BPA-free Coffee Makers (automatic drip)

After way too much research, I have concluded that if you want drip coffee from an automatic coffee maker WITHOUT BPA you are going to have to pay double. The choices are very few and far between. There are choices like some of the Keurig makers that are too expensive and designer for my tastes.
In general Cuisinart has lots of option. Most of their coffee makers don’t have BPA. The exception to this is some of the cheaper ones. So, I recommend you check their website. The coffee makers that are BPA free will say that they are.

The least expensive models they have that are BPA free are the following:
Cuisinart DCC-1200  -> $68.28 on Amazon
Cuisinart DCC-2650 –> $80.51 on Amazon
Cuisinart DGB-625BC –> $74.99 on Amazon
Cuisinart CHW-12  -> $71.73 on Amazon

Here is some else that has done research as well, and pretty much came to the same conclusion.
Please note, if you are willing to spend more time making your coffee, like a percolator, or like using a french press then there are different options. If you want an easy way to make BPA free coffee, you are going to have to shell out the money.

Chicken Soup recipe for fighting congestion

Devised by cold-and-cough expert Irwin Ziment, MD, who was chief of medicine at Olive View-UCLA Medical Center when he cooked it up, the soup gets much of its power from red pepper flakes. They contain capsaicin, known as a fast, effective decongestant. In addition, the hefty dose of garlic -- 30 cloves, although they cook down to produce a much milder, sweeter flavor than one would expect -- loads the soup with enough phytochemicals to give it infection-fighting powers.

Dr. Z recommends 1 cup three times a day, and inhaling the vapors is part of the prescription. Soon, you'll be breathing again.

Dr. Ziment's Garlic Chicken Soup

The spicier the soup, the better it will be at clearing your head, so be generous with the red pepper flakes -- just don't make the soup so hot you can't tolerate it.

2 quarts chicken broth
2 cups sliced carrots
2 garlic heads, about 30 cloves, peeled
1/4 cup minced parsley
1/4 cup minced cilantro
2 teaspoons lemon pepper
2 teaspoons minced fresh mint leaves
2 teaspoons dried basil, crushed, or 2 tablespoons fresh basil, minced
2 teaspoons curry powder
1 bay leaf
Dried hot red pepper flakes, to taste

Combine all ingredients in a stockpot; bring to a boil and simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes. Discard bay leaf. Puree in batches in a blender or food processor. Return to pot, stir well, warm if necessary, and serve, or freeze in small containers.

 

Why and how much…

Dr. Ziment's Garlic Chicken Soup

When drippy red noses are everywhere, it's time to make a big batch of Dr. Ziment's sinus-clearing Garlic Chicken Soup. We discovered this aromatic mixture while tracking down foods that double as medicine. Chicken soup was top of the list because pulmonary specialists have found that it actually helps clear the airways and reduce inflammation. But this spicy version is practically a wonder drug for head colds -- and it tastes amazing, especially if you love spicy food.

Devised by cold-and-cough expert Irwin Ziment, MD, who was chief of medicine at Olive View-UCLA Medical Center when he cooked it up, the soup gets much of its power from red pepper flakes. They contain capsaicin, known as a fast, effective decongestant. In addition, the hefty dose of garlic -- 30 cloves, although they cook down to produce a much milder, sweeter flavor than one would expect -- loads the soup with enough phytochemicals to give it infection-fighting powers.

Dr. Z recommends 1 cup three times a day, and inhaling the vapors is part of the prescription. Soon, you'll be breathing again.

Courtesy of RealAge.com

Things to consider before buying a bed.

We have a king.
king = 76x80 inches; California king = 72x84 inches
queen = 60x80 inches; full/double = 53x75 inches, and twin = 38x75

Don't buy unless 50% off list price...wait for a huge sale. Never pay full price. Look for misleading sales also. make sure discount is based on actual price of sale, not some inflated price.
Don't be afraid to haggle over the price.
Asking if the price is better on their website can sometimes prompt salesmen to give you a better deal or thrown in extras if you buy in the store.
Ask about delivery fees, trial periods, return policy, restocking fees, pick up fees.

Insist on a NO-SUBSTITUTE clause in the sales agreement in case the bed we order is out stock.

Ask about a fee for hauling away the old matress or is it included or not available.

Ask about return policy (periods and fees)
Expect to pay a fee for returning the mattress. As little as $60 but as much as 25% of the cost
Inspect before sign for the delivery.. broken slats, stains, tears, etc. Demand replacement.

Look for comfort guarantee. Some may be 2 weeks other a few months. Is it good for exchange or money back? Sears does charge for returns or exchanges within 90 days.

Don't count on warranties. Warranties are usually 10 years, but are not for

comfort or normal wear. They are for defects in materials or workmanship.
Ask if the warrantee is full replacement or pro-rated by the year.

More willing to bargain: Sleepy's and 1-800-Mattress, and some furniture stores

Start out with the least expensive bed from a few top brands, and work your way up in cost. Hint: Stores keep the priciest models up front.

Manufacturers usually modify innerspring mattresses for different sellers, changing the color, padding, quilting pattern, and so forth. Panelists who took beds home for a month-long trial rarely changed the
opinion they formed after the first night. We found that companies frequently pair the same foundation with mattresses in different price ranges. You can save by buying a higher-priced mattress and a lower-priced foundation.

Don't remove the tag from the mattress. It is not clear if manufacturers will honor the warrantee if it is not attached to the bed.

Inner Spring mattress
These are the least expensive. Try not to buy the cheapest one, but beyond that they should be good. 73% of the people who bought them are highly satisfied compared to 83 to 85% buyers of memory-foam or adjustable-air variety.

Ticking
This is the outermost layer of the bed. The pattern more than the material determines how it feels. A large quilt pattern provides a deep, cushioned sensation. A smaller pattern tends to feel firmer.

Coils
heavier gauge coils provide a stiffer suspension. Lighter gauge feel springier. All types (hourglass, continuous, individual pocketed, etc are all good.

Box spring
Consider buying a cheaper one if buying an extra-thick mattress consider a thinner box spring. Look for the same on on a cheaper model of bed to save money.


Topper
If you pick the right mattress you won't need to add one.

Brands
Sealy #1 sold... known for Posturepedic/back friendly. They use orthopedic doctors as consultants in the design of the beds and come with a certification from thh Orthopedic Advisory Board. Customers find it affordable as well. Posturepedics are designed for orthepedic support. It relieves pressure from
bodies through its push-back system which distributes weight away from our heavier body parts. They have firmer edges by design. They also offer the Comfort series that have the same benefits but for a cheaper price. The comfort series uses memory foam to relieve pressure and improve posture.

Simmons #2 sold...known for bowling ball to show its motion separation. fair to good durability, and good value for money, luxurious feel, good comfort. Used. Provides better support and comfort to the body than the other brands, and minimizes movement felt from partner. Middle of mattress begins to sink after some years of use.by Westin hotel chain and can be purchased for $1750 for King. Their best selling line if the Beauty Rest mattress that features comfort and undisturbed sleep even with a partner and is designed to achieve balance and proper posture by distributing your weight while you sleep. They also offer the comforpedic mattress.

Serta #3 sold... seems to have cheaper options as well. It is rated as 3/5 where the other two where 4/5. they seem to be lacking in comfort and durability says one review. Premature sagging after just one year so best for kids though (have a kids line). Used by Hilton. Shyreton Pillow Top Mattress is high quality at an affordable price and is very popular with customers. It is soft yet firm. Next in line if the Serta Perfect Sleep
mattress has two layers of comfort foam, and comfort zones to help blood circulation.

My least favorite would be Serta. I think Sealy would be best due to posturedic certification, and durability. However, the Simmons sounds good for the pocketed coils that make feeling of the partners movements minimal and comfort.

Everything except the last paragraph is copied or paraphrased from the following links:

http://www.bestmattressreviewer.com/sealy-mattress.html
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/mattresses/buying-guide.htm

Worst car buying experience at Mark Kia in Scottsdale, AZ

I bought a Kia Sorento two nights ago from Mark Kia and had the WORST EXPERIENCE in my life. Beware they are slippery, smooth-talking liars. 

You had better bring your accountant and lawyer with you to check the paperwork because these people are smooth-talking and by the time you get home it won't be what you expected. Be very careful that you understand 100% of the paperwork. Remember, NET trade-in is amount they are giving you for your car. If you have a amount to be paid off this needs to be subtracted from the NET amount to get the amount that will actually be applied towards your new car, not the NET amount. The way they use NET is backwards it seems to me. They seem to have Gross and Net mixed up. Also, if you trade in a vehicle (DON'T) they will give you an insulting amount for your car. For example, maybe 40 percent lower than what KBB says the TRADE-IN (not private sale) should be. I even used TrueCar.com to guarantee the price thinking

that would help. It would have if I didn't do the trade in. They were dazzled me with their non-intuitive lingo and tax return like financial paperwork. I can explain the financials in 10 lines, they take 3-4 pages of letter sized paper to describe it just so there is no way you can figure it out while you sit there signing paper after paper. After all this, I asked them to give me my trade-in back and they flat refused. They said they wanted me to be happy, but that is lie in my opinion. I asked them, if they would through in the extended warranty, but they wouldn't. They did take a $150 off though. The only problem is why in the world would I ever want to give them one more cent or ever see that dealership again. They are friendly as can be until they don't get their way. I can't stress enough, make sure you UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING. Come back the next day if you have to.

I am so embarrassed that I fell pray to their tactics. Why can't it be simple.
I guess I should have gone with the first person I met with. They at least seemed honest. Though who knows.

I had my good cry now.

Morning Exercise – Better Nighttime Sleep

If you love waking up with a smile on your face and saying, "Wowie, I just had an amazing night's sleep," here's a great way to get it more often: Exercise early in the day.

That's right. You've probably heard that exercise is important for deeper, more refreshing slumber. Totally true. A workout helps you nod off faster than some sleep drugs do (and it's way healthier!). Fit in some physical activity and you'll also have fewer of those annoying 3 a.m. wake-ups.

Conventional wisdom says that ending a workout 3 hours before bedtime is early enough to let your body and mind settle in for the night. But brain scans (can't argue with those!) show that morning exercise is even better. Compared with midday or early evening workouts, hitting the pavement, the pool, or the bike around 7 a.m. will help you spend 75% more time in deep sleep and let you cycle through the four stages of sleep more often. That's important because you need to hit all the sleep stages several times a night to keep your energy level high, your mind sharp, and your body lookin' good. (Check out other tips to get great sleep!)

Of course, there's more you can do for stellar slumber. In general, skip meals high in saturated fat meals, but especially at dinner. Avoid alcohol; it may make you feel sleepy at first, but it messes with deep sleep later.

Nix caffeine after noon; keep your sleep zone dark, cool, and comfy; and banish stress boosters from your boudoir (no bill paying, TV watching, or e-mailing while in bed!).

Source: Unknown

10 Low Fat Ways to Use Leftover Turkey

When Thanksgiving is done and you still have lots of turkey left, you may wonder what you can do with it all. Actually, quite a lot. First, chop, dice or shred your leftovers and store them in re-sealable plastic bags in the refrigerator. That way, you can reach for a bag or two as you need them. Then you’ll be ready to try one or more of my 10 Low Fat Ways to Use Leftover Turkey.

1. Soups Add 2 cups of chopped leftover turkey, a selection of chopped vegetables and 1 cup of uncooked rice or noodles to 3 cans fat-free, low sodium chicken broth.

2. Salads Add leftover turkey to a mix of arugula and spinach, sliced mushrooms, cranberries, shredded carrots, sliced red onions and a sprinkling of heart-healthy walnuts. Toss with your favorite low fat or fat free fruity dressing or vinaigrette.

3. Sandwiches and Wraps Use slices of leftover turkey to make all kinds of sandwiches. Be sure to use whole grain breads and rolls, and low fat or fat free fillings. If you don’t like the taste of fat-free mayo, use mustard instead, or flavor your mayo with a little curry powder or another herb or spice. Make a turkey-salad filling with crunchy celery, cranberries and apple. Use plain low fat yogurt for the dressing. Stuff into a whole wheat pita or spoon into the center of a whole wheat tortilla wrap and roll up.

4. Pizza Toppings Top a prepared whole wheat crust with 1/2 cup of tomato or barbecue sauce, 1 cup of chopped turkey and 1/2 cup reduced fat cheese. Bake for 10 minutes at 450 degrees.

5. Quesadillas Combine shredded turkey with a little cumin. Spoon on one half of a low fat corn tortilla; sprinkle with reduced fat cheese; fold tortilla in half and cook in a nonstick skillet (coated with cooking spray) for 5 minutes, turning once.

6. Burritos, Enchiladas, Fajitas, and Tacos Add shredded turkey to salsa, black beans, low fat sour cream and reduced fat cheese; or combine with sautéed onions and sweet peppers; with shredded lettuce and chopped tomatoes; or mix with mild green chiles, seasonings, scallions and a can of enchilada sauce. Use low fat flour or corn wraps with these fillings.

7. Pot pies Add leftover turkey, sliced mushrooms and leftover green beans and carrots to low fat, reduced sodium condensed chicken or mushroom soup. Top with a low fat biscuit topping (there’s now a low fat version of Bisquick) or phyllo pastry sheets.

8. Casseroles Combine 2 cups chopped leftover turkey with 2 cups cooked whole grain rice, a can fat-free, low sodium broth or chopped tomatoes, and a selection of chopped vegetables in a 2-quart casserole. Cover and bake at 325 degrees for 30-40 minutes, until vegetables are tender.

9. Skillet Meals Add 1 1/2 cups of chopped leftover turkey to sautéed onion, mushrooms, broccoli and rice cooked in fat-free broth. Sprinkle some parmesan before serving.

10. Pasta dishes Add leftover turkey to your any number of pasta dishes. Use shredded turkey instead of ground beef in your favorite lasagna recipe. Be sure to use reduced fat cheeses.

Finally, don’t forget the carcass: put it in a big pot of water along with some onion, carrots, celery, peppercorns and herbs; bring it to a boil, then simmer. After a couple of hours, you’ll have a rich stock, which you can de-fat and use for low fat soups, stews and gravies throughout the holiday season.

By Fiona Haynes, About.com Guide

Turkey Preparation

Perfectly juicy turkey with a dollop of mashed potatoes on the side — there's not much that tastes better during the holidays.

Just be sure to serve up a side of safety with your home-cooked meal. Certain types of bacteria can thrive in turkey that's not safely prepared, cooked or chilled.

These food-safety steps are as important for veteran chefs as they are for first-timers:

1. Thawing

Do not thaw a turkey at room temperature. Leave it in its original packaging, or put it in a leak-proof bag. Then, choose an option:

• Thaw on a tray in the fridge. Allow about one day of defrosting for every 5 pounds. For a 20-pound bird, you need four to five days, for example.
• Thaw in cold water. Change the water every 30 minutes to keep it cold. Allow about one hour for every 2 pounds of turkey — 10 hours for a 20-pounder.

Tip: For option two, set a timer so you don't forget about your bathing bird. And, cook it immediately after thawing.

2. Cooking

Use times on packages or from a cookbook as a guide. But, always use a meat thermometer to make sure the bird is properly done. The internal temperature must reach at least 165° F.

Tip: Place the thermometer in the innermost part of the thigh and wing and the thickest part of the breast.

3. Dressing

The safest way to cook dressing is in its own separate dish — not inside the bird. This helps prevent food-borne illness. Cook dressing to 165° F.

Tip: Use the turkey's cavity to add extra flavor. Place fresh herbs and chunks of onions, apples or lemon in it, for example. Discard items before serving.

4. Storing

Within two hours of cooking, refrigerate any leftovers. Use small, shallow containers to help chill foods quickly. Cut any large sections of turkey meat into smaller pieces. Store turkey separately from dressing and other dishes.

By Melanie R. Polk, M.M.Sc., R.D, F.A.D.A.