INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Homemade soups and stews are wonderful for warming up on a cold night, but they're also great as appetizers before a meal. There are many different types of soups you can make with a basic vegetable broth, including: Vegetarian French onion Vegetable soup Lentil soup Beef stew Risotto is a creamy rice dish that you can make with meat, fish, or vegetable broth. The trick with risotto is to keep the broth warm, and to add it to the rice in small increments. This gives the rice time to fully soak up the broth, which makes it creamy and soft. You can use vegetable broth to make any grains, including basic rice, quinoa, and polenta. There's no better way to finish mashed potatoes, French fries, meats, and savory pies than with homemade gravy. To make a simple gravy with your vegetable broth: Heat a cup (235 ml) of the broth in a small saucepan Whisk together in a small bowl a teaspoon (2 g) of cornstarch and just enough water to dissolve cornstarch Pour the cornstarch slurry into the hot broth Bring the broth to a boil, whisking regularly Add salt, pepper, or additional spices if desired

SUMMARY: Make soup or stew. Try homemade risotto. Whip up some gravy.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Rodent ulcers are characterized by the development of sores or lesions on the lips and mouth of the cat and can sometimes be quite large. The upper lip area is the most common place for sores to develop. Inspect your cat's mouth if you see sores appearing on the upper lip, there will be a loss of tissue with the area appearing red or orange-yellow. The sores may be covered in scabs, or they may bleed and give off a foul odor. An ulcer may recur if the cat has had them before. In rare instances, sores may develop on other areas of the body. In some cases when a cat is inflicted with rodent ulcers it will stop eating or it will eat less than normal. This is because the lesions on their mouth are sore making it painful to chew food. If you notice your cat has a decreased appetite you should check for sores and take it to the vet. The cat may exhibit signs of pain caused by the rodent ulcers. For example, the cat may hide or become aggressive. If your cat demonstrates any major behavioral changes, including a lack of grooming, you should check for sores and take it to the vet. If your cat has developed sores on its lips and inside its mouth, you should consult your vet for a formal diagnosis. Your vet will be able to diagnose rodent ulcers simply by examining the lesions. In rare instances the veterinarian may need to perform a biopsy to ensure that the ulcers are not cancerous. This typically only happens if the ulcers do not respond to treatment.

SUMMARY: Look for sores on the lips and mouth. Notice if your cat has a decreased appetite. Determine if your cat is in pain. Ask your vet to examine the ulcers.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Scalp eczema can cause problems for your scalp or any affected areas of your skin. Common symptoms include flaky skin (dandruff), itching, red skin, scaliness or crusting of the skin, greasy patches, and hair loss. Inflammation leads to red patches and high fatty acid content, which can make the skin greasy and yellow in some people. In infants, it is common in the scalp and can present as red, dry scaly plaques, or in more severe cases as thick white or greasy yellow scales. Other skin diseases such as fungal infection, psoriasis, dermatitis, and lupus may resemble scalp eczema. However, these differ based on the location and layers of the skin involved. If you aren't sure whether your symptoms match those of scalp eczema, see your doctor. S/he can help you determine the cause of your symptoms and whether they are severe enough to require treatment. In addition to decreased oils and moisture present, doctors believe that a certain kind of yeast, Malassezia furfur, has a role in causing seborrheic eczema. Malassezia yeast is usually present on the outer surface of the skin. In those with scalp eczema, this yeast invades the superficial layers of skin and secretes substances that increase fatty acid production. This leads to inflammation and enhances production and dryness of skin, which causes the skin to flake. If your eczema is atopic, meaning that your family has a tendency to develop eczema, yeast may not be the culprit. Doctors believe that many people with atopic eczema have a faulty skin barrier due to a changed gene within the skin's structural proteins. While doctors are not certain why some people develop seborrheic eczema, and others don't, there do appear to be some factors that increase your risk, including: Being overweight or obese Fatigue Environmental factors (such as dry weather) Stress Other skin issues (such as acne) Certain medical conditions, including stroke, HIV, Parkinson's disease, or head injury Alcohol removes protective oils from the skin surface, causing the scalp to dry out. This can make the flaking and itching worse and may be a contributing cause of seborrheic eczema. Be gentle with washing your skin and scalp. Do not scrub! Gently massage your skin with your fingers when washing your hair. The goal is to clean your hair without stripping the oils from your scalp. or surrounding skin. Though it can be difficult to avoid scratching when a part of your body feels dry and itchy, you should try not to scratch the affected areas of your scalp because the skin can become irritated and bleed. You could even cause a secondary infection if you scratch excessively. It is unlikely that you will be able to completely "cure" your disease with an effective treatment. Scalp eczema appears and then disappears when it is treated. However, it usually comes back and will require continuous treatment. Luckily, many of the treatments can be continued for long periods.

SUMMARY:
Look for common symptoms. Know the causes of eczema. Determine your risk factors. Avoid hair and skin care products that contain alcohol. Do not scratch itchy patches of your scalp Expect eczema to return.