Monday, July 7, 2008
5,04,08 - breath sweetners
I remember living in a dorm one winter and eating at a caffeteria. It was at a time when I was particularly concious of things that would make my breath sweet. I started eating the parsley that was inevitibly put on each plate and usually thrown away. Someone had mentioned that it was good for you in many ways, one being keeping breath fresh. It is rich in clorophile, so it makes sense. Here are two other ways I could have used, had I wanted to go to the trouble. Boil some cinnamon bark in a cup of water. Store it in a clean bottle in your bathroom. Use it as a mouthwash frequently. That hint would have been hard to do under the circumstance, but I could have bought some cardamom seeds and chewed a few from time to time. Probably less expensive than the over-the-counter remidies. And at that time that was an issue. Now I have this idea that lots of garlic is good for me and for some reason it is something I like eating. I even roast a small handfull of the cloves that I buy peeled and frozen from Costco and can eat them straight with a little toast. This is what got me thingking about breath remidies. Well, it doesn't take much looking to find that garlic is indeed good for you in many ways. I did find out that eating roasted garlic is a good food, but likely most of the medicinal benefits have been lost in the roasting. So if you are thinking medicine, better stick to the raw. But if you are eating more than one fresh glove a day for a medicine, that is enough. Who knows that too much might be harmful, just as too much of a medicine could be. So don't go overboard. When a loved one or friend is sick with a cold or flu, we might feel the Chicken Soup remidie is not very special anymore. (Yes, it has been proven to be helpful and has entered our thinking as what to do for a cold.) Here is another receipe for colds and flu that might make your concern seem more original. Sauté 6 crushed cloves of garlic in 1 tsp. vegetable oil until golden. Pour in a quart of beef or chicken stock and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and whisk in 2 egg whites. Beat together 2 egg yolks and 2 Tbls. distilled white vinegar; pour this mixture into the soup. Season with salt and pepper and top with croutons, if desired. Sounds good to me, what with my fixation on garlic right now. Send suggestions to Veda Hale Box 956, Panguitch, Utah 84759 or email vedahale@hotmail.com__________________
4,25,08--exercise without knowing it
How to Exercise Without Even Knowing It I often think of all that wasted energy when I see someone on a exercise bike or other piece of equipment. Work, work, work also can keep one fit and there is something besides a handsome body to show for it. Now days there are too many work-saving ways. Having Money to spare makes it easy to hire someone to do work for us. A group of scientists recently suggested, in a review that appeared inthe International Journal of Obesity, that Americans are simplyspending too much time talking about how our toxic food environment andour couch potato ways are making us obese. Perhaps there are otherreasons that we’re plumping up, they proposed. Among their alternateobesity theories: we’re not sleeping enough, air pollution messes upour metabolism, we’ve adapted to air conditioning—and so we don’t needto regulate our internal temperatures by ramping up our metabolic rates(thus, burning more calories). At EatingWell, they still believe thateating right and exercising are the ways to manage your weight. To thatend, they present with some excellent ways to exercise without evenknowing it—and feel better on turning on the A/C on those sultry days. 1. Wash a car. Embrace the summer heat—with a hose: Burn calories and make your car look beautiful as you wash, dry and get it (and you) buff. 2. Do your won yardwork 3. Take a break that includes walking around, like walking to the water cooler, walk to get the mail, etc.. 4. Start a home improvement project that takes trips to one of those home-improvement warehouses where you have to walk a lot to see things.Then do your own work. 5. Dog sit for someone, or get a dog yourself and take it for a walk each day. 6. Go on a picnic someplace where you have to haul an ice cooler some distance. Take a ball or Frisbee and use it. Send suggestions to Veda Hale, Box 956, Panguitch, Utah 84759 or email vedahale@hotmail.com
4,21,08 -- old storage food
Boy was I happy to see the "ask an expert" in the recent BYU Magazine this month!Actually happy and sort-of sad, because I had thrown away my storage from 1976. I wonder but what no one really knows how long food storage in those air-tight cans last, because not enough years have lapsed since they started storing food that way.Anyway this "expert" says:"There is a wide range in the shelf life of dried foods, depending on the specific commodity and its originl quality, storage terperature, and so on. Some commodities should be used withion a couple of years, like salad oil and dried eggs. But many dried foods--packaged to remove oxygen and kept at room temperature or below--will store well for 20-30 years or more. . . . Wheat and rice were very acceptable after 30-plus years of storage; beans, dried apples, macaroni, potato flakes, and oats up to 30 years; nonfat dry milk up to about 20 years."This expert, Oscar A. Pike, also said that "there is sufficient nutritional value to justify storing dry foods long term. In a survival situation, you need caleries to stay alive, and stored foods provide calories. Vitamine C is another important nutrient and, fortunately vitamin C tablets retain a high percentage of their potency for more than 20 years. ....store food to Minimize the exposure to moisture, air, light, and warm or hot temperatures. Of these, temperature is the most crucial. If you ever have to eat your food storage, you'll wish you had stored the food in the house and the furniture in the garage."He then advised that the wise thing to do is to store "a three-month supply of foods we are accustomed to eating, drinking water, a financial reserve, and a longer-term food supply. Our research indicates that dry foods are ideal for longer-term storage since they do not need to be rotated as frequently as we once thought."Send suggestions to Veda Hale, Box 596, Panguitch, Utah 84759 or email vedahale@hotmail.com
4,14,08 -- Old Socks
No I haven't found a way to keep a sock from losing its mate. Some say safety pin them together before washing, but I know me better than to believe I will take the time to do that. However, I keep all the lonely ones and sometimes their mate shows up. But here are a few things that can be done with those who never make it back to their one and only..Cut off the toe and use the top for baby knee pads. I have seen active crawlers with callused knees who could use them. This keeps knees clean, too. (Hummm....automatic floor polishers, too? I've seen crawlers who put on a lot of miles.) Put a sock on a stick and clean under the refrigerator or other out-of the way places. Use as shoe polishing clothes. etc. Store your loose change in the lone sock. When it gets full a few inches, it would make a good "clobber-er" in case you needed to clobber someone. (Well, that's sort-of silly. But in this world, maybe some sort of defense plan is wise. I saw in a catalog where you could buy a look-real gun. That would make me feel more comfortable than thinking I could use a "clobber-er" or even learning how to use a real gun and having to worry about kids finding it. I'll remember the car-horn idea, too. (Keeping my car keys handy so I could push the peeper, in case someone threatened me. With that noise going on and me waving a look-real gun and a sock full of coin, I will likely have a good chance of scaring off a bad guy.)
Wear odds for work days around the house, trying to pair up the two nearest alike.
Once upon a time, mothers and grandmothers made sock dolls. I haven't seen many of those around for some time. And to darn a sock?? Does anyone even know how anymore? Forget it. Times do change and those of us from the old days might as will put this ought-to-do thing away and not feel guilty. Of course, I know someone who buys the most expensive and best socks available and takes care of them by pinning them together for washing and then darns any holes. They last for years, look good and make me admire the owners. Personally, I live with the idea of buying all socks alike and the dollar-a-pair kind and a lot of them. Then when one gets lost or chucked when it gets a hole, the mate can match up with another lonely one and go on with its life. But there is still in me some of the feeling that there is something wrong with this throw-away society. Especially I get annoyed with how often we have to "throw-away" some piece of electrical equipment, like a computer, just because something better has come along. At least nothing has come along to replace socks. Send suggestions to Veda Hale, Box 956, Panguitch, Utah, 84759 or email vedahale@hotmail.com
Wear odds for work days around the house, trying to pair up the two nearest alike.
Once upon a time, mothers and grandmothers made sock dolls. I haven't seen many of those around for some time. And to darn a sock?? Does anyone even know how anymore? Forget it. Times do change and those of us from the old days might as will put this ought-to-do thing away and not feel guilty. Of course, I know someone who buys the most expensive and best socks available and takes care of them by pinning them together for washing and then darns any holes. They last for years, look good and make me admire the owners. Personally, I live with the idea of buying all socks alike and the dollar-a-pair kind and a lot of them. Then when one gets lost or chucked when it gets a hole, the mate can match up with another lonely one and go on with its life. But there is still in me some of the feeling that there is something wrong with this throw-away society. Especially I get annoyed with how often we have to "throw-away" some piece of electrical equipment, like a computer, just because something better has come along. At least nothing has come along to replace socks. Send suggestions to Veda Hale, Box 956, Panguitch, Utah, 84759 or email vedahale@hotmail.com
A recent column dealt with good snacks of by-gone days. Romona Morreale from Cannonville sent me her ideas. She said she remembered the cinnamon toast her mother used to make on the top of the woodburning stove. No matter what the improvements, "what mother made" is often remembered as the best food ever. No sense telling much how she did it, because few wood stoves are used, so she, herself, does it the following way now days:
One slice part whole wheat bread. (She uses part whole wheat because she doesn't tolerate very well all whole wheat. Many children would be happier with part whole wheat, too.)Instead of butter, she uses Flax seed oil, which has omega oil 3 and 6.Instead of sugar, she uses real maple Syrup.Then comes the cinnamon over that. She says her family will remember this treat as really "yummy". I expect they well. They will likely feel that their mother really, really loves them, because she used special ingredients. Romona also told about another of her childhood favorites--rice pudding.She makes it simply with one cup raw rice, about a third cup of raisons and two cups milk, which for her is soy milk. With soy milk sugar is needed because of the sweetness in the soy and the raisons. Then in reference to something else we have talked about here, she told of a great recipe to balance electrolytes. It is as follows:1/8 lemon squeezed in a mug1/4 teaspoon Maple Syrup (The real kind straight from the tree)pinch of real salt. (I suppose she means sea salt or maybe that salt that is from Redmond, Utah, near Richfield.)6 oz. water.Many of us don't understand what it means to "balance your electrolites". One doesn't have to understand. Just use this whenever you or a loved one feels poorly. It is doing something positive and it does taste good. By the way Romona reminded me of the health benefits of cinnamon, mentioning specificially how it is beneficial for diabetics. Still, moderation in all things....
Neucile Yardley reminded me of how many people used to make milk toast for a snack or even a meal. It is a good way to use hardened bread. In the days when people had plenty of butter, there was always a good hunk floating on the heated milk. It is surprisingly tasty this way. Send suggestions to Veda Hale, Box 956 Panguitch, Utah 84759 or email vedahale@hotmail.com
One slice part whole wheat bread. (She uses part whole wheat because she doesn't tolerate very well all whole wheat. Many children would be happier with part whole wheat, too.)Instead of butter, she uses Flax seed oil, which has omega oil 3 and 6.Instead of sugar, she uses real maple Syrup.Then comes the cinnamon over that. She says her family will remember this treat as really "yummy". I expect they well. They will likely feel that their mother really, really loves them, because she used special ingredients. Romona also told about another of her childhood favorites--rice pudding.She makes it simply with one cup raw rice, about a third cup of raisons and two cups milk, which for her is soy milk. With soy milk sugar is needed because of the sweetness in the soy and the raisons. Then in reference to something else we have talked about here, she told of a great recipe to balance electrolytes. It is as follows:1/8 lemon squeezed in a mug1/4 teaspoon Maple Syrup (The real kind straight from the tree)pinch of real salt. (I suppose she means sea salt or maybe that salt that is from Redmond, Utah, near Richfield.)6 oz. water.Many of us don't understand what it means to "balance your electrolites". One doesn't have to understand. Just use this whenever you or a loved one feels poorly. It is doing something positive and it does taste good. By the way Romona reminded me of the health benefits of cinnamon, mentioning specificially how it is beneficial for diabetics. Still, moderation in all things....
Neucile Yardley reminded me of how many people used to make milk toast for a snack or even a meal. It is a good way to use hardened bread. In the days when people had plenty of butter, there was always a good hunk floating on the heated milk. It is surprisingly tasty this way. Send suggestions to Veda Hale, Box 956 Panguitch, Utah 84759 or email vedahale@hotmail.com
2,28,08 --car theives
We recently lost a set of car keys and took a second key to a locksmith. He wouldn't make a duplicate until we went to the dealership and picked up a certain kind of blank key. This saved us about $50, but still it cost $150. That would have been $200 had the dealership made the key. So it appears the car manufactorers were thinking of trying to cut down the thief problem in that they make it harder for just any locksmith to make a duplicate key. But the following information sent to me by Harriet Priska of Escalante seems to be another way the bad guys have found to steal your car: "The car thieves peer through the windshield of your car or truck, write down the VIN # from the label on the dash, go to the local car dealership and request a duplicate key based on the VIN #.
I didn't believe this e-mail, so I called Chrysler-Dodge and pretended I had lost my keys They told me to just bring in the VIN #, and they would cut me one on the spot, and I could order the keyless device if I wanted."The Car Dealer's Parts Department will make a duplicate key from the VIN #, and collect payment from the thief who will return to your car. He doesn't haveto break in, do any damage to the vehicle, or draw attention to himself. All he has to do is walk up to your car, insert the key and off he goes to a local Chop Shop with your vehicle. You don't believe it? It IS that easy.To avoid this from happening to you, simply put some tape (electrical tape, duct tape or medical tape) across the VIN Metal Label located on the dash board. By law, you cannot remove the VIN, but you CAN cover it so it can't be viewed through the windshield by a car thief. I urge you to forward this to your friends before some other car thief steals another car or truck. I slipped a 3 x 5 card over my VIN NUMBER."
By the ways, I wrote last year about how to open a car door where you have an extra set of keys at home. (You have someone at home, or where the second set of keys might be, use the clicker that opens the door through a telephone held up to the car door.) Someone worte and said it didn't work. I thought it did as I had tried it. But now I wonder if I was far enough away. I was only in the house and the car was in the garage, about 30 feet away. Maybe the clicker would have worked without the sound going through the phone. Anyone else have any idea about this?
Send suggestions to Veda Hale, Box 956, Pangutich, Utah 84759 or email vedahale@hotmail.com
I didn't believe this e-mail, so I called Chrysler-Dodge and pretended I had lost my keys They told me to just bring in the VIN #, and they would cut me one on the spot, and I could order the keyless device if I wanted."The Car Dealer's Parts Department will make a duplicate key from the VIN #, and collect payment from the thief who will return to your car. He doesn't haveto break in, do any damage to the vehicle, or draw attention to himself. All he has to do is walk up to your car, insert the key and off he goes to a local Chop Shop with your vehicle. You don't believe it? It IS that easy.To avoid this from happening to you, simply put some tape (electrical tape, duct tape or medical tape) across the VIN Metal Label located on the dash board. By law, you cannot remove the VIN, but you CAN cover it so it can't be viewed through the windshield by a car thief. I urge you to forward this to your friends before some other car thief steals another car or truck. I slipped a 3 x 5 card over my VIN NUMBER."
By the ways, I wrote last year about how to open a car door where you have an extra set of keys at home. (You have someone at home, or where the second set of keys might be, use the clicker that opens the door through a telephone held up to the car door.) Someone worte and said it didn't work. I thought it did as I had tried it. But now I wonder if I was far enough away. I was only in the house and the car was in the garage, about 30 feet away. Maybe the clicker would have worked without the sound going through the phone. Anyone else have any idea about this?
Send suggestions to Veda Hale, Box 956, Pangutich, Utah 84759 or email vedahale@hotmail.com
3,18 08 - watermarks on furniture
Karen May from Panguitch recently called me to ask if I remembered what Vi Blake had once recommended to remove a water mark from furnature. She said she had used it on a sewing machine case top once and it worked beautifully. I looked through the past columns, but couldn't find just what it was. Then Karen said she remembered, that it was one part vegetable oil and one part salt.
I had found some other suggestions that I add here--just in case you want to try them. Certainly, before you waste time and money stripping your furniture and restaining it to remove water marks it is worth trying these suggestions
Take tooth paste (not the gel) and place it directly on the water mark and using your clean cloth rub it in a circular motion until the spot is gone. This process should take only a few moments. Once the spot is gone dip your cloth in your bucket of water and clean the toothpaste from your table.
A suggestion, if the marks are from heat marks (like setting a hot pizza pan or box on the table) is to use a medium hot iron on a clean white linen tea towel in circular motions this will take out the white heat marks. I was hesitant to try it on my oak table but figured it looked bad with the marks, so what do I have to lose. It took the marks out beautifully and now my table looks like new!
You might try first to simply gently heat the area with a hair dryer to see if that drives out the moisture.
Denatured alcohol
Gently pad a denatured alcohol dampened cloth over the spot in a sweeping motion. The alcohol is miscible in the water and they should evaporate away together. This is very effective on shellac finishes, but the alcohol is a solvent for shellac, so go gently. Aged lacquer is also susceptible to alcohol.
Another person I talked to said: "I mixed mayonaisse and cigarette ash, and left it on about an hour. When I wiped it away the white heat ring was gone too.
A similar approach is baby oil and cigarette ashes, gently rubbed in.
Still another suggestion:
1. Spread about 2 Tablespoons of mayonnaise on a paper towel.
2. Place the paper towel on the white water mark. Press lightly.
3. Leave the mayonnaise on the stain about 15 minutes.
4. Lift the paper towel and check the stain. If the mark remains, rub more mayo into it again and check it later.
Some people report similar results with peanut butter or Vaseline.
Paint stores carry a yellow felt cloth that contains oils and a light abrasive. With rubbing, the oil displaces the moisture. Clean off the oil when finished. This may raise the sheen on flatter finishes.
Send suggestions to Veda Hale, Box 956, Pangutich, Utah, 84759 or email vedahale@hotmail.com
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I had found some other suggestions that I add here--just in case you want to try them. Certainly, before you waste time and money stripping your furniture and restaining it to remove water marks it is worth trying these suggestions
Take tooth paste (not the gel) and place it directly on the water mark and using your clean cloth rub it in a circular motion until the spot is gone. This process should take only a few moments. Once the spot is gone dip your cloth in your bucket of water and clean the toothpaste from your table.
A suggestion, if the marks are from heat marks (like setting a hot pizza pan or box on the table) is to use a medium hot iron on a clean white linen tea towel in circular motions this will take out the white heat marks. I was hesitant to try it on my oak table but figured it looked bad with the marks, so what do I have to lose. It took the marks out beautifully and now my table looks like new!
You might try first to simply gently heat the area with a hair dryer to see if that drives out the moisture.
Denatured alcohol
Gently pad a denatured alcohol dampened cloth over the spot in a sweeping motion. The alcohol is miscible in the water and they should evaporate away together. This is very effective on shellac finishes, but the alcohol is a solvent for shellac, so go gently. Aged lacquer is also susceptible to alcohol.
Another person I talked to said: "I mixed mayonaisse and cigarette ash, and left it on about an hour. When I wiped it away the white heat ring was gone too.
A similar approach is baby oil and cigarette ashes, gently rubbed in.
Still another suggestion:
1. Spread about 2 Tablespoons of mayonnaise on a paper towel.
2. Place the paper towel on the white water mark. Press lightly.
3. Leave the mayonnaise on the stain about 15 minutes.
4. Lift the paper towel and check the stain. If the mark remains, rub more mayo into it again and check it later.
Some people report similar results with peanut butter or Vaseline.
Paint stores carry a yellow felt cloth that contains oils and a light abrasive. With rubbing, the oil displaces the moisture. Clean off the oil when finished. This may raise the sheen on flatter finishes.
Send suggestions to Veda Hale, Box 956, Pangutich, Utah, 84759 or email vedahale@hotmail.com
Connect and share in new ways with Windows Live. Get it now!
Have a fast connection and want more features? Try the full version to see message previews in your inbox. (It's free, too.)
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