MAKE A NOTE!! -- December 1st, 1999

CIRCULATION - 2,223+ A Free Twice Monthly Ezine with (Hopefully) Useful Information on a Wide Variety of Topics

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In This Issue:

	Holiday Fruits and How to Pick Them
	Contests/Drawings
	Free Purina Cat Wall Calendar
	Saving Postage Money w/Book Rate
	Free Encyclopedias Online
	Great Cold Punch Recipe
	Back Issue Treasure: More Recipe Info
	Joke, Quote, Feedback, Subscription Info

NOTE: Each entry has a suggested "POST IT..." location at the end. We recommend that you print out the ezine, cut out each entry, & post it at these locations to make it easier to find when you need it. And if you like what you read, be sure to pass it on to others to check out too.

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HOLIDAY FRUITS AND HOW TO PICK THEM

Many of us give gift baskets of fruit for the holidays. Ever wondered how to pick the fruit that is more likely to be sweet & juicy? First of all a little hint for cooking with raisins/craisins, after you measure out the amount that you need for the recipe, cover them with warm water & let them sit a bit till they plump up. This will help your raisin/craisin recipes to turn out even tastier. Navel Oranges - Usually the sweetest are the ones with the biggest navels. All Oranges - Usually those w/brown spots are a little sweeter. Grapefruit - Look for those w/thin skin, avoid those with pointed ends, or rough/wrinkled ones. Lemons - Look for smooth skin & smallest points on ends. Granny Smith Apples - One of my favorites, and one that many don't think of to snack on. But if you like your apples tart and sweet, give them a try. They are usually cheaper than the red ones, and have less pesticide residue, because less is needed on green apples. Look for the large ones with a slightly white mottling/specks and a light green color. Berries - Check bottom of container for stains, squashed or moldy fruit, and do not buy if you see these things. Cantaloupe - Look for those that are yellow-green or creamy yellow in color, the "belly button" should be slightly soft, but NOT the whole fruit. It should smell nice and if it is really ripe you can hear the seeds rattle inside when you shake it. Other Melons - Most other melons will have a slightly hollow sound when "thunked" with your finger. POST IT...with your grocery coupons.

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CONTESTS/DRAWINGS

At this time of year especially, it is difficult to walk a grocery aisle without seeing a box for a contest. So why not give them a try. Now I am not advocating spending money of any kind, or even using a stamp, to enter any contests. But the ones in the grocery stores, and sometimes by phone or web site, can be entered very easily with no money required. And someone has to win those contests! Over the years I have entered grocery store contests and have won a huge turkey, ice chest, thermos, electric ice cream freezer, a lunch box, some coupons for free items, and most recently a $50 shopping spree (this one through a Nabisco 800 number contest). In the case of the turkey, they were supposed to be having a drawing at the store, but I couldn't find a box and it was 2 days before the drawing. Turns out they didn't have one up, so they got one out for me, but they put it up high on a display where it wasn't real obvious, so I think I may have won because I was the only entry. Doesn't hurt to ask. One way to make it easier is to take some return address labels (or ink stamper) with you to the store. You can purchase 1000 labels for less than $5 through Walter Drake catalog. That way you can just stick the label on & not take any time at all to write the entry. Another person once recommended folding your paper entries fan style, because they tend to take up more space & are more likely to be pulled. Maybe the next winner could be you! POST IT...with your grocery coupons.

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FREE PURINA CAT WALL CALENDAR

Well, this is the first year they aren't doing a dog one too, but they are nice calendars with pictures of celebrities and their cats. You can request it at http://206.31.111.100/checkmark/catchow/calendar.htm There are so many companies that give out calendars & date books free, look around before you buy. POST IT...by your computer.

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SAVING POSTAGE MONEY W/BOOK RATE

This is also known as Library Rate, or Special 4th Class Book Rate. If you are mailing books, videos, CD's, cassettes, computer software, this is all considered to be Book Rate material and you can mail it significantly cheaper than 1st or even 2nd class. First Class will cost you 33 cents for the first ounce and 22 cents for each additional. Book Rate costs you $1.24 for the first pound (yes, POUND) or less, and then 50 cents for each additional pound after that (Remember anything 1 pound or over must now be mailed from the post office). There is not supposed to be any letters in with the book rate material, but if you wish to include a letter, just tack on an extra 33 cent stamp and that is acceptable. In my experience it only takes a day or 2 longer to get where it is going. Just by buying this type of thing as a gift you may save a mint on postage. And save yourself some trips to the post office, or wasted stamps, buy a little mail scale at an office supply store, they usually can be found for $15 or less & just think of the time saved waiting in line at the post office. And don't forget to order those stamps by mail too (Can you tell how much I LOVE going to the post office at this time of year?:)). POST IT...with your stamps.

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FREE ENCYCLOPEDIAS ONLINE

Well, now that the brouhaha over at Britannica has calmed down a bit, I thought you might be interested in the sites with free encyclopedias online. No, Britannica isn't the only kid on the block. You can check Britannica out at http://www.britannica.com But there are also the following sites free of charge...http://www.optonline.com/comptons/index.html , http://www.funkandwagnalls.com/ , and http://www.uwstout.edu/lib/reference/encycl.htm . The latter site is a huge list of links to other encyclopedias and other helpful reference books. POST IT...by your computer.

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GREAT COLD PUNCH RECIPE

For all those holiday parties, here is a yummy recipe for punch. I had forgotten all about it, until my friend Monica wrote to ask for it, and she had remembered it from over 10 yrs ago!:) Take 2 - 12oz cans of frozen cranberry juice concentrate, 1 - 12oz can frozen lemonade concentrate, 1 - 12oz can frozen apple juice concentrate, then add 9 - 12oz cans of regular (lemon-lime) Slice soda. If you have trouble finding Slice you could probably do it with Ginger Ale, maybe Sprite, but I think 7up would make it too sweet. And if you are looking for an easy hot drink, try McCormick's Spiced Cider. They are sold only at this time of year in a box with envelopes that make a cup. If you want to fancy them up a bit, you can always add a stick of cinnamon or some whole allspice or cloves. POST IT...on your shopping list/in your recipe box.

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BACK ISSUE TREASURE: MORE RECIPE INFO

Looking for something different to give this year. What about Cakes or Breads in Jars? Yes, in JARS. Check out the September 15th, 1998 back issue for an article on Kaylin Cherry's great site with recipes to make in jars (and other recipes too). PLEASE NOTE THAT THE WEB SITE ADDRESS HAS CHANGED FOR THE CAKES IN JARS...IT SHOULD READ http://www.realfood4realpeople.com For those of you on Juno the article also has info about a recipe a day by email. This back issue also has suggestions for clearing out your recipe box (no, it doesn't have to have recipes sticking out every which way :)), Mix N Match recipes from Debi Taylor-Hough of Simple Living, a Nancy Drew mystery web site, and much more. To request this back issue, send an email to make-a-note-issues@x... and in the subject or body of the message, type in MAN-003 and you should receive the issue promptly. POST IT...by your computer.

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JOKE (FROM Glory G.)

One day, a little girl was sitting watching her mother do dishes at the sink. She suddenly notices that her mother has several strands of white hair sticking out in contrast with her brunette head. She looks at her mother & asks, "Why are some of your hairs white, Mom?" Her mother replies, "Well, every time that you do something wrong & make me cry or unhappy, one of my hairs turns white." The girl thought for a moment, and said, "Momma, how come ALL of grandma's hairs are white?"

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QUOTE "If doctors stop assuming that patients know nothing, patients will stop assuming that doctors know everything. Perhaps then we can enjoy a relationship that is collaborative, not combative." Daniel Davies "Trust Me, I'm a Patient" Jabs & Jibes The Lancet (Nov. 20th, 1999 Issue) (Read the whole article, which was very amusing, by going to http://www.thelancet.com/newlancet/reg/issues/vol354no9192/body.jabs1832.htm l )

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FEEDBACK-FEEDBACK-FEEDBACK

RE: Gift Baskets (11/15/99 Issue) From Balinda in Ohio "I just had to tell you a story about a gift basket that I received from my sister a few years back. I grew up in Louisiana, but moved away to Ohio, when I was first married 15 yrs ago. In that time, I've lost my Mom & Dad and miss them a lot. My sister, who lives in Louisiana, decided to send me a gift basket (w/Louisiana products), & I cried when I opened it. Inside this basket was a "Cajun" plaque for my kitchen wall, Cajun spices, some recipes and...this is why I cried, a package of Seaport coffee. Now, you may think I am a little sentimental, but when I saw that package of Seaport coffee, memories of my Dad & Mom flooded my senses. I woke up every morning of my childhood to the smell of that strong smell....Anyway, I'm writing to tell, that gift baskets are a great idea for people away from "home", as you stated in your newsletter. I loved mine, that's for sure. I'm making some this year for others that I know too. Thanks again for spending time to do this wonderful newsletter."

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Enjoy the season, and let's not forget the greatest gift of all, a Child sent for us.

God Bless,

Sharon

Editor, Make a Note

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