Research "Ek Khoj"

Ingredients:

1 tblsp cashewnuts
1 tblsp raisins
saffron few strands
1 cup basmati rice
1/2 tsp green cardamom powder
1 tblsp pure ghee
1/2 cup sugar
25 gms sugar crystals

Method:

Soak rice for half an hour.
Heat up ghee in a pan, fry raisins and cashewnuts, remove and keep aside.
In the same ghee mix in rice and stir fry till rice starts separating.
Dissolve saffron in warm water and keep aside.
Mix in 11/2 cup of boiling water to the rice and mix in saffron water and let it cook.
When half done mix in sugar and continue to stir fry till all the water has been absorbed and the rice is cooked.
Finally mix in the cardamom powder and decorate it with fried dry fruits and sugar crystals.
Serve hot.

Ingredients:

2 cups long grained white rice
2 cups sugar
1 cup ghee
l/2 cup chironji, coarsely ground
25 almonds, blanched, chopped
25 pistachios, chopped
1 tsp cardamom powder
1/4 tsp nutmeg powder
1/2 tsp saffron, soaked in 1 tsp milk
4 cups milk

Ingredients:
Cantaloupe – 1 cup
Milk – ½ cup (approx.)
Ice – 1 cup
Sugar – 1 Tbsp (to taste)
Elaichi Powder (Cardamom) – ¼ tsp

Method:
1. Fill one cup with Cantaloupe.
2. Pour Milk over Cantaloupe until cup is filled to the top.
3. Pour Milk and Cantaloupe into a blender.
4. Add Ice, Sugar and Elaichi Powder.
5. Blend until smooth and creamy.
6. Serve immediately.
7. Serves 2

Tip:
For an extra creamy version, try adding a scoop of vanilla ice cream to the mix — Yummy!

Ingredients
Semiya - 100 gms [1/2 cup]
Milk - 1 ltr
Sugar - 1/2 cup
Ghee - 1 tbsp
Cashewnuts - a handful
Cardamom Powder - 1 tsp


Method
In a kadai,add ghee and roast the cashewnuts till golden brown.Drain and keep aside.
In the same pan,roast the semiya till golden brown.
In another pan,boil the milk.
When the semiya becomes sufficiently brown,mix in the milk and cook till the semiya becomes soft.
Mix in the sugar and let it come to boil.
Simmer and cook the payasam for 20-25 minutes.
Add the cardamom powder and roasted cashewnuts.
Serve hot or cold.

Boiled and shredded chicken-1/2 c[I used equal amount of corn kernels]
Cheese-100g [ I used Mozarella and used very less quantity--about 3 tbsp for the filling and then I grated a little bit on top of the quiches before baking]

Ingredients:
1 Cup Raw Rice
2 Cups Coconut Milk

1 Cup Pudina/Mint Leaves, Chopped
"½ Cup Paneer/Cottage Cheese Cubes
3 Green Chilies
1" piece Ginger
4 pods Garlic
1 Onion, Sliced
2tbsp Ghee
3 pieces Cinnamon
3 pieces Clove
2 Elaichi/Cardamom


Method:
Paneer pudina pulao Shallow fry Paneer and keep aside. Grind Green Chilies, Garlic and Ginger to a paste. In a thick-bottomed pan heat Ghee and add Cinnamon, Clove, Cardamom and fry.

Now add the Chili paste, Onions and fry for 2 minutes. Add Rice, Pudina and Paneer and mix well with the Masala. Add Coconut milk and close the vessel and cook till done.

Remove to a serving dish and serve hot with Raitha.

Ingredients:

• 1 to 1 1/4 pounds extra lean ground beef
• 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon seasoned salt
• 3 tablespoons fine dry bread crumbs
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 large egg, slightly beaten
• 2 tablespoons grated onion
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1/2 to 3/4 cup thinly sliced mushrooms
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1 cup beef broth
• 1 tablespoon dry red wine, optional

Preparation:

Combine ground beef, pepper, salt, seasoned salt, and bread crumbs. Shape into 4 oval patties. Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat; fry the patties for about 5 minutes on each side, or until cooked through. Remove patties to warm plate and keep warm. Pour off all but about 2 tablespoons of the drippings. Add mushrooms to the drippings and cook until tender. Add flour to the skillet; stir until hot and bubbly. Add the beef broth and wine, if using; cook, stirring, until the sauce is thickened. Pour over the steaks and serve with potatoes and a vegetable side dish.

serves 4
so now you got the secret of making the hamburgers in few minutes.a secret ingredient makes hamburgers taste like steakburgers

Khasta actually means "flaky" and this flaky kachori is filled with a delectable moong dal mixture and deep fried. Remember to fry the kachori on a very slow flame so that the crust is crisp and gets cooked on the inside. A perfect kachori is one that is puffed up and flaky outside but hollow inside. This dish can be stored in air-tight containers for upto a week. When unexpected guests arrive, warm up the kachoris in a slow oven for about 7 to 10 minutes, fill them with curds and chutneys and serve.

For the Dough

Ingredients
2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 cup oil/ghee, I used oil
1/2 tsp salt
water for kneading

Method

1. Mix the flour and salt.
2. Add the oil and mix well. Till you get a bread crumbs texture.
3. Make a soft dough using water.
4. Knead well for about 8 minutes.
5. Cover and keep aside to rest for atleast half hour.

Notes

• Keep the dough covered at all times, if not it will dry up and not puff up when frying. If the dough is made right wet cloth can be used if not just a towel.
• The dough could spring back for many reasons:
• Dough is too cold (If wet cloth is used)
• Dough is not soft enough.
• Not kneaded for enough time.
• Oil is less.
• Not rested enough.

Fillings
Khasta Kachori - Moong Dal kachori
Here I took a mix of both the recipes.

Ingredients
1/2 cup split moong dal (yellow)
1 tsp cumin seeds
a pinch hing (asefetida)
2 tsp finelly chopped curry leaves (Optional)
1 tsp chilli ginger paste
1 tsp sauf (fennel seeds) powder
1/2 tsp spoon garam masala
1/2 tsp red chilli pwd
1 tsp mango powder (amchur)
1 tsp oil
salt to taste

Method

1. Wask and Soak dal in water for atleast 1 hour. You can go upto 4 hours not more.
2. Drain the water well.
3. Grind the dal to a coarsely. (Will resemble Idli Rawa)
4. Heat oil in a pan.
5. Add the hing and cumin seeds.
6. Once the seeds splutter add the curry leaves.
7. Add the dal.
8. Lower the heat and keep stirring for 5 minutes till the dal stops sticking to the pan.
9. Cook for another 10 minutes on low till the dal turns slightly brown.
10. Add all the masalas.
11. Cook for few minutes till the aroma of the spices hit you.
12. Add Salt.
13. Remove from heat and keep aside to cool.

Muttar Ki Kachori from Tarla Dalal:

Ingridients
2 cups green peas
1 teaspoon green chillies, chopped
1 teaspoon ginger, grated
1/2 teaspoon nigella seeds (kalonji)
2 teaspoons fennel seeds (saunf)
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon chilli powder
1 teaspoon garam masala
4 tablespoons chopped coriander
2 tablespoons oil
salt

Method

1. Corarsely grind the green peas,green chillies and ginger in a blender without using any water. Keep aside.
2. Heat the oil in a pan,add the nigella seeds,fennel seeds,bay leaves and ground green pea mixture and saute over a very slow flame for 8 to 10 minutes.
3. Add the chilli powder,garam masala,coriander and salt and saute for 2 more minutes.
4. Remove the bay leavess and discard. Divide into 12 equal portions.

Pyaz Ki Kachori

Ingredients
2 cups onions, finely chopped
1 teaspoon nigella seeds (kalonji)
2 teaspoons fennel seeds (saunf)
2 bay leaves
1½ teaspoons green chillies, finely chopped
2 tablespoons Bengal gram flour (besan)
2 teaspoons coriander (dhania) powder
2 teaspoons chilli powder
1 teaspoon garam masala
3 tablespoons chopped coriander
2 tablespoons oil
salt to taste

Method

1. Heat the oil in a pan. Add the nigella seeds, fennel seeds, bay leaves, green chillies and onions and sauté till the onions turn light brown in colour.
2. Add the gram flour, coriander powder, chilli powder, garam masala and salt and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes.
3. Add the chopped coriander and mix well. Remove the bay leaves and discard. Allow the mixture to cool completely.
4. Divide into 12 equal portions and keep aside.

Notes

• The fillings have to be really dry if not when rolling they will ooz out when rolling.
• The masalas are according to taste, I did reduce the spice but still its spicy for us but the level we can enjoy.
• Once I added the filling I found it difficult to roll especially the moong dal, I felt the dough would break and make holes So I pressed it down with my hand.,
• Fry the kachori's on medium low to get a crisp outer layer, that is the key. For people using electric stove, my numbers were going from 6 to 4.

To Make Kachori's

1. Make a small ball from the dough.
2. Roll out into a 2 inch diameter circle.
3. Place about 1.5 tsp of t he filling in the center of the rolled dough.
   
4. Cover the filling with the dough by sowly streching it over the filling. Seal the ends and remove excess dough.
   
5. Flatten and roll each portion to 2.5 inch circle. I used the my palms to flatten it, using the rolling pin was not working sincet he filling was coming out. (See notes below).
   
6. Keep aside covered.
7. Repeat with the remaining dough.
8. Meanwhile heat some oil for deep frying.
9. Drop the kachori in the oil. It should rise up slowly.
10. After it rises up (about 2 minutes), turn it over.
11. Cook for about 6 to 10 minutes till the side down gets a golden brown color.
12. Turn and cook the other side for another 6 minutes or till its golden brown in color.
    
13. Remove when done, cool and store in airtight container.
14. Serve with coriander chutney and tamarind chutney

Notes

• I fried 3 kachori's at a time.
• The oil should be at a heat when you drop some dough it should come up slowly, if the dough comes up too fast the oil is too hot, if it does not come up then the oil is cold.
• It will not be crisp if the oil is too hot.

Vegetable Au Gratin is a french dish, its a medley of vegetables baked in a cheesy herbed white sauce. Mama always made this in 2 batches, one for papa with all the vegetables and one for me with corn and paneer since I never liked vegetables as a kid. You can use any vegetables you like fresh or frozen it tastes great.


Ingredients:

For veg layer :
3 cups vegetables (see note below)
1-2 tsp herbs (I used oregano)
salt and pepper to taste

For white sauce :
3-4 tbsp butter
3 tbsp maida (plain flour)
3 1/2 to 4 cups milk
1/4 to 1/2 cup cheddar cheese
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 to 1 tsp herbs (I used oregano)

For topping :
Bread crumbs and grated cheddar cheese - mix these together (approx 1 cup combined) You can vary the proportion as per your requirement.
a little butter Preparation:

For veg :
1. Boil vegetables and drain them. To the veg add salt, pepper and herbs. Also add paneer, if using. Set aside.

For white sauce :
1. Heat butter. Add maida. Saute over medium heat till raw smell goes. Do not let it turn brown.
2. Remove from heat and add 1 cup milk and stir constantly. See that no lumps are formed.
3. Put it back over heat and add remaining milk. Stir over low to medium heat till sauce thickens.
4. Add salt, pepper and herbs. Mix.
5. Remove from heat and add cheese. Add the veg mixture.

Proceed :
1. Transfer it onto a greased baking dish. Sprinkle the crumbs-cheese mix, dot with butter.
Bake in a preheated oven @ 180 C for 20 mins till cheese melts and top is browned. Give 5-10 mins standing time before serving. Then dig in!

Notes :
1. You can use any diff combination of veg like cauliflower, potatoes, peas, carrot, beans, baby corn, corn etc.
2. You can use a combination of cheddar and mozarella cheese for the sauce and topping.
3. Before you bake, preheat oven @ 180 C.
4. If you want a spicy Au gratin, add chilli flakes to the sauce.
5. You can cook the dish over a gas too. After transferring the vegetables to the sauce and sprinkling the topping, cover and heat over gas till cheese melts.

I know this salsa sounds odd but it is absolutely amazing! It tastes delightlfully sweet with just a hint of heat. With so many fresh, seasonal ingredients, it truly tastes like Summer.
This salsa is delicious with tortilla chips, but would also be a great topping for grilled chicken fajitas or tacos.Juice of 2 large limes (about 1/4 cup)2 tablespoons cider vinegar
3 tablespoons brown sugar
3 cups watermelon, seeded and chopped
3/4 cup cucumber, peeled, seeded and chopped
1/4 cup yellow Bell peppers, seeded and diced
1/3 cup red onion, peeled and diced
2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and diced
1/4 cup cilantro, minced
2 tablespoons fresh basil, minced
1/4 teaspoon salt

In a large bowl, combine the juice of 2 large limes, cider vinegar and honey. Whisk in brown sugar until dissolved. Add remaining ingredients and toss to combine. Cover and refrigerate at least 8 hours for best flavor. After 8 hours or when ready to serve, drain a quarter to half of liquid that accumulated before serving.

Ingredients:

1 medium Gobhi (Cauliflower)
3/4 cup Flour (Maida)
1 tbsp Corn Flour
Salt to taste
1 Chopped green chili
11/2 tbsp Garlic Paste
11/2 tbsp Ginger Paste
1 cup finely Chopped Onions
Finely Chopped Coriander Leaves
1/4th tsp Ajinomoto
2 tbsp Soya Sauce
2-3 tbsp Tomato Ketchup
2 tbsp Oil

Method:

Make a paste of maida, corn flour and salt using water.
Take a tsp. of ginger and garlic paste, add it to the paste.
Dip the gobi florets in the paste and deep fry till golden brown.
Keep aside.
Heat oil in another pan and add the left ginger & garlic paste, chopped onions and green chili to it.
Now, mix aginomoto, soya sauce and tomato sauce to it.
Add fried Gobi kept aside and mix well.
Garnish it with coriander leaves.
Serve the gobi manchurian hot.

Ingridents:

3 cups chopped spinach
2 large onoins chopped fine
2 large potatoes boiled and peeled
1 tomato grated
2 green chillies
1" piece ginger
1 tsp. lemon juice
1/2 tsp. wheat or other flour
1 tsp. red chilli powder
1 tsp. cinnamon-clove powder
1/4 tsp. turmeric powder
1/2 tsp cumin seeds
2 pinches asafoetida
1/2 tsp. garam masala
1/2 tbsp. butter
4 tbsp. ghee
salt to taste

Method:

Put the washed spinach in a pan, add very little water (just a sprinkle) and a pinch of salt.
Cover and boil over a high flame for 2 minutes.
Cool quickly, or hold under running water in a colander.
Put in a mixie, add green chilli and run for a minute.
Keep slightly coarse, do not make very smooth.
Keep aside.Cut the potatoes into big pieces.
Heat ghee and fry potatoes till light brown.
Drain the potatoes, keep aside.
In the same hot ghee add the cumin seeds.
Add the ginger, onions and fry till very tender.
Add the tomato and further fry for two minutes.
Add all the dry masalas and fry till ghee separates.
Add spinach and potatoes.
When it resumes a boil sprinkle the flour and stir well.
Boil for 2-3 minutes.
Add lemon juice Just before s evering heat butter in a tiny saucepan and add the asafoetida.
Pour over the vegetable and mix gently.
Serve hot with naan or parathas or even rice.

Note: You may use boiled peas, boiled corn kernels or paneer chunks in the above dish, instead of potatoes.

Making time: 45 minutes
Makes for: 6
Shelf life: Best fresh

check out the recipe...
its very yummy recipe for kids ... they will like this cookies a lot as its very taste and heathy too...

Ingredients:

1/4 cup I Can't Believe It's Not Butter!® Spread
1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 cup light or dark corn syrup
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Method:

Preheat oven 350°.
Spray baking sheets with nonstick cooking spray.
set aside.

In medium saucepan, melt I Can't Believe It's Not Butter!® Spread, then stir in sugar and corn syrup.
Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, until sugar is dissolved.
Remove from heat; stir in remaining ingredients until blended.
On prepared baking sheets, drop mixture by heaping teaspoonfuls, 3-inches apart (six cookies should fit on each sheet).

Bake 9 minutes or until cookies spread thin and are deep brown (cookies will be soft).
On wire rack, let stand 2 minutes.
Working quickly with metal spatula, remove from sheets and on wire rack, cool completely.
Sprinkle, if desired, with confectioners sugar.

Recipe Info

Makes: 1-1/2 dozen cookies
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 9 minutes

For the Do-It-Yourselfer

Wash concrete off your skin
Even though you wear rubber gloves when working with concrete, some of the stuff inevitably splashes on your skin. Prolonged contact with wet concrete can cause your skin to crack, and may even lead to eczema. Use undiluted white vinegar to wash dried concrete or mortar off your skin, then wash with warm, soapy water.

Remove paint fumes
Place a couple of shallow dishes filled with undiluted white vinegar around a freshly painted room to quickly get rid of the strong paint smell.

Degrease grates, fans, and air-conditioner grilles
Even in the cleanest of homes, air-conditioner grilles, heating grates, and fan blades eventually develop a layer of dust and grease. To clean them, wipe them with full-strength white vinegar. Use an old toothbrush to work the vinegar into the tight spaces on air-conditioner grilles and exhaust fans.

Disinfect air-conditioner and humidifier filters
An air-conditioner or humidifier filter can quickly become inundated with dust, soot, pet dander, and even potentially harmful bacteria. Every 10 days or so, clean your filter in equal parts white vinegar and warm water. Let the filter soak in the solution for an hour, then simply squeeze it dry before using. If your filters are particularly dirty, let them soak overnight.

Keep the paint on your cement floors
Painted cement floors have a tendency to peel after a while. But you can keep the paint stuck to the cement longer by giving the floor an initial coat of white vinegar before you paint it. Wait until the vinegar has dried, then begin painting. This same technique will also help keep paint affixed to galvanized metal.

Get rid of rust
If you want to clean up those rusted old tools you recently unearthed in your basement or picked up at a tag sale, soak them in full-strength white vinegar for several days. The same treatment is equally effective at removing the rust from corroded nuts and bolts. And you can pour vinegar on rusted hinges and screws to loosen them up for removal.

Peel off wallpaper
Removing old wallpaper can be messy, but you can make it peel off easily by soaking it with a vinegar solution. Spray equal parts white vinegar and water on the wallpaper until it is saturated and wait a few minutes. Then zip the stuff off the wall with a wallpaper scraper. If it is stubborn, try carefully scoring the wallpaper with the scraper before you spritz.

Slow hardening of plaster
Want to keep your plaster pliable a bit longer to get it all smoothed out? Just add a couple of tablespoons of white vinegar to your plaster mix. It will slow down the hardening process to give you the extra time you need.

Revive your paintbrushes
To remove dried-on paint from a synthetic-bristle paintbrush, soak it in full-strength white vinegar until the paint dissolves and the bristles are soft and pliable, then wash in hot, soapy water. Does a paintbrush seem beyond hope? Before you toss it, try boiling it in 1-2 cups vinegar for 10 minutes, followed by a thorough washing in soapy water.

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In the Great Outdoors

Clean outdoor furniture and decks
If you live in a hot, humid climate, you're probably no stranger to seeing mildew on your wooden decks and patio furniture. But before you reach for the bleach, try these milder vinegar-based solutions:

• Keep some full-strength white vinegar in a recycled spray bottle and use it wherever you see any mildew growth. The stain will wipe right off most surfaces, and the vinegar will keep it from coming back for a while.



• Remove mildew from wood decks and wood patio furniture by sponging them off with a solution of 1 cup ammonia, 1/2 cup white vinegar, and 1/4 cup baking soda mixed in 1 gallon (3.7 liters) water. Keep an old toothbrush on hand to work the solution into corners and other tight spaces.



• To deodorize and inhibit mildew growth on outdoor plastic mesh furniture and patio umbrellas, mix 2 cups white vinegar and 2 tablespoons liquid dish soap in a bucket of hot water. Use a soft brush to work it into the grooves of the plastic as well as for scrubbing seat pads and umbrella fabric. Rinse with cold water; then dry in the sun.

Make a trap to lure flying insects
Who wants to play host to a bunch of gnats, flies mosquitoes, or other six-legged pests when you're trying to have a cookout in your yard? Keep the flying gate-crashers at bay by giving them their own VIP section. Place a bowl filled with apple cider vinegar near some food, but away from you and guests. By the evening's end, most of your uninvited guests will be floating inside the bowl.

Give ants the boot
Serve the ants on your premises with an eviction notice. Pour equal parts water and white vinegar into a spray bottle. Then spray it on anthills and around areas where you see the insects. Ants hate the smell of vinegar. It won't take long for them to move on to better-smelling quarters. Also keep the spray bottle handy for outdoor trips or to keep ants away from picnic or children's play areas. If you have lots of anthills around your property, try pouring full-strength vinegar over them to hasten the bugs' departure.

Clean off bird droppings
Have the birds been using your patio or driveway for target practice again? Make those messy droppings disappear in no time by spraying them with full-strength apple cider vinegar. Or pour the vinegar onto a rag and wipe them off.

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Stop yellow leaves on plants
The sudden appearance of yellow leaves on plants accustomed to acidic soils-such as azaleas, hydrangeas, and gardenias-could signal a drop in the plant's iron intake or a shift in the ground's pH above a comfortable 5.0 level. Either problem can be resolved by watering the soil around the afflicted plants once a week for three weeks with 1 cup of a solution made by mixing 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar in 1 quart (1 liter) water.

Treat rust and other plant diseases
You can use vinegar to treat a host of plant diseases, including rust, black spot, and powdery mildew. Mix 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar in 2 quarts (2 liters) water, and pour some into a recycled spray bottle. Spray the solution on your affected plants in the morning or early evening (when temperatures are relatively cool and there's no direct light on the plant) until the condition is cured.

Clean your lawn mower blades
Grass, especially when it's damp, has a tendency to accumulate on your lawn mower blades after you cut the lawn -- sometimes with grubs or other insects hiding inside. Before you park your mower back in the garage or toolshed, wipe down the blades with a cloth dampened with undiluted white vinegar. It will clean off leftover grass on the blades, as well as any pests that may have been planning to hang out awhile.

Keep out four-legged creatures
Some animals -- including cats, deer, dogs, rabbits, and raccoons -- can't stand the scent of vinegar even after it has dried. You can keep these unauthorized visitors out of your garden by soaking several recycled rags in white vinegar, and placing them on stakes around your veggies. Resoak the rags about every 7-10 days.

Exterminate dandelions and unwanted grass
Are dandelions sprouting up in the cracks of your driveway or along the fringes of your patio? Make them disappear for good by spraying them with full-strength white or apple cider vinegar. Early in the season, give each plant a single spritz of vinegar in its midsection, or in the middle of the flower before the plants go to seed. Aim another shot near the stem at ground level so the vinegar can soak down to the roots. Keep an eye on the weather, though; if it rains the next day, you'll need to give the weeds another spraying.

Keep the kitties away
If you want to keep Snowball and Fluffy out of the kids' playroom, or discourage them from using your favorite easy chair as a scratching post, sprinkle some full-strength distilled white vinegar around the area or onto the object itself. Cats don't like the smell of vinegar and will avoid it.

Unmark your pet's spots
When housebreaking a puppy or kitten, it'll often wet previously soiled spots. After cleaning up the mess, it's essential to remove the scent from your floor, carpeting, or sofa. And nothing does that better than vinegar:

• On a floor, blot up as much of the stain as possible. Then mop with equal parts white vinegar and warm water. (On a wood or vinyl floor, test a few drops of vinegar in an inconspicuous area to make sure it won't harm the finish.) Dry with a cloth or paper towel.



• For carpets, rugs, and upholstery, thoroughly blot the area with a towel or some rags. Then pour a bit of undiluted vinegar over the spot. Blot it up with a towel, then reapply the vinegar-let it air-dry. Once the vinegar dries, the spot should be completely deodorized.

Add to pet's drinking water
Adding a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to your dog or cat's drinking water provides needed nutrients to its diet, gives it a shinier, healthier-looking coat, and acts as a natural deterrent to fleas and ticks.

Directly protect against fleas and ticks
To give your dog effective flea and tick protection, fill a spray bottle with equal parts water and vinegar and apply it directly to the dog's coat and rub it in well. You may have more trouble doing this with cats, because they really hate the smell of the stuff.

Clean your pet's ears
If you've noticed that Rover has been scratching around his ears a lot more than usual lately, a bit of vinegar could bring him some big relief. Swabbing your pet's ears with a cotton ball or soft cloth dabbed in solution of 2 parts vinegar and 1 part water will keep them clean and help deter ear mites and bacteria. It also soothes minor itches from mosquito bites and such. Warning: Do not apply vinegar to open lacerations. If you see a cut in your pet's ears, seek veterinary treatment.

Remove skunk odor
If Fido has an unpleasant encounter with an ornery skunk, here are some ways to help him get rid of the smell:

• Bathe your pet in a mixture of 1/2 cup white vinegar, 1/4 cup baking soda, and 1 teaspoon liquid soap in 1 quart (1 liter) 3% hydrogen peroxide. Work the solution deep into his coat, give it a few minutes to soak in, then rinse him thoroughly with clean water.



• Bathe your pet in equal parts water and vinegar (preferably outdoors in a large washtub). Then repeat the procedure using 1 part vinegar to 2 parts water, followed by a good rinsing.



• If you happen to have an unscheduled meeting with skunk, use undiluted vinegar to get the smell out your own clothes. Let the affected clothing soak in the vinegar overnight.

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For Pets and In the Garden

Test soil acidity or alkalinity
To do a quick test for excess alkalinity in the soil in your yard, place a handful of earth in a container and then pour in 1/2 cup white vinegar. If the soil fizzes or bubbles, it's definitely alkaline. Similarly, to see if your soil has a high acidity, mix the earth with 1/2 cup water and 1/2 cup baking soda. This time, fizzing would indicate acid in the soil. To find the exact pH level of your soil, have it tested or pick up a simple, do-it-yourself kit or meter.

Clean a hummingbird feeder
Hummingbirds are innately discriminating creatures, so don't expect to see them flocking around a dirty, sticky, or crusted-over sugar-water feeder. Regularly clean your feeders by thoroughly washing them in equal parts apple cider vinegar and hot water. Rinse well with cold water after washing, and air-dry them outdoors in full sunlight before refilling them with food.

Speed germination of flower seed
You can get woody seeds, such as moonflower, passionflower, morning glory, and gourds, off to a healthier start by scarifying them-that is, lightly rubbing them between a couple of sheets of fine sandpaper-and soaking them overnight in a solution of 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar and 1 pint (half liter) warm water. Next morning, remove the seeds from the solution, rinse them off, and plant them. You can also use the solution (minus the sandpaper treatment) to start many herb and vegetable seeds.

Keep cut flowers fresh
Everyone likes to keep cut flowers around as long as possible, and there are several good methods. One way is to mix 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar and 2 tablespoons sugar with the vase water before adding the flowers. Be sure to change the water (with more vinegar and sugar, of course) every few days to enhance your flowers' longevity.

Wipe away mealybugs
They're among the most insidious and common pests on both houseplants and in the garden. But you can nip a mealybug invasion in the bud by dabbing the insects with a cotton swab dipped in full-strength white vinegar. You may need to use a handful of swabs, but the vinegar will kill the fluffy monsters and any eggs left behind. Be vigilant for missed targets, and break out more vinegar-soaked swabs if you spot bugs.

Eliminate insects around the garden
If the bugs are feasting on the fruits and vegetables in your garden, give them the boot with this simple, nonpoisonous trap. Fill a 2-liter soda bottle with 1 cup apple cider vinegar and 1 cup sugar. Next, slice up a banana peel into small pieces, put them in the bottle, add 1 cup cold water, and shake it up. Tie a piece of string around the neck of the bottle and hang it from a low tree branch, or place it on the ground, to trap and kill the six-legged freeloaders. Replace used traps with new ones as needed.

Encourage blooms on azaleas and gardenias
A little bit of acid goes a long way toward bringing out the blooms on your azalea and gardenia bushes -- especially if you have hard water. Both bushes do best in acidic soils (with pH levels between 4 and 5.5). To keep them healthy and to produce more flowers, water them every week or so with 3 tablespoons white vinegar mixed in 1 gallon (3.7 liters) water. Don't apply the solution while the bush is in bloom, however; it may shorten the life of the flowers or harm the plant.

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