The winter season brings with it lot of happiness and festivals. It is said that happiness lives in the air when the winter season comes. With the onset of winters people start preparing themselves for the festival of Christmas. However along with this a lot of skin problems also make their entry in these festive winters. The dry cold air of the winters takes away all the moisture from your bodies and thus leaving your skin dry. Irritation and skin problems are some of the common gifts that you get along with this festive season. Hands are one of the most affected parts of this problem. As we do most of our work with our hands so it is more vulnerable to skin irritations. However there are hand creams available, which is the answer to this problem.

Hand creams are the ones which maintain the moisture content of your hand and avoid any kind of skin irritations that you might incur during the winter season. Hand creams are a bit strong than the ones that are applied on the face and other delicate parts of the body. It is so because hands are the most used part of our body and thus they are comparatively strong and rough. Therefore hand creams are not advised to be applied on any other parts of the body. Though various types hand creams are available in plenty in the market still many people prefer homemade hand creams. Some of the homemade hand creams are as follows: -

1. Almond Hand Cream – Almond hand cream is one of the most prevalent hand creams that are used by most of the people. In order to make this you require 2 teaspoonful of almond oil and 1 teaspoonful of honey. Then you have to mix the honey and the almond oil. The cream sort substance that is made after mixing has to be applied in the hands. After applying cover your hands with some old cotton gloves and leave it for the whole night. When you wake in the morning rinse off your hands with warm soapy water.
2. Witch Hazel hand cream – This is also a commonly prepared homemade hand cream. In order to make this you require 2 teaspoonful of Yeast, 5 teaspoonfuls of Hazel extracts and ¼ teaspoonful of Tincture of Benzoin. After getting all the contents mix them well. The final substance that is prepared will be in the form of a smooth paste. After that refrigerate the final substance for around 20 minutes and then apply it to your hands. After 30 minutes rinse off your hands with lukewarm water.

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Head lice are the most irritating thing that can happen to one’s hair. They not only itch quite a lot but also become a nuisance. Since lice are communicable, people avoid someone who has lice. The itching sensation is not only very uncomfortable but also very embarrassing. Here are some home remedies that one can rely on instead of the harmful chemicals in the synthetic products to cure head lice. These homemade solutions not only help kill not only the lice but their eggs also. They do not have any side effects and are very efficient.

1) Vinegar is very helpful in killing the lice nits. If one washes his/her hair with vinegar lice can be killed in not more than two days.

2) Olive oil is also an effective solution while dealing with lice. One has to massage the olive oil in the hair and the scalp and leave it there for around 7-8 hours be fore washing it off. This can also easily smother the lice.

3) The easiest solution to lice is to massage coconut oil in the hair. However this is only effective when the attack of the lice is mild and there is little infestation.

4) Listerine mouth wash also has properties that helps one kill the lice. The Listerine mouth wash has to be rubbed in the scalp and the hair to kill all the lice.

5) Massaging the head with mayonnaise can also kill the lice and their eggs. After messaging the head with the mayonnaise, the hair has to be combed after 2 hours. After a mixture of butter and lemon has to be applied on the head. After keeping this mixture for around 15 seconds the hair should be rinsed well.

6) The killing properties of anti lice oil can be increased by mixing coconut or mustard oil and around 0.1 percent of pyrethrum essence or 0.2 percent of lindane before applying it to the hair. When rubbed well this oil becomes the best solution to deal with lice. The ingredients to be mixed in the oil can be found at almost all the chemical shops.

7) When talcum powder is mixed with pyrethrum dust or DDT, it also becomes quite a good solution for killing lice. The powder should be rubbed vigorously on the hair before going to sleep. The pyrethrum content should not be more than 0.2%. If DDT is used then DDT should not be used more than 10%.

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Hives is a kind of skin allergy that leaves the person who is suffering with it with patches and rings almost all over the body. Scientifically called urticaria, hives look fierce red swellings and they tend to fade away and reappear on any other part of the body. Hives occur due to chemical called histamine and anyone can suffer from it. The size of the blotches varies with the degree of seriousness of the ailment. These patches cause severe irritation and itchy feeling. Hives also increase the heart beat causing difficulty in breathing and swallowing. Hives has other symptoms also like dizziness and loss of consciousness. There are different home remedies which one can try to reduce the itching sensation and pain that accompanies hives and also to cure it. Here are some home remedies that can be helpful in treating hives –

1) One can apply cool compression to the affected part. This helps in reducing the pain and itch.

2) Calamine lotion gives relief from itching. One can apply the lotion to reduce the uneasiness.

3) One can also apply milk of magnesia to the gash. Applying milk of magnesia to the affected part helps in reducing the irritation. This is due the fact that milk of magnesia is alkaline in nature.

4) Hives become more severe due to stress. One can try passionflower tea or peppermint tea to calm the nerves. Valerian, catnip and chamomile are also very good.

5) The itching can be stopped by applying a mixture of cornstarch and baking soda. If half a cup of baking powder and cornstarch is applied at least once a day, it can cure the itching within a very short span of time.

6) Nettle tea is also very good for hives patients. Consuming tea made by stinging powdered nettles along with lemon or honey can do wonders.

7) Cayenne pepper capsules also speed up the recovery process. One can also have vitamin E or C capsules to get instant relief.

However, it is best to take precautionary measures to avoid the discomfort and embarrassment of hives. One should avoid food like chocolates, peanuts, nuts, soy products etc. it is also advisable that one finds out the food that one is allergic to and avoid consuming them. This reduces the chances of one getting infected with hives. It also helps one avoid all the uneasiness that accompany hives.

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Dandruff is the biggest enemy that hair can have. It not only weakens the roots of the hair and causes hair fall but also is responsible for itching sensation in the scalp. Dandruff can be distinguished by presence of flaky and peeling skin around the scalp region. The size and shape of dandruff differs. It can be like dust particles as well as greasy, yellow and large flake. A little bit of care can help one fight the problem of dandruff and protect the falling hair. One can rely on the infallible home remedies to cure dandruff problem. Here are a few home remedies that help curing dandruff –

1) Sesame seeds have properties that help cure dandruff. One has to first soak the sesame seeds for at least two hours and then crush it and apply to the hair. One has to keep it on hair for at least half hour before washing it off.

2) A paste of two teaspoons of fenugreek seeds and a little bit of fenugreek seeds when applied in hair can also cure dandruff. The fenugreek seeds and Bengal gram has to be soaked overnight and then boiled before applying it to the hair. When this mixture is kept this for around half and hour in the hair and is then washed off, it not only cleans the hair but also strengthens the roots.

3) A paste of Bengal gram flour kept in the hair for an hour also helps fighting dandruff.

A mild case of dandruff can be treated by massaging the hair with coconut oil and the juice of one lemon. After massaging, the hair has to be cleansed with a hot towel. This help in revitalizing the blood circulation. An oily or very dry dandruff can be treated by applying fuller’s earth. However this mixture should be washed after 10 mins so that it does not become too dry.

Fresh lime juice is also very helpful in treating dandruff. Juice of one lime, if applied on the scalp and massaged properly it not only helps curing dandruff but also brings glow in the hair.

Home recipes prove to be quite helpful in curing dandruff. They not only help curing dandruff but also contribute to the good health of the hair. These recipes help adding glow to the hair and strengthen the roots. They also help overcome dandruff recur again. If the care of hair is taken regularly then there are less chances of dandruff occurring again.

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Bread is a staple diet with many. Thus it has been a subject of daily consumption in several families. Thus if it could be manufactured at home itself it cuts down the tiring process of buying it everyday and also cut down upon the regular cost of buying it from the market.

The ingredients

There are several recipes followed for the preparation of bread but generally all the recipes more or less follow the same path. Te recipe for making bread suggested here is the common one followed in the household for making bread. The main ingredients of the process are 1 package of yeast, one cup of liquid, around 3 cups of flour. The ingredient suggested is for the preparation of a single loaf the quantity can be varied as per the requirement of the loaf. The nature of the flour acquired for the preparation should be checked properly as it should not be very soft which will not generate into good bread.

The preparation

The oven can be subjected to pre heating depending upon the temperature of the place. If the atmosphere is on the colder side then the oven can be kept for heating for 5 minutes. The first step towards this should be the mixture of the ingredients. First all the dry ingredients should be mixed together. Then all the wet ingredients must be mixed together and then the mixture of the wet ingredients should be subjected to heat. After heating the wet mixture it should be then added to the dry mixture. Both the mixtures should be then beat for 2 minutes. The beating of the mixtures can be done in a mixture as well. After this some extra flour can be stirred at a very high speed. More flour can be added to the preparation according to the humidity of the atmosphere.

This is done to enhance the softness of the bread. Now the whole mixture is prepared for kneading. The hands should be covered with oil so that it does not become sticky with the flour. The kneading should be done for about 10 minutes. Then the whole loaf ball should be placed in a warm place until the size of the loaf ball becomes double. Generally this process takes around 30-45 minutes. Now the preparation is ready for baking. The loaf ball should be put into a pre heated oven and the temperature should be adjusted to around 400 F. It should be baked for around 45 minutes and then kept for cooling. After cooling it is ready to be served.

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Animals, because they are color blind, choose their foods by smell. Most dogs like gamely flavors best, as well as liver, fat, garlic, onions, horsemeat, lamb, beef, cheese and fish. Cats enjoy chicken, liver, fish, turkey, lamb, and yeast, and prefer fresh to aged flavors. Remember that cats are fussy eaters and it is not wise to continually feed them their favorite foods. Soon they will refuse to eat anything else; it is your job to see your cat has a balanced diet.The following are some of the homemade food for cats, which is simple to make, and not much time is consumed in the process.

SAUTEED LIVER

1) Heat 1-teaspoon corn oil in a pan.
2) Add 1/4 pound beef liver and fry on both sides until cooked but not dry inside.
3) Add 1/2-cup water to the pan and mix it up with all the brown bits.

VEAL STEW

1)Combine 1/2 pound stewing veal, 1 cup canned tomatoes, 1 cup water, 1 chicken bouillon cube, 1/2 onion (chopped), parsley and a dash of garlic powder in a pot and simmer. When meat is tender, remove all the bones.

CHICKEN SOUP

1) Combine 1 chicken liver, 1 giblet, 1 chicken heart, 1 chicken neck, 2 cups water and 1 tablespoon finely chopped parsley.
2) Cover and simmer until the giblet is tender.
3) Chop all the meat for cats; you may want to grind the meat in the blender.

LIVER COOKIES

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2) Combine 1/2 cup dry milk and 1/2 cup wheat germ; drizzle 1 teaspoon honey on top.
3) Add one 3 1/3 oz. jar of strained liver baby food or homemade blended liver and stir until everything is well mixed.
4) Form the mixture into balls; place them on an oiled cookie sheet and flatten them with a fork.
5) Bake 8 to 10 minutes.
6) Consistency should be fudge.
7) Store in a jar in the fridge; freeze if keeping more than a few days.
Although cats are obligate carnivores, most commercial cat food contains both animal and plant material, supplemented with vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. Cat food is formulated to address the specific nutritional requirements of cats, in particular containing the amino acid taurine, as cats cannot thrive on taurine-deficient food and go blind when fed with dog food. Caution must be exercised in preparing homemade cat food. Some food additives are not suitable for cats. For instance, the emulsifying agent propylene glycol (PG) which is added to many human foods can be deadly for cats. PG was once a common ingredient in moist commercial cat food, but it was found to induce Heinz bodies and oxidative damage

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Cheese is a milk product which has attained extreme popularity like other bye products of milk. Cheese can be used in many food items for taste and can also be eaten separately. Preparation of the cheese is not very difficult at home.

Requirements for the preparation of cheese

Te things required for the preparation of cheese are very easily available in the market. The primary requirement for the preparation of cheese is milk. The next thing required is some vinegar. Then there should be salt. Some of the utensils required for the preparation are saucepan, cheesecloth and a spoon.

Method of preparation of cheese

The milk should be poured in the saucepan and kept for heated. The milk should be continuously stirred during the process of heating. The milk should be heated until it reaches to the boiling temperature. Once the milk is boiled the gas burner should be switched off but the saucepan containing the milk should be left on the gas grate. To the boiling milk some vinegar should be added so that milk turns into curd and whey. After the formation of the curd and whey it should be stirred well for around 5 to 10 minutes in order to let it sit on the element. Then pass the whole thing from cheesecloth. This is done in order to separate the curd from the whey. Then the cheesecloth should be pressed tightly so as to take out the moisture from the whey. After taking out maximum amount of moisture from the cheese a pinch of salt according to the taste should be added to the whey. Then the cheese and the salt should be mixed thoroughly. After mixing the cloth should be again pressed very hard so as to remove the remaining moisture from the cheese. Thus the cheese is prepared. The cheese prepared can be put into any mould if desired. The cheese prepared should be kept under refrigeration. After keeping it in refrigeration for a while the cheese becomes ready to eat.

Other tips while preparation of cheese

The cheese prepared can be made into various flavors. There are several flavors that can be added to the cheese by adding herbs and spices. The cheese can also be colored. There are colored additives which can be added to the cheese to make it colored. Different taste of cheese can be attained by adding various types of milk and vinegar.

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Coffee is one of the hot drinks that can really soothe the senses. The coffee often acts as the stress buster and contains caffeine that has its effect on the nervous system. The coffee is not only popular worldwide because of the drink it is but also for the intellectuality it stirs in the mind of people.

Buying of beans

The beans bought should be in an airtight container. Stress is given on airtight container because from the time the coffee beans are being taken out from the roaster it starts loosing out the fragrance and the aroma t is known for. Thus only those beans should be bought which are being preserved properly. The coffee beans generally loose their charm if being exposed to the air. The package of the coffee beans should have a valve for the expulsion of gases. The beans emit gases when they freshly come out of the roster. Due to the absence of valve the packet of coffee can burst.

Grinding of the coffee beans

The coffee beans have to be grinded before they can be used. The coffee grinder used for the grinding of the beans should have adjustments to vary the coarseness of the coffee powder. Grinding of the coffee holds the key to a successful coffee preparation. If there is a coarse grind for the coffee the grind is fairly large. The medium type of coffee grind generally suits all types of brew. If there is espresso coffee then the grind of the coffee should be very fine.

Brewing of the coffee powder

In order to prepare brewing forms a major part in the process. The coffee before brewing has to be subjected to water. Generally the coffee is 98% water. Thus the quality of water used in the preparation of the coffee should be very good. Poor quality of water can spoil the coffee. Then the time for which the coffee is being brewed is of paramount importance. However with a drip brewer the time for the brewing cannot be controlled. The time suggested for brewing is between 3 minutes to 5 minutes.

The final punch

The final step towards making of the coffee is the addition to the water. The temperature of water before the addition is very important. Generally the temperature most suitable for coffee is a temperature just below the boiling point.

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Spaghetti sauce is one of the frequently used subsidiaries along with the food. Thus it is always advisable to prepare some spaghetti sauce and store it in the home. The preparation of spaghetti sauce at home is very easy and it is easy to store as well.

Things to be used

The ingredients required in the preparation of spaghetti sauce are very easily available. The primary thing required is tomatoes. The amount of tomato should be according to the amount sauce to be made. The next thing required is the spaghetti sauce mix or it can be replaced with one’s own toping. Then a can of water is required in order to increase the volume of the sauce. For the purpose of storage cans are required which can be the pint canning jars. The cans acquired for the purpose of storage should have a large mouth. The lids for the jars should be thin flat and should be made up of metals. Then there should be metal bands which are used to seal the jars with the lids. There should be a jar grabber in order to pick up the jar when it is hot. Then there should be lid lifter which is being used to lift up the lid from the jar. A large pot is required for the purpose of storage. Large spoons and ladles are required for the purpose of transferring food material during the preparation. The last thing required is a jar funnel.

How to make

The first step in the process is the removal of the skin of the tomatoes. The tomatoes are then put into boiling water for 1 minute precisely. After they are treated with boiling water the tomatoes are then put into the ice water. This treatment makes the skin aloof from the body and it itself slides down the body. The sin does not taste good in the sauce. Then the seeds are being removed from the tomatoes. After the removal of seeds the tomatoes they must be squeezed properly to take out the excess of water from the tomato. Then the tomatoes are drained under heavy flowing water. Then the utensils must be sterilized before they are used for the preparation of the sauce. Now the spaghetti sauce mix and the tomatoes are put into one vessel. They are mixed thoroughly and then put for boiling. The mixture is boiled until the mixture becomes a thick curry. The thick curry is then poured into the containers for storage.

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Dog food is plant or animal material intended for consumption by dogs or other canines. Special dog foods given as a reward, and not as a staple, are known as dog treats. Some people make their own dog food or feed their dogs meals made from ingredients purchased in grocery or health-food stores; many others rely on commercially manufactured dog food.

There are a number of great homemade dog food recipes. Most veterinarians and dog experts agree that commercial dog food is not always the best, healthiest option. In fact, many experts warn against using most types of commercial dog food, thus encouraging a wide variety of homemade dog food recipes that are easy to prepare and much appreciated by your family pooch. Homemade dog food should be a combination of forty percent meat, thirty percent vegetables, and thirty percent starch. By maintaining these ratios in your dog’s food bowl, you are giving your pet the very best in balanced nutrition. Most commercial dog foods contain little vegetable or meat ratios and rely heavily on starches and fillers. When choosing meats it is recommended that you use eggs, liver, kidneys, ground turkey, or lean ground beef. One great homemade dog food recipe is a combination of ground turkey, rice and carrots. The carrots do not have to be cooked, but they should be cut small for both large and small breeds. Another excellent approach to homemade dog food is the combination of ground beef, brewers yeast, brown rice, and once again, carrots. The best meats according to some veterinarians come from organs; substituting liver or kidney in the previous recipes is a great option for dog owners concerned with the amount of vitamins and minerals your canine’s diet includes. Homemade dog food can also be seasoned in order to both give your pet a great tasting meal, but also, many seasonings can actually be beneficial to dogs as well. Adding garlic to a homemade dog food recipe not only adds flavor, but also acts as a natural flea repellant. Eggshells can also be ground up and added to any dish. Eggshells are chock full of nutrients and any egg products can help promote a shiny healthy coat for your dog even in the winter months. It is important to provide your dog with fresh, raw vegetables and good lean meats including eggs, turkey, liver and kidneys. Similarly, it is better for dogs to eat fresh, raw foods appropriate to their species, than to be fed processed and heavily preserved foods. Commercial dog foods are often more popular than home made dog food due more to their convenience than to any nutrient ion over home made dog food. Pet owners considering home made dog food need to educate them about it. There are a number of books, articles and Internet sites to go to for information and advice on suitable foods and nutrition. Commercial dog foods rely primarily on grain products for nutrients and as filler, and since many of these may be of sub-human-grade quality, molds and fungus are a concern, and have led to more than one recall. The standards for maintaining appropriate nutrient levels in most manufactured dog foods are poorly regulated, thus further emphasizing the significance of home made dog food. Allergies, skin disease, dental disease, and other health problems are often a problem for dogs on commercial diets. As a result, more and more people are choosing home made dog food.
There are many different recommendations on what diet is best for dogs. Some people argue that dogs have thrived off of leftovers and scraps from their human owners for thousands of years and the commercial dog foods (which have only been available for the past century) contain poor-quality meats, additives, and other ingredients dogs should not ingest, or that commercial dog food is not nutritionally sufficient for their dogs. One of the best ways to ensure your dog’s health is to choose the correct food and feed her the appropriate amounts according to size, breed and activity level. Healthy diets, in addition to daily exercise are the two main ingredients for a happy, healthy dog or puppy. When choosing a dog food, always use the age appropriate formula such as senior or puppy.

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