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Tropical Fish Secrets! With all the stress in our busy lives it's nice to have a little sanctuary. There’s absolutely nothing like relaxing into your favorite chair, gazing into your stunning tropical aquarium and letting your mind take you away.
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The vivid colors ... the beautiful fish ... the lush green plants ... the graceful movements ... the sound of the bubbles ... the gentle hum of the air pump … you feel soothed as you breathe deeply ... a sense of calm wafts over your body … your thoughts begin to linger … as you drift away ...
Kitchen Tips - for the novice to expert
Spots on water glasses:
Mix an equal solution of water, vinegar and lemon juice in a spray bottle and spray the glasses before putting in the dishwasher.
To separate stuck glasses:
Set the bottom glass in a pot of hot water and at the same time, fill the top glass with cold water. The hot water expands the bottom glass while the cold water contracts the top one making them separate within minutes.
To keep sponges fresh:
To keep sponges fresh and control bacterial growth, microwave the wet sponge for a minute and thirty seconds every day or so.
Rubber gloves:
To make rubber gloves slide off easily. Run your hands under COLD water for a while and the gloves slide right off!
Food Tips
Apples:
Refrigerated apples last up to 10 times longer than those left at room temperature. To prevent apples from speeding up the ripening process of other items in your produce drawer, store them in a plastic bag.
Asparagus:
For tender asparagus, gently bend a spear until it breaks. The natural breaking point should separate the tender spear from the tough end. Dispose of the end pieces and steam to perfection!
Cabbage:
Instead of blanching cabbage leaves to wilt them for stuffing, simply leave the whole head in the freezer overnight.
Celery:
Wrap celery in aluminum foil when putting in the refrigerator, and it will keep for weeks.
Chopped Onions & Green Peppers:
You can buy frozen chopped onion or green peppers for a quick recipe shortcut, or since they freeze so well, chop a whole bunch at once and freeze them in single servings.
Chopping Onions & Horseradish:
To prevent your eyes from watering, take a quarter of a slice of bread and place the piece between your teeth. Be sure to allow it to stick out of the mouth a little and keep your mouth slightly open. Now, you can chop the onions or grate the horseradish and you will have no tears or burning eyes. I prefer to use the heel of the loaf, as I don't eat it.
Citrus Fruit Juice:
To get the most juice out of fresh lemons, limes and oranges, bring them to room temperature and roll them under your palm against the kitchen counter before squeezing. Another method is to microwave fruit on high for 30 seconds, let stand a couple of minutes before cutting and squeezing them. Rolling it between your counter and hand also does the trick.
Citrus Zest:
Before you squeeze juice from a lemon, grate off the rind into a freezer bag and freeze. Then when a recipe calls for lemon zest or rind, just pull it from the freezer. Sprinkle a little sugar over citrus zest or fresh ginger before chopping. The sugar not only dissolves and absorbs the juices but also helps spread the flavor.
Corn:
Never boil corn for more than 3 minutes. Be sure to place the corn in boiling water, and do not add salt. You will find the flavor is much better than cooking for 10 minutes or more. Corn will never get soft, no matter how long you cook it-it will only lose its taste. When boiling corn on the cob, add a pinch of sugar to help bring out the corn's natural sweetness.
Carpet Hints & Tips
To remove spilled candle wax from carpet:
You will need a hot iron and a good quality paper towel. Let the wax dry completely. Lay the paper towel on top of wax and firmly press the hot iron over the paper towel. The wax transfers to the paper towel without a trace of anything on your carpet.
To remove stains from carpets, or upholstery:
Spray a bit of shaving cream on the spot, rub this with an old toothbrush (wet) and then dab the spot with a clean, damp cloth to remove the shaving cream. Works like a charm and you'll be amazed at the results!
Pet accidents:
If you have a pet that has "accidents" in the house, you know those carpet cleaners don't work. Here is something that works great: Listerine Mouthwash. Wipe up what you can, douse the spot with a liberal dose of Listerine, rub and let it set. The smell of the mouthwash and the pet smell will go away in a few hours.
Coffee stains:
To remove coffee stains from carpets try club soda and salt. First rub the club soda on and then sprinkle with salt. Rinse with a damp sponge.
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