Betty's Tips

OLD FASHIONED COUNTRY POT ROAST ~ FROM GRAM

POT ROAST

(300 degree oven)
• 3 ½ or 4 lb. rump or chuck roast
• 3 or 4 baking potatoes
• 4 large carrots about 1” in diameter
• 4 large yellow onions or 12 small onions
• 3 stalks of celery
• 1 cup sliced mushrooms (optional)
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 envelope of onion soup mix
• 1 – 2 tbs. soy sauce
• ½ cup of water
• 1/4 cup of red, dry wine

Line a roasting pan or a Dutch Oven with tin foil and bring the tin foil up high enough so you can wrap it over & around the vegetables and the roast that will be placed on top of the veggies.

Cut the vegetables in quarters, put in the Dutch Oven/roasting pan that has enough length of the tin foil to roll up and cover the roast; you can crisscross the tin foil in the pan.

Put the following over the vegetables:
• 1-2 tbs. of soy sauce
• ½ cup of water
• ¼ cup of red, dry wine
• 1 bay leaf

Place the roast on top of the veggies, fat side up. Do not brown the roast first
Rub the top and all 4 sides of the roast with corn starch, be generous with the corn starch (but don’t go crazy). Mix up the dry onion soup mix and sprinkle it over the entire roast & veggies.

Close the ends of the tin foil over the roast & veggies so that it is tight. Cover the Dutch Oven/roasting pan, place into a preheated 300 degree oven and bake for 4 ½ to 5 hours.

Lift meat to cutting board, let sit for about 5 minutes or so for the juices to settle back into the meat. Mean while lift the veggies out and place into a bowl, cover to keep them warm.

Drain all juices into the Dutch Oven/roasting pan to make the gravy.
• Add 3/4 – 1 cup or more of water (don’t use too much or your gravy will be weak)
• Bring to a boil and thicken with corn starch for desired consistency.

Enjoy! Bon Appetite ~ Ellie

Tetanus Shots Available at Pharmacies

This tip was sent in by a followers of this blog. He needed a tetanus shot and got the run-around from Doctors when trying to find a location to get the shot. They wouldn’t see him unless he was a regular patient – not even for a shot. Long-story-short he discovered that his local pharmacy gave the Tetanus Vaccine. Who would have known?! This is truly new information to me and a great tip to know so I’m sending it along to you.

Check your local Walgreens, CVS, Walmart or other Pharmacy for more information.

The many uses of Hydrogen Peroxide

The benefits of that plain little old bottle of 3% peroxide you can get for under $2.00 at any drug store. (seen on the internet)

Take one capful (the little white cap that comes with the bottle) and hold in your mouth for 10 minutes daily, then spit it out. (I do it when I bathe.) No more canker sores and your teeth will be whiter without expensive pastes. Use it instead of mouthwash. (small print says mouth wash and gargle right on the bottle).
Let your toothbrushes soak in a cup of “Peroxide” to keep them free of germs.
Clean your counters, table tops with peroxide to kill germs and leave a fresh smell. Simply put a little on your dish rag when you wipe, or spray it on the counters.
After rinsing off your wooden cutting board, pour peroxide on it to kill salmonella and other bacteria.
A friend had a fungus on their feet for years – until they sprayed a 50/50 mixture of peroxide and water on them (especially the toes) every night and let dry.
Soak any infections or cuts in 3% peroxide for five to ten minutes several times a day. My husband has seen gangrene that would not heal with any medicine, but was healed by soaking in peroxide.
Fill a spray bottle with a 50/50 mixture of peroxide and water and keep it in every bathroom to disinfect without harming your septic system like bleach or most other disinfectants will.
Tilt your head back and spray into nostrils with your 50/50 mixture whenever you have a cold, or plugged sinuses. It will bubble and help to kill the bacteria. Hold for a few minutes then blow your nose into a tissue.
If you have a terrible toothache and cannot get to a dentist right away, put a capful of 3% peroxide into your mouth and hold it for ten minutes several times a day. The pain will lessen greatly.
And of course, if you like a natural look to your hair, spray the 50/50 solution on your wet hair after a shower and comb it through. You will not have the peroxide burnt blonde hair like the hair dye packages, but more natural highlights if your hair is a light brown, faddish, or dirty blonde. It also lightens gradually so it’s not a drastic change.
Put half of a bottle of peroxide in your bath to help rid boils, fungus, or other skin infections.
You can also add a cup of peroxide instead of bleach to a load of whites in your laundry to whiten them. If there is blood on clothing, pour directly on the soiled spot. Let it sit for a minute, then rub it and rinse with cold water. Repeat if necessary.
Some people use peroxide to clean mirrors with, and there is no smearing which is why I love it so much for this. I could go on and on. It is a little brown bottle no home should be without! With prices of most necessities rising, I’m glad there’s a way to save tons of money in such a simple, healthy manner.

Wound Healing & Cleaning

To heal a wound:

Bath tub soak with 1-3 cups of Epson salt – water must cover the wound.
Apply Goldenseal powder & cayenne powder part or Goldenseal & Slippery Elm
End with a sterile gauze pad & tape. May be done 2x day for quicker healing.

Helpful hints on wound cleaning:

Do not use alcohol when cleaning wounds,
Peroxide or a solution of povidone-iodine and water to irrigate a wound (wash it out)
If infected use a wick or a piece or strip of sterile gause to keep a wound open to drain infection out. Prevent skin from healing over before the infection is out.

Good site for using garlic as natural remedies
but it doesn’t go into how to use a garlic clove on a wound to pull infection out. Using garlic clove for wound infection is tricky because garlic burns on skin and sometimes leaves scars.

How to Store Ginger

For the freshest Ginger only peel off what you need for your recipe. You can store unpeeled Ginger in the fridge in a tightly sealed plastic bag. You can also store it in a paper towel then place in a paper bag. There are other methods for freezing it as well.

My preferred way to store ginger is to wrap it in a dry paper towel then place into a sealed plastic bag, then place it into a green veggie bag and store in your veggie drawer of your fridge. I still have some left over from Thanksgiving that is fresh.

See more ways to store and freeze ginger at wikiHow.

Cookie Basket – create your own

Strawberry Salad (Rachel Ray)

This is a modified Rachel Ray Recipe.

Ingredients:

16 ounces fresh strawberries, hulled and halved
1 small shallot
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
3 1/2 tablespoons of garlic infused olive oil
1 – 2 tablespoons of honey
Salt and pepper
3 skinless, boneless chicken breasts (about 1 1/4 pounds)
1 bag (6 oz.) baby spinach
2 ounces goat cheese log, sliced into 4 rounds (or crumbled)
1/4 bunch chives, chopped (or freeze dried)

Directions

In a blender, puree 3/4 of the strawberries (around 12 oz), the shallot, 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar, 2 tablespoons oil and the honey; season with salt and pepper.
Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper. In a large skillet, heat the remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons oil over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook, turning once, until cooked through, about 8 minutes; transfer to a plate and tent with foil.
Meanwhile, add the remaining strawberries, 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar and 1/4 cup water to the skillet and simmer, stirring, until the berries are warmed through, about 1 minute.
In a large bowl, toss the spinach with the strawberry vinaigrette and divide among 4 plates. Slice the chicken breasts 1/4 inch thick and place on top with the warm strawberries, goat cheese and chives; season with salt and pepper.

Rattlesnake Vaccination

There is a rattlesnake vaccination for dogs. It technically works better in cats but as of now it is not available through vets.

A decision to vaccinate your dog should balance the risk and consequence of a venomous snakebite with the risk and consequence of vaccination. We recommend that you talk with your veterinarian about these risks.

If your dog is bitten by a rattlesnake then get them to the vet ASAP as it is an emergency – even if they already had the vaccine. Six weeks after being bitten your vet may administer the rattlesnake vaccination.

More information from Red Rock Biologics and Veterinary Pet Insurance.

Here are some tips from Cesar Millan on Avoiding Snakes:

Keep your dog on a leash in areas where snakes may reside — woods, marshes, grasslands, and near bodies of water. While in these areas especially, it’s crucial to keep an eye on your dog at all times. Don’t allow her to dig through dirt or riffle through leaves where snakes may be hiding.
When hiking and exploring outside, stick to paved trails where the visibility is better.
Avoid hiking or walking through snake-infested areas at night. Many types of snakes, including varieties of rattlesnakes, tend to be more active once the sun has set.
If your dog becomes startled by something, back away until you know what exactly he has encountered. If you hear a warning “hiss” or “rattling” sound, slowly retreat from the area as this could be a rattlesnake’s way of telling you to back off.

Hot Pepper Hand – Cure

I picked all of these lovely hot peppers from my Gardens last October and then cut them up. I handled all of them with bare hands and after I was done I felt like I had a horrible chemical burn that just stung very badly.

I tried Aloe Vera, several creams, cold water, ice, etc but got the most relief from soaking my hands in whole milk!

More Tips: use veggie oil, rubbing alcohol (or vodka), or a baking soda paste

Better Tip: wear food gloves when handling a massive quantity of hot peppers!

How to Freeze Eggs

Whole Eggs: Mix the yolks and egg whites together. Then, pour the egg mixture into an ice cube tray, and freeze. Two cubes is the equivalent of one whole egg.

Egg Yolks: To prevent thickening, stir in half a teaspoon of salt (or one and a half tablespoons of sugar, if the eggs will be used in desserts) for every one cup of yolks. Pour into ice cube trays and freeze. One cube is the equivalent of two egg yolks.

Egg Whites: No special prep is required. Just pour the whites into an ice cube tray, and freeze. One cube is the equivalent of one egg white.

More Cube Equivalents:
2 cubes = 1/4 cup
4 cubes = 1/2 cup
6 cubes = 3/4 cup
8 cubes =1 cup

Using Frozen Eggs: Allow eggs to thaw in the refrigerator for a day before using.

Eggs will keep in the freezer for up to a year.

Clever Tips & More...