Weekly Roundup - Living On Nothing Edition [Survival Today

Did you hear about the guy that lives on nothing? No seriously, he lives on zero dollars a day. Meet Daniel Suelo, who lives in a cave outside Moab, Utah. Suelo has no mortgage, no car payment, no debt of any kind. He also has no home, no car, no television, and absolutely no “creature comforts.” But he does have a lot of creatures, as in the mice and bugs that scurry about the cave floor he’s called home for the last three years.

To us, Suelo probably sounds a little extreme. Actually, he probably sounds very extreme. After all, I suspect most of you reading this are doing so under the protection of some sort of man-made shelter, and with some amount of money on your person, and probably a few needs for money, too. And who doesn’t need money unless they have completely unplugged from the grid? Still, it’s an amusing story about a guy who rejects all forms of consumerism as we know it.

How to Brew Your Own Beer and Maybe Save Some Money. A fantastic introduction to home brewing, something I’ve never done myself, but always been interested in trying. (@Generation X Finance)

Contentment: A Great Financial Principle. If I had to name one required emotion for living a frugal lifestyle it would be contentment. Once you are content with your belongings and your lot in life you can ignore forces attempting to separate you from your money. (@Personal Finance by the Book)

Use Energy Star Appliances to Save On Utility Costs. I enjoyed this post because it included actual numbers, and actual total savings, from someone who upgraded to new, energy star appliances. (@The Digerati Life)

Over-Saving for Retirement? Is it possible to “over-save” for retirement? Yes, I think so. At some point I like the idea of putting some money aside in taxable investments outside of retirement funds, to be accessed prior to traditional retirement age. (@The Simple Dollar)

40 Things to Teach My Kids Before They Leave Home. A great list of both practical and philosophical lessons to teach your kids before they reach the age where they know everything. I think that now happens around 13 years-old. (@My Supercharged Life)

Index Fund Investing Overview. If you are looking for a place to invest with high diversification and relatively low fees (for broader index funds with low turnover), index funds are a great place to start. (@Money Smart Life)

5 Reasons To Line Dry Your Laundry. My wife and I may soon be installing a clothesline in our backyard. In many neighborhoods they are frowned upon - one of the reasons I don’t like living in a neighborhood. I digress. One of our neighbors recently put up a clothesline, and we might just follow his lead. (@Simple Mom)

* 4 Quick Tips for Getting Out of a Rut * Young and Cash Rich * Embracing Simple Style * First Trading Experience With OptionsHouse * The Exponential Power of Delayed Consumption * How Much Emergency Fund is Enough? * 50 Questions that Will Free Your Mind * Save Money On Car Insurance

The MedWatch November 2009 Drug Safety Labeling Changes posting includes 44 drug products with safety labeling changes to the following sections: BOXED WARNING, CONTRAINDICATIONS, WARNINGS, PRECAUTIONS, ADVERSE REACTIONS, PATIENT PACKAGE INSERT, and MEDICATION GUIDE.

The “Summary Page” provides a listing of drug names and safety labeling sections revised: http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/ucm191946.htm

Clicking on a drug product name in the Summary View will take you to the “detailed view” page, which identifies safety labeling sections and subsections revised, along with a brief summary of new or modified safety information to the BOXED WARNING, CONTRAINDICATIONS, and/or WARNINGS sections.

The following drugs had modifications to the BOXED WARNING, CONTRAINDICATIONS, and WARNINGS sections:

* Actiq (fentanyl citrate)
* Adenocard (adenosine)
* Adenoscan (adenosine)
* Avandaryl (rosiglitazone maleate and glimepiride)
* Byetta (exenatide)
* Cimzia (certolizumab pegol)
* Cleocin HCL (clindamycin hydrochloride)
* Enbrel (etanercept)
* Humira (adalimumab)
* Lotensin (benazepril hydrochloride)
* Lotensin HCT (benazepril/hydrochlorothiazide)
* Lopressor (metoprolol tartrate)
* Norvir (ritonavir) capsule and solution
* Parnate (tranylcypromine sulfate)
* Plavix (clopidogrel bisulfate)
* Qualaquin (quinine sulfate)
* Rebetol (ribavirin), Soma (carisoprodol)
* Remicade (infliximab)
* Simponi (golimumab)
* Soma Compound (carisoprodol 200 mg and aspirin 325 mg)
* Soma Compound with Codeine (carisoprodol 200 mg, aspirin 325 mg and codeine phosphate 16 mg)
* Tekturna (aliskiren)

The Medicines Company Issues a Nationwide Recall for Certain Lots of Cleviprex® That May Contain Particulate Matter

FOR U.S. AUDIENCES ONLY

Company Contact:
1-888-977-6326
cleviprexrecall@themedco.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - December 16, 2009 - Parsippany, N.J. - The Medicines Company (NASDAQ: MDCO) announced today that it is voluntarily recalling eleven (11) lots of Cleviprex ® (clevidipine butyrate) injectable emulsion due to the potential presence of visible particulate matter which has been observed in some vials during a routine annual inspection. The affected Cleviprex lots are 61-978-DW, 61-979-DW, and 61-980-DW, Exp. 01/2010; 68-404-DJ, 68-405-DJ, and 68-406-DJ, Exp. 08/2010; 69-830-DJ, 63-385-DJ, 63-386-DJ, and 63-266-DJ, Exp 03/2011; and 64-453-DJ, Exp. 04/2011. No other lots are affected by this recall.

The Medicines Company has not received any product complaints or reports of adverse events related to this issue. The Company is cooperating with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on this recall.

The particulate matter comprises sub-visible inert stainless steel particles of around 2.5 microns. When present in low numbers as observed, particles of this size are not known to constitute a health hazard. Experimental animal and human data indicate that they are scavenged by macrophages and other cells of the reticuloendothelial system without adverse effects. Although aggregates have not been observed, if the sub-visible particles were to aggregate, or if larger particles were present, then they could become visible and could theoretically reduce blood flow in capillaries, cause mechanical damage to some tissues, or initiate acute or chronic inflammatory reactions. Reduced blood supply to tissues may lead to ischemia or organ insufficiency in the brain, kidney, liver, heart or lungs.

Anyone with inventory from the affected lots of Cleviprex should arrange for its return through their pharmaceutical wholesaler/distributor. Unaffected product from lots 68-407-DJ, 68-408-DJ, 71-101-DJ and 71-106-DJ is being shipped to wholesalers and can be ordered by hospitals.

For medical inquiries, adverse event reporting or quality issues related to Cleviprex, please contact The Medicines Company Medical Information at 1-888-977-6326 Monday to Friday 8:00am-5:30pm EST or cleviprexrecall@themedco.com.

Any adverse reactions associated with the use of Cleviprex may also be reported to the FDA’s MedWatch Program by fax at 1-800-FDA-0178, by mail at MedWatch, FDA, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20852-9787, or on the MedWatch website at www.fda.gov/medwatch.

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http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm194584.htm

Faribault Foods Voluntarily Recalls Three Lots of Health Valley Organic No Salt Added Split Pea Soup Due to the Presence of an Undeclared Allergen

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Faribault, MN - December 16, 2009 - Faribault Foods announced that it is recalling Health Valley Organic No Salt Added Split Pea Soup (15 oz.) with the lot codes 22JUL2011, 18AUG2011, and 11SEP2011 because of the presence of an undeclared dairy allergen. This soup contains butter and potatoes, which are not listed on the ingredient statements of the affected lots. No other lot codes of this product or any other Health Valley product is affected in any way.

Consumers who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk protein or potatoes run the potential risk of a health problem or illness if they consume these lots of product.

No confirmed illnesses have been reported to date.

The recalled product was distributed to food stores nationwide. The affected product and lot codes are as follows:
Health Valley Organic No Salt Added Split Pea Soup UPC CODE# 35742-22104
Lot codes: 22JUL2011 18AUG2011 11SEP2011

The lot code can be found on the bottom of each individual soup can.

Consumers who have purchased any products covered by this recall are urged to return them to the store of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions or concerns about the recall please call 1-800-423-4846 (9:00 AM – 7:00 PM Eastern Time).

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Page Last Updated: 12/17/2009

Cities, Food and Agriculture: Challenges and the way forward

Discussion paper for the Technical Consultation “Agriculture, Food and Cities”,
September 24-25, 2009, Rome, jointly organised by Food and Agriculture of the United
Nations - Food for the Cities Multi-disciplinary Action (FAO-FCIT) and RUAF Foundation
(International Network of Resource centres on Urban Agriculture and Food security)

Corbis features 41 photos of the Vancouver Compost Demonstration garden run by City
Farmer

Earlier this year Corbis Corporation, the famous stock photography company, came
to shoot at the Vancouver Compost Demonstration Garden for a series of shots on
‘sustainability’. Forty-one of those images are now on-line for sale. They feature
shots of City Farmer’s roof garden, mason bee box, organic food garden, worm and
backyard compost bins, and shiitake mushrooms.

Urban Agriculture in Beirut (video in French)

Une évocation de l’exploitation de Rahmé, agricultrice à Beyrouth. Les atouts de
l’agriculture urbaine sont-ils une réponse aux enjeux environnementaux contemporains?

Public Farm 1, New York

Built entirely of biodegradable and recyclable materials, PF1 was powered by solar
energy and irrigated by a rooftop rainwater collection system that kept the project
off the city’s grid. Throughout the summer, the farm produced over 50 varieties
of organic fruit, vegetables and herbs that were used by the museum’s café, at special
events, and harvested by visitors.

Vietnamese Americans dream of a new urban farm in New Orleans but fear post-Katrina
environmental hazards

Like many elderly Vietnamese American people in the close-knit Versailles neighborhood
on New Orleans’ east side, Tran grows his own vegetables to eat and share with friends
and neighbors. But in recent years he has felt less confident consuming his produce,
because he fears contamination from the lagoon that often spills over onto his land,
and in the soil itself, which was swamped by the toxic floodwaters of Katrina four
years ago.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

More about these stories here:
City Farmer News [http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102894544150&s=1304&e=001E_i_16GwurM5WjMzWOeXTyCMFbAQueRVqqkJFUvE6YlC5_WzWbejV1IEdq8rgmCy8LlAh5UdfTGolVD_wsgdG2o79gsvsqfq6XTEsL_fGpl54ZHW_BPkig==]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Michael Levenston
City Farmer - Canada’s Office of Urban Agriculture

I am sure you could use this method to do the chicken in the Rice cooker as well as the oven.. just a neat way to prep and season and always be ready with something different rather than the same old chicken This come from t he Soopermom.com website There are loads more recipes at this website for all you busy moms....
http://oamc.8m.com/

“What is Dump Chicken?
Dump chicken is one of the easiest forms of Freezer cooking! The idea is VERY simple, do NOT over think it. You take raw (never frozen) OR Frozen chicken pieces, toss them into a One Gallon Freezer Bag, then toss in the sauce and freeze flat. The key is never RE-FREEZE Raw chicken. Then thaw the chicken and cook! You can bake it, roast it, crock pot it, grill... and maybe microwave it?

All the recipies can be made with 4-8 pieces of chicken (any pieces will do... wings, thighs, drumsticks, bone-in, skin-on, bonelss, skinless, maybe even whole chicken), we use 5 boneless/skinless chicken breasts to keep it healthier.

To cook the chicken, thaw completely in the fridge, dump into 9x12” pan, bake at 350 until done. For BL/SL breasts it is about 25-35 minutes. For chicken pieces, it runs closer to an hour. “
pICK YOU FLAVOR OR DO THEM ALL.. AND YOU HAVE A LOAD OF VARIETY AND MESS ONLY ONCE WITH THE PREP

DUMP LEMON AND GARLIC CHICKEN
2 Cloves Chopped Garlic
4 Tablespoons Olive Oil
2 Tablespoons Chopped Parsley
3 Tablespoons Lemon Juice
1/8 Teaspoon Pepper

DUMP LEMON MARINADE CHICKEN
2/3 cup Lemon Juice
1/4 cup Cider Vinegar
1/4 cup Vegetable Oil
2 Tablespoons Minced Onion

DUMP PEPPER LIME CHICKEN
1/2 Teaspoon Lime Peel
2 Cloves Minced Garlic
1/4 cup Lime Juice
1 Teaspoon Pepper
1 Tablespoon Vegetable Oil
1 Teaspoon Basil
1/4 Teaspoon Salt

Creole

1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
1/4 cup Chopped Onion
1/4 cup Bell Pepper
1 Clove Minced Garlic
14 oz can Whole Tomatoes
(Chopped and undrained)
2 Teaspoons Worcestershire
2 Teaspoons Red Wine Vinegar
1/2 Teaspoon Dried Basil
1/4 Teaspoon Salt
1/4 Teaspoon Pepper
1/4 Teaspoon Pepper Sauce (Optional)

For immediate cooking: Pre-heat oven to 350 F. Place all ingredients into a
large baking dish, turn chicken to coat. Bake until chicken juices run
clear (45-60 minutes for chicken pieces, or 20-30 minutes for chicken
breasts).

For freezing: Place all ingredients into a 1 Gallon freezer bag. Lay flat
in freezer.

To thaw and cook: Take the bag out of the freezer the night before, make
sure the baggie is completely closed. Place the Bag on a shelf furthest
from the freezer (It works best if the bag is laying flat, although this
may not be the best option with a side-by-side fridge/freezer) .. Preheat the
oven to 350 F. Empty the contents of the bag into a large baking dish and
bake until the juices run clear (45-60 minutes for chicken pieces, or 20-30
minutes for chicken breasts).

Garlic Dijon Chicken

2 Cloves Minced Garlic
4 Tablespoons Dijon Mustard
2 Tablespoons Lime Juice

For freezing: Place all ingredients into a 1 Gallon freezer bag. Lay flat
in freezer.

To thaw and cook: Take the bag out of the freezer the night before, make
sure the baggie is completely closed. Place the Bag on a shelf furthest
from the freezer (It works best if the bag is laying flat, although this
may not be the best option with a side-by-side fridge/freezer) . Preheat the
oven to 350 F. Empty the contents of the bag into a large baking dish and
bake until the juices run clear (45-60 minutes for chicken pieces, or 20-30
minutes for chicken breasts).

recipe for Asian marinade! Just use the same method as above.

3 T soy sauce
1 T rice wine vinegar
2-4 cloves chopped garlic (I like a ton)
1 tsp sesame oil
1/2 tsp powdered ginger or 1 tsp fresh, grated ginger
1 tsp honey (I know this isn’t SBD okay, but you won’t eat much of it and it adds a hint of sweetness. You can totally take this out and maybe add a dash of Splenda)

Great on steak, chicken, pork tenderloin, fish...!!

CHILI MAPLE GLAZED “DUMP” CHICKEN

Serving Size : 6 Preparation Time :0:00

Am ———— —————— —————— -———— -———— —
1 1/2 Pounds Chicken Pieces — (4 to 6)
2 tablespoon water
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 tablespoon maple syrup
1 tablespoon chili powder

For freezing: Place all ingredients into a 1 Gallon freezer bag. Lay flat
in freezer.

To thaw and cook: Take the bag out of the freezer the night before, make
sure the baggie is completely closed.. Place the Bag on a shelf furthest
from the freezer (It works best if the bag is laying flat, although this
may not be the best option with a side-by-side fridge/freezer) . Preheat the
oven to 350 F. Empty the contents of the bag into a large baking dish and
bake until the juices run clear (45-60 minutes for chicken pieces, or 20-30
minutes for chicken breasts).

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Per serving: 184 Calories (kcal); 12g Total Fat; (58% calories from fat); 15g Protein; 4g Carbohydrate; 70mg Cholesterol; 423mg Sodium
Food Exchanges: 0 Grain(Starch) ; 2 Lean Meat; 0 Vegetable; 0 Fruit; 1 Fat; 0 Other Carbohydrates

THERE ARE LOADS MORE AT THIS WEBSITE...:

http://oamc.8m.com/#Sweet% 20&%20Spicy%20%22DUMP%22%20Chicken

To visit group on the web, go to:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ricecookerrecipes/

Bimini Bread

Recipe By :
Serving Size : 16 Preparation Time :0:00
Categories : Bread - Machine Bread - Oatmeal

Amount Measure Ingredient — Preparation Method
———— —————— ————————————————
1 1/8 cups hot water
3/4 cup oats
2 1/4 teaspoons molasses
1 1/2 tablespoons butter — or vegetable oil
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 1/4 cups bread flour
1 1/2 teaspoons dry yeast

Soak the oats, molasses and butter in the hot water for 2 minutes. Add to
the bread machine along with the other ingredients. Follow manufacturer’s
directions for your machine, using the cycle you’d use for white, sweet
bread, light-to-medium setting, and the equivalent of 2 cups of flour.

Description:
“a light oat bread with a hint of molasses”
Source:
“http://www.bread-bakers.com/archives/digests/v096n052.txt (The Miami
Herald newspaper, October 24, 1996)”
Yield:
“1 1/2 pounds”
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Per Serving (excluding unknown items): 111 Calories; 2g Fat (15.6% calories
from fat); 4g Protein; 20g Carbohydrate; 1g Dietary Fiber; 3mg Cholesterol;
112mg Sodium. Exchanges: 1 1/2 Grain(Starch); 0 Lean Meat; 1/2 Fat; 0 Other
Carbohydrates.

NOTES : From the Bahama Islands;The bread looks like ordinary white bread
but, unlike ordinary white bread, it is sweeter and much tastier.

2 WW pt

To visit group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bread-machine/

* When you need a quick garnish or topping for something, place a bag of chocolate chips in a bowl of hot water. Smash it around every couple of minutes. Then, when the lumps are gone, cut a corner of the bag and drizzle on a cake, cookies, or dessert. When the bag is empty cut it open and be sure to lick it clean. : )

* For a different appetizer or finger food, make mini kabobs. Use a large toothpick or break a bamboo stick and place on it a cube of cooked chicken or ham along with a piece of dried fruit (apricot, pineapple, etc.). You could also add something like a maraschino cherry.

* For a different twist on cinnamon toast to go with your hot chocolate, try using brown sugar instead of white sugar. Just butter a piece of bread, sprinkle with brown sugar, cinnamon and broil until golden brown.

* Don’t throw away your orange peel. Using a sharp mini cookie cutter, make stars, trees, or stockings and use them to garnish your fruit platter.

* You don’t always have to serve gingerbread with a sauce or whipped cream. Try a scoop of ice cream for a nice change.

* To give your regular cheesecake recipe a holiday flair, add 1/2 tsp. of peppermint flavoring and 2-3 drops of red food coloring.

Today’s Recipes:

We call the following recipe Mom’s Red Jell-O Salad. This has been on our Christmas table for so many years now I can’t even remember when we started it. It’s very popular, both with our family and with many of our readers.

Mom’s Red Jello Salad

1/4-1/2 cup red cinnamon candies (red hots)
1/2 cup boiling water
1 small pkg. cherry Jello
1 1/2 cup applesauce

Melt candies in water in a saucepan. Keep stirring until candies are almost all dissolved. You may have to keep reheating it to get them all dissolved. There may be a few that won’t quite dissolve, but that is okay. Add Jello and dissolve. Add applesauce and chill.

Cottage Cheese Salad

This salad is a good way to take a break from the usual veggie salad and sweet salads, but still has a pretty Christmas look to it.

Cottage Cheese
Green peppers, diced
Tomatoes, chopped small
Salt and pepper

Add desired amount of peppers and tomatoes to a carton of cottage cheese. Then salt and pepper to taste. This is a very quick and easy salad and goes with so many things.

Cherry Fudge Cake

If you don’t have time to bake, here is an easy dessert to keep in the freezer, ready for unexpected company. If you like chocolate covered cherries then this is your dessert.

Angel food cake
Cherry Nut ice cream
Hot fudge

Keep an angel food cake in the freezer. When you need it, slice and add a scoop of cherry nut ice cream, drizzle with hot fudge and garnish with whipped cream and a cherry.

Red Hot Apples Dessert

This dessert makes your house smell so yummy and “Christmassy”.

Make a batch of red hot apples:

3-4 medium apples, sliced and peeled
1/4-1/2 cups red cinnamon candies (red hots)
2 Tbsp. water

Simmer everything in a saucepan over medium heat or until apples are tender. Serve over ice cream and top with granola. We eat the apples all by themselves, too. You can make this ahead of time. It keeps several days in fridge.

Permissions:

If you would like to reprint any of the articles, tips or recipes from our newsletters for your newsletter (print or on-line), website or blog you may as long as you credit and link back to www.LivingOnADime.com .

Make-Ahead Breakfast Trifle

Recipe By : Real Food for Real People
Serving Size : 10 Preparation Time :0:00
Categories : Breakfast Fruits
Holiday

Amount Measure Ingredient — Preparation Method
———— —————— —————— -———— -———— —
24 ounces Nonfat Plain Yogurt
8 ounces Cream Cheese — room temperature
1/2 cup Splenda
2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
9 slices White Bread — crusts removed
16 ounces Cherries, frozen — pitted, thawed & drained
12 ounces Raspberries, frozen — thawed
15 ounces Canned Peaches — unsweetened, drained
1 medium Banana — thinly sliced
2 tablespoons Splenda

Blend 1/2 cup of Splenda plain yogurt, cream cheese, and vanilla extract together in a medium sized mixing bowl. Cut bread into rectangles. Gently mix together raspberries and 2 tablespoons Splenda.
Do not drain raspberries.

Assembly:
Pour 1/2 cup of yogurt mixture in the bottom of the glass bowl.
Place 1/3 of the sliced bread on top of the yogurt mixture.
Top bread with 1/3 of the peaches, 1/3 of the cherries and 1/3 of the raspberries. Drizzle about 1/3 of the raspberry juice onto the bread.
Place 1/3 of the thinly sliced banana on top of the raspberries.
Pour 1/3 of the yogurt mixture over the bread and fruit.
Repeat steps 2 - 5 two more times, ending by pouring the remaining yogurt over the fruit.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight, allowing the bread to fully absorb the fruit juices.

Serving Suggestions:
Top with fresh fruit as a garnish before serving. Sliced Kiwi and strawberries make an excellent garnish.
This can also be prepared in individual portions following the same layering technique. Use wine glasses instead of a large glass bowl.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Per Serving (excluding unknown items): 297 Calories; 9g Fat (26.7% calories from fat); 9g Protein; 47g Carbohydrate; 4g Dietary Fiber; 26mg Cholesterol; 244mg Sodium.

Exchanges: 1/2 Grain(Starch) ; 0 Lean Meat; 2 Fruit; 1/2 Non-Fat Milk; 1 1/2 Fat.

*Note: Please forward this recipe post to as many people as you like. All I ask is that you forward the entire message, and that you encourage the recipient to subscribe. Thank you so much! Kaylin

I made a mistake in the measure of brown sugar in the Easy English Toffee. I am so sorry. This is correct recipe.

Carrie
Easy English Toffee

1 stick butter
¾ c. Packed light brown sugar
½ to ¾ c. finely chopped nuts
½ c. chocolate chips (milk or semi-sweet)

Spray 8x8 pan with cooking spray. Sprinkle nuts on bottom. Melt butter, add brown sugar. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring often, using wooden spoon. Boil for 7 minutes stirring constantly. Pour mixture over nuts. Spread evenly with wooden spoon. Sprinkle chocolate chips over mixture. Cover and allow to melt. (A few minutes) Use spatula and spread melted chocolate over candy. Allow to cool, then break into pieces.

FOR SASHA

Taco Soup

2 lbs ground beef (browned and drained)
1 large onion chopped
1 15 oz. can ranch style beans (undrained)
1 15 oz can black beans (undrained)
1 15 oz can whole kernel corn (drained)
1 1.25 oz pkg Hidden Valley Ranch dressing mix
1 1.25 oz pkg taco seasoning
4 cups water
1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes (undrained)
2 cloves minced garlic (OR tablespoon of minced garlic that comes in a jar)
1 jalapeno seeded and chopped

Combine all and simmer in a large pot for 45 min. to 1 hour. Cover the pot if you want it more soupy or leave uncovered for a thicker stew.

This is for Bernice:

Peppermint Bar

Base:
½ c margarine
2 eggs
1 c sugar
1 tsp salt
½ tsp peppermint extract
2 squares unsweetened chocolate
½ c flour

Melt margarine and chocolate. Remove from heat and add beaten eggs and beat well. Add sugar, peppermint, flour and salt. Beat well. Pour onto greased 9”x9” pan. Bake @ 350° for 20 minutes. Cool.

2nd Layer:
1 c icing sugar
2 heaping Tbsp margarine
1 Tbsp milk
1 Tbsp peppermint extract
few drops of green food coloring if desired Mix sugar and margarine until smooth. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Spread on base layer and cool until set.

Top Layer:
2 squares semi-sweet chocolate
2 Tbsp margarine
Melt together. Cool slightly and drizzle over 2nd layer.
Best if made the day before, covered well, then it will turn fudgey.

Donna

For Sasha the Humbled

Taco Soup

Brown and drain:
1 lb. ground beef
1 small onion, chopped

Add:
1 pkg. dry taco seasoning
2 - 15 oz. cans pinto beans, undrained
2 - 15 oz. cans diced tomatoes, undrained
1 lb. Velveeta cheese, cubed
1 - 16 oz. container sour cream

Combine ingredients and cook in crockpot at low heat for 5-6 hours. Serve with tortilla chips. This is my daughter-in- law’s recipe and is a big favorite with all.

Cindy in Nebraska

you can view this newsletter on the web at
http://www.realfood 4realpeople. com/RF4RP09/ v11157.htm

http://www.thesimpledollar.com

15 Uses for Incredibly Inexpensive White Vinegar

Posted: 16 Dec 2009 12:00 PM PST

One of the best bargains in your local grocery store is plain old white vinegar. You can get a 32 ounce jug of it (half a gallon) for about $1.50 and it has a multitude of uses beyond the edible ones (like pickles and salad dressings). Here are fifteen uses for white vinegar, most of which I use myself.

Toilet cleaner Got a toilet bowl that’s difficult to clean? Before you go to bed, dump a cup of vinegar in the bowl, then close the lid. I usually spread the vinegar around the bowl a bit with a brush to coat the sides. In the morning, the whole bowl will be really easy to brush. I can’t remember the last time I bought actual toilet bowl cleaner.

Refrigerator cleaner I take a gallon of warm water in a bowl, add about two cups of vinegar, bust out a rag, and use that solution to clean the inside of the refrigerator. It does a great job of cleaning things up without much effort at all. If something’s really bad, I’ll put a tablespoon or so of pure vinegar right on it, let it sit for a bit, then give it a scrub.

Sunburn Is your skin a bit sunburnt? Just rub some vinegar on the affected area and it’ll feel much better really quickly. If it’s bad, you can reapply the vinegar a few times.

Kitchen drain odors If your kitchen drain has an odd smell, pour a cup of white vinegar down the drain, then don’t run any water for at least an hour. When you do run water, run quite a bit of it to flush out the drain. This usually takes care of any odors – if any still linger, repeat this a time or two.

Fabric softener Instead of using fabric softener, use about half a cup of white vinegar. It has largely the same effect without coating your clothes in chemicals and costs a lot less.

Rusty tools Just soak anything that’s rusty in vinegar overnight, then clean it thoroughly with a brush. The rust will wipe away nearly as well as it does with any expensive rust remover I’ve ever tried.

Vinyl flooring If you have a vinyl floor that needs cleaned, mop using equal amounts of water and vinegar. This works really well for getting up stains, especially if you go over it twice. Don’t do this with wood or wood laminate, however, because vinegar can react with the wood.

Window cleaning Forget Windex. Just put some vinegar in a spray bottle and get to work on any glass surfaces. It works really well and doesn’t seem to streak much at all.

Eyeglass cleaner If you use eyeglass cleaner, just take an empty container and fill it with vinegar. It cuts through grease on your lenses really well, leaving them looking great!

Microwave cleaning Put a cup of vinegar in the microwave, then run the microwave on high for three minutes. Let it sit undisturbed for half an hour, then remove the cup. The gunk in your microwave will be very easy to wipe down.

Carpet odors Did your dog do something funky on the carpet (or your toddler, for that matter – yes, I have used this tip to clean up some early potty training accidents)? Pour half a cup of vinegar on the spot that smells and just let it dry. This will kill off the odor and it’ll also make it easier to clean any stains.

Garbage disposal odors If your garbage disposal smells a bit odd, vinegar alone usually won’t do the trick because it doesn’t get into all of the cracks and crevasses in there. Instead, fill up an ice cube tray with vinegar and put it in the freezer until you have vinegar ice cubes. Toss those cubes into the disposal and run the disposal for five seconds or so (with water). Then let it sit for an hour or two, then run it again. This always works for us.

Air freshener Got that spray bottle of vinegar from the window cleaning? Spritz it in the air a few times to kill general odors. It smells vaguely vinegary for the first minute, then it just smells clean.

Nasty air Got a room that really reeks of smoke or paint fumes? Put a bowl of vinegar in there and just let it sit. If the room’s really bad, put out two or three bowls. The odor in the room will drastically improve in a few hours.

Whitening clothes Put a cup of white vinegar in a load of whites along with a quarter of a cup of baking soda. This will whiten your whites as effectively as bleach without the harshness.

These uses just scratch the surface. Whenever there’s a cleaning mission in my home, I usually tackle it with vinegar and baking soda as the first line of defense.

Homestyle Cheesy Veggies
Posted by: “Marsha”

Homestyle Cheesy Veggies

2 16-oz. pkgs. frozen mixed vegetables
10-3/4 oz. can cream of mushroom soup
8-oz. pkg. pasteurized processed cheese spread, cubed
8-oz. can sliced water chestnuts, drained
salt and pepper to taste

Cook vegetables according to package directions; drain and set aside. Heat
soup and cheese together until cheese melts; spoon into a 2-quart casserole
dish.

Mix in vegetables, water chestnuts, salt and pepper; bake at 350 degrees for
20 to 30 minutes. Serves 10 to 12.

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3. Glazed Cranberries
Posted by: “Rhonda G”

From the Better-Recipes. com website...

~~~~~

Glazed Cranberries

2 cups of cranberries
1 cup of sugar
1/2 cup of water
Pinch cream of tartar

Mix all of the ingredients together. Place in open casserole. Bake in 325ºF. oven for approximately 1 hour until glazed.

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4. Creamy Cranberry Salad
Posted by: “Rhonda G”

This was posted by Judy Rhondas_Recipe_Exchange (group is closed)

~~~~~

3 cups fresh or frozen cranberries, thawed and coarsely chopped
1 can (20-ozs.) unsweetened crushed pineapple, drained
2 cups miniature marshmellows
1 medium apple, chopped
Sugar substitute equivalent to 1/2 cup sugar
1/8 tsp. salt
1 carton (8-ozs.) frozen reduced-fat whipped topping, thawed
1/4 cup chopped walnets

In a large bowl, combine the cranberries. pineapple, marshmellows,
apple, sugar substitute and salt. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
Just before serving, fold in the whipped topping and walnuts._._,_.___
.

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5a. Toffee
Posted by: “sherri

Ingredients
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 lb butter
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions
1.In an 11 x 17 cookie sheet or jelly roll pan (needs to have sides), sprinkle 1/2 cup of the chopped nuts.
2.Place all remaining ingredients except nuts and chocolate chips in a heavy skillet. Turn heat to high and cook stirring constantly until the mixture is the color of honey (about 7 - 10 minutes).
3.Poor mixture into the cookie sheet or jelly roll pan. Let stand for approximately one minute and then sprinkle the chocolate chips over the top.
4.Let stand until chocolate chips have softened (about 5 - 10 minutes), then spread the chocolate over the mixture and sprinkle with the rest of the chopped nuts.
5.Let it cool until the chocolate isn’t sticky (about 2 hours), then break into pieces. It keeps for weeks if stored in a cool, dry place, but trust me it won’t last that long!

To visit group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RecipesLostandFound/

Understanding Sore Throat - Treatment

What Are the Treatments?
Since most sore throats from infections are due to viruses, antibiotics —
used for bacteria — are not usually needed to speed recovery from a sore
throat. Some sore throats, such as that with strep throat, do require an
antibiotic. Check with your doctor to be sure.
At-Home Remedies
* Get plenty of rest and drink a lot of fluids.
* Take Tylenol (acetaminophen) or ibuprofen for pain relief.
* Suck on a zinc lozenge. The jury is still out, but some studies
show zinc can relieve sore throats and other cold symptoms.
* Gargle with warm salt water (1 teaspoon of salt per glass of
water).
* Suck on throat lozenges or hard candy.
* Suck on frozen treats (such as Popsicles).
* Use a humidifier.
* To help relieve the pain, apply a warm heating pad or compress to
your throat. You can also try a warm chamomile poultice: Mix 1 tablespoon
dried chamomile flowers into 1 or 2 cups boiling water; steep for five
minutes, then strain. Soak a clean cloth or towel in the tea, wring it out, then
apply to your throat. Remove the cloth when it becomes cold. Repeat as
often as necessary.
* A salt plaster may also help provide relief. Mix 2 cups sea salt
with 5 to 6 tablespoons lukewarm water. The salt should be damp, but not wet.
Place the salt in the center of a dishtowel, then roll the towel along the
longer side. Wrap the towel around your neck; cover it with another dry
towel. Leave on for as long as you wish.
* Try steam inhalations to ease the pain. Run very hot water in a
sink. With a towel draped over your head to trap the steam, lean over the sink
while the hot water is running. Breathe deeply through your mouth and nose
for 5 to 10 minutes. Repeat several times a day. Always be careful not to
burn yourself with the hot water or steam

To visit group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NativeAmericanVoiceForHealth/

http://www.stretcher.com/stories/00/000214n.cfm

Q I have a daughter who is milk allergic and can tolerate soy milk. Do you happen to have any suggestions on how I can save money on our grocery bill?

A Soy and rice milk can be an expensive addition to the grocery bill. We have found it on sale at health food stores. Most health food stores put out monthly flyers much like the sale flyers for regular grocery stores. I watch these for sales and stock up on it and store them since they last awhile (check the “use by” date).

Regular grocery stores are catching on to the health bandwagon and are often carrying them and putting them on sale as well.

The last alternative is to make the milk yourself. It has a different taste, but you can do it if you wish. Here’s a recipe to try:

Soy Milk

* 1 cup soybeans, soaked overnight
* 7 cups water
* pinch salt
* 1 T honey
* Vanilla

Rinse soybeans in very hot water. Bring water to a boil, then reduce heat. Pour 1 cup of the soaked beans and 2 cups of water into the blender at a time. Blend for about 1 minute per batch. Strain the bean pulp. I use a fine mesh stainless steel strainer, and then strain again in an ultra fine mesh strainer. You could also use a coffee filter or cheesecloth for the last strain. Flavor the milk with salt and honey (or whatever sweetener). Add a few drops of vanilla to taste. Store in the refrigerator.

Q My children really enjoy eating Nutri-Grain bars but they are quite expensive. Do you happen to have a recipe for making these.
Thanks, Tracy Q.

A Here is a recipe for a similar bar.

Semi-Nutragrain Bars

* 1 package yellow cake mix
* 1 1/2 cup rolled oats
* 3/4 cup melted butter
* 12 ounces jam or other filling
* 1 T. water

Mix cake mix, oats and butter. Press half of the mix into a 9x13 greased pan. Mix jam and water and spread over the mix. Add the remaining mix on top and bake for 20 minutes at 375. Before cutting, cool completely.

Variations: Use a strawberry cake mix with strawberry jam as the filling, or use a chocolate cake mix with peanut butter and marshmallow cream as the filling.

Jonni McCoy is the author of “Miserly Moms-Living On One Income In A Two Income Economy” and “Frugal Families-Making The Most Of Your Hard Earned Money!”

Visit the Miserly Moms Website at http://www.miserlymoms.com

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