in white distilled vinegar. The clean surface will help your manicure last.

18. Keep car windows frost-free. Prevent windows from frosting over in a storm by coating them with a solution of three parts white distilled vinegar to one part water. The acidity hinders ice, so you won’t have to wake up early to scrape off your car.

19. Let your dog shine. Spray your dog with one cup white distilled vinegar mixed with one quart water. The solution is a cheap alternative to expensive pet-care products, plus the vinegar will help repel pests like fleas and ticks.

20. Battle litter-box odor. Cat litter can leave behind an unwelcome smell. Eliminate it by pouring a half-inch of white distilled vinegar into the empty litter box. Let stand for 20 minutes, then rinse with cold water.

21. Kill bacteria in meat. Marinating in vinegar knocks out bacteria and tenderizes the meat. Create a marinade by adding ¼ cup balsamic vinegar for every 2 pounds of meat to your own blend of herbs and spices. Let the meat sit anywhere from 20 minutes to 24 hours, depending on how strong you want the flavor, then cook it in the morning without rinsing.

22. Prevent cracked eggs. Prevent eggs from cracking as they hard-boil by adding two tablespoons of white vinegar to the water. The eggs will stay intact, and the shells will peel off more easily when you’re ready to eat them.

23. Steam away a microwave mess. Fill a small bowl with equal parts hot water and vinegar, and place it in the microwave on high for 5 minutes. As the steam fills the microwave, it loosens the mess, making clean up a breeze.

24. Repair DVDs. If you have a worn DVD that skips or freezes, wipe it down with white distilled vinegar applied to a soft cloth. Make sure the DVD is completely dry before reinserting it into the player.

25. Get those last drops. If you can’t get that final bit of mayonnaise or salad dressing out of the jar, dribble in a few drops of vinegar. Put the cap on tightly and shake. The remaining condiments will slide out.

26. Rinse fruits and vegetables. Add 2 tablespoons white distilled vinegar to one pint water. Use the mixture to wash fresh fruits and vegetables, then rinse thoroughly. The solution kills more pesticide residue than does pure water.

27. Brighter Easter eggs. Before your kids dye Easter eggs, mix 1 teaspoon of vinegar with ½ cup of hot water, then add food coloring. The vinegar keeps the dye bright and prevents the color from streaking.

28. Loosen a rusted screw. Pour vinegar onto the screw, and it will easily unstick.

29. Remove gum. To remove gum from fabric or hair, heat a small bowl of vinegar in the microwave. Pour the warm vinegar over the gum, saturating the area. The gum will dissolve.

30. Keep cheese from molding. Wrap cheese in a vinegar-soaked cloth, then place in an airtight container and refrigerate.

31. Renew a loofah. Soak your loofah in equal parts vinegar and water for 24 hours to dissolve soap residue, then rinse in cold water.

32. Remove wax. If you get melted candle wax on your wood furniture or floors, gently wipe it away with a cloth soaked in a solution of equal parts white vinegar and water.

33. Take a relaxing bath. Add ½ cup of vinegar to warm bath water for a cheap spa session at home. The vinegar removes dead skin, leaving you feeling soft and smooth.

34. Brighten your hair. Remove hair product buildup by rinsing a tablespoon of vinegar through your hair once a month.

35. Freshen fabrics. Fill a spray bottle with white vinegar and spritz your home to neutralize odors in fabrics, carpets, shoes or any sprayable surface.

36. Erase crayon. If your kids get crayon marks on the walls or floor, dip a toothbrush in white vinegar and gently scrub. The vinegar breaks down the wax, making for an inexpensive, nontoxic way to clean up after children.

37. Sticky stickers. Don’t scratch at the residue left by stickers or price tags. Instead, apply vinegar to the gunk, let it sit for a few minutes, then wipe the glue away.

38. Clean the dishwasher and coffee pot. Reduce soap buildup and food residue by pouring a cup of vinegar into your empty dishwasher or coffee pot once a month and letting it run a full cycle.

39. Sanitize pet accidents. You can remove the stain―and smell―of your pet’s accident by mixing ¼ cup vinegar with a quart of water and blotting the mixture onto the mess with a washcloth. Continue dabbing until the spot is gone.

40. Prep for summer grilling. To remove charcoal buildup from your grill, spray white distilled vinegar on balled up aluminum foil and scrub the grate thoroughly.

41. Restore showerhead pressure. If your showerhead gets clogged with mineral deposits, soak it for 15 minutes in a mixture of ½ cup vinegar and 1 quart water.

42. Clean your scissors. When your scissor blades get sticky, wipe them down with a cloth dipped in full-strength white vinegar. Unlike soap and water, vinegar won’t ruin the blades or rust the metal.

43. Unclog drains. For a natural, nontoxic way to clean clogged pipes, pour one cup of baking soda, followed by one cup of white vinegar, down the drain. Let the products bubble and foam, then flush the pipes with a pot of boiling water.

44. Eliminate dandruff. If your scalp is feeling dry or flaky, vinegar can be a simple at-home remedy. Once a week, pour one cup of apple cider vinegar over your scalp, and let it sit for 15 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with cool water.

45. Soften your feet. Summer sandals leaving you with cracked heals and calluses? Soak your feet for 20 minutes a day in one part vinegar to two parts warm water. The vinegar removes dead skin, leaving your feet soft and smooth.

Cranberry Chocolate Banana Bread

I found this recipe on Pinterest, and made it today, but I found the instructions not as clear as they should be, if someone who is not used to cooking/baking were to follow that recipe, they might get confused (I know I was at first), so I thought I would share the same recipe, but with clearer instructions in those areas that were lacking it. The original recipe can be found here. Oh, and I did not use the pictures on that site, I took my own pictures.

Ingredients:

• 2/3 Cup dried cranberries
• 1/4 Cup butter, softened
• 3/4 Cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 3 bananas, mashed
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 2 Tsp vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 Cups flour
• 1/3 Cup baking cocoa
• 1 Tsp baking powder
• 1/2 Tsp baking soda
• 1/2 Tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 Tsp salt

Instructions:

1. Turn on the oven to 350°F
2. Place cranberries in a bowl and cover with hot water, by the time you have everything else ready they will be ready to use.
3. In a large bowl beat butter with sugar for 2 minutes. Add eggs, beating well after each addition.
4. Combine bananas, sour cream and vanilla. Then add to the butter/sugar/eggs mixture.
5. In a separate bowl mix flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Combine with the banana mixture which was combined to the first mixture.
6. Drain cranberries and fold into the batter.
7. Bake in a greased 5x5-inch loaf pan for 45-50 minutes. (That's what the original recipe called for, however I didn't have a loaf pan that size, so I used a 9inX5in pan and it worked out just fine. I cooked mine 45 minutes and it was cooked to perfection.
8. Place pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes, then you can take it out and put on a serving plate.

This loaf is absolutely delicious, and moist. I loved it!

How to get rid of ants

Just saw this on Facebook and had to share with everyone who visits my blog and this also ensures I don't lose the info. :)

This is a LOW COST method to get rid of ANTS once and for all.
Instructions:
~One Cup Sugar
~THREE Tablespoons Boric Acid or Borax Laundry Soap
~THREE Cups of Warm Water

Mix the Sugar and Boric Acid together and slowly add the warm water, stirring all the time so the mixture will not get lumpy. Store is in a sealed jar and whenever you see ants simply take a used soda bottle or milk jug lid. Put a cotton ball in the lid and saturate the cotton ball with your sugar and boric acid mixture. It will not take much, just enough to fill the lid, if you spill any over the edge leave it, this will only attract the ants even more.

When you see the ants drinking the mixture, DO NOT kill them, let them drink and take the mixture back to the colony. This should kill the entire colony. In a day or two the entire colony should be gone. If you have small children or pets make certain they cannot get to this mixture since Boric Acid is hazardous.

Here is another solution, that doesn't involve any hazardous products:

1 empty water bottle
(Cut it down to about 2" tall)
5 Tbsp of baking soda
5 Tbsp of powdered sugar
3 Tbsp of water.

The very best way of eliminating ants is truly simple:

Take a small amount of powdered sugar (also called icing sugar) and mix it with an equal amount of baking soda (formally called sodium bicarbonate) and water.
Powdered sugar is essential. You cannot use the larger grains of sugar for this..

Mix the two powders together and then place small amounts against the walls or other areas where you would not normally walk but where you would normally see the ants.

The ants will be attracted to the sugar and will eat some of it and collect more to take home to feed others, so all of them will get their share.

The sugar and baking soda powders are similar in size and, once mixed together, the ants cannot separate the two items, so, as they eat the sugar, they will also ingest the baking soda, which they would otherwise never touch. This is the reason for using powdered sugar.

Once the ants eat the baking soda it will react with the formic acid in their stomachs and cause gas. The bodies of ants are unlike humans and they cannot eliminate gas so it will build up inside and eliminate them.

Ham Omelette

Ingredients:

4 eggs
8 egg whites
60 ml (1/4 cup) 1% milk
2 ml (1/2 tsp) curry or paprika
Salt and pepper to taste
20 ml (1/4 tsp) olive or canola oil
175 ml (3/4 cup) diced ham
125 ml (1/2 cup) finely chopped tomatoes
60 ml (1/4 cup) finaly chopped green onions

Instructions:

1. Whisk eggs and egg whites until fluffy, add milk, curry, salt and pepper. In a large nonstick skillet over medium heat 5 ml (1 tsp.) Oil. Pour a quarter of the egg mixture and cook over medium heat, shaking the pan until the eggs are slightly firm.

2. Sprinkle with 30 ml (2 tbsp.) Ham, 30 ml (2 tbsp.) Tomatoes and 15 ml (1 tbsp.) Green onions. Remove from heat. With a fork, lift up one third of the omelet and fold toward the center, tilt the pan and flip the omelette on a plate. Repeat for the other three omelettes.

Preparation: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 20 minutes
Portions: 4
Recipe from IGA (Canadian grocery chain)

Zucchini Parmesan Crisps

Great recipe found on Facebook today, must try this very soon, sounds so yummy.

Ingredients:

1 lb. zucchini or squash (about 2 medium-sized)
1/4 cup shredded parmesan (heaping)
1/4 cup Panko breadcrumbs (heaping)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
freshly ground pepper, to taste

Instructions:


Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line two baking sheets with foil and spray lightly with vegetable spray. 

Slice zucchini or squash into 1/4 inch-thick rounds. Toss rounds with oil, coating well.

In a wide bowl or plate, combine breadcrumbs, Parmesan, salt and pepper.

Place rounds in Parmesan-breadcrumb mixture, coating both sides of each round, pressing to adhere. The mixture will not completely cover each round, but provides a light coating on each side.

Place rounds in a single layer on baking sheets. Sprinkle any remaining breadcrumb mixture over the rounds.

Bake for about 22 to 27 minutes, until golden brown. (There is no need to flip them during baking -- they crisp up on both sides as is.)


Adapted from Ellie Krieger's recipe in The Food You Crave: Luscious Recipes for a Healthy Life http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1600850219/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1600850219&linkCode=as2&tag=blackjackbake-20

Because I follow a Weight Watchers diet, I inputted the ingredients into their recipe builder to find out the point value. Assuming this is a recipe for 4 servings, the WW Plus Point value per serving would be 4.

Stuffed Zucchini

Ingredients:

3 zucchinis
1/2 large onion, chopped fine
1 Tbsp butter
5 - 6 slices crispy bacon, chopped
1 Tbsp sour cream
1/4 to 1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp curry powder
1 roma tomato, seeded and chopped
1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
freshly grated Parmesan cheese
fresh cracked black pepper

(you can also make these vegetarian and take the bacon out or use a meat sub. or replace with some olives or any other veggie)

Give the zucchini a quick wash for good measure. Slice in half lengthwise. Leave the ends on to keep the filling in. Scoop out the flesh with a melon baller or a spoon. Leave a ledge of zucchini around the edges. For the life of me, I couldn't make straight lines. That's okay. They were still delicious. Arrange the zucchini boats in a baking dish. Chop the zucchini flesh as small as you like.

Finely chop half a sweet onion. Chop up some good smokey bacon. You could leave this out for a vegetarian side dish (maybe add some chopped mushrooms?)... but my family goes through quite a lot bacon, so it's going in! Add the curry powder... cook until desired doneness of onions and remove from heat. To the zucchini flesh, add sour cream. (How can this be bad?). Rough chop some fresh thyme leaves. Mix onion and bacon mixture with other ingredients. Taste and adjust seasoning.

Stir in the tomatoes. Seed them or else there may be too much moisture in the filling. You don't really want the filling to be all runny when you cut into it. Refill the zucchini shells with the filling mixture.

Grate some good aged Parmigiano Reggiano cheese on top and sprinkle with fresh cracked black pepper. Bake uncovered at 375 degrees F for 30 minutes. Of course you know me. I'm gonna grate even more cheese on them again... Smokiness from the bacon. Salty from the Parmesan cheese. Soft and buttery zucchini. Mmmm....