Ah-choo! Cat hair on the couch

Hey ladies!

We are getting a sofa and two chairs from my brother-in-law today. I know they will be covered in cat hair. I’m allergic to cats. (As is my mother who will be here tomorrow for a four day visit! Eek!) Do you have any good tips for getting as much cat hair as possible off of the furniture fabric?? (It’s a cotton blend fabric.)

Thanks!!

Sneezin’ in Schenectady

Heather says:

Ah allergies, practically the bane of my existance.  It is important to remember it isn’t the hair itself that causes a reaction, but rather their dander.  Even without visible hair there may be enough irritants to bother a sensitive person.

First, I would thoroughly vacuum the upholstery.  However that alone may not be enough. I would use a carpet shampooer with an upholstery attachment.  Several companies offer special allergen reducing shampoos, but regular upholstery cleaner may be sufficient.

As the furniture is secondhand I am assuming there are no warranties against stains in effect.   Still, before renting a carpet cleaner, be sure to look for a care tag to be sure it isn’t counter to their recommendations.

As always test in an inconspicuous area before cleaning the whole couch.

On the side: Squash casserole

Heather says:

Keep your meals more interesting by varying the side dishes. This version does not contain any cream soups and is a little lighter than others I have tried.

Squash Casserole

• 6 yellow or crookneck squash- sliced
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
• salt and pepper to taste

Place the squash in a pot and fill with just enough water to barely cover the vegetables. Cover and cook for 10 minutes over medium high heat or until just tender.

Preaheat the oven to 325°F.

Drain the squash thoroughly and place in an oven safe casserole dish.

In a bowl whisk together the chicken broth and eggs. Stir in the cheese. Pour over the squash and stir to combine

Bake for 50 - 60 minutes.

Heads up Home Eccers

5 Minutes for Mom is once again giving away a Dyson and this time it’s pink!

Go and comment to enter.  The best part:

But yes… of course… one of you will get one for free. And not only that, since so many of you participated in our last vacuum giveaway, Dyson has offered to also donate the full retail value of a second DC07 Pink vacuum ($400) to the BCRF in honor of our giveaway.

(HT Erinn)

Sweet and Savory: Carmelized Garlic Chicken

Heather says:

This dish is simple and very kid friendly, but is unlikely to recieve approval from either Weight Watchers™ or the Surgeon General.

Carmelized Garlic Chicken

• 1 stick butter
• 4 garlic cloves - minced or pressed
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 whole chicken - cut up

Heat the oven to 350°F.

Melt the butter in a pan with the garlic over low heat.

Place the chicken pieces in a baking dish.

Add the brown sugar to the butter and garlic and increase the temperature to medium high.

Stir constantly, but gently until the butter and sugar begin to combine. Immediately turn off the burner and stir vigorously until you have a smooth sauce.

Pour over the chicken pieces. Do not worry about coating each piece perfectly, the sauce will thicken the moment it touches the cold chicken and will slide off if fiddled with.

Bake for approximately 50 minutes at 350°F or until the internal temperature reaches 180°F.

Enjoy.

Ask The Audience: Sick Days

Ivy says:

It all starts with a tickle in the back of your throat or a case of the green-apple quickstep. Next thing you know, you’re full-blown sick, fever, chills; you know how it is. So, what do you do when you’re sick? Do you let the kids watch TV all day while you convalesce on the couch? Do you have a group of mommy friends that descend on your house and help out? I want to hear it from you!

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