Spiritual Thoughts – The Best Answer for Facing Hostility

Spiritual thoughts…

The Best Answer for Facing Hostility

Has someone become really upset with you?  Perhaps they’ve even said some unkind words to you.  It would be very difficult to get through life without facing conflict with someone you know.  You’ve probably heard the famous saying before, “You can please some of the people some of the time, all of the people some of the time, some of the people all of the time, but you can never please all of the people all of the time.”

Sometimes the best answer is an answer spoken with humility even when you weren’t in the wrong.  God’s Word says in Proverbs 15:1, “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.”   If you follow this procedure you’ll never find yourself in a yelling match to see who can outshout the other one.

The next time you’re facing conflict, and the battle is heating…ask God to help you use a soft answer.  You’ll surely come out with better results than if you had participated in stirring up anger with grievous words in return.

Spiritual Thoughts by NewsletterClips.com

Making Rice a Fresh, New Meal with these 5 Ideas

Making Rice a Fresh, New Meal with these 5 Ideas

Washing Rice
Rice needs to be thoroughly washed. A good way to do this is to put it into a colander, in a deep pan of water. Rub the rice well with the hands, lifting the colander in and out the water, and changing the water until it is clear; then drain. In this way the grit is deposited in the water, and the rice left thoroughly clean.

Best Method for Cooking Rice
The best way to cook rice is by steaming it. If boiled in much water, it loses a portion of its already small percentage of nitrogenous elements. It requires much less time for cooking than any of the other grains. Like all the dried grains and seeds, rice swells in cooking to several times its original bulk. When cooked, each grain of rice should be separate and distinct, yet perfectly tender.

Easy steamed rice
Wash 1 cup of long grain rice.  In a medium sauce pan or larger pan if you’re doubling portions to fix for a crowd, combine rice with  2 cups of water and a 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Cook uncovered until it comes to a boil.  Stir and fluff rice and lower heat to just a simmer.  Cover with a tight lid (do not remove lid to peek while cooking) and simmer approximately 14 min.  Then, continuing to keep lid sealed, remove pan from heat and let set about 5 minutes.  Rice should then be ready to serve.

Boiled rice (Japanese method)
Thoroughly wash rice and soak it overnight. In the morning, drain rice and cook it in an equal quantity of boiling water. (Ratio would be 1 cup of water for every 1 cup of rice)  For cooking, the best option is to use a stewpan with a tight fitting cover.

Heat the water to boiling and then add the rice.  After stirring, place on the cover.  Do not remove the lid during the boiling stage. As the water boils, steam will puff out freely from under the cover, but when the water has nearly evaporated, which will be approximately 8 – 10 minutes, according to the age and quality of the rice, only a faint suggestion of steam will be observed.  The stewpan must then be removed from the heat to some place on the range where it will not burn and left to swell and dry for 15 – 20 minutes.

Making rice a fresh, new meal with these 5 ideas…

1. Rice with fig sauce
Need a breakfast that will ward of hunger until noon? Steam a cupful of  rice as directed above.  When done, serve with a fig sauce. Dish a spoonful of  fig sauce with each serving of rice and serve with plenty of milk or cream. Rice served in this way requires no sugar for dressing and is a most wholesome breakfast dish.

2. Orange rice
Craving a little sweetness, but want something solid too?  Wash and steam the rice. Prepare some oranges by separating into sections and cutting each section in halves, removing the seeds and all the white portions. Sprinkle the oranges lightly with sugar and let them stand while the rice is cooking. Serve a portion of the orange mix with each serving of rice.

3. Rice with raisins
Want something a little old-fashioned and hearty? Carefully wash a cup of rice, soak it, and cook as directed for steamed rice. After the rice has begun to swell, but before it has softened, stir in a cupful of raisins with a fork.  Serve with milk or cream.

4. Rice with peaches.
Here’s a nice dish to enjoy with family.  Steam the rice and when done, serve with cream and a nicely ripened peach pared and sliced on each individual dish.

5. Browned rice
Make it a grand meal!  Spread a cupful of rice on a shallow baking tin, and put into a moderately hot oven to brown. It will need to be stirred frequently to prevent burning and to secure a uniformity of color. Each rice kernel, when sufficiently browned, should be yellowish brown, about the color of ripened wheat.

Steam the rice using two cups of water for each cup of browned rice, omitting the preliminary soaking. When properly cooked, each kernel will be separated, dry and mealy. Rice prepared in this manner is undoubtedly more digestible than when cooked without browning.

*Browned rice can make a delicious meal for even a crowd by adding chicken breast stir-fried in a little olive oil and serving the chicken & rice mix with sweet-n-sour sauce.

Making Rice a Great Meal by NewsletterClips.com

334 Free Candy Recipes

334 Free Candy Recipes – No Email Address Required!

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Debt Elimination Tips

Debt Elimination Tips

Debt problems can occur before you even realize how terrible it’s gotten.  Here are 5 Debt Elimination Tips…

1. Always be cautious with your funds, no matter how small the spending amounts may be. A dollar spent here and there can really add up over time.  If you are aware of where you are spending money, many times you can eliminate wasted expenses.  Eliminating debt means being more cautious of how you are spending your money.

2. Always take small debts serious. Many people don’t really start to worry about debt until it’s way out of control.  Take small debts serious and get them paid off as soon as possible before spending money on other luxuries such as eating out or a new outfit.   Place top priority on eliminating your current debt and make sure you try to avoid future debt by following step number 3.

3.  Prepare a monthly budget. This is not just for a one-time purpose.  Your budget is one that you need to monitor often and reassess from month to month to determine how you are doing.  After following this budget strictly, you will slowly but surely start seeing success of  debt elimination. Furthermore, you will be creating positive habits that will also prevent future debt.

4.  Try to cut corners wherever  possible. By cutting corners each month and really paying close attention to exactly how much money you are spending, you will achieve debt elimination faster.   Take even a closer look to see what other extra expenses you can temporarily suspend so that you can pay off your current debt even faster.

5.  For large debts,  seek advice from a professional. No matter how much of an ego or pride you have, nobody is too good to ask for help when it is definitely needed.  Getting proper advice can be priceless especially when it concerns your financial situation.

Debt Elimination Tips by NewsletterClips.com

3 Recipes for Hot and Spicy Chicken Wings

3 Recipes for Hot and Spicy Chicken Wings

Spicy Chicken Wings

- 1 lg. can Parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsp. oregano
- 4 tbsp. parsley
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. pepper
- 1 stick margarine
- 4-5 lbs. chicken wings

Instructions:

Line cookie sheet with aluminum foil.  Melt margarine in small pan.  Cut up chicken wings.  Discard tips.  Mix all dry ingredients in bowl.  Dunk chicken wings in margarine and roll in cheese mixture.  Place on cookie sheet.  Bake in preheated 350-degree oven for 1 hour.  Serve warm.

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Hot Chicken Wings

Chicken wings
1/2 stick margarine
1 bottle Durkee hot sauce
2 tbsp. honey
10 shakes Tabasco
2 tsp. cayenne pepper (optional)

Instructions:

Deep fry wings for 20 minutes.  Drain and dip and let set in sauce.  Take out to dry and then serve.

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Hot-N-Spicy Chicken Wings

5 lbs. bag chicken wings (drumettes)
12 fl. oz. Louisiana Pre Crystal Hot Sauce
1-2 sticks butter

Instructions:

Fry chicken wings until golden brown and drain on paper towel.  Mix hot sauce and melted butter and pour into deep pan or crock pot.  Add chicken wings to sauce and heat thoroughly.

Hot & Spicy Chicken Wings Recipes by NewsletterClips.com

Kids Birthday Party Tips

Kids Birthday  Party Tips

1.  Plan ahead for the activities. If your child’s friends are coming over to your house, then prepare well ahead of time.  Make sure to plan all the activities that will be done.

There are a whole host of activities that the children can do when they come over to your house to have fun at a birthday party! For example, you could turn the whole day into a big movie marathon with plenty of candy and popcorn to go around.

If you want to go this route then a good idea would be to hold a vote with the children about which movies that they’d like to watch. Or, if you’d prefer, your birthday son or daughter can be the one to pick out the majority of the movies that everyone will be watching.

2.  Always make a backup plan. In case a planned event  turned sour or rather things went faster  than planned and you need extra filler, it’s wise to make a backup plan with extra activities.  For example, having a piñata at your home is always a fun event for a children’s birthday party, as well as traditional birthday party games, like “Pin the Tail on the Donkey.”

You can find plenty of birthday ideas by researching different birthday games on the internet or you can ask for advice from other parents who’ve held birthday parties.   It doesn’t take much to entertain children, but the main key is to plan ahead to keep things running smoothly.   Quickly jumping from one activity to another will keep the kids from becoming bored and coming up with other mischievous things to do.

3.  Always have sufficient food on hand. Whether it’s plenty of pizza to go around or a non-stop candy bowl, children are always going to be hungry. And what’s better than being able to pig out at a birthday party!

Kids are usually voracious little creatures, so be sure to have plenty of punch or soda, finger foods, and snacks around for everyone to enjoy!

One safe thing to keep in mind, though, is food allergies of the other kids. You may want to ask each individual parent if their children are allergic to any food items so that you can be sure that it won’t be served. This is the safest way to protect everyone from anything potentially harmful!

4.  If you don’t have time to clean house or just hate the thought of sticky hands everywhere, plan your event outside of the house. You can always have everyone meet at your local bowling alley or another fun place. For example, Chuck E. Cheese is another excellent place to hold your child’s birthday party. If you decide to go this route, though, make sure you secure plenty of help and supervision which can be crucial when you have numerous kids to watch over!

Kids Birthday Party Tips by NewsletterClips.com

Make Iced Coffee

Make Iced Coffee

Iced coffee can be as easy to prepare as iced tea.  With a large variety of options, such as flavoring syrups, cold milk, chocolate and spices,  you can create your own personalized coffee concoctions that are just as delicious as those pricey ones served in your favorite cafe.

Here are some tips to make iced coffee at home:

* Pour the flavoring syrup into the cup first. To complete the drink, pour in espresso or coffee, then the ice, and top it off with cold milk.

* Don’t let your beverage become watered down. Cool your favorite coffee beverage with ice cubes made from fresh-brewed coffee instead of water.

* Use a machine that produces a high quality coffee or espresso. The Capresso CoffeeTeam Luxe, for example, grinds coffee beans right before brewing and allows you to control the strength of your coffee.

* Make it extra special. Become a little spontaneous and have fun when you make iced coffee!  Get creative and experiment by adding your own personalized touch with whipped cream, chocolate shavings, nutmeg or cinnamon.

Make Iced Coffee by NewsletterClips.com

Help With Acne

5 Tips to Help with Acne

1.  Monitor your diet. Many skin care experts will suggest that you take a good look at your diet. This is particularly important for teenagers who have trouble and need help with difficult acne.

Regardless of your age, if you are constantly eating a “fast food” type of diet you may see an increase in acne breakout. The majority of these foods are high in fat content and other ingredients, which can be a disaster to your skin. Furthermore, eating this type of food will make it harder for you to keep your skin clean because of the increased oil in your skin. As you already probably know, oily skin is a breeding ground for zits and unsightly blackheads.

2.  Check with your local pharmacist for suggested cleansers. They will often recommend benzoic peroxide or similar external skin cleansers. You should follow the directions for application for the best results. These types of skin cleansers attack the bacteria which have accumulated underneath the oil on your skin.

One drawback to these types of surface cleaners is that they don’t treat the infected pores under the surface of the skin. In most cases the only way to treat inflamed acne is with an antibiotic. This is where your personal doctor or dermatologist may prescribe drugs such as tetracycline or similar drugs. These antibiotic drugs attack from underneath the surface of your skin through the bloodstream.

3.  Use sunshine as a natural treatment. Sunshine has been known as a natural source to help with acne. It can help reduce the severity of acne, and in some case speed the clearing up process. But, also be aware that overexposure of sunlight can impact your skin negatively. Using good common sense will tell you when you’re getting too much sunlight and burning your skin.

4.  For those with extremely sensitive skin, there’s a solution as well. Thanks to advances in technology, special lighting has been created which is a great tool for helping with your acne. Using the lighting is not an overnight cure. It takes about a month or so for it to be the most effective. It’s been reported to reduce inflamed acne tissue by about 70%.

5.  Consider chemical peeling. This is one of the harshest forms of treatment for your skin. The chemicals, which are used, cause the top layer of your skin to peel off. Since these chemicals are an acid, due caution must be taken, especially around the eyes and mouth.

A less severe method of skin peeling can be done quite safely by you, using special abrasive pads, designed specifically for performing this task. You can also use special formulated body washes to help remove the top layer of skin.

Note: These tips to help with acne are not meant as medical advice nor should they be substituted for professional medical advice. It is always best for you to contact your medical doctor before undertaking any type of treatment which could have possible side effects to your health.

Help with Acne by NewsletterClips.com

Blueberry Muffin Recipe

Blueberry Muffin Recipe

This muffin mixture is very versatile.  You can use any kind of fruit in it besides blueberries, for example, you can use cranberries, raspberries, apples, etc.  You can even some canned pumpkin with seasonings for some scrumptious pumpkin muffins!

Ingredients:

Preheat oven 350 degrees.

*All ingredients should be room temperature

12 medium eggs
2 teaspoons salt
2 cups oil (not peanut oil)
5½ tablespoons baking powder
3½ cups sugar
3 cups milk or water
8 cups flour
2 to 3 cups blueberries (frozen or fresh)

Instructions:

In a 5 quart mixing bowl combine your eggs, salt, oil, using a paddle mix slowly until well-blended, then add sugar and baking powder.

Continue mixing on slow speed then slowly add water or milk and your flour.  When all flour is added scrape the sides of the bowl and mix until smooth.

Remove mixer and place 2 or 3 cups of blueberries in the batter and blend in by hand (frozen blueberries preferred).

Next, pour  into lined muffin pans.

Baking instructions:

Place in preheated 350 degree oven.

- 25 to 30 minutes in convection oven

- 35 to 40 minutes in regular oven

*Recipe makes 2 ½ dozen large muffins.

Blueberry Muffin Recipe by NewsletterClips.com