Not sure what ratio of ascorbic and citric acids to use. I think more citric acid than ascorbic, but I'm guessing. I think citric acid is a smaller molecule which tastes more acid in solution than vitamin C, measure for measure. Taste your vitamin C solution to make sure it doesn't have an objectionable bitter quality at the concentration you are thinking about using. I'll start with the measurements for Fruit Fresh solution, then estimate smaller amounts of the pure acids to compensate for the sugars in fruit Fresh. Tasting is another way to estimate how much I'll need. I'll compare the sourness of my solution to lemon juice. Concerning Fruitnut's question on drying fruit with the skin on, I believe that some fruits can be blanched or steam-treated to disrupt the skin to make drying more effective. A dilute lye solution might also work. Think I've read something about this with regard to prunes. I think some varieties of prunes require some sort of treatment to disrupt the integrity of the skin in order to dry successfully. Here in California, Thompson Seedless grapes are dried in the sun without any treatment to make raisins. I've helped cut grapes, laid them out on paper and helped roll them after drying so they can be picked up for processing. A hot and sticky-dirty job. Larger grapes might benefit from some sort of treatment to disrupt the skin.

For instant gratification, you can't beat homemade salad dressings. It will probably take you longer to get the ingredients out on the counter than to actually make a dressing, and it will improve the taste of the salad as much as using a garden-fresh tomato instead of a hydroponic one! Since they're quick, inexpensive and usually keep a long time, it's definitely practical to have several on hand if everybody in your family prefers a different 'flavor'. If you have kids who won't touch a salad, try making ranch with a little less milk or buttermilk than called for so it's thicker. Tell them it's a dip, and even picky eaters can usually be coaxed into trying it with something that's raw and good for them. And I can almost guarantee that the next time you have company for dinner, somebody will say, "Ooh, your dressing is so much better than mine! What brand do you buy?" It's priceless to see the looks on their faces when you say, "Well, actually..." lol Of course, salad dressing is a small item in the grand scheme of things, even though making it should give you a lot of positive reinforcement. Ruthanna made such a good point about identifying the "big offenders" so you won't just be spittin' in the wind in your efforts to eat healthier meals. If you're a working mom juggling an insane schedule, chances are that casseroles are a mainstay, so one of the huge culprits is soup. (Cream of ______, anybody?) Learn to make a white sauce instead, seasoning it with various herbs and spices and adding different cheeses for infinite variety and insanely improved taste! It's easy as can be, I promise. Also, as so many others have said, make your own broth. There are some superb tutorials, with lots of pix, on recipezaar for chicken, vegetable and shrimp stock. (I apologize again for not figuring out links here. Just click on "Communities" at the top of the recipezaar home page, then scroll down to the French Forum.) There was an amazing post here the other day about beef broth. You have to babysit a little since it must simmer for several hours, but the 'hands on' time is minimal, and it's so simple to assemble that a 3rd grader could do it. (Well, maybe a 6th grader, since a knife is involved...) So don't be intimidated when you think "homemade broth"! It's as simple and straightforward as boiling eggs. If you never bought a can of Campbell's again, it would reduce the offending stuff in your diet to an astounding degree. Then there are all those little foil packets. Fajitas, tacos, spaghetti sauce, chili, Hidden Valley ranch dressing mix... Lots of dishes are so simple if you just sprinkle in the stuff in the little foil packet. Not great, but edible. I'm thinking the junk in those little foil packets probably is about the unhealthiest stuff you buy. If you use them often, your salt intake is off the charts. The internet is such a wonderful source for recipes for stuff like Creole/Cajun seasonings so you can reduce or eliminate the salt. Here's a recipe I found for a substitute for dry onion soup mix. Haven't tried it yet, but I plan to soon. Lipton Onion Soup Mix Sub 4 t. beef bouillon granules 8 t. dried onion flakes 1 t. onion powder 1/4 t. celery salt Mix well to blend. Can be stored for up to 6 months. Equivalent of 1 envelope dry onion soup mix. With pre-teen or teenaged children, snacks may be the single biggest problem you need to address. There is nothing in the frozen food section you can't do better and cheaper at home, using far less sodium and preservatives. But there's a big trade-off of taste vs. time. Maybe you could organize a OAMC group of moms, preparing dozens of after-school snacks to be frozen? Or just call your sister and demand that she come over to help? :) The main thing, I think, is to keep a sense of balance. Healthy is wonderful, but all of us must have our "Cheetos" in one form or another. If your family hates one of the substitutes you come up with, give it up. There are other ways to introduce healthy foods that they will enjoy. If your kids are miserable without their Oreos, preach moderation instead of denial.

Pooh.....I take HCTZ too. It is the generic hydrochlorothiazide. On the paper that my phamacy includes with every perscription is the warning: ....."tell your doctor if you are allergic to sulfa medications. Some brands of this medication MAY (emphasis mine) contain sulfites." So I am reading this to mean that while some drugs like Lasix and others MAY contain other things like sulfas, perhaps just the plain HCTZ does not. However, you are wise to check further. It is possible that you may be allergic to the HCTZ itself, even if there is no sulfa in it. Sulfas in the long ago past have given me trouble. The HCTZ does not seem to bother me. Perhaps I have just outgrown the problem At any rate, I would think that it will take a while for make sure what is happening. Good Luck! PB

Always1 that's what I was thinking, you said it better.. Now young lady lets talk about your skin lol..you absolutly must remove your make up before bed, not because of the bedding so much, that can be replaced, your skin can't. It doesn't take long..might I recommend a face wash with white dove, it cleans gently and moisturizes and the scent is so suttle and relaxing. Afterwards use a nightime moisturizer for your skin type. These few steps will ensure you will age with lovely skin. Oh if I could turn back time, haha...now don't say that old battle axe doesn't know what she's saying, she does. And all the stars do it just look at the skin on Jennifer Aniston, Lady Gaga, Adam Levine, Maroon 5, Larsi, and Brad Pitt..hahaha...now I think I'm a Dermatologist...I'm just joking with you...kinda.