QuickTip: Extend Life of Non Stick Appliances

Do you have a lot of non stick appliances?  Here is a quick tip on how to extend the life of those appliances.  Wax paper can help make these appliances last longer and stay cleaner.  Keep reading and  check outApartment Therapy for more tips.

Every well-run home is teeming with tricks and shortcuts to keep it humming along. We're sharing our best quick tips — for cleaning, organizing and repairing stuff at home — to save you time and money. Click through for today's helpful hint, and links to tons more...

Fold a piece of WAX PAPER in half (waxy side out) and placing it between the plates of your warm appliance (waffle iron, panini press, etc..) for 3 seconds. The wax, unlike butter or sprays, won't burn and will give those non-stick surfaces just enough slick to release the food without the wax rubbing off on your waffle or sandwich for lunch. For appliances that don't have plates that press together, simply wipe the paper across the surface a few times and call it good. It's a quick tip that gives you a bit more slick instead of stick in the kitchen.

Please note: If your non-stick surface is flaky or damaged, don't continue to use it. This tip is only for appliances that are starting to stick more than usual...

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Tailgate Tips

"Grilled Apple Sausage" by H. Michael Karshis is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Fall is in the air, which means one thing...football season is back! Are you ready? There’s no better way to spend pre-game time than tailgating. Follow these tips, courtesy of Apartment Therapy, to ensure that you are properly prepared for the perfect tailgate.  

1. Research the tailgating site: Even before you get to the packing and prepping of food, make sure you know where you can park, what the facilities are like, and what the rules are. Are open flames allowed so that you can grill? Is there running water, bathroom facilities, or rules about alcohol? What time can get there, and how late can you stay?

Think about the weather and the time of day when planning — will it be hot or rainy and a tent would be useful? And make sure you give yourself plenty of time to get there and set up.

2. Pack in, pack out: Unless a tailgate site explicitly says so, assume that everything you bring in comes home with you, including trash. Make sure you have plenty of heavy-duty trash bags, figure out how you'll handle recycling and packaging leftover food, and think about how you'll pack and bring home a dirty grill.

3. Multiple coolers are a must: Two coolers are the minimum — one for food and one for drinks. If you have a third for the raw food that needs to be cooked, even better! Make sure foods are wrapped tightly to prevent leaking and cross-contamination, and pack the things you'll need immediately at the top.

Label your drink coolers and tie a bottle opener to the handle so it's convenient and never gets lost. Make sure you have enough ice for drinks and to keep everything cold until you get home.

4. Grill prep: Make sure your grill is clean and that you have the necessary grill tools, enough fuel to last through all the grilling, and a portable fire extinguisher just in case.

5. Food choices: Have ready-to-go finger foods and snacks that you can put out immediately to keep people happy while the grill gets fired up. Keep more substantial food items simple and easy-to-serve. Bonus points if you don't even need plates to eat them off of, like kabobs and quesadillas! If you plan on tailgating after the game too, pack some different snacks and foods to grill then so that you have some variety.

6. Food prep: Do as much as you can at home, including marinating, cutting up vegetables, threading things onto skewers, or forming burger patties. Mix up big batches of drinks or cocktails so all you have to do is pour.

7. Equipment: Pack a few folding or portable chairs and tables. A tablecloth looks nice and makes for easier cleanup, and a few big stackable plastic bins can serve as trash and recycling bins. Don't forget a cutting board, sharp knife, and serving platters. Foil can help scrape down a dirty grill, keep food warm, or wrap up leftovers.

8. Water, water, water: Freeze some water bottles to both keep the coolers cold and so you'll have something icy to drink if it's a hot day. Bring along a big water container with a dispenser for handwashing too.

What are your tailgating must-haves? Share them with us below!

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Try This For Dinner

Are you looking for something new to try for dinner?  We have a great recipe for you that will go over great with friends and family.  You can find more great recipes at The Kitchn.

Cheesy All-Vegetable Lasagna

Serves 8 to 10

1 onion, diced small
1 (8-ounce) package baby bella mushrooms, diced small
1 small (12-ounce) eggplant, diced small
1 small zucchini or yellow squash, diced small
1 red bell pepper, diced small
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon fresh thyme (or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme)
1 teaspoon fresh oregano, minced (or 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano)
Pinch red pepper flakes, optional
6-ounce package baby spinach
3 cups tomato sauce (or one 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes)
15 dry lasagna noodles (regular noodles, not no-boil)
2 1/2 cups ricotta cheese
3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 400°F.

Warm a tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until the onions are sweated and are just starting to turn translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the mushrooms and cook until the mushrooms have released their liquid and most of that liquid has evaporated, 5 to 8 minutes more. Add the eggplant, zucchini and bell pepper, and cook until all are softened, another 3 to 5 minutes.

Clear a little space in the middle of the pan. Add another teaspoon of olive oil, the garlic, salt, and spices. Stir the garlic until it is fragrant and just starting to turn golden, about 30 seconds, then stir it into the vegetables. Scatter the spinach over the vegetables and stir until it is wilted, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove the skillet of vegetables from the heat.

Spread a few spoonfuls of the tomato sauce in the bottom of a 9"x13" baking dish. Lay 5 of the lasagna noodles over top, breaking them if needed to create a single layer. Spread 1 cup of the ricotta over the noodles, then half of the vegetables, 1 cup of the tomato sauce, and 1 cup of the mozzarella. Arrange another 5 noodles over the top, followed 1 cup of ricotta, the remaining vegetables, 1 cup of the tomato sauce, and 1 cup of the mozzarella. Top this with a final layer of 5 noodles and the remaining sauce. Dot the top with the remaining 1/2 cup of ricotta. (Reserve the remaining mozzarella for the end of cooking.)

Cover the dish tightly with foil and bake for 1 hour. Check to make sure the noodles are done by poking the lasagna with a knife; the knife should slide easily through all the layers. If it doesn't, cover and cook for another 15 minutes. When the noodles are done, sprinkle the remaining cup of mozzarella over the top of the casserole and bake, uncovered, until the mozzarella has melted, another 10 to 15 minutes. 

Turn on the broiler and place an oven rack 6 inches below the heating element. Broil the lasagna until the mozzarella is browned and bubbling, 1 to 2 minutes.

Remove the lasagna from the oven and let it cool on a wire rack for at least 15 minutes before serving. Leftovers will keep for 1 week in the refrigerator or up to 3 months in the freezer.

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Keep That Freezer Clean

How is your freezer looking? Cleaning your freezer is an important chore to make sure you periodically check up on. This can help keep items cold, prevent damage, and it can be a way to clean it out every few months. Keep reading to check out some great tips on how to give your freezer a new life. You can learn more at Apartment Therapy.





What You Need
Large cooler
Rubber gloves (optional)
Mild, fragrance-free dish soap
Hot water
Vinegar
Sponge
Wash cloth
Paper towels or dish towel
Baking soda (optional)
Toothbrush (optional)


Instructions
1. Turn off the freezer: Switch your freezer off or unplug the unit — whichever is easiest.
2. Empty the ice: Empty any ice trays into a bowl and place in the cooler. Soak the trays in a sink full of warm, soapy water.
3. Unload the freezer: Take out all the frozen food and put it in the cooler.
4. Remove and wash all detachable drawers and shelves: Let the units come to room temperature before cleaning to avoid cracking. Once they've warmed up, wash them in a sink full of warm, soapy water. It's best to use fragrance-free dish soap if possible to avoid transferring any scents back to the freezer, which can be picked up by food. Rinse thoroughly and set aside to dry.
5. Make a cleaning solution: Make a solution of equal parts hot water and vinegar OR 1 quart hot water with 2 tablespoons baking soda. Transfer to a spray bottle and liberally spray the inside of the freezer.
6. Wipe the inside: Wipe out the freezer with a sponge or dish cloth. Reapply the cleaning solution as needed. For stubborn, stuck-on food particles, spray your cleaning solution on a paper towel and place it over the sticky area. Let it soak for 10 minutes, then wipe away. If necessary, use an old toothbrush to gently scrub the area.
7. Wipe down the doors and door seal: Don't forget to wipe down the freezer door and the surrounding seal! You may also find a toothbrush helpful here.
8. Dry the inside: Dry the inside of the freezer thoroughly with a paper towel or dish towel.
9. Replace the shelves and drawers: After the inside of the freezer is completely dry, replace the shelves and drawers.

10. Replace all food, ice, and turn the unit back on. Take a look through your frozen foods as you place everything back in the freezer. Toss anything that has developed freezer burn and organize your remaining frozen foods by priority. Don't forget to turn the freezer back on!

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