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www.heartlandscience.org / CopaNews.com
The hardest wheat turned soft by science
Eighty years ago my mother was in grade school where schoolroom paste was made by mixing a little flour and water together. Memories of that simple glue came back to her when she and I recently stood in my kitchen, mixing two small batches of flour and water. First I mixed regular “better for bread” flour with water in a little dish, then I did the same with special test flour made from soft durum wheat. The first mixture was a pasty, lightest-of-light-tan color, the second had a pale but clearly evident yellow hue.
The simple experiment was inspired by the hardness of different types of wheat. Soft white wheat is the easiest of all types of wheat to mill,
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E. M. Murray / CopaNews.com
Don't throw out those old jeans! (Part 2)
This little item is so simple, you'll wonder why you didn't think of it yourself -- and requires no sewing skill at all. The only things you need are an old pair of jeans and scissors.
With scissors or pinking shears, cut around the back pockets of those old jeans, leaving a little fabric around the pocket. You can cut in nice straight lines, round the corners, or even cut in scallops. Cutting with pinking shears is a creative option, too. If desired, you can fringe the raw edges, to give a raveled look.
Using cardboard, cut a piece or two to fit inside the pocket. Any cardboard will work -- a used corrugated cardboard box or the cardboard back of
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Alice Shoaf / CopaNews.com
March produce deals: Stock your shelves and save
In Arizona, March is a prime time for fresh produce – think salads, woks, and grilled veggies. Citrus fruits are still plentiful and cool-weather vegetables are in full glory, along with the best cooking tomatoes you’re likely to find. Stock your pantry shelves with tomato products, citrus juice and the season’s best strawberries, herbs and seasonings, and vegetables you won’t see again at a good price until nearly Christmas.
To freeze produce, use freezer bags or plastic containers with tight-fitting lids. Juices need about an inch of headspace to allow for expansion. Dry vegetables need to be packed as airtight as possible.
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Alice Shoaf / CopaNews.com
Make your own moisturizer -- for less than a dollar
What if you could make your own face and body moisturizer at home that cost around a dollar for six ounces? What if it was also all-natural and amazingly good for your skin? Well, you can, and it’s so easy you’ll wonder why you ever spent so much money on store-bought.
Skin moisturizers are simple beauty aids to some, but here in Arizona most folks consider them a necessity. The arid climate sucks moisture out of your skin, leaving it more prone to chapping, cracking, windburn, sun damage, and eczema or other skin problems. This moisturizer soaks in quickly, is light enough to wear alone or under make-up, and will not stain your clothing.
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