Hang A Curtain Over A Heater

Keep heaters out of sight.

While heaters are necessary to keep you toasty during cold weather, they are often unsightly features in your apartment or home. Disguise them during warm weather when not in use, or any time of year, by hanging curtains over them. Use fabric curtains that match your home's color scheme or room theme, though keep potential fire hazards in mind during installation. Look for adjustable curtain rods that require minimal work to install and create an easy DIY home project. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Measure the area around your heater. Purchase a curtain and curtain rod that fits around the heater with room to spare. You will want to leave enough space so the curtain will not touch the heater and cause a potential fire hazard. Leave at least three to four inches between the curtain and the heater; you'll also want the curtain to disguise the entire heater while lightly touching the floor.

2. Mark the wall lightly with pencil on either side of the heater where you will be attaching the curtain rod. Use a curved curtain rod in the style of your choice so long as it is easy for you to manage. Thread the curtain through the curtain rod.

3. Drill holes in your wall where you made your pencil marks. Have a friend or family member hold the curtain and rod up while you attach the rod brackets to the wall with screws and your drill. Refer to the rod manufacturer's instructions if needed. Adjust your curtain as necessary so it envelops the heater.

Tags: potential fire

Roast A Boneless Turkey

A roasted boneless turkey breast is much easier to cut and serve.

A turkey main dish is most commonly served whole. The whole roasted turkey comes with all its bones intact. However, if you want an easier way to eat your main dish, consider roasting a boneless turkey breast instead. One large turkey breast can weigh as much as 9 lbs., while a smaller one might weigh as little as 3 lbs. A boneless roasted turkey breast is also much easier to cut and serve. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Instructions

1. Thaw the boneless turkey breast in the refrigerator. It takes about 24 hours of defrosting time for every 4 lbs. of turkey. So if you have an 8 lb. turkey breast, it will take about two days to fully defrost.

2. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.

3. Dry the turkey breast using paper towels. Set the turkey breast aside.

4. Prepare an herb paste or seasoning for the turkey, if desired (see Resources).

5. Place the turkey in a 2-inch-deep baking pan. Make sure to place the turkey skin side up.

6. Brush herb paste under the skin of the turkey breast. Placing the herb paste under the skin ensures that it seeps into the meat of the turkey instead of just sitting on top of the skin. If you are not using an herb paste, season the turkey with salt and pepper. Add a small amount of cooking spray or oil to the skin. This will prevent dryness.

7. Roast the turkey breast until it reaches an internal temperature of 170 degrees Fahrenheit.

Tags: turkey breast, herb paste, boneless turkey breast, boneless turkey, degrees Fahrenheit, easier serve, herb paste under

What Kind Of Cookware To Buy

Buying the right cookware helps ensure that your food is thoroughly cooked at a speed that doesn't hold up meals. Cookware should be durable, versatile and offer convenient clean up. In addition, it is important to determine your budget before running off to a cooking store. High end professional cookware tends to be expensive yet lasts a long time. Learn more about what the best cookware is for home chefs. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Types of Cookware

Cookware is generally made in four different types of metals: Aluminum, copper, stainless steal and cast iron. Aluminum cookware has effective heat conduction that provides heat evenly to the bottom of the pan or pot. It is used in about 50 percent of all cookware products. The downside to aluminum is that it scratches easily and can leave a metallic taste in food. Many times this metal is used with other metals like stainless steal to avoid this unpleasant taste.

Copper is a fantastic conductor of heat. High-end cookware is typically made from this metal. The main disadvantages of buying copper is that it can leave a strange taste when cooking acidic foods like tomatoes, and it is quite pricey.

Stainless steel is what is found in most homes, because of its affordable price. It is durable, doesn't leave a strange taste in food and is scratch resistant. Its main problem is that it is a bad conductor of heat and can often cause foods to be burned in the area where the pan touches the burner.

Cast iron cookware is used in numerous southern dishes. It is a good conductor of heat, can be used in the oven and is inexpensive. However, it requires a lot of maintenance. Owners of cast iron cookware must season their pans, which means they keep the surface from sticking to food by melting a fat over the surface.

Non-Stick Pans

Non-stick pans offer a variety of benefits for those who like convenience. They are easily cleaned, need little oil or fat to cook food with and are inexpensive. Unfortunately, they can be easily scratched, take a long time to heat food and have a short lifespan. Dish washing detergent slowly eats away at the coating used on non-stick pans; therefore it isessential to not place these pans in the dishwasher. This non-stick coating or Teflon will not allow for some foods like chicken to brown because the heat resistance it provides will not give the meat enough heat. It is best to always have a couple of non-stick pans for whatever cookware you select. That way if you're in a hurry, you can prepare food without worrying about scrubbing up the mess.

Where to Buy Cookware

Several high-end cooking stores sell cookware that is meant for home chefs looking for more expensive kitchen supplies. Williams Sonoma, Bed Bath and Beyond and Sur la Table are three of the most popular chains. You can also find cookware at bargain department stores like Ross, TJ Maxx and Marshalls. Shop around and get the best price before making the big purchase. Go shopping with an idea of what kind of food you want to make, and bring a list of what you need. Having cookware that fits your needs will not only inspire you to cook more, but will also help you serve delicious meals.

Tags: conductor heat, cast iron, cookware that, foods like, home chefs, iron cookware, leave strange

Most Effective Natural Roach Repellent

Cockroaches are a difficult to kill insect that can infect your home and your food. While cockroaches aren't incredibly destructive or aggressive, they are incredibly intelligent, for insects. Their sheer numbers are what makes these insects so frustrating. They also potentially carry diseases. Luckily, there are many natural ways to repel cockroaches. Does this Spark an idea?

Catnip

This infamous weed is a joy for cats but its strong odor serves as a strong insect repellent. Grinding up catnip and mixing it with water makes a powerful repellent. Spray areas you see cockroaches, suspect cockroaches or want cockroaches to avoid. Spraying this water on surfaces will help keep the cockroaches away. You may also wish to take small catnip toys or bags filled with catnip and place them around the cockroaches' high traffic areas. This will make them seek alternate routes, which may make them more visible in your house. Avoid using this remedy if you have cats. It may drive them crazy.

Beer

Beer is another substance pleasant to some creatures but offensive to cockroaches. Soak a few pieces of bread in beer. Place these pieces of bread in an empty coffee can. Several of these cans spread around your kitchen or other suspected cockroach areas will help repel them. If the cockroaches do investigate the beer soaked bread and consume any, they will quickly find themselves getting a little drunk and disoriented. It is possible that the beer soaked bread will even kill them. Avoid this remedy if you have pets as they may investigate the bread and find themselves stumbling around the house.

Garlic

Garlic has been found to be an incredibly effective repellent for cockroaches. Despite their reputation for living in dirty places, cockroaches actually take great care to keep themselves clean. Cockroaches also dislike extremely strong smells and tastes, which is why garlic is so effective. Few substances in the kitchen have as potent a smell as garlic. You can make a garlic water mixture to spray around suspected roach areas or simply place gloves of garlic around the house where you have seen cockroaches. The only problem with this remedy is the smell. Garlic is potent and will disturb humans and pets as well. Only use this repellent if little else is working.

Tags: this remedy, around house, beer soaked, beer soaked bread, find themselves

Mix Organic Potting Mix

Use organic potting mix for healthy gardens.

Organic potting soil meets a plant's needs based on a number of factors. Mix your own organic potting soil to supply plant roots with the right measures of air, water and other nutrients. Mix a classic soil-based potting mix for organic potting media with good drainage, suggests the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service website. Mix a classic soil-based mix with equal parts sand, topsoil and compost. Follow guidelines for certified organic production to ensure organic quality. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Mix topsoil in your organic potting mix. Use topsoil without any ingredients, such as pesticides and environmental pollutants that are not considered organic.

2. Add coarse sand, also called builder's sand, to create open spaces in the potting mix. Use coarse sand for its weight and for a stable environment when potting tall plants. Find coarse sand at hardware stores and "big box" building centers.

3. Use compost in organic potting soil mix for its affordability, for its nutrient-rich properties and for ease of production. The National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service recommends making compost from a recipe using specific ingredients. Add compost, for example, with properties including a pH level of 6.5 to 8.0, and no more than trace amounts of sulfides, nitrates and soluble salts.

4. Supplement organic potting mix with nitrogen. Add alfalfa meal to the soil when growing seedlings for several weeks, advises the Prairie View A&M University Cooperative Extension Program.

Tags: coarse sand, organic potting, potting soil, your organic potting, Agriculture Information, Agriculture Information Service, classic soil-based

Firm Up The Neck With Facial Exercises

Tone your neck by completing a series of exercises.

Your neck and chin sag as you get older, but you can do facial exercises to limit this tendency. While exercising your entire body reduces the amount of neck fat that will increase sagging, facial exercises can also limit the saggy look. The exercises help to increase firm the muscles. When doing the exercises, it is important to keep the rest of your face relaxed. Repeat each exercise two to three times and hold each exercise for 10 seconds. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Stick out your chin and smile. This will work the platysma muscle at the center front of your neck.

2. Stick your chin up and try to kiss the ceiling. This exercise not only works the majority of the front neck muscles, but also the lips.

3. Turn your head to the right. Tip your chin up. Put the tip of your tongue onto the roof of your mouth and then smile and swallow. This will work the small muscles near your Adams apple.

4. Turn your head to the left. Tip your chin up. Put the tip of your tongue to the roof of your mouth and then smile and swallow.

5. Turn your head to the front. Tip your chin up. Put the tip of your tongue to the roof of your mouth and then smile and swallow.

Tags: your chin, chin your, chin your tongue, mouth then, mouth then smile, roof your, roof your mouth

Make Organic Red Wine

Make your own organic red wine with organically-grown grapes.

Organic wine, according to the USDA, is wine made from organically grown grapes and must not contain sulfites. (See Reference 1.) Organic red wine should come from grapes that are grown without chemical fertilizers, insecticides, weed killers and other synthetic chemicals. Red wine that is 100 percent organic, without the preservation assistance of sulfites, must be consumed within 18 months to ensure that there has been no bacteria growth and to prevent the wine from turning into a vinegar. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Instructions

1. Harvest or acquire organically-grown ripe red grapes from a wine vineyard. Use a straining bag within a large bucket to crush the grapes inside the bag until all the grapes have been thoroughly crushed inside the bag.

2. Cover the bucket with a cheesecloth and let it sit for at least one hour.

3. Dissolve yeast into a pint of warm water and allow the yeast to sit for 10 minutes.

4. Remove the cheesecloth and pour the warm yeast water over the straining bag within the bucket and stir gently.

5. Return the cheesecloth to cover the top surface of the bucket and leave the bucket in a warm area for at least 24 hours for fermentation. Stir the mixture once every 12 hours.

6. Remove the straining bag from the bucket after the 24-hour fermentation process and squeeze out any remaining liquid. Cover the bucket again with the cheese cloth and let the wine sit for 24 hours.

7. Transfer the wine into a large sanitized jug and top it off with water that has been boiled and cooled. Fit the jug with a bung and fermentation lock to seal it. Repeat this process into another jug after 10 days.

8. Let the wine settle for at least a month, and then siphon it into clean and sanitized bottles. Cork the bottles and store them in a cool and dark location.

Tags: Cover bucket, Organic wine, straining within

Market Fresh Herbs

The growth of herbs is one of the fastest growing markets out there. Herbs are used to flavor our foods for health, for beauty products and for fragrance. Marketing fresh herbs is easy and a fun way to start a business or to make some extra money for you and your family.

Instructions

1. Decide where you want to market your fresh herbs. You can sell them to restaurants, garden stores, home improvement stores, beauty stores and even specialty gift shops as unique gifts.

2. Learn about grow your fresh market herbs successfully. You may want to start with one or two types that grow well in your climate so you can learn the most before investing time and effort into something you're still learning about. There are also books, classes and other herbal farmers that can help you learn grow your herbs.

3. Consider growing your herbs organically. While this may cost a little more in the beginning, you will have higher-quality herbs and be able to charge a little more than your competitors are. Organic farming is extremely popular now.

4. Hire a webmaster to create a website. Thanks to the Internet, you no longer need a storefront to market your fresh herbs. You will need a good, professional-looking website that clearly states all the information buyers would need to know.

5. Think about joining national and state herbal associations. These associations will allow you to network with other herbal farmers and learn all that you can so you can successfully market your herbs.

Tags: market your, your fresh, your herbs, fresh herbs, grow your, herbal farmers, little more

Great Mail Order Food Business Ideas

Great Mail Order Food Business Ideas

Mail-order food businesses should find a niche and be creative to stand out from the competition. Consumers tend to shop online for convenience, to purchase products not readily available to them or to save time, and these needs must be taken in account.

Think Local

Many foods are specific to one area, such as Wisconsin cheddar cheese, Vermont maple syrup or Hawaiian pineapples or macadamia nuts. Some local farmers make proprietary food products such as artisan cheese. There is a natural demand for these products from consumers who do not live in the immediate area.

Consider Health Issues

Meals or foods that target a particular health issue are well-suited for a mail-order food business. Think sugar-free foods for diabetics, or gluten-free foods for people with Celiac disease.

Pairings

Pair up one food with another that complements it, or with something non-edible: pate de foie gras with a bottle of brandy, cookies with gourmet hot cocoa mix and a mug, barbecue foods with a red-checkered tablecloth.

Ethnic Cuisines

Create food baskets that include common or traditional foods from one particular country. A "Best of Britain" gift basket could include tea, marmite, haggis, clotted cream and cookies (or biscuits, as cookies are known in Great Britain). A "Missing India" gift basket could provide an assortment of curries.

Age Groups

Many mail-order food businesses forget that their adult customers may also want to send gifts to their children or grandchildren. Tailor a gift basket for one particular group such as college students or tweens.

Tags: gift basket, basket could, Business Ideas, Food Business, Food Business Ideas, food businesses, gift basket could

Enjoy A Coconut Oil And Low Carb Diet

Coconut

A coconut oil and low carb diet can help you lose weight and feel great at the same time. The great thing about eating a coconut oil and low carb diet is that you can nourish your body with delicious foods while trimming your body to its optimal size, or maintaining your ideal body weight. The coconut oil miracle is that coconut fat is used for energy, not stored, by your body. Here's get started on a coconut oil and low carb diet.

Instructions

1. Read the book "Eat Fat, Lose Fat: Lose Weight And Feel Great With The Delicious, Science-based Coconut Diet" by Sally Fallon and Mary Enig to research the benefits of a coconut oil and low carb diet. See Resources, below, for books to read and cookbooks to help you with your coconut oil diet.

2. Make a menu plan for your own coconut oil and low carb diet using the suggestions in Sally Fallon's book and other organic coconut oil resources.

3. Purchase extra virgin organic coconut oil and transition to your coconut oil and low carb diet by cutting out high-carb, empty calories from your diet and replacing with good fats and nutrient-dense foods such as eggs, yogurt, coconut oil smoothie and other delicious snacks.

4. Make a new recipe each week or even every day as you transition to more natural foods on your coconut oil and low carb diet. Keep your diet interesting and delicious with new ideas and tastes.

Tags: coconut carb, coconut carb diet, carb diet, your coconut, your body, your coconut carb

Make A Holiday Cookbook

Remember to add festive photos.

Would you like to make a gift for your family that is truly special? A gift that captures the holidays you’ve spent together? Then why not make a holiday cookbook? A cookbook is a wonderful way to capture those special moments into a treasured keepsake. Best of all, this is a gift that’s not only affordable, but very easy to make as well.

Instructions

1. Collect recipes. Almost every family member has a special recipe they make at the holidays. Take time to ask for these special recipes so that they can be included in your holiday cookbook. Everyone will love having Aunt Mildred’s Coconut Cake in the same cookbook as Uncle Fred’s Cola Baked Ham. When you combine an entire family’s recipes into one holiday cookbook, you truly end up with a special keepsake that everyone will treasure.

2. Choose the book type. You can make your holiday cookbook using a binder or even a journal. If you want to type and then print the recipes, a binder is the best choice. On the other hand, a journal makes a wonderful holiday cookbook if you plan on writing each recipe by hand.

3. Create sections. You can make a simply Christmas cookbook that features typical sections, such as appetizers and desserts or you can take things one step further by including several different holidays. If you choose this route, make sure to keep each holiday together and break it into smaller sections.

4. Take pictures. When you add photos to your holiday cookbook, you make the recipes even more appetizing. If you like, you can ask each family member to create the recipe and take a picture of them with the final product. If you use a binder, you can incorporate the picture into the recipe page before printing. When using a journal, you will want to use double sided tape to attach the photo next to the recipe.

5. Make it special. A holiday cookbook should be something special. It should be more than just recipes. You should also include stories and a dedication. It’s also important to include recipes from family members that have passed on. If a family member has recently passed on, you may want to include an “In Memory” page.

Tags: holiday cookbook, your holiday cookbook, family member, your holiday, gift that

Become A Bosch Bread Mixer Dealer

Become a Bosch Bread Mixer Dealer

Bosch makes a wide variety of large and small appliances for the home including refrigerators, microwaves, stoves, blenders and bread mixers. The company sells its products through authorized dealers and representatives with their own stores. To become a Bosch bread mixer dealer, you'll need to work with Kitchen Resource LLC, Bosch's main distributor.

Instructions

1. Visit the Kitchen Resource LLC website. Bosch is a billion-dollar international company that depends on Kitchen Resource LLC to act as its main distributor. Kitchen Resource LLC handles wholesale orders and determines which companies act as distributors of Bosch products.

2. Fill out the application to become a Bosch dealer. The application covers basic information relating to your company, such as the name and address of your shop, the amount of money the store makes every year and your business identification or tax ID number.

3. Read the information provided by the company about the sale of products. The application includes information relating to the three levels of sales offered on the products, including wholesale costs, the policy it has in place regarding the advertising of those products and policies on selling over the Internet.

4. Sign all the papers associated with becoming a dealer and mail back the completed forms to Kitchen Resource LLC. The company also allows distributors to file the forms by sending the packet through email or fax. You need to sign both the finished application and an acceptance form, indicating that you read the necessary documents.

5. Place your first order with the company to begin the process of selling Bosch bread mixers, once you're approved as a distributor. If you're selected, you're able to place wholesale orders. If your application was denied, you should apply again once you have more experience and you increase the sales of your business.

Tags: Kitchen Resource, Bosch Bread Mixer, Bread Mixer, Bread Mixer Dealer, bread mixers, information relating

Soul Food Restaurants In Philadelphia Pennsylvania

Soul food derives primarily from the southern United States, featuring recipes particularly popular among African-American communities. Soul food cuisine generally includes fried meats, especially pork, seafood and chicken, as well as a sampling of vegetables like okra and sweet potatoes. African-Americans comprise more than 40 percent of Philadelphia's population. As a result, the city features its share of soul food restaurants.

Elena's Soul Lounge

Elena's Soul Lounge is in Philadelphia's Cedar Park neighborhood. Housed within a three-story brownstone building, the lounge features a relaxed interior complete with a stage for live musical performances. The menu includes such items as pork chops, hamburgers and fried shrimp, served alongside such side samplings as collard greens, candied yams and macaroni and cheese. Drinks include various beers, martinis and mixed drinks. The restaurant offers take-out service as well.

Elena's Soul Lounge

4912 Baltimore Ave.

Philadelphia, PA 19143

215-724-3043

elenassoul.com

Fatou & Fama

Situated in Universal City, Fatou & Fama offers an unusual mixture of soul food, West African and West Indian cuisine. Soul food samplings include such standard dishes as southern fried chicken, fried catfish and grilled tilapia. Soul food platters come with two side orders, including fried plantains, black eyed peas and corn bread. Guests dine in a sleek and modern setting, outfitted with recessed lighting and white cloth-covered tables. The restaurant also features on and off-site catering services.

Fatou & Fama

4002 Chestnut St.

Philadelphia, PA 19104

215-386-0700

fatouandfama.com

Warmdaddy's

Warmdaddy's is along the Delaware River, in Philadelphia's Pennsport neighborhood. The dining hall has a casual environment, outfitted with exposed brick walls, neon signs and a stage for live music acts. Entree items include colossal fried jumbo shrimp, barbecue Atlantic salmon, po-boy sandwiches and a chicken and waffles combo. Desserts include such southern favorites as sweet potato cheesecake, red velvet cake and peach berry cobbler. Warmdaddy's includes a special menu for large parties, as well as a buffet brunch menu.

Warmdaddy's

1400 Columbus Blvd.

Philadelphia, PA 19147

215-462-2000

warmdaddys.com

Tags: Elena Soul, Elena Soul Lounge, Fatou Fama, Soul food, Soul Lounge

How Much Money Does A Healthcare Manager Make

Health-care managers handle the business affairs of medical facilities, ensuring that staff and materials are coordinated efficiently and that patient records are secured according to the law. A master's degree in health-care management is typically required. The highest-paid managers can make nearly three times what the lowest-paid ones earn.

Basics

As of May 2009, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said the median compensation of health-care managers is $39.35 hourly or $81,850 yearly. The bottom 10 percent make $23.92 or $49,750 and the upper 10 percent receive $67.45 or $140,300.

Industries

The type of industry can decide compensation. This job's highest-paying are pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing, with salaries at $75.02 or $156,050; navigational, measuring, electromedical and control instruments manufacturing, with salaries at $68.13 or $141,720; medical equipment and supplies manufacturing, with salaries at $64.41 or $133,980; scientific research and development services, with salaries at $64.05 or $133,220; and electronic shopping and mail-order houses, with salaries at $63.95 or $133,020.

States

The state in which a job is performed can dictate rates. This profession's highest-paying are Washington, in which rates are $52.63 or $109,460; Massachusetts, with pay of $51.45 or $107,020; Rhode Island, with pay of $51.02 or $106,120; New Jersey, with pay of $51.01 or $106,100; and New York, with pay of $50.80 or $105,670.

Cities

The city of employment can decide salaries. The top five highest-paying for this job are Salinas, Ca., with a rate of $63.77 or $132,650; San Jose, Ca., with a rate of $59.00 or $122,730; Lawrence, Mass., with a rate of $58.36 or $121,390; Burlington, Vt., with a rate of $57.59 or $119,780; and Seattle, Wash., with a rate of $57.09 or $118,750.

Employment Levels

The areas with the greatest employment numbers do not offer the best salaries. For example, the industries with the greatest employment levels are general medical and surgical hospitals, in which compensation is $46.47 or $96,660; and the offices of physicians, in which compensation is $42.62 or $88,650. The locales with the greatest concentrations of health-care managers are the District of Columbia, with a rate of $46.19 or $96,080; and New York, with a rate of $50.80 or $105,670. Finally, The cities with the highest employment levels are Jackson, Tenn., in which rates are $33.43 or $69,540; and Shreveport, La., in which rates are $31.50 or $65,510.

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Tips On Buying Garden Seeds For Resale

A mix of flower seeds for possible resale

Purchase seeds for resale online, at farmer's markets, feed stores or by placing an ad in local papers. Whether you're looking for high-quality wholesale, bulk or rare seeds, research before buying makes the process as smooth as possible. Does this Spark an idea?

Keep Your Sources Secret

Do not give your sources away. Keep them secret from not only competitors, but customers and friends as well. This is not a dishonest practice; it is merely keeping you in business. If you buy from online auctions, create a separate account for purchasing seeds so customers cannot track your purchase.

There is really no such thing as a "secret" auction. All a customer has to do is check that seller's items to know where you get your seeds.

Buy Quality Seeds

Purchase only the freshest seeds possible. Examine the packaging closely for pests or a large quantity of debris. If you spot these problems in the packaging, they are not quality seeds. Avoid doing business with companies that offer sub-par products. Your customers probably have enough gardening experience to know when they're sold poor quality seeds. In addition, older seeds germinate poorly; ask for proof of the seed age before you purchase them.

Ask for Simple Packaging

Inquire about simple, inexpensive packaging options. Fancy, colorful packaging costs more to produce than plain waxed paper or plastic bags---the company passes their extra costs, or savings on to you.

Wait for Discount Seeds

Often companies offer steep discounts on overstocked seeds. They will, at times, offer discounts when you place large orders or offer to advertise their services. Contact seed distributors for further information regarding discounts.

Check with the Better Business Bureau

The Better Business Bureau offers potential buyers the chance to check up on a business. steer clear of those businesses with poor scores. Searching for reviews of the company over the Internet can yield helpful feedback as well.

Tags: Better Business, Better Business Bureau, Business Bureau, quality seeds, seeds possible

Design A Green Senior Center

Depending on your area, you could use "gray water" to water your plants.

Designing a senior center can be intimidating, but when you are trying to design a "green," sustainable or environmentally friendly one, it can easily be overwhelming. Different ways to approach designing a green senior center will fit different budgets and environmentally friendly beliefs.

Instructions

1. Purchase, rent or build your center. Whichever you decide to do, look for "green" options like energy star appliances, electricity-saving light bulbs, low-pressure toilets--or even composting toilets, if you're daring--and well-sealed windows. Remember: rooms facing the sun save money and energy on light and heating.

2. Install "green" systems. Solar panel prices have gone down considerably since they first became available to the public. Grey water systems use shower, sink, dishwater and sometimes toilet water. Water your garden with gray water, instead of wasting it.

3. Use plants native to your area in the landscaping. Xeriscaping, for example, is a kind of desert landscaping without grass, which requires massive amounts of water. When you use indigenous fauna, your plants are likely to grow better and faster and need less attention, since the location and weather are optimal for them.

4. Make your center self-sustaining. The fewer items you need to bring in from outside, the easier it is to be "green" since you will not have to rely on exterior measures. Consider planting kitchen gardens. If you opt for composting toilets, use the compost in the garden or use a worm bin to compost kitchen scraps. Your clients may even enjoy participating in garden-related activities.

Tags: composting toilets, environmentally friendly, gray water, senior center, your area

Economic Factors Affecting Businesses

Economic factors in a global economy

Economic factors affecting businesses are regulation, access to credit, demand for goods and/or services and technological advancement. Savvy businesspeople need to stay on the pulse of future changes in business in order to compete and advance instead of trying to catch up and adapt later. Employing the latest relevant technologies will increase the economic advantage of any business competing in the global economy.

Regulation

Local and federal regulations influence how well a business can take advantage of economic opportunities and adapt to the changing economic landscape. Regulation standards affect the ability of smaller businesses to create jobs and revenue. Efficient laws on bankruptcy ensure that assets are quickly reallocated. Stable property rights and investment protection establish trust so that investors start investing again.

Credit

Businesses grow when they experience low interest rates because a low rate ensures that it will cost less to get the needed financial resources to start or expand a business, or stave off bankruptcy. Businesses are influenced by the interest rate, wage rate and rate of inflation, all of which measure the general cost of doing business. If these rates rise, so does the cost of maintaining a business, which in turn necessitates higher prices for products and services. The interest rate affects retail sales, as lower rates indicate that people have more disposable income to spend. The mortgage meltdown that started in 2007 made lenders increasingly cautious about the risks of all loans.

Supply and demand

Demand = Sales = Profit

When the demand for a product or service declines, so does growth. This can result in pricing pressures and lost customers. The profitability of a business depends upon consumer spending reflected in the demand for products and services. High interest rates, foreclosures and unemployment undermine consumer spending as both businesses and individuals juggle the increasing cost of business with decreasing demand for their goods and services.

Technology

Technology expedites business.

Technology has improved customer service and demand. This is especially true of modern communication technology, because online databases enable vast quantities of information to be shared easily and quickly between businesses and their customers. Digital technology positively impacts the distribution of goods and services via the Internet, improving the speed and efficiency with which goods and services are accessed by consumers and then delivered via online businesses.

Tags: goods services, consumer spending, global economy, interest rate, interest rates, products services

Import Eggs

Egg imports are strictly regulated in the United States.

Importing any kind of food can be difficult, especially when you're doing it in mass quantities. The United States government has strict guidelines in place to control the import of eggs. The primary aim of these guidelines is to prevent the spread of disease and the contamination of American livestock. Although the rules are stringent, you should still be able to import eggs, as long as you give yourself plenty of time and fill out all of the necessary paperwork.

Instructions

1. Order eggs from an official company website or a food exporter website if you are only ordering a small number for personal use. These websites allow users to import eggs for personal consumption. In the United States, ordering this way is likely to be costly and impractical, unless you are ordering from Canada, where restrictions are less severe.

2. Obtain a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) import permit from the official website. Fill out the form according to the instructions. You do not need this permit if importing eggs by land from Canada.

3. Pay the export company the necessary money for the number of eggs you are importing and have it send you a copy of a veterinary health certificate for the flock from which your eggs are coming. You will need to prove the flock's health to the United States government before you are able to import any eggs. The certificate must be in English and must show the flock as free from diseases such as Newcastle disease and Egg Drop syndrome.

4. Check the Fish and Wildlife Service website to see if it regulates the kind of eggs you wish to import, or if you need to go through the USDA. File the necessary paperwork with the United States government by mail through the appropriate department. Wait for approval.

5. Check the Animal and Plant Health Inspection website for a list of countries from which you are not able to import. America has a ban on poultry products from several countries, but these countries often change, so ensure that it is legal to import eggs from the country from which you are ordering them.

Tags: United States, import eggs, able import, from which, States government

Store Bread

Keep crusty bakery bread in its original paper sleeve. Do not put it in a plastic bag, as it will retain too much moisture and become spongy. To prevent bakery bread from drying out, save the end piece and use it as an end protector. You can also place the bread cut end down on a breadboard.

Instructions

1. Freshly baked bread that will be eaten immediately can be wrapped in a clean towel and kept on a breadboard.

2. Keep sliced store bought sandwich bread it in its original plastic packaging to help the bread to retain moisture. It should be stored at room temperature in a cool dark place. Sunlight will cause bread to dry out, and if it is in a humid place, it will grow mold.

3. Bread keepers are the ideal place for keeping bread for up to a week. They maintain the cool dark atmosphere that bread needs. While a wood, metal, or clay breadbox is ideal, in areas where bugs are abundant, a plastic bread keeper that allows bread to breathe is a good option.

4. For long-term storage, wrap pre-sliced bread in plastic wrap with the air removed and put it in the freezer. It is difficult to slice bread after it has been frozen. It will keep for three to four months.

Tags: bakery bread, bread original, cool dark

Spelt Flour Vs White Flour

Spelt Flour vs. White Flour

Spelt flour comes from an ancient type of wheat that contains gluten. Commonly used white flour or all-purpose white flour is wheat flour from which the bran and germ have been removed. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Spelt Flour

Individuals who are allergic to wheat can generally eat spelt without reacting to it, according to Food.com. Because spelt has gluten, it's appropriate for breadmaking. However, the gluten is more fragile than in other wheat flours, according to BakingBites.com.

White Flour

White flour is appropriate for many baking uses, including bread. White flour consists of different varieties of wheat that are ground and mixed together. The flour must be enriched to replace nutrients that are lost during processing.

Kneading

Spelt flour is heavier than white flour and has a nutty taste. But unlike regular wheat gluten, which is quite resilient, spelt gluten is weaker, so spelt flour should be kneaded for a shorter time so as not to break down the gluten, which might result in a crumbly product.

Tags: Flour White, Flour White Flour, gluten which, Spelt Flour White, spelt gluten

Diy Vitamin C Serum

Good for your face, too

Vitamin C is a popular ingredient in skin-care products, due to its ability to stimulate collagen production and protect the skin from free radicals. However, most skin products with a high concentration of vitamin C (5 to 20 percent) are expensive, and oxidize very quickly. Once vitamin C oxidizes, it's ineffective. You can make a cheaper, more effective version of a vitamin C serum with only three simple ingredients. Does this Spark an idea?

Ingredients

Although commercial products may have ingredient lists full of unpronounceable names, you only need three simple ingredients to make your own vitamin C serum: 1/4 tsp. powdered vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid; you can find it at most drug or health stores), 1 tsp. pure vegetable glycerin (available at health stores) and 1 tsp. distilled water.

You can play around with this recipe. If your skin is particularly sensitive, reduce the amount of vitamin C to 1/8 tsp. For drier skin, increase the glycerin. For a soothing, scented serum, substitute rose water for the distilled water.

Directions

Dissolve the vitamin C in the water. You may need to use a whisk or a blender if the powder refuses to dissolve. Stir in the glycerin.

Pour the mixture into a small, colored glass bottle (blue or amber glass works wonderfully). Dark glass prevents the vitamin C from oxidizing. If the powder hasn't quite dissolved, simply shake the bottle vigorously until it does.

Application & Storage

Use a cotton ball or your fingers to smooth the serum all over your face. A little tingling sensation is fine, but too much tingling means your skin needs less vitamin C. It's very important to follow this with an application of sunscreen, since vitamin C leaves your skin sensitive to light.

Thankfully, when you make your own vitamin C serum, you have complete control over the serum's shelf life. Instead of whipping up a month's worth of serum and having to throw it out when it begins to oxidize, you can make a few days worth at a time. Try to make a new batch every five days to guarantee that your skin is getting the freshest, most potent treatment. Store your serum in the refrigerator for extra protection against oxidation.

Tags: your skin, your vitamin serum, distilled water, health stores, make your, make your vitamin, simple ingredients

Keep Turkey Warm & Moist After Cooking

Enjoy a warm and moist turkey with your friends and family during the holidays.

After you select the right turkey to cook, you will soon be preparing it to roast in the oven. Roasting a turkey in the oven can be a challenge, and you want everything to turn out right so that everyone enjoys the poultry. After you spend the time to cook the turkey, you will need to properly keep it warm and moist or it can dry out. If you do not allow the juices to distribute throughout the turkey before you carve it, you can end up with meat that lacks flavor and tastes dry. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Instructions

Short Term

1. Remove the turkey from the oven.

2. Allow the turkey to sit for 15 to 20 minutes at room temperature. This will allow the juices to spread throughout the turkey to keep it moist.

3. Carve the turkey and serve immediately.

Long Term

4. Remove the turkey from the oven.

5. Keep the turkey in the roasting pan. Wrap foil around the turkey and the pan.

6. Place a large towel over the turkey for one to two hours to keep it moist and warm.

Tags: allow juices, from oven, keep moist, Remove turkey, Remove turkey from, Term Remove

Palm Oil Soap Recipes

Making your own soap is fun and affordable, and allows you to be creative with the scents, textures and shape of your soap bars. When used in moderation, palm oil, an extract from the seeds of the oil palm plant, helps soap bars retain their hardness and will promote a stable and creamy soap bar. The oil can cause bars to dry out if used excessively, so palm oil should account for 50% of the oil used in hand soap bars and 30% of the oil used in facial bars.

Oatmeal Palm Oil Soap

Because oatmeal has natural moisturizing properties, this soap is great for dry or sensitive skin. To make, carefully combine 2 ounces of lye and 8 ounces of water (pour the lye into the water carefully to prohibit splashing) and stir until lye is dissolved, then set aside to cool to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Next, melt 10 ounces of palm oil and 4 ounces of coconut oil together and set aside to cool. In a blender, mix 2 ounces of olive oil with 1/4 cup of old-fashioned oatmeal (not instant), and blend until ground. Slowly pour the lye into the coconut and palm oil mixture, stirring constantly. When soap can be drizzled across the top and remain for one second, add the oatmeal mixture and stir well. Pour mixture into molds, wrap in towels and put aside for 48 hours. Unmold and allow to stand for three weeks before using.

Palm Oil Facial Soap

This soap creates small bubbles that cleanse the skin. It is light enough to be used on sensitive or facial skin. To create, add 15 ounces of lye to 41 ounces of water and set aside to cool to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Next, heat and combine 56 ounces of tallow, 22 ounces of palm oil and 28 ounces of olive oil. Stir continuously to break up fats. Next, slowly pour the lye into the fats and stir constantly. When drizzle remains on top of mixture for one second, pour the mixture into molds and wrap in towels. Put aside for 48 hours, then unmold and allow to stand for three weeks before using.

Milk and Cocoa Butter Palm Oil Soap

This soap is ideal for dry skin, because the cocoa butter and milk both have natural moisturizing properties. To make, pour 2 ounces of lye to 3 ounces of water. Next, heat and combine 6 ounces of cocoa butter, 6 ounces of palm oil and 3 ounces of castor oil. Stir constantly until well blended. Next, add 4 ounces of cold milk. Add lye mixture to the oils and immediately blend and pour into molds. Allow to sit for 48 hours, then unmold and allow to stand for three weeks before using.

Tags: pour into, allow stand, allow stand three, aside cool, before using, combine ounces

Slaughter A Turkey

There may be numerous ways to cook a turkey, but there is only one tried and true way to prepare it for the fire. If you want to give your next Thanksgiving meal a more personal touch, then you will definately be able to put this method to good use. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Instructions

Preparing A Live Turkey

1. Fill one of the vessels with water halfway to the top, then begin boiling it. Put on rubber gloves.

2. Stretch the turkey's neck across the chopping block, then behead it with the hatchet.

3. Give the body a few moments to stop flailing, then use the strong string/rope to hang the tukey upside down. This will allow the blood to drain out.

4. Submerge the body up to its feet in the boiling water to scald it. Dip the turkey for 5-10 minutes, depending on size.

5. Remove the turkey from the water, place in the second vessel and begin to pluck the feathers from the body. The scalding should make this part much easier.

6. Use the butcher knife to cut the turkey completely open, starting from the collarbone and ending at the rectum.

7. Pick out the entrails by hand.

8. Wash and dry the turkey in a sink.

9. Refrigerate the turkey immediately if it is not going to be directly served .

Getting Ready To Serve

10. Cut the wings off using the butcher knife.

11. Remove the drumsticks from the thighs at the joints.

12. Cut straight down the ribcage (on both sides) to remove the breast from the carcass.

13. Cut straight down along the breastbone to separate the breast in half.

Tags: butcher knife, straight down

Make A Biogas Plant At Home

Make a Biogas Plant at Home

Biogas occurs when organic material, such as manure or kitchen waste, breaks down because of lack of oxygen. This breaking down of organic material results in a mixture of about 70 percent methane and 30 percent carbon dioxide mixed with several other trace elements. This mixture can be used as a source of fuel for cooking or powering certain types of engines. Though challenging, you can make your own biogas plant at home and reap the benefits of this power source. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Dig a hole that is about half as deep as the barrel. Set up the barrel, which will serve as the digester, so that half of it is in the ground. This will aid in maintaining a constant temperature so that the waste can ferment.

2. Use the large ball-shaped vessel as the central storage unit to hold the gas. Install the vessel at a higher elevation than the digester so that the gas will be able to be pumped upward.

3. Connect the pipes to the low-power pump. Use the pipes to connect the low-power pump to the barrel and the barrel to the storage vessel. The pump aids in moving the gas to the storage vessel. You can then connect the storage vessel to your home to use as a source of fuel.

4. Place organic material into the digester. Leave the digester untouched for at least eight hours to allow the organic material to ferment.

Tags: organic material, storage vessel, barrel barrel, Biogas Plant, digester that

Build Chicken Coops For Free

Chickens instinctively enter a coop at night to roost.

Chickens are not picky when it comes to their coop. The coop functions as a place for them to roost at night, to get out of unpleasant weather and to lay their eggs. A coop should also protect the chickens from predators and look somewhat decent on the outside. Building a chicken coop for free takes some scavenging for materials and borrowed tools if you don't own them. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Pull all the nails from the junk pallets and set aside for later use. When removing these nails, try to keep them as straight as possible.

2. Lay a pallet on the ground to act as the floor of the coop. Using four other pallets, form an open-topped box. Each of the four should stand on end, with slats running horizontally so that they are parallel to the ground. Using the nails salvaged from spare pallets, nail each upright pallet to the floor pallet. Nail at an angle every 6 inches through the outer horizontal slats adjoining the floor pallet. Each upright pallet will have two to three vertical 2-by-4" studs. Nail at a downward angle wherever one of these studs meets the floor pallet.

3. Decide which two pallets are the sides and which two are the front and back of the coop.

4. Remove three cross slats from a spare pallet with a crowbar or claw hammer. These slats will be the roosts.

5. Climb inside the coop with a tape measure and pencil. Locate and mark the center of each side pallet.

6. Place a slat just above the center mark to span the width of the coop. Fit the ends of this roost slat between two cross slats of the side pallets. Nail the roost slat in place at each end to connect it to the cross slats. This slat will be the lower roost.

7. Measure 12 inches up from the lower roost and mark this point on each side pallet. From each of these marks, measure and mark points 12 inches toward the back pallet and 12 inches toward the front pallet. Use the marked points as guides for placement of two upper roost slats. Insert the slats and nail in place as you did for the lower roost slat.

8. Line the floor and inner walls of the coop with cardboard and nail in place. Put a piece of cardboard on one side of the remaining structurally sound pallet and then lay it on top of the coop, cardboard side face down. Connect the pallet to the upright pallets with pieces of wire or twine to act as the roof of the coop. Using a hand saw, cut a hole 12 inches square in the front wall of the coop to serve as the entrance.

9. Cut another hole 12 inches square in the back wall of the coop to act as the egg collecting door. Fill the coop with a few inches of dried grasses. Cut off the bottom 8 inches of a 5-gallon bucket. Fill this bucket nest with 4 inches of dried grasses and put it inside the coop. Cover the egg collecting door with a piece of carpet and nail it in place.

10. Lay a piece of plastic over the roof of the coop and set some rocks or bricks on it to hold it down. Lay two railroad ties on the ground and place the coop on top of the ties to get it off the ground.

Tags: coop with, cross slats, floor pallet, lower roost, nail place, roost slat, cardboard side

Grow Wheat Grass To Eat

Wheat grass is full of vitamins and minerals, and has a reputation for curing and preventing disease. While there is a debate on just how healthy wheat grass really is, there is no denying that it is nutritious. Eating wheat grass is easy. Just blend it into a smoothie or make juice out of it. But before you can do that, you're going to need to know grow it. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Place wheat grass seeds in a jar. Fill the jar with room temperature water and let it sit by a window for 12 hours. The seeds will sprout during this time.

2. Combine top soil and peat moss into an equal mixture. Fill your seed tray, two inches deep, with this mixture.

3. Remove the wheat grass seeds from the jar. Drop the on top of the mixture in the seed tray. The seeds can touch, but don't pile them on top of each other.

4. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of peat moss.

5. Place the seed tray in indirect sunlight. This can be inside of a window that gets some sunlight, or outside on a deck or porch that is not getting full sun.

6. Water lightly twice a day.

7. Harvest your wheat grass when it has grown to about seven inches tall. This should take at least a week.

Tags: wheat grass, seed tray, grass seeds, peat moss, wheat grass seeds

How Fruits And Vegetables Rot

Discolored areas may indicate spoilage of fruits or vegetables.

Fruits and vegetables rot once they can no longer sustain their biological processes. Even fruits and vegetables still attached to their life-support systems or trees of vines can "go bad" if fungi or pests attack and compromise the outer skin. Harvested fruits and vegetables rot more quickly if handled or stored improperly. FoodService warns that in some cases, spoiled foods can develop pathogens capable of causing food poisoning in people who eat them. Does this Spark an idea?

Natural Processes

In a way, picking a fruit or vegetable off the vine or tree begins the spoilage process. Once the fruit or vegetable has no connection to the living plant it cannot repair its cells or defend its tissues against natural deterioration, according to Food Hygiene Essentials. Rot then occurs when the outer membrane that preserves and protects the inner part of a fruit or vegetable suffers damage. The damage allows outside elements to enter the food, breaking down cell integrity and causing the fruit or vegetable to change its texture, smell, appearance or taste as it deteriorates.

Infestation

While fruits and vegetables deteriorate naturally, predatory microorganisms like fungi can speed this process. According to FoodService, these strains of mold or yeast bacteria release enzymes to eat away at fruits or vegetables while growing on them. Some manufacturers encourage a certain controlled amount of bacterial "aging" in foods to give them a distinctive flavor. Beer makers, for instance, add yeast to barley to create a kind of controlled rot called fermentation to produce alcohol, according to the Birmingham Beverage Company.

Contributing Factors

Any process that weakens or breaches the outer walls of the fruit or vegetable can speed deterioration, according to FoodService. Foods that endure rough packing or shipping may receive bruises or other damage that allow oxygen or microorganisms inside. Fruits or vegetables exposed to insects or other pests may suffer spoilage. Extremes of temperature during storage may also encourage rot.

Symptoms

Different kinds of deterioration present different signs. According to MadSci Network, mold appears as a gray, white, green or blue area on the surfaces or interiors of foods. Mold may also have a fuzzy texture. Deteriorated fruits and vegetables may develop a slimy feel. Any fruit or vegetable that smells or tastes "off" has probably spoiled. Avoid eating such items, whether or not they show any visible signs of rot.

Prevention

Food manufacturers, sellers and purchasers can take steps to reduce the chances that their fruits and vegetables will rot. Producers of canned or processed fruits and vegetables include preservative agents that can discourage rot and extend the shelf life of these foods. To keep unprocessed fruits and vegetables fresh, manufacturers, distributors and sellers must keep them in a temperature-controlled area free of pests, and must throw out any fruits and vegetables that display signs of rot. Follow the same practices at home.

Tags: fruit vegetable, fruits vegetables, fruits vegetables, deterioration according

Store Food For Primitive Survival

In the case of a primitive survival situation, one where you no longer have access to fuel, running water and electricity, your stockpile of food and water will make all the difference. Establishing food storage is simple and only requires careful planning, maintenance and preparation. The method below is useful for storing any preserved and packaged survival food, including canned goods and pre-made, ready-to-eat meals. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Instructions

Storing Survival Food

1. Choose your location. You want your food storage to be on-site, that is, at your base of operations and not at an outside location. You want the storage location to be dry and dark. Some people opt for a large storage closet, while others use a corner of their garage or the attic.

2. Create elevation. If your storage is in the basement or on the ground floor of your house, use concrete paving stones to elevate it several inches off the floor, which will keep the food isolated in the case of flooding.

3. Make your storage air-tight. If your food is stored in a closet, seal the interior seams with silicone and put rubber seals on the door and at the floor level to keep the closet self-contained. This will also help keep out moisture. If your storage is in the garage or attic, make sure that every item is sealed in plastic. Most survival food already features airtight packaging, but make sure.

4. Check your storage. At least annually make sure that your storage is still adequate, that your supplies are still sound, and that all is as you want it to be.

5. Be prepared. Create a smaller, alternative storage away from the primary storage, just in case. Your storage location should also include a large supply of water, basic tools and other emergency supplies.

Tags: your storage, make sure, that your, food storage, garage attic, location want, make sure that

Earth Day Cake Decorations

Celebrate our planet on Earth Day.

Earth Day is a day for environmental awareness that takes place on April 22 every year. The holiday is a time to celebrate the beauty of our earth by taking the time to learn about how we can protect it. Bake a cake celebrating elements of the earth such as the sea, trees, flowers and leaves. Alternatively, bake a cake to show pride in your recycling practices, or to encourage others to participate in recycling. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Under the Sea

Celebrate the oceans of the earth by decorating a cake with under-the-sea decorations. Add blue food dye to white cake frosting and cover the cake. Sculpt fish, sea creatures, dolphins and octopus decorations using fondant or gum paste. Sculpt by hand, or use molds to shape the creatures. Create an underwater scene on top of a sheet cake by placing candy rocks and seashells at the lower edge, using fruit rolls and licorice lacing to create plants, and your sculpted fish and sea creatures floating through the water. As an alternative to sculpted creatures, purchase gummy fish and other sea creatures at a local candy supplier.

Trees, Flowers and Leaves

Create a cake with trees, flowers and leaves to celebrate the beauty of the earth. Bake a cake using a cake pan in the shape of a tree, flower or leaf and decorate by piping with icing. Alternatively, bake a sheet cake and hand pipe the shape of a tree trunk and branches using brown icing, and use leaf-shaped candies for the leaves. Sculpt three-dimensional fondant flowers and place them along the base of the tree. Create elaborate scenes, if desired, of jungle or forest landscapes.

Recycling

Order a custom edible print decoration from an edible image printing service with the recycle symbol, the image of the earth or "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" to place on top of a cake. Download a royalty-free image from the Internet to send to the printing service. Dye white icing with green or blue food coloring, add the icing to a round sheet cake, and add the edible print to the top. Alternatively, pipe the triple-arrow recycling symbol onto the center of the cake using white icing and add white sprinkles to the design for texture.

Earth Day Phrases

Embellish all of your decorated cakes with Earth Day Phrases such as "Go Green," "Back to Nature," "Think Green," or "Happy Earth Day." Purchase edible letters from a local cake-decorating store to spell out the phrases on the cakes. Edible letters come in a variety of font styles, such as block letters and script letters, in several colors. Alternatively, use the same fondant you used for making decorations, roll it flat using a fondant roller, and cut letters using cookie cutters.

Tags: sheet cake, Alternatively bake, beauty earth, blue food, cake using

Make Your Own Foundation Makeup

Make Your Own Foundation Makeup

Instead of spending hundreds or even thousands of dollars a year on cosmetics, you can make your own essential makeup items, like foundation face makeup, for just a few bucks. With just a few simple ingredients and an electric blender, you can literally whip up customized foundation for yourself and even your friends and relatives. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Purchase unscented cream base and unblended mica from makeup wholesalers. About an ounce of each will be enough to create a large jar of foundation makeup. Micas are natural minerals that come in a variety of colors. Splendid gold mica is a good base for almost any skin color. Check for links to suppliers in the resources section.

2. Grind the unblended mica to remove any lumps or hardened pieces. You can use a coffee grinder or mortar and pestle. You can also use the back of a spoon to break up the clumps.

3. Take 2 tablespoons of the cream base, 2 teaspoons of splendid gold mica and 1 teaspoon of oriental beige mica. This is a good foundation makeup recipe for beige or tan skintones. You can adjust the amount of mica you use to customize your own skin color. Sienna is a great color for darker skin tones.

4. Place ingredients for the foundation makeup in a medium plastic mixing bowl. Stir the contents with a spatula to combine the cream base and the mica.

5. Set the electric mixer on low or medium, and begin beating the mixture until the mica has completely blended with the cream base, and the overall color is uniform. About 5-10 minutes of whipping should be enough.

6. Transfer your finished foundation makeup into a glass jar for future use. Label it with the shade and ingredients for your reference.

Tags: cream base, foundation makeup, gold mica, Make Your, Make Your Foundation

Coconut Milk Vs Coconut Cream

Thai curry get its consistency from coconut milk.

The coconut contains a multitude of uses beneath its rustic shell. The white meat of the coconut can be dried and ground into flour, while the water in the hollow of the coconut is filled with nutrients and can be found in many health drinks. Coconut milk and cream are rich, flavorful substitutes for cow's milk and are especially useful for vegan cooks and those with dairy allergies. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Preparation

Neither coconut milk nor coconut cream are liquids found inside of a coconut. Coconut milk and cream are actually created by stewing freshly grated coconut in boiling water. After several hours the mixture is pressed, strained and allowed to rest so the cream may rise to the top. After skimming the cream, the coconut milk is diluted with water to produce the desired thickness of coconut milk. When making cream, the top layer is not skimmed away. The proportion of coconut used for coconut milk is different than that of coconut cream. Coconut milk is produced by boiling coconut with water on a 1 to 1 ratio, while coconut cream is made from one part water to four parts grated coconut.

Uses

Extremely rich and thick, coconut cream can be splashed in coffee or tea, whipped into a decadent dessert topping or made into homemade, dairy-free ice cream. Stirring a splash of lemon juice into a can of coconut milk and refrigerating the mixture results in a spread that is comparable to cream cheese. Coconut milk is slightly more versatile given its lower fat content and thinner consistency. Not only does coconut milk form the base for most traditional Thai curry dishes, but it can be used in baked goods for a sweet dessert. You can also substitute coconut milk for any recipe that calls for cream, though a light note of coconut flavor may be present in the finished product.

Where to Find

Coconut milk and cream can be found at any market that specializes in Thai groceries, as well as the Asian food section of many national supermarket chains. Both coconut milk and coconut cream come in cans and can be sweetened or unsweetened, so read the label carefully before you check out. Coconut milk also comes in "lite" or reduced-fat varieties. This means that more water was blended with the coconut milk after it was strained. In lower-grade brands, coconut flour is blended in to whiten and thicken the milk. In full-fat coconut milk, a dense layer of coconut cream sits on top of the milk. You can either shake the can to disperse the cream or skim the cream off with a spoon and save for later use.

Cream of Coconut

When scanning the grocery store aisles for coconut cream, make sure that you do not pick up a can of cream of coconut instead. Cream of coconut is a sweetened, coconut-based mixture that is popular for exotic cocktails and some desserts. The Pina Colada is the best-known cream of coconut cocktail. You can substitute cream of coconut for coconut cream in recipes for cakes and ice creams, but you will need to reduce the sugar called for by the recipe. The combination of sweetened cream of coconut and additional sugar will result in an overpoweringly sweet dish.

Tags: coconut cream, coconut milk, coconut cream, coconut milk, Coconut milk cream, cream coconut, milk coconut

Make Lip Gloss Last Longer

Make Lip Gloss Last Longer

Frustrated by lip gloss that disappears almost as soon as you apply it? Extend the wear of even thin, watery glosses with this trick. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Start with clean, exfoliated lips that are smooth and flake-free. Apply a light, even coat of colorless lip balm. Press lips together to help lip balm absorb into skin.

2. Trace over your natural lip line with a creamy nude lip liner and fill lips in with the same pencil. This creates a blank canvas if you have a specific color to use that you wish to show up in its truest possible shade. You can substitute an invisible or clear lip pencil if color is not your main concern, as long as you give your colored lip products a base to stick to.

3. Dip a sponge-tip applicator for lip products into a lip powder or into a powder pigment that is safe for use on lips. Use the color you want your lips to be. If you are keeping your lips nude, then a nude powder in the intensity that matches your purpose will suffice. Tap away excess before pressing product onto lips, staying within the boundary of your lip line.

4. Dab on clear lip gloss onto the center of both top and bottom lips. Smooth outwards with a lip brush, using your lip shape as a guideline and being careful to not go past your lip line.

5. Clean up any color outside your lip line with a cotton swab. Avoid smacking or rubbing lips together to prevent breaking down your lip product. Your lip gloss should now last considerably longer and even stay on for most of the day, given that eating, drinking or kissing do not interfere. In these cases, touch lips up as necessary.

Tags: your line, Gloss Last, Gloss Last Longer, into powder, Last Longer

Mix Broiler Chicken Feed

Mix Broiler Chicken Feed

Mixing your own broiler feed for chickens can be a cheap and easy alternative to the pricey feed store mixes. The following is a simple recipe for 500 pounds of chicken broiler mix. Feed this ration as you would any premixed feed. If you double the amount of corn in the broiler mix you can convert this into a great chick starter too.

Instructions

1. You should measure all your ingredients ahead of time. Measure out the amount needed of each grain and set aside. Get your container ready. It's not necessary but it is a good idea if your container or tub has a lid to protect from mice.

2. Start by pouring your corn and soybeans into your tub. With your hands mix them together well. There should be close to a 50/50 mix when you scoop a handful out.

3. Next, mix your oats, alfalfa, and fish meal into your base mix. This is where you might need your small shovel to reach the bottom of the container.

4. Finally mix in your aragonite and poultry nutri-balancer. Continue to mix until all ingredients are mixed evenly throughout.

5. Feed this mix in place of your regular chicken feed. Feed at the rate of 3 pounds for every five birds per day.

Tags: Broiler Chicken, Broiler Chicken Feed, Chicken Feed, Feed this, into your

Best Store Turnips

Store turnips in the freezer for a long-lasting storage option.

The best way to store turnips depends on how long you want them for. If you're going to be using them quickly, then the refrigerator works just fine. They'll last up to three weeks in the fridge. The freezer will keep turnips fresh for up to 10 months; so if you're not sure when you'll be using them, then the freezer might be a better bet. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Instructions

Storing in the Freezer

1. Wash the turnips; then peel and cut them into 1/2-inch cubes. You'll want to remove the roots.

2. Throw the turnips into boiling water and let them boil for two minutes. When done, immediately cool the turnips in cold water.

3. Drain out the water; then seal the turnips in an airtight container. Freezer bags work as well. Place in the fridge immediately.

Storing in the Refrigerator

4. Remove the roots with a cutting knife. If you want to save the roots, then store them in a separate bag.

5. Place turnips in a zip-lock bag, and squeeze out all the air. Then seal the bag tight.

6. Place in the refrigerator immediately.

Tags: using them

Kill & Process Chicken

Turning chicken into dinner is a little daunting the first time --- but it's not hard.

Anyone raising and butchering chickens for the first time is bound to be a little nervous, and that's perfectly understandable. You're taking the life of another creature, and you want the process to be as painless as possible. There's also the practical aspect; you want it to be as simple as it can be, too. There are many ways to kill and process a chicken, including the following proven method.

Instructions

1. Tuck the chicken under your left arm --- or your right arm if you're left-handed. You want to hold the wings against the bird's body, and if your forearm holds its legs against its body as well, it will be calmer.

2. Cross your right arm across your body and firmly grasp the chicken's neck so your thumb and first finger make a ring around it about two inches behind the head.

3. Quickly swing your right arm across your body, releasing the grip of your left arm. Snap your hand as if you were holding the handle of a whip. The chicken's neck will break.

4. Cut the chicken's throat, or simply cut off the head completely. Tie the chicken's legs and hang it upside down to let the blood drain.

5. Submerge the body in the pot of hot water for 15 to 30 seconds to loosen the feathers. Remove the bird from the water and immediately pluck the feathers.

6. Remove the feet from the bird. You can do this by bending the leg joint backwards and cutting through the remaining tendons.

7. Remove the skin from the neck, and loosen the esophagus, crop, and trachea.

8. Slice the loose skin of the bird from sternum to cloaca (the "hole" through which chickens eliminate waste). Don't cut too deeply or you'll slice open the digestive system and make a mess; be sure to cut especially carefully around the cloaca.

9. Reach your hand inside the abdominal cavity and loosely, but firmly, pull out the internal organs. One way is to gently slide your fingers completely around the edges of the body cavity, loosening all the organs and removing them in one fell swoop. The esophagus and crop will come along with the other organs.

10. Separate the liver, gizzard and heart if you want to save them. Discard the rest of the internal organs.

11. Rinse the bird and put it in ice water, or directly into the fridge.

Tags: your right, across your, across your body, bird from, chicken neck, esophagus crop, feathers Remove

Make A Peanut Butter Milkshake Without Ice Cream

Peanut butter milkshakes are a delicious treat for dessert or a relaxing day. With ice cream, they can be loaded with fat and calories. Try creating a peanut butter shake that doesn't involve ice cream, but still retains that decadent rich flavor. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Instructions

1. Place the ice cubes, peanut butter and milk in the blender. Blend until smooth, about 30 seconds.

2. Take the blender's lid off. Taste the combined mixture of the peanut butter, ice and milk. If desired, add the 1/2 cup of water for a more liquid consistency. If you need more thickness or prefer lots of ice in shakes, add a couple more ice cubes and blend.

3. Take the blender's lid off and taste the mixture. If desired, add sugar to taste such as Splenda. Add a tablespoon to the peanut butter milkshake mixture and blend. Taste, and add more sugar as desired.

4. Pour the shake into a glass or cup out of the blender with the help of a spoon. Garnish with whipped cream and roasted peanuts, and enjoy.

Tags: butter milk, peanut butter, peanut butter milk, Take blender

Explore Oaxaca'S Villages

Brilliantly painted alebrije handicrafts in Arrazola

Visiting Oaxaca, Mexico, is a great adventure. There are restaurants to visit, crafts to buy, galleries to see, museums to explore, archaeological ruins to climb, neighborhoods to walk and people to meet. Oaxaca is also home to hidden charms that some tourists neglect to see. The valley surrounding the city of Oaxaca de Juarez is a rich assortment of villages, each with their particular traditions and attractions. This article introduces the region and summarizes some of the villages' highlights.

Instructions

1. Buy a map. As you're relaxing in Oaxaca city's zocalo, or the center of town, sipping a cup of Oaxacan hot chocolate, break out the map and start studying your options. Some of Oaxaca's villages are so close to the city center that regular city buses access them every 15 minutes. It can be educational and diverting to pick a region and visit three or four villages in the area in a day.

2. Choose your region. San Bartolo de Coyotepec specializes in black pottery and the nearby Ocotlan de Morelos has a Friday market and a museum dedicated to surrealist painter Rodolfo Morales. San Agustin Etla has winding mountain roads, the Centro de Artes de San Agustin museum and library, and the palapas and pools of Vista Hermosa. Tlacolula has a sprawling outdoor Sunday tianguis, or market, around its stunning church, and is near the fascinating archaeological ruins of Yagul. Teotitlan del Valle is internationally renowned for its natural-dyed rugs and also has a church with a courtyard in which indigenous dances are often performed. San Martin Tilcajete and Arrazola are famous for their alebrije wooden crafts.

3. Select a mode of transport. City buses, second class buses, executive buses, taxis and collective taxis cover your basic excursions. For something more tailored to your tastes, leave the driving up to someone else. Sign up for a village tour, sold in offices in town, or hire a driver or a taxi to take you around. These options allow you to be ushered around by a local and a fluent Spanish-speaker. However, make sure you are allowed to broaden your visits beyond the vendors that give the tour operator a commission for taking tourists only to their studios.

4. Slow your pace! Village life is entirely different from the buzz of an urban center. Take time to greet locals and chat with artists about their wares. You can try to time your visits to coincide with village market days, which can be charming, offering all manner of handicrafts, housewares and delicacies particular to the region. Some villages have popular restaurants that are attractions in themselves, such as the Hacienda Santa Marta's Sunday buffet near San Agustin Etla.

5. Listen to the languages. Many of Oaxaca's villages are populated with people from indigenous backgrounds. You might hear Triqui or Zapotec instead of Spanish or English. Many villagers are happy to teach you a word or two in their native language so that you can practice greeting each other. If you sit in the village square or near the town market, someone will surely approach you to converse.

Tags: Agustin Etla, archaeological ruins, Oaxaca villages, your visits

French Foods To Bring To Class

Bring French food to class.

Bringing French food to class gives you an opportunity to explore French culture. Make or buy French food for a culture day, a snack or a full potluck. American supermarkets offer imported French brands and the ingredients for cooking just about anything from scratch. You can also buy French food at French bakeries and restaurants. Whether you have expert cooking skills or none at all, you can bring delicious French specialties to class.

Bread and Cheese

Bread and cheese make a simple and satisfying snack. You won't see all the varieties of French cheeses in American stores, but you can purchase the most famous. Look for brie, camembert, comt , roquefort and other blue cheeses. Also try "chevre," or goat cheese. Serve with crusty baguettes, a long, thin French bread that's available in many bakeries and supermarkets.

Baked Goods

Buy French baked goods and pastries.

You can serve a variety of French pastries with "caf -au-lait" (coffee with hot milk), espresso or tea for a French breakfast party. Or serve sweet pastries for dessert. Many supermarkets and bakeries sell croissants and pastries such as "pain au chocolate" (chocolate-filled pastry), "pain au raisin" (a raisin-filled pastry) and fruit tarts. The authentic French tarts usually have a hard crust, a thin layer of custard, fresh fruit (uncooked) and a glaze. If you have baking skills, try making your own "tarte tatin," a sort of French apple pie. You can also buy family or crowd-sized tarts at some bakeries and chain stores.

Quiche

Bring a tomato quiche to class.

Many people think of quiche when they think of France. Bring quiche to class for a snack, luncheon or simple dinner. The French have a variety of these egg and cheese pies. Many quiches contain meat, usually pork, but you can make a cheese-only quiche as well. As a vegetarian alternative, try a quiche with onions, leeks, tomatoes or spinach. You can find many varieties at online recipe sites such as FPSi, as well as in French cookbooks.

Salads

The French eat a variety of salads, often with "sauce vinaigrette," an oil and vinegar dressing. Bring a salad as part of a complete French dinner or potluck. Try a simple tomato salad with oil and vinegar or an endive salad. The French use what Americans sometimes call "Belgian" endive---the long oval, pale endive---not the dark green, curly endive. Look for this endive at upscale grocers.

Main Dish Stews

For a hearty main dish, you can make a traditional French stew such as beef burgundy ("bourguignon"), which consists of beef cooked slowly in red wine. Or try "coq au vin," which is chicken cooked in white wine. In either case, the wine will lose its alcohol during the cooking process, so the resulting dish should conform to American school rules. You can make or bring these dishes in the slow cooker if you like. If you want to avoid cooking, order from a French restaurant.

Tags: French food, food class, French food class, quiche class

Begin A Vegetarian Diet

Begin a Vegetarian Diet

Do you want to be a vegetarian, but just don't know start? Follow these simple steps to becoming a vegetarian and you're on your way.

Instructions

1. Stop eating meat. Although tough, this is the most important part. This may seem to be the simple part of vegetarianism, but, alas, it is not. Meat must be eliminated from soups bases, sauces, gravies, and other hidden sources of meat and animal products. Pay careful attention to ingredients. This depends on how strict you would like your vegetarianism to be. Some people eat fish and call themselves vegetarians. It's up to you. Vegans attempt to have a diet completely free of animal products at all. This is extremely difficult unless you have a personal nutrition expert or the one of best health food stores located a convenient distance from your home. Gauge your level of commitment to your vegetarianism and commit to it.

2. By yourself many new vegetables at the store including canned food, fresh veggies, and fruit. Always give yourself something yummy to keep you satisfied so that you will not feel the need to revert back to convenient meat products like hot-dogs. Make sure that you have a balance of protein, carbohydrates, etc. in your diet. It is easy and tempting to eat mainly bread, fruits, and salads as a vegetarian in the beginning, but remember that you will also need to provide yourself with a generous supply of protein. Protein can be found in beans, meat substitutes, eggs, milk, and soy. Other good sources of protein include peanuts and peanut butter products.

3. Shop at the best health store you can find and afford. Items will often come in pure, unadulterated vegetarian form and say so on the packaging. This is also often a wonderful place to pick up vitamins.

4. You may want to purchase vitamin supplements for things like B-12, Vitamin D, and iron that may be missing in your diet since you decided to become a vegetarian. Vitamin supplements are a great way to keep energized and ready to go. They are relatively inexpensive and can provide you with any deficiencies that may occur in your diet.

5. Plan your meals. Decide what you will be eating and when instead of grabbing items that look good at the grocery store. Planning your meals can give you more of an idea of what you need for your new diet and what items you should buy at the store.

6. Make this a life long habit. Stick to it. This takes a small amount of discipline in the beginning, but the rewards are nice. There are many benefits to health, spirituality, and society. Meat consumption causes strain on our nation's habitats and rain forests, requiring much more energy and resources than does the vegetarian life. Eating meat increases your chances of a heart attack or cancer. Vegetarianism also drastically reduces your chances of food poisoning.

Tags: your diet, animal products, Begin Vegetarian, Begin Vegetarian Diet, best health

Substitute Spelt For White Flour

Spelt adds a delightful nutty taste to bread recipes.

Spelt is a variety of wheat that has been grown in civilizations dating back to 5,000 B.C. It is considered an "ancient" species because throughout its history there has been little breeding or genetic variation. Spelt does contain gluten so it should be avoided by individuals with gluten sensitivities. However, those suffering from intestinal wheat allergies have reported that spelt is easier to digest. The gluten in spelt is not as strong as in white flour. Substituting spelt flour for white flour in bread baking just requires a few modifications. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Instructions

Substituting Spelt

1. Use the same amount of spelt flour as the white flour you would normally use in the bread recipe. Add the other dry ingredients in the same quantities and the same order per your recipe.

2. Reduce the amount of water. Too much water in spelt bread makes the dough weak, allowing the leavening gases to escape. To little water makes a dry, dense loaf that is too tight to rise.

3. Knead the dough for only four minutes. Normal bread dough is kneaded for nearly ten. Too little kneading will result in a crumbly bread due to a lack of gluten formation. Over-kneading will break the fragile gluten strands that were developed.

Tags: flour white, flour white flour, spelt flour, spelt flour white, white flour

Learning About Soil For Young Children

Young children learn about the decomposition process of soil.

Children learn a great deal about growing food and the nutritional value of food when they learn about soil. The National Association for Conservation Districts provides educational resources by topic, a conservation clip art library and PowerPoint presentations on soil and other conservation topics. Children learn subjects such as soil texture, structure, decomposition, erosion, soil biology and soil conservation. Teacher resources include ideas for classroom displays and links to educational material produced by national and local conservation groups. One focus of learning about soil for young children is the decomposition process. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

The Decomposition Process

1. Fill a plastic bag with "once living" materials such as pieces of bread, fruit and vegetables. Ask children, "What do you think is happening in the bag?" Encourage them to describe their observations and predictions. Explain that soil is fed through the decay process of plants.

2. Discuss and make a list of things children think will or will not decompose. Place some suggested materials, such as plastic bottles, in a mini-decomposition chamber such as a sealed plastic bag. Observe at regular intervals to see if the materials decompose.

3. Take children outdoors and observe an area of natural soil. Ask if they can point out materials that are partially decomposed, such as leaves or paper bits. Explain that the "soil food web" needs a constant supply of decomposing materials to provide food for its living organisms. Explain that organisms such as earthworms and tiny insects help create nutrients in soil and nutrition in food.

Tags: Explain that, Explain that soil, learn about, materials such, that soil

Homemade Hot Pepper Squirrel Repellent

Homemade Hot Pepper Squirrel Repellent

Squirrels may be fun to watch as they caper on your lawn and leap fearlessly from tree to tree. When these wily rodents make a nuisance of themselves, however, by raiding your bird feeders, invading your house and eating the bulbs in your garden, it's time to take action. There are various commercial squirrel repellents--Havahart and Shake-Away are two brands--but you can save money with a homemade variety. Does this Spark an idea?

Why Hot Pepper Repellent Works

The capsacin from hot peppers gives hot-pepper-based repellents their potency. It gives off heat when the squirrels ingest it just like when you eat hot chicken wings or Jalepeno peppers. Squirrels don't like this sensation, so they will avoid the repellent.

Recipe

Some hot pepper squirrel repellent recipes call for hot pepper sauce, such as Tabasco brand or chicken wing sauce, others list chopped cayenne or Jalapeno peppers in their ingredients but the outcome is the same. Spray this homemade concoction wherever squirrels are causing damage or being a nuisance, and they will steer clear.

The Urban Wildlife Rescue in Denver Colorado suggests this recipe. Boil one chopped onion, one chopped Jalapeno and 1 tablespoon of cayenne pepper in 2 quarts of water for 20 minutes. Let the mixture cool. Strain it through a cheese cloth or colander into a bowl. Transfer the liquid to a spray bottle. Spray the area where you want to deter squirrels. The application will only last for three to five days, so you'll need to repeat the application, as necessary.

Garden Guide's recipe calls for dish soap and hot pepper sauce rather than the pepper itself. Simmer a small chopped onion in a cup of water for 10 minutes. Strain and discard the onion. Pour the onion-water into a bucket and add a gallon of water. Mix in one small bottle of hot pepper sauce and 2 teaspoons of dish soap or Murphy's Oil Soap. Put the mixture into a spray bottle and spray wherever the squirrels are a problem.

You can add a tablespoon each of paprika and cayenne pepper to either of these recipes to give them even more punch. Sprinkling additional paprika and cayenne around the area also helps to keep the rodents at bay.

Safety Precautions

Use a funnel to pour the liquid from the pan or bucket into the spray bottle. The mixture contains capsicum, which can burn your skin. Label the bottle to avoid mistaking it for something else.

Tags: pepper sauce, spray bottle, cayenne pepper, chopped onion, dish soap, Homemade Pepper

Find Cake Decorating Classes And Cake Decorating Schools

Find formal or informal cake decorating classes.

You can find classes and schools to teach you the art of cake decorating whether you want to enter the cake decorating field as a professional, or just make beautiful cakes for your friends and family. Traditional culinary and cake decorating schools can be pricey, but may lead to jobs in field. If you want to engage in less formal training you can find local, affordable cake decorating classes and cake decorating schools in your area. Tips and tutorials are also available online if you just want pointers to help you make beautiful cakes. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Look for formal cake decorating schools in your area through the Education Portal. You can choose to pursue a technical certificate, which will take about a year to complete. These certificate programs are aimed at teaching you skills that can be applied in the workplace, so consider a certificate program if you're looking for a job as a cake decorator. If you are looking for a job in management in the culinary arts, you could choose to pursue an associate's degree. These programs are typically two years long, and teach you cake decorating skills as well as skills you will need for management positions. If you are thinking of opening your own business or working as a manager, consider an associate's degree. Tuition varies, but is comparable to tuition required to obtain a bachelor's degree.

2. Try local or online classes by searching the Local Cake Decorating Classes directory. If you are looking to improve your cake decorating skills but aren't aiming to become a professional, there are many online and local classes available. You can look for classes in your level, such as beginner or intermediate. You can also look for classes based on the technique or medium you are interested in working with, such as fondant or piping. Local, in-person classes are usually affordable and online classes are often free.

3. Give an online tutorial a try, if you are looking for tips and ideas. Cake Central provides tips and tutorials from professional cake decorators for use by non-professional cake decorators. Learn make roses, decorate a wedding cake or even make a candy bottle. These tips and tutorials are free.

Tags: cake decorating, decorating schools, associate degree, beautiful cakes, cake decorating

Make A Red Wine Sauce

Red wine sauce is a delicious recipe to incorporate into your repertoire that will impress friends, family and dates. If you make it properly, it will seem as if you've spent a great deal of time and energy preparing a wonderful meal--when, in reality, creating the sauce can be done rather quickly and without too much difficulty. You don't have to be an expert in the kitchen to master a tasty red wine sauce. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Instructions

Make a Delicious and Easy Red Wine Sauce

1. Saute whatever meat you'll be pairing with your red wine sauce, but do not throw out the juices that remain in the saute pan when you're done. You can use this sauce with chicken, beef, lamb, venison or other meats.

2. Remove the meat from the pan and reduce heat to a low temperature. Now, pour in minced shallots. Two are usually enough, though this is something you can experiment with to your suit your taste. Shallots can burn, so don't forget to stir often. Keep this up until the shallots become transparent.

3. Crank your burner up to high heat and add 1/2 cup each of stock and red wine. Allow the mixture to reach a strong boil.

4. Reduce the sauce down by about 50 percent by allowing it to boil awhile.

5. Bring the heat down to medium or medium-low. Pour in 1 tbsp. of balsamic vinegar. Add 1 tsp. Dijon mustard. At this point, it's all about consistency. Continue cooking until your sauce has reached the level of thickness you prefer.

6. Turn off the heat and add 3 tbsp. of butter. You may find it easier to stir in the butter if you've divided it into small pieces, rather than dropping in entire pats. You can also melt the butter ahead of time in the microwave, if you so choose.

7. Finish it off by adding pepper, salt and about 1 tsp. of finely chopped thyme leaves.

8. Sauce your meat and serve right away.

Tags: Wine Sauce, wine sauce, with your