You wanted to know about the cleaning strength vinegar!

This is the vinegar that I have been using.  It is Heinz Cleaning Strength.  The last jug I purchased had the actual strength on the label.  I couldn't find it on this one.  I believe it is 6% instead of what normally is 5% used for cooking and food.  It can be purchased in most stores, though they may not carry it all the time.  I would suggest purchasing a couple of jugs when you find them, more if you have storage room.  It is stronger than regular vinegar and it is fantastic for cleaning. 


 
I have a tip for the really hard lime deposits you have around your faucets and handles.  If it is a level surface (such as around sink handles), soak rags or dish clothes in this vinegar (use old ones, not the pretty embroidered ones that your favorite aunt gave you that she bought at the craft fair) and place them around the handles.  Really pack them against the surface and cracks.  The longer you can leave them, the better.  If they dry out, pour on a little more vinegar.  Overnight should work for a light layer of lime.  I left soaked paper towels around the sink handles at work over a weekend and the chunks gave away by Monday morning.  For those clogged shower faucets, fill a baggie with the vinegar and tie it up around the stem.  As I said before, the longer you can leave it, the longer the magic works.  This is a picture of what I got loose after a few hours.

Tell me what uses you have found for vinegar.  I have some more tips with vinegar and other basic cleaning supplies you will find in your cupboard as the time goes by.  

A YAY! Home cleaning miracle!

This is the BEST shower cleanser I have found.  I forgot where I got the recipe so I will not be able to credit it to the proper person.  You take 1 part Dawn Dishwashing liquid to 1 part vinegar (I used a stronger type of vinegar by Heinsz advertised as cleansing strength, DO NOT USE FOR FOOD!).  I put it in a bottle I got from my discount store.  When I am almost done in the shower, I squirt and then scrub it down. (yes, the fumes about kill me, but it cuts through all that soap scum that nothing has cut).  Then I rinse both the shower and myself both off.  I actually cheat and squirt the shower down when I leave the bathroom and let it sit until some other person takes a shower.  The smell dies down and it works its magic while everyone is out doing other things.  Make sure you shake it well before you spray as the dishwashing liquid and vinegar will separate.

A grand idea for Harley-Bree

I am building a doll house for Harley and am doing the bedroom now.  I have been trying to think of how to build a doll bed and yesterday I found something truly lovely!!  I will document it as I go, but bear with me as I have several irons in the fire.  I found a wonderful wooden cigar box.  I bought it for 50 cents at a tobacco store yesterday. This should make her feel like Arrietty!

My 1934 compact

I went antiquing on my way to the grocery and found this wonderful YAY! item. It is a 1934 makeup compact. It has the patent number engraved in it so I could identify the year.

This is the lovely top. I am not sure what the material is but it is a lovely coral red and appears to be carved (but I could be wrong).  I am still learning my camera so the picture is not as sharp as I would like

Below is the inside when you first open it. The left has a nice and unmarked mirrored metal surface and the right is where the powder goes. And what is extra special is behind the mirrored metal!

Yes! That is a rouge compartment and it still has the little puff and a bit of 1930's rouge. I have also opened the puff section where the powder goes and you can see the little screen for the powder. It is in wonderful shape but needs a bit of cleaning on the outside. Unfortunately, the pan for the powder is gone so it cannot be refilled.



Isn't it a lovely find, though? And only cost me $3.00 US.

Nan and Sam have a cooking day

Today Sam and I went to my mother's (from this point on referred to as 'Nan') where he is spending the time cooking. No matter how good Mom's food is, grandmothers always are the better chef.

Chocolate Chip Bar Cookies
(they just used the recipe on the back of the Toll House bag.)
2 1/4 cups all -purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packaged brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 cups (12 oz.) Nestle Toll House Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees
Combine flour, baking soda and salt in a small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in morsels and nuts. Grease 15x10 inch jelly-roll pan. Spread dough onto prepared pan. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until golden brown. Cool in pan on wire rack.

Reuben Sandwiches
(no picture, they were eaten too quickly)
Sliced corned beef
Sliced rye bread
Sliced Swiss cheese
Bavarian Sauerkraut (or sweet sauerkraut)
Thousand Island dressing
Butter

Spray the frying pan with baking spray. Build the sandwiches and then brown the sandwiches in the pan until they are golden brown on each side.

Lucky Thirteen by Melanie Jackson

Lucky Thirteen review

One of the things I like about good writers is that they can entertain and teach me something new without me noticing. Not only is Melanie Jackson a wonderful writer, but she also researches her subjects before she writes. In Lucky Thirteen Chloe and Alex travel to Florida for business and attend a horse race. Chloe, being Chloe, almost gets killed rescuing a dog and earns the friendship of one of the racehorse owners. Following this, she and Alex are invited to visit the horse breeding facilities and fall into the intrigue of professional horse racing. Chloe is once again pulled into solving a crime and preventing the financial ruin of her new friend.

Melanie Jackson has always been one of my favorite writers as she always knows her subject and presents it in a clear, tight story. I have become very fond of her Chloe Boston cozies and find that they fit my new reading lifestyle. They are short, interesting and I am never able to figure out the ending before Chloe. This is definitely a YAY in my book.

Available from Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com as well as http://www.melaniejackson.com

Comments and suggestions please!!!

I love comments and suggestions. Send me a recipe and I will make it, feed it to my sons and let you know how they rate it.