Sensible Folks

Scallions Away.

2010-04-16T14:36:00.000-05:00

I don't know how many time I'm going to do this before I figure it out... Do NOT chop onions and then wipe your eye before washing your hands. Not good.

Hello?

2009-11-27T10:50:00.002-06:00

Hi. I figured I should post something just to see if anyone is paying attention. ;)

Actually, I do have a little somethin' for you all to try. It's way easy but darn addictive.

This'll feed about four as a side dish. You can always just increase.

Take five russet/Idaho potatos. Get half of a yellow onion, or an entire small shallot, as you prefer.

Finely dice the onion. Peel and cube the potatoes. Even better, try to get someone else to peel the potatoes. My hubby is da' man when it comes to that!

Put them all in a big skillet w/ a lid. Add about a half a cup of vegetable oil. (My Grandma prefers Crisco melted beforehand, but I go with the oil.)

Take your pepper shaker and add pepper to taste. I like a lot, as the potatoes tend suck up the flavor of it. Mix it all up, put your lid on and fry over medium high heat, flipping the potatoes occasionally until your house smells like White Castle and the potatoes are a crispy brown. This should take about 15-20 minutes.

You don't want these like Potatoes O'Brian. They should actually be CRISP.

Salt to taste and enjoy.

This goes very well with a salisbury steak, or a baked boneless, skinless pork chop. Or just by itself if you make a bunch.

I'm an addict. It's Grandma's fault. ;)

Other uses for WD-40...

2009-04-02T17:05:00.002-05:00

Snopes even asked the manufacturer...and NO, they do NOT use fish oil...

1) Protects silver from tarnishing.
2) Removes road tar and grime from cars.
3) Cleans and lubricates guitar strings.
4) Gives floors that `just-waxed` sheen without making it slippery.
5) Keeps flies off cows.
6) Restores and cleans chalkboards.
7) Removes lipstick stains.
8) Loosens stubborn zippers.
9) Untangles jewelry chains.
10) Removes stains from stainless steel sinks.
11) Removes dirt and grime from the barbecue grill.
12) Keeps ceramic/terra cotta garden pots from oxidizing.
13) Removes tomato stains from clothing.
14) Keeps glass shower doors free of water spots.
15) Camouflages scratches in ceramic and marble floors.
16) Keeps scissors working smoothly.
17) Lubricates noisy door hinges on vehicles and doors in homes
18) It removes black scuff marks from the kitchen floor! Open some windows if you have a lot of marks.
19) Bug guts will eat away the finish on your car.
Removed quickly, with WD-40!
20) Gives a children's play gym slide a shine for a super fast slide.
21) Lubricates gear shift on lawn mowers.
22) Rids kids rockin g chairs and swings of squeaky noises.
23) Lubricates tracks in sticking home windows and makes them easier to open.
24) Spraying an umbrella stem makes it easier to open and close.
25) Restores and cleans padded leather dashboards in vehicles, well as vinyl bumpers.
26) Restores and cleans roof racks on vehicles.
27) Lubricates and stops squeaks in electric fans.
28) Lubricates wheel sprockets on tricycles, wagons, and bicycles for easy handling.
29) Lubricates fan belts on washers and dryers and keeps them running smoothly.
30) Keeps rust from forming on saws and saw blades, and other tools.
31) Removes splattered grease on stove.
32) Keeps bathroom mirror from fogging.
33) Lubricates prosthetic limbs.
34) Keeps pigeons off the balcony (they hate the smell).
35) Removes all traces of duct tape.
36) Folks even spray it on their arms, hands, and knees to relieve arthritis pain
37) Florida 's favorite use 'Cleans and removes
love bugs from grills and bumpers.'
38) Protects the Statue of Liberty from the elements.
39) WD-40 attracts fish. Spray a LITTLE on live bait or lures and you will be catching the big one in no time.
40) Ant bites. It takes the sting away immediately and stops the itch.
41) WD-40 is great for removing crayon from walls. Spray on the mark and wipe with a clean rag.
42) If you've washed and dried a tube of lipstick with a load of laundry, saturate the lipstick spots with WD-40 and presto! Lipstick is gone!
43) If you spray WD-40 on the distributor cap, it will displace the moisture and allow the car to start.

Husband Approved...

2009-03-31T16:58:00.003-05:00

I found a new recipe torn out of a magazine in the break room at work. It didn't seem to belong to anyone and it looked rather good, so I swiped it.

Turns out, it is EXCELLENT comfort food; I just made it tonight and although the children wouldn't touch it, Dave and I just might have finished off the entire skillet and are now in food coma mode. I've added my own notations to the recipe from my experience with the process.

CREAMY SHRIMP WITH CORN AND BACON

1 cup white rice (or jasmine/brown rice)

** I tried white rice and was happy.**

4 slices of bacon

**I used turkey bacon; you can get it crisper than regular, imo.**

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 onion, chopped

**Yes, I cried. I used a red onion, but the recipe is not specific so I imagine you can use whatever type of onion you prefer.**

1/2 cup of dry white wine

3/4 cup of heavy cream

**I believe that 1/2 a cup would be better and will modify the next batch so; it is a tad soupy with the amount prescribed.**

1 1/4 lb. large shrimp, peeled and deveined, and tail removed

1 10 ounce package frozen corn

**I used a 12 oz steamfresh package and it was OK. Very easy, too.**

1 tsp kosher salt and black pepper

Prep:

Cook rice according to directions on package.

**I used a boil-in-bag rice; it is the same amount required by the recipe and takes far less time or effort.**

Meanwhile, cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium-high heat until crisp, 5-7 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel, let cool, then break into pieces. Wipe out skillet.

Heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally until softened. Add wine and let cook untill reduced by half, 2-3 minutes.

Add cream and bring to a boil. Stir in shrimp, corn, and add salt and pepper. Simmer until cooked through, 5-7 minutes. Stir in bacon, serve over rice.

How to save a wet cell phone!

2009-02-20T08:53:00.003-06:00

Follow this link to a short video that tells you how...and make sure you have the "secret weapon" in your pantry...and maybe a pair of rubber gloves handy, just in case!

Some money saving tips for around the house...

2009-02-15T05:59:00.003-06:00

Here are some good tips on saving money around the house.

A few good ingredients are all you need to clean your house, and they will save you money...try to keep in stock;
ammonia
bleach
baking soda
white vinegar
and olive oil...

An inexpensive substitute for Windex is;

1 part white vinegar

1 part non-sudsing ammonia

1 part water,
mix in a spray bottle, and voila! Clear Windex...

Every month pour 1 cup baking soda into all your drains, then add 1 cup of white vinegar...helps keep drains cleared. Wait 15 minutes, then rinse.

If you have an ac unit, change the filter monthly, add 1 cup boiling water followed by 1 cup of white vinegar into the intake of your central ac...the boiling water breaks up any ice that forms around the coolant lines and the vinegar kills any bacteria or algae growth. The results are a more efficient unit and a healthier house.

Happy savings!

REAL hot chocolate...and a fruity glogg to warm the cockles of your heart...

2009-02-10T07:31:00.001-06:00

By way of the Old Farmer's Almanac...yum-yum!

Real Hot Chocolate
Beverages Recipes
SAVE RATE EMAIL PRINT
Yield: 3 servings
1-1/2 cups milk
1/2 cup light cream
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, plus a pinch to garnish
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla
Pinch salt
3 ounces semisweet chocolate, roughly chopped
Whipped cream
Combine ingredients over medium heat until chocolate melts. Serve with whipped cream and garnish with cinnamon.

Nonalcoholic Glogg
Beverages Recipes
SAVE RATE EMAIL PRINT
Yield: Makes 10 to 12 servings.
1 6-ounce can frozen lemonade concentrate, reconstituted
1 6-ounce can frozen raspberry concentrate, reconstituted
4 cinnamon sticks
1/8 teaspoon cloves
4 cardamom pods
1/4 cup raisins (optional)
3 tablespoons sugar
1 orange, sliced
1 lemon, sliced
Combine all ingredients except for the fruit slices, and heat to steaming. When ready to serve, float citrus slices on top.

10 companies...

2009-01-28T13:39:00.002-06:00

AOL news has some ideas for those who are(like me)needing part time work

http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2009/01/16/10-companies-that-hire-part-time-workers/?ncid=AOLCOMMjobsDYNLprim0001

10 Companies That Hire Part-Time Workers
Posted Jan 16th 2009 3:19PM
By Rachel Zupek,CareerBuilder.com writer

For many people, working part time is a necessity -- not a choice. Perhaps they have to work part time in order to make ends meet, but did you know that almost 1.5 million people are working part time because they were unable to find full-time jobs?

In November 2008, the number of people who worked part time for economic reasons, meaning that they would like to work full time but couldn't because their hours had been cut back or because they were unable to, rose to 7.3 million. That number is more than a 2 million-person increase over the past 12 months. Whether you're looking for part-time work to supplement your current income, you can't find full-time work or you just don't want to work 40 hours per week, here are just 10 companies in a variety of industries that hire for part-time employees;

1. 24 Hour FitnessWhat it is: A fitness center chain headquartered in San Ramon, Calif., and housing more than 425 clubs in 16 states. The club has more than 3 million members and more than 20,000 employees.

Available part-time positions: Personal trainer; group exercise instructor; facility technician; kid's club attendant; membership counselor and more.

2. Aegis TherapiesWhat it is: A geriatric rehabilitation center that provides physical, occupational and speech therapy services to older adults. It currently has more than 1,000 locations around the United States.

Available part-time positions: Physical therapist; speech pathologist; home health occupational therapist; occupational therapist; occupational therapist assistant and more.

3. AMF Bowling Centers, Inc. What it is: Headquartered in Richmond, Va., AMF is the largest bowling company in the world, owning and operating more than 350 bowling centers in the United States.

Available part-time positions: Bartender; counter desk attendant; birthday party host; entry-level mechanic; lane server and more.

4. Bayada NursesWhat it is: A home health-care company that treats patients of all ages in their homes to provide them with comfort. Bayada Nurses has more than 130 offices in 17 states.

Available part-time positions: Home health aide; pediatric nurse; registered nurse; nursing assistant; medical social worker and more.

5. Central Payment CorporationWhat it is: A national credit card processing company that encourages businesses to accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover credit cards as a form of payment. In conjunction with Wells Fargo Bank, CPC also offers companies check systems, gift cards, wireless solutions and other forms of payment.

Available part-time positions: Outside sales representatives; outside account representatives and more.

6. CVS CorporationWhat it is: A Fortune 25 company, CVS is a retail drug and pharmacy store. It fills or manages more than one billion prescriptions per year and has more than 6,200 operating CVS/pharmacy stores nationwide.

Available part-time positions: Beauty consultant; pharmacy technician; shift supervisor; cashier and more.

7. David's BridalWhat it is: A bridal retail shop with more than 280 stores across the nation. More than 2,500 trained consultants provide head-to-toe dressing, on-site alterations, special financing options, gown preservation services and coordinating attire for the entire bridal party.

Available part-time positions: Retail sales associate; alterations; seamstress; bridal consultant; wedding consultant; customer service representative and more.

8. NHS Human ServicesWhat it is: A community-based behavioral health-care provider that focuses on the special needs of adults and children in the following areas: behavioral health; intellectual and developmental disabilities; juvenile justice; addictive diseases; elder care; autism; special education; and early intervention and therapeutic foster care.

Available part-time positions: Mobile therapist; behavioral specialist consultant; therapeutic staff support; psychiatric technician and more.

9. Red Robin Gourmet BurgersWhat it is: A casual dining chain headquartered in Greenwood Village, Colo. They have more than 300 restaurants in the United States and Canada, plus a selection of more than 22 gourmet burger recipes with unique toppings like chili, guacamole or even a fried egg.

Available part-time positions: Server; host and hostess; dishwasher; busser; bartender; cook and more.

10. H&R BlockWhat it is: A tax services company that provides tax, financial, accounting and business consulting services and products. It has operations in three business segments: tax services; business services and consumer financial services.

Available part-time positions: Tax preparer and tax professional.*Please note that some positions require extensive training and certification; others do not qualify as a part-time position that you could work in addition to a full-time job. Select companies are hiring for both full- and part-time employees.

Rachel Zupek is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.

Picadillo, Hat-tip to Cynnie at Waitting For Life To Start...

2009-01-19T09:51:00.002-06:00

Another cuban dish..
make a sofrito ( onions , green peppers chopped and sauteed in olive oil...throw in some minced garlic after the onions get tender)

then throw in a pound or two of hamburger .

squish it around and get it fried and crumbly..

add a bunch of cumin powder and oregano then add tomato sauce, paste or just canned tomatoes..whichever or all 3 ..

chop some olives up and capers if you have them..
or leave them out if you want ..

I know ..it's pretty much sloppy joes.but make some rice or put it on bread.. it's so good ( pronounced pee-kah-dee-ah) enjoy!

I'm Cynnie at Waitting for Life To Start

Okay, I LOVE stuff like this, true cooking required!

2008-12-30T17:00:00.000-06:00

Enjoy!
1 3/4 cups chocolate graham cracker crumbs
1/3 cup butter or margarine, melted
3 pkgs. (8oz. each) cream cheese, softened
1 can (14oz) Sweetened Condensed Milk
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3 large eggs
3 tablespoons lime juice
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups Semi Sweet Chocolate Morsels
2 tablespoons Chocolate Flavor Syrup
2 tablespoons caramel syrup or ice cream topping
1/2 cup coarsely chopped pecans
1/4 cup semisweet chocolate mini morsels

Preheat oven to 300F
Grease 9 inch springform pan.

Crust: combining crumbs and butter in medium bowl. Press onto bottom and 1 inch up side of pan.

Filling: Beat cream cheese and milk in large bowl until smooth.
Add sugar, eggs, lime juice and vanilla extract; beat until combined.

Microwave 1 1/2 cups morsels in medium, uncovered, microwave-safe bowl on High power for 1 minute, stir. If needed, heat additional 10-15 second intervals, stirring just until morsels are melted.

Stir 2 cups of batter into melted morsels; mix well.

Alternately spoon batters into crust, beginning and ending with yellow batter.

Bake 70-75 minutes or until edge is set and center moves slightly.

Cool in pan on wire rack for 10 minutes; run knife around edge and let cool completely.

Drizzle syrups on top. Sprinkle with nuts and mini morsels.

Refrigerate several hours.

Remove side of pan.

Halp!

2008-12-18T19:44:00.002-06:00

Hey, 'yall...

Several months back, maybe as much as six or so, there was a recipe for a bean soup in the Angel Food flyer, the Servant. I cannot find it on the website.

It had onion, garlic, sausage, and a fifteen bean blend and a few other things. Maybe hot sauce, too?

It called for the beans to be soaked overnight, and then put in a crock pot with some water, other ingredients. The sausage was to be added in an hour before serving.

I've lost the recipe! Do any of you other Angel Food peeps still have it? There are a few ingredients I'm sure I'm missing, and I'd like to make it again.

Thanks for any help!

Tis The Season, cough, cough, sneeze, sneeze!

2008-12-11T09:21:00.002-06:00

Curing Colds
A common saying about a cold is that it “lasts for a week if you treat it, seven days if you don’t.” As amusing and true as that may be, it’s not fun to have a cold.

What can we do to help our bodies through this seven-day healing process so that we can savor the joys of the season?

Drink plenty of fluids to keep your body hydrated during times of dry indoor air.
Hot soups (chicken, of course) clear nasal passages. Try Granny’s Best Chicken Soup steaming hot and seasoned with garlic.
Herbal teas bring relief. Rose hip tea is full of vitamin C.

Eating foods heavy in garlic, onion, or horseradish may aide recovery as well.

To ward off spreading colds during the holidays, wash your hands frequently!

See more herbal cold remedies as well as ways to avoid colds and the flu before they start!

Simply stay warm, rested, and wait. In seven days, we all have the same amount of time!

Good health and good sense are two of life’s greatest blessings. –Publius Syrus (c. 42 B.C.)

From Old Farmer's Almanac...a repository of good sense!

Another bizzare phishing expedition...

2008-12-08T11:08:00.004-06:00

...and there are trusting souls out there who will fall for this!

Your Password has beed disabled
U.S. Bank Password show details 11:15 AM (51 minutes ago)
Warning: This message may not be from whom it claims to be. Beware of following any links in it or of providing the sender with any personal information. Learn more
Dear U.S. Bank Customer,
Your password has beed entered incorrectly three times.For security, we have disabled your password.
To re-enable your password, please go to :"disabled link"
and follow the security steps from there.
U.S. Bank is dedicated to protecting your information.Learn about our security measures and what we do to protect your accounts online.
If you have any questions, we are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at: "disabled link".

I have deleted the links to prevent accidentally going to that site. Quite disgusting and blatant cons...and not that I highlighted aol's advice in green!
Can you imagine how scary this could be to some elderly widow? If you know of ANYONE who is vulnerable to these scams, please warn them...and show them what to look out for!
Notice too the lack of facility or acquaintance with spell check!

What do you do with your leftover turkey?

2008-11-27T16:39:00.003-06:00

This recipe is care of Old Farmer's Almanac...
Turkey Hash
2 cups diced cooked turkey
2 cups diced cooked potatoes
3 tablespoons finely chopped green bell pepper
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
1/2 teaspoon salt
pepper, to taste
1 cup turkey gravy
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl, combine all of the ingredients. Turn into a large greased casserole, cover, and bake for 45 minutes. In the last 15 minutes, remove the cover to brown the top.

A favorite of mine is, Open Face Turkey Sandwiches;
Take a sprayed cookie sheet, line up as many slices as you have people, make it unhealthy, use white bread! LOL! Actually, potato bread is excellent.
Place a thin slice of cranberry sauce on each slice, cover with sliced turkey, top with either leftover dressing or mashed potatoes, top that with whatever veggie you served; asparagus, broccoli or green beans and slather on some gravy!
Place under the broiler until bubbly...then enjoy!

Now, share some of your favorites!

Kitchen booboos...

2008-11-20T18:31:00.003-06:00

...and some hints for saving your food, rather than wasting it!
Here is a good series of good ideas!

P.M.S. CHIPS

2008-11-12T22:45:00.003-06:00

photo courtesy of farmer's market online.

one double boiler - fill bottom with water

in top of double boiler place one 12 ounce bag of whatever chocolate chips you like - my fave is milk chocolate, but you may use butterscotch, semi-sweet or peanut butter chips if choose.

add one-quarter stick of cooking paraffin (wax) and bring water to a slow boil, stirring paraffin and chips until melted and well blended.

remove from heat and begin dipping ridged potato chips halfway into the mixture, and place onto waxed paper to cool and set.

if you'd like to cover the entire potato you must use a set of tongs so as not to burn your "eatin' fingers".

once cooled and set, place into an airtight container, hide it from your family and snack away when nobody's looking!

the reason i call these "P.M.S. CHIPS" is due to the fact that at least once a month we women NEED a sweet yet salty chocolate snack to bring us to our senses. this one has done the trick for me and some others a time or 756,000.

it will cost you approximately $6.00 to make a two to three month supply OR you may go to a candy store where you'll pay upwards of $18.00 a pound.

ENJOY!

From Old Farmer's Almanac...

2008-10-22T09:16:00.002-05:00

Seasonal Advice
To Clean a Pumpkin for Cooking
First, scrub the outside of the pumpkin with a vegetable brush. Cut the pumpkin in half and use a spoon to scrape out the fibers and the seeds. A serrated grapefruit spoon works great for this. Cut the pumpkin halves into smaller pieces, then place them skin side up in a shallow baking dish. Add water to just cover the bottom of the dish, and cover tightly. Bake in a 325 degrees F oven until the pumpkin is fork tender. The time will vary depending on the size of your pieces. Let it cool, and then either cut off the peel or scoop out the flesh.

Pumpkin Spice Mix Recipe
Mix the following in a jar:
1/3 cup ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon ground ginger
1 tablespoon ground nutmeg or mace
1-1/2 teaspoons ground cloves
1-1/2 teaspoons ground allspice.
For pumpkin pie, add 1 to 1-1/2 teaspoons of spice mix to your other ingredients.

Crunchy Pumpkin Seeds
Miscellaneous Recipes Vegetables Recipes
Preparation Time: 5 minutes
Start to Finish Time: 20 minutes
2 cups pumpkin seeds, rinsed
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon Kosher or sea salt
Heat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, combine seeds and oil and toss well to coat. Spread on a rimmed baking sheet and sprinkle with salt. Bake about 10 minutes and stir. Bake another 5 minutes or until lightly toasted. Transfer to a large shallow plate to cool.
If you prefer, you can toast seeds on the stovetop. Warm a large cast-iron frypan over medium heat. Add oil, then seeds, and stir well to coat. Spread mixture in an even layer; stir often until seeds are lightly toasted. Season with salt. Transfer to a large shallow plate to cool.

Scent Your Jack-o'-Lantern
Sprinkle a teaspoon of pumpkin spice mix into your carved pumpkin before lighting the candle.

Storing Pumpkins and Winter Squash
Winter squashes don't like to be quite as cool as root crops do. If you have a coolish bedroom, stashing them under the bed works well. They like a temperature of about 50 to 65 degrees F.

USES FOR CAULKING

2008-10-16T14:50:00.003-05:00

...other than caulking:

do the stretchy little headbands you or yours like to wear constantly have to be readjusted? tip: turn the headband inside out onto a coffee can - snip a TINY hole in your caulking tube (i like the regular tubes with the clear caulking) - draw a very thin line of the caulk around the middle of the headband and allow to dry. if using the wider stretchy headbands - do the same with the exception of a thin bead - place a dot of caulk about the size of a pea at two to three inch intervals and then flatten each dot and allow to dry. NO MORE SLIPPAGE!

this is one of my favorites. do you ever find your favorite cutting board wants to slide all over the counter when you're using it? simple remedy: on the backside of the cutting board, place a dot about the size of a marble of caulk (the end of the tube should be snipped larger for this one) about one inch in on the surface of each corner - before it's dry, yet still soft, flatten the dot to about a quarter inch thick - allow to dry before using. NO MORE SLIPPAGE!

do you have any great and unusual uses for caulking? please feel free to share.

12 more e-mail scams...

2008-09-24T06:44:00.002-05:00

...persistant boogers, aren't they?

If there is a sucker born every minute, what do you call scammers?

The Old Farmers Almanac

2008-09-23T15:32:00.004-05:00

I have put up a link to, "The Old Farmer's Almanac", I have found some terrific recipes, interesting facts and information, history and weather predictions.
Altogether, an excellent source of fun and fact.
I hope y'all enjoy the site as much as I do, you can register(it's free), which gives you access to a personalized recipe file and other goodies.

And, you can sign up for a free monthly newsletter...

Uses for white vinegar.

2008-09-13T13:59:00.003-05:00

Here are a few uses I did know about;

fasting dark colors-add a cup of vinegar to a first wash of new, dark colored clothes, helps to fast the overdye(a cup of salt works also)

in making your own "windex"-1 part each of; water, white vinegar and non-sudsing ammonia

fluffy rice-1 teaspoon of white vinegar in the water will give you white, fluffy rice

preventing the smell of cabbage from fumigating your house, add 1 teaspoon to water before adding cabbage

keeping acs from getting mold or bacteria growing in the collection pan or lines-pour 1 cup of boiling water and then 1 cup of vinegar into the line access, keeps ice from forming on the line(causes water backup in your house) and kills germs and mold.

Now for some uses that surprised me;

clean your john- pour vinegar into bowl, let sit 5 minutes, scrub off stains, then flush

rust cutter-put rusty or corroded bolts in some undiluted vinegar, then you should be able to work them free

grass killer-use half strength on any grass in sidewalks or driveways

freshen slightly wilted vegetables-soak in cold water and vinegar.

11 top scams, and...

2008-09-07T05:08:00.002-05:00

...what to do about them.
Got this list from my aol account.
As my Momma used to tell me, "There's no such thing as a free lunch.", and, "If it looks too good to be true, it probably isn't."

Hammer's jalapeno corn bread

2008-09-06T13:15:00.001-05:00

2 cups yellow corn meal
2/3 cup all purpose flour
1 Tbs baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 1/3 cups milk
2 eggs beaten
4Tbs vegetable oil
1 medium onion diced
1 or 2 jalapenos seeded and minced (depends on how hot you want it.)
1 medium tomato seeded and diced

Preheat oven to 425
Saute the vegetables in a large cast iron skillet with 1 Tbs of vegetable oil until soft.
Thoroughly mix the dry ingredients in a bowl.Add the wet ingredients and stir until you have a thick batter. Add in your vegetables and mix well.

Now you can add the batter back into the oiled cast iron skillet and bake for 25 min

If you don't have a cast iron, use a greased 9in round baking pan and reduce the baking time to 20 min.

Check with a toothpick for doneness...if it comes out clean then it is ready.
Many folks baste the top with butter while it's still hot to add extra moistness and flavor.

Easy donuts

2008-09-02T01:29:00.002-05:00

1 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)

1/2 cup white sugar

2 packets active dry yeast

3 tablespoons olive oil

1 teaspoon salt

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

DIRECTIONS:
Stir water, 1 tsb of sugar and yeast together until dissolved. Add the olive oil and the salt. Stir in the flour and the remainder of the sugar until well blended. Let dough rest for 10 minutes.

Using a floured surface take golfball sized pieces of dough and roll them into a 5inch long tubes.Connect the ends with a twist and set aside on a cookie sheet.

Heat your oil to 350 and fry the donuts about 15 seconds on each side or until carmel brown.
Set on a paper towel to cool.

For icing I use 1/4 cup of sugar, whipped into 1/2 cup of half and half or cream for glazed. You can just use chocolate syrup or cake icing if you have it.

Just dip the top of the donut into the icing and give it a twist.

A couple of interesting articles...

2008-08-27T06:40:00.006-05:00

...and another terrific site that was started for the same reason SensibleFolks was begun!
Check it out, and I'll put the site on the sidebar.
This one includes information on a site called, The Hillbilly Housewife, looks to be another site with helpful information!

And a few ideas to get your debt down...

My Barbecue sauce recipe.

2008-08-26T12:15:00.005-05:00

Here is one for your Labor day Barbecue.

Hammer's homemade barbecue sauce.

1/2 cup honey

1/2 cup molasses

1/4 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup white wine vinegar

2 tsb vegetable oil

1tsp mustard powder

1tsp garlic powder

1tsp paprika

1/8 tsp cayenne pepper

1/8 tsp milled black pepper.

1/8 tsp ground cumin

A food processor or blender helps to get all the flavors mixed well.

I put this on wings, ribs, hot dogs, etc..

Sensible Tip: Be Nice...

2008-08-21T09:23:00.007-05:00

... Or you'll wind up being remembered like this:

(Click to enlarge, or follow link below.)

This was a real obituary that ran in the Vallejo Times-Herald by the one of the deceased's daughters, who said that as children they were, "unfed, poorly clothed and completely terrorized."

PetsMart

2008-08-18T12:49:00.003-05:00

I don't know if the rest of you have PetsMart stores in your area, but the ones here in the Cincinnati area are INFESTED with small brown bugs. I've checked two local stores; both were the same. This leads me to believe that their distribution hubs are infested, and it is not an individual store problem.

I have bought two bags of bird food and one bag of dog food. Both were infested; I WAS FURIOUS that I fed that to the bird! The dogs are hardy, but the cockatoo... GRRRRR!!!!

I've been using a small, indie feed store since; not quite as convenient, but very clean.

If 'yall have pets and a PetsMart, be VERY careful. Also, my job has provided me with 'insider info' that PetCo has the same problem, but worse.

Cincinnati Chili VS EAT Out

2008-08-18T12:43:00.002-05:00

Dang if I don't often have anything sensible to say. ;)

But here's one.

If you all have never had Cincinnati-Style chili, DO IT RIGHT NOW!!!

Cinci-chili is a spaghetti base with a thin special chili sauce on top. That is called a "two-way" around here.

Most popular is the "three-way", which has shredded cheese on that, and then the four and five way, which have chopped onion and red kidney beans, respectively.

This is a very filling, high-cal, high fat meal, and will run you about six buck PER PLATE at Skyline or Gold Star.

If you can find a $3 can of the above brand chili in your market, or order it, an on sale box of spaghetti and an on sale bag of thinly shredded cheese gives you the same meal. FIVE PLATES for the cost of ONE PLATE.

And, if you get a pack of hot dogs, buns, and cheese, you've got chili dogs Cinci style. Again, a five to one ratio!

We're doing this at home about once a week now! In fact, we're doing it tonight! :)

Chicken piccata

2008-08-18T11:06:00.003-05:00

Here is an easy recipe that is inexpensive and very tasty.

4 (4-ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
Salt and ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup white wine
1 (14-ounce) can artichoke hearts, quartered
1 cup sliced mushrooms
1/8 cup drained capers

Place chicken in zip-lock bags and pound with a rolling pin until 1/4-inch thick. Remove chicken from bag and season with salt and pepper.

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and saute 2 minutes per side. Add lemon juice, wine, paprika garlic artichoke hearts, mushrooms and capers.
Simmer until chicken is cooked through and mushrooms are soft. the artichoke hearts should fall apart and be incorporated with the other ingredients.

You can serve this with white or brown rice and this goes especially well with wilted spinach.

EMERGENCY COPIER PAPER

2008-08-15T08:48:00.003-05:00

i didn't realize until after going shopping yesterday that there was NO COPY PAPER!

pop brought home some oklahoma okra and i want to pickle it - so went on line to get the recipe, copy it and put it with the rest of the recipes that are so disorganized on a magnet clip on the fridge - what COULD i do?

zgirl said, "mom, put a piece of binder paper in there - it works."

IT WORKS LIKE A CHAMP!

not only that, now we can put all our recipes on binder paper and actually organize them in a binder - yeah, yeah, yeah - i know we could just punch holes in the regular copy paper and do that, but this is so much easier and you can make notes better as it is lined.

here's the recipe for those who home can:

3# fresh whole okra pods (3 - 4 inches each)
3C water
1C white vinegar
1/4C pickling salt
2T minced garlic

i always sterilize my jars, caps and rings in the hot rinse cycle in the dishwasher, but if you don't have one, clean and rinse them in the sink - fill each one with hot tapwater - then pour boiling water over them, drain and turn upside down onto a dishtowel for the next step. put your caps and rings into a pan of very hot water.

wash and drain okra well. pack tightly into hot, clean pint jars, leaving 1/2 inch head space.

in a sauce pan, combine all other ingredients and bring to a boil - ladle over okra. wipe rims with a clean, damp dishtowel. place a cap on each, the ring on to just barely tight - process in boiling water bath for five minutes - this timing begins after water begins to boil again. remove from water and await the popping sound the cap makes when it's sealed - once sealed, tighten ring. yield four pints.

Brisket

2008-08-07T20:42:00.003-05:00

I've been experimenting with brisket. I had no idea what I was doing at first but after some experimentation the results are quite good.

Find a good sized brisket about 5 to 8 pounds and make sure it has a good thick fat layer 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick on one side.

Place the brisket in a large glass cake pan or cassarole dish, salt and pepper both sides and sprinkle liberally with garlic powder and paprika. cover and refrigerate from 2 to 8 hours.

From here you can make it in the oven, on the barbecue pit or smoker.

Here's my quick method.
Start soaking the wood you are going to smoke with in a bowl of water.

Lay your brisket on the grill over the hottest part of the coals and cook it for 90 seconds on each side. this will seal in the juices. Then wrap the brisket in two layers of heavy duty foil fat side up with enough extra foil to leave the top partially open but not let the juices out.

Move the brisket away from the coals to a part of the grill where it can get indirect heat (if you don't have a smoke box) and place your wood in a perforated pie tin so it can sit on top of the coals and begin to smoke.

Close the lid and let it smoke for an hour. After an hour, carefully flip the brisket in the foil and smoke for one more hour adding more wood and coals if necessary.

Then close the foil and let brisket cook covered over low indirect heat for another 90 min.

Oven method: wrap tightly in heavy duty foil and cook 4 hours on the top rack at 200 degrees.

When cutting, make sure to slice against the grain of the meat. This will make for a very tender pieces.

Optionally you can pour the juices from the foil into a bowl and mix with 1 1/2 cups of your favorite barbecue sauce and pour over the top of the sliced meat. However many folks like theirs plain.

Enjoy!

AT HOME JOBS 4 MILITARY SPOUSES

2008-08-05T21:28:00.003-05:00

for the past several months, i've been subscribing to MILITARY.COM, the magazine for the military and their spouses - their motto "ALL THE BENEFITS OF SERVICE".

in this last issue, there was an article entitled, Top Four Ideal Jobs Working from Home.

i would recommend this publication to all veterans, current military and their spouses and children, especially their shock and awe video selections! there are compiled some of the most awe inspiring videos you'll ever witness.

nancfamily salutes you air force, army, navy, marines, coast guard, and reserves.

DO YOU LIKE SWEET TATERS?

2008-07-31T00:40:00.004-05:00

of course the foliage is absotively beautiful!

but, did you know that you can pluck the greenery from the potato, stick it into some soil and in about two months have your very own sweet potatoes?

first you'll need a sweet potato - next you'll need to poke a bamboo skewer through it's midsection and place it into a tall cup or jar of water, remembering to keep water in it up midway until the greenery comes on.

when you have done this and your greenery appears, wait until each frond is about eight to ten inches long, pluck it off and stick it about two to three inches into a large pot of loose soil. indoors in the winter, moving the pot outdoors in the warmer months.

it takes about two months to realize your crop and you'll need to put on a pair of rubber gloves and dig down into the soil to check on the progress of the tater - we like ours to be at least six inches in length and about as big around as a half dollar for frying. larger for boiling or baking.

some benefits of sweet potatoes!

frying:

place about two tablespoons of canola (or other good oil) into a frying pan - put four cups of scrubbed and sliced sweet potatoes (unpeeled) into hot oil - fry until tender and serve. you may also add midway through whatever spices you'd like.

if you'll notice - the sweet potatoes DO NOT absorb any of the oil - i thought it was magic at first, but they just don't get greasy - most of the oil is left standing right in the pan! TOSS IT!

remember when frying sweet potatoes with other potatoes - they get done quicker than the other potatoes so slice them twice as thick.

ENJOY!

WHITE FISH/CHEESE BAKE

2008-07-25T08:54:00.004-05:00

this is best prepared with one and a half inch halibut steaks. you may, however, use other white fish which tends to be much thinner - in this case double layer them.

make sure your fish is washed in cold water and dried thoroughly with paper towels, squeeze fresh lemon on the fish and rub it in. this is also a procedure i use with most fish whether caught or store bought.

this is very fattening!

preheat oven to 350 degrees

four thick halibut steaks
2 cups real mayonnaise (NOT MIRACLE WHIP!)
2 cups shredded colby/jack cheese
2 tbls. minced garlic

place your steaks into the bottom of a slightly greased, shallow glass casserole dish - mix remaining ingredients together with a fork and spread evenly over fish steaks. place in oven for thirty minutes or until golden brown and bubbly. remove and allow to stand for five minutes before serving - easier to remove from pan this way.

while your fish is in the oven, prepare two to three cups of cous cous or rice - this goes under your fish when serving.

serve with lemon and/or dill and hotsauce or red pepper. although this is prepared for four people, it will serve six as it is very rich and filling.

FRIED CHEESE:

in a hot skillet, sprinkle quarter cup shredded colby/jack and let it sizzle and flip until you see most of the fat leaving the cheese and once the cheese looks like golden lace, remove from pan onto paper towels - this is soooooooo good and crunchy as a snack - i discovered this a few years ago when some cheese from another dish i was preparing dropped into the pan so i let it fry until it was crunchy and then plucked the little tidbits out and ate them - my oh my! so i thought it would be great in larger amounts and was i ever right.

A Tip From Kelly!

2008-07-19T11:56:00.003-05:00

I live in Southeast Texas, where it's mosquito season most of the year, and have a mild allergy to the anticoagulant the mosquito injects.
I try not to get eaten up by them, but it happens on occasion, and it causes intense, painful itching for me. Instead of buying some overpriced product to relieve itching, I just rub some lemon or lime juice on the bites. The citric acid of the juice breaks down the protein-based anticoagulant. And, of course, relieving the itching prevents scratching, which helps prevent infection.
I hope this tip helps. :)

Living in Florida myself, the mosquito is practically the state bird! So ANY help is welcome! The acidic nature of the citrus may be matched by white vinegar...anybody try that? In Australia, during a certain season, all beach goers take white vinegar along to treat jellyfish stings...so it might work too.
Though the citrus certainly smells better!
And a big thank you to, Kelly, of http://onemonkeystypewriter.blogspot.com , for sharing!

From CyndiDShoe, a great sounding recipe!

2008-07-18T14:04:00.004-05:00

Potaje is cuban poor folk food..you use beans ..( whatever kind..I use red beans )
Cook the beans until just tender ,
then saute onions peppers and garlic ..this is called a sofrito ( add whatever spices you like ..i use marjoram , cumin and oregano)..
Add all that in the beans throw in some bouillon cubes ,
or just use salt and water..whatever.
Then start cleaning out your fridge..
throw in whatever veg you have in there..
This is basically a bean stew. and it's addictive and good,
if you happen to have meat..throw it in the sofrito and saute it in there too .
Cook it until the flavors meld there's no right or wrong way..

Quick and easy curried potatoes and peas.

2008-07-16T07:42:00.004-05:00

Curries are often overlooked in home cooking. This recipe is a fast and easy way to add exotic and rich flavors to some common ingredients.

Take one large baking potato and chop it into 1/2 inch cubes, put them in a bowl and microwave on high for about 5 minutes.

Slice one large onion into thin rings

Mince 4 cloves of fresh garlic

In a sauce pan add 2 tbs olive oil and 1/2 stick of butter.

Sautee the onions and garlic on medium heat while the potato is cooking.

Add the cooked potatoes to the pan.

Add one table spoon of curry powder (personally I prefer garam masala)

Lower the heat slightly and add 1 cup of frozen sweet peas

Carefully stir in 1 cup of heavy whipping cream or half an half.

Blend all the ingredients over medium low heat for 2 more minutes

This dish is best served with roasted chicken or pork chops.

DID YOU PLANT TOO MUCH?

2008-07-13T07:51:00.005-05:00

photo courtesy All Posters, Mark Miller.

we did! and, if you have a garden, chances are you overplanted the squash, cucumbers and tomatoes - you'll know if you're in this category when you cannot give it away fast enough.

in our family garden, we have planted out of the top row the first two on the left (zucchini, straightneck yellow) and the last two (yellow crookneck, summer). all that in addition to eggplant, several varieties of tomatoes, green onions, four differing types of peppers, three types of cucumbers, corn and a variety of gourds, including birdhouse. this list does not include all the flowers we've planted to attract birds and butterflies.

this will be a simple lesson in homecanning. first, purchase a case of widemouth pint jars with lids and put them separated into the dishwasher on a hot rinse and dry cycle and leave there until you're ready to fill them.

if you like "bread and butter" type pickles, you'll love this recipe as you can add to and improvise many things with the exception of the main ingredients.

SQUASH PICKLES (makes 12 pints with some leftover liquid)

clean and thinly slice the equivalent of a five gallon bucket full of any of the first three aforementioned squash, three thinly sliced onions of your choosing, and two thinly sliced bell-type peppers or as many hot peppers as you like - put 1/2 cup of salt on top of this mixture and cover with iced water and set aside for one hour.

you'll also want to begin getting your water boiling in a large stockpot for your processing - which i'll explain later.

sidenote: you may also use this recipe with cucumbers, green tomatoes or other squash.

while the above is being timed, in a very large covered pot bring to a boil, occasionally stirring, the following:

8 cups 5% white vinegar
8 cups granulated sugar
1/8 cup celery seed
1/8 cup mustard seed

when mixture comes to a boil, turn down low and cover until the time is up on the chilling of the vegies.

once they're cooled - DRAIN THOROUGHLY WITHOUT RINSING - add them to the brine and turn the heat up, stir constantly for SIX minutes - remove from heat and fill your jars to 1/2 to 3/4 inch from the top, wipe rim with a clean cloth, place cap atop and put ring on without tightening it all the way - that comes after processing.

if your water for processing has come to a boil, gently lower jars into the water, without covering, and process for five minutes (cucumbers and tomatoes take about ten minutes) - remove to a dry towel. you'll begin hearing the lids make a popping noise - this is your cue to tighten those lids down. cool and store. will store up to a year they say - frankly, they're so good, you'll probably give them away and eat them up before the year's over!

we've been busy for this weekend and two past canning everything in sight - pickles, salsa, hot squash relish, squash pickles, pickled green tomatoes, dilly beans and today i'm doing more dilly beans - they're 'licious! i experimented with adding a half pint of salsa to a half pint of the hot squash relish for having with tortilla chips and i cannot convey to you just how good this combo is - thinking about entering it in the county fair next month!

note on leftover liquid: if you do have some left, place in sterilized jars and process according to the squash and save it for next time!

hope i didn't leave out any of the processes.

A post I shamelessly swiped from Jungle Mom...

2008-07-02T13:49:00.002-05:00

...a missionary who knows how to use what you have. A very handy person to know!

Things I've learned ...
The following are a few recipes I have acquired over the years as I have lived in places where one could not always find certain items. These days it is much easier to get imported items over seas, but they are often very expensive. I have found many of these items to also be expensive here in the USA.

Ranch Flavoring Mix

2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. dried minced garlic
2 tsp. dried minced onion
2 tsp. parsley flakes
2 tsp. pepper
2 tsp. sugar
2 tsp. paprika

Mix together. Makes 1/2 cup dry mix. Variations: 1) Add 1 T. mix to 1 cup mayonnaise and 1 cup sour milk for creamy salad dressing. 2) Add 1 T mix to plain yogurt for dips 3) Combine 2 T water with 1/4 cup vinegar. Stir in 2 T mix, then add 2/3 cups vegetable oil. Shake well for salad dressing.

Taco Seasoning Mix

1/2 tsp oregano
1 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cumin
1 T flour
1/2 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
Mix well. Equals one packet of seasoning, enough for 1/2 kilo meat. ( 1 lb)

Whole Milk Ricotta

2 liters whole milk
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice or white vinegar
1/4 tsp salt
Pour milk into saucepan. Heat slowly to 200* Stir in lemon, cover and turn off heat. Let stand until a solid surd forms.(3 -4 hours) Strain through cheesecloth. let drain for 30 minutes to 1 hour. The longer it drains, the firmer the curd.Turn cheese into a bowl and salt to taste. refrigerate. ( great for lasagna and recipes that call for ricotta or cottage cheese)

Blender Mayonnaise

1 egg
2 T vinegar
3/4 tsp salt
1 cup salad oil
Put 1 T of vinegar and all other ingredients EXCEPT the oil into blender. Cover and blend on low. Slowly pour 1/2 cup oil. Blend on medium. Add the second T of vinegar and the other 1/2 cup of oil into blender. Blend on high. yields: 1 cup

Homemade Mustard

1 cup sugar
3/4 cup flour
5 T dry mustard
dash of salt
1 cup water
1 cup vinegar
Turmeric

Mix sugar,flour, dry mustard, and salt together in saucepan. Add water and vinegar. Cook until desired thickness mixing with wire whip. Then add the turmeric to desired color.

Sweetened Condensed Milk

1 cup hot water
1/4 cup margarine
2 cups white sugar
4 cups powdered milk
Blend until well mixed. Keep refrigerated.

Evaporated Milk
1 cup dry milk
1/3 cup boiling water
1 cup sugar
3 T melted butter Combine all ingredients in a blender. Process until smooth. Refrigerate. Yields:1 and 1/2 cups.

Teriyaki Sauce

1/2 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup water
1 tsp powdered ginger
2 cloves minced garlic
1/4 cup honey
Use to marinate meat overnight. Good for chicken, beef, tapir, deer, wild boar and capybera!:)

Play Dough

1 cup flour
1 cup water
1/2 cup salt
2 tsp cream of tartar
1 T cooking oil
Mix all dry ingredients together.. Add food coloring to the water. Add colored water and salt to the dry ingredients. Cook stirring constantly until mixture forms a ball. Store in air tight container and may be refrigerated for longer use. NON TOXIC!!!

Baby Wipes

2 cups hot water
1 - 2 T baby shampoo
2 T baby oil
1 roll paper towels

Remove cardboard form center of towels and cut entire roll into half. Mix water, shampoo, and oil and pour over paper towels. Store in air tight container. Use best quality of paper towel available.

And especially for missionaries!

Unleavened Bread for Communion

2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp salt
2/3 cups shortening
6 T milk
Combine flour and salt. Cut in shortening with a fork. With fork, mix in milk. Form into ball and let rest 5 minutes. Heat oven to 180* C ( about 375* F) Roll dough out to 1/8 inch thickness. Score dough into 1 inch squares without cutting completely through. Prick each square 2 or 3 times with a fork. Bake for 10 minutes or until lightly browned

From Ma...up on the mountain.

2008-06-27T14:09:00.002-05:00

Nanc and my adopted 'Ma', sent me this handy tip, just in time for summer hiking, camping, fishing or just goofing around.
After all, even insects have to breathe, and since they use orifices on their sides...I would imagine that the necessity of breathing will cause them to forgo a meal!
A School Nurse has written the info below -- good enough to share - And it really works!!
I had a pediatrician tell me what she believes is the best way to remove a tick. This is great, because it works in those places where it's some times difficult to get to with tweezers: between toes, in the middle of a head full of dark hair, etc.
Apply a glob of liquid soap to a cotton ball. Cover the tick with the soap-soaked cotton ball and swab it for a few seconds (15-20), the tick will come out on its own and be stuck to the cotton ball when you lift it away.
This technique has worked every time I've used it (and that was frequently), and it's much less traumatic for the patient and easier for me.Unless someone is allergic to soap, I can't see that this would be damaging in any way. I even had my doctor's wife call me for advice because she had one stuck to her back and she couldn't reach it with tweezers. She used this method and immediately called me back to say,' It worked!'

A WONDER PHARM!

2008-06-25T08:30:00.002-05:00

this is a tried and true trick we began using about ten years ago when we had no medical insurance.

one of our children developed "pink eye" and the eye drops prescribed for the same malady the year before had expired - what to do?

every year at our home SOMEBODY gets a light case of "swimmer's ear" and are in need of immediate relief - what to do?

i had a crown break on one of my top teeth after eating tortilla chips and it cut my gum around the tooth and i wasn't seeing the dentist for a week or so after - what to do?

it's a three-and-a-half dollar remedy if you buy the store brand. can you guess what it is?

yup! triple-biotic WITH pain reliever - or as some of you know it as "neo sporin", applied in tiny amounts at bed and/or naptime to the affected areas and the symptoms will usually disappear after two treatments. i recommend you continue the treatments for at least five days.

when applying it to eyes, you'll need to first clean your hands and place a small amount (about the size of a tiny pea) on the tip of one of your fingers and put it into the corner of the affected eye and close, meanwhile lightly massaging the eye to ensure equal distribution. the symptoms will be gone by morning, but continue for a few days.

no, i'm not a doctor, but i know what works and can attest to the effectiveness of this treatment. use at your own risk. i'm not responsible for adverse outcomes of your using this treatment.

More household hints

2008-06-22T06:43:00.004-05:00

Tired of those nasty pans under your stove top burners? A soaking in simple green will loosen most of the caked on grease. For really tough baked on stuff you can soak the pans overnight in a sink of water and several dryer sheets. In the morning a quick scrub will remove the softened grime.

Chamomile and Valerian mixed together make the best nerve tonic you can get without a prescription. I buy the raw herbs in bulk and make a tea but you can also buy the capsules.
The stress of the day melts away in minutes and there are absolutely no side affects. I have also used this combination to treat my dog's severe epilepsy and he went from having a seizure a month to none at all.

Dried and cracked leather can be brought back to life with ordinary baby oil. Several applications might be needed for the most severe cases but eventually the item will look as good as new.

Soaking faucet aerators in 5% vinegar overnight will bring them back to full function. No need to buy expensive and dangerous products like CLR and lime away.

Running a quart of 5% household vinegar in your dishwasher will remove lime deposits from your glasses and will restore function to your dishwasher as well.

Save those desiccant packs from electronics and other items you buy. They can be used for storing items that are sensitive to humidity, like photographs, old letters, stamp collections etc.. every few years you can recharge the desiccant packs by placing them in a 200 degree oven for 20 minutes.

If you steam clean your own carpets don't use the carpet shampoos they recommend. These products leave residue in your carpets that act as dirt magnets. Instead, I use powdered laundry detergent or oxy clean. Detergents are much easier to extract from carpets and do a much better job at attacking dirt. Be sure to add water to the detergent first before filling the machine and test on a small area to make sure your detergent is color safe for your carpet or upholstery.

Household tips.

2008-06-18T09:19:00.001-05:00

Some random tips.

If you have a stuck lock or your key keeps sticking or getting jammed, try coating the key with liquid dish soap. It really works!

If you have a loose jeans zipper that works it's way down at the most inopportune times, try coating the metal teeth with superglue then work the zipper several times until the glue dries. It will add resistance and keep the zipper in the proper place.

Pouring rubbing alcohol on an ink stain and rubbing with a soft cloth will remove all but the most stubborn pen marks.

Put lemon rinds down the garbage disposal and run it without water to kill lingering germs and smells.

When storing fresh herbs in the refrigerator, place them stem down in a cup of water. They will last for weeks instead of days.

If you have a stale bag of chips, you can spread them on a cookie sheet and bake them at 350 for 5 minutes to make them good as new.

Instead of buying expensive car washing products, use regular liquid dish soap. It will get your car squeaky clean without streaking.

Use household vinegar on oxidized black molding, rubber parts and tires to bring back the original lustre.

Pure lemon juice will clean the worst greasy stains on stove tops and vent hoods with very little scrubbing.

Pouring a coke on your car's corroded battery terminals really does work. It can keep you from getting stranded.

Keep a can of WD40 in your car's trunk. If your car stalls out from driving in deep water you can spray it under your distributor cap and on the spark plug wires to displace the moisture and get running again.

Shelf Life?

2008-06-16T17:53:00.002-05:00

Thanks to Z, of Golly Geeez for this bit of info about tires.
It is from ABC's, 20/20 program, on tire safety and "shelf life".
Something to ponder as you shop for your next set of tires.

LAUNDRY PROBLEMS?

2008-06-12T23:07:00.003-05:00

yes, we all have them.

for many years i've been purchasing a very good (64 ounce) liquid laundry product and have been adding about one-quarter bottle (27-28 ounce size - use approx. 6-8 oz.) of a very popular dishsoap to it and using ONE-HALF capful to each load rather than a full capful. this will DOUBLE your laundry soap over the course of the weeks.

i also use the mixture to treat grease stains before laundering.

another good stain cleaner is quite simple - purchase some of the $1.00 cans of either "scrubbing bubbles-type" cleaners OR $1.00 cans of "upholstery/carpet" cleaners for underarm stains on shirts AND ball caps - it may require more than one or two treatments, but you'll see a marked difference in the items being cleaned.

this is how i clean pop's four or five hundred ballcap collection - another way i do this is to treat the lightcolored caps and place them into the dishwasher atop of dishes they fit on - BE SURE TO RINSE THESE WELL WITH HOT WATER WHEN THE CYCLE COMPLETES!

for bloodstains, keep a spray bottle full of hydrogen peroxide near your wash center and spray the affected clothing until it stops "foaming" - place in washer with aforementioned laundry detergent mixture and you'll either have eradicated the "bloodstain" problem or will need one to two more treatments.

for "stinky" athletic-type shoes - this works wonders - treat the shoes as above and when they come out of the washer, place three charcoal briquettes into each shoe and place in a spot where they'll dry within a few hours - once dry, discard briquettes and your shoes will smell like brand new!

Work at home?

2008-06-11T14:06:00.003-05:00

Another idea for making money check these out!
Most require a degree or experience, but I'll bet Brooke could qualify for the medical transcription one.
And if you don't freeze up on the phone making cold calls, I hate it, you could try the sales reps.
If you go the independent contractor route, do realize that you will have to file federal income taxes every 3 months. So make sure you have either a good accountant or some good tax software. AND stay on top of it!

F3 Caribbean Chicken Salad

2008-06-09T04:42:00.003-05:00

The grocery store I patronize has some wonderful meat salads, that we enjoy. One of them is Caribbean Chicken Salad, a very tasty blend of chicken breast, roasted red peppers, chutney, onion and mayonnaise.Unfortunately, in these times of rising prices, it is rapidly shooting past our ability to obtain, even as a treat.Sooooo, rather than suffer withdrawal, I have endeavored to recreate this tasty treat from ingredients on hand. Unfortunately, I did not have any roasted red peppers...oh well, it did pass my son's taste test.
In medium bowl place,
2 cans of drained white chicken (or use left over roasted chicken) flaked apart
1/3 - 1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 tsp. lime juice
1 tbsp. dried cilantro, or fresh...to taste
1/3 cup finely chopped onion
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. onion powder
1/3 - 1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 9 oz. jar of chutney(Major Grey's is my choice)
Mix together and adjust seasonings.
Excellent as a sandwich, on crackers, or stuffed into a fresh tomato.
Enjoy!

BROWN BUTTER PASTA

2008-06-06T20:10:00.003-05:00

it seems no matter WHAT you do to pasta, most people will appreciate this staple food.

our children and my husband think i've gone to the ends of the earth to create a simple pasta dish for them - and i feed them pasta sometimes three times per week.

this recipe just happens to be our children's favorite and can be simply made in about 20 minutes.

first you must choose your pasta...which reminds me of a story that i'll finish up with.

while preparing your pasta according to the directions on the package al dente, in a three quart skillet place the following:

1.5 cubes real butter

1 TBL. crushed garlic

1/2 C. chopped onions

1/2 TSP. kosher, sea or regular table salt

cover on high just until onions become glassy, remove cover and stir turning heat down to med/low while pasta is finishing. remember to rinse your pasta with COLD water - this keeps it from being sticky. set aside and tend to your butter mixture - turning heat up with lid off and constant stirring - when butter begins to brown around the sides of your pan, cover and turn off**.

place your drained pasta into a microwaveable covered dish and add butter mixture - at this point you may wish to add 1/2 cube more of butter or 1/4 cup of olive oil - heat in microwave for three minutes on high.

serve with a simple green salad and sourdough or texas toast. the best part of this recipe is how you can improve on it by adding whatever you'd like to it. i do a variation of this for pop with minced clams or peeled and deveined/cooked shrimp and half and half.

**at this point you may add cleaned and sliced mushrooms, a drained can of black olives, chopped fresh tomatoes, a can of drained italian style green beans, sliced fresh zucchini or whatever you'd like - if the children don't like it, they'll pick it out.

now for my story.

when our children were little - they LOVED the pasta aisle at the grocery store because they knew i'd go into my pasta/dance rant - while grabbing the pastas off the shelves, i'd animatedly say to them in my best sophia loren voice, "mostaciolli, penne, linguini, fettucine, ravioli, lasagna, fusilli, rigatoni, spaghetti, spaghettini! while they were laughing uncontrollably, i'd grab a bag of farfalle and get in their little faces and somberly say, "bowties."

every once in awhile they'll say, "mom, please do your pasta thing." when we're at the grocery. they still love seeing the other shoppers scatter!

Tea Tree Oil, a wonder from "down Under".

2008-06-04T17:12:00.004-05:00

In the years since I have started using tea tree oil, the number of uses has increased.
It is an excellent antiseptic, in fact, I use it successfully on canker sores, clears up even the most aggressive in a day or 2. (To use it this way, shake a bottle of the oil, daub the end of a q-tip on the inside lid. Dry the area of the canker sore, apply and hold for several seconds, then hold the sore out and let the oil dry. I told the mother of a child about it, she tried it and only needed 2 applications to heal up a very large, open sore. Less than 24 hrs. was all it took.)
Any; acne, scrape, cut or other open wound heals quickly after application, and only a little dab will do you!
Nanc's daughter, zgirl, had a swollen gum, near a tooth that had lost it's filling. Since it was the weekend, a dentist just wasn't available. At a nearby small store, Nanc picked up some freshly made colloidal silver with a small amount of tea tree oil in it. The swelling and pain went down, and stayed down until zgirl could get into the dentist on Monday.
Also, a little bit on a cotton ball, can help dry up acne or boils before they get too big and really painful and obvious.
Here is a link with more information;
http://altmedicine.about.com/od/herbsupplementguide/a/TeaTreeOil.htm

And what the NIH has to say;
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-teatreeoil.html

And a special caution to cat owners;
http://www.messybeast.com/teatree.htm

Car buying tips

2008-06-03T00:14:00.005-05:00

When looking to buy a new vehicle, shop on the last days of the year for the current year model (for example buy a 2008 car in December 2008) and gather up any dealer and manufacturer incentives you can.

Be hard on the salesperson and keep driving that price down. Be sure to negotiate your interest rate as well. You can often get pre-qualified at your bank. This alone will save you time and money. Remeber always be Prepared to walk out.

Don’t tell the salesperson about a trade in until the deal is done. Also, make sure they give you a fair allowance depending on your trades condition and age. You can find this info at KBB.com

When buying a new car, skip the extended warranties, service plans, life insurance and make double sure the finance person does not sneak them onto your finance contract. They will keep hounding you so be firm and say no.

These added warranties may sound good, but they will cost you several thousand dollars and 99% of the time they will never be used.

You may want to consider GAP insurance. In case your car is stolen or totaled, it pays any difference between the car value and the loan. This may save your bacon in the end.

Also look for hidden fees like make ready, delivery, service fees etc… they are all just bull and if the dealer won’t remove them just walk out. (They will chase you and remove the fees)

Buying from an individual is also a great way to get a nice older car. It may be a risk but there are some real beauties out there with low mileage and impeccable maintenance.

Be sure the seller has a clear title. Do not give the seller money unless he immediately signs over the title at the time of payment and gives at least a hand written receipt. Make sure all co-owners sign as well. You don’t want to shell out good cash and get a nasty surprise from an ex spouse who may be co-owner of the vehicle.

Always be sure to call and add the car to your insurance right away. Cars are a big financial expenditure. It makes sense to cover all your bases.

If you are really in tough financial shape, you can get an old beater that’s over 15 years old but still mechanically sound for a few hundred dollars. With minimum liability insurance and a little TLC, a beat up car can be a stop gap measure until your finances are in better shape.

10 WAYS TO MAKE BLOGGING WORK 4 U!

2008-06-02T00:12:00.003-05:00

source and ways:

1. Ad revenue - Offering paid advertising on your blog is one of the easiest ways to see tangible evidence of the benefits of blogging.

2. Link swaps - Swapping links with other like-minded bloggers increases your standing with search engines. One of the biggest blogs available, problogger.net, recently completed a survey in an attempt to find where bloggers get the most traffic? The overwhelming response? Google at 46%. This shows us how important search engine ranking are. Link swaps are just one way to improve yours.

3. Reviews - Another growing trend online is that of the customer review. People appreciate reading the thoughts of others before they purchase a product. It doesn't seem to matter how big or small the product, either. Posting reviews of books you've read, CDs you love, etc, is a great way to generate traffic for your blog.

4. Free offers - Who doesn't love a freebie? There are many ways of using freebies to your advantage.You can offer a free ebook when someone signs up for your newsletter is an easy way to build your subscriber base. Many blogs also offer contests for those who post comments or interact in other ways on the blog.

5. Blog tours - Being a part in a blog tour is like being the next stop along the railroad. If set up correctly, the tour will send participants from one blog to the next to read more about whatever topic the tour is covering. I've participated in many blog tours for book releases. It's a lot of fun and a great way to bring new readers to your blog.

6. Networking - It goes without saying that building relationships with people is one of the oldest ways of gaining long-time, loyal customers (or in this case, readers). Taking part in the comments discussion on blogs and forums is a great way to do this. The key, though, is to be authentic. Don't simply blast places with the link to your blog; take part in the discussion and provide useful information - not just your URL.

7. Directories - Listing your blog in blog directories is probably not the best way to generate traffic, but it can be useful in certain ways. It's a great way to connect with other like-minded bloggers and possibly generate some link exchanges, etc.

8. Press/Media - Getting media attention can be challenging. One great way to bring your blog to the attention of the media is to send out Press Releases when something newsworthy happens on your site. For instance, when I offered a free e-book on my site for Mother's Day I put together a press release to announce it to the world.

9. Consistency - Posting on a regular basis is key. Try to find a schedule that works for you and stick to it. Even if you can't blog every day, work to get posts out there two to three times a week. Most blogging software, including Wordpress and Blogger, allow you to set the date and time our post will be published. Utilize tools like this to keep your blog consistently updated with fresh, new content.

10. Updates - Finding ways to keep your readers informed is a sure-fire way to keep them coming back to your blog. There are a quite a few ways of accomplishing this, such as offering a newsletter, setting up a Feedburner.com account, and making your RSS feeds easy to find and subscribe to.

How to beat the high cost of driving

2008-05-29T05:28:00.006-05:00

With gas prices threatening to hit $5 per gallon and beyond this summer, there are some easy
and effective methods you can use to beat the high cost of driving.

1. Avoid excessive idling. Your car burns up a tremendous amount of fuel while sitting still. If you are going to be parked for more than a minute shut off the engine, go outside and stretch your legs.

2. Coast up to stop lights. It doesn't make much sense to step on the accelerator just to hurry up and wait at a traffic light. Chances are if you coast up slowly, the light will change by the time you get there.

3. Avoid excessive braking. Try to reduce your speed by limiting your use of the gas pedal instead of hitting the brakes unnecessarily. This tip alone can increase your gas mileage by 10%

4. While on a road trip and during highway driving, keep your cars speed between 55 and 60 miles per hour and stay in the far right lane. At speeds over 60, wind resistance increases exponentially. At 70mph your engine has to work almost twice as hard than it does at 55.

I'm not exaggerating when I tell you that slowing down 10mph can increase your gas mileage by 30 to 40 percent.

5. Get the junk out of the trunk. Removing 20 pounds of extra weight from your vehicle can equate to a 1% savings. Clean out that car!

6. Look on the inside of the drivers door jamb for tire inflation information and keep your tires filled to the maximum recommended pressure. This keeps your wheels turning smoothly with the least amount of resistance. You can save 15% of your fuel costs this way.

7. Keep your oil changes, air filter and other maintenance up to date.

8. Always visit the gas station first thing in the morning. The heat of the day makes fuel expand by up to 3%,which means you get less gas for your money on a hot day. Cool fuel saves you money.

If you follow all of these tips you can expect to more than double what you get out of a tank of gas. It's also fun to challenge yourself to see how far you can stretch a four dollar gallon.

Product Studies

2008-05-28T10:44:00.002-05:00

One of the ways I bring in a little extra income while still staying at home is by doing 'studies' or product market research.

Often, these are tax free if you make under $600 per year, and they are all counted separately. If you do studies for several companies, you can really make some money!

Some studies are purely opinion surveys taken with a target group, and some actually have you use a product for a couple of weeks and then fill out a grading sheet on what you used.

With the former, I have done everything from grocery store arrangements to television news shows.

With the latter, I have tried Swiffer mops, toilet paper, candles, dog/cat food, and very often Pampers diapers. On top of the payment, you get to use the product, which saves you from having to purchase it for at least a couple of weeks.

Of course, this is not a steady income, but instead acts as a great 'perk' to your usual intake. Landing a $55 study could mean not having to pay for prescriptions that month, or an extra treat at the grocer's that week. Landing a $150-$300 study could mean a home improvement, or another chip away at whatever debt you may have.

Getting started on these isn't hard. All you have to do is look for your monthly saver magazine. Around me, it's called Reach. Somewhere toward the back, there is a study opportunity page, usually. Even if the one in question doesn't apply to you, call anyway. Most places often run several different topics at once, and if you're in their database they could give you a call if something that fits you comes up.

I do studies for J&R Coordinating, Various Views Research, Q-Fact, Proctor and Gamble Diapers, and Hilltop Research. The latter has several nationwide offices.

Give it a try... If nothing else, it can be fun to sound off your opinions!

Basic bread recipe

2008-05-28T07:00:00.000-05:00

3 cups of bread flour

3 cups of wheat flour

2 tbsp. milk powder

3 tsp. salt

Mix above ingredients, put to one side,

In mixer(use dough hooks);

2 cups plus 4 tbsp. warm water(about 100 degrees)

2 tblsp. sugar

5 tblsp. yeast

2 tblsp. softened butter(add after yeast)

When yeast starts to foam, add 1 cup of flour mixture at a time on low speed, scrape down sides.

When dough forms a ball, place in large, oiled bowl, cover and hold in draft free and warm area until dough rises to double original size.

Flour hands and punch down, divide into 2 loaves, kneading lightly and shaping. Place in greased loaf pans, cover and let rise again.

Bake at 350 degrees until golden brown and the loaves sound hollow when tapped.

Remove from pans onto racks, let sit for at least 20 minutes before slicing.

Enjoy!

I have found that 1 bag of bread flour costs the same as 1 1/2 loaves of bread, at 5#'s, that is several loaves. And you can freeze 1 loaf for later in the week.

Next thing you know, I'll be putting the dry ingredients together in ziplock bags for quick baking! LOL!

SMOKE BRINE

2008-05-26T23:00:00.002-05:00

in a VERY clean ice chest, place your FROZEN turkey, fish or whatever meat you'd like to smoke.

cover with a mixture of:

four parts brown sugar

one part salt (the salt also helps to eliminate bacteria during the brine process)

on top of that mixture, add daily for UP to seven (or more in some cases) days four to six trays of ice, cover and keep in a cool area of your home - do not drain any of the liquid during the brining process.

at the end of your brining process, drain your meat well and pat dry with paper towels. it's ready for the smoker now! be sure to throw out ALL the brine mixture - you CANNOT use it over.

remember, poultry must be brought up to a temperature of 180 degrees after smoking - so build your fire up afterward to test with a thermometer. the length of time you spend smoking your concoction depends upon how vigilant you are. for instance, when we do an 18-20 pound turkey at thanksgiving, pop will start it at about 10:00 p.m. and get up every two to three hours through the night to add wet hickory, cherry or mesquite to the coals for ten to twelve hours and then he'll begin his heat process.

fish will be easier to smoke and can be canned afterward in a waterbath for less than ten minutes until lids seal - see directions on lid package. you may also wish to seal your fish in a seal-a-meal baggie. my favorite smoked fish is any and all trout.

if you're wanting to do smoked pork chops, combine an equal amount of teriyaki and brown sugar and brine in the refrigerator for a few days - these are my all time favorites - i'll serve them thin sliced with chinese style hot mustard and sesame seeds.

Olive Oil, the all around good stuff!

2008-05-25T06:53:00.002-05:00

Many of you are aware of the benefits of olive oil in cooking. But did you know that it also has an ancient and excellent use as a beauty aid?
You can make some skin care products out of inexpensive oil, like scrubs and dry skin relief.
It only takes 3 items to gain a whole bevy of benefits, AND, a friend of mine who is a nurse always warned me, that anything I put ON my skin should be food grade...,"If you can't eat it, don't put it on your skin."
So, with that in mind, the 3 ingredients are;
1 quart olive oil(Pompeii works fine)
1 cup kosher salt
and about 20-30 drops of your favorite essential oils(I like Wild Oats "Harmony" blend myself).

To the quart of oil, add 20 drops of essential oils, shake and smell, add more as desired.
This blend is great for dry skin patches, bath oil, and for those pesky crowsfeet. Olive oil is almost as good as jojoba in absorption into the skin.
If you need a scrub, mix 1 cup of kosher salt and 1 cup of scented oil, keep in a sealed container, use to scrub your face, elbows, heels, whatever. Rinse off and enjoy the glow!

Overnight Coffe Cake (a crosspost)

2008-05-25T05:11:00.002-05:00

3/4 c. butter or margarine, softened

1 c. sugar

Cream together, then add;
2 eggs

1 c. sour cream.

In a separate mixing bowl, combine;

2 cups all purpose flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. nutmeg.

Add dry ingredients to the butter mixture, a little at a time, mix well, pour into greased and floured 13x9x2, or 2 8x8 baking dishes.

Combine

3/4 c. packed brown sugar(I use dark)

1/2 c. chopped nuts(walnuts, cashews, or pecans...or be like AOW and use mixed)

1 tsp. gr. cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice,

mix well and sprinkle over top.(I add pats of butter as well.)

Cover and refrigerate overnight, next morning, uncover and bake in 350 degree oven for 35-40 minutes, or until it tests done.Mmmmmmmmmm!

Quick and easy gormet pasta

2008-05-24T09:02:00.001-05:00

Think about spending $12 for a plate of pasta at some Italian bistro. You can make it better, faster and cheaper at home with a few simple ingredients

1 can of Rotel (diced tomatoes with chiles) (or w/o chile)
1/2 Lb pasta noodles wheat or regular. You can use rigatoni, shells, farfalle angel hair or whatever.
6 gloves garlic
1 small onion
1 small 4oz can of chopped green or calmata olives
cup extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cracked black pepper
1/2 cup shredded parmesan
Put the noodles in a glass bowl and cover with 2 cups of water and microwave on high for 10 min
The noodles should be a little al-dente (not mushy)

Chop the garlic and onion finely and soften them in a large skillet with the olive oil salt and pepper.

Once the garlic and onions start to get soft add the olives and can of tomatoes.

Cook this on med high on the stovetop for about 3 min then lower the heat to medium.

Once the noodles are done, dump them water and all into the sauce pan.

Mix the noodles with the other ingredients for about 3 more min on med high heat.

Pour the pasta into a serving bowl and sprnkle the parmesan on top.

I just serve it with some garlic bread and a glass of wine.

The total cost of this meal will be under $10 and it will serve 3 really hungry adults.

Singing the praises of colloidal silver!

2008-05-22T09:10:00.001-05:00

I love the stuff!

I have been able to fight off many a sinus infection with colloidal silver nasal spray, I have a generator to produce my own. But having sterile solution in a nasal spray package is so handy.

To produce my own, for oral or topical application, I heat a gallon of reverse osmosis water to boiling, add a scant pinch of sea salt(bet you haven't heard that term since your Grandmother), attach the .999% pure silver wires(12 gauge and NOT sterling(sterling is an alloy, you want pure))to the generator. Then set a timer for 14 minutes(no longer) and wait for the buzzer.

Store your colloidal silver in either glass or a clean hydrogen peroxide bottle(this is because the H2O2 bottle is inert ionically speaking and the silver ions won't bond to the surface.)

Colloidal silver has helped me clear up both bacterial and yeast(heat rash is a yeast)infections.

By consuming no more than 2 ozs. of silver solution a day, you can keep many of the common diseases from settling in your body. In flu season this can be very beneficial.

After the 2004 hurricane season, a neighbor and I came down with a terrible yeast infection of the skin. It ran from our shoulders to our knees in large raised welts that itched like a son-of-a-gun!

I started making the silver up, we drank and applied the silver, we both did yeast cleanses and increased our acidophilus consumption and changed our diets to starve the yeast. It took a few months, but we both cleared up without the liver damage caused by Difluken.

There are several generators out on the market, if you are interested, do your research and go for it.
Or go to this site; http://www.endtimesreport.com/Colloidal_Silver_Generator.html to learn how to make your own generator. Which is like the one I have.

A Tip For 'Big Oil.'

2008-05-21T14:05:00.004-05:00

I heard this on Beck's radio show today, and it's what we should all be screaming at our so-called servants of the People.

OK, so it's not really a sensible living tip, but I couldn't help myself:

GLENN: Enough. We brought together the heads of big oil. See that big head over there? Yeah, he runs Shell. That one? That runs ExxonMobil. Mr. Big oil, we're here to talk about the high price of gasoline. How could it have possibly gotten this high?

Let me tell you what we've done here in congress. We told you that drilling in ANWR is off limits. We told you that drilling off the coast of Florida and California is off limits. We told you, Mr. Big oil, that there wouldn't be any new leases for drilling in the Gulf while China and Venezuela and even Cuba pursued these leases and have just signed 100-year leases on the oil in the Gulf of Mexico. We here in congress have promised, as all three presidential candidates have also promised, to introduce and pass in the next term a cap and trade legislation bill that will increase the price of gasoline according to the EPA by an additional $1.50. Some people say it could be as high as $5 additional per gallon. Order, order. We have said that we're shutting down oil fields in Colorado. We won't let you develop shale oil fields in several Western states. And yesterday we passed legislation that would let us sue OPEC with the full understanding that they'll never retaliate. Yes. We have allowed environmental attorneys to sue you big oil fiends for future possible destruction of Alaskan Eskimo village which legal experts believe is the same strategy used to bring down big tobacco. We're especially proud of our recent action to protect the polar bear and their habitat which just happens to be where the future oil deposits happen to be located. We told you that you're making too much money and that we're looking at seizing any money that we consider windfall profits. Yes. We have allowed you to drill in some very small areas in Alaska while simultaneously creating very generous environmental laws which have tied up the very production we authorize through years of litigation after you spent the money on buying and setting up equipment. We told you through our policies that we would not allow you to build a new refinery in over 30 years. In fact, this great country, under our tutelage, has even reduced the number of operational refineries by half since 1982. Order, order, order. We have even told your potential competitors in the nuclear and hydroelectric industries that we would send the environmental lawyers after them if they even dared think about building a new plant or a new dam. We've refused to fund or allow the deployment of coal-to-oil technology which has been around since the 1930s. We've told you that you have to make different blends of gasoline, let states like California dictate what unique gasoline blends you have to make for them. We will not reduce our federal gasoline tax. We won't even consider reducing it for the summer months. So Mr. Big oil, tell me why exactly are gas prices so high? Order, order!

Stop. That's what should be said. Thank you. That's what should be said. Instead congress is going to bring big oil in front of them today and say, "Oh, oh, are you price gouging?" .