The Most Ecofriendly Curtains

The most-eco friendly curtains are made from natural fibers.

Curtains are often made from synthetic materials like polyester, nylon and rayon. These substances are produced using petroleum-based chemicals that pollute the environment and are not biodegradable, which means they are difficult to dispose of. When choosing curtains, there are certain things to look for to make sure you choose something that will help you to achieve a more eco-friendly way of living. Does this Spark an idea?

Green Fabrics

The most environmentally friendly fabrics used to make curtains are those that are naturally occurring. 100 percent organic cotton is a great option because it is a bio-degradable and renewable source for your curtains. Another bio-degradable fabric used for curtains is bamboo, which is a natural textile woven from the pulp fiber of bamboo. Hemp fabric is also revered for its eco-friendly credentials because it is an all-natural fiber derived from plants. Although silk and organic linen are more luxurious materials used for curtains, both fabrics are still suitable options because they are naturally occurring and therefore do not harm the environment when ethically produced.

No Treatments

Make sure the color of your curtains hasn't been achieved by using toxic chemicals and dyes that are extremely damaging to the environment. White curtains often indicate that a strong bleach has been used to color the fabric. Care2 recommends seeking out curtains that have been made using low-impact, less-toxic dyes or fabrics like color-grown cotton, which is naturally pigmented. The most eco-friendly curtains will not have been treated by chemical stain or fire retardants, either. If you are concerned about environmentally friendly curtains being a fire hazard, Factory Direct drapes advises the use of lyocell, which is a natural fire retardant. Organic wool is also fire resistant and an eco-friendly fabric for curtains.

Cultivation and Production

The most eco-friendly curtains are made from organically certified fabrics, which means that they have been made out of materials that have been produced on certified organic farms. Therefore, zero pesticides, chemicals and fertilizers have been used, in an effort to prevent the harmful pollution of the soil, water and air that these substances can cause. The most eco-friendly curtains will also have been locally produced and distributed to reduce their carbon footprint.

Energy Efficiency

Curtains can also help to save energy in your home, which in turn can contribute to helping to reduce your carbon emissions. A light-colored lining on your curtains can help to deflect the sun's rays during summer, which will keep your home cooler and reduce the need to cool your home via electrical methods. Similarly, in winter, a dark lining can help to absorb any external heat and lock in the warmth within your home to help lower the need for gas or electric heating.

Tags: have been, your home, eco-friendly curtains, made from, most eco-friendly, most eco-friendly curtains, your curtains

Troubleshoot A Bryant Furnace Plus 80 Code 13

How do I Troubleshoot a Bryant Furnace Plus 80 Code 13?

The Bryant Company manufactures heating and cooling products for residential and commercial use, including thermostats, air cleaners, heat pumps, air conditioners and furnaces. The Bryant Plus 80 furnace offers up to 80 percent AFUE, a noise reduction system, pilot-free ignition, a separate filter cabinet and limited warranty. The furnace uses an electrical display to communicate functions and errors with the unit, including the error code 13. Troubleshooting this particular error code may help offer possible solutions to the issue. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Turn off the Bryant furnace and unplug from the power supply. Wait 5 to 10 minutes before restoring power.

2. Locate the SSU switch, which is a gray box on the front of the furnace, and ensure the switch is turned "On".

3. Reset the two rollout switches by pressing, holding and then releasing the button. The rollout switches are side-by-side switches located on a black or grey box inside the front access panel.

4. Open the filter compartment and slide out the filter. Rinse the filter with water and dry thoroughly before returning to the furnace. Alternatively, replace with a new filter, available for purchase at most hardware or home retail stores.

5. Ensure the vents on the furnace are not blocked by furniture, draperies, toys or other objects, and that the return air grills throughout the house are free of obstruction.

6. Contact an authorized service technician if the above steps do not resolve the error code.

Tags: error code, Bryant Furnace, Bryant Furnace Plus, Furnace Plus, Furnace Plus Code, Plus Code, rollout switches

Bleed Air Out Of A Mercedes Diesel Engine

Mercedes-Benz has been making durable and economical diesel engines since the 1930s. There are many differences between diesel engines and their gasoline counterparts, most notably the fuel system. Air can enter a diesel engine's fuel system after a routine fuel filter change. Air will also enter the fuel system if the vehicle has been allowed to run out of fuel. However, air that has entered the fuel system can prevent the vehicle from starting. For this reason, owners of Mercedes-Benz diesel engines should know bleed air from this system.

Instructions

1. Open the hood and locate the hand operated prime pump. It's on the primary pump on the right-hand side of the engine bay.

2. Unscrew the handle of the pump by hand in a counterclockwise motion.

3. Work the pump handle up and down until you feel a resistance and you can hear air escaping from the injection pump.

4. Push the pump handle back into the pump and twist it in a clockwise motion. Do not over-tighten the pump handle.

5. Crank the starter to expel any remaining air in the fuel system. Do not crank the starter for more than 30 seconds at a time to keep from damaging the starter. Wait for the starter to cool before resuming cranking.

6. Follow the subsequent steps if the engine will still not start after several attempts at cranking the engine.

7. Loosen the attaching nuts of the fuel injectors on the cylinder head with a 17mm combination wrench in a counterclockwise motion. Do not remove the nuts.

8. Crank the engine until fuel seeps out of the loosened fuel injector nuts.

9. Retighten the fuel injector nuts with a 17mm combination wrench in a clockwise motion.

10. Start the engine and allow it to run a few minutes so that any remaining traces of air are expelled from the fuel system.

Tags: fuel system, diesel engines, pump handle, 17mm combination, 17mm combination wrench

Cook With Bulgar Wheat

Bulgur wheat is partially pre-cooked, which makes it quick and easy to work with.

Bulgur (or "bulgar") wheat is whole wheat that has been parboiled and dried and cracked. The parboiling of the bulgur wheat makes it fast to cook or, if soaked in water, it doesn't need to be cooked when mixed with other ingredients. Bulgur wheat typically comes in different grind sizes: fine, medium and coarse. Commonly used in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean dishes, bulgur wheat can also be used to stretch meat or make soup. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Instructions

Easy Tabouli Salad

1. Soak the bulgur in the water for about 20 to 30 minutes, then drain.

2. Pour the bulgur onto a clean, dry rag to squeeze out as much water as possible. Return bulgur to the bowl.

3. Mix in the parsley, tomatoes, scallions, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Mix until well blended. Let sit for 15 to 20 minutes, allowing the flavors to absorb into the bulgur wheat.

4. Taste and adjust seasonings to your taste. Stir in the olive oil and serve chilled or at room temperature.

Beef and Bulgur Burgers

5. Pour bulgur into a pot of boiling water and cover. Reduce the heat and allow the bulgur to simmer on medium-low heat until the water is absorbed, about 10 minutes.

6. Remove the pot from the heat and let sit for five minutes. Fluff the bulgur with a fork and set it aside to cool.

7. Heat the grill to a medium-high heat. Grease the grill grates with vegetable oil using tongs and a paper towel.

8. Combine the bulgur, beef, parsley, cumin, cinnamon, allspice and chopped onion together in a large bowl. Mix until well combined.

9. Form the mixture into six even-sized patties. Season with salt and pepper.

10. Place the burgers on the grill and let cook about five to seven minutes per side. Burgers should be dark brown and cooked through. Serve the burgers on toasted burger buns with your favorite toppings.

Lentil and Bulgur Soup

11. Boil half a cup of vegetable broth to simmer over medium-high heat.

12. Add the onion and garlic and cook for about five minutes. Mix in the coriander and cinnamon and cook for one minute.

13. Add the bulgur and cook for 30 seconds, stirring continuously.

14. Add the rest of the vegetable broth into the pot along with the tomatoes and stir. Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce the heat to low.

15. Cover and simmer for 10 to 12 minutes until bulgur is tender. Mix in the lemon juice and garnish with parsley and feta if you would like.

Tags: bulgur wheat, about five, about minutes, cook about, cook about five

Substitutes For Greek Yogurt

The only substitute for Greek yogurt is strained yogurt.

Greek yogurt is creamier and thicker than other yogurts found in the dairy section of the grocery store. Fat content in typical Greek yogurt is 9 percent, while American yogurts contain less than 4 percent fat. Most Greek yogurts are tart and rich in flavor. This ingredient is key to most Greek cooking. Purchasing Greek yogurt at the store is the best way to finish a Greek recipe, though there is one valid substitute. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Strained Yogurt

The only substitute for Greek yogurt is to strain whole-milk, non-flavored yogurt through cheese cloth or a coffee filter. This process removes excess moisture from the yogurt, creating a creamier substance that is closer in texture to Greek yogurt.

No Other Substitutes

There are no other usable substitutes for Greek yogurt. Other products like unstrained yogurt or sour cream are too watery to achieve the texture and taste aimed for in most Greek recipes.

Strain Yogurt

If Greek yogurt is not available in your area, purchase whole-milk, unflavored yogurt from the dairy section. When home, line a strainer with a coffee filter or cheese cloth. Dollop the purchased yogurt onto the filter. Pull edges of the filter up, cinching the yogurt into a tight sack. Twist the packet, tightening the yogurt into its sack. Moisture will begin to seep out of the sack. Wipe down the filter with a towel. Tie the sack with a string. Place the strainer in a bowl, and place the sack in the strainer. Let the packet rest in the refrigerator for at least two hours. During this time, check the yogurt periodically and wipe the moisture away with a towel.

Greek Yogurt Recipes

Eat Greek yogurt drizzled with honey for a sweet treat, or use your new creation to create any number of Greek recipes. Make a creamy Greek yogurt coffee cake. Marinate chicken in a Greek yogurt-based mixture for deliciously moist grilled chicken. Mix Greek yogurt into ground beef or turkey (with some other seasonings) for Greek burgers, or make a Greek cucumber yogurt salad.

Tags: Greek yogurt, yogurt into, cheese cloth, chicken Greek, coffee filter

Yellow Rice Vs White Rice

White rice has been stripped of its outer brown husk.

Rice is one of the world's most important foods. While in the Western world it is often eaten as a side dish to accompany meat, fish or vegetables, in Asia it is the basis of most meals. Different cultivation and cooking techniques result in different varieties of rice, such as yellow and white rice. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Description

White rice has had its brown husk removed, which contains many nutrients. Yellow rice is essentially white rice that has been colored by adding saffron and/or turmeric. These spices give the rice a bright yellow color and slightly piquant flavor.

Flavor

Rice is a versatile ingredient that can be flavored according to what ingredients it has been cooked with. On its own white rice is slightly nutty, with a hint of creaminess. Yellow rice has usually been colored with saffron, therefore it will retain this earthy, fragrant aroma, or turmeric, which will add heat.

Nutrition

Both white rice and yellow rice are not wholegrain, which means that the most nutritious part, the brown outer layer, has been removed. Both are a good source of carbohydrates and are low in fat. They are also high in protein, therefore are a good source for vegetarians.

Uses

White and yellow rice only require around 20 minutes to cook as the husk has been removed. The rice should be a little fluffy in texture but the grains should not stick together. If they do and become mushy then the rice is overcooked. Yellow rice is the main component of paella, the Spanish rice dish with seafood and meat; it is also part of the Creole dish jambalaya. White rice is used to make rice pudding, risotto and to stuff vegetables. Use rice within one year of purchase, and in the case of rice that has been cooked, store it in the refrigerator and consume the next day.

Tags: been colored, been cooked, been removed, brown husk, good source, rice that, rice that been

Start A Chocolate Home Business

Making chocolate can be a great business venture.

Chocolate is loved by millions, is sold for the majority of holidays and can be a great product for a home business. Here are a few tips for starting your own chocolate business.

Instructions

1. Do a bit of brainstorming first. Do you have a favorite chocolate candy, cake or cookie recipe? Do you have a well-stocked kitchen or would you need to purchase a large amount of utensils, cookware, molds or other supplies? Do you have an area that is suitable for storing your chocolate products, as well as packaging and shipping supplies? There are all things you'll need to consider before deciding on a catalog of treats, not to mention a budget for supplies and marketing.

2. Once you've decided on a few products to make, set up a test kitchen. You may find that your favorite recipe or specialty requires too much money or time to mass produce. Invite family and friends to review your test products. Chances are they won't even balk at being asked. Adjust your expectations and recipes as needed.

3. Create an online presence for your new chocolate business. You may decide to sell your products directly from your website or on eBay. If so, utilize social networking sites like Twitter, Facebook or MySpace to advertise your products and provide a link back to your site. Consider having an open house tasting event with a small restaurant, wine and cheese store or other business that will allow you to use their facility or restaurant. You can use MerchantCircle.com, Craigslist, Backpage.com or a variety of other sites to list your event free.

4. If you'd prefer to start a chocolate business that is ready to go out-of-the-box, you may want to consider Dove Chocolate Discoveries. This is a fairly new program centered around in-home product parties. You can sign up for their chocolate business kit, for a fee, which contains everything you'll need to get started. Using their kit, you can book your first party in a few weeks.

Tags: chocolate business, your chocolate, business that, your chocolate business, your products

Homemade Red Wine

Red wine can be made at home in a month with very little equipment or ingredients. Most everything needed to make homemade red wine is in your kitchen already, and what needs to be purchased is inexpensive. After you've made a batch or two and decided if you like it, you may want to invest in more elaborate equipment and ingredients. Add this to my Recipe Box.

The Equipment

Before starting the process of homemade wine, make sure that your equipment is sterile. The best way to accomplish this is to pour boiling water in the brewing vessel and over any implements you will use.

A stainless steel stock pot with a lid will work fine for wine-brewing. A 12-quart pot will allow you to brew two gallons of wine, while an 8-quart will yield a gallon. You will also need a long-handled stainless steel or wooden spoon and four to five feet of food-grade plastic tubing. A sheet of cheesecloth to cover the pot is the only other thing you will need. If you cannot find cheesecloth, a piece of a clean cotton sheet will work.

The Ingredients

For every gallon of red wine you plan to make, you will need two cans of thawed, frozen 100 percent grape juice. You will also need one package of red wine yeast. This yeast is available at any local brew shop or can be found at several online retailers. You will also need two pounds of sugar for every gallon of wine you plan to make. A cup of sugar weighs approximately a pound.

The Process

Pour a half gallon (64 ounces) of water into the stockpot. Place the stockpot on the stove over medium heat. Add the correct amount of sugar for the number of gallons of wine you plan to make. Stir the mixture until the sugar is completely dissolved, and remove the pan from the heat. Add the thawed grape juice concentrate and stir. Add cold water. (For each gallon of of wine, add five cups (40 ounces) of cold water.) Stir the mixture, then add one package of red wine yeast and stir to distribute. Place the cheesecloth over the top of the stockpot. Set the lid on the pot, slightly ajar to allow the wine to breathe. Place the pot in an area of your kitchen or pantry where the temperature will remain fairly consistent. Let the wine brew for three to four weeks. When you can no longer see bubbles rising to the top of the brew, the wine is ready to be bottled.

Bottling the Wine

Use food grade tubing to siphon the wine into bottles that can be capped. You can use clean soda bottles, clean wine bottles or jars that have screw-on lids. Keep the siphon off the bottom of the brewing vessel. Wine forms a "must" or residue on the bottom of the container that can cloud the finished wine.

Tags: also need, gallon wine, plan make, will also, will also need

What Are The Benefits Of Organic Meat

Many eco-friendly consumers tout the benefits of a meat-free diet. Yet plenty of green-minded folks wish to remain carnivores while optimizing their health, reducing their carbon footprint, and discouraging animal cruelty and factory-farming tactics. Looking for the "certified organic" label can help achieve these goals.

Environmental Benefits

According to certification from the USDA National Organics Program, organic food is produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality. Organic animal farms must follow conservation practices that preserve natural resources.

Less Toxins

Organic meat, eggs, dairy and poultry products contain less toxins than conventional versions, as they come from animals that are not given antibiotics or growth hormones. The animals eat organic forage and grains, and raised on farms that utilize organic pest control. In addition to hormones and chemicals, mass produced meat also may contain additives, such as nitrates for color.

Humane Farming

Certified organic products often come from animals raised with a "free-range" lifestyle. They are able to roam with unrestricted access to water, food, sunshine and fresh air. Conventional and factory farms confine animals to one location for a long period of time. By supporting the organic meat industry, you are also supporting more humane treatment of animals.

Breast Milk

Another benefit of organic meat is its effect on the breast milk of nursing mothers. A study published in the British Journal of Medicine suggests that pregnant mothers who consume organic meats have a higher quality of breast milk. The breast milk was found to contain higher levels of conjugated linoleic acid or CLA, a "good" type of fat that aids immune system development in newborns.

Look for the USDA Label

While "free range" refers to meat from animals allowed to roam in the outdoors, it doesn't necessarily mean the products are organic. Some animal food products may be labeled "natural," which does not certify them as organic unless they have a "certified organic" seal from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Tags: from animals, breast milk, certified organic, come from, come from animals

Start A Clothing Store Business

You may start a clothing store business with little money, no retail ownership in your background, and still be successful. You can resell like-new clothing to the public, or you can choose to sell new merchandise. All you need is good business sense, an excellent heavy traffic area, and a business license. "Second-hand" clothing stores are rapidly becoming popular and are a great way to become self employed.

Instructions

1. Decide on a store name, and apply for a business license. You will need small business insurance to cover any damages to your new business. It is beneficial to you and your customers that you also apply for a credit card machine, so that your customers can pay via debit or credit card.

2. Find a location for your new clothing business, and either contract someone to create a business sign or make your own using a good-quality wood. You can also buy premade blank business signs and write your store name on it. If you decide on the type of store that features used clothing, it is in your best interest to offer consignments. Once you decide on what type of clothing you will sell, you should begin to set up your building.

3. Add plenty of clothing and display racks so that you can successfully carry a wide range of clothing items. If you're selling like-new items, shoes usually sell well. If you carry a variety of sizes, that will help draw business to you. You may want to consider mixing used and new merchandise in your resell store to draw more customers. You may also take custom items as consignment, and this will draw many new customers that enjoy boutique items.

4. Ensure ample parking and that there is nothing blocking the entrance and exits to your building and parking areas. Keep the parking lot clean and litter free to encourage customers to shop your store. Customers get discouraged when they see a dirty parking lot, and consider this an indication that you run a poor business.

5. Keep the prices comparable with other competitors, and advertise often. You can advertise through business cards, handing out coupons, leaving flyers at gas stations, and through media opportunities. Offer a refund policy that is fair and considerate to customers. Customers are more likely to shop your store if you guarantee your items.

6. Post your hours and be there when you say you will be. Customers don't like arriving to a store and finding that no one is there to service them even though they arrive within the posted hours. Arriving late or not at all is a sure way to not be successful in your new business.

Tags: your store, business license, credit card, customers that, shop your, shop your store

Find A Job On An Organic Farm

organic farm worker

Have you ever had a desire to learn organic farming methods? One of the best ways is by going to work at an organic farm. This article tells how you can find an organic farm job.

Instructions

1. The internet should be your first resource when looking for a job on an organic farm. Below this article in the resources list you'll find links to hundreds of places and farms that hire workers for their organic farms, You could be one of them.

2. I found a part-time job on an organic farm through craigslist by stating my desire for organic farm work and posting it under resumes. I got a response to my resume within one day, met the organic farm owner that week, and went to work for him the next day.

The work is hard, dirty, and not glamorous at all for the most part, but there is a lot of satisfaction in helping to provide beautiful organic vegetables or other crops to grocery stores and local restaurants through your work.

You can also check the listings under jobs in craigslist. I've seen organic farm jobs listed under general labor and even under food jobs so do some checking.

3. More ideas for finding an organic farm job include researching in your local phone book under "organic farms' and then calling the farms listed there to see if they are hiring. You'd be surprised how many are and will ask you to come out for an interview as soon as possible.

The reason; farm work is hard work and not everyone enjoys it or is suited for it so if you are a hard worker you can be assured someone will want to hire you, sooner rather than later.

Also crops must be gathered, cleaned, packed, and shipped when they are ripe so during those times farms need help. Know when crops ripen in your area and call right around that time for the best chance of getting immediate work.

Tags: organic farm, organic farm, farm work, organic farms, work hard

New Jersey Restaurants On Route 33

There are several restaurants on U.S. Route 33 in New Jersey.

U.S. Route 33 is a major highway that runs northwest to southwest and spans more than 700 miles, including the heart of the northeastern state of New Jersey. For tired travelers seeking a place to relax and grab a meal, there are several New Jersey restaurants on U.S. Route 33.

Tessara Restaurant

Tessara Restaurant is a family dining establishment on U.S. Route 33 in the city of Hamilton, New Jersey. Tessara Restaurant serves both lunch and dinner, and also offers banquet and catering services. Dinner buffets are served, and include soda, tea, or coffee, salad and vanilla ice cream. The menu includes dishes such as rosemary chicken, grilled chicken primavera, broiled stuff tilapia, fried jumbo shrimp and pork tenderloin piccata. For dessert, the offerings include chocolate mousse, cannoli, cheesecake and tiramisu. The restaurant is open seven days a week.

Tessara Restaurant

812 Route 33

Hamilton, NJ 08619

609-584-1700

tessararestaurant.com

The Cabin Restaurant

The Cabin Restaurant is a lively eatery on U.S. Route 33 East in Freehold, New Jersey. The Cabin Restaurant offers live entertainment every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The live entertainment tends to be music from local bands. The restaurant also features a sports bar and dance floor. Extensive weekly specials are provided, including half-price Buffalo wings and pizza on Monday evenings. The large menu includes an assortment of meals, such as barbecue ribs and chicken, veal piccata, chicken saltimbocca, shrimp francaise, tortellini carbonara, homemade chili, French onion soup, fresh mozzarella salad and chicken Caesar salad.

The Cabin Restaurant

984 State Route 33

Freehold, NJ 07727

732-462-3090

thecabinrestaurant.net

Spargo's Grille

Founded in 2000, Spargo's Grille is an elegant, upscale and sophisticated U.S. Route 33 eatery that is located in Manalapan. Spargo's Grille specializes in contemporary New American, Californian-Caribbean fare, particularly steak and fish dishes. Many of the restaurant's meals have a strong island-influence. Both lunch and dinner are served at the restaurant. The restaurant is open every day of the week. Some of the meals on the menu include potato gnocchi, steak tartare, classic caesar salad, lobster ravioli, braised lamb shank, osso buco, veal rollatini and herb-crusted tilapia. For diners with a sweet tooth, the dessert menu has everything from flourless chocolate torte and creme brulee to panna cotta and gelato.

Spargo's Grille

130 State Route 33

Manalapan, NJ 07726

732-294-9921

spargosgrille.com

Tags: Cabin Restaurant, Spargo Grille, Tessara Restaurant, live entertainment, lunch dinner, menu includes, restaurant open

Market Fruits & Vegetables In The Workplace

Fresh fruit has health benefits.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), every adult should consume at least five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables per day, although many people fall far below that mark. If you are selling or simply promoting how healthy fruits and vegetables are to your colleagues, consider the following ideas to encourage to people get more than just an apple a day.

Instructions

1. Check with your human resources department before you do any marketing, selling or promoting to ensure that you're within the company's guidelines. If you have to push your cause, share information on the health benefits of eating fruits and veggies with your HR representative. Likewise, make sure the fruits and vegetables you market are clean and wrapped, when possible.

2. Make it colorful. If you have a product cart or are simply sharing your fruits and vegetables with others, mix it up so your colleagues don't see the same red apples and green grapes day in and out. Experiment with fruits such as kiwi, clementines and blackberries and vegetables such as squash and different types of lettuce. The more colorful and appealing your selection, the more others will want to sink their teeth into it.

3. Educate your colleagues. For each banana you sell or share with someone else, include a small flier touting its benefits, including the importance of potassium for your muscles. For each bag of spinach, let the consumer know he is getting all of his daily Vitamin A in one low-calorie spot. When people are better informed, they're more likely to make better choices.

4. Mix and match. If your workplace has a kitchen facility, make a colorful salad that features fruits and vegetables or a soup that has seven or eight different veggies. Some people won't eat a plain cucumber, but mixed into a salad with pears, strawberries and a little raspberry dressing, it might taste a lot better.

5. Keep the prices down if you're selling the fruits and vegetables. Produce costs at the grocery store can be daunting; if you offer a good price, you're more likely to be a hit in the workplace.

Tags: fruits vegetables, your colleagues, health benefits, more likely, with your

Use Liquid Smoke For Canning

Just a few drops of liquid smoke will give canned fish, pork, beef and game meats the flavor of the smokehouse. Stock your pantry with smoky canned goods you can enjoy all year long. Liquid smoke, sugar, seasonings and salt work well together to impart a balanced savory tone to preserved proteins. Give your preserved foods and sauces an added flavor dimension by incorporating liquid smoke into the mix or brine for your next canning session. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Instructions

1. Place the food item you wish to preserve into a sanitized 1-quart glass jar.

2. Pour the vinegar or water, brown sugar, coarse salt or salt cure, liquid smoke, and your favorite seasoning mix to a mixing bowl with a pour lip.

3. Stir the contents of the bowl with a wood chopstick to fully combine.

4. Dump the contents of the bowl into the jar and use the chopstick to move the food item around. This will release trapped air bubbles and bring your flavors into contact with more surface area of the food.

5. Seal the lid of jar. Submerge it into a pressure canning pot and seal the lid of the pot.

6. Heat the sealed pressure canner until it reaches proper heat and pressure for the product you are canning.

See link in Resources for a chart on pressure canning times of raw and cooked meats.

7. Remove the canned product with clean jar tongs and place it on a counter to cool for at least 24 hours.

Tags: bowl with, contents bowl, food item, liquid smoke, pressure canning

Grow Pinto Beans From Dried Shelf Beans

Pinto beans are harvested when the pods begin to dry.

Often dry pinto beans are sold in 1-lb. or larger packages at supermarkets and used in a variety of Mexican and chili recipes. Pinto bean plants grow from dried shelf beans, but the results may not be as expected. Does this Spark an idea?

Variety

For top production, select fresh pinto bean seeds from a high producing variety. It is difficult to find the variety of dry shelf beans. The bag may contain a mixture of varieties, resulting in lower production.

Cracked Seeds

Avoid cracked seeds. Pinto bean seeds crack easily when handled, and dry shelf beans may have cracks. Cracked seeds do not germinate well.

Color

Select seeds with a bright, uniform color. Dull color indicates long storage. It is difficult to determine how long the dried shelf beans have been stored in the bag. The germination rate is lower for old seeds.

Treated Seeds

Many commercially packaged pinto bean seeds are treated with a fungicide. The fungicide protects the young seedlings from disease. Planting dried shelf beans may increase the chance of plant disease unless the soil is thoroughly warm.

Tags: shelf beans, bean seeds, dried shelf beans, beans have, dried shelf

Make An Energy Drink

Energy drink

Energy drinks are a great "pick me up" in the afternoon during a long day or a fantastic meal replacement for those on a diet. Making them at home is easy and fast. Depending on your mood, you can make a protein-based energy drink that tastes virtually like a milkshake, or go green and make a vegetable-based energy drink. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Instructions

Make an Energy Drink

1. Decide whether you want to make a vegetable-based energy drink or a milk-based one and gather your ingredients and a measuring spoon. Your key ingredients can be found at a health food store.

2. Create the base for your shake. Place a handful of ice cubes in your blender, together with 10 drops of liquid ginseng and one tablespoon of bee pollen. Ginseng and bee pollen are proven energy boosters that are readily absorbed into your bloodstream if taken in liquid form.

3. Make your milk-based energy drink by adding a cup of milk or soy milk to the bee pollen and ginseng.

4. Pour one single-serving packet of whey protein drink mix and blend on high for one minute. Pour out the blended mixture into a cup and add small amounts of honey to taste.

5. Make a vegetable-based energy shake in a similar way. Place a handful of ice cubes in your blender, together with 10 drops of liquid ginseng and one tablespoon of bee pollen.

6. Add two celery stalks and one bunch of wheat grass to the blender, then blend on high for one minute.

7. Toss in a small chunk of fresh ginger to spice up the taste, and add a touch of honey to sweeten it. The bee pollen and ginseng in each of the energy drinks serve as natural energy enhancers. Take either drink with a B-complex vitamin tablet to get the maximum benefit from them. B vitamins are well-known for their energizing effect on the body.

Tags: vegetable-based energy, blend high, blend high minute, blender together, blender together with

Make A Set Of Pagan Prayer Beads

Prayer beads, or a derivative thereof, are a universal in almost every faith. The use of prayer beads is centuries old. The combination of praying and having something tangible to hold is very powerful. The rosary is the most well known version of the concept of prayer beads, and is used for counting prayers. In the pagan faith the use of prayer beads is widespread. Depending on the Divinity to which you pray, the colors used will vary (use your intuition and own preference for color association). For the purpose of this How To, we will cover make a set of pagan prayer beads.

Instructions

1. Sit for a few minutes and relax. Gather your thoughts and establish your intent. To which Divinity is it that you want to pray? Ask Spirit, or whichever Divinity you feel comfortable working with, for guidance in this working. Focus your energies and purpose on the task at hand.

2. When you string the beads, speak words that make each single bead your own. Chanting the same words, or phrases, over and over that establish your intent works well. Speaking these words bind the prayer beads to you. For instance, prayers for guidance, courage, strength can be spoken as well.

3. After you have strung half of the beads, place the charm/symbol representing Divinity on the cord. You may feel the need to say a special prayer as you do this. After the charm/symbol has been placed, continue placing the beads as you had before using the same pattern.

4. Once you have placed all the beads and Divinity charm on the string, tie the two ends of the cord together leaving a bit of room between the last beads and the knot. Allowing this extra room makes working the beads much easier. Light the frankincense incense (make sure that you have it placed in a fireproof container as it burns).

5. When the prayer beads are finished, bless them by passing them through the incense smoke while saying a prayer of consecration.

6. After the prayer beads are consecrated, give thanks to Spirit.

Tags: prayer beads, prayer beads, charm symbol, establish your, establish your intent, faith prayer, faith prayer beads

Choose Fresh Meat

With so many health scares in the news related to the foods bought at the supermarket, it is of utmost importance that you inform yourself of find the freshest and safest ingredients to feed your family. Fresh meat, in particular, is worth learning about as bad meat can make your loved ones very sick. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Instructions

1. Look at the sell-by date. That helps you get a good idea of the meat's freshness. Remember that the shelf life of meat is shorter than the one for poultry.

2. Consider the kind of meat you are thinking about buying to determine if it is fresh enough to purchase. For ground beef, the sale date is just one day because it is highly perishable. For chops and steaks, the sale period is 3 to 5 days. For vacuum-packed cuts of meat, the sale period is much longer (21 to 28 days).

3. Look at the meat's coloring. Beef and lamb should be a bright cherry red. Pork has a pale color. Ground beef could be red on the outside and purplish inside--that is OK. It only means that the meat was exposed to very little oxygen. It is normal for vacuum-packed cuts of meat to have a dark color.

4. Now that you have almost chosen, do one last test to determine freshness. This works for steaks and pork chops. Press firmly on it; if the meat is fresh, it should spring right back.

Tags: cuts meat, sale period, vacuum-packed cuts, vacuum-packed cuts meat

Start A Candy Making Business

Most people find making candy a fun hobby they do every once in a while for a social gathering or gift. But you can make it a business as well. Here's start a candy making business.

Instructions

1. Purchase all your candy making supplies. These include the molds or trays for shaping candy, the chocolate, lollipop sticks, wrap bags, twist ties for lollipops, squeeze bottles, and so forth.

2. Create a name for your company and go through the legal aspects of obtaining a business license, setting up a bank account and so forth, as needed. Next you should get some business cards made. Go and talk to your local chamber of commerce about upcoming networking events where you can mingle and pass out your cards.

3. Start making sample candies out of different molds, candy colors and varieties. Take photos of each sample. Get these photos developed or download the digitals. Print these out and put them in a folder or photo album of some sort. This will be your look book for potential clients to browse through.

4. Create a website where clients can order products from. This will allow them to see your work, be able to email questions and submit orders. Start attending networking events and getting to know people in your community. Advertise in local magazines, the Pennysaver or send out promotional fliers and postcards. Make your presence known.

5. Start making your candy, continue to market and develop new candies to create a buzz about your business. You can do it! Good luck! Go make the world a sweeter place.

Tags: candy making, networking events, Start making, This will, your candy

Extract Methane From Manure

Livestock manure contains usable methane.

A gradual shift away from traditional fossil fuels has prompted many parties to turn toward animal agriculture as a source of alternative fuel. Current technologies -- such as the anaerobic manure digester, or methane digester -- are able to extract methane from livestock manure as a combustible -- meaning it's able to generate electricity on farms and areas beyond. Professionally manufactured methane digesters are expensive and designed for large-scale operations. However, the principles on which they operate can be replicated in smaller scales. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Remove the top of the 50-gallon drum and coat the inside of the drum with sealing foam. This substance forces the bacteria to react with the waste and release the methane.

2. Make two perforations on the side of the drum -- one toward the top, the other near the bottom. The upper hole will house the release valve for the methane, while the lower will accommodate the exit valve for the solid by-product, usable as fertilizer.

3. Invert the plastic drum. Perforate the bottom, installing an intake valve.

4. Pour the slurry -- the mixture of manure and water -- by following recommended proportions. Pig slurry has a one-to-one ratio, in gallons for example, while grass-fed cattle slurry should have a two-to-one ratio in favor of manure. Fill the drum with the slurry.

5. Top the drum with a neoprene cover, the rising of which will indicate the time to release the methane.

6. Connect the methane exit valve to the entrance valve on the plastic drum with rubber tubing. Make sure every conduit of this sort is sealed with a rubber ring or some other form of air-tight mechanism. The entrance valve should have a flow control, keeping the methane moving inward.

7. Release methane into the plastic drum when the cover on the metal drum begins to expand. Shut the valve off when the cover descends or the plastic barrel begins to rise.

Tags: drum with, plastic drum, entrance valve, exit valve, should have, when cover, with rubber

Brown Rice Nutrition Values

Brown Rice Nutrition Values

Once scorned as a staple for "health food nuts," brown rice is one of those little-known whole grains that is garnering increasing attention among people who would never once have thought of trying it. Many health-conscious people are turning to brown rice because of its amazing concentration of nutrients that fight against colon cancer, heart disease, obesity and arthritis. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Processing Brown Rice Into White Rice

After rice is harvested and the inedible husk is removed, the whole grain that remains is brown rice, with its nutritional value and rice bran fiber intact. To turn brown rice into the white rice most people are familiar with, the whole grain is broken down and stripped of fiber and the rice oil. Each processing step takes away so many vital nutrients that to minimize vitamin deficiency diseases such as beriberi (a nervous system disorder caused by vitamin B1 deficiency), U.S. law demands that white rice must be enriched by putting back some of the vitamins.

Nutrients in Brown Rice

Brown rice contains four times the fiber of white rice and powerful quantities of vitamin E, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, folic acid, potassium, magnesium, iron and over dozen other nutrients.

Brown Rice Lessens Chances of Weight Gain

A 12-year Harvard Medical School study found 49 percent less weight gain among women who regularly eat brown rice and other whole foods compared with those who eat more processed grains.

Nutritents that Protect and Detoxify

Among the many health-fostering nutrients in brown rice, manganese helps regulate the nervous system and produce the antioxidant superoxide dismutase (SOD) that helps the body produce energy; utilize oxygen efficiently; and protect the body against free radicals, the harmful byproducts of energy production.

Another detoxifier in brown rice, selenium, is a trace mineral that helps regulate thyroid hormone metabolism and bolsters the immune system, helping the body to repair cells and inhibiting the growth of cancer cells. The high fiber in brown rice works together with these other factors to optimize colon health.

Brown Rice for Heart Health

An American Heart Journal study found that women eating whole grains at least six times per week had less narrowing of their arteries and less atherosclerosis, or plaque build-up, in their blood vessels, and a Louisiana State University study showed that the oil in whole brown rice reduces the levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or bad cholesterol. These factors, along with fiber, magnesium and B vitamins, make it brown rice a useful food to foster heart health.

Tags: brown rice, brown rice, white rice, Brown Rice, Brown Rice Nutrition, health Brown, health Brown Rice

Plant Garlic Indoors

Plant garlic indoors from cloves.

The garlic that you purchase from the grocery store is actually a bulb protected by a papery covering. The garlic bulb consists of wedge-shaped cloves that form a dense clump. While garlic traditionally grows from individual cloves planted in an outdoor garden, gardeners can also plant the cloves in pots for indoor growing. With proper care, a few garlic cloves will produce healthy new bulbs that you can use for cooking and replanting to repeat the cycle. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Fill a pot 3/4 full with organic potting soil. A 2- to 3-gallon pot will provide plenty of space for growing. The pots should measure at least 10 inches deep. Press individual garlic cloves ½ inch deep into the soil, pointed end up. Space garlic cloves at least 5 inches apart.

2. Water the garlic cloves immediately after planting. Keep the soil moist, not wet, throughout the growing process. Allow the water to flow through the layers of soil and out the bottom of the pot with each watering. Indoor garlic usually requires watering once every other week.

3. Set the pot in an area that receives at least six hours of bright, indirect sunlight. If you do not have access to bright, indirect sunlight indoors, set the pot under a grow light set to run for at least 12 hours per day.

4. Slide a plant heating pad under the pot. Garlic prefers to grow in temperatures between 65 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Set the plant heating pad to the required temperature to keep the garlic warm as it grows.

5. Continue to maintain light, water and warmth as the garlic grows. Garlic cloves mature in approximately four to six months. The green foliage will turn yellow and fall to the side when the garlic is ready for harvest. Repeat the process in fresh soil after digging up the cloves.

Tags: garlic cloves, bright indirect, bright indirect sunlight, indirect sunlight, least hours

Budget For A Family Of Six

Budgeting for a small family can be challenging. When you are budgeting for a family of six it can be even more of a challenge. To calculate your budget for a family of six you need to look at your spending in two categories. The first is the category of the spending. The second is the spending by each individual family member. When determining your budget, the goal should be to reduce spending as much as possible, while still maintaining your lifestyle as much as possible. In extreme situations, your lifestyle may have to change to reduce your spending.

Instructions

1. Calculate your costs that are the same each month. This will include your rent or mortgage, car payment, daycare payment, any education costs and insurance payment. These are referred to as your fixed costs that you must budget for every month.

2. Calculate the average cost of each of your credit card bills, your water bill, your electric bill and your fuel costs over the past 12 months. These are your fluctuating costs; you will use the average over the past year for your fluctuating costs when budgeting for your family.

3. Determine your monthly grocery bill. This should also be averaged out over the past 12 months. As a family of six, you should set a goal to reduce this bill by three to five percent each month. Some ways to do this include buying food items in bulk, buyer larger quantities of items when they are on sale and avoiding impulse trips to the grocery store.

4. Track the entertainment costs of your family over a 12-month period. Categorize each cost by which family member it was used for and the item purchased. If a cost is used for several family members, split it evenly among them. Analyze which individuals are spending the most in your family of six on a monthly basis. Set a goal of reducing the entertainment cost of the top three spenders by 10 percent per month and the lower three spenders by five percent per month. This can help you stay on budget and add some money to your savings account. Let each individual in your six person family know how much their budget for entertainment is on a monthly basis.

5. Determine your average fuel costs. Average this over the past six months as fuel costs fluctuate significantly. Track if you are taking multiple trips for your family to get to meetings, activities, school and social gatherings that could all be completed in one or two trips instead. To monitor the costs of travel, keep track of the cost for transporting each family member. On trips where multiple family members ride together, divide the cost evenly. If you find one person's expenses are significantly higher than others, find ways to reduce the cost including more efficient travel.

6. Add up the amounts you calculated in steps one through five. These are you expenses when you are budgeting. Now, add up the paychecks from all family members that go into the family bank account. Subtract your expense total from your revenue total. If the result is a negative amount, discuss with your family ways to reduce your spending as you are spending more than you are making. Even if the number you have is positive, plan with family members on reduce the costs of categories where spending is higher than you would like.

Tags: your family, family members, over past, family member, fuel costs, over past months

Grow Rye Mushrooms

Grow mushrooms at home using rye berries.

Many people who enjoy cooking with mushrooms have turned to home cultivation as a less expensive alternative to purchasing them at the grocery store. There are a variety of mediums that lend themselves to mushroom spawn cultivation, including rice and coffee grounds, but using rye berries reduces the amount of clumping and caking that occurs in the process. Rye berries are inexpensive and well-suited to encourage mycelial growth. Like any growing medium, rye berries must be heat pasteurized to kill any mold or bacteria and to properly prepare it for spawn colonization. Although many mushrooms grow in rye berries, oyster mushrooms are the most successful. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Clear an area for the mushrooms to grow. The best location is shady and damp, and undisturbed by foot traffic, pets or children. Dig the soil to a depth of 4 inches and turn it to loosen any clumps. Water the soil well.

2. Spread the hardwood chips over the tilled soil to a depth of 3 inches. Water the soil again. Continue to lightly water the area daily until the rye mushroom spawn is ready for broadcasting.

3. Clean all work surfaces and cutting instruments using bleach or alcohol to sterilize anything that comes into contact with the mushrooms or the rye berries.

4. Wash the glass canning jar and allow it to air dry. Place 1 cup of rye berries in the jar. Cover them with 3/4 cup of water. Place the metal lid on the jar and tighten it. Shake the jar well to mix the water and the rye. Place it in a warm location and let it sit overnight.

5. Loosen the lid and strain out any unabsorbed water. Add 3/4 cup of water to the jar. Turn the plastic seal on the metal lid insert to face up, then screw it onto the jar.

6. Prepare the pressure cooker with the amount of water your cooker needs for canning. Place the jar in the pressure cooker and process at 15 psi for 90 minutes. Allow the cooker to cool.

7. Separate the mushroom caps from the stems and reserve the caps for cooking. Discard any mushrooms that are not fresh or that are decayed or rotting. Coarsely chop the stems, roots and clumps.

8. Remove the lid from the jar and add the chopped mushrooms. Replace the lid and lightly tighten it to allow gas exchange into the jar. Shake the jar well to distribute the mushrooms into the rye berries. Set the jar in a dark location away from drafts. The ideal location has a constant 65 to 70 degree Fahrenheit temperature.

9. Mycelium begins growing on the rye within five days. It appears white and fuzzy like mold. Shake the jar then let it sit for five days. Repeat the shaking and let the jar sit for another five days. At this point, the rye should be fully inoculated with mycelium. Remove the lid and break up the cake that has formed with a sharp knife.

10. Rake the surface of the prepared soil to remove the layer of moist mulch. Spread the inoculated rye berries over the surface and cover them with the mulch that was removed. Water lightly.

11. Water daily using a misting sprinkler until the area is damp but not soaked. Within a month, mushrooms should begin fruiting. They may begin sooner or later depending on the climate and growing conditions.

Tags: five days, depth inches, mushroom spawn, mushrooms grow, pressure cooker, Shake well

Compare Yogurt Makers

If you love yogurt but don't want to go to a yogurt shop every day, you can purchase a marker to produce your own yogurt at home. However, much like any home appliance all yogurt makers are not necessarily created equal. You can compare and contrast two or more yogurt makers (including their features and the way they operate) to help determine which one is worthy of your spending money. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Find out the capacity of any home yogurt maker you are thinking of buying. The capacity will be measured in "liters." A standard sized home yogurt maker will have between a 1 and 2 liter capacity, but certain more expensive models will have larger capabilities. The larger the capacity, the more yogurt you can make at one time.

2. Look at how long a yogurt maker takes to make your yogurt. A standard home yogurt maker can take anywhere between five and eight hours to make one batch of yogurt using the recommended ingredients. While you will rarely find a model that takes longer than this, certain more advanced models can make a batch of yogurt in around half the time.

3. Find out exactly what your yogurt maker is capable of producing. Certain yogurt makers will only make yogurt, while others can make both yogurt and yogurt cheese. Others still can also make ice cream depending on your preferences. Yogurt makers that can make a variety of different food types are referred to as "multi" yogurt makers.

Tags: yogurt maker, yogurt makers, home yogurt, home yogurt maker, your yogurt, batch yogurt, certain more

Natural Makeup Recipe

Makeup

There is a movement toward more natural ingredients in many aspects of our lives. Women are looking for natural ingredients in their cosmetics. One way to ensure that you know what is in your makeup is to make it yourself. Recipes for many types of cosmetics are available. You can make everything from bubble baths to skin treatments to foundations. Mineral makeup has become widely popular. Many brands claim to be made from all-natural minerals, but you can make your own and be sure of that fact. In the process, you will be saving money as well. Does this Spark an idea?

Ingredients

Gather your ingredients. You will need 1½ tbsp. of micronized titanium oxide, 3 tbsp. of mica spheres and 1¾ tbsp. of micronized zinc oxide. The titanium oxide is a sunscreen and adds texture to the mixture. The mica spheres are texturizers as well and are essential in helping the natural makeup cling to the skin. Zinc oxide is another sunscreen. It also plays a role in the texture of the resulting makeup. While each one of these ingredients is listed as a texturizer, they each bring something different to the recipe. The final ingredient is ¾ tbsp. of a makeup pigment powder in a color that will complement your skin. All of these powders are available from merchants that specialize in natural cosmetic ingredients.

Mixing

A mortar and pestle is the best way to mix your natural makeup recipe. Place the makeup pigment powder into the mortar. Place the titanium oxide, mica spheres and zinc oxide in a small bowl and stir well to mix. Add 1 tbsp. of this mixture to the makeup pigment in the mortar. Mix and crush them together well with the pestle. Stop and check the color. From now on you will be adding more of the mixture of titanium oxide, mica spheres and zinc oxide to the mortar until it is light enough to match your skin tone. Crush and mix well after each addition.

Final Product

After mixing, test some of the natural makeup on a sheet of white paper to check the evenness of the mixture. If there are streaks of color, it is not mixed well enough. This mineral makeup should be stored in a container with an airtight lid. It is preferable that it have a screen in it to prevent spilling and to facilitate loading a makeup brush for application.

Tags: mica spheres, titanium oxide, makeup pigment, natural makeup, makeup pigment powder

Ferment Germinated Brown Rice

Fermenting brown rice releases a variety of healthy elements in the grain.

Fermentation is usually associated with alcoholic beverages, however, it also adds nutritional value to a variety of foods. Brown rice is already a nutritional powerhouse, with a high amount of fiber, vitamin E, and other nutrients. Germinating and fermenting brown rice goes hand in hand, for as the grain begins its sprouting process, it ferments slightly. The sprouted grain can either be used in its original form, or allowed to sprout for several days, continuing to also ferment, and used in a variety of recipes or ways, even to make sprouted breads. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Instructions

1. Rinse the brown rice under running water in the colander to remove any dust. Pick out any bad looking or dark rice, and any husks, and discard them

2. Pour the rice in to the large pot, slightly shaking it to distribute the grain evenly. Pour the water over the rice, covering it by 1 to 2 inches.

3. Place the pot on a counter, which will remain at room temperature throughout the night. Set the lid on top to prevent insects from entering the water. Allow the grains to sit undisturbed for 24 hours.

4. Pour 10 percent of the soaking liquid in to the large sealable bag. Press out as much air as you can, seal it and insert it in to the freezer. Keep it for use with the next batch of brown rice to be soaked.

5. Pour the rest of the liquid into the sink using the colander. Cook the rice in the pot with fresh water, or use it as desired in your recipe.

Tags: brown rice

Resorts In Portland Oregon

Massage therapy is available at the spas in many Portland resorts.

Portland, Oregon, is nicknamed the City of Roses and is the 30th most populous city in the United States, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's data from 2009. The city offers a variety of recreational and relaxing activities for Portland citizens and tourists. Resorts in the Portland area offer full-service spas, wine tastings, fitness centers and game rooms.

Avalon Hotel and Spa

The Avalon Hotel and Spa won the 2005 award for "America's Best Hotel and Resort Spas" from the "Mobil Travel Guide." The resort is located in the South Waterfront District of Portland. Continental breakfast is served each morning. Guests can enjoy a fitness center, Italian restaurant and wine bar. At the 13,000-square foot full-service spa, guests can sit in a whirlpool, steam room, sauna and relaxation lounges. In addition to spa packages, other packages are available for business meetings and couples.

Avalon Hotel and Spa

4650 SW Macadam Ave.

Portland, OR 97239

503-802-4402

avalonhotelandspa.com

The Nines

The Nines is a luxury hotel and resort in Portland that features a variety of amenities and activities for guests to enjoy. The rooms include Wi-Fi, TV/DVD players, MP3 players and various toiletries for guests' convenience. There are two restaurants available; the Departure Restaurant and Lounge offers Asian cuisine, while The Library Room has cocktails and snacks. There is a 24-fitness facility and a place where guests can play billiards. The resort is in close proximity to a casino, a golf course and a water park.

The Nines

525 SW Morrison

Portland, OR 97204

877-299-9995

thenines.com

Hotel Vintage Plaza

The Hotel Vintage Plaza offers luxury accommodations to Portland residents and tourists. The resort includes an on-site fitness center and in-room spa services, such as massage treatments, facial treatments, body treatments, and hand and foot treatments. Wine country is just 20 miles from the hotel, and each Wednesday the resort holds a traditional wine tasting, along with a wine education group.

Hotel Vintage Plaza

422 SW Broadway

Portland, OR 97205

503-228-1212

vintageplaza.com

Tags: Avalon Hotel, Hotel Vintage, Hotel Vintage Plaza, Vintage Plaza, fitness center

Boil Apples For The Smell

Use apple peels to scent your home.

The aroma of baked apples and pie spices brings to mind autumn holidays and enjoyable cold, crisp days. Making your own stove top potpourri lets you enjoy the scents of the season without the effort of baking an apple pie. You can sacrifice a fresh apple for the aroma or save peelings and cores from the fruit for use as a potpourri. Keep the peelings in a plastic bag in the refrigerator or freezer until you are ready to brew your potpourri.

Instructions

1. Peel and core two to three apples, saving the edible flesh for another use. Alternatively, slice a whole apple into 1-inch cubes.

2. Place the apple peels, cores or cubes in a medium saucepan. Add enough water to cover the apple pieces to a 3-inch depth.

3. Place two cinnamon sticks and 10 whole cloves in the water. Add 1 tsp. each of nutmeg, ginger and allspice.

4. Heat the pan over medium heat until it begins to bubble. Lower the heat to maintain a steady simmer.

5. Check on the pan every 30 to 60 minutes. Add more water as the water in the pan evaporates. The apples and spices release their scent for approximately two hours before they need to be replaced with fresh.

Tags: apple peels, apples spices

Southern California Colleges For Culinary Arts

Culinary arts students learn the fundamentals of food preparation.

If you have a flare for cooking and want to make a career out of it, consider an education in culinary arts. Students who pursue culinary arts training can go on to become cooks and chefs in restaurants and other food-preparation establishments. Whether you are right out of high school or looking for a career change, Southern California may have a culinary arts school that is right for you.

Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Los Angeles

This college, founded in 1994, partners with the prestigious Paris-based Le Cordon Bleu. Los Angeles Le Cordon Bleu students can earn an Associate of Occupational Studies diploma in Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Arts. Students learn classic techniques from professional chef instructors in small classes. They also obtain hands-on experience in the school's professional kitchens, campus restaurant and through externships. The school has two Los Angeles locations--one in Pasadena and one in Hollywood.

Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Los Angeles

521 E. Green St.

Pasadena, CA 91101

626-229-1300

chefs.edu

Hollywood location

6370 W. Sunset Blvd.

Hollywood, CA 90028

San Diego Culinary Institute

Students at the San Diego Culinary Institute can earn a cuisine diploma or a baking and pastry diploma. Students at SDCI learn about flavors, business, and fundamental techniques such as broasting, braising and saut ing. Class sizes are small; the school says classes will never exceed 16 students. Students learn from professional instructors who average 25 years in the business. Many of the instructors have worked in Paris, Tokyo, New York and London, according to the school's website. About 60 percent of the students at this school previously worked in or studied for a different career.

San Diego Culinary Institute

8024 La Mesa Blvd.

La Mesa, CA 91941

619-644-2100

sdci-inc.com

Santa Barbara City College-School of Culinary Arts and Hotel Management

Founded in 1909, Santa Barbara City College is a community college that serves the south coast of Santa Barbara County. Culinary arts students at Santa Barbara City College take classes in sanitation and safety, baking, culinary fundamentals and wine. A big part of the program is work experience. Students enroll in an off-campus work experience to supplement lab work and expose them to their area of interest. The school offers an Associate of Science in culinary arts or a certificate.

Santa Barbara City College

721 Cliff Drive

Santa Barbara, CA 93109

805-965-0581

sbcc.edu

Tags: Santa Barbara, Cordon Bleu, Barbara City, Santa Barbara City, Barbara City College

A Craft For Daniel Fasting In The Bible

By praying to God and not men, Daniel was kept safe in the lions' den.

While most famously known for his experience in the lions' den, the Old Testament prophet Daniel also gained notoriety among Christians for the 21 days he spent fasting in an effort to maintain Christian virtues concerning eating while he was in Babaloynian court. By demonstrating his devotion to God, Daniel showed both the Babaloynians and his Lord that he valued faith over his own nutritional needs. Teach children about Daniel fasting in the Bible with a craft that centers around the lessons learned in this biblical story.

Scripture Overview

In the Old Testament, the book of Daniel tells the story of the prophet's fast. Located in Daniel 1:1-21, the scriptures detail how Daniel and followers refused to eat the food ordered by King Nebuchadnezzar and chose to fast for 21 days. During this time, Daniel and the men ate only vegetables in an effort to keep God's word about clean versus unclean food. After fasting in this way, Daniel and his followers were much healthier than those who were eating King Nebuchadnezzar's chosen cuisine. Upon witnessing the power of God to keep Daniel and the men healthy while fasting, the king switched his desired cuisine to Daniel's.

Craft Discussion

Before beginning the construction of the craft project, lead kids in a discussion of the story's morals. Talk about Daniel's choices to hold steadfast to God's virtues versus giving in to King Nebuchadnezzar's demands. Ask the kids to discuss instances in their own lives where they have not given in when faced with peer pressure to do wrong, and tie these examples back to Daniel and the need for Christians to follow God's word, even if it is the more difficult choice.

Craft Construction

Instruct each child to use construction paper to cut out a basket and fill it with cutout fruit and vegetables. Depending upon the age of the kids, you can either provide them with templates to trace and cut, or allow them to make their own on colored construction paper. The kids can use glue to attach the basket to a piece of tagboard. As they complete the fruits and vegetables, they can glue them in the basket and fit them accordingly. Note that the kids should not overlap the fruit and vegetables too much as they will be writing their values on the food. The fruit and vegetable basket symbolizes what Daniel and his men lived off of for three weeks while fasting.

Adding Children's Values

Ask the kids to write values that are important to them on each piece of fruit in their basket. Remind them how Daniel showed incredible strength, integrity and faith during the fast. When the children are finished writing their values on each piece of fruit, ask each kid to take a moment to tell everyone what his fruit basket means to him and how he wants to apply these values to his daily life.

Tags: King Nebuchadnezzar, about Daniel, construction paper, Daniel followers, Daniel showed, each piece, each piece fruit

Cook Collard Greens With Smoked Neck Bones

Collard greens are Southern comfort food.

There is nothing like a generous serving of hot collard greens with smoked neck bones to warm both your body and soul. A traditional Southern dish, this well loved classic is an excellent source of vitamins A and C. Collard greens can be inexpensive to prepare and are filled with textures and flavors that will leave you and your family more than satisfied. Serve with cornbread to soak up all the delicious juice that comes with this amazing dish. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Instructions

1. Remove the collard green leaves from the main stem and wash the greens several times in cold water.

2. Slice collards into 1/2 to 1 inch thick slices and set aside.

3. Saute onions and garlic in olive oil in a large pot until tender.

4. Add chicken stock, smoked neck bones and red pepper flakes to the pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for about 30 to 40 minutes.

5. Place collard greens in the pot. Cover with a lid and cook until wilted, about 45 to 60 minutes. Stir occasionally. When done, taste and add salt and pepper to taste.

Tags: about minutes, dish this, neck bones, smoked neck, smoked neck bones

What Is Rye Grass

Rye grass grows best in cool temps and moist fertile soil.

Among the most popular lawn grasses in the cool regions of Europe and in the Northeastern and Northwestern United States, rye grass seeds can be mixed with other grass seeds such as bluegrass to make a wearable, lush lawn. Native to Eurasia and Northern Africa around the Mediterranean, rye grass diminishes in dry soils or hot summer weather, but remains greener if lightly shaded in such conditions. Provide full sun and moist fertile soils for best growth. Does this Spark an idea?

Types

While there are about 10 species of rye grass (Lolium spp.), two species gain widespread use in North America and Europe: perennial rye grass (Lolium perenne) and Italian rye grass (Lolium multiflorum). The latter is an annual plant, typically surviving for only one growing season although in mild but cool, moist regions it may survive two to three years, according to Penn State University. Many varieties of rye grass exist today, usually the result of genetically crossing perennial and Italian species.

Features

Rye grass produces many green leaf blades and stems called tillers that are flat and narrow. Plants become bunched tufts. Perennial rye grass creates a finer textured carpet while the texture of Italian rye grass is a bit coarser. Flowers on all species are yellow but inconspicuous, often partially hidden by the leaves. Perennial rye grass needs a cool winter dormancy and long days to produce flowers and set seed while Italian rye grass flowers and drops seed at any time during growth.

Uses

The rapid germination of freshly sown seeds and fast growth of seedlings makes rye grasses great for establishing lawns or for erosion-control in cool summer regions or when sown as a temporary ground cover from fall to spring. Perennial rye is exceptional for use in golf courses or other sport playing fields. Italian rye is best mixed with other grasses to create a nice lawn. All rye grasses also make excellent forage for grazing animals when left uncut since they are fast-growing and easily digested, according to Penn State University.

Growing Requirements

Sow rye grass seeds in a fertile, non-alkaline soil that is moist but well-draining, receiving about 1 inch of water weekly. In cool to warm summer climate areas, provide full sun exposure with more than six hours of direct sun daily. In areas where summers are hot and long, rye grass needs additional irrigation and some dappled afternoon shade to remain green and lush. Seeds are best sown in very late summer, just before the autumnal equinox, or in mid-spring. Sow in very late summer and early fall in regions with hot summers so you enjoy the deep green color of the rye grass from fall to late spring. Mow rye grass lawns at a height of 1 to 2 1/2 inches; the shorter it is cut, the more frequently it must be mown to maintain its stature.

Limitations

Fungal root and foliage problems plague rye grasses frequently since they grow in moist, cool soils. These grasses also quickly falter in dry soils and can be fully killed in droughts if not irrigated; they re-sprout from seeds once cool, moist weather returns. Overall, rye grasses do not make good lawns in regions with very cold winters or long hot summers. Texas A&M University also warns that that sod cutworms and webworms like to chew on rye grasses, and may become a nuisance.

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Eat Vegetarian At Walt Disney World

Eat Vegetarian at Walt Disney World

In the average American theme park in which hamburgers and hot dogs reign supreme, finding appetizing vegetarian food is an astonishing feat. Thankfully, Walt Disney World is not an average theme park. Not only does Walt Disney Word have vegetarian theme park staples like fries, soft pretzels, popcorn, ice cream and funnel cakes, it also has delightful vegetarian and vegan options ranging from the common veggie burger to the unique and mouth-watering creations by Disney’s fine chefs. With so many options, your dining experience at Walt Disney World is entirely what you make of it.

Instructions

1. The first step in any good Walt Disney World vacation is research. There are a bevy of websites dedicated to Walt Disney World, many of which publish the menus of Disney restaurants. It is important to remember that these do change, but reading them will give you an idea of the type of vegetarian options the restaurant has.

2. Talk to other vegetarian Disney diners. Thanks to the internet, it is easy to find Walt Disney World related message boards. Most of these boards have a “search” feature, which will make finding threads about vegetarian food easy. Many vegetarians have also faced the challenge of planning the perfect Disney meal arrangements and will be a helpful resource.

3. Make reservations. In Disney lingo, these are called “advanced dining reservations,” or formerly “priority seatings.” Disney’s restaurants fall into two categories: quick service and table service. Quick-service restaurants are the Disney equivalent of fast food, in which you place your order and receive your food at a central counter. Table-service restaurants are buffets, and restaurants in which the wait staff take your order and deliver your food. While quick-service restaurants do not take advanced dining reservations, table-service restaurants do, and some fill up months in advance. Once you have done your research, call Disney to make your advanced dining reservations. These are easy to cancel, so if you are looking at going to a popular restaurant, book early. If you cannot get the time and restaurant you want, try again in a few days. More tables may open up if someone cancels their reservation.

4. Don’t fear the buffet. Buffets at Walt Disney World cater to extremely diverse tastes. At breakfast buffets you can traditionally expect fruits, pastries and other traditional breakfast fair. At lunch and dinner buffets, there are generally a good selection of salads (many of which are vegetarian), numerous vegetarian side dishes and often a few vegetarian main dishes. At most buffets, even vegans will be able to find something good to eat. If you tell your waiter about your dietary restrictions, he will generally send out a chef to give you a tour of the buffet. Additionally, if you have any questions while you are at the buffet, there are chefs standing behind the counter who can assist you.

5. Do not be afraid to ask questions at the table-service restaurants. If you have any questions, politely ask your waiter. If she does not know the answer, she will generally ask the chef and return with a reply. This is useful for determining whether dishes contain products you will not eat. Additionally, some chefs may be willing to prepare something for you that is not on the menu. Do not plan on this, but keep it in mind in case of a dining emergency.

6. Eat and enjoy! Since Disney menus change, you cannot guarantee that you will be able to get that delicious dish again, so enjoy it while it lasts and have a magical vacation!

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About Rice Bran

About Rice Bran

Rice bran is a highly nutritious food that had been previously discarded during the processing of white rice. Today, it is recognized for its nutritional benefits and is included in foods that are produced all over the world. Add this to my Recipe Box.

How Rice Bran is Made

Bran is produced during the milling of whole grains, and as a result there are various types of brans: rice bran is one example, but there are also brans produced from wheat, corn and even millet bran. During milling, each kernel of rice is dried and then hulled, when the hard outer shell of the rice is separated from the rest of the kernel. This hard outer shell is the rice bran.

Benefits

Rice bran contains a high amount of three types of fatty acids: palmitic, oleic and linoleic. The fatty acids found in rice bran help raise your high-density lipoprotein (HDL), also known as "good cholesterol." Rice bran is also high in protein.

Uses

Rice bran is often incorporated into breakfast foods like cereals and breakfast bars. Rice bran can also be sprinkled on top of bread or included in the dough before baking to add nutritional value.

Arsenic in Rice Bran

There have been scares about the presence of arsenic, a carcinogenic substance, in rice and rice bran in recent years. Arsenic does occur naturally in rice and rice bran, but not at harmful levels. NutraCea, a company that helps with food aid in some developing countries, has produced rice bran solubles that contain 0.48 mg/kg and 1.16 mg/kg of inorganic arsenic, well above the United States safety levels. Generally, though, there is a low to zero risk of arsenic poisoning from consuming rice bran.

Other Uses

Rice bran has a high oil content, and rice bran oil has been marketed in the United States since 1994. Rice bran oil is considered a healthy oil because it contains gamma oryzanol, an antioxidant.

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Farm Science Activities

Teach kids about animal reproduction and husbandry through farm science activities.

Farm science is an important unit in the lesson plans of early childhood education and is not just for schools in agricultural communities. Farm science activities teach children about how food and other resources are grown. It also teaches respect for plants, animals and the land.

Milking the Cow

Show students where milk comes from with a milking activity to teach that milk does not just come from the supermarket shelf. Fill a rubber glove with milk and tie the wrist portion to the bottom of a chair or to the underside of a sawhorse. The fingers of the glove will represent a cow's udder. Place a pail underneath the glove and use a sewing needle to poke tiny holes in the tips of the finger. Have children sit on a stool and practice milking the cow. Show them pictures or a video of an actual milking and explain the biology behind milk production. To milk the "udder," instruct students to take two of the glove fingers in each hand, squeeze the top of the glove fingers between their thumb and forefinger, and repeatedly and gently squeeze down to release a stream of milk.

Plants Need Water

Illustrate how plants take in water by using celery and colored water. Talk to students about how all living things need water to survive and how farm vegetables and grains require irrigation. Provide the students with jars. Have them fill the jars halfway with water. Add a few drops of red food coloring to each jar to turn the water red. Slice bunches of celery at the bottom so you have individual stalks. Leave the foliage at the top. Give each student their own stalk and have them insert the stalks into their jars of water. Over the course of the next few days, children will see the red water creeping up through the veins, turning the celery red.

Farm Animal Babies

Teach kids about animal reproduction, what the offspring of farm animals are called and what they look like with a flash card match game. Create flash cards with images and names of farm animals. Create corresponding flash cards of the farm animals' young. Examples include a cow and a calf, a chicken and a chick, a pig and a piglet and sheep and a lamb. Introduce the animals, their offspring, the sounds they make and the basic practices of animal husbandry to the kids. Mix up the cards and give each student one. They are to become the animal on the card. Don't let them show their cards to others yet. Round up students into a confined area and tell them that they are in a corral or in a barn. Then say that the door to the corral or barn has been left open, giving them the opportunity to escape. At this point, students can scatter throughout the room. Now that they are dispersed, tell them babies and their parent animals need to find each other. Kids will then go about and work to match up the correct animal and offspring cards.

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Get Vegetable Oil Off Of Granite Countertops

Granite countertops are a good-looking choice for your kitchen decor. But if you happen to leave vegetable oil on your counter, you can be left with unsightly marks that are resistant to typical counter cleaning methods. If you have a vegetable oil stain on your granite, you can remove it with a little bit of work. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Put flour and dish washing liquid in a bowl.

2. Add water to the bowl, stirring the mixture until it reaches the consistency of yogurt.

3. Spread the mixture thickly onto the stain.

4. Spread plastic wrap over the mixture to keep it damp.

5. Leave the mixture on the stain for 24 hours, and then rinse it off using cool water.

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Roast Turkey Thighs

If you prefer dark meat, this is the recipe for you. Here, the thighs are stuffed with a cornbread stuffing. Serves 8 to 10. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Instructions

1. Cut a slit in the fresh chestnuts and place them in a 2-quart saucepan.

2. Cover chestnuts with water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and cook for 20 minutes.

3. Leave the chestnuts in the water they were cooked in until they are cool enough to handle.

4. Remove the outer shell and the brown skin from the chestnuts and chop coarsely.

5. Combine the chestnuts with cranberries, cornbread, eggs, sage, parsley and stock in a large bowl. Toss gently, fluff up the mixture and set aside.

6. Take the turkey thighs and place on a cutting board with the skin side down. Cut along the length of the bone with a boning knife and peel back the meat without piercing the skin. Remove the bone.

7. Spread the turkey thigh out flat, slitting the meat as needed. Pound the meat in between sheets of wax paper to an even thickness.

8. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

9. Salt and pepper the turkey thighs to taste.

10. Put some of the stuffing in the middle of each butterflied turkey thigh in a lengthwise line.

11. Roll the thigh up around the stuffing and secure with kitchen string at either end and in the middle.

12. Place the thighs side by side in a roasting pan so they are close together but not touching. Roast 30 minutes and transfer to a serving plate in a warm oven.

13. Put the roasting pan over a burner at medium heat. Put butter, shallots and giblets into pan and saute 3 minutes.

14. Add wine to pan and while it boils, scrape loose any encrusted bits with a spoon. Boil until liquid is reduced by half and then add stock and simmer 20 more minutes.

15. Remove turkey thighs from oven and slice into 1/2-inch thick rounds. Drizzle with sauce from the roasting pan and serve.

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Remove Stains From Scanpan Cookware

Remove stains from your Scanpan Cookware with ease.

As with other pots, pans and skillets, Scanpan Cookware can be stained over time during the cooking process. Food sticks to the bottom of the cookware, often leaving a hideous stain that might seem impossible to remove. The stains, however, can be removed with a quick, easy cleaning routine that can keep your cookware looking brand new. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Wash your cookware with hot water and dish detergent. Place the cookware in the sink with 1 gallon of hot water and squirt of dish detergent, then scrub with a nylon scouring pad. The nylon material will scrub efficiently without scratching the surface.

2. Rinse the cookware with hot water, then place on the stove. Turn the stove burner on high heat.

3. Pour water and vinegar into the cookware, using 1 Tbsp. vinegar per 1 cup water. Use enough liquid to submerge the entire stain.

4. Allow the water to come to a boil, and let boil for 5 minutes.

5. Discard the water, and scrub the stained area once more with a nylon scouring pad.

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What Foods Cause High Levels Of Iron

Iron is used by the body to oxygenate the blood through hemoglobin. A deficiency in iron can lead to a condition called anemia. When this takes place, the body can become weak, pale, lethargic and you can also suffer from chest pains and a shortness of breath. To keep your iron levels high, there are certain foods that can be eaten.

Meats

Meats are already known for their high protein content. They are also high in iron. Some specific meats include beef, turkey, lamb, chicken and pork.

Fish

Fish is a lean source of protein and it is also high in iron. Some examples are salmon, tuna, cod, haddock and also shellfish.

Grains

There are some grains that are fortified with iron. These include pasta, oatmeal, rice and various cereals.

Geens

Leafy green vegetables have an array of vitamins and minerals in them. They also have high amounts of iron. Some examples are baby spinach, cabbage, kale, parsley and broccoli.

Seeds and Nuts

In addition to having healthy fats, nuts and seeds also have a high amount of iron. Some of these include almonds, sesame seeds, walnuts and sunflower seeds.

Beans

Beans are high in fiber and high in iron. Some examples are soy beans, lentils, chick peas, kidney beans and lima beans.

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Easy Rice Dishes

Rice dishes are an easy and fast way to serve up a healthy entree or side. Because of rice's versatility, pretty much any food group can be paired to make a great tasting dish. From fruits to vegetables to meats and sauces, rice is the perfect canvas to create your kitchen masterpiece. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Rice Selection

There are many types of rice, and the type of grain you choose will factor into the dish you are making. For example, for traditional Chinese stir fries, go with white rice as it takes on the flavor of whatever sauce you are using in recipe. For healthier, heartier dishes, you may want to go with brown rice, which is rich in vitamins and minerals. Basmati rice, a long-grain rice, is perfect for Indian and Middle Eastern dishes and is marked by its rich nutty or corn-like flavor. Jasmine rice is another popular varietal. Like basmati, it too is a long-grain rice used often in Indian cooking and is distinctive in that the rice, once cooked, is often very sticky and clings to itself.

Rice Preparation

When preparing rice, there are several different methods, each of which has their benefit and their burden. The simplest way of preparing rice is in the microwave. Certain rices, such as brown and white rice, are sold in instant rice form. This rice comes in a special pouch that steams the rice in the microwave. The benefit of instant rice is that it drastically reduces preparation time. However, oftentimes, the subtle flavors of the rice are lost and the texture might be chewier. Also, instant rice limits the amount of rice you can make at once, which may pose difficulties when preparing a large meal.

The stove top is another method of making rice. This method entails boiling the rice grains in a covered pot of water for a specified amount of time, often 30 minutes to an hour depending on the quantity of rice being prepared. The benefit of this method is the rice retains its rich flavors and pleasant textures. In addition, with a large enough pot, you can make enough rice to last a week. However, this method does take time and may prove to be too inefficient for regular preparation. In addition, if the rice is not timed carefully, it can either end up overcooked or undercooked. Overcooked or burnt rice can create terrible smells and ruin pots. Undercooked rice is hard and kernel like.

If you have the money, a rice cooker can be a great investment. Rice cookers are kitchen appliances specifically designed to steam rice. Rice cookers allow the rice grains to retain their flavors and textures, while cooking the rice at optimal temperatures and for optimal times, avoiding the problem of undercooking or overcooking. Although it can take longer to prepare rice in a rice cooker than in the microwave, rice cookers can handle larger quantities of grains.

Rice Recipes

Many foods can be mixed with rice to make delicious entrees.

If using white rice, considering sauteeing pieces of chicken breast mixed with chicken broth and vegetables, such as green pepper, red pepper, bamboo shoots and shitake mushrooms. For a little bit of spice, you can add some chili powder or a hot pepper, like jalapeno. Substitute cuts of pork or beef for chicken or use tofu to create a vegetarian dish.

If you use brown rice, try mixing it with boiled red beans and chili with a dollop of sour cream. This can be a hearty and heart-healthy dish, especially if you use meatless chili and low fat sour cream or substitute plain yogurt. If you prepare a stew, consider pouring the mixture over the brown rice. The rice will soak up the moisture and add a nutty flavor as well as necessary vitamins and nutrients.

If you use basmati rice, consider serving it as a bed for portions of lamb with traditional Greek yogurt sauce. You can also try vegetarian options such as sauteed peppers, onions and tomatoes, spiced with turmeric and curry powder.

If you use jasmine rice, consider mixing it with chickpeas cooked in a spicy tomato sauce. This makes a protein-rich vegetarian dish. If you like meat, substitute chicken or lamb for the chickpeas. Even deep fried vegetables, such as cauliflower and broccoli, can make a great pairing with jasmine rice.

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What Chemicals Are In Plant Food

Adding plant foods to a garden can promote bigger floral blooms.

Plant food is manufactured by various companies to promote the health and growth of garden plants. These "foods" are a mixture of chemicals, including fertilizers and minerals, that work together to provide extra nutrients to your plants. While all plant foods will vary according to manufacturer, there are some basic ingredients common to most types. Does this Spark an idea?

Nitrogen

Three minerals are almost universally found in commercial plant foods: Nitrogen, potassium and phosphorous. Nitrogen promotes the development of foliage, making it look thicker and greener.

Potassium

Potassium promotes the plant's immune system and creates bigger fruits. Extra potassium will help plants resist diseases and other conditions they may be prone to in a garden environment.

Phosphorous

Phosphorous will solidify the roots so plants can survive water shortages and take in more nutrition through the soil.

Fertilizer

Fertilizers are often intermixed with the plant food and provide extra nutrients to the plants. These fertilizers may include fish meal, organic plant and animal matter, natural manures and mulches.

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