Prevent a Dryer Fire in Your Home

Household fires destroy homes and sometimes tragically take lives. Flames can roar through the house unexpectedly, but the culprit may have been lurking in an unexpected place:  the laundry room.
“Dryer fires are preventable with periodic maintenance to remove lint buildup inside the unit and the venting hose,” said Doug Rogers, president of Mr. Appliance.
Mr. Appliance recommends these tips to keep your dryer operating properly:

-       Only use solid metallic exhaust vents that are smooth and not spiral-wound– because vinyl, foil and spiral wound venting restrict air flow they collect more lint and are at a higher risk to catch on fire. The exhaust should only vent to the outside of the houses — never to the attic or crawlspace.

-       The vents should be as straight as possible, with all excess venting trimmed off. Twisting or crushing exhaust piping restricts the airflow

-       Don’t use screws to put your vent pipe together, because the screw shafts inside the piping collect lint and cause additional friction.

-       Keep the exhaust duct in good condition by disconnecting, cleaning and inspecting the duct on a regular basis. Or hire a licensed appliance professional to check it out for you.

-       Keep the dryer as lint-free as possible by cleaning the lint screen or filter before or after each load of clothes. Hire a licensed appliance professional to clean the interior of the dryer chassis and inspect the rollers, belt, motor and heating system every one to two years.

Celebrate Mom with more than just a card and flowers. Give her what she really wants; breakfast in bed. The best way to enjoy breakfast in bed is with French crepes topped with her favorite fruit and whipped cream. Show Mom some love with each flour and sugar stack!

Motherly Love

French Crepes

1. Sift together flour, sugar and salt; set aside. In a large bowl, beat eggs and milk together with an electric mixer. Beat in flour mixture until smooth; stir in melted butter.

2. Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 2 tablespoons for each crepe. Tip and rotate pan to spread batter as thinly as possible. Brown on both sides and serve hot. Add fresh fruit and whipped cream.

Recipe from AllRecipes.com.

Tomato Basil Appetizers to Enjoy While Cooking

By Lillyan Baker

Down here in Texas we do things a little different than our fellow states throughout the country. It may be a choice to live here, but once you cross that state border, the Texan lifestyle is branded within you like our USDA livestock. Yes, we love our BBQ and Great State pride, but there are also some things Texas just gives back, whether you want them or not. Mosquitos, contracting the words “you” and “all” and that crazy Texas heat. When people say, “Everything is Bigger in Texas,” they are not just talking about Dallas hairstyles, but also the record heat that hits every summer.

We have two seasons in Texas. Winter, less hot. Summer, more hot. Even with the first of summer heat in May, I knew Trey and I would melt in the after 5 p.m. sunbath that hits my back porch every evening. With two beautiful steaks chilling in the fridge and the mercury rising on the outdoor thermometer, it was an easy choice to forgo the charcoal and grilling tongs in place of A/C and a large skillet. Tonight, we decided to grill indoors!

Save some money & highlight your green thumb by growing fresh herbs you use daily. No room? Do what I did & grow fresh basil in a tin planter.

For an appetizer that will hold you over until dinner, use store bought pastry crust, sliced tomatoes and onions, fresh basil, EVOO and a dash of salt and pepper. Cook for 12-15 mins at 375 degrees. Let cool and enjoy!

Substitute sour cream for 1/4 cup of milk when mashing up your potatoes. For a little Texas spice, add a tsp of cayenne pepper.

Sizzle those steaks without the scorching summer heat. To save time and plan for more than just a plate for one, fire up more than one skillet on the stovetop.

Secret of a steakmaster? Add a Tbsp of butter along with onions and garlic to really get a nice flavor within the pan-seared steak.

Pair with a wedge-salad or vegetable side for a complete outdoor summer meal, enjoyed indoors with friends!

Paul Berry & Ray Castaneda

Ronald McDonald House Charities^® (RMHC®) of San Antonio is passionate about helping families of the community who are in need. They believe that families are stronger when they are together, and work to provide a home away from home to families with hospitalized children.

When Mr. Appliance^® of San Antonio, heard that they could help RMHC by repairing a cooktop, they decided to step in and provide assistance. Thanks to Mr. Appliance of San Antonio, RMHC of San Antonio can spend less time worrying about their appliances and more time with the families.

“You never know how a simple act such as replacing a cooktop can change someone’s life,” said Paul Berry, Owner of Mr. Appliance of San Antonio.

Berry makes it his goal to build relationships not only with his customers, but also with the community. “No matter what field of work you are in, you can always find a way to help the community and meet some incredible people along the way,” said Berry.

Berry believes that Mr. Appliance of San Antonio’s commitment to RMHC comes from Mr. Appliance’s code of values, where respect, integrity and customer satisfaction are the priorities.

“The first code of value is to treat others as we would like to be treated, and that value is the foundation of our Mr. Appliance partnership with RMHC,” said Berry. “Mr. Appliance of San Antonio considers it a privilege to partner with an organization like RMHC that gives so much to families in need.”

Mr. Appliance of San Antonio hopes to encourage other companies and organizations to join in warming the hearts of those in need. Any act of service can make a difference. Whether it’s fixing a refrigerator, replacing a sink or providing a meal, hearts will be touched.

“The Ronald McDonald House^® program provides a ‘home-away-from-home’ for families so they can stay close by their hospitalized child at little or no cost to families,” said Jennifer Smith, senior director, RMHC. “Our Houses are built on the simple idea that nothing else should matter when a family is focused on healing their child- not where they can afford to stay or where they will get their next meal.”

We used craft wood from Michael’s; it is perfect for projects on a budget, but unfortunately its lackluster appearance mimicks the price… so we turned to wood stain by Minwax in an effort to revamp its look and we think it turned out beautiful!

Tools of the Trade

To complete this project you’ll need:

• Craft Wood
• Wood Stain
• Paintbrush/Stain Brush
• Chalkboard Paint (there are tons of DIY recipes for chalkboard paint, but in the essence of time we turned to Martha Stewart)
• Tea Candle (when working with bevelled edges, running a tea candle over the peaks yields a beautifully aged look)

Leigh Ann Henry-Staining Professional

Stain your wood and once you have finished, allow it plenty of time to dry (or you can do it our way; we gave it less than an hour then kept going and it still looked great!).

Once your stain is set (at the very least, it needs to no longer be sticky) go ahead and lather on several coats of chalkboard paint wherever you feel it is best suited! We recommend this as an outdoor project. Stain stains so you probably want to keep it away from your carpets, tables and clothes. Leigh Ann Henry, from My Home Life Magazine is a pro with white pants & stain.

Our resulting products were:

What was intended to be a wall plaque we turned into a cheese tray. Stain it, paint the bottom, and label the cheeses you lay out for your guests. Don’t forget the crackers!

Cheese & Fruit Tray

A beautifully stained and painted menu board.

Entree change? So can your menu!

Elegant napkin rings. Stain then paint the center stripe to use as place settings. (These napkin rings only cost $.74!!!)

Escort cards & napkin rings in one!

Cute containers with painted lids for salt, pepper, and/or herbs.

Shake up your Salt!

What was originally crafted for a bird bath we turned into a uniquely labeled bread bowl.

Salty Treat

Happy National Pretzel Day! Celebrate this memorable holiday with Food Network Alton Brown’s homemade soft pretzels and AllRecipes.com sweet pretzel bites. There is no better way to pay homage to one of American’s favorite snacks then to fill your dinner table with the dough-filled treat. How do you pretzel?

Homemade Soft Pretzels

Alton Brown

1. Combine the water, sugar and kosher salt in the bowl of a stand mixer and sprinkle the yeast on top. Allow to sit for 5 minutes or until the mixture begins to foam. Add the flour and butter and, using the dough hook attachment, mix on low speed until well combined. Change to medium speed and knead until the dough is smooth and pulls away from the side of the bowl, approximately 4 to 5 minutes.

2. Remove the dough from the bowl, clean the bowl and then oil it well with vegetable oil. Return the dough to the bowl, cover with plastic wrap and sit in a warm place for approximately 50 to 55 minutes or until the dough has doubled in size.

3. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Line 2 half-sheet pans with parchment paper and lightly brush with the vegetable oil. Set aside.

4. Bring the 10 cups of water and the baking soda to a rolling boil in an 8-quart saucepan or roasting pan.

5. In the meantime, turn the dough out onto a slightly oiled work surface and divide into 8 equal pieces. Roll out each piece of dough into a 24-inch rope. Make a U-shape with the rope, holding the ends of the rope, cross them over each other and press onto the bottom of the U in order to form the shape of a pretzel. Place onto the parchment-lined half sheet pan.

6. Place the pretzels into the boiling water, 1 by 1, for 30 seconds. Remove them from the water using a large flat spatula. Return to the half sheet pan, brush the top of each pretzel with the beaten egg yolk and water mixture and sprinkle with the pretzel salt. Bake until dark golden brown in color, approximately 12 to 14 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack for at least 5 minutes before serving.

Recipe from FoodNetwork.com.

Sweet Treat

Sweet Pretzel Bites

1. Place pretzels in a microwave-safe bowl.

2. In a small bowl, combine oil, sugar and cinnamon; pour over pretzels; toss to coat.

3. Microwave, uncovered, on high for 2 minutes; stir. Microwave 3-4 minutes longer, stirring after each minute or until oil is absorbed. Cool to room temperature.

Recipe from AllRecipes.com.

Mr. Appliance is always proud to be the appliance repair expert. We were proud to lend our appliance fire safety tips to Consumer Reports for an appliance fire prevention article. For more appliance tips, contact your local appliance repair expert at 800-341-6361.

Consumer Reports investigates appliance fires

By Daniel DiClerico

Don't Let This Happen to You

While human error is a common cause of residential appliance fires, the equipment itself is often to blame as well, according to a months-long investigation by Consumer Reports. Faulty refrigerator compressors, defective dishwasher circuit boards, and self-starting cooktops and toasters are just a few examples of the design flaws identified in our report. In fact, more than 15 million appliance units have been recalled in the past five years for defects that could cause a blaze. And our analysis of nationwide fire reports suggests the problem may run even deeper.

Fortunately, there’s plenty you can do to protect yourself from appliance fires. First and foremost, be sure to register your appliances with the manufacturer so that you’ll be notified promptly if a product is recalled. And make sure your home’s fire-prevention equipment, including smoke alarms and fire extinguishers, is properly placed and in working order. For the complete safety information, as well as full details from our investigation, read “Appliance fires: Is your home safe?”

By Lillyan Baker

Celebrate Earth Day by living a green lifestyle and growing some green in your pocket, too. This month, make an effort to break old habits and take a step away from energy-waste to energy-smart.

“By maintaining your appliances regularly, you can extend the life of your investment and save energy,” said Doug Rogers, president of Mr. Appliance. “The harder an appliance has to work to do its job, the more energy it consumes in the process, which puts a strain on the appliance, the environment and on your energy bills.”

Follow these simple tips from Mr. Appliance to make your appliances not only benefit planet earth, but also your pocketbook.

Open the Door to More Savings

• Give your refrigerator some breathing room by keeping the appliance at least two or three inches away from the wall. Place your refrigerator away from direct sunlight and appliances that produce heat to make your refrigerator run more efficiently.

• Do you crave a midnight snack, but can’t decide what to eat? Keep your fridge full, not only to satisfy all of your midnight munchies, but also to help the fridge save energy after recovery from the door being open.

• Check and care for the rubber seals surrounding the inside of your fridge by using mild soap twice a year to help prevent cracked and torn seals. Use your money to test the seals by placing a dollar bill halfway inside the refrigerator door. If the dollar pulls out easily, then your losing money in more than one way and it may be time to replace the rubber seals.

• Enjoy a night of leftovers and defrost your fridge regularly. The frost build-up wastes energy by making the compressor run longer.

Keep the Heat Inside of Your Oven and Out of Your Pocket

• If you notice your food cooking unevenly or it is taking longer than before, it may be time to replace cracked or torn door seals that can allow up to 20% of heat to escape.

• When cooking up your favorite meal, turn off electric burners two to three minutes before you finish cooking and let the residual heat sauté the rest to perfection.

• Save yourself a step by planning out your cooking schedule to only bake in the oven instead of preheating. Sometimes there is no need to preheat if the food requires more than an hour in the oven.

• When tidying up your kitchen don’t forget about your electric and gas burners. Clean burners allow for a more efficient use of energy.

Clean Plate, Clean Mind

• Save up to 20 gallons of water by hand -scraping your dishes, instead of running water for your pre-rinse.

• Give your dishes a breath of fresh air by turning your dishwasher setting to air-dry or open the dishwasher after the rinse cycle.

• Hold off on washing your dishes until you have a full load.  Your dishwasher uses the same amount of water per cycle, so fill it up with all of your hand-scraped plates.

• Give your dishwasher a wash of its own by running an empty cycle with a citric acid-based cleaner. The cleaner will remove soap and calcium build-up that makes your dishwasher work harder than it has to.

Follow these do-it-yourself energy efficient tips periodically by adding them to your family calendar. To help prolong the life of your appliances, combine these tips with regular visits from your local appliance repair professional.

Through the use of simple maintenance tasks you can extend the life of your appliances, your bank account and most importantly, our planet.

Lynette & Anthony Arroyo

Southern Appalachian Ronald McDonald House Charities^® (RMHC®) of Johnson City is passionate about helping families of the community who are in need. They believe that families are stronger when they are together, and work to provide a home away from home to families with hospitalized children.

When Mr. Appliance^® of the Tri-Cities heard that they could help RMHC by repairing an ice machine, they decided to step in and provide assistance. Beyond repair work, they also provided a homemade meal for everyone in the house. Thanks to Mr. Appliance of the Tri-Cities, Southern Appalachian RMHC can spend less time worrying about their appliances and more time with the families.

“You never know how a simple act such as replacing a ice machine and a homemade meal can change someone’s life,” said Anthony Arroyo, Owner of Mr. Appliance of the Tri-Cities.

Arroyo makes it his goal to build relationships not only with his customers, but also with the community. “No matter what field of work you are in, you can always find a way to help the community and meet some incredible people along the way,” said Arroyo.

Arroyo believes that Mr. Appliance of the Tri-Cities commitment to RMHC comes from Mr. Appliance’s code of values, where respect, integrity and customer satisfaction are the priorities.

“The first code of value is to treat others as we would like to be treated, and that value is the foundation of our Mr. Appliance partnership with RMHC,” said Arroyo. “Mr. Appliance of the Tri-Cities considers it a privilege to partner with an organization like RMHC that gives so much to families in need.”

Mr. Appliance of the Tri Cities hopes to encourage other companies and organizations to join in warming the hearts of those in need. Any act of service can make a difference. Whether it’s fixing a refrigerator, replacing a sink or providing a meal, hearts will be touched.

“The Ronald McDonald House^® program provides a ‘home-away-from-home’ for families so they can stay close by their hospitalized child at little or no cost to families,” said Jennifer Smith, senior director, RMHC. “Our Houses are built on the simple idea that nothing else should matter when a family is focused on healing their child- not where they can afford to stay or where they will get their next meal.”

Sing the Praises & Freshness of Spring

By Lillyan Baker

It is not too often that we have a chance to slow down and enjoy the everyday rhythms of life. Chopping an onion, mincing a clove of garlic can all seem like tedious stepping-stones to the practice of dinner. But holidays are different. There is something soothing about the melody between a knife and cutting board when your kitchen is filled with the hum of family. Each step of preparing vegetables, setting the table and washing dishes always seems more memorable then the meal itself. This Easter, celebrate the act of Sunday dinner by unraveling your kitchen twine and picking the first, fresh herbs of spring with Martha Stewart’s Roasted Chicken with Brioche Stuffing. Remove layer upon layer of savory artichoke leaves while you relish the presence of too many cooks in the kitchen. Finally, enjoy hours of candle-filled remembrances over Berry Meringue Crisp as you realize that there are more important things then dishes singing at your table right now.

Bring your family together,  like I have brought my friends, to celebrate hope, love and grace as you fill your Easter table with the passions of springtime.

These are a few of my Favorite Things.

Roasted Chicken with Brioche Stuffing

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Starting from the neck end of the chicken, carefully run your finger under the skin to separate from the meat, leaving it attached in the center to the sternum. Do not tear the skin.

2. Place breadcrumbs and butter in a medium bowl. Add rosemary and lemon zest and gently mix to combine; season with salt and pepper. Transfer stuffing to a pastry or a large disposable plastic bag with a 1/2-inch opening cut from one bottom corner.

3. Evenly pipe brioche stuffing under the skin of the legs and breasts. Season inside of chicken with salt; place rosemary and garlic in cavity of bird. Prick lemon all over with the tines of a fork and add to cavity. Truss chicken and transfer to a refrigerator to chill at least 3 hours and up to 24 hours.

4.  Place chicken in a roasting pan and transfer to oven. Roast chicken until juices run clear, about 1 hour. Remove from oven and loosely cover with parchment paper-lined aluminum foil. Let stand 30 minutes before carving and serving.

Roasted Chicken with Brioche Stuffing recipe from MarthaStewart.com.

Add a pinch of coarse salt for comfort.

Artichoke Appetizer with Roasted Garlic Butter

1. With kitchen shears, trim off points on all artichoke leaves. With knife, trim the top of the artichoke to reveal the inside layers.

2. Boil 2 quarts of salted in water in large pot. Once boiling, place artichoke in water and cover. Simmer for 45 minutes.

3. Remove from heat and turn upside down to remove all water.

3. Saute minced garlic in EVOO until lightly brown over medium heat in saucepan. Melt butter and pour over artichoke leaves or in a bowl for dipping.

What Sunday tastes like.

Berry Meringue Crisp

1. Preheat over to 250 degrees. In a large electric mixing bowl, add egg whites, vanilla and salt. Mix at low speed. Add the sugar in tablespoons while increasing the speed of the mixer as the meringue begins to form from soft peaks to firm peaks.

2. On a parchment lined baking sheet, plop the firm meringue with a large serving spoon and swirl at the top. Repeat to form cookies with remaining meringue.

3. Bake for 60 minutes. Remove from heat.

4. Using a large electric mixer, mix the heavy whipping cream and powdered sugar to form the fresh whipped cream.

5. Place a spoonful of whipped cream on cooled meringue crisp and top with berries.

Photos by the beautiful and talented Jenny Dougherty JDoughWeddings.com.