Monthly Archives: February 2008

Four Foods on Friday #19 Questions

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From Fun, Crafts and Recipes

#1. Do you ever use scissors to cut any foods? Yes

Which? Raw or cooked?

Both. I use my kitchen scissors a lot, in fact, I have two pair of them. I use them the most to cut raw chicken. I get the best deal on chicken breast I can find and then cut it to the size I need. If I can’t get a good deal on boneless chicken but chicken breast with the bone is really a bargain, then I’ll use my scissors to cut it off the bone. Sometimes I use scissors to cut pizza.

#2. Popcorn. Homemade, microwave, bagged, hot, cold. How do you like it?

We like it popped in a hot air popcorn popper. Then we put extra virgin olive oil on it and salt (or sea salt). That’s our favorite way to eat it. And…I feel good about eating it that way because everything on it is healthy… in moderation.

(If anyone eats much of the microwave popcorn, I suggest researching the safety of the butter flavoring added to it. I’ve read articles that make me want to stay away from it.)

#3. Sushi. Love it or hate it?

I can’t stand the thought of eating raw fish. I think I tried it once when our s-i-l had some, and I didn’t like it.

#4. Share a dessert recipe.

I just posted a great dessert recipe that is easy: Pineapple Delight. If you like pineapple, this tastes like delicious pineapple cobbler. I got this recipe from a friend who has had several requests for her recipe.

Friends & Readers

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I have a favor to ask. There’s something new on my home page now. If you look to the right, there is a free “Subscribe” section. You can now subscribe to my posts via your email. You will only receive one email on days I post articles. I am trying to build up my Subscribe list, and I would greatly appreciate any subscriptions. Thank you in advance to those of you who do subscribe! 🙂

Jewelry, etc.

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If someone had a little shop, they might be interested in wholesale fashion jewelry. I think it would be fun to have a little “shoppe” that was creative, trendy, and had a little bit of everything: gifts, fresh flowers, jewelry, inspirational books, artistic designs, musical accessories, educational products, healthy foods and snacks, etc. I would have to do a lot of thinking to come up with a creative name for a shop that carried such a vast array of products, though.

Pineapple Delight

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If you’re needing an easy but special dessert to take to a pot luck or maybe a luncheon at work, then try this easy one. It is surprisingly good, and when a friend of mine made it, she had several requests for the recipe. I had no idea it had Ritz crackers in it until she gave me the recipe.

Put both cans of pineapple with juice in a long Pyrex dish:

  • 1 large can (20 ounces) pineapple chunks with juice
  • 1 can crushed pineapple with juice

Mix and pour over pineapple:

  • 1 cup flour
  • 5 tablespoons flour

Then sprinkle over the top:

  • 8 ounces of grated Colby & Cheddar cheese

Then:

  • 1/2 stick butter, melted
  • one “column” of Town House or Ritz Crackers (or similar)

Dip crackers in melted butter and place on top of cheese. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes.

Cold Sores & Fever Blisters

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There are a lot of people sick right now with colds and the flu. Many times when people get sick, they end up with a cold sore, sometimes called a fever blister, which takes a while to go away. Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus and can also be aggravated by stress, fatigue, and being run down. One of the best things to do is to keep the immune system strong. Some people who are more susceptible to cold sores take an amino acid called L-lysine as a preventative measure. Some think that Lysine causes the liver to increase cholesterol production, so if that’s a problem then they should keep a check on cholesterol levels. I’ve taken L-lysine before at the very first suspicion of a cold sore, and the next couple of days it was gone. If it’s a full blown cold sore, then L-lysine doesn’t clear it up right away but relieves the pain and shortens the duration of it. Acidophilus, vitamin C with bioflavonoids, and zinc also help.

If the cold sore has already erupted and is painful, there are topical cold sore treatments available at the store, or a moist tea bag can be placed against the sore. The tannic acid in tea is used in many types of medicine and is believed to have an antiviral effect. Also, ice placed on the cold sore at the first sign of outbreak will help to reduce the metabolic rate of the skin tissue. The ice should help slow down the progress of the cold sore. And as with any virus, there’s a need for plenty of fluids. Nonacidic fluids such as apple or apricot juice are great.

Medical Jewelry

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I know several people who have medical conditions that could be life threatening if not treated on a daily basis. One dear friend has to wear an insulin pump, and another friend has been in a diabetic coma. I think if I had some type of condition, I would wear medical jewelry to alert people. Something could happen at the store or somewhere family or friends weren’t around.

Afternoon Snack: “Ants on a Log”

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When our daughter was growing up, she was in Girl Scouts. One snack she learned to make was called “Ants on a Log,” not too appetizing of a name. But in actuality, it was and still is a very tasty snack, one that we have continued making through the years. I remember when she’d be home from college during the summer, I’d make a big plate full of these for both of us to snack on, and they’d be gone within ten minutes or so. The neat thing about this snack is that all the ingredients are healthy, and it’s satisfying because of the fiber and protein in it:

  • prepare celery in varying lengths, 2-4 inches long
  • spread with reduced fat peanut butter
  • top with “ants” (raisins – considered to be a “super food”)

This is also a great snack when trying to lose weight.  It’s a healthy snack for kids and everybody, and in case your kids don’t like ants, you can call it something different. 🙂


My Computer and I Thank You!

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I’m thankful to family and relatives who help me with all my computer ventures. They set up the computer for me, one in particular help me set up my blog, and if I have any problems then there’s always one of them to fix it for me. Yesterday, my husband helped me position all the cords better. That was great! I don’t know the difference between CAT5e cables and other cords or what needs to be plugged in where.  So I’m very thankful for all the help I get!  I’m learning as I go, so as time goes on I plan to learn more and more.  But in the meantime…I want to say thank you to all of you who have helped me!

Beautiful Glassware

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I think beautiful glassware adds such a special touch to a special dinner. We are not formal at our house, however, and most of the time I’m in a hurry and set the table real fast. Once in a while, though, I might take a little more time and set the table a little nicer. But on special occasions such as holidays and birthdays, I always like to set a formal table so I get out the china and stemware. There’s something about adding stemware to the table setting that adds that special touch. Riedel carries some beautiful glasses which I think would be pretty to serve iced tea, a year round beverage in the south.  They carry a selection of beautiful glassware and crystal, and are backed by 250 years of glassmaking excellence.

Hormones Driving You Crazy?

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Oh, what women have to go through with their hormones! First, it starts at an early age around twelve or so when many experience cramps and that “yuchy” feeling once a month. That goes on for a while until they reach their thirties when many start experiencing the symptoms of premenopause which include PMS, weight gain, infertility, fibroids, endometriosis, etc. This goes on until perimenopause when symptoms such as greater weight gain, irregular periods, heavy bleeding, hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, mood swings, thinning skin, fatigue, memory loss, etc., begin to occur.

I wish I had known in my thirties and especially my forties what I do now. So many things affect our hormones such as diet, lack of exercise, stress, hormones in our toiletries and in the beef we eat, toxins, etc. These things affect our hormones to the extent that our hormones get out of balance and start causing the above mentioned symptoms. I am now using natural hormone supplements prescribed by my doctor. Let me stress the word…natural. They are not synthetic. They are compounded by the pharmacist, made especially for me, and are definitely making a huge difference in the above mentioned symptoms.

If you’d like to read more, then I recommend reading this chapter called“Hormone Balance Made Simple” by Dr. John R. Lee, who was “an international authority and pioneer in the use of natural progesterone cream and natural hormone balance.”

Is Fluoridated Water Safe?

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After watching a video about the safety of fluoride in our water by Dr. Bill Osmunson, I decided to sign the petition for Congress to have hearings about fluoridation.  It’s especially dangerous for babies.  (I’m glad Baby J’s bottles are made with bottled spring water.)  According to the CDC, one third of children are showing signs of too much fluoride on their teeth.  And if you look on toothpaste tubes, if someone swallows toothpaste, they are to call the Poison Control Center because the fluroide is not safe.   There is as much fluoride in a pea size measure of toothpaste as there is in an 8 ounce glass of tap water.  That doesn’t sound good to me.  Dr. Osmunson urges everyone to check out both sides of the issue for themselves and sign the petition for hearings on fluoride safety.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=_Ys9q1cvKGk

Eat Healthy to Fight a Cold

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Here are a few good ideas for fighting a cold:

  • Get plenty of vitamin C which acts like an antihistamine and helps a runny nose and congestion. Eat 2 cups or more of fresh fruits like oranges and strawberries.
  • Eat plenty of lean protein, especially chicken. Lean meats contain zinc which helps strengthen the immune system.
  • Get plenty of beta-carotene which is an antioxidant and is found in vegetables such as sweet potatoes, carrots, and pumpkin.
  • Eat lots of brightly colored fruits and vegetables such as green salad, red peppers, and blueberries.
  • Saute garlic and onions which contain sulphur and add to food to help the immune system fight off infection.
  • Eat non-fat yogurt which contains healthy bacteria to fight harmful germs in the intestines.
  • Snack on nuts which contain needed nutrients.

(And be sure to wash hands often with soap, don’t share towels if sick, and disinfect doorknobs, phones, and other shared items.)