Make Dish Soap

When you have sensitive skin, washing dishes is a task to dread. Commercial dish soap causes irritations, rashes and break outs that are painful for days. Make homemade dish soap to avoid any rashes and you won't mind scrubbing dinner dishes quite as much. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

Use Soap Flakes

1. Mix 1 gallon of warm water and soap flakes in a large pot.

2. Dissolve the soap flakes in the water on the stove set to low heat. Continually stir the mix while it is heating.

3. Stir in the glycerin and take the mix off the stove.

4. Cool the mix and then add 1/2 cup of lemon juice or white vinegar.

5. Mix in 2 to 5 of drops of your favorite essential oil.

6. Pour the mixture into a bottle and shake well.

Use a Bar of Soap

7. Use a razor to shave an old bar of soap into pieces. Let the shavings fall into a bucket or small bowl.

8. Pour 2 to 3 cups of hot water over the soap. Allow it to soak for at least 3 hours, or until the soap has softened.

9. Mash the soap and stir the pieces together until they are smooth. Add more hot water if necessary to soften the mix.

10. Pour the mixture into a bottle and shake it up.

Use Castile Soap

11. Mix a 1/2 cup of warm water with the liquid castile soap. Castile soap is made from vegetable oil and is better for sensitive skin. Purchase castile soap at department stores such as Wal-mart or Target.

12. Add a pleasant scent to the soap with 2 to 5 drops of an essential oil.

13. Mix the soap until it combines.

14. Pour the solution into a bottle.

15. Shake up the mixture before you use the soap.

Tags: into bottle, dish soap, into bottle shake, mixture into, mixture into bottle, Pour mixture

Make A Candle From Waste Vegetable Oil

Vegetable oil candles add ambiance to any room

After making fried chicken, don't throw out the used vegetable oil. After cleaning the vegetable oil from the crumbs of the chicken breading it can be turned into a candle. Making a vegetable oil candle is an inexpensive and unusual method of creating a candle. A vegetable oil candle creates a look of magic. When the candle is lit, it looks as if a flame is floating on top of water.

Instructions

1. Place a paper towel over the top of a bowl. Wrap a rubber band around the paper towel on the bowl. This will hold the paper towel in place over the bowel. This will also work by placing a strainer over a bowl and setting a paper towel inside the strainer.Cover the entire strainer with the paper towel.

2. Pour the used vegetable oil over the paper towel. The oil will leak through the paper towel and into the bowl. The dirty oil and crumbs will stay on the paper towel. Do not dump the oil into the bowl because it will break the paper towel.

3. Remove the paper towel and throw it away.

4. Fill the vase or container with water 3 inches from the top.

5. Insert any decorative items into the vase. Flowers, seashells or any other decorative item will work. Add a few drops of food coloring to the water to change the color, if items are not used.

6. Pour 2 inches of oil into the water. The oil will rise to the top of the water. This will happen instantly.

7. Place a plastic oil wick into the water. Let the wick soak up the vegetable oil. This will take about a half-hour.

8. Light the wick.

Tags: paper towel, This will, into bowl, into water, over bowl

Meat Inspector Qualifications

Government meat inspectors keep our meat safe to eat.

U.S. Department of Agriculture meat inspectors work to keep the food supply safe. They usually begin in the meat and poultry slaughtering or processing industries. They start work at the GS-5 or GS-7 level, for an annual salary between $31,315 and $50,431 at publication time. The requirements for a meat inspector position include a background check and physical exam, relevant experience or education and completion of the application and paperwork.

Basic Qualifications

You must have U.S. citizenship to apply as an inspector. You need to pass a background check and undergo fingerprinting to qualify for a federal suitability or security clearance. You have to be available to work varied shifts and overtime.

Physical Requirements

You need to pass a physical exam and demonstrate physical and mental fitness sufficient for the job. For example, you have to be able to walk on slippery areas and climb stairs. You have to be able to lift 44 pounds and exhibit full range of motion and strength in your hands and arms. You should have good eyesight, color vision and hearing. You need to be able to withstand the rigors of repetitive tasks and dangerous work.

Education or Experience for GS-5 Level

You can qualify at the lower GS-5 level based on your education only or your experience only. To qualify by experience, you must document a minimum of one year full-time relevant work experience after age 16. Examples of qualifying work include food processing in a slaughterhouse or meat processing plant, butchering, testing food in a laboratory or working in a commercial kitchen. If you wish to qualify by education, you need an accredited bachelor's degree that includes 12 semester hours or 18 quarter units of related classes in biological science or other sciences. The government requires transcripts documenting your education.

GS-7 Level

You can qualify for the GS-7 level only through experience. Education does not qualify you to apply at this higher level. You need a minimum of one year or the equivalent of full-time work inspecting food for a state, the military or the federal government. The qualifying work must have a regulatory function.

Other Qualifications

In addition to the basic requirements, the government will rank applicants based on other qualities such as good work habits, strong communication skills and ability to make decisions.

Application Requirements

You can apply online at USA Jobs. First submit your resume, which you can create with the USA Jobs resume tool. Then fill out the occupational questionnaire, preferably online. Send in supporting information, including, for example, your college transcripts. Veterans can receive job preference by turning in forms DD-214 and SF-15 and documentation of their disability rating. The USDA prefers online applications but will send a packet if you fax your name and address to 612-370-2060 with an application request.

Tags: background check, have able, Level qualify, meat inspectors, minimum year

Recipe For Oatmeal Bar Soap

Make your own soap with oatmeal to exfoliate your skin.

Instead of purchasing soap, you can make your own at home. Making soap at home can be both enjoyable and easy. The addition of oatmeal in soap helps to relieve itchy and dry skin. Once you make your own oatmeal soap bars, you can give them away as gifts, or you can sell them at a craft fair. You can customize the soaps by adding different fragrance oils to them.

Instructions

1. Cut the melt and pour soap base into small 1/2- to 1-inch size cubes.

2. Place the soap cubes into a microwave-safe container. Heat the soap for two minutes and stir it with a wooden spoon.

3. Heat the melt and pour soap for 30-second intervals. Stir the soap each time until it completely melts.

4. Pour the honey into a microwave safe container. Heat it slightly in the microwave. Pour the honey into the melted soap and stir to mix them together.

5. Add 1 ounce of your preferred scent of fragrance oil.

6. Stir in the oatmeal. Stir the oatmeal until it suspends in the soap instead of sinking.

7. Pour the soap into a bar soap mold.

8. Spray the top of the soap with rubbing alcohol to prevent bubbles from forming. Allow the soap to harden overnight.

9. Remove the soap from the mold. Cut the block into soap bars if necessary. Allow the soap to cure for three to four days before using it.

Tags: Allow soap, container Heat, honey into, into soap, melt pour, melt pour soap

Make Wine From Red Grapes

The skin of the red grape gives the red wine its color.

In moderation, red wine is a heart healthy alcohol. Red wine, made from red grapes, contains antioxidants that have shown to help increase good cholesterol and protect arteries.Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Zinfandel are just a few of the well known red wines. To make these and other varieties of red wine at home involves a process where the juice, skin and seeds of the red grape are mashed, fermented and pressed. The process takes patience, but can be done at home with some special supplies. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Instructions

1. Measure 18 pounds of quality red grapes for their Brix, or sugar content, with a hydrometer (see the Resources section for more information on hydrometers). When the grapes are ready to harvest, their Brix should be 22 to 24 degrees. You can grow or choose your own grapes, or you can purchase them from a distributor. Most distributors will deliver grapes at the correct Brix.

2. Clean, destem and crush the grapes. It may be difficult to destem all the grapes, aim for destemming at least 90%. Grapes can be crushed by placing them in a mesh bag at the bottom of a pail. With your hands or a potato masher, mash the grapes. The juice that results from the crushed grapes is known as the "must."

3. Mash one campden tablet and shake over the bag or use 1 tsp. sulfite crystals. Cover the pail with the cheesecloth or light towel and wait one hour.

4. Check the temperature and acidity of the must. The temperature should be between 70 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Raise low temperatures by warming a small amount of the juice and adding it back to the pail. Lower high temperatures by adding an ice pack to the mix.

To measure acidity, use an acid titration kit. The desired acid level should be 6 to 7 g per liter. If the acid is too low, add 1 gram of tartaric acid until it reaches 6 or 7. If the acid level is too high, add water to bring it down.

5. Measure the Brix of the must and adjust if necessary. At this point the Brix should be 22 to 24 degrees. If the must is too sweet, add water to dilute it. If the must is not sweet enough, add a sugar syrup.

To create the sugar syrup, fill a pot with 1/3 cup water. Add 1 cup sugar and bring to a boil. Once boiling, remove from heat and let cool. Begin adding the sugar syrup in 1 tbsp. increments to the must until it reaches the correct Brix.

6. Fill a container with one pint warm water and add one packet of wine yeast. Let the mixture sit until foamy, about 10 minutes. When the yeast is foaming, pour over the mesh bag. Move the bag around to mix the yeast. Cover the pail with the cheesecloth or light towel again and let sit for 24 hours in an area that is 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

7. Stir the wine twice in the 24-hour period and consistently check its temperature and fermentation.The wine is fermenting when small areas of foam appear on the top of the must. As the wine ferments, the skins will rise to the top. Use a clean utensil to punch them down so that the skins stay in contact with the must.

8. Test the Brix to determine if the wine has finished fermenting. The wine has finished fermenting when the Brix reaches 0.5 degrees. Remove the bag from the pail. Wring the bag over the pail to release any juice. Cover the pail again and let it sit for another 24 hours.

9. Move or "rack" the fermented wine by inserting a clear, 1/2 inch plastic hose in the pail and siphoning the liquid to a glass carboy (jug) with stopper and an air lock. Siphon the wine slowly, leaving behind any pulp or sediment. Siphon the wine again in 10 to 14 days to another glass carboy with stopper and airlock.

10. Let the wine sit for six months, then siphon to clean wine bottles. Use a hand corker to cork the bottles. Store the bottles for at least six months in a cool, dry location.

Tags: Cover pail, sugar syrup, acid level, Brix should, Brix should degrees, carboy with, carboy with stopper

Homemade Dog And Human Biscuits

Dog biscuits can be made at home.

It's possible to make your own all-natural biscuits that are good for your dog, as well as you. Dogs are given the same food every day, so it's nice to change things every once in a while and give them a special homemade treat. These treats will also be more nutritious than store-bought dog biscuits. Save money by baking biscuits that you can safely enjoy with your dog.

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

2. Pour 2 cups of whole wheat flour and 1 cup of rye flour into a mixing bowl. Add 2 tsp. of flax seeds and mix.

3. Dice up 1 apple and add it to the mixing bowl.

4. Crack an egg into a separate bowl and whisk. Add it to the mixing bowl and stir to combine.

5. Add 1/3 cup of vegetable oil, 1/2 cup of water and 1/4 cup of natural applesauce to the mixture. Combine all of the ingredients together well.

6. Sprinkle flour over a clean counter or cutting board. Take the thick dough mixture out of the mixing bowl and lay it on the floured surface. Roll it out until it's 1/4-inch thick.

7. Spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray. Cut out pieces of the dough with cookie cutters and transfer them onto the cookie sheet.

8. Bake the biscuits in the oven for 35 minutes and then turn off the oven. Leave the biscuits in the oven overnight so they can harden.

Tags: mixing bowl, biscuits oven, biscuits that, cookie sheet

Open Up My Own Food Catering Business

There are many types of food catering businesses

Catering may be the ideal venture for entrepreneurs that enjoy cooking and entertaining, but who don't want to open a restaurant or cafe. This type of business can be successful no matter if you live in a small town or large metropolitan area. Running a catering company can be profitable and rewarding, but there is also a great deal of planning needed before you can open for business.

Instructions

1. Pick a type of catering business to start. For example, a vegan or vegetarian catering service, soul food catering business, a business specializing in local or organic ingredients or a dessert-only catering company.

2. Determine where you will do the food preparation for your catering business. The health regulations of your area will affect this choice. Some counties allow catered food to be prepared in a home kitchen that has been certified for commercial use, while others restrict the preparation of catered food to the event facility, client's home or a commercial kitchen outside of the home.

3. Develop a menu of signature and traditional recipes for your catering business---this will distinguish you from your competition. For example, if you start a soul food catering business, instead of traditional sweet potato pie, you can serve sweet potato cheesecake or ice cream.

4. Obtain liability insurance if required by your state. Even if you are not required to carry insurance it is a good idea to have it as it will protect your business and personal assets in the event a client has an adverse reaction to the food you serve.

5. Get any food and business permits that are required by your city, state or county---find out what you need by calling your local health department or department of professional regulation. This may include the following: food enterprise permit, tax identification number, employer identification number (EIN), food manager certification, food handler permits, assumed name certificate (DBA).

6. Purchase wholesale catering supplies such as mixing bowls, commercial bread warmers, chaffing dishes and serving ware from a company such as InstaWares.

7. Lease or buy a vehicle to carry your catering equipment, supplies and food to and from events. Call your local department of transportation to see whether you will need a commercial driver license to use the van for catering.

8. Market your food catering business by placing ads in print and online catering directories such as Local Catering, joining a network such as the National Association of Catering Executives (NACE) or the International Caterers Association (ICA), buying ads in local or niche wedding and event planning magazines or websites and sending coupons and fliers to complementary businesses such as florist shops and event facilities.

Tags: catering business, food catering, food catering business, your catering, catered food, catering company

Make Your Own Peanut Butter Machine

Make Your Own Peanut Butter Machine

If you want to make your own peanut butter, you don't have to spend any money on purchasing an expensive peanut butter machine. You can use everyday household appliances to make your own peanut butter and save money. Peanut butter is a simple recipe of peanuts, peanut oil and sweetener if you prefer. You can use a food processor or a blender to make your own homemade peanut butter in a matter of minutes. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Instructions

1. Use an old blender for the sole purpose of making peanut butter. Because making peanut butter in a blender can add strain and wear on it, it's a good idea to use an old one. Spray the inside of the blender with non-stick spray to create a slippery wall so the peanut butter doesn't stick to the walls.

2. Use an old-fashioned coffee grinder with a crank. These coffee grinders are typically made from cast iron and have a handle at the top that is used to crush coffee beans into a powder form. Use this device to crush peanuts and make peanut butter.

3. Use a spice crusher as a peanut butter machine. A spice crusher is a bowl with a large tool used for crushing spices such as pepper, salt and dried leaves. This can be used to crush peanuts. This method is more labor intensive and will only produce crunchy peanut butter due to the lack of blending.

Tags: peanut butter, peanut butter, Butter Machine, crush peanuts, make your, make your peanut

Can Baked Beans

Baked beans are a popular side dish, especially at summertime events. As with most foods, people usually prefer homemade baked beans over the store-bought kind. You can make baked beans and can them so you have your own supply of this crowd-pleasing favorite. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Instructions

1. Place dried navy beans in a large pot and cover them with cold water. Refrigerate the soaking beans for 12 to 18 hours.

2. Remove the pot from the refrigerator and salt them. Place the pot on the stove and cook the beans until the water boils. Turn down the heat and allow the beans to simmer until the skin of the beans starts to come apart.

3. Pour off and save the water. Add pork and onions to the beans. Combine the rest of the ingredients plus 4 cups of the saved liquid, and add it to the pot.

4. Put a lid on your pot and place it into a 350 degree F oven for 3 1/2 hours. Check to see that the mixture has enough liquid to remain runny. Add water to the pot as necessary.

5. Heat six canning jars with hot water or by drying them in the dishwasher. Pour the baked beans into each jar, leaving about 1 inch of space at the top of the jars.

6. Top the jars with their flat lids and screw down the rims. Place each filled jar into the rack of the pressure canner and set the rack inside the canner.

7. Add 2 to 3 inches of water to the pressure canner and close the lid tightly. Center your canner on the stove burner. Heat the pint jars in the pressure canner at 10 lbs. of pressure for 1 hour and 20 minutes to finish canning your baked beans.

Tags: pressure canner, baked beans, baked beans, jars with

Turkey Cooking Instructions

For most families, the Thanksgiving or Christmas holidays would not be complete without a roast turkey. Turkey is not just a good meal option for the holidays. With its low fat content and relatively low price, turkey is a healthful, practical year-round meal option. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Preparing the Turkey

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Wash the turkey in lukewarm water. Pat dry with paper towels. Rub oil or butter into the skin. Sprinkle with salt and paper or other desired seasonings. Place the turkey, breast-side up, on the wire rack of a roasting pan. Cover the turkey with a tent of aluminum foil to prevent excess browning during cooking. Put it into the oven carefully, and wear oven mitts to avoid injury.

Cooking the Turkey

Set the oven timer for 20 minutes per pound. The last hour of cooking, use a turkey baster to soak up the juices in the bottom of the roasting pan and pour back over the turkey skin every 15 minutes. This will produce a crisp and flavorful skin. Remove the foil tent for the last 20 minutes to allow the skin to brown. After the recommended time, test the turkey for doneness by inserting a meat thermometer into a meaty part of the turkey. The thermometer should read 160 degrees. Once the turkey is removed from the oven, it will usually increase about five degrees during the resting process.

Preparing the Turkey for Carving

After removing the turkey from the oven, place it on a cutting board. Allow the turkey to sit for a minimum of 20 minutes before carving. This will allow the juices to be absorbed into the meat rather than spilling out if the meat is cut immediately. During the resting process, cover the turkey with a tent of aluminum foil to prevent it from cooling.

Tags: aluminum foil, aluminum foil prevent, foil prevent, from oven, meal option, Preparing Turkey

Buy Organic Garcinia Cambogia

Woman cutting fruit at asian outdoor market

Garcinia cambogia is a small, sweet, pumpkin-like fruit native to South Asia and India. It is known for its high concentration of hydroxycitric acid and is believed to be an appetite suppressant. It has also been used in cooking to make foods more satisfying to the appetite and activate digestion. Traditionally, Garcinia cambogia has been used to treat catarrhal inflammations of the throat, nose, urinary tract, and reproductive organs.

Instructions

1. Woman shopping online

Order online. Several online providers offer organic Garcinia cambogia at discount rates for orders over five pounds. Many companies offer free shipping, bulk discounts, and periodic specials when their herbal products are purchased online.

2. Bulk food section in natural market

Buy in bulk. Many organic suppliers of Garcinia cambogia do not have store fronts but supply only through mail or Internet orders. Buying in bulk will allow you to keep a supply on hand for weeks or even months at a time. Liberty Natural Products sells Garcinia cambogia at wholesale prices through their website.

3. Organic market

Visit your local health food store. Local stores (or even national chains such as Whole Foods) often carry organic Garcinia cambogia in a variety of forms. Ask the sales clerk for exclusively organic products.

4. Asian outdoor market

Shop at a local Indian market. Local Asian markets often carry this herb in powder or extract form and charge a fraction of the price of fancy health food stores. Be sure to ask the owner if the herb is organic if it is not labeled.

Tags: Garcinia cambogia, been used, Garcinia cambogia, health food, often carry, organic Garcinia

Approve A Home Kitchen For Commercial Use

Most states will not permit you to approve a home kitchen for commercial use unless it is a completely separate space from the kitchen where you prepare your personal meals. If you build a separate kitchen in your home, you must comply with the same regulations as a business that uses a permitted kitchen outside of the home. Do all your research before you start processing food in your home kitchen.

Instructions

1. Contact your local health department and ask whether they permit home kitchen certification for commercial use. Some states, such as Maine, offer a special license for using home kitchens for commercial purposes. Make sure that your plans comply with permissible activities for a home kitchen; for example, you can only produce non potentially hazardous foods such as jams, jellies, pickles or a limited range of baked goods in a certified home kitchen in Maine.

2. Contact the zoning department in your area and ask whether you can license your home kitchen for commercial use. Some locales prohibit you from operating a commercial business on a residentially zoned property.

3. Contact the fire department in your area once you have established that the health department and the zoning department will allow you to license your home kitchen for commercial use. Ask whether they have any specific regulations or permits that apply to your situation.

Tags: home kitchen, your home, your home kitchen, commercial Some, comply with

The Best Thai Cooking Schools

Pad Thai noodles are one of the country's most popular dishes.

Thai cuisine is typically fresh, spicy food best known for its balance of five flavors: spicy, sour, sweet, salty and bitter (although this one is sometimes optional, particularly outside of Thailand, as many people do not enjoy bitterness in their food). Thai food uses lots of herbs, spices and fish sauce, while mixing in rice and curries. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Chiang Mai Thai Cookery School

The Chiang Mai Thai Cookery School has been operating since 1993 and has graduated more than 100,000 students. It is owned by Sompon and Elizabeth Nabnian, chefs who also have their own cooking show on television.

There are five courses offered at the school, each for a one-week period, with prices ranging from $30 per day to $140 per week. This does not include the cost of accommodations at the Jasmine Rice Village resort or meals outside of class.

Course offerings include: Introduction to Thai Ingredients; Making Curry Pastes; Tour of the Local Market; Shopping at the Market; and Vegetable Carving.

Thai Cooking Classes with Kasma Loha-Unchit

If traveling to Thailand is a little out of your budget, there is an excellent Thai cooking school in California. Thai Cooking Classes with Kasma Loha-unchit is located in Oakland and offers two types of programs: evening classes once a week for four weeks for $175, with beginner, intermediate and advanced levels; and week-long intensive classes during the summer that cost $600 for the entire program.

Loha-unchit is originally from Thailand and has been teaching Thai cooking since 1985. She has written two cookbooks, including "It Rains Fishes: Legends, Traditions and the Joys of Thai Cooking" and "Dancing Shrimp: Favorite Thai Recipes for Seafood."

Some of her favorite recipes are green curry with fish and shrimp dumplings, bitter melon and egg, and salted black olive fried rice.

Thai Gourmet House

Thai Gourmet House cooking school in Scottsdale, Arizona, offers demonstration classes for $88 each, group classes for $128 per class and private lessons for $500 per student for a full day.

Chef Praparat Sturlin is also originally from Thailand and founded her cooking school in 1989. She earned a culinary degree from Saovapha Culinary Arts College in Bangkok.

Tags: Thai Cooking, cooking school, Chiang Thai, Chiang Thai Cookery, Classes with, Classes with Kasma

About English Cooking Schools

About English Cooking Schools

In England, just as in the United States, the culinary field is growing in popularity. One sign of this is the increased number of cookery schools throughout the country. This is a perfect way to learn about the country's rich culinary history. These schools are not only for individuals who have training as chefs, but for those who have little or no experience or schooling. Plus, many expert chefs own or give lessons at these schools via breakfasts, lunches and elaborate formal dinners.

Le Manoir Aux Quat' Saisons

The Raymond Blanc Cookery School in Oxford is ideal for any person, from a novice to a professional, with a passion for cooking. Located on the grounds of a manor house from the 1200s, participants receive hands-on training with award-winning chefs. The program has several different courses, depending on the interests of the attendees.

In the four-day residential course, for example, instructors teach choose, cook and present appetizers, a main course of meat or fish, and desserts, as well as specialties of the house for different seasons of the year. Other courses are on bread-making, nutrition, food and wine, fish and shellfish.

Brook Hall Cookery School

Stephen Bulmer, former chef director of the Raymond Blanc Cookery School, started the Brook Hall Cookery School in Buckinghamshire, which offers one-day classes for a maximum of 10 participants. Courses include gas and charcoal barbecuing, recession-proof meals, summer dinner parties, and separate classes on meat and poultry, fish and shellfish, and Italian cuisine.

Newlyns Cookery School

The Newlyns Cookery School in Hampshire holds small classes for adults and children age 8 to 16, and hands-on and demonstration courses. One of the main goals of these cooking sessions is to demonstrate how animals and produce from the farm is made into a wide variety of meals. The 500-acre farm, which is family operated, includes the once-typical mixture of cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens and turkeys, as well as grain.

Bordeaux Quay

The cookery school at the Bordeaux Quay is a nonprofit organization, with the funds received put back into the community, thus allowing a more diverse group of students to attend. The school is known for its delicatessen that serves delicious focaccia bread, and summer picnics and barbecues. Adults and children of all abilities and backgrounds attend.

Leiths School of Food and Wine

Whereas the schools noted above are for continuing education or for general learning purposes, the Leiths School of Food and Wine is a well-known college that offers a diploma to men and women who desire a culinary career. The in-depth program includes traditional and modern foods, with daily classes offering demonstrations and hands-on learning. In addition, the students take courses in menu preparation, wine and budgeting.

Tags: Cookery School, About English, About English Cooking, Blanc Cookery, Blanc Cookery School

Make Quaker Oatmeal

Add raisins to oatmeal for a boost of flavor.

Oatmeal is a healthy choice for breakfast because of its high fiber and low glycemic content, which promotes good digestion and helps you feel fuller longer. Although eating a daily bowl of oatmeal can be boring and unappetizing, the recipe can be altered by roasting the oats, or adding milk, sweetener, fruit and spices. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Instructions

1. Pour one cup of water or milk into a medium saucepan, put on high heat, and bring to a boil; add salt if desired. Stir in oats and bring back to a boil.

2. Reduce heat to medium and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. For a creamier option, reduce heat to a simmer, cover with a lid and let sit for 20 minutes.

3. Remove oatmeal from heat and stir in a pinch of cinnamon or a 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Stir in fresh fruit or dried fruit, such as bananas, blueberries, raspberries, raisins, apricots or apples. If desired, add a sweetener such as honey, maple syrup or brown sugar.

4. Remove from saucepan and pour into a bowl.

Tags:

Become A Chef

Become a Chef

A chef is a highly skilled and inventive cook who can turn a delicious meal into an artistic presentation. It takes years to become accomplished and known in this field.

Instructions

1. Work in a restaurant during high school for the experience, even if it is in a noncooking position. You will learn what it is like to be on your feet for long hours.

2. Ask your guidance counselor if there is a training program in your community for chefs.

3. Understand that to be a successful chef in an urban area you must have years of hands-on experience and formal training. Schooling can take four years. See the American Culinary Federation Web site (acfchefs.org) for information about accredited culinary schools, apprenticeships, certification, jobs and related organizations.

4. Decide what type of cooking you would like to do and in what type of kitchen you would like to work.

5. Realize that an apprenticeship may require you to first work the least-skilled jobs in the kitchen. As you develop skills and further your education, you can advance up the culinary ladder in a larger restaurant by becoming a line chef, sous-chef, head chef, executive chef and, finally, master chef. Pastry chefs follow their own distinct ladder.

6. Make certain you will possess the education, experience and skills necessary for your certification as a chef by the American Culinary Federation.

7. Take appropriate business courses if you would like to open your own restaurant eventually or advance to a managerial or executive position.

Tags: would like, American Culinary, American Culinary Federation, Become Chef, Culinary Federation

Types Of Composting

Types of Composting

Compost is organic material that includes leaves, twigs and even kitchen refuse that comes from plants. This organic material can be collected, encouraged to decompose and then used to improve garden soil. When compost is added to garden soil, the soil is improved and plants grow healthier and bigger. Composting is an effective and economical means of managing organic yard waste because the waste is recycled. Does this Spark an idea?

Small Spaces

Small composting containers that are completely enclosed are suitable for people with limited area available for a composting container. A problem with these containers, however, is that the design limits some of the necessary aeration that helps to speed the decomposition process. Usable compost may take up to two years to produce with these small containers.

Portable Containers

Portable containers can be purchased or made from wire and wood framing. These containers are small enough that they can be moved when necessary. Portable containers are similar to the small composting containers except that they are slightly larger and more substantial.

Aerating Units

Aerating units are containers that can be rotated or turned to hasten the decomposition process. When the organic materials are rearranged and turned within the container, this introduces more oxygen into the organic materials. The oxygen feeds the bacteria, which is necessary for decomposing.

Aerating units may rotate within a barrel or a ball. It is important that these units be used according to manufacturer instructions. These units must be filled properly.

Compost Piles

Compost piles are simply free-form piles of organic materials that are not enclosed by any structures or containers. These piles afford easy access for aerating because the organic materials can be turned over with a pitch fork. It is not recommended that kitchen scraps be placed in a compost pile because this will attract animals.

Soil Incorporation

Soil incorporation is a beneficial way to end the growing season in the autumn. Spread a thin layer of leaves onto a garden area and simply leave them there during the winter months. In the spring the leaves will have decomposed and they can be worked into the soil when the garden area is prepared for the new planting season.

Tags: organic materials, composting containers, containers that, decomposition process, garden area, garden soil

Natural Daily Moisturizer Recipe For Black Hair

Keep your hair shiny and moisturized with an everyday conditioning treatment.

African-American hair, according to Nubian Message at North Carolina State University, is often naturally dry and difficult to keep moisturized. Treatments such as chemical relaxing and heated styling tools cause even more damage to the hair, causing breakage and further drying. To keep your hair natural and soft, use a homemade daily conditioner that keeps your locks moisturized and healthy. This can be done with a scalp conditioning oil that you can make at home in your own kitchen. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Wash your hair with a moisturizing, sulfate-free shampoo and rinse. Apply a moisturizing conditioner to your hair and let it sit for about two minutes, then rinse with cool water. Gently towel-dry your hair.

2. Mix together equal parts lavender, jojoba, rosemary and jasmine oil into a small bottle. Add one part frankincense oil and mix thoroughly.

3. Use the tail end of the rattail comb to section your damp hair into workable sections about 2 to 3 inches thick. Clip each section into place.

4. Unclip one section of hair on the back of your head at the bottom. Comb through the section with a wide-toothed comb--being careful not to pull or yank--to remove tangles.

5. Apply a very small amount of the oil mixture to your scalp around the section of hair, massaging it into the skin. Lightly smooth over the section of hair any oil left on your fingers.

6. Brush the section of hair with a boar bristle brush to spread the oil over the entire piece. Clip the section back in place. Repeat the process for each section of hair.

Tags: section hair, your hair, each section, hair with

Make Fermented Fruit Plant Food

The nutrients in leftover fruit like bananas are beneficial to plants and soil.

Organic farmers and gardeners are always looking for new methods to fertilize plants that are chemical-free and can be recycled from their own, natural waste. One viable source of organic fertilizer is old fruit and fruit scraps that can be processed and fermented to make a liquid fertilizer. Fermented fruit fertilizer contains microorganisms that support plant growth and benefit the soil by supplying vitamins, organic acids and antioxidants. The fertilizer is appropriate for plant watering or foliage spraying. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Chop the fruit into small bits using a chef's knife.

2. Place the chopped fruit in a jar.

3. Add an amount of molasses to the jar that is equal to the amount of fruit. Stir the fruit and molasses until they are well mixed.

4. Cover the jar opening with drawing paper and secure the paper in place with string.

5. Place the jar in a dark location.

6. Allow the fruit to ferment for one to two weeks. Remove the paper and stir the contents of the jar occasionally to release gas.

7. Pour the contents through a cloth and into a container to extract the liquid.

8. Dilute the fermented juice with water to use as fertilizer. Use 2 cups of water per tablespoon of fermented juice.

Tags: fermented juice

Chocolate Cake Filling Ideas

Select a unique filling to complement chocolate cake.

The filling selected to complement a chocolate cake changes not only the taste but also the texture and appearance of the finished cake. Seemingly countless chocolate cake filling options exist, from the traditional buttercream most commonly used, to the more distinctive ganaches, cream cheeses and chantilly frostings. Variations on these fillings can be made with a little creativity to suit individual preferences or to complement the chocolate cake and create a unique dessert. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Traditional Buttercream

Buttercream is a very light, sweet and creamy filling, traditionally found in cakes and served at room temperature. Made from creamed butter and sugar, buttercream can be easily adapted to suit any individual taste preference by simply adding different flavors to complement chocolate cake. Traditionally, cocoa powder, melted chocolate or vanilla flavoring are added to buttercream, however, the options are practically limitless and include coffee, tea, liqueurs, syrup, flavored extracts, fruit puree, curd and mousse. Additionally, food coloring can be added to buttercream to alter the color of the filling.

Ganaches

Ganache is made from equal parts high quality chocolate and heavy cream. It is easy to make and creates a smooth textured filling. Dark, milk or white chocolate can be used to produce a ganache. When applied as the filling layers in a chocolate cake, ganache should be chilled beforehand to thicken the consistency. Ganache also can be flavored as desired with liqueurs, fruit purees, nut butters or flavoring extracts to complement the chocolate cake and provide a specialized flavor.

Cheese

Cream cheese is a soft and rich filling that can complement the taste of chocolate cake. Cream cheese is most often mixed with butter, sugar and vanilla to produce a filling suitable for chocolate cake. Mixed nuts, fresh fruits, coconut, melted chocolate, caramel, liqueurs and flavoring extracts can be added to the cream cheese filling to add additional and unique flavors to the chocolate cake.

Chantilly Frosting

Chantilly frosting is a simple filling for chocolate cake, made from whipped cream, powdered sugar and vanilla. The ingredients are mixed and beaten together until stiff peaks form, producing a smooth and light filling for cake. Additions such as fruit purees, cocoa powder, cookie crumble or tea can be added to this chilled filling to create a complementary flavored filling for chocolate cake.

Tags: chocolate cake, chocolate cake, complement chocolate, complement chocolate cake, added buttercream, butter sugar

A Strategic Marketing Plan For A Grocery & Hardware Store

Marketing plans help you organize your company's promotional efforts.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the number of wage and salary jobs in grocery stores is expected to experience little or no growth between 2008 and 2018, compared to 11 percent growth projected for all other industries. However, home improvement and repair construction is expected to continue even as new home construction slows, which is a welcome sign for the hardware store business. Regardless of the state of the economy, writing a strategic marketing plan can help you better promote your products, which can set you apart from your competitors.

Executive Summary

The first part of any strategic marketing plan is the executive summary. This is where you communicate your company's mission statement and objectives. For a grocery and hardware store, an example of a marketing objective might be, "Increase online grocery sales by 5 percent next year" or "Use direct marketing to increase paint sales 10 percent."

SWOT Analysis

A SWOT analysis is the next part of your marketing plan. "SWOT" is an acronym for "strengths," "weaknesses," "opportunities" and "threats." To perform a SWOT analysis for your grocery and hardware store, first identify your strengths, such as, "Market share leader in the grocery sector in Troy, Michigan." Then, describe your weaknesses, such as, "Larger hardware and home improvement stores have bigger tool selections than us." Next, communicate any opportunities for your company in the coming year. For example, "Increasing our organic produce department by 50 percent next year." Finally, identify any threats in your market, such as, "Online tool sellers have a growing percentage of market share in the last three years."

Competitive Analysis

In the next section, you drill down and describe each of your competitors in depth. Describe all of your competitors in the grocery and hardware industries. List each company, communicate their market share, outline their strengths and weaknesses and describe the marketing tactics they use to promote their stores.

Marketing Strategies and Tactics

Your marketing strategy is based on insights you gathered from your SWOT analysis and competitive analysis. For example, if you identified "organic produce" as an opportunity for your company, your marketing strategy would likely be to target consumers who are young, eco-friendly and healthy. Then, develop marketing tactics to target this audience. Start a social media marketing campaign announcing your expanded organic produce campaign on Facebook; develop an email marketing newsletter in which you offer weekly coupons; and advertise in local trade publications or healthy food magazines like Eating Well and Natural Living.

Tags: your company, grocery hardware, hardware store, marketing plan, organic produce

Steak Restaurants In Reno Nevada

Reno has many steakhouses that can cure your craving for beef.

Reno is known as "The Biggest Little City In The World." The city is most often visited for casino goers who like to avoid the crowds of Las Vegas, but it is also very close to Lake Tahoe, an outdoor vacation area. Although it is often in the shadow of the much larger and more prominent city of Las Vegas, Reno has many great entertainment and dining options to offer. Reno has a number of options for steakhouses, both those that are within the casinos and those that are stand-alone restaurants.

Harrah's Steak House

The Steak House at Harrah's is the only restaurant in Reno to receive a AAA four-diamond rating, and it has been inducted to the Nation's Restaurant News Fine Dining Hall of Fame. Their menu features many fine cuts of beef, as well as chicken and fish entrees. Their specialty is the 24 oz. Bone-in Angus Ribeye, and they also offer Filet Mignon and Roast Prime Rib of Beef. The Steak House at Harrah's is an upscale reastaurant serving the Reno area located in Harrah's Casino and Hotel.

Harrah's Steak House

219 North Center St.

Reno, NV 89501

800-427-7247

harrahs.com

Bimini Steakhouse

Bimini Steakhouse serves hardwood grilled steaks, chops and seafood from it's location inside the Peppermill Hotel and Casino. The impressive layout includes open spaces to provide views of the pools and gardens as you dine. An upscale restaurant features luxurious furniture, such as Rich Koa wood and marble tables. Their wine cellar serves more than a thousand wines that can be paired with the many choices on the menu including their big beef selection that includes their signature 24 oz. Roasted Prime Rib of Beef (Bone In), 22 oz. Bone In Ribeye and 24 oz. Bone In Porterhouse.

Bimini Steakhouse

2707 South Virginia St.

Reno, NV 89502-4213

775-689-7111

peppermillreno.com

Ruby River Steakhouse

Ruby River Steakhouse is set inside a lodgelike building with timbers and a big fireplace. Steaks and ribs are the house specialty and come in enormous portions. Such as the Ruby River favorite Slow-roasted Prime Rib, New York Cut, T-Bone and Ribeye Steaks. This causal steak house also serves chicken, grilled burgers and a daily seafood special. A full bar area is available so diners can hang out and enjoy the atmosphere of this energetic steakhouse. At Ruby River you cannot make reservations, but call ahead to ask whether seating is available.

Ruby River Steakhouse

2750 South Virginia Street

Reno, NV 89502-4214

775-827-4007

rubyriver.com

Tags: Ruby River, Steak House, Bimini Steakhouse, River Steakhouse, Ruby River Steakhouse, Harrah Steak

Grow Herbs For A Living

Selling herbs can be a rewarding business.

Growing herbs for profit couples a love of gardening with the need to make a living. Like any business, the growing and selling of herbs should begin with a business plan. Putting down what you intend to do, how much you need to make and how much you'll need to spend is essential to getting your new business started properly. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Decide how you want to sell herbs. You could sell the plants and herbs fresh or dried; as decorative and fragrant arrangements or other crafts (like in candles, pillows or sachets); as medicinal supplements; as specialty food items like dips, oils, vinegars and sauces; or as a combination of all of these choices.

2. Research grow the herbs you select. You will want to be an expert at grow your herbs. Make sure you know where to plant them and care for them overall.

3. Select your garden site and plant your herbs. If you live in an area with a cold winter, you will want to start your herbs indoors. Plant more than you think you'll need as you can always dry or freeze anything extra you haven't sold, and you have to optimize the growing season each year.

4. Market your herbs with savvy packaging, business cards, a price list or brochure and a creative marketing plan. If you want to sell herbs to restaurants or markets, visit them at an off hour when they aren't busy and bring samples of your herbs for them to smell and taste. If you are also selling a dip, sauce or other product, be sure to bring tasting samples.

5. Invite people to your garden. If you want to sell herbs as plants or fresh to individual customers, invite them to a party or open house. Use your herbs in your hors d'oeuvres. Let them pick something from the garden. Discuss the herbs and answer questions about them.

6. Promote your new herb business by being the local herb expert in your area. Let your local news outlets know that you're in business and that you know herbs. If there is a local cooking show, and this is a strong suit of yours, offer to make a simple dish using your fresh herbs. Write articles, a blog or a column in the local paper about herbs and use them.

7. Set up shop at local farmers' markets and even in a small retail location if that is something you can afford to do. At farmers' markets, you can try out all types of herb sales from specialty foods to potted plants. See what sells the best and concentrate on those areas. Give away a price list and a free herb cookie or mini muffin so that people remember you.

8. Keep your books in order. While gardening and selling herbs can be an enjoyable hobby, you must also remember the business side of things. Keep your receipts. Keep track of sales for your taxes. Invest in a bookkeeping computer program so that you can also detail your expenses and receipts.

Tags: your herbs, sell herbs, want sell, want sell herbs, farmers markets, herbs them

Find Bulk Essential Oil

bulk essential oil

Buying bulk essential oil makes it possible for lay people and industry professionals to make their own soap, lotions and other aromatherapy products which could never be produced without the ability to buy bulk essential oil-to make product in large batches or for professional use.

Instructions

1. Contact coop (cooperative health and organic food establishments) which are owned by various others. Its possible that they could purchase bulk essential oil utilizing their purchasing power and pass off to you the savings they realize. This is much more likely to happen at a facility like these, because of the philosophy of making items like bulk essential oil accessible to all.

2. Locate sites that offer bulk essential oil, whereby they have direct contacts or actually ARE essential oil manufacturers. Again, make sure that you are dealing with companies that deal in truly therapeutic essential oils and not of the synthetic variety. Make sure that you are not dealing with a middle man who is taking a significant cut on your bulk purchase. Ideally you should be able to buy directly from the source.

3. If you have a connection with fertile virgin land or have land of your own, consider growing your own therapeutic essential oils whereby you don't have to purchase bulk essential oil from anyone else.

Tags: bulk essential, bulk essential, dealing with, essential oils, purchase bulk, purchase bulk essential

Juice For Fiber

Eight medium strawberries contain three grams of fiber.

Consuming fiber has several health benefits. Fiber helps the body pass stool in a regular manner. It also can relieve constipation and hemorrhoids by helping you to strain less as you pass a bowel movement. Fiber can also help reduce your risk of cancer because it helps food and waste move through the body quickly. Juicing with high-fiber fruits and vegetables also allows you to consume the vitamins from those foods. To retain the fiber in the juice, a blender should be used instead of a juicer. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Instructions

1. Select a high-fiber juice recipe for blenders. Fruits that are high in fiber include berries, apples, oranges, figs, prunes and pears. High-fiber vegetables include carrots, broccoli, cabbage, cucumber, tomatoes and spinach. Many high-fiber juice recipes will mix several of these ingredients. Other ingredients might include water, olive oil or flax seed oil.

2. Wash and peel the fruits and vegetables for the recipe as needed. The Food and Drug Administration suggests that you wash your hands with warm soap and water for 20 seconds. Fruits and vegetables then should be washed thoroughly under running water. The FDA does point out that if you purchased prewashed items such as lettuce, it does not need to be washed again. In terms of peeling, remove any peel you would not normally eat. For instance, you would remove an orange peel or the skin of a pineapple, but you would not remove the peel of an apple.

3. Slice or chop your vegetables and fruits into smaller pieces. For instance, many blenders will not chop an entire apple or large piece of lettuce easily. Reduce the size of your ingredients into smaller pieces so that it can be blended more easily.

4. Remove any seeds, stems or other items you do not want to consume after slicing or chopping. The benefit of using a blender to create juice is that you retain the fiber of the fruit. The downside, however, is that nothing is separated when mixed together in the blender.

5. Combine the ingredients into the blender and blend according to the recipe instructions. Another difference in creating juice with a blender versus a juicer is that less liquid will be released from the fruits and vegetables. Also, with the fiber remaining in the blender, the consistency of the juice may be thick if you are using a "juicer recipe." Be prepared to add water or fruit juice in order to thin the consistency. Also, the recipe may instruct you to "pulse" or add ingredients in slowly in order not to overwhelm the blender's motor.

Tags: fruits vegetables, high-fiber juice, ingredients into, into smaller, into smaller pieces, remove peel, retain fiber

Start A Bread Business

Bread baking is an ancient craft that continually is being reinvented by talented modern bakers. To start a bread business you must have a passion for bread and a way to distinguish your offerings from the many other available options. Develop a clear idea of the type of customer who is going to enjoy the particular kind of bread you plan to offer and consider ways to market your offerings to that particular target market.

Instructions

Start a Bread Business

1. Decide whether you plan to operate a wholesale or retail bread business. If you will be selling your bread wholesale, identify potential wholesale clients, such as restaurants, natural foods stores or mainstream grocery stores. If you will be retailing your products, decide whether you will operate a retail storefront or whether you will sell through other direct sales venues, such as farmers' markets.

2. Contact state and local agencies and ask about permits and licenses for owning and operating a bread business. Call your local health department and inquire about the permits, equipment and protocols for baking and distributing bread. If you will be hiring employees, register with state and federal employment agencies.

3. Choose a site that is appropriate to the type of business you plan to operate. If you intend to retail your bread in your own storefront, find a centrally located spot with foot traffic or ample parking. Design and build a commercial kitchen that complies with local health and fire codes.

4. Refine your recipes and adapt them so you can produce them in volume. Streamline your production processes by using variations on basic recipes and multiple uses for staple ingredients. Figure the cost of ingredients for each product and make sure that this amount does not exceed 33 percent of the price you will charge.

Tags: about permits, local health, plan operate, Start Bread Business, whether will

Become A Butcher In Michigan

Becoming a butcher, or meat cutter, requires you to possess a very specialized set of skills related to the proper handling of meats. The state of Michigan does not currently require those who wish to become butchers to hold a professional license. The butcher shops, grocery stores and delicatessens where butchers or meat cutters work obtain licensure as a business entity from the Michigan Department of Agriculture to process and sell meats to the public. To retain this license, it is expected that the owners of these businesses will ensure that they and/or their staff members are properly trained in all safety and handling procedures related to processing meats. Due to this informal method of oversight, the route to becoming a butcher in Michigan is relatively simple.

Instructions

1. Obtain a high school diploma or GED. While this is not absolutely required, most employers seek applicants for butcher jobs with this minimum level of education, due to the math and documentation required in meat cutting. If possible, take courses in business, food service or nutrition, math and writing skills.

2. Research your educational options in meat cutting. Since there is no professional butcher's license offered by the state of Michigan, many colleges in the area do not offer this. However, some vocational/trade schools or culinary schools may offer short, hands-on training programs in meat cutting that can provide you with a foundational knowledge of butchering, and give you a competitive edge over other candidates applying for entry-level jobs or apprenticeships.

3. Apply for apprenticeship programs in meat cutting through the Michigan chapter of the United Food and Commercial Workers union, or apply directly for an apprentice job offered by a local butcher's shop or grocery store. Often, these jobs require you to join the union if you are not already a member, and to sign a contract that states you will work as a butcher for the particular store or company for a certain length of time after completing your apprentice training. Continue your training and education in butchering to the journey or master level, if desired.

Tags: meat cutting, programs meat, programs meat cutting, state Michigan

Uses Of Wild Oil Of Oregano

Oregano is popular for seasoning foods, but oregano oil is good for healing the body.

Wild Oil of Oregano is often referred to as a medicine chest in a bottle because of its many effective uses. This potent oil is often used as a powerful antibiotic and parasite expellant. It has the ability to relieve pain, fight infection and cleanse the body of harmful bacteria.

Anti-fungal

Wild Oil of Oregano contains strong anti-fungal properties and has been known to treat resistant fungal infections. Those suffering from severe dandruff or seborrhea caused by a scalp fungus, have found relief by mixing a few drops of wild oregano oil into their shampoo. Take one to three drops internally to kill fungus such as candida and apply topically after a shower to sooth and treat athlete's foot.

Immune Stimulant

Wild Oil of Oregano is more powerful than echinacea and goldenseal, which makes it one of the top natural immune boosting plants. Take a couple of drops daily to strengthen your immune system. Take three to five drops of oregano oil at the first sign of a viral infection, such as a cold or flu. Continue taking three drops an hour for up to 10 hours or until the symptoms disappear.

Toothaches

Oregano oil applied directly to the tooth and around it can relieve pain by killing pain-causing bacteria. For gum pain or gum disease, apply the oil directly onto the gums. Apply a drop onto your toothbrush right before brushing. This will reduce the buildup up of plaque on your teeth, improving the health of your gums.

Digestion Problems

Because of its high concentrate of thymol and carvacro, Oil of Oregano quickly calms an upset stomach. It also helps the body with digestion by increasing the secretion of digestive juices. For mild indigestion, add two to three drops of Oil of Oregano to a glass of milk or juice.

Anti-Oxidant

The natural anti-oxidant properties of Oil of Oregano allows it to protect the body from free radicals and repairs damage to the body already caused by free radicals. It may also slow down the aging process and protect against certain cancers. A few drops taken under the tongue daily will maintain healthy cell structure.

Burns, Cuts and Scrapes

Oil of Oregano makes an effective remedy for the treatment of minor burns, cuts and scrapes. The oil should be be applied immediately to the area. It will clean and reduce the pain. Oil of Oregano may also prevent the blistering of burns if used promptly as well as reduce scarring.

Tags: three drops, free radicals, relieve pain, Take three, Wild Oregano, Wild Oregano

Eat A Healthy Diet And Save Money

Healthy Diet

Eating and maintaining a healthy diet is essential if you want to live a quality lifestyle and keep illnesses at bay--however, it can be costly to buy food items and products from organic or specialty stores. That's why so many of us in these hard financial times find ourselves compromising our health and diets by eating cheaper quality and "junk" foods. This article will offer some tips on keeping a healthy diet and saving money on a limited budget.

Instructions

1. Shop at local farmers markets or family grocery stores where the products can cost less than the larger chain supermarkets. Usually they will have reduced prices for certain produce or products that haven't sold and they wish to move quickly. Ask the store manager if they have certain days when products might go on sale.

2. Buy generic name brand multivitamins, supplements and over-the-counter drugs like aspirin, cough medicine and flu medication. They work in the same way as the brand name products, but usually cost less.

3. Shop at budget discount stores. For example, dollar stores stock generic over-the-counter vitamins, supplements and medications at less than a quarter of the price you pay at drugstores. Many also offer fresh fruits and vegetables that cost a fraction of what you would pay at a supermarket.

4. Buy bulk packaging. Buying products in bulk at wholesale clubs like COSTCO will help you to reduce your grocery bills because you will not have to pay for the added expense of marketing and packaging individual items.

5. Cook meals in large quantities and divide into separate portions, then freeze for work lunches or meals at a later date. Pasta dishes are great for cooking in bulk and dividing into smaller portions.

6. Plan a weekly and monthly menu and make a list of items that you will need. Estimate the costs and make a weekly budget to see where you can make adjustments or modify the menu to fit your budget--without compromising your diet or health.

7. Cut out coupons from magazines and newspapers to help reduce grocery costs. Join grocery clubs or rewards programs to get the in-store discounts. Most of the top chain supermarkets offer discount or rewards programs, but you have to join the club or become a member before you can qualify.

Tags: chain supermarkets, cost less, Healthy Diet, help reduce, less than, rewards programs, will have

Start A Home Sauce Business

If you think your homemade sauces are good enough to sell, then starting a home sauce business might be your ticket to success. You will need to know obtain wholesale ingredients, market your sauces and adhere to safety regulations.

Instructions

1. Perfect your recipe. To be successful at selling your own sauce, you need a solid recipe that never changes. Double and triple your recipe at home and share it with friends to ensure that it comes out the same every time. Sometimes when a recipe is increased, the spice proportions and fat content don't increase at the same rate as the other ingredients.

2. Decide whether you'll use readily available Mason canning jars or browse online glass jar wholesalers to order your jars and lids. Decide on the exact specifications of each bottle so you can design a label and figure your pricing.

3. Contact Food Service of America, Sysco Foods or another grocery wholesaler to order groceries and spices at wholesale prices. If you use fresh produce, contact a local farmer or produce co-op to inquire about ordering large quantities of fresh vegetables.

4. Obtain a business license from your city, county or state (each state has different regulations). Contact your local health department to learn the regulations for starting a home sauce business.

5. Design a label. You may want to consult a graphic designer for suggestions.

6. Calculate the exact cost of each bottle by first analyzing your food cost. Figure out how much an ounce or gram of every ingredient costs. Multiply the cost by the recipe quantity to get a batch cost. Then divide the batch cost by the number of bottles you get from a batch. Include the cost of the jar and the label. Create an hourly wage for your production and factor that in by dividing it by how many jars you can make in an hour. When you have established a cost per bottle, double it for wholesale orders and triple or quadruple the cost to find a retail price.

7. Begin by selling your sauces at the farmer's market or at local gourmet groceries. If you need a bar code, look online for services that allow you to purchase a scannable bar code for your own printing. Incorporate this possibility into your label design.

Tags: batch cost, each bottle, selling your, starting home, starting home sauce, your recipe, your sauces

Cheesecloth Options

There are many options for cheesecloth beyond the kitchen. It can be used in artistic projects and in purely practical ways. Cheesecloth is a thin material made of cotton, and it is traditionally used to press curds into a solid mass in cheese making. Cheesecloth is available in several varieties, depending on the type of weave and number of threads per square inch of fabric. Does this Spark an idea?

Sieve and Strain

Cheesecloth can strain soup stock.

Liquids easily pass through cheesecloth. When making a homemade broth, pour the final product through a cheesecloth to strain out any scraps of meat or bits of bone, that you don't want in the stock.

Tea

Use cheesecloth to make homemade teabags.

Scraps of cheesecloth can be used to make homemade teabags. Fill swatches of cheesecloth with herbs and tea leaves like chamomile and lavender, and leave them to steep in a cup of hot water. Homemade teabags are a natural alternative to store-bought products, a great way to bag dried herbs, and can make lovely gifts for friends and family.

Clothing Fabric

Cheesecloth is a comfortable material for summer clothes.

In the 1970s, cheesecloth was a popular material for clothing, and it's still perfect for making lightweight summer wear. Follow a shirt or dress pattern and use cheesecloth as the fabric to make clothing that will be comfortable on hot and humid days.

Household Cleaning

Use cheesecloth to make cleaning easier.

To remove dust and dirt from drawers, place a piece of cheesecloth over a tube-shaped vacuum cleaner attachment, and secure it with a rubber band. Then, vacuum freely, as only the grit will be sucked up into vacuum, not small items like buttons and jewelry.

Tags: cheesecloth make, make homemade, make homemade teabags, through cheesecloth

What Is An Organic Juice Bar

Organic juice bars serve smoothies.

A growing awareness of the benefits of organic food and the current movement of environmental activism is keeping the concept of the "smoothie" alive. Organic juice bars serve healthy, quick fare in gyms, on college campuses, and anywhere else a health-conscious and convenience-oriented population congregates. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Benefits

Organic juice bars use healthy, organic produce.

Organic juice bars serve healthy and convenient alternatives to fast foods. Many establishments offer vegetable juices, wheat grass shots and other popular health foods like goji berries, in addition to the smoothie, a blended juice drink.

Features

Many juice bars offer other healthy items.

Many organic juice bars are small and serve only fresh juices or smoothies, but some include energy supplements, coffee, tea, salads and sandwiches on the menu.

History

The prevalence of health consciousness and vegetarianism in the 1960s gave rise to the juice bar, which made smoothies and a new American tradition.

Considerations

Many organic juice bars work with local farmers and sustainable projects within the community to ensure quality and certified products, fair trade, fair wages and environmental sustainability.

Warning

Unless the juice bar uses 100 percent organic products, your juice could have chemical fertilizers, pesticides or genetically modified ingredients in it.

Tags: juice bars, Organic juice bars, bars serve, juice bars serve, bars serve healthy, Many organic, Many organic juice

Make Homemade Vegetable Soup

Make Homemade Vegetable Soup

With the cold days of winter coming in, what better meal than a warm bowl of vegetable soup? Here is a simple recipe on make it homemade, and trust me, you will not be disappointed. And do not forget, it is healthy as well. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Instructions

1. Vegetable soup can be great for lunch, or dinner, and is great leftover. To start making homemade vegetable soup, cut up all the meat into small pieces. I prefer to cut in small chunks, almost as if you are shredding it to the same consistency of chopped barbecue.

2. Now mix together all of the vegetables, juice and all, into a large stock pot. Although I did not list in the ingredients, I sometimes add green beans to the soup.

3. To flavor, add salt, pepper, and a little sugar to taste. After heating up a little, add the meat and cook on high until it comes to a boil.

4. Now that it has come to a boil, reduce heat to medium and allow to cook for around 2.5 to 3 hours to make sure the meat gets cooked all the way through. If you plan on saving the soup for leftovers, make sure it has had plenty of time to cool before you place it in a container for the refrigerator or freezer. Also remember, this goes great with a grilled cheese sandwich!

Tags: Homemade Vegetable, Make Homemade, Make Homemade Vegetable, make sure, Vegetable Soup, vegetable soup

Make A Jelly Bean Costume

Jelly beans are the inspiration for a creative and cute costume.

If you're struggling to come up with a last-minute Halloween costume, or you just want to do something creative that everyone won't be doing this year, make yourself a jelly bean costume. This cute bag of jelly beans costume takes only mere minutes to put together, but looks just precious. Kids will love dressing up for Halloween as a bag of colorful jelly beans, and may even take home a costume contest prize.

Instructions

1. Grab a large, clear plastic bag and hold it up to your body. Cut holes out with the scissors where your arms and legs will stick out.

2. Step into the bag and put your arms and legs into the holes you created.

3. Place blown up, colorful balloons into the bag to look like a bag of jelly beans. Gauge how many balloons you want in the bag. You don't want to be uncomfortable, but it should look full.

4. Gather the bag around your shoulders, using tape if necessary to hold it together.

5. Take the ribbon and tie it around the plastic bag to look like the top of a jelly bean bag.

6. Add a label to the outside of the bag using construction paper, markers and tape if you desire. Draw a brand name on the paper or create your own brand such as "Sue's Jelly Beans."

Tags: jelly beans, arms legs, jelly bean, like jelly, look like

Making A Compost Bin

Make your own compost.

A compost bin lets you turn food scraps, leaves and lawn trimmings into rich organic matter to fertilize your garden. Worms, bacteria and fungi do the work, but a bin holds the organic materials in place. A compost bin may be large and expensive, but you can make a simple one from inexpensive materials. Use a single bin to compost a small amount of material slowly with little effort. To speed up the process, build two bins and fork the compost into the new bin every few weeks to turn it and aerate it. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Pound four 4-foot-long metal fence stakes six to 12 inches into the ground with a sledge hammer. Space them at the four corners of a square, 3 feet by 3 feet, measuring the distance with a tape measure.

2. Cut four lengths of fence wire with wire cutters. Make the pieces long enough to wrap around one slat of the snow fence plus the metal post with several inches left over.

3. Set a 13-foot-long roll of snow fence upright beside one of the posts, so one end is against a post. Attach the fence to the post with wire ties, wrapping them around the last slat and the post, then twisting the ends together with pliers. Space one tie at the top, one at the bottom and the other two between them.

4. Unroll the snow fence, run it beside the next post and wire it to that post the same way. Repeat until you've wired it to all four posts and have formed a square.

5. Overlap the end of the fence with the start and wire it to the initial section of the fence. Fill the compost bin with a mixture of organic matter and a little soil, as you accumulate food scraps or garden trimmings.

Tags: snow fence, food scraps, organic matter, post with, with wire

South Jersey Culinary Schools

Culinary schools in South Jersey can prepare students for careers as chefs.

Culinary school is a post high school option for people who want to be chefs. There are culinary programs available throughout the United States with a number of locations in the South Jersey area for those living in that area who wish to attend a school close to home.

Atlantic Cape Community College

Atlantic Cape Community College has an Academy of Culinary Arts that is located on the main campus of the college in South Jersey at Mays Landing. The culinary center where students learn and train is a 29,000 square foot facility. Teaching is done through classroom study and working kitchens. There is even a restaurant called Careme's that is located on site where students practice skills and techniques for the public who dine there for lunch or dinner. Pastry skills and baker training is also offered at the academy, and the school has a retail bakery on campus where student-created pastries and baked goods are sold. Degree programs are full time, and class schedules fall in to three time frames. Students can attend classes from 7 a.m. through 12 p.m., 12:30 p.m. through 5:30 p.m. or 5 p.m. through 10 p.m. The flexible scheduling is made available for students who have other jobs or responsibilities. As of August 2010, the program costs $6,870 per semester for tuition and fees. Books, a knife set and uniforms are extra. There are three program tracks available for degree study: culinary arts, food service management and baking and pastry.

Atlantic Cape Community College

5100 Black Horse Pike

Mays Landing, NJ 08330

609-343-4916

atlantic.edu

Ocean County Vocational Technical School

Ocean County Vocational Technical School is both a vocational and technical school in Toms River, New Jersey. The culinary arts program is available to both high school students and to adults after they have completed high school or obtained their GED. There is an additional entrance test for potential students that tests their preliminary knowledge on the food service industry. The culinary program for adults is a one-year program that consists of 900 hours of study and prepares students for careers in the culinary arts including positions such as chefs and cooks. The course of study involves classroom study, hands-on experience and kitchen work. The school has students practice skills by operating and working at the Lakehurst Naval Air Engineering Station which is located nearby to the campus.

Ocean County Vocational Technical School

1299 Old Freehold Road

Toms River, NJ 08753

732-473-3100

ocvts.org

Atlantic County Institute of Technology

The Atlantic County Institute of Technology located in South Jersey, in Mays Landing, offers a degree program in the culinary arts. This program is specifically designed for students still in high school and serves as a starting point for them to further pursue a career in the culinary arts. Additional adult education classes in the culinary arts are offered on occasion, but the primary course offered is for those still in high school. The Institute qualifies as an alternative high school in New Jersey. The coursework focuses on primary areas such as commercial food preparation, baking including breads, pastries and desserts and customer service. The skills acquired through this program are designed to prepare students for continuing on to post secondary education culinary arts degree programs.

Atlantic County Institute of Technology

5080 Atlantic Ave

Mays Landing, NJ 08330

609-625-2249

acitech.org

Tags: high school, culinary arts, South Jersey, Mays Landing, Atlantic Cape, Atlantic Cape Community

Tell When A Chicken Is Spoiled

Chicken should be examined to determine if it is spoiled.

Cooking can be an adventure. To keep you and your dinner guests safe and healthy, it is important use unspoiled meat. It is easiest to tell if chicken is spoiled before you cook it. Failure to pay attention to the warning signs of spoiled chicken can lead to food poisoning. Along with undercooked chicken, spoiled chicken is a breeding ground for bacteria which can lead to violent illness and hospitalization in more severe cases. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Instructions

Determining Whether Chicken is Spoiled

1. Examine the packaging before removing the chicken. Look at the sale by date and determine whether or not that time has passed. The chicken may not be spoiled if used after the sale by date, but should be discarded if the expiration date on the package has passed. If near or past the sell by date be sure to look for other indicators that the chicken may be spoiled before preparing or consuming the chicken.

2. Look at the color of the chicken. Color of skin and meat can vary based on many factors, but according to the USDA, fading or darkening can indicate spoilage.

3. Smell the chicken. Spoiled chicken will smell rotten, slightly sharp and unlike what you would consider to be normal for meat. If in doubt do not consume chicken with an odd odor.

4. Touch the chicken. According to the USDA, if the chicken is tacky, slimy, or sticky to the touch, it could be spoiled and should be discarded.

Tags: chicken Look, Chicken Spoiled, chicken spoiled, chicken spoiled, chicken spoiled before, sale date

Buy In Bulk

More isn't always better.

You simply cannot help needing certain things on a consistent basis, and when you have a bulk supply on hand, you save yourself repeated -- and potentially costly -- trips to the store. Buying in bulk requires a slight strategy, though, as buying the wrong things may result in waste or a cluttered home. Some items are simply not meant to be bought in bulk, so before you head to the local warehouse store and fill up cart after cart, compare prices and check how much of certain things you realistically use.

Instructions

1. Make a list of the things that you need. Simply going to the warehouse or bulk store without a plan may result in you buying more than you need. Just like on any other shopping trip, you should have a list.

2. Go to the store, and if you don't already have a membership, purchase one. Most bulk or warehouse stores require you to pay an annual membership fee.

3. Compare costs on the things that you need. While bulk deals may seem impressive, when you crunch the numbers, they don't always end up being cheaper. If a smaller grocery store is offering a special on soda, for example, the cost per can may be less than if you buy in bulk.

4. Avoid buying things that take up a lot of space, unless you have the room to store them. You might save money buying large packs of paper towels or toilet paper at the bulk store, for example, but if you live in a studio apartment, you won't have anywhere to keep them.

5. Avoid buying items that expire if you do not think you can use them before they do. Over the counter medicines, nuts and brown rice, for example, are all things that could easily expire before you consume an entire bulk package.

Tags: things that, Avoid buying, bulk store, certain things, that need, things that need

Sprout Sunflower Seeds

Sunflower seeds are not only delicious, but they are also highly nutritious; however, when sprouted the nutritional value goes off the charts. With a great flavor and a great crunch, sunflower seeds are rich in vitamins E, C, B and A, as well as potassium, phosphorus, iron, calcium and protein. Fun to grow, they are delicious as a snack or served with salads, mixed into dips, placed on sandwiches or as a topping for fruit. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Instructions

1. Choose organic hulled sunflower seeds for sprouting. You can use regular sunflower seeds found in health food stores as long as they have been removed from the shell, are unsalted and raw.

2. Place your sunflower seeds in a wide-mouthed glass jar and cover with water. Allow them to soak overnight, or for about 10 hours, before preparing them to sprout. Remember that sprouts will just about double in size, so do not sprout more than you can eat in 1 to 2 weeks.

3. Rinse the sunflower seeds well after soaking and then drain the excess water. Return the seeds to the jar and cover with a light cloth. Place the jar in a cool, semi-dark location to sprout.

4. Return to your sprouts every 4 to 6 hours, rinsing and draining the seeds thoroughly. Sunflower seeds have a delicate skin which will come free from the seed during sprouting. It is important to skim as many of these skins off of the water while rinsing as you can, as they quickly spoil and can cause your sprouts to rot.

5. Sprout sunflower seeds for about 18 hours, or until they have a nice 1/4 inch tail and a crunchy texture. Give your sprouts a final rinse, skimming off any skins still remaining and then drain. Place the seeds in your covered jar in the refrigerator and eat within 1 to 2 weeks.

Tags: sunflower seeds, your sprouts, about hours, cover with, sunflower seeds, then drain, they have

Choose A Thanksgiving Turkey

As Thanksgiving approaches, thoughts turn to the turkey and what type you should buy. It can turn into a difficult decision, especially if you are cooking one for the first time. Instead of enduring a hassle, here are some tips to help you choose a perfect, delicious turkey for Thanksgiving dinner. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Determine how many people are coming for dinner. Sure leftovers are great, but spending a lot of extra money isn’t. There’s only so much extra turkey a person can eat. Set a date for the RSVP so you can buy the turkey before Thanksgiving.

2. Decide if you want an organic turkey or a non-organic turkey. An organic turkey means that it was raised with no growth hormones, was fed organic food, roamed outdoors and was never given antibiotics. Organic turkeys are a bit more expensive then a regular turkey, but many people consider the money worth it. This is also a good option if you’re not sure how many of your guests eat organic food.

3. Think about buying a Kosher turkey if any of your guests are Jewish. If only one or a couple of the guests are Jewish, you may consider buying a small Kosher turkey and a non-Kosher turkey for the other guests.

4. Decide between a roasted or a deep fried turkey. Deep-fried turkeys can take quite a bit of effort to cook and there are a lot more safety precautions that you need to take if you are frying it yourself. If you are deep frying a turkey, consider buying one that is already done for you. A roasted turkey is the easier option of the two to do at home.

5. Look for a turkey with a pop up timer. These timers are very handy when you want to make sure that your turkey isn’t undercooked or overcooked. When the turkey is done, the timer will pop up. Not all turkeys come with this, so make sure to check before you buy it.

6. Decide if you want to get a fresh or frozen turkey. A frozen turkey is cheaper than a fresh one, but it’s more work for you. It needs to be thawed for hours before you can start cooking it. A frozen turkey can be purchased and kept in your freezer for a long time before Thanksgiving, so you can save some money and wait to purchase it until you find one on sale. Buying a fresh turkey usually requires placing an order for it long before the holiday to make sure you can definitely get it. It’s perishable and needs to stays in your refrigerator, so you need to get it very close to, or on, Thanksgiving to make sure it tastes high quality. A fresh turkey is a better purchase for those that don’t have the time to do the prep work.

7. Consider buying a boneless turkey breast instead of a full turkey. Boneless turkey breasts are a good buy for those that are only going to have one or two guests for dinner. A full turkey would be near impossible for a few people to finish before it goes bad. Also, if you are planning on going away right after the holiday, you won’t have to worry about what to do with a turkey that no one is going to be around to eat. A full turkey also takes much longer to prepare and cook than a boneless turkey breast.

Tags: make sure, frozen turkey, full turkey, before Thanksgiving, boneless turkey breast, Decide want, fresh turkey

Homemade Cat Food For Senior Cats

Homemade Cat Food for Senior Cats

Choosing to make your own food for your senior cat can help you avoid poisoning and other health problems that can arise from contaminated commercial foods. The dietary needs for most senior cats are almost identical to the needs of younger cats. Senior cats with health problems may need additional fiber, fatty acids and antioxidants. Use meat, bones and organs to make up the majority of your senior cat's diet.

Making Cat Food

Many people choose to feed their cats a raw diet that closely resembles the diet a wild cat would eat. Check with your veterinarian for recommendations on homemade raw diets and whether your cat should be on one. Remove half the skin from about 4 1/2 pounds of raw meat with bones. Choose dark chicken or turkey meat, such as drumsticks or thighs, or rabbit meat. Cut as much of the meat as you can into small, bite-sized pieces.

Place the remaining meat and bones in a meat grinder with 14 oz. of raw heart and 7 oz. of raw liver. Grind the mixture to a fine consistency and stir it well. Use the heart and liver of the same animal as the meat. If you cannot find raw heart meat to purchase, use 4000 mg taurine instead. Substitute 40,000 IU of Vitamin A and 1600 IU of Vitamin D if you cannot use raw liver. If you are replacing the heart and liver with supplements, do not add them in the meat grinder. Save them for later and grind the remaining meat and bones only. Add additional meat to make up for the lost ounces if you use supplements to replace the heart and liver.

Mix 2 cups of water, 4 raw egg yolks, 4000 mg of salmon oil, 800 IU of Vitamin E, 200 mg of Vitamin B, 1 1/2 tsp. of salt with iodine and 4 tsp. of psyllium husk powder in a bowl. Whisk the ingredients together. Add taurine, Vitamin A and Vitamin D to this mixture if you are using supplements to replace the heart and liver. Mix the chunked meat and the ground meat and bones in with this mixture until well blended. Portion out the mixture into plastic containers and freeze whatever you will not use in the next 48 hours. Before feeding, scoop out a small portion that your cat will eat and place it in a plastic sandwich bag. Run the bag under hot water until it is warm to make it more palatable to your senior cat.

Cats With Health Conditions

Senior cats with health conditions may have slightly different dietary needs than healthy cats. Talk to your veterinarian before making any dietary changes to get suggestions specific to your cat's condition. Cats with diabetes, constipation, and colon or anal conditions may benefit from increased fiber. You can add more fiber to your homemade food by increasing the amount of psyllium husk powder. Cats with heart disease may benefit from an additional few ounces of raw heart or additional taurine in their diets. Senior cats with heart disease should also get less sodium. Cut back on the amount of skin you leave on the meat and the amount of salt with iodine in the food. Cats with cancer can benefit from additional fatty acids. Consider adding more salmon oil to your cat's food if it has cancer and replace the salmon oil every few days by adding a few drops to the thawed portions of food since some fatty acids may be lost during the freezing process. Cats with kidney disease have difficulty breaking down waste, so do not feed them homemade diets without checking with your veterinarian first.

Tags: heart liver, meat bones, benefit from, fatty acids, Senior cats with, with heart

Start Your Own Catering Company

You can cook. You like money. You want to be known. You hate the corporate world and would rather have your own business. So why not start a catering company? Although there is more to a catering business than cooking, finding a job you love to do and being paid for it is a challenge. With a lot of hard work, business sense and determination, your catering business can be a success.

Instructions

1. Offer to cook at family and friend events to make your cooking noticeable. Networking from your inner circle is the easiest way to pass the word about your cooking talent.

2. Decide on a location where you will prepare all of your food, and make sure it is readily available. Sometimes your home kitchen is just not big enough for all of the items you'd like to prepare, especially for big parties.

3. Calculate expenses for kitchen appliances, food, assistance from other people (they will want to be paid) and estimate utility bills for your catering service.

4. Prepare a catering menu with prices that will include the expenses from Step 3.

5. Buy business cards that showcase your catering business. When or if someone asks about your business, she'll need contact information for you. Before picking a name for your business, check at the Secretary of State to make sure no one else is using your company name for a catering business or any other purpose. Make your business name unique anyway to avoid later legal issues.

6. Purchase a catering license at your local health department. The health department will verify Step 2 to make sure your cooking location is safe. The health department will make sure you have a business license, certificate of occupancy, business name (included on your business cards in Step 5) and a tax license. Request how often this information must be updated, and factor it into Step 3.

7. Start a website and make sure to scan your menu. Years ago, it was normal for cooks to just rely on word of mouth to get the word out, but if you want to get the word out about your company, technology has made it that much easier. People who may have never heard of your company will find it by using a search engine. Make sure to use keywords "catering" and "catering company" to boost your accessibility online.

Tags: your business, catering business, make sure, about your, health department, your catering, your company

Frugal Organization Ideas

Put more money into your piggy bank rather than in home organizing by using money-saving ideas.

Do not break the bank trying to get your life organized. Contrary to what many high-priced organization stores want you to believe, you do not have to spend an arm and a leg to arrange the items in your home so that everything sits within easy reach.

Recycled Coffee Cans or Jars

Save glass jars and coffee cans for organizing around the house.

Put empty, clean coffee cans or jars to a new use by using them to organize small items. Remove the labels, and write the name of the contents on the outside of each can and lid. Use these to organize nuts and bolts in a tool shop or different colors of yarn or small craft items in an art room. Use glass jars with lids the same way, but empty jars have the advantage of letting you see the contents inside.

Cardboard Boxes

Reuse cardboard boxes for recycling containers.

Save leftover cardboard boxes from large appliances for use as recycling bins. Gather four of them, and write what type of recyclable the box holds: aluminum, plastic, glass or paper. Cover the outsides of the boxes with bright paper, if desired, to remind you to recycle more instead of throwing all of your trash in the garbage.

Leftover Wine Crates

If you do not drink, ask nicely at a liquor store if they have any wine crates they will give to you rather than throwing them in the trash. Use these compartmentalized boxes for keeping Christmas ornaments safely stored. Or use them to organize your own wine bottles at home, or store tall, narrow flower vases in the compartments to keep them protected in your attic or while moving.

Flower Pots or Ceramic Containers

Use flower pots and ceramic containers to keep pens, cooking utensils and remotes close at hand.

Put a flower pot to use even if you do not have a green thumb. Place a 6-inch flower pot on your desk as a catchall for pens, pencils, highlighters and markers. Or set the flower pot in the kitchen on the countertop to keep mixing spoons and spatulas close at hand. Keep the items in the flower pot separated by pushing a 3-inch-thick piece of florist's foam into the bottom of the pot and inserting the tips of pens or the handle of spoons into the foam to create holes specifically sized for those writing or cooking instruments. Flower pots in the television room also can hold several remote controls for a one-stop remote receptacle.

Tags: cardboard boxes, close hand, coffee cans, glass jars, rather than, them organize