Chapter 11

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• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 6 medium white onions, sliced
• 8 cups good quality beef broth
• 1 cup water
• 2 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 5 hamburger buns
• 10 slices provolone cheese
• 10 teaspoons shredded parmesan cheese
  
  
• Heat vegetable oil in a large soup pot or saucepan over medium high heat. Add the sliced onions and saute for 20 minutes until the onions begin to soften and start to become translucent. Add the beef broth, water, salt, garlic powder and black pepper to the pan and bring the mixture to a boil. When soup begins to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 45 minutes.
  
  
• To make the croutons, separate the bottoms from tops of the hamburger buns. Set aside the bottoms, and cut the crown of the tops to make them the same size and shape as the bottoms. This gives you 10 BIG croutons. Preheat oven to 325F. Place the bread in the the oven directly on the rack and bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until each piece is golden brown and crispy. Set aside.
  
  
• When the soup is done, spoon about 1 cup into an oven-safe bowl. Float a crouton on top of the soup, then place a slice of provolone cheese on top of the crouton. Sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon of shredded parmesan cheese over the provolone. Place the bowl into your oven set to high broil. Broil the soup for 5 to 6 minutes or until the cheese is melted and starting to brown (you may need to broil longer if you are making more than one bowl at a time). Sprinkle an additional 1/2 teaspoon of shredded parmesan cheese over the top of the soup and serve. Repeat for the remaining bowls.

If an intruder were to invade your home for example, would you have a place to retreat to and secure yourself into?

What about your valuables? Do you have a place in your home to hide your valuables from criminals? They can’t steal what they can’t find!

So, how do you hide a safe room from criminals in order to protect your family and valuables? You need a concealed or “hidden” door!

How about a “Bookcase Hidden Door” that is a real bookcase and functions as a door! You just push it open and disappear inside!

A hidden safe room is a great way to protect your family and valuables and right now there are several hidden doors available through the internet for you to purchase and install yourself!

Here are a few uses for a safe room/closet:

- Safe closet (lower external slide lock allows entrance by children or adults)

- Secure Gun Closet (top lock for adults prevents children from opening closet)

-Jewelry Storage closet

-Hidden entrance into basement

-First floor to second floor hidden stare case

-Two bookcase hidden-doors can be installed on either side of the safe closet to allow you to slip from room to room.

-Partition walls can be used to create the safe closet or safe room. For example: A false wall can be built across a room and a series of bookcases (sold separately) can be installed with only one bookcase serving as a hidden entrance into the hidden room.

Elite Carpentry is one maker of a quality Bookcase Hidden Door that is designed to hold up to 200 lbs and function as a door. Moreover, it's on SALE!

E-mail: Info@EliteCarpentry.com
Author's URL: http://www.elitecarpentry.com/
Master Carpenter IdeaMarketers - http://www.ideamarketers.com/

1. A Feast for Our Feathered Friends
   

   Even the dreariest of winters can be brightened by the appearance of a scarlet cardinal or other colorful bird at your window! You can easily set up a bird feeding station by purchasing a feeder and basic wild bird seed mix at most local hardware, landscaping and discount stores in this area. Or you can go to a specialty store like Wild Wings Nature Store in Hidenwood Shopping Center which carries a wide variety of feeders, baths, seeds, literature and other items to set up the perfect "diner" for your feathered friends. Be creative! Things from your kitchen like baked goods, corn, table scraps, buttermilk, cream cheese, peanut butter, dog biscuits, apple or orange slices, and nutmeats are also good food sources.
   

   It is important to provide your birds with water. All animals needs fresh water! Above all, once you start feeding the birds, don't stop! Birds will rely on your feeder as a regular stop on their luncheon route!
   

   Clean your feeder and bath often. Diseases can be easily spread if you are not careful. One of our most common area birds, the house finch, is currently suffering from a disease called "finch pox" which causes the birds to go blind and eventually starve.
   
   

2. Making Your Holiday and Winter Season Safe For Your Pet
   
   The holidays and winter pose special risks to pets. Give your pet a safer, healthier, cold weather season by following these tips:
   • Keep indoor pets in a dry, warm area, free of drafts. Elevate your pet's bed off the floor.
     
   • Provide outdoor dogs or cats with a dry, insulated pet house or shelter out of the wind. Make sure your dogs house is no larger than 3 times his size and is approximately 4 inches off the ground to provide insulation. Staying warm demands extra calories, so feed your pet accordingly when temperatures drop. Bring your pet inside if the wind chill or other weather conditions become severe.
     
   • Remove ice, salt and caked mud from your pet's paws and coat at once. Contact your veterinarian immediately if you suspect your pet has frostbite. Frostbitten skin may turn reddish, white or gray, and it may be scaly or sloughing.
     
   • Cats and kittens often nap on car engines. Knock on the hood or honk the horn; then wait a few minutes before starting the car.
     
   • Pets like the smell and taste of antifreeze, but even a small amount can kill them. Thoroughly clean up spills at once. Tightly close containers and store them where pets cannot get to them. Or switch to the pet-safe and environmentally safe antifreeze, Sierra.
     
   • Never let your dog off the leash during a snow storm as it cannot easily retrace its scent over snow or ice and may become lost.
     
   • Holiday paraphernalia can hurt pets. Cover or tack down electrical cords. Keep tinsel and glass ornaments out of reach. Read warnings on items like spray-on snow. Never put ribbon around a pet's neck or allow it to play with plastic or foil wrappings or six-pack beverage holders. Keep burning candles out of your pets reach. And just in case kitty tries some Tarzan-like antics, fasten your holiday tree securely to a window ledge or other secure area.
     
   • Keep your pet on its regular diet. Holiday treats, such as chocolate and bones can be toxic and harmful.
     
   • Many plants - including Christmas rose, holly, mistletoe, philodendron and dieffenbachia are toxic to pets. Keep them out of your pet's reach.
     
   • Always have fresh, clean water available.

Basil Mayonnaise
This wonderful mayonnaise can be used for burgers, sandwiches, or to coat chicken before roasting.
• Ingredients:
• 1 cup loosely packed basil leaves
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
• Blend in food processor or blender until smooth.

Basil and Tomato Bruschetta

• Ingredients:
• 12 pieces crusty Italian Bread, 1 inch thick
• 1/3 to 1/2 cup olive oil
• 2 large, ripe tomatoes, peeled, seeded and diced
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano
• 24-36 basil leaves, torn into small pieces
• 12 garlic cloves, peeled, and cut in half lengthwise
• salt and pepper
• Toast bread over a grill or a very hot oven of 425 degrees. Brown on both sides. Remove and brush with oil. In a bowl combine tomatoes, oregano and basil. Place cloves in separate bowl. Serve bread warm and rub garlic cloves on bread, top with mixture and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• I also sprinkle and with parmesan cheese and put under the broiler for just a minute to heat top.

Basil Puree

• Ingredients:
• 4 tablespoons olive oil
• 8 cups washed and dried basil leaves
• Blend until pureed. Transfer to clean jar. Store in refrigerator. Each time you use it stir and then top with a thin layer of oil. It will keep one year by doing this. This is good on grilled chicken or fish, stirred into soups or mixed with sun dried tomatoes and broiled on bread.

Walnut and Basil Paste

• Ingredients:
• 1 cup lightly packed fresh basil leaves
• 3 cloves garlic, peeled
• 3/4 cup walnut pieces
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 teaspoons red wine or herb vinegar
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• Place the basil in the work bowl of a food processor. With the motor running, drop in the garlic and process until basil and garlic are finely chopped about 15 seconds. Add the nuts, cheese, vinegar and oil. Process to make a rough paste, about 20 seconds. Smear evenly onto poultry, fish or vegetables just before grilling. Makes enough for about 2 pounds of poultry or fish.

Basil Butter

• 1 stick butter, softened
• 1 or 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp. lemon juice
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• pepper to taste
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped basil
• Cream butter, beat in garlic and lemon juice. Mash in basil; season with salt and pepper. Place bowl in refrigerator to firm butter. For a nice, simple appetizer use room temperature butter on grilled pieces of baguette or French bread.