SATURDAY FEBRUARY 25, 2012

The wait is almost over!  We will be returning to the air in just a couple more days.  Robin and David have been busy these last couple of weeks taping some stories for the new season.  It is hard to believe that we are entering our 4th season and have aired 100 episodes!  Can’t wait to see you all next week on March 3rd!

Mr. Mom’s Spinach Salad

In the past we visited with Mr. Mom and learned some tasty and easy recipes.  Mr. Mom is Dave Lilja and he has put together a great cookbook; ‘Mr. Mom’s Favorite Family Meals’ (303-800-1603).  Today he joined us at the NW Natural Appliance Center (503-220-2362) to show us a quick and easy salad.  We started with a pre-washed package of spinach (or you could use any salad greens).  Then we crumbled some goat cheese over the top.  Any kind of cheese would work; feta is a good choice as well.  We then added toasted walnuts which were toasted in an oven for 3-5 minutes until they were lightly browned.  For the dressing we mixed about ½ cup of olive oil and ½ cup of balsamic vinegar (don’t use red wine vinegar) and a teaspoon of cinnamon in a squirt bottle and shook it up.  The squirt bottle helps keep the dressing under control when you pour it on your salad.   The salad is ready to serve!  You can add more vegetables or other ingredients if you want, but this recipe is ready to stand on its own.  If you would like to try this recipe with avocado, chicken and feta, click here. 

Parr Doors and Windows

With all the choices out there it is easy to become overwhelmed with picking out a new door or window.  There is one place where you can see a large selection of doors and windows with the experts to help you make the right decision.  Parr Lumber (503-645-7425) has opened a showroom filled with a wide variety of doors and windows from a number of manufacturers.  They represent many different styles and price points.  Chris Erskine took us around the showroom to show us how many different choices there are.  We started with vinyl windows.  Vinyl windows are not new to the market, but some of the features and styles are.  Newer styles of vinyl windows can fit into any décor and they are a good basic replacement for old aluminum or single pane wood windows.  You will notice a big difference in your energy bills if you replace with a vinyl window.  Still, if you like the look of wood, you won’t be left out in the cold.  There are some manufacturers that are now producing hybrid windows with wood interiors and vinyl exteriors.  These are the best of both worlds, with the beauty of wood combined with the energy efficiency of vinyl.  You can also choose the type of glass you want too.  One manufacturer offers over 25 different styles of glass alone, so you don’t have to just get the regular clear glass.

Next we moved to doors.  When you drive up to someone’s house one of the first things you see is the front door.  Having a nice front door has become very important for ‘curb appeal’ and for resale, but also for the livability of your home.  Style has become a very important factor for the homeowner.  The main choices you have for a front door are wood, fiberglass or steel.  We saw a cool door that was made of fiberglass but was textured like wood.  It can be stained to match your home décor and it won’t dent, warp, fade or scratch.  Chris called it the perfect door.  If you would like to find your ‘perfect’ door or window, a stop at Parr is a must.