Heart of the Home

The heat from Summer feels oppressive and mosquitoes are everywhere, which means it's almost time to celebrate the 4th of July. Grab your favorite side dish and brush up on the lyrics to Star Spangled Banner, America the Beautiful is ready to party!

Make this Independence Day celebration a memorable occasion by kicking it off with dessert first. When using our beautiful Ceramabake Bakeware, you'll be able to serve straight from the bakeware, saving time on clean up! You'll love this Sour Cream Flag Cake recipe by Ina Garten. 

Sugar cookies with Royal Icing are always a hit. For a pinch of patriotic flair, add red, white and blue sprinkles. The colors will really pop against your Ceramabake Bakeware! 

Two-Berry Fluff Salad from Taste of Home can double as a side dish or a dessert! 

Everyone looks forward to the food on the 4th of July, especially those delicious entrees! If you're planning on a picnic consider taking Picnic Fried Chicken, one of America's favorite past-time picnic entrees. 

The wafting scents of smoke and barbeque sauce will entice everyone to gather 'round the grill to chat while you perfect these Prize-Winning Baby Back Ribs. They're sure to impress the barbeque connoisseurs at your celebration.

And since you've already fired up the grill, the kids will love an All-American Grilled Chicago Dog! 

If you think BBQ is just for meat lovers, think again! You won't even miss the meat in these Emilie Eats Easy Vegan BBQ Jack Fruit Sandwiches. She even describes Jackfruit as "deceptively resembles pulled pork in texture". I

Side-dishes are something that everyone can agree on, so don't forget them! Add a large batch of picnic mac and cheese to your plate for a few mouthfuls of creamy, cheesy goodness. 

It's not a picnic without Baked Beans. These Sugar & Soul Dr. Pepper Baked Beans are practically a national treasure, and we're sure the whole gang will love them.

Lemony Almond-Feta Green Beans from Taste of Home will add a bit of tang and will help you reach your vegetable goal for the day! It may be a holiday but there's no need to slack on getting those veggies in when they're crisp and delicious. 

With the hot weather, you'll want to have an assortment of cold drinks available for everyone to drink. For something red, white and blue that's spirit based might we suggest Boozy Red, White and Blue Slushies from Wide Open Eats? The kids will love a similar alcohol free version from Genius Kitchen. 

If you're looking for cute 4th of July printables, head on over to The Crafted Sparrow for some festive decorations!

Wishing you a safe and Happy Independence Day from everyone at Range Kleen!

Within the past week, a major food producer recalled about 9,000 pounds of lettuce (including ready-to-eat varieties) due to an E. Coli outbreak that has sickened dozens of people. At last count, the E. Coli outbreak had spread to eleven states. Yikes. If you're wondering how produce can become contaminated with pathogens such as E. Coli, Listeria, Salmonella and many more, you're not alone. Sources of contamination include livestock feces, heavy rains of which run-off can spread pathogens from livestock feces, produce handlers, farming and harvesting equipment and more. With Spring comes the return of the robust, fresh and delicious seasonal produce. But how do you enjoy your favorite seasonal fruit and veg without getting sick? By kleening your produce, of course.

According to experts at the FDA, you'll only need fresh tap water to clean produce. Begin by washing your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water (scrubbing hands using soap for about 20 seconds).

• Produce with a bumpy surface (such as artichokes, broccoli, etc) should be soaked for 2 minutes in cold water, then rinsed. Soaking will allow dirt from the nooks and crannies to release.

• A tough skin (such as potato, melon, cucumber) will need to be scrubbed under running water with a vegetable brush (found at most groceries stores and major retailers). 

• Softer skinned produce requires a delicate touch. Produce such as mushrooms or tomatoes, should be cleaned by gently rubbing the skin under running water. 

• Lettuce can be tricky. For leafy varieties such as romaine lettuce, remove the outer layer of lettuce, then remove the roots and discard. After separating the leaves, rinse under running water and place on a cloth to dry. Iceberg lettuce should have the core removed, then rinsed under running water and drained. 

• Other greens, such as spinach, can be swirled in a bowl of water for about 30 seconds. Then drain in a colander. 

Cut away any areas of the produce that appear to be bruised or damaged. It is important to note that cleaning the produce before cutting can prevent bacteria from contaminating the inside of produce. Lastly, dry any produce with a clean cloth and prepare to enjoy it! 

Unfortunately, there is no absolute guarantee against contaminated produce, but these helpful tips can go a long way in keeping in your food safe to consume. Stay tuned for more helpful household tips from Range Kleen.

It's been a long Winter. Depending on where you live, you might've noticed signs of Spring pop up. Annual bulbs are beginning to sprout and birds are chirping as temperatures begin to warm, so we thought we'd get a headstart on Spring Kleening. Research indicates that Americans open their refrigerators about twenty times per day, which means there are a lot of fingerprints to clean. In addition, there can be grease, sticky residue and even odors. Follow these simple steps to seasonally clean your refrigerator. 

As always, we recommend you adhere to manufacturers instructions. To begin, remove anything that is spoiled or past its expiration date and toss or recycle accordingly. Experts recommend emptying the perishable contents of your fridge into a cooler, while you work. shelves and crisper drawers. To avoid cracking, let these items warm to room temperature before washing. Bins and shelves can be soaked in a mixture of warm water and mild dishwashing liquid. Scrub with a gentle sponge, then dry and set to the side. Use a sponge to clean the door seals with the same mixture of water and mild dishwashing liquid. 

Avoid harsh chemicals when cleaning the interior of your fridge as food can absorb cleaning product odors. For an easy, green alternative mix half a gallon of hot water with 3-4 tablespoons of baking soda (which will help with odor absorption), or a 50/50 mix of water and vinegar, then wipe the interior of the fridge with a damp rag. Dry the interior of the fridge.

Return the shelves and bins to the fridge. As you return food and condiments, wipe jars, food storage containers, and bottles that have any sticky residue on the bottom or sides. If you're in need of a little organizational help, check out the Range Kleen line of organizational bins (use code FF2018 to save 20% on your order). Finally, wipe down the exterior of the fridge, paying special attention to handles using a 50/50 mix of water and vinegar. If the appliance is stainless steel, use CeramaBryte Stainless Steel Cleaner. 

Stay tuned for more kleening tips from Range Kleen! 

The origins of Valentine's Day lie in the romance of secret marriages performed by St. Valentine. During his reign as Roman Emperor, Claudius II thought unmarried men made for better, more focused soldiers. In an effort to strengthen his army, he forbid men to marry by placing a ban on marriages. According to National Geographic "...Valentine, it is said, flouted the ban, performing marriages in secret. For his defiance, Valentine was executed in A.D. 270—on February 14, the story goes." Hence the celebration of Valentine's Day occurring on February 14th. 

Thankfully modern day celebrations are more cheerful and often extend beyond celebrating with your significant other. For many, Valentine's Day is an opportunity to express how much they care for their romantic partner, children, close friends and even pets. 

To start your morning off with a little charm try dressing waffles up with this delicious Simple Berry Compote by Minimalist Baker.  Sift confectioners sugar over the waffles for a finishing touch. 

A homemade Surf and Turf dinner for your partner adds a bit of decadence while dining from the comfort of your own home. As an added bonus, you'll likely save money and forgo long restaurant waiting times. This Taste of Home recipe is sure to please. 

Add a heart-shaped touch with a Caprese Salad, using a cookie cutter to easily cut the mozzarella. 

If you're looking for Valentine card ideas, Good Housekeeping has several cute DIY cards. There is a host of charming printable Valentines for children to share with classmates and friends from Mommy Evolution. For adorable "punny" Valentines, check out these chuckle-filled cards from Lauren Conrad. 

In lieu of traditional Chocolate Covered Strawberries, consider finishing the evening off with a home-baked good. Try these Raspberry and White Chocolate Shortbread Cookies from Ahead of Thyme which bakes beautifully on the Range Kleen Ceramabake BC4010. 

If you're looking to treat your Valentine to a gift, check out our entire collection of bakeware and use code FF2018 to save 20% on your order. 

Sous Vide, a French cooking technique which translates to "under vacuum" has become quite popular. This French technique involves cooking food that has been vacuum sealed in a water bath at a precise temperature. The advantage of cooking the food at a precise temperature in a water bath is that the food cooks evenly throughout while retaining moisture.

If you're wondering what the difference is between cooking sous vide vs boiling in water, you're not alone. When cooking sous vide, the vacuumed food sits in a stable bath water using a temperature that does not exceed boiling point. In addition, the temperature remains steady throughout the cooking process. 

To cook Sous Vide you need an immersion circulator, a pot (experts often recommend a pot that you make pasta in, such as the Range Kleen CW7102 12 Quart Multi Cooker with Steamer and Pasta Insert ), a vacuum bag (or Ziploc bag) and depending on your immersion circulator device you'll likely need a smartphone app to control the device. Instructions vary between manufacturers but the general concept is to bag the food, fill a pot with enough water to cover the items you're cooking (leaving a little water above the food).

You'll want to protect the space your cooking on from the heat during the cooking process, so we recommend placing the pot on a Range Kleen Counter Mat on top of a stable surface. Place the immersion circulator into the pan and begin cooking using the app. Typically after food is cooked using the sous vide method, it is finished off on a grill or on the stove top to add a little browning to the meat or vegetables. Do you think you'll be cooking Sous Vide anytime soon? We'd love to hear about on our Facebook Page!

Your oven probably worked as hard as you did this holiday season. From roasting the Thanksgiving turkey to the holiday ham, baking cookies and pies and all sorts of goodies in between. Give your oven a well-deserved kleening without harsh chemicals to remove any grime from the holidays! You'll need baking soda, vinegar in a spray bottle, a wet rag and a sponge. That's it!

Before cleaning the oven should be completely cooled. Remove the oven racks and soak in the kitchen sink in hot water with a 1/2 cup of vinegar. (If your oven racks don't fit in the kitchen sink you can soak them in the bathtub, be sure to place a towel underneath to avoid scratching your tub). If possible, allow soaking overnight. 

While the oven racks are soaking, make a baking soda paste. Mix a few tablespoons of baking soda with water to form a paste. Spread the paste inside the oven on the base and along the walls,  avoiding the heating elements. (Hint: It's normal for the paste to turn brown). Leave the paste to sit overnight.

Use a wet rag to wipe up as much of the paste as possible. This is a great time to use your Range Kleen Scrape and Kleen to scrape paste residue. Spritz remaining paste with vinegar. 

Wipeout remaining vinegar and baking soda residue. Give the oven racks a light scrub with a scrubbing sponge, rinse with water and return to them to the oven.

Check out the Range Kleen reusable, trimmable Oven Liner to make kleening your oven even easier next time!              

Butter is in just about everything and there are many different kinds of butter available. Regular salted butter. Unsalted butter. Organic salted and unsalted butter. Butter from grass-fed cows. Butter from goats or sheep. Clarified butter. With so many butter varieties to choose from, it comes as no surprise that you might be a little confused on what kind of butter to buy and what purpose it serves. 

We'll start with discussing the basics. Regular salted and unsalted butter is made from cream skimmed off of cows milk - that is churned until it begins to form into butter. Unsalted butter is often used in baking recipes to allow users to control the salt content. Organic butter is made from organic cream. Livestock that produces organic cream are not given antibiotics, growth hormones, or parasiticides and are fed an organic diet. These cows are required to graze in a pasture a certain portion of the year, so many argue that organic butter has a better taste and is more animal-friendly. Just as it sounds, grass-fed butter made from grass-fed cows. Grass-fed butter tends to be more golden than regular butter as the cow's consumer higher rates of beta-carotene. 

With a low melting temperature, goat's butter (yes, made from goats milk) is ideal at room temperature and is recommending for baking. It provides a rich flavor to butter cookies and other baked goods. Sheep's milk is reported to be the creamiest of all milk and is often said to have a sweeter taste than cows milk. Due to the creaminess of the milk, sheep's butter is luxuriously creamy and delicious. 

Ghee is clarified butter and it is delicious (probably because it is 100% butterfat), without the milk proteins or water that regular butter contains.  Ghee has gained popularity among the food allergy community as it is free of lactose and casein. In addition, it's a heat-stable cooking fat which makes it great for baking and sauteing. The higher smoke point of ghee also makes it suitable for frying. 

There are plenty of other kinds of butter on the market, so stay tuned for another quick read on this enticing spread.