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If your burner pans and covered casserole dishes look like mine did, they've got baked-on spots that no amount of scrubbing will remove.

And if you're like me, even thought of using chemical cleaners brings tears to your eyes and makes you want to start coughing, not to mention that chemical cleaners are expensive.

One simple solution that I've found works very well uses ingredients that are probably in your cupboard right now: cream of tartar and vinegar.

Here are steps to follow:

1. Mix 2 teaspoons of vinegar and 2 teaspoon of cream of tartar in a small dish (use 3 or 4 teaspoons of vinegar and 3 or 4 teaspoons of cream of tartar if you have more items to clean or if you have larger items, such as a heavily soiled casserole dish and cover).

2. Use a cotton ball to apply solution to your burner pans or casserole dishes and covers (Corning Ware casseroles, for example).

3. Let sit for 5 to 10 minutes.

4. Scrub with a scouring pad and then wash in hot, soapy water.

How to Grieve a Tragedy

By Stephen Bucaro

Bad things happen to good people. Have you lost your job or are facing bankruptcy? Has a cherished relationship ended or you have gone through a divorce? Maybe you received diagnosis of a serious health problem. Or maybe you are mourning loss of a loved one. Unfortunately, these painful events are part of life.

If you have to endure such a tragedy, maybe you can find solace in your friends and in your faith. There is no way to completely avoid pain of a tragic event, but I offer you a way to work through pain. If a friend or loved one is grieving, you can pass this message on to them.

Your should deal with grief in three phases. You should carry on each phase for exactly 21 days before moving on to next phase. Why 21 days? Because studies have shown that if an individual does same thing for 21 consecutive days, it becomes a habit. That is amount of time required to make a permanent life change.

Phase 1: Don't think about event that is causing your grief. You may be forced to think about it in some way in order to take care of business related to event. But otherwise don't think about it for first 21 days. If event comes to mind, think to yourself "I don't want to think about this right now", and dismiss thought from your mind.