Where Were You on 9/11?

I have tried not to allow the events of September 11, 2001 define who I am and who I will become. However, with all the talk around the 10th anniversary of that fateful day it is hard not to think about that day and how it has affected us. My thoughts could literally be written down in a book and I am sure everyone has their own compelling story about the events of that day and the days and years that have followed.

I was living in Montana and managing a hotel. I was on my way to work and stopped off for a semi-daily cup of coffee at a local supermarket, when a girl said to me “There he goes again, George W. has got us in another war”. I had no idea what she was talking about (I'm still not quite sure what she was getting at) – I didn't normally turn on the TV at home while I was getting ready for work. The cashier said that a plane crashed into one of the World Trade Center buildings.

When I got to work at the hotel the TV was on and the second plane had just hit and the stations were showing and reshowing the plane hitting the building. All the guests had come to the lobby for breakfast and everyone was glued to the news in a state of shock. Then they showed people either jumping or falling out of the windows and that is when it really hit me. These people had no other

How to Make Your Own Drain Clog Remover

Make your own drain clog remover with supplies most homes already have. Why spend more money on toxic drain openers or a plumber. Most clogs and slow drains can be cleared with inexpensive ingredients you have in your kitchen.

You can make your own drain opener for a fraction of the cost of using the commercial variety. Here's what you need:

Household Ingredients Used:

A pot of boiling water
1 cup of vinegar
1 cup baking soda


Directions for Drain Cleaner: Place pot of water on high to boil and add one cup of baking soda and one cup of vinegar to the boiling water. The mixture will fizz begin to fizz. Pour the mixture down the clogged or slow drain. The action of the fizzing from the combination of vinegar and baking soda will dissolve any greasy or fatty clogs in your drain. Allow some time for the mixture to work on the clog, then flush the drain with tap water.

I prefer to use these household ingredients over the more expensive caustic chemicals that are used in store bought or industrial strength clog removers. The benefits are a home free of dangerous chemicals and a healthier and safer home for you and your family. If you have small kids or pets in the house, it is much safer for them. You may avoid a catastrophic poisoning.

How to avoid clogs from grease and grime build up - First it is important to dispose of grease by allowing it to cool and placing it in an empty disposable container that is easily sealed. You can store the container in the refrigerator until it is full and then dispose of through your community grease and oil recycling programs (if you are lucky enough to have one).


How to maintain your pipes grease free - Once a week pour a pot of boiling water down the drain. This will flush the pipes of any new grease build-up. If you have a more serious clog, it may require a plumber snake or a professional plumber. Therefore maintenance is always the preferred solution to drain clogs.

Curry Powder Spice Blend

I love curries. I also enjoy making my own food, so of course I make my own curry at times. Here is one recipe for curry that I use. What is great about curry is that every recipe varies and are passed down from generation to generation. If this is not a tradition of your family (it was not of mine), then try this recipe and make some alterations and make it your own.

5 tablespoons ground coriander seeds
3 tablespoons ground cumin seeds
2 tablespoon ground turmeric
2 teaspoons dry mustard
2 teaspoons ground ginger
2 teaspoons ground fenugreek seeds
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoons ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground chili pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves



Combine all the ingredients and blend well. Place in an airtight, resealable container. A good place to store your spice mix is in the freezer if you have room. Just be sure not to store your spices above your stove, the heat from the stove will drastically reduce the shelf life of your spices as well as other food items.

Are you looking for some great Indian recipes. 1000 Indian recipes Click Here!

5 Spice Powder

Five spice powder is a commonly used spice in Asian cooking. It encompasses the five different tastes of sweet, sour, bitter, salty and pungent. It helps to liven up food and is used commonly in cooking of pork, duck and other fatty meats. It is also used often in fried rice dishes.

3 tablespoons cinnamon
6 star anise or 2 teaspoons anise seeds
1 1/2 teaspoons fennel seeds
1 1/2 teaspoons whole black peppercorns
3/4 teaspoon ground cloves

Place all spices in a blender, spice mill, or coffee grinder until of powdery consistency. Use as you would 5 spice powder in your recipes. The freshness of home blended spice mixes is superior to store bought mixes.

I always enjoy making my mixes fresh.  Another spice mix I use a lot is my curry blend.

Photo by Blackberrylaw (Troy Pickard) [CC-BY-SA-2.5 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons

Italian Spice Blend

Here's a spicey Italian blend of herbs and spices for all your Italian dishes. Typical herbs and spices in Italian blends are oregano, garlic, basil, rosemary, thyme, and marjoram. The red pepper flakes turn up the heat in this recipe but can be adjusted to taste. All these flavors blend to make up the complex, delicious taste of Italian food.

Ingredients
2 tablespoons dried basil
2 tablespoons dried marjoram
2 tablespoons dried parsley (optional)
1 tablespoon flaked onion (optional)
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon oregano
1 tablespoon thyme
1 tablespoon rosemary
1 tablespoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
¼ teaspoon black pepper (optional)

Blend well and place in a sealed container (preferably glass), store in a cool area. Do not store above or near the stove or the flavor will be negatively affected and will not last as long. I use this recipe which is a blend of many that I have seen and adjusted to my taste. Like any spice blend the maker can and should adjust to their own tastes, however, I would suggest trying new things that you normally would not. It has opened the vast possibilities that is what makes cooking and eating fun.

Chili Garlic Sauce is a Staple in My Kitchen

The chili garlic sauce by Huy Fong Foods is spicy but yet not overpowering heat and can be added to just about any recipe. It is a staple in my kitchen just like mayonnaise, ketchup, and mustard. I use it in stir fries, in noodles, and in just about any food that needs some added zip. It is spicy, but it is not so hot that you cannot taste the flavor of the food you are adding it to. I also like to substitute the chili garlic sauce in recipes calling for fresh red peppers or any kind of hot sauce. When trying for the first time try small amounts and increase the amount until you have the desired heat.

I have tried other chili garlic sauces that were too sour or too hot. The peppers and garlic are a perfect blend.

It stores easily in the refrigerator door and is very inexpensive. I have been able to find them in most grocery store chains, but I prefer to buy it in a specialty Asian food store it is much less expensive.

A Favorite Recipe of Mine Using Chili Garlic Sauce

Spicy Fish Sauce
2 Tablespoons shredded carrot
2 cloves of garlic - crushed
1 teaspoon chili garlic sauce
2 tablespoons sugar (divided)
2 tablespoons lemon or lime juice
1/4 cup rice vinegar
1/4 cup fish sauce
1/4 cup water


Directions:
1. Shred carrot and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon sugar, set aside.

2. mix the rest of the ingredients together. After the carrot has softened until limp add to the mixture.

Serve with egg rolls, spring rolls, grilled pork or chicken over rice.

A Blast from the Past

Today I received, out of the blue, a message about a facebook page set up for those who were stationed at the 294th USAAG in Flensburg Germany. It was fun to see all of the people that I hadn't seen in years. It made me realize that when we move on in different directions as most of us do eventually, those people don't seize to exist. I remember everyone as they were over 18 years ago. I realize that everyone's lives went on and continued in their own direction. It's also interesting to note that as much as they have changed, I have changed probably as much. I just didn't see the changes, as I have lived with myself for the past 18 years.

My memories of Flensburg are good and bad; yet I like to remember the good, fondly. Papa's Imbiss or "Papa's Pitas" as I remember it are the best Gyros' pitas I have ever had. In fact they spoiled me to eating pitas in the states. What was their secret - I would pay good money to know. Then there was the "Rathskeller" and Flensburger Pilsner - if only I could have another. It is like one of those empty longings. Shopping downtown on long Thursdays or Saturday markets. I loved buying fresh flowers at the market. Brotchen mit kasa (I apologize for my German spelling).

But we grow older and we move on.

My sister sent me these directions on diapering a baby - too funny.

Spread the diaper in the position of the diamond with you at bat. Then fold second base down to home and set the baby on the pitcher's mound. Put first base and third together, bring up home plate and pin the three together. Of course, in case of rain, you gotta call the game and start all over again. ~Jimmy Piersal, on how to diaper a baby, 1968

afterthought: I am guessing this is the only way some men would've been able to diaper a baby.

Making Invisible Ink with the Kids

It's a snowy and cold day outside and keeping the kids from going stir-crazy sometimes requires some kitchen science. Today we decided to make invisible ink. I started with a lemon and squeezed for the juice, using a paint brush we wrote some messages on some paper and set them aside to dry. We even wrote one for their father who is at work.

After the juice dried we held the paper up to some light bulbs. The heat changed the dried lemon juice to a brown color and the message appeared. It's amazing how a little science can fascinate and excite the kids. I than asked them what they thought happened to cause the writing to appear. It really is amazing to me how much children really understand the science behind what is happening around them. They just don't understand the full process.

Of course my daughter decided to make invisible bracelets for all her friend.

Other liquids that can be used for invisible ink are apple juice and vinegar