Recipe: BLACK FOREST PANCAKES

BLACK FOREST PANCAKES
Makes 14 pancakes

For the Pancakes:
3 C instant pancake mix*
6 T cocoa
3 T sugar
2 ¼ C water
Stir ingredients together in mixing bowl.
*(We prefer to use Krusteaz brand)

Combine ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
Pour by ¼ C onto hot, greased griddle.
Cook until bubbles form, then turn and finish cooking.
For the Cherry Sauce:
1 can cherries
¼ C sugar
2 T cornstarch
2 T brandy
1 t almond extract
Drain cherries reserving liquid.
Add enough water to liquid to make one cup liquid.
Pour liquid into medium saucepan and add sugar and cornstarch.
Bring to a boil stirring continuously. Boil for one minute or until thickened then remove from heat.
Stir in drained cherries, Brandy and almond extract.
Serve warm.


For the Cream:
(This should be made in advance and allowed to chill)
1 C whipping cream
8 oz. Cream cheese, softened
1 t vanilla
Using a food processor, of mixed whip ingredients until thoroughly mixed. Chill.

To assemble the Black Forest Pancakes:
Plate pancakes, top with Cherry sauce and add a dollop of cream.
You can then garnish with chocolate shaving, chocolate sprinkles or as we do here, Valentine sprinkles.

Shampoo tips

Shampoo
In a blender, combine 1 ounce olive oil, 1 egg, 1 tablespoon lemon juice,
and 1/2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar. Use as regular shampoo. Rub dry baking soda into wet hair and rinse. Also good for dandruff.
• Baking soda removes conditioner build-up from your hair. Rub in and rinse
thoroughly, then shampoo with your regular shampoo.
Hair Rinses
• To give your hair a great shine and help remove soap build up:
• Blondes: Add a couple of tablespoons of lemon juice to your rinse water.
• Brunettes and Redheads: Add a couple of tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to
your rinse water.
Hair Setting Lotions
• Try dissolving a teaspoon of gelatin in a cup of warm water and use this as a
setting lotion before styling hair. You can use this as a liquid or chill it and use it as a gel.
• Dissolve 1 teaspoon sugar in 1 cup warm water and apply to damp hair before
styling.

Bath Tips

Bath tips
• Herbal: Place approximately 8 herbal tea bags of your choice into a small amount
of very hot water in your bathtub. Steep about 10 minutes, then remove tea bags
and add the remaining bath water.
• Dissolve 1/2 cup baking soda in a tubful of warm water for a relaxing bath that will also help clean and soften your skin.
• Dissolve 8 ounces sea salt in your bath water and add 2 tablespoon vegetable oil.
Soak for up to 20 minutes.
• Add 1/2 pint of cider vinegar to your bath water to help restore the pH balance of
your skin. This will also help your skin become softer and less dry.
• Milk and honey: Dissolve 1 cup honey in 1 cup boiling water, and add 2 cups
milk. Dissolve 1/2 cup sea salt and 2 teaspoons baking soda in bath water first,
and then add honey and milk mixture.

Facial Scrubs and Masks

Facial Scrubs and Masks
• Make a paste from a little oatmeal and water. Apply to face and allow to dry. Gently wipe off with a damp wash cloth.
• Mash 1/2 banana and add 1 tablespoon honey and 2 tablespoons sour cream. Apply to face and let set for about 10 minutes. Gently wipe off with a damp wash cloth.
• Two tablespoons of cornmeal mixed with enough water to make a thick paste
makes a great inexpensive facial mask. Gently apply to face and wash off.
• In a food processor or blender, combine 1/2 cucumber, 1 tablespoon yogurt, a few
strawberries, and 1 teaspoon honey. Apply to face and allow to dry. Gently wipe
off with a damp wash cloth.
• Grind 1 tablespoon almonds into a fine meal in a blender or food processor. Mix
almond meal together with 1 tablespoon honey and 1 egg white. Apply to face and
let set for about 15 minutes. Gently wipe off with a damp wash cloth.
• To loosen blackheads, combine equal parts baking soda and water in your hand
and rub gently on your skin for 2 to 3 minutes. Rinse with warm water.
• Mash half of an avocado and apply to entire face. Let set for about 20 minutes and
then gently wipe off with a damp wash cloth.
• Soak 1 cup dried apricots in water until softened. Puree in blender or
food processor with 2 tablespoons skim milk powder. Apply to face and let set about 15 minutes. Gently wipe off with a damp wash cloth.
• Puree 1/2 peeled, sliced cucumber in a blender or food processor and add 1
tablespoon yogurt. Apply to face and let set about 20 minutes. Gently wipe off
with a damp wash cloth.
• Crush a handful of strawberries and mix well with 1 teaspoon honey. Apply to
face and let set for about 15 minutes. Gently wipe off with a damp wash cloth.
• Mix 1 1/2 teaspoons honey, the juice from 1/2 of a lemon, and 1 small carton plain
yogurt. Stir in 1 whipped egg white. Apply to face and let set about 15 minutes.
Gently wipe off with a damp wash cloth.

Home Beauty Tips

• Beat 2 eggs in a chilled bowl. Continue to beat while slowly adding 1 cup of olive
or vegetable oil. When the mixture begins to thicken, add 1 tablespoon lemon
juice or 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar. Keep refrigerated. Use as you would a
regular moisturizer.
Skin Cleansers
• Sprinkle baking soda on a damp wash cloth and use it to gently scrub your body
while showering. The baking soda will help neutralize odors and smooth and
soften your skin.
• Before bathing, make a paste of sea salt and water and apply to rough, flaky areas
of your body (elbows, heels). Rinse and pat dry after bathing.
• Whipped, unsalted sweet butter makes a great cleansing cream.
• Massage a few drops of vegetable oil into your skin, and then gently wipe off with
a dry wash cloth. Dampen skin and then apply a thin coating of plain yogurt. Rinse.
• A small amount of mayonnaise rubbed into your skin will help dead skin cells
flake right off.
• After bathing, dust underarm with baking soda to help control odors.

Jokes

1. A burglar broke into the house of a Quaker in the middle of the night
and started to rob it.

The Quaker heard the noise and went downstairs with his shotgun.

When he found the burglar he pointed his gun at him and said most
gently, "Friend, I mean thee no harm, but thou standest where I am
about to shoot!"


2. Joe's wife bought a new line of expensive cosmetics guaranteed to
make her look years younger.

After a lengthy sitting before the mirror applying the "miracle"
products, she asked, "Darling, honestly, what age would you say I am?"

Looking over her carefully, Joe replied, "Judging from your skin,
twenty; your hair, eighteen; and your figure, twenty five."

"Oh, you flatterer!" she gushed.

"Hey, wait a minute!" Joe interrupted. "I haven't added them up yet."


3. More Helpful Hints

Housewives: When nipping out to the shops, remember to
carry a stiff broom in the boot of your car. Use it to
sweep the broken glass to the side of the road every
time you have a minor accident.

Girls: Too old to go on an 18 to 30 holiday? Simply
get pissed, lie in a sand pit in your garden and shag
every bloke who looks at you over the fence.

Bus Drivers: Pretend you're an airline pilot by wedging
your accelerator pedal down with a heavy book, securing
the steering wheel with some old rope, and then strolling
back along the bus chatting casually to the passengers.

International Master Criminals: Tell your guards to
shoot James Bond in the head at the first opportunity.
Under no circumstances give him a guided tour of your
base, or leave him in the custody of attractive women
in bikinis.

Dyslexics: Try deliberately spelling words wrongly. This
way at least you have a chance of spelling them correctly.


4. A sadist and a masochist were put into the same jail cell
and soon found out about each other.

The masochist cried, "Oh, hurt me, pinch me, humiliate me.
Please cause me pain!"

The sadist looked at him and said, "No!"


5. A man walks into a bar in London and ordered 3-glasses of beer and sits in the backyard of the room, drinking a sip out of each one in turn. When he finishes, he comes back to the bar counter and orders 3 more.

The bartender asks him, "You know, beer goes flat after I fill it in the glass; it would taste better if you buy one at a time."

The man replies, "Well, you see, I have two brothers. one is in Dubai, the other in Canada and I'm here in London.

When they left home, we promised that we'll drink this way to remember the days when we drank together.

The bartender admits that this is a nice custom and leaves it there.

The man became a regular in the bar, and always drinks the same way. He order 3-Beers and drinks them in turn.

One day, he came in and ordered only 2-Beers All the other regulars notice and fall silent.

When he comes back to the bar for the second round, the bartender says, "I don't want to intrude on your grief, but I wanted to offer my sincere condolences on your great loss. "

The man looked confused for a moment, then he laughs .... "Oh, no," he said, "Everyone's fine - both my brothers are alive" .

" The only thing is

................

................

................

I just quit drinking!!!

Jokes

1. HOOTING LIKE OWL

Each evening bird lover Tom Rowe stood in his backyard in Devon, England, hooting like an owl -- and one night, an owl called back to him.

For a year, the man and his feathered friend hooted back and forth.

Rowe even kept a log of the "conversation."

Just as Rowe thought he was on the verge of a breakthrough in inter-species communication, his wife had a chat with next door neighbour, Nancy Hollis. "My husband spends his nights... calling out to owls," said Mrs. Rowe.

"That's odd," Mrs. Hollis replied. "So does my John."

Then it dawned on them.


2. NUDE PAINTING

Seeing a picture of his wife in the nude hanging at the art show, he demanded of her: "Did you really pose for that?"

"Don't be ridiculous," she replied, "of course not. He painted it from memory."