A Little Of This And That, Kind Of Like My Junk Drawer!!!

Hey gang, have you ever microwaved something with a strong order and the order of it has decided to take up residency in your microwave???.....Well my friends I have just the thing to kick out that unwanted visitor....Fill a microwave safe bowl with water, then cut a lemon into sections ( or use just lemon juice) and put them in the water.....Now bring the water to a boil and boil for a minute or so in the microwave, remove that bowl and wipe down the inside with a white vinegar and water solution (Put into a clean spray bottle and spray)...Then keep the door open for a couple of hours to air it out...If the order remains repeat the lemon mixture but add a couple of cloves in the mixture....My goodness won't the house smell good!!

Do you want your family to eat healthy, but feel the better for you foods are more expensive?
Here a few tips for eating healthy on a budget!
Check supermarket ads for specials and inspiration to base your meals on.
Write a weekly menu plan with an accompanying grocery list. Then purchase only what you really need.
Shop the perimeter of the store. It contains fewer packaged foods and more fruits and vegetables, which cost less and are more nutritious.
Be cautious using manufactures' coupons, since they often feature processed items with higher prices to support promotional efforts...

Good Eggs!
One large egg has only 72 calories and 5 grams of fat.
Eggs provide the perfect balance of taste and nutrition in a meal. Eat one and you have 12% of your daily dose of protein. Protein plays an important role in weight loss. Eggs are also an excellent source of choline, which 1 in 10 Americans don't get enough off. Research shows this essential nutrient may play a role in breast cancer prevention and heart health...But what is a "GOOD EGG"....I will help you pick out a "GOOD EGG"....
You're hoping to Boost your heart health----Look for this on the label "Omega3"----Hen's special flax seed diet produces eggs high in beneficial fatty acids!!!
You're hoping to eat a chemical free diet----Look for this on the label "USDA Organic"----Free of potentially dangerous antibiotics and most pesticides, because the hens eat only organic feed.
You're hoping to enjoy a better tasting egg----Look for this on the label "Free Range" and "Cage Free"----Unconfined hens are less stressed and may produce higher quality eggs.
Super Spinach:
Frolic acid is a B vitamin found in dark green leafy vegetables like spinach. Frolic acid is important for healthy blood cells and healthy pregnancies

Here are a couple of good for you recipes using Eggs & Spinach:

Spinach Frittata with Creole Sauce:
Prep Time:35 min
Start to Finish:35 min
makes:4 servings

Sauce
1 large tomato, coarsely chopped (1 cup)
1 small onion, chopped (1/4 cup)
2 tablespoons sliced celery
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/8 teaspoon red pepper sauce
Frittata
2 teaspoons canola or soybean oil
1 small onion, chopped (1/4 cup)
1 box (9 oz) frozen spinach, thawed, drained
1 1/2 cups fat-free egg product
1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh or 1/8 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons shredded reduced-fat mozzarella cheese

1. In 1-quart saucepan, heat all sauce ingredients to boiling, stirring occasionally; reduce heat. Simmer uncovered about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened. Keep warm.
2. In 8-inch nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion; cook 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add spinach; cook 2 to 4 minutes, stirring constantly, until spinach is thoroughly heated.
3. In small bowl, beat egg product, thyme, salt and pepper; pour over spinach. Cover; cook over medium-low heat 5 to 7 minutes or until eggs are set and light brown on bottom. Sprinkle with cheese. Cut into wedges. Serve with sauce.

Nutritional Information
1 Serving: Calories 120 (Calories from Fat 30); Total Fat 3g (Saturated Fat 0g, Trans Fat 0g); Cholesterol 0mg; Sodium 320mg; Total Carbohydrate 9g (Dietary Fiber 3g, Sugars 4g); Protein 13g % Daily Value*: Vitamin A 130%; Vitamin C 8%; Calcium 15%; Iron 15% Exchanges: 0 Other Carbohydrate; 1 Vegetable; 1 1/2 Lean Meat Carbohydrate Choices: 1/2 MyPyramid Servings: 1 tsp Fats & Oils, 2 oz-equivalents Meat & Beans, 3/4 c Vegetables

Egg-specially Good!
Eggs supply chromium, a mineral we need in small amounts. Preliminary research suggests that people with diabetes may need a bit more chromium than others do.

Vegetable Poached Eggs:
Getting your "daily 5" of veggies couldn't be easier than in this hearty skillet egg dish loaded with the good stuff

Prep Time:20 min
Start to Finish:20 min
makes:4 servings

2 cups chopped broccoli
2 cups chopped spinach (about 3 oz)
1 large onion, chopped (1 cup)
1 cup sliced mushrooms (about 3 oz)
1 medium carrot, cut into julienne (matchstick) strips (about 1/2 cup)
1 small zucchini, cut into julienne (matchstick) strips (about 1/2 cup)
3/4 cup fat-free tomato pasta sauce (any variety)
1/4 teaspoon pepper
4 eggs
1/4 cup shredded fat-free mozzarella cheese (1 oz)

1. Spray 12-inch skillet with cooking spray; heat skillet over medium heat. Add broccoli, spinach, onion, mushrooms, carrot and zucchini; cook 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are crisp-tender.
2. Stir in pasta sauce and pepper. Cook, stirring constantly, until thoroughly heated.
3. Make four 3-inch holes in vegetable mixture, using large spoon. Crack 1 egg into each hole. Cover; cook about 5 minutes or until egg whites and yolks are firm, not runny. Sprinkle with cheese. Serve immediately.

Nutritional Information
1 Serving: Calories 160 (Calories from Fat 50); Total Fat 6g (Saturated Fat 2g, Trans Fat 0g); Cholesterol 215mg; Sodium 350mg; Total Carbohydrate 15g (Dietary Fiber 4g, Sugars 8g); Protein 12g % Daily Value*: Vitamin A 100%; Vitamin C 35%; Calcium 15%; Iron 10% Exchanges: 1/2 Other Carbohydrate; 2 Vegetable; 1 Medium-Fat Meat Carbohydrate Choices: 1 MyPyramid Servings: 1 oz-equivalents Meat & Beans, 1 1/4 c Vegetables

Do you have some old wool sweaters you no longer wear?...Well here is an idea for recycling them.Make a tote to carry your needfuls or bible in, or use as a purse:



Supplies:
• 100% wool sweater (Shetland, cashmere, merino & alpaca work well)
• chalk
• scissors
• needle & strong thread
• sewing machine (optional)

1. Begin by washing your sweater in the washing machine, using the hottest water possible. Washing will cause the wool fibers to compress, making the sweater denser and smaller. This process is called felting. It may take several washings to felt the sweater.
2. Once the sweater has been felted (usually 3 washings), lay the sweater flat to dry.
3. Turn the sweater inside out. Mark lines for cutting with chalk. You are cutting off the sleeves and neckline of the sweater to create tote handles.
4. Refold sweater so the side seams of the sweater and the strap openings face front.
5. Using a ¼" seam, hand stitch or machine stitch the bottom closed.
6. Turn tote right side out.
7. To create the handles, fold each handle in half lengthwise, matching up raw edges. Hand sew or machine stitch along raw edge.
8. Tote is finished. You may choose to embellish tote by using scraps of felted sweater to create flowers, pockets, etc. Buttons and ribbon add nice touches.

A True Early American Bed!

An early American bed generally consisted of an underbed (a "mattress" stuffed
with straw) a woolen winter sheet for winter, or a linen sheet for summer.
Next is an overbed; in todays closest terms a duvet. Average weight after
filled with down feathers was 12-15 lbs...comfy. The overbed was four
panels sewn together with bottom tie closures, and to top it off,
a decorative coverlet might be found. An elongated bolster case had
two elongated matching pillow cases; the practice of the cases hanging
over the edges of the bed, helped keep the pillows in their place on top.
Handstitched initials and laundry rotation numbers could be found
on the opening of the three cases. If you are interested in buying any of this for your home then just click on Family Heirloom Weavers...
They also have Tobacco cloth window panels which are light and airy...

These are the pillow cases. You can buy everything on the bed at Family Heirloom Weavers!

The Hope Of A New President Lies In You!

HOPE!
As the inaugration of Barack Obama proceeds with all the ceremony and hysteria of the latest Rolling stones farewell tour, it's important to recognize that the man at the center of the celebration is not the one who can bring America back to promience. The person who can do that is you.
The president can, with Congress's help and the Supreme Court's approvel, dictate policies that he believes will have the best effect on the nation, but without you he is nothing.
The president can with Congress's help and the Supreme Court's approval, set the tone for his vision of morality for the nation, but without you, that vision has no grounding in reality.
The president can with Congress's help and the Supreme Court's approval, reach down into our school districts and set the framework for the education of our children, but without your commitment to setting the tone at home, that framework will be as effective in bettering our children as the framework of a home is in keeping out the cold without walls and a roof.
The President can do a lot of things, but in the end, it's about you.
Don't get me wrong; Being the president of the United States is the most important job anyone in the world can have-except for your job. The president deserves our respect and honor, regardless of what we think about his positions and policies. But he is nothing without you.
So on this day after the inauguration, lets congratulate President Barack Obama on accepting the tremendous task a president accepts.
But more importantly, I congratulate you on accepting the tremendous task a citizen accepts in being a member of this wonderful democracy.

PRAYER FOR OUR PRESIDENT!

For the President of the United States and all in Civil Authority:

O Lord our Governor, whose glory is in all the world. We commend this nation to thy merciful care, that being guided by the Providence, we may dwell secure in thy peace. Grant to the President of the United States, the Governor of this state(or commonwealth), and to all in authority, wisdom and strength to know and do thy will. Fill them with the love of truth and righteousness, and make them ever mindful of their calling to serve the people, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one in God, world without end. Amen

TWO MILES DOWN THAT ROAD AGAIN!

Well I have re traveled two miles down the olde weight loss road...I had a very hard week, but stuck it out and lost 3.9 pounds....If I added up all the weight I have lost just in the past 10 years, I could make another person...I have been writing down everything that goes in my mouth and I also jot ideas that helped me or hurt me in a journal...I plan my meals a week ahead but don't always stick to it and have found out if I don't it is much harder to get through the evenings....that is my worst time...must not go anywhere near the kitchen...There are some blogs that the girls are dealing with their weight and one of the girls is very brave...She shows a picture of her scales when she is weighing....Good for her.....Her blog is So Tired Of Weighting.....another one is
Primitive Lifestyle and then there is my Weight is over...Just click on their name to go there.....Good blogs to read if you are traveling down that road again....Tip----When you feel like you need a snack grab some sugar free gum and chew on that...It helps and chewing gum also burns calories...

My Monday recipe is for all you people that love Chinese food...

CHICKEN SMOTHERED IN PEANUT SAUCE
Serves 4 5 WW Points I gave this 4****
1 onion chopped
4-(4 ounce) boneless skinless chicken breast halves
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp paprika
1/8 tsp ground black pepper
1 cup tomato juice
3 Tbsp creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup packed fresh cilantro leaves
2 garlic cloves (pealed)
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
Coat a large skillet with nonstick cooking spray and warm over medium high heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring for 5 minutes. Season the chicken with 1/4 tsp of the salt, the paprika and black pepper. add the chicken to the skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side or till browned. In a food processor combine the remaining ingredients and the remaining salt. Blend till smooth. Pour over the chicken. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 25 minutes or till juices run clear.
Good served over steamed rice but need to add on the points for the rice....

ASIAN SUPER SLAW
Serves 8 2 WW Points I gave this 4****
5 cups shredded green cabbage
2 cups shredded red cabbage
2 medium carrots shredded
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1/2 cup chopped fresh chives
In a large bowl combine above ingredients.Whisk the dressing (recipe below) and add to salad. Toss to coat. Place in Fridge for a couple hours before serving.
ASIAN DRESSING
1/3 cup seasoned rice vinegar
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
3 Tbsp lite soy sauce
3 Tbsp brown sugar twin
2 Tbsp pineapple juice
1 Tbsp dark sesame oil
1 tsp finely grated fresh ginger
2 garlic cloves finely chopped
In a large glass measuring cup whisk together the above ingredients...

What Did Girls And Ladies In Pioneer Days Wear!

Life on the prairie meant making do with what you had and also learning new ways to sew garments. Without access to ready made gowns, silk fabrics and dress shops, ladies on the frontier learned to make their own fabrics. One of the most important items a pioneer lady or girl could own was the sunbonnet. With the hot sun, and harsh weather conditions the sunbonnet was used to shield the face.
Many styles of the sunbonnets were made, fancy versions for church and social occasions, sturdy homespun bonnets for doing farm chores and warm wool bonnets for the harsh and cold winters on the prairie.Straw bonnets were popular because straw was so readably available. Girls and ladies found braiding bonnets to be an enjoyable pastime.
Many of the garments that girls and ladies wore were made to be practical and wear well. Aprons and pinafores were a must when working or doing chores in the kitchen. Dresses were simple styles with long full skirts and long sleeves that could be rolled up for working or fancier sleeve styles were made for Sunday Dresses.The styles for fancy dresses or Sunday Dresses were kept relatively simple in design, perhaps accented with hand made lace or some pretty pieces of silk on the neckline or sleeves. For winter time, girls and ladies wore warm wool coats and knitted or crocheted scarves, shawls and hats or bonnets. A Petticoat was a must have item in any girls or ladies wardrobe. Made of a pretty white cotton or linen a lady always tried her best to keep them snowy white even on the dusty prairie. Petticoats were also a place that girls could practice their lace making skills and embroidery work. Girls and ladies would often have a couple petticoats, one for everyday, another for Sunday best and finally a heavy flannel or wool on for winter. If you wanted to look especially stylish you could layer on more then one petticoat for a full skirted effect
Pioneer girls and ladies would wear jewelry to dress up many of their outfits. Pins, Cameos and brooches of all kinds were popular to wear on blouses, dresses and shawls. Earrings or earbobs, as they were called in the 1800’s, necklaces, lockets and bracelets were still worn just as they are today. Ladies were also fond of wearing pin watches; these were delicate little watch faces attached to a pin and were put on upside down so that the wearer could reach down and look at the face of the watch and it would be the right side to her. Pioneer Ladies learned to make their own fabrics with homespun fibers and colored the cloth with home made dyes. Vegetables & flowers were the most popular items used for dying colors. Ever wonder how the old fabrics got their color back then? No rit dye in those times! Interested in trying your hand at a little Pioneer Fabric Dyeing?
a great source for natural dyes can be found right in your own back yard! Roots, nuts and flowers are just a few common natural ways to get many colors. Yellow, orange, blue, red, green, brown and grey are available.
Gathering plant material for dyeing: Blossoms should be in full bloom, berries ripe and nuts mature. Remember, never gather more than 2/3 of a stand of anything in the wild when gathering plant stuff for dying.
To make the dye solution:
Chop plant material into small pieces and place in a pot. Double the amount of water to plant material. Bring to a boil, then simmer for about an hour. Strain. Now you can add your fabric to be dyed. For a stronger shade, allow material to soak in the dye overnight.
Getting the fabric ready for the dye bath:
You will have to soak the fabric in a color fixative before the dye process. This will make the color set in the fabric.
Color Fixatives:
Salt Fixative (for berry dyes) 1/2 cup salt to 8 cups cold water
Plant Fixatives (for plant dyes) 4 parts cold water to 1 part vinegar
Add fabric to the fixative and simmer for an hour. Rinse the material and squeeze out excess. Rinse in cool water until water runs clear.
Dye Bath:
Place wet fabric in dye bath. Simmer together until desired color is obtained. The color of the fabric will be lighter when its dry. Also note that all dyed fabric should be laundered in cold water and separately.
Muslin, silk, cotton and wool work best for natural dyes and the lighter the fabric in color, the better. White or pastel colors work the best.
NOTE: It's best to use an old large pot as your dye vessel. Wear rubber gloves to handle the fabric that has been dyed, the dye can stain your hands. It's also important to note, some plant dyes may be toxic, check with the Poison Control Center if unsure. Here is a list of a few plants to use..

Shades of orange:
Onion skin
Turmeric dyed cloth will turn orange or red if it is dipped in lye.
Barberry (mahonia sp.) yellow orange (with alum) very strong & permanent. Any part of the plant will work.
Shades of brown:
Tea Bags (light brown)
Acorns (boiled)
Coffee Grinds
Oak bark will give a tan or oak color.
Shades of pink:
Strawberries
Cherries
Raspberries
Shades of red:
Beets (deep red)
Dandelion (root)
Red leaves will give a reddish brown color I use salt to set the dye.
Shades of blues & lavender:
Blueberries
Mulberries (royal purple)
Grapes (purple)
Japanese indigo (deep blue)
Shades of black-grey:
Iris (roots)
Sumac (leaves) (Black)
Shades of green:
Spinach (leaves)
Black-Eyed Susans
Red onion (skin) (a medium green, lighter than forest green)
Artichokes
Shades of yellow:
Onion (skins)
Marigold (blossoms)
Celery (leaves)
Paprika ( shade of pale yellow - light orange)
Dandelion flower

THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK......

Here are six reasons why you should think before you speak - the last one is great! Have you ever spoken and wished that you could immediately take the words back... or that you could crawl into a hole? Here are the Testimonials of a few people who did....
FIRST: I walked into a hair salon with my husband and three kids in tow and asked loudly, “How much do you charge for a shampoo and a blow job?" I turned around and walked back out and never went back. My husband didn't say a word... he knew better.
SECOND: I was at the golf store comparing different kinds of golf balls. I was unhappy with the women's type I had been using. After browsing for several minutes, I was approached by one of the good-looking gentlemen who work at the store. He asked if he could help me. Without thinking, I looked at him and said, "I think I like playing with men's balls."
THIRD: My sister and I were at the mall and passed by a store that sold a variety of candy and nuts. As we were looking at the display case, the boy behind the counter asked if we needed any help. I replied, "No, I'm just looking at your nuts." My sister started to laugh hysterically. The boy grinned, and I turned beet-red and walked away. To this day, my sister has never let me forget.
FOURTH: While in line at the bank one afternoon, my toddler decided to release some pent-up energy and ran amok. I was finally able to grab hold of her after receiving looks of disgust and annoyance from other patrons. I told her that if she did not start behaving "right now" sh e would be punished. To my horror, she looked me in the eye and said in a voice just as threatening, "If you don't let me go right now, I will tell Grandma that I saw you kissing Daddy's pee-pee last night!" The silence was deafening after this enlightening exchange. Even the tellers stopped what they were doing. I mustered up the last of my dignity and walked out of the bank with my daughter in tow. The last thing I heard when the door closed behind me, were screams of laughter.
FIFTH: Have you ever asked your child a question too many times? My three-year-old son had a lot of problems with potty training and I was on him constantly. O ne day we stopped at Taco Bell for a quick lunch in between errands. It was very busy, with a full dining room. While enjoying my taco, I smelled something funny, so of course I checked my seven-month-old daughter, and she was clean. Then I realized that Danny had not asked to go potty in a while. I asked him if he needed to go, and he said "No". I kept thinking "Oh Lord, that child has had an accident, and I don't have any clothes with me." Then I said, "Danny, are you SURE you didn't have an accident?" "No," he replied. I just KNEW that he must have had an accident, because the smell was getting worse. So, I asked one more time, "Danny, did you have an accident?" This time he jumped up, yanked down his pants, bent over, spread his cheeks and yelled "SEE MOM, IT'S JUST FARTS!!" While 30 people nearly choked to death on their tacos laughing, he calmly pulled up his pants and sat down. An older couple thanked me for the best laugh they'd ever had!
SIXTH: We were at Cabella's shopping for Christmas items...my BIL was there with us...his birthday had just past and he had recieved a gift card for another sporting good shop named "Dick's"....well, know that a lot of stores accept competitor gift cards....he thought he would see if Cabella's would accept his. So, the lady rings him up...gives him the total amount...and he looks at her calmly and asks, "Do you accept Dick's?!"...Well, she was quite taken back by this and yelled for management!...We were laughing so hard when he had to show them he meant his Dick's gift card!...the young lady was so embarassed, she didn't even finish ringing him out, the manager did!
LAST BUT NOT LEAST: This had most of the state of Michigan laughing for 2 days and a very embarrassed female news anchor who will, in the future, likely think before she speaks. What happens when you predict snow but don't get any! We had a female news anchor that, the day after it was supposed to have snowed and didn't, turned to the weatherman and asked: "So Bob, where's that 8 inches you promised me last night?" Not only did HE have to leave the set, but half the crew did too they were laughing so hard!