Posts Tagged ‘Mr. Appliance Blog’
Wednesday, May 22nd, 2013
By Lillyan Baker
Reduce. Reuse. Upcycle
Break free of the circle and follow the arrows to sustainable cleaning. Save money and fresh air this season by spring cleaning your household with products you can find behind milk cartons and spaghetti boxes. No need to make a special trip to the store, discover cleaning goods within your home that can transform your kitchen from the winter blues to the bright white of spring. Instead of recycling a used lemon wedge in compost, upcycle the acidic slice for a fresh and natural cleaner to help make your kitchen sparkle like season.
- Freshen Up. Eliminate odors by pouring vanilla extract into a bowl and wipe down refrigerator walls with a paper towel.
- Beyond the shelves. Clean condenser coils located behind the fridge with a brush or handheld vacuum to remove dirt, dust and pet hair.
- Cool it down. Place a handful of ice cubes and citrus peels in garbage disposal, turn on cold water and then the disposal for 15-30 seconds. After turning off disposal continue to rinse with hot water for 15 more seconds.
- Wash away. Remove stuck-on food residue by running an empty dishwasher with a cup of white vinegar.
- Mix it up. Wipe interior microwave surfaces with a mixture of two tablespoons baking soda and one quart water to remove food stains.
- Bright white. Use a sponge with a mixture of ½ cup bleach, ¼ cup baking soda and four cups warm water to avoid yellowing of white appliances. Let it set for 10 minutes before rinsing and drying.
Tags: cleaning for kitchen, household cleaning, how to clean kitchen, Lillyan Baker, Live Laugh and Learn with Lillyan, Mr. Appliance, Mr. Appliance Blog, MrAppliance, organic cleaning, organic kitchen cleaning, spring cleaning ideas, Spring Cleaning Tips, sustainable kitchen cleaning, sustainable kitchen ideas
Posted in Energy Tips, Household Tips, Insider Appliance Tips | No Comments »
E-mail Us: mrapplianceblog@mrappliance.com
Friday, May 17th, 2013
By Lillyan Baker
Wrap skewers in craft tape to label different appetizers.
The savory summer weather of late night dinners on the patio are just around the corner. I love having friends over for a light meal and an even sweeter dessert to catch up and enjoy time under the stars. There’s something about the thick, Texas air that makes me crave the coolness of watermelon. This featured appetizer is a great idea for a large party or small gathering. Finish the night with seasonal banana pudding and a dollop of fresh whipped cream to start your summer off on the right dish.
Watermelon with Mint & Feta
-Watermelon, cubed
-1/4 c Feta cheese
-1/4 c Mint, chopped
-2 Tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
-2 Tbsp. Balsamic Vinegar
-Pinch of Salt
-Pinch of Pepper
- Combine feta, mint, extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper.
- Place mixture on top of watermelon squares and serve with party skewers.
Serve Up the Sweetness
-3 c milk
-3 c vanilla wafers
-3 bananas, thinly sliced
-6 eggs, separated
-1 c heavy whipping cream
-1 Tbsp powdered sugar
-4 Tbsp butter
-1 Tbsp pure vanilla extract
-Pinch of Salt
-Optional: Pistachios, shelled and minced
1. Preheat oven to 375°F. In a large saucepan, combine sugar, cornstarch and salt. Mix well. Add milk. Over medium heat, continue to stir until thickened and boiling. Remove custard from heat.
2. In a small bowl, whisk egg yolks, then add in 1/2 cup of hot custard until blended. Pour mixture back into saucepan of custard and cut for an additional 4 minutes. Add vanilla and butter until well blended. Refrigerate at least 4 hours before serving.
3. Using a large electric mixer, mix the heavy whipping cream and powdered sugar to form the whipped cream.
4. Spoon chilled banana pudding in individual serving bowls, top with whipped cream and vanilla wafers.
Optional: Add minced pistachios on top for nutty flavor and crunch.
Tags: Banana Pudding dessert, Banana Pudding recipe, Banana Pudding with Cream, Lillyan Baker, Live Laugh and Learn with Lillyan, Mr. Appliance, Mr. Appliance Blog, MrAppliance, summer desserts, summer party appetizers, summer party desserts, summer sweetness, watermelon appetizer, watermelon with feta, watermelon with mint
Posted in Live, Laugh & Learn With Lillyan, Recipes | No Comments »
E-mail Us: mrapplianceblog@mrappliance.com
Wednesday, May 15th, 2013
By Lillyan Baker
Love Your Kitchen
Take time to love your appliances and they will love you back. Follow these steps from Mr. Appliance to cook up some romance, instead of frustration with inefficient appliances.
Give Your Oven Some Lovin’
- Don’t run the self-cleaning cycle within one week of a big dinner – ovens have a tendency to fail during or right after a self-cleaning cycle.
- Clean the reflector bowls under the burners to help cook more efficiently.
XOXO For Your Dishwasher
- If you’re unsure whether or not an item is dishwasher safe, just wash it by hand.
- Run an empty dishwasher with a cup of white vinegar to eliminate odors and buildup.
Keep Your Garbage Disposal Smelling Like Roses
- Place a handful of ice cubes in the disposal. Add lemon, orange or lime peels and run disposal with cold water for 15 to 30 seconds. Continue to rinse with cold water.
- To avoid clogging your garbage disposal, remember to not pour grease down the drain.
Rekindle Your Refrigerator
- Unplug your refrigerator and use a vacuum to remove any dust from the coils. This will help it run more efficiently and trim your utility bills.
- Make sure it’s loaded properly. Contents should be evenly distributed.
Tags: dishwasher tips, fridge tips, Garbage Disposal Tips, how to kitchen, Kitchen appliance tips, kitchen energy tips, Kitchen Household Tips, Kitchen Love, Kitchen maintenance tips, Kitchen repair tips, Lillyan Baker, Mr. Appliance, Mr. Appliance Blog, MrAppliance, Oven Tips, refrigerator tips
Posted in Energy Tips, Household Tips, Insider Appliance Tips | No Comments »
E-mail Us: mrapplianceblog@mrappliance.com
Friday, May 10th, 2013
By Lillyan Baker
Simple Solutions
Simple solutions to get your household safe and clean with products you can find within your pantry.
After eating an orange, don’t throw away the peel. Citrus peels, including oranges, lemons and limes, can help deodorize your garbage disposal. Excess waste put down your disposal can cause an unforgiving odor. To avoid a stench that can linger, try this simple tip to deodorize your garbage disposal. Place ice cubes in the disposal. Add orange, lemon or lime peels and run the disposal with cold water for 15 to 30 seconds, then turn the disposal off. Continue to run the cold water for 15 seconds thereafter. This eliminates stubborn odors without harsh chemicals, leaving your sink smelling fresh and clean.
From cookies to countertops, vanilla extract can smell your kitchen fresh all week long. Cover up the fish from last night’s dinner by heating up a microwave-safe bowl of vanilla extract for three minutes. Then grab a rag or paper towel and use it to wipe surfaces for stubborn stains and residue in the microwave. To eliminate fridge odors, pour vanilla extract into a bowl with a paper towel and wipe down the refrigerator walls. Your kitchen will smell like fresh baked cookies without the baking!
Tags: appliance repair, clean with home products, how to clean your kitchen, kitchen tips, Lillyan Baker, LillyanBaker, Mr. Appliance, Mr. Appliance Blog, MrAppliance, organic kitchen, simple solutions
Posted in Energy Tips, Household Tips, Insider Appliance Tips | No Comments »
E-mail Us: mrapplianceblog@mrappliance.com
Thursday, January 17th, 2013
By Lillyan Baker
Midnight Snack Ready
In my college days living in the Collins Hall dorm, my roommates and I spent our Thursday nights watching Grey’s Anatomy, refresh our Facebook feeds during the commercials, all while gathered around a bowl of puppy chow. There is something about the combination of melted chocolate and peanut butter with a bag of powdered sugar on top that just brings people together. This Saturday night, when Trey and I started craving something sweet my mind immediately took me back to my Collins kitchen days and 30 minutes later, we too had a bowl of puppy chow. It may not have been a Thursday night and a Joseph Gordon-Levitt movie was playing instead of McDreamy, but no matter who you are gathered with, puppy chow is still as sweet.
Grown-Up Puppy Chow
8 c rice cereal
1 c dark chocolate chips
1 c creamy peanut butter
1 c dried berries
3 tsp vanilla extract
4 c powdered sugar
1. Melt chocolate in a double broiler, by placing a small amount of water in the bottom pan, the water should not touch the top pot. Place the chocolate in the top pot and start heating. Stir frequently until chocolate is just melted. Mix in rice cereal and dried berries.
2. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt peanut butter in microwave, starting at one minute until smooth. Stir in with chocolate, rice cereal and dried berries. Add vanilla extract to mixture.
3. Pour mixture into gallon-sized plastic bag with powdered sugar. Shake the bag until all of the mixture is coated with powdered sugar.
Tags: Lillyan Baker, Live Laugh and Learn with Lillyan, Mr. Appliance, Mr. Appliance Blog, MrAppliance, party mix recipe, powdered sugar chex mix, powdered sugar recipe, puppy chow, Puppy chow recipe, recipe, trail mix recipe
Posted in Live, Laugh & Learn With Lillyan, Recipes | No Comments »
E-mail Us: mrapplianceblog@mrappliance.com
Friday, January 11th, 2013
By Lillyan Baker
New Year, New Home
New year, new opportunities indicates weekly trips to the gym, carrots instead of candy and an opportunity to break bad habits. How about a resolution that goes beyond 2012 and keeps your children and home safe for years to come? This year, make it a priority to childproof your kitchen and clean beyond the countertops to keep your family happy and healthy all year long.
“Your kitchen never gets a day off,” said Doug Rogers, president of Mr. Appliance Corp. “Between hot appliances and sharp cooking utensils, kids can often be in danger of hurting themselves. Fortunately, homeowners can prevent most accidents by making a few simple adjustments and educating their children about kitchen safety.”
Follow these resolution tips from Mr. Appliance to keep your kitchen clean and your kids safe:
Refrigerator
- Keep items not safe for kids on higher shelves. Place juice boxes, apple slices and cheese sticks on the lower shelves for a healthy snack within your child’s reach.
- Soak refrigerator removable parts in the sink with warm, soapy water to remove stains from food spills to keep new produce as fresh as possible.
- Position refrigerator shelves to make it difficult for children to climb inside and close the door leaving your kitchen with a dangerous hide-and-seek spot.
Stove and Oven
- Turn pot and pan handles in and away from the edge of the stove so curious hands can’t pull them down.
- Remove oven racks and wash them by hand with warm water and soap to remove caked on food that can burn in your oven.
- Establish a “safety zone” marked by a small rug or area of the kitchen to keep kids several feet away from the oven while it’s hot.
Microwave Oven
- Wipe interior microwave surfaces with a mixture of two tablespoons baking soda and one quart water to remove food stains and keep your microwave clean for future use.
- Encourage children to use an oven mitt when removing a hot plate or bowl.
- Heat a microwave-safe bowl of vanilla extract for three minutes to give your kitchen a fresh scent.
Dishwasher
- Keep the dishwasher closed when you’re not loading or unloading. Sharp utensils inside can be dangerous to children.
- Create a “safety zone” when opening the door to a steam-heavy dishwasher to avoid burns from the hot steam. Teach children to wait for dishes to cool down before unloading.
- Give your dishwasher a fresh start to thoroughly clean your dishes. Remove food residue by running an empty dishwasher with a cup of white vinegar.
Most of these resolution tips can be accomplished in a matter of minutes and keep your home safe and energy efficient, too. If you find a problem that you can’t handle, contact an appliance repair professional to help.
Tags: 2013 Home Tips, Home Safety, Home Safety Tips, Home Tips, How to Stay in Home, Kids and kitchens, Lillyan Baker, Mr. Appliance, Mr. Appliance Blog, MrAppliance, New Year New Home, Tips for kids, Welcome 2013
Posted in Energy Tips, Holiday, Household Tips | No Comments »
E-mail Us: mrapplianceblog@mrappliance.com
Tuesday, January 8th, 2013
By Lillyan Baker
Sweet Cream Delight
Every time I have the opportunity to use my electric stand mixer, I get a little giddy. There’s just something about standing next to a machine that knows how to really blend butter. One of my bon appetit role models in my life is my Uncle Jimmy. He taught me key kitchen lessons, including how to entertain with bruschetta and in every social situation to always ask for a glass of chardonnay. The first time I tried his apricot cheesecake, I felt like I graduated from culinary college and realized I needed to attend his graduate of decadent desserts. The best part? Stand mixer required.
Uncle Jimmy’s Apricot Cheesecake
½ c peach nectar
1 package unflavored gelatin
1 can apricot pie filling
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp almond extract
2 8-oz. packages cream cheese, softened to room temperature
1 can sweetened condensed milk
Juice of one lemon
2 graham cracker pie crusts
1. Pour peach nectar in a medium-sized saucepan and sprinkle gelatin evenly over the surface of the juice. Do not stir. Let stand for 5 or 6 minutes.
2. In a large mixing bowl, beat together cream cheese, milk, vanilla extract, almond extract and lemon juice. Heat gelatin mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly, until gelatin is fully dissolved. Simmer for three minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. In a separate bowl, combine pie filling and gelatin/fruit juice mixture. Immediately stir the cream cheese mixture into pie filling mixture until thoroughly combined. Pour ½ in each pie crust and refrigerate for 4 hours before serving.
4. Spread a thin layer of whipped cream over the pie and garnish with sliced apricots.
Tags: Apricot Cheesecake, Apricot Cheesecake dessert, Apricot recipes, cheesecake recipes, dessert recipes, homemade cheesecake recipes, Jim Reynolds, Lillyan Baker, Live Laugh and Learn with Lillyan, Mr. Appliance, Mr. Appliance Blog, MrAppliance, Party Dessert, Uncle Jimmy
Posted in Live, Laugh & Learn With Lillyan, Recipes | No Comments »
E-mail Us: mrapplianceblog@mrappliance.com
Friday, January 4th, 2013
By Rockin’ Green, Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products
Rock Your 2013
1. It’s Obvious – Recycle.
Did You Know? The energy saved from recycling a single aluminum can will operate a television for three hours! Think of ways to recycle cans, bottles, plastic and paper in your house. Get the kids in on it – it can be fun!
2. Say NO to “Paper or Plastic?”
Next time you are headed to the grocery store don’t forget to bring along a recycable tote in cotton, jute or nylon for the best strength and durability.
3. Unplug yourself.
Just by umplugging chargers, appliances, power cords and other power draining items when not in use can save as much as 10 percent off your next electric bill. Now who doesn’t like money for doing something that easy?
4. Pump it up.
If every American kept his or her tires properly inflated, we could save 2.8 billion gallons of gasoline a year. Get better gas mileage and help global warming pollution at the same time. Are you one of the 25 percent of people with under-inflated tires?
5. Stop junk mail.
Tired of getting unsolicited junk mail, catalogs and offers in the mail? Then try http://www.catalogchoice.org/ – this “free service will opt you out of catalogs, coupons, credit card offers, phone books, circulars and more.” Less junk means less pollution and waste.
There. Wasn’t that easy? Now you are off to a great start for 2013!
Tags: Energy Tips, Green Resolutions, How to Go Green, Lillyan Baker, Mr. Appliance, Mr. Appliance Blog, MrAppliance, Paper or Plastic Tips, Paul Berry, Recycle Tips, Rockin' Green Laundry, Rockin' Green Soap, Think Green
Posted in Energy Tips, Household Tips | No Comments »
E-mail Us: mrapplianceblog@mrappliance.com
Monday, December 17th, 2012
Holiday Home
The decorations are up and the air is filled with the excitement of the holiday season. However, overlooking a few simple winter-ready steps could bring out the Scrooge in any homeowner. Mr. Rooter® Plumbing and it’s sister companies, Mr. Electric® and Mr. Appliance® have teamed up to provide the following tips to keep your holiday season a joyous one.
To keep the oven, garbage disposal and kitchen sink drain in good working condition this holiday season, cooks need to take some precautions before and after the holiday celebration.
“During the holidays, and especially with a house full of guests, people don’t realize how much food is going down their garbage disposal until it clogs the drain,” said Mary Kennedy Thompson, president of Mr. Rooter Corporation. “We suggest homeowners throw their food in the garbage can, not the garbage disposal. Especially items like potato skins, poultry bones and grease or oil, as these are surefire ways to clog the drain.”
In addition, your oven – where much of the holiday magic begins – is in need of a quick checkup. “Oven problems usually go unnoticed until the big meal is already inside the oven,” said Doug Rogers, president of Mr. Appliance® Corp. “A few minutes spent checking your kitchen appliances could save your holiday season.”
The same goes for decorating your home. “The holidays can be a joyous time, but we also need to be aware of the potential for electrical accidents and keep our families safe,” said Mr. Electric Corporation President Jeff Meyers.
Mr. Appliance, Mr. Electric and Mr. Rooter have the Top 5 Holiday Tips You Haven’t Thought Of:
- Avoid running the self-cleaning cycle on your oven before a big holiday dinner.
- Replace gaskets at the first sign of a leak or if moisture appears on the outside of your oven.
- Ensure there is enough space around appliances to allow heat to escape from them.
- Avoid pouring grease down the drain.
- Throw leftovers in the trash or compost pile instead of putting down the garbage disposal.
Tags: appliance tips, compost tips, holiday kitchen tips, holiday tips, kitchen maintenance, Lillyan Baker, Mr. Appliance, Mr. Appliance Blog, mr. appliance tips, Mr. Electric, Mr. Rooter, Mr. Rooter Plumbing, MrAppliance, oven gasket tips, Oven Tips, plumbing tips
Posted in Energy Tips, Holiday, Household Tips | No Comments »
E-mail Us: mrapplianceblog@mrappliance.com
