"Engagement" Lemon Bars

 

Random story about my mother-in-law and myself: When we were in high school my husband's house was the place to hang out. I think a part of this was because my mother-in-law is a such a cookie queen. (Slightly related secret: If you want to know what your kids are doing, provide food. The teenagers will show up and sometimes they'll even talk to you.) It certainly wasn't because their house was centrally located. Usually she made chocolate chip cookies and brownies, which aren't so much my thing. Then one day she made these amazing lemon bars. I told her that I would almost marry her son for the recipe. We weren't even dating at the time. She gave me the recipe and made me a batch of them for my birthday every year until I did marry her son. (Now she makes cheesecake for my birthday which is even better.) I heart my mother-in-law.
 I can not count how many times I have made these. It has become a tradition that whenever my best friend and I have a girl's night we make these. They are also my go-to thank you gift for anyone who has helped me move. They are so yummy, especially if you are of the persuasion who craves lemon over chocolate, like myself. When I make them I cut down the butter and white sugar from the original recipe. What you see is the lowest amount of butter you can get away with without changing the results. I also took out a 1/2 cup of white flour and substituted oat flour. It seems to work better. If you want your lemon topping to a slight crunch to it, substitute one tablespoon of wheat flour for one of the tablespoons of white flour (Don't worry you won't lose its characteristic yummy gooeyness, it will just have thin crunchy layer on top.)


Engagement Lemon Bars

Crust:
1 1/2 c all purpose white flour
1/2 cup oat flour
3/4 cup melted butter
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt


Lemon Topping:
Juice and rind of one lemon
4 Tablespoons all purpose white flour
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking powder


powdered sugar for dusting


1. Spray 9x13" pan with nonstick spray. Preheat oven to 350 Fahrenheit 2.Mix together crust and press into pan with a fork. 3. Bake for 8 minutes. (Crust won't be completely done, but it will cook more later.) 4. While crust is baking beat lemon topping ingredients with a hand mixer.5. When crust is done pour lemon topping over it and return to the oven for 30 minutes. 6. Once cooled dust with powdered sugar. Served best chilled.

Tricks with Hydrogen Peroxide

I hope that everyone had a great Mother's Day.

My mother-in-law recently sent me a list of uses for 3% hydrogen peroxide, plus I added a few more that I thought were helpful. It's amazing what can be done with a bottle that costs less than a dollar. Everything I listed I have either tried, know someone who has tried or I have found enough research to support it, unless otherwise indicated. The ones we haven't tried aren't going to do any harm. It seems that hydrogen peroxide is safe and helpful, but if swallowed undiluted it can make you very sick.

1. To get rid of canker sores and whiten teeth- Take one capful (the little white cap that comes with the bottle) and hold in your mouth for 1 minute daily, then spit it out... (Small print says mouthwash and gargle right on the bottle.) However, you should not use this as a mouthwash long term, if used extensively it can soften teeth and damage gums.
2. If a dog has swallowed a harmful substance (e.g., rat poison), small amounts of hydrogen peroxide can be given to induce vomiting.  (About 2 tablespoons) Haven't had a reason to try this, but I have read this in several places.
3. If a dog has been sprayed by a skunk, mix a large bottle of hydrogen peroxide, a 1/4 cup of baking soda and a teaspoon of dish soap. Thoroughly scrub skunk victim with solution, several times. Do not add water because that activates the skunk smell.
4. Let your toothbrushes soak in a cup of H202 to keep them free of germs. 
5. Clean your counters, table tops with peroxide to kill germs and leave a fresh smell. Simply put a little on your dish rag when you wipe, or spray it on the counters. 
6. After rinsing off your wooden cutting board, pour peroxide on it to kill salmonella and other bacteria. 
7. Spray a 50/50 mixture of peroxide and water on feet (especially the toes) every night and let dry to get rid of athletes foot and other foot fungus.   
8. Soak any infections or cuts in 3% peroxide for five to ten minutes several times a day. Reportedly it can effectively treat gangrene. Although recent research has shown that wounds treated with hydrogen peroxide are more likely to scar.
9. Fill a spray bottle with a 50/50 mixture of peroxide and water and keep it in every bathroom to disinfect without harming your septic system like bleach or most other disinfectants will. 
10. If you like a natural looking highlights in your hair, spray the 50/50 solution on your wet hair after a shower and comb it through. You will not have the peroxide burnt blonde hair like the hair dye packages, but more natural highlights if your hair is a light brown, reddish, or dirty blonde. It also lightens gradually so it's not a drastic change.    
11. Put half a bottle of peroxide in your bath to help rid boils, fungus, or other skin infections. (This one I haven't tried, but I don't think it will hurt.)
12. You can also add a cup of peroxide instead of bleach to a load of whites in your laundry to whiten them. It is effective in getting out grass stains and grape juice. Oxiclean is essentially hydrogen peroxide.
13. Use peroxide to clean mirrors without smearing or streaking. 
14. It is used to whiten bones that are put on display (who besides paleontologists are putting bones on display? That's kind of creepy.) 
15. Some horticulturalists advocate the use of weak hydrogen peroxide solution ("Spanish water") in watering solutions. Its chemical action releases oxygen that enhances a plant's root development and helps to treat root rot and a variety of other pests. 
16. Use as a vegetable wash or soak to kill bacteria and neutralize chemicals.
17. Clean with hydrogen peroxide when your house becomes a biohazard after its invaded by toxic mold, such as those with water damage. Careful as it can lighten the colors of most things it comes in contact with.
18. And of course hydrogen peroxide is great for cleaning up blood. If applied immediately and rinsed, it can take it out of clothing and carpets without staining. However, it does make said item wear out faster and can lighten the color. But better that than blood-stains.  

A few things everyone should know about the Emergency Room

I have never worked in the ER, but as a pediatric nurse a large percentage of our patients come from there. So we periodically look at the ER census board for patients under the age of 18 whose condition warrants an admit. Between that and just life and general it seems that there are many people who could learn a few things about the ER (or ED as it is sometimes called.)

The Emergency Room is the most expensive way to receive care. On the unit I work on, when there aren't patients to care for, the staff get sent home, and we don't have a doctor on the unit. That is not the case in the ER. They have to pay their nurses and doctors to be there at all times, because you never know what or when something is going to walk through the door. This is the case even when there aren't any patients, because the situation can quickly change. ER charges high rates because you are paying for availability.

There are many "emergencies" that can be taken care of at an Instacare.   The Instacare is usually a little more expensive than a traditional office visit, but vastly less expensive than an ER visit. The Instacare will generally be open much later than a traditional office. A few months ago my son put a hole in his forehead with my fireplace. I managed to get him to the Instacare twenty minutes before they closed. They stitched him up and we were out within 30 minutes. It cost me $40. If I had gone to the ER, I would have had to pay a $150 co-pay, plus a percentage of the costs of whatever tests or procedures you have done. And it has been my experience that the ER would have taken me a lot longer than 30 minutes. When my patients come up from the ER, it is pretty common for them to wait for hours before anything is actually done. Once I was in a car accident and taken to the ER. I was the only patient there and I still waited for an hour before anyone saw me.
 A few of the things that can often be taken care of at the Instacare: Large cuts, simple bone fractures, sprains, food poisoning, vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, fevers, bladder problems, headaches and blood pressure issues.

Poison Control is a great resource. If your child has eaten or drunk anything they shouldn't, call poison control. That number is 1-800-222-1222. That's the number wherever you live in the United States. Even doctors sometimes call Poison Control for advice. I'm not sure how it works other places, but I know that in Utah, the Poison Control center is staffed by pharmacy students. It's part of their training. Calling Poison Control is free and the staff can often tell you if your situation is really emergent. 72% of Poison Control callers are treated safely at home. I've called them before, they're very nice and very helpful.

The ER is not your primary care provider. Do not go to the ER for hangnails. (Yes, I have seen that as a diagnosis on the ER board.) If you are going to the ER on a regular basis, (I had a patient once, who averaged five ER visits a month.) you need to find a regular doctor. Someone who knows your story before hand, can look at the whole picture and help you with your problems.
 I realize that there are many people who go to the ER because they don't have insurance and can't afford to visit a traditional doctor and the ER won't (can't) turn them away. I think that many people don't realize that there are programs out there to help. Ask your local doctors office or your local health department. If you have a legitimate need there are resources to help. It is more cost effective for the government to assist you with your medication payments than to pay for weekly ER bills. When people go to the ER and it is not an emergency, they are increasing the cost of healthcare for everyone. Besides that, they are delaying treatment for those who really need it. Injuries and even death have been caused by excessive wait times in the ER.

Call your doctor's office. Often they can tell you over the phone is something they can treat or if it is something that must be taken care of in the Emergency Department. And they're even cheaper than the Instacare.

 Reasons you should go to the ER 

• Vomiting blood
• Symptoms of a stroke
• Chest pain that is not relieved by anatacids (suspected heart attack)
• Abdominal pain
• Trauma
• Overdose
• New onset seizures
• Respiratory distress
• Significant loss of blood
• Any health problem that is actually an emergency

Go where you can be treated. One more thing that I don't think that most people realize is that you need to go to a facility that has the capability to treat you (if you possibly can). For example there was a community hospital that I worked at occasionally in their Mother/Baby unit. Most serious cases coming to their ER are transported to another facility, because they have no ICU, no Pediatric unit and limited surgical options. I've seen many patients who go there and then are surprised and upset that they have to pay for an ambulance ride to a bigger hospital (which is where I would see them, as I worked there too). (I don't say this to disparage this hospital. It is a great hospital with awesome staff. They take very good care of their L&D patients, and took great care of my mom when she had her minor surgery there. But I wouldn't take my child there in an emergency. It's only 10 minutes to a hospital that has everything you need.)

Use your common sense. Oh, and if your instinct (not your panic mode, but your instinct) tells you that the situation warrants an ER visit, go with it. Many lives have been saved by following "instinct", when other signs did not indicate an emergency.

Book Review: Book of Secrets

I bought Book of Secrets by Thomas Eaton  for my husband as a stocking stuffer last year. It's a fun little book. It's small enough that I can fit it in the pocket of my scrubs and when I'm on hold trying to get a hold of the pharmacy or a physician I can pull it out and read a page or two. It's somewhat of a random conglomeration of secrets, much like my blog. It's full of quotes and mini articles on all kinds of subjects. There are articles about cooking, bargain-hunting, weight loss and travel. There are also many articles about the secrets of famous people in history, politics and abandoned subway stations in New York City. (Really the author spends more time on this topic than any other.) It was definitely worth the read and possibly something that I'll reference in the future.The egg post that I wrote earlier this week was based on info that I learned from this book. Here's a list of a few of the random secrets that I learned in my reading.

• Overheating non-stick frying pans can cause them to release potential carcinogens, tiny particles and toxic gases that can get into the lungs.
• Pre-packaged salad is most often washed in a strong chlorine solution, so even though the package says that it's been washed, it's best to wash it again anyway.
• To re-bake a cold potato without it drying out, dip it in water before baking it in a very hot oven for 15 minutes.
• Only shop for clothes on Thursday, that's when most store get their new stock.
• You can greatly reduce the cooking time of wild rice by soaking it overnight.
• Taking your daily vitamins with tea or coffee prevents them from being absorbed.
• Research has shown that shiitake mushrooms lower LDL cholesterol and can halt advanced cancers.
• A high-protein meal can immediately boost your memory.
• If you're looking for a husband move to the country. Research shows that there are more single women in the city and more single men in rural areas.
• Applying a thin line of concealer around the outside edge of lips can give them more definition.

Someone Who Inspires Me

Whether or not you are LDS, it's hard not to feel inspired by Stephanie Nielson and her story. Every mother should watch this video. It will remind you of what's really important. If you're interested her blog is http://nieniedialogues.blogspot.com

The Many Secrets of Eggs

Lately I've been reading Book of Secrets, which I'll tell you more about when I finish. One mini-article that I found to be helpful was The Many Secrets of Eggs. Here they are:

• Fresh eggs will have a rough chalky texture to the outside of the shell; the older the eggs, the smoother the shell
• To see how fresh an egg is put it in a glass of water. If it lays down horizontally it is 1-2 days old. 45 degree angle=7-10 days old. If it stands up vertically it is much older than that.
• If you shake an egg and you feel movement inside it is old. As the moisture content of the egg diminishes over time the air pocket inside grows bigger.
• Slightly older eggs are better for hard boiling. Shells of very fresh eggs are harder to remove and fresh eggs also take longer to boil.
• When cracked into a pan a fresh egg's yolk will be almost spherical, the older the egg, the flatter it will be.
• Fresh eggs are best for separating yolks from whites, because the membrane surrounding the yolk disintegrates with age.
• Never beat egg white in an aluminium bowl, it will turn them gray.
• If you have leftover egg whites it is fine to freeze them.
• Eggshells are very porous. Storing them near anything with a very strong aroma can taint their taste. But the paper mache cartons will absorb most odours.
• Once you have taken hardboiled eggs off the stove, place them under a running tap until the water is cold. This stops the eggs from cooking in theoir own heat and prevents the yolk from getting that greenish grey coating.
• If you cook eggs fresh straight from the fridge they will be much tougher than if you let them get to room temperature first.
• When boiled, eggs straight from the fridge are less likely to crack. Use a small pan allowing for less room for them to bump around.
• Adding a spoonful of vinegar to the water you boil the eggs in protects the shells and prevents them from cracking.
• If you have a hot liquid that you are thickening with eggs, make sure that you let it cool before adding them, otherwise they will cook before they can be whisked in.
• A pinch of cream of tartar added to eggs before whisking will make them much fluffier.
• Cooking eggs at a high heat makes for tough eggs.
• For perfect scrambled eggs always slightly under-cook them. They will continue to cook in their own heat as you serve them.

More Great Web Sites and Blogs

This weekend I realized that there are several blogs I have been reading lately that I hadn't linked to on my site. A mere oversight, I wasn't trying to hoard the savings to myself. (That situation has been remedied.) Also, fyi, although I always love scoring a good deal, it's not something I foresee myself blogging about much. There are other people out there who are better about keeping up on the latest and hottest deals. I'll just let them do it and continue to reap the benefits. I prefer to talk about things that will be useful weeks and months and years from now. Anywho, here are my latest blog-finds for money saving and general making life better.

All About Food Storage 
Coupon Cookin'
Couponing to Disney
Freebies 2 Deals
Mama Cheaps
Money Saving Mom
Mrs. Moneysaver
Simple Mom
That Went Well...