How to Care for Acacia Wood

Dear Home-Ec 101, I have a dispute to settle. My husband and I recently bought the most beautiful, rustic acacia wood dining table. However, a couple of days ago we noticed that it is starting to crack here and there. Yes, we are young and with a house full of Ikea furniture it did not …

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Chocolate Fond-ugh

strawberry being dipped into chocolate fondue

Dear Home-Ec 101, Four months ago, we had a birthday party for a friend. One person made a really awesome chocolate fondue into which we dipped marshmallows and assorted fruit. It was heavenly. Rather than disposing of the leftover fondue at the end of the night, one of us just put it in the fridge …

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Why Does My Cornbread Burn on the Bottom?

Dear Home-Ec 101, How do you keep the bottom of the cornbread from burning? I use an electric oven and I’ve tried putting my muffin pan on the higher rack but that didn’t help. The bottom burns but the top stays light. Signed, I Would Prefer Cajun Style Blackening Heather says: It’s fairly common for …

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How To Remove Sunscreen Stains From Clothes

yellow spots on clothes

Dear Home-EC 101; I have a weird question for you. A few times lately, I’ve pulled whites out of my washer with yellow stains. Not on the neck or underarms like you might expect, but looking more like I washed a highlighter with everything. Streaks on hems or sleeves, where there were no stains before …

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How to Remove Soap Residue from Plastic

Dear Home-Ec 101, My plastic dishes are starting to taste (and smell) like soap. Help! Because I hand wash, I switched to “moisturizing” dish soap. Since the switch, the soapy taste has been overwhelming. I can still taste the soap, even after I switched back to plain blue Dawn, which several friends recommended as a …

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Wax and Silicone Build Up on Furniture

Dear Home-Ec 101, My mother has wax build up on an antique secretary. It is a dark wood with a shiny surface. Over many years of waxing the wax has built up and in places the shine has dulled. Can you help? Signed, Smudged in Smyrna Heather says: Are you sure that it’s wax build …

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Cooking With the Troops Recap

Heather says:

I thought that this weekend’s event would be a fun way to give back. I thought I would fly home Sunday evening and dive back into normal life. I thought that Thursday’s Quick Note would be the only thing I would say here. I didn’t realize how profoundly a small deed like preparing a meal as an act of gratitude would affect me.

I grew up a military brat; I knew military life. However I was lucky, my dad served mostly during the Cold War. He went out and always came home whole and safe.

Those I met this weekend were not so lucky. Many of those I met this weekend gave up their limbs and a normal life so we could continue to live as we do. The families I met at the Fisher House (it’s like the Ronald McDonald House for military families) were painfully young. So many of these soldiers are just so terrifyingly young, newly married with brand new families and now futures a world apart from the one they planned.

I don’t have any pictures of the men and women I met, to share those would be to compromise their dignity and that is something I will not do. What I do have are pictures of the team that came together, from all over this country, to work together and prepare a few meals. I cannot begin to convey how much I admire and respect these people.

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Quick Note from Texas

Heather says: Hi! I’m currently in San Antonio, TX. I don’t have my usual level of connectivity, so please excuse the lack of regular posting today. I’m hoping to bring you a recipe for couscous tomorrow from Chef Ellen Adams. I’ll be playing sous chef and gopher today and tomorrow as we prepare for the …

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