5 Must Have Kitchen Essentials for this Fall

I don’t know about you, but I am SO excited for Fall this year! September 24th is the first day, and you all know what that means: Warm soups, hot chocolate, cuddly blankets, and that is just the beginning. With this cozy season being just around the corner, all the festive Fall recipes are coming out! Here are the must have kitchen essentials you will need to create those dang-good recipes!

Crock Pot or Slow Cooker

No matter what age you are, a CrockPot or slow cooker is one of the easiest appliances to have. Seriously, all you do is throw all the ingredients in, walk away, and let it do the rest! As a college student, this was my favorite appliance to use! Some of my favorite recipes I have done are beef stew, chicken tortilla soup, and macaroni and cheese! Yes, you heard me right. Macaroni and cheese. You can get a slow cooker at almost any home store, like Wal-Mart of Target. I will link where I got mine here!

Cast Iron Skillet

Honestly, before I met my husband, I had never used a cast iron skillet before. When we moved into our fully furnished home, we had a cast iron to use. And I had no idea what to cook in it! Fun fact about these, is you season them prior to cooking. You first clean them well with hot soapy water. Make sure it is fully dry. Then coat the skillet with vegetable oil. Just a thin layer! Then bake it in your oven at 375 degrees for an hour and voila! One of our favorite recipes to make in these is a nice steak, with butter and garlic! We loved using it so much, we bought our own! I will link where I got mine here!

Bread or Loaf Tin

If there is one dessert I love to have in the Fall, it would have to be banana nut bread! Having a loaf tin around is handy all the time, but having it for the fall especially is great! The great thing about this tin, is there are SO many recipes you can make in one. Meatloaf, pumpkin bread, fruit cake, and seriously so much more! Here is where you can get yours for only $2!!

Pie Tin

Going right along with a loaf pan, having a pie tin almost seems necessary during the Fall season! Especially during Thanksgiving time! Growing up, we always had pumpkin and pecan pie during Thanksgiving, and the same for Christmas! But not only can you make these sweet dessert pies, you can make other kinds too! Shepherds pie, chicken pot pie (one of our favorites), and turkey pot pie! The best part is you can get the disposable ones, or one to keep for however long! Here is where you can get disposable for only $12 for 50, and here is where you can get a more permanent one for $5.29! 

Electric Kettle

This has got to be one of the best appliances I have ever used before. If you are a tea or hot chocolate lover, then this is definitely for you! Not only that, I was able to use one of these in college for things like top ramen and instant mac and cheese! You simply fill the kettle, place it on the pad provided, and the water gets boiling hot (be careful) within minutes! Perfect for those who want a quick fix without waiting over a stove top! Here is where I purchased mine from.

Now this is definitely not the full list of the perfect items you will need this Fall, but it a great start! I honestly got most of these items from Target, but you can get them at most home goods stores! What is your favorite appliance to use in the Fall? 

If you are ever having troubles with your current kitchen appliances, contact us today to set up a service call. Appliance Rescue Service is always here to help!

How To Baby Proof Your Kitchen

For anyone who has had children before, you know that ‘baby-proofing’ the house is an absolute must! Children, especially babies who have now learned to crawl/walk, love exploring the home and getting their hands on any and everything they can! As a new mom myself, my son is now at the stage of a super fast crawl, attempting to walk when he wants. So baby-proofing my whole house is absolutely necessary! One of my last rooms I need to proof is my kitchen. But what exactly do I need to lock up?? This was my next mission!! Thanks to some helpful advice of friends and family, I think I have mastered the kitchen with making it completely baby-friendly! (As in, babies can go in and not get hurt! Here are some things that I have done to ensure my kitchen doesn’t become a danger zone for toddlers!

1) Cabinets & Drawers

The number one goal of my son’s is to get into every single drawer and cabinet he can find. Especially the pots and pans cabinet! So this was my first goal to tackle! Not to mention, we carry all our cleaning supplies under the sink, so that is a definite must! We fortunately have the slow closing cabinet doors, but we needed something a little better. We invested in those adhesive cabinet locks (Target , $9.89)  that you stick to the back of the door, with a little latch on the back! And Boom!! Our cabinets can’t get into anymore! (Besides us) 

2) StoveTop & Oven

The next item to lock up was our oven. The oven in our home is directly next to the entrance into the kitchen, so that is one of the first things my son goes for. He enjoys standing up, and tapping on the glass as if someone was in there, and he wanted to say ‘hello!’ However, I always worry that he is going to pull down on the handle and hit his little noggin! I didn't even know that an oven lock was a thing, but apparently it is! These locks, which are actually all purpose locks, look like a little latch that keep the items shut! It can be used on ovens, microwaves, dishwashers, etc. We got ours at Target for $9 and it works wonders!

3) Trash Cans

So this may not seem like something you would need to proof, but for our son we did! He is at the age of trying to stand up by grabbing onto things. So he will try to grab the trash can and stand up, but the bin isn't heavy enough to hold his weight from pulling! The only thing we could think of is getting a better trash can, or ensuring the trash can has a lid on it! If not, we always just put the trash in our garage!

4) Cooking Safely

Lastly, we have had to make sure that we are cooking as safely as possible. My husband’s favorite food is tacos, so we are constantly frying up some shells for them! One thing I have always made sure of is that we feed our son during the time we cook. So we bring his highchair into the kitchen, and feed him soft finger foods while we eat to keep him busy form exploring during cooking! This has been the best method for us!!

Honestly, being a parent is hard! And trying to protect our children from getting hurt almost seems impossible. But there are so many measures you can take to make sure that you can do what you can! 

IMPORTANT NOTICE: RECALL ON GLASS COOKTOPS

https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2019/whirlpool-recalls-glass-cooktops-with-touch-controls-due-to-burn-and-fire-hazards

Top 4 Rides at Disneyland California Park - Not everything has to be about appliances!

When you think of your favorite place to go, where would that be? Is it on a tropical island with a pina colada in hand? Is it in a forest cabin surrounded by nature? For me, it is a place surrounded by magic, roller coasters, and Dole Whips. Okay, well my favorite are the chimichangas, but that is another story in it’s own! If you had not guessed by now, I am talking about Disneyland, the happiest place on Earth. This place is so much more than an amusement park, but a place I could leave any worries behind and purely enjoy myself. I am 24 years old, but tell me that were going to Disneyland and I am literally like a 5 year old in a candy shop. No joke either. Let’s take a look at some of the top rides of all time in this magical land!

Photo Credit: Benjamin Esham / Flickr

1) Space Mountain

Every single time I go to Disneyland, this ride is ALWAYS either jam packed with a million people in line, or broken down (sadly). However, I believe this definitely is one of the top rides for those who love a fast roller coaster. For those who have never been, when entering the ride, it takes you through the entryway of a spacecraft (pretty much) and you take a seat in your spacecraft. Once the ride starts, you begin going up a long hill of lights to get ready for take off! This ride is so much fun because you go so fast the whole time, and the entire ride is IN THE DARK. The only lights you see are the stars that surround you! But don’t forget to smile at the end of the ride for the picture taken. That’s my number one mistake!

DISNEY FACT #1: All the plants in Tomorrowland are edible. But that doesn;t mean you can eat them!!

Photo Credit : Seanutbutter / Wikipedia

2) Indiana Jones Adventure

Okay so this ride can seem super intimidating to someone who has never been on the ride before. Again, this ride has one of the longest lines I have ever stood in before, but it is well worth the wait. Entering the ride, you go through a series of roped off lanes, until you hit a cave that takes you to the main attraction. Once it's your turn, you hop inside your Jeep and take off! It’s always fun to let the youngest child take the hot seat as the “driver” (I know this because people always let me be the driver!) The ride is jerky, and bumpy just like a true ride through the jungle would be. You come across giant snakes, fire, snakes, and a HUGE surprise at the end that I won’t ruin for you, but if you insist on knowing I recommend googling it!

DISNEYLAND FACT #2 : Never wear anything on your head during this ride. I Learned this the hard way and lost my pair of Minnie Mouse ears!!

3) It’s A Small World

This has got to be one of the most iconic rides in all of Disneyland. Again, it has a large line no matter the time of day, but if you are in need of a quick break before heading to another roller coaster, then this is the ride for you. You sit down inside a boat, and it takes you on this magical journey throughout all sorts of different countries. The ride is filled with dancing and singing dolls, that sing the song ‘It's A Small World’. It may sound creepy, but trust me, it isn’t! Not to mention, there are characters from so many Disney movies that are put into doll-version on this ride, like Ariel & Lilo & Stitch!

DISNEYLAND FACT #3: Throughout the park, there are hidden Mickeys EVERYWHERE. There are books that show you where each one is!

Photo Credit : David Bjorgen / Wikipedia

4) Pirates of the Caribbean

And lastly, one of my favorite rides of all is the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. The line never takes long to go through, and its one you get to relax in. If you have ever seen any of the movies, Captain Jack Sparrow appears throughout the whole ride! Your boat takes you through so many scenes of fighting, livelihood, and the true atmosphere of a pirate’s life. This is a number one ride in my books for sure! Not to mention, it is SO COLD inside the ride, which is perfect for those summer months!

DISNEYLAND FACT #4: On this ride, there are real actual skulls used throughout the ride! Creepy! But Cool!

So by now, I think you can see I am a wee bit obsessed with the Happiest Place on Earth. It is just somewhere I truly grew up being around, and have never once gone and not enjoyed myself! Even though the prices can get expensive, the ticket is always worth it!

Move In Checklist isn’t Complete Without Checking Appliances!

Moving into a new home can be extremely overwhelming. Believe me, I have moved about 4 times in the last 3 years. Double checking to make sure I packed everything and making sure everything arrives in one piece is a mental struggle! However, I found that having a checklist always helps me to make sure every point I need to meet, is met! Below is your Go-To Checklist when moving into your next home.

 (P.S. Don’t forget to have Appliance Rescue Service which services the DFW area check the appliances! )

 1)  Taking Measurement of Each Room!

This includes:

a)  Kitchen

b)  Dining Room

c)  Family Room

d)  Living Room

e)  Master Bedroom

f)    Any Other Bedrooms

2) Transfer All Utilities In Your Name BEFORE Closing!

This includes

a)  Gas/Electric

b)  Water/Sewer

c)  Garbage

d)  Cable

e)  WiFi

f)    DON’T FORGET: To Change your address on all Credit/Debit cards, and accounts associated with them!

3) Get Your Appliances Running

a)  Plug In Your Fridge To Get Cooling Activated

b)  Testing the Oven/Stove (If Applicable)

c)  Run The Dishwasher To Make Sure It Works

4) Changing Locks on Every Door!

This includes:

a)  Front Door

b)  Back Door

c)  Garage Door

d)  Backyard

e)  Side Gate

5) Pack A Bag Like You’re Going on a Short Trip. This includes

a)  A Few Changes of Clothes

b)  Pajamas

c)  Toiletries

These are just a few of the most important things to remember when moving into a new home. For the full list of check-in reminders, head on over to HomeLight to check it out! If during your check you find anything wrong with your kitchen appliances, please contact Appliance Rescue Service to set up a service call!