Crunchy Ramen Noodle Slaw

I really should put more of these up. Better yet, I should find some really good sites where such recipes are posted routinely.


Slaw:

1/2 pound red cabbage, finely chopped
3 or 4 chopped green onions
1 carrot finely chopped.
2 pkgs Oriental Flavor Ramen noodles, uncooked and broken into small pieces
Almond slivers


Vinaigrette:

1/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup rice vinegar
1/2 cup olive oil
the beef seasoning pack from the Ramen noodles
2 Ramen Noodle seasoning pack (from pkg)

Heat in pan till sugar is completely dissolved. Set it aside to cool.

1. In a large bowl, add all of the slaw ingredients, except for Ramen noodles.
2. Pour dressing over slaw and toss.
3. Now add Ramen noodles.
4. Chill mixture for 2 hours.

If preparing for next day, do not add dressing till 2 hours before serving. Keep slaw and dressing refrigerated.

Bartering

Let's face it; capitalism sucks. And as our economy tanks, more Americans are getting wise to it.

Here are some handy links regarding the time-tested system of bartering. This system worked for tens of thousands of years. Maybe we should take another look?

And don't forget - bartering is taxable, so don't call it bartering. call it trading. Just exchange a few favors with your friends, family and neighbors...'kay? (http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc420.html )

http://www.peopletradingservices.com/index.html

http://gimmeyourstuff.blogspot.com/

And from USNews, here's an article with tips on Bartering.

Let there be light.

If you have a 5 gallon bucket and an empty 1 quart plastic milk jug, you can make a crystal lantern.

What you'll Need

1. 5 gallon bucket
2. 1 quart plastic milk carton with the top cut off
3. Rocks or a big rock, whatever fits and weighs a lot.
4. Duct Tape
5. Tea candle

Directions

1. Fill the 5 gallon bucket 3/4 of the way with water
2. Put some rocks in the quart jug, and put it in the bucket. Put enough rocks to sink it down with out letting the water spill into it.
3. Put duct tape from inside edge of the jug to the outside edge of the bucket.

Do this on 4 sides (like an open cross). This will hold the jug in place, so it won't move around.

You don't need to hold down the jug down with tape if you have enough weight inside.

4. Freeze. If you don't live in a freezing climate, then this isn't the project for you. Don't waste your freezer space for this. Use that space to take advantage of sales, or co-operative food-buying ventures.

5. Once it's all frozen, you might need hot water to loosen the ice from the containers. That's fine. It will help to glaze the ice to be more glass-like.

If you have enough buckets, jugs, and candles, you can make several of these. The light is beautiful even in the daytime if it's dark and cloudy.

This makes a great post-holiday project for kids suffering from mid-winter blues.