| Monthly
Quote |
“We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day.”
- Edith Lovejoy Pierce, American poet, (b. 1904) |
| Tip
of the Month |
Feeling the burn from heating bills this winter? One way to lower costs and help the environment with minimal effort is to make sure your home is insulated with eco-friendly materials. Proper insulation can save the average home $245 per year and can increase your home’s resale value by more than $20 for each $1 decrease in your annual energy bills, according to the Appraisal Institute. Insulation also reduces noise pollution (think your neighbor’s barking dog or the loud Harley down the street) and can reduce the amount of CO2 your heating system emits.
Homeowners looking for environmentally friendly insulation have many options, including recycled paper, denim and plant cellulose (fiberglass insulation is made from petroleum). BioBased Insulation offers a soy-based, spray-in foam insulation, while GreenFiber Cocoon is a spray-in insulation made from recycled paper. Want to know where those old jeans from 1992 went? Try UltraTouch, an insulation created from 85% recycled denim fiber.
Need one more reason to insulate using eco-friendly materials? The federal government will rebate 10% of the price of your insulation, plus your state may offer additional incentives.
Source: IdealBite.com
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Seasonal
Suggestion
 The holidays are over, the new year has begun…what’s to stop the winter blues from setting in? The answer: some delicious comfort food! Curl up in front of the fire (or the television) with some fresh bread and this yummy recipe from chef Paula Deen from The Food Network’s “Paula’s Home Cooking.”
Creamy Cheddar Soup
Ingredients
1 small onion, diced
2 large pimentos, diced
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups chicken stock
1 1/2 cups cream
3/4 cup grated sharp Cheddar
1/2 cup green onions
Salt and black pepper
Dash cayenne pepper, optional
Directions
- In a saucepan, sauté onion and pimentos in butter for 5 to 7 minutes.
- Blend in flour. Add stock and cream. Cook until thick.
- Add cheese and stir until melted.
- Add 1/4 cup green onions, salt and pepper, to taste, and cayenne if desired. Garnish with remaining green onions.
Source: TheFoodNetwork.com
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