Helpful Hints (Sites)

Re: Helpful Hints (Sites) Trains

For Christmas Santa train trips--check out my previous posts on the web sites for trains for the holiday season.

nvmr.org (Northern VA Model Railroaders has next open house at Vienna, VA station on December 16, 2006 from 1 pm to 5 pm.)

gte.ciadvt.com (Great Train Expo at Chantilly Expo Center sponsored by largest Model scale train group in USA.) Schedule is--December 30-31, 2006 and Hours are 10 am to 4 pm. Admission is FREE FOR KIDS UNDER 12 and adults prices is $7.00 per adult. Check out web site for information.

For all other SANTA TRAINS look at former posts on HELPFUL HINTS (SITES) for various web sites and information. The Walkersville Southern Railroad site is:

wsrr.org (Walkersville, MD is a great trip and about 1 hour from Leesburg. Our kids love this 75 minute trip through farm area. They have a SANTA train and snacks. See web site for details.) My husband took quads last Saturday, December 2, 2006 and had a great time.

There is also a new chapter for Young Model Railroaders started in Northern VA that husband is involved with. Ages for boys are 8 years old and up.

ymr-online.org (Young Model Railroaders is website) I will provide information for contact if interested. Dues are nominal for programs. They will be able to see behind the scenes at model railroad shows, history, and other projects along with field trips to museums. We will be at Chantilly Expo (perhaps??) center for show if interested.

YMR's Northern VA contact information is: (703) 404-2061 and email: srreid@aol.com

 

Re: Helpful Hints (Sites) Ethnic Grocers Mail Order

Fellow Foodies--

I am constantly updating this thread HELPFUL HINTS (SITES) so check periodically. If you have problems accessing the web sites and links--let me know--perhaps I mistyped the web site info. Thanks.

From--Foodie

Below are some web sites that we use also for various ethnic foods and food items (i.e. Mexican, Oriental, Thai, Japanese, etc.):

www.mexgrocer.com (Mex's Grocer's web site. Mexican food items, etc.)

www.grocerythai.com (Grocery Thai's web site. All Thai food items.)

www.ethnicfoodsco.com (Ethnic Foods web site. Another--separate company from Ethnic Grocer--ethnic foods, etc.)

www.mailorderfooddirectory.com (Mail Order Foods (ALL TYPES) web site. Great supply!!)

 

From--Foodie

Enjoy! I will also try to keep the Misc. Cooking Hints separate from the Misc. Helpful Hints. Yes, I (and my family members have tried these hints)--some of the hints are from the Kline Family Treasures Cookbook--

Misc. Helpful Hints--

For bee stings--make a paste with vinegar and baking soda and put paste on stings.

For poison ivy--try rubbing a banana peel over it. This works well--one of my quads recently got poison ivy from some wooded areas near our farm. My father told us about this homemade remedy. Worked great!!

If your hands get hot or burns from hot peppers--wash your hands with the product REALEMON. REALEMON is a lemon juice product in a squeeze bottle or glass bottle available at all grocers. It will take the sting away.

For grass stains on clothing--soak the clothing in milk for an hour. This is an "old-timey" remedy and has already worked for me.

An egg white will remove chewing gum from anything--even hair--without a trace.

To wash fresh vegetables--use a green scour pad and go over the vegetables lightly. They come out nice and clean.

For candles--when candles are chilled for 24 hours in fridge will burn longer and not drip wax.

To remove crayon marks from walls--a small pad dipped in nail polish remover will quickly remove the crayon marks from walls.

To remove ball-point pen ink--rubbing alcohol will remove ball-point pen ink.

To remove paint spots on clothing--apply several applications of equal parts of ammonia and turpentine. Then wash clothing is soap suds.

 

From--Foodie

More Misc. Helpful Hints--

Cooking Hints--

When making gravy--add a small amount of baking soda to eliminate grease.

When making homemade soups/stews--drop a lettuce leaf to absorb excess grease from the top.

For soggy lettuce--add lemon joice to a bowl of cold water and soak for about an hour in the refrigerator.

To keep lettuce and celery longer--store in paper bags instead of plastic.

For brown sugar--place an apple slice in the container--the apple slice will keep the brown sugar moist and it will not harden.

To prevent splatters in a frying pan--a little salt sprinkled in the fry pan will prevent splattering.

To keep simmering rice grains separate when cooking--a few drops of lemon juice will help.

Catsup will flow out of bottle evenly--insert first a drinking straw and push straw to bottom of bottle and remove.

For fluffier omelets--add a pinch of cornstarch before beating.

To remove coffee and tea stains from fine china--rub with a damp cloth dipped in baking soda.

To clear a sink or basin drain--pour 1/2 cup of baking soda followed by a cup of vinegar down the drain. Let the mixture foam--then run hot water.

When a drain is clogged with grease--pour a cup of salt and a cup of baking soda followed by a kettle of boiling water.

Use ice cubs for watering indoor plants. Ice cubes melts slowly and will not spill over.

For silver--rub with a soft damp cloth dipped in baking soda to clean.

For the lightest pancakes--replace the liquid in the batter with club soda.

For the smoothest frosting--add a teaspoon of corn starch.

For a fast topping for cakes--place a paper doily on top of cake--dust powdered sugar over it lightly. Lift doily off gently.

 

Foodie,

I'm looking for a place to buy local honey. Preferably one with online ordering. Do you happen to know of any? Thanks!

 

izzysmom and others--

Check out my thread under "Area Restaurants..." and my post called "Local Honey..." for web site info.

The web site/info is--

www.onewildhoney.com (One Wild Honey is local apiary that has LOCAL UNFILTERED honey with several flavors.)

www.dutchvalleyfoods.com (Dutch Valley Foods carries 12 ounce cases of a HUGE variety of flavors. Also, you can can 60 pounds too.)

Good luck--any more questions--just ask here on this thread or PM me.

Foodie

 

Misc. Helpful Hints--

To make your own furniture polish--mix 1/3 part Raw Oil, 1/3 part Malt Vinegar, and 1/3 part Turpentine.

To extend dish detergent--mix half detergent and half water and then add a bit of vinegar.

To remove rust spots from tools--use steel wool dipped in kerosene and apply to rust on tools.

 

Does anyone know of any cooking classes in the area? Preferrably during the day, now that the kids are in school. Thanks!

 

MichelleB--

I saw your query while we are heading back from the Grand Canyon area to Loudoun from our vacation in our RV.

Check out Stratford University near Tysons Corner. They offer Culinary Classes starting back in September 2007. Also, they offer Kids' Cooking Classes and fine dining on Friday(s).

We took our quads and twins there recently for dinner. Great way for them to see professional chefs and students cook for their guests.

Web site info is--

www.stratford.edu (Stratford University's site. They offer Culinary degrees, Business degrees, and others.)

Foodie

 

Washington Post has a huge listing today of cooking classes in the DC metro area. Some are closer than others.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/04/AR2007090401753.html

 

This place is in Hamilton. They offer classes during the day on Wednesdays as well as Friday evenings.

http://www.glenfarmcookery.com/classes.html

 

More Misc. Hints--

To clean formica tops--polish tops to a sparkle with club soda.

Shampoo is an excellent grass stain remover.

For removing wallpaper or borders--heat vinegar and apply with a sponge. It will take the sticky glue off.

To clean and soften hands after gardening or field work--wash hands with pure apple cider vinegar. Great remedy--