This is the One Electronic Device You Must Unplug to Stay Safe in a Thunderstorm

When a home in Westport, Conn., caught fire during a fast-moving thunderstorm earlier this month, the source wasn’t outdated wiring or an overloaded outlet. The source turned out to be something far more unexpected — an electric fence. Firefighters battled the fire sparked by a lightning bolt that hit an underground electric pet fence, triggering a surge that damaged parts of the home. According to fire marshals, electric pet fences are especially risky because lightning can travel through the wiring and potentially start a fire. Unlike many home appliances, electric fences are always on, always connected, and often overlooked. The solution is simple: It takes just a few seconds to unplug the system when a storm is on the way.

Continue Reading...

This Once-Popular Restaurant is Making a Comeback After Fading Away a Decade Ago

There was a time when a big night out for a good steak dinner meant hitting the local Sizzler. Founded in 1958, Sizzler once had more than 700 locations across the country, but now has just 74. The road from 770-plus to 74 hasn’t been pretty. Two bankruptcies — the first in 1996 and the second in 2000 — have taken place on that journey, but Sizzler somehow survived. Now there’s a plan for a comeback. The current leadership is said to be more focused on making Sizzler even better, focusing on remodeling its stores and taking it back to its roots. Hopefully, Sizzler’s plan doesn’t go the way of Cracker Barrel’s remodel fiasco.

Continue Reading...

Running Out of Multipurpose Cleaner? Laundry Detergent Can Save the Day

That bottle in your laundry room does far more than wash clothes. When a stain hits at the worst possible moment, laundry detergent can stand in for cleaners you don’t have and on surfaces you would never expect. The reason comes down to chemistry. Laundry detergent contains surfactants, specialized molecules designed to break up dirt and oil so they can be rinsed away with water. It’s the same action that lifts grease from a shirt, and it’s why just a few drops can rescue a couch cushion, a tile floor, or a set of makeup brushes. Here are some of the most useful ways laundry detergent can help around the house:

• • Carpet stains: Blot with water first, then use a mixture of water and a small spoonful of low-suds detergent. Rinse the area afterward to avoid sticky residue. It can also work in carpet-cleaning machines.
• • Grout: Mix detergent with water and scrub with a toothbrush for smaller areas or a larger brush for tile floors. Powder detergent often works best because it clings better.
• • Makeup brushes: Brushes collect bacteria, oils, sweat and dead skin. Swirl them in a bowl of gentle detergent and water, rinse well and let them air dry.
• • Outdoor patio furniture: Detergent cuts through dirt and outdoor grime on plastic furniture. Removable cushion covers can often go straight into the washing machine.
• • Floors: Add 1 tablespoon of liquid detergent to a gallon of water for tile, linoleum and vinyl floors. Skip hardwood and natural stone.
• • Walls: Mix 1 tablespoon of detergent into a bucket of warm water and wipe gently to avoid damaging paint. Follow with a damp cloth to remove residue.
• • Furniture stains: A few drops of mild detergent in warm water can help spot-clean upholstery when blotted with a microfiber cloth. Avoid using it on leather.
• • Car interiors: Works on plastic trim and cloth upholstery for quick spot cleaning. Keep glass cleaner reserved for windows.
• • Countertops: A drop of detergent in a spray bottle filled with water can stand in for multi-purpose cleaner on laminate, quartz and granite. Avoid marble and other natural stone surfaces.

 

Continue Reading...

Pineapple Sheet Cake

If ever there were a time to try baking your very first cake, let it be this easy pineapple sheet cake. Pineapple sheet cake is just as easy as it is delicious. The entire batter comes together in one bowl, bakes into a single layer and then is topped with a smooth frosting. That’s it. Every bite is filled with tropical pineapple that’s studded throughout the tender cake with an rich, tangy cream cheese frosting on top. It’s so simple and light but feeds a crowd and is full of flavor. It’s highly recommended cake for baking beginners or anyone who loves tropical desserts.

Servings: 24

Ingredients:

CAKE

• 2 cups all-purpose flour

• 2 cups sugar

• 2 large eggs, room temperature

• 1 cup chopped nuts

• 2 teaspoons baking soda

• ½ teaspoon salt

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1 20-oz can crushed pineapple, undrained 

CREAM CHEESE ICING

• 1 8-oz package cream cheese, softened

• ½ cup butter, softened

• 3¾ cups confectioners’ sugar

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• ½ cup chopped nuts

Directions:

ICING

• In a small bowl, combine cream cheese, butter, confectioners’ sugar and vanilla until smooth.

CAKE

• Preheat oven to 350º F.

• In a large bowl, combine cake ingredients and beat until smooth. 

• Pour into a greased baking pan.

• Bake for 35 minutes.

• Allow cake to cool and the spread icing over cake and sprinkle with nuts.

 

Continue Reading...