Keeping the Castle

June 30th, 2006

Menu Ideas for Campers

As summer progresses here in the U.S., the thoughts of many turn to family traditions of camping, hiking, and generally just enjoying the great outdoors. One of the things to think about is food, of course. Though “roughing it” brings its own fun,it also presents unique challenges to cooks.
If you’re going to go camping this […]

By Maricar -- 2 comments

June 29th, 2006

Save on Gas with these Tips

I drove by a gas station today and did a quick double-take. Gas prices seemed to have jumped while I wasn’t looking. Funny how the price increases just when your car is running low?
Dr. Charlotte Gorman of The Frugal Life has 35 tips on “How to Save on Gasoline“. Here are some of those that […]

By Maricar -- 1 comment

June 29th, 2006

Plank Grilling

Only once in my life had I tasted a plank-grilled dish. It was a fillet of salmon with a wonderfully delicious crust of herbs. I haven’t given plank grilling a second thought until I read this article on Delaware Online.

Cooking on a moistened plank set atop a blazing grill not only imparts a wonderfully woodsy […]

By Maricar -- 0 comments

June 28th, 2006

Efficient Home Cooling

I found this blog, Guide to Green Living, through Greenthinkers.org. GGL has these tips to more efficient home cooling:

Avoid heat build-up in your home.
Use ventilation and circulation, such as through ceiling fans, to cool your home.
Keep air conditioning efficient and to a minimum.
Make sure your home isn’t losing cool air.
Select energy efficient cooling systems
Use the […]

By Maricar -- 2 comments

June 27th, 2006

Cool Stuff for the Home

News-Leader.com has some choice items for the home this week. Here are my three picks:

The Big Green Egg gets a second mention today. This odd-looking contraption is “ideal for grilling, smoking and baking at a summertime barbecue”. It’s fuel-efficient and a great conversation starter too!

This Margarita Bouquet from 1800flowers.com will surely make your day. Pretty, […]

By Maricar -- 0 comments

June 27th, 2006

Pricey Grill Not a Guarantee of a Tastier Outcome

These days, grills have taken on massive proportions and have more bells and whistles than their older counterparts. Food writer Sharon Thompson of the Lexington Herald-Leader investigated whether the size (and price) of a grill makes a difference in the taste of the finished product.
Two grills were compared: “a $1,599 Firestone Legacy grill top and […]

By Maricar -- 3 comments

June 26th, 2006

Safe Grilling

Summer is starting in the Northern Hemisphere, and grills are being dusted off in readiness for a season of outdoor cooking. Just a few reminders to keep your cooking safe and healthy this grilling season:

* Always keep raw meats separate from other food even when cooking.
* Always use separate utensils for transferring the raw meat […]

By Maricar -- 0 comments

June 23rd, 2006

25 On-line To-Do Lists

What homemaker hasn’t used a to-do list to manage day-to-day activities? But we don’t have to use what our grandparents did. The old standby, the pen-and-paper method, has evolved into online planners and calendars.
Solution Watch has a review of “25 To Do Lists to Stay Productive”. These are websites that help the user organize tasks, […]

By Maricar -- 0 comments