Home gardening offers ways to trim grocery costs [Survival Today, an on going thread]

Dallas News.com ^ | March 14th, 2008 | DEAN FOSDICK

[nw_arizona_granny]

Miniature Lace Wreaths

Form a 1 1/2–2-inch diameter circle using white florist wire. For
ease, form the circle around a bottle or other round object of the
desired size. Do not fasten the wire ends, but allow them to overlap
about 1 inch.

Using one end of the wire as though it were a needle (you may have to
smooth “the needle” slightly with steel wool), thread 1/2–3/4-inch
wide ecru or white lace onto the circle. Use about 1/2 yard of lace,
or enough to form a full, gathered circle. Loop the ends of the wire
together, and trim off excess. If the lace is not fairly stiff, give
the wreath a quick spray of starch and allow it to dry thoroughly.

Decorate by gluing on tiny dried herb blossoms, such as individual
chive blossom florets, little clusters of marjoram flowers, tansy or
costmary buttons, feverfew, leaves of thyme, germander, boxwood, and
seeds or berries such as bay and coriander. Finish by attaching a
loop for hanging and a bow of 1/8-inch satin ribbon in a
complementary color.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EverythingHomemade/message/10010

[nw_arizona_granny]

Twelve Herb Yule Sachet

7 parts Juniper
4 parts Cinnamon
4 parts Allspice
4 parts Ginger
4 parts Caraway
2 parts Nutmeg
2 parts Rosemary
2 parts Lemon
2 parts Orange
1 part Clove
1 part Bay
2 pinches Orris

Tie up in a green cloth and give as gifts.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EverythingHomemade/message/10006

[nw_arizona_granny]

this is the best casserole I have ever had using sweet
potatoes. I cant leave it alone, AND I dont care for sweet potatoes LOL
thought someone might like to try it for thanksgiving?
jean in ohiO

Sweet Potato Souffle

1 large can of sweet potato (drained and mashed)
1 scant cup sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cups milk reg or 2 %
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 stick margarine , melted
1 tsp vanilla

mix well, pour into a buttered dish (1 1/2 Qt. pyrex)

TOPPING
1 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup flour
1/3 cup melted butter
3/4 cup pecans (crushed into small pieces

crumble over potato mixture
bake 350degrees for 35 to 45 minutes. uncovered

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EverythingHomemade/messages/9964?viscount=-30&l=1

[nw_arizona_granny]

How to Make a Non-Toxic Cleaning Kit

Most modern synthetic cleaning products are based on age-old
formulas using natural ingredients that were passed down through the
generations because the chemistry was right. Going back to the
original naturally derived ingredients is a way to make cleaning
products that work, don’t pollute and save you money. Most are found
in your kitchen cupboards. Mix and match with well-chosen and
environmentally friendly green cleaning products found in health food
stores, and you can easily and simply transform your home into a non-
toxic and healthy haven.

Non-toxic cleaning can give you a deep feeling of gratification in
knowing that your family’s health is protected, and that your home is
a place for your bodies to rest and recuperate rather than promote
harm.

SIMPLE SOLUTION: Making your own nontoxic cleaning kit will take you
no time at all with these simple, straightforward directions, and
with this kit you will be supplied with enough cleaning product for
months of cleaning.

As an added bonus, ounce for ounce homemade cleaning formulas cost
about one-tenth the price of their commercial counterpart—and that
includes costly, but worthwhile essential oils, and concentrated, all-
purpose detergents for homemade recipes.

SUPPLIES

Baking soda
Washing soda
White distilled vinegar
A good liquid soap or detergent
Tea tree oil
6 clean spray bottles
2 glass jars

Read more about these 5 basic cleaning ingredients, and a vinegar
update.

CREAMY SOFT SCRUBBER
Simply pour about 1/2 cup of baking soda into a bowl, and add enough
liquid detergent to make a texture like frosting. Scoop the mixture
onto a sponge, and wash the surface. This is the perfect recipe for
cleaning the bathtub because it rinses easily and doesn’t leave grit.

Note: Add 1 teaspoon of vegetable glycerin to the mixture and store
in a sealed glass jar, to keep the product moist. Otherwise just make
as much as you need at a time.

WINDOW CLEANER

1/4-1/2 teaspoon liquid detergent
3 tablespoons vinegar
2 cups water
Spray bottle

Put all the ingredients into a spray bottle, shake it up a bit, and
use as you would a commercial brand. The soap in this recipe is
important. It cuts the wax residue from the commercial brands you
might have used in the past.

OVEN CLEANER
1 cup or more baking soda
Water
A squirt or two of liquid detergent

Sprinkle water generously over the bottom of the oven, then cover the
grime with enough baking soda that the surface is totally white.
Sprinkle some more water over the top. Let the mixture set overnight.
You can easily wipe up the grease the next morning because the grime
will have loosened. When you have cleaned up the worst of the mess,
dab a bit of liquid detergent or soap on a sponge, and wash the
remaining residue from the oven. If this recipe doesn’t work for you
it is probably because you didn’t use enough baking soda and/or
water.

ALL-PURPOSE SPRAY CLEANER1/2 teaspoon washing soda
A dab of liquid soap
2 cups hot tap water

Combine the ingredients in a spray bottle and shake until the washing
soda has dissolved. Apply and wipe off with a sponge or rag.

FURNITURE POLISH
1/2 teaspoon oil, such as olive (or jojoba, a liquid wax)
1/4 cup vinegar or fresh lemon juice
Mix the ingredients in a glass jar.

Dab a soft rag into the solution and wipe onto wood surfaces. Cover
the glass jar and store indefinitely.

VINEGAR DEODORIZER
Keep a clean spray bottle filled with straight 5 percent vinegar in
your kitchen near your cutting board and in your bathroom and use
them for cleaning. I often spray the vinegar on our cutting board
before going to bed at night, and don’t even rinse but let it set
overnight. The smell of vinegar dissipates within a few hours.
Straight vinegar is also great for cleaning the toilet rim. Just
spray it on and wipe off.

MOLD KILLERS

Tea Tree Treasure
Nothing natural works for mold and mildew as well as this spray. I’ve
used it successfully on a moldy ceiling from a leaking roof, on a
musty bureau, a musty rug, and a moldy shower curtain. Tea tree oil
is expensive, but a little goes a very long way. Note that the smell
of tea tree oil is very strong, but it will dissipate in a few days.

2 teaspoons tea tree oil
2 cups water

Combine in a spray bottle, shake to blend, and spray on problem
areas. Do not rinse. Makes two cups.

Vinegar Spray
Straight vinegar reportedly kills 82 percent of mold.
Pour some white distilled vinegar straight into a spray bottle, spray
on the moldy area, and let set without rinsing if you can put up with
the smell. It will dissipate in a few hours.

HELPFUL HINTS:

Make sure to label all your homemade cleaning products, and keep them
away from pets and children.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EverythingHomemade/messages/9886

[nw_arizona_granny]

Habanero Gold

1/3 c finely sliced dried apricots
3/4 c white vinegar (5% acidity)
1/4 c finely chopped red onion
1/4 c finely chopped red bell pepper
1/4 c finely chopped habanero (or jalapeno) peppers
3 c granulated sugar
1 pouch liquid pectin

Combine apricots and vinegar in a large stainless steel sauce pan. Let stand at
least 4 hours. Add onion, peppers and sugar. Bring to a boil on high heat,
stirring constantly. Bring to a boil that cannot be stirred down. Stir in the
pectin. Boil hard, stirring constantly for 1 minute. Remove from heat and skim
off foam. Stir to dispers the peppers. Ladle jelly into hot jars leaving 1/4 -
inch headspace. Wipe rims. Adjust two piece lids. Process in boiling water
bath 10 minutes.

Yield 6 - 125 ml jars or 2 - 250 ml jars.

—
Garden Gnome in Ontario, Canada Zone 6A
Come wander through my blogs:
gardening: http://gardengnomewanderings.blogspot.com
cooking: http://momskitchencooking.blogspot.com

[nw_arizona_granny]

The Green Dish: Dandelion Syrup
posted by Melissa Breyer

I’ve been wild about dandelions lately. Dandelion greens proffer their
fleeting sweetness at the first nod of spring and inspired me to write about
harvesting and eating them a few weeks ago, immediately followed by a recipe for
Cream of Dandelion Soup. So next up, I thought, I just have to make dandelion
wine. I’ve tackled homemade paper and found making butter to be effortless, how
hard can dandelion wine be?

Well, after reading about secondary fermentation vessels and yeast varieties
and fermentation traps, I thought, uhmm, actually, I think it was dandelion
syrup that I wanted to make.

Dandelion syrup can be used in many ways, on top of pancakes or plain yogurt,
you name it. I started imagining dandelion margaritas come summer. Or even
homemade dandelion ice cream sweetened with dandelion syrup and speckled with
dandelion petals.

In this country, dandelions abound. I will spare you my conspiracy theories
about the defamation of the dandelion; this rant includes evil genius chemical
companies, the accidental discovery of phenoxy type herbicides in the 1940s and
the need to find a public enemy (that would be the dandelion) to ensure a long
and profitable demand for the new herbicidal product.

Anyhow, the Roundup parade isn’t marching around my neck of the woods in
Brooklyn. Here, the dandelions earnestly shimmy up through sidewalk cracks and
inhabit even the most desolate patches of soil, which is really so heartening.
This would all seem a great harbinger for my dandelion syrup endeavor. However,
urban foraging has its own set of considerations, which include dogs and their
lifted legs, roadside exhaust and the possibility of rodent poison. (I know, not
very charming.) As chance would have it though, there is a large lawn at a
nearby high school that is wonderfully unruly and thankfully untreated with
chemicals. It is being organically planted with vegetable beds by the students,
and the grass was rampant with dandelions. I asked, they said, “uhmm yeah, sure
lady, take ‘em.” And take I did, 100 of them in fact.

Once at home, my daughters and I, hands sticky with bright golden pollen,
plucked off the petals and had a bowl of the loveliest plant matter: Soft, downy
almost, and redolent with the scent of asparagus and carnations. What an oddly
endearing base for a syrup.

So, dandelion syrup. I have long been intrigued by it—it’s at once kind of
down-home American as well as very cool French granny. It is a basic herbal
infusion made into a simple syrup. I felt like I didn’t want to boil the
bejeezus out of the blossoms, so I just brought them to a simmer and let them
soak overnight. The puzzle for me was what sweetener to use. Traditionally white
sugar is used, but white sugar lands last on my list of happy sweeteners. So, I
played around with some other alternatives as well, all with quite different
results.

• White sugar made a syrup with a faint taste of vanilla and very slightly
nutty, it was really just mostly sweet and somewhat plain.

• Sucanat, one of my favorite sweeteners, was, as I expected, too heavy in
flavor to let the subtle dandelion taste shine through. That said, it was very
interesting; like an herbaceous molasses.

• Honey has that smooth edge that became more pronounced after simmering. I
used a mild clover honey and the result was like a somewhat spicy and grassy
honey.

• Agave syrup worked beautifully because it is such a clean-tasting
sweetener—the syrup made with agave was sweet and clean, with bright green
undertones.

So pick your dandelions, pick your sweetener and make some syrup. Many recipes
call for lemon, which gives it a little kick of citrus. Suit yourself.

Ingredients
100 dandelion flowers, or 1 and 1/2 cups petals
1 cup sweetener (see above)
3 cups water
Juice of 1/2 lemon (optional)

1. Remove the petals from the sepal (the sepal consists of the small tight
leaves that extend from the stem and grasp the flower). This takes a while to
get the hang of, but gets much quicker as you go along. Be sure to not allow any
green into the petals, it will add bitterness to the syrup.

2. Place the petals in a medium pot and cover with 3 cups water and bring to a
simmer. Turn off the heat, cover and let sit overnight.

3. Strain dandelion water into a bowl, pressing on the flowers with the back
of a spoon to extract all the liquid.

4. Return water to pot and add sweetener, and lemon juice if using, and simmer
over low heat until thickened.

5. Allow to cool, and pour into a clean jar or bottle. Store covered in
refrigerator.
Makes about 2 cups

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EverythingHomemade/messages/9816

[nw_arizona_granny]

It’s been said that God first separated the salt water
from the fresh, made dry land, planted a garden, made animals and fish... all
before making a human. He made and provided what we’d need before we were born.
These are best & more powerful when eaten raw. We’re such slow learners...

God left us a great clue as to what foods help what part of our body!

God’s Pharmacy!
Amazing!

A sliced Carrot looks like the human eye. The pupil, iris and radiating lines
look just like the human eye... and YES, science now shows carrots greatly
enhance blood flow to and function of the eyes.

A Tomato has four chambers and is red. The heart has four chambers and is red.
All of the research shows tomatoes are loaded with lycopine and are indeed pure
heart and blood food.

Grapes hang in a cluster that has the shape of the heart. Each grape looks like
a blood cell and all of the research today shows grapes are also profound heart
and blood vitalizing food.

A Walnut looks like a little brain, a left and right hemisphere, upper cerebrums
and lower cerebellums. Even the wrinkles or folds on the nut are just like the
neo-cortex. We now know walnuts help develop more than three (3) dozen
neuron-transmitters for brain function.

Kidney Beans actually heal and help maintain kidney function and yes, they look
exactly like the human kidneys.

Celery, Bok Choy, Rhubarband many more look just like bones. These foods
specifically target bone strength. Bones are 23% sodium and these foods are 23%
sodium. If you don’t have enough sodium in your diet, the body pulls it from the
bones, thus making them weak. These foods replenish the skeletal needs of the
body.

Avocadoes, Eggplant and Pears target the health and function of the womb and
cervix of the female - they look just like these organs. Today’s research shows
that when a woman eats one avocado a week, it balances hormones, sheds unwanted
birth weight, and prevents cervical cancers. And how profound is this? It takes
exactly nine (9) months to grow an avocado from blossom to ripened fruit. There
are over 14,000 photolytic chemical constituents of nutrition in each one of
these foods (modern science has only studied and named about 141 of them).

Figs are full of seeds and hang in twos when they grow. Figs increase the
mobility of male sperm and increase the numbers of Sperm as well to overcome
male sterility.

Sweet Potatoes look like the pancreas and actually balance the glycemic index of
diabetics.

Olives assist the health and function of the ovaries

Oranges, Grapefruits, and other Citrus fruits look just like the mammary glands
of the female and actually assist the health of the breasts and the movement of
lymph in and out of the breasts.

Onions look like the body’s cells. Today’s research shows onions help clear
waste materials from all of the body cells. They even produce tears which wash
the epithelial layers of the eyes. A working companion, Garlic, also helps
eliminate waste materials and dangerous free radicals from the body.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EverythingHomemade/messages/9851

[TenthAmendmentChampion]

and there is some place with a man’s name, yes, the one where all the sex is for sale, people say it is the best place to buy and sell,

Dang Granny!! You know where to get everything!! LOL!

I'll look in the other files at lunch today and let you know what I find re:tractors. You can even look on eBay for them! We found a concession trailer on the internet that we used for many years. (It never paid for itself but that's another story.) Look for posts on here at about 1:30 today.

[TenthAmendmentChampion]

http://tipnut.com/homemade-smelly-jelly-recipes/

Homemade Smelly Jelly Recipes

Homemade Gel Air Freshener

2 cups water
4 packages Gelatin (plain)
15 to 20 drops Essential Oil (adjust to personal preference)
1 to 2 TBS salt
Food Coloring

In a small pot, mix 1 cup water, essential oil and food coloring. As soon as it starts to boil, remove from heat.

Completely dissolve gelatin and salt in the hot water then add the other cup of water (cold)–stir well (gently so it doesn’t foam).

Pour into jars and set aside for a couple days before using so the gelatin has a chance to completely set (you can refrigerate to speed up the process). Once cooled, cover with lids that have a few holes punched in them to allow fragrance to escape.

The salt in this recipe is used to help combat mold, please make sure to add it.

Alternate Recipe:
Follow the recipe above but substitute the 2 cups of water and the essential oil with 2 cups of concentrated liquid potpourri. As above, heat 1 cup first with the food coloring, remove from heat, dissolve the gelatin and salt then add the other cup.

Super Smelly Jelly Recipe

3/4 cup boiling water
1 pkg of 4-serving jelly powder (ie. box of instant Jello)
1 Tbsp. vodka
1/4 tsp dish soap
Essential Oil or Fragrance

Combine & set in a jar with holes poked in the top. The vodka is to help prevent the jelly become moldy.

Source:
http://www.cbc.ca/livingwinnipeg/?page=segment&sid=457

Optional:
Add embellishments (embedded items) similar to the gel candles [http://tipnut.com/how-to-make-gel-candles-easy-oven-method/] embedded items ideas (listed at the bottom of the page).

You can layer the colors, simply allow one color to set completely for a few days before pouring the next layer of color.

Jars:
Make sure the jars are completely clean before pouring in the hot liquid.

You could cover the top with lace or netting instead of jar lids. Tie decoratively with ribbons, raffia, whatever you fancy.

Any heat proof glass jar will do. Collect jam & jelly jars, mason jars or even baby food jars can be used for the Smelly Jellies.

More recipes for homemade air fresheners: Easy Homemade Deodorizer Sprays [http://tipnut.com/homemade-lemon-air-freshener-spray/] and 13 Simmering Pot Recipes [http://tipnut.com/fragrant-home-13-simmering-pot-recipes/].

Update: clarified instructions
More Tips You May Like:
Homemade Bath Jelly Recipe [http://tipnut.com/homemade-bath-jelly-recipe/]
10 Homemade Playdough Recipes [http://tipnut.com/10-homemade-playdough-recipes/]
Homemade Lavender Water Recipes [http://tipnut.com/homemade-lavender-water-recipes/]
5 Homemade Foot Soak Recipes [http://tipnut.com/5-homemade-foot-soak-recipes/]
Homemade Beeswax Furniture Polish Recipes [http://tipnut.com/homemade-beeswax-furniture-polish-recipes/]

[TenthAmendmentChampion]

bookmark

Granny do you have recommendations for laundry soap with a septic system? I was thinking I’d use fels naptha with washing soda as a laundry detergent. Do you have a better recommendation? My husband is worried about problems with the tank this year (although it was pumped out in 2007). Thanks.

[nw_arizona_granny]

Easy Japanese Pancake

Ingredients
I know this may not be the most traditional recipe for a Japanese pancake (actually, it’s probably not at all), though i think this is pretty close with what i had in the cupboard... and it’s pretty darn tasty! :)

Pancake

* 1 cup plain flour
* 1 egg
* 3/4 cup water
* pinch salt & pepper
* 6 shallot stems, finely chopped
* 1 teaspoon veggie stock
* 1 clove garlic
* Katsup Manis
* Whole Egg Mayonnaise

1. Mix together the flour, water and egg till nice and smooth
2. Mix in the shallots, garlic, veggie stock and season with a little salt and pepper
3. Fry pancake in a little oil
4. Transfer to a plate and make a criss-cross pattern on top of the pancake with the katsup manis and mayonnaise.

Enjoy! :)

Also on the plate are my veggie wontons

http://www.opensourcefood.com/people/meghan/recipes/easy-japanese-pancake?utm_source=Open+Source+Food+RecipeMail&utm_campaign=fd0444a1d3-RecipeMail_December_22nd12_23_2008&utm_medium=email#full

[TenthAmendmentChampion]

http://tipnut.com/homemade-bath-jelly-recipe/

Homemade Bath Jelly Recipe

Bath jellies can be made as luxurious home spa goodies or they can be packaged for the kids (set with toys inside). Great to give as gifts.

They may not bubble up as nicely as some liquid bubble baths, but definitely a nice bath treat.

3/4 cup water
1 envelope unflavored gelatin
1/2 cup liquid soap (unscented–use shower gel, hand soap or bubble bath)
*Essential oil (choose your favorite–a few drops)

Bring water to a boil, remove from heat then slowly stir in and dissolve the gelatin. Slowly add liquid soap and stir to mix. Add essential oil, stir well.

Pour liquid into a clean clear jar or container, seal and refrigerate overnight.

Once the mix gels, it’s ready to use. Just add a spoonful under running water in the bath for a bubbling treat (a tablespoon or two will do).

*If you wish, you can skip the essential oil and use liquid soaps that have a fragrance.

Notes: Use within a few weeks. Keep refrigerated and airtight to avoid mold.

Optional: Add a couple drops of food coloring when first mixing bath jelly to give it some color, don’t use too much though since it can stain tubs.

Gift Ideas: Package in small jars, add a decorative label and embellish with ribbons or trims. You can put a small toy or object in the jelly when first poured, it will set inside. Make in small batches at a time so it can be used within weeks.

More Tips You May Like:
Homemade Smelly Jelly Recipes [http://tipnut.com/homemade-smelly-jelly-recipes/]
Homemade Honey Bath Recipes [http://tipnut.com/homemade-honey-bath-recipes/]
Bath Cookies Recipe [http://tipnut.com/bath-cookies-recipe/]
Homemade Rose Bath Oil [http://tipnut.com/homemade-rose-bath-oil/]
Homemade Herbal Cleaner Recipes [http://tipnut.com/homemade-herbal-cleaner-recipes/]

[TenthAmendmentChampion]

That looks really good!!

[nw_arizona_granny]

http://www.opensourcefood.com/people/MamaBear/recipes/grandmas-half-moon-spiced-cookies?utm_source=Open+Source+Food+RecipeMail&utm_campaign=fd0444a1d3-RecipeMail_December_22nd12_23_2008&utm_medium=email

Grandma’s Half Moon Spiced Cookies

Ingredients

1 cup sour cream
1 cup honey
1 cup butter
1 tsp baking soda
3 eggs
8 tsp baking powder
4 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp cloves
5-6 cups flour

Dissolve baking soda into sour cream.

Combine remaining ingredients with it.

Roll out and cut circles with a water glass or cookie cutter.

Dab jam of choice in center, fold over and seal using a bit of milk.

Bake approximately 10 minutes at 325.

Ice with icing sugar and milk mixture.

[nw_arizona_granny]

Semi-Homemade Apple Galette

Ingredients

* premade pie dough
* one large apple (thinly sliced)
* 1/4 cup sugar + addition for sprinkling
* egg wash (one egg with a lil bit of water)
* a knob of unsalted butter

1. Preheat oven to 400 degree fahrenheit.
2. Mix 1/4 cup sugar with the thinly sliced pieces of apple.
3. Roll out pie crust dough on a baking sheet. Pile the apples in the center. Leave about 1-2 inches on the outside so we can fold the crust.
4. Fold the crust and keep overlapping around the galette.
5. Dot the top of the apple slices with butter.
6. Brush egg wash on the crust and sprinkle with additional sugar.
7. Bake for 30 mins or until apples are cooked down.
8. Enjoy & Smile!

*** Serving this warm with vanilla ice cream is heavenly***

http://www.opensourcefood.com/people/KamanKaman/recipes/semi-homemade-apple-galette?utm_source=Open+Source+Food+RecipeMail&utm_campaign=fd0444a1d3-RecipeMail_December_22nd12_23_2008&utm_medium=email

[TenthAmendmentChampion]

http://tipnut.com/homemade-rose-bath-oil/

Homemade Rose Bath Oil

Rose Petals
2 oz grapeseed oil
5 drops jasmine oil
5 drops ylang-ylang oil

Put rose petals into a glass bottle and top with the oils. Shake and allow to sit overnight. Add 1/4 oz. of the oil to your bath.

Source: Womans World Magazine Oct, 2007

More Tips You May Like:
Homemade Rose Petal Vinegar Recipe [http://tipnut.com/homemade-rose-petal-vinegar-recipe/]
How To Make A Rose Jar [http://tipnut.com/how-to-make-a-rose-jar/]
Homemade Rose Dusting Powder Recipe [http://tipnut.com/homemade-rose-dusting-powder-recipe/]
Homemade Bath Jelly Recipe [http://tipnut.com/homemade-bath-jelly-recipe/]
How To Make Rose Water - 4 Recipes [http://tipnut.com/how-to-make-rose-water-4-recipes/]

[nw_arizona_granny]

http://www.opensourcefood.com/people/doivberg/recipes/steak-with-mushroom-sauce?utm_source=Open+Source+Food+RecipeMail&utm_campaign=fd0444a1d3-RecipeMail_December_22nd12_23_2008&utm_medium=email

steak with mushroom sauce

Ingredients

1. thin steak for frying.
2. garlic.
3. mushroom.
4. chopped onion.
5. oktoberfest mustard.
6. soya sauce and oyster sauce.
7. salt and pepper.
8. 1 teaspoon of cornstarch diluted in water.

Make 2-3 cuts in steak and insert chopped garlic. Spread mustard on one side of steak.

Place steak in frying pan, mustard side down. Sprinkle some salt and pepper. Cook a few minutes on both sides. Take out steak and place on plate.

In the frying pan (with the steak juices), toss in onions and mushroom. Add some soya sauce and oyster sauce. Stir in diluted cornstarch to thicken sauce.

Pour sauce over steak. Add some cilantro garnish if desired.

[nw_arizona_granny]

http://www.opensourcefood.com/people/honeygurl/recipes/fried-pizza?utm_source=Open+Source+Food+RecipeMail&utm_campaign=fd0444a1d3-RecipeMail_December_22nd12_23_2008&utm_medium=email

Fried Pizza

Ingredients

* 3/4 cup flour + 1/4 cup cornstarch, sifted

* 1/2 tsp instant dry yeast

* 1/4 tsp salt

* 1/2 tsp sugar

* 1 1/2 tbsp olive oil + some more for cooking

* 1/3 cup lukewarm water

* pizza sauce (tomato sauce/paste would do depends on your preference)

* pizza toppings (use whatever you like. i have at hand some roasted chicken, caramelized onions, garlic & cheese so that’s what i used)

1. Combine the first 5 ingredients and mix. Gradually add in the water until the mixture comes together forming a dough. Should be slithly sticky but not too much. Add in some more flour if it gets too sticky and a bit of water if its too dry. A tbsp at a time would do.
2. Pour dough over a floured surface and knead for a couple of minutes till smooth. Form into a ball and place in an oiled bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and let sit to rise till it doubles in size. About 1 - 2 hours.
3. When ready, reform dough and divide into two. Roll over a floured surface and cover with plastic wrap or damp towel. Let it sit for about 20 minutes. Dough would still puff up a bit during this time.
4. Rub some flour on your rolling pin and roll out your dough to your desired thickness.
5. Film your skillet with some oil and turn heat to medium. When oil shimmers put in your dough and lower heat so that it would cook without burning. Cover your pan.
6. Check your crust after a couple of minutes (depends on how thick you did your dough) and take a peek if its slightly brown and crispy at the bottom. When its ready flip over your crust. Spread your pizza sauce and put your toppings. At this point you can put your pan under the broiler to crisp up your toppings and melt the cheese. But recovering the pan would do for the toppings i have since all of them is cooked previously. Just need to heat them up and melt the cheese.
7. Serve hot and enjoy!

[TenthAmendmentChampion]

How To Make Rose Water - 4 Recipes

Rose water (also spelled Rosewater) can be used in cooking as well as a rich beauty aid. Try some as a facial toner or astringent, in your bath water or as a facial splash (refresher).

Notes on Preparation:
* Rose petals must be freshly picked and have no pesticides or chemicals used on them.
* Pick the roses just after the morning dew has evaporated, about 2 to 3 hours after sunrise.
* Use only the petals, not the stems or leaves.
* Wash the petals quickly to remove any bugs or specks of dirt and immediately process with one of the methods below.
* If you don’t grow your own roses, ask at the local florist or Farmers Market for organic roses.

Old Fashioned Recipe for Distilled Rosewater (Rose Hydrosol)

Fresh rose petals (3 to 4 quarts)
Ice cubes
Distilled Water
Enamel canning or stock pot with lid
Deep, heavy heat proof bowl

Fill the bottom of the pot with the rose petals and pour water over them until the petals are just covered. Place the bowl in the middle of the pot. The rim should be at least a couple inches higher than the water. If you have a canning rack, you can set the bowl on top of that so the bowl doesn’t sit directly over the heat. A pyrex loaf dish underneath the bowl would do the trick too. Set these in place first before adding the rose petals and water.

Cover the pot with its lid, but position the lid upside down so that you have a dipped “container” to hold the ice on top (to be added later). Now turn on the heat and bring the water to a boil. Once the water is boiling, fill the top of the inverted pot lid with ice cubes. Turn the heat down and keep at a bare simmer for about two hours.

Top up the ice as needed and quickly peek occasionally to see that the petals don’t boil dry. This process will enable condensation to form on the top inside of the pot lid. The condensation will drip down into the bowl inside the pot, the liquid inside the bowl is your rose water.

Old Fashioned Rose Water Recipe

Rose Petals
Distilled Water
Enamel Pot (any size)

Fill the bottom of an enamel pot with the rose petals a few inches deep. Pour distilled water over the petals until they are just covered. Turn on heat for the water to be steaming hot, but do not boil. Let the water steam until the petals have lost their color, the water has taken on the color of the rose petals and you see rose oil skimming the surface. This will take approximately 60 minutes. Strain the water and squeeze out the liquid from the rose petals, this is your rosewater.

Homemade Rosewater - Quick & Easy Recipe
For every 1 firmly packed cup of rose petals, pour 2 cups boiling water over top. Cover and steep until the liquid is cool. Strain, squeeze out the liquid from the petals, and refrigerate the rose water in a sterilized jar.

Oven Recipe for Rosewater
Preheat oven to 450°. Line an enamelware roaster a few inches deep with rose petals. Fill with distilled water until the petals are just covered. Place the roaster uncovered into the oven and bring to a boil.
As soon as it starts boiling, turn off the heat and cover the roaster. Leave in the oven until the water is cool (several hours). Once cool, strain the water and squeeze all the petals to remove the liquid. Store the rose water in the refrigerator.

Important Notes:
After preparing the rose water with your recipe of choice, refrigerate in a sealed, sterilized jar.
Use in recipes that call for rose water, but make sure to use fresh batches. Although the water is refrigerated, my notes have vast discrepancies in shelf life. Some state several days, some say a year.

Rose Water Beauty Aid Additive:
Add 1 part rubbing alcohol or vodka or witch hazel to 10 parts rose water to use as a facial astringent or toner.

More Tips You May Like:
Homemade Rose Petal Vinegar Recipe [http://tipnut.com/homemade-rose-petal-vinegar-recipe/]
Homemade Rose Bath Oil [http://tipnut.com/homemade-rose-bath-oil/]
Homemade Rose Dusting Powder Recipe [http://tipnut.com/homemade-rose-dusting-powder-recipe/]
Homemade Lavender Water Recipes [http://tipnut.com/homemade-lavender-water-recipes/]
Herbal Steam Facial Recipes [http://tipnut.com/herbal-steam-facial-recipes/]

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http://tipnut.com/homemade-lavender-water-recipes/

Homemade Lavender Water Recipes

Lavender water can be used in a variety of ways around the house. Some ideas:
When washing bedding and linens, add some lavender water to the rinse cycle. Your bedding will have a light lavender scent (lavender helps those with sleep problems).
Use when ironing, spritz a bit of the lavender water on the items being ironed. Will add a nice lavender scent to the garment.
Lavender water can also be used as a beauty aid, try it as a skin freshener on hot summer days, a hair rinse, splash in the bath or dab around temples for headache relief.
Insect repellent, try it for mosquito repellent use as well as a mosquito bite itch helper. Lavender deters flies and other insects too.

How To Make Lavender Water - Recipes

Recipe #1

Mason Jar
Lavender Buds
Vodka

Fill the glass jar with lavender and cover completely with vodka. Seal jar.
Place the jar in a sunny location for about 18 days, rotate and shake the jar each day–morning and night.
After 18 days, strain the lavender from the vodka and seal the liquid in a clean glass jar.
Use as needed.

Recipe #2

2 cups water (distilled)
3 TBS vodka
15 drops Lavender essential oil

Mix the essential oil and vodka together then add water. Seal in a jar or bottle, keep in a dark place for 2 weeks before using.

Also check out the recipes here for rose water.