Recipe’s

August 3, 2017

Keep More Cash This Summer

  • Set your thermostat to 78°F.  Each degree setting below 78° will increase energy consumption by about 8%.
  • Change your return air filters.  Or call us with your filter size and we’ll provide one with your tune-up.
  • Have your ductwork checked for leaks.  If you’ve got split or leaky ductwork, this can save you a bundle!  Call us for help.
  • Use bath and kitchen fans sparingly when the air conditioner is operating.  They can pull out all your cool air within one hour.
  • Get a system tune-up.  This can save money on energy, extend your air conditioner’s life, spot any danger and make you more comfortable overall.Maintenance Agreement/J & R Heating
February 2, 2017

Easy Shmeezy Quick and Delicious Clam Chowder

The name easy shmeezy quick and delicious clam chowder explains this recipe perfectly.

Ingredients:

  • 1 can (10 3/4 ounces) condensed cream of celery soup, undiluted
  • 1 can (10 3/4 ounces) condensed cream of potato soup, undiluted
  • 2 cups half-and-half cream
  • 2 cans (6 1/2 ounces each) minced clams, drained
  • Pepper to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)

Directions:

In a large saucepan, combine all ingredients.  Cook and stir over medium heat until heated through.

Yield: 5 Servings

January 12, 2017

These Fumes Could Be Deadly

Making the switch from cooling to heating creates cozy environments inside for chilly temps outside.  This change could also create a very serious problem that you can’t hear, see smell or taste.  And it answers to the description “invisible killer.”

No, this is not a crime drama to stream for entertainment.  It’s a poisonous and deadly gas that can stream into your home through faulty heating equipment.

Carbon monoxide (CO) – a colorless, odorless, poisonous gas – is the cause of hundreds of deaths each year in the United States.  It’s found in fumes whenever fuel is burned in cars or trucks, generators, stoves, gas ranges or furnaces.  If the equipment is incorrectly vented, improperly used or in need of repair, CO can build up indoors and poison people and pets.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission offers several recommendations in order to keep your home safe from potential carbon monoxide poisoning.  These directions included:

  • Have your home heating systems inspected and serviced annually by a trained service technician.  Ask us about our Maintenance Agreement program to save time, money and peace of mind.
  • Never use portable generators inside home or garages, even if doors and windows are open.
  • Don’t use a charcoal grill inside the house or in the garage.
  • Install CO alarms near sleeping areas in your home.
  • If you suspect CO poisoning, get outside to fresh air immediately, then call 911.  Symptoms include: headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, sleepiness and confusion.CO Detector
November 17, 2016

Smooth Planning for Get-Togethers

Fall is a wonderful season for gathering with friends and family.  Just don’t let the “get-togethers” leave you falling apart!  What can you do to make your events stress-free and fun?  Whether your parties are for three or thirty, the three top tips to follow are:

  1. Relax.  Forget perfection in your planning and execution.  Unless you’re preparing a meal for the food critic at a fine dining magazine, your focus should probably not be totally on the meal but also on the purpose: having fun together.  Large gatherings do require a lot of details, but if you encounter a bump in the road, just recognize it’ll make a great story for the next party.
  2. Delegate.  You don’t have to do it all.  You’ll save on your budget and reduce your own stress when you say “yes” to offers of help.  Practice like so: “Would you like for me to bring ice?” Yes.  “Can I bring a dessert?”  Sure.  “How about I bring an appetizer?” Super.  See how easy that is?
  3. Enjoy.  Do the main work in advance, and don’t plan a menu that keeps you in the kitchen while your guests are enjoying themselves.  Remember: It’s your party.  Make sure you take part!
November 3, 2016

Apples Plus Caramels Equals Delicious

Sweets and fall afternoons go together like caramel on apples.  What’s the best way to indulge your sweet tooth this season?

One time-honored favorite is the traditional caramel apple recipe.  Simply slide craft sticks into apples and dip them in a mixture of melted caramel candies (about 14 ounces) and milk (2 tablespoons).  Place the apples on a buttered baking sheet, set and enjoy.

For a fun twist on tradition, make your caramel sauce as usual.  Then scoop out the center of the apples (brush with lemon juice to prevent browning). Fill the hole with melted caramel.  Let it set, then slice.

If you’re looking for a truly decadent brunch treat, whip of a batch of french toast and then top it off with warmed apples, caramel sauce and even some walnuts.

September 1, 2016

5 Easy Ways to Cut Summer Utility Bills

  1. Cut down on energy leaks.  This includes turning off lights and unplugging electronics when not in use.IMG_1697
  2. Use heavy drapes and blinds.  Stopping the sun shining into windows cuts down on cooling costs.
  3. Keep your house warmer when you are away, and lower the thermostat to 78°F (26°C) only when you need cooling.*IMG_1696
  4. Keep your cooling system well maintained.  Dirty A/C filter block airflow and make units work less efficiently.

    IMG_1175

    Carbon Clean Merv 16 filter

  5. Consider a high-efficiency air conditioner that can make you eligible for utility rebates
August 4, 2016

Multi-use Mini-splits from Lennox Industries

From man caves to family rooms – mini-splits have many uses in the home.

No ductwork needed.  Their ductless design makes mini-splits ideal for older homes with ductwork that needs repairs to be usable, new additions where cost is a factor, and spaces like sunrooms with no space for ductwork.

A quick fix for hot spots in the home.  A mini-split can fix chronically hot or cold spot in a home that has a ducted HVAC system.  “If you talk to somebody who’s got a decent-sized house, they’ve probably got an area you could put a mini-split in,” Cross says.  For example, homeowners who enjoy working in the garage, but don’t like the sweltering summer heat or freezing winter cold, can add a mini-split for better comfort.

Creative options for custom control.  “Thanks to multi-zone heat pumps,” Cross Says, “mini-splits can be used in all sorts of multiple configurations.  Maybe you have a ‘man cave’ you want to keep at 68° and a TV room you want to keep a little warmer.  You can figure out how many different zones you want to heat or cool, decide which indoor units you need, and then match them op with an outdoor unit that corresponds to the single or multiple zones you’re implementing in your house.

Article from “The Lennox News: The Official Newsletter from Lennox Residential” (Volume 72 Number 02 Summer 2016)

June 16, 2016

Green Beans with Almonds

Another favorite of ours and especially yummy with garden green beans!634

  • 1 package (16 ounces) frozen green beans
  • 1/2 cup slivered almonds
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice
  • 1/4 teaspoon seasoned salt

Place the beans in a saucepan and cover with water; cook until crisp-tender. Meanwhile, in a skillet over low heat, toast almonds in butter. Remove from the heat; stir in lemon juice and salt. drain beans. Add almond mixture and toss to coat.

Yield: 6-8 servings

May 12, 2016

Three Super Foods for Spring

The sense of renewal that comes with spring can also extend to mealtime. Healthy foods can be quite tasty and reward you with energy and enjoyment. Here are just three of many great options for your next trip to the grocery store:

Asparagus – The spear of choice for delicious meals, it’s loaded with nutrients, including vitamins A, C, E and K, and is a source of fiber, folate, and antioxidants. It’s good roasted, grilled, or in stir-fry.

Strawberries – Just one serving has half of your daily recommended dose of vitamin C, making these a spring staple. You’ll also get other immune system boosters like lutein and the cancer-fighting ellagic acid.20160402_113035

Spinach – This green, leafy vegetable has always had a healthy reputation, and for good reason. It’s full of vitamin C, iron, vitamin B6, magnesium, and potassium.

May 5, 2016

Crab Rangoon Pizza

This recipe is unhealthy, but oh sooo good.  It technically serves eight, but when this is made at my family’s house it only serves four.  Like I said – So Good!

Ingredients:

  • 8 ounces of imitation crab
  • 12 ounces of cream cheese, divided (1½ packages)
  • 1 clove garlic (or 1 tablespoon, minced)
  • 3 green onions, thinly sliced (divided)
  • 1½ teaspoons sesame oil
  • 1½ teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 6 won ton wrappers (sliced into strips and fried crisp or pre-made)
  • ¾ cup white sugar
  • ⅓ cup white vinegar
  • ⅔ cup water
  • ¼ cup soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon ketchup
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1 box pizza dough (We used gluten free for my Dad and it still tasted great)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2. Roll out your pizza dough and stretch onto a pizza stone or large baking sheet.  Bake pizza dough according to package directions.

3. While pizza dough is baking, mix half the imitation crab, 4 ounces of the cream cheese, the garlic clove, 1 green onion, sesame oil and Worcestershire sauce into a small food processor until smooth.

4. Once the pizza dough has been partially cooked (per the box directions), in small spoonfuls add the mixture to the pizza crust, then add the remaining 8 ounces of cream cheese to the crust as well.

5. Add remaining crab meat to the pizza.

6. To make the sweet and sour sauce: Add the sugar, vinegar, water, soy sauce, ketchup and cornstarch in a small saucepan and cook until boiling and thickened.

7. Add ⅓ of the sauce to the pizza in small spoonfuls.

8. Bake for an additional  8­-10 minutes.

9. Put the won tons on the pizza, drizzle the top of the pizza with more sweet and sour sauce and add remaining green onions.IMG_1821

Won ton directions:

If you did not purchase pre-made won tons and got the won ton’s in the freezer section like we did, you’ll need to do this step, otherwise you may skip.

Put some oil, I used olive oil, in a saucepan on medium heat.  Then add the won tons and cook until golden brown and crispy.  As you can see from the picture, I may have overcooked the won tons.  In other words don’t cook them as long as I did, just a smidgen less.  They were still good though!  😉

Enjoy!