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EPISODE #46- SATURDAY JULY 24, 2010
We ran into a viewer the
other day at one of our Favorite stores,
Terra Casa
(503-577-8242). She had
seen some of the great décor items on the show and had to stop by the
store
and see for herself, all the great things they have in stock. While she
was
shopping we chatted about the show. She was very nice in her comments
and
she loved the fact that it was a local show, featuring local places.
That
is what we try to do every week. We try to give you ideas for recipes,
projects and designs to make your home better, plus places you can go to
get
help. If you ever have ideas or comments, please drop us a line and let
us
know what you are thinking. We really would like to hear from you.
Reasons for Choosing a
Designer
When a lot of people are looking at re-doing a space in their
home or considering a home improvement they may think an interior
designer
is a luxury. Actually, hiring a designer may save you money (and your
sanity) in the long run. Designer Kimberlee Jaynes talked to David about
the main reasons for hiring a designer. First of all, they offer
solutions.
Most designers have a wide range of experience and they have worked
through
a lot of the common problems that people face when they are looking at a
project. Providing solutions to these problems are easy for them. They
also know what to look for. They make sure things are done right the
first
time. You can't always return the couch when you get it. You have to
also
look at the space and figure out if things will fit. Designers also have
the contacts and means for getting into design centers where the newest
products are displayed. They also have working relationships with
suppliers
and can sometimes get discounts that you can't find elsewhere. They also
can help with opposing tastes, especially between husbands and wives.
That
is worth the price in itself! Hiring a designer is just protecting your
investment. If you have any questions feel free to contact Kimberlee at
Kimberlee Jaynes Interior Designs (503-407-9525).
Painted Hills Beef
When you are in your grocery store, do you know where you food
comes from? If you buy
Painted Hills Natural Beef
(1-877-306-8247) you know exactly where it comes from. We met up with Merhten Homer, President of Painted Hills to learn what makes this beef
so
different. Merhten told us it is the way it is grown. These cattle are
grown with no added hormones, no antibiotics and a 100% vegetarian diet.
The meat is 'choice grade' the best that you can buy. Merhten also gave
us
some grilling tips too. He recommended that you don't over-cook the
beef.
If you are grilling, you are looking for a medium rare piece of meat. To
get this, all you have to do is get your grill to a medium heat. Cook
your
steak until it gets shiny on one side. This means that the moisture and
natural oils in the meat have cooked to the surface. Flip it over and
repeat on the other side, and you are done. We found a great selection
of
Painted Hills Beef at
Barber World Foods, (503-244-0670) a great market near
Capitol Highway, but it is also available at select markets around the
state.
Buffalo Shepherd Pie
What's for Dinner!?! That s probably one of the most heard
phrases in the home when it gets close to dinner time. To help answer
that
question we checked in with Mr. Mom, Dave Lilja. Dave is a stay-at-home
dad
who had to deal with that question all the time and so he came up with a
bunch of easy, nutritious recipes that he recently published in a great
cookbook, 'Mr. Mom's Favorite Family Meals'. His recipes are really
interesting... in fact the one he did for us is a Buffalo Shepherd Pie.
The reasons for the buffalo instead of beef, it is lean, it is cheaper,
and
the flavor is outstanding. Dave started by browning the buffalo, then he
steamed some cauliflower which was mashed to look and feel like mashed
potatoes. Once the buffalo is browned, it is added to a casserole dish
and
mixed with chopped carrots. The mashed cauliflower was spread over the
top
and grated cheese was sprinkled over that. It was baked at 350 degrees
for
25 minutes and it was done. If you would like to try this recipe, you
can click here or you can get a copy of Mr. Mom's cookbook at his
website or
call 303-800-1603.
Culinary Salt Tasting
If you are just using plain salt on your meals you are really
missing out on some true flavor excitement! We stopped by
the Spice and
Tea
Exchange of Portland (503-208-2886) to see some of the different types of salt that are on the
market. Rob and Ivy Liniger are the owners and Rob gave Robin a 'taste
tour' of the different salts they carry. First we saw the mineral salt,
which is mined out of the ground. It is a solid salt slab that can be
used
as a cooking surface or even a serving tray. Next we saw the solar
salts.
These salts are formed by evaporation. Rob told us that all salts have
their own flavors and nuances. Robin then tried a bunch of different
salts.
The first was a Fleur de Sel, which means the Flower of the Salt. It is
the
very top layer taken from the evaporated salt. Next was the Himalayan
Mineral Salt, this is a pink salt that is the favorite of Robin's
daughter.
With 70 different minerals it has an earthy, smoky flavor. Next was the
Cypress White, which is a finishing salt. You add this salt at the
table.
The delicate structure of this salt will make it break down when you
cook,
so you want to avoid using it for cooking. Next was an olive salt that
was
made in Oregon. It is great in soups and salad because of the intense
flavor. Finally we tried the Chardonnay Smoked Salt. It is a salt that
is
aged in oak chardonnay barrels. If you think this is incredible, they
have
about 30 more varieties of salt. If you are looking to 'spice' up your
cooking, stop by their store in downtown and say hi.
Deck
Refinishing - Part 1
Before you can head out and enjoy the rest of the summer you
really need to redo that deck! You have been putting it off long enough.
To help you (and others who are afraid to ask for help), we went out to
Miller Paint (971-204-0007) to learn the steps for getting the job done right. George
met
us at their deck at the Miller company headquarters to walk us through
the
steps.
The first step was to clean the deck. You never want to put new
stain over old stain so you have to clean it first. George started by
using
Cabot 'Problem-Solver' and Cabot 'Wood Brightener'. You first brush it
on
and then pressure wash it off. If you don't have a pressure washer, you
can
use a strong bristle brush. You will want to be carful with the power
washer. Too high of pressure and you could damage the wood. Also you
don't
want the stripper to dry on the wood so apply it during the cooler parts
of
the day when temperatures are between 50 and 70 degrees. Once the deck
is
cleaned you will need to wait for 2-3 days before you can apply the new
stain... and to show you how to do that you will need to tune in next
week. |
