Seems like this is mostly a drink thread... but, if I may, I'd like to talk about my G'mas teacakes. They were little cookies that had the flackiness of pie crust. Just a little tougher (or more together, if you will - like a cookie). They didn't puff in the oven, were delicately crisp, very thin, slightly sweet, sprinkled with sugar, and shaped like hearts. The recipe died with her, unfortunately. In any case, everyone she ever gave the recipe to swore that she left something out. None ever turned out like hers. I was not a recipient of the recipe, btw. Let that be a lesson to stingy cooks. You may be the only one with the golden dish, but when you die it goes with you. Better to share, in my opinion, and be remembered that way. :) They were the best "sugar cookies" I've ever eaten. I really wish she would have shared. If any of you have something that resembles that description, I'd love it if you would post it. I've never encountered anything like it anywhere - be it home, bakery, or restaurant. G'ma was originally from Georgia. Her father from Ireland, and not sure where her mom came from - I think it was Georgia, as well.

Zicam does nothing for me, but then I already take zinc as a supplement. What I have found to be helpful (and was mentioned in one of grainlady's links) is breathing steam, especially when I first start to feel something coming on. They way I do it is to get a very large mixing bowl (glass), add crushed eucalyptus berries (which I get from the Marina bike trail) and the pour a large amount of boiling water from the tea kettle over the berries. Then I put my head over the bowl and cover both the bowl and my head with a large bath towel, to prevent the steam from escaping. I inhale as much steam as possible and as deeply as possible, and allow any nasal draining to fall into the bowl. I generally have to come up for cool air several times, but the heat from the steam is what can kill the germs in my sinuses. This method gives you a facial at the same time, as it opens your pores from sweating. You do not need the eucalyptus berries - they are there for fragrance, and so you can substitute whatever you like, or even put Vicks in the bowl. Sometimes I use lemon zest. This will not cure a cold, but it will help clear your sinuses, much as nasal irrigation or spicy soup will, but the heat is helpful to prevent a cold from taking hold, if you catch it soon enough. I haven't had a cold in a while, and I felt that the dry air at Death Valley was theraputic. Visiting a sauna might be helpful. Lars

You want to talk about a demographic that is ignored- old ladies. In the past two years I have had THREE of my most used makeup/personal care products discontinued. GRAY Maybelline eyebrow pencils. WHITE hair shampoo Pantene. WHITE Lady toner for my hair saw its name and formula changed. With the eyebrow pencils I caught it early and managed to score 20 on eBay- they now go for $40+ each and while I am sorely tempted to sell a few I will not. The Pantene shampoo still irks me. Hair people SHOULD know the difference between silver and white hair but most do not draw a distinction. So the hair I spend money on to get white is immediately turned to gray by the use of most products marketed for white. Pantene got it right and then dropped the line. The toner is always a problem- again there is a huge difference between silver, gray, platinum, and WHITE. White haired ladies get no respect, lol- all the cosmetic companies care about is drawing in new, younger buyers [/rant]

Chispa, I used to make a platter of PB fudge that was so good. It would only give me a headache now from the sugar. Much like the stove top choclate oatmeal PB cookies. When my dad died 8yrs ago, I thought I would take their pantry items to our financial advisor company's holiday food drive. My guessimate was 4-5 boxes, able to carry size. Nope. One. The freezer was packed to the point of nothing else could fit. I remember giving them leftovers after a November holiday, and Dad said he had the last bit of it over a week later. I've always been good about keeping pantry items and seasonings organized. Since our pantry is so small (or because my eyes are starting to go) I've started using a Sharpie and writing the MM/YY on cans where easily seen so we can use the closest to expire first.. The pantry is VERY small, so are about to add a small shelf section to the right that matches the left side. DH hoards unused RXs "just in case." So did my dad. I had a decent sized small box of those to take to the PD for disposal. I read an article years ago how pantry items that have powder packet should not be eaten after the expiration date because the powder could start growing something, making one sick.