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The Truth About the Five-Second Rule

December 26, 2014 by

You've probably all heard about the five-second rule at some point in your life. This "rule" states that if you drop a piece of food on the floor and pick it up in under five seconds, the food is still safe to eat. Many of us might even be living by this rule, but does the five-second rule have any basis in science? In short, no!

The origins of the five-second rule are unknown, but science has proven that the rule simply doesn't hold water. In 2003, Jillian Clarke, a high school senior, performed an experiment at the University of Illinois during a school internship. Her experiment proved that E. coli bacteria can transfer to food well under the five-second mark. Researchers at Clemson University took this experiment a step further in 2007. The scientists applied a large amount of salmonella to various types of surfaces to see how long the bacteria could survive. After three weeks, a good amount of salmonella was still living on the surfaces. The longer food was left on these surfaces, the more germs the food acquired. In just five seconds, the number of germs measured on a piece of food was between 150 and 8,000.

So, the next time you drop that beloved cookie on the floor, just throw it out and go buy yourself a new box of cookies. You never know what could have attached itself to your treat!

The Five-Second Rule [Kids Health]
5 Second Rule With Food On Floor [MythBusters]
Fact or Fiction?: The 5-Second Rule for Dropped Food [Scientific American]

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4 Tips for Serving a Safe Food Buffet

December 19, 2014 by

If you’re hosting a large party, you’re likely concerned with serving tasty foods, but your goal should also be to keep those foods safe for your guests. Here are a few helpful tips that will keep your food buffet just as healthy as it is delicious.

  1. Wash your hands. The first thing you should do when preparing a food buffet is wash your hands. This prevents you from spreading germs to your guests, but it also helps to keep you safe from food borne illnesses caused by raw meat, eggs, and other ingredients. Be sure to wash your hands each time you refill the buffet, as well.
  2. Cook foods completely. It’s safe to keep foods out on a buffet, provided that they’re cooked properly beforehand. Meats like beef and pork chops should be cooked to at least 145º F, while chicken and poultry should reach at least 165º F.
  3. Use the proper serving tools. If you’re serving hot foods, be sure to store them in a chafing dish, slow cooker, or warming tray to keep them from changing temperature. Cold dishes can be served in nesting bowls over bowls of ice, and they must stay at 40°F or lower in order to stop the growth of bacteria.
  4. Abide by the two-hour rule. Finally, never let foods sit on a buffet for more than two hours. Tossing food that’s been at room temperature for too long will ensure a safe and healthy party.

Serving Up Safe Buffets [FDA]
Serving Prepared Foods Safely [Whole Foods]
Holiday or Party Buffets [USDA]
Buffet Safety [NSF]

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How to Host a New Year’s Eve Party Your Guests Won’t Soon Forget

December 12, 2014 by

From the sparkling beverages to the twinkling lights, New Year’s Eve parties are some of the most festive (and fun!) of the whole year. Here are a few new ways to help you plan a New Year’s party that your guests will talk about all year long. (Please remember to celebrate responsibly!)

  1. Send out formal invitations. Even if you’re planning a laid-back gathering, sending out snail mail invitations will make things feel much more festive—and avoid confusion about important party details. Include an RSVP if you want to get a head count.
  2. Choose classic decor. Traditional New Year’s Eve decor never gets old, so decorate in shades of black and gold, scatter a few fun party hats and noisemakers around, and be sure that everyone gets his or her own champagne flute.
  3. Keep the food and drink flowing. Prepare more than enough finger foods, fancy hors d’oeuvres and festive desserts, make sure to choose things that everyone will enjoy. Whether you provide the drinks or make your party BYOB, be sure to let guests know in advance.
  4. Make a playlist. One of the most foolproof ways to get people dancing and having a good time is by creating a loud, lively playlist of great music. Then, simply push “play” on your iPod and have a blast!

Throw the Easiest New Year’s Eve Party Ever [Real Simple]
How To… Bring in The New Year [She Knows]
20 Last Minute New Year’s Eve Party Ideas [Ryan Seacrest]

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How to Break Free From a Fitness Plateau

December 5, 2014 by

Even if you’re dedicated to your workout routine and have seen major strides, you can hit a point where your old exercises just don’t seem to work anymore. If this sounds familiar, you may have hit what's called a “fitness plateau.” Get out of the rut and back on track by mixing up your routine with these simple steps.

  1. Stay well-rounded. A good workout program incorporates both cardiovascular activities and strength training. If you’ve shed pounds by running every day, you’ll need to start lifting weights, doing yoga, or trying some other type of strength exercise in order to get out of the rut. Likewise, you’ll need to add a cardio exercise in order to see more results from weightlifting.
  2. Forget about the scale. Even if you haven’t lost weight in a few weeks, that doesn’t mean that your body isn’t changing. You could still see results in your cardiovascular health, strength, and other areas.
  3. Take a break. It may seem like working out every single day will yield better results, but you could actually be overworking yourself and diminishing your results. Your muscles need days off in order to grow, so plan a day of rest in between continual days of exercise.

Overcoming a Fitness Plateau [American Heart Association]
Fitness 2.0: How to Overcome Exercise and Diet Plateaus With Minimal Effort [Lifehacker]
How to Overcome a Workout Rut [U.S. News]

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How to Keep Your Furniture Looking Like New

December 2, 2014 by

Purchasing furniture is one of the priciest investments that you make in your home, so you likely want to keep it looking as good as new. Follow these smart tips for preventing stains, rips, and other signs of wear and tear on your new furniture.

  1. Invest in high-quality pieces. First and foremost, investing in good quality furniture is one of the very best ways to ensure that it keeps its original look for years to come.
  2. Protect your fabrics and upholstery. When you first purchase a new rug or upholstered sofa, pay a bit extra to have a professional administer a protective coating to repel stains.
  3. Flip sofa cushions. By flipping your sofa cushions monthly, you can distribute the weight from frequent use to multiple parts of the cushion.
  4. Minimize eating in the living room. If you’re already trying to break this bad habit, just imagine a food stain on your brand new sofa for a bit of extra motivation.
  5. Tackle stains immediately. Whether it’s on a rug or the sofa, the most important way to prevent permanent staining is by addressing it immediately so that it can’t sink into the fabric. Read the care instructions on your furniture or rugs when you purchase them so that you know exactly how to remove that red wine stain before it inflicts major damage.

How to Keep Your Furniture Looking Like New [WikiHow]
4 Steps to Keep Your Furniture Looking New [Apartment Therapy]
Keep Your Sofa Looking Like New in 3 Easy Steps! [Shofer’s]

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Greet a Lazy Sunday With Brunch at These Two Austin Restaurants

November 28, 2014 by

There’s no better way to end a fun-filled weekend than with a relaxing brunch and something sweet to sip. Austin is filled with stylish eateries that offer unique combinations of brunch foods and strong libations, and these are just two of the city’s favorites:

South Congress Café
Arguably one of the most buzzed about brunch spots in town, South Congress Café is a distinctly Austin eatery with a hip, relaxed atmosphere and a creative menu to boot. Shrimp and grits, carrot cake French toast, and crawfish omelets are just a few of the most popular items, best paired with a frozen peach Bellini or a signature bloody Mary. Although the line for a table can be quite long, you can wander eclectic South Congress Street while you wait.
1600 S. Congress Ave., Austin, TX 78704; (512) 447-3905

Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill
Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill is a popular brunch eatery with a menu of incredibly filling, interesting Southern fare. The expansive buffet is filled with buttermilk biscuits, various meat-filled casseroles, cornflake-encrusted fried chicken, and other delicious (though not exactly health-conscious) dishes. There’s also an expansive list of whiskey and bourbons, which offers a taste of Austin’s most popular drink of choice. Come hungry and be prepared for a long nap afterward, because Moonshine Patio is certainly delicious indulgence.
303 Red River St., Austin, TX 78701; (512) 236-9599

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Deliciously Easy Meatloaf Recipes That Taste Anything But Basic

November 14, 2014 by

If your earliest memories of meatloaf are dry, bland, and boring, this post is for you. These three meatloaf recipes turn the old fashioned favorite upside down, but they’re still just as easy to make.

Paula Deen’s Old Fashioned Meatloaf [foodnetwork.com]
Don’t be fooled by the name; this perfectly moist, endlessly flavorful meatloaf recipe is a world away from the outdated dinner entree. Quick-cooking oats create a hearty base for the beef, while simple seasonings and some all-American condiments enable you to make a delicious sauce from things you already have in the fridge.

Simple Meatloaf Recipe [southernfood.about.com]
Because this recipe requires more oven time than prep time, it leaves you with extra time to do whatever you please. Just top it with a blend of ketchup, mustard, and maple syrup once it’s all done.

Turkey Meatloaf [realsimple.com]
Save a few calories and grams of fat while still getting a hearty dose of protein by using ground turkey instead of the usual beef. Plus, this meatloaf is filled with herbs and spices for a truly flavorful taste and a wonderful aroma while it bakes in the oven. Serve it with some classic mashed potatoes for a delicious dinner just like mom used to make.

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Tips for Properly Cleaning Your Wooden Cutting Boards

November 7, 2014 by

If you’ve ever owned a wooden cutting board, you know just how finicky they can be. These kitchen essentials are ideal for chopping vegetables or serving a cheese platter, but they’re also very difficult to clean. Here are four smart tips to help you properly clean your cutting board.

  1. Use vinegar as a disinfectant. Using soap and water on your cutting board can cause it to weaken or crack. Instead, disinfect it with a full-strength white vinegar after each use to kill E coli, salmonella, and other dangerous bacteria.
  2. Remove odor with lemons. Rub your cutting board all over with the cut side of half a lemon in order to remove the odors left behind by onions, meat, or crushed garlic.
  3. Deep clean with baking soda. Every so often, deep clean your cutting board with baking soda to ensure that no bacteria is lurking beneath the surface. Scrub it with a paste made of one tablespoon each of baking soda, water, and salt.
  4. Remove stains with salt. If your cutting board is covered in oil stains, remove them by sprinkling each stain with coarse salt and scrubbing with a sponge dipped in hot water. Repeat as needed until the stain is completely gone.

How to Clean a Cutting Board: 7 Effective Treatments [Reader’s Digest]
5 Ways to Clean a Wooden Cutting Board [Food Network]
How to Clean a Wooden Cutting Board [Paula Deen]
Clean Wooden Cutting Boards Naturally with Lemon and Salt [The Kitchn]

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Surprisingly Good-for-You Thanksgiving Day Recipes

November 4, 2014 by

Thanksgiving certainly isn’t the healthiest holiday of the year, but did you know that there are a few key dishes that are actually much more nutritious than you would expect? Don’t write off all of the dishes on your Thanksgiving table, because some of them are actually filled with hidden health benefits. Here are just a few healthy holiday recipes that you can be truly thankful for.

Sweet Potato-Pecan Casserole [foodnetwork.com]
It’s no secret that sweet potatoes are filled with beneficial nutrients, and by combining them with crunchy pecans and a few natural sweeteners, you can create an indulgent casserole that won’t wreak havoc on your diet.

Pear, Prosciutto and Hazelnut Stuffing [eatingwell.com]
For most people, the bread is only half of what makes Thanksgiving stuffing so delicious. The rich, flavorful seasonings also make this holiday staple a menu essential, and this unique stuffing recipe cuts back on carbs while incorporating even more flavor than ever before.

Roasted Turkey with Balsamic Sauce [mayoclinic.org]
While deep-fried turkey recipes attempt to sabotage this otherwise lean meat in the name of adding flavor, don’t be tricked into firing up the fryer. Roasting your Thanksgiving bird gives it just as much rich taste, and this recipe even tops it with balsamic sauce for an unexpected punch.

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How to Make This Year’s Halloween Party Your Best Ever

October 24, 2014 by

So you’ve decided to throw a Halloween party at your home, but where do you start? Luckily, a spooky Halloween theme offers an almost endless list of decoration and refreshment ideas to make your party a ghoulish good time. Here’s just a bit of inspiration.

Severed Finger Invitation [marthastewart.com]
Give your guests a fright before the party even starts by sending them a severed "finger" in a box as a party invitation!

Spiked Witch’s Brew [celebrations.com]
For refreshments, serve a black cauldron filled with a spiked punch that looks like witch’s brew. You can even make it “smoke” by adding dry ice to the cauldron.

Monster Face Paint [marthastewart.com]
Entertain the little ones at a Halloween party by setting up a face painting station. Even if the party isn’t a costume party, they’ll love to wear their new monster face around all night.

Mad Scientist Party [rachaelraymag.com]
If you prefer to go all-out with a unique theme, a mad scientist party is one that your guests probably haven’t seen before. Decorate with beakers and test tubes, don a white lab coat and a wild wig, and turn your kitchen into a laboratory filled with experimental refreshments.

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