Tuesday, December 29, 2009

removing stains from white/clear plastic



I stained a white plastic bowl lid with pumpkin. I took Cascade dishwasher liquid and rubbed a blob on it, let it set on it for an hour or so. Its gone!
If you stain your white plastic cutting board, do that. Its a great texture for stain removal because its not real runny like bleach.
CAUTION do not mix it with hand dishwashing liquid. Its a poison together, there is bleach in the cascade.
PS I have also used cascade to remove tough stains in the laundry (from whites). AGAIN...careful what you mix it with! It contains bleach!

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Homemade gifts this year...and the 12 Days of Christmas, what it really means



I guess I can publish this today. I highly doubt my family will get online this morning to see their homemade gifts on my blog. If so, oh well...shame on you all for peeking!




We've always heard of the 12 days of Christmas but rarely have we honored that tradition in the United States.

From Christmas Day until January 6, the Epiphany, make up the 12 days of Christmas. The Epiphany marks the arrival of the Three Kings in Bethlehem, and it is claimed that on this occasion Christ was first revealed as divine to the Wise Men.

In some countries, January 6 is the day that gifts are given to commemorate the Wise Men's gifts to the Christ Child.

Twelfth Night Party:


Theme: Jan 6 is the day that the Wise Men presented gifts to the Christ Child. Since in our culture, we have given gifts on Dec 25, the Twelfth Night could be honored with a quiet celebration of family and friends, a closing ceremony of the holiday season.

Invitation Ideas: A manger scene with the Wise Men bearing gifts.

Table Setting: Gold stars symbolizing the star the Wise Men followed. Possibly a bowl of potpourri left over from holiday decorations, or recycle greens from your Christmas trees that you dried out.


Favors: Though the gift season is over, consider wrapping a small piece of wood or a gift box in tapestry fabric; attach with a glue gun. Tie a bow using gold wired, ribbon. Attach the following poem and use at each place setting.

This is a very special gift
That you can never see.
The reason it's so special is
It's filled with love from me.

Whenever you are lonely
Or if you are feeling blue.
Hold this gift close to your heart
And know I am thinking of you.

Please don't ever unwrap it,
Always leave the ribbon tied.
Hold the box next to your heart
It's filled with love inside.
Here are some pics of my homemade gift making...
My "Love Gifts" start out with some simple scrap blocks of wood..having a hubby in construction is always a plus....


I printed out a snowman with a gift for front of card, printed poem...and used those dots stickies for scrapbooking to assemble them. I had these material scraps from past projects..I have tons of fabric scraps.






I used hot glue to "wrap" the gifts, and let me tell ya, they are filled with love, I burnt my darn fingers so many times. lol.












attached a bow and bell.

(notice the Victoria Secret Catalog..see, that junk mail they send me 5 times a week is useful..when the hot glue gets it all goey, turn the page. lol)








They are all a bit different, as I said, I used scraps.
These are cute for decoration each year. I kept one for me just to have to put out and remember my making them.



tuck the card in on bottom of ribbon for easy reading and replacing.




I also made these quick wreathes with tri-beads.
Note: That is NOT MY eagles snowman in the background, its my youngest son, Brian's, but that IS MY John Elway ornament though! lol. I also have a Steelers ornament somewhere on that tree (Alex's) and a Joe Montana. (poor Allen, he needs a Patriot ornament I guess).


Monday, December 14, 2009

Almond and dried fruit biscotti *UPDATE*


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I keep my biscotti in a cracker jar like this (only larger). This little jar is perfect size for my Father in Law and his wife. We will see them on Wed and I wanted to give him some for his birthday.




I have totally revised the biscotti recipe.


Its basically the same as before, only I changed the cooking time and cooling time. I was always having to be so gentle with it while warm, the cooking times were all wrong on Annes recipe..maybe a typo on foodnetwork part or maybe that is just how she rolls lol




I now cook at 350 and cool 10 mins then move to wire rack and cool 10-15 mins more before slicing. They don't fall apart now, and I don't have to be gentle..the slice also looks much crisper.


I also changed the extract and zests etc. This is how I make it and it just works so much better.





Almond and Cranberry Biscotti
by Shannon Dillman



Ingredients:



1 stick butter, room temperature
1 cup sugar
1 orange or lemon, zested 2 eggs, plus 1 egg white
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 t almond extract
1 teaspoon baking powder
Pinch salt
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whole blanched almonds, toasted
1/2 cup golden raisins or dried cranberries or blueberries
1 tablespoon anise seeds
2 tablespoons turbinado sugar


Directions Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.



In a mixing bowl combine the butter and sugar and beat, with a whisk or hand mixer, until light and fluffy, scraping down the sides periodically. Add the orange zest and beat in the eggs 1 at a time. Stir in the vanilla.


Gently mix in the baking powder, salt and flour. Once the flour is incorporated fold in the almonds, raisins and anise.



Divide the dough into 2 pieces. If the dough is sticky dust your hands with a little flour. Roll the dough into 2 logs the length of the sheet tray. Beat the egg white with 1 tablespoon of water in a small bowl. Brush the dough logs with the egg white and sprinkle with turbinado sugar. Bake in the preheated oven for about 30 minutes or until slightly golden



Let rest about 5 or 10 minutes then move to wire rack about 10 mins to cool slightly, and then move to a cutting board and slice on the bias with a serrated knife.



Lay the biscotti back on the sheet tray(s), cut sides down, and return to the oven for another 10 minutes This will harden the biscotti but not make them like rocks .


Remove from the oven to a serving platter and serve with coffee or Vin Santo for dipping.


Biscotti tastes great the next day or even better two days later. It’s Biscolicious!

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Homemade Caramel Sauce & a Delish Ice Cream Pie

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This is great for gift giving. Put a cute tag on the jar.
Homemade Caramel Sauce
1-1/4 C sugar
1/3 C water
3/4 C whipping Cream
1/3 C butter, cut into pieces
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Combine water and sugar in large saucepan; cook over medium-low heat, stirring often, until sugar dissolves.
Increase heat to medium-high, and boil gently, without stirring, until syrup turns a deep amber color, occasionally brushing down the sides of an with a wet pastry brush and swirling pan (about 8 minutes). (Swirling pan, instead of stirring promotes even cooking)
Gradually add cream (sauce will boil vigorously)
Add butter, stir gently until smooth.
Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
Yield: 1-3/4 Cups
Mile-High Turtle Ice Cream Pie
2 cups chocolate chip cookie crumbs (about 40 cookies)
1/4 C butter melted and cooled
2 pints dulce de leche ice cream, softened and divided (Haagen Daz)
1 C homemade caramel sauce
1-1/2 C chopped pecans, toasted and divided
1 pint chocolate ice cream softened
1-7 ounce can sweetened whipped cream (redi whip)
3/4 C homemade caramel sauce
Combine crumbs and melted butter in a bowl. Press crumbs into bottom of a 9 x 3 spring form pan. Bake at 325 for 10 mins. Cool completely.
Spoon 1 pint of dulce de leche ice cream onto cooled crust, and spread evenly. Drizzle 1/3 c homemade caramel sauce over ice cream and sprinkle with 3/4 c chopped pecans. Freeze 15 minutes or until ice cream is almost firm.
Repeat procedure with chocolate ice cream, 1/3 c caramel sauce, and remaining pecans, freeze until almos firm.
Top with remaining dulce de leche ice cream and 1/3 cup caramel sauce. Cover and freeze 6 hours or up to 2 weeks in advance.
Before serving, remov sides and bottom of pan and transfer pie to a serving platter. Top with sweetened whipped cream.
Place 3/4 c homemade caramel sauce in mocrowave-safe bowl and microwave on high for 1-minute or until warm.
Drizzle 1 T sauce over each serving.
Yield: 12 servings

Friday, December 11, 2009

Gingerbread Biscotti and Lemon Cheesecake


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These are great for gift giving, but save some to use as the crust for the Lemon Cheesecake recipe that follows.



Gingerbread Biscotti

1/2 c butter, softened
1/2 c firmly packed light brown sugar
1/2 c sugar
2 large eggs
1/4 c molasses
2 1/2 c all purpose flour
1 t baking powder
1 t baking soda
1 1/2 t ground ginger
1 t ground cinnamon
1/2 t ground nutmeg
1/4 t ground cloves
1/4 t salt
1/2 c sliced almonds

Beat butter and sugars in a large bowl at medium speed wih an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs, beating well; beat in molasses.

Combine flour and next seven ingredients; add to butter mixture, beating at low speed until blended. Stir in almonds.

Divide dough in half; using floured hands, shape each portion into 9" X 2" log on lightly floured baking sheet.

Bake at 350° for 28 minutes, or until firm. Cool on baking sheet five minutes. Remove to a wire rack and cool 10 mins. Reduce oven temp to 300°

Cut each log diagonally into 3/4" thick slices with serrated knife, using a gentle saw motion. Place slices on ungreased baking sheet(s). Bake 8-10 mins, turn cookies over, and bake 8-10 more minutes. Cool completely on wire racks.
Makes 2 dozen

Lemon Cheesecake

2 C finely crushed gingerbread biscotti
1/4 c butter, melted
4 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 c sugar
1 (8 ounce) container of sour cream
1 T cornstarch
4 large eggs
1 T grated lemon rind
1/3 c fresh lemon juice
1 t vanilla extract

Combine crushed biscotti and melted butter in a bowl. Press cookie crumb mixture into bottom and 1" up sides of an ungreased 9" springform pan.
Bake at 325° for 10 mins, let cool.

Meanwhile, beat cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add sugar, beating well. Add sour cream and corn starch beating just until combined.
Add eggs, 1 at at time, beating just until yellow disappers. Stir in lemon rind and remaining ingredients. DO NOT OVER BEAT.
Pour batter into baked crust.
Bake at 325° for 50 mins or until set. Turn off oven. Immediately rn a knife around the edge of pan, releasing sides.
Close oven door and let cheesecake stand in oven 1 hour.
Remove from oven; cool completely in pan on a wire rack.
Cover and chill 8 hours.
Yield: 12 servings

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

ENERGY EFFICIENT...MY ASS





As I was my dishes by hand, I have plent of time to think about my 3 year old Whirlpool dishwasher that just broke..and how it costs more for the part, than it does to buy a new one. Same goes for my one thousand dollar, 14 month old front load Whirlpool washing machine that cost 600.00 to fix.



Just how energy efficient is an appliance that you have to throw away and buy new every couple of years? You will save 10.00 a year on your electric bill, but you will pay in the end for a new one every couple of years, and lets not even think about the landfills having to hold all of these things...sure, we are giving people jobs making them...but is it in America?


What happened to the appliances from the 1980's and prior, that were built to last?

My old stove was totally made of enamel. It was built in the 1950s and was a Kenmore..not to be compared with the kenmore's of today, that's for sure. My new one, is plastic, sure the rim around the glass top is enamel and the door is made of two layers of glass, that everything drips down between the glass and you can't clean it..but the rest is plastic, and when I ran the self clean feature, it turned the plastic around the door on top brown...its a white stove! I am so mad at myself for letting my trashman take my old 1950s stove and crushing it, and in its place I bought this piece of crap, disposable Frigidaire stove that has a glass top that is the biggest pain in my butt to clean, because when you boil a pot of water on top, just water mind you, somehow when you lift the pot off, there is a nice burn mark that takes more time to clean, than my old stop top did, even with taking the burners off.


The most I did with that 1950s stove was replace a burner element. It cost 20.00 for the element and was something I could do myself. Now they make everything with computer boards...what did they do before computer boards? How did the appliances work, and work better and last longer, before the computer board was installed in everything?


So I ask again, what is so energy efficient about the new disposable appliances of today, compared to the one's built to last? You can bet, I will replace my stove with a used appliance from an appliance store, and a requirement to take up real estate in my kitchen will be, it has to be built before 1980...built to last!



Okay, I am coming off my soapbox, sorry to bitch and moan lol.





Sorry, I could not resist, a friend sent this to me, her and I run a huge group on yahoo and have alot of members who do nothing but complain that we have to deal with.

Monday, November 30, 2009

Gifts of Christmas Past (homemade gifts from last year)


The pics aren't the best, I just snapped quick pics of them, not intending to use it on my blog. Sorry they aren't better pics.

I made snowman kits, using top hats I got from Oriental Trading as the item holder (and we melted two small holes so they could be attached to the snowman with chop sticks lol, I got fake carrots at micheals for the nose, buttons for eyes and so on...cut out scarves from felt, very easy, and inlcuded hot chocolate packets for everyone in the family and got peppermint stirers with chocolate on them from gertrude hawk to include also and some mini marshmallows..all put together in a cut fashion and then put in the hat, and into a cellophane bag and tied with ribbon.
Every family got one..including the grandparents, as you are never too old to go out and build a snowman.


The spider ornaments I made with pearly beads.
I also made snowflakes made with glass beads, they look great hanging in the window. We make them in a bunch of colors and with swarovski crystals too. Dont' mind my scratched up table lol. we live here. The pic is blurry and we did make more also, some had red eyes, as my son wanted to do that...they are adorable.

I gave them in a little chinese food shaped box that was decorated for Christmas I got at Target, and they were stuffed with tinsel and the spider sat on top of the tinsel in the box. I attached this story to it and gave each family one to open, and while they opened it, I had the man of the house read the story to the children (my dad at his house, and step dad at his) here is the story that goes along with the spider...

THE LEGEND OF THE CHRISTMAS SPIDER
(A folk legend from Germany and the Ukraine)

Once upon a time, long ago, a gentle mother was busily cleaning the house for the most wonderful day of the year.... The day on which the Christ child came to bless the house. Not a speck of dust was left. Even the spiders had been banished from their cozy corner in the ceiling to avoid the housewife's busy cleaning. They finally fled to the farthest corner of the attic.

T'was the Christmas eve at last! The tree was decorated and waiting for the children to see it. But the poor spiders were frantic, for they could not see the tree, nor be present for the Christ child's visit. But the oldest and wisest spider suggested that perhaps they could peep through the crack in the door to see him. Silently they crept out of their attic, down the stairs, and across the floor to wait in the crack in the threshold. Suddenly, the door opened a wee bit and quickly the spiders scurried into the room. They must see the tree closely, since their eyes weren't accustomed to the brightness of the room... so the crept all over the tree, up and down, over every branch and twig and saw every one of the pretty things. At last they satisfied themselves completely of the Christmas tree beauty.

But alas!! Everywhere they went they had left their webs, and when the little Christ child came to bless the house he was dismayed. He loved the little spiders, for they were God's creatures too, but he knew the mother, who had trimmed the tree for the little children, wouldn't feel the same, so He touched the webs and they all turned to sparkling, shimmering, silver and gold!

Ever since that time, we have hung tinsel on our christmas trees, and according to the legend, it has been a custom to include a spider among the decorations on the tree.

You can google to find tons of sites for directions to make the beaded spiders.

http://jewelrymaking.allinfoabout.com/features/spider.html

http://familycrafts.about.com/od/treeornaments/a/christmasspider.htm

http://www.flowersforthedead.com/xmas/spider.html


and so on..Have fun..

I also gave homemade beer bread in a canning jar with a beer.
I did a few other things, I am trying to think of what they were...we gave alot of little homemade things. It was fun.

don't mind this pic...i took it on my freezer in the basement lol..but its ornaments
we made in the past...just a few that I pulled out.




one final thing quick...we make candy canes with red and clear tri beads on a pipe cleaner...just put red, then clear then red then clear all the way down the pipe cleaner cut to whatever size you want it to be..then bend the ends to stop them from coming off and bend into a cane shape..they look great on the tree with the lights shine and make them sparkle. So easy, takes about 1 minute per candy cane! I don't have a pic, if I take one, I will add it, but I am sure you get the picture.
    

Christmas Gift Game


My extended family is going to do something fun this year...we are forgoing the normal everyone buys or makes everyone a gift, which is quite pricey year after year and really, how much stuff do we need?
We set a limit of 5.00 each person buys one gift, and brings it wrapped...and then we will play this game with the gifts. What is great is, the store Five Below is filled to the gills with everything that is 5.00 or less..

It has to be something everyone would like.. not everyone uses computers, plays video games or likes sports etc...so it can be tricky.

Christmas Gift Exchange Game - The Chinese Christmas

One of the most fun ideas for a Christmas gift exchange at an office party or at a home party is a game commonly called Chinese Christmas. I don’t know how or where the name came from, because it has absolutely nothing to do with the Chinese.
Not only that, many people find the reference to Chinese downright insulting.

Because of that, I’m encouraging the use of other lesser-known names such as Yankee Swap, Gift War, Grinch Exchange, Dirty Santa, Rob Your Neighbor, White Elephant, Nasty Christmas, and Thieving Secret Santa. My personal favorite is Grinch Exchange.
I left “Chinese Christmas” in the title of the article because that’s how people search for it. But please select a different name to use when you play this game… and encourage others to do the same.

How the game is played…

The game is fun, because each person gets to select a wrapped gift, unwrap it and then possibly lose it to someone else and have to select again. Being able to select from unwrapped gifts or “steal” a gift someone is holding is what makes this game so much fun.

Here are the rules:

When planning the party, decide how much should be spent on the gifts. Twenty to thirty dollars is usually an agreeable price since each person is buying only one gift. The amount can be more or less. It’s your group’s call.
All gifts should be wrapped (and may I suggest you make yours look extra special). Put the gifts together under the tree, on a table, wherever convenient.
Each person selects a number from a basket or bowl to determine the order in which a person gets to select a gift. Number 1 goes first and gets to select and unwrap a gift. Everyone oohs and aahs or mentally thinks, “Boy, I’m glad I didn’t select that.”

Number 2 then selects. But she may take Number 1’s gift or she may select a gift from the pile. If she takes Number 1’s gift, Number 1 gets to select again from the pile. After she has finished her turn, Number 3 gets to select.
Once again, she may select any opened or unopened gift. Each time a gift is taken away from someone, that person gets to select again. She may select any gift except the one that was just taken away from her. She may however, have the opportunity to select it again later.

Some gifts are occasionally more popular and may get stolen several times. The fourth person to possess it gets to keep it. No more swiping the gift. The gift is frozen.At the end of the game, Number 1 gets to select again, and take someone else’s gift if she wants to, but she doesn’t have to. She is actually forcing a trade. The only gifts she can’t take are those that are frozen.

Don’t be afraid to swipe a gift from someone. The more takeaways and turnovers there are, the more fun the game seems to be. Some of the best times have been when a particular gift gets swiped several times. There are always lots of laughs and sometimes gifts get swiped just for the fun of it. This is especially true when men are playing. They don’t seem to care about the gifts as much as having fun stirring things up.

And after the game is over, if you and someone else wants to trade gifts, that’s O.K. too.

Friday, November 20, 2009

Great an Fast Appetizers for the Holidays


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Pictured: Hillshire Farms Winter Hearth Smokies

Years ago we went to a winery on a kids farm tour and they had little smokies appetizers and the kids couldn't get away from the table. They loved them. I buy them often now and use them for many things. They are great for a quick sausage stew in the pressure cooker... just toss them in right out of the bag, put in veggies (potatoes, carrots, corn, onion, etc) and water...and hit cook for 5 mins...the pressure cooker cooks them so fast and the broth is flavored like it cooked for hours.



Here are some great appetizer recipes for company or just for the kids (and adults) to nibble on.
I was inspired to make this recipes by ham glaze I love. Why not put a sweet ham glaze on little smokies?

Holiday Smokies
Recipe from Shannon Dillman (that's me)
1 pack smokies
1 20 oz can crushed pineapple
1 10 oz jar maraschino cherries, divided
1/2 stick butter
Pinch ground cloves
¾ c brown sugar
4 T molasses
2 T yellow mustard
1 can Coca Cola
In a saucepan, combine butter, juice from cherries, whole can of crushed pineapple, cloves, brown sugar, molasses, coke and mustard. Heat it stirring until brown sugar is dissolved and mixture thickens slightly. Do not allow it to burn.

Dump mixture into 3 qt crock pot (or double for larger crockpot), throw in smokies and whole cherries.

Cook about 30 in crockpot on high, until smokies are hot. Turn to low to keep hot for serving.

*have a jar of toothpicks next to it, so people can pick..they will want the cherries too.

Winter Hearth Smokies
Hillshire Farms Recipe
Prep time 5 mins
Cook: two hours

Makes 9 appetizer servings
About 5 little smokies each

1 package of Hillshire Farm little smokies
1 12 oz bottle chili sauce
1 12 oz jar of grape jelly

Open smokies, drain liquid. Place in 3 qt slow cooker

Combine chili sauce, and jelly in medium saucepan: heat, stirring occasionally, over medium heat until jelly is melted. Pour over little smokies and stir to combine.

Cover and cook on high for 2 hours.

For more recipes, go to their site..

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Avocados for health and beauty!


I love Avocado Oil for cooking, and avocados for eating. The oil has a high smoke point, making it great for stir fry and grilling. This article is from Natural News. Its a great newsletter with lots of health issues discussed. You can sign up for it on their site.


http://www.naturalnews.com/027509_avocado_skin_health.html


Natural News

Avocados are Mother Nature's skin moisturizer. With their healthy fats and phytonutrients, they offer remarkable benefits to human skin -- both when eaten and when used topically.
Here, we present a collection of supporting information about avocados from some of the top authors and personalities in the natural health industry, including David "Avocado" Wolfe himself.
Check out the quotes below, then pick up some avocados for yourself. They just help you save your own skin!

Avocados and healthy skin
For an excellent skin complexion, rub one or more of the following items against the skin two to four times a week: papaya pulp, avocado, cucumber, spirulina, fresh noni fruit and/or aloe vera. For dry skin, rub hempseed oil, jojoba oil and MSM lotion directly into the skin. This will alleviate dryness quickly. Or use avocado on the skin directly. Avocado oil is similar to our skin's oil.- The Sunfood Diet Success System by David Wolfe
Treat yourself to an avocado facial. Beauty, they say, is only skin deep.

Luckily, avocado has moisturizing power to help make your skin more beautiful. For years, people have used avocado as a natural facial treatment, especially for dry skin. It's easy to do in your own home. Just remove your makeup and wash your face with warm water and soap or your favorite cleanser. Mash some avocado and mix it with a little milk or oatmeal and apply it to your face. Leave it there for 10 minutes, then rinse it off with lots of water.- Eat and Heal (Foods That Can Prevent or Cure Many Common Ailments) by the Editors of FC&A Medical Publishing

Eating half an avocado every other day would probably help your own cholesterol drop some. A rather remarkable twofold approach towards relieving the itchy misery of psoriasis is by eating half of an avocado daily and applying an extra-rich cream of chamomile flowers extract to the skin. The oils in the avocado will work internally towards the surface of the skin, soothing deep muscle inflammation. The oils in CamoCare Soothing Cream help the skin to literally repair itself from the damage done by psoriasis. - Heinerman's Encyclopedia of Fruits, Vegetables and Herbs by John Heinerman

There's more to avocado than guacamole. Its oil is actually patented as a treatment for some forms of dermatitis and arthritis. According to Aubrey Hampton, author of Natural Organic Hair and Skin Care, long-term treatment with avocado oil helps relieve eczema. I'm not surprised, as avocado oil is rich in vitamins A, D and E, all of which help maintain healthy skin. I suggest applying it directly to any itchy, red or irritated areas.- The Green Pharmacy: New Discoveries in Herbal Remedies for Common Diseases and Conditions from the World's Foremost Authority on Healing Herbs by James A. Duke, Ph.D.Avocado oil has been used extensively for its ability to heal and soothe the skin. This use is based on the high hydrocarbon content of the pulp and oil, which may help dry skin. Avocados are frequently included in health diets, and recent evidence suggests they are effective in modifying lipid profiles. In a randomized study, women chose either a diet high in monounsaturated fatty acids enriched with avocado or a high complex-carbohydrate diet. After 3 weeks, the avocado diet resulted in a reduction in total cholesterol level from baseline (8.2%). - Guide to Popular Natural Products by Ara Dermarderosian

Throughout Central and South America the avocado is not only consumed with great relish, but also highly regarded for its extremely nourishing properties. It is a favored saying among the Maya Indians inhabiting the Yucatan Peninsula and the highlands of Guatemala that where avocados grow, "hunger (or malnutrition) has no friends." Too many of us think only of avocados in the traditional Mexican sense of guacamole. But among the Mayan the avocado is considered to be a food which keeps the joints of the body moving freely and the skin young and supple.- Heinerman's Encyclopedia of Healing Juices by John Heinerman

The expressed oil of the avocado seed nourishes and maintains skin tone. It softens rough, dry, or flaking skin and, massaged into the scalp, improves hair growth. Avocado is very nutritious and makes an excellent baby food. Indigenous to Central America, avocado is widely cultivated for its fruit in tropical and subtropical areas, including Israel, Spain, and South Africa. It is propagated from seed. The leaves are harvested as needed, and the unripe fruit is picked when fully grown.- The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants by Andrew Chevallier

A naturally fatty fruit, avocado is also rich in vitamins, and the green pulp left attached to the peel has the highest concentration. Scrape off the pulp, and apply it directly to the skin. The abundant oils lubricate and soften the skin - the most basic step in preventing wrinkles. - Uncommon Cures For Everyday Ailments by Bottom Line Books

Honey, avocado, eggs, fresh fruits, oats, cream of wheat and nutritional yeast are a few other possibilities for a facial mask. So are ginger, papaya, pineapple and cucumber, which have skin-softening enzymes. Yogurt, sour milk, vinegar, apples, citrus fruits and wine contain AHAs, which are particularly important for a mask because they loosen the tight bond that holds the old surface skin (they also restore the skin's natural acidity).- Herbs for Health and Healing by Kathi Keville

Use any heavy oil for dry skin, such as avocado or wheat-germ, and a light oil such as almond or sunflower for oily skins. The essential oils of clary-sage, lemon, lime, sage, or thyme are cleansing and suitable for all skin types. Other good options would be rosemary, chamomile, lavender, or geranium.- The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy by Valerie Ann Worwood

Mashing an avocado and rubbing it into your hair for five minutes after washing will add luster to your hair; rinse afterwards. In South Africa, an avocado mask made of mashed avocados, honey, and lime juice is applied to the face as a moisturizing treatment to counteract the drying effects of the hot sun. - Timeless Secrets of Health & Rejuvenation: Unleash The Natural Healing Power That Lies Dormant Within You by Andreas Moritz

Every part of the avocado has been used at one time or another to tackle a few of life's inconveniences. Throughout the Caribbean, Mexico, and South America, the avocado has been put to use in unique ways. A powder made from avocado seeds has been used to control dandruff. Some people have chewed the seeds to reduce toothache pain, and even the skin has been used as an antibiotic for intestinal parasites and dysentery. The flesh has long been used to condition dry hair and as a soothing shaving cream. - 101 Foods That Could Save Your Life! by David W. Grotto, RD, LDN

Use olive, avocado, or almond oil to cleanse the skin. Pat the oil on, then wash it off with warm water and a soft cloth. Use a facial loofah occasionally with the oil and warm water to remove dead skin. Use liquid creams and lotions (not solid creams) that contain nutrients and natural ingredients to keep your skin from becoming too dry. Do not use cold creams, cleansing creams, or solid moisturizing creams. These are hardened saturated fats that become rancid rapidly and then create free radicals, which can cause premature wrinkles.- Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 4th Edition: A Practical A-to-Z Reference to Drug-Free Remedies Using Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs & Food Supplements by Phyllis A. Balch, CNC

Olive, wheat germ, safflower, sesame, almond, apricot kernel, and avocado oils are closer in composition to the natural secretions of the skin. Most of them are also rich in linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid that aids in skin-cell renewal. Some manufacturers have also replaced synthetic coloring and scents with herbal extracts and powdered flowers, such as rose, iris, orange blossom, lavender, and chamomile. - Menopause Without Medicine: The Trusted Women's Resource with the Latest Information on HRT, Breast Cancer, Heart Disease and Natural Estrogens by Linda Ojeda

The avocado got its name from the ancient Aztec word for "testicle." Maybe that's why men once thought eating avocados would boost their virility. In earlier times, avocado pulp was used as a hair pomade to stimulate hair growth and to help heal wounds. Native Americans treated dysentery and diarrhea with its seeds. Even today, its oil can be found in many cosmetics.- Eat and Heal (Foods That Can Prevent or Cure Many Common Ailments) by the Editors of FC&A Medical Publishing

The same vitamins make avocado good for the skin. To help reduce the itching, dryness, and inflammation, apply the mashed fruit directly to patches of eczema, or (if green's not your Avocado color) apply the oil. - The Herbal Drugstore by Linda B. White, M.D.

Soap the entire body with a nonabrasive, emollient soap or avocado oil. Dip a large non-nylon brush, hemp washcloth, or loofah into hot water and scrub the skin for 2 to 5 minutes in circular motions until the skin is red and the body feels invigorated. End the bath with a warm shower, gradually reducing the water temperature until it becomes cool.- The complete Book of Water Healing - Using the Earth's most essential resource to cure illness, promote health, and soothe and restore body, mind, and spirit by Dian Dincin Buchman, Ph.D.

The mild oil pressed from the luscious avocado is known to be soothing to the skin. Avocado oil is used for gourmet cooking, so look for it in well-stocked grocery stores as well as health food stores. To magnify the moisturizing effects of the oil, use it when your hands are still a bit damp from washing, Dr. Bihova says. The oil will form a protective seal that will retain the moisture that your dry digits are so thirsty for. - The Doctors Book of Home Remedies II: Over 1,200 New Doctor-Tested Tips and Techniques Anyone Can Use to Heal Hundreds of Everyday Health Problems by the Editors of PREVENTION

To soften and nourish the skin, mash half of an avocado and apply it to your face. Leave it on until it dries, then rinse off with warm water. Avocado contains essential fatty acids and other nutrients that help prevent premature wrinkling. To tighten and refine pores, whip up the white of an egg with a pinch of alum and apply it to your face as a mask. After fifteen to twenty minutes, rinse it off with lukewarm water. Wrinkle lines from the lips toward the nose may be due to a deficiency of vitamin B2 (riboflavin).- Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 4th Edition: A Practical A-to-Z Reference to Drug-Free Remedies Using Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs & Food Supplements by Phyllis A. Balch, CNCPaul Neinast, who runs a famous beauty salon in Dallas, Texas, combines peach with papaya, banana and avocado in a blender until well purged. This facial mask is then applied and left on 30 minutes, after which it is rinsed away with tepid water. Then he will saturate several cotton balls with any polyunsaturated oil (sunflower oil is good to use) and gently rub the skin in a circular motion. This keeps dryness out, moisture in and gives the skin more elasticity. The face may also be rubbed with a little juice from some freshly pressed green grapes before the oil is applied.- Heinerman's Encyclopedia of Fruits, Vegetables and Herbs by John Heinerman

Through our interpreter, I learned that they were using avocado oil to keep their skin from getting burned by the hot, glaring sun and the rough elements of wind and rain. They even rubbed some on their lips to keep them nice and moist. Some of the Chorti women seemed to be in their late 20s or early 30s. Imagine my utter astonishment when my interpreter told me that most of them were in their mid-to-late fifties! Now I'm a pretty good judge of age because of my training in anthropology, but their constant use of avocado oil sure fooled me about how old I thought they were.- Heinerman's Encyclopedia of Fruits, Vegetables and Herbs by John Heinerman

A recipe for curing dermatitis combines avocado, aloe, and vitamin E cream. The fruit is also valued for constipation because the skin and pulp are seen to be good as cathartics. The seed is always saved because boiled in a tea it may be used as a poultice for bruises or sores. The powdered seed of avocado may be purchased at certain supermarkets in Arizona. - Healing with Plants in the American and Mexican West by Margarita Artschwager Kay

Mexican avocado leaves contain 3.1% of an essential oil that is 95% estragole and 5% anethole. The pulp oil is used as a massage oil, in creams, lotions, and hair products. The seed oil has been patented for use in treatment of sclerosis of the skin. - Healing with Plants in the American and Mexican West by Margarita Artschwager Kay


About the author: Mike Adams is a holistic nutritionist with a passion for teaching people how to improve their health He is a prolific writer and has published thousands of articles, interviews, reports and consumer guides, impacting the lives of millions of readers around the world who are experiencing phenomenal health benefits from reading his articles. Adams is an independent journalist with strong ethics who does not get paid to write articles about any product or company. In 2007, Adams launched EcoLEDs, a manufacturer of mercury-free, energy-efficient LED lighting products that save electricity and help prevent global warming. He also launched an online retailer of environmentally-friendly products (BetterLifeGoods.com) and uses a portion of its profits to help fund non-profit endeavors. He's also the CEO of a highly successful email newsletter software company that develops software used to send permission email campaigns to subscribers. Adams volunteers his time to serve as the executive director of the Consumer Wellness Center, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, and pursues hobbies such as Pilates, Capoeira, nature macrophotography and organic gardening. He's also author of numerous health books published by Truth Publishing and is the creator of several consumer-oriented grassroots campaigns, including the Spam. Don't Buy It! campaign, and the free downloadable Honest Food Guide. He also created the free reference sites HerbReference.com and HealingFoodReference.com. Adams believes in free speech, free access to nutritional supplements and the ending of corporate control over medicines, genes and seeds. Known as the 'Health Ranger,' Adams' personal health statistics and mission statements are located at http://www.healthranger.org/

Saturday, November 14, 2009

How to Correctly Eat a Chicken Wing



How to Correctly eat a chicken wing.
see video


Kitchen Monki always amuses me with their posts. Who finds this stuff?
Thank you whoever takes the time to bring it to my attention....and now...for today's awesome video...
very interesting.







Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Fun Facts About Coffee!


Fun facts about Coffee! Thanks Kitchen Monki for all of the fun stuff you post. Don't miss these great facts!
http://theoatmeal.com/comics/coffee

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Almond Blueberry/Cranberry Biscotti

I love this chick!



I love to watch the Food Network Show, "Secrets of a Restaurant Chef" with Anne Burrell. Not only is she fun and cute, but love the things she cooks! I record every episode so as not to miss a beat! I am a cookbook collector so I have to see if I can find one of her cookbooks.


She made an Almond Raisin Biscotti recently..and we love biscotti with coffee and tea, but it can be a bit pricey in the store, pre-made. She made it look so easy...so I printed out the recipe and went to town.


I made it quite a few times now, and had to revise the recipe a little bit, as I think there was a typo error on the second baking cooking time...10 min did not do the trick..it was more like 30.


In any case, it turned out so good, I have made it over and over again! We cannot get enough of it. I am not a fan of raisins..sure they are good, but a bit boring. On her show, she mentioned, any nut and any dried fruit will do. I use blueberries sometimes and cranberries other times. Quite a few people have asked me for the recipe, so i thought I would share it here...its Anne's recipe, I just revised it...like I always do..and you can revise it also. See http://www.foodtv.com/ for the orginal in tact version.


here is the recipe I used, with my revisions:


Biscolicious Biscotti
(she said biscolicious, loved it so I named the recipe that)


1 stick butter, room temperature
1 cup sugar
1 orange or lemon, zested (she used orange, I did the first time but ran out of oranges so subbed lemon, same thing)
2 eggs, plus 1 egg white (egg white is for brushing loaf)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 t almond extract (my revision)
1 teaspoon baking powder
Pinch salt
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup chopped almonds (she used whole, that didn't slice up right for me)
1/2 cup dried fruit..I used blueberries and cranberries
1 tablespoon anise seeds
2 tablespoons turbinado sugar (I used regular sugar)


Cream the egg and butter until light and fluffy. Add the citrus zest and beat in two eggs, one at a time, and then beat in vanilla and almond extract.


Mix in baking powder, salt and flour. Once that is incorporated, mix in the nuts, fruits and anise seeds.


Divide the dough into 2 pieces. If the dough is sticky dust your hands with a little flour. Roll the dough into 2 logs the length of the sheet tray. Beat the egg white with 1 tablespoon of water in a small bowl. Brush the dough logs with the egg white and sprinkle with turbinado sugar. Bake in the preheated oven for about 35 minutes.


Let rest about 5 or 10 minutes (my revision, or it will fall apart if you don’t let it set up, found out the hard way, won't make that mistake again lol ) and then remove from the oven to a cutting board and slice on the bias with a serrated knife while they are still warm. Slicing while warm will prevent crumbling.


Lay the biscotti back on the sheet tray(s), cut sides down, and return to the oven for another 10 minutes (more like 25-30 more minutes, push on it with your finger, it should get crispy, and it will crisp alittle more when you let it cool).

Remove from the oven to a serving platter and serve with coffee or Vin Santo for dipping.

Biscotti tastes great the next day or even better two days later. It’s Biscolicious!

I now have a glass jar on my counter, just for biscotti..when it gets low, I bake more!

My friend Ildiko made this but she changed it up to be healthier (gluten free) and said it was very good.

She subbed coconut oil for the butter, used one egg and used Almond Flour in place of the flour. I will have to try that...she did not use almond extract she said.

Here is my Almond Cranberry Biscotti.

What's next Anne? I can't wait to try more of your recipes!

Monday, November 9, 2009

Keeping Food Safe in an Emergency





I got this email today in light of the hurricane that is set to hit Florida.

USDA CONSUMER ALERT: Keeping Food Safe During an Emergency

WASHINGTON - November 9, 2009 -
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is providing recommendations to those affected by tropical storms, flooding or severe weather in the Southeastern United States due to Hurricane Ida. USDA is hopeful that this information will help minimize the potential for foodborne illnesses due to power outages and other problems that are often associated with severe weather events."In the hours after a tropical storm or hurricane, food safety can become a critical public health issue," said USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety Jerold Mande. "With a little bit of advance planning, people can make sure they have access to safe food and water even in the aftermath of severe storms."Steps to follow to prepare for a possible weather emergency:

Keep an appliance thermometer in the refrigerator and freezer. An appliance thermometer will indicate the temperature in the refrigerator and freezer in case of a power outage and help determine the safety of the food.

Make sure the freezer is at 0 °F or below and the refrigerator is at 40 °F or below.
Freeze containers of water for ice to help keep food cold in the freezer, refrigerator or coolers after the power is out.

Freeze refrigerated items such as leftovers, milk and fresh meat and poultry that you may not need immediately — this helps keep them at a safe temperature longer.
Plan ahead and know where dry ice and block ice can be purchased.

Have coolers on hand to keep refrigerator food cold if the power will be out for more than 4 hours. Purchase or make ice cubes and store in the freezer for use in the refrigerator or in a cooler. Freeze gel packs ahead of time for use in coolers.
Group food together in the freezer — this helps the food stay cold longer.
Store food on shelves that will be safely out of the way of contaminated water in case of flooding.
Steps to follow after the weather emergency:

Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to maintain the cold temperature.

The refrigerator will keep food safely cold for about 4 hours if it is unopened. A full freezer will hold the temperature for approximately 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full) and the door remains closed.

Discard refrigerated perishable food such as meat, poultry, fish, soft cheeses, milk, eggs, leftovers and deli items after 4 hours without power.
Food may be safely refrozen if it still contains ice crystals or is at 40 °F or below when checked with a food thermometer.

Never taste a food to determine its safety!

Obtain dry or block ice to keep your refrigerator and freezer as cold as possible if the power is going to be out for a prolonged period of time. Fifty pounds of dry ice should hold an 18-cubic-foot full freezer for 2 days.


If the power has been out for several days, check the temperature of the freezer with an appliance thermometer. If the appliance thermometer reads 40 °F or below, the food is safe to refreeze.

If a thermometer has not been kept in the freezer, check each package of food to determine its safety. If the food still contains ice crystals, the food is safe.
Discard any food that is not in a waterproof container if there is any chance that it has come into contact with flood water. Discard wooden cutting boards, plastic utensils, baby bottle nipples and pacifiers.

Thoroughly wash all metal pans, ceramic dishes and utensils that came in contact with flood water with hot soapy water and sanitize by boiling them in clean water or by immersing them for 15 minutes in a solution of 1 tablespoon of unscented, liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of drinking water.

Undamaged, commercially prepared foods in all-metal cans and retort pouches (for example, flexible, shelf-stable juice or seafood pouches) can be saved.

Follow the Steps to Salvage All-Metal Cans and Retort Pouches in the publication "Keeping Food Safe During an Emergency" at: www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/Keeping_Food_Safe_During_an_Emergency/index.asp

Use bottled water that has not been exposed to flood waters.

If bottled water is not available, tap water can be boiled for safety. For more information on drinking water safely during weather emergencies, access the FSIS publication "Keeping Food Safe During an Emergency" at: www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/Keeping_Food_Safe_During_an_Emergency/index.asp
When in Doubt, Throw it Out!

FSIS has available a Public Service Announcement (PSA), available in 30- and 60-second versions, illustrating practical food safety recommendations for handling and consuming foods stored in refrigerators and freezers during, and after, a power outage. Consumers are encouraged to view the PSA at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Food_Safety_PSA/index.asp. News organizations and power companies can obtain hard copy (Beta and DVD) versions of the PSA by contacting the Food Safety Education Staff in FSIS' Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Education by calling (301) 344-4757. Consumers with food safety questions can "Ask Karen," the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from l0 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day. Podcasts and SignFSIS video-casts in American Sign Language featuring text-captioning are available online at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Multimedia/index.asp.
#
For additional information, see also: FSIS Emergency Preparedness Fact Sheets
www.fsis.usda.gov
Food Safety Questions? Ask Karen! FSIS' automated response system can provide food safety information 24/7
Last Modified: November 9, 2009










Choosing the right cooking oil




Meet Your Cooking OilsBy: Chef's Blade


Canola oil? Olive Oil? Vegetable oil? Extra Virgin? If you don’t know what to look for, the cooking oil aisle in your grocery store can be overwhelming. Choosing the right oil is an important step in cooking and armed with a little information you’ll make the best choice for the task at hand.


There are two key things to consider when selecting an oil—flavor and smoke point. Some cooking oils have more flavor than others so if you’re looking to use the oil to add flavor to your dish, choose a darker, more flavorful oil. Lighter and usually less expensive oils are best when you’re only using the oil to lubricate a pan or dish.


Smoke point is the temperature or point at which oil, when heated, literally starts to smoke. If you’re looking for an oil to sauté or deep-fry with, make sure it’s a refined or processed oil with a high smoke point. These oils are usually light in color and less expensive than their purer, more flavorful counterparts.


Types of Oils:


Vegetable Oil is usually a mixture of oils extracted from plants with the use of chemicals. It’s heavily refined, which means most of the impurities are removed in processing. The result, an oil that’s light in color, light on flavor but with a high smoke point.

Coconut oil is an edible oil extracted from the kernel or meat of matured coconuts harvested from the coconut palm (Cocos nucifera). Throughout the tropical world, it has provided the primary source of fat in the diets of millions of people for generations. It has various applications in food, medicine, and industry. Coconut oil is very heat-stable, which makes it suited to methods of cooking at high temperatures like frying. 


Canola Oil is produced from rapeseeds, a plant that’s actually part of the mustard family. Like vegetable oil it’s neutral in color and flavor and has a high smoke point. Canola oil is made up of healthier monounsaturated fats, making it what many believe to be a healthier alternative to vegetable oil.


Olive Oil is, as its name implies, extracted from olives, and, much like wine, its flavor and color can vary depending on the soil and climate in which the olives are grown. Color and smoke point also vary depending on the amount of acidity found in the oil.


Extra Virgin Olive Oil is the oil that results from the first cold-pressing of the olives. It’s darker in color and because it’s minimally processed, has a low acidity. Along with its full flavor and deeper color (it’s usually bright or dark green), extra virgin olive oil has a very low smoke point and a high price point. Keep a bottle of extra virgin olive oil on hand for creating flavorful vinaigrettes, drizzling, and dipping.


Virgin Olive Oil results from the first cold-pressing of the olives, but has a slightly higher acidity level. Its color and flavor are midway between the bold extra virgin olive oil and lighter pure olive oil.


Pure Olive Oil is made from the pulp that remains after the first pressing of the olives. It’s refined with heat and chemicals, which produces an oil that’s extremely light in flavor and color. It’s also less expensive and has a high smoke point, making it the best olive oil for cooking.
Peanut Oil is marked by its mild flavor and light color. It’s an excellent choice for deep frying or any cooking method requiring a high cooking temperature.


Specialty Oils include nut oils, like Hazelnut and Walnut oils, and oils infused with flavors from other foods, like herbs and spices. They’re typically used to add flavor to foods like vinaigrettes, marinades, and sauces and can even be used as a finishing condiment or for dipping.
By Chef Danielle Turner for Chef’s Blade


Another great article brought to my attention by kitchen monki http://www.kitchenmonki.com/ for great recipes, meal planning and grocery lists.

Friday, November 6, 2009

Items that frequent McD's Asian Dollar Menu: McSquid, McSpam and the McAloo Tikki Burger.



I love this, thanks Kitchen Monki for posting this on facebook.
Mc Donalds in Moscow
This is great, odd things they sell at Mc Donalds in other countries...Seaweed shaker fries, Mc Squid...check it out...tooo fun. When I was in Hawaii as a kid, we had Ramen Noodles at McDonalds there. http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2009/11/weird-stuff-mcdonalds-sells-around.html