Dear Home Ec 101, I’m overwhelmed. There’s stuff everywhere, I was late to work again, there’s no food in the house, it’s hot, the kids are cranky, and my butt hurts. Signed, Not really a single reader, but a compilation of about 30 conversations over the past few weeks Heather says: Dude. I feel your …
Dear Home Ec 101,Here’s my dilemma. The house is clean, but there is a fusty, musty odor, like a large dog is secretly living in our house. We have an older, small house with the kitchen being basically open to everything. Sometimes I think it is cooking odors that are being trapped in the rest …
Dear Home Ec 101, When I flip on the switch for my garbage disposal, nothing happens. It was working fine the other day. Could it be broken? Signed, D$*&# Disposal Even though it seems like it won’t come on, the first thing to do is turn off the power to the garbage disposal at the …
Dear Home Ec 101: Help! How do I get the fish stink out of my kitchen? I’m trying to encourage an elderly dog to eat and someone recommended canned mackerel. Signed, Mindy Mackerel Heather says: Since your fish wasn’t cooked, only served. I bet a few drops of the foul smelling liquid are lurking. Wipe …
Dear Home Ec 101,Here’s a question for those of us in Nashville who are conserving water due to the flood, what’s the best way to conserve water while washing dishes? I know the dishwasher is out. Should we wash dishes individually, or do the whole fill-up-the-sink-with-water thing? Does that really get dishes clean? It always …
Dear Home Ec 101, Last night, I left an aluminum pot on a burner I thought I had turned off. I served dinner and by the time I came back to it, all I found was a pan full of burnt food. Is my aluminum pot ruined? How do I remove the mess? Signed, Tempted to …
Dear Overwhelmed, Many new parents go through a period like this. Rest assured, you are not alone. Some of these have been covered elsewhere on the site. Get comfortable. This answer is going to take a while. Home Eccers, you’ve probably heard me say a lot of it before. Feel free to give Overwhelmed your …
Dear Home Ec 101, I need to get our food budget under control, we spend a ton of money eating out. It’s starting to cause fights. I can’t cook or plan; even if I could, I wouldn’t know where to start. Signed, Hopeless in Hopeswell I began this series as a response to Hopeless back …
Dear Home Ec 101, When I bought my house 20 months ago it had ugly beige builders carpet through the living / dining room, hallway, and master bedroom. Inexplicably, the two spare bedrooms have hardwood floors. My plan when I moved in was to replace the carpet in the living & dining rooms with hardwood …
Dear Home Ec 101, I have heard dull knives are more dangerous than sharp knives. I can’t wrap my brain around this idea. Doesn’t a sharp knife do more damage? Signed, Perpetua the Perplexed Heather says: With knives it’s all about control. Think about cutting a firm, slippery object such as an apple. When the …