Heather says: It’s back to school time in my neck of the woods. Try to have the rugrats in bed at a decent hour, lay out clothes (including shoes!) the night before, and check those backpacks. These simple routines help cut down on the morning scramble. Over the next few weeks I’ll supply some quick …
Ivy says: I don’t know about y’all, but it’s HOT here. It got up to 110 degrees today. It’s ridiculous. My air conditioner can’t keep up. I’ve been taking about 100 showers a day (okay, I took three today), loading up on water and lemonade slushes, and sitting in front of a fan. Here’s a …
Heather says: As decluttered as I like to keep my home, redundancy is occasionally a good idea. For example, it is a good idea to have more than one alarm clock in the house for the night one decides to go kaput. Let’s file this under “Lessons recently learned.”
Dear Home Ec 101: My son will be moving into an apartment and setting up a kitchen for the first time. I’m pretty confident about what kind of hardware (pots, pans, plates, etc) to buy, but what would be a good basic list of staples (salt, pepper, sugar, cannola oil) to set him up with. …
Tomorrow many of our American readers will be celebrating Independence Day. Chances are food will be involved. So here are a few tips to remember to avoid introducing any uninvited bugs. Sal Monella a/ka/ Salmonella Store cold food until just before serving, or set the serving dishes in ice if a buffet setting is required. …
Dear Home Ec 101: What would be the top 20 or so things that every kitchen must have? ~Going Gadgetless in Gainesville Heather says: I am not a huge fan of gadgets, but I will gladly list of what I feel any home cook needs to be able to easily prepare meals for a family. …
Dear Home-Ec 101, Help! I need a system for bills. I need to get them paid on time and not lose them once they enter my home! Signed, In the dark Ivy says: Paying bills is a pain in the behind, but it’s even worse if you don’t have a good system. For years, there …
Heather says: June 1st marks the beginning of hurricane season. For those of us on the East and Gulf Coasts, we know this means anxious meteorologists glorifying every thunderstorm that appears in the oceans. Although the public tends to become jaded with media saturation, there is no reason to get caught with your pants down. …
Dear Home Ec 101: I am working to improve our diet and I’ve read that dried beans have a lot less sodium than canned. I’m not a planner and can never remember to soak the beans the night before. Can I do a big batch and freeze them in portions? ~Trying in Trenton Heather says: …
Dear Home Ec 101: I hate and when I say hate, I mean it is with a loathing complete with skin crawling, heart palpitations, and cold sweats, to deal with customer service reps. Do you have any tips? ~Feeling shafted in Shakopee Heather says: I feel your pain, in every day life I am not …