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Food Thermometers – A Must Have in the Kitchen

Posted on by djbechard

Where food safety is concerned, a food thermometer is a must-have, multi-use tool in the kitchen.

It is one of the most important tools consumers can use to know when food is cooked properly for safe consumption. It’s useful for meat items, casseroles and even baked goods. Using a subjective method – such as ground meat color – can be misleading and lead to foodborne illness. It can help with assuring the quality of a food item and reduce over-cooking.

For consumers who need to buy a food thermometer, the digital type is recommended. Digital food thermometers read the temperature at the tip of the temperature probe. They also read temperature quickly, and come in a simple handheld design.

Consumers who already own a food thermometer can calibrate them routinely to make sure they are still giving accurate readings. The best method is to calibrate your thermometer using ice water and boiling water to check cold and hot readings. Dial faced thermometers can be adjusted if needed. Digital thermometers should be replaced unless it came with instructions on how to adjust.

Along with food thermometers, place an appliance thermometer inside your refrigerator and freezer to monitor temperatures in those appliances. These can be helpful during a power outage to determine the safety of your food. Another suggestion is an oven thermometer to know if your oven is heating properly.

By: Brenda Langdon

Roasting Pumpkin Seeds

Posted on by djbechard

After you carve those Halloween Jack-O-Lanterns, you may be wondering what to do with all the “guts” and seeds. Consider roasting the seeds for a healthy and tasty snack. Seeds should be washed and dried and the “guts” discarded. Toss the seeds with a little oil before roasting.

​Flavor can be enhanced by adding a sprinkling of salt to the oiled seeds. Seeds can then be spread on a cookie sheet and roasted for about 25 minutes at 325 degrees F. Times may vary depending on the size and moisture content of the seed. Seeds are done when they turn a golden brown. If seeds are not eaten immediately, store in a zip closure bag in the refrigerator.

 

By: Cassie Thiessen

Financial Calendar

Posted on by djbechard

Fall is a good time to look back at the year and evaluate your financial planning and then use that knowledge to plan for next year.  One way to assess your progress since January is to compare how much debt you owed at the beginning of the year to now. Do you owe more or less overall? Another is to compare your net worth (assets minus liabilities).  Are you worth more now than you were at the first of the year?

Set up alerts for your bank and credit card accounts. Many institutions offer free alerts when suspicious spending occurs, but you may still need to opt-in to those services.

Invest some time to learn more about smart money management. Read a book, attend a class, or listen to a podcast.

By: Brenda Langdon

Personal Hygiene Matters

Posted on by djbechard

Taking the time to use good personal hygiene can not only help reduce illnesses, but also reduce the amount of absenteeism in many areas such as school, work and other activities. The 20 seconds of time it takes to wash your hands or doing daily personal hygiene practices are beneficial to your health.

When preparing meals, good hygiene begins before food is cooked, served or eaten. Not washing hands before preparing or eating food is a common mistake that consumers make. This simple habit can help reduce many illnesses, not just foodborne illness.

On average, people touch their face 23 times per hour. Your facial area includes your teeth, mouth, eyes and ears. Nails and skin can harbor bacteria which is why it is so important to thoroughly wash hands before handling food.

Wash hands after handling any animal or animal food, as these sources can harbor bacteria that can make humans sick. Clean your kitchen as you cook. Frequently touched surfaces should be cleaned more often, such as countertops, handles, and light switches. After preparing food, always clean equipment and countertops to remove spills or any other visibly dirty areas.

By: Brenda Langdon

Tips To Save Money On Your Energy Bill

Posted on by djbechard

As rising costs continue to hit Americans’ pocketbooks, some common-sense measures can help homeowners save on their energy bill.  A good place to start is knowing what your costs are, and also monitoring how much you use those household items that are major energy draws, including:

  • Air conditioner
  • Stove and oven
  • Incandescent lights
  • Televisions
  • Furnace (during the winter)

The geographical location of the home also has an impact on the energy bill. In a rural area, your house will be isolated, which allows it to be more affected by the environment. In an urban area you are more protected and, if you live in an apartment, you can benefit from the floor above or beneath you.

Tips to help save energy and money include:

  • Keep items that draw electricity turned off as long as possible.
  • Use automatic settings to turn appliances on and off.
  • Install LED lights instead of incandescent.
  • Turn the lights off when not using them.
  • Use fans to circulate cool air.
  • Install and use a programmable thermostat.
  • Install insulation or weather-stripping around doors and windows.

By: Brenda Langdon

Back to School Food Safety

Posted on by djbechard

Today’s lunch bags are made with a high tech material that kids can use to keep their food cold so they can have a safe lunch when they’re ready to eat it.

The insulated versions will keep food cool for about four hours depending on the bag, though packing the bag with ice packs or frozen foods is important in determining how cold the food will be.

It’s best to have at least two frozen packs in the bag.  Ice packs come in many different sizes so they easily fit the lunch bag you use. Or you can freeze juice boxes beforehand, place them in the bag, and they’ll be mostly thawed out when you’re ready to use them.

Place the frozen pack or juice box directly next to the item that needs to be kept cold – such as a meat sandwich with cheese. Chips and most whole fruit don’t require refrigeration while some vegetables may need to be kept cool. Ask the school if they have a refrigerator for lunch bags to help keep food cold.

Parents should plan their children’s menu when shopping each week and prepare as much of the lunch the night before as possible. Getting kids involved with choosing foods will make them more likely to eat them. Rinse fresh fruit and vegetables with water and prepare any fruits and vegetables so they are ready to eat.

To encourage food safety, put a note in their lunch bag to remind children to wash their hands before eating – 20 seconds with warm, soapy water – and pack disposable wipes in the lunch bag as an extra food safety step.

By: Brenda Langdon