Month: September 2011

Survive Hay-Fever

Eat local honey. While studies into the anti-allergenic properties of honey are rudimentary at best,many people swear that their allergy symptoms are alleviated by eating unfiltered, raw local honey. Some people argue that this treatment is psychosomatic, while others propose that eating honey exposes your immune system to local pollens and other allergens that may elicit an allergic reaction.

Use nasal spray or a neti pot to rinse out your nose. Nasal sprays, such as Nasonex or Flonase, are available as over-the-counter (OTC) medications. Nasal sprays include an ingredient that causes blood vessels in the nasal passages to constrict, opening the nasal passage and relieving congestion. Neti pots are small pots with long spouts that are inserted into a nostril to rinse the nostril, clearing it of mucus and other debris. Use warm saltwater to rinse the nose with a neti pot.

Receive an allergy shot. Allergy shots are usually the most drastic way to relieve hay fever, as they are often expensive, time-consuming and sometimes painful. Allergy shots are administered over a period of time that varies by patient. Each shot exposes the patient’s immune system to a small amount of allergen, thus allowing the immune system to gain immunity from the allergen after enough treatments. Consult your doctor to begin an allergy-shot regimen.

Cookie Monster Cupcakes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a basic vanilla cupcake recipe, but if you want to make things easier you can also use a packaged cake mix. Also, no reason to use vanilla, you can use any flavor you like as the frosting will completely cover the top of the cupcake.

Ingredients

  • 2/3 cup butter, softened
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1 1/2 cups self-rising flour
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 12-cup muffin/cupcake pan or line with paper baking cups.

In a large bowl, mix butter and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Stir in the eggs, one at a time, blending well after each one. Stir in the vanilla and flour just until mixed. Spoon the batter into the prepared cups, dividing evenly.

Bake in the preheated oven until the tops spring back when lightly pressed, 18 to 20 minutes. Cool in the pan set over a wire rack. When cool, arrange the cupcakes on a serving platter.

After the cupcakes have cooled, you’re ready for the fun part! Let’s decorate!!

There are a variety of ways to create the blue fur of the Cookie Monster on a cupcake. You can use blue sanding sugar, blue frosting, blue sprinkles, and/or coconut flakes tinted blue (my favorite way). Any craft store with a cake and candy aisle will have all that you need to get the right color blue. Tip: use the brightest blue you can find. Paste food coloring works best to get the richest, deepest colors. It works just like regular food coloring drops. You just add as much as you need to white frosting.

Frost each cupcake with blue frosting. Then, add the sprinkles, sanding sugar, or coconut.

Next the mouth – make a small horizontal slit in the top of the cupcake for the cookie. Stick 1/2 of a chocolate chip cookie in it just like Cookie Monster would eat. Now add some googley eyes. You can use mini white marshmallows or white chocolate rounds (whatever you can find that look like eyes) and a chocolate chip for the pupil.

Lastly, put the cupcakes on a fun designed tray or serving platter. Enjoy like the cookie monster would!

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