Karen

I am a bit late with this press release, but you still have until midnight tomorrow night to get your entry in for the 7th Annual Man-O-Manischewitz Cook Off. Here is the info about the contest:

Until February 4, 2013, enter the 7^th Annual Man-O-Manischewitz Cook-Off for a chance to win the $25,000 Grand Prize, which includes   Maytag® appliances, cash, an expense paid trip and a beautiful crystal trophy!  This year, the contest will be held at the Manischewitz® Manufacturing Plant and Headquarters in Newark, NJ, giving contestants and guests a peek inside their state-of the-art production facilities.  The Cook-Off encourages at-home chefs to experiment with kosher products while preparing delicious recipes that could be a new family favorite, or one that has been shared for generations.

The entry deadline is Monday, February 4, 2013.  To enter, log onto www.manischewitz.com, and click on the Cook-Off Banner to submit your recipe.  The recipe must adhere to Kosher guidelines, be prepared in under an hour, have no more than 9 ingredients which must include one of the Manischewitz® All-Natural broth flavors-new Turkey, Chicken, Reduced Sodium Chicken, Beef and Vegetable, plus one additional Manischewitz® product. Four finalists will be chosen by the judging panel and five semi-finalists will be posted on www.manischewitz.com  from February 21^st through February 28^th, allowing consumers to vote online to select the fifth finalist. For complete contest details, go to www.manischewitz.com.   

So, hurry if you have a great recipe that to share! You can check the Manischewitz website to learn about what is Kosher if you are not familiar with that method of cooking. Go on! Get Cooking!

One of the things I really loved about living in an RV for thirteen years is that there was not much “housework” to do. The whole trailer was only six hundred square feet (probably less than that) and less than half of it was carpeted. When it came time to clean the carpets, I could do it in about thirty minutes with a brush and can of carper cleaner.

Now that we have a house, the amount of housework there is to do has multiplied. I seemed to have forgotten just how much work it is to take care of a house! We only have two rooms that have carpet, but it still seems more the job for an expert carpet cleaning company to clean them. Compared to the size of the carpets in the RV our new house seems enormous!

Right now, I am trying to decide if I want to get the carpets cleaned now, or wait until spring. The bedroom smells musty, like maybe the people who used to live here had a dog. We also live on a dirt road that has a lot of traffic going back and forth all the time. The dust seems to settle into the carpet. Maybe it’s just me, but I think that if we did get the carpets cleaned now we would be able to sleep better. Hmmmm……….

Your home is your castle – and you must do all that you can to protect it. The best place to start is with a high-quality security system from a reputable company like ADT (see www.quortek.com ). Nonetheless, you shouldn’t rely on an alarm system alone to keep your home and family safe. It’s merely a tool – albeit a powerful one – used in a much larger home security strategy. Consider the following do-it-yourself tips to ensure the most comprehensive protection for your home:

Use your yard as a deterrent

Many people are unaware that landscaping plays a significant role in home security. In fact, it’s typically the first thing a burglar will check out when casing a neighborhood for potential targets. They will look for homes with unkempt lawns, tall hedges, privacy fences or anything that could potentially provide cover while they attempt to break in. Thus, you should make sure your yard is not only well maintained, but also well lit. Removing an intruder’s biggest asset – the ability to move around a property unseen – will do wonders in helping protect your home from unwanted visitors.

Replace old or damaged locks

There’s nothing more appealing to a burglar than a rusty or broken lock. Not only will it be easier to break in, but it’s also a clear indicator that the homeowner is unconcerned with security. Consequently, you shouldn’t wait to examine all the exterior locks around your home. Any locks that look to be worn or obsolete should be replaced with a high-quality deadbolt.

Secure windows

At the very minimum, you should make sure all your windows are furnished with quality locks. In many scenarios, particularly in residential neighborhoods, simple locks provide sufficient protection since the risk of breaking a window or attempting to crawl through one is likely to draw attention from neighbors or passersby. If you’d like to take it a step further, consider investing in security bars or safety glass. These upgrades will make it markedly more difficult for an intruder to force entry through a window.

Perception is reality: Make your home look occupied

It’s important to remember that burglaries are crimes of opportunity, and a thief isn’t likely to attempt to break into a home that appears occupied. For this reason, it’s helpful to manufacture the illusion that you’re home – especially when you’re not. This can easily be accomplished by leaving a television, radio or a few lights on. You can also take it a step further by purchasing a random light timer, which costs around $20-$30 at your local Home Depot. These nifty devices can be programmed to turn lights on and off at random intervals to make it appear like someone is home.

Don’t hide a spare key in obvious places

First and foremost, it’s never a good idea to hide a spare key anywhere outside your home. It’s always better to give a set to a trusted neighbor or friend instead. However, if you absolutely must hide a key somewhere outside, avoid putting in obvious hiding places such as under a potted plant, rock or doormat. Most burglars know to look for spare keys in the most common hiding spots.