The Water Wheel:: Safe Traveling

Tuesday, October 28

Safe Traveling

Today's Water Tip:
You may want to drink bottled water when traveling, especially in areas where you are unsure if the drinking water source is a public source or a privately owned source. Dangerous bacteria can exist in drinking water that is not monitored properly. Better safe than sorry!

Be safe when you are traveling:
WOOO HOOO I just got back from Kentucky. It was a great trip, setting aside a few travel glitches, a night at the airport, and some really stressed out drivers in Louisville, I had a spectacular time. I went to visit my son Blaine for family weekend who just graduated from basic training with the Army @ Fort Knox, Kentucky. I will be returning in December.

Today's post is regarding traveling and drinking water. How can I know that the water supply is safe to drink? The fact is you can't. Chances are if you are staying in the city or a populated area, the water is up to par. Government standards require regular testing and reporting for public drinking water systems. If you are staying in a Bed and Breakfast or a motel with a remote location, you may want to drink bottled water just to be safe. Private wells are not monitored as closely as public systems, hopefully the property owner uses good practices in maintaining the system, but how can you be sure? There is a time and place for bottled water, I think traveling is one of those times.

The Belle of Louisville on the Ohio River click to enlarge

The wide spectrum of water uses, turn round and round, like a
water wheel. I welcome your comments

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Zesty Italian Soup

Water
4-6 Chicken pieces (with bones) skinned
4 oz shell pasta
1 16 oz can chicken broth
1 pkg Lipton Onion Soup mix
2 cans diced tomatoes
1 16 oz black beans, rinsed
1 medium onion, chopped
1 small can or 1 cup fresh sliced mushrooms
1 small can sliced olives
1 16 oz can green beans
1 16 oz frozen mixed veggies
Salt pepper, garlic salt, Italian herbs, tobasco sauce & dried red pepper to taste
2 T minced garlic
1 cup chopped zucchini
1 cup chopped cabbage
4 0z mozzarella cheese, cubed
Parmesan cheese to taste
Croutons

Fill soup pot 2/3 full with water. Add chicken and bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium and continue boiling until tender (aprox 1 hour). Remove from heat. Remove bones from chicken and reserve meat. Let broth stand until fat comes to the top and skim off. Strain broth if desired. (For less calories let broth sit in fridge overnight and then skim fat, broth may be thick, it will thin down upon heating).
Return pot to stove and bring to a boil, reduce heat, add onion, tomatoes, black beans, minced garlic, onion sup mix, green beans, chicken broth, mushrooms, tobasco, chicken and spices. Simmer for 20 minutes. Add pasta and olives, cook for 5 minutes. Add mixed frozen veggies, return to a boil, reduce heat, simmer for 2-3 minutes, add zucchini and cabbage, simmer for 3 minutes. Do not over cook. Top filled bowls with a few cubes of cheese, Parmesan & croutons. Serve with salad & crusty bread. Yum Yum.

Wash your Citrus

Have you ever really thought about what's on your fruit? I always thought I washed my fruit thoroughly, but I really never thought to much about citrus. Several studies have shown that when you cut an orange, lemon or lime anything sitting on the outside of the fruit is transferred to the inside, edible part. Dirt, debris, pesticides and bacteria can all be present on that lemon your about to squeeze into your healthy glass of water. With all the salmonella, and E. coli scares recently I think I'll start washing them now before cutting. A small amount of dish soap in your water will help to kill the germs. All fruits and veggies, including melons should be washed and rinsed for at least 20 seconds before preparing.

Health Tip:

Cold Season Relief
Fill a large heavy pan with water and place on the stove. Heat to a slow rolling boil. Add some old-fashioned vapor-rub or eucalyptus to the water. Let the water simmer. Take in the wonderful soothing aroma. Not only are you creating a healing environment for your stuffy nose and sore throat, you are adding humidity to the air with clean fresh water. Your skin and hair will love it too! Every now and then stop at the stove and take a deep breath directly in the steam, it will help clear your sinuses and sooth your red nose. Keep an eye on the water level and add more ingredients as necessary.

While you’re in the kitchen, make your self some chicken soup, and as always, drink plenty of water. Soon you will be healed!

Easy Homemade Chicken Soup

Water
Boneless chicken breast and thighs (1-2 lbs)
Mixed fresh or frozen veggies (your choice)
Salt, pepper, garlic
Chicken bullion granules or cubes (optional)
Fresh or dried parsley
Noodles or rice (Allow for cooking time if not precooked)
Dried crushed red pepper (optional )

Start with a soup pot 2/3 full of water. Boil 1 to 2 lbs of boneless Chicken breasts and thighs.
Simmer until meat is tender. Remove meat. Let meat and broth cool for at least 1 hour (or overnight in fridge, broth may thicken when cool). Skim excess fat from top of broth with large spoon.Chop meat and add back to broth. Taste. Add more water if needed. (You want to end up with a full pot of soup). Add salt, pepper, dried or fresh parsley, chicken bullion or other favorite spices to taste if desired. Try some dried red pepper (to clear the sinuses) if you enjoy the heat.
Add any desired veggies, cooked beans, noodles or rice to pan. (Allow for cooking time if not precooked)

Serve with crusty whole wheat bread or crackers.

Now, Enjoy!

Luke and Lobo's Water Tips

Get your pets coat ready for winter. A bath with a little tea tree oil added is great for the skin, and it helps eliminate pests. A clean winter coat is a happy winter coat! Be sure to keep tee tree oil away from the eyes.

Get our winter coats cleaned!
Get your pets coat ready for winter. A bath with a little tea tree oil added is great for the skin, and it helps eliminate pests. A clean winter coat is a happy winter coat! Be sure to keep it aways from the eyes.

Please fill our bowl!
Pets drink a lot of water even in the cool weather, please don't forget to fill our bowl.

Tip: Clean feet
Muddy paws can spoil a clean floor. Just put a nice cozy rug by our door to the back yard. It helps to blot our wet feet in messy weather as we come inside.

Tip: Motivation
Tell your master to get up off that recliner and take you for a walk! It's the time of year to get lazy, and you have to just say No!

Tip: Time to walk!
The weather is shaping up outside for some nice walk time. Whoo hoo! Make sure when you get home with your dog that they have plenty of water, all that walking takes a lot out of us, and we need to rehydrate, just like you!

Tip: Go adopt a pet!
And give it plenty of water and food, and toys and........Love.

Tip: Drink your water
We can't get a drink from the sink when we're thirsty. We totally rely on our masters to keep our bowl clean and full of fresh water. Our water consumption should be at least 3 times what we eat to stay healthy and happy.

Tip: Play time
The weather is starting to warm up here and it won't be long till we can fill up our pool. We fill up a back yard wading pool in the warm weather for tons of water fun. Our masters like it too because it makes bath time easy and we don't shake water all over the bathroom!

Tip: Bath time
A few drops of tea tree oil added to our bath water helps to control fleas and other parasites. It also has anti fungal, and antiseptic qualities to help keep our skin healthy and our coats shiny. Always make sure it is diluted with water because it is very strong and can burn if used alone.
Note: It works well on humans too!

Chicken and Asparagus Linguini

Water
8 oz Linguine noodles
2 T olive oil
2 T butter
1/2 cup half and half
6 frozen chicken tenders white meat, uncooked
1 small can sliced mushrooms
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 t garlic salt
1/2 t Italian herbs
salt and pepper to taste
8 stalks fresh or frozen asparagus, roasted (directions follow
6 oz mozzarella cheese. shredded
1/2 cup parmasan cheese

Bring 2 quarts water to a boil on the stove. Cook linguine according to package directions. Remove from heat. (Do not over cook and do not drain). In the meantime cook the chicken tenders in olive oil in a med skillet. Season with garlic salt to taste. Add mushrooms and onion. Continue cooking until chicken is cooked through. Make a well in center of pan and add 2 T butter, herbs, and 1/2 of both mozzarella and parmasan cheese, cover with chicken and veggies and let melt for a few minutes, add half and half to pan and bring to a slow boil, stir to combine, cheese will be stringy). Add roasted asparagus. Scoop pasta out of the pasta water directly to the sauce pan. Combine sauce into noodles adding a "little" pasta water until mixture is the right consistency. Sprinkle with remaining cheeses. Serve with roasted veggies.

Roasted veggies
8 stalks asparagus ( for linguine dish), ends removed and broken into 1 inch pieces
1 small to medium zucchini sliced 3/4 in thick
1 small sweet potato sliced in 1/2 inch sticks
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 T butter
2 T hot water

Spread asparagus out on dry griddle or skillet and cook on medium heat for 5 minutes turning occasionally. Add sweet potato and cook on medium heat until slightly browned, add zucchini cook for 5 minutes.(veggies should all be crisp tender, do not overcook). Salt and pepper veggies to taste. Use asparagus in linguine dish if desired. Transfer zucchini and sweet potato to a bowl, top brown sugar and butter, sprinkle with hot water. Toss to mix flavors. (This recipe may be used with any type of vegetable. You may also omit the brown sugar from recipe if desired).

Light Sparkling Punch

Water
2 Crystal Light drink mix packets
(1 pink lemonade and 1 raspberry)
Sparkling (carbonated) water or club soda
2 lemons, 2 limes
Frozen berry's (optional)

Combine drink mix with recommended amount of liquid (see package directions) using half club soda (or sparkling water) and half tap water in punch bowl or large pitcher. When using a punch bowl you may want to double the ingredients. Squeeze in one lemon and one lime. Mix well. Slice the remaining lemon and lime. Add ice, float fruit and berry's on top. Serve in punch cups or stemware. Garnish with additional lemons and limes if desired.