Winter 2009
Did You Know?
	The Invention Of The Refrigerator   Before mechanical refrigeration systems were introduced, people cooled their food with ice and snow, either found locally or brought down from the mountains.  The first cellars were holes dug into the ground and lined with wood or straw and packed with snow and ice: this was the only means of refrigeration for most of history.  The first known artificial refrigeration was demonstrated by William Cullen at the University of Glasgow in 1748. However, he did not use his discovery for any practical purpose. In 1805, an American inventor, Oliver Evans, designed the first refrigeration machine. The first practical refrigerating machine was built by Jacob Perkins in 1834; it used ether in a vapor compression cycle. An American physician, John Gorrie, built a refrigerator based on Oliver Evans' design in 1844 to make ice to cool the air for his yellow fever patients. German engineer Carl von Linden, patented not a refrigerator but the process of liquefying gas in 1876 that is part of basic refrigeration technology   Refrigerators from the late 1800s until 1929 used the toxic gases ammonia (NH3), methyl chloride (CH3Cl), and sulfur dioxide (SO2) as refrigerants. Several fatal accidents occurred in the 1920s when methyl chloride leaked out of refrigerators. Three American corporations launched collaborative research to develop a less dangerous method of refrigeration; their efforts lead to the discovery of Freon. In just a few years, compressor refrigerators using Freon would become the standard for almost all home kitchens. Only decades later, would people realize that these chlorofluorocarbons endangered the ozone layer of the entire planet.  Today, refrigerators use a type of gas called HFC-134a, also called Tetrafluoroethane. HFC turns into a liquid when it is cooled to -15.9 degrees fahrenheit.
Going Green
	Energy Star Dishwashers A dishwasher that has earned the Energy Star rating must be at least 41% more energy efficient than the current 2007 Federal standard.  Choosing a new Energy Star qualified dishwasher instead of a non-Energy Star qualified dishwasher saves an average $120 over the life of the product.  Replacing a dishwasher manufactured before 1994 with an Energy Star qualified dishwasher can save you $30 or more per year in utility costs. For more information on the new appliance stimulus rebate program for Energy Star appliances, see our home page.
Cleaning Tip
	Cleaning Range Hoods Range hoods are usually vented to the outside and remove grease, steam, and cooking odors from the kitchen.  Some hoods do not have outside vents and rely on replaceable charcoal filters to clean smoke and odors from the air.  Both vented and non vented hoods have fans to draw air and smoke from the cooking area, and both need to be cleaned to keep them free from buildup and working effectively.  To clean your range hood, wipe the exterior and interior of the hood regularly.  When you need to give it a thorough scrub, use a solution of hot water, dishwashing detergent, and ammonia to cut the grease; wear rubber gloves.  Then, remove the filter cover, and wash it in soapy hot water.  Allow it to dry completely before replacing. Wipe the blades of the fan with ammonia solution.  Clean metal mesh filters when they are dirty and replace the filters of non-vented hoods every six to nine months.  Avoid washing charcoal filters, as washing will reduce their effectiveness.
Featured Product
	GE Microwave Grilling Oven The GE Spacemaker microwave grilling oven gives you the power to create great meals.  This microwave oven offers three different grilling options to let you prepare burgers, pork chops, chicken breasts and more.  The new oven offers 1200 grilling watts and is preprogrammed settings for 42 favorite foods across 14 different categories to take the guess work out of cooking. This oven also removes smoke, steam, and odors from the cooktop with a two-speed, 300 CFM venting system.  In addition, it has sensor cooking controls that monitor humidity levels and adjust time and power accordingly.  It allows you to handle delicate foods, like butter ice cream, and chocolate with the soften and melt feature.  It has three defrost options to provide quick and even results.
Recipe of the Season
	Cornbread Dressing Ingredients Cornbread:  1 cup self-rising cornmeal 1/2 cup self-rising flour 3/4 cup milk 2 eggs 2 Tbs vegetable oil Dressing: 7 slices dried white bread 1 sleeve saltine crackers 2 1/2 cup celery, chopped 2 medium onions, chopped 3 eggs, beaten 8 Tbs butter 7 1/2 cups chicken stock 1 teaspoon salt black pepper 2 tea sp. fresh sage, chopped 2 tea sp. poultry seasoning Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Combine all cornbread ingredients and mix well.  Pour batter into a greased 9 X 9 X 2 inch or equivalent baking dish.  Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, remove from oven and let cool.  Prepare dressing.  Mix crumbled cornbread, dried white bread slices and saltines together in a large bowl and set aside.  In a large skillet, saute the chopped celery and onion in butter until transparent, approximately 5 to 10 minutes. Pour this over cornbread mixture.  Add the chicken broth and mix well.  Add salt, pepper, sage, poultry seasoning, and egg and mix well.  Pour into a large greased 3-quart pan or casserole dish and bake about 45 minutes.