Household Tips

It’s summer time and that does in fact mean that ice cream cones are in abundance. If you have little ones around like I do (or big messy ones, like me!), remember the marshmallow trick! The next time, BEFORE you add ice cream to a cone, place a marshmallow or two in the base to keep drips away!

This is something none of us likes to think about. But how prepared are you for an emergency? The canned food alliance has prepared a list of what you should have stocked in your pantry — just in case. While I’m not running out to the supermarket, this IS useful. I’m imagining it’s good prep-work for impending snow storms, too!

Here is the chart: http://www.steel.org/containers/EmergencyPantryChart.pdf

When asked what form they would prefer for their emergency food supply in the event of a natural disaster, 55 percent of consumers favor canned food, over dry goods, fresh and frozen options.

The survey, conducted by the global research firm Harris Interactive, indicates that consumers recognize the important role that canned foods play in being prepared for an event such as a hurricane or tornado. It was conducted in advance of September, which the government has dubbed National Preparedness Month.

canned goods, emergency preparedness

More and more consumers are fighting for truth in labeling. Are you one of the growing trend? If so, a new organization beckons. More than 20,000 people are concerned about the chicken they’re buying to band together and issue a press release! I’m personally more concerned with hormones than with salt and water, but maybe that’s just me.

More than 23,500 members have joined the Truthful Labeling Coalition (TLC) in hopes of drawing attention to the mislabeling of pumped-up chicken.

These 23,500 constituents have been spreading the word to family, friends and coworkers that they will not stand for the mislabeling of their fresh chicken products. Currently, members are engaged in a growing initiative — each individual is being asked to recruit at least two new members in hopes of tripling the coalition’s size.

By urging immediate reform of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s poultry labeling rules, members are hoping for a change that will prohibit fresh chicken that is pumped-up or injected with a solution of sodium, water, binding agents like carageenan (a seaweed extract), and other additives, from being labeled as “natural”.

The TLC Tip Sheet is designed to inform, educate, and inspire people to get involved with the truthful labeling cause.

http://www.TruthfulLabeling.org

chicken, labeling

Just when I thought everyone in the world had already heard this (my favorite ever) tip… I found someone at a baby shower the other day who did not know….

You can quickly, easily, and NEATLY cut cake with dental floss! Make sure you buy unflavored, because that mint or cinnamon flavor will indeed transfer to the cake. Just cut a long piece of floss, and slice right through the cake. Serve as usual!

cake, dental floss

Nothing beats the wonderfully pungent taste (and smell!) of fresh garlic in your recipes, but it’s a PAIN to peel, right? It doesn’t have to be..! This is one of my favorite tips ever. Next time you’re cooking with garlic, throw the garlic clove in the microwave, and heat on high for 15 seconds (up the time to 30-45 for an entire bulb.) The slightly heated garlic will pop right out of its skin!

garlic, peeling garlic, kitchen tips

I use a long, but not long enough, wooden spoon when I’m making brownies. Why not long enough, you ask? Because as soon as I let go of it, it slides down into my mixing bowl! An easy fix? Wrap a rubber band around the handle. The rubber will force a sticky “stop” when the spoon start sliding into your batter!

spoon, rubber band, brownies

Fourteen SuperFoods and their possible benefits:

Beans – lower cholesterol, combat heat disease, stabilize blood sugar, reduce obesity, relieve hypertension and lessen the risk of cancer. (Not crazy about beans? Try sneaking them in to soups and chili, or sprinkling them on a salad.)

Blueberries – lower the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer, and help maintain healthy skin to reduce the sags and bags brought on by age. (All berries are excellent and provide different phytonutrients, fiber, and have a very low glycemic index for a fruit.)

Broccoli – boosts the immune system, lowers the incidence of cataracts, supports cardiovascular health, builds bones and fights birth defects. (Also try other members of the broccoli family: cauliflower, cabbage, and brussel sprouts.)

Oats – lower cholesterol, reduce the risk of coronary heart disease & Type II diabetes, high in fiber and protein. (Forget about carbs, we NEED whole grains to prevent heart disease and stroke and to prevent cancer. If you want to cut carbs, cut out sugar, not whole grains or fruits!)

Oranges – support heart health and prevent cancer, stroke, diabetes and a host of chronic ailments. (Calcium fortified o.j. is awesome too, provides many of the same benefits. You pregnant ladies and wanna be pregnant ladies absolutely need this one–it has folic acid to prevent birth defects. Also try grapefruit, mandarins, clementines, other citrus.)

Pumpkin – helps lower the risk of various cancers (lung, colon, bladder, cervical, skin, and breast) and supplies nutrients necessary for healthy, youthful skin. (Try using your banana bread recipe and substituting pumpkin. It is delicious. I also like to make a box up of sugar free vanilla pudding, add 1 cup canned pumpkin, and pumpkin pie spice and more splenda if needed–it tastes like creamy pumpkin pie, but way healthier. Also a good source of beta carotene for you are carrots and sweet potatoes.)

Wild Salmon - lowers the risk of heart disease and cancer. (Also take an Omega 3-6-9 supplement. This nutrient is thought to help depression, brain development and memory, help heart disease and prevent cancer. If you can only take one supplement, this is it. Adding in a good multi-vitamin is even better!)

Soy – helps prevent cardiovascular disease, cancer, and osteoporosis, and helps relieve menopausal and menstrual symptoms. (Like corn nuts? Try soy nuts, I swear they taste the same. You don’t have to eat tofu to get soy–sprinkle edemame on your salad, eat a garden burger, or drink a soy smoothie–they taste like ice cream.)

Spinach – decreases the chance of cardiovascular diseases, a host of cancers, age-related macular degeneration and cataracts. (Stop making salads with ice berg lettuce. Seriously, just stop. It has almost no nutrition, and isn’t that why you’re eating salad?! Make a spinach salad, (best) or at least use romaine or spring greens.)

Tea – boosts the immune system, helps prevent cancer and osteoporosis, lowers the risk of stroke, promotes cardiovascular health. (In spite of all the hype, it doesn’t have to be green tea. Green tea is great, but so is regular black tea. I love this one! Love it! Try iced tea on hot days–so refreshing! Also coffee lovers take heart–there are also studies that show that coffee helps prevent diabetes, and has anti-oxidants. Freshly ground is best.)

Tomatoes– lower the likelihood of cancer, raise the skin’s sun protection factor and seem to play a role in preventing cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. (Lycopene is also in watermelon and strawberries–yum!)

Turkey – a perfect example of a Twenty-First Century �healthy� protein source, extremely low in fat, and provides multiple nutrients which help build a strong immune system. (Skinless chicken white meat is good too, if you are a meat eater, and fish is so good you should have it 2-3 times a week.)

Walnuts – reduce the risk of developing coronary heart disease, diabetes and cancer. (Also on the good list are peanuts, almonds, and most other nuts. Be careful with portions though, 1-2 oz are all you need. That’s about a regular handfull–not much.)

Yogurt – promotes strong bones and a healthy heart, another health promoting protein source, and a great source of calcium. (1% or fat-free dairy has also been shown to make you lose more weight for the same amount of calories)

We’ve all had that dreaded morning after. I am not referring to the walk of shame, but rather, that pounding, throbbing headache, the churning yucky feeling in your stomach and the unbeatable urge to just go back to sleep in a very dark room for a very long time.

There are some things you can do to feel better sooner:

1. DRINK WATER. Alcohol dehydrates your body. That’s why you pee a lot no matter how much you drink. In fact, I’m such a dork that I get a big glass of water and drink it with a beer or glass of wine to avoid being dehydrated the next day. So, drink up! The water that is.

2. If your stomach feels like it will roll over if you breathe wrong, or if you are already horking, stick with the BRAT diet, bananas, rice, applesauce and toast. If you can eat, try something bland with some protein, fat and carbs, evenly mixed, like scrambled eggs, toast and a banana. Coffee and tea will only further dehydrate you, so try to stick with water, milk or juice.

3. Take an over the counter pain reliever like Tylenol, Advil, Aleve, Motrin or Aspirin.

4. Rest. (This is where you can assume that I am advising you to stay home from work and sleep.)

5. If you think it is time, or your alcohol drinking has gotten to a point of negatively impacting your work or relationships, consider visiting Alcoholics Anonymous, by clicking here.