Slow Fast Food

Buffing up your lunch to turn it into a meal you’ll look forward to.

Do you ever get sick of pulling out your lunch and having it the same as several of your other coworkers? This week we're showing you how to start off with a basic cup of ramen, or other similar cup of Asian noodles and turn it into a proper meal. This should probably be done the night before, although if you get up early enough, you don't have to. If you add enough vegetables, you can also turn one cup of noodles into two separate meals. 

This recipe is meant to buff up a single cup of ramen or other Asian noodle fast foods. If you want to just feed yourself, think about each vegetable in the list as "how much of this can I eat in one sitting" rather than "what exact amount do I need." 

Ingredients: 

Ramen (cup)

Canned Meat (chicken or pork works best, but you can make other varieties too!) 

carrots

chives

celery 

onion 

cabbage (Napa if possible) 

baby spinach

mushrooms 

garlic 

Sesame oil (or vegetable oil if you don't have any) 

hard boiled eggs

Seaweed for garnish

Sauce Options

Sriracha

Hoisin sauce

Fish sauce

Peanut sauce 

Start with your cup of noodles. Admire the foam cup. Now set it aside. You're not going to need that 'til the very end. 

Now, let's go back over to your ingredients. Start by chopping up your vegetables. 

The point here is to get your veggies into sizes that are going to give your ramen different textures and layers. 

For the carrots, you'll want to either slice them like matchsticks or on a diagonal into thin layers. 

For the chives, you'll want cut them into slices, no more than 1/4 inch in length. 

Moving on to celery, this one is up to preference. You can do a fine chop and just use it for garnish, or you can slice them diagonally into chunks about 1/2" in length.

Next up is your onion. Again, this is up to preference. We like to go for strips rather than cubes because it adds more flavor and texture. However, you also have the option to dice them into chunks and just use them to flavor the ramen. 

Moving on to cabbage and baby spinach. For both of these shredding them is the best way to go, and both options work. 

Mushrooms, depending on the variety, have all sorts of options, based on the texture you want. We like to leave them whole, but you can dice them, turn them into chunks or matchsticks, whatever you like. 

Now that you're done with your vegetables, go ahead and mince your garlic. 

Heat a pan and toss in about one tablespoon of oil. Bring it up to medium heat and toss in your carrots and garlic. Once your carrots have begun to soften, add in the onion and the mushrooms. Your onions will be your unofficial guide for when to move on to the next step. You want to wait until the onions are partially translucent, and then add in the cabbage, spinach, chives and celery. At this point, turn the heat up and stir constantly. Keep the vegetables moving as you work them around. You can also add in any spices you want. A good place to start is white pepper and sea salt. Once your vegetables are fully cooked, go ahead and turn off the heat. Set the pan to the side.

Now heat up some water and make the packaged ramen. While that is cooking, pull out the can of chicken or pork or whatever other protein you chose and crack that open. Make sure to remove any fats or liquids that naturally come about from the canning process (a quick rinse can also help if the meat tastes too much like the can it's been housed in). Use a fork to shred the meat, but don't remove it from the can just yet. 

Once your ramen is done cooking (usually about four minutes), dump it into a bowl and add all of your cooked veggies and the meat.  Toss in some sauce if you'd like, and garnish with some of that seaweed you totally didn't buy just for this recipe. Mix well and plate it up, for you or any other adventurous eaters. 

Now that you have the basic concept, take a look at the produce section next time you go to grocery store. What vegetables do they have that you could add in? Do they have any meats or seasonings that you could add to yours to make the dish taste better? It's fun to keep an eye out as you go through the store to see what combinations you can come up with, it also keeps lunch fresh and interesting. 

We hope you enjoyed this week's recipe, and that if you do try it, you'll let us know in the comments below or over on our Facebook page. 

Don't forget that we're not just looking out for your meals. We also want to look out for your home. In the event you need something fixed, or if you're just interested in regular maintenance for your appliances, ARS wants to be there for you. Whether you're in The Colony or Coppell, we aim to be the best appliance rescue service for you and your home.  You can always call us at ((214) 599-0055) or get hold of us via our website.

Blogger VS Professional Shopping Guide 2021 - The Professionals

This year, it’s all about the trends

Welcome back everyone! This is part two of our Blogger vs Professionals 2021 piece! Last time we showed you what our blogger would have picked if she could go shopping for an entirely new suite of appliances. That was based on the features of the different models,  and was meant to show off how the average consumer shops. This week we’re showing you what our professionals go for when they’re tasked with the same thing. 

Refrigerators 

Built-In  Refrigerator

Model: 42" Built-In Side-by-Side Refrigerator

Brand: Jenn-Air 

This first fridge is for you if you really like the look of everything being hidden away in your kitchen. The Jenn-Air is panel ready, for whatever look you’re wanting to attain in your kitchen. Not only is it wonderfully organized which makes life easier for you, but it also focuses on the important bits of a refrigerator. The Jenn-Air not only has specialized controls to ensure that the proper temperatures are always maintained, but they also have ethylene filters. These absorb the ethylene gas that fruits and vegetables produce to keep them fresher longer.  Our professionals love this fridge because it focuses on what a refrigerator is for, keeping your food accessible, cool and at peak ripeness. 

Stand Alone Refrigerator

Model: 19.9 Cu. Ft. Counter-Depth Side-by-Side Refrigerator in Black Stainless Steel

Brand: KitchenAid

This second refrigerator is for those of you that want to see your appliances for what they are. The KitchenAid is counter depth, and like its Jenn-Air counterpart is all about keeping your food fresher, longer. Like the Jenn-Air it has an ethylene filter. Unlike the Jenn-Air though it has two separate compressors, one for the fridge and one for the freezer. It also features a second filter intended to filter out odors from inside your fridge, for when you get to cooking something with very strong spices. 

Washer 

Model: 3.2 Cu. Ft. Top Load Electronic Washer in White

Brand: Speed Queen 

Our Professionals are still swearing by Speed Queen for washers and dryers this year. The washer this year however has a new interface system to make choosing the settings for your wash even easier.  It also has a solid steel drum which means not only is it gentler on your clothes than most, but the machine will also last longer. 

Dryer

Model: 7.0 Cu. Ft. Gas Dryer Classic Touch in White

Brand: Speed Queen 

The Speed Queen dryer has also received an upgraded control panel, but it also has sensors within it that allow you to select how dry you want a load to be. Do you prefer to iron your clothes  while they’re still slightly damp? This dryer lets you do that. 

Dishwashers

Family 

Model: 24" Built-In Bar Handle Dishwasher with FreeFlex 3rd Rack and LED Interior Light in PrintShield Stainless Steel

Brand:  KitchenAid

If you’ve got kids, you know just how many dishes you use up. This dishwasher gives you the space you need for all of them. Not only does it have a third rack for last minute dishes, it also has a flexible middle rack to fit whatever you’re washing. This model also has a sanitizing cycle and a microfiltration unit to constantly clean the water as the dishwasher is running. 

Single /Couples

Model: 24" Professional Built-In Double Drawer Dishwasher in Stainless Steel

Brand: Fisher and Paykel

If on the other hand you’re single living on your own, or a couple without kids at home, you might not need something as large as the KitchenAid. Instead, our professionals have suggested this Fisher and Paykel model. This model can either come as a single unit, allowing you to just have the dish compartment, or as a double drawer. The double drawer option lets you choose as you need whether to run both drawers simultaneously or to run just one at time. You could have one for dishes, and one for pots and pans. 

Wall Oven

Model: 30" Combination Wall Oven 

Brand: KitchenAid 

For wall ovens our professionals only had one suggestion and that was KitchenAid. “There really isn’t a better one that we can recommend. It’s a hard working oven that does what it’s meant to, while still having a few special features.”  The lowe oven is a convection oven, while the upper is a microwave oven. If you want to do a lot of baking, use the lower oven for  for perfect baking. If you’re short on time for making dinner, that’s when the microwave oven shines. It also has a temperature probe so that you can ensure that you what you set the oven to is what it really is. 

Range 

Model:5.8 Cu. Ft. Slide-In Gas Range

Brand:  KitchenAid

Just like the wall oven, the gas ranges had one standout winner for our professionals. Another KitchenAid, this slide in range is built to impress. With 5 burners, a steam rack and a built in steam cleaning system the team agreed that this was the best. 

Whichever models you go for, you can know that these are the ones that our professionals approved with you in mind. We want to keep your homes running smoothly, whether that means fixing your old appliances or helping you find the best new ones.  We at ARS are always keeping our clients all over the Dallas area in mind. You can call us at ((214) 599-0055) or reach out to us via our website. 

Which ones do you think you’d like? Do you like the Professionals version or the Blogger? Let us know in the comments below or over on our Facebook page. 

Breakfast Apple Oat Cake

The Perfect Get-Going Food For A Winter Morning

By now, your winter break is probably over. That means the kids are back to school, too. We aren't sure about your house, but in this house, we're all slow to get moving on cold weather mornings. That lag often translates into running late for school, hurrying to work, and forgetting a decent breakfast.

Even if your kids are remote or hybrid learners in the ever changing school landscape that is so common this year, they're not freed from the constraints of having to get out of bed on time; most schools are tracking attendance based on what time they log in! The remote learners just have a shorter commute - from wherever they sleep to wherever the computer is kept.

Clearly this whole winter situation wasn't designed to be easy. Who really wants to get up before the sun when it's freezing out? You need something tasty to look forward to in the mornings - something that you can prepare ahead of time, and just grab and go during your busy out the door rush.

We think you might just need our special apple oat cake. It's full of fruit and grain, and it even has a little boost of protein from the addition of some nuts. (That extra protein is to help you stay feeling full.) It's also low in sugar, so you won't get that wilted sugar-crash feeling like a bowl of cereal or a muffin sometimes leaves you with.

You can bake it in an eight inch round pan and cut it up into soft triangles, or you can spread it in a thin layer on a rimmed sheet pan and cut it into crispier bars. You can keep it simple and make it the same way we did, or you can jazz it up with goodies like maple syrup or chocolate chips. Experiment with it and find what you like!

Ingredients

2 cups oats (quick cooking or old fashioned are fine, but NOT steel-cut)

1 cup unsweetened apple sauce

2 eggs

1/2 cup (one stick) butter or margarine, melted and cooled

1/4 cup sugar

2 tablespoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup sliced almonds, chopped walnuts or peanuts

1/4 cup dried berries or raisins

Tools

Mixing bowls, whisk or fork, measuring cups, spoon, pan (8 inch round or 13 by 9 inch sheet), aluminum foil

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350.

Mix together your oats and applesauce in the mixing bowl. Add your salt and baking powder and stir until both are incorporated.

Stir in your sugar, cinnamon, nuts and berries. Feel free to add other goodies here, too, like a spoonful of honey or some favorite spices.

In another bowl, whisk your two eggs lightly. We'll be adding them to the first bowl at the same time as the melted butter or margarine, so make sure you've let the heat come back down some on the butter/margarine. The last thing we want to do is end up with scrambled eggs in oats. (Certainly someone out there must like eggs and oatmeal, but we don't think they go together too well.)

Mix your whisked eggs and melted butter into the first bowl and stir thoroughly.

Line your pan with aluminum foil to help make sure everything comes out in one piece and can be cut up neatly, rather than coming out of the pan in misshapen lumps of varying sizes.

Pour your oat mixture (we hesitate to call this a batter, as it's quite thick and rather lumpy) into the pan you prepared. Smooth it down with a spoon and nudge it into the corners or up to the edges of the pan - it won't spread very much on its own.

Once it's nice and level in the pan, place it in the oven on the middle rack. For a round pan, it should take about 40 minutes. If you used a sheet pan, cut that time down to about 25 minutes and check it frequently to avoid burning the bottom or edges.

Once a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, and the center of the cake looks solid and lightly browned, it's ready to come out of the oven.

Allow it to cool for eight to 10 minutes before using the aluminum foil to lift it up from the pan and place it on the counter. Cut into slices or bars, whichever you like.

Store in an airtight Tupperware, wrapped in plastic wrap, or wrapped in aluminum foil. They'll keep up to four days at room temperature. Alternatively, you can freeze them, and then pop them in the toaster oven in the morning. They're pretty tasty if lightly toasted and buttered or drizzled with melted peanut butter.

Sure, it's not quite as alluring as visiting the local drive through, but it's more convenient! And it might make you feel a little better about your progress on those new years resolutions. Let us know what you’re planning for year ahead over on our Facebook page, or in the comments below. 

If your appliances are giving you fits, don’t forget that we’re here to help. Whether you need someone to take a look at your oven, or you just want some maintenance tips for your dryer, we aim to be the best. For you and all of our clients in the Coppell area, Appliance Rescue Service is just a call or click away. 

Call us at (214) 599-0055

Caring for Your Countertops

How to clean and care for your countertops, whatever the material.

Have you ever accidentally left something on the counter overnight and woke to find a stain? Then, no matter what you do, that stain just won’t come up. It’s one of the most frustrating things. We’re here to help. This week we’re diving into 6 of the most common types of countertops and how to clean and care for them. 

Concrete

Concrete is a relative newcomer to the countertop arena. It’s heavy and complicated in terms of installation. However, the various ways that it can be customized with texture and acid staining make it worth it for some homeowners. It is also heat and scratch resistant. The biggest  downside is that concrete is naturally porous. In order to care for it, you need to seal it regularly, or every one to three years. 

For cleaning, what you need isn’t difficult.  You’ll need a sponge, dish soap, water, rubbing alcohol, a spray bottle and a dish towel. Start off by cleaning the counters from any small appliances, or crumbs. Then using just regular soap, water and a sponge to scrub the counter down. Rinse the sponge and wipe it down to remove the bubbles and gunk. Once you’ve gotten the counter clean mix ¼ cup rubbing alcohol to 2 cups of water in your spray bottle. Spray them down, wait for 3 minutes and then wipe them down with the dish towel. The point here is to disinfect the counters after they’ve been cleaned. 

Granite

Granite is THE countertop material if price isn’t something you’re concerned about. It’s strong and durable, with almost 3000 colors and types available for you to choose from. The downside to it is that it is still a porous stone that requires sealing to avoid stains. Unlike concrete, a resealing schedule isn’t a ‘schedule’ so much as ‘when you see it needs it.’ You should be looking at the color and porosity of the granite to determine how often you have to do it. Most of the time, that’s going to be between 1-5 years. 

Cleaning granite is much the same as cleaning concrete. However, it can get stubborn stains. These can be removed using a razor. You’ll want to try this after you’ve cleaned down the counter to the best of your abilities. Lay the edge of the blade on the counter and scrape away at the built up gunk. Once you’ve gotten rid of it, wipe down the counter again with a sponge and soapy water.

Marble

This beautiful stone is  gorgeous to look at, but a pain in the neck to maintain! It has a penchant to scratch and stain, because of how pale most marbles are. Fortunately there are newer sealers that can slightly curtail these issues if they are applied on a regular schedule. Marble has the shortest resealing time at every 3-6 months. However there are sealant sprays that you can make use of on a monthly basis that make the process much easier.
Cleaning marble however is easy to do and just takes a sponge and some soapy water. 

Soapstone

Soapstone has a very recent reappearance in the countertop arena, having previously been deemed too dark. It is a very attractive alternative to granite in that it takes on a patina over time that is gorgeous. It must be treated regularly with mineral oil. The reapplication process is easy  enough, and is determined by how often you cook in your kitchen. Some people might need to reapply it every month, while others might manage every three.  

Cleaning soapstone is easy and a sponge with soapy water will usually do the trick. If you have something really stuck on there you can use something like Ajax or Comet, or a ny other standard household cleaner. 

Laminate

Laminate is one of the most affordable options on our list, and also the easiest to clean. Laminate doesn’t stain anywhere near as easily as some of the other options on our list. However,it can be scratched or chipped, so we don’t advise cutting directly on your laminate countertops. When it comes to cleaning, the most difficult spot might be the seams where the backsplash and the counter meet. Food can get into them and be a pain to get back out. We advise carefully taking a razor blade to them to clean out any debris and built-up gunk. 

Butcher Block

If you want the look of wood,  but something a bit heftier, go for  butcher block. It’s easy to clean and lasts for an age if properly looked after. It can be cut or scratched by knive. Water and stains can also do damage over time. However, these damages can be sanded out and resealed as needed. Much like soapstone, butcher block does need to be oiled regularly. However with butcher block, it’s a standard of once a month at minimum. This is to prevent your lovely butcher block from drying out and cracking. 

Those are six of the most common  countertop varieties and how you go about caring for them. Which type do you have? Did we miss something important about caring for those we listed? Do you have any questions about a type we didn’t cover? Let us know in the comments below or over on our Facebook page. 

Don’t forget that while you’re caring for your counters, we want to help care for your appliances. So whether it’s in your kitchen or your laundry room, we’re here to help. We aim to be the best in appliance repair for Addison and the surrounding areas. If you need help, we’re here for you. You can get hold of us via phone ((214) 599-0055) or via our website to schedule an appointment. 

Blogger VS Professional Shopping Guide 2021

This year, it’s all about the trends. 

This time last year we had two groups go through shopping for new appliances, our Blogger and our Professionals. We’re doing it again this year with a few minor changes.Like last year we’re going to have two different posts, with our Blogger doing her shopping and our Professionals doing theirs. However,  we’ve brought in three different types  of ranges. Given that new technologies are becoming more prevalent in the market and in the homes of our clients, we wanted to give a wider range of choices.

We will point out that due to the chaos that was 2020, we are still under an appliance shortage. So while we wholeheartedly like the appliances we bring up, your ability to get them right this minute, might be questionable.

Refigerators

Model: 25.8 Cu. Ft. 36" Multi-Door Freestanding Refrigerator with Platinum Interior Design

Brand: Kitchen Aid

Do we need to point out the obvious on this one? It has five doors! One of which is entirely dedicated to preserving vegetables and herbs, while the other small one is able to be switched between multiple different options based on what you need. It’s not limited to just fruits or veggies, but also has settings for meats & cheeses, and thawing or marinating. I think that would be especially useful if you do a lot of meal prep.

We also want to point out that it’s almost 26 cubic feet of storage space on the interior. That is a lot of space for a lot of food. 

Model: Benchmark® Built-in Bottom Freezer Refrigerator36''

Brand: Bosch

Well engineered is the byline for Bosch in my opinion. That don’t have a huge list of features, but what they do have, works. ` Their freezers have a SuperCool feature to rapidly return the freezer to normal temperatures after you open it up. It also can connect to your phone to give you messages alerting you to issues with your fridge like leaving a door open. Not to mention, this one proves a point we made last year that you’re going to start to see wood paneled (or imitation) appliances for your home. 

Model: LG SIGNATURE 23 cu. ft. Smart wi-fi Enabled InstaView™ Door-in-Door® Counter-Depth Refrigerator

Brand: LG 

I have to be honest, this one is my favorite, and I was sorely tempted to go home with the model that my local store had on hand. I have dogs that love to lay in front of my fridge and this solves that problem 90% of the time. I can get a drink or a snack without having to make them move. Everyone wins. 

On top of that, it keeps the ability to look inside the fridge as well, so you’re still cutting down on the ‘staring at the fridge with the door open and your electric bill going up.

So out of the refrigerators, LG gets my vote, even if it is a little smaller in terms of interior size.

Dishwashers

Model: GE Profile™ Top Control with Stainless Steel Interior Dishwasher with Sanitize Cycle & Twin Turbo Dry Boost

Brand: GE

GE got this one right, it’s that simple. They offer a steam and sanitize cycle as well as a food pulverizer for any bits that are left on your plates. It’s wonderful and I’m pretty sure it could handle anything I could throw at it, whether that’s cleaning up after babysitting all of the nieces and nephews, or having a party for 20. 

Model: 44 dBA Dishwasher in PrintShield™ Finish with FreeFlex™ Third Rack

Brand: KitchenAid

Although this model isn’t particularly quiet at 44db, it does have several advantages that I liked the sound of. It has a microfiltration unit that works throughout the wash cycle, which KitchenAid claims allows you to wash dirty pots and delicate glasses together. It also ‘ProWash’ cycle that monitors the amount of dirt in a cycle and adjusts the amount of water needed on that. To me, anything that is going to cut down on a water bill gets my vote. 

Model: Benchmark® Dishwasher24'' SHV89PW73N

Brand: Bosch 

Something I haven’t seen in any other dishwasher is what caught me on this one. “AquaStop® Plus 4-Part leak protection system prevents water damage 24/7.” Given some of the horror stories we’ve seen of floors getting damaged due to a faulty dishwasher, this one had me. It’s also even quieter than the one we showed last year at 38 db. It has an adjustable top rack, and a light that lets you know if your dishwasher is running. Why? I’m not entirely certain. But hey. I suppose if you run your dishwasher in the middle of the night and aren’t certainif it’s running or not, it might be useful. This model also comes with the paneling in the image so that it fits in with your existing cabinetry. 

Ranges

Model: GE Profile™ 30" Smart Slide-In Electric Double Oven Convection Fingerprint Resistant Range

Brand: GE 

This one, as the model info says is an electric range. What caught my eye though was the fact that it is a double oven, with built in Air Fryer, and it is a convection oven. 

The one thing I’m.. iffy on is that it can be upgraded by GE with “the latest features, like new Air Fry modes, with downloadable upgrades.” If you’re a tech wizard or love having the most up to date appliances, this one is for you. Me, I’m intrigued by it, but not so certain I want my oven to need downloadable features. 

Model: 30" Smart Slide-In, Front-Control, Induction and Convection Range with Warming Drawer 

Brand: Cafe 

This might be the first oven that comes with a guided class. I could be wrong, and no I’m not talking about the manual. One of the things the pamphlet talked about for Cafe’s induction oven was their “Gourmet Guided Cooking.” It combines video-guided recipes from a chef, and the range automatically adjusts based on which recipe you’re doing. It feels very Jetson-y to me. Another feature is that with the induction element you can boil a quart of water in 101 seconds. Or, if you’re like me and enjoy measuring time in minutes, that’s 1 minute and 41 seconds. But I admit it is more eye catching to say 101 seconds. 

Model: ZLINE 36” Dual Fuel- Gas Range/Electric Oven (RA36)

Brand: ZLine 

I will admit, I’d never heard of ZLine before walking into my local store. However, seeing their freestanding range was wonderful. It’s a very eye catching and appealing design. 

They offer custom options for the doors and burners, as well as the fact that this is a professional grade range. It has 6 gas burners and dual induction ovens. 

Washers

Model: GE® 4.8 cu. ft. Capacity Smart Front Load ENERGY STAR® Washer with UltraFresh Vent System with OdorBlock™ and Sanitize w/Oxi

Brand: GE 

Being totally honest I hate it when my washing machine starts to get that weird smell. This washer gets rid of that. Between the vent with odor block and the antimicrobial tech built into the drum of the washer, I love this thing. It also has the ability to auto balance your load if you’re like me and just toss your laundry in there. (I swear I haven’t broken any of my washers by doing this.) This model was also one of the few on the floor that was actually endorsed by Good Housekeeping. So if you trust their rating system, that’s a vote in GE’s favor? 

Model: 5.0 cu. ft. Mega Capacity Smart wi-fi Enabled Front Load Washer with TurboWash™ 360° and Built-In Intelligence

Brand: LG 

Since this post, like last year, is supposed to be about the things that catch my eye, this one was right on there. ‘Built In Intelligence, how does that one work?” was all I could wonder. Don’t worry, it’s not iRobot. The idea is that the washer is capable of selecting the right setting for the job, but you can still override it if you prefer to do it yourself. LG also gives you a built in steam option which I absolutely love, because it removes 95% of allergens and pet dander. 

 They also have a second smaller washer.  Which, I know, is technically optional, but I also I know I am not the only one who would has days when I go “Oh no! I need to wash this one outfit for an event I forgot about.”

We know that you’re wondering where the dryers are. Since we just covered them a few weeks ago, we’re going to point you there to get a look at 9 different dryers at 3 different price points instead of repeating ourselves. 

That’s it for me this week folks! I hope you’ve enjoyed yourselves and seeing what mischief I could get up to this year! I hope to see you back later this month when we’ll see what our professionals have to say on the matter. 

Remember, if you live in The Colony or the surrounding area and your appliances are on the fritz, Appliance Rescue Service are the people to call. You can get help either by calling them at ((214) 599-0055) or by setting up an appointment at their website.