These are some recipes I've used in classes I've taught at the Food Bank, Sr. Citizen Center, and at the Co. Extension Office on Using USDA Food Commodities. -Grainlady WHITE SAUCE MIX 1/2 pound butter or margarine 2 c. plus 2 T. nonfat dry milk powder 1 c. flour 3 t. salt Combine all ingredients. Mix well with a pastry blender, food processor, or even an electric mixer. The mix will be granular in texture. It will keep well covered in jars in the refrigerator. To make a medium white sauce: add 1/2 c. dry mix to 1 cup hot water and cook until it thickens. Use the same proportions for larger amounts. To make cheese sauce: add 1/2 c. cheese to each cup of white sauce. You can change the amount of cheese, depending on how much "cheesy" flavor you want. Thin the cheese sauce with some liquid milk and add some cooked broccoli for cream of broccoli soup. Toss in some bacon bits, chives, etc. to add additional taste. Substitute broccoli with cooked potato. Potato Soup Made with White Sauce Mix (6 servings) 1 t. salt 1 c. water 2 c. finely chopped potatoes 2 T. chopped onion 1/2 c. chopped celery 3/4 c. White Sauce Mix 3 c. liquid (try liquid from cooked vegetables plus additional water) Put the water and salt in a pan. Heat to boiling. Add the vegetables. Cook until tender. Stir the White Sauce Mix into 3 cups of liquid. Cook until slightly thick. Stir all the time. Add cooked vegetables to the white sauce. Heat 3 or 4 minutes. ------------------- Carrot Soup Made with White Sauce Mix (6 servings) 1/2 t. salt 1-1/2 c. water 2 T. chopped celery 2 c. finely chopped carrots 1 T. chopped onion 3/4 c. White Sauce Mix 3 c. liquid (liquid from cooked vegetables plus water) Put the salt in the 1-1/2 c. water in a pan. Heat to boiling. Add the vegetables. Cook until tender. Stir the White Sauce Mix into the 3 cups of liquid. Cook until slightly thick. Stir all the time. Add the cooked vegetables to the white sauce. Heat 3-4 minutes. ----------------------------- Casserole Sauce Mix (using nonfat dried milk powder) (Source: Iowa State University Extension) This sauce mix is also a substitute for canned condensed soups. 2 c. nonfat dry milk powder 3/4 c. cornstarch 1/4 c. instant chicken bouillon 2 T. dried onion flakes 1 t. dried thyme, crushed (optional) 1 t. dried basil, crushed (optional) 1/2 t. pepper Combine all ingredients and store in an airtight container. To use as substitute for ONE can condensed soup: Mix 1/3 cup of the dry mix with 1-1/4 c. water in a sauce pan. Cook and stir until thickened. Add 1 T. butter, if desired. If you want, you can add some mushrooms (canned or dehydrated) for "mushroom soup", add celery for cream of celery. ---------------------- Hot Beverages (Mixes - using non-fat dry milk powder.) Add hot water and enjoy . (Note: the small amount of baking soda in each recipe is used to increase the solubility of the mix in water. For best dissolving results, put the mix in the cup then pour in hot water. For people on low-sodium diets, baking soda should NOT be used. If you substitute sugar with a non-calorie sweetener, be sure to use less than called for due to the difference in bulk of sugar VS sweetener.) Cafe Cappuccino 1/2 c. instant coffee granules 3/4 c. sugar 1 c. non-fat dry milk powder 1/2 t. dried orange peel 1/8 t. baking soda Mash orange peel in mortar and pestle or in a bowl with the back of a spoon. Stir all ingredients together. If possible, put in blender until powdered. Place 2 rounded teaspoons in cup for each 6 to 8 ounces of water. Yield: 1 c. dry mix, or enough to make 20 cups at 40 calories each; 17 calories if powdered sweetener is used. --------------------- Cafe Francaise 1/2 c. instant coffee granules 1/4 c. sugar 1-1/4 c. non-fat dry milk powder 1/8 t. baking soda Stir ingredients together. If possible, put in blender until powdered. Place 2 rounded t. in cup for each 6-8 ounces of water. Yield: 1 cup dry mix. Enough to make 20 cups at 25 calories each: 20 calories if powdered sweetener is used. -------------------- Italian Mocha Espresso 1 c. instant coffee granules 1 c. sugar 4-1/2 c. non-fat dry milk powder 1/2 c. cocoa 1/2 t. baking soda Stir ingredients together. If possible, put in blender until powdered. Use 2 T. for each 4 ounces of water (serve in a small demitasse cup). Yield: 4-1/2 c. dry mix. Each mix to make 36 cups at 60 calories each. This is a VERY strong and rich coffee. Artificial sweetener is not recommended for this recipe. ----------------- Cave Vienna 1/2 c. instant coffee granules 2/3 c. sugar 2/3 c. non-fat dry milk powder 1/2 t. cinnamon 1/8 t. baking soda Stir ingredients together. If possible, put in blender until powdered. Place 2 rounded teaspoons in cup for each 6-8 ounces of water. Yield: 1 cup dry mix. Enough to make 20 cups at 35 calories each; 12 calories if powdered sweetener is used. ---------------- Swiss Mocha 1/2 c. instant coffee granules 1/2 c. sugar 1 c. non-fat dry milk powder 2 T. unsweetened cocoa powder 1/8 t. baking soda Stir ingredients together. If possible, put in blender until powdered. Place 2 rounded teaspoons in cup for each 6-8 ounces of water. Yield: 1 cup dry mix. Enough to make 20 cups at 40 calories each; 17 calories if powdered sweetener is used. ------------ Mexican Cocoa 1-1/2 c. sugar 4-1/2 c. non-fat dry milk powder 1 c. unsweetened cocoa powder 1/4 t. cinnamon 1/2 t. baking soda 1/2 c. instant coffee granules (optional) Stir ingredients together, if possible, put in blender until powdered. Use 3 T. for each 8 ounces of water. Yield: 4-1/2 c. dry mix. Enough to make 24 cups at 105 calories each; 70 calories if powdered sweetener is used. ------------------------------ Whipped Topping using non-fat dried milk powder 1/2 c. ice water 1 T. lemon juice 1/2 c. dry milk powder 1/2 c. sugar Mix ice water and dry milk. Whip until soft peaks form. Add lemon juice and continue to beat until the peaks are firm. Add the sugar. Refrigerate and use in a short while. It can be dropped in servings on an open tray and frozen. Package and keep frozen until it is used. For a creamy tint, add 1 or 2 drops of yellow food coloring. About 10 calories per tablespoon; makes about 3 cups. ------------------ Strawberry Fluff (using Whipped Topping recipe above) 1 10-oz. package frozen strawberries, thawed OR 1-1/2 c. fresh sliced strawberries 1/2 t. unflavored gelatin, softened in 1/2 c. cold water 2 c. whipped dry milk topping (above) Soften the gelatin in the cold water and heat to dissolve. Drain the berries. Add enough water to the juice to make 1/2 cup. Mix dissolved gelatin and juice. Chill until mixture is consistency of unbeaten egg white. Add strawberries and whip until light and fluffy. Combine whipped dry milk topping and strawberry mixture. Chill until mixture mounds in the spoon. Place in dessert dishes and refrigerate until served. 6 servings, 1/2 cup each. 90 calories per serving. -------------------------- Orange Whipped Topping 1/2 c. instant non-fat dried milk powder 1/2 c. ice cold orange juice 2 T. orange marmalade Chill electric beaters and a small mixer bowl. Place non-fat dry milk powder and orange juice in chilled bowl. Beat on highest speed until stiff (4-5 minutes). Fold in orange marmalade. Serve at once (nice as a topping on a snack cake). Makes about 2-1/2 cups. Pineapple Whipped Topping 1/2 c. instant non-fat dried milk powder 1/2 c. ice cold unsweetened pineapple juice 2-3 T. powdered sugar Chill electric beaters and a small mixer bowl. Place non-fat dry milk and pineapple juice in chilled bowl. Beat on highest speed until stiff (4-5 minutes). Fold in powdered sugar. Serve at once. Makes about 2-1/2 cups. Lemon Whipped Topping 1/2 c. instant non-fat dried milk powder 1/2 c. ice water 3 T. lemon juice 4-5 T. powdered sugar Chill electric beaters and a small mixer bowl. Place non-fat dry milk powder and ice water in chilled bowl. Beat on highest speed until soft peaks form (3-4 minutes). Add lemon juice. Beat until stiff (3-4 minutes longer). Fold in powdered sugar. Serve at once. Makes about 3-1/2 cups. Great on gingerbread. -------------------------- Snacks/Treats/Candy Using powdered milk. Logs 1 c. non-fat dry milk powder 1 c. honey (or agave nectar if avoiding high-glycemic sweeteners) 1 c. peanut butter 1 c. wheat germ 1 c. raisins 1 c. oatmeal (lightly toasted 1/2 c. chopped pecans 1/2 c. unsweetened coconut 1/2 c. sesame seeds (OR kasha) 1 c. (or more) graham cracker crumbs Combine all ingredients except graham cracker crumbs in large bowl; mix well. Shape into 2-inch logs. Roll in graham cracker crumbs. Yield: 24 logs. Honeys 1 c. chunky peanut butter 1 c. honey (OR agave nectar for a low-glycemic sweetener) 1 c. non-fat dry milk powder 1-1/2 c. crushed wheat CHEX cereal 60 whole wheat CHEX 2 c. crushed rice CHEX cereal Combine first 4 ingredients in bowl; mix well. Shape into 1-inch balls. Press 1 whole wheat Chex into each ball. Roll in crushed rice cereal. Chill, covered, for 2 hours. Yield: 6- snacks. Peanut Butter Snacks 1/2 c. peanut butter 1/2 c. honey (OR agave nectar for a low-glycemic alternative) 1 c. toasted wheat germ 2 T. non-fat dry milk powder 1/2 c. raisins (OR currants, OR dates, Or other dried fruit) 1/2 c. unsweetened coconut Combine peanut butter, honey, wheat germ and dry milk powder in bowl; mix well. Stir in fruit. Shape into balls. Roll in coconut, coating well. Store, covered, in refrigerator. Yield: 15 snacks. Microwave Treats 3/4 c. peanut butter 1/4 c. honey (OR agave nectar) 3 T. butter 1/2 c. non-fat dried milk powder 1/2 c. sunflower seeds (shelled - raw or roasted - your choice) 1/3 c. sesame seeds 1/3 c. crushed cereal (flakes - bran or cornflakes, or Chex, etc.) 1/4 c. chopped dried apricots (OR other dried fruit of choice) 2/3 c. unsweetened coconut Microwave peanut butter, honey and butter in 1-1/2-quart glass casserole on HIGH until melted. Stir in next 5 ingredients. Shape into balls. Roll in coconut. Chill for 3 hours. Yield: 30 snacks.

The original double hung windows in my old (1870's) house were replaced by a PO with wood windows that ride in steel tracks (jambliners) that have a white powdercoat finish. (The edges of the wood windows are unpainted.) I'm taking the windows apart to replace the broken parts that keep them from staying up when open. The steel tracks are looking a little tired. A few have bare spots where I spilled paint remover (before I decided to take them apart), and some have light rust (mostly on the backs). Since I'm taking the windows apart anyway, I'd like to clean up the tracks and paint them (or touch them up). Is there any durable white low-gloss paint that would be up to the task? I don't want to create new problems, but I'd really like to spiff these up while I have the chance. There are so many new specialty paints (appliance, automotive, radiator, etc) -- surely there must be something that would work in this situation. The paint would need to be: 1) Durable (won't chip or peel easily and hold up to usage over time) 2) Suitable for metal 3) Not require stripping the frames to bare metal (a nightmare in this case) 4) Available in a non-yellowing white with a non-shiny finish 5) Appropriate for Indoor/outdoor use. (I have storms, but the tracks would be exposed to a range of temperatures in New England.) 6) Preferably available as a a spray I don't want to send the tracks out to be stripped and re-coated because it wouldn't be worth the cost (better to just replace the windows). Ditto for buying new tracks (which are available as far as I have been able to find only in unpainted aluminum). Assuming I do paint the tracks, I'd like to just remove the rust and spot-prime, and use a paint deglosser (liquid sander) overall before painting. Sound reasonable? Recommendations for paints and primers? (Please tell me where I can buy them if they're not easy to find.) I'd also appreciate any painting and prep tips or suggestions for this project For example, how long should the paint cure before I re-install the windows? Thanks! This post was edited by dilettante on Fri, Aug 16, 13 at 16:21

When I left church 'tother day, there was a bike about three houses away at curbside ... in the middle of the day. Good catch ... and church yard sale was coming up. Rang the bell to ask whether it was for sale (no sign), lady said it was trash/giveaway, to take it. Took her in some asparagus ... she about junped up and down for joy. A superior bike, having shock-absorber spring in the frame under the seat, but some rusty ... and a training wheel broken ... but I had some wheels from a grocery carry-home cart at home. Axle was too large for the wheel, but a reaming out with a drill fixed that. When the (larger) wheels were installed ... the rear tire was something over a half inch off of the ground, which would make for good exercise for the kid ... but pretty frustrating, with no travel achieved. Taking a hammer to the frame holding the training wheels ... I succeeded in breaking a plastic spoke of one wheel, and made nary a dint in the height at which the wheels carried the rear end of the bike. So I put the training wheels' frames in the vise and operated on them with a sledge hammer. Arranged the training wheels to be just slightly above ground, as they're supposed to be. Made a sign saying that if adjustment was necessary, that I'd do it, giving my phone number ... but it got lost. After sitting a while in the yard sale, when I came to check, it was gone ... one of the ladies said that a guy had offered $2.00 ... she'd refused ... and he ended up giving her $4.00. I thought that it was a good thing that the offer of adjustment had not been included ... for having paid $4.00 for that nice (if old) bike, carrying the luxury of a shock absorber ... the guy could take care of his own adjustments! ole joyfuelled

Cyn, I think it has been around 10 years. It was whenever RH put their first store in my state. I walked in the store at the mall and instantly fell in love with the Silver Sage on the walls of the store. I had never even visited a decorating board website at that time so I did not learn about it here. I love their color palate and did every room in my house with RH except for one room that I wanted in a gray or charcoal. RH did not have their *Flint* line out yet at that time. I should have waited! :) I found RH paints to be one coat coverage. Great! If I ever have to repaint my ceilings white again I'm going with RH The Right White instead of that crappy "ceiling paint" I bought at the hardware store when I did it. One thing to keep in mind is that RH has a limited selection of colors. I think this is great because most of the "work" has been done for you with them narrowing down the choices to only what would be most popular. But............they don't keep all the colors around forever. Right now I have to repaint my whole bathroom. I changed out the lighting fixtures around the mirror and the new ones have a much smaller plate. I can't just do a touch up because they no longer sell the color. I'm really bumming because I have to pick a new color and the one I have on the walls now is perfect. It's kind of like finding out your favortie lipstick color or foundation has been discontinued and you have to start the search all over.