Anniversary

I know that someone of you are wondering where I've been the past couple of days. I spent all day Tuesday cleaning the house and making casseroles (poppy seed chicken, green bean with stuffing on top, and homemade scalloped potatoes). Wednesday was our 9 year anniversary! I had all these big plans including my grandmother's china, linens, rolling my hair, putting on a sexy outfit, and steak dinner! Well, as they say plans change. Recently they laid off 14 employees at my husband's work place. This company is possibly going out of business in this state and their building/land lease ends in December. My husband survived the cut, only to take a 20% cut in pay and lost the health insurance coverage. With things not looking well work wise, my husband was told to call in before going into work Wednesday morning. They told him to stay home. So, instead of the fancy hair, china, and the such we went on a 'Fall Foilage" drive. Along the way we picked up fresh sirloin steaks, asparagus, and champagne. While we were visiting at mom's, he hand picked 9 of her roses for me. When we got home, my hubby grilled the steaks while I cooked the asparagus and spicy cheese sauce. Earlier, before we left, we made a homemade strawberry pie together! I had a wonderful time and the meal was better than what we could have paid someone else to make it for us! Above is a copy of a handy guide I found in a 1957 Coca-Cola calendar. I use it to look up what gifts we are suppose to buy each other for our anniversary. This year (9) is Willow or Pottery. Here is a quick list of the yrs/presents for wedding anniversaires: 1: Paper; 2:Cotton; 3:Leather; 4:Fruit & Flowers or Silk; 5:Wood; 6:Sugar & Candy or Iron; 7:Wool or Copper; 8:Bronze or Pottery; 9:Willow or Pottery; 10:Tin or Aluminum; 11:Steel; 12:Silk or Linen; 13:Lace; 14:Ivory; 15:Crystal; 20:China; 25:Silver; 30:Pearl; 35:Coral; 40:Ruby; 45:Sapphire; 50:Gold; 55:Emerald; 60th & 75th:Diamond Other helpful lists on this calendar include the 'Days' of the week rhyme, Zodiac signs (with birthdates) and the state flowers! Just thought I would share this handy little list! Copy the picture to your computer for future reference!

Prefense Alcohol Free Hand Sanitizer

About a month ago I was given the opportunity to try out Prefense brand alcohol-free hand sanitizer. The website boasts that you only need one application, that it lasts all day, that it protects against germs for up to 24 hours, that it's 100% poison free, safe for kids, it's alcohol free, and finally that it's active up to 10 hand washings. My family and I put it to the test and found that each claim is true! Really! This is a really great product, doesn't leave any residue on your hands, the pump is a little more powerful than expected but that's the only complaint I have! Works great, smells nice and works all day long! Try it for yourself at: http://www.prefense.com/  Thank you for the opportunity to try out your great product!

The 4th Meal, Segments 1 & 2 !

The Fourth Meal What is the “fourth meal”? It is the meal that people eat for fun. For breakfast, lunch, and dinner you eat the things you think you should eat. But in between, you eat the things you like. In these segments you will find dozens of suggestions for satisfying, & delicious recipe and party ideas for casual lunches, after noon snacks, refreshments for children’s parties, last minute refreshments when guests drop in and that late night refrigerator raid. You will be surprise at how easy these recipes are and how little time they take to prepare. TASTY AFTERNOON TREATS: Brighten your child’s day with these simple and easy treats. Just a little extra thought on your part can make the plainest snack time into an adventure that will make memories that will last a life time. Party Milk Shakes: Blend milk, crushed fruit or fruit juice, chocolate, chocolate syrup or other flavoring. Add something special by placing an umbrella on top and a colored straw! Tip: Let them spread their own by having sliced bread, butter, jelly, and peanut butter on the table. Children like to help themselves. Strawberry Ice Cream Soda: ¼ cup crushed strawberries 1 t sugar (omit if using frozen strawberries) Carbonated water 1 scoop strawberry or vanilla ice cream Mix strawberries and sugar in tall glass. Fill glass 2/3 full with carbonated water. Add strawberry ice cream; stir vigorously. Fill to top with carbonated water. Chocolate Ice Cream Soda: Make the same as Strawberry Ice Cream Soda except use 3T chocolate syrup in place of strawberries, chocolate ice cream instead of strawberry. Classic Milk Shakes 1 cup thoroughly chilled milk Fruit, chocolate or other flavoring (see below) Shake or beat milk with fruit or other flavoring (and ice cream if desired) until well blended. Serve cold, topped with whipped cream and sprinkled with nutmeg. Banana Milk Shake: Follow recipe above and add ½ banana., mashed Orange Blossom Milk Shake: Follow recipe above for Classic Milk Shakes and add 1 cup orange juice, 1/8 t almond flavoring and sugar to taste. Strawberry Milk Shake: Follow recipe above for Classic Milk Shakes and add 1/4 cup crushed and sweetened berries. Chocolate Milk Shake: Follow recipe above for Classic Milk Shakes and add 1 ½ -2 T Chocolate Syrup. Frosted Chocolate: Follow recipe above for Classic Milk Shakes and beat a small spoonful of ice cream into each Chocolate Milk Shake. Chocolate Malted Milk: Follow recipe above for Classic Milk Shakes and beat 1 T malted milk powder into each Chocolate Milk Shake. Chocolate Banana Pops Peel bananas. Spear with wooden skewer, dip in melted milk chocolate (chocolate chips work fine). Place in the freezer on wax paper, chill until chocolate is firm. Cake Pops Put frosted cake square on end of wooden skewer. Dip in melted chocolate, almond bark, or different flavored candy melts. Freeze on wax paper until the outer shell is firm. Arrange several in a flower holder in the center of a large, chilled (freezer) serving platter, with balls of ice-cream all around. Ice Cream Pops Make up balls of Ice-cream, insert wooden skewers or craft sticks. Refreeze ice cream with sticks. Dip in melted chocolate. When chocolate is partially set, roll in chopped nuts or re-dip in melted chocolate. Shaped Cup Cakes: Many cup cake pans are available in a variety of shapes these days. Make a special batch of cupcakes for your child using cake pans from special holidays such as hearts from Valentine’s day. Showing your love for them by dipping them in melted chocolate or candy melts first then decorating the top with a special note in icing. (You can put the frosting in a small zip plastic bag and cut the very tip of one of the corners, be sure to cut off very little in order to control the flow better while writing.) Refreshments In Bed: Use a nice shiny muffin pan for a tray. Put small helpings of food in some of the cups and stand a small glass of milk or juice in one. Tuck a surprise trinket or toy into one of the empty cups. Serve milk with a colored straw for and add a special syrup like strawberry or banana. Color Magic: Colored applesauce is much more tempting to kids than the traditional brown. You can buy blended applesauce’s or just add a drop of food coloring to the serving. Multi-colored tiny candies in bright designs make applesauce a new treat as well. Colored milk or lemonade: A glass of colored milk or lemonade can often win a child over who refuses milk in its natural state. Add a drop of food coloring or a little strawberry or raspberry juice to tint milk or lemonade pink.

THE FOURTH MEAL: ENTERTAINING TEENS Keep it simple; make it healthy and hearty and a quick fix. With a few combinations that live up to these standards, you are set for entertaining any number of teens at any time! BROWNIES A LA MODE: BROWNIES 2sq. Unsweetened chocolate 1/3 cup shortening 1 cup sugar 2 eggs ¾ cup sifted all purpose flour ½ t baking powder ½ t salt ½ cup broken nuts Heat oven to 350 degrees. Melt chocolate and shortening together in double boiler over hot water. Remove from heat and beat in sugar and eggs. Sift and beat flour, baking powder and salt. Mix in nuts. Spread in well greased 9” pie pan. Bake for 30-35 minutes. Allow to cool slightly before cutting into pie shaped wedges. Top each piece with peppermint ice cream and glossy chocolate sauce. (see recipe below) GLOSSY CHOCOLATE SAUCE 2sq. Unsweetened chocolate (2oz) 1 cup light corn syrup ½ t vanilla 1 T butter Melt chocolate in corn syrup over low heat. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and butter. Makes 1 cup CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES: ¼ cup soft butter ¾ cup brown sugar (packed) 1 egg 1 1/3 cups baking mix (bisquick, etc.) ½ cup chopped nuts 6 oz of chocolate chips Heat oven to 375 degrees. Mix butter, brown sugar and egg thoroughly. Stir in remaining ingredients. Drop with teaspoon 2” apart on an ungreased baking pan. Bake 10-12 minutes until lightly browned. Makes 2 dozen. Chocolate Drop Cookies: Use granulated sugar instead of the brown and omit chocolate chips. Blend in 2 squares of melted, unsweetened chocolate. Do not over bake! Coconut Orange Drops: Omit chocolate chips, blend in 1 cup shredded coconut and 1 T grated orange rind. Do not over bake! PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES 1 cup peanut butter ¼ cup soft butter or shortening 1 cup granulated or brown sugar(packed) ½ cup boiling water 2 cups baking mix (bisquick, etc) Heat oven to 400 degrees. Mix peanut butter, butter, sugar and boiling water. Blend with mixer or spoon until smooth. Stir in baking mix. Drop with a teaspoon on a lightly greased baking sheet; flatten with greased glass or press with fork (that’s been dipped in flour). Bake 8-10 minutes until set but not hard. Makes about 5 dozen. Double Peanut Cookies: Add 1 cup halved salted peanuts to peanut butter mixture before the baking mix. Flatten by pressing with floured fingers. GRILLED CHEESE Put your favorite cheese slices (Swiss, American, Colby, Pepper Jack, Provolone, Etc.) between 2 slices of your favorite bread (Wheat, White, Rye, Sourdough, Italian, Etc.) Butter the outside of both bread slices generously. You can make these up ahead of time, separate the sandwiches with wax paper and put in a sealable container into the fridge. In a heavy skillet or an electric griddle, brown sandwiches lightly on both sides until cheese begins to melt. JUICY HAMBURGERS A pound of ground beef can make 4 thick patties or 8 thin ones. When preparing the patties ahead of time you can place wax paper between the patties and wrap loosely for same day or next day usage. You can freeze the patties as well and can be stored in freezer paper or plastic freezer-ware and are good for 3 months. How to make a juicy burger: 1 lb ground beef 1t salt ¼ t pepper 2 T chopped onion ½ cup water or milk Accent seasoning Worcestershire sauce Horse-radish or mustard Toss all ingredients together lightly with a fork. Divide and form into patties. Handle as little as possible. (I use my Tupperware patty maker). Pan Fried: Fry in small amount of hot fat in skillet or with out fat in an electric griddle. 12 minutes for medium and 15 for well done. Turn once but do not flatten, it presses out all those wonderful juices! Quick Barbecued: Broil, turning once. Spread with ketchup or chili sauce after turning and continue to broil until done. Cheeseburgers: When the second side is half broiled, top with a thin slice of cheese. Broil until cheese melts. California Style: Top cooked burger in the bun with tomato, onion, lettuce, mayo and a slice of Avocado. TUNA BURGERS: 6 hamburger buns 7oz tuna 1 cup celery, chopped ½ cup diced American cheese (or your favorite cheese) ½ cup chopped ripe (black) olives ¼ cup mayo 1 small onion, minced Mix all ingredients together (except buns). Salt and pepper for taste. Open buns, butter and sprinkle with paprika. Fill buns with tuna mixture. Wrap sandwiches in foil. Just before serving, heat sandwiches in the oven at 350 on a baking sheet for 15-20 minutes. Makes 6 servings. HOME MADE CORN DOGS 1 cup baking mix (bisquick, etc.) 2 T yellow corn meal ¼ t paprika ½ t dry mustard 1/8 t cayenne 1 egg ½ cup milk 8-10 hotdogs Heat shortening or oil to 375 degrees. Mix baking mix, corn meal and seasoning together. Stir in egg and milk until well blended. Dip hot dogs into batter. Fry until golden brown, 2-3 minutes. Push wooden skewer on the end. OPEN FACED SHRIMP SNACKERS English muffin half, split and toasted on the bottom Tomato slice Cheese slice 4-5 small shrimp (salad shrimp can be used as well) 2 slices of partially cooked bacon Green olives Butter untoasted side of muffin half. Place on it (in this order): tomato, cheese, shrimp and bacon. Keep in the fridge until just before serving. Place in broiler until bacon is crisp and cheese is melted. Put 3 olive topped tooth picks in the sandwich to stabilize shrimp/bacon. Serve hot with mayo. DEVILISH DIP: Mix 4 T deviled ham, 4 T horse-radish, 2 T minced chives, 1 T grated onion, and 1 cup of cream (whipped stiff). Place bowl in center of platter. Surround with chips or crackers. FLOATS: Place scoop of ice cream (vanilla is preferred, but experiment for your own specialty float) in bottom of a tall glass. Fill with root beer, or your favorite soda. ICE CUBE FRUIT PUNCH: Pour fruit juice into ice cube trays and freeze. At party time, put cubes in punch bowl or glasses and pour ginger ale over them. Garnish with fruit and mint leaves. BUTTERED OR CHEESE KIX CEREAL SNACK Melt in a heavy skillet, 5 T butter. Remove from heat. Stir in 5 T grated parmesan cheese, for cheese Kix. Add ¼ box (4 cups) Kix cereal. Sprinkle with salt and stir well.

SEGMENT #2 THE FOURTH MEAL: SNACKS AND TREATS FOR EASY ENTERTAINING HAM AND CHEESE TOASTED SANDWICHES 8 slices of buttered bread; 4 slices of cooked/broiled ham (fat removed); 4 slices of Swiss cheese (or your favorite cheese) and ½ cup of softened butter. Make 4 sandwiches from the buttered bread, ham & cheese. Spread the outside of the sandwiches with butter. Cut in half. Brown slowly on both sides using a skillet or an electric grill. Serve immediately. YEAR ROUND SHORTCAKE Spread sweetened whipped cream (1 cup chilled heavy cream & ¼ cup sifted confectioners’ sugar; beat cream until stiff in a deep, chilled bowl, with chilled beaters and fold in the sugar) between and on top of layers of yellow cake (or what ever you prefer) and top with fresh, frozen, or canned berries. SHRIMP ON CRAB BOATS Hollow out long, crusty rolls (saving the crumbs for the topping and future stuffing’s and meat loaves). Spread with softened butter and fill with shrimp or Crabmeat salad. Seafood Salad: 5oz can of shrimp or ¾ lb. of fresh shrimp (crabmeat, tuna, salmon or lobster); 1 cup sliced celery; 2 hard-cooked eggs, chopped; 1 T lemon juice and ½ cup of mayonnaise. Combine cleaned and cooked shrimp, celery, egg and lemon juice. Chill Before serving, fold in mayonnaise. Makes 2 servings. CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM 1 pt. heavy cream, whipped; 1 cup prepared chocolate sauce (or canned). Blend sauce into cream. Freeze 1-2 hours. Makes 4-6 servings. CHOCOLATE SAUCE: 2 sq. unsweetened chocolate (2 oz); 1 cup light corn syrup; ½ t of vanilla and 1 T butter. Melt chocolate in corn syrup over low heat. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla and butter. Makes 1 cup of sauce. FRUIT-CUBE PUNCH Pour fruit juice into ice cube trays and freeze. At party time, put cubes in punch bowl or glasses and pour ginger ale over them. Garnish with mint and/or fruit. QUAILS (SPLIT HOTDOGS OR COOKED SAUSAGES) Split frankfurters lengthwise almost through. Place ¼” stick of sharp cheese in each. Wrap each spirally with a strip of bacon, fastening with a toothpick at each end. Starting with the split side down, broil until bacon is crisp. QUICK BAKED BEANS 3-4 pieces of crisply cooked bacon or small leftover ham bone or fried salt pork; 19 oz can of baked beans; 1 T white vinegar; 1 T ketchup; ¼ t dry mustard; 1 medium onion, sliced. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients in a 1 qt casserole dish. Bake for about 1 hour. Serves 4. AWESOME POTATO SALAD 4 cups of cubed, cooked potatoes; clear French dressing (or ¼ cup salad oil and 2 T white vinegar, mixed well); 4 (reserve 1 for topping) hard cooked eggs, chopped; 1 cup of celery, diced; 2-3T chopped onion; ½ cup salad dressing or Sour Cream Dressing (add ½ cup of sour cream to 1 cup mayonnaise; season with salt/pepper to taste). Marinate potatoes in dressing for 1-2 hours. Add remaining ingredients; season with salt and pepper. Serve in a lettuce-lined bowl; garnish with 1 hard cooked egg (sliced) , fresh parsley and pimiento or sweet pickles. Variations: add 3 T chopped green pepper, pimiento or sweet pickle. Or add ¼ cup grated carrots, sliced radishes or diced cucumber. TIP: Potatoes have better flavor if cooked in skins or baked. Cut potatoes while warm, not cold. Marinating potatoes improves flavor. AMERICAN PIZZA 2 cups of baking mix (such as Bisquick); ½ cup water; ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese; 1 ½-2 cups of well-drained cooked tomatoes, cut into small pieces; ½ lb mozzarella cheese, shredded or cut into small pieces; 1 cup chopped salami (or 2oz can of anchovies, chopped or 1 can sardines, chopped); pepper; 2 T cooking oil (salad oil); ½ a medium onion, grated. Heat oven to 425 degrees. Mix baking mix and water; knead for about a minute on a lightly floured surface. Roll out into a ¼” thick circle. Place on a baking sheet. Pinch edge of dough to make a slight rim. Place remaining ingredients on dough in the order listed above. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Serves 4-6 CAVATZONE 1 lb ground lean pork; ½ cup chopped onion; ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese; ½ cup grated Swiss cheese; 1 large egg, beaten; ¼ t Tabasco sauce; 1 ½ t salt; 2 T minced parsley; mayonnaise biscuit dough (see recipe below). Heat oven to 400 degrees. Cook pork and onion over low heat until no longer pink. (Do not brown, stir with a fork to break up/crumble as it cooks.) Cool. Mix rest of ingredients. Make mayonnaise biscuit dough: (add 2/3 cup milk & ¼ cup mayonnaise to 2 cups baking mix. Mix well with fork.) Spread half of the biscuit dough in a well greased square pan, (8x8x2”). Spread meat mixture over dough. With fingers, spread rest of dough over mixture. The top will even out during baking. Brush top with beaten egg yolk to give a crusty glaze. Bake 25-30 minutes. Cut in slices about ½” thick and serve hot or cold. DENVER OR WESTERN SANDWICH For each sandwich: 1 egg, beaten; 1T minced onion; 1T minced green pepper; 2T minced, cooked ham; 2T milk; salt and pepper. Combine ingredients; drop by spoonfuls into hot fat in a large skillet or on a greased griddle/grill. Make shape of bread slice. Turn when set and golden brown on one side; cook second side. Serve between buttered slices of bread or toast. FLAMING PEACHES Sprinkle brown sugar in hollow of peach halves in baking dish. Dot with butter. Broil slowly until sugar crusts. Center each with sugar lump soaked 15-20 minutes in lemon extract; light lumps and bring to table flaming. Serve with ice cold soft custard sauce. SOFT CUSTARD SAUCE: 4 egg yolks or 2 whole eggs; ¼ cup sugar; ¼ t salt; 1 ½ cups milk, scalded; 1 t vanilla. Beat egg yolks or eggs in top of double broiler. Blend in sugar, salt and scalded milk. Cook over simmering water, stirring constantly, until mixture coats spoon. Cool quickly. Blend in vanilla. To save time, use vanilla pudding mix for soft custard. And by using 1 ½ times as much milk as recipe on package calls for, you can make a creamy custard sauce in no time. Bonus tip: Hidden fruit: Pour chilled soft custard over chilled berries or fruit such as cut up grapes, oranges, bananas, and peaches. HASH HATS Chill a can of corned beef hash. Open both ends and push out. Cut into 4 rounds. Broil 3” from heat for about 7 minutes. Turn; spread thinly with horse-radish; top with tomato slice. Sprinkle with seasoning and grated cheese. Broil 5 minutes, until cheese is bubbly. Serves 4 SOUTHERN BURGERS 1 lb ground beef; 1 med. Onion, diced; 3 T ketchup; 3 T prepared mustard; 10 ½ oz can chicken gumbo soup. Brown beef and onion in a little hot fat. Stir in ketchup, mustard and soup. Simmer until mixture has thickened a little, about 15 minutes. Spoon over toasted split buns. Serves 6 SAUCY SANDWICH ROLLS 12 hot dog buns; 1 lb of hot dogs, chopped or sliced; 1 medium onion, finely chopped; 3 T hot bacon fat; ¼ cup all purpose flour; ¾ t salt; dash of pepper; ½ t each dry mustard and Worcestershire sauce; ½ cup each of ketchup and water; 1 cup chopped celery; ½ cup grated cheese. Brown hotdogs and onion in fat. Remove from heat. Blend in rest of ingredients except for the cheese. Cook until celery is tender, about 5 minutes. Add cheese; heat until cheese melts; remove from heat. Remove some of the soft centers from buns. Fill pockets with mixture. Wrap in foil or heavy wax paper, twisting ends slightly. Just before serving, heat in shallow baking pan in a 350 degree oven for about 10-15 minutes. Makes 12 rolls. CHINESE CHICKEN GOULASH ½ cup butter or chicken fat; 1 small onion, sliced; 1 cup fresh or 4oz can mushrooms; 2 cups chicken broth (or 2-3 chicken bouillon cubes dissolved in 2 cups of hot water); 1 cup washed, uncooked rice; 1 green pepper, cut into thin strips; ½ cup diced celery; 2 cups cut-up, cooked chicken (or 2, 6oz cans of cooked chicken); ¼ cup rich milk; salt and pepper to taste. Melt butter in heavy skillet, add onion and mushrooms; cook until golden. Pour in chicken broth and heat to boiling. Stir in rice, cover and simmer gently for 10 minutes. Add rest of ingredients, cover and cook 10-15 minutes more. Serves 6 CHINESE ALMOND CAKES 1 cup sifted all-purpose flour; ¼ cup shortening and ¼ cup butter; ½ t salt; ¼ cup plus 2 T sugar; ½ t almond extract or vanilla; 1 egg yolk; 1 T water; ¼ cup blanched almonds. Place flour in bowl. Cut in shortening and butter, finely. Use hands to work in salt, sugar and flavoring. Shape in long roll, 1” in diameter, and wrap in waxed paper. Chill about 1 hour. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Cut roll into ¼” slices. Place 1” apart on lightly greased baking sheet. Brush each slice with mixture of egg yolk and water. Press ½ blanched almond into top of each. Bake until light golden brown, 8-10 minutes. Makes about 2 dozen cakes. BACON & TOMATO SANDWICH Toast bread on one side; toast lightly on other side; spread half the slices with soft butter and mayonnaise. Top with thick tomato slices and 2 slices bacon, fried until almost crispy. Add leaf lettuce. Place second slice of toast on top. Secure with toothpicks. BROILED BACON & TOMATO SANDWICH Toast bread on one side and lightly on the second side. Butter second side and top with thick tomato slices. Place 2 slices of bacon, fried until almost crispy, on each sandwich. Top with thin slice of cheese. Broil 5” from heat until cheese melts. CRUMBLED HAMBURGER ½ cup chopped onion; 2T fat; 1 lb ground beef; 2T flour; 6 T ketchup; 1T prepared mustard; ½ t salt; ¼ t pepper; 1 cup sour cream; 8 hamburger buns. Brown onion in fat. Add ground beef and brown. Mix in remaining ingredients, except for the buns; simmer 5-10 minutes. Serve hot on toasted split buns. Serves 8 BROILED CRABMEAT BUNS 6 hamburger buns; 6 ½ oz can crabmeat, flaked; ¼ cup mayonnaise; 1 t Worcestershire sauce; ¼ cup diced celery; 1 dill pickle, diced; 6 thin slices of cheese. Split and butter buns. Toast on split side. Mix remaining ingredients (except cheese); spoon onto lower half of buns; top with cheese slices. Broil 5” from heat until cheese melts. Place top on each bun. Serves 6. This same mixture can be used on toast rounds with smaller pieces of cheese on top. HAM FILLED ROLLS ½ lb cheddar type cheese; ½ lb minced ham; 2 sweet pickles; 1 t grated onion; 2 T mayonnaise or salad dressing; 8-10 buns, split and buttered. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Put cheese, ham and pickles through food chopper. Add onion and mayonnaise. Spread between bun sections. Place on baking sheet; heat in oven 15 minutes. Serves 8-10 TOASTED BACON & CHEESE SANDWICHES 4 slices of bread; 8 slices of bacon; 1 egg, slightly beaten; ¾ cup grated cheese; ¼ t paprika; ½ t Worcestershire sauce. Place bread and bacon on broiler rack. Toast bread on one side. Broil bacon until crisp. Combine remaining ingredients; spread over un-toasted side of bread. Broil until cheese melts. Serve with 2 strips of bacon on each slice. Serves 4. SURE FIRE SPECIAL Slices of cold roast beef, Bermuda onion and 2 or 3 anchovy fillets between whole wheat or light rye bread slices. PUFFY CHEESE SLICES ½ lb cheddar-type cheese; 1 egg, slightly beaten; ½ t each dry mustard and salt; 6 slices of bread, toasted on one side. Cut up cheese; blend in egg and seasoning. Spread on un-toasted side of bread. Broil 3” from heat, until cheese bubbles. Serve with slice of tomato, if desired. FRUIT AMBROSIA Make it with almost any fruit you have on hand. Sprinkle fruit (such as cut up orange slices, bananas and apples or pineapple) with confectioners’ sugar. Chill. To dress up, top with plain or toasted shredded coconut, salted peanuts or maraschino cherries just before serving.

The fourth meal: Snacks & Treats; Easy Entertaining

SEGMENT #2 THE FOURTH MEAL: SNACKS AND TREATS FOR EASY ENTERTAINING HAM AND CHEESE TOASTED SANDWICHES 8 slices of buttered bread; 4 slices of cooked/broiled ham (fat removed); 4 slices of Swiss cheese (or your favorite cheese) and ½ cup of softened butter. Make 4 sandwiches from the buttered bread, ham & cheese. Spread the outside of the sandwiches with butter. Cut in half. Brown slowly on both sides using a skillet or an electric grill. Serve immediately. YEAR ROUND SHORTCAKE Spread sweetened whipped cream (1 cup chilled heavy cream & ¼ cup sifted confectioners’ sugar; beat cream until stiff in a deep, chilled bowl, with chilled beaters and fold in the sugar) between and on top of layers of yellow cake (or what ever you prefer) and top with fresh, frozen, or canned berries. SHRIMP ON CRAB BOATS Hollow out long, crusty rolls (saving the crumbs for the topping and future stuffing’s and meat loaves). Spread with softened butter and fill with shrimp or Crabmeat salad. Seafood Salad: 5oz can of shrimp or ¾ lb. of fresh shrimp (crabmeat, tuna, salmon or lobster); 1 cup sliced celery; 2 hard-cooked eggs, chopped; 1 T lemon juice and ½ cup of mayonnaise. Combine cleaned and cooked shrimp, celery, egg and lemon juice. Chill Before serving, fold in mayonnaise. Makes 2 servings. CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM 1 pt. heavy cream, whipped; 1 cup prepared chocolate sauce (or canned). Blend sauce into cream. Freeze 1-2 hours. Makes 4-6 servings. CHOCOLATE SAUCE: 2 sq. unsweetened chocolate (2 oz); 1 cup light corn syrup; ½ t of vanilla and 1 T butter. Melt chocolate in corn syrup over low heat. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla and butter. Makes 1 cup of sauce. FRUIT-CUBE PUNCH Pour fruit juice into ice cube trays and freeze. At party time, put cubes in punch bowl or glasses and pour ginger ale over them. Garnish with mint and/or fruit. QUAILS (SPLIT HOTDOGS OR COOKED SAUSAGES) Split frankfurters lengthwise almost through. Place ¼” stick of sharp cheese in each. Wrap each spirally with a strip of bacon, fastening with a toothpick at each end. Starting with the split side down, broil until bacon is crisp. QUICK BAKED BEANS 3-4 pieces of crisply cooked bacon or small leftover ham bone or fried salt pork; 19 oz can of baked beans; 1 T white vinegar; 1 T ketchup; ¼ t dry mustard; 1 medium onion, sliced. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients in a 1 qt casserole dish. Bake for about 1 hour. Serves 4. AWESOME POTATO SALAD 4 cups of cubed, cooked potatoes; clear French dressing (or ¼ cup salad oil and 2 T white vinegar, mixed well); 4 (reserve 1 for topping) hard cooked eggs, chopped; 1 cup of celery, diced; 2-3T chopped onion; ½ cup salad dressing or Sour Cream Dressing (add ½ cup of sour cream to 1 cup mayonnaise; season with salt/pepper to taste). Marinate potatoes in dressing for 1-2 hours. Add remaining ingredients; season with salt and pepper. Serve in a lettuce-lined bowl; garnish with 1 hard cooked egg (sliced) , fresh parsley and pimiento or sweet pickles. Variations: add 3 T chopped green pepper, pimiento or sweet pickle. Or add ¼ cup grated carrots, sliced radishes or diced cucumber. TIP: Potatoes have better flavor if cooked in skins or baked. Cut potatoes while warm, not cold. Marinating potatoes improves flavor. AMERICAN PIZZA 2 cups of baking mix (such as Bisquick); ½ cup water; ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese; 1 ½-2 cups of well-drained cooked tomatoes, cut into small pieces; ½ lb mozzarella cheese, shredded or cut into small pieces; 1 cup chopped salami (or 2oz can of anchovies, chopped or 1 can sardines, chopped); pepper; 2 T cooking oil (salad oil); ½ a medium onion, grated. Heat oven to 425 degrees. Mix baking mix and water; knead for about a minute on a lightly floured surface. Roll out into a ¼” thick circle. Place on a baking sheet. Pinch edge of dough to make a slight rim. Place remaining ingredients on dough in the order listed above. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Serves 4-6 CAVATZONE 1 lb ground lean pork; ½ cup chopped onion; ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese; ½ cup grated Swiss cheese; 1 large egg, beaten; ¼ t Tabasco sauce; 1 ½ t salt; 2 T minced parsley; mayonnaise biscuit dough (see recipe below). Heat oven to 400 degrees. Cook pork and onion over low heat until no longer pink. (Do not brown, stir with a fork to break up/crumble as it cooks.) Cool. Mix rest of ingredients. Make mayonnaise biscuit dough: (add 2/3 cup milk & ¼ cup mayonnaise to 2 cups baking mix. Mix well with fork.) Spread half of the biscuit dough in a well greased square pan, (8x8x2”). Spread meat mixture over dough. With fingers, spread rest of dough over mixture. The top will even out during baking. Brush top with beaten egg yolk to give a crusty glaze. Bake 25-30 minutes. Cut in slices about ½” thick and serve hot or cold. DENVER OR WESTERN SANDWICH For each sandwich: 1 egg, beaten; 1T minced onion; 1T minced green pepper; 2T minced, cooked ham; 2T milk; salt and pepper. Combine ingredients; drop by spoonfuls into hot fat in a large skillet or on a greased griddle/grill. Make shape of bread slice. Turn when set and golden brown on one side; cook second side. Serve between buttered slices of bread or toast. FLAMING PEACHES Sprinkle brown sugar in hollow of peach halves in baking dish. Dot with butter. Broil slowly until sugar crusts. Center each with sugar lump soaked 15-20 minutes in lemon extract; light lumps and bring to table flaming. Serve with ice cold soft custard sauce. SOFT CUSTARD SAUCE: 4 egg yolks or 2 whole eggs; ¼ cup sugar; ¼ t salt; 1 ½ cups milk, scalded; 1 t vanilla. Beat egg yolks or eggs in top of double broiler. Blend in sugar, salt and scalded milk. Cook over simmering water, stirring constantly, until mixture coats spoon. Cool quickly. Blend in vanilla. To save time, use vanilla pudding mix for soft custard. And by using 1 ½ times as much milk as recipe on package calls for, you can make a creamy custard sauce in no time. Bonus tip: Hidden fruit: Pour chilled soft custard over chilled berries or fruit such as cut up grapes, oranges, bananas, and peaches. HASH HATS Chill a can of corned beef hash. Open both ends and push out. Cut into 4 rounds. Broil 3” from heat for about 7 minutes. Turn; spread thinly with horse-radish; top with tomato slice. Sprinkle with seasoning and grated cheese. Broil 5 minutes, until cheese is bubbly. Serves 4 SOUTHERN BURGERS 1 lb ground beef; 1 med. Onion, diced; 3 T ketchup; 3 T prepared mustard; 10 ½ oz can chicken gumbo soup. Brown beef and onion in a little hot fat. Stir in ketchup, mustard and soup. Simmer until mixture has thickened a little, about 15 minutes. Spoon over toasted split buns. Serves 6 SAUCY SANDWICH ROLLS 12 hot dog buns; 1 lb of hot dogs, chopped or sliced; 1 medium onion, finely chopped; 3 T hot bacon fat; ¼ cup all purpose flour; ¾ t salt; dash of pepper; ½ t each dry mustard and Worcestershire sauce; ½ cup each of ketchup and water; 1 cup chopped celery; ½ cup grated cheese. Brown hotdogs and onion in fat. Remove from heat. Blend in rest of ingredients except for the cheese. Cook until celery is tender, about 5 minutes. Add cheese; heat until cheese melts; remove from heat. Remove some of the soft centers from buns. Fill pockets with mixture. Wrap in foil or heavy wax paper, twisting ends slightly. Just before serving, heat in shallow baking pan in a 350 degree oven for about 10-15 minutes. Makes 12 rolls. CHINESE CHICKEN GOULASH ½ cup butter or chicken fat; 1 small onion, sliced; 1 cup fresh or 4oz can mushrooms; 2 cups chicken broth (or 2-3 chicken bouillon cubes dissolved in 2 cups of hot water); 1 cup washed, uncooked rice; 1 green pepper, cut into thin strips; ½ cup diced celery; 2 cups cut-up, cooked chicken (or 2, 6oz cans of cooked chicken); ¼ cup rich milk; salt and pepper to taste. Melt butter in heavy skillet, add onion and mushrooms; cook until golden. Pour in chicken broth and heat to boiling. Stir in rice, cover and simmer gently for 10 minutes. Add rest of ingredients, cover and cook 10-15 minutes more. Serves 6 CHINESE ALMOND CAKES 1 cup sifted all-purpose flour; ¼ cup shortening and ¼ cup butter; ½ t salt; ¼ cup plus 2 T sugar; ½ t almond extract or vanilla; 1 egg yolk; 1 T water; ¼ cup blanched almonds. Place flour in bowl. Cut in shortening and butter, finely. Use hands to work in salt, sugar and flavoring. Shape in long roll, 1” in diameter, and wrap in waxed paper. Chill about 1 hour. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Cut roll into ¼” slices. Place 1” apart on lightly greased baking sheet. Brush each slice with mixture of egg yolk and water. Press ½ blanched almond into top of each. Bake until light golden brown, 8-10 minutes. Makes about 2 dozen cakes. BACON & TOMATO SANDWICH Toast bread on one side; toast lightly on other side; spread half the slices with soft butter and mayonnaise. Top with thick tomato slices and 2 slices bacon, fried until almost crispy. Add leaf lettuce. Place second slice of toast on top. Secure with toothpicks. BROILED BACON & TOMATO SANDWICH Toast bread on one side and lightly on the second side. Butter second side and top with thick tomato slices. Place 2 slices of bacon, fried until almost crispy, on each sandwich. Top with thin slice of cheese. Broil 5” from heat until cheese melts. CRUMBLED HAMBURGER ½ cup chopped onion; 2T fat; 1 lb ground beef; 2T flour; 6 T ketchup; 1T prepared mustard; ½ t salt; ¼ t pepper; 1 cup sour cream; 8 hamburger buns. Brown onion in fat. Add ground beef and brown. Mix in remaining ingredients, except for the buns; simmer 5-10 minutes. Serve hot on toasted split buns. Serves 8 BROILED CRABMEAT BUNS 6 hamburger buns; 6 ½ oz can crabmeat, flaked; ¼ cup mayonnaise; 1 t Worcestershire sauce; ¼ cup diced celery; 1 dill pickle, diced; 6 thin slices of cheese. Split and butter buns. Toast on split side. Mix remaining ingredients (except cheese); spoon onto lower half of buns; top with cheese slices. Broil 5” from heat until cheese melts. Place top on each bun. Serves 6. This same mixture can be used on toast rounds with smaller pieces of cheese on top. HAM FILLED ROLLS ½ lb cheddar type cheese; ½ lb minced ham; 2 sweet pickles; 1 t grated onion; 2 T mayonnaise or salad dressing; 8-10 buns, split and buttered. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Put cheese, ham and pickles through food chopper. Add onion and mayonnaise. Spread between bun sections. Place on baking sheet; heat in oven 15 minutes. Serves 8-10 TOASTED BACON & CHEESE SANDWICHES 4 slices of bread; 8 slices of bacon; 1 egg, slightly beaten; ¾ cup grated cheese; ¼ t paprika; ½ t Worcestershire sauce. Place bread and bacon on broiler rack. Toast bread on one side. Broil bacon until crisp. Combine remaining ingredients; spread over un-toasted side of bread. Broil until cheese melts. Serve with 2 strips of bacon on each slice. Serves 4. SURE FIRE SPECIAL Slices of cold roast beef, Bermuda onion and 2 or 3 anchovy fillets between whole wheat or light rye bread slices. PUFFY CHEESE SLICES ½ lb cheddar-type cheese; 1 egg, slightly beaten; ½ t each dry mustard and salt; 6 slices of bread, toasted on one side. Cut up cheese; blend in egg and seasoning. Spread on un-toasted side of bread. Broil 3” from heat, until cheese bubbles. Serve with slice of tomato, if desired. FRUIT AMBROSIA Make it with almost any fruit you have on hand. Sprinkle fruit (such as cut up orange slices, bananas and apples or pineapple) with confectioners’ sugar. Chill. To dress up, top with plain or toasted shredded coconut, salted peanuts or maraschino cherries just before serving.

Shopping tips and tricks

Handy Hints To Save You Even More Money When You Shop & Dine! Check out eBay.com for department store coupons other people have received and no longer need. There are auction listings from such department stores as Macy’s, JC Penney, & Khol’s that are selling for a fraction of their dollar value. Buy as many as you can then stack them with your flyer coupons to get even a deeper discount! For those of you that have department store credit cards, and pay your bill on time & shop at the store often, you can receive certain perks. Such as, points, a head’s up on special saving days, coupon booklets and in some cases, freebies! Did you know that you can buy discounted gift cards? At platicjungle.com; cardpool.com; and giftcardgranny.com, you can buy gift cards for less than their face value. Stack that with an in-store coupon and get even more savings! An added bonus these sites offer, is a buy back program, where they will pay you for your unused/unwanted gift cards! Many stores offer markdown days. Google the store name and “sale schedule” to find out what day’s your favorite store slashes prices on their goods. Make a special list of their schedule on your computer, to help plan your shopping trip and save some of your hard earned cash! Three easy tips you should do before you go shopping: look over your weekly store ads for specials, check your coupons for possible sale matches, and go online to see if your local store offers special coupons or discounts that you can stack on top of the special to save more money; check out recipe.com for local listings. Looking for a store that offers double coupons? On grocerycouponguide.com; you’ll find a list of all stores that offer double coupons, (day/time restrictions may apply), to help you get the deepest discount available! Most stores offer a discounted section in various departments in their store. Look for manager special’s, (often marked by a brightly colored sticker), in the produce, meat and dairy sections. Most meat can be frozen up to a year, eggs are good up to 5 weeks, cheese and yogurt are easily freezable, vegetables can be trimmed & cleaned of imperfections and frozen (in most cases), until needed. Dented vegetable cans, open boxes and discontinued items can usually be found as well. Open the dented can, inspect the goods and freeze. (I recently did this with corn and beans) Boxed goods can be transferred to air tight containers and zipper storage bags; be sure to include what the food is and how to prepare it. Most store sales are on a 12-week cycle, so bulk up on dry goods that you know you will use when they are on sale to save yourself money in the long run by not having to get it at regular price later. Most non-perishables last 3 months or more in the pantry, properly stored of course! Another way you can save before going to the store is checking out thegrocerygame.com; a popular website that matches coupons to advertised and unadvertised sales at your local store! Take the extra time to ‘like’ or follow your favorite brand on fb and twitter to get more savings and coupons! To save money the next time you want eat out, check out bulk/warehouse stores (Sam’s/Costco) for cut-rate gift cards on your favorite restaurant. Periodically, the restaurant gift cards will change, but you can save 20% or more by purchasing them there than you would somewhere else. Visit the restaurant website and sign up for their email and often times you can get special coupons that you can stack on top of the gift card to save even more! Check your receipt after eating out and you may find a coupon or discount for your next visit. At restaurant.com, put in your zip code or the restaurant’s zip code to find coupons for pennies on the dollar. In one instance a shopper purchased a $25 coupon (off a $35 meal) for only $10! They also offer a holiday season program, “Feed It Forward”, where you can send $10 gift certificates to your friends for free!

Shopping tips using your Smart Phone

How To Save Money Using Your Smartphone Have you downloaded a barcode application yet? With barcode apps such as biggu.com (ShopSavvy) and redlaser.com (RedLaser) you scan product barcodes right in the store to get competing prices at other local retailers or online. A time saving app like mycardstar.com (CardStar), allows you to store all you reward cards electronically. Saving you precious time at checkout. All 3 of these applications are now available for Droid and iPhone. Have tried comparing prices with your brick and mortar store vs. their own online site? In most cases, the online price is cheaper even with shipping! If you prefer to use your local store, check with customer service about matching online prices and you can possibly save time and money!

Wonder where I find some of my freebies and coupons? Check out mysavings.com and get a daily newsletter about the latest coupons and freebies!

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HOW TO HAVE A SUCCESSFUL YARD SALE

My family calls my the yard sale queen. I think that they are crazy but I do know a thing or two about having a successful sale. We are currently getting ready for a sale this Saturday. I thought that some of my practical hints could help someone else have a successful yard sale as well. The first thing is advertising! Do you subscribe to your local paper? Our local paper allows free ads for yard sales, up to 15 words. You can also spend a little cash and get yourself a descriptive ad. In some cases, less is more but it’s important to list key items (like electronics, plus sized clothing, furniture, appliances, collectables, outdoor gear, etc). You want to target a wide audience, many customers in my area are men! Most of all, your ad must state where the sale is located, what day(s) you are having the sale and what time you will be having it. Be aware of early birds. If you do not wish to deal with them, please state that in your ad. Classified ads are best if your sale is located in a rural area or you wish to reach a larger audience. Unfortunately and fortunately we now live in a populated area on a VERY popular road. I no longer have to advertise in my local paper. I do however, put up ads (print one up on your computer and put graphics on it to attract the eye) at my local grocer, and other various local stores. DO ASK FOR PERMISSION! If you don’t ask for permission, most times your ad will be removed. Also, its imperative to place directional signs at every turn your potential customer has to make. For example, I place a large box with a sign attached stating the address (and miles if need be) at the junction of the main hwy and our road. Since we live less than a mile away I do not have to put anymore signs out until the turn into our driveway. Be sure to use bright colors that attract the eye. The most practical purchase is a large piece of construction/cardboard type paper/sheet that can be purchased at your local dollar store. Cut this down into 4 pieces and write out in large capital letters “YARD SALE” OR “GARAGE SALE” if you prefer. Put directions and directional arrows to help in navigation. Do a ‘Spring Clean’ in every room. This will not only help you get rid of stuff you no longer need/use but it helps you keep organized and reminds you of where specific items can be found. Start by making yourself a list. Under each room, list areas that need to be cleaned/organized. As you re organize each room, you will no doubt be pleased with your work and will find items that need to be thrown out/recycled or sold. Leave no room, closet, drawer, cabinet unturned and don’t forget your attic/basement and to look under beds and to check the stuff you keep stored outside. To help you with your list here is the one I used for this year’s spring sale. You can use this list in a fall sale, but if you already did your spring clean, you do not have to be so thorough. Just hit the “high traffic” areas. KITCHEN: Go through each cabinet, drawer, and shelf. Clean off top of refrigerator. Go through cookbooks. Dust and clean décor (pictures on walls, nick-knacks, etc). Look over collectibles and décor for possible yard sale items. Go through stove drawer. Organize junk drawer. ITEMS that are possible sale items can include: Cleaning products & supplies, utensils, cook ware, pots and pans, storage containers, spices, un-used and un-wanted dry foods (you can donate these to your local shelter or place them in a box for a giveaway). Hand towels and linens, misc. screws and other items found in junk drawer, glasses, cups, plates, bowls, bake ware, cook books, canisters, small appliances, knives, pictures, décor, etc. LAUNDRY/PANTRY: Go through each shelf, cabinet and drawer. Organize pantry. Clean washer and dryer. Look over décor (if there is any) for possible yard sale items. ITEMS that are possible sale items can include: Laundry soap and supplies, cleaning supplies, old brooms, mops, dusters, vacuum cleaner. Linens such as table cloths, napkins, sheet sets, blankets/quilts/comforters, pillow cases, laundry baskets, racks, clothes pins, iron, ironing board, spray starch and other ironing/laundry supplies, pet food and supplies (leashes, beds, toys, shampoo/medicine, collars, etc) can/dry foods (these can be donated or giveaway, do not sell). Throw out any cans that show swelling & check open dry food containers for bugs/webs. COAT/STORAGE/BEDROOM CLOSETS: Take out all hang up items, go through and be honest about whether or not you will ever wear them. Clean off shelves and go through all boxes/storage containers. Clean off floor of closet. Go through stored items, organize/throw away/or put in sale any un-wanted/un-used items stored or loose. Consider going through your shoes, bags, luggage, purses, belts, ties, boots, etc. It’s possible you will find something you are ready to get rid of, but be honest with yourself when doing so. Always keep basics on hand (black formal wear for funerals, nice formal wear for weddings and special outings). Some closets can be catch-all’s and others are disorganized with clothes, toys, wrapping supplies, outdoor sporting supplies, old sentimental items/clothing. Take the time to go through these particular closet/storage spaces. Organize and you may be surprised at what you may find and the treasure trove of stuff you can get rid of at your sale. ITEMS that are good sale items may include: clothing, coats, boots, shoes, ties, bags, luggage, belts, storage containers, old magazines, toys, wrapping paper/bags/boxes/bows and cards, candles, oil lamps/oil, matches, photo albums, picture frames, un-used and un-wanted pictures/décor, linens (as stated above in laundry/pantry), towels, wash cloths, storage bags/containers, foil/wax paper/plastic wrap, trash bags, un-used shelf paper, un-used wall paper/boarder, paint supplies, art supplies, hobby kits (used and un-used), puzzles, games, playing cards, rugs, fold up tables and chairs, canning jars and supplies, camping gear, fishing gear, hunting gear, just to name a few! LIVING ROOM/FAMILY ROOM: Go through all hard back/paper back/audio books. Go through all albums, cassettes, 8 tracks, and CD’s. Go through all VCR tapes & DVD’s. Look under and in couch, recliners, and chairs. Clean out catch-all storage areas such as tables, shelves, clocks, magazine boxes/racks, baskets, etc. Look pictures/paintings, all décor including collectibles for possible sale items. This is also a good time to consider re-arranging your furniture or updating your old/used furniture. ITEMS that are good sale items may include: furniture, chairs, couches, stools, pillows, shelves, tables, lamps, storage boxes/baskets, rugs, pictures/paintings, books, movies, music, audio equipment, TV., movie players, movie/music storage (books, boxes, shelves), magazines, nick-knacks/décor, other misc. found items. YOUR BEDROOM: Go through closet and organize if you haven’t already done so. Organize jewelry box and top of dresser. Go through and organize all dresser/desk drawers. Remember to be honest with yourself and get rid of some clothes/shoes that you just won’t wear anymore or probably will not wear with in the next year. Look under the bed. Go through shelves, tables, and storage containers. ITEMS that are good sale items may include: Clothing, shoes, boots, belts, ties, purses/wallets, jewelry, perfume/cologne, body powder, lotions, under garments such as un-used or lightly used boxers/panties/girdles/etc, socks, bras, slips, stockings, lounge wear/pj’s, slippers/house shoes, robes, blankets, sheets, pillows, pillow cases, books/magazines, lamps, audio players, alarm clocks, pictures/paintings, collectibles/décor, etc. THE KID’S BEDROOM (If they are not old enough to help or refuse to help) Check and clean under bed. Clean top of armoire (upright cabinet). Go through all dresser drawers. Clean and organize closet if you haven’t already done so. Go through and organize all shelves, boxes anywhere clothes and toys are stored. ORGANIZE! Look over posters/pictures for possible sale items. ITEMS that are good sale items may include: All types of toys, stuffed animals, electronics, clocks, puzzles, games, old text books, books, art supplies, coloring/activity books, clothes, shoes, blankets, un-needed baby supplies (lotions, soaps, cloths, diapers, wipes, powders, comb/brush, nail clippers, etc) storage boxes, shelves, bedding, etc. BATH ROOM (S) Clean and organize all drawers, cabinets and shelves. Organize counter tops and under the sink. Go through bath toys and supplies. Go through all medicines. (do not sell any type of medicine that requires a prescription) Throw out or properly dispose of expired prescriptions. Clean behind toilet. (yuck!) ITEMS that are good sale items may include: lotions, shampoo, hair care products, razors/scissors/tweezers (be sure to package these items in a plastic storage bag to prevent an accident) perfume/cologne, powders, mouth wash, toothpaste, new tooth brushes, combs, hair brush, hair accessories, shaving cream, electric razor, hair rollers, curling/straightening iron, hair dryer, towels, wash cloths, lotion applicators, personal care items (pads, tampons, adult diapers, topical creams/powders, bath toys, bath safety items for small children, (all safety items for children are very popular if you no longer need them), lubrication gels/oils, un-used hygiene products). Make up a first aid kit for your self with left over oral medications, lotions, topical medications, bandages, band-aids, cough/cold/flu products, scissors, tape, first aid pamphlet/book, eye wash, cleansing and disinfecting medications/agents, etc. (I will do a first aid blog later, I’m a former EMT and have a good idea of what you need to have on hand at all times). Still have left over medications/lotions/etc? Make up more first aid kits in plastic storage bags and put in your sale. Be sure ALL medications DO NOT require a prescription and HAVE NOT expired before making the kit. You can also donate these items to your local shelter. GUEST BEDROOM/OFFICE/DEN/STUDY Go through all desk drawers and re-organize. Clean and organize all shelves and storage containers. Clean and organize the closet if you haven’t already done so. Go through books, magazines, notebooks, office supplies, sewing/craft items, all media (books, movies, music). Clean out under chairs, desks, tables, stools, bed, etc. ITEMS that are good sale items may include: books, magazines, linens, electronics, media equipment, computers, musical equipment, CD’s/albums/cassettes/8 tracks, tape players, portable radios/mp3 players/CD players, audio equipment/speakers, printers, computer games, computer storage devices, desks, chairs, tables, shelves, computer programs, paintings/pictures, collectibles/décor, office supplies, filing cabinets, files, notebooks, writing instruments, art supplies, craft supplies, material, sewing machine/supplies, etc. CARPORT/GARAGE/PORCHES/OUT DOOR STORAGE/STORAGE BUILDINGS Organize and go through all holiday décor. Dust and sweep porches, garage, carport and storage building. Organize and go through tools, hunting/fishing gear, and camping gear. Go through and clean/organize all out door toys. Clean/rinse all hanging décor. Organize and go through all gardening supplies and implements. Go through and organize all storage boxes and shelves. ITEMS that are good sale items may include: pet supplies, hunting/fishing/camping gear, boating/scuba/snorkel/surf gear, out door sports items (balls, hoops, games, nets, darts, horse shoes, etc.), plants, gardening tools and supplies, hanging décor such as wind chimes, feeders, bird houses, lanterns, etc. All holiday items (Halloween, Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, Fourth of July, etc). Ornaments, lights, tree, wrapping paper/bags/boxes, yard decorations, door decorations, wreathes, décor, etc. Outdoor toys, recreational vehicles, boats/canoes. Freezers, refrigerators, storage boxes, hand tools, power tools, shop supplies, wood/metal products, paint, cleaners, implements. Be careful selling pesticides and the like. If it requires you to have a license or fill out a permission form, don’t sell it. I you don’t want it contact your place of purchase and ask how you may dispose of the item or contact the manufacturer for proper disposal directions. Lawn mowers, lawn care supplies/implements, grills, barbecue tools/supplies, coolers, etc. As you can see with the exception of a few items, you can practically sell anything at your yard sale. One way to look at it is if you would buy it, sell it. If you don’t need it donate or sell it. If its no longer of good use to anyone, dispose of it properly. And lastly, if it embarrasses you to have it in your sale, donate or dispose! We’re half way done! You know how to advertise and how to do a spring clean! As you are organizing, place items in garbage bags and boxes, and make up goodie bags as you go (this will simplify things later). Have the entire family (if they are old enough and are able to do so) go through your items. Have your family help with the organization and cleaning of each area if they are able to do so. Now, get yourself either a roll of masking tape and a sharpie, pre-printed yard sale stickers (these tend to fall off), tags, and bright sheets of art/construction paper. Price each item as you re-pack them into their box/bag. Make sure everyone is comfortable with you selling the item and the price. Don’t over price, this is a yard sale, not a retail store. Generally price the item for what you would pay at a yard sale. Be prepared to lower the price if need be or ready to gently stand your ground on the price. For example: you have a Monopoly board game for sale and it has all its required pieces. Price $5 in good condition, $8 for excellent condition, $3 for poor condition, $1 or less for missing pieces. Let’s say it’s in excellent condition and you have $8 on it. The customer asks if you will take $5 for it. Let it go for that price, unless you must get more for it. If that’s the case explain why your asking the price. (“I’m sorry, but that game is practically brand new. It’s $20 new at the store, and $8 is a reasonable price”). If the customer continues to barter/haggle, either give in or tell them politely you can not take less than the price marked and apologize. This is your sale, it has to be stress free and fun! Ok, I mentioned brightly colored paper earlier. This is for bulk pricing and notices. To help in the pricing process, you can bulk same items together and price them on the colored sheet of paper. You will also need to make notifications such as “Not Responsible for Accidents” if your yard has possible dangers. Examples: ALL CHILDRENS SHOES .50 (ETC), “NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ACCIDENTS”, “WATCH YOUR STEP”, “FREE STUFF”, FREE KITTENS/PUPPIES/PETS, ETC. Now, let’s get you set up with displays, shelves and tables. First, clean the sale area. We organize and sweep off our carport, mow/weed, and sweep off the walk way. Next we set up tables. Camping tables, folding tables, side tables, kitchen tables, covered storage boxes, shelves, and saw horses with an old door or large piece of ply-board all work very well for displaying your items. Make a clothes line for your hang up goods, or use a metal rod, or closet organizer. Start pulling out bags, hang up all the clothes you can and keep them separated (men’s, women’s, children’s), I also categorize my clothes (all long sleeve shirts together, coats, pants, shorts, dresses, skirts, jeans, sweaters, sweats, lingerie, outfits, etc.). I know this sounds time consuming and I’m not saying you have to do it this way. I’ve just found that I like it this way because it’s easier to find what you are looking for when you are at a sale or to find a specific item/size your customer is looking for. Throw all those stuffed animals into a box and sell them all or individually for 1 bulk price (.25 cents each, or $2 for all, etc). Toys are popular with kids at yard sales. Make up different priced goodie bags with small toys. Make up a toy giveaway box that the smaller children can play with and take home. Got some items that just are not ready to be thrown away but you can’t see selling? Get a big box or lay out a blanket. Put up a FREE sign. The customers can dig through the box or look at the items you have spread out. Try to keep clothing and items separate. (1 box for clothes, 1 box for misc. items). When setting up your tables, you will find its easier to keep like items together. What we do is have separate tables for different areas of your home. We have a table for computers/electronics with office supplies; anything to do with your home office and electronics. We have a media table and shelf with books of all types (including children’s), movies, magazines, notebooks, etc. There is a table designated just for linens, towels, sheets, etc. Another table has bathroom and personal supplies. Toy’s and games have their own table and shelf as well. Kitchen items are all placed together. Crafts, sewing and art supplies have their own special table. Collectibles and antiques are priced a little higher (not what you could get on eBay) and kept close to the check out area. Use that long table or kitchen table for clothing that you can’t hang up properly or clothing that is easily folded. (they will go through these piles and make a mess, so keep it simple or you’ll over work yourself). Out door supplies, sports, equipment and large items need to be placed up front and out of the way to help bring customers in. Set up a check out area with a change box (or wear a waist apron with pockets) and bags/boxes, keep a notebook for multiple family sales so you can keep up with what they sold and how much they have earned. Have a place designated for hangers if you plan to keep them and have help on hand for moral support and heavy lifting. You can offer home made treats and drinks, but sell them for your kids (if you have them) or at a minimal price (Lemonade, .25 cents/cup, cookies (bagged) .25 cents, etc). In closing, I want to include a helpful time line and some additional tips. Start planning your sale at least 1 month ahead of time to give yourself and your family ample time to go through each nook and cranny in your home, garage, storage building, attic/basement. Start pricing and packing your items at least 1 week before your sale or you may become overwhelmed. One week before your sale, or at least one day before the deadline, place your classified ad. 3-4 days before your sale, place your printed ads at local stores. 1-2 days before your sale, clean your yard and sale area. The day before your sale, set up all tables, clothes line and shelves. Go ahead and have everything out the way you want it and cover with sheets/plastic/tarp. That way everything is ready to go when you get up the next morning. The night before, put up signs at all major intersections and turns. I wait to place the one for my drive until the morning of the sale. The morning of your sale, remove all covers and re-organize if necessary, display large and attractive items out in front if moved. Place sign at drive entrance. Remember, this was a lot of hard work on your part and you want to have a successful sale by getting rid of lots of unwanted items and make some money in the process. Do not become overwhelmed or stressed out. Be prepared for early birds and price hagglers. Be polite and courteous to everyone and be firm on your price when the situation calls for it. Above all, have fun!!! PS, during the last hours of your sale, drastically reduce items you no longer want to deal with. Put more items in your ‘FREE’ area, and offer bag/box deals. Still have left over’s? Donate or save for next year’s sale. When displaying your items, try to refrain from just dumping stuff out on the table or leaving stuff in boxes. Most customers will not go through the trouble to dig and will become discouraged. Be sure you have prices on everything or have signs up. Not all customers will ask you how much an item is regardless how much they want it. I hope this has been helpful and it is my sincere hope you have a very successful yard sale!

Home Remedies for Eczema

After spending hours researching this skin disease and pouring over hundreds of comments from eczema sufferers, I have compiled the following information and home remedies for you! It is my sincere hope that one of this helpful tips will help you with your condition. The term Eczema derives from a Greek word, meaning ‘to boil’. It refers to an inflammation of the skin, which results in there formation of pustules on the skin from which sometimes there is a discharge of clear fluid. It is the most chronic skin disorder. It is a constitutional disease, resulting from a toxic condition of the system. Most serious during infancy, but often improves by early adulthood. Primarily it causes itching, redness, dryness and flakiness of the skin. This is often referred as ‘atopic dermatitis’. It most commonly appears on the hands, wrists, arms, neck, face, upper chest, back of the knees and has been known to appear on top of the head. However, this is not a contagious disease. Most common causes of eczema are: allergies, varicose veins, failure of the body to excrete poisons, faulty metabolism, cold/dry weather, nutritional deficiencies and has been linked to fibromyalgia. Suggested home remedies: 1. Coconut oil, helps the skin to remain soft. 2. A light mudpack applied on the affected area can be very beneficial. 3. Sunbathing can be beneficial as it kills the harmful bacteria, however it does not work for everyone and has seen more positive results on those who are beginning to heal. 4. Make a fine paste of 1tsp of camphor and 1 tsp of sandalwood. Apply to the affected area. 5. Water treatments have been proved useful. Apply a cold compress to the affected area twice a day. However, avoid hot water, as this has been proven to cause even more dryness. 6. Make a fine paste of 1Tbls of turmeric powder and 1 Tbls of bitter neem leaves. Apply to the affected area. 7. Rub nutmeg against a smooth stone with a few drops of water. Make a smooth paste and apply to the affected area. 8. Make a smooth paste out of cornstarch and a few drops of water. Apply to the affected area. 9. Apply a spearmint leaf to the affected area, this may reduce the eczema. 10. Boil 200 grams of mustard oil in an iron pot. While boiling, add 50 grams of fresh, clean, neem leaves. When the leaves turn black, turn off the heat and allow to cool and sieve (strain) the liquid. Apply this oil 4 times a day to the affected area. Some say that if you continue to do this for a year, the eczema did not return. 11. Mash papaya seeds and apply to the affected area to prevent itching. 12. Native Americans used witch hazel for inflammatory skin conditions. Dab some on the affected area several times a day with a cotton ball. 13. Herbal soap for eczema: Grate one large block of olive or vegetable oil soap into a basin and add 25 grams of finely chopped herbs such as peppermint leaves, add a few drops of essential oils and 1 Tbls of finely ground oatmeal. Heat gently until melted and mix well. Take any type of mould or card board egg container (line with wax paper first) and pour the soap mixture in it. You can use this on your face as well. 14. Apply lemon juice to the affected area and allow to dry before going to bed. Leave on overnight. It helps the skin to heal. This can dry the area and promote healing. It acts as an antiseptic if the area is inflamed. 15. Put 2 Cups of cheap instant oatmeal and 1 Cup of powdered milk into a cheese cloth bag and bathe in it. 16. Use glycerin soap for bathing. 17. Swimming in chlorinated water seems to help. It burns a little at first but can do wonders to your skin. It also helps if you add about a capful of bleach to your bath water. (unscented). Some doctors recommend this for treatment. 18. Mix Vaseline and Lubriderm lotion, has been said to work wonders with some patients. 19. Drink fresh ginger tea and lots of water. Wear loose cotton clothes. 20. Toothpaste applied to the affected areas has also seemed to help some patients. Apply to the affected areas before going to bed and leave on overnight. However, this treatment does burn and hurt. But, the morning after the application, the patient was free of pain and the affected area was clear and dry. 21. Eczema is an external symptom to and internal problem. Take a daily regimen of fish oil, lots of water, coconut oil on the affected areas and good probiotics (such as In-liven). 22. Change your laundry soap, bath soap and dish soap. Arm & Hammer laundry soap, Dial bath soap (original), & Dawn dish soap have seen positive results for helping prevent eczema flair ups. Apply baby oil after bathing to help with dryness. 23. Mix a few drops of tea tree oil into a container of petroleum jelly or camphor cream. Apply to the affected area. 24. Some patients say that Ionic Colloidal Silver water has worked wonders. Drink 2 liters a day and apply to affected areas. 25. Tea tree oil is an anti-fungal, anti-itch and healing agent. 26. Luke warm bath with Chamomile. 27. Apply pure aloe gel (keep it in the refrigerator, the cold helps) to sensitive facial areas such as your eye lids. 28. Keeping a humidifier in the home, especially during the dry months may help. 29. Goat milk soap has been proven in some cases to completely dry up the affected areas. 30. Vaseline helps if you apply it before bedtime. 31. Purex natural laundry soap has helped others. Try running the wash cycle with rising one extra time, this seems to help as well. 32. Have your PH level checked. Buy a PH strip test at your local whole foods store to test your acidity level. If you are very acidic, start taking pH drops and supplements. Patients that had a high acidic level seen immediate results. 33. Mangosteen juice applied topically and orally has been shown to keep eczema at bay. Drink one ounce per day and apply to the affected area. 34. Vitamin B -12 shots have seen some positive results in patients. 35. Give up dairy products, in 2 weeks you should see positive results. 36. Mix a capful of apple cider vinegar, juice of half a lemon, and a spoonful of honey. Drink this daily after brushing your teeth. (it will cause your enamel to soften). 37. Oat milk is famously good for your skin (eczema or not). Not only does it soothe the area but it detoxifies it as well. Put a fist full of porridge oats in an old stocking and hang it under your tap while drawing your bath. 38. Jojoba oil works miracles as a lotion. 39. Mix aquaphor ointment with aveeno and eucerin lotion, this is a very helpful moisturizing lotion. Apply everyday to prevent flair-ups. 40. Have an allergy test done. This can help you avoid foods that cause flair-ups. 41. Mix a moisturizing cream with green tea+lime, toothpaste, salt and a little bit of water and lemon juice. This mixture will not get rid of the redness but it will stop the itch for a few hours. 42. Avocado applied directly to the affected area and left on for 30 minutes has been shown to be an effective remedy. Peel one avocado, use the green part that is attached to the peeling for an external eczema treatment. Eat the rest for an internal treatment. It will keep in a sealed bag in the refrigerator for additional treatments. Scrape the green part from the peeling, mash it with a fork until it is a smooth paste. Apply it like a thick mask to the affected areas, or all over the face for a great facial. After 30 minutes, use luke warm water on your fingers or soft cloth to gently rub the avocado paste into the skin, as you would apply lotion. Rinse or gently wipe off the remaining paste with luke warm water and allow the skin to air dry. Avocado is rich in natural oils (the good kind) and it will leave the skin soft from its natural moisturizers. Use daily for best results in treating eczema breakouts or 3 times a week for regular facials. It is safe to use around your eyes and can reduce fine lines and wrinkles. 43. Primrose oil works for some patients, as it can stop the itching. Take 4 in the a.m. and 4 in the p.m. before bedtime. Primrose oil is a natural supplement oil capsule available at your local drug store. 44. Emu oil has been shown to be effective as well. When applied, it has helped heal the open cracks. Put on the affected areas before bed time. 45. Some say hat Sudocrem and hydrocortisone cream mixed has helped. 46. “Bag Balm” has been said to work wonders even for your cracked hands. It comes in a green metal container and sold practically everywhere (Walgreens, Walmart, etc). Apply to your hands/feet before bedtime and then put on gloves or socks. Some say they are now eczema free. 47. Mix flax seed oil and castor oil together and apply to the affected area. 48. When using cleaning agents such as dish and laundry soaps or even your shampoo (if it contains SLS), use gloves to prevent flair-ups. 49. Apply neem oil to the affected areas. 50. Apply almond oil to the affected areas. 51. Use Eucerin on the affected areas and wear cotton gloves. 52. Bio oil has been said to work wonders. Take a cool bath first the apply. 53. Evening primrose tablets are all natural, they are made from and a flower and it has been shown to clear up eczema. After a months application, the affected areas were clear in some cases. 54. Tiger Balm works wonders. Just wet the skin with water and apply Tiger Balm to the affected areas. 55. Some sufferers recommend staying away from cortisone creams. It’s a quick fix, but often the problem is from within. Be careful in what remedies you choose, your skin is like your 3rd kidney, it filters all the impurities in our body and lifestyle. 56. Johnson baby powder may stop the itch. Use after bathing. Apply cocoa butter lotion to moisturize. 57. Basis soap for sensitive skin has helped many. Use daily in your bathing routine. Can be used on your face as well. 58. For wet eczema, things that can cause irritation are coffee, nicotine, sweat, pollen, dry wall and excessive dust. Things that may help get rid of the problem are water based fruits and vegetables. (Water melon, celery, cucumber, lettuce). 59. Evening Primrose Oil prevents pimples, helps eczema, and prevents PMS. 60. Some patients have removed soy products from their diet as well. It has been found to be in nearly 80% of the products we eat in the US. Soybean, Soy oil, Soy lectin, etc. Read what is in the foods you plan to use. One sufferer cut back on their soy intact and seen positive results in less than a week. This is not a cure, but it does stop the itching. 61. Try taking Zinc tablets. These can be found at your local vitamin/health foods store. 62. Gentle Naturals Eczema cream has worked well for itching/burning. 63. Omega 3 fish oil supplements or put a little cod liver oil into your food. 64. Try drinking half your body weight in ounces of water everyday. Has been found to be effective on your skin and easy on your pocket book. 65. Dab 100% honey on the affected areas, it get (hopefully) immediate relief from the itch. 66. Fresh aloe Vera has been very effective in most cases. Apply directly to the affected area, allow to air dry. 67. If taking a chlorine bath or swimming in a chlorinated pool does not help with your eczema, you may want to try taking salt baths or if your lucky enough to live close to the ocean, take a dip in the water daily. 68. Apply Caroline’s Cream to the affected areas and Johnson’s Soothing Naturals to hydrate. 69. Hemp Cream, can be purchased in most body shops, and has been effective in moisturizing your skin and keeping the itching at bay. 70. Magnesium is good for children with eczema, especially if they have type B blood. 71. Rubbing alcohol on your scalp for a week has been shown to improve eczema breakouts. However you must continue use or it will come back. 72. Prim rose oil and a coating of Shea butter to the affected areas. 73. One treatment recommended is wet wraps. Take a shower, apply your creams, then take a wet shirt or cloth wherever you have eczema and put the cloth on that area. The cloth must be wet. On top of the wet cloth, place a dry cloth and go to bed. Best if done at night. 74. Ask your GP about Viscopaste wet bandages. Put a cream on your affected areas, then wrap around the Viscopaste wet bandages that have been soaked in cream. Put on a dry bandage over it and keep it on for as many hours as possible or over night. It has been shown to have great results when you can keep this on all day and all night, as you will feel a big difference when you take them off. You can use them as frequent as you like. 75. Try a homeopathic remedy called Urtica Urens. You can buy it online at Helios pharmacy. Recommended dosage is 4g tablets at 30 potency. These are herbal, so they can be taken for the long term. Try 1 a day and take no more than 2 per day. 76. Ask your local vitamin/health food store about shampoo with coal tar. If you wash your hand with it, it seems to help with the itching. Be sure to leave on for 3-4 minutes before rinsing off in cool water. 77. Milk of Magnesia kept cold has been wonders to some sufferers. Apply where needed. It cools the itch and although it doesn’t cure the eczema, it seems to help the itchy spells. 78. There is a lotion made by Aveeno that is designed to help with stress. One sufferer exclaims that as soon as she started using this lotion, her eczema began to fade away. She also tried Derma rest, and swears it is the most amazing remedy ever. Every time she had a flair-up, or when her skin began to feel dry or irritated, she would put the lotion of the affected area and with a day or two the break out was gone. Apply lotion before bedtime or right after bathing. 79. Burt’s Bee’s Peppermint Soap has shown amazing results in many sufferers. 80. Pine tar soap has also been recommended. 81. One sufferer recommends whole milk. Soak eczema in vitamin D whole milk for about 10 minutes or as long as desired. Allow the area to air dry and do not wash off. Keep the area as dry as possible. The lactic acid in the milk removes the dead skin cells on top revealing the new skin and makes the skin more flexible. The fat in the milk helps to moisturize. Also, it will stop the itching. 82. A 50/50 solution of apple cider vinegar and water has been shown to be beneficial. Dab the affected area with a cotton ball soaked in the solution once in the morning and before bedtime. It does sting and does cause the affected area to itch and burn. However, after the pain subsides, healing often begins. 83. Suave Natural Oatmeal lotion put on the affected areas when waking up, after bathing and anytime you get wet, has been effective in some cases. 84. If you find that you breakout with small pustules that ooze (kind of like poison ivy), drying agents work the best. Soaking the affected area in white vinegar seems to help along with an anti-histamine tablet before going to bed can help prevent scratching during the night. 85. Grape Fruit Seed Extract seems to work well for eczema. Needs to be diluted, follow the instructions on the bottle. 86. One sufferer found a chiropractor who not only adjusted their body to relieve the nervous system, the doctor started him on a diet of pro-biotics, omega fatty acids and removed dairy and sugars from his diet. 87. Mix Benedryl extra strength cream with vagicaine cream. Squeeze out two separate lines of each product on the affected area (such as your hands), mix them together and smooth over the rash. The Benedryl stops the itching and the vagicaine numbs. However, be prepared for burning. 88. Put lemon juice over the affected areas, allow to air dry and rub tea tree oil in. Some patients exclaim that this has worked wonders. 89. Rocky Mountain Soap’s “Pumpkin Patch Soap & Body Butter Stick” has helped many. It’s 100% natural, and within a week of application the affected areas began to clear up. I hope this information can be helpful in treating your eczema breakouts. I did not know much about this before I began my research. It is my sincere hope that all sufferers can be healed of this terrible condition. I did learn that I want to try out the avocado paste to help with fine lines and wrinkles. Many other tips seem very helpful for dry/chapped skin. I pray that one or many of these tips help relieve your pain and suffering.

Home Remedies for Skin Care

Did you know that pimples are evidence that the body is trying to cleanse itself of toxins? Need a good home remedy to get rid of your teen's acne or that annoying breakout during PMS? Check out these remedies I found and see if one of them work for you! (1) Try fasting periodically as this will detoxify your body. Dab pimples with Listerine mouthwash and watch them disappear! Or, use a mix of the juice of 2 garlic cloves with an equal amount of apple cider vinegar. (2) Because sassafras tea purifies the blood, it could be be taken for acne as well. Increase the effectiveness by also applying a compress soaked in warm tea to the affected area. Repeat this several times a day. (3) For acne, take black currant seed oil or evening primrose oil capsules. A good dose would be 500mg. 3 times a day. Do this for 3 months or until the acne clears up. (4) For very sore skin or infected areas, use some wheat flour and warm water to make a paste. Add a little yeast and let it sit a little. Add some warm wood ash to thicken it. Put this on a piece of cloth and place the cloth on the wound or infected area. It may pull too hard if you leave it on to long. (5) Take the outside shell of walnuts and make a strong tea. Bathe all of the affected areas thoroughly. (6) Using Beta-Carotene 25,000 IU (Provitamin A), shows good results for clearing up acne. Here are some additional skin care home remedies I came across while researching acne remedies. One is for body powder, another is for moles and blemishes, a couple about dry skin, and 2 others are about revitalizing your skin! Hope you enjoy! (1) BODY POWDER: Mix 1/2 baking soda, 1/2 cornstarch, 1/2 baby powder (or your preference). Use daily. (2) FOR ROUGH, DRY & CRACKED SKIN: use Senica Lotion. It's also good for sore muscles and joints, open sores and rashes. Just put it on and rub it in. (3) CRACKS ON FINGERS AND AROUND FINGERNAILS: use clear fingernail polish or Crazy glue right on the crack. (4) FOR MOLES AND BLEMISHES: Use Castor oil. Just rub a little on everyday until it's gone. It also helps pull the pain out. Take a warm cloth and put oil on it. Put wherever the pain is, the put plasic wrap on top as you don't want to get oil on your clothing. Leave on for the night. Throw away the rags if the get soiled too bad. This works very well, however those that do not have a gall bladder are not recommended to use this remedy, the Castor oil can make you very sick. (5) For DRY HANDS: Mix equal parts of glycerin, lemon juice, and white vinegar to use as a hand conditioner for dy skin problems, especially when working with concrete. (6) For SOFT, GLOWING SKIN: Beat an egg white until nice and frothy and then add a tablespoon each of honey and vinegar. Apply to the face and neck. Let dry completely, then sponge off with cool water. (7) REVITALIZE SKIN: Work one tablespoon of olive oil into one cup of thoroughly mashed, fresh strawberries. Add 1/4 cup of honey. Use before bathing.

Box lunch tips, & Sandwich Ideas

Lunch box meals by the millions go to school and work every day. They can be dull and unappetizing or attractive and fun! It’s up to you, the packer to give your loved ones not only nutritious meals but something they‘ll be proud to show their friends. Here are some points to check. A 4-star lunch is: *Nourishing. Remember it is a meal, not just a snack. Have a hot dish or main dish. *Appetizing. Not peanut butter sandwiches & pudding packs every day, when so much variety is available. *Tasty. Keep hot things hot, cold things cold; include utensils, napkins, seasonings such as salt & pepper. *Planned for Carrying. Guard against sandwiches that dry out or leak juices, against cut fruits that discolor, etc. A 4-star lunch box is: *Easy to Clean. Most plastic lunch boxes can be cleaned in the dishwasher or the soft sided bags can be washed in the washing machine. My husbands’ lunch box has a plastic insert on the bottom that serves as an ice chest. I wash the insert with soap and bleach water. I wash the bag in the washing machine. *Supplied Insulated dishes. To allow for a greater variety of nourishing hot or cold foods. *Attractive. So carrying it doesn’t seem a burden. *Durable. For long economical service. Packing the lunch…the lunch-box corner Keep one drawer or part of a cupboard for lunch-box supplies to make your job easier. Be sure you have these items on hand: 1. Plastic containers in a variety of sizes. Shot glass sized bowls with lids are handy for sauces. Wedge-pie shaped boxes are great for pies an pizza. Small jars with wide mouths and screw tops are handy for olives, pickles, and snacks that may leak if turned over. Heavy paper cups/bowls with lids are a handy alternative to the plastic variety and are recyclable. Insulated bowls and vacuum bottles are great for hot soups, hot spaghetti, baked beans, chili, stews, etc. (warm the container with warm water first), or cold drinks such as milk shakes, smoothies, juices, etc. (chill the bottle first). Divided plates with lids in both small and large sizes are handy for hot meals and give you more variety. 2. Small salt and pepper shakers of the “no spill” variety. In the camping section at most stores, you can find a plastic tube that has a shaker on both ends and is about the size of your thumb. Small and convenient. Save your condiment packets (ketchup, salt, pepper, mustard, mayo, sauces, etc.) and use these in your box lunches. 3. Plastic utensils, napkins, & handy wipes (moist toilettes). Keep on hand string, rubber bands, twist ties and tape. Rolls of aluminum foil, plastic wrap, wax paper, sandwich bags in a variety of colors and designs are not only economical but fun! Use plastic and wax paper bags for sandwiches, potato chips, crackers, cookies, nuts, pickles, radishes, carrot sticks, celery. Save wrappings from bread loaves and other food wrappers that can be easily recycled into food containers. Foods that carry well Soup: Don’t just send them chicken noodle soup or soup from a can. Send them some love from home with your home made soup, stew, chili, etc. Have soup good and hot when it goes into the hot vacuum bottle. Be sure to pack some crackers. Saltines are always great but mix it up with whole wheat crackers, fruit crackers, veggie crackers, etc. Several varieties are available in your grocer’s cookie/cracker aisle. Sandwiches: Meat and cheese, cream cheese in nut bread, any variation of peanut butter. Omit lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, any type of condiment that will wilt or make the bread soggy. Put these in separate containers and keep in the cold part of your lunch box/bag. Keep containers of fillings on hand so the same sandwich doesn’t appear two days in a row. See below for additional sandwich and filler ideas. Salads: Pack in a container with a tight cover to prevent wilting in the case of a green salad and leakage in the case of potato salad, cottage cheese, macaroni salad, apple & celery, crab salad, pea & cheese, 3 bean, etc. See “soups and salads” blog for additional salad ideas. Hot Main Dishes: Spaghetti, macaroni, chili, and baked beans give heartiness to the lunch. Last night’s left over’s, casseroles, fajita burritos, tacos, etc. Variety is the key! Relishes: Pickles, sweet and sour, celery, carrot sticks, cherry tomatoes, peppers, pickled foods, radishes, olives, cheese cubes, meat cubes, are just a few “appetizing” ideas to send along Desserts: Dried fruits such as dates, raisins, bananas, apricots, prunes, etc. Fresh fruits such as kiwi, oranges, grapes, apples, mangos, pears, peaches, melons, cherries, etc. You can slice/prepare these ahead of time and put them in an air tight container. Wrap items that easily brown/bruise in a paper towel that has been soaked in lemon juice. Cupcakes, slices of pie, cookies, brownies, bars, puddings, custards, fruit gelatin, tapioca, rice puddings are just a few of the ‘sweet’ desserts you can send along. Cookies or Cake: Bake cupcakes in paper lined cups to keep moist longer. Place toothpick in top of icing to keep wax paper/lid/plastic wrap from sticking. Wrap cookies, bottoms together, two in a package for a good fit. Put graham crackers together with chocolate butter icing. Make shaped cookies as a special surprise. Beverages: Milk, buttermilk, hot chocolate, tomato juice, coffee, lemonade, tea, fruit juices, fruit flavored drinks, and drink mixes with water bottles, just to name a few. A Treat: Candy, nuts, stuffed dates, home made cheese crackers, cereal mixed with nuts and candy (chex, kix, etc.) popcorn ball, chocolates, or even homemade goodies (turtles, chocolate covered strawberries, truffles, etc.) are always a pleasant surprise. Sandwich Making: Bread: Use fresh or day-old bread. Leave crusts on (if you can), it prevents drying. Use slices next to each other in the loaf for a good fit. Try using different types of breads such as rye, sourdough, raisin, whole grain, potato, and Italian. Spread: Have butter or margarine soft. Cream cheese or peanut butters keeps filling from soaking in. Be sure to spread all the way to the edge on both slices. Fillings: Have filling well seasoned before spreading. Keep fillings fresh and moist in covered bowls or plastic containers in the fridge. Use several thin slices of meat rather than on thick slice. Alternate thin slices of cheese with the meat. Making the perfect sandwich: Line up matching slices-spread butter on all. Spoon on filling, then spread evenly to the edges. Keep veggies separate to prevent a soggy sandwich. Sliced tomatoes, onions, pickles, lettuce are great filler ideas. Wrap sandwiches individually in waxed paper. Packing: Single wrap, place sandwiches in center of an oblong piece of wax paper. Bring edges together, fold down several times, turn under corners, then ends. For packing a number of sandwiches, place a damp towel in a shallow pan, line with waxed paper. Make double fold of paper over sandwiches, then bring towel over top. To save yourself time, you can freeze a week’s supply of sandwiches can be made up at one time. Wrap in waxed paper as stated above, slipping the name of the sandwich under the top fold. Avoid sandwiches with mayonnaise or lettuce. Sandwiches will be thawed by lunch time if taken from the freezer at breakfast time. Sandwich filling suggestions Sandwich fillings are seldom made from written recipes but rather from ingenuity, imagination and whatever is on hand. Always season to taste, just a dash of pepper can live up most lunchmeats! Meat: (1) Leftover beef roast (ground), chopped pickle and celery, prepared mustard or horse-radish, mayonnaise. (2) Leftover baked ham (ground), chopped pickle, mustard, mayonnaise. Fish: 1. Flaked tuna or salmon, sweet pickle, celery, and mayonnaise. 2. Crabmeat, chopped celery, lemon juice and mayonnaise. Egg: (1) Chopped hard-cooked egg, pickle relish, pimiento, salad dressing. (2) Chopped hard-cooked egg, ripe olives, mayonnaise. (3) Chopped hard cooked egg, chopped ham, minced onion, and green pepper, salad dressing. 4. Fried or scrambled egg, on whole wheat bread with ketchup. Cheese: (1) Cream cheese, chopped stuffed olive and nuts. (2) Sliced American cheese, thinly sliced fried ham, prepared mustard. (3) Swiss cheese, ham and pickle. (4) Cream cheese, Roquefort cheese and chopped nuts. (5) Cream cheese, drained crushed pineapple, chopped pecans. (6) Swiss cheese and mustard on rye bread. (7) Cottage cheese, minced green pepper and onion on whole wheat bread. Unusual: (1) Bake bean, chili sauce, thinly sliced onion. (2) Sliced radishes on rye or whole wheat. 3. Peanut butter and chopped crisp bacon. From things on hand: (1) Carrot/Peanut: Combine 1 ½ cups grated raw carrots, ½ cup finely chopped salted peanuts, ¼ cup pickle relish, 1/3 cup salad dressing. Makes 8 sandwiches (2) Raisin/peanut butter: Mix together ¾ cup crunchy peanut butter, 6 T chopped seedless raisins, 6 T orange juice. Makes 8 sandwiches. Cans on the shelf: (1) Corned beef and egg: Combine ¼ lb. corned beef (coarsely ground), 2 hard cooked eggs (chopped), 1 T sweet pickle relish, ¼ cup rich milk, 1 T lemon juice, ¼ t salt, pepper. Makes 8 sandwiches. (2) Salmon salad: Combine 1 cup flaked salmon, ¼ t salt, ½ cup finely chopped celery, ¼ cup finely chopped green pepper, 2 T mayonnaise and 2 T lemon juice. Makes 8 sandwiches. (3) Egg and deviled ham: Combine 1 hard cooked egg (chopped), ¼ cup deviled ham, 1 T Worcestershire sauce, 2 T chopped pickle. Makes 3 sandwiches. (4) Sardine and egg: Combine ¼ cup mashed sardines, 2 hard cooked eggs (chopped), 1 T pickle relish, 2 T sardine or olive oil, dash of salt, 1 T salad dressing. Makes 3 sandwiches. Cold Cut Variety: (1) Deviled Frankfurter: Mix together ½ lb frankfurters (coarsely ground), ½ t dry mustard, 3 T sweet pickle relish, 2 T rich milk, and 1/3 cup salad dressing. Makes 6 sandwiches. (2) Bologna-Cheese: Grind together ¼ lb bologna, ¼ lb American cheese. Add 1/3 cup rich milk, 2 T sweet pickle relish, ¼ t dry mustard, 1/8 t salt, dash of pepper. Makes 8 sandwiches. From the grill: (1) Cheese, meat and fish sandwiches and almost any leftover sandwiches may be grilled. Brush lightly with melted butter or spread with soft butte on both sides, and bake until golden brown on the grill, electric skillet or cast iron skillet. Hearty Sandwiches: (1) Ham filled rolls: ½ lb cheddar type cheese, ½ lb. minced ham, 2 sweet pickles, 1 t grated onion, 2 T mayonnaise/salad dressing, 8-10 buns (rolls), split and buttered. Heat oven to 350. Put cheese, ham and pickles through food chopper/processor. Add onion and mayonnaise. Spread between bun sections. Place on baking sheet; heat in oven 15 minutes. Makes 8-10 servings. (2) Toasted bacon-cheese sandwiches. 4 slices bread, 8 slices bacon, 1 egg slightly beaten, ¾ cup grated cheese, ¼ t paprika, ½ t Worcestershire sauce. Place bread and bacon on broiler rack. Toast bread on one side. Broil bacon until crisp. Combine remaining ingredients; spread over un-toasted side of bread. Broil until cheese melts Serve with 2 strips of bacon on each slice. Makes 4 servings. (3) Sure-fire special: Slices of cold roast beef, Bermuda onion, and 2 or 3 anchovy fillets between whole wheat or light rye bread slices. (4) Denver or western sandwich. For each sandwich: 1 egg, beaten; 1 T minced onion; 1 T minced green pepper; 2 T minced cooked ham; 2 T milk; salt and pepper. Combine ingredients; drop by spoonfuls into hot fat in large skillet or on greased griddle. Make shape of bread slice. Turn when set and golden brown on one side; cook second side. Serve between buttered slices of bread or toast. Fancy Sandwiches: (1) Cream cheese marmalade: Mix together thoroughly 3 oz pkg. of cream cheese, 1-2 T orange (or your favorite flavor) marmalade, for desired consistency, and grated rind of one orange. Spread on bread, toast rounds, or pastry rounds. Sprinkle with chopped peanuts. (2) Bit of bacon: 3 oz pkg. cream cheese, 1 T milk, 2 T chopped green pepper, 3 slices crisp bacon, crumbled, 1 t finely chopped onion. Soften cheese with milk. Add remaining ingredients and mix until blended. Serve on melba toast, or crackers, rye or nut bread. (3) Cream cheese pineapple: Mix together thoroughly 3 pkg. cream cheese, 2 T drained crushed pineapple and 1 T minced chives or young onion tops. Spread on bread or toast rounds or pastry rounds. (4) Apricot-nut: 3 oz pkg. cream cheese, ¼ cup apricot puree (baby food works good), dash of salt, ¼ cup chopped pecans. Soften cheese; add remaining ingredients and blend. Serve on crackers, nut breads. (5) Chicken, crabmeat or tuna: 1 cup diced cooked chicken or 6 ½ oz can crabmeat or tuna, flaked; ½ cup finely chopped celery; 1 ½ t lemon juice; salt and pepper, to taste; 1-2 hard cooked eggs, chopped; ¼ cup mayonnaise. Combine all ingredients lightly. Spread on buttered bread or toast (cut in fancy shapes). Garnish with pimiento, or top with bread/toast for a double sandwich. (6) Avocado-bacon: 1 ripe avocado, 1 t finely minced onion, 1 T lemon juice, ½ t salt, dash cayenne pepper, 2 strips bacon fried crisp. Peel and mash avocado; blend in onion, lemon juice and seasonings. Spread on fancy shapes of bread or toast (no butter needed). Crumble bacon and sprinkle over top.