$ummer $aving$-Recipe$ for a cooler Kitchen

Your AC is already working overtime when the heat is on and the humidity is high.  And the hottest room in your house is usually the kitchen.  I know mine is and the last thing I want to do after a long hot ride home from the office is stand in front of the stove preparing the evening meal...

Here are a few easy tips for lowering the temperature while not having to go hungry

1)  Don't use the oven or range top.  Summer is a great time to grill burgers, chicken or chops, keeping the heat outside.  And don't forget your slow cooker, toaster oven or electric skillet for meal prep.

2)  Cover your post when cooking to keep more of the heat in the pan.  This reduces cooking time and keeps the kitchen cooler.

3)  Serve a cold meal.  Salad suppers, chilled soups, even cold grilled meats and marinated vegetables make a delicious summer meal.

4)  Keep the air moving with a ceiling fan.  It allows your body to cool down and doesn't use much electricity.

5)  Air dry your dishes instead of using the heat dry cycle on the dishwasher.

6)  Clean the refrigerator coils on the back of your fridge to get the best cooling power for your money.

7)  Let someone else do the cooking!

Ceiling Fan Fact$

If your home has ceiling fans, you've probably never given them much thought.  But a ceiling fan can help you maintain a constant temperature in your home and prevent the air conditioner or furnace from working harder than necessary.

Did you know that in the summer the ceiling fans blades should be rotating counter-clockwise  and in the winter they should rotate in a clockwise fashion?  The different rotations redistribute the air bringing warm air to the ceiling in the summer and pushing warm air down in the winter.

Ceiling fans only cool YOU!  So turn them off when you leave the room!  And while you are at it--turn off that overhead light or reading lamp.

Fans are energy efficient--they require no more energy than a 100-watt lightbulb.

Celebrate Earth Day

Celebrate Earth Day by changing the way you shop and cook
Celebrate Earth day April 22, 2014  & every day!

• Buy your meat, eggs, fresh produce from local farmers or farmers markets--it's healthier and generally uses lass packaging.
• Grow herbs in your own back yard.
• Plan to "pick your own":  Strawberries, peaches, apples are my favorites.  Pick your own incorporates healthy eating with an activity-a 2for 1 event which is always a good frugal option!
• Grill out suing a gas grill-more eco-friendly and a LOT easier.  Natural gas burns cleaner than propane and high BTUS burn more energy.
• Choose sustainable seafood for more information check out www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/seafoodwatch.aspx
• Read Animal, Vegetable Miracle by Barbara Kingslover
• Compost.  Read www.howtocompost.org for tips
• Use cloth towels for kitchen cleanups and cloth napkins instead of disposable
• Keep your oven pre-heating time to a minimum
• Make your lunchboxes waste free by wrapping sandwich's in waxed paper which can be composted. 
• Keep the oven door shut while cooking.  Every time you open the door the temperature drops by about 25 degrees, increasing the cooking time
• Cleaning your oven:  If you have a self cleaning oven, do this immediately after you've used it to take advantage of residual heat
• Cooking on a gas stove?  The blue flame indicates efficiency
• Use your microwave-it's energy efficient
• Minimize the use of your garbage disposal
• Refrigerators account for about 12% of your monthly energy bill-buy an Energy Star qualified appliance when replacing
• Appliance seals minimize energy waste--make sure the seals on your oven, freezer and fridge work properly to help reduce electrical consumption
• Use the toaster oven for preparing small meals
• Recycle glass, plastic an newspapers
• use cloth bags to carry home groceries
• Run your dishwasher when it is full
• Use items made from recycled products:  everything from glassware to garbage bags