When we think of summertime soup we usually picture a nice bowl of chilled fruit soup, one of our hot weather favorites. We were surprised recently when a few friends were discussing how often they still make homemade chicken soup, even in the heat of July.  They commented how much their families enjoyed it and so they freeze portions for quick weekday meals.

So it seems a bowl of tasty comfort food like homemade chicken soup works anytime of year. We’ll have to give it a try ourselves!

Turning the oven on at this time of the year might be the farthest thing on our minds on some of the hot days. But really, is there ever a time not to enjoy a delicious, fresh-baked goodie?

Even in summer we love to start our day with homemade muffins and pastries, dipping them in a fresh-brewed cup of coffee. Rather than start the day with the oven on we often bake ours the night before.  Not to mention how wonderful the house smells  as we drift off to sleep. Here are some great baking essentials to keep stocked in your kitchen.

Suddenly, you look at the calendar and July 4th is less than 2 weeks away….how did that happen? We’re still getting used to the idea it’s not May anymore, but sure enough, the July 4th advertisements have begun, the planning for the big barbeque, buying fireworks (certainly easier if you live in the South where you can pick them up in any grocery store or discount chain). So just when you start getting used to the idea it’s spring, well it’s summer upon us. 

That’s how it goes I guess. At least we’re not working on our Christmas party menu and gift list…yet!

Growing up, we had a simple concrete patio with a picnic table, some benches and a nice brick coal-burning barbeque - we were living large.  Today’s outdoor barbeque is a whole new world, combining the modern conveniences of the indoor kitchen with the beauty and relaxation of outdoor living.

Now it’s not just which barbeque to choose for your backyard, but which oven, range, perhaps a drink-dispenser, and of course a well-stocked fridge too. Add a pool and you’ve got a backyard paradise.

When it’s time for your close friend or family member to celebrate the fantastic achievement of buying their first home or moving out into their first apartment, you’ll want to choose a perfect gift - something unique, something useful - but most of all something specially chosen with them in mind.

It’s not always easy to come up with gift ideas, but here are some great ones to get you started.

While it seems sometimes we live in a throw-away society, it doesn’t have to be that way. When we spend our good money on many things including cookware and kitchen accessories, it’s nice to know they’ll last a lot longer if we do some very simple things to take care of them.

For instance, when you buy cast iron there are some basic steps to season the pot - instructions often included with the manufacturers paperwork but perhaps not read. Seasoning and caring for a quality cast iron pot will enable you to leave the pot to your grandchildren someday.  Be sure to read all brochures that come with your cookware and bakeware. You’ll want to make sure you know which are dishwasher safe, which are induction compatible, how to best clean your items and what utensils to use in them to prevent scratching or ruined finishes.

Memorial Day weekend is here and the buzz of summer is in the air. The warmer  weather has arrived and out comes the bbq and the cool summer dishes. Our appetites definitely change from the winter comfort food to lighter flavors and later dinners.

Some of our favorite eats for the summer include cold fruit soups and big salads topped with fresh fruits, nuts with some tangy citrus dressing.  Yummy cold treats like homemade ice cream in any flavor we fee like experimenting with…oh, and it’s time to switch to ice coffee as a great pick-me-up.

First we have to confess that since watching “The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio” recently some of us have gotten a little bit addicted to entering sweepstakes.  Now it was more complicated in the past when this story takes place because it generally required writing the jingles or creating the advertising slogans in order to be eligible to be entered in most of the contests - and then your entry was judged for quality.  These days all you have to do is enter your name and address information to enter any of the thousands of sweepstakes that can be found on the web, no brain power required. 

One of our favorite giveaways this year was the beautiful Green Home for HGTV. And while the home giveaway contest has ended, they are still giving away a $15,000 Sears shopping spree and a $10,000 gift card from Kohler. There’s still a few more days to enter as this contest ends on May 22nd. And if you haven’t already seen the stunning Green home that they built, just visit hgtv.com and take the tour. Our favorite room? Why, the kitchen of course.

In our family we bake a lot of our own breads, muffins, cakes, pancakes - you name it. We like knowing what the ingredients are and we prefer to keep it simple - whole wheat or bran muffins, buckwheat pancakes, wonderfully delicious vegan cupcakes. One of the reasons we go vegan is due to food allergies, but we’ve found it amazing how many great recipes there are and what fun we’ve had with our food experiments.

Sometimes life gets so hectic it’s hard to find the time to get in the kitchen and actually bake some goodies or make your own pancakes or waffles. But it’s a wonderful opportunity to  make special memories with your kids, and teach them something about self-sufficiency and the accomplishment of creating something with their own two hands. Plus, it tastes awfully good. 

I recently took the Food Safety Test put together by the FDA. First I should state that I consider my kitchen nice and clean and that our family has good, healthy habits. Not perfect, but good. I made sure I answered the questions honestly, rather than guessing what might qualify as the “best” kitchen practice based on the choices given.

It’s a simple 10 question test and the scoring was set up as follows: 24 points-You should feel confident about the safe food practices you follow in your home. 12 to 23 points-It’s time to reexamine the food safety practices in your home, some key rules are being violated. 11 points or below-Take steps immediately to correct food handling, storage and cooking techniques used in your home. Current practices are putting you and other members of your household in danger of food-borne illness.

So how did I score? A mere 16 points, I was bummed. The reality is I knew I let some things slide in the time-crunch between work and family, but it was a good wake-up call to stay on top of a few of the things. Actually, a couple of items are not a time issue, just things I was doing incorrectly that can easily be fixed. Maybe next time I’ll hit the 24 mark. You can visit the FDA site to take the quiz for yourself and see how your kitchen habits stack up.

In the rush of day-to-day living, it feels nearly impossible sometimes to sit down to a real family meal.  Certainly during the hectic weekdays, though I’m sure there are some people who do a better job of this than me. But the weekends are a perfect time to make the effort to cook a real meal and sit down together for awhile to enjoy each other and the food.

I know we treasure these times.  And while the meal doesn’t have to be complicated, it’s also a lot of fun to really do it up sometimes and not just for holidays. It can be as simple as a 3 course meal or a more challenging 7 course meal. But the best part is not the food (although we love it) - the best part is the time we spend together catching up and remembering what’s really important.

There has been a lot of concern voiced lately over storing food and beverages in certain plastics anymore. Most of us are aware that for some time, the FDA has recommended that…”plastic storage containers such as margarine tubs, take-out containers, whipped topping bowls, and other one-time use containers should not be used in microwave ovens as these containers can warp or melt, possibly causing harmful chemicals to migrate into the food.” The same goes for letting any plastic wrap touch your food if you use it in the microwave.

Recently there’s been a lot of talk and mixed messages about a chemical called BPA (Bisphenol A) that may be leaching from items such as some of our plastic containers, the linings of tin cans, certain plastic drinking bottles (including baby bottles), plastic dishes, sippy cups and more - with the potential for harmful health effects. Now, the latest news (April 2008) from the FDA states “Based on our ongoing review, we believe there is a large body of evidence that indicates that FDA-regulated products containing BPA currently on the market are safe and that exposure levels to BPA from food contact materials, including for infants and children, are below those that may cause health effects.   However, we will continue to consider new research and information as they become available.”

They go on to state while they are not recommending anyone discontinue use at this time while they continue to analyze data, there are always other alternatives to use such as glass or stainless steel. And many plastics are considered safe, being BPA-free. I can only speak for myself, but making the decision to switch to glass or stainless steel for most purposes is an easy one for me. Many stores have started banning BPA products from their shelves, so it should get easier and easier to find safer alternatives for your peace of mind.

Brass and Copper Cleaning
An alternative and simple, old fashioned way to clean your brass items and copper cookware that works quite well using natural, common materials works like this:

1. Mix a little salt with vinegar
2. Rub this mixture on the surface with a soft, wet cloth until the tarnish is removed
3. Wash the brass or copper in clear water and wipe dry
4. With a dry cloth, polish the metal with rotten stone (also known as Tripoli powder, a fine powdered limestone mixture that can be found for sale online in wood refinishing stores) and some sweet oil (olive oil) or linseed oil (flax oil).
5. Finish polishing to a bright shine with a soft cloth such as flannel.

And you’re done! They will look great and as a bonus, you’ve avoided having to use harsh chemicals.

In 2003 Pinnacle celebrated its 10th year as a premium provider of recruiting services to companies across North America. During this time they’ve grown and evolved into a highly respected recruiting company offering staffing solutions to clients in the areas of Restaurant, Energy, Legal and Finance.

Through these practice areas they offer customizable services and solutions dependent upon client’s needs. Whatever the size of the company, Pinnacle is committed to a process of placing the best people with the right fit.

It’s a privilege to work with some of the finest companies in the United States. Pinnacle’s mission is to surpass clients’ expectations, while building long-term relationships by providing the best candidates available in the market.

The Research Division serves as the central nervous system for recruiting efforts. Through this division recruiters keep abreast of changes in the market. This includes legislative changes, companies entering or exiting the market, trends etc. The research team allows us to customize a search solution for client’s individual needs.

These services include Retained and Contingent Search. Regardless of your needs, Pinnacle is committed to ushering you to the Pinnacle of Success.

http://web.archive.org/web/20040131153659

http://www.kennedyinfo.com

http://web.archive.org/web/20040131153659

Home | Energy Recruiting | Restaurant Recruiting

Legal Recruiting | Candidates | Job Openings

A Premier Search Firm

With all of the attention on going “green” these days, green cleaning might seem a bit trendy. But a lot of the simple solutions for cleaning the green way are far from trendy. They are basic ingredients and methods that have been around for ages. Even better, they work well, they ’re inexpensive and they’re not harmful.

The cleaning ingredient list includes items you probably already have in your cabinets: baking soda, white vinegar, liquid castile soap (the main ingredient is olive oil), some scouring pads, cotton rags/cloths and a spray bottle. Yes, it’s that simple. What’s nice is how fresh and clean your kitchen and home will smell without any artificial scents.

Baking soda and castile soap make an excellent sink cleaner while a paste made of baking soda and water can help you clean your oven without the nasty fumes found in commercial oven cleaners. There are many cleaning recipes you can find on the web that will help you see cleaning in a new light. It’s true, we really don’t need all of those harsh cleaners and chemicals found in the cans and bottles under our sinks. Good for our health, good for our environment.

If you’re like most, it’s pretty easy to start running out of storage in the kitchen. Cabinets get filled up with glasses, dishes, pots and pans, kitchen electrics, food storage containers, cookbooks, and the list goes on and on.  Especially if you can’t resist purchasing another great gadget - maybe an ice-cream maker or a George Foreman grill (one of my personal best impulse buys since I have gotten far more use from then I ever expected).

So adding something as simple as pot rack is a stylish and convenient way to add extra storage to your kitchen.  You probably don’t want to hang your older cookware pieces from it (or maybe you do!) and certainly not the cast iron. But it sure is a convenient piece of equipment to have hanging over your center isle.

Outdoor grilling sure has come along way since we dumped a bag of charcoal on the grill and torched it with lighter fluid. Not to say charcoal grilling doesn’t still have a lot of fans who enjoy the smell of food cooked over coals. And there are even coals made made with the lingering aromas such as hickory and mesquite that add to the experience. 

But even gas or electric users can get that great aroma by throwing specially-made woodchips on the grill.  And the convenience and control of the cooking power is just a button away.  Most agree that there really isn’t any significant taste difference between the types.

You can easily purchase a charcoal grill for under $50, a great deal for anyone on a tight budget or looking for a handy grill for their next tail-gating party. Check any outdoor specialty store and you’ll find gas grills ranging form the low $100’s to the $1000’s.  If you’re in the market for a new grill, our best advice is check consumer ratings - you’ll find top rated grills that aren’t necessarily at the top of the of the budget-busters.

There is a lot of cookware out there and with so many brands to choose from and types of metals, trying to make a decision can make your head spin. The truth is there is some great cookware manufacturers out there - and there’s a lot of junk. While you don’t have to choose just one brand to go with, it’s wise to narrow down the field to some of the better ones. Money spent on lesser quality is money wasted.

One brand we’re very impressed with is the Gourmet Standard Cookware line. Their Tri-Ply line in particular is top notch and has had excellent customer reviews. In Cook’s Illustrated recent performance test, the Gourmet Standard Tri-Ply saute pan came in a close second to All-Clad (which sells for about double the price!) 

So when purchasing your next pot or pan, choose a quality brand, and you’ll have cookware that will last you many years. And that is money well-spent.

There aren’t many of us these days who aren’t feeling the sting of mounting household bills and energy costs. And when it comes to choosing appliances for your kitchen, looking for energy efficient choices can save you a bundle of money over the long haul. According to ENERGY STAR, “Energy efficient choices can save families about a third on their energy bill with similar savings of greenhouse gas emissions, without sacrificing features, style or comfort.”

In addition to making energy-efficient choices in dishwashers, freezers, refrigerators and more (plus taking advantage of the new “recycle-my-old-fridge” program), there are numerous ways to save money and help the environment in the way you use these appliances. Examples include only running your dishwasher with a full load and using the air-dry option rather than heat drying.  Every little bit adds up to savings for our wallet and savings for our world.

Let’s face it, the easy food choices these days aren’t necessarily the healthiest. But the choices we make in what we eat and how we prepare our food affects the quality of our life, and the taste and quality of our food.

Even though technology offers us so many great conveniences and amazing kitchenware and appliances, sometimes the classics still work best.

One of our favorite healthy cooking options is clay bakeware.  This style of cooking dates back to Roman times yet it still offers the very best of modern cooking convenience.  Healthy, flavorful, delicious food homemade in your own kitchen- it doesn’t get any better.

One of the hottest topics in home building today is creating and designing green kitchens.  And there is a rapidly growing amount of information, materials, and experts available now for anyone interested in creating an eco-friendly kitchen.  Renewable flooring, energy-saving lighting and appliances, tree-friendly cabinets, and so much more. The beauty, style, and choices available in these new options are amazing.

If you’re considering rebuilding your kitchen or any other room in your house and would like to do it with less environmental impact, you’ll surely want to explore the cutting-edge options available in the Green-Build Industry.