Home Fire Safety Tips for the Christmas Holidays

The Christmas tree

• ·        Get a freshly cut tree. It will stay green longer and be less of a fire hazard. Try to pick a tree with a strong green colour and noticeable fragrance.
• ·        Always test for freshness before buying. A tree with high moisture content is safer. Very few needles should fall when the butt of the tree is tapped on the ground; needles should bend, not break; and the stump should be sticky with resin.
• ·        Place the tree in a stand that will hold 2 to 3 litres of water and top it up daily. Make sure it is always immersed in water: If water drops below the trunk, the stem may reseal itself, requiring a fresh cut. Use a tree stand that has widespread legs for better balance.
• ·        Do not set your tree up near a heat source such as a radiator, television, fireplace, heating duct or sunny window. It should not block doors or windows.
• ·        Never use lighted candles on the tree.
• ·        Remove the tree within 10 to 14 days. After that amount of time in a heated building, even the freshest tree can start to dry out.

Decorations

• ·        Choose decorations that are flame-retardant, non-combustible and non-conductive.
• ·        If there are young children or pets in your home, avoid very small decorations.
• ·        Avoid using angel hair (glass wool) together with spray-on snowflakes. This combination is highly combustible.
• ·        Do not use metallic ornaments on the tree. If they make contact with defective wiring they could become a shock hazard.

Lights

• ·        Use Canadian Standards Association (CSA) certified light strings/sets.
• ·        Use the proper lights for the environment. Indoor light strings/sets should not be used outdoors because they lack weatherproof connections. Some outdoor light strings/sets burn too hot indoors.
• ·        Inspect light strings/set before use. Check for cracked bulbs and for frayed, broken or exposed wires, and discard if faulty.
• ·        Do not use electric light strings/sets on metallic trees. A faulty system could energize the tree and shock or electrocute anyone coming into contact. Illuminate metallic trees with colored floodlights placed at a safe distance from the tree and out of reach.
• ·        Turn off all tree and display lights before retiring for the night or before leaving the house.

Candles

• ·        Place candles away from absolutely anything that could catch fire.
• ·        Never leave burning candles unattended.
• ·        Burn them only when a responsible adult is overseeing the flame.
• ·        Put candles in sturdy holders on a stable surface, well away from drafts, curtains, children and pets.
• ·        Snuff them out before leaving the room or going to sleep.

The Fireplace

• ·        Never burn gift wrappings, boxes, cartons, or other types of packing in the fireplace. They burn too rapidly and generate far too much heat.
• ·        Don't hang Christmas stockings from the mantel when the fireplace is in use.
• ·        Always use a screen in front of the fireplace to protect against flying sparks.
• ·        Never use gasoline or any other flammable liquids to start a fire.
• ·        Use only seasoned and dried wood.
• ·        Never leave the fire unattended or let it smoulder.
• ·        Clean the ashes regularly. Place the ashes in a metal container and store outside away from flammable materials.
• ·        Don't use Christmas trees for firewood.

Electrical Outlets

• ·        There is often a tendency to overload wall outlets during the holiday season. This is an unsafe practice and should be avoided even for short durations.
• ·        Inspect all cords before using. Make sure they are CSA certified. Look for loose connections or frayed or exposed wire. Discard any defective cords. Read the labels and manufacturer's instructions to ensure proper use.
• ·        Insert plugs fully into outlets. Poor contact may cause overheating or shock.
• ·        To avoid possible overheating, do not coil or bunch an extension cord which is in use and do not run it under carpets or rugs.

The Kitchen

Grease and fat fires are a leading cause of home fires in Canada, so be extra careful when doing this kind of cooking. Here's what to do if grease in a pot or pan catches fire:

• ·        Smother the flames by covering the pan with a lid. Do not remove the lid until the pan is completely cooled.
• ·        Turn off the heat immediately.
• ·        Use baking soda (flour can be explosive) on shallow grease fires.
• ·        Never turn on the overhead fan, as this could spread the fire.
• ·        Never throw water on a grease fire.

Gift Suggestions

• ·        Home smoke alarm
• ·        Carbon monoxide detector
• ·        Multi-purpose (ABC) fire extinguisher
• ·        Candle snuffer

·        Thermostatically controlled deep fryer

 

Chocolate Truffles

This recipe was seen on the Today show on NBC, December 13th, 2012 with Kathie Lee and Hoda. Making truffles is always a messy thing, but oh so good :)

Chocolate truffles

Jacques Haeringer

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup heavy whipping cream
• 12 ounces semi-sweet dark chocolate
• 2 tablespoons orange liqueur (Grand Marnier), optional
• 1 cup confectioners sugar
• 1 cup cocoa powder
• Utensils:
• 1 quart saucepan
• 1 quart bowl
• Large spoon
• Melon ball cutter
• Large platter or baking sheet
• Double boiler or stainless steel bowl (1 quart)
• Fine sieve

Preparation

For truffle cream:
Pour the cream in a heavy-bottomed saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat and add six ounces of the chocolate broken into small pieces. Stir constantly with a spoon until the chocolate is completely melted. Remove from heat and stir in the orange liqueur. Transfer to a bowl and refrigerate for about 2 hours until the mixture is firm. The chocolate cream may be placed in the freezer to accelerate hardening.
For truffles:
Using a melon ball cutter or teaspoon dipped in hot water, scoop out all the chocolate onto a plate. Dust moderately with powdered sugar and shape into balls by rolling in the palms of your hands. Place the chocolate balls on a wax paper or foil-lined plate and freeze for a minimum of one hour.
Melt the remaining 6 ounces of chocolate in a double boiler, stirring once or twice. (A metal bowl set over a pan of simmering water takes the place of a double boiler.) Remove the bowl or the top of the double boiler from the hot water.
Cover the bottom of a small shallow baking pan with the cocoa powder.
Remove the truffles from the freezer and dip in the melted chocolate, one at a time, coating all sides. Drop the coated truffles into the cocoa powder and gently shake the pan in a back-and-forth motion to completely powder the truffles. Lift the powdered truffles into a fine sieve and shake gently back and forth to remove excess cocoa powder. Place the finished truffles in one layer in a covered container. Store in the refrigerator but serve at room temperature.

Serving Size

Makes 36 truffles

You can also view the video showing how these were made

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Pass the bananas

A professor at CCNY for a physiological psych class told his class about bananas. He said the expression 'going bananas' is from the effects of bananas on the brain. Read on:

Never, put your banana in the refrigerator!!! This is interesting. After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again.

Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.

Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.

But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia : High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school ( England ) were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.
Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.
Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey.. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system. Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.

Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a 'cooling' fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. InThailand , for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood Enhancer tryptophan.

Smoking &Tobacco Use: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.

Strokes: According to research in The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!

Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around So maybe it's time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, 'A banana a day keeps the doctor away!'

PASS IT ON TO YOUR FRIENDS PS: Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time! I will add one here; want a quick shine on our shoes?? Take the INSIDE of the banana skin, and rub directly on the shoe...polish with dry cloth. Amazing fruit !!!