More Home Health Tips

from http://www.homefoodsafety.org/
IS THE MAN IN YOUR LIFE MAKING YOU SICK?

Most Men Aren’t Following Proper Grilling Etiquette Outdoors

Let’s face it. During the warm summer months, men are usually the ones flipping burgers over the hot, smoky grill. Are men following the correct outdoor food safety guidelines? Chances are they’re not.

In fact, a recent survey conducted by the American Dietetic Association (ADA) and its Foundation revealed that the majority of men confess to improper outdoor food handling. Men are more likely than women to use the same plate and grilling utensils when handling raw and cooked meats without cleaning them between uses. Mixing raw meat juices with ready-to-eat foods is one of the leading causes of food-related illnesses at home. Improper grilling habits could give everyone a bad case of foodborne illness -- commonly called food poisoning.

So, the next time your man fires up the grill, give him some simple food safety tips that will help bacteria from creeping into his famous outdoor creations.

Grilling Tips for "Clean" Cuisine

1.     Wash hands with warm soapy water before/during food preparation.

1.     Proper hand washing may eliminate nearly half of all cases of foodborne illness. Since bacteria can easily be transferred from the body to foods and surfaces, always wash your hands thoroughly, especially after switching tasks such as handling raw meats and then touching vegetables.

2.     Wash plates between uses or use separate plates: one for holding raw meat, poultry and seafood; another for cooked foods.

1.     The juices from raw meats and poultry aren’t always easy to contain. They tend to spill over and/or leak on foods and surfaces. Because these juices may carry harmful bacteria, using two separate plates will help prevent cross-contamination, a leading cause of foodborne illness.

3.     Clean grilling utensils with hot soapy water.

1.     After using knives, grilling tongs or forks to touch raw meats and poultry, clean thoroughly with hot soapy water before handling cooked foods to prevent cross-contamination. Too much hassle to clean the dishes while you’re cooking? Use two sets of utensils at the grill: one for raw meats and the other set for cooked foods.

4.     Scrub the grill with hot soapy water before cooking.

1.     Put a little extra elbow grease into cleaning the grill to kill any bacteria that may be lingering about.

5.     Use a meat thermometer to check the doneness of meats and poultry.

1.     Relying on color alone to check the doneness of meat isn’t the best technique. A meat thermometer is the only way to ensure food has been cooked to the proper temperature. Favorites like steak should be cooked to at least 145° F, hamburgers should be cooked to at least 160° F, while chicken should be cooked to at least 165° F

Home Food Safety Tips

 From http://www.homefoodsafety.org/

Desktop Dining: Survival Tips that Work Overtime

Be the boss of your brown bag with these simple food safety tips from the American Dietetic Association:

·         Get Hands-on Experience. Fewer than half of all Americans say they always wash their hands before eating lunch.* The rule of thumb: always wash hands before, during and after handling food. No time to wash with soap and water? Keep your desk stocked with moist towelettes or hand sanitizer.

·         Be Proactive. The average office refrigerator is cleaned  – more than enough time for its contents to spoil.*only once every six weeks Don’t wait for the office clean-up crew…toss your leftovers within three to five days.

·         Watch the Clock. If you’ve packed perishable food items such as meat and cheese sandwiches, leftovers, salads or dairy foods for lunch, don’t let more than two hours pass from the time you make your lunch at home until you put it in the office refrigerator

·         Limit Lunchtime Lingering. If you have lunchtime leftovers, refrigerate them promptly below 40 degrees as soon as you’re finished eating – don’t keep them at your desk all day, where they may develop harmful bacteria.

·         Review the Refrigerator. Not sure what the temperature is in your office refrigerator? Stick a thermometer in the refrigerator and check to make sure it’s set below 40 degrees F. (Your co-workers will thank you!)

·         Micro(wave) Manage. If leftovers are your “bag” when it comes to lunch, be sure to re-heat them to the proper temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Also, thaw frozen foods in the refrigerator or microwave, not on the countertop.

·         Check Your Sources. Nearly three out of five Americans who work in offices where food is left out to share indulge in these social snacks at least once a week.* If food is perishable, find out how long it’s been sitting out before you dig in. If it’s more than two hours, you may want to take a pass.

·         Follow through with Fast Food. Don’t forget that the same food safety tips apply to carry-out and fast food, which also can be susceptible to bacteria if not handled properly.

*ADA survey conducted by Impulse Research, August 2003.

Cooking tip of the day-cooking with alcohol

COOKING TIP OF THE DAY: ALCOHOL IN COOKING

by Ron Locke on Sunday, April 3, 2011 at 6:03pm

Alcohol Content and Substitutions

Contrary to what most people believe, and that includes most professionals, when using beer, wine or other alcoholic beverages in recipes, a lot of alcohol is left after cooking.      

Here are the facts from the Agricultural Research Service of the USDA (1989).         

Alcohol remaining after preparation:        

100% Immediate consumption  

70% Overnight storage 

85% Boiling liquid, remove from heat  

75% flamed        

Alcohol remaining: baked or simmered:        

40% 15 min.   

35% 30 min.   

25% 1 hour  

20% 1.5 hour  

10% 2 hours   

5% 2.5 hours

Suggested substitutions for Alcoholic Beverages in Recipes

Choose the substitute considering the sweetness of the dish you are preparing.

White Wine substitutes in recipes

• Apple juice or carrot juice.

• Vegetable stock or Chicken stock straight or with a little white wine vinegar

• 1/2 cup rice vinegar and 1 tablespoon white grape juice.

Red Wine substitutes in recipes

• 1/2 cup of grape juice with 2 teaspoons of red wine vinegar.

• 1/2 cup water and 2 teaspoons of balsamic vinegar.

• Beef stock or chicken stock straight or with a little red wine vinegar.

 Champagne substitutes in recipes

• Ginger ale, sparkling grape juice.

 Brandy substitutes in recipes

• Apple juice, peach juice, white grape juice, pear juice.

Marsala substitutes in recipies

• Orange, peach or pear juice.

Orange Liqueur substitutes in recipes

• Frozen orange juice concentrate.

Beer substitutes in recipes

• Chicken broth, beef broth, ginger ale.

Best Time to Buy It

Content from http://www.statefarm.com/

There are methods behind retailer markdowns. Whether it's clearing out last-season's gear or increasing traffic during shopping slowdowns, stores follow a sales schedule of sorts. Trend experts at freeshipping.org and Consumer Reports discovered that during the upcoming months you'll find significant savings on:

Cold weather gear
"If you can wait to make a big purchase, buy during post-season sales when prices are lowest," recommends Amanda Walker, senior product editor at Consumer Reports. "But, remember that your selections may be limited." Hit post-season sales early in March to take advantage of rock-bottom prices on winter outerwear, sports gear and snow blowers.

Special occasion makings
Freeshipping.org found March brings discounts on china and flatware as retailers make room for new patterns targeted for bridal registrants. Cookware and kitchen accessories—popular wedding and college graduation gifts—go on sale in April and May. In May, with bridal showers and graduation parties on tap, retailers reduce paper goods prices.

Great outdoor buys
Merchants stage promise-of-spring promotions on gardening tools and perennial plants in March and April because they know shoppers are eager to head outside. Walker says lawnmower retailers sell last year's models in April to make room for newer mowers. By early May, retailers discount camping gear and athletic apparel to draw in outdoor enthusiasts.

In season styles
Since summer merchandise hits aisles in March, you'll be able to purchase sale-priced spring apparel in April. Stores stock less merchandise in lean times, which translates to more current fashions and fewer leftovers on sales racks, says Walker.

Last year's technology
The folks at freeshipping.org note that as the Japanese fiscal year ends around March, most Japanese electronics companies release new models. Stores reduce prices on previous versions of everything from computers and digital cameras to vacuum cleaners in April and May.

Country Breakfast Casserole

contributed by Sean Grigg

writtne by Ron Locke on Friday, April 29, 2011 at 8:19am   (follow him on facebook)

This is one of a variety of breakfast casserole recipes I've adapted over the years. This one is tasty with meat (I prefer ham), hash brown and lots of delicious cheeses! Give this a try!

 Ron's Country Breafast Casserole

 

 Ingredients:

·         1 lb. breakfast meat (diced ham, bacon or sausage)

·         1 medium sweet onion, diced

·         4 c. frozen shredded hash browns, thawed 

·         6 eggs. lightly beaten

·         2 c. shredded cheddar cheese

·         1 1/4 c. shredded swiss cheese

·         1 1/2 c. cottage cheese (small curd)

 Directions:

 1. In a large skillet, cook meat and onion until meat is cooked through (or bacon crispy) and onion is soft. (If using ham just cook the onion alone and add the ham with all other ingredients).

2. In large bow,l combine all of your other ingredients.

3. Add meat and onions and pour all ingredients into lightly greased 9"'x13" pan.

4. Bake uncovered at 350° F. for 35-40 minutes.

5. Once out of the oven, cool at least 10 minutes before cutting 

Smart Phone Smarts-Protect your Identity

Content from http://www.statefarm.com/

A visit to the application store may load more than that cute virtual pet program on your smartphone. If you're not careful, you might just sync up with some very clever criminals. It's true. As smartphones flood the marketplace and users load up on apps such as games, shopping tools, map software and online banking, they're also exposing themselves to identity thieves and hackers. Malware (malicious software designed to infiltrate a computer) has gone mobile.
"Mobile malware isn't a new concept in the mobile security field, but we've seen a huge rise in the volume of attacks as a side effect of the expansion of mobile apps," says Dror Shalev, chief technical officer at DroidSecurity, which focuses on protecting smartphones. "After all, mobile devices are just always-on computers that can make phone calls."
So how can you protect your phone and your identity from this new breed of mobile-minded criminal? Here are some tips.
Protect your phoneUse common sense in protecting your smartphone from hackers and identity thieves. Don't let strangers borrow your phone, protect access to e-mail and sensitive data with a PIN or password, don't use unofficial apps for online banking, and don't click on links from text messages. Basically, if you wouldn't do it on your home computer, don't do it on your smartphone. Be wary of free apps that aren't from established, trusted, familiar sources. Steer clear of pirated app repositories; stick to official versions for safe mobile surfing. And when you use public WiFi for Web access, don't visit sites that require you to share sensitive personal information such as account numbers or your social security number. Hackers may lurk on WiFi networks.
Watch bills vigilantlyCheck your bill carefully each month. If you see downloads you didn't authorize or calls you didn't make, contact your wireless provider immediately. If you receive a confirmation e-mail when you download an app, take time to actually read through it so that you know exactly what you are putting on your phone—and where it's coming from.
Question quirks
If your home computer started doing bizarre things like shutting down without warning, sending unauthorized email messages or pulling up websites that don't match the address typed in, you might suspect a virus. But users don't necessarily make the same connection when bizarre quirks develop on smartphones. Mobile devices will usually issue similar weird warnings when they're infected with malware

25 Top Heart-Healthy Foods

Good advice for those of looking to improve our health.


www.livestrong.com
written by Brenda Stokes

Keeping your heart in good shape requires more than exercising regularly and eating healthful meals. It's about eating the right kind of foods, which nurture the heart and keep it in tip-top shape. Instead of scouring the Web for recipes and meal plans, stick to these 25 best heart-healthy foods and you'll be set.

Heart-Healthy Foods 1-5

One of the best foods you can eat for your heart is oatmeal. Loaded with omega-3 fatty acids, calcium, fiber and folate, you're sure to get a kick start at breakfast with a steaming bowl of oatmeal. Even an oatmeal raisin cookie or two has benefits. Another food to try is almonds, which offer vitamin E, fiber and omega-3 fatty acids. They're great as a yogurt or salad topper. A glass of red wine with dinner is a time-tested tradition and it's been directly linked with improving HDL "good" cholesterol. Brown rice is a diet staple, and it offers valuable nutrients such as magnesium and fiber. It's quick to make and incorporate into dinner or a veggie-based snack. Tuna is another great heart food, chock full of omega-3s and niacin. Make a quick tuna salad or use it as a spread on whole grain crackers.

Heart-Healthy Foods 6-10

As we move down this top-25 list, you'll notice that the kinds of foods good for the heart are varied and even delicious. Blueberries offer beta-carotene, vitamin C, calcium and potassium. Blueberries also make a great cereal topping or salad mix-in. Salmon also offers omega-3s and makes for a fantastic main course for dinner or lunch. Black beans are tasty and offer magnesium, fiber and vitamin B complex. Just mix them into a stew for a hearty addition. While not everyone's favorite, soy milk is also heart healthy, with niacin, folate, magnesium and vitamin B complex offering plenty of incentive to pour it over your cereal. Likewise, ground flaxseed contains fiber and omega-3 fatty acids, making it perfect for a crunchy addition to yogurt, cereal or cookies.

Heart-Healthy Foods 11-15

Tofu is a great choice for the heart because it contains potassium, calcium and niacin. Plus, you can marinate it in just about anything and it'll take on its flavor, making for an excellent red meat substitute. For a nice salad topper or mix-in for pasta or muffins, try walnuts, which contain folate, fiber, and polyunsaturated fats along with omega-3s. You can try asparagus, which contains vitamin B-complex, fiber and beta-carotene, making it the perfect side dish for lunch or dinner. Spinach is another great veggie, with plenty of fiber, calcium and potassium to keep your heart happy. Try adding it to sandwiches and salads instead of lettuce for a healthier punch. You can't beat sweet potatoes for tastiness and heart-healthiness. It contains fiber, beta-carotene and numerous vitamins. Cook one up for a baked potato alternative or slice it up and bake for heart-healthy fries.

Heart-Healthy Foods 16-20

Many fruits are great for heart health as well. For instance, oranges offer beta-carotene, vitamin C and potassium. Papaya is another fruit that's great for the heart, with vitamin C, vitamin E, calcium and potassium. Plus, you can add it to salsa or just eat it as a part of a fruit salad. Cantaloupe is another good choice, with lutein, beta carotene, vitamin C and fiber. You can eat half a cantaloupe for breakfast or even a snack. And there's always carrots, which offer beta carotene and fiber for optimum hearth health. Baby carrots or even shredded carrots tossed in muffin batter can keep this healthy veggie as a diet staple.

Heart-Healthy Foods 21-25

Many vegetables are heart-healthy include broccoli, which contains vitamin C, vitamin E, fiber and potassium, and is easy to incorporate into soups and dips. Bell peppers are delicious and easy to include in sandwiches and wraps once roasted, plus they contain vitamin B complex and fiber. You might also wish to include tomatoes in your diet, which contain lycopene and vitamin C as well as folate and fiber. Eat a fresh tomato pizza or add slices to your sandwiches and salads. Tea is also good for the heart, with flavonoids and catechins. Start your day with a cup of green tea for a mild and delicious drink. And for a special treat, you can indulge in dark chocolate, which contains flavonoids and reservatrol, which are great for the heart and can lower blood pressure.

Brenda Stokes is a freelance writer, editor and researcher based in Southern California. She's worked as a writer since 2004 and has a B.A. in English Literature. Her work has appeared in numerous online and print publications, including ePregnancy, Cat Fancy and BabyZone.