Mildew in the machine

Dear Home Ec 101:

OK, here is a gross one for you ladies. How do I keep my front load washer from mildewing? It smells so nasty. I have tried wiping it with bleach and water and it just comes back. Should I air it out?

~Smelly in Smyrna

Heather says:
Well, Smelly, at least you aren’t having problems with bodily fluids. We also have a front loading washer and have previously dealt with the mildew problem. Spray the gasket with a sodium percarbonate solution and allow it to sit for 10-15 minutes before wiping. Run the washer on the sanitary cycle with additional sodium percarbonate in the soap dispenser and vinegar in the fabric softener dispenser.

When the cycle has finished wipe the gasket dry and leave the door open allowing the machine to air out. These steps should remove any existing mildew. If odors still linger contact the manufacturer and order a new gasket, it may be covered if the machine is still under warranty. While it’s not necessary to wipe the gasket between each load, at the end of the day’s use wipe it dry and leave the door ajar. If you have cats, always check the interior before loading, so ole Fluffy doesn’t end up in the spin cycle.

Good luck!

The power of positive affirmation

Ivy says:

I used to have a miserable life. I was unhappy with my marriage, my children, I was broke, and my house was a wreck. Seriously, this shining paragon of household knowledge you see before you once was completely miserable. I finally decided I had enough and decided to change my life, so I did.

It all seems overwhelming sometimes, and I have posted before about how you  have to control the things you can control, and allow yourself to be imperfect. That’s all fine and well and good, but you also have to help yourself.

2 things really made a huge difference to me- both are a matter of “fake it ’til you make it”.

The first thing I did was plaster a smile on my face nearly all the time. Lo and behold, it put me in a more positive mood. It sounds stupid and you feel like a big jerk going around grinning when you’re really quite depressed, but it really works.

The other thing was to use “positive affirmations”. But not that, “I’m good, and I’m smart, and people like me” crap- unless you think it would really work for you. Think about the kind of person you want to be, and tell yourself you already ARE that person.

I’ll give you an example. It’s my oldest affirmation and is one I have been using off and on since I was about 19 years old. “I am one of the 2 coolest people I know.” I used to be the hugest nerd- or at least I felt that way. But when I started telling myself I was cool, I started feeling cooler, until one day I overheard some people talking about me- and they were saying I was so cool. Hee!

So, tell yourself you are the kind of person you want to be. Then set yourself in the direction of becoming that person.  Like the saying goes, “God helps people that help themselves”. That’s exactly right.

Once your first positive affirmation starts working, start a new one, but keep telling yourself the old one. I’m on my third positive affirmation- I’m now working on “Money falls upon me like an avalanche”. It’s not working yet, but it’ll start, eventually.

Never give up. Never get discouraged. Dig in and get going, your life is awaiting you.

Friday Fun: Caramel Popcorn

Heather says:

Friday evenings are often movie nights. Why not try something a little different and make your own caramel popcorn? Not only is old fashioned popcorn superior to microwave, our kids get a kick out of watching it pop.

Preheat your oven to 350˚F.

Heat 1/4 cup vegetable oil over medium-high heat in a 6qt pot and add one kernel to the oil. When the kernel pops carefully remove it and add just enough popcorn to cover the bottom of the pot in a single layer. As soon as the next kernel pops cover the pot. Gently shake the pan as the popcorn pops. When the popping slows remove from heat and pour into a large, foil-lined pan or dish, a sheetcake pan is perfect.

Cream 1 stick of unsalted butter with 1 cup brown sugar and dot over the popcorn. Place in the oven then stir at five minute intervals for 15 minutes. If you like it very sweet, double the butter and sugar.

*Heather’s twist* I like it sprinkled with salt, it’s remniscent of kettle corn, without the mess.

Enjoy.

Stupid questions, volume 4

Ivy says:

Kathy sent us a new set of Stupid Questions™ , and it came at the exact right time! I had a long, crappy day at work, yo- and I had big teeth repairs yesterday. Send flowers and hugs, yo! Anyway, on with answering the questions:

1. I have a lot of bookshelves. What the best way to get them all dusted without removing every book and re-stacking?

I generally use a static duster, like a lambswool duster or something similar. I also see one of your commenters liked the Swiffer duster. I do, as well, but I’m a little wary of its earth-friendliness. Every now and again I’ll take my vacuum cleaner and vacuum the bookshelves. About once every couple of years or so (so lazy, Ivy!) I’ll take them all down and dust the whole shebang.

2. A couple of my music CD’s have been treated with contempt by my children. As a result, there seems to be gook on the back and they won’t play without skipping. Can you recommend how to clean abused CD’s? I miss listening to the “I Got You Babe” duet between Cher and Beavis and Butthead. Heh Heh Heh, she said gook.

Let me reach back into 1999 and think about what I did with CDs back in the day. Oh, yeah. I bought new ones. I wasn’t nearly as thrifty as I am now. Perhaps iTunes is in order?
3. Say I find a genie bottle and get three wishes. I can’t wish for 20 more wishes. What do I wish for?

You should wish for:

1. World peace
2. I once read about a dude that wished for a pair of pants that, whenever he spent money, he’d be able to reach into the pants and grab exactly enough money for whatever he needed. I’d like a checking account like that. Debit is sooo much faster than cash.
3. And happy lives for you and your entire family

4. We aren’t supposed to clean these flat screen TV’s or computer monitors with Windex or window cleaner. How do we clean them?

I mix a capful of rubbing alcohol to a mixing bowl full (nothing like exact measurements, eh?) of water. Then I barely dampen a soft, white cloth and gently wipe the screens. Take another (or the other end, even) soft, white cloth and wipe the screen dry.

5. My fingernails break off every time they start to grow out enough where they look decent. Any advice on how to make them stronger?

You can use a nail strengthener to help your nails grow. Or, you can just use a good brand of nail polish (I like OPI’s Fiji Weejee Fawn- it hardly looks like you’re even wearing polish) and that will help keep your nails stronger, longer. Make sure you file them when they get the slightest tear or nick in them, that helps a LOT.

6. Why do gorillas have big nostrils?

Because they have big fingers, obviously.
7. Is it an urban legend that Avon’s Skin-so-Soft can be used to keep away mosquitoes?

My grandma used to sell Avon, and the old-school kind of Skin-So-Soft worked really well to keep away mosquitoes. The newer stuff doesn’t seem to work as well, I don’t think. However, they do have some with Deet that might work great, I’m not so sure. I generally use a combo anti-bug and sunscreen on my kids.
8. What ingredients do you recommend for the “perfect” salad? (No onions!)

Now, not everyone digs it, but I LOVE cilantro in my salads. I like to take a nice spring mix, some cilantro, some basil, and other various stuff (depending on what I have in my fridge) and make a nice balsamic vinaigrette (Put 1 C balsamic vinegar and freshly ground salt and pepper to taste in a blender on low. Trickle 1 cup extra virgin olive oil SLOWLY into blender while it’s mixing, until well mixed. If you go too fast, the olive oil will separate. Let me know if there are questions on this.)
9. My daughter will NOT go to bed on time at night. This worries me for many reasons, primarily because this lack of a good night’s sleep will eventually affect her at school. Any tips on getting a kid to bed on time?

Aaron (my 12 year old) used to try to stay up all night until I started checking in on him every half hour to make sure he wasn’t reading, or listening to his MP3 player, or any of the other myriad things kids try to do when they are supposed to be getting some sleep.

It is also very important to make sure they are not staying up all night and sleeping all day on the weekends and holidays. My son has a weekend bedtime just an hour later than his regular bedtime and he absolutely MUST be up by 10am on the weekends. I know my kids think I’m a slave driver because of this, but it’s really important so they don’t get their sleep cycles jacked up.
10. I just love Montel. I like his compassion and how he cries with his guests. I like how he features Sylvia Browne every Wednesday. Do you think he and Oprah will ever get together?
Wouldn’t it be fun to put Montel and a pregnant Oprah on Maury’s show so Oprah could scream at Montel, “You ARE the baby’s daddy and Maury’s gonna show you!!” But then, Maury would say, “Montel, you are NOT the father!” Then Montel would jump up and down, wagging his finger at Oprah, “In your face! In your face! I TOLD you I wasn’t the father!!” Ahhhh, good times.

Great gravy starts with. . .

Dear Home Ec 101:

How do you make gravy? Does it all come from a jar?

~Dry in Dover

Heather says:

There is a knack to gravy, but once you understand the secret, it’s simple to make.

When the meat (roast, chicken etc) has finished cooking, pour all of the drippings* into a fat separator. These are one of the few kitchen gadgets I highly recommend. You’ll need to have 2 cups of liquid for this recipe. If there wasn’t enough in the pan you may add canned broth or bouillon and water.

*Be sure to scrape all the browned bits from the bottom, these are packed with flavor!

Heat 2 1/2 TBSP of fat (skimmed from the drippings) in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in 1/4 cup flour, stirring constantly with a wooden spatula*.

*You can use a rubber one, but I find it easier to break up any lumps with a wooden one.

The fat and flour will make a thick paste, keep stirring it over medium heat until the roux (that’s what it’s called) darkens several shades. This step eliminates a pasty, floury taste. Your arm may get, tired, but keep stirring. Call in a stunt double if you have to.

Now, very slowly add 2 cups of the broth/pan drippings to your roux. Start with just a few tablespoons and stir them in completely. Add a little more and stir that in. Each time you add broth you may add a slightly larger amount. If you add the liquid too quickly you’ll end up with lumpy gravy, so be patient Daniel-san.

Once all of your broth has been stirred into the roux bring the gravy to a simmer and season to taste. I like to add a little extra of the herbs used to flavor the main course.

Remove from the heat and serve.

Congratulations, gravy just like Grandma used to make.

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