Old Fashioned Homemaking Weekly Digest Volume 2

October 6th, 2012

Published by: Old Fashioned Homemaking

Old Fashioned Homemaking Digest Volume 2 This is the weekly digest of articles from http:// www.oldfashionedhomemaking.com. They are dated October 1 through October 5, 2012.

5 Ways to Prepare for the Christmas Season in October 5 Ways to Prepare for the Christmas Season in October is a post from: Old Fashioned Homemaking Even though we go through it every year, preparing for the holidays can still be a daunting task – especially for whoever takes most responsibility for running the household. There are lots of things that need doing, and it can sometimes be difficult to remember what these are, let alone what action is required.

This short list gives you a few pointers that should set you on your way to a smooth and comparatively relaxing holiday season!

If you like sending Christmas cards out to your friends and family, then don’t wait until the last few weeks before getting them ready. As soon as you see cards in the shops, buy some that you like and start writing them out. You can have them all signed and ready to go well before send-out time, leaving you with less on your mind as the season approaches.

5. Stock Up On Ingredients If you like making special treats for holidays such as cakes and other baked goodies, then buy up the ingredients you need now. As holidays approach, the things you want are going to be more in demand and may not be as easy to find. Once you’ve got the ingredients you need, start baking early. Some cakes need a couple of months to mature before they’re ready to eat, so make sure you get these ready well ahead of time.

Gingerfolk graphic by www.digiscrapkits.com

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Get Your Kitchen Holiday Ready Get Your Kitchen Holiday Ready is a post from: Old Fashioned Homemaking

1. Set Your Budget First and foremost, if you haven’t already, you need to figure out what your budget for holiday expenses is. If you don’t think your budget is big enough, don’t fret, there are still a few months for you to save a few more bucks.

2. Make An Action Plan Give some thought to the things you need to do (some of which are included below). Once you’ve figured out the essentials, make a rough timetable that gives deadlines for each task. You can mark this onto a household calendar to serve as a reminder and help you to keep on top of preparation tasks.

3. Start Getting Presents Now For most, holidays are a time of giving, and this usually comes in the form of presents. Don’t waste any time – if you’re going to get presents for family and friends, start buying them right now! If you’re short on ideas, then ask your kids, friends, and family to give you some suggestions. The key is not to leave present-buying right up until the last minute. This saves all the stressful and unnecessary rush, and also helps to ensure you can get the gifts you really want for your children.

4. Write Your Christmas Cards

(Family Features) Millions of Americans will be taking to the road this holiday season and odds are some of them are coming to your home. All of those extra houseguests mean added kitchen clutter and a sink filled with a plethora of pots, pans and plates. Since the kitchen is the heart of the home, you’ll want to make sure the space remains warm, inviting and sparkling clean during the holiday season. Here are some quick tips to help you get your kitchen ready for friends and family: Countertops – Keep countertops clutter free by doing a quick clearing off. Grab a laundry basket and fill it with those piled up papers and magazines, school projects, and miscellaneous items that are taking up precious counter space. After the hubbub of the holiday season has died down, you can sort through the basket and determine where all the items should be stored.

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Once the counters have been cleared, it’s time to wipe everything down. And don’t forget about those usually unseen spots – move appliances, cookbooks and displays so you can clean underneath them, rather than just around them. Keep in mind that if you have granite countertops, you need to use a pH-neutral stone cleaner. Soap, abrasive cleaners or cleaners with citrus can damage granite.

Sink – A kitchen may look spic and span, but one stinky sponge can easily mask all your hard work. The new “Dirty Dishes Dilemma” survey by Palmolive® reveals that close to nine out of ten households (86 percent) have encountered a bad smelling sponge, and almost everyone surveyed (94 percent) said they felt this particular odor impacts their kitchen’s cleanliness most.

Help keep guests’ noses from crinkling by ensuring bad smells are kept at bay. One way you can do that is with the dual-action formula of Ultra Palmolive® Dish and Sponge FreshTM Dish Liquid, which washes away odor-causing residue on sponges while its cleaning action helps remove stuck-on food. Dishes are left sparkling clean and sponges are left smelling fresh.

Another way to help keep your sponge smelling fresh?

Properly clean your sponges by removing remaining food particles and thoroughly rinsing your sponge after using the dish liquid.

Shiny surfaces also enhance a kitchen’s atmosphere. Splotches and stains are a common sink surface menace even with daily cleaning. Use an eraser-type sponge and an all-purpose cleanser to remove them. You can also try cleaning stains with baking soda.

Refrigerator - Entertaining during the holiday season inevitably leads to lots of leftovers. Make sure shelves aren’t filled with any food that is past their prime by looking through your refrigerator every few days. Don’t forget to clean the bins and door shelves, too. Another way to keep the fridge smelling fresh is by opening a box of baking soda and storing it on a shelf – this will help absorb any lingering odors.

Keep the outside of the refrigerator as sparkling as the inside by wiping down exposed surfaces. Door handles and edges can get grimy so pay attention to those areas.

Creating a warm and inviting kitchen space for the upcoming season doesn’t have to be time consuming. A little bit of elbow grease now will get your kitchen ready for the frenzy of festivities ahead.

Learn more about all of the Ultra Palmolive® dish liquid offerings at www.palmolive.com.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images SOURCE: Palmolive

Button Up Your Home for Winter Button Up Your Home for Winter is a post from: Old Fashioned Homemaking Contractors’ slow season makes fall a great time to embark on home improvement projects.

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(ARA) – As the leaves turn and fall to the ground, it’s time to start thinking about “buttoning up” your home for winter to keep you and your family healthy and comfortable, your belongings safe and high energy costs at bay.

Heating accounts for 34 percent of all annual utility usage, according the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

One of the most cost-effective ways to improve the energy efficiency and comfort of your home is to seal and insulate the “envelope” – outer walls, windows, doors and roof. By doing so, ENERGY STAR estimates that a homeowner can save up to 20 percent on heating and cooling costs, the equivalent to lowering up to 10 percent of total energy costs for the year.

Here are a few ways to keep you and your family healthy, your belongings safe and help lower your heating bill: Preventing the draft Old, drafty windows and doors can account for home energy loss of up to 30 percent, according to the EPA, which means paying more in the winter to heat your home. By replacing non-performing windows and doors, homeowners can drastically reduce heating costs. A typical home that replaces its single-paned, clear glass windows with energyefficient windows can realize up to $501 in annual savings, according to the EPA. “Windows are a great source of natural light, and a great way to admire the picturesque snow-covered trees and lawns while avoiding the brisk winter air; however, they can also be the site of the biggest energy efficiency offender,” says David Harrison, chief marketing officer of Champion Windows, one of the nation’s leading home improvement companies. “By installing our Comfort 365 Windows, homeowners can watch their heating bills drop and rid their homes of cold drafts.”

Additionally, old or improperly installed siding can also be the cause of drafts. However, by installing new, energy-efficient vinyl siding and underlayment, homeowners can increase a homes’ R-Value, a measure of insulation’s ability to resist heat traveling through it.

“Installing energy-efficient siding can help insulate your home against the cold, reduce the amount of air flow into your house, and make it easier to keep warm air in the winter,” says Harrison.

However, even the best windows, doors and siding can be drafty, if they are poorly installed. So it’s important to make sure your home improvement is completed by a quality contractor who has a long history of being in the business so you can be sure they will be around if you have any issues down the road.

Prevent moisture Water leakage from snow, ice and rain can cause damage to the exterior and interior of your home. This can result 2

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in costly damage to framing, structure and insulation, more importantly it can cause issues – like mold – that can be harmful to the health of your family.

The roof is often the site of leaks in homes; however, by installing a new roof and taking the proper precautions, leaks won’t be a problem, especially with Champion’s Comfort 365 Roof System, which uses a flexible, self-healing barrier in all leak vulnerable areas and is guaranteed with a limited lifetime warranty.

“Your home will settle and shift over time and extreme weather can be an issue,” says Harrison. “It is important to have barriers to provide protection against leaks caused by roof setting and extreme weather. Unlike many companies who only use this on the north side of a home or treat it as an upgrade, Champion uses a flexible, self-healing barrier anywhere your home’s roof joins and at all attachment points.”

Other ways to improve the seal of your home to prevent moisture damage, drafts and improve energy efficiency include: • Sealing leaks • Adding insulation • Sealing ducts “Now is the perfect time to make these improvements,” says Harrison. “Since it’s the offseason, homeowners can find great deals and attractive financing to ‘button up’ your home for winter.”

For more energy saving window, door, siding and roof tips, check out the U.S. Department of Energy’s website or Champion Window’s site www.ChampionFactoryDirect.com.

Celebrate Autumn with These Fun Activities for the Whole Family Celebrate Autumn with These Fun Activities for the Whole Family is a post from: Old Fashioned Homemaking (ARA) – Fall is often considered the coziest of seasons. Not too hot, but not too cold, there is something about the vibrant colors of leaves and crisp air that make you want to pull on a sweater and take in all this season has to offer.

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of classic novels. Take some time away from your busy schedule to revisit some of these books before they hit the big screen. Throw a few logs into the fireplace, put on your warmest sweater and relax with a good story, whether you’re reading it for the first or 20th time.

• Take a walk. There’s no better way to take in the sights, smells and sounds of fall than being surrounded by the season. Enjoy the vibrant colors of leaves changing, the familiar smell of smoky bonfires and children jumping into massive leaf piles. It is the perfect time for long walks because temperatures aren’t overbearingly hot and the humidity levels are much more tolerable. Dress appropriately for the cooler weather and see what fun you can have outside.

• Help others. Fall is an excellent time to direct your energies and donations toward nonprofit organizations.

For example, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and you can participate in a fundraiser for any breast cancer organization or donate funds during this special month. Old London is helping to find a cure by donating 75 cents to breast cancer research for each proof of purchase from any of its products received through Feb. 6, 2013. Enter the UPC at oldlondonfoods.com.

• Harvest fall fun. Visit a local apple orchard or pumpkin patch. Apple trees are heavily laden with crisp and delicious apples this time of year. Head out to an orchard to pluck the perfectly grown fruits off trees bearing your favorite variety of apples. Or take children on a ride at a pumpkin farm. Let them run through the patch, inspecting every pumpkin for their perfect carving creation.

• Feed your autumnal appetite. All of fall’s exciting activities will leave members of your family feeling voracious. Warm them up – and create a delicious smell in your house – with a bowl of homemade soup. This simple recipe for Chicken Soup and Crackers is destined to become a fall staple.

Chicken Soup and Crackers Ingredients: 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth or homemade chicken stock 1 (3-pound) chicken, cooked and de-boned, then skinned and pulled 1 medium yellow onion, peeled and cut into large chunks 2 carrots, peeled and cut into large chunks 2 stalks celery, cut into large chunks 1 bay leaf 1 teaspoon dried thyme 1/4 teaspoon turmeric

Celebrate all the scents and sounds of the fall with a few tips to make the most of this beautiful season: • Reread a classic. Cozy up with a classic book. A few of the most anticipated upcoming feature films are adaptations

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste 1 box of frozen okra 1 box Melba Snacks Spicy 3 Pepper 3

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Directions: Place broth in a 3 quart sauce pan. Add the onion, carrots, celery, bay leaf, thyme, turmeric, salt, and pepper and simmer until vegetables are very tender.

Add chicken pieces and frozen okra, and boil for 5 minutes.

To serve, place Melba Snacks Spicy 3 Pepper into bowls and cover them with soup. Garnish with parsley.

The fall months are a perfect time to enjoy spending time with family and getting outside to enjoy the final warm days of the year. For additional recipes, visit Old London on Facebook at www.facebook.com/OldLondonFoods.

Boomers – Shifting Household Needs Create Home Design Opportunities Boomers – Shifting Household Needs Create Home Design Opportunities is a post from: Old Fashioned Homemaking (ARA) – Boomers expect to stay in their homes and live independently into their later years, but in the midst of change that is occurring in their households, it’s easy for them to lose focus on planning for their own future housing needs.

New research by The Hartford shows that 40 percent of boomers have experienced or anticipate experiencing family member changes in and out of the home, mostly related to their children. However, 70 percent of boomers have not made design changes to their living space, perhaps due to the fact that they don’t know if their children will move back home, notes Jodi Olshevski, gerontologist at The Hartford. Changes that increase your home’s livability allow you to stay in your home longer and make living easy for people of all ages, sizes and abilities.

“Most of us want to stay in our homes as we age, which often requires making the design choices to help us do that,” says Olshevski. Moving, remodeling or simply redecorating, all present opportunities to incorporate design factors that make your home comfortable and safe for everyone you care about, from small children to older individuals. While a life transition might cause you to halt your plans for improvements, Olshevski recommends taking the opposite approach and using it as an opportunity to incorporate more accessible design into the home.

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Olshevski recommends concentrating on three design elements in order to accommodate changing needs over a lifetime: • Adaptability. Is your home flexible and functional for family and friends now and in the future? For example, if you’re installing a new bathroom sink, you might consider storage space in the cabinet underneath. You may also want to make sure the cabinet opening is at least 36 inches wide, which allows a wheel chair to slide in between the doors when open and makes the sink accessible to all. Or, if you’re installing new kitchen countertops, think about choosing a design with multiple heights to increase flexibility and comfort for things such as standing for food preparation or sitting to check for recipes on the computer.

• Ease. Any components you add to your home should be easy to use. For example, improvements like pull-out drawers for easy access in kitchens and bathrooms can help make reaching for items easier. If you’re replacing door handles or faucets, opt for lever style handles that are easier to turn.

• Openness. Open floor plans are becoming more the trend, but it’s not just for style reasons. More open space means additional room to maneuver, eliminating obstacles for those who have mobility challenges.

Improvements like rounding edges on countertops can also help eliminate sharp objects that could cause injury.

Recognizing both that people are living longer and wish to remain in their homes, and seeing the types of transitions that families have gone through over the past few years, The Hartford has dedicated a section of its website to helping people make their homes more livable across a lifetime, meeting the needs of every age and everyone. More resources for getting your home ready for the rest of your life can be found at www.thehartford.com/lifetime.

Should You Winterize Your Pet? Should You Winterize Your Pet? is a post from: Old Fashioned Homemaking (ARA) – The arrival of autumn signals many changes in the household, from switching from salads to soups to pulling sweaters out of storage to changing furnace filters. With pets, however, you may need to think as much about what you don’t change as what you do.

By following the principles of universal design – what’s good for people of all ages, sizes and abilities – you can make sure your home is more livable across your lifetime, and can stand up to any life changes that come your way.

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I couldn’t sleep last night, so my mind turned to food! I decided that today I would search the internet to see if you could make bread in a crock pot. The first place I found was http:// busymomsmenuplan.blogspot.com. I found three wonderful recipes on her site that I had to share with you.

Simple Bread Dough

Chicago veterinarian Dr. Shelly Rubin is well acquainted with the dramatic temperature swings that accompany the change of seasons, as well as how to help pets and owners cope with them. Following is his list of fall do’s and don’ts for pet owners.

• Don’t “fall” off the exercise wagon. With days getting shorter – and cooler – it can be tempting to skip your early morning or evening walk. But with more than half of all pets in the U.S. being overweight or obese, exercise is vital. A daily walk, or several shorter walks, can rev the metabolism of both two- and four-legged walkers for hours.

Source: busymomsmenuplan.blogspot.com via Old Fashioned on Pinterest Crockpot Bread

• Do ensure your pet is outfitted for cooler weather. Small, light-bodied breeds, dogs with very short hair and older dogs with weakened immune systems are likely to need a sweater when venturing outside. And once cold and snowy weather sets in, dogs may require protective footwear to keep their paw pads from freezing.

• Don’t assume that cooler weather eliminates the threat of diseases like heartworm, which are spread by infected mosquitoes. Mosquitoes have been known to survive well into the winter months, thanks to indoor havens and protected microclimates existing within larger, cooler climate zones. For this reason, the American Heartworm Society recommends year-round heartworm protection for both dogs and cats.

Source: busymomsmenuplan.blogspot.com via Old Fashioned on Pinterest Homemade Pasta Without a Pasta Maker

• Do ensure your senior pet has a warm, draft-free place to sleep. Many older dogs and cats suffer from arthritis.

Just as sore joints in people tend to feel worse in cold weather, so it is with pets. A warm cozy bed can make nights – and mornings – more comfortable.

• Do be sensitive to your pets’ feelings if fall brings changes to your household. Just like people, pets can get depressed. And if you’re missing a son or daughter who has moved away to start college or a job, chances are your family pet is also feeling the loss. Spending time with your pet and giving him an extra measure of cuddling and affection will help both of you feel better.

Crockpot Bread and Easy Homemade Noodles

Source: busymomsmenuplan.blogspot.com via Old Fashioned on Pinterest I plan to try these as soon as I get the ingredients. I may even have everything already on hand. Hope you enjoy these!

Crockpot Bread and Easy Homemade Noodles is a post from: Old Fashioned Homemaking 5

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Rebates 101: Five Steps To Finding Free Money Rebates 101: Five Steps To Finding Free Money is a post from: Old Fashioned Homemaking (NAPSI)–Good news for homeowners looking to upgrade their house without seriously downgrading their finances: Product rebates are available for many kinds of energy-efficient home appliances.

Why? The government and utilities both want consumers to use less energy, and one way they hope to influence people is by offering incentives to purchase more energy-efficient models. For a homeowner, that means saving more on the initial purchase and on monthly utility bills.

How? Try these tips: 1. Check with your utility company. Electric companies often offer rebates on energy-efficient products. Visit their website and search for a listing of available rebates by appliance category, along with the qualification, incentive and application. If you can’t find information online, call the customer service number listed on your last bill.

2. Research government rebates. Government programs such as the ENERGY STAR rebate locator let you enter your zip code and type of appliance at www.energystar.gov to find special offers.

3. Search the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE) website, www.dsireusa.org, for residential rebates and incentives in your state.

4. Look for in-store signage. Signs and brochures next to appliance displays often outline available offers and some store personnel are trained to relay available rebates.

5. Visit manufacturer websites. Some appliance manufacturers make it even easier to locate rebates through easy-to-use online search functions. For example, GE Appliances’ Rebate Finder lets you enter your zip code and the appliance you’re shopping for to view a list of rebates and immediately download rebate applications. Visit www.geappliances.com/rebates_promotions to learn more, including how you might be able to earn money for recycling your old model. To make rebate and appliance research as easy as possible, a rebate finder is located on every appliance model page.

Rebates can help you save a considerable amount of money when it comes to appliance purchases. By making research a

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part of your appliance shopping, you won’t miss out on great savings.

Cheesy Potato Balls Cheesy Potato Balls is a post from: Old Fashioned Homemaking A very unusual starter, but a bit of a difference is always good. This starter will please anyone. The soft potato texture combines perfectly with the melting cheese. This dish should be served warm.

Ingredients 2 potatoes 1 cup cheddar cheese Salt and pepper to taste 3 cups oil to fry 1/2 tsp. paprika Directions 1. Boil some water and add the potatoes in it.

2. When the potatoes are boiled, mash them and add salt, pepper, and paprika.

3. Mash well.

4. Take a lump on your hand and make it into a shape of a ball, now press the edges so it becomes flat.

5. Shape it into a well shape so you can fill it in with the cheese.

6. When your shape is right, add the grated cheese into it and cover the ball so the cheese does not show.

7. Heat the oil on medium heat and add the balls into the oil.

8. Fry them until they are a nice golden brown color.

Year-Round Backyard Safety Tips for Families Year-Round Backyard Safety Tips for Families is a post from: Old Fashioned Homemaking (ARA) – Your backyard is a space where you enjoy quality time with your family – from running around with your kids in the fall leaves to playing catch with your furry friend in the snow.

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It’s a place to escape, but remember accidents can happen anywhere at any time, and just like you childproof your house, you need to ensure your backyard is safe as well.

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• Eliminate access to lawn equipment and chemicals. Put these items completely out of the reach of children.

• Keep a first aid kit and a rescue kit for those backyards with water features easily accessible.

Your backyard can be one of the most exciting places for your children through the entire year. A little prevention along the way will keep it safe and provide wonderful memories for your family.

Keeping your backyard safe begins with your fence. A yard without a fence is a little like a house without walls. Fences help protect children from danger, keeping toddlers out of swimming pools, hot tubs and ponds or keeping them in the yard, away from busy traffic or strangers. Fences can also help keep your own pets in your yard, and other animals out. They can reduce your liability by preventing injuries to uninvited guests on your property, or damage or injury caused by escaped pets.

“A good weekend winterizing project is making sure your fences and gates are functioning properly and are protected from rust, a destructive force that can render gate hardware useless or dangerous,” says Jim Paterson, senior vice president of D&D Technologies, which manufactures gate latches and hinges made of ultra-strong engineering polymers. “In our research, we found that when homeowners consider their fencing needs, rusty metal gate hardware that no longer functions properly or becomes a threat to children was their top concern. Rust-free and adjustable gate hardware is available.”

Seasonal weather, ground settling and other factors can cause a gate to become misaligned over time and not function properly. It’s important to have gate hardware that can be easily adjusted to overcome this. TruClose self-closing, tension adjustable hinges are an ideal solution. Some models are vertically and horizontally adjustable as well. Combined with D&D adjustable, locking gate latches will ensure your gate will always function properly.

Additional precautions to take when childproofing your backyard: • Tighten and cover any protruding bolts on swing sets and do not attach ropes or cords, which could become strangulation hazards.

• Remove old tree stumps and rocks, level concrete footings to avoid tripping.

• Seal wooded items such as decks, swing sets and picnic tables before inclement weather sets in.

• Completely fence pool and spa areas with adjustable self-closing hinges like TruClose and self-latching gates, ensuring latches are out of the reach of children such as the Magnalatch Safety Gate Latch. Both products carry a lifetime warranty and are adjustable both vertically and horizontally for quick and easy adjustments.

Look for D&D Technologies rust free gate hardware and child safety latches at www.ddtechglobal.com or under the Stanley Hardware brand through Lowe’s.

Outsmart Hunger with 3 Easy Tips Outsmart Hunger with 3 Easy Tips is a post from: Old Fashioned Homemaking (ARA) – As the leaves change and the air turns crisp, it can be tempting to indulge in delicious food favorites and hide those few extra pounds under a thick wool sweater. But you shouldn’t have to choose between sticking with your weight management plan and enjoying satisfying and delicious foods.

There are some easy and tasty tricks to having your cake and eating it too.

“For those looking to manage their weight, protein and fiber filled foods are helpful to feeling full longer. Typical protein options like Greek yogurt and eggs are not good sources of fiber. One option, Kellogg’s Special K Protein Plus cereal, has 10 grams of protein and also three grams of fiber. Special K also offers tasty meal bars and shakes to take with you on the go to help avoid those tempting cupcakes at the office,” says registered dietitian Sylvia Melendez-Klinger.

Melendez-Klinger shares her tips on ways to outsmart hunger: • Get those greens. Filling up on low-calorie, nutrientdense vegetables are a great way to incorporate vitamins and minerals into your diet – and help fill you up at the same time. Not a salad lover? Integrating veggies into your diet can be as easy as topping your sandwich with spinach and peppers or baking chicken with carrots and onions.

• Protein packs a punch. Choosing foods with protein will help you feel full longer. “I love options like Special K Protein cereal, bars and shakes, which provide a winning combination of 10 grams of protein and up to five grams of fiber to help you satisfy hunger longer,” comments Melendez-Klinger.

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• Pump up the produce. Adding seasonal produce to each meal is another flavorful and delicious way watch the scale. While summer may be best known for bringing fresh produce options to the table, fall ushers in a new group of colorful and nutrient-dense varieties of its own, like apples, yams, beets, pumpkins and carrots. Burn some extra calories by walking to your local farmer’s market to buy fresh, local options.

regularly coming through the school’s dry storage area, Joe encourages the students to use the earliest bought, or oldest, goods first. “The tendency is to go for the freshest or A+ product when the A grade item will do,” he says. “You don’t want to let perfectly usable goods go to waste.”

Special K Protein products can be found now in the snack, cereal and sports nutrition aisles of grocery, convenience and drug stores nationwide. For more information about how Special K can help you outsmart hunger, visit www.SpecialK.com/ProteinEffect.

Schreiber proposes buying high-quality essentials and purchasing goods in bulk. “Buy the highest quality staples you can afford,” recommends Schreiber. For example, six pounds of a good butter can last you a solid five months. Other items where quality counts and the products can endure include oils, vinegars, salts, dried herbs and spices. “When possible, buy dry goods in bulk too,” he adds. Grains, rice, legumes and pastas are all good products to shop for in a food store’s bulk department.

Revamp Your Pantry to Save Money and Avoid Waste Revamp Your Pantry to Save Money and Avoid Waste is a post from: Old Fashioned Homemaking (ARA) – For a basic green living project with benefits to your wallet and the environment, consider revamping the kitchen pantry. The cupboard is the starting point for most kitchen activity and is more than just a storage space. Develop good buying habits and build a strong foundation and you can avoid the waste of food and money. Here’s how to tackle the task at once or little by little.

Stock up Once you have a handle on what you are buying and how you are consuming it, it is time to stock up.

To store the loose pasta or grains, look for containers with a lower environmental footprint. “Using glass, metal and ceramics is the easiest solution,” says Chris Stanley, an Industrial Design instructor at The Art Institute of Seattle.

Stanley, who has taught courses on the history of industrial design and in materials and manufacturing, adds “choose something classic in design so you won’t be tempted to throw it out in two years. Or, you can re-use glass jars and that fruit cake tin your aunt sends you each year.”

Not only is buying in bulk less expensive, but less packaging means less energy used to create the materials and less garbage to throw away – all of which are more friendly to the environment.

How to Decode Pet Food Labels Assess When you are not in a rush to whip up a family meal or put away loads of groceries, take some time to really look at the items in your pantry. What is in front? What is hidden in the back? What’s used most frequently? What is expired?

“Be more aware of your consumption habits,” suggests Cory Schreiber, a chef instructor at The International Culinary School at The Art Institute of Portland. This awareness is a simple step to greener living. “Avoid impulse purchases by being more mindful of the emotions that can be involved in food shopping,” he adds. “Not only do you avoid waste this way, but conscious consumption is more cost effective too.”

How to Decode Pet Food Labels is a post from: Old Fashioned Homemaking (Family Features) Pet owners want the very best for their animals, but it can be hard to choose the right food. With hundreds of pet food products available, how do you decide what’s best for your pet? It’s smart to start with the label – but labels can be confusing if you don’t know what to look for.

Here’s what you need to know.

What you need to know to make the right food choices for your pets

Utilize Another cost-effective method that Joshua Joe, storeroom manager at The International Culinary School at The Art Institute of California – Los Angeles, a campus of Argosy University, recommends is a common inventory and accounting process used by schools, hotels and other food service providers. “Practicing a first-in, first-out method of consuming your pantry goods is a true way to save money and prevent food waste,” says Joe, who purchases the school’s food supplies. With approximately 500 culinary arts students 8

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Pet Food Names

Guaranteed Analyses

So what’s in a product name? More than you might think.

According to the manual produced by The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), if a pet food name says:

By law, pet food packaging must show the minimum percentages of crude protein and fat, as well as the maximum percentages of crude fiber and moisture in the product. This is not an indication of the actual nutrient content or a guarantee of nutritional quality.

• Chicken, beef, seafood, lamb - it must contain 95 percent of that ingredient.

• A combination of ingredients (Chicken and Liver) – the two named ingredients together must make up 95 percent of the total weight. The first ingredient should be the predominant one. This only applies to animal-based ingredients.

• The minimum amount guarantee shows the lowest amount of nutrient in the food. For example, a product may have a minimum fat guarantee of 8 percent, but actually contain 15 percent of fat.

• The maximum amount guarantee may be 5 percent fiber, but the product may only have 1 percent fiber.

• Dinner, entrée, platter, formula, etc. (Beef Dinner; Seafood Platter) – it must contain 25 percent of the listed ingredient. If more than one ingredient is included in the name, the combination of ingredients must total 25 percent of the product.

Remember, if the actual nutritional content is not clear on the packaging, you can always contact the manufacturer directly via their product information toll-free number on the package.

• With (Lamb with Rice) – it must contain 3 percent of the primary ingredient.

The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) sets the nutritional guidelines for pet foods sold in the United States. The nutritional adequacy is determined by one of two methods – formulation and feeding trials.

• Flavor (Chicken Flavored) – no minimum requirements, but the pet should be able to detect the taste.

Ingredient List The primary goal of pet food is to deliver key nutrients to your pet. The higher the ingredient quality is, the easier it is for your pet to absorb and use the nutrients they contain. Here’s a closer look at pet food ingredients, the primary nutrients they deliver and the health benefits they offer to pets.

• Fresh meat, chicken, poultry by-product meal, meat byproducts, soybean meal and egg - High quality protein for muscle tone and development and healthy skin.

• Animal fat, fish oil and vegetable oil - Fats and essential fatty acids for energy, improved taste and healthy skin and coat.

• Corn, rice, barley, sorghum – Carbohydrates for energy and other nutrients for healthy skin and coat.

• Cellulose, soybean mill run and beet pulp - Fiber sources that promote intestinal tract health; some are helpful in weight control.

Chemical names in the ingredient list are most often vitamins or minerals added for complete nutrition.

What about by-products? A by-product is a secondary food item that is made from a primary ingredient production stream. A by-product like “chicken by-product meal” can contain organ meat that has a high nutritional value. In fact, it’s a more concentrated protein source than raw chicken alone and contains high quality, highly digestible protein.

Not all by-products are created equal. For example, a highquality pet food often recommended by veterinarians, such as Hill’s (makers of Science Diet and Prescription Diet), only accept high quality by-product ingredients. However, bargain brands may use inferior ingredients that include feathers or other lower-nutritional parts of the animal.

Nutritional Adequacy Statement

• Feeding trial method - This requires the manufacturer to utilize an AAFCO-protocol feeding trial using the food as the sole source of nutrition. The pets’ performance is documented when fed the food. A sample label statement might read, “Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures indicate this food provides complete and balanced nutrition for maintenance of adult dogs.”

• Formulation method - This requires the manufacturer to formulate the food to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for dogs and cats. Because it is a calculation of nutrient levels, and AAFCO feeding trials with pets are not required, this is a faster, less-expensive method. A statement on a product using this method might read, “Formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by AAFCO Cat Food Profiles for maintenance of adult cats.”

Ages and Stages The AAFCO guidelines only govern food for three pet life stages: growth and reproduction, maintenance, and all life stages. Foods formulated for all life stages must meet the most nutritionally demanding life stage – growth and reproduction.

So while getting an all life stages food to feed several pets of different ages might sound good, in reality, this food is designed for pets under a year old, or for nursing animals – and may not be a good choice for the nutritional needs of pets in other life stages.

More information about pet food labels can be found online at www.fda.gov/animalveterinary under “Resources for You,” and you can learn more about pet nutrition and choosing the perfect food for your pet at www.feedingisbelieving.com.

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Published by: Old Fashioned Homemaking

What Does “Natural” Mean?

AAFCO has developed some guidelines for natural claims for pet foods.

• In general, the term “Natural” is applied to products that are free of artificial flavors, artificial colors and artificial preservatives.

• While preservatives are needed to prevent food from going rancid, natural products use natural source preservatives instead of artificial ones.

• “Holistic” has no legal definition and can be used however the manufacturer chooses.

• The word “Organic” refers to how the source plants were grown or animals were raised. Currently, USDA and state regulators allow the usage of “organic” on pet food labels if human guidelines are met.

Organic terminology includes the following: • 100 percent organic. Everything in the bag or can is organic.

• Organic – at least 95 percent of the content is organic.

• Made with organic – at least 70 percent is organic (however, the USDA “Organic Seal” may not be used on the label).

• Any product with less than 70 percent organic ingredients cannot be called organic, but may list organic ingredients in the product’s ingredient list as organic (e.g. organic chicken).

SOURCE: Hill’s

Fire-Proof Your Home This Season Fire-Proof Your Home This Season is a post from: Old Fashioned Homemaking (ARA) – ‘Tis the season for at-home entertaining – food, friends, family, fun and yes, even fires. Fire fighters respond to calls of nearly 400,000 home fires each year, according to the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA). Many fires occur in cold weather months as more people bring warmth into their homes with things like traditional candles or holiday lighting. These fires result in more than 15,000 civilian deaths or injuries annually.

Fire-proof the holiday season with these tips that safeguard your family and your home: Go Flameless Reduce your risk of fire by using flameless candles. Though they look and smell like real candles, they don’t pose the same safety risks. Scentsy Wickless Candles provide the light and ambiance of traditional candles without the smoke, soot or an open flame. With more than 80 fragrances to choose from and 100 styles of warmers available, there’s a fit for every fragrance personality and home decor style.

Avoid Outlet Overload Don’t overload electrical outlets and extension cords with holiday lights or other electronics. Plug only one heatproducing appliance, such as electric blankets, irons, toasters or coffee makers, into a receptacle outlet at a time. Consider avoiding outlet overload by choosing battery-powered options when they’re available.

Cook with Care Unattended cooking is the leading cause of U.S. home fire injuries, according to the NFPA. Don’t stray too far from the kitchen if you’re frying, grilling or broiling food. If you’re boiling, baking, or roasting, be sure to check it regularly and use a timer to remind you when it’s finished. Plug microwave ovens and other cooking appliances directly into an outlet.

Never use an extension cord for a cooking appliance, as it can overload the circuit and cause a fire.

Be Prepared Establish a fire-safe home by installing fire extinguishers and smoke alarms. Use a portable fire extinguisher to save lives and property by putting out or containing small fires. Store extinguishers where they can be quickly accessed in areas with great fire risk, such as in the kitchen or near the garage door.

Smoke alarms should be installed in every room of the home, except for the kitchen, and should be tested once each month.

Have a Plan Establish a fire escape plan with the members of your household, and practice it often. You should always have two ways to exit each room, typically a door and a window.

Practicing in a casual environment will help children feel confident in executing your plan in an emergency. Choose a landmark outside, such as a tree in the neighbor’s yard or the mailbox, as a meeting location for your family.

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Published by: Old Fashioned Homemaking

Following these fire safety tips will help ensure your memories of this fall and winter season are full of friends and family, not flames.

• 1 pound russet potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced

Holiday Appetizers with a Twist

• 1 cup chicken stock

Holiday Appetizers with a Twist is a post from: Old Fashioned Homemaking (Family Features) Surprise and delight your guests this holiday season with unexpected morsels of indulgence on the hors d’oeuvres tray. Elegant, savory, flavorful…potatoes.

Mini Scalloped Potato Cups Parmesan Panko Potato Balls

• 2 tablespoons butter • 2 tablespoons flour • 1 cup fat-free half and half • 1 cup shredded Jarlsberg or Swiss cheese • 1/4 cup each: sharp cheddar and smoked Gruyere cheese • 1/2 cup 1/4-inch diced red bell pepper • 1/4 cup real bacon bits or pieces • 1 tablespoon stone ground mustard • 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt • 1/4 teaspoon dried dill • Freshly ground pepper to taste Preparation 1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray 12 small ramekins with nonstick cooking spray.

2. Place potatoes in a microwave-safe bowl; cover and microwave on HIGH for 6 minutes, or until potatoes are tender.

Parmesan Panko Potato Balls and Mini Scalloped Potato Cups are petite-sized twists on traditional potato dishes that will have your crowd clamoring for more. You’ll appreciate the magic of the season even more when you discover these sophisticated appetizers don’t require any fancy footwork in the kitchen.

Consider entertaining with these inspired dishes your personal gift of well-being, because potatoes are packed with nutrition.

Just a single, skin-on medium-sized potato (5.3 ounces) has just 110 calories, more potassium than a banana, and almost half your daily value of vitamin C (45 percent), with zero fat, sodium or cholesterol.

For more holiday potato meals, visit www.potatogoodness.com to search the comprehensive potato recipe database.

3. Meanwhile, melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in flour; cook for 1 minute more.

Slowly stir in half and half, cooking until mixture is smooth. Add cheeses, a little at a time, then stir in remaining ingredients.

4. Spoon into prepared ramekins; bake for 30 minutes, or until lightly browned and bubbly.

Serves Makes 12 appetizer servings Preparation Time: 20 minutes Cook Time: 45 minutes total

Parmesan Panko Potato Balls

Mini Scalloped Potato Cups

Ingredients • 2/3 cup panko breadcrumbs Ingredients

• 2/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese 11

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• 1 tablespoon Italian herb seasoning • 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic salt • 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper • 1/2 cup flour • 2 eggs, beaten • 1 1/2 pounds very small yellow potatoes • Olive oil cooking spray • Warm marinara sauce or pesto Preparation 1. Preheat oven to 400°F and line baking sheet with foil.

2. Stir together bread crumbs, cheese, herbs, garlic salt and crushed red pepper in small bowl. Place flour and eggs in 2 additional small bowls.

3. Place potatoes on prepared baking sheet; spray liberally with olive oil spray. Roll each in flour, then egg, then bread crumb mixture, making sure to coat potatoes well with each step.

4. Place back on baking sheet; spray again with olive oil spray. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until potatoes are lightly browned and tender when pierced with a fork, coating with olive oil spray twice during cooking.

Serves Makes 8 appetizer servings Preparation Time: 30 minutes Cook Time: 35 to 40 minutes SOURCE: US Potato Board

Grill-Roasted Turkey: A Tasty Twist On Tradition Grill-Roasted Turkey: A Tasty Twist On Tradition is a post from: Old Fashioned Homemaking (NAPSI)—If you want a traditional, perfectly carved, Thanksgiving turkey but would like to bring a delicious twist to the meal, then look to chef, cookbook author and James Beard-award nominee Kathy Gunst. She has discovered a way to bring the tradition of the Thanksgiving turkey to the holiday table in an unconventional way.

Published by: Old Fashioned Homemaking

Every Thanksgiving, Kathy Gunst roasts a turkey in the oven, but one year she had a larger crowd than usual and needed to cook two turkeys. “So, on a colder-than-normal November day, I decided to grill-roast a second turkey,” says Gunst. “The recipe, it turns out, couldn’t be simpler.” Grilling the bird resulted in a picture-perfect glazed turkey with juicy meat and a subtle smokey flavor. “This recipe is nothing short of a revelation. You will not believe how a plain old turkey, simply seasoned with salt and pepper, placed on a hot grill, can have this much flavor with so little fuss,” says Gunst.

Grilled Turkey 1 10-12 pound turkey Cleaned and dried. Salt and freshly ground black pepper, seasoned to taste.

Heat a fire in the grill (charcoal or gas) and cook a small (10 to 12 pound) whole turkey over indirect heat with a minimum of seasoning. Be sure to place a shallow pan underneath the bird atop the charcoal or burner covers to catch the drippings and reduce flare-ups. Grill for approximately 2 hours (use thermometer to check for doneness).

Stuff the bird and/or add an array of vegetables to the grill, like stuffed squash, corn on the cob, or turnips and potatoes for a complete meal. Add your vegetables to the grill 30 minutes or so before the turkey is done. Once the meat is cooked and cooled the bird is ready for carving. “I can’t overestimate how important it is to have a good, sharp knife for carving the bird.

It should be very tender and carve easily, but a well-sharpened favorite carving knife will make things that much easier,” says Gunst.

Chef’sChoice® Turkey Carving Tips: Three Easy Steps If you want the turkey you serve “gobbled up” this holiday, avoid hacking the bird by trying these simple carving tips from Chef’sChoice®: • Step 1 Be sure to use a good, sharp knife. Sharp knives are not only safer, they will help you to smoothly cut thin, even slices without shredding the meat. Fortunately, you don’t have to be an expert to put a razor sharp edge on your knife.

Chef’sChoice M130 sharpener professionally sharpens steels and strops all brands and types of knives. Precision guides eliminate guesswork for sharp, durable edges. For help finding a sharpener that’s right for you, call (800) 342-3255 or visit www.chefschoice.com.

• Step 2 After the turkey is cooked (meat thermometer should read 180° F when inserted in the thickest part of the turkey thigh) cool the bird for 15 minutes. Cooling makes the meat firmer and easier to slice. Remove and set aside the turkey legs and the last joint of each wing. Make a long, deep (to the bone) horizontal “base cut” into the breast just above the wing.

• Step 3 Slice down vertically through the breast until you meet the original base cut. This will release perfect, even slices.

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Published by: Old Fashioned Homemaking

Following these preparation and carving tips can help make your Thanksgiving a meal to remember.

Savory Fall Dishes Enhanced with Grapes Savory Fall Dishes Enhanced with Grapes is a post from: Old Fashioned Homemaking (ARA) – Beautiful fall vegetables are in season now and make for wonderful dishes that will have your family members saying “yum.”

In addition to the traditional fall flavors of produce like squash and cauliflower, California grapes are also in season, having one of the longest, “just-picked” seasons among North American fruits, from May to January. Always the perfect snack, grapes possess a flavor balance of sweetness and acidity, making them a versatile ingredient for both sweet and savory preparations.

When it comes to fall produce, cauliflower is often passed over in the produce aisles in favor of its much-touted cousin broccoli. But roasting cauliflower brings out a hint of surprising sweetness in this robust veggie. Add to that roasted grapes, with their juicy burst of tangy flavor, along with a good sprinkling of ground cumin, and you’ll be reaching for cauliflower more often just to prepare this simple and delightful dish.

Butternut squash takes on a whole new dimension when baked with grapes and rosemary and seasoned with a gratin topping.

The crunch of the topping adds another texture component to the “pop” of juice coming from the grapes and the browned edges of the comforting squash. Rosemary offers a hint of aromatics that fits perfectly into the mix.

Ingredients 1 large head cauliflower (3 pounds), cut into 1 1/2-inch florets 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt 3/4 teaspoon ground cumin 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 2 cups red, green or black seedless California grapes Directions Preheat the oven to 450 F. Toss cauliflower, 1 1/2 tablespoons oil, salt, cumin and pepper together in a large bowl and spread in one layer on a large, rimmed baking sheet. Roast 20 minutes and stir the cauliflower. Toss the grapes and remaining olive oil together and add to the baking sheet. Roast 5 to 10 minutes longer and serve. Serves six.

Nutritional analysis per serving: Calories 116; Protein 3.3 g; Carbohydrate 17 g; Fat 5.2 g; 37 percent Calories from Fat; Cholesterol 0 mg; Sodium 287 mg; Fiber 3.6 g.

Butternut Squash, Rosemary and Grape Bake

Roasting grapes is a big trend in finer restaurants, but very easy to do. Roasted grapes can also be turned into a simple sauce, by adding a ladleful of water or broth and reducing the mixture over heat to thicken to a syrupy consistency. Drizzle over pork tenderloins or sauteed chicken breasts, and you’ll wonder why you’ve never done it before.

Both featured recipes have an added bonus: They combine fruit and vegetables, which are foods that health experts say we need to eat more of, more often.

Roasted Cauliflower and Grapes

Ingredients 5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided 2 medium butternut squash (about 4 pounds), peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks or 3 1/2 pounds pre-cut butternut squash chunks (11 cups) Kosher salt Freshly ground black pepper 1/2 large red onion, cut into thin slices

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1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary or 1 teaspoon dried 3/4 cup chicken or vegetable broth 2 cups red or black seedless California grapes, stemmed and rinsed 2 cups fresh breadcrumbs 1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan Directions Preheat the oven to 375 F. Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish.

Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add half the squash and season liberally with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until browned, about 5 to 7 minutes, then transfer to the baking dish. Repeat browning of remaining squash with another tablespoon of olive oil and more salt and pepper. Transfer to baking dish.

Heat another tablespoon of the oil in the skillet and add the onion and rosemary. Season with salt and pepper and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Pour in the broth and scrape up any browned bits on the bottom. Bring to a simmer and pour into baking dish. Cover with foil and bake until squash is very tender, about 40 minutes.

Raise the oven temperature to 450 F. Remove the dish from the oven and take off the foil. Sprinkle the grapes over the top.

In a medium bowl, mix together the breadcrumbs, Parmesan and remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle over the squash. Bake until top is browned and bubbling, or about 10 to 15 minutes longer.

Nutritional analysis per serving: Calories 259; Protein 6.6 g; Carbohydrate 36 g; Fat 12 g; 38 percent Calories from Fat; Cholesterol 10 mg; Sodium 266 mg; Fiber 4.7 g. Serves eight.

Visit our Homemaking Ebooks page for more recipe resources.

Published by: Old Fashioned Homemaking

“When creating this collection,” explained Estée Lauder Creative Makeup Director Tom Pecheux, “I wanted to capture the intensity and naughty side of Paris when it truly comes alive…at night!”

The collections include smoldering and amplified hues that capture the raw energy and sexiness of life under a dark Parisian sky. New Pure Color Nail Lacquer Beyond Black is defined by five deep shades that saturate nails in rich and dramatic color, capturing the allure of the Parisian femme fatale. Metal Mania dresses nails in glam glitters for a modern metallic finish, enticing women to experiment, with daring effect.

Expert Advice Popular beauty and fashion blogger Emily Schuman of Cupcakes and Cashmere has found that they’re terrific for creating the ultrachic “Gilded Fade” manicure.

“With nail art designs getting crazier by the minute, I’m embracing a more subtle design,” she says. “The Gilded Fade manicure makes an impact without being over the top. It’s the perfect accessory for my hands.”

Polishing Pointers Here’s how to get the Gilded Fade manicure with two of Emily’s favorite new shades from Estée Lauder: 1. Apply two coats of Pure Color Nail Lacquer in Nouveau Riche.

2. Paint a small sponge with Pure Color Nail Lacquer in Viper.

3. Dab sponge on nail tip fading upwards.

The collections are now available at Estée Lauder Counters nationwide and www.esteelauder.com.

For further fashion and beauty advice from Schuman, go to www.esteelauder.com/guestblogger/ emilyofcupcakescashmere/index.tmpl.

Nail Colors for This Season

Four DIY Projects That Can Make Your Home More Secure

Nail Colors for This Season is a post from: Old Fashioned Homemaking

Four DIY Projects That Can Make Your Home More Secure is a post from: Old Fashioned Homemaking

(NAPSI)—Dark, bold colors are in this season-especially when it comes to nails. Inspired by the City of Light, Estée Lauder introduces two enchanting minishade statements, Pure Color Nail Lacquer Beyond Black and Metal Mania. Created to evoke the seduction, beauty and fantasy of Paris at night, this dramatic palette of intriguing shades, textures and finishes expresses confident style and attitude with unprecedented color and impact.

(ARA) – If spring makes our thoughts turn to love, the cooler temperatures of fall make many of us think about nesting – and, often, how much more we would love our home if we improved it a little. A sense of security is one of the most comforting aspects of home, so this autumn, why not focus on home improvements that can make your home more secure?

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Published by: Old Fashioned Homemaking

ProtectMyID can help prevent the damages caused by identity theft.

Home improvements aimed at boosting your security don’t have to be big and expensive. Simple, cost-effective steps can help improve your home’s security. They key is to be proactive and focus on preventing a problem, rather than just repairing damage after it occurs.

Easy, Enjoyable Meatball Meals Improving the safety of your home doesn’t have to be an expensive or time-consuming proposition. Here are four simple DIY projects that can help make your house safer: 1. De-clutter, inside and out.

Most home improvement projects are either about creating space or improving the usability of existing spaces. Decluttering inside your home can open up rooms and offer more flexibility in how you use and decorate the space. De-cluttering the documents you store in your home can help improve its security. Getting rid of sensitive documents you no longer need can reduce your overall exposure to identity theft. Be sure to shred all documents before discarding them. On the outside of your home, de-clutter around access points. Shrubs, trees and debris that obscure your windows and doors not only look bad, they can provide cover for burglars who might try to enter your home.

2. Upgrade your appliances.

While a new dishwasher or clothes dryer may make your life easier, when it comes to improving security, think about appliances like your paper shredder or home security system. Bizarre as it may sound, identity thieves have been known to pick through trash and reassemble poorly shredded documents. Fall is a great time to invest in a cross-cut shredder that will make such an identity theft tactic virtually impossible.

3. Lock it up The dog sitter, babysitter, house cleaner, house sitter – how many people have had access to a key to your home in the past year? It’s prudent to switch out the locks in your home every now and then – especially if you have reason to believe your security might have been compromised. It’s even easier to “lock up” sensitive personal information. Invest in a locking file cabinet or fireproof lock box to store important documents.

Lock up your technology by changing passwords and creating strong new ones that can help deter hackers, phishers and other scammers. Keep your computer security software up-todate.

Easy, Enjoyable Meatball Meals is a post from: Old Fashioned Homemaking (NAPSI)—For the family looking for a hectic-free dinner, meatballs may be the ideal solution. With school in session and busy activities scheduled, dinnertime doesn’t have to be a major production. Hearty and delicious meatballs make stress-free meals easy and delicious.

Frozen meatballs are a filling and flavorful answer to the question “What’s for dinner?” Many of these meaty morsels are found packaged in the grocery store fully cooked, ensuring fast preparation and a perfectly rounded-out mid-week meal.

Great brands, such as Casa Di Bertacchi Meatballs, are made with high-quality beef combined with wholesome ingredients and seasonings for an authentic Italian flavor. The meatballs are seared and steamed in the traditional way, ready to be stirred into any delicious dish and put on your table for everyone to enjoy. They can be tossed into pasta, served on top of salads, baked into pizza or eaten on their own as a quick snack. Meatballs are a versatile family favorite that can please the crowd.

Perhaps the best part is that they can be prepared in more than just the oven. Meatballs can be warmed in a slow cooker or microwave, too. Casa Di Bertacchi, available at Sam’s Club nationwide, makes it easy for families to feast on the bounty of flavor. Try Easy Meatball Pizza for a new twist on a classic family favorite.

Easy Meatball Pizza

4. Enlist assistance

13 (½ lb) frozen Casa Di Bertacchi fully cooked meatballs

If you were building an addition onto your house, you would ask for help if you needed it. Sometimes you need help with security as well, especially identity theft prevention. Despite all the safeguards you’ve already taken to make your home more secure, identity protection is a round-the-clock job, and most of us could use some help with it. A comprehensive identity theft detection, protection and resolution product like

1 (12-inch) premade pizza crust 1 jar (14 oz.) pizza sauce 1½ cups shredded mozzarella or cheddar cheese ¼ teaspoon dried Italian seasoning Preheat oven to 400° F. Lay pizza crust on a pizza pan.

Spread 1 cup pizza sauce over crust. Sprinkle ¾ cup cheese 15

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Published by: Old Fashioned Homemaking

over sauce. Place meatballs and 2 teaspoons of water in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave frozen meatballs on high for 3 minutes. Drain any excess liquid. Cut each meatball in half.

Toss meatballs with remaining sauce. Spoon meatballs over cheese layer, ensuring that the cut side of meatball is down.

Layer remaining cheese over the top of the meatballs. Sprinkle Italian seasoning evenly over pizza. Bake for 12-15 minutes until cheese is melted and sauce is bubbly.

For more delicious www.casameatballs.com.

meatball

recipes,

pieced block and you have a completed quilt top. This is the same size that numerous quilters use to form pillow tops.

visit

Use Your Best Liked Quilt Patterns To Make Easy Quilts For That Favorite Dolly Use Your Best Liked Quilt Patterns To Make Easy Quilts For That Favorite Dolly is a post from: Old Fashioned Homemaking

By JoAnn Gagnon Anyone can buy patterns for doll quilts in various sizes varying in complexity from easy to highly skilled. Children and grown ups all adore their dolls. All good dolls are worthy of a special made quilt. You can create it to sell at a craft show, or make for your child, or yourself. They’re really sought-after things for every age.

Source: bunkhousesewing.com via Old Fashioned on Pinterest Some other easy quilts include the 4 patch and the 9 patch.

Numerous new quilters like the four-patch. You simply cut 4 squares of the same size and join them together to create a block. How many blocks you will need to make depends on the dimensions one wishes to make your quilt and that will be determined by the doll’s size.

You can use a pillow case or an old sheet to have an idea of the right measurements. You might learn that the pillowcase’s size is just right. You can sew together your pieced quilt squares to make either a rectangle or one big square.

One can use any machine to sew these little, easy quilts. The special quilting machines were made to create larger queen or king sizes. They are generally unnecessary for doll-sized creations.

Some of the harder techniques use the biscuit or puff designs.

For these patterns the squares are filled to create fluffy and soft squares. After quilters do some basic designs, they might want one that is a little more difficult. The puff pattern is certainly more challenging.

Source: bunkhousesewing.com via Old Fashioned on Pinterest Quilters have fun creating easy quilts for dolls regardless of their experience because they are able to practice various methods without using a big investment in materials or time.

Many people find the time and energy taken is profitable.

Because the final size is little, you may be able to use fabric remnants. Uncomplicated fabric designs work best. The big prints don’t usually work well with making quilts.

One of the simplest patterns is the log cabin. The log cabin design works well with fabric scraps, because different patterns and colors add to its appearance. The various designs and colors do not diminish from it. The center square of the log cabin design could be any dimension, but most seamstresses use a 3 1/2″ by 3 1/2″ square. The square is surrounded by rectangles which are 2 inches wide and of longer lengths as you approach the edge of the block.

Depending on the size of the doll, you may be able to use one twelve inch by twelve inch log cabin block. Add the edge to the

Source: bunkhousesewing.com via Old Fashioned on Pinterest The final creation may turn out to be an heirloom. You will see that your creation is unique, no matter what patterns for doll quilts you pick to use because they’re created with love.

JoAnn is a sewing enthusiast who enjoys sharing her passion for sewing with all ages. Author of nine books and multiple ebooks that explore many sewing applications, JoAnn seeks to encourage you on your sewing journey and instill in you a love for sewing. Visit her at http://www.bunkhousesewing.com/ doll-quilt-patterns

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Article Source: expert=JoAnn_Gagnon

Published by: Old Fashioned Homemaking

http://EzineArticles.com/?

Keeping Breakfast Part of the Morning Routine Keeping Breakfast Part of the Morning Routine is a post from: Old Fashioned Homemaking

twice the protein of an egg, twice the calcium of a 6-ounce cup of yogurt, twice the vitamin D of an 8-ounce glass of milk and twice the vitamin C of a 4-ounce cup of orange juice.

To find information and helpful tips on nutrition, to access hundreds of delicious recipes and to download a coupon, visit www.carnationbreakfastessentials.com or the Carnation Breakfast Essentials Facebook page.

(ARA) – Fitting breakfast into your kids’ morning routine can be a struggle, especially during the school week. Between nagging them to get out of bed and preparing their book bags for school, breakfast is often put at the bottom of the morning to-do list. In fact, up to 30 percent of middle and high school students skip breakfast, missing important nutrients that are unlikely to be made up later in the day.

That means more than a quarter of students are going to school on an empty stomach and lack the nutrition they need to start their day right. Furthermore, research has shown that kids and adolescents who eat breakfast tend to have better dietary habits and make healthier eating choices throughout the day.

The breakfast struggle is something even actress and mother of four, Holly Robinson Peete can relate to. “One of my biggest challenges as a mom is to make sure my kids get breakfast.

With busy mornings, it is essential that my kids get the nutrition they need,” says Robinson Peete. “I want to set my kids up for success, especially during the school year. Knowing there are easy, nutritious options such as Carnation Breakfast Essentials puts my mind at ease that I am making good choices for my kids.”

But even the most dedicated breakfast lovers have mornings that are just too crazy to find time to eat. Robinson Peete understands how busy schedules can make it difficult to keep up good habits. “I like to describe my mornings as ‘controlled madness’ – on a good day I have less than an hour to get my kids out of bed, showered and dressed, teeth brushed, fed and out the door to school,” she says. That’s why she gives her kids Carnation Breakfast Essential, a nutritious and convenient drink which can fit in a backpack and be enjoyed during the morning commute.

One way to help minimize stress in the morning is to prepare things like lunches and backpacks the evening before. If that’s not possible, designating a spot in the house for backpacks and school items to remain can help reduce the amount of organizing that is needed in the morning. Another simple tip is to wake up 10 minutes earlier. Just a few extra minutes at the start of the day can leave time for a quick breakfast.

Physicians agree that a good breakfast is important. Each serving of Carnation Breakfast Essentials provides a rich source of protein and 21 vitamins and minerals, including 17