Poem - Toes

This was originally published on a previous blog that is now going to close I'm afraid, so I'm moving most of the blogs here. I thought it was worth sharing again. ENJOY!     Toes I smile now when I think back, About some people I have met, There was a group of ladies once, That I never will forget. I met them on a morning walk, That went along the shore, I chose that route to see the waves, And watch the seagulls soar. The sky that day was very blue, White clouds just off the coast, As I recall, the sun was bright, The day was warm as toast. The ocean was all colors, A lovely sight to see, And tiny drops of ocean spray, Refreshed and welcomed me. I found, well-anchored in the sand, A bench made out of rocks, I sat there for a moment, Then removed my shoes and socks. In their new found freedom, My toes wiggled with delight, I giggled like a child at play, They raked the sand just right. I did not see approaching me, A lady twice my age, "Oh," she asked, "Does that feel good?" Upon my toes, she gazed. "You bet it does," I answered back, Admittedly, with glee, "Here, I will move over some, Why don't you join me." Smilingly, she then sat down, And proceeded to remove, Her white athletic socks, And her white athletic shoes. As her toes escaped their bounds, She smiled ear to ear. Then, from the corner of my eye, I saw someone else was near. A new voice said, "That looks like fun, Mind if I sit with you?" We shifted over on the bench "Oh, no," I said, "Please do." So the three of us just sat there, As we wiggled thirty toes, When one more lady came along, Forty toes did to-and-fros. "I just recently retired," The first lady said aloud, "I am a five-time grandma," The second bragged, quite proud. "I think I beat the both of you," The last member then exclaimed, "Today's my ninetieth birthday, Now, that's my claim to fame." Then all these older women, Behaved as kids once more. Toes freed of their enclosures, Let them dance around the shore. The first two got up from the bench, And turned, and bowed, and whirled, The third old lady joined in, And did a dainty twirl. As the three of them cavorted, Upon that sandy beach, I took my leave and stole away, I think I loved them, each. To see those older souls, Shed their troubles for awhile, Indeed, gave me a total lift, I could not hold back my smile. That was just a trifling incident, That happened years ago, Yet, now that scene returns to me, Whenever I feel low. The sight of those three women, Who shed their troubles with their shoes, Is a signal to go barefoot, When burdened down with blues. So free your toes from prison, Let them wiggle in the air, Giggle as you watch them, Let them dance away your care. Toes really are quite fanciful, They're only there for teasin', God gave us toes to make us laugh, No other rhyme nor reason.

Friendship's Road

I've a warm and friendly feeling As I think of you today, And I wish that we could visit, But you're many miles away. Separated by such distance, Yet your letters bring you near, Through the miles we share a friendship That's become to me most dear. Friends through correspondence only, And your face I need not see, For your soul shines through the pages Every time you write to me! Your special way of writing, Warming as the sunshine rays, Brings joy and inspiration, And brightens up my days. You've enriched my life, my dear friend, And I hope God wills we meet, Friendship's Road is so much nicer Traveling with one so sweet! Beverly J. Anderson

Shark Break

I got this from a friend by email and thought I'd share it with you all. You can click on the Shark or the Orca and see it follow your mouse, you can change the background by clicking on the little squares at the top. It's really neat :) Have fun with it. www.SharkBreak.com

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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

Baked Rigatoni with Sausage and Mushrooms

Category:		Pasta
Servings:		25

Ingredients:
4 ounces dried porcini mushrooms
4 cups hot water
4 tablespoons olive oil
4 large onions, finely chopped
5 pounds hot Italian sausages, casings removed
4 pounds button mushrooms, sliced
4 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary
2 cups dry white wine
4 bay leaves
2 14-ounce cans beef broth
4 cups half and half

4 pounds rigatoni
6 cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Additional grated Parmesan cheese
Fresh rosemary sprigs (for garnish)

Directions:
Rinse porcini mushrooms. Place in medium bowl. Add 4 cups hot water, cover, and let stand until softened, about 20 minutes. Drain, reserving soaking liquid.

Chop porcini.

Heat 2 tablespoons oil in each of 2 heavy large pots over medium heat. Divide onions between pots; sauté until tender, about 10 minutes.

Divide sausage between pots. Increase heat to high and cook until no longer pink, breaking up into small pieces with back of fork, about 12 minutes.

Divide button mushrooms and chopped rosemary between pots and stir until mushrooms begin to soften, about 8 minutes.

Divide porcini, wine, and bay leaves between pots and boil until almost all liquid evaporates, stirring frequently, about 6 minutes.

Divide porcini soaking liquid between pots, leaving sediment behind. Divide beef broth between pots. Boil until sauce is syrupy, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes.

Divide half and half between pots; boil until thickened slightly, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. (Sauce can be made 1 day ahead. Cool slightly, then cover and chill. Rewarm before continuing.)

Brush four 3-1/2-quart glass or porcelain baking dishes with oil. Cook pasta in 2 large pots of boiling salted water until just tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally. Drain. Divide pasta between sauce in pots; stir to coat.

Mix 3 cups cheese into each pot. Season pasta with salt and pepper. Divide among prepared baking dishes. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature before continuing.)

Preheat oven to 375°F. Cover dishes with foil. Bake pasta just until hot but not bubbling, about 25 minutes. Sprinkle with additional cheese. Garnish with rosemary sprigs and serve with additional cheese.

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.

Homemade Weed Killer

This is a short post from me of a great recipe for a "green" weed killer. I had found this recipe a couple of years ago and then lost it, and just yesterday I went and bought a commercial weed killer, this really ticks me off, since I got the recipe today on Facebook, so here I am sharing it with you all. And I'll pin it so I don't lose it again :)

1 gallon of white vinegar,

1/2 cup salt,

Liquid dish soap

That's it, simple isn't it!

Share it, so you will have it for later!

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....

Homemade Mosquito Trap

It's been a while since I posted anything on here and I just came across a great idea on Facebook, which I hope really works. Summer will be upon us soon (I hope) and as we all know, mosquitoes are as pesky as ever and hard to get away from them. So I hope this tip will work for everyone.

Modern technology has brought us many benefits, including mosquito traps that cost hundreds of dollars, but sometimes we overlook simple solutions to difficult challenges such as mosquito control. When it comes to controlling pests, research tends to focus on chemicals or concepts that can be patented. Unless someone can make a profit from an idea, the public may never become aware of it.

HOMEMADE MOSQUITO TRAP:

Items needed:

200 ml water
50 grams of brown sugar
1 gram of yeast
2-liter plastic bottle

Or US conversion:
1 cup of water
1/4 cup of brown sugar
For the yeast, the exact US mesasurement is a hard one to figure as it turns out to be 1/32 oz
As for the 2 liter bottle, that equals to 67 US fl. oz. or 70 Imperial oz.

HOW:
1. Cut the plastic bottle in half.
2. Mix brown sugar with hot water. Let cool. When cold, pour in the bottom half of the bottle.
3. Add the yeast. No need to mix. It creates carbon dioxide, which attracts mosquitoes.
4. Place the funnel part, upside down, into the other half of the bottle, taping them together if desired.
5. Wrap the bottle with something black, leaving the top uncovered, and place it outside in an area away from your normal gathering area. (Mosquitoes are also drawn to the color black.)

Change the solution every 2 weeks for continuous control.

24 Clever Ideas to Make Life Easier

Why didn’t I think of that?!  We guarantee you’ll be uttering those words more than once at these ingenious little tips, tricks and ideas that solve everyday problems.

Hull strawberries easily using a straw.

Rubbing a walnut over scratches in your furniture will disguise dings and scrapes.

Remove crayon masterpieces from your TV or computer screen with WD40.

Stop cut apples browning in your child’s lunch box by securing with a rubber band.

Overhaul your linen cupboard, store bed linen sets inside one of their own pillowcases and there will be no more hunting through piles for a match.

Re-use a wet-wipes container to store plastic bags.

Add this item to your beach bag.  Baby powder gets sand off your skin easily, who knew?!

Attach a Velcro strip to the wall to store soft toys.

Use wire to make a space to store gift wrap rolls against the ceiling, rather than cluttering up the floor.

Find tiny lost items like earrings by putting a stocking over the vacuum hose.

Make an instant cupcake carrier by cutting crosses into a box lid.

For those who can’t stand the scrunching and bunching: how to perfectly fold a fitted sheet.

Forever losing your bathroom essentials?  Use magnetic strips to store bobby pins, tweezers and clippers, behind a vanity door

Store shoes inside shower caps to stop dirty soles rubbing on your clothes.  And you can find them in just about every hotel.

A muffin pan becomes a craft caddy.  Magnets hold the plastic cups down to make them tip-resistant.

Bread tags make the perfect cord labels.

Bake cupcakes directly in ice-cream cones, so much more fun and easier for kids to eat.

Microwave your own popcorn in a plain brown paper bag.  Much healthier and cheaper than the packet stuff.

Install a tension rod to hang your spray bottles.

Win friends at breakfast with this heart-shaped egg tutorial. Aww shucks!

Turn your muffin pan upside down, bake cookie-dough over the top and voila, you have cookie bowls for fruit or ice-cream.

Freeze Aloe Vera in ice-cube trays for soothing sunburn relief.

Create a window-box veggie patch using guttering.

25 different ways to use coffee filters - who knew?!?!?

Better than paper towels and a lot less expensive...the lowly coffee filter - basket type, has many different uses.  Who knew!   And you can buy 1,000 at the Dollar Store for almost nothing even the large ones.

1. Cover bowls or dishes when cooking in the  microwave. Coffee filters make excellent covers. 

2. Clean windows, mirrors, and chrome...  Coffee filters are lint-free so they'll leave windows sparkling.

3.  Protect China by separating your good dishes with a coffee filter between each dish.

4.  Filter broken cork from wine.  If you break the cork when opening a wine  bottle, filter the wine through a coffee filter. 

5.  Protect a cast-iron skillet.  Place a coffee filter in the  skillet to absorb moisture and prevent rust.

6.  Apply shoe polish.  Ball up a lint-free coffee filter. 

7.  Recycle frying oil.  After frying, strain oil through a sieve  lined with a coffee filter.

8.  Weigh chopped foods.  Place chopped ingredients in a coffee filter on a  kitchen scale.

9.  Hold tacos.  Coffee filters make convenient wrappers for messy foods.

10.  Stop the soil from leaking out of a plant pot.  Line a plant  pot with a coffee filter to prevent the soil from going through the drainage holes.

11.  Prevent a Popsicle from dripping.  Poke one or two holes as  needed in a coffee filter.

12.  Do you think we used expensive strips to wax eyebrows?  Use  strips of coffee filters..

13.  Put a few in a plate and put your fried bacon, French fries, chicken  fingers, etc on them.  It soaks out all the grease. 

14.  Keep in the bathroom.  They make great "razor nick  fixers."

15.   As a sewing backing.  Use a filter as an easy-to-tear backing for embroidering or appliquéing soft fabrics.

16.  Put baking soda into a coffee filter and insert into shoes or a closet to absorb or prevent odors.

17.  Use them to strain soup stock and to tie fresh herbs in to put in soups and stews.

18.  Use a coffee filter to prevent spilling when you add fluids to your car.

19.  Use them as a spoon rest while cooking and clean up small counter spills.

20.  Can use to hold dry ingredients when baking or when cutting a piece of fruit or veggies..  Saves on having extra bowls to wash.

21.  Use them to wrap Christmas ornaments for storage.

22.  Use them to remove fingernail polish when out of cotton balls.

23.  Use them to sprout seeds.  Simply dampen the coffee filter, place seeds inside, fold it and place it into a plastic baggie until they sprout.

24. Use coffee filters as blotting paper for pressed flowers.  Place the flowers between two coffee filters and put the coffee filters in a phone book..

25.  Use as a disposable "snack bowl" for popcorn, chips, etc.