Wednesday, December 3, 2008

How To Make Pancakes Like IHOP - Pancake Recipe

How To Make Pancakes Like IHOP - Pancake Recipe



Ever wanted to make pancakes like IHOP® pancakes? Now you can! If you've never tried IHOP® pancakes, you don't know what you've been missing out on. This easy pancake recipe takes about a half hour to make, from the bowl to your plate.

Pancakes like IHOP

Pancakes Like IHOP® Recipe



  • 1 - Cup Flour (All-Purpose)


  • 1 1/4 - Teaspoon Baking Powder


  • 1 - Teaspoon Baking Soda


  • 1 - Cup Buttermilk


  • 1/4 - Cup Sugar


  • 1 - Large Egg


  • 1/4 Cup Vegetable Oil




Mix all of your dry ingredients thoroughly. Add the buttermilk, oil and egg. Whisk all ingredients until thoroughly blended. Heat a skillet on medium. Using a coffee cup, pour a small portion of the pancake batter into the skillet to form your pancakes. (I like my pancakes about 6 inches wide.) Once the edges begin to brown, gently flip the pancakes. Finish cooking until nice and golden brown on both sides. Makes about 4 servings. Just add butter and syrup. Enjoy your delicious treat of pancakes like IHOP®!
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Monday, December 1, 2008

How To Hide Blemishes - Secret

How To Hide Blemishes - Secret



You can honestly learn how to hide blemishes once and for all...but it's a secret and you have to promise not to tell another soul. Promise? OK. As a kid, I grew up with acne. Not bad acne, mind you. I probably made my acne worse by worrying over it so much. Washing my face over and over again. Trying every new acne treatment that came out. Benzoyl Peroxide - Retin-A The list of tried treatments goes on and on. In the end, my main concern was to conceal my blemishes when I went out in public. Then one day, as a kid starving for information, I was reading a magazine. I won't name the magazine for fear that my mother ever reads my blog, but I found the secret for hiding blemishes and I've been using it ever since. What is the big secret, you ask? Remember, you promised you wouldn't tell... Visine.

How does Visine hide blemishes? Simply apply a drop to your index finger, then apply that drop to your blemish. Let it evaporate on your skin. When it's gone, so too should be your blemish. Sometimes it takes another application over the first to really hide your blemish, but it does work. I can't count how many times over the years that this blemish treatment has saved the day. Who ever thought Visine would be a life-saver? Just remember, we have to keep this secret to hiding blemishes to ourselves. OK?
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Friday, November 28, 2008

How To Make Buttermilk Substitute Recipe

How To Make Buttermilk Substitute Recipe



So, you need to learn to make a buttermilk substitute in a pinch for a recipe? This buttermilk substitute will get you back to cooking so you don't have to go running to the grocery. Simply grab one cup of milk and a tablespoon of either vinegar or lemon juice. Add either the vinegar or lemon juice to the milk and let sit for about 10 minutes. That's it! Now you're all set to use this easy buttermilk substitute to any recipe that calls for buttermilk.
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Thursday, November 20, 2008

How To Use Newspaper for Mulch

How To Use Newspaper for Mulch



Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. That's what many of us try to do to make a light footprint on mother earth. If you buy and read a newspaper, whether daily or even just once weekly, you can reuse them in your garden as a mulch to keep down weeds. Newspapers are best used under another natural mulch when used in garden beds. Not only are they somewhat unsightly when used alone, but they can also blow all over the homestead if they are allowed to become dry during the growing season. Newspaper is good at holding in moisture during dry periods when used under a natural mulch. When using newspaper as a mulch, use about three or four layers over the soil being sure to overlap the edges about 5-6 inches to keep weeds from poking through. After laying out the newspaper spray it down well with a garden hose and then cover with your natural mulch.
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Monday, November 17, 2008

How To Test Soil pH

How To Test Soil pH



You can learn how to test your soil pH by following these simple instructions. Take a trip to your local garden center. Purchase a soil ph test kit. To analyze your garden soil pH simply follow the directions on the test kit package. Most of these kits are very easy to use. The majority of vegetable plants and flowers grow best in a slightly acidic garden soil with a pH of around 6.5. Some plants such as blueberries and rhododendrons require a slightly more acidic soil. Once you find out what your pH level is you can adjust your soil pH by adding the appropriate amendments.
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Thursday, November 13, 2008

How To Fix a Garden Hose Pinhole Leak

How To Fix a Garden Hose Pinhole Leak



Ever have a garden hose spring a leak at the peak of your garden season? Well now you can fix that pinhole leak in your garden hose with two, yes just two, pieces of material that most folks have stashed away in either a drawer or their garage. There's no need to make plans to go to the garden center to pick up another hose, especially if money is tight. Just locate a small hose clamp and a small piece of rubber (like a piece from an old bike inner tube). Or a tire patch would even work. Dry the garden hose off and place the piece of rubber over the pinhole and then place the hose clamp over the rubber. Tighten the hose clamp. Now just test your hose fix by turning on the water and making sure the garden hose doesn't leak. Now you can get back to gardening and make plans to buy a garden hose when you have the cash available.
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Saturday, November 8, 2008

How To Remove Pine Tree Sap from Clothes

How To Remove Pine Tree Sap from Clothes



If you've ever been unfortunate enough to get pine tree sap on your clothes then you know how hard it is to remove. That is until you know the secret to removing pine tree sap from clothes. Shhh... Don't tell anyone now. It's simply rubbing alcohol. Just dab some rubbing alcohol onto the tree sap stain, throw the piece of clothing into the washer and watch the sap magically disappear. Now, next time you find yourself with pine tree sap on your clothing you'll know to reach for the rubbing alcohol. The rubbing alcohol will also remove pine tree sap from your hands!
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Thursday, October 30, 2008

How To Clean Resin Patio Furniture

How To Clean Resin Patio Furniture



Cleaning resin patio furniture doesn't have to be a huge chore. If your outdoor resin furniture has stains, mold or is just plain weather-beaten you can have it looking fantastic again in no time at all. While there are many products made specifically for cleaning resin outdoor furniture you can use a few simple household chemicals to get the job done frugally.

The number one secret for cleaning your outdoor resin patio furniture is bleach. Mix a 25:75 mixture of bleach and water respectively, and then add a little dish washing detergent. Using a scrub brush, simply scrub the furniture lightly with the cleaning recipe and then rinse thoroughly. If you have problems removing stubborn stains, make a paste with some baking soda and water. With a cloth or scrub brush, work the paste over the stain until it disappears. If all else fails, a bottle of Tilex will pretty much clean the worst of stains from any resin patio furniture.
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Tuesday, October 28, 2008

How To Make Brown Sugar

How To Make Brown Sugar



Many people buy brown sugar at the grocery store, but you can make your own homemade brown sugar with just two simple ingredients:

Brown Sugar Ingredients:



1 - Cup of Sugar
1 - Tablespoon of Molasses

Pour the sugar into a bowl and drizzle the molasses over the sugar. Mix well. Store in an airtight container or Ziploc bag. Tastes wonderfully delicious. Enjoy!
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How To Mix Concrete

How To Mix Concrete



I've mixed concrete for many projects around the house. For everything from sidewalks to filling post holes. Learning how to mix it really isn't all that hard. For most small projects you can get away with using bags of pre-mixed concrete from your local hardware store. But if you have a really large project like a house slab, you'll need to have concrete hauled in on a truck.

If you're using bags of pre-mix, the instructions are printed right on the bag. You simply dump the concrete into a wheelbarrow or plastic tubs sold specifically for mixing concrete. Add a little water at a time, shoveling the mix thoroughly, until you come up with a mix that is the consistency of pancake batter.

If you have a larger project, it may pay to gather the essential ingredients for concrete and mix them all together at the project site. The main components for concrete are:

  • Cement


  • Sand


  • Gravel


  • Water




The appropriate measurements are: 1 Part Cement - 2 Parts Sand - 3 Parts Gravel - Water to Proper Consistency

You need to mix the cement, sand and gravel thoroughly before adding any water. Start out doubling all the ingredients (2 parts cement - 4 parts sand - 6 parts gravel) until you find out what size batches are easiest for you to mix. There is some labor involved in the mixing, but you'll have a stronger back when the project is finished. Once all the dry parts are mixed, simply add water while stirring until you come up with the pancake consistency. You don't want the concrete too dry or too wet. As a precaution, wear gloves when mixing concrete to minimize skin contact.
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Monday, October 27, 2008

How To Make Egg Omelets - Easy Omelet Recipe

How To Make Egg Omelets - Easy Omelet Recipe



If you've always wanted to learn how to make an easy omelet, now you can. No skillet involved. Just a couple of eggs, a Ziploc bag and whatever omelet fillings you desire. You can even make a homemade egg and cheese omelet within minutes with this easy recipe. Let's get started!

Single Serving Egg Omelet Recipe



1-2 eggs
1-Ziploc bag
1-pot of boiling water
Fillings for your omelet

Directions:
Open up your Ziploc bag. Crack your egg(s) open and pour it into the bag. Zip the bag shut and squish and shake. Now open the bag and add your fillings (ham, cheese, peppers, mushrooms, whatever sounds good). Close the bag and remove as much air as you can. Shake and squish the bag a little more to mix the fillings with the egg(s). When all the ingredients look mixed, just slowly drop the bag into the pot of boiling water. Leave the bag in the water for about 5-6 minutes. After the time is up, remove the bag from the boiling water and let it sit about a minute to cool off. Then dump the egg omelet out onto your plate. All you should need now is a little salt and pepper and you're set. Enjoy your homemade egg omelet!
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Saturday, October 25, 2008

How To Keep Your Hands Soft When Gardening

How To Keep Your Hands Soft When Gardening



Tired of rough hands after digging in the dirt? Not only do goatskin gloves keep your hands clean while gardening, but they're also naturally rich in skin conditioning lanolin. Don't want to go to the expense of buying goatskin gloves, priced reasonably around $10.00 a pair? Just rub on some lanolin lotion before slipping on a pair of your favorite garden gloves. Another great secret for keeping hands soft while gardening is Corn Huskers Lotion. Apply it before and after working in the garden and you'll walk away with smoother feeling skin.
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Friday, October 24, 2008

How To Remove a Tick - Tick Bites

How To Remove a Tick - Tick Bites



Alright, first you grab your propane torch and light it and then....no wait!! That's for glazing a ham. If only removing ticks properly were so easy. OK. The first thing you want to do is find the nasty little parasites within 24 hours. There's less chance of the little blood-suckers spreading diseases if found within that time-frame according to FDA Consumer Magazine. Now some of those ticks can hide in some places we'll not mention here, but I think you get the idea. Go grab some tweezers and get as close to the head of the tick as possible. You don't want to rip the tick off in shreds. There's no real trick to removing ticks. Just grab close to the head and pull slowly. Once you remove the tick you can take it outside and light a match to it until it pops, an ample source of entertainment for some beer drinkin' buddies after a hard day working in the bush. Or you can flush the tick, wrap it in a piece of clear tape, whatever your pleasure. You don't need to call Poison Control and have them come pick it up for disposal. Of course, you may want to hold onto the tick for a few days just in case you start getting symptoms of Lyme Disease or any other diseases that you can't explain to your significant other for that matter. In that case, just wrap a clear piece of tape over the tick and put it some place safe. Oh yeah, and don't forget to use a disinfectant, like alcohol, on the tick bite area to keep risk of infection to a minimum.
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How Much Milk Per Day - Source of Calcium

How Much Milk Per Day - Source of Calcium



How much milk should you really drink per day? No more than 1-2 8 ounce servings of milk per day for a good source of calcium is what most dietitians recommend. Higher daily intakes of milk have been found to lead to prostate cancer. If you're lactose intolerant or milk just isn't your thing, you can eat calcium-rich broccoli and other leafy green vegetables, like collards. Tofu and beans also fill the bill for suitable calcium intake. And don't forget, all the milk and calcium in the world won't do your bones a bit of good without proper exercise!
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Thursday, October 23, 2008

How To Remove Norton Anti-Virus Software

How To Remove Norton Anti-Virus Software



How do you get rid of Norton Anti-Virus Software or any other Norton products when you can't remove it through the add/remove programs in the control panel, you ask? Well, many people have problems removing a failed installation or a damaged Norton product. I was recently in the position of removing a damaged Norton Anti-Virus installation from a friend's computer with Windows XP Home Edition installed. I messed with it for about an hour before finally heading to the internet in search of help. All complaints finally led to the ultimate fix, the Norton Removal Tool. Just download the correct Norton Removal Tool for whatever flavor you have installed and you'll be set to get the failed software removed from your computer.
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Tuesday, September 30, 2008

How To Use Leaves in Fall

How To Use Leaves in Fall



It's Fall. Your yard is covered with leaves. How do you use those fallen leaves to your advantage? If you do any type of gardening you can make leaf mold with your leaves. And use that leaf mold in your vegetable or flower beds come next summer when you need a good mulch or soil amendment to hold moisture and enrich your soil. Making leaf mold need not be a difficult task. Simply rake and bag your leaves and throw the bags in a pile hidden away somewhere in the backyard. By mid-summer the leaves will have broken down good enough to use as a mulch around plants to conserve precious moisture. If you have the space and some leftover fencing you can make some leaf mold bins and stuff the leaves down in them tight. If you have a vegetable garden you can go ahead and till your leaves into the garden now and the leaves will help improve the tilth of your garden soil. You can also add leaves directly to your compost pile. There is no reason for anyone to have to burn leaves in the Fall. If you're not into gardening, just bag the leaves up and offer them to your gardening friends. Most will be happy to take and use your fallen leaves.
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Saturday, September 20, 2008

How To Make a Homemade Ice Pack

How To Make a Homemade Ice Pack



You may, at one time or another in your life, find yourself needing a homemade ice pack. A sprained ankle. An aching back. It doesn't matter what the condition is, you'll just want relief, and quick! You can make an ice pack quickly by adding 3 cups of water and 1 cup of rubbing alcohol to a one gallon freezer bag. Seal the bag and then slide this bag inside another 1 gallon freezer bag and seal, to minimize any leaks. These really work better than many of the commercial ice packs found in stores. And the best part is that it is cheap!
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Friday, September 12, 2008

How To Get Engine Grease Out of Clothes

How To Get Engine Grease Out of Clothes



I love working on cars and trucks. But with some projects you'll find me covered in engine grease and grime and it inevitably ends up staining my clothes. You can use a commercial laundry detergent to try to remove the stain, but most of the times you'll pull the piece of clothing out of the dryer and find that the stain still remains. Well, those clothes usually end up becoming my work clothes, if they weren't already. That is, until I started using a product I just recently found at our local auto parts store. Greased Lightning. The stuff is like a wonder cleaner. There are actually three different formulations that I've found locally. One is in a purple bottle. One is in a white bottle. And the third is in a clear bottle. The stuff in the purple bottle works like magic. You should be able to find it at Auto Zone if you have one nearby. The stuff in the white bottle is good for using on clothes to remove stains and general household cleaning. I found it at Dollar General in the cleaning supplies. The orange stuff in the clear bottle, well I haven't found a good use for it yet. It does smell good though. Maybe it would make a good air freshener? The company that makes it also offers coupons for their products. To get engine grease out of your clothes, simple spray the cleaner on and rinse off. Now back to the Greased Lightning in the purple bottle. Again, this is my favorite. I've used it to detail the engine bay. It melts brake dust buildup off of wheels like ice cream on sizzlin' blacktop in July. So if you have a stubborn greasy stain (like engine grease) that you want to get out of a piece of clothing then go see if you can find some of this stuff because it really does work great!
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Saturday, September 6, 2008

How To Tell the Age of a Tree

How To Tell the Age of a Tree



You can tell how old a tree is, or the age of a tree, by counting the dark rings from a trunk cut section of the tree. You will notice that trees have a very dark center in the tree. This is known as the pith. Start counting the dark rings outside the dark center (don't confuse the pith with the heartwood) and you'll have the age of the tree by however many rings you counted. By knowing the age of a cut or fallen tree, you can guesstimate the age of a local stand of similar trees. You can also learn about the growth of the tree by its rings. Large bands will indicate years when the tree made substantial growth. This means the tree grew under optimal conditions in those years. Small bands usually indicate that the tree grew under less than optimal conditions, such as stress and dry weather. Try counting the rings on the next downed tree that you find to see if you can tell the age of that tree.
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Wednesday, August 27, 2008

How To Kill Cabbage Worms

How To Kill Cabbage Worms



There's been many methods described on how to kill cabbage worms. Some of them work OK and some of them leave you wondering how in the world that's supposed to kill cabbage worms. The most effective method in getting rid of cabbage worms is to use a product called Bt. Bt is short for Bacillus thuringiensis. Try saying that a few times and I think you'll find out why it was shortened for simplicity sake. Bt is a soil bacterium sold under many brand names such as Dipel, Javelin, & Leptox, just to name a few. It is a stomach poison that works very well for killing larvae such as cabbage worms. As an added benefit, the spores of Bt are released into the soil from decomposing dead insects after they have been killed by it. So if you have a problem with cabbage worms in your garden try picking up a bag of Bt from your local garden center and use it to kill those bothersome cabbage worms.
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Saturday, August 23, 2008

How To Get Fleas Out of Your Home

How To Get Fleas Out of Your Home



There's nothing worse that coming home to a home full of fleas. You can get rid of fleas in your home by spreading Diatomaceous Earth around the floor of your home. Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth is non-toxic to pets and humans. You can even feed it to your pets or livestock or take it internally yourself to control parasites. Spreading DE throughout your home will end the life cycle of fleas that come into contact with it. Flea eggs are not harmed by DE, so you will need to have patience and wait until the eggs hatch and the newly hatched fleas meet their match. DE is a much safer alternative to toxic pesticides that may or may not work. You can find food grade DE at most health food stores.
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Wednesday, August 20, 2008

How To Remove Stubborn Grease Stains from Clothing

How To Remove Stubborn Grease Stains from Clothing



There's really no secret to removing grease stains from clothing. Many stubborn stains will come out just by pre-treating your clothing in regular clothes detergent. But sometimes you'll find yourself with a set in stain that refuses to come out. That's when I turn to Dawn dish-washing detergent. Just squirt some Dawn on your clothing stain and let it sit until you're ready to wash it. This tip works particularly well with grease stains on clothing from food.
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Friday, August 15, 2008

How To Remove Mold & Mildew from Outdoor Furniture

How To Remove Mold & Mildew from Outdoor Furniture



A quick tip on how to remove mold & mildew from outdoor furniture! No need to run to the store to get rid of that mold or mildew. Just look in your kitchen cabinets for the secret ingredient: Vinegar! Just put some vinegar in a plastic spray bottle and spray it on the moldy or mildew spots on your furniture. Give it a few minutes to eat away the mold or mildew and then rinse. If you just happen to have a bottle of tea tree oil lying around that you never use, this can also be used to kill mold and mildew on your outdoor furniture.
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Sunday, August 10, 2008

How To Clean a Plasma TV Screen

How To Clean a Plasma TV Screen



What's the best way to clean a plasma TV screen? If you can't find instructions for cleaning the screen in your plasma TV owner's manual then the safest way to proceed is to use a microfiber or pure cotton cloth. Gently remove the dust from the TV screen with the cloth. If you need to you can use a little warm water to remove any smudges. Do not use any harsh chemicals for cleaning your plasma TV screen under any circumstances.
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Monday, July 28, 2008

How To Get Your Snap-On Tools Fixed for Free

How To Get Your Snap-On Tools Fixed for Free



Snap-On tools have pretty much the same guarantee as Craftsman Tools. - It breaks, we fix or replace it. - I've used and trusted Snap-On tools for about 15 years now. I used to work in an auto body shop and learned quickly how long cheap tools really last. I recently had both a Craftsman ratchet and my Snap-On ratchet break at the same time. I went to my local Sears and they replaced the Craftsman ratchet, no questions asked, since the actual head of the socket receiver broke in half. I've also been keeping an eye out for a Snap-On franchisee so I could get my Snap-On ratchet repaired or replaced. Luckily, I was driving by an auto shop last night and saw a Snap-On franchisee truck sitting in the parking lot. I quickly pulled up to the truck and grabbed my broken Snap-On ratchet from the glove box. The franchisee was quick to repair my trusty Snap-On ratchet. Within 15 minutes the innards of my ratchet were brand new. I'm thrilled to own such quality tools. There's nothing like getting your Snap-On tools fixed for free!
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Friday, July 18, 2008

How To Clean LCD Computer Screen

How To Clean LCD Computer Screen



The best way to clean a LCD computer screen is to first turn the monitor off so the screen is dark and easier to see. Use 1 part distilled water mixed with 1 part white vinegar. Moisten a clean cotton handkerchief with the mixture and very gently wipe down the LCD screen. If you're not comfortable using this homemade LCD computer screen cleaner there are commercial LCD cleaner preparations available, but they can be expensive. Again, to prevent any scratches it is very important to be very gentle when cleaning your LCD computer screen.
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Saturday, June 21, 2008

How To Keep Brown Sugar Soft

How To Keep Brown Sugar Soft



The best ways to keep brown sugar soft are as follows:



  • Store brown sugar in a glass jar or other glass container.


  • Add a piece of apple in with the brown sugar when storing.


  • Add a piece of bread into the container where you store your brown sugar.


  • Alternatively, store your brown sugar in the freezer. It will stay soft.


  • There are also terra cotta discs made specifically for keeping brown sugar soft.


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Wednesday, June 18, 2008

How To Make Hummingbird Food - Homemade Recipe

How To Make Hummingbird Food - Homemade Recipe



If you want to make hummingbird food for the hummingbirds visiting your backyard feeders then this simple homemade recipe is exactly what you need.

Hummingbird Food Ingredients



  • 1 - Cup Water


  • 1/4 - Cup Sugar




Bring the 1 cup of water to a boil. Add the sugar to the water. Using a spoon, stir the sugar until it is completely dissolved into the water. Let the mixture cool completely. Once the mixture is cool, you can fill your hummingbird feeder with it. Remember to clean your hummingbird feeder at least once a week. To speed up the process, you may boil the water in your microwave. Although at one time it was common practice, do not add any food coloring to your hummingbird food mixture. You can make hummingbird food and store it for up to a week in your refrigerator.
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Sunday, June 15, 2008

How Corn Gluten Meal Works

How Corn Gluten Meal Works



Corn Gluten Meal (CGM) is a by-product of the corn wet milling process that contains the protein fragment of the corn. Patented in 1991 by researchers at Iowa State University, Corn gluten meal is considered a non-toxic natural alternative to synthetic pre-emergence herbicides. But the chief question is, does it really work? And if so, how?

Corn gluten meal inhibits the formation of roots of germinating plants primarily by desiccation. CGM will not kill existing weeds. As a matter of fact, CGM contains 10% nitrogen by weight. Meaning, if you apply it to an existing stand of weeds you'll just be encouraging their growth. CGM should be applied before any germination of weed seeds. You will also need a bit of luck on your side as corn gluten meal needs a dry period after the weeds have germinated to thoroughly kill the germinating weed. If there is an extended period of moisture in the soil after germination, the weeds will continue to form roots and grow on.
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Saturday, June 7, 2008

How To Care for Wicker Furniture

How To Care for Wicker Furniture



The best way to care for wicker furniture is to regularly dust it with a horsehair brush. If you spill any liquids on your wicker furniture clean them as quickly as possibly with warm water mixed with a little dish detergent. Although wicker is used frequently as indoor furniture it can quickly dry out in this environment. Wicker furniture can actually benefit from a humid environment. Moving indoor wicker furniture outdoors under a covered porch will help to keep the wicker from drying out. Absent moving the furniture you should occasionally run a damp rag over the wicker to help with keeping the fibers moisturized. If you keep your wicker furniture outdoors you can buy some wicker furniture covers to keep it from being destroyed by the elements. Try to give your wicker furniture a good thorough cleaning at least once a year. Washing with warm soapy water followed by a gentle rinse from your garden hose will help keep it in good condition. Give your wicker furniture the care it deserves and it will serve you well for many years.
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Tuesday, May 27, 2008

How To Get Rid of Poison Ivy - Kill Poison Ivy

How To Get Rid of Poison Ivy - Kill Poison Ivy



I'm seriously allergic to poison ivy. Even though there are plenty of remedies and treatments for poison ivy, prevention is a much more comfortable experience than the rash from being exposed to the oil of the plant. I recently found and tried a somewhat environmentally friendly way to kill poison ivy dead in its tracks and it works like a charm. Poison ivy can be killed with commercial herbicides, but using the least harmful chemicals possible will keep them from entering our soil and water supply. Whatever treatment you use to kill poison ivy, remember to take safety precautions while spraying to keep from being exposed to the oil of the poison ivy plant.

Kill Poison Ivy Plant Treatment

1 Gallon of Vinegar
1 Cup of Salt
A few drops of dish soap (dawn, joy, etc.)

Mix the Vinegar and Salt in a pot and boil until the salt is dissolved completely. Let cool. Add the few drops of dish soap and mix well. Pour into container and label for safety. Pour plant killer into a spray bottle. Spray the poison ivy leaves with the mixture. May require more than one application to get rid of poison ivy.
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Wednesday, May 21, 2008

How To Grow Potatoes from the Grocery Store

How To Grow Potatoes from the Grocery Store



Can you grow potato plants from potatoes bought at the grocery store? Sure you can! Many authorities will say that your seed potatoes should be certified disease-free, but I've yet to have a grocery store potato to develop any diseases while growing. And I've heard of many folks that do this and never have a problem with growing potatoes from the grocery store. Sure, you don't have as much of a selection as you would buying seed potatoes through mail order, but you can grow those grocery store potatoes successfully. Just leave a few eyes on each seed potato piece when you go to cut them. Leave the potatoes in the open for a few days after they are cut. Doing this before burying your grocery store potatoes helps to prevent them from rotting in the ground. You should use this practice whether growing potatoes from the grocery or those bought through mail order.
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Monday, May 19, 2008

How To Find Out Who's Calling You

How To Find Out Who's Calling You



Do you sometimes get a call on your cell phone or home phone and not recognize the phone number of the person calling? A simple way to find out who's calling you is to do a reverse phone number lookup. Using a website like White Pages lets you find out who is making the calls to your phone. You can also do a reverse address lookup through the same web page to find a phone number for a particular address. If the phone number is unlisted, at the very least it will give you the calling area from which the call was made.
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Monday, May 12, 2008

How To Kill Weeds With Hot Water

How To Kill Weeds With Hot Water




Did you know you can kill weeds with something as simple as hot water? Sometimes we overlook the obvious and go with what advertising campaigns have drilled into our brains. But you can use this more environmentally friendly method of killing weeds and save money in the process. Simply bring a pot of water to a rolling boil and pour the water directly onto the weeds you're trying to kill. You don't have to worry about contaminating the soil around your home with harsh poisonous chemicals. And spending less money is always a good thing. So get a pot of hot boiling water going on the stove and go kill some invasive weeds!

Related: How To Kill Poison Ivy - How To Kill Cabbage Worms
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Wednesday, May 7, 2008

How To Get a Free Credit Report

How To Get a Free Credit Report



Why pay for your credit report when you can get it free? Actually, you can get one credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) once a year, for free! If you space it out, one every four months, you can keep track of your annual credit performance in an orderly fashion. To receive your credit report, go to annualcreditreport.com and follow the directions. While you might think it's not worth it to keep tabs on your credit file, you could quickly find out if you've been a victim of identity theft by occasionally viewing your file.
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Sunday, February 17, 2008

How To Propagate Plants

The process of propagating plants is easier than most folks think. Some people, mistakingly, believe that all plants are grown from seed. If this were the case we would never have the variety of plants that we do today in our world. True, many plant varieties have come from seed grown plants and trees, but many also come from sports, commonly seen as mutations of currently growing plants. Many trees and plants can be propagated without rooting hormones. Rooting hormones, such as Hormodin and Dip 'N Grow, can be purchased at most home and garden centers. If they don't have it, they may willingly special order it for you. Rooting hormones for propagating plants are really only needed for harder to root types of plants. Some easy to root plants are: willow, forsythia, weigela, butterfly bush, and hydrangea. If you are new to plant propagation, try one of these plants first.


We've found the easiest time to root cuttings is in late Spring. You'll want your cutting to have "hardened off" on the plant first, meaning that where you make the cut to take your cutting is starting to go "woody". Inspect the stem you are going to take the cutting from. The tip of the stem will still look "green". Lower down on the stem you will see how the stem starts to turn brown or woody looking. About an inch or so below that woodiness is where you can take your cutting from. Using a pair of garden hand pruners, cut about 6 inches from the tip of the stem. Remove any buds on the lower 2 inches of the stem. This is where some of the roots will form. You'll have to prepare a pot of soilless mix for the cutting to reside while it's developing its roots. This can be any type of pot as long as it has drainage holes in the bottom. You can fill the pot with a soilless mix that you can buy from any local garden center. You'll also want to pre-moisten the mix before inserting the cutting. Press down on the mix lightly to compact it a bit.


Now you're ready to insert the cutting. Simply insert the bottom part of the cutting into the mix and press the soil around the cutting gently and then lightly water around the cutting to set the cutting. You want to always make sure the mix in the pot stays moist (not soaking wet) and keep the pot in a lightly shaded place for several months. The hardest part of propagating plants and trees is waiting for them to root. You can occasionally check the drainage holes in the bottom of the pot. If you see white roots through the drainage holes, you can be assured that the plant has rooted and will be ready to be planted in the Fall in either a nursery bed made specifically for growing on small trees and plants or you can go ahead and plant it out in its desired location in your landscape. Just remember, it will take the plant a few years before it grows into a decent sized plant. If you go ahead and plant it out in the yard, you can put a short wire fence around it to make sure it doesn't get stepped on or run over with a mower. Make sure the plant gets plenty of water the first few years, especially during a drought, while it is getting established.

Now that you've learned how to propagate plants, you can grow whatever your heart desires. Try your hand on various trees and plants and see what plants you can root and grow. It really can become addictive once you get the hang of it!
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Thursday, February 7, 2008

How To Remove Rusty Nuts

How To Remove Rusty Nuts



What's more aggravating than a rusty nut that won't budge no matter how hard you try to turn it with a wrench? Have you sprayed a whole can of WD 40 or PB Blaster on the stubborn rusty nut and still have no luck in removing it? Well, you are in luck. Before you give the nut one last hard turn and break the attached bolt, try this simple trick that involves one simple tool that is usually available in most hardware stores. Your secret weapon for stubborn rusty nuts is a propane torch. Heating the nut until it turns cherry red will loosen the nut enough to remove it without pulling your groin. You will need to take safety precautions when using a propane torch. Wear thick leather gloves to prevent burns. Don't use near flammable liquids. Use common sense. I always heat the rusted nut to a cherry red, wait a few seconds and then spray the threads with WD-40 or PB Blaster. It will smoke a little. Then put your wrench on the nut and you'll see how easily it comes off the bolt. Be sure and remember that the nut and bolt will stay hot for some time. For those that were born without common sense, aloe is good for first degree burns.
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How To Get Enough Lutein

How To Get Enough Lutein



Lutein is a carotenoid that is vitally important for healthy eyes. A healthy diet that includes lutein lowers your risk of developing cataracts and helps prevent the medical condition known as macular degeneration. There is currently no RDA for consuming lutein, but eating such lutein-rich foods as potatoes, tomatoes, kale, spinach, corn, carrots and greens daily will provide an ample serving. Lutein supplements are available to buy, but if you eat a variety of fruits and vegetables they should not be necessary. One very important study actually found that the body absorbs lutein from eggs better than any other source of this all-important carotenoid. And if you happen to raise your own chickens, you can feed them flower petals from marigolds, which are also a rich source of lutein. The pigment causes the egg yolks to be a darker shade of yellow. And you'll be getting an even healthier egg than can be found in your local grocery store. Your heart will thank you and you should literally see the benefits of lutein for years to come.
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Wednesday, February 6, 2008

How To Be A Healthier Smoker

How To Be A Healthier Smoker



Can you be a healthier smoker? Who knows? But a healthy diet can sure help fend off some of the serious damage smokers do to their bodies on a daily basis. For instance, did you know that the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of vitamin C is 125 mg a day? That's 35 mg a day more of vitamin C than nonsmokers. Naturally, smokers inhale more toxins into their bodies than nonsmokers and need the extra boost from increased intake of vitamin C to counter the oxidative stress. Think of other ways to be a healthier smoker. Even one less cigarette a day is a start. Any one thing you can do to help your body fight the ill effects of cigarette smoking is much better than doing nothing at all. When you finally are able to quit smoking, you will be well on your way to healing the damage to your body by utilizing a healthier diet plan.
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How To Thread a Needle

How To Thread a Needle




Any sewing project starts with threading a needle. Some folks, such as those with arthritis or poor eyesight, may have a problem in this area. To make needle threading easier for those with poor eyesight, place a piece of white paper behind the needle hole. This makes it easier for you to see through the eye of the needle and pass the thread through. For those people that suffer from arthritis, get a small piece of paper and fold it in half. Lay the thread in the inside crease with a little bit of the thread hanging out from the edge when folded over. Now simply slide the the paper with the sliver of thread hanging out into the hole of the needle. Enough thread should poke through where you can get a good hold to pull the thread on through.
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Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Catfish Bait Recipes - How To

Catfish Bait Recipes - How To



Who doesn't love the taste of freshly caught filleted catfish, fried up on a plate with homemade hush puppies? Yummm! Most people think catfish are hard to catch, but it doesn't take long to reel them in once you've found the proper baits that they strike on. I've tried many of the store-bought catfish baits and not really had too much luck. The best catfish baits can be found right in your own home. One of the easiest catfish baits to use is regular old hot dogs. Cut them up into one inch slices and throw them on a hook and more likely than not, you'll be reeling in a catfish or two. I've experimented with several baits for reeling in the catfish and two of my favorites I'll list for you here. Just don't go stealing all my catfish or I'll have to start charging for these bait recipes :)

Catfish love chicken livers. And some people have been known to fry them up and eat them. But I'll save mine for the catfish, which seem to taste a little better in my opinion. First thing you'll need is the chicken livers. If you raise and eat your own chickens, you'll have an endless supply (lucky you). But if you're like most people, you'll have to resort to picking up a bucket or two at your local grocer. They're really cheap, cheaper than night crawlers, so grab an extra bucket of them while you're there. The worst thing about chicken livers is that they are hard to keep on a hook and they are slimy as all get out. So to make them easier to stay on the hook, the need to really be dehydrated. I dehydrate mine to about the consistency of beef jerky. In a dehydrator, it usually takes about two full days for them to dehydrate fully. They should look and feel like beef jerky when they're done. The secret ingredient that helps them get the strikes from catfish is garlic salt. When I put the chicken livers in the dehydrator, I sprinkle them with cheap garlic salt. The catfish ain't going to know it's not McCormick garlic salt. You can find a large bottle of garlic salt at a dollar store for less than a buck. Note: Unless you want a big mess on your hands, you also need to cut out & lay a piece of wax paper on each of your trays. The chicken livers will peel off easily when you go to turn them. Every time you turn the chicken livers while drying, give them a sprinkle of garlic salt. When they are done, they almost smell good enough to eat...almost! Again, I'll leave that to the catfish. This homemade catfish bait recipe will have the catfish begging for more. Trust me!

So you got all of the chicken livers onto the dehydrator trays and they are on their way to drying out nicely and stinking up your wifey's kitchen, right? Now we have all of that leftover chicken blood still in the buckets. While the chicken blood may be good for pouring into the back of your wifey's flower bed for the health of her plants, it is even better for use as a seasoning of sorts. You did buy a package of those really cheap hot dogs while you were at the grocery store, right? The cheapest you can find. It don't matter to the catfish. They are downright hungry, remember? Now fill a small mason jar with the hot dogs cut up into about one inch slices and put them into the jar. Now take that leftover chicken blood and pour it over the hot dogs. Then put the lid on and let the hot dogs sit in the blood for about a week before using. You can add some fresh garlic to the mix if you so choose. Shake the jar once every few days to keep the dogs covered with the "seasoning". Keep them in the back of the fridge so the wifey don't know they're in there, else she might throw them out the door, with you not too far behind. Them catfish are just going to be waiting for you to arrive, trust me!
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How To Seal a Leaky Pond - Leaking Pond

How To Seal a Leaking Pond



If your new pond leaks and you're having trouble finding out what is causing the problem, not to worry. There are a few things you can do to keep your new pond from leaking, as well as a few things you can do before you're ready to fill your new pond with water. I'm speaking mainly here about newly built farm ponds, not your typical small backyard garden pond that will usually have a pond liner to retain the water.

The major problem with a newly built farm pond is that they are built by inexperienced bulldozer operators that don't understand soil types. They may think that pushing the dirt to form a hole will hold water leaving you with your dream pond. This is not always the case. If you have a very sandy soil, you will have to usually have a high-clay soil shipped in on truck to cover the base of the pond to form a good seal. Otherwise, the water will puddle after a rain and then just recede into the soil within a short time. A good pond base needs a clay soil that will keep the water from receding. As mentioned above, you can either have a clay soil shipped in and spread over the pond base, or you can buy a product called bentonite spread over the pond surface. Bentonite is a cost-effective way to treat porous soils when building a new pond. Two commonly used variations of Bentonite for sealing ponds are calcium bentonite and sodium bentonite. Both are acceptable for sealing a leaking pond.

If you live on a farm and already raise cattle, pigs (swine), or even goats, you also have another, more frugal, way of dealing with a leaky pond. By simply fencing in your livestock around the pond and spreading their feed onto the pond surface you can build a durable pond base in hardly no time and without the expense of the options mentioned above. Adding organic matter such as manure, leaves, straw, grass, sawdust or hay will also help build the pond base. What happens here is that the animals' hooves trample the pond bottom, working in the organic matter, and basically seal the pond to retain water. As an alternative, Bentonite can also be spread over the pond surface without worry of contaminating the livestock. Their hooves will work the bentonite into the soil along with the organic matter and provide a perfect pond base that simply won't leak.
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Tuesday, January 22, 2008

How To Treat Tennis Elbow

How To Treat Tennis Elbow



If you suffer from tennis elbow there are some things you can do to treat it at home. One of the easiest ways to relieve the pain of tennis elbow is by avoiding any activity that makes the pain worse. Since overuse of specific tendons is what is causing the pain try to limit your movement to give the tendons time to heal. Applying an ice pack for a few hours at a time will also give your tennis elbow some relief. Buy a tennis elbow brace and wear it when you find yourself needing to utilize the affected limb. If your doctor did not prescribe any medication for your tennis elbow, you can purchase Advil or Ibuprofen to relieve some of the pain. Once your treatment is on the right track and you can feel the pain subsiding you should start lightly exercising your arm to strengthen your healing tendons. Ask your doctor about the appropriate exercises.
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Tuesday, January 15, 2008

How To Treat Canker Sores

How To Treat Canker Sores



Definitely not a cure, but one of the best ways to treat canker sores is to regularly rinse your mouth with a 50/50 solution of hydrogen peroxide and water. You may want to take a pain reliever until the canker sore heals. It is recommended to use ibuprofen to relieve the pain, but if that bothers your stomach you can use acetaminophen. Food products and additives are suspected of making canker sores worse. Try to avoid any foods that you find may trigger an outbreak. Other homemade treatments for canker sores include; gargling with salt water, gargling with mouth wash, gargling with a mouthwash consisting of one aspirin and some water, applying tea tree oil to the sore, and finally, applying Milk of Magnesia directly to the canker sore. Most people learn how to treat their canker sores by trial and error. It may take some experimenting, but you'll come to find what canker sore treatment works best for you.
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Wednesday, January 9, 2008

How To Grill in Winter - Grilling in Winter

How To Grill in Winter - Grilling in Winter



Some simple tips for how to grill in winter. Just because Summer has passed and its cold outside doesn't mean you need to store away the grill for winter. In fact, grilled food tastes just as good in Winter as it does in the Summer. Whether you're using a gas grill or a charcoal grill the basics still apply. You'll find only a few differences in the way you grill in winter. Naturally, you'll want to dress warmer. And you'll also need to watch your grilling times. The extra dip in temperature can add a few more minutes of cooking time to get that steak grilled to perfection. If you're grilling outdoors in winter, you'll also want to watch your step. Holding onto a plate of steaks and utensils can distract you from slippery spots that can in turn cause an unwanted accident. Grilling in winter is one of my favorite ways to relax. Hopefully you can find some time to relax & grill outdoors this winter too!
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