Helpful tips for December – important info

Hello there and welcome to our = monthly feature of all kinds of tips.

We at the business desk are pleased to bring you our = monthly feature of a plethora of tips that cover a wide range of = topics.

All of our tips are designed = to help you save time, cut down on your research, and help you get = ahead.

So go ahead and read = on.

This week we bring you our = monthly tips.

It’s what we do for a = living!  We help you to help yourself!

Enjoy!

From the = business desk team at http://www.sterlingcreations.co= m.

Follow us on Twitter = @accessibleworld

 

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Helpful tips = for December 2021

In this issue:

=

General tips

Articles of the day

* Make Your Own Tub, Tile and Shower Cleaners— = Cheaper Better and Faster

* turn = your barbecue grill into a baking oven

From the pages of Donna’s travel = diary

* Traveling = resumed?

 

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General = tips

Courtesy of the research team at = http://www.sterlingcreations.ca

 

Scams of the month:

Before giving you our scam tips of the month, here are = some very valueable tips.

You need to = remember that scams come in the following formats:

As emails, as phone calls both recorded and via a live = caller, and o yes!  It can even show up at your door and in your = mailbox.

And now they are targeting = us through texts being sent to our cell phones.

 

Before = giving you the latest scams making the rounds; we have some do nots to = share with you.

Do not respond to = emails that look strange to you.

Do = not download attachments from unknown senders.

Do not share your username and password to your online = banking and any other online payments facilities with = anyone.

Do not give out any banking = or personal details on the phone to unknown callers.

Do not pay any attention to threats from automated = phone recordings or from live persons with regard to your credit card or = that you owe money to any revenue agency.

Do not entertain any offers either via email or by = phone from senders and callers offering incredible service packages as = they may pertain to cable and tv services, prizes that you have won, or = any sort of any type of service package.

Do not answer the door to unknown = callers.

Take extra caution to make = sure that the details of your credit cards and debit cards are fully = protected when you make payments at restaurants or at stores, = pharmacies, and elsewhere.

Do not = enter your password for Facebook or Twitter in response to a text = request on your cell phone.

The same = if you are asked for your Apple ID.

Do not fall prey to a text message telling you that = your banking details have been compromised online.

 

Courtesy of = our dear friend Mama Peach

 

Best Of = Helpful Hints: The Kitchen

Speed = Ups/Getting As Much Done In The Shortest Time Possible

Getting The Ketchup Out Of The Bottle

* Insert a drinking straw, push it to the bottom of = the bottle and then remove. Enough air will be admitted to start an even = flow.

_____

 

Speed = Ups/Getting As Much Done In The Shortest Time Possible

Getting The Ketchup Out Of The Bottle

* Insert a drinking straw, push it to the bottom of = the bottle and then remove. Enough air will be admitted to start an even = flow.

_____

 

Best Of = Helpful Hints: The Kitchen

Speed = Ups/Getting As Much Done In The Shortest Time Possible

Ridding The Ham Of The Rind

* Slit the rind lengthwise on the underside before = placing it in the roasting pan. As the ham bakes, the rind will pull = away and can be removed easily without lifting the ham.

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Speed = Ups/Getting As Much Done In The Shortest Time Possible

Anchoring Boards And Bowls

* A crumpled towel or sponge cloth under a bowl or = board will prevent it from sliding around when mixing ingredients or = kneading and rolling out dough.

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Substitutions/When You Are Out Of What You Need, Plus = Some Switches You May Prefer To Make:

No Bread Crumbs?

* = Use finely crushed cornflakes, wheat flakes or any other unsweetened = cereal.

* Use crushed potato = flakes.

_____

 

Substitutions/When You Are Out Of What You Need, Plus = Some Switches You May Prefer To Make:

No Butter?

* 7/8 = cup solid vegetable shortening or lard plus 1/2 teaspoon salt. To = measure 7/8 cup, measure 1 cup, then remove 2 = tablespoons.

_____

 

Substitutions/When You Are Out Of What You Need, Plus = Some Switches You May Prefer To Make:

No Fresh Milk?

(For = 1 Cup)

* Use 1/2 cup each evaporated = whole milk and water.

* Use 1/3 cup = instant nonfat dry milk plus 1 cup water, minus 1 tablespoon = water.

_____

 

Substitutions/When You Are Out Of What You Need, Plus = Some Switches You May Prefer To Make:

No Sugar?

* You can = often substitute, measure for measure, packed brown sugar (light or = dark) with no adjustments. You will get a light molasses flavor, = however.

_____

 

Substitutions/When You Are Out Of What You Need, Plus = Some Switches You May Prefer To Make:

No Vanilla Extract?

* A batter or dessert can be flavored with grated = lemon or orange rind and a little lemon juice.

* Use 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg for each teaspoon vanilla = extract.

* Use a dusting of = cinnamon.

_____

 

Substitutions/When You Are Out Of What You Need, Plus = Some Switches You May Prefer To Make:

No All-Purpose Flour?

* For thickening gravy or sauce, you can substitute 1 = tablespoon cornstarch, rice starch or arrowroot for 2 tablespoons flour = or 2 tablespoons instant mashed potatoes, cornmeal or quick-cooking = tapioca.

* If you use whole grain = flour in baked goods, be careful not to overload them with it or the = food may be heavy. For each cup flour, use 1/2 to 2/3 cup whole-wheat = flour plus the remainder of white flour called for in

the recipe or 1/2 cup rye or buckwheat flour or 1/4 = cup soy flour.

_____

 

From = Donna:

What is the difference between = parchment paper and grease proof paper?

You can use parchment paper when baking in your oven = but you cannot or should not use grease proof paper.

You may also use foil instead of parchment = paper.

 

When it comes to choosing cats from an animal = shelter:

Black cats are the least = favourite colour.

 

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Articles of = the day

Chosen by the Business Desk = team

 

Make Your Own Tub, Tile and Shower Cleaners— = Cheaper Better and Faster

The only = thing better than making things myself is when what I make turns out to = be cheaper, better and faster than something I can buy in the store to = accomplish the same

goal. That makes = me so happy!

Dear Mary: I love, love, = love! the homemade Tub and Shower Soap Scum

Remover. It works better than any product I have ever = used. Our tubs and showers have never looked so good! Now, I would love = to know how to make my own daily shower cleaner—

the kind you just spray and walk away for daily tub = and shower maintenance between cleanings. Any ideas? = Polly

Dear Polly: Yes! I’m = confident this is the recipe you’re looking for.

Daily Shower Cleaner

1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide

1/2 cup rubbing alcohol

1 teaspoon liquid dishwashing soap (like blue = Dawn)

1 tablespoon dishwasher rinse = aid (like Jet-Dry)

2 cups = water

Directions:

1.    Pour all of the ingredients into = a 24-ounce spray bottle. Mix gently. Each day before

you step out of the shower, spray the walls then walk = away.

2.    This no = rinse, no wipe, no scrub shower cleaner spray is safe to use on glass, = glazed tile, stone, tubs and shower curtains. The gentle formula = contains no bleach,

ammonia or harsh = chemicals and it wont scratch surfaces or leave behind a dull = residue.

3.    Store = your daily shower cleaner in a dark cupboard, as hydrogen peroxide = breaks down quickly in the presence of light.

Here, for readers who may have missed it, is that = nearly magical cleaning potion you love so much (so do = I!)

Tub, Tile and Shower = Cleaner

Pour one cup blue Dawn into a = 32-ounce spray bottle (1/2 cup Dawn if you are using a 16-ounce bottle). = Fill the bottle the rest of the way with white vinegar. Apply sprayer =

top; shake gently to mix. To use: = Spray liberally on the area to be cleaned.

Allow to sit from 30 minutes up to overnight, = depending on the severity of the problem. All of the offensive gunk and = grime will break down and become soft and gooey. Simply =

rinse it away. For especially = challenging situations—or if this is the initial = treatment—use a sponge or brush to gently scrub the surfaces = before rinsing. Caution: Do not use

on stone, marble or granite.

Dear Mary: We live with extremely hard well water. = Given this challenge, can you recommend a brand of laundry and also = automatic dishwasher detergent that will suitable for

hard water? Thank you! Jeannine

Dear Jeannine: Rather than changing products, I = suggest you supplement what you are using now—in both the clothes = washer and automatic dishwasher—with Super Washing Soda, also =

known as sodium = carbonate.  

https://w= ww.amazon.com/Arm-Hammer-Super-Washing-Soda/dp/B00K6ON90S/ref=3Das_li_ss_= tl?ie=3DUTF8&qid=3D1484759369&sr=3D8-

1&keywords=3Dsuper+washing+soda&th=3D1&link= Code=3Dsl1&tag=3Dcheapskatemonthl&linkId=3D8956060d29841a513e3add= 0368a35d2a

It’s a natural = product

(read more about it HERE = including ten other ways to use washing soda around the house) that = looks just like white powdered detergent.

http://www.everydaycheapskate.com= /home-and-family/beyond-laundry-10-ways-use-washing-soda-around-house/

Super Washing Soda =

boosts the power of soaps and = detergents because it instantly softens the water.

I’d start by adding 1/2 cup Super Washing Soda = to every laundry wash cycle and the same amount to each dishwasher load. = You can just toss it into the machine before you close

the door. As a bonus, sodium carbonate (Super Washing = Soda) will clean out the hoses and pipes in your appliances to keep them = from mineral build-up that can wreak havoc on a

household appliance.

Most supermarkets and discount stores carry Arm & = Hammer Super Washing

Soda, or you = can easily order it online through Amazon. It comes in a 55-ounce box = for about $5. Good luck and be sure to let us know how that works for = you!

www.everydaycheapskate.com=

Our mailing address = is:

Everyday = Cheapskate

12340 Seal Beach = Blvd.

#B-416

Seal Beach, CA 90740

 

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turn your = barbecue grill into a baking oven

 

If you have = an outdoor barbecue grill with a cover that closes over the top of the = grill, you can turn it into an outdoor oven. Why would you want to do = that? To

preclude the need to heat = up your kitchen this summer to bake pizza, cookies, cakes, bread and = casseroles. Or so you can expand your camping-out cooking = repertoire.

GENERAL. You can bake = nearly anything with a covered grill. If your grill doesn’t have a = cover, improvise with a large inverted pot. The heat rises and = circulates in the

covered area just = as it does in your oven. The heat source can be charcoal, gas, or even = wood, however gas is preferable because it is easier to control and does = not transfer

a smoked taste to the = baked items.

TEMPERATURE. This is the = challenge. If your grill has a temperature gauge

installed, you’re in luck. If not, you’ll = need to get a small oventhermometer so you

can more accurately regulate the inside temperature of = your grill when it is closed.

PRE-HEAT. Always fire up the grill for a few minutes = to set the temperature before baking.

GET BRICKS. When baking, never set the baking pan = directly on the grill. Instead, set a brick or two as necessary on the = grill, then the banking pan on top of the brick(s).

DON’T PEEK. As far as possible, do not lift that = cover once you’ve closed it on your baking. You’ll need to = watch the time carefully at first until you’ve experimented =

sufficiently to know how long things = take to bake in your new outdoor “oven.” Just remember that = opening that cover is like allowing an arctic storm to blow = through.PIZZA ON

THE GRILL. You = really can make pizza on your grill, provided you

follow these instructions:

1.    Roll out the pizza dough to your = desired thickness.

2.    Transfer the rolled crust to a = pizza peel on which you have sprinkled corn meal to act as a release = agent. (Think of corn meal as tiny ball bearings that roll the pizza =

of and onto the grill. Or you can = use a cookie sheet that has no lip on at least one

side. This will allow you to easily transfer the dough = to your hot grill by allowing it to simple slide off the sheet or peel, = if you have one.)

3.    Heat the grill.

4.    Moisten a paper towel with oil = and rub the grates.

5.    Slide the dough onto the grill. = Watch it carefully and when the bottom browns, turn

the dough to grill the other side.

6.    Now you can add your sauce of = choice, toppings and cheese.

7.    Close the cover to allow the = toppings to cook and melt.

Alternative method. If you have a pizza stone = (unglazed terra cotta tile works well and is a lot cheaper than a = commercial pizza stone), you can lay this directly on the =

grill. Allow it to heat on Low heat = to avoid cracking the stone. Once it is good and hot, slide the crust = right onto the stone. Once browned, turn the crust over and =

proceed as above.

CLEANING TIP. Here’s a slick way to create a = kind of self-cleaning feature on any barbecue grill. Place a few sheets = of aluminum foil over the grill so you have several

thicknesses. Crank up the heat to the hottest possible = settings, close the

cover and allow = to heat for 30 minutes. Like the self-cleaning setting on your = traditional over, this turns everything on the grill to = ash.

Caution: Before attempting this, = check your barbecue warranty to make sure this will not do anything to = void a warranty that is still in effect.

By Mary Hunt on

www.everydaycheapskate.com=

 

_________________________

 

From the = pages of donna’s travel diary

Traveling resumed?

 

Some may say = that it has while others are saying not quite yet.  I am still on = the fence and hopeful that soon enough we can look forward to a = return.

 

Masks?  Indeed!  We’ll probably need to = bring them along on our trips for some time to come.

Hand sanitizers?  Probably need to bring these = with us too!

Social distancing?  = We wait to see how airlines and others handle this.

More security at airports?  I believe = so.

Pack more patience in our hold = ons?  Indeed!

Will holiday = travel increase?  I believe so.

May we dare to look forward to traveling to see our = loved ones?  We can.

 

I’m Donna J. = Jodhan enjoying my travels.

 

To learn = more about me as a sight loss coach and author visit

http://www.donnajodhan.com

 

On your next trip you could enrich your down time with = some of my audio mysteries. Take them with you wherever you = go!

In the car, on the plane, on the = bus or train, at the beach, anywhere!

Affordable, portable, (computer or i device) and you = could either purchase or Subscribe for unlimited access to my library at = www.donnajodhan.com/store.= html

and you can now take = advantage of our free downloads here.

 

Follow me on = Twitter @accessibleworld and at author_jodhan

And like me on Facebook at

www.facebook.com/donnajodhan= and at www.facebook.com/autho= rdonnajodhan

 

 

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