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How To Survive Influenza A

March 8, 2011 By 1 Comment

I have been missing in action lately.  The culprit?  A kid with Influenza A started it all.   The fever, the cough and the headache have persisted for days.  Last night kid two had a fever and now I have a headache and achy chest that just won’t stop.  The only unaffected is at work for the day.

So what are we doing to survive.  Can you say Netflix?  I love Netflix anyway whether I am sick or not but there is something simply lovely about not moving when you feel like crud. Jess and I are half way through a season of Veronica Mars.  A cup of Russian Tea tops off the chance at comfort.

So what do you do to survive feeling like crud?

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How to Make Russian Tea Mix

February 22, 2011 By 1 Comment

One of my favorite things to have when I am chilly is a cup of Russian Tea.  I suppose it comes from my mother when I was little she would occassionally spoil me with a sweet and spicy cup of this delightful mix.  While I remember her jar being much smaller than mine we seem to have to keep a 1/2 gallon jar of mix around because the boys love to make a cup here and there as well.  If you need a new warm beverage this is really one you should give a try!

Russian Tea How to Make Russian Tea Mix

Russian Tea Mix

Ingredients for Russian Tea Mix

  • 2 cups Tang
  • 1 cup sweetened Lemonade Mix
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup Instant Tea
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon cloves

Place all ingredients into a bowl or 1/2 gallon mason jar.  Mix ingredients thoroughly and store in an airtight container. 

To Use Russian Tea Mix

Place 2 tablespoons mix into a cup of boiling water and enjoy!

Filed Under: food, how-to, Uncategorized

How to Dry Mushrooms and Use Them

January 25, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Drying mushrooms is a simple and easy way to preserve a basic cooking ingredient.  I like to watch the reduced produce in the grocery store and mushrooms are one of those that I know I can grab the entire lot if it is reduced to a great price.  Knowing I won’t need to use them right away but instead rinse and lay out on my dehydrator trays makes for easy storage.

mushrooms 300x225 How to Dry Mushrooms and Use Them

An 8 ounce tub of mushrooms will cover one tray on my American Harvester dehydrator.  My dehydrator isn’t huge by any means but I am blessed enough to have a good friend that I can borrow an extra one from if I have a large load of something to work on.  Filling two trays gives me about one half a quart sized zipper baggie of dried mushrooms.

dried shrooms 300x225 How to Dry Mushrooms and Use Them

Now that you  have dried mushrooms in just a couple hours (times vary depending on your dehydrator) what are you going to use them for.

I tend to crumble mine and use them in casseroles, soups or to make homemade Cream of Mushroom soup mix.  The ideas are limitless but the great thing is having dried foods on hand makes easy storage.  For things I am keeping a little longer I use my FoodSaver How to Dry Mushrooms and Use Themand seal either a jar or a bag to keep dehydrated items fresher.

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Hula Hoop Wreath How To

December 7, 2010 By Leave a Comment

howtobanner1 Hula Hoop Wreath How To

This is a great project for your older children to do in efforts to help decorate the home for Christmas.  My twelve year old son accomplished this by himself easily and did one two year ago with minimal help.

Shopping List for a Hula Hoop Wreath

  • 1 Hula Hoop
  • Tinsel (amounts will depend on how many colors used but go for at least 3 small packages)
  • Clear Packing Tape
  • 1 Holiday Bow

How to Assemble a Hula Hoop Wreath

1 300x225 Hula Hoop Wreath How To

In the first step you are going to wrap a bit of tinsel around the hula hoop and secure with a small piece of clear packing tape.  We tried just tying the tinsel on once but it just didn’t seem to stay in place making the wrapping more difficult later.

hula hoop 2 300x184 Hula Hoop Wreath How To

Now you are going to begin winding the tinsel around the hula hoop as shown.  We find the easiest way to do this is to have someone hold the hoop and bring the tinsel pile over and under the hoop.  If only one person is doing the project however you can easily pick up the hoop and flip it over then move the tinsel for each wrap.  (Shhh but it can keep a bored child occupied for awhile)

hula hoop 3 300x250 Hula Hoop Wreath How To

This is at about the halfway point.  Keep in mind the bulkier the tinsel the fuller your wreath will be.  Make sure to keep each wrap close to the previous ones so there are no gaps exposing the hula hoop.

hula hoop 4 300x225 Hula Hoop Wreath How To

Okay the hoop is completely wrapped.  Now you can decide to cover with a colored tinsel, lights or just put a bow on it for a very simple look.

wreath 300x273 Hula Hoop Wreath How To

Kyle choose to add a little colored tinsel and a bow to this wreath.  He brought it to a neighbor who has it hanging in a large picture window.  It makes for a cheery display.

candy cane hula hoop 300x293 Hula Hoop Wreath How To

This is one Kyle make for me.  I love the candy cane appearance of it.  It hangs just above my front porch.

Just a couple tips to make this project frugal.

  1. Check the thrift stores for tinsel.  We got a garbage bag full at the Goodwill for only $2.00  there was enough to do at least four hoops in it.
  2. Hula hoops can be found at the dollar store at times but they do come in various sizes.  Try using other round objects like old grapevine wreaths or styrofoam wreaths.

Have you made a great project lately?  I would love to check it out.  Leave a link in the comments.

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How To Tuesday: Making Vanilla Chai

September 28, 2010 By 2 Comments

howtobanner1 How To Tuesday: Making Vanilla Chai

 

A while back I posted a picture of my Vanilla Chai for Wordless Wednesday.  I have received a couple of questions about how I make it so I thought I would take some pictures on my last batch for you all.

The igredient list is simple…

chai bigelow 300x199 How To Tuesday: Making Vanilla Chaichai latte ingred 199x300 How To Tuesday: Making Vanilla Chai

I use 1 quart of water, 3 bags of Bigelow Vanilla Chai, 4 oz of skim milk and 4 oz of skinny vanilla latte.  I simmer them altogether in a pot over medium heat until the bags are brewed and you have a nice milky caramel color to the tea.

chai tea 300x181 How To Tuesday: Making Vanilla Chai

On occasion I have something crazy happen like a broken tea bag and I need to strain the tea before I put it in a jar.  Using a funnel and a coffee filter this slow process cleans up my tea from any floating leaves.

chai strain 225x300 How To Tuesday: Making Vanilla Chai

The recipe gives me just enough tea for a quart jar and a cup steaming and ready to drink.  If it is not sweet enough for you feel free to add a teaspoon of honey to each cup upon reheating.  This will easy keep in the fridge for a week unless it becomes a habit for you like it is for me!

chai in cup 249x300 How To Tuesday: Making Vanilla Chai

So grab your favorite cup and relax with a cup of my favorite Vanilla Chai.  Yum!

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