Translucent Skin and how Blue am I?

I get reminded quite often that I looked tired and I have very dark blue veins under my eyes. Heck, I've even had someone who wanted to give me a "spit-wash" so that they could wipe the blue away thinking I had smudged my mascara (yes, they are that "profound") and I have to say that I really do hate how they look.  I have had people ask me what kind of drugs I was on and noticeably this came at a job interview when they were adamant that it was obvious that I had taken something. I get irritated with the constant remarks but try to do my best to cover them up to really no avail unless I get out the dermablend and really putty it on. And even then it does not cover them.

I wish there was a way for them to be removed permanently but wouldn't know where to look. I dd go to a vein clinic about 20 years ago and they told me there was nothing I can do and that was it. Sad that this is the case, I thought that I would just write a little post and see if anyone ever has had this problem and how to cover them up without appearing to have put on 100 layers of gummy coverup. Please note I've tried the green and yellow and even salmon colored even tone kits and they don't work so any suggestions?

WANTED: A Kidney For a Sister: Please read and Share

Okay, well I'm posting this in the hopes of helping a family that I don't know, who have a Sister,that is gravely ill with Kidney Disease. I was not aware of this person until about 15 minutes ago and her Sister has resorted to walking around town putting up posters to find a Kidney donor for her.  This is terribly sad, they lost their Father to the same disease and I know what it is like to feel helpless and watching your Loved ones slip away while you can do nothing but watch.

Please read this article, please think about being a donor. I know that both Beryl and Edith would be eternally grateful.

http://globalnews.ca/news/1223496/ladner-woman-resorts-to-putting-up-posters-to-find-kidney-donor-for-her-sister/

Easy To Make Caramel Sauce

About 3 weeks ago, I hit a craving for something sweet and since I am mandated to eat at least 2 apples a day, I went shopping at the store to find some caramel sauce in a plastic container, the price $4.00 for about 1.5 cups! Everyone knows that I don't like processed food and after scanning the ingredients I was reminded of a childhood memory of making toffee at home with my Mom.  I had so forgotten this time, and I was probably about 7 years old when we would just go in the kitchen and make it. And after a few times, I made it on my own even at such a young age. However I hadn't done that in years.

I did do a quick search on the net but found that people seemed to have problem with it not turning "amber" colored or too thin, either way, here's mine.  Please note that I did put a little lemon juice in mine right at the start, don't use concentrate though. No thermometer? No problem. You should be able to stand and watch over it.

Here's the start:

1 Cup of Sugar

Sugar, Water & Lemon Juice

1Tablespoon of Fresh Lemon Juice 
1/4 Cup of Water.

And get ready:

2 Tablespoons of Butter (You can substitute Coconut Oil)
3/4 Cup of Whipping Cream or Heavy Cream.

Get a heavy saucepan, I used the bottom part of a pressure cooker, but anything will do, just remember if your pot is not heavy your going to really have to watch the temperature.

Pour in your Sugar, add the Water and the Lemon Juice. You want the Sugar to be saturated with the Water, you may stir slightly to mix it together, but don't stir it up onto the sides.


You need to turn up the temperate to Medium-High and have a Wooden Spoon handy along with, if you have one, a Pastry Brush. Get the Pastry Brush wet to wipe the sides if you happen to get some crystallization on the sides if you accidentally stir the sauce while it is cooking.  The big key here is Do Not Stir, you may initially sweep it together to get the sugar soaked but after it starts cooking, patience is a virtue.

The mixture will slowly come to a rolling boil, do not leave it unattended because it is a timing thing, and it is dangerous because it is so hot. When it comes to a full bubble, simply keep your eye on it, you may from time to time push the wooden spoon through it but again, no stirring.  I didn't time it other than to say that it took about 8 minutes to get to this point of boiling.
Take a look at this video:

I did turn it down a little to medium heat at this point, I watched to make sure it was still bubbling.
Remember that you need to really watch it, as I found that every recipe I looked at said it was under 10 minutes from start to finish, this was not the case when I made it.    You should notice that at first the bubbles are small and rapid forming. As it cooks it, the forming slows down and you will see it start to form froth on the top, like these pics:

TheBeginning

 You should see something like this on the left. Notice how small and the amount of bubbles is extensive. A good start.

And here to the right is a picture of it after about 5 minutes. This shows it starting to turn Amber. The bubbling will slow and you'll notice more froth building on the top, remember to just pull a wooden spoon through it if you want, but don't stir.




And finally after about another 4 or 5 minutes, the color has deepened. This is where you have to take it off the stove and add your Butter.

Dark Amber Slow Rolling Froth

At this point, I removed it from the heat and added the Butter, you can use Coconut Oil if you want, and that may give it an interesting flavour that is lovely too.

 

Last, you must pour your cream into the mix, stir quickly, I used a whisk to do mine with, I found that initially it lumped just a little but after a few moments it melted all down to the final product.

 And then you do what I do, bottle it up and give it away, there's nothing like getting a bottle of this. They will remember you.!

A little note: The sauce is not all that thick at the end, however it needs to cool and you may transfer it to containers. It must be refrigerated and will thicken up once it gets cold.

Sour Faced Over the Price Of Lemons!

One of the cheapest ways to give your body a little cleanse and a boost is to have a little Lemon in your water, not so much any more, and not because there is a Lemon shortage, it is because of the price.  We all notice when the cost of Gas and Food does start to creep up and yes, there is gauging and price fixing that occurs and the public is well aware of it. But I seriously wondered what would drive up the cost of a Lemon close to 100% in less than one week!  I took a look around local stores such as Walmart; Save-On Foods; Safeway; Buy-Low and Kin's Market and they are all the same.  Maybe it's something to do with the price of Fuel that has increased however even that has seemed to plateau for now, maybe it has something to do with the fact we have a Truck Driver strike at the Vancouver Docks right now. Who knows. Ever try asking anyone at the store if they know why? They won't be able to tell you from what I found. 

For people on fixed income this is a nightmare as they have always struggled with trying to have enough money to actually buy Food and whether it is fair or unfair, with no explanation that I could find that made sense, it would appear that they increase the prices based on other factors. Manufacturer's of all kinds of products love to create false shortages in order to drive the price up and Grocer's are no different. 

I am truly a little sour-faced over this but feel helpless. I did stop buying Lemons since they are now out of my budget and that's okay too, I just wonder about the other Food that I consume because it also appears that there is no end in sight to the rising cost on a quick basis. 

I am one of those that is seriously trying to eat healthy, I try to buy as much locally but even those prices, like Apples from the Okanagan, is getting to the price where I cannot justify to part with my money. I wish I had some way to grow my own food but where I live, there is no place to even do that.  The most I can do is gather blackberries at the sides of the highways when they are in season and worry that even those will be fenced off soon enough and cut down.

There used to be simple items such as rice or bread as a staple in their cupboards but even these items are now out of reach for those in my situation. Interesting to live in a country that is not third world by any means yet a majority of people can not afford to eat healthy.

Just my thoughts today. If you feel the same way, make a comment. 

Jack - No North Left

Interesting Sound!