The Salt of the Earth

One of the most important items in your cupboard is salt, which comes from two sources; from underground sea salt beds that have been trapped for thousands of years (most of our common salt comes from here) and from the earth’s seas, called sea salt.

I’ll explain a little bit about each.
Table salt- Used on the table or at the stove to salt our food this salt is finely ground and contains some additives to keep it free flowing
Course salt- As the name implies is a larger grind of salt. This is what is used on pretzels.
Iodized Salt- Iodine has been added to the salt as a necessary nutrient for the body to prevent hypothyroidism. There is also a small amount of sugar (dextrose) added to prevent oxidation of the iodine.
Kosher salt- This salt is also a coarse grind which contains no additives.
Rock salt- This is a chunky, grayish looking salt used in ice cream machines, and is not usually edible, it being a less refined mined salt.
Celtic Salt- A very expensive salt that is harvested from Solar evaporation from the Celtic Sea. It is said to be of a mellow slightly sweet flavor.
Sea Salt- Of fine or coarse grind, this salt is distilled from sea waters, but is a less costly version of Celtic Salt. It is considered by some to be nutritionally better than rock salt because of natural mineral content. It has a stronger flavor than table salt.
Pickling salt – This is a fine grained salt with no additives, and is used in brines to pickle foods. Because there are no additives the brine remains clear.
Seasoned salt- Herbs and spices are added to this salt to make combinations, such as garlic salt, and onion salt.
Great Uses for Salt
I read that there are more than 14,000 uses for salt. And I thought it was just added to make our food taste better. Salt naturally prohibits the growth of bacteria and mold, so it can be used in many areas of your home. Here are a few for you to try. Let us know how they work for you!
In the Kitchen
Prevent browning – Peeled apples, pears and potatoes will keep their color when dropped in lightly salted cold water.
Peeling eggs - Boiling eggs in salted water will make eggs peel easily.
Clean sponges - Give sponges new life by soaking them in cold saltwater after they are washed.
Keep milk fresh - Add a pinch of salt to milk to keep it fresh longer
Remove onion odors from hands - Rub fingers with salt moistened with vinegar.
For Health
Gargle- Stir ½ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon soda in an 8 ounce glass of warm water and use as a gargle for sore throats. Noses are known to contain lots of germs. Use the same solution to rinse your nose with a nose or netti pot. ( I try to do this everyday during the winter. It helps to prevent sinus problems and stuffiness.)
Relieve bee stings - If stung, immediately wet the spot and cover with salt to relieve the pain.
In the Laundry
Remove perspiration stains - Add four tablespoons of salt to one quart of hot water and sponge the fabric with the solution until the stain disappear.
Brighten yellowed cottons or linens - Boil the yellowed items for one hour in a salt and baking soda solution.
Deodorize shoes - Sprinkling a little salt in canvas shoes occasionally will take up the moisture and help remove odors.
Fun with the kids- Make your own play dough, for a small price. Here’s a recipe.My Grandkids love playing with this!
PLAY DOUGH
1 cup Flour
1 cup Water
1 Tablespoon Oil
½ cup Salt
1 Tablespoon Cream of Tartar
Food Color (optional)
Cook over medium heat until mixture pulls away from sides of pan and becomes like playdough in consistency. Knead until cool. Keeps 3 months unrefrigerated.

My Favorite New Baby Item

They just keep coming up with better things for babies! I'm on baby no. 2 and I can't believe all the extra handy things that are around with this one. I guess they have to keep you spending! Anyhow, I picked up the very cute Little Munchkin Fresh Feeder the other night. It is wonderful! You can stick a banana in it and no choking occurs!! My 8 mo. old baby LOVES to suck on it and amazingly enough I get to eat! Generally I'm trying to keep him happy while throwing down a few spoonfuls of something for myself. The feeder is the best because you can put all sorts of things in it. So far I've tried cooked carrots, mango and banana repeatedly. It works really well as a teether too because it gives them something to bite on and a taste at the same time so they don't throw it down after only a minute or two. Okay, had to share. Hope you pick one up! I bought mine at Walmart, but I see that they have them on Amazon and a bunch of other places online. Enjoy a few minutes to yourself! I actually got more cleaning done this week too while he watched me in his high chair with the feeder.

Peanut Butter & Honey... Celery?

My brother wasn't feeling well this last week, out with some kind of stomach BuG. In any case, I saw him prepare a celery stick with peanut butter... YUM, a good snack. Then he pulled out the honey and started to drizzle it on top as if it was a PB+H sandwich. I asked him if it tasted good. He said he didn't know. Then he took a big bite. "YEP" it tasted good. I haven't tried it yet, maybe when I get home (I didn't want to catch his germs), but it seems like a good alternative to a Peanut Butter and Honey Sandwich.

You don't always need a recipe

Sometimes to get comfortable with cooking you need to experiment. I find this is one of the best ways to learn to cook. Stir fry is an easy one to start with.

It was time for dinner, and once again I couldn't figure out what to make. I looked in the fridge and had lots of vegetables, so I decided on stir fry. I didn't have any meat and no peppers, so I had to make up my own version. I put the rice on to cook first, it would take the longest. Next I had to figure out what to do about no meat. You can substitute beans and legumes for meat in many recipes. I decided on lentils and got them in a pan, I figured add water to soften them, bullion for flavor, olive oil for good fat, and what stir fry doesn't have soy sauce, no measurements just guess. Then I started cutting up veggies. I used onion, celery, carrots, cabbage, and asparagus, which is what I had on hand. Tossed those in about 15 minutes later and cooked for another 5 minutes. I like sauce to drip down a bit on my rice so I added more water until there was enough liquid for my taste and sprinkled a few tablespoons of flour over the top to thicken the sauce. Cooked a few more minutes till it was thick, tasted it, and it was ready to go. Serve on top of rice.

Easy Donation

Have you seen these before? They are found on a number of products that you probably buy on a regular basis, and on some you wouldn't expect. They are found on cereal, diapers, toilet paper, cookie mixes, yogurt, paper plates, and more.

Box tops are an easy way to donate to schools without costing you anything. Don't have school age children at home anymore? Save them for the cute kids next door, or send them to your grand kids, or I am sure your local school would be happy to take them off your hands. You can get a complete list of participating products here.

These little things add up fast and make a big difference. Schools are able to provide extra programs that the state does not fund. My kids school just got a check for $1000. Once you start collecting you will find them everywhere. Now go look through your house and see how many you have to give.

It's not finished until...

We recently went out to visit my family and my dad passed along some good advice that his dad taught him. I am sure he was trying to teach us when we were growing up, but you don't understand or appreciate some things till your older.

When he was growing up his dad always taught him that a project is not finished until you have cleaned up afterward. I thought this applied to everything in the household. Laundry isn't done till its hung in a closet or folded in a drawer. Dinner isn't done till the table is cleared, wiped off, and leftovers are in the fridge. The lawn isn't done till the mower is emptied of grass clippings and put away, and the sidewalk is swept or blown. My craft/sewing project is not done till it is hung on the wall and my crafting/sewing area is clean. Since we have been back I have tried to remember this as I go about my day and it helps to keep the house cleaner.




Thanks Dad and Grandpa. You are both wonderful Grandpas!

Orange Julius

My kids love orange julius for breakfast. It is fast and easy to make, and if you add a peice of toast you have breakfast that you can take on the go.

Orange Julius
2 C water
1-2 C ice
1/3 to 1/2 can orange juice concentrate
1/3 C powdered milk (or decrease water by 1 C and use 1 C milk)
squirt of vanilla

Combine all in blender and blend on high till smooth. Adjust ingredients to your taste.

Cool containers

My kids take cold lunch most days. It is less expensive this way, and I feel they get a better lunch. The problem is what to send. The fruits and veggies that come pre-packaged from the store are spendy, I have plenty of stuff that I canned myself, and who wants peaches, corn or applesauce in a baggie. Sending them with containers gets expensive because they don't come back, remember the ziploc commercial with the tupperware chained to the kid? Well I found a great solution. These solo containers. I buy mine at Cash and Carry. If you don't have one see if there is a restaurant supply store near you. They are inexpensive and I can put all sorts of stuff in them. They come in various sizes, bigger for fruits and veggies, or smaller for dips and salad dressings.

Some of the things I send are corn, applesauce, peaches, pears, green beans, peanut butter (to dip apples or celery), ranch dressing (to dip carrots or celery). The possibilities are endless. Cold lunch will never be the same again!

Blanket babies

I have to admit that I was a blanket baby. OK it went way beyond baby, I still have it in my closet. So I guess it is fitting that all of my kids have become attached to their blankets. The sad thing is that my two oldest's blankets really are no longer blankets. They are more batting with shreds of fabric hanging from them. So why do they still have them? I blame my parents for that one, they made me get rid of my blanket when I was little(see pic below). It didn't work though I just got attached to another, the one in my closet first belonged to my brother.


It looks like I am smiling and having fun, but I doubt that was the case. Thankfully I don't remember this horrible event, however this documentation is why my kids still have their blankets.

Anyway the point of this post is that I have found a great fabric that holds up well through the years. You know that really soft fleece that is fuzzy. It comes in prints or solids, and the easy part is you only need to cut it out and finish the edges. I just surged mine, but if you don't have a serger just zig the edge. So how do I know they last so long? I used this fabric for my little girl. Her blanket is over 4 years old now and is still in one piece.

Now the other part of this post. The fabric comes 60 inches wide. I bought two yards and made two blankets that were 36 inches square. With the left over fabric I made smaller squares so baby can take them in the car or tote them around the house, when it comes to bedtime it is always where it should be. I made two blankets so that one can be washing while the other is in use, and they last longer. You may not need two blankets, but if you end up with a blanket baby like mine, you will be glad in a few years.

10 minute Tomato Soup

It must be hump day to have 2 quick meals. I was very busy today and wasn't feeling like cooking a big meal. This meal would have been great when I had the stomach flu and had to cook for my starving family or a few days later when I got food poisoning. This is even a meal my husband can cook, if he can find the items. Here it is...

Tomato Soup
Serves 3-4 people/about 4 cups
Ingredients...
1 can tomato soup
1 c. water
1 can diced tomatoes
1/8 to 1/4 t. pepper (the more pepper, the more spicy)
1/4 t. of: oregano, basil, garlic powder, onion powder
crackers if you have them

Instructions...
Put all ingredients in a pot on low-medium heat. DO NOT LET IT BOIL!!!
Wait 10 minutes.


Yummy Sides to make while waiting...

Cheese Sandwiches
2-4 Servings
Ingrediants...
4 slices of bread
cheese:sliced or grated (any kind of cheese you like)
Butter

Instructions...
1. Preheat Oven 350-375 degrees.
2. Lightly Butter 1 side of each slice of bread.
3. Lay 1 slice of bread butter facing down on a cookie sheet (I use foil for easy clean up and the face that I need a better cookie sheet). Add cheese. Lay 2nd piece of bread facing up on top. Continue until all cheese sandwiches are on the cookie sheet.
4. Bake for 5 minutes. Then flip each sandwich over. Bake for about 5 more minutes or until you can smell sweet success!

Tossed Salad
Ingredients...
lettuce
favorite dressing (ranch, caesar, italian, raspberry vinaigrette)

I usually pre-wash my lettuce, spin it in a spinner, and put the spinner in the fridge so I always have lettuce on hand and so I know when I need to wash more lettuce... except for tonight when I found an empty spinner in the fridge. Hmmm... it wasn't me and it wasn't the baby... so that leaves one person ???

Instructions...
Anyway, put some lettuce in a bowl, add desired dressing, toss and you have Tossed Salad!

Southwest chicken salad

I am now feeling better but not soon enough to plan something for dinner. So at 6:30 I was still wondering what to fix that would be super fast. I found a bag of salsa chicken in the freezer (more on that later), and plenty of salad in the fridge. So I took the salad including baby greens, spinach, and romaine, added the bag of chicken, a bag of frozen corn(thawed), and a can of black beans. Top with dressing of your choice, I used ranch and added some chipotle seasoning. It was yummy and a whole meal. Who needs more than one course?

Loads of Laundry

Does your laundry room look like this?



Would you like your laundry room to look like this?



I used to have such a problem with laundry until I found a laundry sorter with three bags, I think at Walmart. It was made out of PVC but it made the job of laundry so much more organized. I shortened the bags at the bottom so that it would hold one load of laundry. Then when one bag got full I knew I needed to do that load. We used it so much that it finally broke beyond repair. So I got my handy dandy husband to make me a new one that it sturdier. I also added a fourth bag. Now any dirty laundry goes right to the laundry room, rather than getting left in a pile, and gets separated right away. I have towels, whites, light and medium colors, and darks. When the bag is full I dump it into the washer and wash. If you don't have a handy husband and can't find an organizer you can use tall trashcans in place of this organizer.



The other thing I have done to help the laundry room stay clean is add a basket for each of the kids, and hangers on a rod. When the laundry comes out of the dryer it goes to a kids basket or on a hanger for my closet, this way I don't end up with piles of clean laundry to be put away. Also good for less wrinkles in my clothes, which I am sure would make my mom happy. Then the kids are supposed to check their baskets each day and put any laundry away, helps teach responsibility. This also makes it easy for the kids to do a load of laundry for their job. They usually empty the dryer, then switch the washer clothes to the dryer and start a new load washing. I also have a sock box that all the socks go in, and once a week those get mated. Shelves and cabinets are also great to have. I got these cabinents for free, and my husband made one of the shelves out of some scrap wood.



Now the trick for this to work is to do a load each day. Each morning I check my bags and which ever one is full goes in. If there are no full bags I get a day off.

What have you found to help you in your laundry room?

Braille Month

It Braille Month!

While teaching 1st grade using the Houghton Mifflin curriculum book, we read a story about a girl who was blind and used braille to read. My students loved learning about Braille and "secret codes." We even did a few art projects with it. Here are a few fun activity you can do with your children or students and learn something new.

Materials
Printed Braille alphabet (see below)

Other Materials depending on the project
Liquid Glue
hole punch or sharp pencil/pin
little round objects:beans, bead, etc.
graham crackers or bread
frosting or peanut butter
chocolate chips, red hot dots, raisins, etc.

First, you need to print 1braille alphabet for each project. You can download one here or print one from here. In the past I got mine with boxes to help my students understand that it's based on 6 organized dots like on this web site here. They all print out kind of small, so if you have a copier/printer, cute it out and enlarge it. You can also try this Yahoo image here.

Project 1: Raised Glue Braille
You need liquid glue. The thicker the better because you want the glue to "stand up" not run. Elmer's works pretty good. There is also colored glue and even some paints might work. Pretty much, anything that will harden while standing up.

Open the glue about halfway (so it doesn't run out and ruin your page), dab it onto each dot of your printed Braille page. Try to fill the whole dot and get it to stand up instead of running. It's easier the thicker the glue is! Set a side and let dry.

Project 2: Raised Braille
You will need a sharp pencil/pin to poke holes. This one is a little tricky because you have to poke holes through the back side of the paper where there are no dotes. In any case, hold the paper up to the light and poke holes so that it leaves a raised dot on the front side. If you know how to print a mirror image, it will be a lot easier...
Under printer properties, select the features tab. Find orientation and check the mirror image box. This will print it backward so you can see the holes while you poke, then turn the paper over to feel the bumps.

Project 3: Raised objects Braille
If you don't want to deal with too much mess, find small round objects like: beans, beads, googly eyes, red hots, etc. to glue on to the braille paper.

Project 4: Raised Braille FOOD!
You can make a yummy Braille snack. Using mini chocolate chips, arrange a message for a friend on a graham cracker using frosting or peanut butter as your "glue." Break the grahams apart to make individual letters. See if you can figure out the letters using your tong instead of your fingers.

Project 5: Make your own Braille Stencil
You need a hole punch. Hole punch each braille dot. Once you have hole punched all the dots you now have a stencil to make WORDS!!! Write your name or even a secret message by coloring in the holes on a paper. Then you can do one of the projects above and try to have someone read it with out using their eyes.

Project 6: Make your own Secret Code
Children can make their own symbols for the alphabet including: stars, hearts, dots, etc.

While You Wait...
While you wait for your Braille Projects to dry, you can lean something about the people who use Braille.

How long do you think Braille has been around?
Who invented it?
Who uses it?
Have you seen it at places you've been to?

Next time you use a public bathroom, look for the gender symbol. You will usually see some Braille below it.

To learn more about Braille and people with a sight disability try these sites...
American Foundation for the Blind
Braille Bug
Wikipedia Braille
Louis Braille

You can also request a FREE Braille card here!

Baby toys

My baby sometimes gets bored, and he won't play with something he is familiar with. I have decided baby toys are not as great as I thought. I found something new that I already had on hand that will entertain him for a while. I can even get stuff done and step out of the room for a moment. He doesn't cry because he has a friend to keep him company.



I also found these cute little ZuZu pets. I think these are the best kind of pet to have. Right now it keeps him busy because it makes noises, and when he is moving around he can chase it.



What do you have at home to keep your baby or toddler busy?

Corn Chowder: Chose Your Own Adventure

I made Corn Chowder...Or I should say I experimented with Corn Chowder.

I didn't think it turned out well because it boiled over while I was tending to a screaming baby, but my husband said it was a success, so I guess I'll post it.

Serves 2-3 People, so use your math skills for your family
1 large potato or 2 small potatoes
1c. milk
1 T. flour (I used wheat)
1 c. water
1 1/2 - 2 c. corn
1 t. better than bouillon (or cube bouillon or 1 t. salt+spices)
1 t. olive oil

Add Ins:
1/4 c. onion
1/4 c. celery
1/4 c. diced potato

1. Wash, peal, and dice/slice the potato (it will boil quicker). If you want onions, celery, and extra potato in your chowder, chop those vegetables too.
2. Boil ONLY the potato until tender, about 10-12 minutes.
2. While waiting for your potato slices, whip 1 c. water, 1/2 to about 1 c. of the corn (depends on how corny tasting you want it), and bouillon in a blender.
3. Chose your adventure: For a creamier chowder, strain the corn mixture into a large pot and toss the corn skins. For more texture, don't strain, just put the corn mixture in a pot.
3. Chose your adventure: If you want onion, celery, and extra potato, add it now to the corn mixture. Also add the 1 t. of oil. Bring the corn mixture to a boil.
4. While the corn mixture and vegetables are cooking, strain the potatoes. Whip the potatoes,
1 c. milk, and 1 T. flour in a blender.
5. Add the potato mixture to the boiling corn mixture, then reduce heat to simmer about 5-7 minutes. Also add the rest of the corn.

5 things to do with failed bread

The first time I made bread it turned out BAD! It tasted fine but it was very dense and hard. It took me 4 months to figure it out. I will give you a recipe and tutorial but it will have to wait, I am sick and in bed. So I thought I would share with you what you can do with your bread if it doesn't turn out.


1. Crackers - Slice very thin, an electric knife works well for this. Spray one side with cooking spray, sprinkle with seasoning, and bake at 425 for 5 minutes on each side.



2. French toast - Dip slices of bread into a mix of egg and milk, cook in pan over medium high heat till browned, flip and brown other side. For a tasty treat substitute flavored coffee creamer for the milk.


3. Croutons - Cut bread into crouton size cubes. In a bowl combine some olive oil with seasoning of choice, stir in bread cubes and stir until coated. Bake at 425 for 15 minutes stirring every 5 minutes.



4. Bread crumbs - put bread in blender and blend until coarse.





5. Mini pizzas - Slice bread. Cut out circle, I use a canning ring. Put sauce, cheese, and any other topping on. Microwave or bake at 425 till cheese is melted.


Or your could use it to soak up spilled milk or let your children play Hansel and Gretel. We used to go and feed it to the ducks everyday, but I have since read that you shouldn't do that.

If your first attempt doesn't work out don't quit, keep trying. You shouldn't even think of quiting till you have used the failed attempts for all suggestions.

Bread

warning: Just because something is healthy doesn't mean it is calorie free. This bread is Yummy and when eaten in large quantities will cause weight gain.

I made bread(100% whole wheat) and honey butter today. Recipe and tutorial for bread will follow soon.





Honey Butter

1 cube butter
1/2 C raw honey

In a bowl mix butter and honey together on high speed 3-5 minutes till light and fluffy. Store in fridge.

Head cold meets Pau d'Arco

Have a head cold or sinus infection? Well I was feeling miserable yesterday. I tried taking vitamin C and echinecea but was too late. So I had to bring out the heavy stuff. A friend introduced me to Pau d'Arco bark years ago, and I keep it on hand. This stuff is so wonderful and will kill just about anything. You make a tea with it. It is very bitter so you have to sweeten it, but the more you can get down the faster you will get better. You can get it at health food stores.

Bring 1 cup water and 1-2 tablespoons bark to a boil, turn down heat to low, simmer for 20 minutes. Pour into a strainer, lined with a coffee filter or paper towel, set over a cup. Sweeten with orange juice concentrate and honey. Add a little lemon juice and sprinkle with cinnamon. Try to drink a cup morning, afternoon, and evening. If you make a big pan just leave on stove and heat when you need it.

Nacho Cheese, Mac and cheese, and Almond milk

What kid doesn't like mac and cheese? Well this week my little girl wanted some, but I was out of boxes. I always have noodles on hand in my food storage, and cheese in the fridge. I store them in a big 5 gallon bucket. I have a mix of half white and half whole wheat. This way when I run out I can make it from scratch, which I think tastes better and is healthier.

My kids love nacho cheese with chips, but the stuff you get in a can isn't the healthiest. Here is a recipe that makes it a good snack or a dinner if you added a can of beans.

Almond milk is a great substitute for milk, especially for those with dairy allergies. It is lower calories than dairy milk, and I prefer the taste. Children may be allergic to this, consult your doctor for children under the age of 4.

White sauce

1T butter
1T flour (I use whole wheat, but any type works)
1C milk

In a pan melt the butter over medium to high heat, and add flour. Cook for a minute or two until bubbly. Slowly add milk and stir constantly till comes to a boil and thickens. This sauce is good for many recipes and a great base for any creamy sauces like Alfredo. If your watching your waistline use skim milk.

Mac and Cheese

1C. noodles
shredded cheese (amount depends on how cheesy you want it, I use cheddar)
white sauce

In a pan bring 3-5 cups water to a boil add noodles and cook until desired tenderness. I cook mine about 8 minutes, set a timer so they don't get mushy. Pour into strainer and drain water out. Pour back in pan and over low to medium heat add white sauce and cheese. Stir until cheese melts, add salt and pepper to taste. If your watching your waistline use low fat cheese and whole wheat noodles.

Nacho Cheese

white sauce
shredded cheese (amount depends on how cheesy you want it, I use cheddar, monterrey jack or pepper jack would be yummy also)
1-2T taco seasoning

In a pan over medium heat stir white sauce and cheese together. Add taco seasoning to taste. Serve with chips and salsa.

Almond Milk

1C almonds
water
agave
salt

Rinse almonds well. In a bowl cover almonds with water and soak for 4-12 hours. Drain and rinse almonds. In a blender combine almonds and 4-5 cups of water. Blend well for a few minutes. Pour into strainer lined with cheesecloth and strain. You can then strain it through muslin cloth. Add about 1-3 teaspoons agave and a dash of salt to taste. Store in refrigerator for up to a week, shake or stir before serving.

If you try some let me know how your family likes them.

Stuff and more stuff

I am not the most consistant with keeping the house picked up, many can attest to that fact. So tonight I wanted to make things a little easier for the whole family.

I told everyone that they had to go find 30 items to give away. We got a pretty good pile of stuff to send off, and the great part is we no longer have to pick it up. It always feels like a weight has been lifted when you get rid of stuff. It is also interesting to see what the kids come up with to give. They are more willing to give things than I am. I think that as adults we are the ones that hold on to things and it isn't the kids. I hope they will feel a bit lighter now too.

After about an hour or so of sorting through papers tonight, from various piles throughout the house I have decided I am going to make a paper basket. I plan to put this in the kitchen where most of it came from, and all papers go into the basket. Then I don't have to run around the house looking for bills or wondering where some important info ended up. The kids can also put all the papers that come home from school. I hope that this way the place will stay a bit cleaner and I won't miss important info from the school. I will let you know how it works out.

What works for you?