Farm Animal Art Activities

A Ram on the Farm

As you and your kid look for new and exciting art project ideas, consider the rich realm of farm animals. From simple farm animal drawings to more complicated farm animal figurines, the barn and stables are full of inspiration. You can get a firsthand look at horses and pigs at a local farm or simply browse a book for animals to re-create. Your farm animal projects can focus on a single animal or they can capture the bustling life of the entire farm.

Farm Animal Drawings

A farm animal drawing is the most basic way to use farm animals in your art activities. To draw a farm of chickens, pigs, goats, sheep and other typical farm animals, you need nothing more than drawing utensils and a drawing surface. If you have access to a farm, take a quick visit and snap some pictures to serve as inspiration. For those who wish to stay at home, search the Internet for pictures of farm animals. Then, use a combination of crayons, colored pencils and markers to draw individual animals or full farm scenes. For kids who want to expand their farm animal depictions, consider watercolors, pastels or charcoal.

Younger children who cannot yet draw animals, or anyone who wants to focus on color more than form will enjoy farm animal coloring books. Websites such Alphabet-Soup.com offer many farm animal coloring book pages as downloads. Just download, print and color to your heart's content.

Farm Animal Masks and Costumes

For a farm animal art activity that will delight long after the activity ends, consider farm animal costumes. A kid can continue to find joy with a farm animal costume for years to come. From Halloween to at-home dress-up, farm animal costumes are cute and enduring ways to celebrate farm life. To make a simple farm animal costume, pick out your favorite farm animal. Note that animal's basic features. For instance, let's say you want to dress up as a goat. You can go all out and make a full body suit with a gray shirt and pants and a goat's tail or you can stick to a goat's facial features and make just the horns and billy goat beard.

To make horns, consider the use of paper mache. If you don't want to go through the trouble of paper mache, you can create convincing goat horns out of gray construction paper or even aluminum foil. Use a gray wig or gray fabric to create your billy goat beard.

Farm animal masks are a good alternative to costumes. For a simple paper mask, draw a large farm animal face on a piece of paper. Cut out the mask's outline and include eye, mouth and nose holes. Use felt and other decorations to make your paper mask stand out. If you have more time on your hands, consider an elaborate paper mache mask. With wire or a mold, create a mask frame and then layer your paper mache mixture on the frame. Use small strips to create different animals' noses and ears. Once you have dried your paper mache, paint your mask with the appropriate colors.

Farm Animal Figurines

To create a farm animal figurine, you have a variety of material options. From clay to origami to cardboard, you can transform any material into a farm animal with a bit of creativity. While advanced artists may opt for detailed depictions of cows or donkeys, novice artists can hone in on a few of the animals' defining characteristics. To create a pig figurine, use a pink eraser for the body. Tape a pipe cleaner on the back of the eraser for the pig's tail and use a push pin as the snout. If you want your pig to stand, use push pins for feet. For a sitting pig, use pipe cleaners or paper clips. Since most of these supplies are found in many an American office as well, cubicle workers can kill their boredom by making simple farm animals.

Tags: farm animal, farm animals, paper mache, farm animal, farm animal, paper mask, simple farm

Virginia Food Stamp Qualifications

The former federal food stamp program is now the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as the Food Stamp program, offers assistance to low-income families in the United States. The U.S. Department of Agriculture administers the program and, in Virginia, it operates under the Virginia Department of Social Services. Families with SNAP benefits receive an electronic card, like a debit card, for purchasing approved items.

Application Process

The SNAP application process consists of filling out a form, interviewing with agency representatives, either by phone or in person, and waiting for verification of the information. According to the SNAP program's manual, the agency must act quickly on all applications and provide retroactive benefits to the month of application. Prior to application in Virginia, potential SNAP participants are encouraged to participate in a survey to determine their eligibility for the program. The survey asks questions such as "How many people live in your household?" "Where do you live?" "How much money does your household earn each month?" and "How many people are 60 years of age or older or permanently disabled in your household?"

Work Requirements

Virginia applicants between the ages of 18 and 50, depending on their ability to work, may face limited SNAP benefits. Individuals able to work may receive only three months of benefits in a 36-month period, though extensions are available depending on circumstances. Exemptions to this requirement include those who are pregnant, a primary caregiver to a child, a member of an approved work program, doctor-certified as unable to work, or living in an exempt location.

Purchase Qualifications

Food bought with SNAP funds is exempt from state sales tax, but the user must pay tax in cash on the value of manufacturer's coupons. There are limitations of the types of items you can purchase using SNAP benefits. According to the Virginia Department of Social Services, these include water and ice, snack foods, baby formula, diabetic and diet foods, vegetable seeds and food-producing plants, and "food or food products meant to be eaten by people." Items ineligible for purchase with SNAP benefits include alcohol and tobacco, pet foods, medicines, vitamins or minerals, cleaning products, and prepared foods meant for consumption at the store.

Tags: SNAP benefits, with SNAP, your household, Assistance Program, Department Social, Department Social Services, Food Stamp

Use Bath Oil Around The House

People of the Stone Age (70000-4000 B.C.) combined olive oil and sesame oil with fragrance to make the first known bath oil. Through history, fragrant oils have been part of most cultures with Biblical documentation of religious and secular uses. Today, in addition to making a bath more luxurious, bath oils can help out around the house.

Instructions

1. Restore the shine of patent leather shoes or purses. Put a little bath oil on a soft cloth and work it into any scuff marks, then polish the leather with another dry cloth.

2. Treat a new baseball glove with bath oil to soften it. Apply a few drop of oil under each finger and to the midsection of the glove. Set a baseball in the pocket of the glove, fold the glove around it and strap it in place with an Ace bandage or a belt. Wait two to three days, then remove the restraint. Wipe away any excess oil on the glove.

3. Remove the adhesives from labels and stickers from glass and metal with a drop or two of bath oil. Do the same to get the residue of an adhesive bandage off skin.

4. Prepare a hot oil treatment for cuticles. Microwave 1/2 cup of water and 1/2 cup of bath oil in a deep bowl for 30 seconds. Test to make sure the temperature is comfortable, then soak fingers for 15 minutes. Dry hands and use an orange stick to push back cuticles. Buff any calloused areas with a pumice stone. Follow with hand cream.

5. Get chewing gum out of hair or carpeting. Work a few drops of bath oil into the gum until it slides out of hair or releases from carpet fiber. Test the oil on an inconspicuous spot on the carpet first.

6. Clean grease from hands without harsh chemicals. Work some bath oil into the grease and follow with warm, soapy water.

7. Give vinyl car upholstery a makeover. Wipe down the vinyl seat, dashboard and interior doors with a little bath oil on a soft cloth. Use a second cloth to buff the vinyl and remove any excess oil.

Tags: bath into, bath soft, bath soft cloth, little bath, little bath soft, soft cloth

Make Natural Soap

Natural soap is easy and fun to make at home

Making your own natural soap is easy. Craft supply stores abound in most cities and towns, and ingredients can be as basic or as exotic as local availability and your imagination will allow. This article will show you make a very simple and basic natural soap. Additional variations such as fragrance, color and texture are discussed briefly in the "Tips" section. Read on to learn make natural soap. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Lightly grease the inside of your soap molds with the petroleum jelly. Set the molds aside.

2. Grate your soap base until you have the equivalent of 1 1/4 cups. Place the grated soap base into a double boiler over medium heat with the distilled water.

3. Heat gently while occasionally stirring until the mixture looks like a fluffy pudding (up to 30 minutes). Do not permit the soap base to boil.

4. Spoon the melted soap quickly, but carefully into the prepared molds. Tap the edge of the molds to remove air bubbles. Permit the soap to sit in the molds until completely cool and set.

5. Gently remove the soaps from the molds and place on the wire rack to dry for at least 24 hours before using.

Tags: soap base, natural soap, soap easy, soap molds, your soap

Grow Garlic

Grow Garlic

True aficionados of garlic claim that once you've tasted the homegrown version, you'll never eat a store-bought bulb again. Garlic takes about eight months to mature. Fortunately, it thrives through the winter as far north as USDA zone 2. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Buy garlic bulbs at the nursery in late fall or early winter (it's unlikely you'll find started seedlings). You'll plant cloves directly in the ground about six weeks before the soil freezes. In mild climates, plant in January or February for harvesting in late summer or early fall.

2. Choose a garden site that gets full sun. Though garlic will grow in soil with any pH from 5.0 to 8.0, it does best in the slightly acid range (6.2 to 6.8).

3. Dig to a depth of 8 to 12 inches, and amend the soil with plenty of compost to ensure the ideal combination of fertility, good drainage and moisture retention.

4. Remove all traces of weeds; they'll easily win out over garlic's grasslike foliage.

5. Plant only the largest cloves from the bulb, and discard any that are pitted or tinged blue-green - both are signs of mold.

6. Set unpeeled cloves, pointy end up, 2 inches deep and 5 inches apart. For giant "elephant" garlic, increase the depth to 3 inches and the spacing to 10.

7. Top-dress the plants with compost, and mulch to retain moisture and deter weeds. Mulch again after the ground freezes to protect plants from the cold.

8. Remove the mulch in spring so the sun can warm the soil, then add a fresh layer when new growth begins. To ensure large bulbs, cut back any flower stalks that develop, and spray young plants with compost tea (see "Make Compost Tea") once or twice during the spring.

9. Provide an inch of water a week until the foliage turns yellow or falls over - indications that bulbs are nearing maturity.

10. Clip garlic leaves to use any time, but remove no more than 1/4 of a plant's top growth or you'll reduce bulb size.

11. Begin harvesting bulbs when about 3/4 of the tops are yellow.

Tags: depth inches, Grow Garlic, plants with, plants with compost, soil with, with compost

The Proper Way To Prepare Shirataki Noodles

Shirataki noodles are a popular substitute for pasta. They are traditional Japanese noodles made from Konjac flour and sometimes tofu. The noodles are chewy, low in carbohydrates, thin and very low in calories. They have very little flavor of their own, but are good at absorbing the flavors of the dish in which they are cooked. Tofu and regular Shirataki noodles are easy to prepare, but certain steps must be followed if the dish is to taste good. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Rinsing

All Shirataki noodles are packed in water and must be rinsed before serving. Pour out the water from the package and put the noodles in a colander. Hold the colander under running water, moving the noodles around with your hands to ensure that every noodle has been rinsed. Most of the objections against Shirataki noodles are due to improper rinsing, which leaves a fishy smell on the noodles.

Heating

Shirataki noodles come already cooked, so they only need warming by running under hot water. Boliling for about two minutes enhances the flavor and textures. Cooking your noodles in a sauce will heat them as well as helping the flavor to be absorbed into the noodles.

Recipes

Add Shirataki noodles to any Asian noodle dish, such as stir fry and soup. These noodles can be used in Italian-type dishes.

You can also put the noodles in a dry pan and fry it for a minute, then add them to your recipe.

You can find a lot of Shirataki noodle recipes on the Hungry Girl website.

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Factors Affecting Demand & Supply Of Oil Prices

As worldwide demand for oil increases, so do prices.

Crude oil supplies are crucial to the operation of developed countries, with 84,249,000 barrels consumed globally each day as of 2009. Because of the importance of oil supplies, fluctuation of oil prices can have a great effect on the global economy. The standard economic principle of supply and demand, based around the concept that the price of a product is directly related to relationship of supply related to consumer demand, applies to global oil prices and the resulting effects on worldwide economics.

Increased Oil Consumption

As the world's population grows, global oil demand increases accordingly. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration's 2009 statistics, the U.S. led the world in global oil consumption with more than 18 million 42-gallon barrels consumed each day across the country. Oil demand is highest in developed countries, with China, Japan and India trailing the U.S. in oil consumption.

Oil Reserves

The ability to supply oil for world demand affects the ultimate price of the product. The world's supply of oil centers around the capacity of reserves. Reflected as the available supply, oil reserves are most often expressed in terms of "proven reserves." Proven reserves are expected quantities of oil, determined through analysis performed by geologists and engineers, that can be extracted with a high level of success using current methods. The potential of proven reserves can be increased through technological advances and further exploration of supply locations, as well as economic conditions that favor oil production.

Exchange Rates

World exchange rates directly affect the worldwide price of oil in terms of how the cost is reflected in national markets. The declining value of the U.S. dollar increases the impact oil prices have on the American economy. When oil prices increase, Americans must pay even more U.S. dollars to buy oil due to the reduced value of the currency. In cases of appreciation, such as when the euro strengthened in value, increased oil prices can be canceled out by a more valuable form of money.

Environmental Factors

The environment can have a strong effect on the global price of oil, in terms of drastically changing the ability to produce oil supplies. For example, in 2004, a number of devastating hurricanes hit off the southeast coast of the U.S. These hurricanes damaged oil supply facilities and reduced the flow of crude oil supplies to the U.S. Applying the economic principle of supply and demand, the decrease in oil production could not meet with consumer needs and caused an increase in oil prices.

Political Factors

Whenever a major oil producing country is affected by political conflict, that nation's ability to continue production will be affected. For example, the 2002 political strikes in Venezuela had a detrimental effect on the major oil producer's supplies, causing worldwide shortages and ultimately increasing prices due to disparities with demand. The Iraq war provided another incident of oil price increases, as the nation's production capability was affected due to military conflicts and terrorist attacks.

Speculation

Outside of physical supply of oil reserves, the financial market has the ability to change oil prices through speculation. Essentially, this means financial traders speculate on oil supplies through contracts that are for future shipments, rather than those currently being distributed. This speculation can lead to traders working to raise or lower the price of oil to receive desired profits on purchased contracts.

Tags: barrels consumed, countries with, demand increases, developed countries, developed countries with, economic principle

Benefits Of Rice Bran Oil

Nutty tasting rice bran oil has a wide range of health benefits, including the right amount of fats and ability to lower cholesterol and cardiovascular disease. In addition, the availability and affordability of rice make it a natural choice. Though popular in Japan and China, this oil is gaining popularity in the Western world for its many benefits.

Function

Because a grain of rice contains 15 to 20 percent oil--much like that of a soybean--extraction is possible. The oil is extracted from the inner husk of the kernel of rice.

Features

Rice bran oil has a high smoke point (490 degrees) so it's ideal for frying and can add a a pleasant flavor to food. In addition, its long shelf life requires no hydrogenation.

Benefits

Rice bran oil is known for reducing cholesterol and cardiovascular disease. In addition, rice bran oil contains antioxidants and is appropriate for those who may have food sensitivities or allergies.

Fats and Rice Bran Oil

Compared with other oils, rice bran oil has a lower amounts of mono-unsaturated and poly-unsaturated fats. Rice bran oil's levels of fat mirror the American Heart Association's recommendations.

Cooking with Rice Bran Oil

To add rice bran oil to your diet, simply substitute it for other oils in your favorite recipes. As a matter of fact, rice bran oil contains fewer polymers than other oils, which means richer flavors and easier cleanup as well.

Tags: other oils, Benefits Rice, bran contains, cardiovascular disease, cardiovascular disease addition, cholesterol cardiovascular

Know If The Animals Of The Meat I Bought Were Humanely Slaughtered

Food animals can be humanely prepared for food consumption.

There is a push for citizens to understand the steps of how food gets to the table. The processing of meat is no exception. Considering the somewhat brutal ways that food animals can be slaughtered, alternatives do exist. For those who still eat meat but would prefer meat processed and slaughtered in as humane of a way as possible there is Certified Humane meat. Humanely slaughtered meat products are sold in stores but it is sometimes hard for the consumer to discern which meats comply with this standard. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Instructions

1. Learn what humanely slaughtered meat is. There are many websites online that will extensively explain this process and educate you on what to look for when you go to the grocery store. In general most meats found in grocery stores are not humanly slaughtered meats. Meats that are humanely slaughtered will have this stated on their wrap label. The best products will have an official certification.

2. Visit or call your local grocer and ask if they sell Certified Humane meats. Prepare yourself to explain this because certified humane is not the majority of the meat product being sold. The easiest and quickest way to explain this is to say, "I am looking for beef and chicken that has a Certified Humane label on it. This means that the animal was raised on a certified farm required to raise and process the animal under humane standards." Meat with this certification will have a blue and white sticker on it that clearly states, "Certified Humane: Raised and Handled."

3. Go to the Certified Humane website to find stores that carry humanely slaughtered meats. You should note that Certified Humane is not a brand name or company, but a classification. Your local farm or beef company may process humanely and its name will be on the label as well. The website will give you the names of grocery stores and brand names of meat companies to look for.

4. Ignore products without certification that say "free range" only. It is important to note that some might confuse free range with humanely slaughtered. They are not one and the same. Free range meat is meat that has allowed the animals to be free from housing in factories or tight enclosures where they typically eat grain only and never graze or eat grass. While this may be better for the animal than factory enclosures, free range is not a requirement of humanly slaughtered meats.

Tags: Certified Humane, explain this, humanely slaughtered, slaughtered meats, will have, free range, grocery stores

Make Salmon Jerky

Making salmon jerky is easier than you think and will take very little of your time. You don't need expensive or fancy equipment because you can produce jerky from your very own oven. You'll be using the oven's dry heat to dehydrate the salmon.

This zesty salmon jerky marinade is an excellent base alone or great for experimentation. It's also perfect for any white-fleshed fish, such as cod, trout, perch, tilapia and even for catfish jerky. There will be enough to jerk about three pounds of meat, and you can expect it to yield about 16-18 ounces of healthy, delectable salmon jerky treats. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Instructions

1. Slice three pounds of salmon fillets into strips about 1-inch wide and a fourth-inch thick.

2. Combine 2/3 cup soy sauce, 2/3 cup of Worcestershire sauce, 1 tsp. of liquid smoke and 2 tsp. tabasco in a mixing bowl.

3. Whisk in 1 tsp. garlic powder, 2 tsp. crushed red pepper, 1 tsp. ground black pepper, 1 tsp. onion powder and 3 tsp. toasted sesame seeds. Blend the ingredients very well.

4. Pour the marinade into a plastic container, add the salmon strips, cover and refrigerate for four to six hours. Shake or stir the contents of the container once every hour.

5. Remove the salmon strips from the marinade and drain them in a colander. Pat them dry with paper towels. Cover the bottom of the oven with a layer of aluminum foil to aid in cleanup. Place the salmon strips on the oven racks in a single layer so that they are not touching each other. Set the oven to 160 degrees and bake for six to eight hours. Turn the strips over about halfway through the baking time. The salmon jerky is done when it turns dark and cracks without breaking apart when you bend it.

6. Wrap the salmon jerky in plastic and store it for two to three months in the refrigerator or up to six months in the freezer. Remember that there are no preservatives in your homemade jerky, so it won't last long at room temperature.

Tags: salmon jerky, salmon strips, salmon jerky, three pounds

Cook Jasmine Rice In The Oven

Cook Jasmine Rice in the Oven

Jasmine rice is a grain that originated in Thailand, but is used as an accompaniment in the cuisines of other South Asian countries. Cooked jasmine rice is soft yet sticky, with a scent reminiscent of the jasmine flower. While you can prepare jasmine rice using the standard boiling method, it can also be baked in the oven for a hands-off cooking technique. Baking gives the rice a deeper flavor due to the longer, slower heating process. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Instructions

1. Fill a large saucepan on your stove top with 2-1/2 cups of water. Turn your stove to "high" and heat the water until it starts to bubble.

2. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit while the water is heating. Coat a 9 x 13-inch glass baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

3. Pour the boiled water very carefully into the baking dish. Add 1 cup of jasmine rice and stir it gently so all the rice is coated in the water.

4. Place a piece of aluminum foil over the top of the glass dish. Add the baking dish into the oven and bake it for 45 minutes.

5. Remove the aluminum foil and stir the rice to ensure it is soft. If the rice is still hard, cover it back up with the aluminum foil and bake for another five to 10 minutes. Let the rice sit undisturbed at about 10 minutes before serving so it can absorb any remaining liquid.

Tags: aluminum foil, baking dish, Cook Jasmine, Cook Jasmine Rice, Jasmine Rice, jasmine rice

Cosmetic Body Butter Recipe

Making your own body butter can save money.

Shea butter and cocoa butter are the main ingredients in body butter. These ingredients act somewhat like a protective barrier for the skin. Body butter is an intense moisturizer that can be applied to the entire body. Many of the ingredients found in body butter creams are all natural or organic. This is perfect for those people desiring to use a moisturizer that is free from preservatives. Making body butter is not complicated and can be a fun and useful skill. Homemade creams are great as gifts as well as personal use. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Mix 2 oz. each of cocoa butter and shea butter with 1 oz. each of olive oil, coconut oil, jojoba oil and beeswax, along with a couple of drops of your favorite essential oil.

2. Melt the ingredients (preferably in a double boiler or in a microwave). Check the mixture periodically to be sure you do not overdo it. The contents should be thoroughly melted, but not boiling. It should not take too long, a minute or two is usually all the time that's needed in a microwave, and seven to eight minutes in a double boiler.

3. Mix all ingredients while they cool using a hand mixer until they are well blended. Peaks will form in the mixture when it is ready.

4. Fill a metal bowl with ice water, then pour the heated mixture (before stirring) into a glass bowl sitting inside the metal bowl. This aids in cooling and allows the butter to set much quicker.

5. Scoop the body butter into a container with a lid for safekeeping once the mixture has thoroughly cooled. The mixture can be stored with any other skincare products, but the ideal storage location for homemade body butter is in the refrigerator.

Tags: body butter, cocoa butter, double boiler, metal bowl, moisturizer that

Clean A Wild Turkey

Cleaning a turkey

Bagging a wild turkey can be more than exhilarating; however, that rush of adrenaline can come crashing down when it's time to clean the large fowl. Don't let the process intimidate you, because with a few simple-to-follow instructions, you can have that bird prepped, plucked and plump for the cooking in no time.

Instructions

1. Boil a large pot of water for dipping the bird.

2. Hold the turkey by the feet and dip the entire bird into pot of boiling water. This will make it easier to remove the feathers, which should be done prior to clearing the body cavity to prevent contamination.

3. Lift the turkey from the water and lay it down on a work surface. Pluck out the feathers by pulling them with your fingers.

4. Lay the turkey on its back and begin the cleaning process.

5. Find the bottom of the breast bone and insert a sharp knife. Cut downward until you reach the anus.

6. Reach into the body cavity and grab hold of the intestines with one hand. Use your free hand to cut around the anus, allowing the intestines to be completely removed.

7. Locate the gizzard and remove it. Reach back inside the body cavity to remove the windpipe along with the heart, liver and lungs.

8. Clutch the top of the beard with your hand. Pull the beard away from the body and cut it with a sharp knife.

9. Cut off the head and the legs (at the joints) by using a hatchet or very sharp knife. The bird will then be ready for cooking.

Tags: body cavity, sharp knife, with your

Filipino Spices

Filipino dishes are influenced by other world cuisines.

Filipino cuisine is heavily influenced by Chinese and Spanish traditions. In Mindanao, the Islamic region of the Philippines, natives often use curries typical in Indonesian and Malaysian foods. Because of the blend of traditional cooking styles and international influences, Filipino food is spicy, salty, sour, diverse and colorful but not as hot as most Thai or Indian dishes. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Ginger

Fresh ginger, a staple spice in many Asian cuisines, is commonly used in Filipino soups and stews. Ginger is especially used in chicken and fish dishes, as the flavor and aroma complements these meats. Filipinos don't typically grate their ginger; instead, they crush the root and add it to the dish, then remove it before serving. This way, the food absorbs the strong flavor of the spice, but nobody has to eat the root.

Garlic and Onions

Native Filipino garlic is about half the size of bulbs typically used in U.S. cuisine. As a result, they are harder to peel and chop but have a stronger and spicier flavor. Native red onions, used for sauteing and pickling, also have a pungent flavor. White onions are also common but are used more in sandwiches and soups. Garlic and onions are often used together in vegetable and meat dishes alike.

Annatto/Atsuete

Annatto, which are dark, tear-shaped red seeds, are bland on their own, but they are considered a spice, as they complement and are often used with other spices. These seeds are used to spice up and add red color to many dishes. Because annatto seeds are an all-natural substance, they are a healthful alternative to synthetic red food colorings.

Native Chili

Native chili is used all over the Philippines to spice up meat dishes, Islamic curry dishes, sauces and dips. Two traditional recipes that feature these hot chilies are chicken tinola and pork sinigang.

Tags: meat dishes, often used

Cream Of Wheat Nutrition

Cream of Wheat is a quick and easy breakfast food for people on the go. By simply adding water and heating it up, you can have a hearty breakfast meal. With that being said, there are certain nutritional facts to consider before adding Cream of Wheat to your diet.

Serving Size

There are multiple types of Cream of Wheat available. This article focuses on the USDA information for the prepared, instant variety and a serving size of 1 cup.

Calories and Fat

One serving of Cream of Wheat has 149 calories, with a majority of these calories coming from carbohydrates. Those who are looking for a low-fat food should note that this serving only has 1 gram of fat.

Dietary Fiber and Protein

Cream of Wheat is a good source of both dietary fiber and protein. One serving has 6 percent of your daily value of dietary fiber (1 gram) and 9 percent of your daily value of protein (4 grams).

Vitamins

Cream of Wheat is high in multiple vitamins. One serving has at least 30 percent of your daily value of vitamin A, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6 and folate.

Minerals

Cream of Wheat is also a good source of multiple minerals. One cup has 66 percent of your daily value of iron, 15 percent of your daily value of calcium and 12 percent of your daily value of selenium.

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Cream Of Wheat Health Benefits

Cream of Wheat Health Benefits

Cream of Wheat is a hot breakfast cereal that is popular for its convenience and speed of preparation. Unlike most types of oatmeal which need to be cooked, Cream of Wheat only needs to be mixed with boiling water and stirred until it has the consistency of porridge. Although not as healthy as oatmeal, Cream of Wheat does have some health benefits. The major drawback to Cream of Wheat, however, is that it lacks any soluble fiber--a major health benefit of oatmeal.

Low in Calories

With only 149 calories per cup, Cream of Wheat is a low-calorie breakfast food that may support weight loss when consumed as part of a low-calorie, low-fat diet. It also has no fat or added sugar--two more benefits for individuals who are watching their weight.

On the other hand, Cream of Wheat is relatively high in carbohydrates and lacks any soluble fiber because the wheat is stripped during processing. This also puts Cream of Wheat high on the glycemic scale, meaning that is could contribute to an increase in blood sugar levels--a condition that some nutritionists attribute to increased fat storage.

Source of Minerals

Cream of Wheat is a fortified cereal that provides a variety of minerals that are essential to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. One serving of Cream of Wheat provides 15 percent of the recommended daily allowance of calcium and 12 percent of selenium. Cream of Wheat also has a significant amount of iron--providing men with 100 percent of their daily allowance and women with 55 percent of their daily allowance. Manganese, copper and phosphorus are also present in significant quantities.

Source of Vitamins

In addition to the essential minerals in Cream of Wheat, it also provides a number of important vitamins such as folate, thiamine, riboflavin and niacin. One serving of Cream of Wheat will deliver 37 percent of your daily allowance of folate, niacin, thiamin Vitamin B6 and Vitamin A. It also 30 percent of your daily allowance for riboflavin.

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Cook In A Roasting Pan

Many people think of roasting pans only at Thanksgiving when they have to roast the turkey for the holiday, but a roasting pan can be a useful addition to your cookware if you know use one. There are many different types and styles of roasting pan, but the basic method of cooking with them is similar. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to a high temperature (usually 400 degrees F or above) as directed by your recipe. This will help to brown the outside of the meat you are cooking and seal in the juices (see Resources).

2. Liberally season the meat and or vegetables with salt, pepper, seasonings, herbs and spices.

3. Place the roasting rack inside of roasting pan. Put the meat on top of the roasting rack, which will help to drain excess juices off of the roast so that the outside can get crispy during the initial high heat roasting phase.

4. Place fish, low-fat meats and vegetables with a cooking liquid and additional fat directly into the roasting pan, without using a roasting rack. Follow the amounts for the ingredients as dictated by your recipe. These delicate foods will need to cook in additional liquid to prevent them from drying out too much.

5. Turn the oven temperature down after the outside of your meat has browned. Refer to your recipe for the lower temperature you should finish cooking your roasted dish at.

6. Baste the meat with the baster by putting the tip into the juices at the bottom of the pan with the bulb of the baster squeezed. Release pressure on the bulb to draw some of the juices into the baster. Squeeze the bulb of the baster again with the tip over the meat to cover the top of the meat with the juices. This will prevent the meat from drying out. Repeat this process several times during cooking at the lowered temperature.

7. Continue to cook the roasted meal at the lowered temperature until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the dish, not touching the bone, registers 10 degrees below the target temperature. Refer to a meat temperature chart for the target temperature, based upon the type of food you are cooking.

8. Let the dish rest for 10 to15 minutes after removing it from the oven before slicing and serving.

Tags: roasting rack, your recipe, bulb baster, from drying, lowered temperature

Cook Like A Pro With Online Cooking Classes

Online cooking classes can teach you to cook like a pro.

Not everyone is taught cook when they are growing up, and this means that you may be at a loss when you move out on your own or come across a situation where you need to cook for multiple people. Cooking is not an easy skill to master and it takes practice and instruction. Thankfully, there are online cooking classes that offer this instruction. These classes allow you to participate in a cooking class in your own home and with a little bit of time and effort, you could be cooking like a pro and impressing your friends and family. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Instructions

1. Decide what type of cooking class you want to take. There are many different online classes ranging from bachelor's degree programs in culinary arts to professional gourmet cooking classes to beginner's informal instruction. Think about what you do and don't know about cooking and what you are interested in learning. For example, if you have little to no cooking experience, you shouldn't enroll in a gourmet class; start instead with a beginner's lesson.

2. Consider whether you have room in your budget to pay for online cooking classes. Some courses are free and some require payment up front, so make sure you take this factor into consideration during your decision-making process.

3. Ensure that you will have the time to devote to taking the class as well as any additional work outside class such as cooking specific dishes on your own.

4. Carefully read all information posted about the course and send an email to the contact email address listed on the course's website with any questions or requests for additional information you may have before submitting any payment for the course.

5. Make sure you are aware of everything involved in taking the class and everything you are expected to have including utensils, ingredients and reference books.

6. Enroll in the cooking class. You may need your credit or debit card details to complete this step if your class isn't free.

7. Log on to the instructional website promptly at the designated course time. Follow the class instructions and schedule and note which methods went well and which were more challenging.

8. Find out if any discussion or chat rooms are available to communicate issues you are having or share successes with the teacher and other students in the class.

9. Move on to a more advanced class as your skills grow.

Tags: cooking classes, cooking class, class your, online cooking, online cooking classes, taking class

Restore A Dryerase Board

Sooner or later, your dry erase board will fail to erase. The boards being produced today are constructed of magnetic materials that are more durable than the early nonmagnetic Melamine boards. You can easily determine which type you have by whether a magnet will stick to the board.

Restoring your board can be done using commercial products designed specifically for that purpose. But you can achieve the same results inexpensively by using materials you probably already have around the house. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

Restore a Non-Magnetic Melamine Board

1. Erase the board completely. Remove dry marks that have been on the board for a long time by writing over them with a fresh new marker. Then let the ink dry completely and erase again. This is sometimes all that is necessary. If that doesn't complete the job for you, proceed to the next steps.

2. Combine 1/2 cup of water with 1/2 cup of ordinary rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle. Spritz the entire surface of the dry erase board with the mixture, and then use a soft terry washcloth to wash the board.

3. Rinse the board with clean water and wipe it dry. Repeat the alcohol wash procedure if necessary.

4. Rinse the board thoroughly with clean water, and dry it completely with a soft lint-free cloth.

Restore a Magnetic Board

5. Follow Steps 1, 2 and 3 above.

6. Moisten a clean terry washcloth with warm water. Powder the wet washcloth with about 1/2 cup of baking soda, and scrub the surface of the magnetic dry erase board with it. Rinse and repeat if necessary.

7. Rinse the board extremely well, making sure that you remove all residue from the baking soda. Dry it completely with a soft lint-free cloth.

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Get A Degree In Nutrition

If your career goals include becoming a registered dietitian or nutritionist, you'll want to get a degree in nutrition. Getting a degree in nutrition involves learning human anatomy and physiology, chemistry and plenty of nutrition courses. Here's get a degree in nutrition to eventually become a registered dietitian or dietetic technician.

Instructions

1. Complete high school and get a diploma. If you were unable to complete high school, get your GED. The goal here is to become a nutrition professional or dietitian, so make sure to get the basics done first.

2. Enroll in an accredited university that offers Dietetics or Nutrition Science as a major. It is crucial to locate a university that is accredited. Failure to do so could mean that you will not be able to become a registered dietitian, the nation's nutrition expert. Check with the department head to ensure that the program is fully accredited.

3. Once you've been accepted to the accredited university, complete the pre-professional program requirements. To find out what these requirements are, make sure to meet with your academic advisor immediately upon arrival at the college. This is important so that you do not waste precious time and money taking courses that do not apply to the nutrition or dietetics degree. Usually, this pre-professional program phase lasts 2 years. The remaining 2 years is devoted to the professional program.

4. Apply to the professional dietetics program and be accepted. Competition is stiff for these programs, so make sure you do well in all of your course work leading up to application. You will also need to complete a written and oral application.

5. Complete all required course work in the professional program. This may involve concurrent practical experience or on the job training. This will be the case in a coordinated program. Other dietetic programs have you complete schooling and then do a one year internship. Either way, you must complete the practical experiences in order to become a dietitian.

6. Graduate and get your diploma. You will now have a Bachelor of Science in Dietetics or Food and Nutrition. If you desire to be a dietitian, you will now need to pass the national exam to become a Registered Dietitian.

Tags: degree nutrition, make sure, accredited university, become registered, course work

Foods Not To Feed A Dog

Your dog can become sick by eating a wide array of foods.

Your dog might look at you with longing eyes while you eat that piece of chocolate cake, but many foods are not necessarily good for it. Many of these foods are considered healthy and full of vitamins for people, but that doesn't hold true for your four-legged friends. Dogs can develop a wide array of symptoms and illnesses caused by eating people foods instead of properly formulated dog food. In some cases, allowing your dog to eat the wrong thing can cause death.

Foods from the Cacao Plant

Cacao bean products can be deadly to a dog.

These include chocolate, caffeine and, of course, coffee. These products can have serious neurological consequences if eaten by your dog. Just one ounce of cacao beans is considered a toxic level to a dog less than 33 pounds. Chocolate can be absorbed into the dog's body within a few hours of eating it. In amounts not considered toxic, your pet can just have an upset stomach or diarrhea. In cases where the animal has eaten a toxic level of cacao products, your dog could develop seizures or fall into a coma. Death can also be a consequence.

Fruits

Seeds in an apple contain cyanide and shouldn't be given to dogs.

One of the most common poisonous fruits to dogs is the grape. Raisins are also highly toxic. Even a small box of raisins is enough to cause kidney failure in a dog. All parts of the avocado plant (fruit, seeds, bark and leaves) are dangerous for a dog. The plant carries a toxin called persin that can cause vomiting and diarrhea in dogs. Grapefruit can also cause vomiting and diarrhea. The seeds of an apple are poisonous to a dog, but the fruit itself is not. Apple seeds contain cyanide. Other poisonous fruit seeds include peaches and cherries.

Vegetables

Green potatoes and sprouts can be harmful to your pet.

Onions eaten by a dog can give it more than bad breath. Eating onions can cause serious problems, including the breakdown of red blood cells, weakness and a rapid heartbeat. Potatoes that have not quite ripened with green skins, as well as their sprouts, contain solanine, a toxic substance that causes problems with the urinary and digestive systems.

Other Dangerous Foods

Xylitol in sugarless gum and candy is bad news for dogs.

Offering your dog too much milk or dairy foods will not poison it, but it can cause pancreatitis. Fried and greasy foods have the same effect. Xylitol is a sweetener used in chewing gum, mouthwash and mints. If your dog ingests even a little of this substance, it can cause liver failure, seizures and a multitude of other health problems. An article in a March 2007 edition of "USA Today" reported that a 20-pound dog would need to consume only a few sticks of chewing gum containing xylitol to have ingested a toxic amount.

Tags: cause vomiting, cause vomiting diarrhea, considered toxic, contain cyanide, fruit seeds, poisonous fruit, toxic level

Ways To Increase Egg Production For Laying Hens

Healthy hen and chicks.

Whether you keep a few hens in the back yard, or you have a large coop, egg production is is an important part of keeping chickens. Many people wonder why their hens are not laying as many eggs as the breed should. If you feel that your hens are under-producing, you can take several courses of action.

Artificial Light

To maintain their egg production, hens need roughly 14 hours of light a day. During the fall and the winter, there is a good chance that your hens will not receive the daylight they need, and egg production can grind to a halt. By introducing supplemental light to the coop, you can improve your hens' egg production.

Increasing Protein

When young hens begin laying, they require increased protein. Chickens are unable to synthesize all of the protein that they need. Because of this, they need supplements. This is especially important for laying hens.

Access to Food and Water

Though hens will not die if they go a few hours without food or water, lacking either can affect the number of eggs they lay. Chickens always should have access to a complete feed. Throw away wet feed. Remember that the longer you store your feed, the less potent its vitamins will be.

Heat Regulation

All types of poultry are affected by temperatures that are too high. If your hens are too hot, egg production will suffer. To ensure your chickens are not feeling overly warm, provide shade, good ventilation in their enclosure and plenty of cool water.

Add Calcium

Egg shell is primarily made of calcium. Hens need calcium when they are laying. A lack of calcium in the feed will lead to lower egg production and poor egg shell density. Calcium supplements for chickens are available at feed stores. They usually come in the form of oyster shell or ground limestone.

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Is Borax Safe To Use During Pregnancy

Is Borax safe for my unborn baby?

Borax is used for many things including cooking, cleaning, as an insecticide and much more. Often it is considered a safe alternative for cooking products, cleaning products and other products that have harmful toxins and chemicals. A pregnant woman should use borax with caution.

What is Borax?

Borax is a boron mineral compound that is also known as sodium borate, sodium tetraborate or disodium tetraborate. Commercially sold borax is a white powdery substance that dissolves easily in water.

Uses

Borax is sold commercially in its white powdery form. It is used for laundry detergent, as a kitchen and bathroom cleaner, a deodorizer, a toilet cleaner, an insecticide, herbicide and pesticide.

Warnings

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, borax is toxic if ingested and should be kept out of reach of children. There are no warnings that pregnant women should not use borax.

Toxicity

According to the Pesticide Action Network, borax is acutely toxic as it is a borate compound. Simple exposure to boric acid poisoning is through inhalation, skin, eyes and ingestion.

Caution for Pregnant Women

Pregnant women who use borax or any borate compound products should use caution when handling the product. According to the Material Safety Data Sheet provided by 20 Mules Team Borax, personal precautions such as wearing eye, skin and respiratory protection is recommended.

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About Baby Chicks

About Baby Chicks

Chickens that are newly hatched are called baby chicks. They are a popular attraction with children and adults alike. Sometimes offered for sale in the spring at feed and hardware stores, the baby chicks require special care until they reach a certain age. The decision to welcome one of these little darlings into your home should not be taken lightly because there are many needs to be taken into consideration first.

Function

Most people who raise chickens as pets just have them around for play or entertainment. Some people make good use of hens that lay eggs for the table, called layers. Still other chickens will be destined for the butcher block, called broilers. If properly cared for, chickens can live up to 15 years if kept as a pet or used as an egg layer. Different types of chickens will require different nutrition, whether they will be layers or broilers, and it is important to start baby chicks out with the right kind of feed for their intended purpose.

Types

Baby chicks usually don't look anything like their parents. They aren't easily identifiable by breed until they get through the first few months of life and begin to get their real feathers. There are hundreds of breeds of chickens, but their chicks all look fairly similar at birth.

Size

Baby chicks are extremely fragile at birth. They almost feel weightless in the palm of your hand. That is why it is important that children be supervised around the chicks. They really shouldn't be held at all until they are a little bigger. If you must hold the baby chick or allow a child to pick one up, make sure that one hand is placed under the chick's belly and then bring the other hand down lightly on its back to pick it up.

Considerations

Baby chicks aren't as easy to care for as adult chickens. They require a certain temperature that must mimic the summer weather. Baby chicks must be kept at a temperature around 80 degrees, and this can be accomplished with an incubator or, if you don't have one, they can be placed in a box with an overheat heating light clamped to it. The baby chicks must have access to feed and water at all times. They can't eat the bigger pieces of grain that the chickens do so they must have a starter feed that is especially formulated for baby chicks.

Warning

Baby chicks are at the bottom of the pecking order and should never be placed in the coop or anywhere around adult chickens because they will get picked on. They can be placed with the other chickens when they are about the same size as the rest of the brood. This is especially true if you purchase baby chicks or hatch them from eggs and try to place with other adult chickens. If they are hatched by the hen sitting on the nest, then they are more likely to be protected by her than if they were placed in the coop as strangers.

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Cook Ground Turkey

Ground turkey, the healthier beef !

Cooking ground turkey is just as easy as cooking ground beef, so do not worry if you have no clue as to cook it. If you have cooked ground beef, then you will have no problem cooking ground turkey. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Instructions

Cook Ground Turkey

1. Now that you have the ground turkey at home, problem is you do not know cook it. Well if you have made hamburgers or meatloaf then you do know cook it. It is as simple as using ground beef or ground pork.

2. Place the defrosted ground turkey inside of a bowl. We need to season it up just like any other meat we get from the grocery store.

3. Add a teaspoon of salt, a teaspoon of pepper, a teaspoon of lemon pepper , 1/3 cup of milk, 1/2 cup of breadcrumbs, and one egg. Now get a wooden or plastic spoon and mix until completely incorporated. Place inside a closed container inside the refrigerator for an hour until chilled.

4. Now take out of refrigerator and make hamburgers, meat loaf, or anything else you want to make with the ground turkey. Remember to cook thoroughly. Unlike ground beef, you cannot eat ground turkey rare. Enjoy your meal and remember ground turkey is cheaper and healthier.

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Make Black Currant Wine

The black currant is a small shrub native to northern Europe and Asia. The fruit is an edible berry 1 cm in diameter and almost black in color. When ripe, these berries have a sweet, sharp taste that allows them to be made into jam, juice and wines, in addition to flavorings for pastries and ice cream. The following steps will show make black currant wine. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Instructions

1. Boil 1 qt of the water and stir in the sugar until it dissolves. Remove it from the heat, add the black currants and cover. Let it cool for 30 minutes and pour it into the primary container.

2. Add the remaining water and the remaining ingredients except for the yeast. Cover the primary container and let it sit for 12 hours. Add the activated yeast and re-cover the primary container and allow it to sit undisturbed until it is fermenting vigorously.

3. Stir daily for seven days and strain the contents into the secondary container. Fit the airlock and allow it to sit at 60 to 65 degrees for one month.

4. Rack the wine, top it off and refit airlock. Repeat this step every two months until the wine is clear.

5. Stabilize the wine and sweeten if desired before bottling. Age the wine in the bottle for at least six months but a year or more will be better.

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Vegan Proteinrich Foods

Soy cheese pizza is an exciting and high-protein vegan meal.

Due to advancements in nutritional awareness and vegan products, it's easy to get enough protein while following a vegan diet. Today, vegan alternatives are available in most grocery stores and restaurants. Protein also occurs naturally in many staple pantry items, making it easy for vegans to meet suggested daily protein amounts. Consult your doctor before adopting a vegan diet or making dietary changes. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Soy

A tofu sushi roll is a protein -rich vegan food.

Soy is a staple in many vegan diets due to its high protein content and adaptability. Tofu and tempeh are both soy products, and contain around 10 g of protein per serving. One cup of soy milk contains roughly 6 g of protein, and can be used in place of dairy milk in recipes. Soy meat products such as soy bacon, soy burgers and soy chicken may boast as much as 30 g of protein per serving.

Beans and Lentils

Bulk bins offer a wide variety of beans and legumes.

Beans and lentils, common in many kitchens, are both nutritious and protein-rich. One cup of cooked lentils provides 18 g of protein. Lentils can be enjoyed as a main dish or added to burritos, Indian food or salads. Beans contain roughly 15 g of protein per 1 cup serving. Use kidney beans in vegan chili for a hearty dinner, or make your own hummus with garbanzo beans.

Nuts and Seeds

Look for trail mix with nuts, seeds and dried fruit.

Nuts and seeds are an important addition to a vegan diet. Pepitas, or pumpkin seeds, contain 9 g of protein per serving. Peanuts, sunflower seeds, almonds and pistachios are also good protein sources, containing 6 to 7 g of protein per oz., making them nutritious snacks. Because nuts and seeds are high in fat, limit your intake to 1 to 2 servings per day.

Grains

Oatmeal adds protein to a complete breakfast.

Many grains contain protein, and are conveniently adaptable for every meal. Oatmeal and oat bran are high-protein breakfast cereals, with 11 g of protein per serving. Cook oatmeal in soy milk for added protein and flavor. Quinoa is another high-protein grain. One cup of uncooked quinoa contains 24 g of protein, making it an excellent grain choice for vegans. Replace pasta or rice with quinoa to add nutrition and variety to meals.

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Plant Hardneck Garlic

Use the outer cloves of a garlic bulb to grow new garlic plants.

There are two varieties of garlic: hardneck and softneck. Softneck garlic commonly is the grown for commercial production because it stores better than hardneck varieties. For climates such as those found in the northern Midwest, hardneck garlic is preferred because it is a cold-tolerant variety. Hardneck garlic produces a flower stalk. Hardneck garlic produces cloves in a bulb that clusters around the flower stalk. Since harneck garlic does not save well, it should be used soon after harvest. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. In fall, break up the ground with a spade to a depth of 12 inches in an area that has full sun and well-drained soil. If soil is too claylike in consistency, the bulbs will grow misshapen. Hardneck garlic may be planted in spring or fall.

2. Test the pH of your soil using a home pH testing kit. You can purchase a testing kit at many commercial garden centers. Garlic prefers a neutral pH of 7.

3. Spread a 4-inch layer of peat moss and compost over the soil. Organic amendments such as peat moss and compost will help to loosen and aerate soil. Add lime to raise the pH of soil that is acidic with a low pH. Mix these amendments into the soil with a rake.

4. Create drill holes for hardneck garlic that are 1 inch deep. Place these drill holes five inches apart in rows that are 18 inches apart.

5. Slip a garlic clove into each drill hole. Choose garlic cloves from the outer part of a bulb for planting. Inner cloves are less productive, but can be used for cooking. Purchase these cloves from a garden center rather than a grocery store. Grocery store cloves may have been treated to prevent sprouting. The pointed end of the clove should be pointed upward. Cover with soil and then 2 inches of straw to insulate the garlic through the winter.

6. Water garlic with the equivalent to 1 inch of rainwater weekly through the spring and summer months. Add a balanced fertilizer (10-10-10) at a rate of 1 pound per 100 square feet in spring.

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Bathe With Wheat Grass Juice

Bathe With Wheat Grass Juice

Wheat grass is grown from the sprouted seeds of winter wheat berries. Wheat grass juice is tremendously healthy for the body. It is considered a complete food because it contains most of the vitamins and minerals required for optimum health, including A, B, C, E, calcium, iron and potassium. Besides being healthy to consume, wheat grass juice has benefits when applied externally. You can even bathe with wheat grass to soften your skin or to treat eczema or psoriasis.

Instructions

1. Grow wheat grass at home by using shallow pans filled with 1 inch of soil and wheat berries. Set the pan in a east-facing window and water regularly. Allow the sprouts to grow at least 4 inches tall before you clip and use them. Alternatively, buy already sprouted wheat grass at a health food store.

2. Extract the juice from wheat grass with a juice extractor. You will need 20 to 30 oz. of wheat grass juice to add to bath water. If you don't have enough juice, save it in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator until you have enough juice to add to a bath. Alternatively, use commercially available wheat grass juice.

3. Draw a warm bath. Pour the wheat grass juice in the tub under the running water. Mix by swishing your hand in the water. Light candles and turn off the lights in the bathroom. Bathing with wheat grass juice should be a relaxing experience, and candlelight is more relaxing than harsh overhead lights.

4. Get into the bath and relax. Breathe deeply to reap the benefits of aromatherapy. After 10 minutes, use a cotton washcloth and gently rub your skin. The wheat grass will penetrate the skin and heal skin ailments.

5. Lie back again while the wheat grass cleanses your skin and relaxes your senses. Get out of the tub when the water is too cool for your comfort. Towel off by patting--not rubbing--your skin.

Tags: grass juice, wheat grass, wheat grass, your skin, Bathe With Wheat, enough juice

What Other Products Does Pepsi Make

What Other Products Does Pepsi Make?

PepsiCo, the maker of Pepsi, is not the type of company to be outdone by its competitors, Coca-Cola Co., Dr. Pepper Snapple Group and Kraft Foods. As a result, PepsiCo offers a wide range of product brands that are popular with consumers worldwide. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Pepsi

The Pepsi brand offers a variety of carbonated drinks, including Pepsi Cola, Pepsi Max and the citrus-flavored sodas Mountain Dew and Sierra Mist. The herb-infused SOBE and Amp Energy Drink are also in the Pepsi beverage collection.

Frito-Lay

The Frito-Lay brand offers a wide assortment of chips, including the tortilla chips Tostitos and Doritos, Lays potato chips, Flat Earth veggie chips, Sun Chips and Cheetos cheese puffs. Frito-Lay recently introduced True North, a line of all-natural nut snacks that come in wide range of product formats, including Pistachio Crisps, Almond Clusters and Pecan Almond Peanut Clusters.

Tropicana

Tropicana is a PepsiCo subsidiary company that produces Tropicana Pure Premium juices, Tropicana Twister juice drinks, Tropicana Smoothies, Tropicana Pure Tropics juices, Dole juices (under a copyright license), Tropicana 100 juices and Naked Juice, which comes in such varieties as Pomegranate, Berry Blas and Protein Zone.

Quaker

Quaker producers a variety of wholesome cereal products, including Quaker Oats, Quaker Rice Cakes and Quaker Chewy granola bars. Its Aunt Jemima pancake syrups and mixes are very popular, and Quaker is one of the four largest manufacturers of cold cereals with brands like Cap'n Crunch and Life. Quaker also makes Rice-A-Roni.

Gatorade

Gatorade is the manufacturer of the electrolyte-rich Gatorade Thirst Quencher sports drink, which is available in more than 80 countries. Gatorade also makes the following: Propel Fit Water, a vitamin enhanced water beverage; Gatorade Tiger, which contains 25 percent more electrolytes than Gatorade Thirst Quencher; and G2, a low-calorie beverage.

Aquafina

Aquafina Water is also among PepsiCo's product line. Aquafina bottled water comes in three varieties: natural spring water; Sparkling, a carbonated spring water; and Flavor Splash, flavored spring water.

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Be A Baker In The Uk

A baker in the U.K. is a craftsman who produces and sells a range of baked goods and confectionery items. These items can include baguettes, rolls, cakes, cupcakes, biscuits and pastries. As a baker, you could be employed in a small independent bakery, a large plant or a catering operation. If you work in a plant, you work on a mass production scale using heavy machinery. In smaller markets and shops, the batches are smaller and more customized.

Instructions

1. Apply to a culinary school to get a degree in baking. This is the most traditional way to secure a position as a baker. This may be very expensive for you, so if you are not sure about a full-time baking career, take a short course to see if this is really the career for you.

2. Apply as a trainee in a bakery without any training. You may do a lot of manual work when you start, like washing dishes and cleaning the shop, but you can work your way up with hard work.

3. Apply for an apprenticeship if school and being an assistant do not interest you. As an apprentice you will start baking right away but under the tutelage of a master baker. Research the range of apprenticeships available in your local town by visiting the Apprenticeships Organization. See Resources below for contact information.

4. Receive on-the-job training while you are working as a baker. You can work toward NVQ levels 1, 2 or 3 in Bakery. These levels include bakery and retail service, dough production, flour confectionery production and design and development of specialist individual bakery products.

5. Join the Federation of Bakers, or contact them to learn about the baking profession (see Resources below). They will have more information about employers, training and information relevant to the baking industry. They can be reached at 6 Catherine Street, London, WC2B 5JW.

6. Expect a beginning salary for an entry-level baking position to be between £11,500 and £13,550 a year. With more experience, you can make between £15,500 and £20,000. As a master or senior baker, your salary could be up to £30,000.

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Treat Glaucoma Naturally

Treat Glaucoma Naturally

Glaucoma is the second largest cause of blindness in the U.S. The onset of glaucoma can produce a number of sudden symptoms including eye pain, haloes seen around lights, headaches, nausea, dilated pupils, redness in the eyes and partial or complete vision loss. Her are some treatments to relieve your symptoms naturally at home.

Instructions

1. Eliminate stimulants from your diet that can aggravate glaucoma, such as caffeine, tobacco, refined sugars and alcohol. Caffeine in particular is extremely harmful for those who suffer from cataracts and glaucoma.

2. Eat a healthy diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables to ensure that your body receives all the vitamins and minerals it needs to maintain balance. Studies have shown that people with glaucoma are often deficient in Vitamins A, B and C as well as protein, calcium and other vital minerals.

3. Take daily supplements of eyebright and fennel as a glaucoma treatment. Studies have shown that both eyebright and fennel can increase eyesight while combating cataracts and glaucoma.

4. Drink 1 tsp. of rose hip juice daily to combat glaucoma. Rose hips are high in vitamin C, a vitamin that is important in the body's metabolism of collagen. This treatment can help to both increase capillary strength in the eyes and reduce the pressure on the eyeballs.

5. Rest your eyes by avoiding prolonged strain as occurs while watching television, working on the computer, driving and reading. If you need glasses for reading, wear them while doing any activity that may stress your eyes.

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The Health Benefits Of Coconut Milk Soap

The Health Benefits of Coconut Milk Soap

For centuries, people have used coconut milk as a natural remedy for minor ailments. Coconut milk soap is particularly effective at addressing skin conditions. Lathering up with coconut milk soap is an excellent way to get the health benefits of coconut milk into your skin.

Deep Clean

Coconut milk soaps offer a deep, thorough cleansing of the skin without overdrying. Coconut milk is naturally rife with fatty acids, which help to eliminate dirt, impurities, dead skin and other blemish-causing debris. For this reason, you can find coconut milk in facial cleansers as well. The rich milk cleans the skin gently without irritating it. Coconut milk soaps are an excellent option for those with sensitive skin due to their calming properties.

Moisturization

Coconut milk naturally has a high fat content and includes fatty acids, which are good for the skin. The presence of fatty acids in soap results in intense hydration. Coconut milk soaps are ideal for those with dry skin. Although it offers a deep clean, it does not strip away the natural oils in the skin. It works to replenish moisture in the skin, leaving it smooth, soft and hydrated.

Healing

Coconut milk is rich in vitamin E, long known to deliver healing benefits to dry skin, minor cuts and burns and rashes. When used on a regular basis, the vitamin E in coconut milk soap can heal severely dry, chapped or chafed skin, restoring it to its smooth state.

Note that hot baths and showers are incredibly drying to skin, which can counteract the benefits of coconut milk soap. When bathing or showering, use lukewarm water, and stay in no longer than 15 minutes.

Tags: milk soap, Coconut milk soaps, fatty acids, milk soaps, acids which, benefits coconut, benefits coconut milk

Baking & Pastry Tools

A good rolling pin is a basic tool you will use frequently when baking and making pastry.

Using the right tools when baking and making pastry can not only make the job easier but also give you professional-looking results. Keep a variety of sizes of mixing bowls, since many recipes require mixing the wet ingredients, such as milk and vanilla, and dry ingredients, such as flour and baking soda, separately. Invest in a good set of baking pans. Find ones that are sturdy and a light color metal; dark metal pans, even when nonstick, can cause baked goods to burn. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Basic Tools

There are certain basic tools you will need when baking or making nearly any pastry, such as mixing spoons and spatulas so you can easily mix your ingredients and get them out of the bowl. You'll also need a rolling pin for rolling out pastry and cookie dough and a whisk for whisking eggs and mixing dry ingredients thoroughly. A small ice cream scoop for scooping cookie dough will give you perfect, even cookies every time.

Baking Tools

When baking, make sure you have cutters in a variety of shapes and sizes for biscuits and cookies, a sifter for sifting flour and icing sugar, and a hand mixer for mixing cake batters and beating eggs. A stand mixer, although expensive, is worth it if you bake a lot. It can easily mix even thick cookie batters to a perfect consistency. If you use a lot of recipes in which you whip egg whites, a copper bowl, which helps increase their volume, could be indispensable.

Pastry Tools

When making pies, pie weights are very convenient for when you need to blind bake a pie crust (bake the crust with no filling). The pie weights can help prevent the crust from shrinking and puffing up. Other convenient tools include a pastry cutter, especially for creating a lattice top and a dough scraper for getting the dough off your work surface. A pastry brush is perfect for brushing egg wash on a pie crust for a perfect golden finish. A pie crust crimper can help you easily make a decorative pattern around the edge of the pie and a pie crust shield prevents that edge from burning before the rest of the pie is baked.

Decorating

For spreading icing on cakes and brownies, use an offset spatula. It allows you to spread frosting evenly over the surface without your hands getting in the way. A piping bag is convenient for decorating, especially if you also have decorative tips. Use small tips for detail work and writing on cakes, and large ones for piping frosting onto cupcakes or for piping dough decoratively. If you do a lot of baking, try a cupcake corer and decorator for piping filling into your cupcakes, or a pie top cutter so you can easily get a fancy decorative top for your pies.

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Buy Food Subscriptions

Many food subscriptions include fresh produce.

Do you know where your food comes from? One way to know for sure is to purchase a food subscription. Food subscriptions entitle the subscriber to regular deliveries or permission to purchase food from a given provider. You can buy food subscriptions for anything from coffee and wine to meat and produce. Locally grown produce subscription services in particular have become popular. With a little research on the type of food you want and the subscription services available, you can buy yourself a food subscription. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Instructions

1. Determine the type of food you wish to buy. You can purchase a subscription for everything from locally grown organic fruits and vegetables to baked goods and dairy products.

2. Determine the type of service you wish to subscribe to. Food subscriptions generally deliver food to you or allow you to select and transport the food yourself. Food subscriptions that do not deliver generally have a set time of the week or month during which you may select from their available foods.

3. Search online to find the type of food subscription services available in your area. Local co-op grocery stores often have listings of local food subscription services.

4. Assess whether the benefit of subscribing will outweigh the cost. If you do not plan on purchasing the food afforded by your subscription often or using the delivered food in the volumes in which it comes, you may not benefit from a food subscription.

5. Contact the company from which you wish to purchase a food subscription. Consult their sales representatives as to the different rates and types of subscriptions available so you may purchase the ideal subscription for your needs.

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The Pests That Affect Rice

Without proper pest control, you can lose a rice crop.

Efficient pest control for rice crops is vital, because it only takes a 10 percent decrease in global crops to put millions at risk of hunger, famine and even death. Rice is a domesticated annual grass that provides essential food for over one-fifth of the world's population. When the pests that affect rice decimated 18th century Japanese crops, l2,000 people died from hunger. Does this Spark an idea?

Pests Affecting Roots and Stems

Termites and rice water weevils damage the roots of rice plants. Termites are common pests that take advantage of dry spells to attack rice crops in West Africa. Rice weevil larvae cause major crop damage in the U.S. by eating plant roots. Stem boring insects, such as moths, lay eggs on plant leaves and their larvae bore into the stem when they hatch, causing damaged or missing grain kernels. U.S. pests that affect rice stems include sugarcane and rice stalk borers.

Pests Feeding on Young Plants

Golden apple snails, also known as Argentine apple or golden miracle snails, affect young rice plants in Asian countries like China, Indonesia and Japan. These snails destroy young plants by cutting off leaves or whole stems. Batches of between 50 and 500 pink eggs hatch after 15 days at most. Adult snails feed heavily for 1 1/2 months and are capable of hibernation within the soil during dry spells. Snails only live for approximately two months, but they quickly increase populations in affected areas, because these snails mate all year around when water is available.

Pests Carrying Viruses

Leafhoppers are Asian pests that affect rice plants by feeding on the sap of leaves. Afflicted plants dry out, turn brown, and are described as "hopper burnt," because they resemble fire-damaged crops. Leafhoppers also carry a serious viral diseases, such as the rice tungro virus. This virus turns leaves brown and spotty; it is one of the most severe diseases affecting rice crops in Southeast Asia. Leafhoppers feeding on diseased plants carry this virus for between five and seven days, transferring it to each plant they visit. The brown planthopper is another Asian pest that not only sucks out the sap, causing the death of affected rice plants, but also carrying the grassy stunt virus.

Pests Attacking Leaves

Many kinds of insects feed on the leaves of rice plants, partially defoliating them. Examples of common types include larval and adult beetles and moths. In the U.S., the rice weevil and common armyworm eat the leaves of plants. These plants are able to grow new leaves to replace those eaten if the damage occurs early on in the life cycle. Any reduction in leaves results in a lessened ability to make food by photosynthesis.

Pests Attacking Grains

Insects that affect rice by feeding on the white liquid from developing grains are known as "grain suckers." Stink bugs are North American grain sucker pests. These insects posses specially developed mouth parts for extracting the liquid, known as "milk," from grains. After early attacks, plants refill their grains. Rice plants cannot recover from later attacks and yield rice contaminated by bacteria or fungi injected into the grains by infected insects. Harvests of these infected grains are called "pecky rice."

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Know When Chicken Has Gone Bad

Never take chances with raw chicken.

While most cooks are familiar with cooking chicken in one form or another, many may not be aware of the dangers of keeping raw chicken in the refrigerator too long. Chicken is one of the foods most easily contaminated with salmonella, and improper packaging or storage can increase the chances of the chicken going bad. Pay close attention to any signs of spoilage, and throw away any chicken pieces you have doubts about. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Instructions

1. Check the chicken package for an expiration date. If you bought the chicken at a grocery store and have not frozen it, the date should be valid. If the chicken is past the expiration date, even if there are no obvious signs of spoilage, throw it away.

2. Remove any raw chicken that has been in your refrigerator for more than two days. If you have chicken that you need to store for longer than two days, freeze it right away and use it later, after you thaw it out. Chicken refrigerated longer than two days is likely spoiled or close to it, and should be discarded.

3. Feel the surface of the chicken meat. If you feel any dried-out portions or sliminess, the chicken is bad. Throw it away and wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.

4. Smell the chicken. Sometimes chicken will go bad before its expiration date because of the way it was handled at the store. Any raw chicken with a bad smell is suspect. Throw it away.

5. Look at the chicken. Bad chicken will develop a green tint, especially in the joints between the leg and thigh and between the breast and wing. Throw away any greenish chicken that you find.

Tags: chicken that, expiration date, than days, chicken will, longer than, longer than days, signs spoilage

Make An All In One Biodiesel Processor

Biodiesel is an alternative fuel made from vegetable oils and used in standard diesel engines. Converting vegetable oils into biodiesel involves breaking the triester (a type of complex fat) and making monoesters (a derivative of an organic acid). You can complete this process all in the same processor, through a batch reaction process. You will be able to convert used vegetable oil into biodiesel that you can use in your diesel car.

Instructions

Processor Stand

1. Cut the 4x4 into four two-foot long sections using the circular saw.

2. Cut along the grain, and diagonally from one corner to another, six inches into the end of two of the 4x4 pieces using the hand saw.

3. Cut the two 4x4 pieces against the grain six inches down the side to remove the small piece of wood.

4. Cut along the grain, and diagonally from one corner to another, 5.5 inches into the end of two of the 4x4 pieces using the hand saw.

5. Cut the two 4x4 pieces against the grain 5.5 inches down the side to remove the small piece of wood.

6. Measure the diameter of the 55-gallon drum using the tape measure.

7. Cut two pieces off the 2x4 that are the length of the diameter of the 55-gallon drum using the circular saw.

8. Cut a notch in the center of each 2x4 that is the same width of the 2x4 and half of the thickness using the hand saw. Line up the two pieces together at the center to form an interlocking X.

9. Set the four 4x4 pieces on their end and in a square. Have the longer end corner of each board on the outside of the square. The two pieces with shorter cuts should be next to each other also.

10. Set the 2x4 X onto the notches and screw it in place using the screwdriver to form the stand.

Batch Reaction Vessel

11. Set the 55-gallon drum on the top of the stand in an upright position. Tilt the drum slightly to one side.

12. Drill a one-inch hole in the lowest corner of the drum using the drill motor and one-inch bore bit.

13. Cut off three inches from the PVC tubing using the hand saw then fit the valve into one end of the tube and work the other end into the one-inch hole in the drum. Connect the leftover piece of tubing to the other end of the valve.

14. Use epoxy glue to seal around the tube on the inside and outside of the drum and around the fitting between the tubes and the valve. Allow the glue to dry for 48 hours.

15. Expand the supports of the paint mixer to the diameter of the drum and then set the mixer on the top of the drum.

Tags: using hand, 55-gallon drum, drum using, 55-gallon drum using, against grain

How Much Does It Cost To Open A Doggie Bakery

A doggie bakery can be a fun and profitable business.

For people who love dogs, enjoy baking, and have a keen interest in canine nutrition, a doggie bakery can be a highly profitable business opportunity. A doggie bakery can be started for as little as $300 to $500 in your own kitchen.

Product Line

Thousands of free dog treat recipes are available on the Internet. Modify recipes to develop your own unique product line.

Equipment Costs

Making dog cookies is easy with a food processor.

The necessary equipment and utensils needed for a dog bakery are readily available in most kitchens: oven, food processor, measuring spoons, measuring cups and cookie sheets. Plan to spend about $20 to $30 for decorating aids, such as cookie-decorating bags and tips, and cookie cutters in fun shapes like bones or gingerbread men.

Ingredient Costs

The cost to stock the bakery pantry and refrigerator will initially be about $150. The ingredients for an organic bakery will cost significantly more.

Marketing Costs

Design your own business cards at one of the several print on demand shops on the Internet. Some offer logo design services, do-it-yourself websites, brochures, vehicle signage, and other business-marketing tools. Depending on your budget and requirements, this aspect of your business may cost less than $100 or more than $200.

Bookkeeping Budget

Invest in small business accounting software, like Quickbooks or Simply Accounting, or download an open source bookkeeping program for free.

Tags: doggie bakery, food processor, profitable business, your business

Buy Restaurant Food In Bulk

One way a restaurant can save money on purchases is buying food provisions in bulk. By buying in large quantities, including palates, crates and cases, a restaurant can save on average from a couple of hundred to a couple of thousand dollars.Some restaurant owners may be concerned about storage space, but by rearranging the space you have in your backstock, you will be able to easily store the bulk items you purchase for your restaurant.

Instructions

1. Assess what space you can make for your bulk purchases in a storage area. You may even share your storage area with your restaurant office.

2. Install commercial grade, stainless steel shelving to store your items. According to most states' health departments, you cannot store food items, even if they are in a can or box, directly on the floor. They must be stored at least six inches off the floor.

3. Purchase a bulk cost club membership for businesses. The cost of these business memberships can cost about $100, but you will find, if you consistently purchase pantry goods by the case like mayonnaise, pasta and paper goods, the cost of the membership can be defrayed in a couple months.

4. Negotiate with your normal pantry vendor's prices on buying in bulk. If you normally buy a case from your vendor, ask how much of a discount you could get if you purchased two cases.

5. Ask if your vendor has any excess inventory; you could benefit from a possible discount.

Tags: restaurant save, storage area, with your, your restaurant, your vendor

Medical Transcription Schools Near Salem Oregon

A medical transcriptionist must have both accuracy and speed.

Medical transcriptionists create detailed reports for doctors and organizations that deliver health care services. Using transcription devices, they capture important medical information dictated in real time. Because their transcriptions have to be accurate, a medical transcriptionist must have a good command of medical terminology as well as be able to type at least 65 words per minute. If you're interested in entering this growing field and live in Salem, Oregon, you have a few options for training.

Chemeteka Community College

Chemeteka Community College in Salem offers a wide variety of associate's degrees as well as professional certificates. You can earn an associate of applied science degree in medical transcription by successfully completing 101 required credit hours with a grade of "C" or better in all courses. In-state students pay $81 per credit; out-of-state and international students pay $246, as of February 2011. Additional fees may apply.

Linn Benton Community College

Located 35 miles away from Salem in Corvaliis, LBCC offers a certificate in medical transcription through a one-year program. Entering students must have basic typing skills and pass a placement test. In-state students and students in California, Idaho, Washington and Nevada pay $78.99 per credit. All other out-of-state students pay $172.99 per credit, and international students pay $224.99, as of February 2011.

California State University East Bay

The California State University at East Bay program in medical transcription is offered online. Designed to prepare its graduates for entry-level medical transcription positions, the program is self-paced. The textbooks and transcription equipment are provided through the program. Students who enroll must have a PC. Tuition is a flat fee of $1,625, as of February 2011.

Everett Community College

Everett Community College in Everett, Washington, offers a distance education course in medical transcription. Applicants to the nine-month program are strongly advised to be able to type at least 45 words per minute and have strong time management skills. The course is broken into three quarters, each quarter costing $1,597, as of February 2011. Some of the 43 credits earned in this course can be transferred into the bachelor of science in health care management program at the University of Phoenix. Upon completion of the course, a certificate is awarded.

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Hemp Oil Fuel Alternative

hemp

As we all know, there have been growing concerns over the years about finding alternative sources of fuel. After a lot of research, hemp was actually found to be a great source for bio-fuel. While it can't be used with everything that uses oil energy, it still has many uses, and we can benefit from this in many ways.

General Information

Hemp is a plant that can be used for various purposes, because it has many beneficial properties. It can be used as a petroleum-based energy source, a source for making petroleum-based plastics and a source of fiber to make paper instead of using the fiber from trees. In the energy categories, aside from hemp oil fuel and bio-diesel, tests are being done on the creation of hemp-based ethanol.

The main reason hemp is such a viable source for oil fuel is the way it is grown. It is adaptable to various atmospheres, grows well without the use of chemicals and has a natural resistance to various pests that potentially damage or kill other plants. It also grows faster than most other plants because it converts the sun's energy into cellulose.

Environmental Benefits and Safety

When it comes to contributing to environmental health, hemp, which forms bio-diesel, is definitely a healthy source of oil fuel. When compared to diesel fuel, it produces much less smog. In fact, it produces almost 50 percent less hydrocarbon emissions than its competition. Sulfur emissions are virtually zero with hemp bio-diesel, and while nitrogen oxide emissions increase slightly, there are large decreases of carbon monoxide emissions and other pollutants.

Unlike other fuels, hemp oil fuel is nontoxic to the point that table salt is actually 10 times as toxic as hemp bio-diesel. Hemp fuel oil biodegrades four times as fast as petrol and actually biodegrades at the same rate as dextrose, a form of sugar. When tested on the human skin, it is only mildly irritating, amounting to less than a soapy water solution produced on the same individuals.

Dangers

Although the potential for use as oil fuel is boundless, there is the concern that permitting hemp to be grown at this rate will also increase the amount of drug use. Hemp is associated with marijuana, even though the level of psychoactive drug in it is not nearly high enough to give a person the result they would normally receive from the actual marijuana drug. There have been petitions brought to the government by various organizations proposing the banning of hemp and hemp products.

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Safe Practices For Sausage Production

The process of sausage production, if done correctly, ensures safety of the product.

Sausage production has become a highly respected culinary art. Craft sausage makers at home and commercial producers alike create inventive flavor profiles from a product once considered peasant food. Sausage is safer for consumption than some other meats because of the effects of salt, pH, curing, drying and cooking, which preserve the product and eliminate bacteria. Still, sausage makers should adhere to safety guidelines. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Clean Surfaces and Equipment

When preparing any food, follow general guidelines to reduce the risk of food-borne illness. Always wash your hands with soap and water before beginning work and between tasks, or after doing anything that could contaminate the food product, like sneezing or touching your face. Start with clean equipment and surfaces. This is particularly important when grinding meat, as bacteria can hide and thrive in the grates of the grinder.

Proper Refrigeration

If you are using frozen meat for your sausages, thaw it in a refrigerator or cooler, not at room temperature. Thaw on the lowest level of the cooler to avoid raw juices dripping on other foodstuffs. Always marinate sausage meat in the refrigerator as well. Keep the meat as cold as possible during processing, around 40 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. If necessary, refrigerate the meat at various stages of the process: after grinding, after seasoning and before stuffing.

Thermal Processing

Most sausages are smoked and heated to pasteurize the product and extend its shelf life. Smoking also gives sausage its characteristic smoky flavor and coloring. The smoking and heating process is necessary for safe sausage production, except in the cases of a few products that are meant to be cooked at the time of consumption. To smoke Polish sausage, stuff the meat in hog casings and hang them to dry. Smoke at 120 degrees for one hour, 150 degrees for another hour and 170 degrees for two hours or until an internal temperature of 141 degrees is reached. Remove the sausages from the smokehouse and spray with hot water for 15 to 30 seconds. Shower them with cold water until they reach 100 degrees. Let the sausages dry for one to two hours and refrigerate.

To smoke summer sausage, stuff the meat into the casings and smoke at 140 degrees for one hour, 160 degrees for another hour and 180 degrees for two hours to an internal temperature of 155 degrees. Remove from the smokehouse and follow the Polish sausage procedure for showering and drying before refrigerating.

To make cooked sausage that is not smoked, like liverwurst, stuff the meat into an impermeable casing. Submerge the sausages into a pan of water and heat to 170 degrees. Using a thermometer, allow the sausage to reach an internal temperature of 155 degrees. Do not allow the water to boil.

Storage and Handling

Keep fresh sausages refrigerated. Cook thoroughly before eating, and consume within three days or freeze the leftovers. For uncooked smoked sausage like pork kielbasa, keep refrigerated and cook thoroughly. Consume or freeze within seven days. Keep cooked smoked sausages like bologna or frankfurters refrigerated. Consume within seven days of opening. Dry sausages like Genoa salami and pepperoni are shelf-stable and do not require refrigeration. Semi-dry sausages like Lebanon bologna and summer sausage are best kept refrigerated. Cooked meats like head cheese and scrapple should be refrigerated and consumed within three days of opening.

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