Heather Solos's Blog, page 69

OTC Medicine Recall Alert 1/10/12

Heather says:

Check your medicine cabinets for the following over the counter medications from Norvatis (full details and lot numbers behind that link):

Excedrin®Bufferin®Gas-X®NoDoz ®

The expiration dates of the NoDoz® and Excedrin® will be December 14, 2014 or prior and the expiration date of recalled lots of Gas-X® and Bufferin® will be December 20, 2013 or earlier.

These OTC medications are being recalled as some bottles may contain prescription medication also produced at the plant. Refunds are available, if you have purchased the recalled medications. Read the information on the Norvatis site.

Click here to leave a comment on OTC Medicine Recall Alert 1/10/12 . We'd love to hear your say.This is a post from: Home-Ec101 ©Home-Ec 101.com 2007 - 2011

I'm Considering a Roomba

Dear Home-Ec 101,

I can get a new Roomba 530 for a great post-Christmas price. In my rental place, we have vertical blinds. I was worried how the machine would cope with those. I have tiles all through except the bedrooms that have thick, soft carpet. Your advice is appreciated.

Signed,

I want a robot minion

Heather says:

I have way more affection than is healthy for my Roomba; I love that stupid thing. I went so far as to name my robot minion Gertie and from what I can tell, I am not the exception to the rule when it comes to anthropomorphism and Roombas.

It could also be that I just have weird friends. (Amy, Jim, Eugene. . .)

Here's my initial experience with a Roomba 530. I did some searching today and found a blogger who has vertical blinds and included them in her Roomba experience. The short version of her story is that the blinds were pretty much a non-issue.

As long as you enter your Roomba experience with the expectation that the Roomba is for maintenance rather than deep cleaning, I think you will enjoy the appliance.

If you expect the Roomba to completely eliminate your need to vacuum, you will be disappointed.

Before running your Roomba, you'll need to do a quick pick up. In my house I have the kids scatter and pick up anything that could "choke the robot." I also tilt the couch up on end as it is the perfect height to trap the robot which is neither the couch nor the Roomba's fault and it's just a part of the routine. With three kids and a dog, I find a daily Roomba'ing necessary or there will be so much dirt the vacuum can't keep up. If your apartment isn't ground level, you may find that you'll need to use your vacuum far less often.

Home-Eccers, do you agree or has your experience been different?

Submit your questions to helpme@home-ec101.com.

Click here to leave a comment on I'm Considering a Roomba . We'd love to hear your say.This is a post from: Home-Ec101 ©Home-Ec 101.com 2007 - 2011

Beef Stroganoff, Gluten Free and for the Slow Cooker

Heather says:

Beef stroganoff is not an attractive comfort food, which is why it has taken me nearly five years to get around to posting this slow cooker recipe. It's not the beef stroganoff's fault it's unattractive and the recipe itself is quite simple; it's just a homely dish. People on the interwebz can be cruel and I just knew, no matter how hard I tried, this recipe would end up on the culinary equivalent of Awkward Family Photos. Today I swallow my pride and share the recipe, because the world can always use a little more comfort food. If you can have wheat, it's just a straight substitution of all purpose flour for the rice flour.

I served this recipe over oven roasted potatoes seasoned with thyme.

[image error]

: Beef Stroganoff, Gluten Free

: This is a gluten free recipe for beef stroganoff, adapted for the slow cooker or Crockpot

2.5 – 3lbs beef round steak or cube steak3/4 cup rice flour*, divided into 1/2 cup and 1/4 cup1 tsp saltfresh ground pepper3/4 tsp dry mustard1/2 tsp thymefresh ground pepper (I just use a few turns)2 onions sliced into rings2 cloves garlic, minced1/2 lb sliced mushrooms1 1/4 cups beef stock / broth / bouillon or 1 can beef broth1/4 cup wine (I use whatever I have on hand, nothing has been disappointing)1 1/2 tsp Worcestershire Sauce1 cup sour cream Instructions

[image error]

Trim off any excess fat from the round steak. If you're using cube steak, this should not be an issue. Cut the beef into strips, 1/2 inch wide and no more than 2 – 3 inches long, set aside.In a bowl mix together: 1/2 cup of rice flour, salt, dry mustard, and fresh ground pepper.Toss the beef strips with the flour mixture until thoroughly coated and place in the slow cooker.Add the remaining ingredients except the sour cream and reserved 1/4 cup of rice flour. Stir.Cook on low 6 – 8 hours or high for 4.Turn off the slow cooker and mix together the sour cream and rice flour. Stir into the beef stroganoff and give it a few minutes to thicken.Serve over potatoes or rice for gluten free folks and hot or hot buttered noodles for the wheat tolerant.

Rice flour is very inexpensive and can be found in many stores in the Asian / Ethnic food section or in any Asian grocery store, it can also be found in many health food stores.

*If you can have wheat, just use all-purpose flour in place of the rice flour.

Diet tags: Gluten free

Culinary tradition: USA (Traditional)

Pin It

Click here to leave a comment on Beef Stroganoff, Gluten Free and for the Slow Cooker . We'd love to hear your say.This is a post from: Home-Ec101 ©Home-Ec 101.com 2007 - 2011

What Is the Difference Between Cube Steak and Round Steak?

Dear Home-Ec 101,

I'm really trying to cook more at home, but sometimes I'd like to make substitutions but I'm just not sure when it's ok to substitute round steak for cube steak or vice versa. I'm just not comfortable talking to the butcher, I just want to grab whatever happens to be in the meat case and make dinner. Is that so wrong?

Signed,
Shy Shopper

Heather says:

No, it's not wrong at all, I know as customer it's perfectly acceptable for me to ask the butcher questions, but I don't want to bother him. Heck, on busy shopping days (which I try to avoid like the plague) I have a hard enough time just getting up to the beef case. I'm not sure what some of those people are doing hanging out over the meat cooler, but they sure do take their sweet time.

You'll notice that the names of cuts of beef and pork can vary by region and country, which makes everything extra fun for the novice cook. In general cube steak IS round steak that has been run through a machine that tenderizes the cut by physically breaking down some of that tough connective tissue.

You'll notice the round cut is from the hindquarter of the cow and is in general a tougher cut of beef. Sometimes cube steak is top sirloin that has been run through the tenderizer.

In some areas of the country you'll also find cube steak labelled as minute steak, but in the rest of the US, minute steaks are generally thinner cuts of top round or top sirloin.

So when considering a substitution (like I'll be doing later today in a gluten free beef stroganoff for the slow cooker), remember that cube steak is round steak that has already had some of the tenderizing work done for you. This makes cube steak slightly more versatile than round steak in the substitution game. It's fine to substitute a more tender cut of beef for a tougher one, but the reverse is not always true.

Round steak has not had that extra tenderizing step performed so it's best to stick with either very quick cooking methods (and very thin slices cut against the grain) like stir fry or to use a slow, wet cook like braising.

Cube steaks have a little more versatility and can be pan fried, which is a  slower cook than a stir fry, to make dishes like country fried steak or braised for dishes like country style cube steak.

In either case, you'll find cube and round steak much easier to slice if cut while partially frozen.

 Submit your questions to helpme@home-ec101.com.

Click here to leave a comment on What Is the Difference Between Cube Steak and Round Steak? . We'd love to hear your say.This is a post from: Home-Ec101 ©Home-Ec 101.com 2007 - 2011

Winner of the Sierra Mist Giveaway

Heather says:

I'm embarrassed to admit I messed up. I forgot to write up the post notifying commenter " deneicer1″ won the Sierra Mist giveaway.

Amy and I agreed the Holiday Appletinis were right up our alley.

If you could email me your mailing address / contact info I'll get it into the proper hands.

Congrats!

Click here to leave a comment on Winner of the Sierra Mist Giveaway . We'd love to hear your say.This is a post from: Home-Ec101 ©Home-Ec 101.com 2007 - 2011

Cleaning Up With Preschoolers

Today's post is from a recent comment:

I have a 3 year old girl who refuses to clean up her messes and because I don't like to punish her too hard, I do it for her, but lately my house is so cluttered with dirty laundry, her toys, and most of my husbands clean jeans, that I feel like I'm going to scream because of the mess.  Then he comes home and ends up mad at me for not cleaning while he's at work or not having dinner made by the time he gets home, I want to scream.
Heather says:

Home-Ec 101 is generally not a site where I'm willing to give out parenting or marital advice. I'm not a licensed counselor or therapist and just trust me when I tell you are there are plenty of bumps on the road I travel.

However, I have four kids, including my stepdaughter, so I can tell you a little bit about preschoolers and three-year-olds in particular.

People like to complain about the terrible twos, but the threes were always much more difficult for me. However, you must remember your three-year-old is not being difficult on purpose. Does this make it easier to deal with? No, but you just have to walk away when you're frustrated, because she isn't purposely trying to make you upset, it's just a developmental stage.

Does this mean you let her do what she wants, willy-nilly all day long? Heck no.

You have to set the boundaries, and this is true whether you are into structured play or not.

As a three-year-old she is going to progress from one activity to another abandoning the first (and its mess) and moving onto the second and third, without a care in the world. It's your job to help her begin to learn that when we move from unshelving the books in the living room, to removing the couch cushions, to unloading the dog's bowl in the kitchen, that we have to undo the damage we caused before wreaking more havoc.

Remember this little diddy from Barney?

Clean up, clean up, everybody everywhere. Clean up clean up everybody do your share.

Yes, it's obnoxious and perky, but some kids dig that. If you can't get into a Barney song for clean up time, put on whatever music floats your boat. My 4yo knows every word to Sell Out.

Use a timer if YOU need reminding, because -and listen carefully, because I mean this- it is not her job to remember at this stage of her life. Yes, I know you have 8 million things going on. I am totally guilty of forgetting, too. I work from home, we homeschool, I know how easy it is to get distracted and in my distraction is when the mess occurs.

You'll set that timer based on her attention span between activities, some pre-schoolers can play quietly for 15 minutes, some for longer, some for less. You may want to only do a quick clean up every hour or so. It's up to you. What you'll find is regularly putting away the toys and clutter takes the overwhelming, end of day tornado ripped through here, down to a quick pick up.

Additionally, getting out of the house helps keep the house from getting destroyed and can do wonders to improve your mood. A daily walk, trip to the park or library can help keep the mess down.

Getting the house under control -see that post-it note up there? Click it- will go a long way toward reducing the tension everyone feels in your home. (If you're reading via email or RSS, here's the weekly chore schedule)

As far as having dinner prepared at a reasonable time (notice I didn't say FOR your husband) I highly suggest giving menu planning a try. I have a series of posts on menu planning that you may find helpful. Give them a read.

Hang in there.

Do you have advice? Feel free to share in the comments, but be aware of the Home-Ec 101 comment policy as parenting is a particularly sensitive subject.

Submit your questions to helpme@home-ec101.com.

 

Click here to leave a comment on Cleaning Up With Preschoolers . We'd love to hear your say.This is a post from: Home-Ec101 ©Home-Ec 101.com 2007 - 2011

Why Are There Bleach Stains on my Towels?

Dear Home-Ec 101,

I have been using my new front load washer for over a year now and now all of my towels are ruined. It doesn't matter what color they are or were, they now all have large spots that look like I used chlorine bleach on them. Can you help? I have not changed detergent or softener. I have always used Gain or Tide for cold water and Downey softener.

I would like to buy new towels but don't want to waste my money!

Signed,
Bleached in Blean

Heather says:

In all honesty, I think front load washers are getting blamed for mystery bleach stains when the culprit may not even be in the laundry room. While it is certainly possible that bleach from one load is unfortunately getting into the next, there are simple steps you can take to reduce the occurrence of bleach stains from a front loading washer.

Wash your clothing from whites to darks. If you run a load of whites with chlorine bleach, make sure the next load is light colored fabrics and go ahead and fill the bleach dispensing cup with water to flush out the dispenser. The concentration of bleach should be low enough to not damage colorfast fabrics. If you want to be extra cautious, follow a white load with a load of rags or an empty load and add water to the bleach dispenser. Running an empty, hot load load is actually good for your washer and should be done occasionally.

You also can switch to using oxygen bleach instead of chlorine bleach.

Bleach and bleaching agents have been creeping into our cleaning and personal hygiene products. Do you happen to have a teen or preteen in your household? If so, I'm willing to bet that the culprit is their face wash or acne medication.

Speaking of unfair, that's the culprit in my house. How the heck am I 33 and still dealing with this crap? If grey hair shows up before I grow out of acne, I quit.  I just quit.

If no one uses acne products, do you have whitening toothpaste? What about mouthwash? Any of these products can easily be transferred to your towels. The trouble is the stains don't show up immediately, they often take hours before any noticeable change appears. It usually goes something like this, apply acne medication before bed, wipe your hands on the towel, which then gets thrown in the hamper. The hamper is unloaded right into the washer which then takes the blame.

Before replacing your towels make sure everyone in the home understands that these products can and do stain. Personally, I've given up on "pretty" towels for the foreseeable future and have just gone with functional.

Submit your questions to helpme@home-ec101.com.

 

Click here to leave a comment on Why Are There Bleach Stains on my Towels? . We'd love to hear your say.This is a post from: Home-Ec101 ©Home-Ec 101.com 2007 - 2011

How to be a Fabulous Knitter / Crocheter: Guidelines for 2012

Vera says:

Some years ago, I made a resolution not to make any resolutions, and it has been the easiest one to keep, but the freshness of the new year combined with the temptation to list has finally gotten to me, and I'm ready to make a break with tradition.  This time around, though, I want to be gentle about it.

In that, spirit, I present my crafting resolutions guidelines for 2012. No pressure, no stress, just some I can achieve them–or not–things to do.

Remain "Stash Conscious":

I have enough yarn to open a small shop–or be the focus of an episode of the show Hoarders.  Still, I don't want to place an outright ban on yarn purchases.  When I see a project I want to make, I will try to think of the yarn I already have rather than just running out the door to the nearest shop or jumping online to buy it.  It worked out pretty well last year, so I'll continue.

Finish up Some UFOs:

I can easily spend 2012 working on my UNfinished Objects without starting a single new one, but I know that's setting myself up for failure, so I will endeavor to thin the herd.

Two of the biggest offenders in my UFO Hall of Shame wouldn't take long to complete.

This is the Penina Bolero from Cool Crochet that has been stewing in my closet since 2005!!!  I ran out of yarn, had to buy more, and just "got out of the notion" while waiting for the yarn to arrive.

I just need to finish the second sleeve and sew her up.

This is the Funky Funnel-Neck Fun sweater from one of my first knitting books, The Yarn Girl's Guide to Simple Knits.  I probably started this in 2003.

Had I finished it, she would have had distinction of being my first knitted sweater.  Like Penina, I just need to finish the second sleeve and assemble (sensing a theme here).

I also need to locate the other needle and the book.

Acquire Some New Skills:

I love to learn something new. I taught myself to knit continental, but couldn't purl, so when I returned to knitting, I relearned English style.  Now I want to try continental again to make my fair isle knitting faster.

I learned to knit socks top down with double pointed needles, and that while that will always be my preferred technique,  I know how knit them toe up, on, two circular needles, and using the magic loop method.  Since I suffer from second sock syndrome, maybe it's time to try two socks on circulars. However, instead of having one sock done, I might end up with two socks half done.

Sighs.

I also would like to knit a pair of gloves.  I knitted mittens, and and fingerless mitts, so while gloves isn't that much of a step up, I just never been there.

More, More, More:

I'd would also like to blog more, teach more (virtually and in person), and, organize more.

What are some things you'd you'd like to accomplish in your crafting life for 2012?  Please share in the comments.

Have a Happy and Fabulous New Year!

Vera Hannaford lives and crafts in Charleston, South Carolina. She plans to do some instructional videos, but needs a manicure first.  You can follow her adventures in needlework on Vera's Crafty Blog and on occasion, get some helpful hints at KnittingTips on Twitter.

 

Click here to leave a comment on How to be a Fabulous Knitter / Crocheter: Guidelines for 2012 . We'd love to hear your say.This is a post from: Home-Ec101 ©Home-Ec 101.com 2007 - 2011

2011 the Home-Ec 101 Retrospective

Heather says:

Every year I try to do a look back over what's happened with the site in the past 12 months and just about a year ago I said:

"If 2011 is half as fun or productive, it shall go down as a win."

Before I even bring out the numbers, let's make it official: Total win, hands down, amazing year.

And here are the numbers, as accurate as I can share anyhow:

300 new posts which brings the total to just shy of 1900 posts.1,070k+ visits. Do you see that? Over 1 million people have seen Home-Ec 101 in 2011. This blows my mind1,778k+ pageviews Another crazy number.

That's right around 139% growth. (And unlike most reports, I'm sharing the numbers so you have a concept of scale, but that's a soapbox I won't climb on right now)

So on numbers alone 2011 was better than I dared hope.

Events related to Home-Ec 101 and blogging in general:

Home-Ec 101 Skills for Everyday Living came out in late March and then, in November, on one of my best days ever, I was notified that Amazon listed it as one on Home & Garden's Best of 2011.

In 2011 I spoke in Charleston, Myrtle Beach, NYC, LA, Nashville, Miami (ok it was Palm Beach Gardens), Atlanta, and Asheville. Many, many thanks go to Aliza Sherman and Danielle Smith for including me in part of their MOM, Incorporated book tour, they are both amazing role models and I appreciate their friendship. To those of you who knew me way back when, in college and *gasp* high school, yeah, I'm just as surprised as you.  Topics ranged from blogging how-tos and advice to how life skills are a tool for empowerment.

Ready for the 2011 rundown of the best of Home-Ec 101? (I have altered some of the titles as on a blog, it's always a work in progress)

January:

A reader wrote in to say: I Am Overwhelmed

Bran shared his Oven Roasted Brussels Sprouts

February:

How to Cook with Chicken Thighs

and A Lesson in Using Stainless Steel Cookware

March:

This month we learned that bleach spots can appear from a wide variety of sources in What Causes Bleach Spots

We also talked about Emergency Preparedness after the Japanese Quake

and we can't forget this recipe for Country Fried Steak

April:

How to Deal with Mildew in a Front Loading Washer

oh and Shrimp Quesadillas? YUM!

May:

Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches *drool* I've been craving these lately and to go with that Bobbie shared her Blue Cheese Dressing, which is a perfect accompaniment.

How to Remove Gum from the Dryer

and Vera began contributing posts with How to be a Fabulous Knitter / Crocheter – Introduction

June:

I was apparently on a big grilling kick:

How to Grill: Bacon, Buffalo Wings, Meatloaf, Foil Vegetable Packets, Grilled Burritos, and Bratburgers Brian stepped up the grill with How to Grill Fruit and Fish

July:

I got to do my first cooking event with Cooking With the Troops and my life would never be the same.

Chipotle Mayonnaise (I really should have eaten before writing this post)

August:

A reader wrote in to say she was Feeling Desperate (and for those who didn't see the updates, she is doing much better, hurray for happy endings!)

How to Soak Clothes with a Front Loading Washer

September:

How to Scrub a Tile Floor (why can't I remember writing this, I obviously did) and How to Unclog a Kitchen Sink, Naturally

October:

I also had the very fun opportunity to travel to Chicago and attend Butterball's Turkey University.

Can I Substitute Chicken for Fish in a Recipe (yep)

Chicken Gumbo

November:

I had an amazing opportunity to visit NYC with CWtT and be part of the NASDAQ Veteran's Day Event.  (I'm sure some of you are more than tired of hearing me talk about it)

Bobbie shared her recipe for Homemade Substitute for Condensed Cream of Something Soup

And can I just say Shrimp and Andouille Sausage Cornbread Dressing?

And that brings us to December:

A reader felt she was Taken for Granted and wanted advice on getting teens to help around the house.

I also decided to have a little fun and dust off the Sunday Confessional.

And as we head into the new year, why not make a pot of Sue Polinsky's No Tomato Chili, you won't regret it.

Thank you all for being a part of Home-Ec 101 in 2011. Thank you for your emails, phone calls, and random texts of support and encouragement. I cannot wait to see what is in store for 2012. Hang on, I think it's going to be fun!

Happy New Year to all of you!

Click here to leave a comment on 2011 the Home-Ec 101 Retrospective . We'd love to hear your say.This is a post from: Home-Ec101 ©Home-Ec 101.com 2007 - 2011

Rosemary Walnuts Recipe – Party Pick-up Nibble or Anytime Snack

Bobbie says:

Nuts are one of my favorite snacks. Some folks think I'm nuts. Wait – does that make me a cannibal? Nevermind…you need to make these Rosemary Walnuts for your next party or even for your family just because you want them to feel special. Aromatic rosemary complements the rich, toasted walnuts perfectly, and just a bit of ground cayenne pepper kicks it up a bit. You can use more or less depending on the strength of your cayenne. Rosemary Walnuts are meant to be a savory snack, not a HOT & SPICY one – the pepper is just there to enhance the flavor. If you know you've got super hot cayenne, halve the amount used. If you have found yourself avoiding nuts because they're hard to digest, you'll want to keep reading after the recipe for a way around that issue. [image error]

Rosemary Walnuts Recipe2 tablespoons unsalted butter2 tablespoons dried whole rosemary leaves1 teaspoon sea salt (or 3/4 teaspoon white table salt)1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper (cayenne)2 cups walnut halves (soaked and dried, if desired. See below.)

[image error]   Put the butter and seasonings in a heavy pan, and warm over low heat until the butter melts. Leave it on the heat for a couple minutes longer to allow the rosemary to permeate the butter.   [image error]   Add the walnuts, stirring until all the  nut halves are well-coated with the seasoned butter. Spread on a baking sheet in a single layer, and bake at 350F. Bake for 10 minutes if using nuts that have been previously soaked and dried. Otherwise, bake about 15 minutes. Allow to cool before tasting, no matter how tempting they smell, or  you will burn the dickens out of your mouth. (I learn these things the hard way so you don't have to. It's a public service I perform unintentionally.) Serve at room temperature. Store leftover nuts in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator. [image error]

Making  Nuts More Digestible

Walnuts and other tree nuts, like all "seed foods" contain phytic acid and enzyme inhibitors. The enzyme inhibitors, which prevent seeds from germinating until they are planted, can affect the ability of enzymes in your digestive system to properly digest the nuts or seeds. You can simulate the effect of planting by soaking the nuts, which will neutralize the enzyme inhibitors. They can be used in this soaked state, if desired, or dried at very low heat in an oven or by using a dehydrator.

The phytic acid in seeds, grains, legumes and nuts has a chelating effect in the body. It reduces the bioavailability of minerals in the food  you eat — and NOT ONLY the minerals in the seed food, but in the other food that is in your digestive system at the same time. In the intestinal tract, the phytic acid in seed foods will bind with iron, calcium, magnesium, copper and zinc, blocking its absorption. So, while the minerals may exist in the food you consume, it's changed into a form that your  body cannot use, and they are eliminated with wastes. If your diet consists largely of seed foods that have not been properly prepared, deficiencies may develop over time, possibly leading to health issues.

Procedure:

In a 2 quart bowl, dissolve 2 teaspoons of sea salt in water. Add 4 cups of walnut halves, then enough water to cover the nuts by a few inches. Leave the bowl in a warm place for 7 to 8 hours, or overnight. The water will be cloudy in the morning. Drain off the water, rinse the nuts well a few times until water runs clear. Spread nuts in a stainless steel baking dish or cookie sheet, and dry in an oven set at no more than 150F. A dehydrator set at 150F may be used instead. Time to dry will be 12 to 24 hours — until they are dry and quite crisp.

This same procedure can be used for pecans or almonds, however for almonds, the salt should be increased to 1 tablespoon for 4 cups of nuts.

 

Bobbie Laughman is an elder caregiver, writer and Slightly Nuts Person, who lives in Gettysburg, PA. You can contact her with questions or feedback at Bobbie@home-ec101.com

Click here to leave a comment on Rosemary Walnuts Recipe – Party Pick-up Nibble or Anytime Snack . We'd love to hear your say.This is a post from: Home-Ec101 ©Home-Ec 101.com 2007 - 2011