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Show Notes for January 28, 2012
Rebecca was decorating all over the in the house studio this week. It was how to
De-80’s your home, and what’s new in wallpaper! James, our ever intrepid reporter filled us in on his trip to the Surfaces Show in Las Vegas. What’s that you ask? This show is for all the materials that go onto a surface: floors, walls, countertops and more. His top pick was a recycled rubber matt. Morris was in safety mode with tips on dealing with propane tanks in the winter. Good information!
Our listeners had questions about everything this week: Milton had a carpet stain, Laurie called with her favorite stain remover: Wineaway. Em has a new faucet handle that is hard to move, Dale called in with his suggestion to fix that faucet problem. Dave has termites and wanted to know the most effective treatment. Joan in Las Vegas has a noisy attic fan, Bill has window condensation, Frances is installing grab bars and needed some help on their location, Joel need some help on his kitchen cabinets and finally Brad was helping his Mom with a broken pipe under the house and asked what to do? I’m tired just thinking about all that work.
Websites mentioned on today's show:
Wine Away Stain Remover: http://www.wineaway.com/
Dricore Subfloor: http://www.dricore.com/en/eIndex.aspx
LED Lighting: http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/lighting_daylighting/index.cfm/mytopic=12031
Radon: http://www.radon.com/
Quiet Cool Attic Fan: http://www.quietcoolfan.com/
Recycled Rubber Floor Mats:
http://www.americanfloormats.com/recycled-rubber-tire-tiles/
Nexia Home Intelligence (Schlage Link System): http://www.nexiahome.com/Nexiahome.aspx
Bio-Integral Resource Center (BIRC): http://www.birc.org/about_us.htm
Here are all of Chef Daniella’s recipes:
Daniella's Weekly Recipe
Chef Daniella’s Tea Retreat Recipe
1 large mug (choose your most favorite one for this recipe)
Hot water, just removed from boiled kettle
1 tbl good Black Tea spooned into a tea ball or disposable tea sack
1 splash of half and half
1 tbl honey
Steep the black tea to your desired color and strength. Stir in the half and half and honey and enjoy slowly, one sip at a time.
Chinese New Year Steamed Cake
6 eggs, yolks and whites separated
1 ¼ cup granulated sugar
2 ½ tbs water
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 ½ tsp almond extract
1 ½ cup cake flour, sifted
½ tsp baking powder
½ cup honey, warmed
Arrange a large bamboo steamer or a large vegetable steamer over simmering water. Make sure it is large enough to hold the baking pan. Line an 8-in round baking pan with waxed paper. Separate the eggs. Place the yolks in a large bowl along with the sugar, water, vanilla and almond extract. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until the mixture has increased about three times in volume. Whisk together the sifted cake flour and the baking powder; and then sift this once more over the egg mixture, and fold in gently. Whip the egg whites in a clean bowl to stiff peaks. Fold into yolk base. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, and smooth out to edges. Place the pan into the steamer. Cover the top of the steamer with a kitchen towel, and place the lid on top; the towel will absorb any steam that collects on top from dripping onto the cake. Steam for about 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. Drizzle honey on top before serving.
White Turkey Chili
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 cup white onion, diced
2 large celery stalks, diced
1 poblano chili, diced
1 lb. ground turkey meat
2 (14 1/2-ounce) cans chicken broth
1 cup water
4 tablespoons chili powder
2 tablespoons garlic powder
1 tablespoon cumin
1 tablespoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 (15 to 16 ounce) can cannelini beans, drained
1 (12-ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
Add oil to heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, celery, and poblano chili and sauté until vegetables begin to soften, about 5 minutes. Add turkey to the pan and cook 7-10 minutes, crumbling with a spoon as it cooks. Add spice mixture to saucepan and then add chicken broth and water. Mix in beans and corn. Bring mixture just to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer chili until heated through. Season the chili with salt and pepper to taste and serve warm with a dollop of sour cream on top for garnish.
Corny Cheddar Cornbread
4 tbl butter, unsalted
1 cup flour
1 cup cornmeal
¼ cup sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 egg, beaten
¾ cup milk
1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
1 cup frozen corn
Preheat oven to 350°. Put butter in 8-inch square baking pan or 9-inch ovenproof skillet; place in oven just long enough to melt butter. In a bowl, stir together flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder and salt. Stir in egg, milk, and cheddar until just combined. Stir in corn. Spoon batter into prepared pan, and spread evenly. Bake until golden, 30 minutes in pan or 20 minutes in skillet.
White Turkey Chili Game day Nachos
5 cups tortilla chips
2 ½ cups pepper jack cheese, shredded
2 cups White Turkey Chili, prepared
½ cup fresh tomatoes, diced
3 tablespoons sour cream
Place the tortilla chips on a cookie sheet lined with foil. Sprinkle pepper jack cheese over the chips then spoon chili over the cheese. Place under the broiler of the oven on high for 30-1 minute until the cheese is melted and the chili is warmed through. Remove from the oven and arrange on a platter. Top with fresh diced tomatoes and garnish with sour cream.
Salty OR Sweet Baked Nuts
1 lb mixed nuts, unsalted (or one type of your favorite nut)
1 egg white
1 tablespoon water
1 tablespoon dark brown sugar OR 1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1-2 teaspoons fresh rosemary, minced very fine
Heat oven to 250 degrees then place the nuts on a cookie sheet lined with foil. Beat the egg white and water together until you achieve soft peaks. Spoon the egg white mixture over nuts and mix with a spatula to coat well. Sprinkle the brown sugar or salt over the nuts, and then sprinkle the cayenne pepper and the fresh rosemary. Toss again using your spatula and bake in the oven for 20 minutes. Serve warm and enjoy!
New Year’s Pasta Puttanesca
Ingredients:
½ lb. spaghetti
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 anchovy fillets, boneless
2 clove garlic
¼ tsp. red pepper flakes
1 cup plum tomatoes
1 small can black olives, pitted
1 table capers
1/2 cup parsley, fresh or dried
kosher salt
freshly ground black pepper
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente or according to package instructions. Drain and keep warm.
While pasta is cooking, heat the oil in a large skillet on medium-high heat.
Drain the anchovies and coarsely chop. Mince garlic and add to skillet with anchovies and red pepper flakes. Cook for several minutes or until the anchovies dissolve.
Chop the tomatoes and add with their juice, olives and capers. Stir and simmer for about 10 minutes until the sauce reduces slightly and thickens.
Add spaghetti to sauce. Toss to coat. Add minced parsley, season with salt and pepper.
To serve, gently toss and divide among plates.
Under-The-Kitchen-Sink Pumpkin Cake
Ingredients:
2 cup all-purpose flour
2 cup granulated sugar
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. kosher
3 tsp. cinnamon
½ tsp. ground ginger
½ tsp. ground cloves
1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
¼ teaspoon ground allspice
3 large eggs, beaten
1 cup canola or vegetable oil
2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1 (15 oz.) can pumpkin purée
1 cup lightly packed coconut flakes
¾ cup canned crushed pineapple (do not drain)
¼ cup golden raisins
Cream Cheese Frosting
2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, at room temperature
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 ½ cup confectioners' sugar, sifted
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350°F. Spray a 13x9x 2 in glass baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
To make the cake, in a large bowl, sift together the 2 cups flour, the granulated sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg, and cloves. In a medium bowl, combine the eggs, oil, and vanilla. In another medium bowl, combine the pumpkin purée, coconut, crushed pineapple, and currants.
Add the egg mixture to the flour mixture and stir with a wooden spoon until just combined. Add the pumpkin mixture and stir just until combined. Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly. Bake for 50-60 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cake comes out clean.
To make the frosting, in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese on medium speed for about 3 minutes until smooth. Add the butter and beat for about 2 minutes until combined. Add the confectioners’ sugar and vanilla and beat for about 3 minutes until fluffy.
Let cool completely before frosting the cake.
Holiday Cookies:
Eggnog Cookies with Eggnog Icing
2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg, room temperature
1 cup eggnog
3 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
¾ tsp ground nutmeg
For the Icing:
2 cups powdered sugar
5 tbl eggnog
½ tsp ground nutmeg
In a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg and beat well. Then add the eggnog and mix again. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and nutmeg. Turn the mixer on low and slowly add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients until everything is just combined. Cover the dough and chill it for at least two hours. Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Drop dough by the round teaspoonful onto lined cookie sheets. Bake one sheet at a time for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the tops are lightly golden. Cool cookies on a wire rack. To make the icing mix together the powdered sugar, eggnog and nutmeg. Ice the cookies when completely cooled by dipping the top of the cookies into the icing and place on a wire rack to dry.
Nana’s Classic Chocolate Balls
2 cups granulated sugar
5 eggs
6 cups all-purpose flour
6 tbl shortening (butter flavor)
½ cup cocoa (Nestles cocoa and dark chocolate powder mixed)
2 tbl baking powder
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ground nutmeg
½ cup raisins
½ cup chopped walnuts
½ cup mini chocolate chips, semi sweet
½ cup coffee, brewed
For the Icing:
16 oz powdered sugar
4-6 tab warm water
Preheat oven to 350°. Beat the sugar and eggs together, then mix in all ingredients expect raisins, nuts, and chocolate chips. Once the dough is mixed well add the raisings, walnuts and chocolate chips and pour in the coffee and stir just until combined to moisten the cookie dough. Begin shaping the chocolate balls by taking about 5 tbl of the dough in your hand and rolling it like a meatball. Place rolled chocolate balls on a baking sheet and bake in the oven for 10-12 minutes, until they are puffed and soft. In a medium bowl mix the powdered sugar and warm water together to make the icing. Ice the cookies when they are cooled completely then dip each cookie in the icing and let dry on wax paper.
Yield: approximately 76 cookies
Hot Butter Rums
Yield: 5 Cocktails
4 tablespoons soft butter, unsalted
4 teaspoons brown sugar
½ teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
10 oz dark rum (approximately 2 oz per cocktail)
Boiling hot water
Mix together the butter, sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla. Place one heaping tablespoon of this butter mixture in the bottom of each mug or Irish coffee glass. Pour in the rum and top with boiling water. Stir and serve warm to your guests.
Creamy Mushroom Soup
4 tablespoons butter, unsalted
8 ounces button mushrooms (1 cup sliced and the rest minced)
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
1/4 cup flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
1 quart chicken broth
1 cup half-and-half
Parsley leaves, chopped
Add butter to stockpot and melt over low heat. Sauté sliced mushrooms until golden brown. Remove mushrooms from stockpot with slotted spoon. Add remaining chopped mushrooms and add chopped onions and sauté until onion is tender. Stir in flour, salt and fresh ground black pepper and sauté for about one minute, stirring constantly. Stir in chicken stock and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and stir in half-and-half and sliced mushrooms. Heat just until cooked through making sure not to bring the soup to a boil. Ladle the soup into serving bowls and garnish each portion with a pinch of chopped parsley.
Garlicky Herbed Beef Rib Roast
10 large garlic cloves
2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves, minced
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, minced
2 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons coarse kosher salt
1 tablespoon coarsely ground black pepper
1 8 1/2- to 9-pound beef rib roast
Chop the garlic very fine and add to a mixing bowl with minced thyme, rosemary, oil, salt, and pepper. Mix well to create a garlic herb paste mixture. Pat roast dry with paper towels. Place roast bone side down in roasting pan. Rub the garlic herb paste all over roast. (This can be prepared one day ahead. Cover roast with plastic wrap and refrigerate. Uncover and let stand at room temperature two hours before roasting.) Position rack in bottom third of oven and preheat to 450°F. Roast beef 20 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F. Roast until thermometer inserted into beef from center of top registers 125°F to 130°F for medium-rare, about 1 hour 50 minutes. Transfer to platter; reserve roasting pan with juices to serve alongside the roast. Let roast stand at least 20 minutes and up to 1 hour. Slice and present on a decorated platter to serve to your guests.
Meat tip: Buy the best beef you can afford — at least USDA Choice, preferably USDA Prime — and let it marinate up to 36 hours in the garlic herb paste. Premium-grade roasts can be ordered for you by any supermarket meat department.
Oven Roasted Green Beans and New Potatoes with Citrus Vinaigrette
1 ½ pounds new or baby potatoes, scrubbed and cut in half
8 ounces green beans, trimmed
5 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper, plus more to taste
1 tablespoons champagne vinegar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon lemon juice, freshly squeezed
2 tablespoons lemon zest
2 tablespoons scallions, chopped white ends only
Position rack in lower third of oven; preheat to 450°F. Toss potatoes and green beans in a large bowl with 2 teaspoons oil, salt and pepper. Spread evenly on a rimmed baking sheet. Roast, stirring once or twice, until the potatoes are tender and slightly crispy and the green beans are tender and slightly browned, about 25 to 35 minutes. Whisk the remaining 3 teaspoons oil, vinegar, mustard, lemon juice and zest in a large bowl and stir in scallions. When the vegetables are done, toss with the dressing and serve warm.
Warm Maple and Spice Pudding Cake
4 eggs, yolks and whites separated
1/3 cup maple syrup
½ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
1 tablespoon butter
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1/2 cup sifted all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups milk
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare an 8-inch square baking dish with butter and ensure that this dish will fit inside of a roasting pan or deep casserole dish to bake in a water bath. To begin making the dessert, beat together egg yolks, maple syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg, and butter until thick and light brown in color. Combine sugar, flour, and salt and mix well. Add the milk and yolk mixture alternately, beating well after each addition. Beat egg whites until stiff. Blend egg whites into batter on low speed of an electric mixer or by using a spatula folding gently by hand. Pour this batter into a prepared square baking dish and place inside the roasting pan or deep casserole dish then place in the oven keeping the oven door open. Carefully pour hot water into the roasting pan to create a steamy water bath about halfway up the side of the prepared pudding dish (the water baths promote even cooking). Bake the pudding cake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until the top is golden brown.
Curing Your Window's Sweats
During winter months we receive loads of questions about what causes windows to "sweat" and what to do about the problem. Beyond being a nuisance, this condition can lead to mold, rot and a musty odor throughout a home. Making matters worse, for those in especially cold climates, the sweat freezes and turns to ice.
This excessive moisture that is commonly referred to as "sweating windows," is really condensation -- water vapor in the air turning into liquid water. It's the same condition that occurs when a cold can of soda is removed from a refrigerator and exposed to room temperature -- beads of moisture collect on the outside surface of the can to form a layer of condensation.
Many modern energy-efficient windows have features built in to keep the temperature of the glass as warm as possible and thus reduce condensation. For example, insulated glass provides superior energy efficiency to reduce the potential for condensation.
However, there is no such thing as a condensation-free window in high humidity conditions. Controlling the amount of moisture in your home is the most effective action you can take to avoid condensation.
Window replacement can do wonders to improve energy efficiency and increase home comfort, but it may do little to avert sweaty window syndrome. In fact, just the opposite may be true. Ironically, many homeowners are discovering that their new energy-efficient windows have more condensation that their old ones.
While well-insulated, tight-fitting windows provide draft-free comfort and can help lower your fuel bills, airtight windows can trap moisture inside your home. Previously, moisture in the air may have leaked to the outside through openings in your old loose-fitting windows, thus preventing condensation.
Here are a few ways to dry out sweating windows:
--Open window blinds during the day. This allows sunlight in and will warm interior air to create natural air currents. The improved circulation results in more even temperature.
--Use fans in bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms to remove excess moisture in the air. Bathing, cooking and doing laundry are activities that contribute the most to raising indoor humidity and, consequently, sweating windows. If you don't have ventilation fans in each of these spaces, install them. If you do have them, use them.
And it isn't enough just to turn them on while you are performing the activity -- allow them to run for a period afterward to fully remove excess moisture. The biggest mistake that most folks make is that they turn the bath fan off just as soon as they finish bathing. Instead, let the fan run for up to half an hour to fully remove excess moisture. The same holds true when cooking and doing laundry.
--Use a ceiling fan. Many people believe that a ceiling fan is useful only to cool you down on those sticky summer evenings. In reality, a good ceiling fan is like money in the bank year round.
In winter, run the fan in the reverse direction at a low to moderate speed. The blades will push air upward toward the ceiling and down across walls and windows. This air movement will make for more even heating and will dry most windows of condensation.
--Air out your home frequently by opening doors and windows. Before there were mechanical vent fans, ceiling fans and dehumidifiers, opening doors and windows was the only means of improving ventilation and removing condensation. Despite technology, there is no replacement for a little free air and the benefits that it can have on improving indoor air quality.
--Reduce the number of indoor house plants, as plants increase humidity levels. If you have a terrarium, you know that the inside surface of the envelope is covered with condensation. That's no accident -- plants and damp soil increase humidity. If you have sweaty windows and lots of houseplants, you may need to thin out some of the plants indoors to clear the windows.
--Use a dehumidifier to remove excess humidity from the air. A dehumidifier is essentially an air conditioner that has both hot and cold coils in the same container. A fan draws humid air over the cold coil of the air conditioner to condense moisture, which then drips into a collection container. Dry air passes over the hot coil to restore it to its original temperature.
For best indoor comfort and health, a relative humidity of about 45 percent is ideal. You can track your home's humidity with an inexpensive hygrometer.
Restoring Kitchen Cabinets
Are your kitchen cabinets too dark? Are they scratched, chipped or nicked? If the cabinets in your kitchen look more like they belong in your garage, read on.
A few minor repairs, along with a fresh coat of paint, can make your old cabinets look new, brighten up the room and make them easier to care for. And, for the avid do-it-yourselfer, replacement of the cabinet doors can give cabinets, and the kitchen, a fresh new look.
For starters, remove the cabinet doors and drawers and work on them in your garage or workshop so that disruption in the kitchen will be minimal. This will also give you the freedom to apply the new paint with a sprayer making the job a lot easier and result in a finer finish.
Remove the pulls from the cabinet doors and then the doors themselves together with the hinges. You'll want to do this even if the doors won't be replaced with new ones, since it will facilitate applying paint. A cordless screwdriver will make removal and replacement of the doors and hardware a whole lot easier. You may also find it necessary to remove the refrigerator, range, vent hood or other appliances in order to properly complete the job. This gives you a great opportunity for a thorough cleaning.
Once the pulls and hinges have been removed from the cabinet doors, soak them in a mild solution of ammonia and water. You may choose to bypass this step and use new pulls and hinges to match your current decor. Or you might wish to replace the hinges with the new Euro-style concealed hinge.
To remove surface grease and grime, wash all surfaces to be painted, including doors and drawers, with a solution of trisodiumphosphate (TSP). Then, using 100 to 120-grit sandpaper, lightly sand the doors and all exposed surfaces of the cabinets. The goal is not to remove all of the paint or varnish, but rather to create a smooth and uniform surface to which the new coat of paint will adhere. All nicks and blemishes should be filled with a vinyl spackling compound, and lightly sanded. A second application of spackle may be required if the first application shrinks. Remove the sanding dust by vacuuming the cabinets with an upholstery brush and wiping them down with a tack cloth or a soft cloth dampened with mineral spirits.
Before applying new paint, protect your surroundings. The floor should be covered with a canvas or plastic drop cloth. Use masking tape and masking paper to protect counters and cabinet interiors. Drawer bodies should be wrapped in plastic or paper and tightly masked at the inside edge where the drawer front meets the drawer body.
When working with a painted cabinet, apply a coat of oil base primer to all areas. Cabinets with a dark stain should be treated with a heavily pigmented shellac-based primer to help conceal the stain. In either case lightly thin the paint with mineral spirits and apply with a natural or china bristle brush. Never use a polyester or synthetic bristle brush when working with oils.
For cabinet doors and drawers use an airless sprayer, being sure to follow the manufacturer or rental store instructions to the letter. A painter's hood or hat, a respirator, safety goggles and plenty of ventilation are needed when spraying oils with an airless sprayer. Also, make sure that you have the proper tip for the spray gun. There are a variety of tips for paints and finishes.
Once dry, lightly sand the primer with 150-grit sandpaper, remove all of the sanding dust and apply a finish coat of high-gloss oil base enamel in the color of your choice. Use a semi-gloss for a less shiny finish. Apply the finish coat in the same fashion as the primer. To wrap up the job, attach the hinges and install the doors. Reinstall the drawers and install door and drawer pulls if desired.
When shopping for new cabinet doors try a custom cabinet shop. In addition to supplying hinges, they can bore the doors to accept the new Euro-style hinges, should those be your choice.
• Rebecca Cole GROWS - Check out Rebecca Cole’s website for design and gardening inspiration.
• Karel’s Korner - Weekly series featuring health & fitness tips.
• Legal Tool Chest - Weekly series featuring legal tips.
• On The House Mailing Lists - Receive all your favorite On The House Features in your e-mail box.
• Stay Warm-Sun Heat will Keep You Warm for Less
• California Redwood -The Natural Choice
• Feeder Fresh -The Bird-Safe Moisture and Seed Preservative
• Barbeques Galore -The Barbeque Store
• XGrass-XLawn the "no mow" grass
• Grip-Tite Super Wrench & Socket Sets - The tools with bite! They grab damaged and rusted bolts with ease!
• Serious Windows - The most energy efficient windows on the market, period.
• Semco Remodeling -Do It Yourself Remodeling for Surfaces with Unique Colors, Finishes and Textures
• Dakota Alert -The Leading Manufacturer of Wireless Alert Products
• Safe T Horse -Light-Safe- Strong
• Quiet Cool -The Whisper Quiet Whole House Fan Cooling System
• Wet & Forget-The Ultimate Outdoor Moss, Mold, Mildew and Algae Stain Remover
• Consumer Product Safety Commission-Recalls and Product Safety Information
If you need any more information about today's program, please contact us and we'll try to help you find what you need. Thanks for listening to On The House with the Carey Brothers!
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