One Way To Stay Young

Keep learning!

Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, life, friendships, whatever! Never let the brain get idle.

You know what your mother use to say, an idle mind in the devil's workshop.

Well, the devil is name is Alzheimer's! (unknown source)

Making Freezer Jam/Jelly

Time to empty the freezer of last years berries and make space for new! Besides, all the freezer jam/jelly I made last year is gone. Our only FREE berries are blackberries. I love their flavor but not the seeds. So what is a person to do? Run the berries through your Juiceman!

Yes! It is a wonderful way to cheat. That juice comes out so thick it is almost ready to set even without the pectin. NO seeds! Another hint? Microwave your berries in a glass bowl to get them at least to room temperature or warmer - you get more juice faster.

Blueberries are NOT FREE. We love blueberry jam but I will not spend what it takes to make blueberry jam. So ... I always reserve a half batch of blackberry juice, then throw in an equal amount of blueberries - immediately you have a full batch of blueberry jam that was so easy and much cheaper.

Oh yes, I leave those blueberries whole!

Off to the freezer they go.

My granddaughter is already going to the cupboard and pulling out the Tupperware bowl - she is ready to pick berries again.

Can't Sleep?

Can't sleep? Sometimes as we get older it seems like we are sleep challenged. Wasn't life suppose to get easier?

I read an article several months past that was stressing TURN OFF THE LIGHTS when you go to bed. It was saying that we were leaving the rooms too light for everyone. Babies and teenagers were not getting DEEP sleep, and that only happens in the hours before midnight when the room is really dark.

Then the May issue of the Readers Digest had more to say about the same thing, with an added twist. Light suppresses the brain's production of melatonin. That hormone may play a role in immunity or help slow the growth of cancer. People with the lowest levels of melatonin were about 60% more likely to develop breast cancer.

Your body makes melatonin at night only when the room is dark. Even yellow/blue night-lights are enough to suppress melatonin. If you need a light in your bathroom, use a red bulb.

Then eat breakfast by the window - spending 20 minutes in a good dose of sunlight, resetting your natural rhythms, letting your body really know night from day.

Several in my family made their rooms darker and found they were sleeping better. Now for the sunshine part ...

Stop Stroke in its Tracks

Strokes are the third leading cause of death. Until recently everyone sat around and looked and waited - thinking there was nothing anyone could do. Now there is help, and the faster we recognize the symptoms and get help, the better chance that person has to recover.

Stroke symptoms can be vague, but these tips will help us to act FAST.

Face: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
Arms: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one drift down?
Speech: Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Are the words slurred or incorrect?
Time: If you see any of these symptoms, act FAST. Call 911. Brain cells are dying.

I hope you never need to know this, but if you do, you will be so glad you did act FAST.

Anti-Flu Diet

This should have been an early winter post. As the flu continues to hit hard, I decided to post it now and remind all of us of the foods which contain quercetin, a powerful antioxidant shown to reduce the risk of flu and colds.

Fill your diets with broccoli, spinach, lettuce

and onions

(Red onions have almost 4x the amount of quercetin as other foods. While you may eat any of these raw, cooking seems to make it easier to absorb the antioxidant.)

and blueberries

(Buy a bag of frozen blueberries and put a handful on your hot cereal, pancakes, french toast or yogurt.)

and apples.

(An apple a day keeps the doctor away - and colds and the flu.)

A high consumption of these are needed - so how much is enough? I really don't know, but you can easily add these daily to your meals and snacks. Increase your odds of staying well. There is more we can do than just steer clear of those who are sick and be vigilant about hand-washing.

Window Washing

It is almost time to wash windows. Today the rain is spattering against the panes, but soon the sun will show the collection of winter's gray film.

Tired of all the streaks from the typical cleaners? Tired of the cost of commercial cleaners?

I clean windows for a professional vinyl installer. When I am done, not one spot of any thing can remain on the glass. (To see some of his vinyl installations you would enjoy this page - I don't show the windows, I show the vehicles and a wall!)

So what does a pro use that would be quick and none streaking? One part isopropyl alcohol and one part water. I put the solutions and a wash cloth in a bucket, then throw dry cloths over my shoulder.

While you are at it, wet a soft link-free cloth with isoproply alcohol and wipe clean the mirrors in your home and all the glass shelves in your china hutch - you will be thrilled!

Know Your Plastics

Plastic containers leach cancer-causing chemicals into food. They have known it since 1987, but if you are like me, you keep forgetting which number in the bottom triangle is safe (that little recycling number on the container).

Containers with a 3, 6, or 7 on the bottom are the most dangerous. Do not store food or liquids in them.

Containers with a 4 or 5 are generally considered safe, but use sparingly. NEVER microwave in them.

Containers with a 1 or 2 are the safest. Sometimes called PETE and HDPE, they are safe for storing food and drink, but NEVER microwave in them.

No matter our age, we can remember One, Two Do!
So remember: One, Two Do!
Again: One, Two Do!



If you have a longer memory you could use: 4,5 seldom use; 1,2 always do. Please do not cover food with plastic wrap and microwave - they feel cancer-causing chemicals drip onto your food. Use a paper towel - they absorb the moisture better anyway!

Biscuits

I am always on the look out for a tip. My mother was so busy raising 10 children that she was overwhelmed with teaching us the hows and whys of life. (You need to understand she spent years without electricity, no running water, wood stove for cooking even in the summer, outside toilets, scrub boards not wash machines - I'm not sure many of you can even comprehend.) We 9 girls had to learn to cook by just doing it.

Therefore I love tips - explanations. I subscribe to Better Homes and Gardens and was delighted with these pictures. These techniques will help you to keep biscuits light - maybe even perfect!

GO EASY ON THE ROLLING: The first picture is a reminder that you dust your rolling pin (not the dough) and roll from the center toward the edges. Don't press hard.

LET STEAM ESCAPE: Prick the dough with a floured fork every inch or so. This will allow steam to be released during baking and let the biscuits rise evenly.

DON'T TWIST: When cutting the dough with your lightly floured cutter, do not twist. That would seal the edges of the dough and hinder the rising.

KEEP IT GENTLE: The entire process is one of handling the dough as though it would burn your fingers. Slightly shake the filled cutter to free the biscuit. Don't over handle.

BARELY TOUCH: Arrange the biscuits so they barely touch. Don't re-roll the scraps. The odd bits and pieces of leftover dough should bake right along side the biscuits. They will be a treat to eat and not toughen from the second handling. Can't you just smell the butter and honey warming on the biscuit? Is this a craft or an heirloom? :)