Mostrando entradas con la etiqueta verano. Mostrar todas las entradas
Mostrando entradas con la etiqueta verano. Mostrar todas las entradas

lunes, 30 de junio de 2014

Puras vacaciones llenas de sabor

La prisa, el ajoro del verano, con los niños y actividades, no te permite cocinar, pero estas recetas son la alternativa entre tiempo, prisa, sabor, y satisfacción  para todos.

Tortitas de atún



  • 2 latas de trozos de atún  claro en agua, escurrido y desmenuzado
  • 1 taza de queso cheddar desmenuzado
  • 3/4 taza de agua
  • 1 zanahoria rallada
  • 1/3 taza de mayonesa
  • 2 cucharadas de condimento dulce de pepinillo ( Sweet Pickle Relish)
  • 1 paquete de galletas mólida

Mezcla todos los ingredientes y refrigéralos por 10 minutos.
Rocia con aceite en aerosol una sartén grande anti-adherente y caliéntala a fuego medio

Con un cucharón para servir helados, comienza a formar bolitas con 1/3 taza de mezcla y ponlas en la sartén.
Aplasta las bolitas con el reverso de una espátula para tortillas y cocínalas por 6 minutos, o hasta que estén doradas por ambos lados, volteándolas con cuidado después de 3 minutos.
Repite esto con el resto de la mezcla de atún y sirve.

Pollo relleno de queso mozarrella, albahaca y tomates frescos


Ingredientes:

  • 4 mitades de pechuga de pollo deshuesadas y sin pellejo, pequeñas
  • 12 hojas grandes de albahaca fresca
  • 2 onzas de queso mozzarella rallado
  • 4 tomates en aceite, grandes, escurridos
  • 1/4 taza de vinagreta balsámica
  • 2-1/4 tazas de tomates uva, cortados a la mitad
Calienta el horno a 400ºF.

Corta una abertura en uno de los lados largos de cada pechuga de pollo, teniendo cuidado de no cortar a través del lado opuesto. Rellena cada abertura con 2 hojas de albahaca, 1 rebanada de queso y 1 tomate secado al sol.
Pon el pollo en un lado de una charola (bandeja) rociado con aceite en aerosol y añade los tomates uva al otro lado de la bandeja para hornear. Unta sobre los pollos 1 cucharada de vinagreta balsámica y hornea por 30 minutos, o hasta que quede cocido (alcance una temperatura interna de 165ºF).
Rebana en tiras finas las hojas de albahaca restantes y ponlas encima de los tomates con el aderezo restante. Mezcla todo ligeramente.
Sirve el pollo con la mezcla de tomate encima y listo.

Pita de pavo y vegetales



Ingredientes:

  • 1 pan pita de trigo entero, cortado en dos
  • 1 cucharada de mayonesa ECONO
  • 6 rebanadas de jamón de pavo ECONO
  • 4 rebanadas finas de tomate
  • 4 rebanadas finas de pepino
  • 2 rebanadas finas de cebolla morada
  • 1/4 taza de rebanadas finas de pimiento verde

Unta el pan por dentro con la mayonesa y usa los demás ingredientes como relleno.

Pizza de carne molida y queso



Ingredientes:

  • 1 paquete (1/4 oz.) de levadura seca activa
  • 3/4 taza de agua ECONO templada
  • 1/2 cucharadita de azúcar ECONO
  • 2 tazas de harina
  • 1 cucharada de aceite ECONO
  • 1/2 cucharadita de sal ECONO
  • 1/2 libra de carne molida de res
  • 1 taza de salsa para espagueti ECONO
  • 2 tazas de queso mozzarella desmenuzado ECONO
  • Queso parmesano ECONO

Espolvorea la levadura en el agua tibia con el azúcar en un tazón grande y revuelve hasta que la levadura se disuelva. Déjala reposar durante 5 minutos.
Mezcla la harina, el aceite y la sal. Añade esto a la mezcla de levadura y revuelve hasta formar una masa blanda. Amásala sobre una superficie ligeramente enharinada por 5 minutos, o hasta que esté suave y elástica. Forma una bola con ella y aplástala un poco. Ponla sobre una bandeja para hornear rociada con aceite en aerosol, tápala con envoltura plástica y deja que suba en un lugar templado por 20 minutos.

Mientras, calienta la carne en un tazón para microondas durante 2 minutos, o hasta que esté cocida. Escurre la carne.
Separa la carne en trocitos pequeños con una cuchara y añádele la salsa. Mezcla bien.
Calienta el horno a 425°F. Divide la masa en 4 trozos. Estira cada trozo hasta formar discos de 7 pulgadas y ponlos sobre una bandeja para hornear.
Cubre los trozos con la mezcla de carne y el queso mozzarella y hornea de 18 a 20 minutos, o hasta que el queso se derrita y la corteza se dore.
Agrega encima de los trozos el queso parmesano ¡y a comer!

Sándwich de bistec



Ingredientes:

  • 2 cebollas rebanadas
  • 1-1/2 libra de bistec, en rebanadas delgadas
  • 1/2 taza de cilantro fresco picado
  • 1/3 taza de mayonesa
  • 2 cucharaditas de ajo molido
  • 6 bollos de pan, con sus partes separadas
  • 6 rebanadas de queso suizo
Cocina las cebollas en una sartén antiadherente grande a fuego medio 10 minutos, o hasta caramelizarlas. Retíralas de la sartén y tápalas para mantenerlas calientes.
Agrega la carne a la sartén en tandas y cocínala de 2 a 3 minutos, o hasta que esté cocida, dándole vuelta de vez en cuando y agregando los chiles a la sartén con la última tanda de carne.

Combina toda la carne, las cebollas y el cilantro en un tazón. Tapa para mantener la mezcla caliente.
Mezcla la mayonesa y el ajo en polvo; úntasela a los bolillos por los lados del corte y cocínalos en la sartén 2 minutos por lado, o hasta que estén bien doraditas ambas caras.
Ponles el relleno de mezcla de carne y el queso en rebanada ¡y a saborear!

Tortilla de Aguacate



Ingredientes:

  • 1/2 aguacate, en 8 rebanadas
  • 1/4 taza de crema para cocinar
  • 1 cucharada de aceite
  • 1/4 taza de cebolla picada
  • 1/4 taza de pimiento verde picado
  • 1 tomate, sin semillas, picado
  • 2 huevos enteros
  • 2 claras de huevo
  • 1 cucharada de perejil fresco picado

Machaca 3 rebanadas de aguacate en un tazón pequeño. Agrega 2 cucharadas de crema para cocinar, y mezcla bien.
Calienta el aceite en una sartén antiadherente grande a fuego medio. Agrega las cebollas, los pimientos y cocínalos 2 minutos, revolviéndolos de vez en cuando. Agrega los tomates y cocínalos por 1 minuto. Retíralos de la sartén y tapa para mantenerlos calientes.
Mientras, bate bien los huevos enteros con las claras de huevo y el resto de la crema para cocinar, viértelos en la sartén y cocínalos de 3 a 4 minutos, o hasta que casi cuajen, levantando los bordes con una espátula e inclinando la sartén de vez en cuando de vez en cuando para que lo que no se ha cocido se deslice por debajo.
Cuando la mezcla de huevo cuaje pero todavía esté húmeda por arriba, ponle la mezcla de cebollas y 4 rebanadas de aguacate.
Desliza la espátula por debajo de la omelette, inclina la sartén para aflojarla y, con cuidado, dobla la omelette por la mitad. Desliza o vuelca la omelette sobre el plato y córtala por la mitad.
Corta la rebanada de aguacate restante por la mitad. Ponle a cada porción la salsa de aguacate, el perejil y 1 pedazo de aguacate. Buon Apetit!

Paleta de manzana




  • 2 tazas de jugo de manzana
  • 1/3 taza de bebida en polvo azucarada con sabor a limonada
  • 1 taza de compota de manzana
  • 1 manzana roja, pelada, picada
  • 1 manzana verde

Pon el polvo para bebidas en un tazón mediano, viértele el jugo y revuélvelo hasta que se disuelva bien. Incorpora la compota.
Combina las manzanas: ponlas en 12 tacitas de papel o de plástico de 5 oz. y vierte en cada tacita 1/4 taza de la mezcla de jugo. Cúbrelas con papel aluminio.
Inserta un palito de madera en el centro de cada una y congélalas por 4 horas, o hasta que estén firmes.
Desecha el papel aluminio y saca las paletas de las tacitas justo antes de servir.
PUEDES PONER OTRA CUBIERTA COMO BOLSAS ZIP, evita el papel aluminium - por Idalia

jueves, 12 de junio de 2014

7 Things Parents Should Tell Their Kids Every Day

Courtesy from Karen Salmansohn
 Enjoy
 for raising kids who feel resilient — kids who feel deep inside themselves that they have what it takes to bounce back from life’s assorted (and sordid!) challenges.
After all, let’s face it. No matter how hard we all try to travel a bump-free path to happiness, life will always present its share of surpriseS 
I don't literally mean to literally say each one of these 7 things every single day. Switch 'em up. Sprinkle them into your day.
1. “I believe in you.
I've told my 3-year-old son, Ari, “I believe in you” so frequently, that he’s started to boomerang these words right back at me.
Funny example: The other day I was ransacking our apartment for my keys. I collapsed on the sofa, frustrated because I couldn’t find them. Suddenly I felt a tug, tug, tug on my yoga pants. It was Ari.
“Mommy,” he says, “I know you can find your keys. I believe in you.”
His words were just the booster shot of adrenaline I needed to stand up and try pulling the sofa away from the wall for a quick peek behind it. Eureka! I found my lost keys!
Yep! I greatly believe in the propulsion power of “I believe in you!”
 
2. “Never give up.”
Actually, when I say these words to my son, I say them three times in a row, in a silly, exaggerated, Winston-Churchill-type voice: “Never give up! Never give up! Never give up!”
This makes Ari giggle. And laughter is a great stress reliever, which continues to move him forward.
Recently, however, I realized these words need an important addendum. My son and I were putting together a Spiderman puzzle. Ari kept trying to squeeze the wrong puzzle piece into an empty puzzle space — while repeating: “Never give up! Never give up! Never give up!”
I corrected him by saying: “Never give up! Never give up! Never give up! Unless of course you’re doing something which might be wrong — then you need to stop, think and come up with a new strategy!”
“A new strategy?” he asked.
“Yes,” I said, “If you keep doing what you’re doing, you’ll keep getting what you’re getting. If nothing changes, nothing changes. So … you need to look for a new way of doing it, a new strategy, to get new results.”
Ari now recognizes the importance of never giving up, while also being open to seeking new strategies.
 
3. “Practice is how we learn.”
This phrase reminds Ari not to be upset at himself for slip-ups and downfalls. I like to say this not only during a challenging activity, but also before, as a warmly worded warm up.
4. "Every expert started out as a beginner — just like you."
I feel it’s essential to remind Ari that people who are awesome at something didn’t start off awesome.
I want my son to grow up knowing that it’s OK to make mistakes. It’s OK to fail. It’s OK to struggle. What’s not OK is to think that mistakes, failure and struggle are permanent states of being! They’re simply a bridge you need to keep traveling across to get yourself to “The Land of Awesome.” I want my son to grow up knowing that persistence, patience and effort are all far more important than perfection.
 
5. “Failure is not an option.
”I received this mantra via one of Ari’s talking ninja toys. When I first heard the toy utter this phrase, I said: “OOOooooooh I love this toy! Failure is not an option! That’s a good one!”
Ari and I then talked a bit about what this phrase means, things like: keep on trying, learn from everything, don't view it as "failure" but as "fullure" "full" of lessons and insights to learn so you can try again with a new strategy and lots. So failure is never an option. One’s options are: learning, growing, letting it go, loving oneself for trying, and trying again!
Now whenever Ari is having trouble doing something, he’ll Ninja-Up and announce: “Failure is not an option!” Thanks to this phrase, Ari has become better and better at learning to read books!
 
6. “You gotta learn from every oopsy and ouchie.”
Each time Ari spills something, breaks something, drops something, kicks something, hurts something — I repeat for him this same little verbal ditty: “You gotta learn from every oopsy and ouchie.” I then ask him to specifically tell me what he learned from whatever the oopsy or ouchie might be — and we talk it through.
I let him know we all make oopsies and ouchies. We just have to try not to make the same oopsy or ouchie more than once.
 
7. “You are safe and loved.”
I recently added this phrase into my “Resiliency Words Tool Kit” after doing a hypnosis session with my friend. She was trying to put me into a relaxed emotional state. Her strategy? She asked me to remember a time in my childhood when I felt safe and loved. Hoo boy! As soon as she requested this, I tensed up instead of calming down! I couldn’t remember a clear, definitive time in my childhood where I felt safe and loved.
Afterward I thought about how important it is to raise kids to feel safe and loved. It bolsters their self-esteem and encourages courage.
I’ve now added the words “You are safe and loved!” into my goodnight ritual for my son. I whisper these words softly in his ear before he drifts off to sleep. “You are safe and loved.” I truly hope this quiet whisper creates a loud, infinite echo which lasts him long into adulthood.

viernes, 6 de junio de 2014

Tuna, sandwiches, ensalada

What's the healthiest choice in the canned tuna aisle?                   HOWIE, SANTA FE, NM      (English and Spanish)

The diversity in tuna options is enough to make your head swim. There's 'chunk, solid, pouch, can... heck, even subtle details, like light versus white, can be nutritionally significant, says Brian St. Pierre, C.S.C.S., a sports nutrition consultant based in Maine. Albacore, or white tuna, delivers more than three times the omega-3s of skipjack, or light tuna. But because albacore are typically larger, they also have higher mercury levels. So balance risk and reward, and eat only one 6-ounce serving of albacore a week. (You can have 12 ounces of skipjack a week.) To limit your exposure to BPA, a harmful chemical in the linings of cans, check the label for the words "BPA-free" or opt for plastic pouches.
Watch the movie (bottom)
SPANISH
Sabemos que el albacore es un poco más caro. Sinembargo, está más cargado de mercurio, por ser más grande. El mercurio se aloja en el cuerpo, dañando especialmente el hígado, que tiene unas funciones tan importantes. He evitado por tiempo de comprar tuna en lata, lo compro en una bolsita, es dos veces más caro, pero evito contaminarme con BPA, y aún así me pregunto si esta bolsita contiene aluminium.
A continuación cómo confeccionar de manera más rica un sandwich de tuna, que nos gusta tanto, y que nos resuelve en emergencias. En todo caso, la tuna fresca, le das un ligero hervor en el sartén, y luego la confeccionas como enlatada,o en bolsita. Es mi opinión muy personal, (Idalia) que el mercurio está principalmente en los instrumentos de pesca, de por sí. En la tienda,tomé los anzuelos, en mis manos, las carnadas, color doradas, y el cartón tenían unas urgentes advertencias de MERCURIO. Indicaban que si se tocaban, no nos tocáramos la boca, ni nariz, por estar altamente contaminadas de MERCURIO. Porqué no hacen nada en relación a esto. Porqué lo permiten??

resourse - link.brightcove.com/menshealth

Video:
Check out this quick and easy way to upgrade your average tuna salad with Guy Gourmet.
http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1981876075001?bckey=AQ~~,AAAAAAyfIKM~,Z7erqQ6xUI6FL4Ngb6d1RyEN8e24iVl3&bclid=0&bctid=2165166086001


viernes, 5 de julio de 2013

Guerra a las hormigas- 13 formas naturalmente,sin químicos


Little tiny ants have been spotted in our new home, and many people are suffering the same fate across the country. As much as I love spring, I don't like bugs — especially bugs that can infest a house. Last week I asked for some advice in how to deal with ants naturally as I hadn't time to research it myself since I moved this last weekend. I got such good advice, I had to share it with the readers here at MNN as well. 
CORTESIA DE RIMI HARRIS BLOG
Some of these measures are deterrents. That is, they deter the ants from coming in your house. This seems to work well for those with a mild problem. Others found that they needed to use a method that kills the whole colony of ants. I've compiled the comments and suggestions by category, allowing you to compare the different methods a little more easily. 
 
1. Lemon juice 
Teresa: We just spray around the openings with pure lemon juice … and it always works for us … something about the acid messes up their sense of tracking…
 
2. Cinnamon 
Shayla:We use ground cinnamon around where there are coming it. It works really well.
Peggy: We spray cinnamon essential oil all around the doors, windowsills, floors, etc. keeps them from coming in. I put the sugar water and borax OUTSIDE!
Letia: Another vote for ground cinnamon. Easy to clean up afterwards and worked great for us!!!
Jean: Cinnamon and cloves. Makes your house smell nice and the ants just hate it sprinkled right in their path.
Patricia: We also use cinnamon oil. We draw borders around everything with a Q-tip dipped in it. They won’t cross it.
 
3. Peppermint 
Heather: My mother-in-law has success with peppermint essential oil around windows and doors (any entries). Plus her house then smells awesome.
Julie: Dr. Bonner’s liquid soap in the mint aroma. Mix 1 to 1 with water in a spray bottle. Spray on the ant invasion and watch them suffer.
 
4. Borax, water and sugar 
Kristi: We use borax, sugar, water and a touch of peanut butter. It takes a couple of weeks but really works. We used it last year in our old house and are implementing it again this spring in our new house. Pesky ants! Here is the site where I found the recipe:http://naturalantkiller.blogspot.com/
Christy: I second Diana’s comment about borax and sugar. I’ve made a thin paste before with water, sugar and borax, then spread it on little pieces of thin cardboard or stiff cardstock and placed them near where it seems they are coming into the house. They’ll eat it and take it back to their colony (just like the Terro liquid you can buy). The paste will dry up in a couple days, so you’ll have to make more. But I think I only had to do it twice before they were gone.
Chookie: What worked for us was a mixture of borax and sugar in water. Several years ago, we lived in a house where there was an ants nest in the walls. Removing it would have meant virtually demolishing the entire front wall of the house (not practical!), so instead, after a year or two of having flying ants swarm into our bedroom every year we decided to go on an ant killing spree. Conventional ant killers didn’t work. Borax and powdered sugar didn’t work. But adding water to the borax and sugar mix to make a thick sugary borax-y syrup DID work…. the worker ants took it back into the nest and it positioned the queen – result = no more flying ants. OK, so borax does need to be kept away from pets and small children, but it is relatively safe beyond that as it is only toxic if you eat it. my solution was to put it somewhere where the kids and the cats would not reach it but the ants could.
BeverlyC: We live in China and had a HORRIBLE ant problem in our house. Tried cinnamon, black pepper, vinegar, etc. etc. We were concerned about the borax because we have guests in and out regularly and the little children are often, well, naughty and undisciplined. When someone suggested Terro liquid ant bait and we found it was just Borax and sugar, we asked someone to bring us some. We could pick the traps up and put them away when company came and put them back out after they left. They worked wonders!!
 
5. Boiling water and dish soap 
Jennie: We make sure all of our food is sealed up. The honey jar is usually the biggest ant magnet, so it gets a thorough washing and then is placed on a small water-filled saucer in the cupboard. We use a spray bottle filled with water and a squirt of liquid dish soap (I use Seventh Generation) to kill any visible ants. I also look around outside to try to find their hill; pouring a kettle of boiling water on it solves the problem.
Christy:  I’ve done what Jennie mentioned too – boiling water will destroy an ant colony, or weeds popping up between sidewalk cracks or in mulch. It’s an easy, purely natural way to kill things that we don’t often think about.
 
6. Diatomaceous earth 
Karen: Yes … diatomaceous earth (DE) works well … use food-grade not swimming pool DE. It should be sprinkled around the perimeter of your new home and you can also safely sprinkle it inside where you see them. Do not wet the DE or it will not work. DE isn’t an instant kill but should resolve the problem within a week or so.
Jami: I have a pretty serious any invasion at my house too. When I moved in last April they had already made themselves at home. I did the cinnamon thing last year and worked ok, but they just kept finding new ways in. My ants weren’t attracted to sugary things, but protein, especially the dog food. This year I made some borax cookies and put them in the old fireplace where I noticed the ants returning a week ago. I also sprinkled DE around the perimeter of my kitchen and that seems to have worked better than anything so far for immediate results.
 
7. Chalk  
Natalie: Oh! And they will not cross a line drawn in chalk. I drew a line around my window where they were coming in and it kept them at bay. 
Anali: My grandparents has really good results with the line of chalk, they used powder that you can get at home improvement stores. It comes in a squeezey bottle so it’s easy to lay down a line with.
 
8. Baking soda and powdered sugar 
Jennifer: Ants carry an acidic substance with them always for protection. I do a mix of baking soda and powdered sugar in a plastic lid set in strategic places. I think a little volcanic science experiment happens inside their bodies. Over the course of several days it has made a huge difference.
 
9. Coffee grounds
Lea: I have had success with used coffee grounds, I did know where their entry was, after putting it in the cracks they never returned. I also do know it doesn’t kill them, it just makes them move homes, (we have put them on beds outside and we just see them pop up a small distance away.
 
10. Cornmeal
Jill: One more thing to add to this. I saw somewhere to use corn meal. Well, it worked out since some moths got into my cornmeal, and I felt bad wasting it. That’s when I saw the idea and tried it. I sprinkled a little bit just off the back porch. Every day I would check and every day the same trail of ants was still there. Then I forgot about it. My daughter found another ant nest further out in the yard, and it made me remember to check the last trail. It was gone, completely gone. So, I sprinkled it on the new nest, and less than a week later, it is gone. If you google it there are a ton of places where it mentions it. Here’s just one link, and if you scroll to the Tip there is still another idea using molasses. Although if cornmeal will work I think it’s cheaper, and safer around kids and pets. http://www.ehow.com/how_6395566_kill-ants-corn-meal.html
 
11. Cream of Wheat 
Rebecca: Cream of wheat! They eat it & it expands & they explode! Ha! I used it in my garden for ant problems. Kind of makes you wonder what it does to our insides when we eat it too
 
12. Vinegar 
Kristie: Vinegar! Since we switched to using a vinegar/water solution for mopping the floors and cleaning the counters, our ant problem has vanished.
Mysty: Vinegar is the one sure solution, but you need to pour it where the ants have their nest, not just to where they walk around. If you find their nest just pour about 0.5-1 L of white (cheap) vinegar. I never had ant problems but my grandparents sometimes has as they has a big farm and there is always an ant problem is some corner of the farm 
Cath: We used a mixture of vinegar, washing up liquid (ecover) and peppermint oil last year. Tracked them back to their nest and syringed it into the cracks. They never came back.
 
13. Equal 
Tea Leaf: We killed our ants by mixing Equal packets with apple juice. It is a neurotoxin to the ants. Scary that people put these in their coffee.


Little tiny ants have been spotted in our new home, and many people are suffering the same fate across the country. As much as I love spring, I don't like bugs — especially bugs that can infest a house. Last week I asked for some advice in how to deal with ants naturally as I hadn't time to research it myself since I moved this last weekend. I got such good advice, I had to share it with the readers here at MNN as well. 
Some of these measures are deterrents. That is, they deter the ants from coming in your house. This seems to work well for those with a mild problem. Others found that they needed to use a method that kills the whole colony of ants. I've compiled the comments and suggestions by category, allowing you to compare the different methods a little more easily. 
1. Lemon juice 
Teresa: We just spray around the openings with pure lemon juice … and it always works for us … something about the acid messes up their sense of tracking…
2. Cinnamon 
Shayla:We use ground cinnamon around where there are coming it. It works really well.
Peggy: We spray cinnamon essential oil all around the doors, windowsills, floors, etc. keeps them from coming in. I put the sugar water and borax OUTSIDE!
Letia: Another vote for ground cinnamon. Easy to clean up afterwards and worked great for us!!!
Jean: Cinnamon and cloves. Makes your house smell nice and the ants just hate it sprinkled right in their path.
Patricia: We also use cinnamon oil. We draw borders around everything with a Q-tip dipped in it. They won’t cross it.
3. Peppermint 
Heather: My mother-in-law has success with peppermint essential oil around windows and doors (any entries). Plus her house then smells awesome.
Julie: Dr. Bonner’s liquid soap in the mint aroma. Mix 1 to 1 with water in a spray bottle. Spray on the ant invasion and watch them suffer.
4. Borax, water and sugar 
Kristi: We use borax, sugar, water and a touch of peanut butter. It takes a couple of weeks but really works. We used it last year in our old house and are implementing it again this spring in our new house. Pesky ants! Here is the site where I found the recipe:http://naturalantkiller.blogspot.com/
Christy: I second Diana’s comment about borax and sugar. I’ve made a thin paste before with water, sugar and borax, then spread it on little pieces of thin cardboard or stiff cardstock and placed them near where it seems they are coming into the house. They’ll eat it and take it back to their colony (just like the Terro liquid you can buy). The paste will dry up in a couple days, so you’ll have to make more. But I think I only had to do it twice before they were gone.
Chookie: What worked for us was a mixture of borax and sugar in water. Several years ago, we lived in a house where there was an ants nest in the walls. Removing it would have meant virtually demolishing the entire front wall of the house (not practical!), so instead, after a year or two of having flying ants swarm into our bedroom every year we decided to go on an ant killing spree. Conventional ant killers didn’t work. Borax and powdered sugar didn’t work. But adding water to the borax and sugar mix to make a thick sugary borax-y syrup DID work…. the worker ants took it back into the nest and it positioned the queen – result = no more flying ants. OK, so borax does need to be kept away from pets and small children, but it is relatively safe beyond that as it is only toxic if you eat it. my solution was to put it somewhere where the kids and the cats would not reach it but the ants could.
BeverlyC: We live in China and had a HORRIBLE ant problem in our house. Tried cinnamon, black pepper, vinegar, etc. etc. We were concerned about the borax because we have guests in and out regularly and the little children are often, well, naughty and undisciplined. When someone suggested Terro liquid ant bait and we found it was just Borax and sugar, we asked someone to bring us some. We could pick the traps up and put them away when company came and put them back out after they left. They worked wonders!!
5. Boiling water and dish soap 
Jennie: We make sure all of our food is sealed up. The honey jar is usually the biggest ant magnet, so it gets a thorough washing and then is placed on a small water-filled saucer in the cupboard. We use a spray bottle filled with water and a squirt of liquid dish soap (I use Seventh Generation) to kill any visible ants. I also look around outside to try to find their hill; pouring a kettle of boiling water on it solves the problem.
Christy:  I’ve done what Jennie mentioned too – boiling water will destroy an ant colony, or weeds popping up between sidewalk cracks or in mulch. It’s an easy, purely natural way to kill things that we don’t often think about.
6. Diatomaceous earth 
Karen: Yes … diatomaceous earth (DE) works well … use food-grade not swimming pool DE. It should be sprinkled around the perimeter of your new home and you can also safely sprinkle it inside where you see them. Do not wet the DE or it will not work. DE isn’t an instant kill but should resolve the problem within a week or so.
Jami: I have a pretty serious any invasion at my house too. When I moved in last April they had already made themselves at home. I did the cinnamon thing last year and worked ok, but they just kept finding new ways in. My ants weren’t attracted to sugary things, but protein, especially the dog food. This year I made some borax cookies and put them in the old fireplace where I noticed the ants returning a week ago. I also sprinkled DE around the perimeter of my kitchen and that seems to have worked better than anything so far for immediate results.
7. Chalk  
Natalie: Oh! And they will not cross a line drawn in chalk. I drew a line around my window where they were coming in and it kept them at bay. 
Anali: My grandparents has really good results with the line of chalk, they used powder that you can get at home improvement stores. It comes in a squeezey bottle so it’s easy to lay down a line with.
8. Baking soda and powdered sugar 
Jennifer: Ants carry an acidic substance with them always for protection. I do a mix of baking soda and powdered sugar in a plastic lid set in strategic places. I think a little volcanic science experiment happens inside their bodies. Over the course of several days it has made a huge difference.
9. Coffee grounds
Lea: I have had success with used coffee grounds, I did know where their entry was, after putting it in the cracks they never returned. I also do know it doesn’t kill them, it just makes them move homes, (we have put them on beds outside and we just see them pop up a small distance away.
10. Cornmeal
Jill: One more thing to add to this. I saw somewhere to use corn meal. Well, it worked out since some moths got into my cornmeal, and I felt bad wasting it. That’s when I saw the idea and tried it. I sprinkled a little bit just off the back porch. Every day I would check and every day the same trail of ants was still there. Then I forgot about it. My daughter found another ant nest further out in the yard, and it made me remember to check the last trail. It was gone, completely gone. So, I sprinkled it on the new nest, and less than a week later, it is gone. If you google it there are a ton of places where it mentions it. Here’s just one link, and if you scroll to the Tip there is still another idea using molasses. Although if cornmeal will work I think it’s cheaper, and safer around kids and pets. http://www.ehow.com/how_6395566_kill-ants-corn-meal.html
11. Cream of Wheat 
Rebecca: Cream of wheat! They eat it & it expands & they explode! Ha! I used it in my garden for ant problems. Kind of makes you wonder what it does to our insides when we eat it too
12. Vinegar 
Kristie: Vinegar! Since we switched to using a vinegar/water solution for mopping the floors and cleaning the counters, our ant problem has vanished.
Mysty: Vinegar is the one sure solution, but you need to pour it where the ants have their nest, not just to where they walk around. If you find their nest just pour about 0.5-1 L of white (cheap) vinegar. I never had ant problems but my grandparents sometimes has as they has a big farm and there is always an ant problem is some corner of the farm 
Cath: We used a mixture of vinegar, washing up liquid (ecover) and peppermint oil last year. Tracked them back to their nest and syringed it into the cracks. They never came back.
13. Equal 
Tea Leaf: We killed our ants by mixing Equal packets with apple juice. It is a neurotoxin to the ants. Scary that people put these in their coffee.

lunes, 3 de junio de 2013

Manualidades en pedrerías


Una de las manualidades más bellas, es la de pedrerías. Son tan versátiles, que yo las incorporaba en piezas de cerámica, en vestidos, cinturones, además de crear mis ascesorios como pantallas, o aretes. Es un buen parte para desarrollar este verano como parte de las manualidades. Te incluyo el site de un libro, donde puedes hacer órdenes, y conseguir mejores precios junto a mucha variedad. Conocí a una amiga que preparaba los angelitos para actividades de caridad.
Earring Design Idea B53M                     Puedes hacer listas de adornos,sea hilo plástico (pescar), o alambre de joyería,  y luego las pegas,o las coses al objeto que desees.Para pulseras,sortijas, shockers -collares pegados al cuello, el alambre debe ser el de "memoria" que regresa a su posicion igual.
www.firemountaingems.com





fotos cortesía de @enplenitud.com