Globewatcher Blog

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2026-05-15T18:36:53.151-04:00

2026-05-15T18:27:18.354-04:00

Corned Beef Recipe

2017-04-02T16:58:00.000-04:00

I love corned beef and a good Ruben sandwich is a comfort food to me, so obviously I wanted to learn how to make my own corned beef. Buying corned beef in a grocery store is super expensive and the quality is lacking.

Pickling Spice
2 T mustard seeds
2 T coriander seeds
1 T black peppercorns
1 T whole allspice
1 T whole cloves
8 whole cardamom pods
2 cinnamon sticks, broken in pieces
3 bay leaves
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp crushed red pepper

Combine all ingredients and set aside.

Brine
1 gallon water
2 c kosher salt
1 T pink curing salt
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 c brown sugar
1/4 c pickling spice, reserve the rest for later.

In a large pot, combine all ingredients and bring to a simmer. Ensure that all the sugar is dissolved and remove from heat. Allow the brine to cool at room temperature. Place liquid in a 2 gallon re-sealable bag and place in a shallow pan.

Corned Beef
3 1/2 to 4 lb brisket, flat cut
1 medium head cabbage, cut in wedges
1 onion coarsely chopped
4 carrots, cut into 2 inch pieces

Directions:
1. Place brisket in the bag with the brine. Refrigerate for 5 days while turning occasionally.
2. Rinse the brisket with cold water. Place in an large pot and cover with fresh water.
3. Place the remaining pickling spices in a cheesecloth and add to the pot.
4. Bring pot to a boil, reduce heat to a low simmer, cover, and cook for 3 hours - or until the brisket is fork tender.
5. Add the cabbage, carrots, and onion during the last 15 minutes of cooking.
6. Remove the spice bag, thinly slice corned beef, and serve with the cabbage, carrots, and onion.

Photo credit: jeffreyw via Foter.com / CC BY

Mississippi Comeback Sauce Recipe

2016-12-27T14:57:00.002-05:00

Mississippi Comeback Sauce

I was looking for a great sauce for my fried oysters. I came upon this recipe that I had seen many times before and had never tried. It looked amazingly good and easy to make, so I did. I can only imagine how good it will be on French fries, tater tots, onion rings, sandwiches, pork. The possibilities are endless.

Ingredients

- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup chili sauce
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- juice of one lemon

Nematodes to Control Fleas

2014-11-15T18:59:00.001-05:00

My two dogs have had a bad time this year with fleas. Even after treating my snorkie and English Pointer with flea treatments according to the directions, they still scratched and fleas could still be found on them. We figure that even after treating our dogs they go into the yard and pick up new fleas, probably coming from our neighbors direction. The pointer, Maggie, really chewed her haunches raw.

The weather has turned cold and I no longer see any fleas on the dogs, however there is always next year. I've been doing research because I do not want to have another flea season like this next year. A natural fix for fleas seems to be using beneficial nematodes that target flea larva as well as other pest larva in the yard.

I've looked online for price and they seem to range from $15 - $50 for treatment. I have a small yard, but our house is right up against a large exspanse of grassy park land, where many in the neighborhood come to walk their dogs.

There are thousands of species of nematodes out there so when ordering them for use, please be sure you are ordering the correct species.

I am adding a few links to places that I can order nematodes.

arbico-organics.com
buglogical.com

2014-06-29T19:16:00.000-04:00

I am always looking for ways to save money; are you looking for ways to save money? There are a number of areas in day-to-day living where you can save money. Your grocery bill is just one of those areas.

Do not buy pre-processed food, whenever possible use whole ingredients, there is less processing and therefore the food tends to be less expensive, however You should always compare the price per ounce listed on the price tags.
Keep a price book with a list of the cost of the most commonly purchased groceries, check these to ensure that the “sale” prices are really good deals.
Build a shopping list on your computer, use it to help develop your shopping list Stick to your shopping lists, do not be tempted by items you do not need.
When on “sale”, stock up on staples, buy them in bulk quantities if the price is compelling enough and you are able to use them before the freshness date.
Plan your meals and shopping based on what is on sale (check your price book to ensure that those prices really are good).
Shop at more than one store – they all tend to have deals on different items – do your price comparisons and split your purchases, if it makes sense to do so.
Buy your fresh foods in season and local for the best prices and tastiest foods.
Only buy what you can use, or if you enjoy canning buy enough for a full canner load.
Learn to make your own bread, pasta, spice mixes, cakes, etc.. the food will be healthier, tastier, and less expensive. Plus there is a great feeling of accomplishment. If you do not currently do this, try just one and perfect it then try another.
Begin cutting and using coupons on things you already use, do not buy something you do not already use even if it seems like a great deal.
Cut down on the meat portions. Use less meat in your cooking because meat is an expensive form of protein (beans, eggs, and nuts are also protein sources). Instead of using meat as a main dish you can use it as an accompaniment (in stir fries, and pastas).
If you do not already have a freezer, a minimal purchase can allow you to stock up on great purchases (turkeys at thanksgiving, ham during the holidays are usually on sale). You can eat well and spend less money doing so.

These are some simple tips to saving money on groceries. A little planning can make a large difference in the pocket book.

Photo By Svilen.milev - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link

Drying Cherry Tomatoes in Your Food Dehydrator

2013-09-22T13:42:00.000-04:00

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Earlier this spring my mother gave me 3 small “sweet 100” cherry tomato plants. I was eager to plant them in my garden. This would be my very first garden in my very first home (I had always rented before – and was unable to plant gardens). My three little tomato plants became very large tomato plants (I was pruning them back regularly according to everything I had read). The plants were tied up using about three stakes per tomato plant and metal tomato support racks. None of this was enough to hold up the plants.

Once the tomatoes came on, the plants grew over 10 feet tall easily. And the weight of the plant and tomatoes was just too much for the supports. The supports are now bent and are at very awkward angles, but most of the tomatoes are up off the ground. The tomatoes started blooming and have not quit. It is September 22 (first day of fall) and the plants still have 100’s of blooms on them. I have harvested gallons of cherry tomatoes.

These plants should not have been called sweet 100 – they should’ve been called sweet 1000’s. I have been unable to use my sidewalk to my backyard for several months now and have had to resort to climbing over our support wall to get into my yard.

Lessons learned are to plant the tomatoes as far from the sidewalk as possible next year and to have a steady supply of “tomato lovers” to pawn the excess tomatoes on. I am also going to find a slew of cherry tomato recipes for next year. Some of my favorite cherry tomato recipes are the tomato caprese salad (with mozzarella) and sautéed cherry tomatoes in herbs over linguini.

I have a new fruit/vegetable dehydrator that had never been used. When I came in from the tomato plants with another half gallon of tomatoes yesterday, I decided it was time to get it out and try my hand at drying cherry tomatoes.

How I did it:

1. first I washed and drained the tomatoes and removed the stems.

2. I brought a sauce pan of water to a boil and quickly dipped the tomatoes in the boiling water. I had to do this in batches due to the number of tomatoes.

3. I allowed them to cool (no I did not dip them in ice cold water to stop the cooking). Due to the small size of the tomatoes they cooled extremely quickly.

4. I removed the skins, they kind of just slipped out (it was quicker than I thought it would be)

5. I sliced the tomato in half, leaving a small area of connection so that they would open up but not be completely separated.

6. I brushed a very small amount of oil on the dehydrating tray to prevent the tomatoes from sticking.

7. I turned the dehydrator on medium for about 3 hours and then to low overnight and I turned it off early in the morning ( a total of about 15 hours)

8. The dried cherry tomatoes are so sweet and chewy, it was like chewing on candy (but not completely)

9. In order to keep the cherry tomatoes for longer I placed them in a small container and poured olive oil over them. Now I can use them in recipes to add some great flavor. I also did this to prevent me from eating them all up before the day was over.

The flavor is so intense it should make a great addition to many dishes. Now that I know how easy it is to make (although a bit messy), I’ll be making more… until the frost kills them off.

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Published in globewatcherblog.blogspot.com Sept 22, 2013

Copyright By Christine Haines

Photo: by Christine Haines

Chocolate Peanut-Butter No Bake Cookies

2012-12-08T13:18:00.001-05:00

Chocolate Peanut-Butter No Bake cookies is a favorite in my household and it is easy to make. You can never go wrong with chocolate or for that matter with peanut-butter as well. It is also a favorite during the holidays.

TIME: About 30 minutes

INGREDIENTS
2 cups of sugar
4 tablespoons cocoa
1 stick butter
1/2 cup of milk
1 cup peanut butter
1 tablespoon vanilla
3 cups oatmeal
waxed paper

DIRECTIONS : In a heavy saucepan bring the sugar, cocoa, butter and milk to a boil. Once it reaches a boil allow to boil for 1 minute, remove from heat and immediately add the peanut butter, vanilla and oatmeal. Drop by the spoonful on the waxed paper and allow to cool until hardened.

Where Were You on 9/11?

2011-09-13T11:05:00.005-04:00

I have tried not to allow the events of September 11, 2001 define who I am and who I will become. However, with all the talk around the 10th anniversary of that fateful day it is hard not to think about that day and how it has affected us. My thoughts could literally be written down in a book and I am sure everyone has their own compelling story about the events of that day and the days and years that have followed.

I was living in Montana and managing a hotel. I was on my way to work and stopped off for a semi-daily cup of coffee at a local supermarket, when a girl said to me “There he goes again, George W. has got us in another war”. I had no idea what she was talking about (I'm still not quite sure what she was getting at) – I didn't normally turn on the TV at home while I was getting ready for work. The cashier said that a plane crashed into one of the World Trade Center buildings.

When I got to work at the hotel the TV was on and the second plane had just hit and the stations were showing and reshowing the plane hitting the building. All the guests had come to the lobby for breakfast and everyone was glued to the news in a state of shock. Then they showed people either jumping or falling out of the windows and that is when it really hit me. These people had no other
choice but to jump from the burning building.

The TV was on all day, we began getting phone calls to cancel incoming reservations (for those that actually remembered to call). Other than taking those calls I have to admit to getting very little work done on that day. All flights were canceled and the guests that were due to check out had to stay. Over the next few days we saw many people that had been stranded in different parts of the country start checking in to our hotel. One group of people rented a car and were driving from Alaska to Texas. Many guests began spending more time in the lobby and began talking to other guests that were complete strangers until that day. The rental cars were quickly booked. People that were stranded at our hotel were able to rent cars and began driving cross country to their destination.

I realized that each and every person that stayed at the hotel as well as the entire population of this country and that of others had their own very unique memories and stories of that day. We didn't have to be in New York City Ground Zero to be permanently affected by what we saw, heard, and thought.

The first time I heard of the attack referred to as 9/11 I was confused to what the person was talking about. But “9/11” quickly became the accepted way of speaking of the events of the day. Many people began placing American Flags on their car as a way to show patriotism. I chose not to, not because I am not a patriotic person (I love my country) but because I did not see that as my way of showing patriotism. The idea of the flag being shredded by the wind, beaten by the rain, and faded by the sun as many did was not something I chose to partake in. I did understand that this was important to those who chose to do it and that it was their choice – and what a great country we lived in that people can make their own choices. Everyone shows their patriotism in their own way, it is not a one-size fits all kind of idea. That is why I become very upset to this day when people claim that others are being unpatriotic – because they do not agree with their ideas.

When the ban on flying was lifted, we saw armed soldiers in the airports. Our hotel hosted the newly formed TSA for their job fair and subsequent training classes. More an more of our liberty's were taken away. The days of enjoyable travel, or at least bearable, were gone. We saw the formation of the large government group “Homeland Security” by President Bush, which we spend billions of dollars a year on. We essentially became a police state – and I have to think that this is exactly what the terrorists wanted us to do. They wanted to make us a nation so afraid that we would be willing to bankrupt our country to “protect” or “fight a war on terror”. In essence they won – because we did everything they wanted us to do.

Many hero's were made on 9/11, some were ordinary citizens. Most of us watched while others, without regard to their own safety, helped others to safety. My favorite story is the group of people in one of the towers that carried a man in a wheelchair down many flights of stairs to safety, they did not leave him behind. Although I haven't seen any followup to that story since that time, it is a favorite because these were ordinary citizens that helped (no special training is required to be a hero).

To those of us who lived through that day, it is a day we will always remember. However, in due time the memory will dim as our children with little or no memory of the event will grow up. If you don't think that'll happen, then think of the day Pearl Harbor was attacked. Many people can no longer remember that date, time does heal most wounds. Although, I will not forget that date, I understand that there will come issues that are important enough to move those thoughts to the back. I am just glad there are memorials at each of the sites to help our collective memory.

Photo By Stratosphere (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

How to Make Your Own Drain Clog Remover

2011-09-11T10:40:00.001-04:00

Make your own drain clog remover with supplies most homes already have. Why spend more money on toxic drain openers or a plumber. Most clogs and slow drains can be cleared with inexpensive ingredients you have in your kitchen.

You can make your own drain opener for a fraction of the cost of using the commercial variety. Here's what you need:

Household Ingredients Used:

A pot of boiling water
1 cup of vinegar
1 cup baking soda

Directions for Drain Cleaner: Place pot of water on high to boil and add one cup of baking soda and one cup of vinegar to the boiling water. The mixture will fizz begin to fizz. Pour the mixture down the clogged or slow drain. The action of the fizzing from the combination of vinegar and baking soda will dissolve any greasy or fatty clogs in your drain. Allow some time for the mixture to work on the clog, then flush the drain with tap water.

I prefer to use these household ingredients over the more expensive caustic chemicals that are used in store bought or industrial strength clog removers. The benefits are a home free of dangerous chemicals and a healthier and safer home for you and your family. If you have small kids or pets in the house, it is much safer for them. You may avoid a catastrophic poisoning.

How to avoid clogs from grease and grime build up - First it is important to dispose of grease by allowing it to cool and placing it in an empty disposable container that is easily sealed. You can store the container in the refrigerator until it is full and then dispose of through your community grease and oil recycling programs (if you are lucky enough to have one).

How to maintain your pipes grease free - Once a week pour a pot of boiling water down the drain. This will flush the pipes of any new grease build-up. If you have a more serious clog, it may require a plumber snake or a professional plumber. Therefore maintenance is always the preferred solution to drain clogs.

Curry Powder Spice Blend

2011-05-23T09:51:00.006-04:00

I love curries. I also enjoy making my own food, so of course I make my own curry at times. Here is one recipe for curry that I use. What is great about curry is that every recipe varies and are passed down from generation to generation. If this is not a tradition of your family (it was not of mine), then try this recipe and make some alterations and make it your own.

5 tablespoons ground coriander seeds
3 tablespoons ground cumin seeds
2 tablespoon ground turmeric
2 teaspoons dry mustard
2 teaspoons ground ginger
2 teaspoons ground fenugreek seeds
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoons ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground chili pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

Combine all the ingredients and blend well. Place in an airtight, resealable container. A good place to store your spice mix is in the freezer if you have room. Just be sure not to store your spices above your stove, the heat from the stove will drastically reduce the shelf life of your spices as well as other food items.

Are you looking for some great Indian recipes. 1000 Indian recipes Click Here!

5 Spice Powder

2011-04-26T09:15:00.005-04:00

Five spice powder is a commonly used spice in Asian cooking. It encompasses the five different tastes of sweet, sour, bitter, salty and pungent. It helps to liven up food and is used commonly in cooking of pork, duck and other fatty meats. It is also used often in fried rice dishes.

3 tablespoons cinnamon
6 star anise or 2 teaspoons anise seeds
1 1/2 teaspoons fennel seeds
1 1/2 teaspoons whole black peppercorns
3/4 teaspoon ground cloves

Place all spices in a blender, spice mill, or coffee grinder until of powdery consistency. Use as you would 5 spice powder in your recipes. The freshness of home blended spice mixes is superior to store bought mixes.

I always enjoy making my mixes fresh. Another spice mix I use a lot is my curry blend.

Photo by Blackberrylaw (Troy Pickard) [CC-BY-SA-2.5 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons

Italian Spice Blend

2011-04-21T09:34:00.001-04:00

Here's a spicey Italian blend of herbs and spices for all your Italian dishes. Typical herbs and spices in Italian blends are oregano, garlic, basil, rosemary, thyme, and marjoram. The red pepper flakes turn up the heat in this recipe but can be adjusted to taste. All these flavors blend to make up the complex, delicious taste of Italian food.

Ingredients
2 tablespoons dried basil
2 tablespoons dried marjoram
2 tablespoons dried parsley (optional)
1 tablespoon flaked onion (optional)
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon oregano
1 tablespoon thyme
1 tablespoon rosemary
1 tablespoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
¼ teaspoon black pepper (optional)

Blend well and place in a sealed container (preferably glass), store in a cool area. Do not store above or near the stove or the flavor will be negatively affected and will not last as long. I use this recipe which is a blend of many that I have seen and adjusted to my taste. Like any spice blend the maker can and should adjust to their own tastes, however, I would suggest trying new things that you normally would not. It has opened the vast possibilities that is what makes cooking and eating fun.

Chili Garlic Sauce is a Staple in My Kitchen

2011-02-01T16:06:00.006-05:00

The chili garlic sauce by Huy Fong Foods is spicy but yet not overpowering heat and can be added to just about any recipe. It is a staple in my kitchen just like mayonnaise, ketchup, and mustard. I use it in stir fries, in noodles, and in just about any food that needs some added zip. It is spicy, but it is not so hot that you cannot taste the flavor of the food you are adding it to. I also like to substitute the chili garlic sauce in recipes calling for fresh red peppers or any kind of hot sauce. When trying for the first time try small amounts and increase the amount until you have the desired heat.

I have tried other chili garlic sauces that were too sour or too hot. The peppers and garlic are a perfect blend.

It stores easily in the refrigerator door and is very inexpensive. I have been able to find them in most grocery store chains, but I prefer to buy it in a specialty Asian food store it is much less expensive.

A Favorite Recipe of Mine Using Chili Garlic Sauce

Spicy Fish Sauce
2 Tablespoons shredded carrot
2 cloves of garlic - crushed
1 teaspoon chili garlic sauce
2 tablespoons sugar (divided)
2 tablespoons lemon or lime juice
1/4 cup rice vinegar
1/4 cup fish sauce
1/4 cup water

Directions:
1. Shred carrot and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon sugar, set aside.

2. mix the rest of the ingredients together. After the carrot has softened until limp add to the mixture.

Serve with egg rolls, spring rolls, grilled pork or chicken over rice.

A Blast from the Past

2011-01-31T17:03:00.001-05:00

Today I received, out of the blue, a message about a facebook page set up for those who were stationed at the 294th USAAG in Flensburg Germany. It was fun to see all of the people that I hadn't seen in years. It made me realize that when we move on in different directions as most of us do eventually, those people don't seize to exist. I remember everyone as they were over 18 years ago. I realize that everyone's lives went on and continued in their own direction. It's also interesting to note that as much as they have changed, I have changed probably as much. I just didn't see the changes, as I have lived with myself for the past 18 years.

My memories of Flensburg are good and bad; yet I like to remember the good, fondly. Papa's Imbiss or "Papa's Pitas" as I remember it are the best Gyros' pitas I have ever had. In fact they spoiled me to eating pitas in the states. What was their secret - I would pay good money to know. Then there was the "Rathskeller" and Flensburger Pilsner - if only I could have another. It is like one of those empty longings. Shopping downtown on long Thursdays or Saturday markets. I loved buying fresh flowers at the market. Brotchen mit kasa (I apologize for my German spelling).

But we grow older and we move on.

My sister sent me these directions on diapering a baby - too funny.

2011-01-30T14:34:00.000-05:00

Spread the diaper in the position of the diamond with you at bat. Then fold second base down to home and set the baby on the pitcher's mound. Put first base and third together, bring up home plate and pin the three together. Of course, in case of rain, you gotta call the game and start all over again. ~Jimmy Piersal, on how to diaper a baby, 1968

afterthought: I am guessing this is the only way some men would've been able to diaper a baby.

Making Invisible Ink with the Kids

2011-01-30T12:56:00.000-05:00

It's a snowy and cold day outside and keeping the kids from going stir-crazy sometimes requires some kitchen science. Today we decided to make invisible ink. I started with a lemon and squeezed for the juice, using a paint brush we wrote some messages on some paper and set them aside to dry. We even wrote one for their father who is at work.

After the juice dried we held the paper up to some light bulbs. The heat changed the dried lemon juice to a brown color and the message appeared. It's amazing how a little science can fascinate and excite the kids. I than asked them what they thought happened to cause the writing to appear. It really is amazing to me how much children really understand the science behind what is happening around them. They just don't understand the full process.

Of course my daughter decided to make invisible bracelets for all her friend.

Other liquids that can be used for invisible ink are apple juice and vinegar

How to Prevent the Tomato Blight

2010-04-06T18:16:00.008-04:00

Juicy, red tomatoes sliced thinly with some onion on a toasted slice of bread. That is my goal when growing tomatoes. I love the time of year when the first tomatoes are beginning to redden and I know soon I will be enjoying when of my favorite things. Tomato growers all want to have a great crop of tomatoes. However, in 2009 the tomato blight
came on early and hit hard in the northeastern United States and elsewhere. It literally spread within days leaving many tomato lovers lamenting the total loss of their tomato crops. A strain of this fungus was responsible for the Irish potato blight that was responsible for deaths during the “Potato Famine”.

More and more gardeners are attempting to grow their own vegetables in recent years and with tomatoes being one of the more costly vegetables to purchase, the number of tomato growers has increased. Many who attempted to grow tomatoes last year were disappointed in their attempt. I asked my mother recently if she was planning on planting tomatoes this year and she is a bit hesitant – most likely she will scale back the amount of tomato plants she plants.

For those of you who love your tomatoes and do not love the hard, bland, colorless tomatoes you buy in the supermarket, I have looked into methods of preventing or avoiding the tomato blight. Treating tomato blight once it has occurred is extremely difficult, therefore steps need to be taken to prevent the disease from occurring.

There are many methods of treatment
both organic and non-organic to treating the blight which is caused by a fungus. There are also different variations of tomato blight. Therefore, I cannot guarantee that these methods will be totally successful, but if you love tomatoes as much as I do, it is worth the try.

Step 1 – purchase only healthy looking plants – checking the leaves carefully for any unhealthy appearance. Know the source of the plants you are purchasing. It is advantageous to purchase plants that were started in your local area greenhouses, versus buying from large chain stores that transport plants from all over the country and may have been partly responsible for the early onset of the 2009 tomato blight. If you are starting your own tomatoes, do not use soil from last years devastated crop.

Step 2 – plant or purchase several different types of tomatoes, some varieties may be more resistant to the blight, you are less likely to have a total crop failure. Look for varieties that are bred to be disease resistant (the capital letter F, N or V will follow the name of the variety on the package).

Step 3 – Remove all plant debris from your garden and burn it (if allowed in your area), if you cannot burn it, then place it in a plastic bag and seal well for disposal. Do not compost diseased plant material. Rotate your crops (this is always a good idea). Plant your tomatoes ideally at least 20 feet from where they were planted the year before. At the end of the season be sure to clear your garden of all plant debris and burn (where allowed by law) or have it removed.

Step 4 – when planting tomatoes do not crowd the plants and do not over-water your plants. Be sure to place stakes so that the plants can be tied up and kept off the ground. Proper air circulation helps to prevent fungus.

Step 5 – Ensure the soil is well cultivated and weeds are removed. Remove suckers from tomato plants.

Remove any blighted leaves immediately.

Step 6 – Apply fungicide (such as chlorothalonil – a non-organic fungicide)to the tomato plants according to the directions. You will want to apply fungicides before the appearance of tomato blight. Once blight occurs there is no cure and your plants will need to be removed or the blight will spread to other tomato plants in your garden as well as others. The spores are airborne. Avoid applying fungicide directly on red tomatoes. There are few organic remedies that are highly effective against the blight.

Step 7 – Although you may have done all you can to prevent the blight, some plants may still show signs of the disease. If you see the signs, such as white, powdery spores and large olive green or brown spots on the leaves and stems, remove the plant immediately and seal it in a plastic bag and throw it away. Do not compost infected plants. Watch your other plants closely for signs.

Step 8 – Tomato blight can jump to potatoes and vice versa. The blight is highly contagious. One infected plant can produce hundreds of thousands of spores that can be spread by wind up to 40 miles.

Step 9 – The tomato blight fungus is almost always present, but the pathogen needs special conditions to really take hold. Cold, damp weather helps to spread the fungus very fast. Hot, sunny weather acts to slow the spread of the fungus. Since the weather is out of our control, gardeners and farmers need to look at prevention because there is no cure.
Some plants may begin to show the signs of tomato blight by the end of the summer when the weather cools and time has allowed the fungus to take hold on plants. Remove the tomatoes and remove the plant waste from the garden and burn or seal in a bag and throw it away. There are many plants that are related to potatoes, so it is a good idea to remove all plant debris and burn or throw away at the end of the growing season.

Photo by tooony http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU_Free_Documentation_License

Daughter's Letter to her Mom

2010-03-30T20:39:00.001-04:00

My 6 year old daughter was angry with me today for sending her to her bedroom after she decided to hide from me when it was time for her to come in from playing – she also encouraged her 3 year old brother to do the same thing. While she was in her room thinking about what she had done wrong, she decided to write me a note and it said.

“Dir MoM
Sats U Ban So Min I D SIDiDDiD to snicaw t”

Needless to say I needed some help in deciphering her message to me. She had intended to say “Dear Mom, since you been so mean, I decided to sneak out.” Just like a 6 year old to tell on herself. I explained to her that if she ever sneaked out that she would be grounded for a month, not just 15 minutes or an afternoon. She thought about it and said “I don't think I'll sneak out”.

I'm sure I'll have my hands full with her as she reaches the “teenage years”. If there is anyone out there with suggestions on how to get a 6 year old to listen - I am waiting to hear something that will actually work.

A Day at Phipps Conservatory

2010-03-29T13:47:00.008-04:00

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Today was my first full day of restructuring and prioritizing my life. I didn't start the day out too great, I slept in until about 10am. I am usually up no later than 7am. My husband and I decided to take our children (3 and 6) to the Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh since we are a member. Today was a very rainy, dreary day and it seems as if everyone else in Pittsburgh had the same idea to find some nice indoor activities to do with their family as well. A good day for Phipps, but I enjoy it more when there are fewer people.

We stopped on our way to Phipps Conservatory to get some quick food for the kids since it was lunch time for them. Stopping at a fast food restaurant was not my idea, but after taking one look at my burger, I literally laughed until I couldn't breath anymore, with tears streaming down my face and my husband thinking I'm going bonkers. Because a description of how pathetic the sandwich looked is just not enough, I took a picture of it which made my husband think I was even crazier. I lost my appetite and could not eat it.

The ball of lettuce was just too funny on my hamburger from a well known fast food restaurant.

We finally made it to Phipps after missing the first turn and ended up entering Pittsburgh from the opposite side of the city through the Fort Pitt Tunnel (which the kids loved – and I was less than enthusiastic due to the rain slicked road and the traffic). I only grabbed the “oh shit” handle a couple of times and hit the “right sided brakes” a few times, but I feel I did a great job of keeping my comments to myself. My husband can get a “little” upset if I say anything about the traffic. All things aside we had a great day at Phipps Conservatory (what a wonderful place that would be to work). I have some pictures, although I didn't have my Sony Cyber-shot (battery needed charging), and my Pentax K20D does not have a macro lens for close-ups of individual flowers.

Overall, I think I should get a C+ for the day on my assignment to improve my life and my position. The activity did keep me away from the computer games and I really did not miss it that much.

You can check out Phipps at http://phipps.conservatory.org/

Did You Know?

2010-03-11T10:22:00.002-05:00

Did you know that a 2% drop in your bodies H2O can cause a decrease of up to 20% in your energy levels.1

Another great reason to ensure that you are drinking regularly throughout the day. Often 8 - 8 ounce glasses a day are recommended.

1. source: www.spryliving.com
Photo by Jorge Barrios http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_domain

This Cranberry Orange Relish is a Thanksgiving Tradition

2009-12-12T17:42:00.002-05:00

     This is a recipe that has been in my family for as long as I can remember. As a kid I was not very fond of this Thanksgiving tradition and refused to eat it for years. But as the years have passed my taste buds have grown to enjoy this treat. It is a staple part of our Thanksgiving table spread, along with the turkey, oyster stuffing, mashed potatoes, and green bean casserole. This recipe is made with fresh cranberries. Cranberries are a great berry for a healthy urinary tract (helps to fight off bacterial infections in the bladder). They are also an anti-oxidant that is linked to cancer prevention.

     Although cranberries can typically be found in cranberry sauce in the form of a jelly, and many times served in the shape of a can. Although I will confess that I do enjoy cranberries this way at times. I prefer fresh cranberry relish made with all fresh ingredients.

Ingredients are:
2 cups of washed cranberries
1 whole orange – sliced into quarters (with skin on)
1 – 1 ½ cup of sugar

    Place cranberries and orange through a grinder. You can use an attachment to a stand mixer or a stand-alone grinder. I have also used a food processor in a pinch – but be careful not to over process or you’ll be drinking the relish instead of eating it. After the berries and orange is ground, mix in the sugar and allow the relish the macerate. This will allow the fruit to soften and the remove the bitterness of the cranberry and orange pulp.

     Cranberry relish is great served with turkey and mashed potatoes. I also like to add a bit of cranberry relish to my turkey salad – which is a great way to use up left-over turkey. Or I just place a small spoonful on top of a slicked turkey sandwich.

     Another great addition to the recipe is to add a couple of tart apples.
Peel and core the apples and grind up while grinding the cranberries and orange. This changes the look and texture of the relish a bit, but is excellent as well.

How to Make Magic Reindeer Food

2009-12-12T17:35:00.006-05:00

It’s that time of year again. We are all busy with office parties and special holiday events and last minute shopping for Christmas presents. Everyone remembers to make cookies and leave the milk for Santa Claus, but many forget his reindeer. The reindeer must fly all around the world in one night and will need their energy as well. Here is a great recipe for Santa’s reindeer that will help them find your house during the night.

What You Need:

½ cup oatmeal
Glitter
Small plastic bag
Construction paper
Markers
Ribbon

Steps:
1. Mix the oatmeal and the glitter until well mixed and add to the plastic bag.
2. Cut the construction paper 2 ½ X 4 ½ inches.
3. On the construction paper write this poem:
Sprinkle this magic reindeer food outside tonight.
The moonlight will make it sparkle bright.
As the reindeer fly and roam.
This magic dust will guide them to your home.

4. Attach the construction paper to the plastic bag. Make a bow out of the ribbon and attach to the bag with the construction paper.
5. On Christmas Eve scatter the magic reindeer food in your yard. The magic in the glitter will help to lead the reindeer to your house.

Photo by: Anthere at fr.wikipedia (photo by fr:Utilisateur:Anthere) [GFDL or CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

How to Make Homemade Pound Cake from Scratch

2009-11-10T10:08:00.008-05:00

Pound Cake is a great dessert for the holidays, not only can you add any kind of topping you like but it is easy to make and to store until the big day. Serve this dessert along with pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving or with the ham on Christmas.
This is an easy dessert that most people have all of the ingredients on hand. Pound cake can be eaten plain or served with any number of sauces like lemon sauce. It is fun to make with young children who love to help in the kitchen. Historically pound cake was so named because there was approximately a pound of each ingredient that was added (butter, sugar, eggs, and flour). It is obvious that this recipe isn't in the truest sense a pound cake (only 1/2 pound of butter). If this recipe was doubled it would more closely resemble the pound cake of earlier times).

Things You'll Need:

* 1/2 lb of butter (bring to room temperature)
* 1 3/4 c. sugar
* 5 eggs
* 2 c. flour, sifted
* 1 t. vanilla
* pinch of salt

Step 1 - Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Prepare loaf pan by greasing.

Step 2 - Cream the butter and sugar thoroughly (about 10 minutes).

Step 3 - Add eggs, one at a time, beating well between each egg.

Step 4 - Add salt, then flour gradually while beating.

Step 5 - Add vanilla and mix well.

Step 6 - Pour the pound cake mixture into your prepared loaf pan and bake at 325 degrees for 55 minutes or until cake pulls away from the side of the pan. You can test the pound cake by inserting a paring knife into the top center of the pound cake if it comes out clean it is done, if it has uncooked batter you need to cook longer.

Pound cake is great served plain, or with fruit sauce drizzled over top. There are many varieties of pound cake (lemon, poppy seed, chocolate marble, etc...). I like it plain with a lemon sauce over top.

The first time I made this pound cake, I forgot to remove the pizza stone out of the oven before cooking and it was a flop. I've made it sense with good results.

Easy Egg Salad Sandwich

2009-11-01T23:05:00.003-05:00

Here is a simple recipe I use for egg salad sandwiches. I also give some alternatives to the typical egg salad. Personally, I make it a bit different each time I make it. Sometimes using Coleman's mustard,other times just using my favorite prepared mustard. I have been know to add pickle relish, bread & butter chips, Indian curry spice mix, and so on. The egg salad sandwich takes on my mood of the day; that is what is so great about egg salad sandwiches, you can have fun with it. By adding lettuce, bacon,or tomato, the egg salad sandwich is really quite attractive.

Cut off the bread crust and cut into small triangles and egg salad sandwiches make a great finger food for the baby shower, bridal shower, or other gatherings. The cost is minimal and the taste "well", the taste is great.

Ingredients for Egg Salad

4 hard-boiled eggs, peeled
1/4 – 1/2 C. mayonnaise
1 t Coleman’s mustard powder (or 1 teaspoon of your favorite mustard)
salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
1 stalk of celery finely chopped
2 T green onion finely diced
Dash of lemon juice
Mrs. Dash
Lettuce
Bread (toasted)

To Boil Eggs - Place the eggs in a pot and cover with cold water by at least a 1/2-inch. Bring the water to a gentle boil and turn off the heat but leave the pan on the burner; cover the pan and let the eggs sit for 12 minutes. After 12 minutes, place the eggs into a big bowl of ice water bath for about three minutes to stop the eggs from cooking.

1. Peel each egg and place in a bowl. Mash the eggs using a pastry blender or a fork until finely chopped.

2. Add the mayonnaise, mustard, and lemon juice and mix thoroughly. Adjust mayonnaise, lemon juice, and mustard to your taste. (It is better to start with less mayonnaise and mustard and add more to your liking).

3. Add the celery and green onion and mix.

4. Season with salt, pepper and Mrs. Dash to your taste.

5. Toast your favorite type of bread and place a leaf of lettuce on the bread. Spoon the egg salad over the lettuce.
This recipe should make two generous portioned egg salad sandwiches.

Other Serving Suggestions:
• Add curry powder to egg salad mix for a more exotic taste.
• Add lettuce and thinly sliced or diced tomato.
• Cook Bacon and add bacon chips into the egg salad mix. Or just serve slices of bacon on the bread with the egg salad.
• Add a couple Tablespoons of sweet pickle relish or dices bread and butter pickles.
• Garnish with sliced olives.
• Mix in 1 – 2 teaspoons of capers.