Baked Bacon

I hate to fry bacon!  And the microwave type never seems to cook evenly.  I end up with some of the bacon being burned, some crispy and some limp...  all 3 in just 1 piece of bacon!  The other day I found that I had a package of bacon that needed to be cooked but I wasn't ready to eat it just yet.  Soooo I preheated the oven to 400, lined a cookie sheet with sides with foil, put my bacon down trying to keep it from touching and stuck it in the oven.  I couldn't get the full package to fit the one pan but that was ok too.

The 1st pieces of bacon were ready in about 8 minutes after being turned once about half way through.  About half of the bacon was done after the 8 minutes and these were around the outer edges.  I removed them and added the rest of the bacon.  After about 4 minutes I was able to remove the rest of the 1st batch and turn the 2nd batch, removing them in about 4 more minutes.

When I fry bacon it pops and makes a mess of my stove.  To get it to cook evenly and not curl I usually have to cut it in half and use a bacon press.  Not with this method!  It didn't curl, it stayed flat without the press and it didn't seem to shrink very much.  My cooked bacon came out with the crispy texture I wanted and perfect for just about any use.

Now... I still didn't need a whole package of bacon so I put it in a plastic bag and put it in the refrigerator.  To use it I simply put it in the microwave for about 20 seconds (700 watt) and it comes out warm and perfect with no burning.

This may sound like it takes longer but it really doesn't and it's so much better than frying or microwaving.

Citrus Fruit Salad

I love most fruit salads and normally make the one I grew up with which had oranges, nuts, marshmallows and cherries.  A few days ago I decided to make my usual and found that I had no oranges but I did have a can of  'Citrus Salad' mix.  This is a combination of a little orange but mostly grapefruit - red and white.  When I spotted this I decided to give it a try.  So here is what I used.

1 can of DelMonte Citrus Salad (15 oz.), drained
Shaved, unsweetened coconut
Pecans (or nuts of your choice)
1 bag mini marshmallows
1 can Pineapple chunks (15 oz.), drained

Mix it all together and let sit in the refrigerator covered for about 1 hr.  Stir and serve.  The grapefruit in this mixture gives the whole dish a deliciously, 'clean' taste that I simply love.  I've made this 3 times now and can't get enough of it.  I eat it at night as my dessert and whenever I find myself wanting something sweet.  You got to try this one!

How to Clean Your Home Using Only 2 Ingredients - Part 4 (End)

Info from Today.com

Sneaker deodorizer

Sprinkle baking soda in sneakers. Allow to sit overnight. Shake out baking soda before wearing shoes.

Towels

Smelly towels are often caused by detergent build-up. To freshen smelly towels, wash in hot water and one cup vinegar, then again in hot water and ½ cup baking soda. Reichert recommends not using laundry detergent during this process. Detergent stays in the towels, even after rinsing, and can hold the smells.

What not to clean with baking soda and/or vinegar:

Do not use vinegar on anything shiny as it is an acid, and, over time, can remove the shine.

Do not use vinegar on sealed countertops such as granite or marble. It won't hurt the stone but it will slowly remove the shine.

Don't use baking soda as an abrasive scrub on surfaces that scratch easily.

When in doubt, first test products on a small, inconspicuous part of the item to be cleaned.

How to Clean Your Home Using Only 2 Ingredients - Part 3

Info from Today.com

Oven cleaner (not for self-cleaning ovens)

Method #1:

Scrub bottom and sides of oven using baking soda and steel wool.

Method #2:

1 cup baking soda

2 cups white vinegar

Pour vinegar into a spray bottle. Sprinkle baking soda onto bottom of oven. Spray with vinegar to make a light foam. Keep baking soda moist by spraying vinegar as needed. For sides of oven, mix baking soda with water to make a thick paste. Spread this on sides then spray with vinegar. Allow it to sit for as long as you can. Wipe off and rinse with hot water.

Pots and pans

To remove burnt-on food, sprinkle baking soda over the burnt area, add hot water and let sit overnight. In the morning, scrub with an abrasive sponge or Teflon scrubbing cloth.

Shower walls, doors and curtains

To prevent mildew from forming, spray walls, curtains and shower doors with white vinegar after showering.

Sinks and bath tubs

Simply spray with white vinegar and wipe! 

How to Clean Your Home Using Only 2 Ingredients - Part 2

Info from Today.com

Cups and mugs

Fill with one part baking soda to two parts water. Let it sit overnight. In the morning, wipe away stains with a sponge.

Fabric softener

3 cups white vinegar

½ cup water

½ cup baking soda

8 drops of your favorite essential oil, optional

Mix water and vinegar, then the mixture heat in microwave for one minute. Dissolve baking soda in mixture. Add essential oils if fragrance is desired. Use in the wash cycle as you would commercial softener.

Glass and window cleaner

1 tablespoon white vinegar

1 quart of water

Mix and spray on glass. Wipe with microfiber cloth. 

How to Clean Your Home Using Only 2 Ingredients - Part 1

This article came from Today.com .  Interesting and I'm going to give it a try. 

With only baking soda and white vinegar, you have a stellar "green combo" for many household cleaning chores. Whether you're tackling a grimy oven or sprucing up your countertops, these earth-friendly products are great alternatives to harsh chemical products. We asked green cleaning expert Leslie Reichert to share some of her favorite baking soda and vinegar recipes. They'll do the job, save you money and help the environment — all at the same time.

Carpet spot-cleaner

White vinegar

Water

Blot spills from carpet. Spray soiled area with a mixture of equal parts water and vinegar. Blot with a towel. Repeat until spot is gone.

Coffee makers

2 cups of white vinegar

Run vinegar through the brew cycle. Fill reservoir with water. Run through brew cycle again.

Counter cleaner

1 cup water

1 cup white vinegar

8 drops lemon essential oil, optional

Mix ingredients, then spray on counter. Wipe with a microfiber cloth. For extra power, heat the mixture in the microwave until it's warm. (Do not use vinegar on sealed granite, marble or other sealed stone countertops.) 

8 Ways to Wake up With More Energy - #8 (end)

Eat a High-Protein Breakfast

“Protein in the morning gets converted into dopamine, which energizes you,” said Dr. Winter. Yes to meat, poultry, seafood, beans, peas, eggs, processed soy products, nuts, and seeds. Go easy on carbs (breads and cereals) and processed foods with lots of added sugar that will make you feel logey.

8 Ways to Wake up With More Energy - #7

Exercise Every Morning

“The best time is right when you wake up. It gets your body used to revving up in the morning. If you can stay to a routine, it’s amazing what it will do to your energy and attitude,” says Dr. Winter. It doesn’t have to be rigorous. In fact, gentle yoga, qigong or tai chi routines have been shown to be very effective in getting the body and brain started for the day. (You can find videos to follow by searching on Youtube.) Twenty minutes is optimal, but an intense five can do the trick particularly in a bright, stimulating environment.

8 Ways to Wake up With More Energy - #6

Try Yoga Breathing

An Oxford University study found that pranayama or yoga breathing “had a markedly invigorating effect on perceptions of both mental and physical energy and increased high positive mood.” The most common form is called Three Part Breath or Dirgha Breath. You can do it lying in bed: Inhale deeply through your nose, filling up belly your belly first. Expand your belly like a balloon. Continue to inhale, expanding ribs like gills on a fish. When you are completely full, empty yourself slowly but completely, exhaling through your nose. Do six to 10 rounds.

8 Ways to Wake up With More Energy - #5

Seek Out Light

According to the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, light is the main cue influencing circadian rhythms, turning on or turning off genes that control your internal clock. Roll up your shades as soon as you’re awake. If you can’t get natural light in your bedroom, consider a lightbox or alarm that slowly gets brighter, simulating dawn. If you don’t want to get that fancy, just flip on a regular light as soon as you get up.

8 Ways to Wake up With More Energy - #4

Drink Water When You First Get Up

You lose a lot of fluid when you sleep and breathe at night, and unfortunately, dehydration can make you feel sluggish and sleepy. Rehydrating can go a long way in making you feel more alert. You don’t have to chug, just quench your thirst.

8 Ways to Wake up with More Energy - #3

3. Don't Hit the Snooze Button

Set your alarm for when you must get up and stick to that. Hitting snooze over and over just leads to fragmented, fitful sleeping and you’ll wake up more tired. If you can’t trust yourself, move your alarm to a place you can’t reach it.

8 Ways to Wake up With More Energy - #2

2. Always Get Up at the Same Time—Even on Weekends

“Regardless of how well you slept or when you went to sleep, always get up at a set wake-up time,” recommends Dr.  Winter. Our circadian rhythm, the biological process that drives your sleep-wake cycle, needs consistency in order to work correctly. Not everyone needs eight hours—some need more, some can get by on less. If you stick to a set wake up time, your body will start telling you when to go to bed in order to achieve your optimal amount of rest. The overall routine will help you get the healthy sleep you need to replenish your energy stores, which means you won’t wake up as bedraggled.

8 Ways to Wake up With More Energy - #1

This fits me 100% so I thought I would share with those of you who are like me.  This is from GrandParents.com

Tired of Feeling Tired?

Brrrrrrriiiiiiiinnngggg! When the alarm goes off, do you:
A. Spring immediately out of bed, shouting, “It's going to be a great day!”
B. Moan, hit the snooze button and then pull the sheets over your head.

If your answer is A, then good for you. In the more likely event that your answer is B, don’t worry, help is on the way. Here are suggestions on how to quickly shake off the morning blahs and greet the day more refreshed.

1. Go to Sleep the Right Way

The best way to wake up refreshed is to get a good night’s sleep. This means:

No caffeine after lunch since caffeine can be a stimulant and keep you awake. And only one glass of wine at dinner. Too much wine can knock you out, then cause you to wake up during the night.

Make sure your room is cool. “The drop off in temperature is a natural cue for your body to fall asleep,” W. Christopher Winter, MD, Medical Director at the Martha Jefferson Sleep Center in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Don’t exercise near bedtime—it will just rouse your body.

Stay off the computer—and away from any lit screen—an hour before bed. The light makes your brain think it’s day time. (If you must, download F.lux at stereopsis.com/flux. It’s a free software program that makes the color of your computer’s display adapt to the light in the room.)

Fruit, Vegetables & Pesticides

A friend sent this article to me so I'm sharing.  I love fresh fruit and vegetables but didn't realize just how much pesticides they might have on them.  She found this at a site titled  Natural Health Care For You - Thanks Lynn

Recently, we all became aware of the grand contamination of fruit and vegetables. This is why we must learn how to reduce the level of pesticides. Pesticides cannot be washed only with water. Washing fruits and vegetables using vinegar.

In this article we will present a great solution for removing bacteria from fruit and vegetables. You need to use a mixture consisted of water and vinegar in a ratio of 3:1. This solution can remove even 98% of bacteria. Fruits and vegetables should be soaked in the mixture for 10 to 20 minutes and then rinsed with water. Or you can pour the liquid into a bottle with sprayer and spray the fruit and vegetables with it. Let them stand still for 10 minutes and then rinse them with water.

You can also make other effective mixtures

– 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, 2 tablespoons of baking soda and 1 cup of water
– 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and 1 cup of water

For products with very high percentage of pesticides, try the following solution:

– 1 cup of water, half a cup of apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon of baking soda and a few drops of grapefruit seed extract. Let the ingredients soak in this mixture for an hour.

Peel fruits or vegetables

This is maybe the best way to remove harmful pesticides, especially when it comes to apples. Rinse the apples with water before you peel them.

Remove outer layers

Try to eat only the internal parts because outer layers may contain a high percentage of chemicals.