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Archive for June 2020

Fresh Peach Trifle

In-season peaches and light angel food cake make this a delicious and light summer dessert.

Ingrediants;

6 large ripe peaches (peeled, pitted and sliced)

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

2 (8 ounce) containers vanilla yogurt

1 teaspoon lemon zest

1 (10 inch) prepared angel food cake

Directions;

Place peaches in a large bowl, and gently toss with lemon juice.

Place 1 cup of peaches in a blender, set aside remaining slices, and blend until smooth.

Place yogurt into a bowl; stir in the peach puree and lemon zest until well blended.

Cut the angel food cake into squares and place half in the bottom of a glass dish. Spoon half of the peach slices over the cake. Cover with half of the yogurt mixture.

Place the remaining cake squares over the yogurt. Top with peaches, reserving 5 or 6 slices for garnish.

Cover with the remaining yogurt mixture. Garnish with peach slices. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Keep Your Family HEALTHIER

A United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) study revealed that carpet actually helps to clean out the air in our homes and offices. The carpet acts as a filter, trapping soils, gases, and pollutants such as pet and human dander, pollen, and even air pollution. This is great news since nearly every home in America has wall to wall carpet installed in one or more areas.

Despite this study, some people still believe that carpet is bad for indoor air quality and causes health problems like allergies and asthma. The truth is that properly maintained carpets actually improve indoor air quality. The key to keeping the air in your home healthy is to have a maintenance routine for your carpet.

Periodic professional cleaning is a major part of an effective carpet and air quality maintenance routine, eliminating the contaminants that build up over time. Of course, every household has its own unique combination of factors such as environment, number of occupants, children, pets, and smoking or non-smoking, etc.

So how often should you have your carpets cleaned?

Fortunately, the EPA is there to help with some basic guidelines for a total carpet maintenance plan based on the kind of use that your carpet receives, as follow:

In a home with two people who do not smoke the EPA recommends that you have your carpets cleaned every6-12 months, more often if you have a particularly dusty outside environment or an extremely humid or cold environment.

If you smoke, the carpets should be cleaned at least every four months.

If you have kids or pets these numbers cut in half. In fact, a home with2 adults, a child, and pets should be cleaned at least every 3-6 months, but every month if you live in a very contaminated or dusty area.

Offices and restaurants, nursing homes, and daycare centers should be cleaned once a month or even more frequently.

“Wait a minute!” you may say. “It seems a little extreme to clean my carpet that often.” But think about the source of these recommendations. This is the environmental protection agency, created to help assure the health and safety of living things in a variety of environments, including outdoors and inside homes and buildings. So these recommendations are based on cleaning for health, not simply appearance.

Carpet is designed to hide soil, so it can hold a lot of dirt before it begins to look “dirty.” Unseen contaminants build up in the carpet over time to the point where they may have a negative effect on the occupants of the structure, especially those with underdeveloped, sensitive, or compromised immune systems. The key is to avoid letting the carpet get to the point where this happens.

Are we saying that if you don’t get all of your carpets cleaned according to these EPA guidelines that you and your family will get sick? Not necessarily. These guidelines are just that, a guide. There are things that you can do to reduce the frequency of professional cleaning. First, make sure that you vacuum often; the more the better. Also, be prompt about clean-ing up spots and spills. Use doormats at all entrances. Don’t wear street shoes in the house. Finally, avoid going barefoot because body oils get on the carpet and attract dirt.

Regardless of how neat and tidy you are, there comes a time when you need professional carpet cleaning. Call Hansen Steam Way to schedule your next cleaning or to help choose a cleaning program that fits your lifestyle. You and your family will breathe easier; your carpets will look better and last longer.

Activities for ACTIVE Kids

Keep kids active this summer by playing fun backyard games like balloon games, a create-your-own obstacle course, and water fun.
To set up the balloon volleyball, hang a jump rope across an area and use inflated balloons to make it easy for all age groups to join in. You could also place two jump ropes across each other to create a modified four square court to also use with balloons.
When creating an obstacle course, get creative with cardboard boxes, ropes, hula hoops, and lawn furniture.
Give everyone an opportunity to add something to the mix. Affordable pool noodles also make great obstacle course equipment.
Give it a refreshing spin by adding in sprinklers and inflatable pools. Always keep safety in mind, however.
Water balloons and water gun fights are always a classic form of summer entertainment. Save yourself some time by filling up buckets with water and placing them around the yard as quick fill-up stations for squirt guns. Follow up with some homemade popsicles.

Eating to HELP Arthritis

The most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis,
psoriatic arthritis, fibromyalgia, and gout.


Arthritis, a catch-all term for numerous conditions and related diseases affect joints and connective tissues, usually involving joint pain and stiffness. More than 50 million adults and 300,000 children are affected. While you should always consult your doctor, consider these foods, which help fight arthritis:


Tart cherries: With anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits, tart cherries can help provide joint relief and lower the risk of flares in those with gout.


Colorful vegetables: Sweet potatoes, carrots, red or green peppers, and
squash. Peppers contain an abundant amount of vitamin C, which preserves bone and may protect cartilage.


Seafood: Salmon, tuna, sardines, and mackerel can help decrease inflammation and protect the heart.


Walnuts: High in ALA, a type of anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acid,
walnuts can also lower cholesterol, relax blood vessels, and help reduce high blood pressure.


Garlic: Use fresh garlic if you can to help fight pain, inflammation, and cartilage damage.