EPISODE #22 -
SATURDAY OCTOBER 31, 2009
The times are a
changing, well the clocks actually! This weekend
is not only Halloween; it is the switch back
from Daylight Saving Times. It is also the time
that we have been trained to check out smoke
alarms to make sure they are working. In today’s
show we find out that we may have to do a little
more than that to make sure our families stay
safe. In staying with the season we also have
one more pumpkin story for you! Happy Halloween!
Holiday Table
Makeovers
The holiday season is upon us and
it is the season of entertaining. You can make a
bold statement with your dinner table and we
stopped at
Al’s Garden Center (503-981-1245)
to learn some tricks for doing that. Earlier
this year Lora from Al’s showed us how to
makeover your outdoor table and now she turned
her attention to the holiday table. Once again
we started with just a basic white tablecloth
and place settings. From here Lora showed us 3
different setting. First we went with the set-up
for fall and Thanksgiving. This one had very
earthy tones and was definitely a harvest theme.
It also was one that included different scents.
It had scented candles, potpourris, dried fruit
and even some light fragrances that you could
use. Next we put together a holiday theme. This
one was still white as a background, but it also
included the traditional greens and reds. This
table was all about the details. Everything from
little snow globes (which the guests can take
home) to the addition of ornaments as accents.
This setting also included small pictures as a
place setting and ‘naughty and nice’ napkin
holders. Finally we went with the more formal
look for the New Year. This setting was light
and white and bright. The silver color is the
theme of the day and it represents a clean, new
beginning. The plates don’t match, but that is
ok, you are looking for structure and balance.
So don’t forget to add a little whimsy to your
next dinner party. Check out the Al’s Garden
Centers in Woodburn and Sherwood for other great
ideas for entertaining this holiday season.
Seafood Pasta
This dish can be traced back to
Italy, but it is harder to put a name on it.
Depending on where you are in Italy, it can be
called lots of different names. Chef Frank from
Masters of the Vine (503-557-9463) has
called it ‘Frutte del Mare’, Fruits of the Sea,
but in other areas of Italy it can be called by
various different names. This recipe is really
quick and easy. First you add garlic, butter and
seasonings to your pan and let it sauté for a
couple of seconds. Then you add your seafood
mix. Cover with a marinara sauce and then cover
and cook for 5-6 minutes. Once the seafood is
cooked you place it over your noodles and then
return the sauce to the stove to reduce it down
for another minute. Then pour the sauce over the
whole dish and garnish and you are done. This is
one you have to try!
You will
find the recipe here. While you are at
Masters of the Vine you can try one of their
great wines. They offer their wines at the
cheaper ‘grocery store’ price and not at the
higher ‘restaurant’ prices. They offer small
samples at a nominal fee and you can even buy a
bottle to take home.
Toasted
Pumpkins Seeds
It is one of the delicacies of
the fall, toasted pumpkin seeds. Like sunflower
seeds, once you start eating these it is hard to
stop. Once you have carved your pumpkin you can
clean your seeds and then let them soak
overnight in a brine solution. When they have
soaked for a day you can dry them, and then add
a little salt and some vegetable oil. Spread
them on a pan and roast them in your oven for
about 20 minutes.
For
all the details click here.
Checking Your
Gas Appliances
Gas is one of the cleanest and
most efficient fuels you can use for heating and
cooking in your home. It can also be one of the
safest. Still it is a good idea for the
homeowner to make sure that their gas appliances
stay clean and efficient. We caught up with
Allen from
NW Natural to learn how we can check our
appliances to make sure they are running
correctly. First we visited the kitchen to see
how the gas range was doing. When you turn it on
it should start fairly quickly. If it takes more
than a few seconds you might have problems with
the igniter. You should look for a nice blue
flame that doesn’t get any higher than the top
of the grate. If you see small flickers of
orange, don’t worry, it’s only small pieces of
dust and dirt that is burning in the flame. If
you get large orange flickers (like a candle)
then you will want to call the gas company for
servicing.
Smoke Alarms
This week is the big change. It
is the return from Daylight Saving time and
from what we have learned in the past, it is
also time to test our smoke alarm. But wait!
That may not be enough to ensure the safety of
your family. Don Porth from Portland Fire and
Rescue joined us at the
historic Belmont Firehouse (503-823-3615) to
fill in the details of what you really should be
doing! In 1998 new technology changed the way
most smoke alarms operate. That year batteries
changed. Now you will find long lasting
batteries in your alarm and they may not even
need to be changed. The newer batteries can last
10 years or longer. To see when they were new
you can always check the back of your alarm
where they will have a date stamp that tells you
when it was produced. After 10 years you will
need to replace the whole unit. Technology
improves on the newer models and an older unit
can lose up to 40% of its effectiveness during
that time. With any unit you will always want to
test it monthly (it may have gone dead while you
were on vacation). When you are looking for a
newer unit also look for a ‘hush’ button
feature. This is a button that will silence the
alarm for up to 15 minutes. You can use this for
those occasions where your alarm goes off from
burning food in the kitchen or steam from your
shower. You will want to place them in all the
living levels in your home. That includes areas
like inside and outside bedrooms and living
rooms, but also basements, and near laundry
rooms. Also the higher the placement, the
better. The smoke rises and so you want your
alarm at the top of the wall to be in a position
to sense the smoke and warn you.
Quick Tip –
Curtains
Here is another quick tip that
can save you some money. During these chilly
fall and winter days you can still let the
warmth of the sun warm your home. Just leave
your curtains open during those sunny days to
warm your home, but remember to close them at
night to keep that heat inside. This little tip
can keep you and your house warmer and save you
a couple of bucks!
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