The Home Alternative

It’s apple season! Apples, apples everywhere. I live in a somewhat rural area where there is definitely no shortage of apples or the orchards where local farmers grow them. You don’t have to drive far to get a box full of apples for a few dollars. I stock up when they are cheap. So now I have a house full apples. There’s no limit to the different ways you can use them. Applesauce, apple pie, apple cake, sliced apples, diced apples, and fried apples! Delicious with cinnamon! No need to worry about eating the apples before they go bad. They freeze wonderfully and are extremely healthy! Here is one of my favorite ways to fix apples.

Skillet Fried Apples

Ingredients:

8 apples sliced in wedges

2 tablespoons of butter

2/3 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon of cinnamon

3 tablespoons water

Melt butter in skillet over medium heat while preparing apples. After slicing apples into wedges, toss in skillet and stir until tender. Turn heat up to medium high then add brown sugar and water. Toss apples until coated well. Remove pan from heat. Stir in cinnamon.

This recipe is a southern favorite and absolutely delicious. It makes a great side dish, healthy snack, or can be used as topping on vanilla icecream

We all need to make and effort to eat more fruits and veggies. This is a great start. And always remember…  “An apple a day keeps the doctor away”

We hear it every Christmas and if you listen closely you may even win a prize. This has been a common song for a radio station to ask the words for in order for you to win a gift of some sort. So what are those words that we can never seem to remember and what do they mean?

12 Drummers drumming

11 Piper’s piping

10 Lord’s a leaping

9   Ladies dancing

8  Maid’s a milking

7  Swan’s a swimming

6  Geese a laying

5  Golden rings

4  Calling birds

3  French hens

2  Turtle doves

1  Partridge in a pair tree

No one knows for sure when the song was first performed. Perhaps around the 16th century. What we do know is that is an extremely popular old english christmas carol that doesn’t seem to lose any of its flair year after year. You have to admit the song sounds a little silly. What does Lord’s a leaping mean anyway? You may be surprised to learn that the song actually does has significant spiritual meaning. Each day stands for something:

1 True Love: God
2 Turtle Doves: Old and New Testaments
3 French Hens: Faith, Hope and Charity, the Theological Virtues
4 Calling Birds: the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists
5 Golden Rings: the first Five Books of the Old Testament, the “Pentateuch”, which gives the history of man’s fall from grace.
6 Geese A-laying: the six days of creation
7 Swans A-swimming: seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, seven sacraments
8 Maids A-milking: eight beatitudes
9 Ladies Dancing: nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit
10 Lords A-leaping: ten commandments
11 Pipers Piping: eleven faithful apostles
12 Drummers Drumming: twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle’s Creed

Maybe this song will make a little more sense this year

Well I’ve been sick for the past week and battled with a fever in the midst of it. So what did I do? Well, it may not be what you think. I didn’t take a tylenol or an antibiotic. I simply let it run its course. Everyone seems to think you must knock a fever out at all cost. Do we think differently? Not usually. The doctor will give you the same advice. Take a tylenol and get plenty of rest and whatever infection will go away in time. But is a fever truly that bad?

Yes, there are nasty symptoms of a fever. A fever can be accompanied by headaches, nausea, rash, and the dreaded runs. But have you ever stopped to think why you’re body is taking on a fever? The fever isn’t what makes you sick. The fever is simply one of your bodies many defense systems put in place to knock out a bug or a virus.

Should you let a fever run its course. In most cases, YES.

When your body takes on a fever, the higher temperature creates an unfavorable environment for most unwanted viral and bacterial strains. White blood cells rapidly multiply and get to work on wiping out the ‘intruders’. Therefore the body stands a better chance of recovering quickly from the infection.

However, any fever is cause for concern and you should contact your doctor if you have  symptoms. If you’re pretty sure you just have a little bug and your temp isn’t up above 101, I would recommend staying the course and letting your body get to work on eliminating the infection. Of course, in all instances keep an eye on your body temp by regularly checking it every few hours. If your temp. is above 101 or reaches that point at any time contact a doctor immediately. A fever at 103 or above left unchecked is extremely dangerous and sometimes fatal.

Have you ever wondered where we get the tradition of eating turkey on Thanksgiving? I have. I decided to do a little research and see what I could find.

Apparently no one truly knows when the first Thanksgiving was. There has been rumored to have been several before the famous ‘plymouth rock’. Anyway..to the turkey…

Tradition holds that the Plymouth colonists invited ninety guests to feast with them . The exact food prepared that day is still unknown. It’s suspected that the meal included: venison, wild turkey, wild fowl, bass, cod, and Indian corn or maize. Thanksgiving became official in the mid 1800’s and was confined to mostly rural England. New England homes were known for the bountiful meals they prepared. Women would make pies weeks in advance and men spent the mornings hunting or shooting turkeys. The largest turkey’s were chosen for the holiday feast. Meals lasted for hours and people were expected to eat more than their fill. Seemingly, one would think this is where the tradition of the turkey came in but surprisingly this is not the case. The turkey actually didn’t make its first formal appearance as a national thanksgiving staple until after World War II! The poultry industry introduced the heavily marketed hybrid turkey, a larger bird, which then in turn became a symbol of American abundance.

Interesting isn’t it..

Two feet of SNOW! Maybe next week. All we’ve seen in the Carolina’s for the past few years are some pitiful little flurries. When did mother nature suddenly decide that we didn’t deserve a little snow joy? Maybe it’s a childish dream but I’d sure love a good snow! What a great way to get the family in the holiday spirit. And how I savor the idea of hurling a snowball at my hubby and having it pop him right in the back of the head!  I didn’t mean that in spite..simply good old fashioned fun. JESUS is the reason for the season. But a blanket of shimmering white snow on the ground never hurt anybody. So again I say. LET IT SNOW! LET IT SNOW! LET IT SNOW!

WHY does my husband insist that he cannot sleep without the TV on in the bedroom?? I understand everyone needs to wind down at the end of the day but seriously…I’m with the baby all the day. When it’s time for bed, oh how I LONG for some peace, quiet, and rest! Leaving the television on into the wee hours of the night is not my idea of relaxation. How can ANYONE rest with all the noise? People lived without a television for thousands upon thousands of years. So all of a sudden he’ll never sleep again without the noise of the television in the background?? I find this very difficult to swallow. In fact, it’s likely the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard! For now, I’ve simply resigned myself to the fact that I’m not going to get a good nights rest and trod off to the living room for another night on the couch until it’s time for the baby to eat. I wonder if any other ladies live with this problem and how they cope? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

This is 10 times better than hamburger helper and a quick fix too!

Ingredients:

1 cup elbow macaroni

1 pound ground beef

1 medium onion chopped

1 can (14 1/2 ounces) Original or Italian Stewed tomatoes

1/4 cup ketchup

1 cup (4 oz) shredded cheddar cheese

1. Cook pasta according to package directions; drain.

2. In large skillet, brown meat with onion; drain. Season with salt and pepper if desired. Stir in tomatoes, ketchup and pasta; heat through.

3. Top with cheese. Garnish if desired.

prep time: 8 minutes

cook time: 15 minutes

We’ve all heard how dangerous it is to let our babies sleep in bed with us. Chances are your doctor has drilled this into your head whether you’re a first time mom or a veteran. Just how reliable is this advice we’re getting? Is it backed by science or backed by the crib revolution. America is one of the few countries who separate their children at nap time or bed time to sleep alone in a crib. In my opinion this is absolutely heinous! Parents have been duped into believing it’s normal and OK for an infant to cry themselves to sleep. NEWS FLASH. It is NOT OK. If your baby is crying, something is wrong. Perhaps it is just comfort they need and who are we to withhold it?? Does any other mammal on the planet disregard the cries of their infant? I’d say not. So I did a little digging and got the real scoop on co-sleeping.

Research (meaning scientific studies have been conducted) shows that:

-Babies who sleep with their parents sleep more peacefully. They wake up crying far less than an infant in a crib.

-Co-Sleeping infants have more stable temperatures, heart rythms, and fewer long pauses in breathing. They sleep safer.

-LOWERS the risk of SIDS. You may have heard otherwise but this is what the research leans to. C0-Sleeping babies spend more time on their back or side, decreasing the risk of SIDS. Carbon Dioxide exhaled by a parent stimulates babies breathing.

-Co-Sleepers have higher self-esteem, less anxiety, are better behaved, comfortable with affection and become independent sooner.

Many parents are concerned that if they let their child sleep in bed with them that they will never get them out. This is simply not true. When children become more cognitively and emotionally devoloped (typically around age 2 to3), they will usually with little persuasion branch out to their own bed or sleeping space.

There’s no reason to isolate your child and let them cry unneccesarily. Do whats best for your baby. Raise them with comfort and love and the benefits will be immeasurable in the short term and the long term.

For more info visit www.askdrsears.com

It seems impossible with the rising costs of food, but saving money at the store is possible. I’m not talking about a few cents here and there either. Try hundreds of dollars a month. Of course this can vary with your shopping habits and size of your family but this is a common average for people who know how to “work the system”. I’ll tell you step by step how to make those dollars stretch and come away from the store with a smile on your face.

1. Buy 2 or 3 Sunday papers every Sunday morning.

Step one is crucial. Sunday morning papers usually contain between 2 to 3 coupon booklets offering savings on variety of grocery items sold in the stores.

2. Get the weekly circulars from all grocery stores in your local area that have the sale items for the week. Paying close attention to sale items and the price difference at each store can save you a lot in the long run.

3. Match coupons with current sale items to maximize savings.

*NOTE: Pay special attention to stores who double or triple coupons. A coupon for 75 cents off an item would be the equivalent of 1.50 0ff (doubled) or 2.25 (tripled). Many items could end up being free or next to nothing by using this principle.

4.Don’t forget about your local drugstores!

Drugstores carry food items and run weekly specials on them as well.

5. Pick one day of the week to go shopping and get everything you need. Limiting grocery runs saves gas and time.

6. If something is on sale and can be coupled with a coupon, use multiple coupons and stock up on the item! This ensures that if you run out of the item, you won’t have to pay full price for another in the near future.

7. Make your list according to the sales and stick to it.

8. And most importantly…NEVER go to the grocery store hungry.

You’ve heard it before and it’s true. When you go to the store hungry, it’s proven that you’re more likely to spend more and make unnecessary purchases.

Stick to the rules and you just might come away with a little more cash in your pocket.

This was in Sunday’s church bulletin. Too cute not to share…

If Noah Were To Build An Ark Today

In the year 2008, the Lord came unto Noah, who was now living in the United States, and said, “Once again, the earth has become wicked and over populated, and I see the end of all flesh before me.”

“Build another Ark and save 2 of every living thing
along with a few good humans.”

He gave Noah the blueprints, saying “You have 6 months to build the Ark before I will start the unending rain for 40 days and 40 nights.”

Six months later, the Lord looked down and saw Noah
weeping in his yard, but no Ark.

“Noah!,” He roared, “I’m about to start the rain!
Where is the Ark?”

“Forgive me, Lord,” begged Noah, “but things have changed.”

“I needed a building permit.”

“I’ve been arguing with the inspector
about the need for a sprinkler system.”

“My neighbors claim that I’ve violated the
neighborhood zoning laws by building the Ark in my
yard and exceeding the height limitations. We had to
go to the Development Appeal Board for a decision.”

“Then the Department of Transportation demanded a
bond be posted for the future costs of moving power
lines and other overhead obstructions, to clear the
passage for the Ark’s move to the sea. I told them
that the sea would be coming to us, but they would
hear nothing of it.”

“Getting the wood was another problem. There’s a ban
on cutting local trees in order to save the spotted owl.”

“I tried to convince the environmentalists that I
needed the wood to save the owls - but no go!”

“When I started gathering the animals, an animal
rights group sued me. They insisted that I was
confining wild animals against their will. They
argued the accommodations were too restrictive, and
it was cruel and inhumane to put so many animals in
a confined space.”

“Then the EPA ruled that I couldn’t build the Ark
until they’d conducted an environmental impact study
on your proposed flood.”

“I’m still trying to resolve a complaint with the
Human Rights Commission on how many minorities I’m
supposed to hire for my building crew.”

“Immigration and Naturalization are checking the
green-card status of most of the people who want to work.”

“The trades unions say I can’t use my sons. They
insist I have to hire only Union workers with
Ark-building experience.”

“To make matters worse, the IRS seized all my assets,
claiming I’m trying to leave the country illegally
with endangered species.”

“So, forgive me, Lord, but it would take at least 10
years for me to finish this Ark.”

Suddenly the skies cleared, the sun began to shine,
and a rainbow stretched across the sky.

Noah looked up in wonder and asked, “You mean you’re not going to destroy the world?”

“No,” said the Lord.

“The GOVERNMENT beat me to it.”