Six Air Filters on White background

How Often Should I Change My Air Fi...

[caption id="attachment_89" align="alignright" width="300"] There are many factors that determine how often you should change your air filters[/captio...

Waffles

Waffles Your Family Will Rave About...

Waffles you can be proud of [caption id="attachment_126" align="alignleft" width="300"] Perfect Waffles Are Easy To Make[/caption] My family loves...

Unique Meatloaf Recipe

Cornbread Meatloaf Pie Recipe

This is my first Recipe post on the blog. I came across this idea for a meatloaf recipe last night and decided to share. Now as I said before, I am a ...

Bar Keeper's Friend Cleaner and Polish

Barkeeper’s Friend My Favorit...

[caption id="attachment_113" align="alignleft" width="300"] Bar Keeper's Friend Cleans Stainless, Steel, Brass, Porcelain, and Glass cooktops to a lik...

How Often Should I Change My Air Filters

Jan. 20 Uncategorized Comments Off

There are many factors that determine how often you should change your air filters

Air Filters are the life of your HVAC unit. they keep particles from getting inside and doing damage to the moving parts of the furnace. But they not only protect the furnace, they protect you by improving the quality of the air in your house. The simple answer to this question is: You should change your Air Filters when they are dirty.

Well, Mr. Smart Alec, How do I tell?

Yeah, You’re right, that answer is a bit subjective. The industry rule of thumb is to change you 1″ to 3″ filters every 30 to 60 days. That is a rule of thumb, because there are some differing factors that can go into this time frame.

A household that has a person or people that suffer from asthma or alergies should change their filters more often, or upgrade to a filter that blocks more particulates. In the same respect, a house with many pets will need to change their filters more often because of the pet hair and dander stopped by the filter.

If you live in a heavily populated area or close to a busy road, you will want to change your filters more often than a person living in a rural area.

Seasons, too play a part in how often your air filter should be changed. In the spring and summer months if the unit is not being used as heavily, the filter would not need to be changed. The same goes for homes that are not always occupied. No people or pets= less dust and dirt to get sucked into your filter.

Pre-filtering the air returns too can extend the life of the primary filter on the HVAC unit itself. And remember: Clean filters means less dust in the air, and less dusting you have to do when you are cleaning.

 

I welcome your comments on this post. I love to hear from you.

 

Eric

Waffles Your Family Will Rave About

Dec. 16 Recipes, Tips and Tricks no comments

Waffles you can be proud of

Waffles

Perfect Waffles Are Easy To Make

My family loves waffles. My boys especially. So about a year ago I went on the quest for the best waffle recipe I could find. After much experimenting, I found that the box mixes do an O.K job. But I wasn’t looking for O.K. Waffles. I was looking  the best waffles . I decided to “adjust” the recipe a bit to make the perfect waffles.

Mix up your box mix according to the package. Then, add in about 1/4 cup of sugar and a teaspoon of vanilla. This adds so much to the flavor of the waffles and smells delicious when cooking.

Cooking the Waffles

This seems like it should be a no brainer, especially if you have one of those ten dollar waffle irons that tells you when the waffles are done. Well, guess what, They lie. I don’t know what waffle sensing technology they use, but it’s not very good in my book. The waffle iron I have has a red light and a green light on top. When you plug it in the red light comes on to tell you it’s heating up. The green light comes on when it’s ready. The same thing happens when you pour the batter in. The green light goes off until the waffles are ready.

For the best waffles, I ignore this green light except for it to tell me when it’s warm enough to pour the batter in. Once the green light comes on. Hit the iron with a quick spritz of olive oil spray. Don’t douse it, Just a quick spray, enough to keep it from sticking fast. Close the lid and latch it if you have a latch and let the waffles cook. You want the waffles to cook until there is no more steam coming from the iron. The green light may come on, but if it isn’t done steaming, don’t open it. This usually takes about 10 minutes for 2 waffles.

Too Many Waffles

My family of four cannot eat an entire batch of waffles. (one batch usually makes 12-14 waffles) But, Good for us, waffles freeze nicely. Place all of the left over waffles in a single layer on a cookie cooling rack or pizza pan and place them in the freezer for about an hour. Remove the waffles from the freezer and put them in a bread bag and then back in the freezer. To warm them up, just pop them in the toaster. You have enough waffles to last until the next batch. Also great for my Wife’s favorite treat, waffles and ice cream.

The batter for the waffles is very versatile too. I also use it for pancakes and funnel cakes. I hope you found some useful information here and you will share your ideas for perfect waffles.

 

Cornbread Meatloaf Pie Recipe

Dec. 12 Recipes no comments

This is my first Recipe post on the blog. I came across this idea for a meatloaf recipe last night and decided to share. Now as I said before, I am a bit of this and a handful of that type of cook. The measurements are approximate. If the amounts don’t seem right, change it. If you decide to do something different with it, Let me know. I would love to hear how it turns out.

I am always looking for something Unique to make for dinner. I get tired of the same old same old. This meatloaf is a nice twist. My family loved it even my picky eaters. We served it with mashed potatoes and brown gravy, but I just had it for lunch with taco sauce. Either way it’s good.

 

Unique Meatloaf Recipe

Good with Taco Sauce or Brown Gravy. This versatile meatloaf will satisfy the pickiest eater.

Cornbread Meatloaf Pie

10 minute prep time. Ready in 50 minutes

1 Lb. Ground Beef
1 Egg
1/4 cup Ketchup
1 Cup Bread Crumbs
1/2 Tbs. Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
1 Tbs. Dried Onions
1/2 tbs chili powder
1 pkg Cornbread mix

Preheat Oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl mix together Beef, Egg, bread crumbs, ketchup, pepper flakes, onion, and chili powder. Press into the bottom of a 9″ pie pan. Prepare cornbread mix per directions on the box. Pour cornbread mixture over the meatloaf. Place in the oven for 50 minutes or until center of meatloaf reads 160 degrees F on a meat thermometer. Remove from the oven and serve

Some variations:

Mix in a can of Corn with your cornbread mix for an all in one meal.

Melt Cheese on top before serving

Mix cubed velveeta with meat prior to cooking.

I hope you enjoy this recipe and give it a try. I know I am adding it to my recipe repertoire. Again, Please let me know if you try it. I like comments!

Thanks,

Eric

Barkeeper’s Friend My Favorite for Stainless Steel, Cooktops, and More

Dec. 11 Cleaning, Products 1 comment
Bar Keeper's Friend Cleaner and Polish

Bar Keeper’s Friend Cleans Stainless, Steel, Brass, Porcelain, and Glass cooktops to a like new shine.

I was introduced to this product when I was tending Bar after College. The Bar I worked at had a huge brass rail that ran the length of it.

Every day before we opened I had to polish the rail. I would go at it with a bit of water and some Bar Keeper’s friend on a terrycloth rag.  I rubbed the paste on the entire length of the rail. By the time I finished wiping it on, the other end was dry and I would take a clean terrycloth towel and buff the rail til it shined.

I was hooked on the stuff. Not only does it work wonders on Brass, but your porcelain surfaces, and even glass cooktops shine when you buff with Barkeeper’s Friend. My favorite is to use it in my stainless steel sink. When I’m done, The stainless shines almost blue it’s so bright. It’s like getting a new sink every time you clean! If you’ve never tried it before, give it a shot. I think you will be hooked too.

The Power of Steel Wool

Dec. 08 Cleaning, Tips and Tricks 1 comment

We have a gas range. And I’m not the cleanest cook. I don’t use all these fancy-schmancy measuring cups and spoons. I’m more of a throw-what-looks-right at the pan type of cook. And I’m pretty good at it if I do say so. But, that method of cooking leaves a bit to be desired on the clean up side. Many times I miss the pan or slop over onto the burners and create a blackened burned on mess for myself.

Cleaning with Steel Wool

Steel Wool is versatile

If you’ve ever tried to clean this burned off stain from your burners, You know what a pain it can be. Regular soap and water just do not cut it no matter how long you soak it. Welcome my magic tool Steel Wool. #0000 steel wool to be exact.

Steel wool comes in many grades like sandpaper. From a coarse 5 and 6 grade down to the very fine #0000. Steel wool is most commonly used in woodworking for finish work, But there are many other uses as well. From deterring mice, to tinder for lighting fires in emergency situations. Steel wool has long been known for it’s cleaning powers. Many countries sell Steel Wool impregnated with soap powder such as SOS pads.

But, for cleaning my burners, stand alone steel wool is my go to tool. A quick soak in a warm soapy sink and the burned on aftermath of my cooking concoctions cleans right off without scratching or harming the porcelain finish. #0000 Steel wool is also fine enough to clean the surface of the stove without harming the factory finish.

If you have an appliance that needs to be cleaned to look brand new, Try some steel wool. If you have any comments or questions, Please feel free to post below!

 

Thanks,

Eric