June 28th, 2009
You’re probably familiar with the picture of single living: unkempt kitchen, dirty dishes, nothing but stale cookies in the fridge. Often, it’s the result of a busy lifestyle that doesn’t leave much time for home cooking. But living alone doesn’t have to be that bad, at least meal-wise. It’s easy to eat well and stay on budget when you’re on your own—in fact, in some ways it’s even easier. One easy solution is to use the crock pot. Most people associate crock pot recipes with big family meals, but many singles are finding out otherwise.
Cooking for one with a crock pot requires a bit of planning, but the results are often more than worth it. Not only do you eat healthier, you also save time and money in the kitchen. Because it does most of the work for you, all you need is to prepare the ingredients and load them into the pot. What’s easier than coming home to a warm, home-cooked meal at the end of the day? This guide offers a few simple tips to help you make the most of crock pot cooking.
Think small.
Crock pots come in a variety of sizes, from large soup and stew pots to smaller ones more suitable for snacks or desserts. Most singles need only one crock pot for everyday cooking. When buying crock pots, it’s usually tempting to get the smallest size and save a few dollars, but that’s not always practical. For one thing, you’ll have to adjust your recipes to suit the amount of liquid you can put in the pot. You may also find yourself out of room when you’re cooking for friends or family.
The safest solution is to buy a pot that’s one or two sizes bigger than the minimum. It’s still small enough for easy handling and maintenance, but not too small that you can only make one serving at a time. It also allows you to prepare extra food for leftovers. For most people, a 5-quart pot is usually more than enough. If you like to prepare specialized meals once in a while, pair it with something smaller such as a 3-quart pot.
Plan your meals.
This applies to any household, but it’s even more important for singles. A lot of people go to the grocery with no idea what they’re having for the week, or even for that evening. As a result, they either overbuy some stuff or change their mind later on, causing half the food to go to waste. Crock pots allow you to plan your meals so that ingredients are used up more systematically. Since groceries rarely sell small portions of produce, this can come in really handy.
For example, you can plan some ground beef crock pot recipes for one meal and use the leftover beef for the next. These recipes tend to yield a lot of leftovers, so it really saves you time and money. You can pre-cook a large batch of beef, chicken or other main ingredient in the crock pot, and just add the rest later on. If you make it a habit, you can save a good 10 to 15 minutes each day—and it really adds up over the week.
Look for "reusable" recipes.
Reusable recipes are those that are easy to make in bulk and store for later use. This works well for side dishes or appetizers, such as soups, stews and salads. Make enough of one dish for two or three meals, and just freeze the rest until you need them. That way, you can make less of your main dish or use the leftovers for the next meal. It all adds up and before you know it, you have enough to last you a few days without having to touch the stove!
Soup is one of the easiest reusable recipes for the crock pot. At the start of the week, you can make a crock pot vegetable soup recipe that’s good for a few days, and just have it as a snack or a meal accompaniment whenever you feel like it. It’s also a great way to make use of leftover vegetables. You can choose to puree your ingredients for a thick, creamy soup, or leave the broth as is if you like it more thin or chunky.
Invest in ready-made foods.
Experts would normally advise against jarred or canned products like sauces, dips and frozen meals. But that’s no longer the case. A lot of companies now offer pre-cooked foods that are completely free of preservatives. For the solo cook, that means a lot of potential time savings. Why spend an extra half hour making that pasta sauce when you can just grab a jar from the shelf?
Of course, nothing’s stopping you from getting creative and making your own recipes out of them. For example, you can use jarred pasta sauce to make crock pot chicken cacciatore—a simple recipe with chicken, onions, and a few other spices. Just leave all the ingredients in the pot and let it cook for about eight hours. Let all the flavors blend together, and you’ve got an easy, tasty dish that doesn’t taste like fast food!
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June 8th, 2009
It is only common sense to assume that after using your wall water feature continually, there are bound to be problems that can crop up. Some of these problems are quite easy for you to solve on your own without having to call in a professional.
One of the main things you have to be cognizant of is the water level in the feature. If it gets too low, it can ruin the pump because running a pump without water or sufficient water will cause the pump to burn out. This means you will have to buy a new pump in order to get the wall of water running again.
You will have some of the same problems with wall fountains whether you have them installed indoors or out. Outdoor wall water features are prone to having more dirt and debris collecting in the reservoir, so they do need to be cleaned more often than those installed indoors.
This involves cleaning the glass, which could become cloudy due to a buildup of calcium from the water, especially if you are using hard water. Along with cleaning the glass, you also need to clean the pump because it, too, is susceptible to calcium build up.
Shut down the unit for a cleaning on a regular basis. Use regular glass cleaner for the glass and let the pump soak in a solution of vinegar and water or CLR overnight and then rinse it off before placing it back inside the waterfall.
Algae can also build up in an outdoor wall fountain, especially since it is outdoors. If you open the reservoir and notice a sour odor, then this is an indication of the presence of algae. There are several different types of products you can buy to solve this problem that you simply add to the water.
The filters in the unit also need to be cleaned or replaced. You should not attempt to clean the filter if there is still water in the unit. You will have to drain the water first and then remove the filter. A simply cleaning under tap water and scrubbing with a toothbrush will do the job for you. Then you only have to replace the filter in the wall waterfall to have it working properly.
A daily or weekly check of the water levels is essential to help you establish how quickly the water evaporates and needs to be replenished. Every two or three months, you need to shut down the wall water fountain and give it a good cleaning in order to prevent problems from occurring.
The pump in a wall water feature is normally very quiet. If you notice that the pump is starting to get noisy, you can check to make sure that the water levels are adequate. In order for the pump to work properly it has to be covered with water at all times.
The pump may also be unstable inside the feature and this is what is causing it to be noisy. If the connection is loose, air bubbles may be escaping and this accounts for one of the common problems homeowners have with the pump.
If you notice that water is escaping and breaking away from the sides of a garden wall fountain, this could be a sign that the surface over which the water is falling needs to be cleaned. It could also mean that the water volume is not at the correct level for the feature to operate properly. While it may be nice to have the water run slowly, it is not always the best fashion for the operation of the feature.
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June 2nd, 2009
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Just as you would not allow a human family member to roam around in a dirty and unkempt state, you should not allow the canine members of your family to do the same. Instead, use good dog grooming tools to ensure your dog is neat & clean.
The importance of using quality grooming tools cannot be overstated. Do not be penny wise and pound foolish by buying inexpensive and poor quality tools. You will have to spend a lot more for the medical treatment of your pet dog if you misuse the tools and harm the animal, for example.
It does not take a lot of effort to make a list of the grooming tools that your dog would require. Start from the head to the tail and think of the tool required to groom the particular body part. As you finish the task, your list will be ready.
You will need brushes for the hair and tooth, clippers for the nail, scissors, eye cleaners, ear cleaners, cotton pads etc. These tools are easily available in any pet store or even on the internet.
You can buy entire sets of dog grooming tools on in the internet. These would make great gifts for the dogs of your friends as well.
When purchasing dog grooming supplies for your canine friend, always keep the safety of the dog in your mind. Sharp and pointed scissors may be useful in cutting away thorns.
However, if your dog gets injured while grooming, it will not cooperate during the grooming process and all your dog grooming supplies will go waste. So if you are unsure, seek help form your vet or take your dog to a local pet grooming store.
What supplies should you buy for grooming your dog? Check out this list:
- Basket to hold all the tools
- Nail clippers with a guard to prevent clipping the quick.
- Disinfectants to stem bleeding and prevent infections due to nicks and cuts.
- Tweezers to remove debris and splinters.
- Dog grooming Hair scissors
- Thinning scissors
- Dog Nose scissors
- Wire brush to rake out dead hair
- Soft brush to be used after the wire brush.
- Good quality dog toothbrush
- Specially manufactured toothpaste for dogs
- Sterile eye cleaner
- Sterile Ear cleaner
- Cotton pads
- Dog hair pulling forceps
- Dog Tweezers
- Soap and Doggie Treats
After a good bath and a full grooming session, you should have dog toys in your hands to keep your dog occupied. This helps avoiding snarls and possible biting by your pet, while you work and the dog plays.
Toys Are for Work and Play
Dog toys are very essential for the health of your pet dog, as well. Studies have confirmed that toys play a very important role in the development of the child. The same is true for pet dogs as well.
Toys can be used to ensure that the pet dog gets its daily quota of exercises. In fact, if you use simple toys like a ball and a stick, even you will end up completing your daily quota of exercises while playing games like Fetch.
Further, toys are very useful in training your pet. You can use toys filled with treats to help your dog learn the difference between accepted and unaccepted behavior.
You can use toys to keep your pet distracted from irritants like a visit to the vet or a bath. Toys attract pet dogs just like toys attract children, too, so for more than one pet in the household, the more toys, the merrier the home.
Tags: dog grooming supplies | dog grooming tools | dog ear cleaners | dog ear cleaners | dog clippers | dog clippers | dog scissors | dog scissors | pet grooming | pet grooming | dog toys | dog toys
June 2nd, 2009
When you travel over large distances, the most practical thing to do is to fly. However, who shall take care of your dog when you are away? The relationship between man and dog is a symbiotic one. To ensure your dog accompanies you over long distances, use airline approved dog carriers.
If your pet is allowed to fly with you in the passenger section, there may be no need to use carriers. However, if your pet flies in the baggage section, then you must get a dog carrier that meets the standards of the airline. Ditto for the passenger area. Always ask first, rule of thumb.
Every airline has its own set of set of rules. Make sure you check them out before traveling with your pet on the flight. All airlines insist on three points when it comes to pet carriers:
·
Comfort
·
Safety
·
Ventilation
As far comfort is concerned, the airlines insist on a compact carrier. The pet should not be stuffed into the carrier. Airlines insist on strong materials used to make the carriers.
There should be no breakages or escapes during the flight. And the carrier should be well ventilated to ensure the pet does not suffer during the flight.
You can use pet carriers even when you are traveling by road. In fact, there are many people who make use of dog carriers even when they are not traveling. Most pet owners find these carriers to be very useful; for example, for restraining the animal when guests visit.
There is a lot of choice available in the market of pet carriers. You can buy different carriers for different purposes. You can opt for one that can be carried as a backpack on your shoulders or as a case in your hands.
When you purchase a dog carrier, do keep in mind the following points:
1.
Size of your dog.
2.
Temperament of your dog.
3.
Distance that your dog will travel in the carrier.
4.
The price that your ready to pay for the carrier.
5.
The accessories that you want to be included.
There are some pet carriers that can be used for day to day purposes as well as for travel purposes. It would be the most convenient, however, for a pet owner to get a pet carrier that will be suitable for all purposes.
Of course, such a pet carrier would not come cheap. However, this one time investment would always stand you in good stead. You can use the carriers even when you are traveling by air.
If you do not intend to travel or if you do not intend to take your dog along when you travel, then you can opt for good quality pet strollers.
Such strollers are, as the name suggests, suitable for day to day strolling activities. However, they are of no use for taking the pet along when traveling. Strollers are not suitable even when you are traveling by car.
The pet strollers are primarily designed to make your daily outing with the dog a lot more enjoyable. They are very useful for ill and arthritic pet dogs. Don’t forget portable dog bowls so that your dog can eat and drink.
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