1/5/09 Worry, Children's Chores, Calendars, Plurals, Cards, Fun, Gems, Soup, Vinegar, Prayer
Posted by: jhbreneman <jhbreneman@...>
ENCOURAGEMENT TO WOMEN
Compiled especially for you with love by Lois Breneman
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1/5/09 Worry, Children's Chores, Calendars, Plurals, Cards, Fun, Gems, Soup, Vinegar, Prayer ~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~
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IN THIS ISSUE:
THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR LETTERS AND FAMILY PICTURES!
DON'T WASTE BRAIN SPACE
HOUSECLEANING
HOW I LOST 50 POUNDS IN TWO WEEKS AND GAINED A NEW LIVING ROOM!
CHILDREN'S CHORES CAN BE A DELIGHT
MEAN MOMS
FAMILY TIDBITS
THE PERPETUAL CALENDAR
AN ODE TO ENGLISH PLURALS
WHAT TO DO WITH OLD CHRISTMAS CARDS
RAINY DAY FUN
PRECIOUS GEMS FROM LITTLE ONES
A NEW BABY BOY!
EASY TACO SOUP
VINEGAR TIPS FOR THE KITCHEN
MY NEW YEAR'S PRAYER
THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR LETTERS AND FAMILY PICTURES!
I loved receiving Christmas greetings and family pictures from many of you precious ladies! Even though Christmas is over, please keep them coming! I'd love to see one or two family pictures from each one of you throughout the year at any time!
This newsletter is coming a few days later than normal, because my husband and I just returned from enjoying a week with our son's family in Ohio. Our grandson, Daniel Joel, is nine months old, and we certainly enjoyed being with him and his parents! The week was full of fun and good times, except for New Year's Day morning when my husband's left middle finger encountered the circular saw blade of Jeff's table saw, as they were working on a specially designed toy box for Daniel. It happened just after a piece of wood flew and hit him in the waist. It was just one of those unexpected accidents that happened so quickly, even though John was very experienced with table saws, having used his own for many years. So the five of us rushed off to the hospital where he was taken care of immediately. He was told to go to a larger hospital seventy miles away the next day for microsurgery, which he did, with lots of waiting. We all prayed specifically for many things regarding the surgery and quick healing. When we learned that John didn't need surgery after all, the scripture verse, Ephesians 3:20 immediately came to my mind! "Now unto Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think, according to the power which worketh in us." We are still praying for no infection to set in, as well as for a speedy recovery. It could have been a lot worse, so we were thankful for the Lord sparing his hand, and keeping John from having pain in his finger.
DON'T WASTE BRAIN SPACE
Isn't it amazing how we confess that we are believers, and yet we do not believe! We know the above Scripture, but do we truly believe it? Do we believe that God is caring for us? Do we believe God's Word in Psalm 139:17 that He is thinking about us all the time? In fact, His thoughts to us are more than the sands of the sea! If we did believe it, we would not fret and worry all the time, would we? And yet that is what we seem to do so much.
Many women spend most of their brain space worrying about this and that. What a waste! This space could be more profitably used to think positively. When we worry and think negatively, we do not help the situation. Worry makes the problem worse. Worry stifles creativity. You can't even see a way out of the problem when you worry. All you see is the problem.
Worry strangles the effectiveness of God's Word in your life and makes you unproductive. Matthew 13:22 tells us that "the worries of this life" choke the Word and we become unfruitful. In plain words, we cannot be fruitful when we worry!
The Amplified version says, "Casting the whole of your care - all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all - on Him; for He cares for you affectionately, and cares about you watchfully." God does not tell you to give some of your worries to Him. He tells you to give ALL your cares to Him. That means EVERY ONE. The big ones and the little ones. In fact, if you get into the habit of giving the little ones to Him, it will be natural to give the big ones to Him.
In Matthew 6:25-34 Jesus tells us not to worry about our life, what we should eat, what we should drink, what we should wear or what will happen tomorrow! Dear mother, you don't have to waste brain space fretting about these things. Instead, thank Him that He has promised to provide them for you.
Worry is thinking about "me," rather than trusting in God and His infallible Word. We waste a lot of valuable brain space thinking about ourselves. Many years ago, God spoke to me. His voice was so strong to my heart that it was like an audible voice. "Nancy," He said, "How can I reveal to you the needs of others if you are always thinking about yourself?" What a challenge!
If we spend all our brain space thinking about ourselves and insignificant things, we leave no room for God to bring to our mind the needs of others. Or to give us creative dreams and visions. God wants to pour out His love upon His people and those who are poor and hurting, but He has to do it through us. He looks for those whose minds have space for Him to share His secrets, His strategies and His creative answers to the problems around us. Sadly, many times our minds are so consumed with self-pity and worry that God cannot get in even a fraction of an inch to tell us about someone who needs our prayers or help.
Will you throw all your worries upon the Lord, knowing that He is caring for you? He is thinking about you and knows the answers far better than you. Trust Him to work it out. Give God room in your brain for the creative things that He wants to say to you.
PRAYER:
"Lord, I thank you that because you are thinking about me all the time, I don't have to waste my time thinking about myself. I trust you to care for me and for my family. I yield my mind to you for the important things you want to say to me. Amen."
AFFIRMATION: I am finished with fretting and regretting. I am now receiving and believing!
HOUSECLEANING
Author unknown
Last Week I threw out Worrying, it was getting old and in the way.
It kept me from being me; I couldn't do things God's way.
I threw out a book on MY PAST (didn't have time to read it anyway).
Replaced it with NEW GOALS, started reading it today.
I threw out hate and bad memories, (remember how I treasured them so)?
Got me a NEW PHILOSOPHY too, threw out the one from long ago.
Brought in some new books too, called I CAN, I WILL, AND I MUST.
Threw out I might, I think and I ought. WOW, you should've seen the dust.
I ran across an OLD FRIEND, haven't seen him in a while.
I believe his name is GOD, Yes I really like His style.
He helped me to do some cleaning and added some things Himself.
Like PRAYER, HOPE AND FAITH, Yes I placed them right on the shelf.
I picked up this special thing and placed it at the front door.
I FOUND IT- its called PEACE. Nothing gets me down anymore.
Yes, I've got my house looking nice.
Looks good around the place.
For things like Worry and Trouble, there just isn't any space.
It's good to do a little house cleaning, get rid of the things on the shelf.
It sure makes things brighter; maybe you should try it yourself.
Be blessed and be a blessing to someone else!
HOW I LOST 50 POUNDS IN TWO WEEKS AND GAINED A NEW LIVING ROOM!
Copyright (c) 2008 Pamela Cole Harris - Home And Garden Makeover - http://www.homeandgardenmakeover.com
Used by permission
OK...I was spilling over, outgrowing everything, the beautiful bits hidden under mounds of muddle and it was time past time to lose it! I thought about using dynamite to blast it away, but that was too messy and probably illegal! I thought of calling a small third world county and telling them I had more than enough if they could use some extra but that would probably cause an international crisis. So I decided to do it the hard way one step at a time. Yes, it was time to de-clutter my living room! And lest you think this a small task, let me tell you that we are talking clutter with a capital "C!"
I began by sorting through my stacks of books until I came to a book on "How to De-Clutter Your Home," which had been hidden under a book on streamlining your life and another on losing 5 pounds overnight. Armed with the book's list of suggested steps, I sat on a stack of magazines and began to read.
1. Start with three boxes one labeled "keep," one labeled "trash," and another labeled "give away."
- Now right away we have a problem. If I could put all my stuff into these three little boxes, I wouldn't HAVE a clutter problem! So I got out my industrial-sized box of trash bags, skipped the labels and with applause from my husband ( who immediately ducked to miss the flying copy of "How to Declutter Your Home" and fled a hasty retreat), I began to stuff.
2. If possible, move everything out of the room. Move back in only the items you want to keep.
- When I called my husband to help, pointing to the next item on the list from "How to Declutter Your Home," he dissolved into gales of laughter and said, "You want to put what, WHERE?" I muttered something about "where the sun don't shine," handed him a hankie to wipe his eyes, picked up the nearest pile and began to move.
3. If you are unsure about whether or not to keep items, put them in a box for 6 months. If you still haven't opened the box after six months, take it directly to a thrift store.
- Now THIS made sense - box up all my junk and put it in my husband's space and let HIM deal with it! When my husband realized - on my third trip to the garage that I was moving all my possessions, lock, stock, and silk flower arrangements to live amongst the tools, "valuable stuff," and "they don't make 'em like that anymore" treasure in his space, he well, let's put it in a less explosive term "freaked!" My copy of "How to Declutter Your Home" landed in my neighbor's yard amongst the begonias, scaring the cat and causing every dog in the neighborhood to begin a new game of "My bark is louder than your bark!"
It took two weeks, 10 trash bags, 9 boxes, two extra-large pepperoni pizzas for my husband and the dogged determination of yours truly, but I got a new, uncluttered and streamlined living room. And the 50 pounds? More than 50 pounds of "irreplaceable treasure" went to the thrift store or trash bin in the two weeks of decluttering! So I am back to my old svelte self! Now, if only I could get up enough courage to open that hall closet, I might lose another 20!
CHILDREN'S CHORES CAN BE A DELIGHT
By Malia Russell - Excerpt from the article: Delightful Delegation - Used by permission
Frequently I am asked how my children do so many chores around the house without the usual arguing and complaining seen in other children.
Part of the reason our household routines work so well, is that the older children (and mom!) do their work cheerfully. We make games and incentives out of the seemingly difficult tasks. You can see an example of this in a recent decluttering challenge we took at our house. We also have our work organized. Everyone knows which tasks are expected, depending on the day. This means I have thoughtfully considered our work for the day and have assigned portions to each child. For example, on paperwork day I examine the tasks before me and assigned some to each girl. The same is true for our errand day, kitchen day, gardening day and cleaning days.
Another thing we have done to make learning new and difficult chores a delight is to call it "Home Economics" and assigned a "teaching time" and a "final." For example, when Anne Mary was learning to use the pressure cooker at age 7, we had the first session just an observation session. The next time she was able to do parts by herself with very close supervision. The third time she did all the steps with minimal supervision. We took pictures and celebrated her passing her final. Now when I need her to prepare dinner using the pressure cooker, she will be delighted and do it with joy, with minimal supervision.
One day, I had a flashback to my childhood of the delight I found in being the Office Assistant in school. This child took the class roster to the office, used the ditto machine, and carried notes to the office. I sighed, thinking, "I need an office assistant." Then, I realized that with a little training, I could have office assistants, too. So we made a couple of new titles in our home: Office Assistant and Kitchen Manager. The Office Assistant checks the mail, answers the phone, takes messages, makes photocopies, staples, collates files, etc. The Kitchen Manager changes the numbers on the perpetual calendar, replenishes the wash clothes, sweeps after meals, and helps with dinner preparation. We mix fun jobs along with the work to make sure it is fun and rewarding. It took a little training, but very quickly they became valued and helpful assistants.
Another thing we do is use routines. Once a chore becomes a routine part of the day, it is seemingly done without effort or thought. Christina's (17) is fairly flexible. She is making her own schedule and helps when available. I have a routine that I keep to make sure I have the proper amount of time allotted for my duties. The children each have their own routines and we adjust them as needed. Because there is some redundancy in the routines, some things really only need to be done once a day, but just in case something gets missed or is rushed, it will be caught the second time around.
As a family, we have worked very hard to eliminate Chaos in its various forms: distractions, decisions, lack of delegation, determining family goals, and multiplying spiritual disciplines as I describe in my book: Chaos to Order, 25 Tools Bringing Organization to Your Home. Finally, we work very hard to apply Biblical principles throughout the day in the way we treat one another. This makes the task of delegating and sharing housework a delight, rather than a burden.
Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe. Philippians 2:14-15
What things have you done as a family to make delegation a delight instead of a drag?
Malia Russell is the blessed wife to Duncan, thankful mother to four children, ages 3-17 and an author, conference speaker and director of http://www.homemaking911.com. Visit her site for inspiration, encouragement and practical help in your roles as a godly wife, mother, homemaker or home educator. For more help with home management, see my book and audio CD: From Chaos to Order: Bringing Organization to Your Home.
MEAN MOMS
Author unknown - Thanks to Rosanne Ayers in Virginia for sending this.
Someday when my children are old enough to understand the logic that motivates a parent, I will tell them, as my "Mean Mom" told me:
I loved you enough . . to ask where you were going, with whom, and what time you would be home.
I loved you enough to be silent and let you discover that your new best friend was a creep.
I loved you enough to make you go pay for the bubble gum you had taken and tell the clerk, "I stole this yesterday and want to pay for it."
I loved you enough to stand over you for two hours while you cleaned your room, a job that should have taken 15 minutes.
I loved you enough to let you see anger, disappointment, and tears in my eyes. Children must learn that their parents aren't perfect.
I loved you enough to let you assume the responsibility for your actions even when the penalties were so harsh they almost broke my heart.
But most of all, I loved you enough . . to say NO when I knew you would hate me for it. Those were the most difficult battles of all. I'm glad I won them, because in the end, you won too. And someday when your children are old enough to understand the logic that motivates parents, you will tell them.
Was your Mom mean? I know mine was. We had the meanest mother in the whole world! While other kids ate candy for breakfast, we had to have cereal, eggs, and toast. When others had a Pepsi and a Twinkie for lunch, we had to eat sandwiches. And you can guess our mother fixed us a dinner that was different from what other kids had too.
Mother insisted on knowing where we were at all times. You'd think we were convicts in a prison.
She had to know who our friends were, and what we were doing with them. She insisted that if we said we would be gone for an hour, we would be gone for an hour or less.
We were ashamed to admit it, but she had the nerve to break the Child Labor Laws by making us work. We had to wash the dishes, make the beds, learn to cook, vacuum the floor, do laundry, empty the trash and all sorts of cruel jobs. I think she would lie awake at night thinking of more things for us to do.
She always insisted on us telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. By the time we were teenagers, she could read our minds and had eyes in the back of her head. Then, life was really tough!
Mother wouldn't let our friends just honk the horn when they drove up. They had to come up to the door so she could meet them. While everyone else could date when they were 12 or 13, we had to wait until we were 16.
Because of our mother we missed out on lots of things other kids experienced. None of us has ever been caught shoplifting, vandalizing other's property or ever arrested for any crime. It was all her fault.
Now that we have left home, we are all educated, honest adults. We are doing our best to be mean parents just like Mom was. I think that is what's wrong with the world today. It just doesn't have enough "Mean Moms!"
FAMILY TIDBITS
Good News: Married Parents, Church Attendance Spell Success for Kids
Read this story at http://www.citizenlink.org/content/A000008898.cfm.
Stories and news clips like this are what CitizenLink, a ministry of Focus on the Family, is all about! It is a great resource to help keep Christians informed about topics that affect our families and our world. Let me recommend that you subscribe to their free e-mails at http://www.citizenlink.org. Keep informed!
Life on the Edge, a book by Dr. James Dobson, answers many of life's probing questions. This book is recommended for teens and young adults. One of the best and most practical books available!
"Find Your True Beauty" For Teen Girls ~ http://www.FindYourTrueBeauty.com Your teen daughters may want to receive a free newsletter from Shelley Hitz. http://www.teen-beauty-tips.com/ Shelley's book, based on God's Word, Am I Beautiful? answers a lot of questions teen girls have about themselves.
Resources For Teen Guys and Gals - http://christianteens.about.com - Helpful topics for teens and parents!
How Christian Teens Can Be Honest With a Friend - The Bible tells Christian teens to be honest, but sometimes telling the truth is tough. How can Christian teens be honest, but also be a good friend?
How Christian Teens Can Get Along with Mom and Dad
What the Bible Says About... Astrology
THE PERPETUAL CALENDAR
Studying a perpetual calendar is interesting! If you dont know the day of the week on which you entered the world, this is how you can find out. If you have saved some special calendars, because of the beautiful scenic pictures, cute babies or animals, you can squeeze another year out of them! I know this isnt a great money-saving tip, but it is a way of using nice calendars that you may have filed away.
For This Year . . . . . You can use an identical calendar from these past years.
2009 1998 1987
2010 1999 1993
2011 2005 1994
2012 1984 1956
2013 2002 1991
2014 2003 1986
2015 2009 1998
AN ODE TO ENGLISH PLURALS
Compliments of Bill's PunchLine by Bill Rayburn - [email protected]
If you or your children get frustrated with the English language and spelling, here's why!
We'll begin with a box, and the plural is boxes / But the plural of ox becomes oxen, not oxes. / One fowl is a goose, but two are called geese, / Yet the plural of moose should never be meese. / You may find a lone mouse or a nest full of mice, / Yet the plural of house is houses, not hice. / If the plural of man is always called men, / Why shouldn't the plural of pan be called pen? / If I speak of my foot and show you my feet, / And I give you a boot, would a pair be called beet? / If one is a tooth and a whole set are teeth, / Why shouldn't the plural of booth be called beeth?
Then one may be that, and three would be those, / Yet hat in the plural would never be hose, / and the plural of cat is cats, not cose. / We speak of a brother and also of brethren, / but though we say mother, we never say methren. / Then the masculine pronouns are he, his and him, / but imagine if the feminine were: she, shis and shim!
Let's face it ... English is a crazy language.
There is no egg in eggplant nor ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in pineapple. English muffins weren't invented in England.
We take English for granted, but if we explore its paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square, and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig. And why is it that writers write but fingers don't fing, grocers don't groce and hammers don't ham?
Doesn't it seem crazy that you can make amends but not one amend. If you have a bunch of odds and ends and get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it? If teachers taught, why didn't preachers praught? If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat?
Sometimes I think all the folks who grew up speaking English should be committed to an asylum for the verbally insane. In what other language do people recite at a play and play at a recital? We ship by truck but send cargo by ship. We have noses that run and feet that smell. We park in a driveway and drive in a parkway.
And how can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites? You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which your house can burn up as it burns down, in which you fill in a form by filling it out, and in which an alarm goes off by going on.
And in closing, if father is pop, how come mother's not mop?
WHAT TO DO WITH OLD CHRISTMAS CARDS
Each evening at dinnertime, how about praying for one or two families who sent you Christmas cards? Then why not get a jump on next year's Christmas by having fun going through your old cards and making gift tags with your family? Each year the secretary at the architectural engineering firm where my husband works saves the cards for me that would otherwise be thrown out. That's because years ago I asked if she would save them for me, knowing they do toss them. Their cards are fancy with lots of gold, silver and glitter, and they make beautiful gift tags, as many in our own Christmas card basket will as well.
Refer back to the Christmas newsletter, "Fun Gifts to Make ~ Easy on the Budget" for directions on making cake candles with cards - Christmas or all occasion cards. You may get inspired to think and plan ahead to make gifts for the coming year. With the downturn in our economy, making quality gifts that others can use and enjoy is just one way to trim the budget.
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RAINY DAY FUN 1. Muffin-Cup Flower Garden 2. Letter Puzzles 3. Marble Painting 4. Tornado in a Jar 5. Lip Print Pictures 6. Egg in a Bottle 7. Tongue Twisters 8. Beach Purse 9. Fingerprint Critters 10. Conversation |
PRECIOUS GEMS FROM LITTLE ONES
Jalisa Wenger in Pennsylvania shared the following four quotes from her two children, Sheri, 4, and Matthew, 2 1/2:
Once Sheri asked me if "angels have legs?" and if "chickens like to swim?"
One evening Sheri and I were talking about Heaven etc. She was wondering if her dresses are going to burn and the floor and various things (from a former conversation).... I told her "yes, but well be going up to Heaven and we wont need these things any more." And that well be seeing Jesus and Heaven and we wont see it burning. I told her Jesus will have a new long white dress for her! She was excited about that! (She had told me before already that she wants to go to Heaven and I told her she must wait until Jesus tells her its her turn.) A little later she told me, "Im waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting..." And when I asked her for what...she promptly said, "to go to Heaven!"
Matthew has a very broad vocabulary and its quite interesting to listen! After we caught a mouse in a trap in our family room, Matthews imagination was sparked! One evening he was pretending... "Moue in heah... lil peanut butter.... nap it....no moue" !! (Mouse in here...little peanut butter...snap it....no mouse)
Upon seeing a picture of an idol in a Bible story book, Matthew said, "No like idol in my house!" It made me think! Of course we dont like idols in our homes... or do we? Out of the mouth of babes....
From Jean Breneman in Pennsylvania, "Grandma" to 14 and soon a "Great-Grandma" to 9:
I had promised my 3 year old great-granddaughter, Aubree, that we would have a tea party the next time she comes. I didn't have too much time to prepare a fancy tea party. So I explained that we were having hot chocolate, but would pretend it was tea! Then we had doughnut holes, to go with it. Aubree looked at them a bit, and asked, "Are these real?"
Lois: Brenda Clark in Virginia is "Nana" to 17 month old Ryan Elizabeth, and I am called "Grammie." Since we grandparents don't get to see her very often, being rather far away, Ryan has just learned to say our names. "Nana" spent Christmas with Ryan's family and just last week she was learning to call Brenda, "Nana." My daughter told me how Ryan Elizabeth called Brenda "Nana," then walked over to the kitchen, peeked around the corner and looked at the bananas! At least once Ryan even pronounced a "B" in front of "Nana" as she said Brenda's name. Talk about the English language being confusing!
A NEW BABY BOY!
Elijah Taylor Donnelly was born on December 11, 2008. He is the son of Sam and Ashley Donnelly in North Carolina. His two big sisters, Sami Grace and Anna Lou, are very excited to have a brand new baby brother.
EASY TACO SOUP
2 chicken breasts 2 tsp. cumin
4 cups chicken bouillon 1 can chopped tomatoes
1 Tbsp. olive oil 1 can white kidney beans
1 large onion, chopped 1 can yellow corn, drained (optional)
1 green bell pepper, chopped 1/3 cup brown rice
2 carrots, peeled and sliced Cheddar cheese, grated
2 tsp. garlic salt Tortilla chips
2 tsp. chili powder
Start by cooking brown rice with water (1 part rice with 2 parts water). If you cook brown rice ahead and freeze it, you can skip this step. Then in a soup kettle, bring the bouillon to a boil and in it simmer the chicken breasts for 10 minutes or until tender. Remove chicken and reserve the broth. Over medium heat, add oil to the kettle and cook onion about three minutes until tender. Add pepper and carrots and cook for another three minutes or so. Stir in garlic salt, chili powder and cumin. Add tomatoes and reserved broth. Simmer for 15 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Add beans, rice and corn to the pot and cook for another 15 minutes. Just before serving the soup, cut chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces and add to the kettle. Cook until heated through and serve garnished with cheddar cheese and tortilla chips.
VINEGAR TIPS FOR THE KITCHEN
Thanks to Helen Rutrough in Virginia for passing these tips on to me! http://www.vinegartips.com/cooking/
(Note from Lois:These tips call for white distilled vinegar, however, apple cider vinegar is especially good for salad dressings and cooking.)
To make basic vinaigrette salad dressing use 1 part white distilled vinegar to 4 parts oil.
Make creamy vinaigrette by adding some plain or whipped cream to a mixture of 1 part white distilled vinegar to 3 parts oil.
Tenderize meat with white distilled vinegar. Use it in marinades or when slow cooking any tough, inexpensive cuts of meat.
When poaching eggs, add a little white distilled vinegar to the water. The whites stay better formed.
For extra tenderness with boiling ribs or stew meat add a tablespoon of white distilled vinegar.
To add a zesty new taste to fresh fruits such as pears, cantaloupe, honeydew, or others, add a splash of rice or balsamic vinegar. Serve immediately to prevent the fruit from becoming mushy.
Freshen wilted vegetables by soaking them in cold water containing a spoonful or two of white distilled vinegar.
When boiling or steaming cauliflower, beets or other vegetables, add a teaspoon or two of white distilled vinegar to the water to help them keep their color. This will also improve their taste, and reduce gassy elements. This also works when cooking beans and bean dishes.
Make pasta less sticky and reduce some of its starch. Add just a dash of white distilled vinegar to the water as it cooks.
Give some extra zest to your white sauce by adding 1/2 teaspoon of white distilled vinegar.
Try cider or malt white distilled vinegar instead of ketchup with french friesthats how the British like to eat them. Either one is also great on fish or any fried or broiled meat.
Remove kitchen odors that come from burnt pots or when cooking certain foods by boiling a small amount of water with 1/4 cup white distilled vinegar so that the steam circulates throughout the room.
Make onion odors disappear from your hands by rubbing with white distilled vinegar.
Add moistness and taste to any chocolate cakehomemade or from a boxwith a spoonful of white distilled vinegar.
To keep frosting from sugaring add a drop of white distilled vinegar. It will also help keep white frosting white and shiny.
Make perfect, fluffy meringue by adding a teaspoon of white distilled vinegar for every 3 to 4 egg whites used.
Perk up any can of soup or sauce with a teaspoon of red or white wine vinegar.
Eliminate the greasy taste in food cooked in a deep fryer by adding a dash of white distilled vinegar.
If youve added too much salt to a recipe, add a spoonful of white distilled vinegar and sugar to try correcting the taste.
Keep molded gelatin desserts and salads from sagging or melting in the summer heat by adding a teaspoon of white distilled vinegar for each box of gelatin used.
When making tuna salad add a dash of any herb-flavored white distilled vinegar.
Turn out great rice by adding a teaspoon of white distilled vinegar to the boiling water.
To make the perfect picnic potato salad dressing combine 1 cup mayonnaise, 3 tablespoons white distilled vinegar, 1 tablespoon sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
Olives or pimentos covered with white distilled vinegar can be kept almost indefinitely if refrigerated.
To keep eggs from cracking when boiling add a tablespoon or two of white distilled vinegar to water.
MY NEW YEAR'S PRAYER
Sent by Barb Campbell in MS: This is from a tried and true devotional by June Masters Bacher -- The Quiet Heart: Daily Devotional for Women (©1988)
I thank my God upon every remembrance of you (dear ladies). - Phil. 1:3
Have a blessed New Year in 2009!
Please remember to pray for each dear Heart to Heart lady and her family as you receive your newsletter.
So many ladies are going through very tough times and need our prayers!
Some have lost loved ones and others have lost jobs, homes or their good health.
Pray each day for the protection of our troops, as well as for their families left at home!
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