Category Archives: Uncategorized

How to Sell Almost Anything

Posted in Business, Food/home improvement/business, Uncategorized by

This is not just about selling as a job; the following five-step process can
and does apply to many other aspects of life.
Whether you’re the biggest extrovert or super shy, at some point in
your life, you will be selling SOMETHING.

1. The first step in the selling process is Prospecting-At least about 10% of
your time will be spent doing this, and it will be even more when you first start
selling.
Did you know that word-of-mouth is actually the most cost-effective way to get
business to come to you?
Until a business is self-sustaining, YOU will be talking up and promoting your company through public relations, direct marketing, and innovative advertising.


 2. Qualifying your prospective customers-This means that you want to find the
right prospective customer.
The single best way to do this is by networking, which is simply meeting people
and developing business with them.
This can be accomplished by going online, through community involvement,
volunteering, sponsoring events, or fundraising (all these will increase your
visibility and credibility), or just by being in the right place at the right time.


 3. Researching and Targeting-You will spend at least 15% of your time doing
this. Research means careful preparation-finding the motivators and benefits
that will convince a potential customer to buy. Targeting is a goal to be
achieved that’s reflective of your strategic approach. Who are you aiming for?


 4. Presentation-40% of your time will be spent presenting to your prospects,
telling about your products or service, the company (and possibly its goals),
and in this process, also about yourself.
When you come down to actually getting the order (or a yes, green light, go
ahead), you have made a “close.”


 5. Service-Very important! The strategy here is to build relationships and
increase billings. You want to make certain that you stay in touch with your
customers (especially the regular ones).

Here are at least seven ways to make sure you get repeat business:
Do a great job!
Deliver on time (or ahead of time) and meet your deadlines.
Solicit feedback.
Make it right (if a problem develops or things go wrong-because at some point,
you know they will).
Give preferential treatment to your regular customers.
Go out of your way to assist your customers’ business.
Answer phone calls and correspondence promptly.

Additional Tips

When handling an irate customer:

Never contradict one.
Never lie to one.
Never give an irate customer an immediate answer. Why? Because you may need the extra time to double-check your
information. Tell the customer you’re going to look into the problem as soon as possible (ASAP), and get back to them or
rectify the problem ASAP.

Rearrange Your Furniture, Rethink Your Living Space

Posted in Food/home improvement/business, Home Improvement/Interior Design, Uncategorized by

Across America, heavy drapes have been exchanged for lighter curtains, lawn chairs and tables are sprawled out on decks, porches, backyards, and patios, walls are being checked over for possible repainting, and even your “cast of regulars” (the furniture, lamps, etc. that’s been in one room or area forever) are taken stock of.

Purging-Items you’ve removed can find new life in other rooms (It’s a fact that if you leave things in the same place for months or years, you’ll tend to stop seeing them). For example, a table that you hardly noticed in your living room might instantly perk up the bedroom or den. If you’re having trouble visualizing a different layout, have a friend or relative come over (make sure it’s someone who doesn’t see or live with your furniture arrangement every day). They’re a fresh pair of eyes! 

Swapping or Switching-Move your artwork or paintings to a different wall or room. Mix different shapes and sizes together (You can also do this with furniture). Pair older items with brand-new, traditional with modern. 

You can move that sofa!-You can also try new locations of major furniture pieces too. If possible, try the sofa on the opposite side of the room. By changing a room’s focal point, you can also give the space a new purpose. For example, if the couch was facing one wall, and now it’s facing the nearby kitchen, suddenly there’s more conversation flow toward that particular area. Even outdoor tables or patio chairs may be used (and useful) inside. 

Consider the new-Once you’re done purging and rearranging, you may still want to acquire one or two new items. But always bear in mind that the changes you make with your current furniture might be much more inspired-and better looking!-than what you’d do with new.

 Sometimes just moving one or two pieces is all it takes to give a room a total makeover and have you (and everyone else) re-admiring your home from a new, fresh perspective!

The 60-30-10 Color Formula-Redecorating in terms of color can be simplified by using 60-30-10. Take a look at some rooms in magazines or online. Most of them have the 60- 30-10 color formula. 60% is the dominant color or hue, unifying the entire room (A good example would be the walls). 30%’s the secondary color, which would be the upholstery or furniture. The “30” provides visual interest. The 10% is an accent color, which provides that touch of sparkle. This would be an accent piece like a small rug or floral arrangement 

Brighten Up With Yellow

Posted in Food/home improvement/business, Home Improvement/Interior Design, Uncategorized by

All shades of yellow will make any room in the house look bigger, brighter, and softer.

It’s also a real mood-lifter (every known culture worldwide associates this color with sunshine and happiness).

Did you know that a yellow room or one with yellow accents encourages socializing and conversation?

As I’m writing this, I’m using two bright yellow pencils, a yellow legal pad, and am wearing pale yellow pants with yellow socks. And I’m feeling pretty content for the moment.

My mom has a kitchen with yellow accents and the family always gravitates to it; the food could be a factor too, though…..

To Convey Bright Cheerfulness, go with Egg Yolk yellow. Besides being a mood-lifter, yellow also improves your memory when you’re near it; it’s the biggest memory enhancer of all the colors.

A room in Sunny yellow shades has the suggestion of light and sunshine, casting a luminous glow that draws people in. Did you know that just by adding a touch or two to your surroundings-flowers, curtains, rugs, furniture, and/or pencils (!), you’ll also feel rejuvenated? It’s because yellow’s a “hot” color which raises your pulse rate (in a good way).

 For A Relaxing, Comfortable Setting, Canary yellow is the one. It’s an
amber yellow which is perceived as mellow and warm, delicate and feather-soft.

Citrus with Green Undertones set off associations with
freshness and cleanliness. Being surrounded by yellow reduces physical
pain, especially muscle cramps.

A Pale room creates an upbeat setting for family gatherings and entertaining (this is right on the money; my mom’s living and dining room walls are pale yellow!).

 Go for the Gold to express richness, status and prestige. Whether it’s gilded
mirrors and frames on brass hardware and candlesticks or just a gold-tone
wall, your room will always look luxurious.

Additional Info

If you prefer a color scheme that includes a lot of yellow, you’re bright, optimistic, and ingenious.

Other uplifting colors are all shades of peach and apricot.

For a quick re-do just paint a single wall, the woodwork, or small wooden chair or table.

Add a few throw pillows or a small rug-coordinate them by choosing patterns that combine peach or yellow with one or two of the colors that are already in your room.Hang translucent blinds or sheer curtains in pale yellow or apricot-they’ll create “instant sunlight” year-round.

Here’s a tip from Drew Scott of Property Brothers (from Reveal sneak preview brochure, 2021): “Warm up a black-and-white palette by pairing organic pieces and pops of bright color” (like yellow).

“Monochromatic palettes are more interesting when accent pieces are mixed in that have undertones of nearby colors. Yellow will feel more complex with accessories that lean toward orange (like coral or tangerine) or toward green” (like emerald, forest, or kelly).- A Philippe Radon tip (from “go with the flow”, home/color segment by Monica Biegler Eyers-Better Homes & Gardens, June 2021)

Oh, Mighty Tomato!

Posted in American food, Food/home improvement/business, Uncategorized by

 
    Tomato juice is the official state beverage of Ohio.

Arkansas’ official state vegetable is the vine ripe pink tomato (of South Arkansas).

  There are at least 10,000 varieties of tomatoes (from the small marble-sized cherry one to the Ponderosa, which can weigh over three pounds).

  The jelly-like substance around the seeds contains the highest concentration of vitamin C.

  The smallest tomato species are less than three-quarters of an inch in diameter. There are yellow and red varieties.

  Botanically, tomatoes are actually a fruit. This is because generally, a fruit is the edible part of the seed containing the seeds, while a vegetable is the edible stems, leaves, and plant roots. But in 1863 the Supreme Court ruled that tomatoes were to be considered vegetables.

    The tomato is the world’s most popular “fruit” (see the abovementioned); more than 60 million tons are produced each year. This is 16 million more tons than the banana, the second most popular. The third most popular are apples (36 million), then oranges (34 million), and watermelons (22 million).

  The early American colonists regarded the tomato as poison because it’s related to the deadly nightshade plant (but so is the potato!). Colonel Robert Gibbon Johnson stood on the steps of the Salem, New Jersey courthouse in 1820 and ate a tomato-and then a few more-without any adverse effects, to the town’s amazement.
    Johnson’s daring feat got a lot of attention.
    (By 1842, farm journals were declaring the tomato as the “latest craze.”)

    The largest tomato ever grown (to date) was seven pounds, twelve ounces.

    If you suffer from a skin disease, a tomato a day may keep the doctor away. Tomatine, tomato’s principle alkaloid, heals certain fungous disorders (green tomatoes contain large amounts of this, but don’t eat them raw. Cook (including fried!) or pickle them first). 

Lycopene is the substance that gives tomatoes their rich red color. It’s also an antioxidant that reduces the risk for prostate cancer in men and helps reduce heart disease.

  One tomato plant can produce 15 tomatoes in a season.

  Eating tomatoes will give you healthy eyes and skin, as they contain vitamins A and C. They’re also a good source of fiber, potassium, iron, phosphorus, and vitamin B.

  The tomato can be grown in just about any climate (sandy, dry, moist, or salty) and in almost any soil.

  California is the world’s largest producer of processed tomatoes. (Ohio’s the second largest). The state’s peak tomato season is from July through September, but the season actually runs an entire six months, beginning in June and running through November.

  Tomatoes (and apples) have a natural ripening hormone called ethylene.

  Tomatoes first grew as wild, cherry-sized berries in the South American Andes, but the tomato as we know it today was developed in Mexico. It was known as tomatil.

Here’s a quick and easy recipe for:

Tomato-Cucumber Salad

Ingredients

Italian bread (4 oz.), sliced

1 clove garlic, peeled

One-half bag ready-cut salad greens (or a head of lettuce that can be easily shred)

2 cups cherry tomatoes, quartered (you can also use regular-sized tomatoes, but you’ll have to do just a bit more chopping)

1 cucumber, quartered, cut into one-half pieces

Optional: One-fourth lb. sliced mushrooms

One-third cup prepared fat-free red wine vinaigrette

4 oz. blue cheese, crumbled

Heat the oven to 450 degrees F.

Arrange the bread slices on baking pan; toast for 8-10 minutes, turning once.

Rub each toasted slice with garlic clove; cut into 1″ croutons.

Place salad greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, mushrooms, and croutons in a large bowl.

Add vinaigrette and cheese; toss to coat.

Makes 4 servings

Did You Know That…..

Tomatoes will ripen faster if you put them in a small to medium-sized brown paper bag. Then close the top. The closed bag holds in ethylene, which acts as a natural ripening agent.

                                                                 

Lemons and Limes

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The lime is a round fruit that is pointed at both ends. It’s greener than the lemon, to which it is related.

Limes grow (in clusters) on a small citrus tree (rarely higher than 10 to 12 feet), which was native to India. It now grows in the Mediterranean basin, Mexico, the West Indies, Florida and southern California (the trees grow particularly well in southern Florida, where most U.S. limes are purchased).

The fruit is a source of lime juice and oil of lime, which is used to flavor food and beverages (lime has a sharp, sour flavor).
Limeade is prepared from limes in the same way that lemonade is prepared from lemons.

The lemon is a small, yellow and oval-shaped fruit that’s slightly pointy at both ends (A thick, spongy membrane lines the skin. It encloses 6 to 8 parts that contain the pulp, juice and seeds. Lemons may have only a few very small seeds or none at all. The juice (rich in vitamins A, B and C) is usually very tart, but some types of lemons actually have sweet juice!). The skin is dotted with tiny oil glands that resemble pores.

The lemon tree’s native to southeastern Asia, but it’s grown commercially mostly in countries around the Mediterranean Sea and in southern California.


It’s a small evergreen with spreading branches that has an irregular shape and is covered with short, stout spines, has long, pointed green leaves and large, fragrant flowers (that grow singly or in clusters). The buds are reddish purple, but the flower petals are white.


The lemon tree thrives in tropical and subtropical climates (the trees were once grown commercially only in dry regions, because rainy summers permit diseases to thrive. But due to the development of fungicides (fungus-killers) and frozen concentrates, lemon trees can be grown in humid, subtropical Florida. Practically all California growers use smudge pots to heat their orchards because the trees do not resist frost well. Sudden heat and wind can also affect both trees and fruit (windbreaks are used for protection).


These trees are raised by grafting buds to seedling rootstocks of other types of citrus fruits, such as grapefruit, the rough lemon (a relative of the lemon; the fruit’s not useful, but the rootstock’s sturdy) or sweet orange (the rootstock used most often in California).


They bloom and produce fruit almost continuously in the right climate and with proper care. The trees bear most fruit during winter and early summer.
Lemon trees do not require much water, just good, well-drained soil; too much water will grow the trees quickly, but produce less fruit. Over-irrigation may kill them.

Lemons must be picked by hand and pass a size test (Pickers use a metal ring to determine size. Each fruit is passed through the ring. Only those that are two and one-fourth inches or more in diameter are chosen). Smaller fruits are left on the tree until they grow larger.

Lemons are different from all other citrus fruits because they become more edible after they’re picked (and the green fruits are also picked. They’re then ripened in special curing rooms where the temperature’s kept at 56 to 60 degrees F., humidity 85-90%.)

In the past, most commercially-grown lemons were shipped as fresh fruit. But now, many are made into frozen concentrates. One important lemon by-product is citric acid, used as a base for carbonated beverages, as a laxative in medicines and as a flavoring in baked goods.

Lemon fruit and juice are widely used in cooking, beverages and candies. The oil’s used for flavorings and making perfumes.

The lemon is a special type of many-celled berry (a hesperidium).

How to Pick the Freshest Lemons and Limes

The juiciest, tangiest lemons have fine-textured skin and feel heavy for their size. Rough, thick skin is a sign of dry fruit. Tinges of green are OK, for they only mean the juice will be slightly more acid.
Avoid soft, spongy lemons with hints of decay on the stem ends.

Limes should be green, with no yellow (brown spots are OK). Avoid limes that are hard, for the pulp will be mealy and dry. Look for thin-skinned limes that give slightly.

Citrus fruits such as lemons and limes should be stored at a room temperature of 60 to 70 degrees and used within two weeks. If you prefer them cold, go ahead and refrigerate them, but don’t keep them in plastic bags.

Three Unusual Uses for a Lemon

1. Substitute lemon juice for vinegar in many recipes. The resulting taste will be fresher and brighter.

2. A squeeze (or two) of lemon juice will refresh the taste of canned, packaged or frozen vegetables.

3. Toss squeezed and grated lemons into the garbage disposal. They’ll keep it clean and sweet smelling.

British sailors became known as “limeys” because limes were their shipboard safeguard against scurvy (the vitamin C deficiency disease that once ravaged whole navies).

The world production of lemons is over 1.6 million tons every year. Used to freshen everything from iced drinks to soap and perfume, the fruit is an excellent source of vitamin C.

Which Bathroom Type Are You? and Style Updates

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A favorite bathrom decor style can often provide glimpses of your personality. Here are four considerations:

Prefer to keep an unadorned bathroom or maintain just one basic color scheme throughout?

Then your decor style is City Sophisticate.

A straight-ahead, no-nonsense person, you tend to cut right to the chase, modest tastes and temperament.

There’s no abundance of accessories in this bathroom (clearly serving the purpose for which it was intended)!

From the touch of an old quilt wall hanging to a simple calico curtain, the easy comforts of a Country or Nature decor help you to sit back and relax.

Your bathroom may also abound with ceramic animals, plants, and decorative paint treatments.

You enjoy warmth and charm; nothing makes you more at peace with yourself than being able to communicate with nature.

Your bathroom’s a sanctuary from “civilization.”

Romantic-Fresh-cut flowers, scented soaps, wood, wicker, potpourri and candles make you want to linger here (for this is not merely a bathroom; it’s a toilette!).

There are also cherished keepsakes among stained glass and lace curtains.

Brightly-colored accessories and floral wallpaper complement your reserved, yet hidden passionate nature and showcase your grace and elegance.

Your bathroom’s as private and gentle as you are.

Or do you like bright yellow walls (or any bold color) with a black toilet seat lid, plus heirloom linen and lace towels?

Then you’re a combination of styles, and Eclectic.

Your fanciful mix of decorating reveals a fun-loving, whimsical personality.

You’re a contented person who has the ability to be comfortable and create an intimate space through a blend of your favorite possessions.

Style Updates

Colorful accessories will always brighten up a bathroom, such as:

A set of Stripe, that consists of hand and bath towels in bold, solid colors, big unexpected patterns, and even reversible ones. Go to dusendusen.com

Have a black-and-white bathroom? The color red can be used as an accent; rich jewel tones will also work well.

Unique, artsy-type bath mats that are 100% fluffy (!) cotton, Cool Breeze retails for $60 at coldpicnic.com

Spray a little of your favorite cologne or perfume on your shower curtain before you go in. By the time you’re ready to towel off, the entire bathroom will smell wonderful!

Tissue box covers or dispensers are widely available in amazing, limitless varieties of colors, prints, and patterns (and of course, you can always just use the one you already have). Shower curtains also abound in endless varieties and in all price ranges.

Plants love a bathroom’s humid environment! If your bathroom’s large enough, simply add a few.

Don’t you just hate it when you get that build-up of “crud” in the average soap holder?

Well, fret no more. The Cork Soap Dish is totally water-repellent, due to the grooves in this particular product.

Retail price is $13 at wildminimalist.com

Sometimes bathroom tissue can be found in several hues and shades; they can then be coordinated with the color scheme.

Do you have light-covered tiles (pale pink, mint green, etc.)?

Use them as the basis for a pastel color scheme, incorporating spring colors in your choice of curtains, towels, and other accessories.

Or are they black-and-white?

Go for a dramatic black-and-white theme (accented by rich purple and aqua; or you can use red!).

Style Update product sources: “We’re Loving” by Cat Dash-Delights section-Real Simple, March 2021

Choosing the Right Vinegar for Cooking

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It’s healthy.

Vinegar wards off infections, promotes digestion, and fights osteoporosis.

It’s low-cal; only five calories per tablespoon (!), and it’s a cooking essential; as a result, more types and flavors show up in supermarkets and gourmet shops every day.

Here’s a rundown of five basic ones:

White Distilled Vinegar-This is the most common type.

It’s made from grain alcohol and has a clean, sour taste that won’t clash with other flavors.

Because of that factor, it’s ideal for pickling vegetables or making a barbecue sauce where you want the spices to be ‘front and center.’

I love putting a tablespoon of this on French fries and steamed greens.

And it’s great for cleaning up any food messes (or other ones) later-it’s a natural bleach and it gets rid of odors.

Apple Cider Vinegar is also easy to find.

Made from fermented apple cider, the fruity flavor is milder and mellower that that of distilled vinegar.

Add a tablespoon (or two) to salads and marinades for pork and poultry (this is sensational on-and within-a pork roast!).

Cider vinegar’s antibacterial ingredients make this a good throat gargle.

White Wine Vinegar-It’s light, pungent, and is the base of most herb-infused vinegars, because it lets the herb flavors shine through.

It’s a stable in practically every Mediterranean kitchen.

Red Wine Vinegar is a robust variety used to make flavored vinegars using berries and chilies.

Both red and white wine vinegars are staples in Mediterranean households.

Both can be used to season salads and add depth to main dishes.

Balsamic Vinegar-This can drastically change any dish you add it to.

Aged three years or more in barrels, the juice from Trebbiano grapes grown in Modena, Italy results in an almost syrupy, dark and sweet liquid that brings rich flavor to meat, vegetables, and even fruit.

Yum Yum!

How to Grow Happier and Healthier Houseplants

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Did you know that your plants have a unique life and a language all their own?

A plant responds to the individual who cares for it; here are a few ideas to help them flourish!

They Have a Great Sense of Direction. Vine plants have good navigational skills; the higher they climb, the fuller they grow.

When you move whatever it is a climbing plant climbs on, it’ll adjust and correct its course within a ew hours.

To encourage the best performance in climbing plants, give them support, like a piece of bark or a trellis.

They Like Music! Plants can prosper or wither depending on what type of music is played (they have certain preferences).

Loud music can stunt their growth, while classical or soft rock promotes it.

They seem to love East Indian music!

Touch Your Plant. Did you know that plants have evolved to respond to contact?

Outside, there’s always wind or an animal rustling through them.

You can keep household plants strong and healthy by just lightly brushing them with your hand as you pass by.

Did you know that plants have evolved to respond to contact?

Outside, there’s always wind or an animal rustling through them.

You can keep houseplants strong and healthy by just lightly brushing them with your hand as you pass by.

Plants Communicate With Each Other. They produce a special vibration, warning other plants of impending danger, when under threat.

If you spray a few drops of dishwashing liquid mixed with water on the leaves, it’ll keep away pests without harming the plant.

They Have Internal Body Clocks that’s regulated by light and the temperature.

If you’re growing plants indoors with artificial light, be sure to switch off the light at night. Some plants can even sleep by shifting their leaves or closing their flowers. They’ll droop when their natural rhythms change.

Plants Are Aware of and Sensitive to Their Surroundings. They don’t have eyes or ears, but plants have other senses.

They can react to the thoughts of people near them, and can get stressed out if someone’s thinking of doing them harm.

Keep your plant calm simply by being very kind to it.

Additional Info

If you’re using the regular tap variety to water your plants, be sure to let it stand overnight to allow any chlorine to dissolve. Many plants hate chlorine!

After boiling pasta or vegetables, save the water. Let it cool down, then feed it to your houseplants-the nutrients will help them grow.

Home Cooking: Discovering Asparagus

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On Sunday, November 1st, I achieved a culinary milestone: I ate asparagus for the first time.

Now I’ve definitely heard of and knew about asparagus for decades, but never grew up with it as part of a regular cuisine, hence…..

So, I was never motivated nor interested enough to check it out, until the last week of October 2020.

My brother just happened to have several extra stalks of fresh, raw asparagus that he didn’t need. They were then passed on to me.

The curiosity factor kicked into high gear as I looked and pondered over my newfound bounty. What to do, what to do?

I decided to look up ways to cook and prepare asparagus. There were several; for one, I went “old school” and got a super-simple, very quick idea (it’s not really a recipe per se) from a large brochure or mini-magazine pamphlet for Cook’s Illustrated.

I roasted several fresh asparagus stalks at 500 degrees F in a regular oven for just 8 to 10 minutes. The following step is optional; a couple of hours before, I had the stalks marinating in a tangy sauce:

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

2-3 drops of French or Catalina dressing

2-3 drops of Italian dressing, tangy or regular

A few dashes of some favorite seasonings, like Old Bay, pepper, and garlic powder (or garlic salt, garlic pepper, etc.)

The end results were delicious! As Cook’s Illustrated foretold, there was a deep flavor and a crispy-tender texture throughout. But the marinated seasoning also gave a great ‘ Mediterranean zing‘ to the dish. Yum!

Asparagus by itself or ‘as is‘ has its own quite distinct flavor. It’s hard to describe, because it doesn’t taste nor is close to anything I’ve previously eaten.

But it’s not nasty!

For further discovering or just regular appreciation, here’s a recipe for:

Asparagus Orange Bundles

Ingredients

2 lbs. asparagus spears, trimmed

3 Tbs. sherry vinegar

2 Tbs. red onion, minced

2 Tbs. olive oil

2 tsp. grainy mustard

1 tsp. freshly grated orange zest

One-fourth tsp. freshly ground black pepper

2 oranges

In a large pot over high heat, bring asparagus and enough water to a boil.

Cook for 3-4 minutes or until tender.

Drain, pat dry and divide into eight bundles.

Meanwhile, in a bowl, whisk together the vinegar, olive oil, onion, mustard, zest, and pepper.

With a channel knife (a small knife with a metal “V” formation; primarily used to cut strips of citrus fruit rind. Don’t have one? Just sub with a good paring knife), peel skins of oranges into eight long strips.

Wrap one strip around each asparagus bundle; tie.

Arrange the bundles on a serving dish.

Drizzle the dressing over asparagus just before serving.

Makes 8

Work time: 15 min.

Total time: 20 min.

Food Tips, News and Ideas, Cont.

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Hot Sauce, Tabasco and Chili Peppers

Frank’sRedHot (Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce) debuted in 1920. Besides the original, there’s: Frank’s RedHot Buffalo (Wing) Sauce, XTRA Hot Sauce, Hot Buffalo Sauce, Slammin’ Sriracha, and Sweet Chili Sauce.

Mexico alone grows more than 140 varieties of chili peppers.

Chile peppers are cholesterol-free; low in sodium and calories; rich in vitamins A and C; a good source of folic acid; potassium; and Vitamin E.

In 1493, Christopher Columbus discovered chili peppers in America (or did the Indians/Native Americans first?).

Capsaicin, the chemical that gives peppers their heat, also has many health benefits. Warding off strokes, lowering blood pressure, speeding metabolism, reducing cholesterol, treating colds, preventing cancer and pain management.

Chilies have more vitamin C than oranges!

One out of every four people in the world eat chili peppers daily.

George Washington and Thomas Jefferson both grew chile peppers.

Tabasco sauce was named after the Tabasco River in southern Mexico by creator Edmund McIlhenny; he liked the sound of the word.

Queen Elizabeth uses Tabasco on her lobster cocktail.

Former president George Bush (the first one) is a Tabasco sauce aficionado; he uses it in many dishes.

More than 100 million bottles of Tabasco sauce are sold yearly.

Tabasco’s labeled in fifteen languages and shipped in more than a hundred countries.

Americans use the most Tabasco sauce; the Japanese are second.

Tabasco’s health benefits include: Improving digestion, battling depression (by releasing endorphins, which relieve pain and promoting a sense of well-being), clearing sinuses, warding off some forms of cancer and aiding in weight loss.

Mint

Since ancient times, mint has been valued as a medicinal herb; it’s reported to ease an upset stomach, aid digestion and relieve hiccups and nausea.

It’s available year-round, peaking from June to October. Mint’s a perennial plant and can be found in many varieties, like apple, ginger, lime and pineapple, among others. The most widely available and known are peppermint and spearmint. Did you know that most mints can be used interchangeably (with only a slight difference in flavor)?

Buying? Choose one that has evenly colored leaves that aren’t wilting. Store it in the refrigerator, stems down in a glass of water with a plastic bag over the leaves for up to a week. Change the water every two days. And you can also freeze mint; keep it in a plastic bag.
It’s already well-known as an added ingredient in candies, desserts and drinks, but mint can also be used in entrees and side dishes; a sprig can be added to new carrots, green peas or new potatoes. Or you can toss them with mint and melted butter after cooking; a sprig can be placed on the rim of a cool drink; mint can be sprinkled on a fruit salad-or tomatoes. And it can be a garnish for the fruit salad or meat, such as lamb. All mint varieties will work well as herbal teas, jellies and juleps. Many hybrids can be used for aromatherapy or in a bath.

Did you know that mint contains Vitamins A and C? Mint tea will ease stomach cramps and calm nausea. In cooler-and colder-weather, mint tea will also help relieve colds and flu.

Sources: Hot sauce supplement (late 1970s-early 1980s) and “Recipe uses leaves’ refreshing properties” by Carol J. G. Ward-Knight-Ridder Newspapers and Gourmet magazine-The Vindicator-Sept. 29, 1999