Heather Solos's Blog, page 86

The Care and Feeding of Your Clothes Dryer

Heather says:

This may come as a surprise to some, but your clothes dryer is not a magic box that dries your clothes with sunshine and warm, fuzzy thoughts. Well there are some warm fuzzies, but not of the rainbow and unicorn variety.  For the most part, and this excludes the new dryers that steam clothing, clothes dryers are fairly simple machines.

This overview is written for the non-technical crowd. If you want schematics, there are repair manuals available with a simple Google search. This article is intended to give a sense of how your dryer works, which will help to maximize the efficiency of its use.

Here's a quick rundown of the basic anatomy of the dryer. Keep in mind that the actual set up is going to vary by model and manufacturer, but in general most dryers are pretty similar.

Cabinet – this houses all of the parts, except the control panel which is usually on top.Door – since you can read, I'm pretty sure you have the hang of this oneDrum – this is the space in which you put the clothes, some dryers also have fins inside the drum to help clothing tumble betterBlower / Fan- this moves in fresh air over the heating element and sends the humid air on its way past the lint screen and out the exhaust / dryer ventElement – In electric dryers this is how the air is heatedGas valve & burner – only found in gas dryers, this is how the air is heatedThermostat – tells your dryer how hot things areMoisture Sensor – tells your dryer about the "load moisture"  how wet the material in the dryer is – the type of sensor varies from model to model.Thermistor – another means by which some dryers help determine the temperatureControl Panel – this is how you tell your dryer how hot, long, or dry you want the load of clothingPulleys, Belts, and a Motor: turn the drum, run the fan, and can prevent the heat from turning on if the drum is not rotating

Your dryer, depending on features will usually determine when a load of clothing is done based on time, temperature or load moisture. The timer shuts the dryer off after a set amount of time and is the least accurate way of determining if your clothes are dry. Temperature shuts off the element or burner when a specific air temperature is reached and shuts the whole thing off when the temperature is sustained. Moisture sensors work through conductivity, wet clothes are decent conductors and tell the sensor that there is still a lot of moisture in the load the conductivity decreases as the load is dried.

Because dryers are such uncomplicated machines, repair and troubleshooting is usually something anyone can manage. Well, anyone willing to follow directions and basic electrical safety (ie unplugging the appliance before doing anything).

To get the most out of your dryer:

Sort clothes by fabric weight.
This doesn't mean you need to break out the scale, you don't have to be that accurate. Just dry heavy fabric with other heavy fabric items. Think of it this way, your t-shirts dry more quickly than your jeans. If you have your jeans and t-shirts in the same load, the shirts are bouncing around in there long after they have dried. To be more efficient dry your lightweight clothing separately from heavier items like denim, blankets, and towels.

Empty the lint filter EVERY time.
The more easily air can flow out of your dyer the more efficiently it can run. Be sure your dryer's vent is cleaned from time to time.

Don't throw balled up or twisted clothing into the drum.
When transferring clothing from your washer to the dryer take a moment and shake out the items. There aren't house elves in there to untwist your pant legs and sheets. (Although it would be nice, no?) It's all about surface area, the more easily your clothes can tumble around in the dryer, the more air can reach the clothing the faster it will dry. You should never hear thuds as balls of wet clothing hit the bottom of the drum during operation.

Don't stuff your dryer.
Back to the airflow, if air can't flow, the clothes can't dry efficiently. If you have a washer with an extra large capacity, you may not be able to dry the whole load in a standard dryer. The clothing must be able to tumble freely.

Try to empty the dryer as soon as it finishes to prevent clothing from wrinkling.
Turning the dryer back on to de-wrinkle clothing isn't the most efficient use of the appliance, even if pulling on warm jeans is one of the greatest simple pleasures in life.

Try to not over-dry fabrics, this reduces its lifespan by weakening fibers.
The timer is the least efficient way to manage the drying cycle. Try to get in the habit of using the moisture sensing option, if it is available.  If the moisture sensor goes bad, it's very simple to replace. Repair Clinic has some great YouTube videos demonstrating this repair.

Questions?

The Care and Feeding of Your Clothes Dryer is a post from: Home Ec 101 ©Home Ec 101.com 2007 - 2011

Tuesday Talk: Keepsakes or Not

Heather says:

Yesterday on the Home-Ec 101 Facebook Fan Page I asked about baby teeth. Are they precious memorabilia or are they something that must be disposed of immediately?

I don't like teeth. I don't know when I started getting skeeved out by them, but I am. I think it started in my teens when I started having THAT nightmare, the one where you're talking or eating and all of your teeth start falling out? Ugh. I cringe inwardly when our oldest shows us another wiggly tooth -good night, how many teeth does this kid have?!- and I know we have two more sets to go.  So yeah, there's baggage on the teeth front here. In our house, the tooth fairy does not pass go, she tosses the teeth.

I used to clean houses and I did stumble on other people's baby teeth from time to time. The most memorable occasion was finding a small pile of teeth in a dusty dish on a piano. I suppose surprise teeth might be a great find if you're an archaeologist learning about an ancient culture or a CSI agent looking for a clue. In my world? Surprise teeth aren't cool.

How do you feel about baby teeth?
Are they something to save or toss?
And if you do save them, how do you store them?

On an unrelated note, if you have satellite radio I'll be interviewed tomorrow on The Catholics Next Door (Channel 129) at 11:20 AM Eastern.

Tuesday Talk: Keepsakes or Not is a post from: Home Ec 101 ©Home Ec 101.com 2007 - 2011

Meal Plan Primer: Shopping the Refrigerator

Heather says:

Last week, my friend Jen at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam wrote about food waste. Her post was a good reminder that we all need to put the brakes on food waste.

Shop the refrigerator, freezer, and pantry before creating this week's meal plan.

For experienced experienced cooks, this process only takes a few minutes, but for those of you who are still finding your kitchen legs, I'll break down the process a bit further.

Gather your supplies:

cleared counter or table spacepen and papersharpie + masking tapegarbage receptacle + compost bowl¹dilute white vinegar in a spray bottlesoapy waterclean rags

Do not just stand there with the fridge hanging open while you do your business.

Open the fridge, empty the top shelf onto your cleared counter space and remove the rack or shelf, too. Spritz the exposed walls of the refrigerator and wipe down with the dilute vinegar. Then CLOSE the door.

Wash the shelf / rack in soapy water, rinse, and allow to dry while doing the next step.

Work quickly and sort the items from the shelf. Accidental science projects go to the trashcan or compost bowl immediately. If something is approaching its use it or lose it time frame, if it's in a disposable container use your sharpie to write the use by date boldly on the container. If the item is in your good plastic or glassware, use masking tape.

Write down the items and make sure to call attention to those ingredients approaching the end of their lifespan.

Finally return the usable items to their shelf, keeping the need to use items as close to the front as possible. You want these items in your face, a visual reminder each time you open the door.

Continue working your way down the fridge and please don't forget to wipe out the very bottom of the fridge underneath the drawers. It is disturbing what finds its way into the refrigerator².

Create your menu from the list of items that need to be used immediately.

What can you make from odds and ends that aren't enough for a recipe of their own? Items like:

a few green onionshalf a bell pepperhalf a tomato etc?

Have you ever made Mustgo Soup? It's a great technique for using up the little odds and ends.

Many recipes are great techniques for using up leftover odds and ends.

Fried RiceStir Fry -use the technique in this recipe, but substitute whatever you wantOmelets / Frittatas / QuicheJambalayaChicken Bog

There are two things to keep in mind. Watch out for freaky flavor combinations – in less PC terms segregate your leftovers by their ethnicity. It sounds harsh, but if you aren't super familiar with what spice combinations work well together, don't just throw it in the same dish and hope.

Once you have your menu planned from the items that must be used, create your shopping list to fill in the gaps. Do not buy any extra food this week, unless there's a great sale on items for your emergency pantry.  Just be sure those items are stored with FiFo in mind – First In, First Out. This helps keeps your food rotated.

Got it? Questions?

How do you put a stop to food waste?

¹We have a passive compost pile, rather than walking out into the backyard every time I have scraps for the pile, I keep a covered bowl in the kitchen for all the vegetable waste and egg shells.
²One would think our basset hound pulls out the drawers and takes a nap in there.

Meal Plan Primer: Shopping the Refrigerator is a post from: Home Ec 101 ©Home Ec 101.com 2007 - 2011

Meal Plan Primer: Shopping the Pantry

Heather says:

Last week, my friend Jen at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam wrote about food waste. Her post was a good reminder that we all need to put the brakes on food waste.

Shop the refrigerator, freezer, and pantry before I create this week's meal plan.

For experienced experienced cooks, this process only takes a few minutes, but for those of you who are still finding your kitchen legs, I'll break down the process a bit further.

Gather your supplies:

cleared counter or table spacepen and papersharpie + masking tapegarbage receptacle + compost bowl¹dilute white vinegar in a spray bottlesoapy waterclean rags

Do not just stand there with the fridge hanging open while you do your business.

Open the fridge, empty the top shelf onto your cleared counter space and remove the rack or shelf, too. Spritz the exposed walls of the refrigerator and wipe down with the dilute vinegar. Then CLOSE the door.

Wash the shelf / rack in soapy water, rinse, and allow to dry while doing the next step.

Work quickly and sort the items from the shelf. Accidental science projects go to the trashcan or compost bowl immediately. If something is approaching its use it or lose it time frame, if it's in a disposable container use your sharpie to write the use by date boldly on the container. If the item is in your good plastic or glassware, use masking tape.

Write down the items and make sure to call attention to those ingredients approaching the end of their lifespan.

Finally return the usable items to their shelf, keeping the need to use items as close to the front as possible. You want these items in your face, a visual reminder each time you open the door.

Continue working your way down the fridge and please don't forget to wipe out the very bottom of the fridge underneath the drawers. It is disturbing what finds its way into the refrigerator².

Create your menu from the list of items that need to be used immediately.

What can you make from odds and ends that aren't enough for a recipe of their own? Items like:

a few green onionshalf a bell pepperhalf a tomato etc?

Have you ever made Mustgo Soup? It's a great technique for using up the little odds and ends.

Many recipes are great techniques for using up leftover odds and ends.

Fried RiceStir Fry -use the technique in this recipe, but substitute whatever you wantOmelets / Frittatas / QuicheJambalayaChicken Bog

There are two things to keep in mind. Watch out for freaky flavor combinations – in less PC terms segregate your leftovers by their ethnicity. It sounds harsh, but if you aren't super familiar with what spice combinations work well together, don't just throw it in the same dish and hope.

Once you have your menu planned from the items that must be used, create your shopping list to fill in the gaps. Do not buy any extra food this week, unless there's a great sale on items for your emergency pantry.  Just be sure those items are stored with FiFo in mind – First In, First Out. This helps keeps your food rotated.

Got it? Questions?

How do you put a stop to food waste?

¹We have a passive compost pile, rather than walking out into the backyard every time I have scraps for the pile, I keep a covered bowl in the kitchen for all the vegetable waste and egg shells.
²One would think our basset hound pulls out the drawers and takes a nap in there.

Meal Plan Primer: Shopping the Pantry is a post from: Home Ec 101 ©Home Ec 101.com 2007 - 2011

Ask the Audience: Overwhelmed, Burnt Out, or Rundown

Heather says:

I don't often talk about my husband's schedule. The internet at large has no need to know when he's not going to be around, at least without some effort on their part. My theory is, if you're going to be a stalker creepazoid, I'll make you at least do a little homework, but I don't operate under the illusion that I can't be found because that would just be naive.

My husband works long hours.  When he's on, he comes home, he sleeps, he refills his lunch bag and goes back to work, rinse and repeat. There is no calling him to hurry home because I've had a bad day, it's just not that kind of job. To put it bluntly the past week was miserable. It started with that trip to urgent care and really never got much better. (No one else got hurt, except maybe their feelings). I guess this is my way of telling you that, I'm right there with those of you who are overwhelmed, burnt out, and rundown. I've been trying to go to bed earlier, but that's been the only time someone hasn't been needing something and sometimes the temptation to enjoy silence is just a bit too strong. I know that it sabotages the next day, but. . .

So today the weather is nice. We're going to knock out the oldest's school work as fast as humanly possible (or maybe even shelve some of it for tomorrow?).  And then? I'm kicking them outside into the yard. I'll arm them with squirt guns, sidewalk chalk, and bubbles. But me? I'm going to stay inside and pull the house back together, because that's what I need. You see that yellow sticky note right up ↑ there? I'm going to get back into the habit of following them, because when I don't? This happens and it becomes a self-feeding demon.

I want to to know what do you do, when you're overwhelmed, burnt out, and rundown. Hiring a sitter isn't really an option, the one I would normally use is recovering from oral surgery and I don't have a back up. So what I'm really hoping for are ideas for when there is no escape, no matter how badly you want to just run away and join the circus.

Tonight is movie night. We'll have dinner -there's a chicken going into the slow cooker as soon as I hit publish. Harry Potter should be arriving in our mailbox this afternoon and I'm going to make a big batch of kettle corn. (Maybe I'll take pictures of that, but don't count on it). I'm hoping a quiet evening will help.

What about you? What do you do when there's no one to take the helm and you're overwhelmed?

Don't forget to enter this week's giveaway, 3 copies of Organized Simplicity.

Ask the Audience: Overwhelmed, Burnt Out, or Rundown is a post from: Home Ec 101 ©Home Ec 101.com 2007 - 2011

Organized Simplicity Giveaway

Heather says:

Sometimes the world is a very small place; this can be especially true on the web where the physical barriers of geography have been stripped away. In January, I had the pleasure of meeting Tsh Oxenrider at a the BlissDom Conference in Nashville. I knew our books were published by the same publishing house, but I had no idea that we shared the same editor. I know many of you read her site, Simple Mom and if you don't? You should.

In our culture -and here I make the assumption that most of you reading are part of Western culture- it takes conscious effort and planning to live simply. It sounds counter-intuitive, but for the most part popular media is funded by companies that live and breathe consume or die. This concept rubs off intentionally and unintentionally into popular culture, it's so prevalent that most of us never bother to notice the race we're running is a treadmill.

Tsh's book Organized Simplicity: The Clutter-Free Approach to Intentional Living is an invitation to stop, sit down, and change your perspective.

I know many of you have already opted out, you ride your bikes, you use a CSA, you're simplifying and reducing the clutter in your life. Still, isn't it nice to have a companion on that journey? Someone whose eyes aren't going to go wide, who won't shut down, when you mention your latest project working toward simplicity. Tsh is that confidant, that friend you want to emulate. You know, the one whose bathroom cabinets you want to peek in, to see if there's a secret.  There's no need to sneak, Organized Simplicity is a hard cover, spiral-bound manual for consciously reducing the unnecessary busyness of your life.

I believe  Tsh and I share many of the same ideals, she just strikes me as a more graceful, centered, and calm person.

You can't wait to move into the "perfect" home to declutter and organize. You'll be waiting a long time because the perfect home doesn't really exist. You may eventually move into the perfect-for-you home, but don't wait for that elusive day to create the home you truly want. Choose now to make your current living space work to the best of its ability.

I think my favorite part of the book is a ten day walk through your home, where you ask "What is this room's purpose?" and then you begin working toward it.  Unfortunately buying the book will not make the organizer fairy visit your house. If it did, it would probably be a lot more than $10.45 on Amazon.

Tsh doesn't only talk about decluttering your home, it's also about decluttering your life, what are you doing that doesn't contribute to your well being? How will you eliminate it?

Other things I love about the book? It has an index and a step-by-step illustration of the nearly impossible to explain how to fold a fitted sheet. There are checklists for organizing, there are sample pages for creating your own home management binder, and budget worksheets, too.

To put it simply /*insert rimshot*/ I'm a fan.

Giveaway details:

I have been given the opportunity to share 3 copies of Organized Simplicity with you. Entering is simple and each reader has up to three entries.

Comment and tell me one area of your life that you'd like to simplify.Share the contest on Facebook or Twitter.  - Leave another comment with a link to the tweet or post. On both Twitter and Facebook you can get the link by right clicking on the time stamp of the post / tweet. (Usually the time stamp says something like one minute ago or the date).Mention the giveaway on your own blog or website. Again leave the link as another comment.

The comments will be closed at 9pm EDT on Sunday May 8, 2011.  This winner will be chosen at random and announced on Home-Ec 101′s Facebook Fan Page on Monday May 9, 2011 at 9am EDT. Winners will have 48 hours to submit their contact information or a new winner will be chosen.

Good luck!

Good luck.

Organized Simplicity Giveaway is a post from: Home Ec 101 ©Home Ec 101.com 2007 - 2011

Hearty Potato, Egg and Green Bean Salad Recipe

Bobbie says:

Hearty Potato, Egg and Green Bean Salad is a great spring recipe. These three components  get cooked in the same pot and a versatile dressing that can be made ahead of time means you can have a very easy but hearty main dish salad on the table in just over half an hour. Since baby potatoes, fresh green beans and eggs are plentiful in many areas, it might be a relative bargain. The salad is served warm, but is also delicious prepared ahead and chilled.

This salad is tossed with a sort of Caesar style dressing, but without the bother of the raw eggs and anchovies required by a more traditional Caesar dressing recipe. It gets a touch of anchovy flavor from the  Worcestershire – did you know traditional worcestershire sauce contains anchovies? Some brands omit this ingredient. Mayonnaise adds some creaminess, otherwise it would just be pretty much a vinaigrette.

If you're looking for timesaving recipes, you've got it — the potatoes and eggs get cooked together, then are removed from the boiling water and the green beans get tossed into that same water for a brief swim. Another timesaver is that the potatoes don't need to be peeled – they have a very thin skin, and the red color adds eye appeal to the completed dish.

The dressing will be about double what you'll need to finish the salad. If you decide to put the entire salad together ahead of time, add just enough dressing to coat the ingredients. At serving time, you can either add a bit more dressing and gently mix again, or allow each person may to add more if they wish.

I know, I know — SIX CLOVES of GARLIC? No, that's not an error. Yes, it's somewhat of a garlicky dressing. If you're not a huge garlic fan, use less. If you're like my daughter, you'll use at least 12 cloves of garlic. (She earned that reputation during a 4-H cooking class and will laugh when she reads this.)

Two Methods of Preparation

You can use a blender or food processor, which yields a smooth and creamy dressing, but then you've got to clean the machine. Or you can toss everything in a jar and shake it up, which will give you slightly lumpy results and you have to clean a cutting board (Because you would never, ever use a knife on your bare countertop, right? Of course you wouldn't.)

As for potatoes, wash them as well as you need to – this will vary. I was fortunate to find potatoes that only needed rinsing, but sometimes they can be quite dirty when you get them. If that's the case with yours, you'll need to rub them gently with your fingers as you wash them. Avoid using a scrub brush on them, unless you have one with very soft bristles. Anything rough will tear the delicate skin on these baby potatoes, and we do want the skins intact on them. While you're washing them, look for any blemishes, and remove them with a small, sharp knife.
6 cloves garlic1/2 teaspoon salt (I prefer Real Salt brand, or Celtic Sea Salt)1 cup extra virgin olive oil1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce* (If you are gluten free, ensure the brand you have is gluten free)1 1/2 teaspoons lemon juice (FRESH, not bottled. Don't make me come back there, kids)1 1/2 teaspoons white wine vinegar1/2 cup mayonnaise (I like to use homemade, but don't always have time)1/4 teaspon black pepper1/4 cup grated parmesan cheeseInstructions 

Peel the garlic cloves. If you're going the food processor/blender route, just put all the dressing ingredients in and blend until smooth, then scrape into a jar with a tight fitting lid.Otherwise, using a large, sharp knife, finely mince the garlic into very tiny bits. At this point, I sprinkle the salt over the garlic, then continue to mince and mix it up using the knife. It may be all in my head, but it seems to bring out the flavor more. You can do it or not. Scrape the garlic into a jar with a tight fitting lid, add the remaining dressing ingredients. Cover tightly and shake it until well mixed. Set aside, or refrigerate if you're making the dressing ahead of time.

Recipe: Hearty Potato, Egg, and Green Bean Salad

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds small red potatoes (about 1 1/2 to 2 inches in diameter)8 large eggs1 tablespoon PLUS 1 teaspoon salt  (divided)3/4 pound fresh green beans3/4 cup Potato, Egg, and Green Bean Salad DressingInstructionsWash your potatoes and put them in a large pot. Carefully place the eggs on top of the potatoes. Add the 1 tablespoon salt, then fill with water to a depth of about 2 inches higher than the potatoes and eggs. Set over high heat until the water comes to a boil. Once the water boils, lower the heat – medium to medium-high. You want to keep it at a gentle boil. Cook, uncovered, 20 minutes. (Set a timer!)While the eggs and potatoes cook, wash the fresh green beans. Trim off the stem ends and any bits that look like you'd rather not eat them. Otherwise, leave the beans whole. If you didn't make the dressing ahead of time, make the dressing now.Test a potato once the 20 minutes are up. Using a small sharp knife, pierce the center of the potato. If it goes easily into the flesh, the potatoes are ready, and the eggs will also be done. Using a large slotted spoon, carefully remove the eggs and potatoes to a heatproof dish or plate. I used my roasting pan because I had it handy, and it allowed everything to spread out to cool.Turn the heat back up to high to return the pot of water to a rolling boil. Once it's boiling again, add the beans and set a timer for 6 minutes. Put a colander into the sink and get out a large bowl for assembling and serving the salad. Make sure it's large enough to hold all the ingredients and allow room for gentle mixing.Peel the eggs as soon as you can hold one in your hand without burning yourself, and set them aside for the moment. To cool the eggs more quickly, they can be put into a bowl of water. Don't let them get cold, as cold eggs can be harder to peel.When the potatoes are cool enough to handle, start cutting them into chunks that are just bite-sized, not really small. Put them into the large bowl as you cut them. When the timer for the beans goes off, check them. You only want the beans lightly cooked, still bright green and still having some snap to them. Think "blanched" without the cold water bath at the end. Turn off the burner, remove from heat and pour into the colander. When well drained, add them to the bowl.Cut the peeled eggs into quarters, lengthwise, and add to the serving bowl. Do not stir the ingredients yet — sprinkle the 1 teaspoon salt over the potatoes, eggs and beans, distributing it well over all.Shake the jar of dressing, then pour about half a cup onto the salad. Using a large spoon, very gently mix the salad with the dressing. The eggs will break up some and the yolks will fall out of the whites, but try not to break them up very much. This is meant to be a rather chunky salad. If it looks too dry, add up to 1/4 cup more dressing. Serve warm, or cover and chill until serving time.

The Great Sweat and Odor Laundry Round Up

Heather says:

You may have noticed there have been quite a few posts on laundry this past week. I thought I'd make your lives a little easier by rounding up all of the laundry and odor related posts into one spot.

Sour Smelling Towels are a vexing problem. Learn how to remove that odor.

How to Remove Stubborn Body Odor from Laundry. – This article tackles lingering odors that stick around after clothing has been washed. Sometimes our efforts to prevent those body odors are the source of the issue, learn How to Remove Deodorant Stains.

Sometimes it's the washer itself that smells – How to Prevent and Get Rid of Mildew in a Front Loading Clothes Washer

The improper storage of bedding can cause mildew odors: What causes Smelly Sheets

Vinegar and borax are rock stars in the laundry room when it comes to dealing with unpleasant odors: Here's How to Use Vinegar and Borax in the Laundry Room.

I hope you find the compilation helpful.

Last month I mentioned working with Unilever on their Don't Fret the Sweat Campaign. Today they are releasing another episode of the BlissTV segment and don't forget to check out the Don't Fret the Sweat Facebook Page.

The Great Sweat and Odor Laundry Round Up is a post from: Home Ec 101 ©Home Ec 101.com 2007 - 2011

Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches

Heather says:

Buffalo chicken sandwiches are my weakness. I don't know why, maybe it's the combination of crunch, heat, and the cool of the blue cheese. Buffalo chicken sandwiches are a sometimes food, meaning I don't pretend they are healthy and I won't make them often, but when I do? Hoo boy, I enjoy them.

The key to a great buffalo chicken sandwich is of course the wing sauce, which is ridiculously easy to make. Don't waste your time with pre-made wing sauce, just find some Frank's Hot Sauce and butter. That's it. It feels silly to write it up in recipe format, but here you are. I use wing sauce for grilled wings, oven fried chicken fingers over tossed salad, and of course these buffalo chicken sandwiches.
Heat the oil to 350F.Cut each chicken breast in half, then cover with a piece of plastic wrap or wax paper and beat it with a meat mallet or rolling pin.  This physically tenderizes the meat by breaking up the muscle tissue.  Set aside.In one shallow bowl, whisk together the flour, onion powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper.In another shallow bowl, whisk together the egg and milk. (Some prefer a thicker egg wash, but that's personal preference. You can use as little as 1 TBSP of milk; it's up to you.Just before frying dredge the chicken in the flour mixture, coat with the egg and milk mixture and then dredge again in the flour coating. Shake off any excess and place in the hot oil.Fry for 8 – 12 minutes turning once. Depending on the size of your pot, you should be able to fry 2 – 3 pieces at once.  Check the temperature of the chicken, it should be 165 F.Drain on paper towels and then place on a toasted bun, topping with wing sauce and blue cheese.Enjoy!Keep in mind when frying that color alone is not a good indication of whether or not chicken is done. These pieces were fried for the same length of time at the same temperature. Fresh oil yields a light color, but as more flour particles are cooked in the oil, you get darker appearance.

Cooking time (duration): 40

Number of servings (yield): 8

Meal type: dinner

Culinary tradition: USA (General)

Questions?

Submitted to Mouthwatering Monday.

Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches is a post from: Home Ec 101 ©Home Ec 101.com 2007 - 2011

Sunday Confessional May 1, 2011

Heather says:

It has been a while since I ran this series on Home-Ec 101. I started the Sunday Confessional a few years ago as a way for us to come to grips that our lives aren't magazine perfect, a place to embrace our foibles and get over ourselves. We're all human; yes, even that lady in the car pool line whose make up is always flawless. I promise, she's got her own baggage. Life isn't as perfect as we like to pretend. Television sets standards most of us will never attain and no one's home is always pristine, unless they can afford staff -or are a bit OCD and live alone.

What's my confession for this week?

I'm skipping church. I know that doesn't sound so bad, but oh just wait for the reason. Yesterday afternoon all the kids were playing with the neighbor kid* across the street. Unfortunately my daughter got too close when one of the kids was swinging a bat. It caught her in the cheek, I took her in and got an x-ray to be on the safe side, thankfully nothing is broken. "Ice and Motrin" said the doc, "and it's going to look a lot worse over the next few days." She wasn't kidding and that's the reason I'm reluctant to go to church this morning. For some reason most of us don't bat** an eye when a boy shows up with the occasional obvious bump or bruise, but dainty little  girls? And there you have it, I'm not going because I'm neurotic and worried about what others think.

Last week I asked on Facebook, if you wanted me to bring back this weekly series and the majority who responded said yes. So don't make stand out here all by myself, what do you have to get off your chest. If it makes you feel any better, I've been slacking on keeping up my office, too. This room is in a pretty sad state. My goal for today is to get it back in order, since I have all that extra time on my hands.

*It was just an accident and we're all still good friends.
**See what I did there?

The Home-Ec 101 Forums have been relaunched. Head over there and say hello.

Sunday Confessional May 1, 2011 is a post from: Home Ec 101 ©Home Ec 101.com 2007 - 2011