New Years Eve

It's New Year's Eve. Here I am making chicken soup. The last two days I have been coughing and sneezing. I wash my hands often, after I sneeze and before I touch my pups. My 'collection' of tissues is mine to touch, I remind my husband. Sometimes, he has not been as meticulous when he has under the weather. We must all be careful. Others depend on it. 

At the beginning of the virus in 2020, we were told to wash hands in all ways to stop the spread. No other treatment options were available. So we washed. I had been doing since before our children were born. Makes total sense to me, especially, when your babies are all preemies. An infection can kill a preemie. 

My mom told us to wash our hands when we came home, back in the 50's. I'm glad I listened. So today I made the best medicine of all: chicken soup. I used the pressure cooker to develop better flavour and nutrient retention, a superior soup all around. Scientist say there is something in homemade chicken soup that heals us faster than normal. I'm all for that. My soup had too many parsnips. but the onions and dill, salt and pepper helped to balance the flavour. I said yuck, Next time I will be more careful. 

I had retrieved chicken wings from the freezer to begin the process yesterday. (The wings have more collagen than other parts I read). Maybe. But thighs and legs will do fine, the next time. The whole chicken will also be o.k. Use up whatever might be wasted. The half lemon was a bit much though I have used it in past without a problem. I ate some early in the soup's development. The finished product had finely chopped celery and carrots and helped to make things right. These two are a must in any casserole or soup. 

Some over the counter drugs for headaches, coughing and sneezing are sold out at our local Walmart. A troubling sign, I hope not....When in doubt, make chicken soup. It has magical things inside to make haste of bacteria and help us fall asleep. Remember that deep sleep also helps heal the body on so many levels. An unbeatable combination.

Loading the Dishwasher

A few years ago, while reading Woman's World, a most valuable tip page appeared outlining ways to save money and water when washing dishes. Our habit of rinsing dishes and washing pots and pans made this every day chore act of washing more laborious and costly in a many ways. I have followed their lead. It makes so much sense.

There was a time when some daytime shows asked the audience how to load the dishwasher. Each time we load, should make sense, economically and physically. So I began to learn. It was a busy holiday period. Our expanded family would be here. Cooking the food while the table had been set made for alot of dishes to be accommodated afterwards. Who likes washing hoards of cutlery, dishes and pots and pans?

So I began to implement this new plan according to Woman's World with a few tweaks from momsey. I looked inside the dishwasher and wondered how that mess could become clean with some mindful changes. Well, it did. As long as the water spinner arms were free to spin and disperse the liquid all over the interior, regardless of item placement, all was good, I reasoned. In the end a miracle happened.

All plates, these large items, are placed in their lower slots as indicated. Some things can only go where common sense tells you they should. Little items can go anywhere, perhaps, but why waste the space. On the top rack, small bowls and plates fit. Cutlery is next. Each item that remains is allotted a space that fits so the spinner arm can moce without interference. Look beneath the upper rack and let the arm go. If it moves unimpeded, them add more, one at a time, making sure water can be released easily. Aslong as both the upper and lower arms can move to release water, a miracle will happen.dishaes can be added. More to come..............