6 Questions Google Answered Quite Well

“Lorna and I decided that what the Bible doesn’t cover, Google does.” I recently wrote this as my Twitter/Facebook status. Below are some things I’ve needed to know.

1. Is it okay for my dog to eat raisins? No.  As few as 7 raisins can cause death!

2. What is a Dear Jane Quilt?  It is a Civil War quilt designed, sewed and finished by Jane Stickle in 1863. It has 225 different blocks.

3. How to shorten URLs for Twitter. When I want to link to a blog. fan page, website or news article, I need to shorten the URL in order to fit it and my comment into Twitter’s 140 characters. I am currently using Metamark. 

4. When does advent start in 2009? I am going to decorate the church before Advent and so needed to know when that is. If you want to help, call me. Advent starts Sunday, November 29. BTW – This week I will post an Advent Quiz.

5. Define debauchery. Why do I need/want to know what debauchery means? I’ve been memorizing Ephesians 5:18: “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” 

• It means: too much indulgence in pleasures usually considered immoral, especially sexual activity and excessive drinking.
• Debauch means: 1. a. To corrupt morally.b. To lead away from excellence or virtue.2. To reduce the value, quality, or excellence of; debase. See Synonyms at corrupt.

6. Potato Soup. Cooler weather means time to eat soup. Only thing is, I usually cannot make a decent home-made soup. But there are a lot of easy and yummy sounding potato soup recipes out there. I am looking for one that is gluten-, dairy- and egg- free. I think I can modify this cream cheese potato soup recipe quite nicely. (Scroll to the bottom of the post.) I even found a cream cheese alternative (at Whole Foods) that is free from gluten, dairy, and egg.  I’ll let you know how it tastes.

What have you Googled lately?

Related Posts

• If Google Doesn’t Have God’s Phone Number, Try This One
• Hello Elizabeth, This Post Is 4 U; Plus Google Reader Warning
• Creating Folders (Labels) in Gmail
• 27 Posts are on Today’s Gratitude List (27 posts I’ve tagged on my Google reader.)
• One Caution When Using Online Cookbooks (WFMW) These days it is so much easier and faster to Google “pancake recipe for one,” “vanilla pudding recipe,” “perfect gravy,” or “What can I do with sweetened condensed milk, coconut and chocolate chips?“ It may be easier and faster, but the results are not always better

Coffee Angel Food Cake

The last baby shower I helped coordinate was a morning one. Lorna, Shirley and I decided to serve breakfast foods instead of a typical frosting-laden cake. Fruit, orange juice punch, coffee, blueberry muffins, and pumpkin bread with an orange-cream cheese spread were all served.

But the piece-de-resistance was the coffee angel food cake. Without further ado, here’s the Cooking Light recipe I followed.

Ingredients for Cake

• 1 Tablespoon instant coffee granules
• 1 Tablespoon water
• 1 (16 ounce) package angel food cake mix
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions for Cake

1. Preheat oven to 375°.
2. In a small bowl, stir well 1 Tablespoon of   instant coffee granules into 1 Tablespoon water. Set aside.
3. Prepare angel food cake mix according to the directions on the box. Fold in the coffee mixture, almond extract and vanilla extract.
4. Divide the mixture and spoon into 2 greased and floured loaf pans. Break air pockets by cutting through batter with a knife.
5. Bake according to box directions. Cake will spring back when lightly touched. Do not over bake.
6. Put the pan on its side to thoroughly cool for about 40 minutes. Loosen cakes from sides of pan using a narrow metal spatula. Invert cakes onto a serving platter. Set aside.

Ingredients for Frosting

• 2 Tablespoons instant coffee granules
• 1 Tablespoon water
• 6 Tablespoons stick margarine, softened
• 1 (1-pound) bow powdered sugar
• 3 Tablespoons fat-free milk
• 3-4 Hershey’s Kisses

Directions for Frosting

1. In a small bowl, stir well 2 Tablespoons of   instant coffee granules into 1 Tablespoon water. Set aside.
2. With a mixer, beat margarine at high speed. Add coffee mixture; beat well. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating at medium speed until well-blended. Add milk; beat well. I used more than the 3 Tablespoons of milk called for.
3. Put some frosting into a piping bag; set aside.
4. Spread the rest of the frosting over top and sides of cake. Pipe a line of frosting along the edges. Grate Kisses on top of cake.
5. Store loosely covered in refrigerator.

I think this cake tastes best if made a day ahead. This is a beautiful looking cake and tastes yummy. It is the perfect dessert to serve with coffee and the rest of the breakfast menu.

If you make this cake, please be sure to snap a photo and then share it with us. Also share for whom/why you made this recipe. I didn’t take a photo, but the next time I make the cake, I will. Then I will update this post with the picture.

Note: Want to know how to make a degree symbol? Elizabeth from Weird and Surpringly Good shared this tip: Press Alt and type 0176. Voila!

Choosing the Right Elevator Pitch by Answering 2 Questions

Sowing words of hope, instruction, and grace to help women grow beyond their fears and limitations.

That’s my elevator pitch for this blog.

Why am I thinking about an elevator pitch? Darren Rowse (from Problogger) is leading a 31 Days to Build a Better Blog Challenge. The elevator pitch is day 1’s assignment.

What is an elevator pitch? Darren quoted wikipedia for the answer: “An elevator pitch is an overview of an idea for a product, service, or project. The name reflects the fact that an elevator pitch can be delivered in the time span of an elevator ride (for example, thirty seconds or 100-150 words).”

I answered the following 2 questions in order to define the purpose of my blog.

1. Who is the audience I want to reach?
2. What problem/need am I trying to solve?

Darren also suggested that the pitch be short, clear and use strong imagery. Go here to read the whole post. Will you share your homework with us? You already saw my answer.

What feedback do you have for my pitch?

Progress is Progress Even When the Steps Are Ridiculously Easy

Setbacks, roadblocks and detours are unavoidable; they are human. Make sure you have support people. They can positively influence you and your current lack of courage, enthusiasm or belief.

Then get up and focus on your next step. Rewrite your goal plan to include some more ridiculously easy baby steps. A baby step, I drink two glasses of water a day, may not seem like much, but it is progress toward the big picture, I drink 8 glasses of water a day. It is progress. Be gentle, patient, take those baby steps on a regular basis, and you will attain your goal.

My action plan for today. I am on a decluttering mission. My ridiculously easy baby step is to get rid of 7 items in the bathroom. I’m choosing the bathroom because it is the neatest room in the house.

This works for me. For other Works-For-Me- Wednesday posts go here. There are currently 249 ideas.

What step will you rewrite so that it is ridiculously easy?  What will you accomplish today?

Read these other posts in the series about Goals.

• Answering 6 Questions Turns Wishes into Attainable Goals
• 12 Ways to Keep Your Motivation Going

Creating Folders (Labels) in Gmail

This post is for Kay because she asked. This also makes a great Works-For-Me Wednesday post. Go here for other WFMW submissions. I’m #99.

See the grey Search the Web tab (top middle of Google inbox page)?

• To the right of this grey button, in tiny print, it says Show research options (top line) And create filter (second line).
• Click on create filter.

• In the From box put either an email addy or name.
• Click the grey Test Search button to make sure it grabs the emails you want. I.e. I typed your name, Kay, and 3 came up.
• Click the grey button  Next Step.

There are 8 possible boxes to click.

I clicked (put a check mark in) 3 of them:

• Skip the Inbox (archive it)
• Apply the Label:  in the white box to the right it says Choose Label. Either write a name for the label (name for a folder) or click on one already there. I.e. I wrote in your name, Kay.
• Click on OK.
• Also apply filter to # conversation below. ( I had 3 from the search with your name.)
• Then I clicked on the grey Create filter button.

This last action will take you to your Settings page and show you The following filters are applied to all incoming mail.

 

Ta-Da! Folders in Gmail. Although in gmail they are called labels.

 Go to this link for Google’s description of the above or go here for an audio tutorial.

 

My daughter showed me how to do this. I had already written up my instructions before I went to the Google link above.

Menu for Week of January 12th

Here’s my menu plan for the week.

While the days will stay in their original order, the meal plans might not. :0)

• Monday: Spaghetti
• Tuesday: Vegetable Stew with dumplings
• Wednesday: Bacon, sweet potato fries, eggs and toast with homemade plum jam
• Thursday: Crock pot chili
• Friday: Baked chicken and yams
• Saturday: Leftovers
• Sunday: Waffles with cinnamon applesauce

Go here to see what the other 344 (so far) women are planning for dinner this week  Here’s a big thanks to I’m an Organizing Junkie for hosting this weekly themed post.

So Why Don’t I Cook More Often?

I just made Sweet & Sour Pork. It’s  for a potluck at the Christmas C.A.M.P. I am attending at Church later today. It was soooo easy, inexpensive (pork was on sale), fast and tasty.

So given all that, why don’t I cook more 0ften?

Below is the recipe. I modified it from my Sweet  & Sour Meatball recipe. Which I haven’t cooked in years!

Sweet and Sour Pork

Serves 4-6

 

Meat

·         1 1/2 pounds boneless pork, sliced 1/2-inch thick

·         1 tablespoon olive oil

Sauce

·         1 can (20 ounces) pineapple chunks in juice

·         3/4 cup water

·         1/4 cup vinegar

·         2 tablespoon soy sauce

·         1/4 cup brown sugar

·         1/4 teaspoon salt  

Thickener

·         2 tablespoons cornstarch

·         2 tablespoons water

Vegetables

·         1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion (Can use yellow onions or scallions)

·         1 cup diced orange pepper (Can also use green, red or yellow)

Preparation:

Directions for sweet and sour pork

1.      Cut pork about 1 inch long and 1 inch wide. Cook pork bits in oil in 400 degree oven, until lightly browned; drain. Or sauté in pan over medium heat until lightly browned; drain.

2.      Drain pineapple; reserve juice.

3.      Combine pineapple juice, 3/4 cup water, vinegar, soy sauce, brown sugar, and salt; pour over pork in skillet.

4.      Cover and simmer, on the stove, for 1 hour, or until meat is tender.

5.      Combine cornstarch and 2 tablespoons water in a cup; stir until smooth. Add cornstarch mixture to pork mixture. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is thickened and bubbly.

6.      Add pineapple chunks, onion and green pepper. Cover and simmer sweet and sour pork for 10 minutes longer, or until vegetables are tender.

Kitchen Labeling Tip & Past Posts for WFMW

Today’s Works-For Me-Wednesday is topic day: kitchen organization. I am not all that organized, but my daughter is. In an attempt to help me to remember WHERE to out the various items on my pantry shelves. She came up with a simple, simple labeling tip. She wrote on the shelf contact paper the type of good that goes in that row. Broth and tomatoes are the ones you can see. Some cereal and veggies have sneaked into those columns.

Note: My dd used a blue sharpie to label the product types. When I took the first picture broth was all smudged and looked more like brothe with a hint of an “r.” I went over the word in black sharpie.

I wonder if I should be worried? She does have a pesty brother.

NOTE: I should let y’all know that the categories are broad. Like all my soups go into the Broth row. In the Tomatoes row goes sauce, paste, salsa. I also have rows for Fruits, Veggies, etc. Yes, it probably does seem anal, but it helps me to keep the cupboard tidy (usually) because the food boundaries are clearly marked.

Go here to see other helpful kitchen organization ideas at Rocks in my Dryer. So far there are 220 posts to check out.

I have finally organized my past WFMW posts according to topic. See below.

Backwards Edition

• Backwards Edition: How to Eat at a Buffet

Beauty

• Easy Beauty Tip Involving Tweezers
  

Cleaning

• Whiteboard Cleaner That’s Non-Toxic
• 3 Whiteboard Cleaning Tips
• Cleaning Ceiling Fan with Secret Weapon in 5 Easy Steps
• Cleaning Schedule & 5 Natural Degreaser Ideas

Education

• 5 Icons to Use When Taking Notes
• Tip for Finding the Books of the Bible More Easily
• 6 Tips for Consistent Bible Reading
• One Caution When Using Online Cookbooks

Food

• 6 Ways to Store Lemons
• Storing Excess Oranges
• 4 Steps to a Great Microwave Potato
• Breaking Noodles in Half Makes Cooking Easier

Frugal

• Cheap Flower Bouquet Source
• Making an Inexpensive White Board from Shower Board
• Instead of Buying, Have a Thing Exchange

Health

• Tip For Learning to Swallow Pills
• How Planning Ahead is a Weight Loss Aide

Organize

• 6 Purse Tips
• Keyboard Organizer
• Managing Phone Messages in 4 Steps
• Kitchen Labeling Tip

Relationships

• Bingo Your Way to Knowing Each Other (OR/AND as a Learning Re-Enforcement, Finishing The To-Do List)

Shopping

• Good Online Source for Buying Cookbooks

One Caution When Using Online Cookbooks (WFMW)

I have at least 2 dozen hardbound cookbooks. I know. Old fashioned.

These days it is so much easier and faster to Google “pancake recipe for one,” “vanilla pudding recipe,” “perfect gravy,” or “What can I do with sweetened condensed milk, coconut and chocolate chips?“

It may be easier and faster, but the results are not always better. At least that’s been my experience with the pancake, gravy, and pudding recipes. I even went to the more well-known sites like allrecipes.com, recipezaar.com, and cooks.com.

My Works-For-Me-Wednesday tip is to read the comments for the recipe. Look for what the trouble spots were. What common problems are in the reader/cooker responses.

Had I done that . . .

• I would have learned that it was 2 teaspoons and NOT 2 tablespoons of baking powder for one of the recipes.
• I would have known to keep on stirring the ingredients until it just reached the boil so as to avoid lumping.
• I would have simply avoided this recipe all together because it did not produce anything like its promised name.

Just because it’s on the computer, it doesn’t mean it is right, better, or even plausible. Even though the site may be well known, it pays to take a few moments to check what the comments say.

Or else, grab one of your hardback cookbooks and follow a recipe that has been tested and loved for over many, many decades.

• What did I do with the coconut? Gave it away.
• The chocolate chips? Ate them from the bag.
• The sweetened condensed milk? Made this luscious iced coffe drink in 5 easy steps.

Go to Works-For-Me-Wednesday for other tips to make your life a little easier. As of 10:09 pm (August 26) there are 78 entries.

Past Food Related WFMW Posts . . .

• 6 Ways to Store Lemons
• Storing Excess Oranges
• 4 Steps to a Great Microwave Potato
• Breaking Noodles in Half Makes Cooking Easier

Ideas 4 Making Coffee Mug Charms at Aug. 8th Craft Night Plus Camp

 Coffee mug charms? Yep. They are like wine glass charms except for coffee mugs. Isn’t this a cool idea? Sandra came up with it.

Wine glass charms are also called drink ID tags, stemware bracelets and wine glass markers.

Below are some ideas, directions, supply lists and photos. Have fun perusing, pick a project, buy the supplies, and come prepared to join Sandra and maybe even Lynette in making charms for your coffee mugs or stemware.

1. Go here (notmartha.org) for the supply list and directions. These are made on a hoop earring base.
2. Craftbits.com has directions using memory wire or jewelry wire.
3. Save-on-crafts.com has the cutest charms using multiple beads.
4. ChocolateAndZuchinni.com has directions also. Do take a look as these charms have a distinctly different look. This is especially good for those who don’t like the little bead look.
5. BeadWork.About.Com has charms with initials. Cute for a wedding reception, graduation party (hint, hint) or even a posh shower.
6. Black-Purl-Magazine.Com has directions for crocheting wine charms. Who knew you could crochet with wire?
7. These shrinky dinky charms from LjcFyi.com are soooo cute! What about printing actual photos of people on the shrinky dink paper.
8. How about using electronic components? “It’s an easy five-minute project with elegant results,” says EvilMadScientist.Com.
9. Polyclay can be used to make veggie charms (or coffee beans). Go here (hgtv.com) for supplies, directions and photo.
10. ABigSlice.Com suggests using buttons, beads, watch parts, and old costume jewelry.
11. Copper disks can be etched into one of a kind markers. DIY.Com has the scoop on this.
12. Thujandin.com has put together a pdf with instructions and photos of 12 very different glass markers.
13. MiyCreations.Com uses thick photo paper for a charm that is novel. A slit is cut in the charm so that it can clip around the stem. Obviously this cute charm is not meant to be used multiple times.

Note: Want to buy some? Go here to Heathers-Store.Com to buy these CUTE fimo clay snowmen charms. It’s never too soon for snowmen. Again, Hint! Hint!