I still don’t have my regular refrigerator in my house. The smaller one that was already here is still in place, and I’m tired of not having enough room in it for a fridge pack of Cokes to sit the right way for accessing the cans inside. The way it is now, I have to practically ram food containers into this small fridge in order to keep things cold. If anything is the least bit forward, the door of the fridge won’t shut!

I’d also like to have my ice maker running. I’ve been buying ice, which is crazy when I’ve got a fridge that will make all the ice we need. I’ve just got to get a couple of other guys over here to pull the other refrigerator out and install mine. A former tenant obviously had an ice maker refrigerator because the water line for that is already in place.

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A few weeks ago, the FDA announced that there was a tomato recall due to outbreaks of salmonella that had been linked to eating raw tomatoes. Not all tomatoes were under suspicion. For instance, grape tomatoes were eliminated as a source. I work at McDonald’s and we pulled tomatoes from our store in compliance with the recall, even though not all states were affected and our state was not even on the list.

Then, we got an announcement that we could start serving tomatoes again. From what I understood, the source and locations had been discovered.

Now, the FDA is saying they’re not even sure tomatoes were a problem to begin with, and even if they are, they’re not sure where the source of the problem is and where any affected tomatoes might be. They did testing on suspect tomatoes and found no salmonella.

Now, I appreciate that the FDA is trying to protect consumers. That’s what their job is. But it looks like we all need to get new pocket watches to keep up with the timing of recalls such as this.

Today, a recall. Tomorrow, all is safe. The next day, we don’t have a clue what to tell the public.

Right now, the FDA is reporting new outbreaks of salmonella weeks after the recall. This means that people were still contracting a potentially deadly bacteria during a period of time when there were no tomatoes in stores or restaurants. I think they’re barking up the wrong tomato vine. Look at the handlers, the shippers, the warehouses, the trucks. The tomatoes aren’t the problem. Somewhere, there is a place that is contaminated. Maybe it’s in the boxes the tomatoes are shipped in.

The thing is, Salmonella comes from feces. It can be present on household pets, such as cats and dogs, on turtles, and on farm animals without those animals actually being sick. It can also be spread from human waste from infected individuals. While the FDA is out chasing killer tomatoes, maybe the should be looking more closely at the environment around packing houses and warehouses to see if there are carriers that come in contact with human hands, then tomatoes. Pet the cat - touch the tomatoes - spread the bacteria?

Also, tomatoes are hugely attractive to both turtles and cats. Both animals will eat tomatoes and touch every part of the plant. Perhaps that’s what the source is. The source might even be found right where the tomatoes are accessed by the public - in the stores and restaurants of areas where there have been outbreaks of salmonella.

Technorati Tags: tomato recall, tomatoes, McDonald’s, FDA

As wonderful as this house is that we moved into, and as beautiful as the unfinished wood siding is, there are some problems. For one thing, since the siding wasn’t finished or preserved there are places where it’s suffering some damage. I figure that eventually the owners will want to cover it with vinyl siding so the house will last longer. But they will still have to make some repairs before they do that.

I wonder if there is a vinyl siding that gives the board-and-batten look of wood that this house has now? It really suits the style of the house and the woodsy location out here in the country. Nevertheless, this house is a treat to come home to after work. It’s my sanctuary.

The kitchen isn’t large but it has loads of counter and cabinet space in its “U” shaped configuration. The counter nearest the dining table doesn’t have any cabinets under it. Instead, it’s open shelving. And since there are also no suspended cabinets over it, you get a sense of roominess in the open look of the entire great room. It goes from the kitchen to the far end of the living room with great space for dining, for living room furniture, and is really conducive to get-togethers, as we proved on Memorial Day!

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I’ve got a wonderful corned beef brisket thawing right now. I’ll put it in the oven in the morning with some potatoes and onions. I tell you, corned beef is really a good choice when you’re wanting a beef roast for dinner. It’s usually less expensive and has a wonderful flavor. However, unless it’s cooked for a long time, it can be tough.

I prefer a flat cut corned beef brisket. It slices nicely and doesn’t have a lot of fat on it. Other cuts tend to be a bit more fatty than I like, and they really have to be pulled apart to get the best servings of meat on your plate. There is little waste to a flat cut brisket, though.

Of course, I always get one for St. Patrick’s Day but I use them all year long, too. Once this one is cooked up, we can get several meals including sandwiches from it. There really is nothing better than a Reuben sandwich made from corned beef you’ve cooked yourself. Use bagged kraut for it’s crispy texture and you’ve got a hit. Corned beef hash is another winner in our house when I use the leftover brisket in it. I cook enough potatoes with the brisket to make the hash without having to prepare more. I throw the carrots in it, too!

Technorati Tags: corned beef brisket, beef roast, St. Patrick’s Day, Reuben sandwich, Corned beef hash

It’s great to have a day off, though I prefer having two days off together. One day just doesn’t seem like enough to renew myself and also get things done at home that need doing.

I closed the store last night, and I have to open it in the morning. Now, I used to be a morning person but that has really changed over the years. I much prefer now to sleep a little later mainly because I work so late at night when I close. I close so much of the time that my internal clock is now adjusted to going to bed late and getting up late. When they switch my schedule around like this, I feel like I need energy pills just to get to work and make it through the first few hours of my shift.

Also, since I don’t open very much, I wind up having to relearn the breakfast menu and I’ve never even been on breakfast assembly or grill! If everyone doesn’t show up in the morning (that happens way too often), then I’ll be in a real spot trying to work more than one position. I really dread it.

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These days of high gas prices, which translate into higher prices on everything else, call for even more drastic measures when it comes to keeping the budget in line. Groceries can account for a huge part of the budget unless you are planning your menus and shopping very carefully.

Meat purchases can be reduced by simply using recipes that call for less meat. Beans and rice together give you a complete meat protein so that any time you serve them, you can know that your family isn’t going to miss out on important nutrients, yet they are both relatively inexpensive and can be season up to make some wonderful meals.

Buying only produce that is currently in season will also help your grocery budget. While we all get cravings for fruit or vegetables that aren’t in season, holding the line means having some real self-control when you are out shopping and see all the colorful displays of produce. They certainly are tempting!

Fresh fruits and fresh vegetables served raw and cut up into bite sized pieces make great snacks. Keep them on hand in covered containers in the fridge. Once prepared, it’s much easier to snack on them instead of on chips or other expensive and unhealthful snacks. Popcorn is also a great choice and it’s inexpensive. Just reduce the amount of butter you use on it to keep it a healthful snack or buy microwave popcorn that has reduced fat and salt.

Water is the ultimate beverage. Squeeze a little lemon in it to brighten the taste, but getting your family accustomed to drinking water instead of soda or other beverages will help your budget and their health.

Make fewer trips by arming yourself with a focused list of items you need and places you need to go. If you have to, map out your course so that you spend less time driving back over the same territory over and over again.

The internet is a great resource for finding budget-friendly meals and wise shopping tips. Use it to its fullest so you can save yourself some money!

Technorati Tags: Groceries, budget, recipes

I was wanting a pitcher of sweet iced tea. So, I put the tea on to brew and put sugar and Splenda in the tea pitcher. I use both so that at least some of the calories are lower and we still get the consistency we want in iced tea. Well, I got too much sugar and not enough tea in the mix. I should have used two more of the small tea bags and less sugar. I don’t know what I was thinking, but this iced tea is super sweet and more like sugar syrup with a slightly brown color!

I tell you, the sweetness level is so high, I think I could take off and fly without even needing any flight deals for an airline! I’m going to have to brew two more tea bags and add it to the mix to at least have a good tea taste instead of what I’ve got now. It will still probably be too sweet but at least maybe I’ll taste more than sugar.

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A few days ago, a co-worker brought red beans and cornbread for his supper at work. He brought enough to share them with me and it was all super delicious. He had used smoked sausage in the red beans and the cornbread was the sweet, yellow kind - my favorite.

So, since I’m off work today, I’ve got a pot of white beans on the stove, simmering. I added sliced onion and smoked sausage to them. When they’re near done, I’ll cook up a batch of rice, some sweet cornbread, and leftover poke salad greens. I might even fry up some potatoes. It depends on just how hungry we are when it’s getting toward supper time.

Now, I like almost any kind of beans. Pintos are my favorite and garbanzos or kidney beans are my least favorites. I’m not crazy about beans that have a mealy texture when they’re cooked. I much prefer them to be creamy inside.

Leftover beans can be served again as is, mixed into salads, or mashed and used as a sandwich spread by adding things like finely chopped onion, finely chopped celery, chopped black olives, or anything else you like in a sandwich spread. I also mash pinto beans and use them as frijoles refritos (refried beans) for Mexican meals.

Technorati Tags: red beans, smoked sausage, beans

Being in my kitchen makes me happy. From planning meals to cooking them, I enjoy every aspect of the kitchen. It’s the heart of the home.

When I’m in the kitchen, I go about my tasks with a certain serenity in my heart. I don’t worry about world events. I don’t think about mortgage lenders. I don’t even concern myself with much of anything else other than kitchen duties.

The kitchen truly is the heart of my home. I love feeding my family and guests delicious home-cooked meals. It makes me feel like I’ve really accomplished something when I can put food out on the table for others to enjoy. There’s something very satisfying about watching people eat and knowing what they’re eating was created by your own hands.

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If I don’t do something soon about the kind of shoes I wear at work, I think I’ll wind up with permanent foot problems. It hasn’t been that long since I bought shoes for work, but already the insoles are breaking down, which means less cushioning for my feet. When you work in the restaurant business, you’re on your feet all the time, except for break time, and it takes its toll on you in your joints, feet, and legs.

Looks like I’m going to be doing some shoe shopping yet again. I may have to go with a completely different brand than I’ve been buying, like Ecco shoes. Maybe changing shoe brands will help. I know it helps to have more than one pair of work shoes, and change them every few days so you change the pressure points. But it also could be that the brand and how it’s structured could save my feet!

Technorati Tags: shoes, restaurant business