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EPISODE #18 -
SATURDAY OCTOBER 3, 2009
We are hitting our stride. The fall chores are
piling up and we are just plugging along getting
them done and ready for winter. This week is no
different as we cover some basic tools, tasty
recipes and even a cool gadget!
Hardwood Floor Choices
A lot of home improvement projects start from the
ground up and we are talking about floor coverings,
and for some people they are looking at choices in
hardwood floors as a replacement for their current
flooring. We caught up with Tyler Paulson from
Paulson’s Floor Coverings (503-620-7080) to
learn about the new and different choices available
on the market. The first choice had us fooled. We
thought it was a wood product but it turned out to
be a laminate. Tyler called it an updated version of
the Pergo flooring of a few years ago. It can handle
the wear and tear of kids, pets and other abuses
better than the old laminates and even better than
some wood products. Next we moved to a true hardwood
floor. It was hand-scraped to give it that weathered
look. There are various ways for manufacturers to
get this look. One way is by using machines and the
other way is to send it to prisons and let the
inmates beat up on the wood to get the desired
effect!
Next we moved to the newest in ‘green’ products. We
started with bamboo. This is one of the most popular
materials because it is very durable, is sustainable
and is easy to care for. They can now caramelize it
(slightly toast it to darken the grain) and stain it
so you can use it in many different applications.
Finally we moved to cork, another sustainable
product and one that can be used in many different
applications. Cork is good because of its ability to
absorb sound. It is a softer material that is also
durable. Because of its porous nature it shouldn’t
be used in bathrooms or anywhere there could be
excess moisture. If you have any more questions
about these or any other floor coverings, check with
the experts at Paulson’s.
Easy Healthy Pasta
Creating a delicious healthy dinner for your family
is not that hard. Chef Eric Nelson from
Vitality at Wellspring (971-983-5280) made a
whole wheat spinach pasta in just a few minutes for
us. This pasta is easy to make with just five
ingredients. We also found out how to make a quick
spinach powder for your pasta. You can just get some
fresh spinach leaves and let them dry under low heat
in your oven and then run them through your coffee
grinder or a food processor. To see the whole recipe
click here, ‘Whole Wheat Spinach Pasta’. Then
once you are done you can try your new pasta in a
quick and easy dinner recipe (see second video).
Chef Eric works at Vitality at Wellspring in
Woodburn. The name “Vitality” itself means the power
to survive and the capacity to live, grow or
develop, which perfectly reflects their menu
philosophy and attitude towards food as it
contributes to living a healthy lifestyle. Their
menu is designed for diners with wellness in mind.
Over half the menu is prepared with no added fat,
but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t taste fantastic. In
fact, most diners at Vitality don’t know what
they’re missing.
Basic Knives
The key to success in the kitchen is a good set of
knives. We stopped by the
Sur la Table (503-968-8015) store at Bridgeport
Village to get the basics on cutting tools from
Laura. Having the right knife will make your work in
the kitchen easier and more enjoyable. Picking a
good knife can take a little time. You are looking
for a good quality knife, which is sharp and will
feel good in your hand. The 3 basic knives that you
are looking for are a Chef’s knife, a good bread
knife and a paring knife. One of the most important
things to remember is to keep your knife sharp. More
injuries occur with a dull knife than with a sharp
one. A dull knife will make you struggle with
cutting and that can cause accidents. You should
also have a honing steel with your knives. Every
time you pull out your knives you should use the
honing steel to keep the edge sharp! There is
also a special way to hold a knife. Pinch it with
your thumb and forefinger at the base of the blade,
and then wrap your fingers around the handle. You
want the knife to feel like an extension of your arm
and hand and not something bulky and hard to
control. If you have any questions about knives and
which ones may be right for you, you can stop by any
of the Sur la Table stores around the Northwest.
Corn Zipper
We returned to
Sur la Table (503-968-8015) to check out a cool
gadget for the corn lover in the family. The corn
zipper is a tool that lets you remove the corn
kernels off the cob quick and easy. This a great
tool for those that can’t handle eating off the cob
like small children and people with dentures. You
can also turn the zipper around and scrap the cob to
get the ‘milk’ of the corn. This is great for
creamed corn, soups, chowders and sauces.
Basic Tools
Chris Erskine joined us at the
Parr
(503-531-7277) store in Hillsboro to cover some
‘must have’ tools. First we covered screwdrivers.
Chris brought out a power screwdriver which, if used
right will help speed up the jobs you are tackling,
but if that seems a little overkill then you will
want the 15-in-one screwdriver. A multiple head tool
like this is good for dealing with any style of
screw that you may encounter in your home and
everything is right in your hand! Next we looked at
gloves. A good set of gloves will protect your hands
from getting hurt and it will also help keep them
clean. Safety glasses go along with the gloves and
should be in everyone’s tools chest. What good is a
project if you injure yourself and can’t enjoy it?
We moved to the hammers next. Chris recommended a
medium weight hammer (so you don’t get tired) with a
smooth head. The ones with a scored face are for
framing and they will leave marks on your wall or
trim if you are doing finishing work. The next tool
was a channel lock pliers. This is an adjustable
pliers and it is good for nuts, bolts and even
plumbing fixtures. Another great tool is a needle
nose plier. This is a small narrow nose pliers that
is good for tight places and fine work like fixing
jewelry.
Next we found a tape measure. You will need one that
can extend without folding. The one we saw also has
fractional measurements on the tape so there is no
guesswork when you are measuring. A good length for
a tape measure is 25 feet or slightly longer. The
next tool was a utility knife. This will help you
cut anything from fine wires to sheetrock. Make sure
you get one with a retracting, replaceable blade for
safety reasons. A level is next and is a must if you
want things straight. Have you ever hung a picture
and wished you had one of these? Finally, you will
want a good tool box or carrier to put all these
tools in. A good carrier will protect your tool
investment and it also makes sure they are in one
place when you need them.
Water Efficient Toilets
One of the appliances that uses the most water in
your home is the toilet. But you can help put a dent
in your water usage with a new high efficiency
toilet from
George Morlan Plumbing (503-224-7000). Dave
Charvet joined us to show us the evolution of the
water efficient toilet. If you have an older toilet
you could be using up to 5 to 7 gallons of water per
flush. The newer toilet can bring that amount down
to 1.28 gallons per flush; a big difference in water
and money savings. These toilets are designed to use
the smaller amount of water and still get the job
done. But that isn’t the most efficient model
available.
Toto Toilets has designed a dual-flush system
that uses a smaller amount of water for liquid waste
and a larger amount of water for solid waste. This
type of toilet is so efficient that it is rated as a
‘Water Sense’ appliance and that can qualify you for
a lot of rebates. These new toilets can save your
THOUSANDS of gallons over the life of the toilet!
Check with your tax advisor and your local water
provider to see what types of programs may apply.
For answers to all your toilet and plumbing
questions, stop by your local George Morlan
location.
Parr Awning
With the cold winter weather right around the corner
you may be thinking of extending your outdoor
activities on your deck or patio. All that outside
fun may come to a halt when the weather is too
over-powering. We stopped at
Parr
Lumber (503-531-7277) to visit with Chris to see
what suggestions he had for beating the cold and
wet. He recommended having a patio cover to extend
your outdoor enjoyment. The experts at Parr can help
you if you are looking to build a wood and fabric
cover, but today we focused on the more popular and
more permanent aluminum structure by SkyVue. These
newer awnings can even be color matched to your deck
or house color. They will even install them for you.
Maintenance is a lot easier and you can keep it
clean with just soap and water. These awnings can
also help block harmful UV rays. If you are thinking
of a patio cover or awning, check with the experts
at Parr Lumber.
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