Wisdom from Mrs. Dunwoody

Notes for Planning a Superior Day:

• Make a plan for your day.  Start with a general schedule with particular emphasis on 2 or 3 major things to accomplish--including things that will achieve long-term goals.  Each day should have a destination.
• Concentrate.  Don't get distracted, even if it's just for 15 minutes.
• Learn to rest and catch your breath. 
• Don't procrastinate.  It is the thief of time.  Do the most unpleasant thing first, before you begin the usual morning routine.  Emerson said, "Guard well your spare moments.  They are like uncut diamonds.  Discard them and their value will never be known.  Improve them and they will become the bightest gems in a useful life."
• Sift and sort.  Categorize.  Prioritize. "Is this the MOST important thing that needs doing right now?"  If not, then do the thing that is.
• Stive for excellence, not perfection. 
• Never lose sight of the "big picture."  Take it minute by minute, wisely, and you will succeed.  Don't borrow trouble from tomorrow.

Household Tips:

• Rub a few drops of vanilla extract on the outer edge of a cast-iron stove.  When warmed, the pleasant scent is released.
• When working outside with water in the wintertime (like wet clothes), wet your hands with vinegar and rub it in before going outside.  Be sure they are dry before venturing out.  This will prevent chapping.
• Putting cornstarch on your hands and rubbing in will help prevent splitting skin in the cold, dry air.
• Vinegar and water will rmove salt stains from shoes.
• When frying, always get you rpan hot first, then add your butter or oil.  Meat and eggs won't stick.
• Dip spoon in hot water before measuring butter or shortening to make it slip out.
• Place spare sprigs of fresh herbs directly on the oven rack toward the end of the baking or roasting time.  The aroma will stimulate tastebuds.
• Soak oranges in boiling water for 5 minutes before peeling them to aid in removing the white membrane.
• Store tomatoes with stems pointed down and they will stay fresh longer.
• Potatoes soaked in salted water for 20 minutes before baking will bake more rapidly.
• Add a little milk to the water in which cauliflower is cooking to help it remain white.

Recipes:
Southern Baking Powder Biscuits
1 C flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. sugar
2 tsp. b. pow.
2 rounded T shortening
milk (about 1/3 cup)

Preheat oven to 400.  Sift dry ingredients together.  Work in shortening with hands.  Add enough milk to make soft dough.  Knead until smooth.  roll out and cut.  Bake for 15 minutes.

Bride's Biscuits (Known to have saved many a marriage!)

1/2 C butter, softened
3 oz. cream cheese
1 C flour
spoonful of love

Blend together the butter and cheese.  Mix in flour an dknead with love to make a dough.  Roll out on floured board and cut with small cutter.  Bake in 350 oven until lightly brown and puffy, about 12 to 15 mintues.  Serve hot with a kiss.

To Determine Cooking Temperature by Hand

Seconds counted, Heat, Temperature:

6-8; Slow; 250-350
4-5; Moderate; 350-400
2-3; Hot; 400-450
1 or less; Very Hot; 450-500

Health Aids:

• Constipation: Drink a tall glass of hot water before breakfast.
• Heartburn: Add a T of ACV to a glass of water and sip while eating.
• Heartburn: Add 1 tsp. of lemon juice to half glass of water and drink.