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<?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" media="screen" href="/~d/styles/rss2full.xsl"?><?xml-stylesheet type="text/css" media="screen" href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~d/styles/itemcontent.css"?><rss xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/" xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:rawvoice="http://www.rawvoice.com/rawvoiceRssModule/" xmlns:feedburner="http://rssnamespace.org/feedburner/ext/1.0" version="2.0"><channel><title>Home Ec 101</title> <link>http://www.home-ec101.com</link> <description>Skills for everyday living.</description> <lastBuildDate>Wed, 16 May 2012 12:38:53 +0000</lastBuildDate> <language>en</language> <sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod> <sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency> <itunes:summary>Skills for everyday living.</itunes:summary> <itunes:author>Home Ec 101</itunes:author> <itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit> <itunes:image href="http://www.home-ec101.com/wp-content/plugins/powerpress/itunes_default.jpg" /> <copyright>Copyright </copyright> <itunes:subtitle>Skills for everyday living.</itunes:subtitle> <image><title>Home Ec 101</title> <url>http://www.home-ec101.com/wp-content/plugins/powerpress/rss_default.jpg</url><link>http://www.home-ec101.com</link> </image> <atom10:link xmlns:atom10="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/HomeEc101" /><feedburner:info uri="homeec101" /><atom10:link xmlns:atom10="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" rel="hub" href="http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/" /><feedburner:emailServiceId>HomeEc101</feedburner:emailServiceId><feedburner:feedburnerHostname>http://feedburner.google.com</feedburner:feedburnerHostname><item><title>How to Get Rid of Mealy Moths</title><link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HomeEc101/~3/BAxyH5VCuu0/</link> <comments>http://www.home-ec101.com/how-to-get-rid-of-mealy-moths/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Wed, 16 May 2012 12:38:53 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Heather</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Fix It]]></category> <category><![CDATA[pantry moths]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Pests]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.home-ec101.com/?p=10861</guid> <description><![CDATA[Dear Home Ec 101, My fiance and I recently moved into our first home together, but it soon became apparent that we weren&#8217;t the only occupants. The previous owner apparently had a mealy-moth infestation, and she oh-so-thoghtfully left it for us. They&#8217;re everywhere. I kill at least 5-10 daily and each day it seems like [...]<p><h2>Click here to leave a comment on <a href="http://www.home-ec101.com/how-to-get-rid-of-mealy-moths/">How to Get Rid of Mealy Moths</a> . We'd love to hear your say.</h2>This is a post from: <strong> <a href="http://www.home-ec101.com">Home-Ec101 ©Home-Ec 101.com 2007 - 2011</a></p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p>Dear Home Ec 101,</p><p>My fiance and I recently moved into our first home together, but it soon became apparent that we weren&#8217;t the only occupants. The previous owner apparently had a mealy-moth infestation, and she oh-so-thoghtfully left it for us. They&#8217;re everywhere. I kill at least 5-10 daily and each day it seems like there&#8217;s more! I freeze all my grains and flours and sugars for at least 24 hours when I buy them, all my food is stored in airtight containers, I&#8217;ve cleaned the cabinets and the drawers and everyplace I can reach yet they&#8217;ve migrated from the kitchen (where we first found them multiplying) to everywhere in the house. They crawl on the TV screen, and I&#8217;m worred that they&#8217;re going to start eating my clothes and rugs and furniture fabrics.</p><p>I&#8217;ve bought some sticky traps, but they don&#8217;t seem to be working well anymore.</p><p>Is there anyway to get rid of these horrible little bugs?</p><p>Signed,<br /> <em>Creepy Crawlin&#8217;</em></p><p><img src="http://www.home-ec101.com/pics/girl2.jpg" alt="" />Heather says:</p><p>Mealy moths are a miserable infestation to deal with.</p><p>First some good news, mealy moths only eat grains, your fabrics are safe. Just double check to be sure you ONLY have mealy moths in your home.</p><p>You are on the right track with sticky traps, but you may have gone overboard. Sticky traps for mealy moths have pheromones which act as an attractant for the moths. Because of this attractive scent it is very important to only use one trap per room. If you have more than one, you&#8217;ll confuse the moths and they will circle around thinking they&#8217;re about to get lucky, but never finding their potential honey. Maybe play a little Barry White to set the mood?</p><p>Do you have pets? If you have any kind of pet food in the house, it&#8217;s very possible that this is their new food source. Either store the food in an airtight container or keep it outside of the house.</p><p>Mealy moths or grain moths are especially obnoxious to get rid of because the larval stage likes to hide in the cracks of your cabinets. You need to completely unload the cabinets, remove the shelves and clean thoroughly. Get a stepladder and a flashlight because they especially like the underside of shelves. Use the flashlight and look up inside your cabinets and make sure you wipe down the ceiling of the cabinets and all of those internal corners. In the past when we had a minor infestation, I brought out the vacuum cleaner and thoroughly vacuumed the inside of all of my cabinets before wiping them down with a strong all-purpose cleaner. You know me, normally I take the enviro-friendly route, but in this case the environment is being a pain in my butt and I pull out the big guns and go ahead and use an insecticide. *GASP* Heather said use poison? Yeah, I did. You&#8217;re not rubbing it all over your food and consuming that, you&#8217;re solving a major problem and will discontinue the use as soon as you&#8217;ve fixed it.</p><p>Finally you&#8217;ll need to wipe down the walls close to where it meets the ceiling. I don&#8217;t know why, but the larvae just love to hang out there and pupate. Awesome.</p><p>So here&#8217;s the TL / DR version of getting rid of pantry moths:</p><ol><li>Remove all infested grain products from the house.</li><li>COMPLETELY clean out all cabinets, inside and out, top and bottom.</li><li>Store all grain products in air tight containers, preferably after the 72 hour freezing.</li><li>Use only 1 pheromone trap at a time.</li><li>In severe cases use an <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004HFV4QS/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=hoec10-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B004HFV4QS" target="_blank">insecticide with a crevice tool</a> to get areas you cannot clean.</li></ol><p>Repeat the procedure on a weekly or every other week basis until moths are no longer showing up in the trap.</p><p>Good luck and I&#8217;m so sorry you&#8217;re having to deal with this mess.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><em>Send your questions to <strong>helpme@home-ec101.com</strong>.</em></p><p><h2>Click here to leave a comment on <a href="http://www.home-ec101.com/how-to-get-rid-of-mealy-moths/">How to Get Rid of Mealy Moths</a> . We'd love to hear your say.</h2>This is a post from: <strong> <a href="http://www.home-ec101.com">Home-Ec101 ©Home-Ec 101.com 2007 - 2011</a></p> 
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</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/HomeEc101/~4/BAxyH5VCuu0" height="1" width="1"/>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://www.home-ec101.com/how-to-get-rid-of-mealy-moths/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> <feedburner:origLink>http://www.home-ec101.com/how-to-get-rid-of-mealy-moths/</feedburner:origLink></item> <item><title>Menu Monday: In a “Back-slidden’ Condition”</title><link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HomeEc101/~3/835dP77cHe4/</link> <comments>http://www.home-ec101.com/menu-monday-in-a-back-slidden-condition/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Mon, 14 May 2012 12:00:16 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Heather</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Cook It]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Menu Monday]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.home-ec101.com/?p=10856</guid> <description><![CDATA[Heather says: Before reading, I suggest you go ahead and check any judgey-mcjudgerson pants at the door. We all have our fail moments in one area or another. It has been a rough couple of months around here. I&#8217;ve been adjusting to having a part-time job outside of the home, working on my start-up SpinPicks, [...]<p><h2>Click here to leave a comment on <a href="http://www.home-ec101.com/menu-monday-in-a-back-slidden-condition/">Menu Monday: In a &#8220;Back-slidden&#8217; Condition&#8221;</a> . We'd love to hear your say.</h2>This is a post from: <strong> <a href="http://www.home-ec101.com">Home-Ec101 ©Home-Ec 101.com 2007 - 2011</a></p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p><img src="http://www.home-ec101.com/pics/girl2.jpg" alt="" />Heather says:</p><p>Before reading, I suggest you go ahead and check any judgey-mcjudgerson pants at the door. We all have our fail moments in one area or another.</p><p>It has been a rough couple of months around here. I&#8217;ve been adjusting to having a part-time job outside of the home, working on my start-up <a title="I'm very proud of this, give it a shot" href="http://beta.spinpicks.com" target="_blank">SpinPicks</a>, and trying, <strong>tryin</strong>g to keep everything moving here at Home-Ec 101.</p><p>Recently, someone hit my car in a parking lot while I was in a coffee shop working. If you don&#8217;t know me very well, you may not know that my super power is the ability to leap to the worst conclusion in a single bound. I even bought the <a title="This is not an affiliate link, I just think the artist is teh awesome" href="http://www.sharingmachine.com/index.php?item=48" target="_blank">anxiety girl t-shirt</a> (I&#8217;m setting the stage for the next bit). Let me just tell you, for a person like me, having a cop walk up to you and ask if you drive [description of my car] and ask if your last name is Solos is quite scary. I was so relieved that it wasn&#8217;t anything serious that the poor guy who tagged my car kept commenting &#8220;You are so calm about this.&#8221;</p><p>My desktop computer, until a few days ago, has been nothing but a giant, paperweight that pretends to act like a computer until I begin something important, then it reverts back to paperweight mode -that&#8217;s a big part of the reason for the recent dearth of recipes&#8230; no pictures, no posts.</p><p>Last week I received a letter from my publisher saying that Home-Ec 101: Skills for Everyday Living will not be reprinted. Yeah, that&#8217;s a let down, but there&#8217;s nothing I can do about it. If you want to get a copy, I suggest you hurry up and order it.</p><p>So what got left behind in all of this?</p><p>Dinner.</p><p>Don&#8217;t worry, the kids still were fed 3x a day and almost all of the time it was fairly healthy &#8211; there was one night where I said to heck with, it gave them each an apple, and then we went out for ice cream sundaes because I was done, just done. Go ahead and feel smug, I doubt the department of social services is going to get too upset over that one.</p><p>Oh, you want to know what the back-slidden condition reference is, don&#8217;t you?</p><p>Many years ago, in my college-ish years, I dated a young man from Spartanburg, SC. Once while we were in the upstate he took me to the place where the Marshall Tucker band used to play. I can&#8217;t remember the name, just that there was live country music, dinner, lots of sweet tea, and dancing. Apparently one of the highlights of the evening&#8217;s entertainment included the owner asking the audience, by show of hands what denomination they were, &#8220;Do we have any Episcopalians, Lutherans, Catholics,&#8221; etc Finally he would get to, &#8220;How about any Baptists?&#8221; insert a pause for more than half of the crowd to raise their hands, &#8220;Currently in a back-slidden conidition.&#8221; ha ha ha</p><p>All of that was to say, my menu planning and dinner preparation is in a back-slidden condition and I&#8217;m working on fixing it.</p><p>Saturday I sat down with my sitter, who is an honorary part of the family and my life-line to sanity at this moment, and we planned out this week&#8217;s menu:</p><ul><li>Monday &#8211; Patty melts, <a href="http://www.home-ec101.com/broccoli-roasted/" target="_blank">oven roasted broccoli</a></li><li>Tuesday &#8211; <a href="http://www.home-ec101.com/baked-pork-egg-rolls-recipe/" target="_blank">Baked Pork Egg Rolls</a>, Fried Rice, Stir Fried Vegetables (hoping to get pics of fried rice preparation for the recipe index here)</li><li>Wednesday &#8211; C.O.R.N (I made a giant batch of etouffee on Saturday and brought some in to my co-workers)</li><li>Thursday -<a href="http://www.home-ec101.com/rubbing-it-in/" target="_blank"> BBQ Chicken</a> (leg quarters on the grill, cooked by indirect heat, low and slow), pasta salad, steamed green beans</li><li>Friday -Breakfast for dinner (She is cooking)</li><li>Saturday &#8211; Blackened tilapia with strawberry salsa, rice pilaf, some manner of steamed vegetales</li><li>Sunday is to be determined by how working the brunch shift goes. If it was anything like this week? It may be leftovers or I may load up the kids and head to the local Mexican joint and let someone wait on me. I don&#8217;t know.  Or it will be the planned Caesar Salad with grilled chicken.</li></ul><p>What are you eating this week? What do you do when cooking turns into a chore?</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><h2>Click here to leave a comment on <a href="http://www.home-ec101.com/menu-monday-in-a-back-slidden-condition/">Menu Monday: In a &#8220;Back-slidden&#8217; Condition&#8221;</a> . We'd love to hear your say.</h2>This is a post from: <strong> <a href="http://www.home-ec101.com">Home-Ec101 ©Home-Ec 101.com 2007 - 2011</a></p> 
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</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/HomeEc101/~4/835dP77cHe4" height="1" width="1"/>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://www.home-ec101.com/menu-monday-in-a-back-slidden-condition/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>19</slash:comments> <feedburner:origLink>http://www.home-ec101.com/menu-monday-in-a-back-slidden-condition/</feedburner:origLink></item> <item><title>Cooking in a Shared Kitchen</title><link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HomeEc101/~3/SuNB8aXWnLM/</link> <comments>http://www.home-ec101.com/cooking-in-a-shared-kitchen/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Fri, 11 May 2012 12:20:25 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Heather</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Cook It]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Reader Questions]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.home-ec101.com/?p=10852</guid> <description><![CDATA[Dear Home-Ec 101, I am new to your blog and to cooking. I have been married for only 9 months and my husband just got out of the Army and we are staying with my grandparents while he looks for work. We have some money saved but it wont last forever, and we have been [...]<p><h2>Click here to leave a comment on <a href="http://www.home-ec101.com/cooking-in-a-shared-kitchen/">Cooking in a Shared Kitchen</a> . We'd love to hear your say.</h2>This is a post from: <strong> <a href="http://www.home-ec101.com">Home-Ec101 ©Home-Ec 101.com 2007 - 2011</a></p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p>Dear Home-Ec 101,<br /> I am new to your blog and to cooking. I have been married for only 9 months and my husband just got out of the Army and we are staying with my grandparents while he looks for work. We have some money saved but it wont last forever, and we have been eating out a lot lately and it just isnt going to be affordable anymore. I have been teaching myself to cook and so far I&#8217;ve been focusing on baking and learning to make different things from scratch so I can freeze the dough and use it later.</p><p>Well I&#8217;m emailing you for a few different reasons. First of all we try to eat healthy and dont like to use processed or chemically enhanced food. We buy grass fed meat and I am trying to make alot of things myself so we wont have to use many packaged or canned products, but my grandparents eat alot of &#8216;crap&#8217;. Its hard to plan my meals around theirs. My grandma and I argue over the kitchen and I feel like a burden. Second, how do I keep it exciting for just the two of us. Sometimes it seems pointless to get excited about meals when I know I&#8217;m only cooking for my husband and I and then I just have to clean it all up. Until we have kids I want to be able to stay motivated in the kitchen. If you have any tips for me it would be very appreciated! Thanks<br /> Signed,<br /> <em>Cramped Quarters</em></p><p><img src="http://www.home-ec101.com/pics/girl2.jpg" alt="" />Heather says</p><p>First of all, thank you to you and your husband for his service. If you didn&#8217;t know, I&#8217;m involved with <a href="http://cwtt.org/" target="_blank">Cooking With the Troops</a> and we work with service members and veterans. People like you and your husband hold a special place in my heart.</p><p>Then I want you to know that you&#8217;re in the midst of a very stressful life change; cut yourself some slack.</p><p>Next remember as frustrating as it is, you are a guest receiving the benefits of your grandparents&#8217; generosity. Repeat to yourself: <strong>This is a temporary situation</strong>. You will get back on your feet and in all honesty I&#8217;m going to say that, in the long run, you&#8217;ll be healthier (emotionally and physically) by not arguing. A temporary relaxation of your dietary ideals isn&#8217;t going to kill you. Make the best choices you can and let it go. The stress of worrying about a temporary situation is going to cause more problems than an imperfect diet.</p><p>Sit down with your grandmother and see if you can work out a schedule for cooking. This is conjecture, but there seems to be a lot of effort spent feeding four people. Offer to take turns cooking. Unless you are incredibly careful with your dietary choices when eating out, almost anything made from whole ingredients at home is going to be healthier. I know I&#8217;m speaking broadly, but the amount of sodium and excess fat that goes into most middle of the road restaurant food is insane. Remember, this is coming from a woman who isn&#8217;t scared of healthy fats (butter, whole milk, etc).</p><p>Almost all of <a href="http://www.home-ec101.com/cook-it/" target="_blank">the recipes here on Home-Ec 101</a> are written for beginner cooks with limited access to fancy ingredients. When I&#8217;m selecting recipes to modify and share, I head up to my local grocery store, if the ingredients aren&#8217;t at my Bi-Lo or *gasp* Walmart, I assume that there is a fair amount of the population who may not have access. (I also shop at Publix, but in my immediate area, that&#8217;s the &#8220;fancy&#8221; grocery store and has some more exotic ingredients. *Charlestonians, I know we have a Trader Joe&#8217;s, Whole Foods, and Earth Fare but those are 45 minutes from me and therefore not on the easily accessible list)</p><p>Check out the <a href="http://www.home-ec101.com/meal-planning-a-primer-pt-1/" target="_blank">meal planning primer series</a>.</p><p>Also helpful for variety &#8211; <a href="http://www.home-ec101.com/cooking-chicken/" target="_blank">A guide to cooking and using chicken</a></p><p>When it comes to cooking for a couple or small family planned overs and freezer friendly menu items are a great way to keep variety in your diet. When you get your own place, consider even a small chest freezer. Use it as an end table if you are really short on space in your new place.</p><p>Check out <a href="http://www.home-ec101.com/freezer-how-to/" target="_blank">How to Freeze Food</a> and <a href="http://www.home-ec101.com/cooking-homemade-frozen-foods/" target="_blank">Cooking Homemade Frozen Foods</a>.</p><p>Side note: I have a chef friend who likes to tell me, &#8220;All foods are a conveyance for sauce.&#8221; Marinades, sauces, and rubs are a great way to add variety to a fairly limited menu.  Just something to keep in mind.</p><p>Finally remember that cooking seasonally -planning your menu around the seasonal availability of produce is a great way to keep variety in your diet without thinking too hard. Check out: <a href="http://www.home-ec101.com/paradox-of-choice-and-the-free-weekly-menu-and-shopping-list-from-home-ec-101-12/" target="_blank">Paradox of Choice and the Weekly Menu Plan</a>.</p><p>Okay Home-Eccers, what advice do you have for this couple in a shared kitchen?</p><p style="text-align: center;"><em>Send your domestic questions to <strong>helpme@home-ec101.com</strong></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><h2>Click here to leave a comment on <a href="http://www.home-ec101.com/cooking-in-a-shared-kitchen/">Cooking in a Shared Kitchen</a> . We'd love to hear your say.</h2>This is a post from: <strong> <a href="http://www.home-ec101.com">Home-Ec101 ©Home-Ec 101.com 2007 - 2011</a></p> 
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</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/HomeEc101/~4/SuNB8aXWnLM" height="1" width="1"/>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://www.home-ec101.com/cooking-in-a-shared-kitchen/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>12</slash:comments> <feedburner:origLink>http://www.home-ec101.com/cooking-in-a-shared-kitchen/</feedburner:origLink></item> <item><title>Home Energy Conservation</title><link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HomeEc101/~3/0DZqaG4EKu4/</link> <comments>http://www.home-ec101.com/home-energy-conservation/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Wed, 09 May 2012 12:10:35 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Heather</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Fix It]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Electricity]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Energy]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.home-ec101.com/?p=10849</guid> <description><![CDATA[Dear Home Ec 101, Help! I just read your article on removing a broken lightbulb from the socket and thought perhaps you could answer this question. Our home was built in 2006, from a reputable builder and we are the 2nd owners. We have noticed that our electric bill is considerably higher than it should [...]<p><h2>Click here to leave a comment on <a href="http://www.home-ec101.com/home-energy-conservation/">Home Energy Conservation</a> . We'd love to hear your say.</h2>This is a post from: <strong> <a href="http://www.home-ec101.com">Home-Ec101 ©Home-Ec 101.com 2007 - 2011</a></p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p>Dear Home Ec 101,<br /> Help! I just read your article on removing a broken lightbulb from the socket and thought perhaps you could answer this question. Our home was built in 2006, from a reputable builder and we are the 2nd owners. We have noticed that our electric bill is considerably higher than it should be and lightbulbs are often blowing in their sockets. We are on the time of use plan through our electric company and abide, very well, by the 3-6pm rule (power is 30% higher during these 3 hours). No a/c (up or downstairs), no fans upstairs, one downstairs, no lights on upstairs, our oven, heater and water heater are all gas, and yet our bill is still huge! We think it must have something to do with the wiring (a short perhaps), but we don&#8217;t know how to go about checking or having it checked. This is something we feel needs to be corrected before we have a pool installed, or before we go broke!</p><p>Do you have suggestions on what it could be, or how we ask for service?</p><p>By the way, we live in the Phoenix area and are not looking forward to another year sweating without saving!</p><p>Signed,<br /> <em>Short Circuit</em></p><p><img src="http://www.home-ec101.com/pics/girl2.jpg" alt="" />Heather says:</p><p>First of all, there&#8217;s a simple way to figure out if you are actually conserving as much as you think during those peak energy hours. CHECK your meter. Compare the rate of consumption at several periods throughout the day, including those peak hours.</p><p>As far as finding a reputable electrician, I&#8217;m a big fan of asking on sites like Facebook and Twitter. Obviously you&#8217;ll need to ask people in your actual geographic location and generally I would discount any recommendations from accounts representing electricians. I know whenever I see a local asking about various service technicians that I happily recommend those I&#8217;ve had good experiences with. (I try to stay away from publicly bashing companies for poor customer service, but I&#8217;m sorely tempted to call out a specific franchise for a recent experience -it happens). On Twitter, many people use the airport code to search locally. For example: Charleston, SC is #CHS</p><p>Now as few tips to reduce your electric bill.</p><ul><li>Unplug chargers when they are not in use. (If you&#8217;re like me and have three or four cell chargers scattered throughout your home, this can help.)</li><li>Don&#8217;t underestimate the power draw of small appliances like vacuum cleaners and hair dryers, avoid their use during peak times.</li><li>Turn off your printer. How often do you print? Does it really need to be sitting there in standby at all times?</li><li>Turn off your television when no one is watching. This is especially true if you have a large, flat screen, they use significantly more energy than older types.</li><li>Clean the gasket on your refrigerator, your appliance isn&#8217;t designed to cool your kitchen.</li><li><a href="http://www.home-ec101.com/cleaning-refrigerator-coils-a-tutorial/" target="_blank">Vacuum your refrigerator coils</a></li><li>Use solar shades on southern and western windows to reduce passive solar heating.</li></ul><p>There are many more ways to conserve energy and I know the Home-Ec 101 community is full of ideas. Home-Eccers, feel free to share your favorite energy saving tips in the comments.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><em>Submit your household questions to <strong>helpme@home-ec101.com</strong></em></p><p><h2>Click here to leave a comment on <a href="http://www.home-ec101.com/home-energy-conservation/">Home Energy Conservation</a> . We'd love to hear your say.</h2>This is a post from: <strong> <a href="http://www.home-ec101.com">Home-Ec101 ©Home-Ec 101.com 2007 - 2011</a></p> 
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</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/HomeEc101/~4/0DZqaG4EKu4" height="1" width="1"/>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://www.home-ec101.com/home-energy-conservation/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>13</slash:comments> <feedburner:origLink>http://www.home-ec101.com/home-energy-conservation/</feedburner:origLink></item> <item><title>Grilling Weather Has Arrived</title><link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HomeEc101/~3/n0_7Fc0QM_U/</link> <comments>http://www.home-ec101.com/grilling-weather-has-arrived/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Fri, 04 May 2012 15:18:40 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Heather</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Cook It]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Summer]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.home-ec101.com/?p=10843</guid> <description><![CDATA[Heather says: It&#8217;s May and in my part of the US that means hot weather is settling in and getting comfortable until October. It&#8217;s time to start thinking of ways to not use the oven and minimize the use of the stove. Grilling is my go-to, but I have been known to set the slow [...]<p><h2>Click here to leave a comment on <a href="http://www.home-ec101.com/grilling-weather-has-arrived/">Grilling Weather Has Arrived</a> . We'd love to hear your say.</h2>This is a post from: <strong> <a href="http://www.home-ec101.com">Home-Ec101 ©Home-Ec 101.com 2007 - 2011</a></p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p><img src="http://www.home-ec101.com/pics/girl2.jpg" alt="" />Heather says:</p><p>It&#8217;s May and in my part of the US that means hot weather is settling in and getting comfortable until October.</p><p>It&#8217;s time to start thinking of ways to not use the oven and minimize the use of the stove. Grilling is my go-to, but I have been known to set the slow cooker or roaster oven out in the garage in an attempt to create a hot meal without overheating the kitchen.</p><p>Consider taking full advantage of the time you spend grilling by loading up the grill with many items instead of only the main course for one meal. Typically I like to grill extra chicken breasts, but bone-in chicken is great to grill and then pull apart or shred for items like chicken salad or additions to pastas. Experiment with lots of different marinades and rubs to keep variety in your meals, just remember if there is sugar in a marinade that the outside of the item will burn more quickly, always  use indirect grilling with these items. Don&#8217;t forget foil packets are a great way to cook vegetables on the grill.</p><p>Random aside: At my pub job we call <a href="http://www.home-ec101.com/easy-grilled-buffalo-wings/" target="_blank">grilled wings</a> &#8220;Nascar style&#8221; -translation &#8220;put tire [grill] marks on &#8216;em&#8221;</p><p>When you DO choose to turn on the oven, fill it with as many items as possible. You&#8217;ll only heat up the kitchen once and can use the microwave to reheat -also remember somethings are even awesome cold, like leftover <a href="http://www.home-ec101.com/bring-back-the-classics-oven-fried-chicken/" target="_blank">oven-fried chicken</a>).</p><p>Remember that there can be a lot more to salad than lettuce and a couple of vegetables.</p><p>My current obsession? <a href="http://www.home-ec101.com/caprese-or-sliced-tomato-mozzarella-salad/" target="_blank">Caprese</a></p><p>I don&#8217;t know about the rest of you, but I find when the weather is hot, I&#8217;m much less likely to want carb heavy meals, unless a sandwich is involved. Cold soups like <a href="http://www.home-ec101.com/gazpacho/" target="_blank">gazpacho</a> also become incredibly appealing. Heck, I&#8217;ve been known to eat this for breakfast.</p><p>Smoothies are another cool addition or replacement for a simple meal.</p><p>How do you cope with summer heat in your kitchen?</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><h2>Click here to leave a comment on <a href="http://www.home-ec101.com/grilling-weather-has-arrived/">Grilling Weather Has Arrived</a> . We'd love to hear your say.</h2>This is a post from: <strong> <a href="http://www.home-ec101.com">Home-Ec101 ©Home-Ec 101.com 2007 - 2011</a></p> 
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</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/HomeEc101/~4/n0_7Fc0QM_U" height="1" width="1"/>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://www.home-ec101.com/grilling-weather-has-arrived/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>16</slash:comments> <feedburner:origLink>http://www.home-ec101.com/grilling-weather-has-arrived/</feedburner:origLink></item> <item><title>Just Say No to Jugs with Method</title><link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HomeEc101/~3/E7lgsQTAzJY/</link> <comments>http://www.home-ec101.com/just-say-no-to-jugs-with-method/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Wed, 02 May 2012 03:02:02 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Heather</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Wash It]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.home-ec101.com/?p=10835</guid> <description><![CDATA[Heather says: Noah is back and this time, he&#8217;s got the marching band (hello Blue Devils!*) getting their act cleaned up with the Method Just Say No to Jugs Campaign. Enjoy the video: I&#8217;m a child of the 80&#8242;s, if you need details, I was in grade school, where Nancy Reagan drilled (indoctrinated?) &#8220;SAY NO [...]<p><h2>Click here to leave a comment on <a href="http://www.home-ec101.com/just-say-no-to-jugs-with-method/">Just Say No to Jugs with Method</a> . We'd love to hear your say.</h2>This is a post from: <strong> <a href="http://www.home-ec101.com">Home-Ec101 ©Home-Ec 101.com 2007 - 2011</a></p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p><img src="http://www.home-ec101.com/pics/girl2.jpg" alt="" />Heather says:</p><p>Noah is back and this time, he&#8217;s got the marching band (hello Blue Devils!*) getting their act cleaned up with the Method Just Say No to Jugs Campaign.</p><p>Enjoy the video:</p><p><object width="600" height="335"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/JkcsqABtNJk?version=3&amp;hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/JkcsqABtNJk?version=3&amp;hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="600" height="335" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></p><p>I&#8217;m a child of the 80&#8242;s, if you need details, I was in grade school, where Nancy Reagan drilled (indoctrinated?) &#8220;SAY NO TO DRUGS&#8221; into our heads for 8 years (I only had to tolerate 4 of this because of the timing) and this next installment of the Method campaign makes me giggle, like, well, like a schoolgirl. I should also note that my inner 12 year-old is also having fits of the giggles, but that is for less family friendly reasons.</p><p><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-10837" title="methodlaundrydetergent_50load_freshair" src="http://static.home-ec101.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/methodlaundrydetergent_50load_freshair1.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="326" />How do you say no to jugs? By giving their powerful, concentrated laundry detergent a try. (Well, that&#8217;s one way, the other is at the end of this post, keep reading.)</p><p>Transparency: For the past couple of years I&#8217;ve been using the mega-size Costco (Kirkland&#8217;s?) version of free and clear laundry detergent in my HE washer. Why? Convenience. I don&#8217;t like going to the store much.</p><p>The day I made the run to Target and stocked up on Method products, I took a chance and grabbed the Fresh Air scented laundry detergent, normally I steer clear of scented products (oh come on, really? This isn&#8217;t the first time you&#8217;ve heard me <a href="http://www.home-ec101.com/method-cleans-like-a-mother/" target="_blank">fuss about perfumed products</a>.)</p><p>I&#8217;ve now been using it exclusively for almost two months and I&#8217;m not going back. Heck, I may even get brave and try another scent. You think you&#8217;re scared? My entire world makes a little less sense.</p><p>So, what&#8217;s cool about the Method concentrated laundry detergent?</p><p>Squirt. Squirt. Squirt. Squirt.</p><p>Close the door and turn on the washer.</p><p>Boom. Done.</p><p>There&#8217;s no measuring. There&#8217;s no sticky laundry cap. There&#8217;s no guessing and there&#8217;s no need to buy the ginormous jugs of laundry detergent to prevent extra trips to the store or writing a Dear Home Ec 101 can I use dish detergent in my washer letter. A: Don&#8217;t.</p><p>I suppose, maybe if you have super hard water, you may need an extra squirt, but try the recommended amount first.</p><p>Today, <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.facebook.com/method/app_95936962634" target="_blank">Method launched a photo contest on Facebook</a> that will run all May long. One lucky entrant will win a year’s supply of Method laundry detergent and 25 additional entrants will win laundry starter kits (two 8-load bottles). To enter, submit a photo that documents what makes laundry a chore. . . sticky caps, lugging jugs, you get the idea. The top 26 pictures with the most votes from the community will win.</p><p>But wait, there&#8217;s more!</p><p><strong>How about a 2$ off Coupon for Laundry</strong> -ooh</p><p>Every Thursday for the month of May on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.facebook.com/method" target="_blank">Method&#8217;s facebook fanpage</a> under perks, there will be a $2.00 off coupon for Method Laundry Detergent on the perks tab. Remember this coupon will only be on available to print on Thursdays.</p><p>And no, we haven&#8217;t forgotten our Canadian friends: Instead of printing the physical coupon, you will be able to get $2 off Method products available at http://well.ca using the discount code &#8220;WASHME&#8221;.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><em>This is a sponsored post. I happily work with Method., but all opinions are my own.</em></p><p>If you want to read more about my adventures with Method, check out:<br /> <a href="http://www.home-ec101.com/method-cleans-like-a-mother/" target="_blank">Clean Like a Mother</a><br /> and<br /> <a href="http://www.home-ec101.com/method-clean-happy/" target="_blank">Clean Happy</a><br /> and<br /> <a href="http://www.home-ec101.com/response-to-a-comment-on-the-method-clean-happy-sponsored-post/" target="_blank">Why I work with Method</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><h2>Click here to leave a comment on <a href="http://www.home-ec101.com/just-say-no-to-jugs-with-method/">Just Say No to Jugs with Method</a> . We'd love to hear your say.</h2>This is a post from: <strong> <a href="http://www.home-ec101.com">Home-Ec101 ©Home-Ec 101.com 2007 - 2011</a></p> 
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</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/HomeEc101/~4/E7lgsQTAzJY" height="1" width="1"/>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://www.home-ec101.com/just-say-no-to-jugs-with-method/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>34</slash:comments> <feedburner:origLink>http://www.home-ec101.com/just-say-no-to-jugs-with-method/</feedburner:origLink></item> <item><title>How to Wash Comforters</title><link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HomeEc101/~3/gmVhPOQjWw4/</link> <comments>http://www.home-ec101.com/how-to-wash-comforters/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Tue, 24 Apr 2012 14:20:01 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Heather</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Wash It]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Comforters]]></category> <category><![CDATA[laundry]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Washing Machine]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.home-ec101.com/?p=10832</guid> <description><![CDATA[Dear Home-Ec 101, I don&#8217;t know if you have any advice that you can give me for this, but I went to go wash my daughters comforter and the washing instructions start out with &#8220;Front Load Washer only&#8221; &#8211; I&#8217;ve never seen this before, and I only have a top load washer. I don&#8217;t want [...]<p><h2>Click here to leave a comment on <a href="http://www.home-ec101.com/how-to-wash-comforters/">How to Wash Comforters</a> . We'd love to hear your say.</h2>This is a post from: <strong> <a href="http://www.home-ec101.com">Home-Ec101 ©Home-Ec 101.com 2007 - 2011</a></p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p>Dear Home-Ec 101,</p><p>I don&#8217;t know if you have any advice that you can give me for this, but I went to go wash my daughters comforter and the washing instructions start out with &#8220;Front Load Washer only&#8221; &#8211; I&#8217;ve never seen this before, and I only have a top load washer. I don&#8217;t want to ruin the comforter, but I really need to wash it&#8230;do you (or any of your followers perhaps) have any advice? Can I wash it in my top load washer without ruining it? Thank you SO much!</p><p>Signed,<br /> <em>In Need of CLEAN Comfort</em></p><p><img src="http://www.home-ec101.com/pics/girl2.jpg" alt="" />Heather says:</p><p>The warning to wash in a front load washer is more about protecting your machine than actually protecting the comforter. A comforter can hold a LOT of water which can cause excess strain on the motor and either shorten or end the life span of your top-loading washer. Naturally this won&#8217;t be true for all top loading washers, it&#8217;s going to be based on the capacity and the strength of the motor. However a washing machine is a significant investment and I&#8217;m not about to tell you to load test your appliance to save 5 or 6 dollars.</p><p>Your best bet is to head to the laundromat and wash your comforter -according to the manufacturer&#8217;s directions, naturally- in a large-capacity front loading washing machine. Yes, it will take you a little bit of time and cost you a few bucks, but it&#8217;s still significantly cheaper than a washing machine repair bill.</p><p>As a bonus many laundromats have water extractors. You can toss your comforter in there where it will be spun at a higher rpm than even the front loading washer, removing a significant amount of water and reducing the amount of time needed in the dryer (dryers are typically the appliance that cause the most damage to fabric).</p><p>Don&#8217;t forget to check the drum of the dryer before drying your daughter&#8217;s clean comforter. It would really stink to end up with lipstick or chapstick stains all over your clean blanket.</p><p>Best of luck!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><em>Submit your questions to <strong>helpme@home-ec101.com</strong>.</em></p><p><h2>Click here to leave a comment on <a href="http://www.home-ec101.com/how-to-wash-comforters/">How to Wash Comforters</a> . We'd love to hear your say.</h2>This is a post from: <strong> <a href="http://www.home-ec101.com">Home-Ec101 ©Home-Ec 101.com 2007 - 2011</a></p> 
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</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/HomeEc101/~4/gmVhPOQjWw4" height="1" width="1"/>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://www.home-ec101.com/how-to-wash-comforters/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>13</slash:comments> <feedburner:origLink>http://www.home-ec101.com/how-to-wash-comforters/</feedburner:origLink></item> <item><title>Ground Turkey and Meat / Food Safety</title><link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HomeEc101/~3/MvFrLJp-0Gc/</link> <comments>http://www.home-ec101.com/ground-turkey-and-meat-food-safety/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Mon, 23 Apr 2012 12:23:50 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Heather</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Cook It]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Food Safety]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.home-ec101.com/?p=10826</guid> <description><![CDATA[Dear Home Ec 101, We want to start using ground turkey instead of ground beef. There is a fantastic sale on Jennie-O ground turkey, but I know they had a recall last year due to salmonella poisoning. If we cook the meat to the right temperature, and wash our hands well after handling the raw [...]<p><h2>Click here to leave a comment on <a href="http://www.home-ec101.com/ground-turkey-and-meat-food-safety/">Ground Turkey and Meat / Food Safety</a> . We'd love to hear your say.</h2>This is a post from: <strong> <a href="http://www.home-ec101.com">Home-Ec101 ©Home-Ec 101.com 2007 - 2011</a></p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p>Dear Home Ec 101,</p><p>We want to start using ground turkey instead of ground beef. There is a fantastic sale on Jennie-O ground turkey, but I know they had a recall last year due to salmonella poisoning. If we cook the meat to the right temperature, and wash our hands well after handling the raw meat, should we be safe eating it?</p><p>I also noticed that the recall was announced in June 2011, but the meat it applied to had a sell by date of December 2011. I had no idea meat was sitting around for that long. I&#8217;m just curious if they freeze it or if it can really be safe for that long? I&#8217;ve never purchased meat that had a sell by date 6 months out.</p><p>Signed,<br /> <em>I was the turkey all along!*</em></p><p><img src="http://www.home-ec101.com/pics/girl2.jpg" alt="" />Heather says:</p><h3>Washing your hands and cooking ground turkey to 165°F is exactly the right procedure to prevent food poisoning.</h3><p>Don&#8217;t forget to thoroughly clean any surfaces which come into contact with raw meat products. Just don&#8217;t forget that <a href="http://www.home-ec101.com/kitchen-disinfection/" target="_blank">sanitizing is a two step process</a>.</p><p>I spent some time researching the Jennie-O Ground Turkey recall and the recall applied to frozen ground turkey patties. The reason the ground turkey had such a long sell-by time was the product was frozen, not fresh.</p><p>Freezing food does not necessarily kill bacteria.  Typically freezing a food just keeps the bacteria from multiplying, while refrigerating simply slows the bacterial growth rate.</p><p>Here are some previous Home Ec 101 posts on Freezer Safety:</p><p><a href="http://www.home-ec101.com/freezer-how-to/" target="_blank">How to Freeze Food</a> (part 1)</p><p><a href="http://www.home-ec101.com/freezing-a-how-to-part-two/" target="_blank">How to Freeze Food</a> (part 2)</p><p><a href="http://www.home-ec101.com/cooking-homemade-frozen-foods/" target="_blank">How to Cook Homemade Frozen Foods</a></p><p><a href="http://www.home-ec101.com/food-safety-and-the-deep-freeze/" target="_blank">Food Safety and the Deep Freeze</a></p><p><a href="http://www.home-ec101.com/chill-out/" target="_blank">Can you put hot food into the refrigerator</a>?</p><p>I hope these articles help you feel confident in avoiding food poisoning in your home kitchen.</p><p>*You win one Internetz if you can tell me where I got this quote?</p><p style="text-align: center;"><em>Submit your questions to <strong>helpme@home-ec101.com</strong>.</em></p><p><h2>Click here to leave a comment on <a href="http://www.home-ec101.com/ground-turkey-and-meat-food-safety/">Ground Turkey and Meat / Food Safety</a> . We'd love to hear your say.</h2>This is a post from: <strong> <a href="http://www.home-ec101.com">Home-Ec101 ©Home-Ec 101.com 2007 - 2011</a></p> 
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</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/HomeEc101/~4/MvFrLJp-0Gc" height="1" width="1"/>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://www.home-ec101.com/ground-turkey-and-meat-food-safety/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>2</slash:comments> <feedburner:origLink>http://www.home-ec101.com/ground-turkey-and-meat-food-safety/</feedburner:origLink></item> <item><title>Looking for Lunch Time Ideas</title><link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HomeEc101/~3/KmHlnOTsrCE/</link> <comments>http://www.home-ec101.com/looking-for-lunch-time-ideas/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Tue, 10 Apr 2012 15:43:15 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Heather</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Cook It]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Lunch]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Snacks]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.home-ec101.com/?p=10822</guid> <description><![CDATA[Dear Home-Ec 101, I have been trying to figure out how to be more creative and cook from scratch since I know processed or over-processed foods can&#8217;t be good for us. My kids started eating school lunches again and as I watch them put on more weight, I am realizing I need a creative, fun [...]<p><h2>Click here to leave a comment on <a href="http://www.home-ec101.com/looking-for-lunch-time-ideas/">Looking for Lunch Time Ideas</a> . We'd love to hear your say.</h2>This is a post from: <strong> <a href="http://www.home-ec101.com">Home-Ec101 ©Home-Ec 101.com 2007 - 2011</a></p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p>Dear Home-Ec 101,<br /> I have been trying to figure out how to be more creative and cook from scratch since I know processed or over-processed foods can&#8217;t be good for us. My kids started eating school lunches again and as I watch them put on more weight, I am realizing I need a creative, fun way to offer them a healthier take from home school lunch some how&#8230;. any suggestions?<br /> Signed,</p><p><em>Flummoxed by Lunch</em></p><p><img src="http://www.home-ec101.com/pics/girl2.jpg" alt="" />Heather says:</p><p>This is the type of question I like to open up to the greater Home Ec 101 community.</p><p>Jenn Fowler (happy birthday, my friend) often does a lunchbox report on her site <a href="http://www.frugalupstate.com/" target="_blank">FrugalUpstate</a>. Maybe she&#8217;ll share a link to that series in the comments below.</p><p>Bento Boxes (if you have serious time on your hands)</p><p>Salads</p><p>Soup</p><p>Hummus</p><p>Yogurt &amp; Fruit</p><p>Just be aware sometimes schools pay attention to what you pack and have different ideas of what constitutes healthy and balance. It&#8217;s just a good idea to remember this, after all, they count a packet of ketchup as a serving of vegetables. (Let that sink in)</p><p>If you are a blogger and share what you pack for your kids, feel free to link to yourself in the comments below.</p><p>Otherwise, chime in with your suggestions for healthy lunch box ideas.</p><p><h2>Click here to leave a comment on <a href="http://www.home-ec101.com/looking-for-lunch-time-ideas/">Looking for Lunch Time Ideas</a> . We'd love to hear your say.</h2>This is a post from: <strong> <a href="http://www.home-ec101.com">Home-Ec101 ©Home-Ec 101.com 2007 - 2011</a></p> 
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</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/HomeEc101/~4/KmHlnOTsrCE" height="1" width="1"/>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://www.home-ec101.com/looking-for-lunch-time-ideas/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>23</slash:comments> <feedburner:origLink>http://www.home-ec101.com/looking-for-lunch-time-ideas/</feedburner:origLink></item> <item><title>Food for Thought</title><link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HomeEc101/~3/y_KtqZkJZ1Y/</link> <comments>http://www.home-ec101.com/food-for-thought/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Mon, 09 Apr 2012 15:39:06 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Heather</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Cook It]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Waxing inspirational]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.home-ec101.com/?p=10814</guid> <description><![CDATA[Heather says: It&#8217;s been a long time since I have brought up my thoughts on why I believe cooking &#8220;from scratch&#8221; is a vital life skill. Notice I didn&#8217;t say important, I said vital. Over the weekend I had to spend some time in the car, so I loaded up a couple of podcasts, as [...]<p><h2>Click here to leave a comment on <a href="http://www.home-ec101.com/food-for-thought/">Food for Thought</a> . We'd love to hear your say.</h2>This is a post from: <strong> <a href="http://www.home-ec101.com">Home-Ec101 ©Home-Ec 101.com 2007 - 2011</a></p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p><img src="http://www.home-ec101.com/pics/girl2.jpg" alt="" />Heather says:</p><p>It&#8217;s been a long time since I have brought up my thoughts on why I believe <a href="http://www.home-ec101.com/scratch-cooking-the-whys/" target="_blank">cooking &#8220;from scratch&#8221;</a> is a vital life skill. Notice I didn&#8217;t say important, I said vital.</p><p>Over the weekend I had to spend some time in the car, so I loaded up a couple of podcasts, as I tend to do. The first one is only tangentially related to today&#8217;s discussion, but it&#8217;s fascinating, nonetheless.</p><p>The podcast is &#8220;Stuff to Blow your Mind&#8221; and the show is titled &#8220;Cat Parasites Conquer the World.&#8221; Right about now you&#8217;re probably wondering, &#8220;What on earth do parasites have to do with Heather going off on a rant about food?&#8221; Just bear with me for a few moments. There have been some interesting studies lately on how parasites can affect behavior. It has fairly recently been discovered that rats infected with <em>Toxoplasma gondii</em> are influenced by the parasite in ways that make them more likely to become prey for cats. The organism seems to make rats slower, clumsier, and even specifically attracted to the scent of cat urine. This attraction helps ensure that rats end up in the belly of the host necessary to complete the parasitic life cycle.</p><p>First of all, it&#8217;s insanely creepy to learn that a parasite may be able to not only influence the behavior of rats, but humans, as well. There have been some studies showing that 30 &#8211; 60% of the human population may have <em>Toxoplasma gondii, </em> and a few studies suggest that those with the parasite exhibit behavioral changes, much like rats, not necessarily a specific attraction to cat urine, but a loss of fear that results in taking unnecessary risks. Crazy stuff, right?</p><p>I found the topic fascinating (and have been ruminating on it for the last few days). When that podcast ended the next one in my queue was WNYC&#8217;s Radiolab Show &#8220;Guts.&#8221; Which wasn&#8217;t about parasites, but rather how the bacteria we carry within our digestive track (about 3 lbs worth) may affect our mental health. See, I told you there was a segue!</p><p>Much of the show focused on a study of mice given lactobacillus, the bacteria that gives us all kinds of delicious foods including yogurt. Some mice were given foods fortified with lactobacillus and two other groups of mice were given a control food and sterile food. The mice were then dropped into containers of water and observed. In general mice paddle around freaking out for 4 minutes before giving up in despair and just floating. This happened with the two control groups, the mice acted as expected and their stress hormone (cortisol) levels did what your would do if you were dropped in a container of water and believed you were going to die (they went through the roof). The mice on the lactobacillus diet continued to paddle around until the 6 minute mark when they were removed from the water (dead mice wouldn&#8217;t do much good for the study) and it was found that their stress hormone levels were significantly lower than those in the control groups.</p><p>Now how does a bacteria in your gut influence what&#8217;s going on in your brain?</p><p>There is a very large nerve that runs between your digestive track and your brain it&#8217;s known as the vagus nerve. The study with the mice was repeated, but this time the vagus nerve was severed in some of the mice. The gut was no longer communicating with the brain. Guess what? The mice with the severed nerve responded just like the control group mice in the first study, freaking out for four minutes and then giving in to despair.</p><p>There are now studies happening that are investigating the possibility of using lactobacillus as a means to treat some mental disorders including anxiety and depression. As a person who sometimes struggles with anxiety, I find this incredibly fascinating.</p><p>So what does this have to do with processed food? The more we refine and process our food, the further we take it from the state from which we, and the bacteria we host, evolved to digest it.</p><p>We are learning that we have more of a symbiotic relationship with the bacteria within our bodies than we ever thought. (Does anyone else remember the book by Madeline L&#8217;Engle <span style="text-decoration: underline;">A Wind in the Door</span>? No, I don&#8217;t believe our mitochondria are sentient, I&#8217;m just musing on the broader concept)</p><p>The next time you&#8217;re in the grocery store choosing between a food that has been designed to survive a nuclear holocaust and a food that is highly perishable, but as close to fresh as possible. . . you may be doing your body more good than we know.</p><p>If nothing else, eat a little more yogurt, it just might make you feel better.</p><p><h2>Click here to leave a comment on <a href="http://www.home-ec101.com/food-for-thought/">Food for Thought</a> . We'd love to hear your say.</h2>This is a post from: <strong> <a href="http://www.home-ec101.com">Home-Ec101 ©Home-Ec 101.com 2007 - 2011</a></p> 
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