Sausage Bread to Get You Rolling

Or Something To Eat While We Hide From the Cold

We're taking a look at a delicious, grab-and-go dinner that's great for parties. Looking through our recipes, we were thinking about something that would work best for the Superbowl parties that people are already planning. This sausage bread is great for just that, as you can make several of them now, and freeze them ahead of time to be ready for the game. 

This recipe comes in two parts. The first, is for making sweet Italian sausage because it is remarkably difficult to find in the Dallas area. The second is for the delicious sausage bread that is going to have you making the sausage on a regular basis. 

Ingredients for Sweet Italian Sausage: 

3 lbs ground pork

3 Tbsp red wine vinegar

1 ¼ Tbsp dried parsley

1 Tbsp garlic powder

1 Tbsp onion powder

1 Tbso dried basil

1 tsp salt

1 Tbsp freshly cracked black pepper

2 tsp paprika

2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes, or to taste

¾ tsp ground fennel seed

¼ tsp brown sugar

⅛ tsp dried oregano

⅛ tsp dried thyme

Ingredients for the Sausage Rolls:  

2 Tbsp olive oil, plus more for brushing 

1 pound sweet Italian sausage 

4 ounces Genoa salami 

2 cups shredded whole milk mozzarella (roughly 8 ounces) 

Vegetable oil cooking spray

flour for the work surface

Oregano - for the surface

minced garlic - for the surface 

frozen pizza dough (not the premade crusts, the actual dough is what you want here. Alternatively, you can make your own dough.) 

Recipe: 

For making the sausage, add the pork and vinegar to a large bowl and then sprinkle the spices all over the top. Scrub down your hands and, if you like, put on some gloves. Mix the pork until the spices are thoroughly incorporated throughout the pork. Divide the pork into one-pound sections. Put one pound aside for the recipe, and the other two into separate freezer bags. These will freeze for 6-12 months and can be used for many different recipes. 

Now let’s move on to making the actual sausage roll.

-Start by preheating your oven to 340* F. Nope it's not a typo. It works for this recipe. 

- Heat the olive oil in a medium saute pan over medium-high heat, add the sausage and cook until brown, 12-15 minutes, breaking it up as it cooks. 

- Using a slotted spoon, transfer the sausage to a medium bowl and let cool. Once cool, add the salami and mozzarella, mixing with your hands. 

- Spray a half-sheet pan with cooking spray.  

-On a floured surface, roll out your dough into one long 18 x 6 inch oval. Brush the dough with olive oil and sprinkle the sausage mixture all over. Make sure to leave a 1-inch wide perimeter uncovered, as that will be important later. 

- Gently stretch one long side of the dough and fold it so that it covers half the mixture. Tuck in the short ends to trap all that meat inside and roll it onto itself so the seam of the dough is on the bottom. (Think of it like making cinnamon rolls, instead of like making a burrito.) 

-Carefully and gently transfer the log to the prepared sheet pan and curve it into a slight crescent. (You want it to look more like a ( and less like a C .) Poke holes along the top with a fork to release the steam while it's cooking. Brush the top of the bread with a mixture of melted butter and sprinkle with oregano and garlic. 

- Pop the bread into the oven and cook for 20 minutes. At this point, the top should be lightly brown. 

Let it rest for 10 minutes, and then slice it into 1-inch rounds. 

-You can actually freeze this one up to 2 months in advance. For that you'll follow all of the steps up until you transfer it to the prepared sheet. Instead, you'll wrap the roll in tin foil and then tightly wrap that in plastic wrap. When you're ready to eat, thaw it completely at room temperature for 3 hours, remove the plastic wrap and bake it still wrapped in the foil at 350*F for 15 minutes. 

You can serve this with bolognese sauce, ranch or anything else you might put on top of your pizza. Personally, your blogger is fond of ranch. Let us know on the Facebook page what you serve yours with!

If you're here because you need help with your oven, we can help! We're here to help with all sorts of major appliances, and your oven probably shouldn't be smoking. You can reach out to us by giving us a call at ((214) 599-0055) or by heading to our contact page. We'll work with you to set up an appointment that works best with your schedule. At Appliance Rescue Service, our goal is to get your home running smoothly again.  

Photo by Midget Momma

Top Tips for Achieving Coastal Decor

 Let’s Get Beachy!

The coast is something that calls to many of us, the warm sand, the cool, crashing waves, and the salty air. However, not all of us can live on the coast, for one reason or another. When that is the case, coastal decor can be a next best thing. If that’s what you’re craving, check out our tips for how to decorate your home in coastal decor and bring out the place you love. 

Start with the colors

Bring in the colors of the coast you’re thinking of.
Is it the white shores and pale green waters you long for? 

Or do you love the iron sky, deep stormy blues and beige of the Atlantic? 

Or maybe it’s the tropical colors of coral reefs and bright fish that you love? 

Whatever it is, build up your color palette first. This is going to be what you work from for building your space. Many look to beiges, warm grey, ivory, and white for walls and trim and then bring in dusty blues and greens. We say, find a few photos of the ocean that you love and build from there. After all, it’s 2023! Who says you can’t paint your walls or door a stunning blue or a vibrant coral? No one. Certainly not us. 

 Keep Your Curtains Light 

By this, we mean both in terms of color and, just as importantly, fabric. 

Whether you live on the coast or just wish you did, light curtains are a must. The floaty fabric serves multiple colors. It helps to allow air in when you’re trying to coax a breeze in. It also keeps a room bright and open if you chose to go with darker wall colors

Credit: Wayfair

Go For Hardwood Floors

    Or at least the appearance of them 

Whether you choose hardwood, bamboo, vinyl or a good sticker, the look is key. You can evoke sandy beaches and driftwood by choosing the right flooring in color or texture. Alternatively, you could go for more of a ship or pier feeling with darker stained wood. 

Textures! 

Keep furniture as smooth long lines. Then for storage, side tables and the like, bring in textures. Rope baskets, rattan accents, white-washed ceiling beams. Doing this gives you freedom to play, without having to replace large pieces. 

It doesn’t have to be cluttered

You don’t have to have knickknacks everywhere in order to make a room coastal. YOu can choose tight, focused decor to get the idea across or you can choose furniture and accents that do the same.  It’s not just rass bells, anchors and signs proclaiming “beach life.” 

Other decoration ideas: 

Bottles in blues, greens and browns on a high shelf. 

-Throws that work with the color scheme you’ve chosen. 

-Maps of all sorts, especially ones that show oceans, currents or islands. 

-3D printed coral 

     Getting it 3D printed means it will not only make it last longer but it will also not contribute to the death of coral reefs. 

-Driftwood

-Mirrors to bring in the light and airy feeling of the room. 

Credit: Wayfair

Paint Your Kitchen Island 

It might sound odd, but your kitchen island can be another wall to show off your color palette. And if you choose to paint it blue, you can make a very quiet ‘island’ pun, without ever saying a word. 

Don’t be afraid to get creative 

 Take ‘traditional’ concepts of coastal decor, and find ways to work them into your space in new and creative ways. 

• Use a pattern that mimics a rope net, like houndstooth in a brown or beige color, against a black or blue background. 

•  Take colors from your palette and use them in an unexpected place, like a set of airy coral curtains around your bed. 

• Your planters can add to the look as well. You might not be able to grow coastal plants in the DFW area, but you can paint your planters in shades that reflect the beachscape. 

Credit: The Nursery

What are your opinions on coastal decor? Are you interested in using it in your own home? Have you already? Let us know that or your favorite tip over on our Facebook page, or in the comments below! 

If it’s not ‘beach,’ you’re thinking of but instead ‘waterfall’ as in “my washer overflowed and ruined my laundry room,” we can help. At Appliance Rescue Service, if you’re struggling with your washer and dryer, we’re here for you. Whether you’re looking for someone to fix that washer-based waterfall, or your dryer is squeaking so loud you thought you had a seagull, we’ll figure it out. We’ll work with you not just to find a date and time, but also to find what the problem is and make sure that you’re satisfied. You can reach out to us via our contact page or by giving us a call at ((214) 599-0055) to set up an appointment today.

Viva Magenta! Pantone Color of the Year 2023

A Showstopping Color That Gives Rise to Bold Expression and Comfort Simultaneously

It's that time of year, when everyone is excited about the new Color of the Year from Pantone.  Pantone influences many different fields including beauty, marketing, and most importantly to us, home decor and design.  

Before we show off the new color though, how does Pantone choose the color? Just how did they decide?  According to Laurie Pressman, the Vice President of Pantone Color Institute, "To arrive at the selection each year, this global team of color experts at the Pantone Color Institute comb the world looking for new color influences. This can include the entertainment industry and films in production, traveling art collections and new artists, fashion, all areas of design, aspirational travel destinations, new lifestyles, playstyles or enjoyable escapes as well as socio-economic conditions. Influences may also stem from new technologies, materials, textures and effects that impact color, relevant social media platforms and even upcoming sporting events that capture worldwide attention." Pantone created a color language that everyone across many different industries can use to ensure that everyone knows exactly what color they're talking about, and more importantly how to replicate it. They also do research across many different cultures to  find how and why colors affect us the way they do. All of this together means that they are very good at choosing colors. 

What Is The Color? 

Credit: Pantone

All of that said, this year's color is a showstopper. This year's color is Viva Magenta! (18-1750) A vibrant and stunning red that according to Pantone "encourages experimentation and self-expression without restraint." It is a balanced tone between warm and cool colors. Viva Magenta is a modern color for the Post-Pandemic world but one that is deeply rooted in the past.

What Does It Draw Inspiration From? 

Viva Magenta is a riff on carmine red. This is one of the most expensive and valued dyes of the natural world. It comes from cochineal insects, and their shells. Hundreds of thousands of these beetles would be collected and ground up in order to create the color, for dyes and paints. Carmine was once a major export from the Americas, and is again a rising economy in that portion of the world. 

What Colors Does It Pair Well With? 

Apartment Therapy (one of our favorite places to look for trends) put together four different palettes that they feel Viva Magenta would work well with. The first, called Resonance, is a sumptuous selection of colors that give a very rich and elegant feel to a room. Looking at them, they make us think of soft velvets, a warm fire, and a glass of wine. The second, titled Ignite, is all soft hues that Viva Magenta splashes into the middle of. If you're usually one for calmer, more relaxed environs, this might be the palette for you. The third palette is one aptly named, Family Ties. This is a palette built around the shades both brighter and darker than Viva Magenta, pinks, reds, maroons, and a soft red-grey color that we didn't think we could like and have been surprised. This one brings to mind the dining room and kitchen, with warm tones that evoke friendship, family, and community. The final palette is one titled Equilibrium, and while the other palettes have had Viva Magenta as the star, this one balances the color with others of equal vibrancy. This one is all about rich hues in very tropical tones with two softer colors to keep it from exploding into a riot.  

(Credit: Apartment Therapy)

All four of these palettes are only the beginning of what we expect to see over the next year, or more, as people play and experiment with this color. If you've already got ideas, why not show it off on our Facebook? 

Places It Might Look Good Around The Home

We think that Viva Magenta can be great just about anywhere, depending on how you balance it. If you've got a room that needs a bit more pop to it, throw in a few blankets and pieces of decor. If you're looking for something louder, try painting a wall or painting the trim in it. We could also see this as a way to paint your ceiling if you're not wanting to change up the walls but still want to add some heat to a room. There are SO many different ways that this beautiful red could fit into the home that we aren't really seeing a place where it wouldn't fit. 

An interesting side note for those of you who enjoy speculation on colors. Originally many suspected that the color Digital Lavender was going to be this year's color.  While many experts, including MSN & Architecture Digest both, reported early on this was the color, it ended up not being the case. We will say that the calmer grey-hued lavender is a very nice color, but we find that Viva Magenta is very fitting for this year and the hopes that many are bringing into the year.  

What about you? What are your thoughts on Pantone's color of the year? Will you be bringing it into your decorating? Your furniture?What about your appliances? Let us know in the comments below or over on our Facebook page. 

If, on the other hand, you're more worried about the health of your appliances rather than what color they are, we can still help with that. Reach out to us on our contact page or by giving us a call at ((214) 599-0055). We'll work with you to find a time and date that work for your schedule and send one of our experts out on the day you choose. At Appliance Rescue Service, our goal is to get your home running smoothly again. 

Lasagna Roll Up For New Year’s Eve

When You’re Wanting To Impress, This Is The Dish! 

For many of us New Year’s Eve is a great time to test out new recipes or ones that we want to show off. This recipe is a bit of both. It looks gorgeous and it tastes even better, while still being a warm and filling meal great for a get together of friends and family. We’re making a lasagna roll up that will impress people with your ingenuity as well as getting them to ask for the recipe. 

Ingredients

For the sauce:

3 tbsp olive oil

¾ C pancetta, cubed

1 onion, finely chopped

3 garlic cloves, crushed

2 ⅓ C packed ground beef

2 ⅓ C packed ground pork

7 Tbsp milk

2 x  16oz cans chopped tomatoes

2 bay leaves

1 rosemary sprig (or 1 tsp dried) 

2 thyme sprigs 

2 tsp dried oregano

1 beef stock cube

2 C red wine

For the bechamel:

4 Tbsp butter

4 Tbsp  all-purpopse flour

 3 generous cups of milk

½ C mozzarella, grated

½ C parmesan, grated

Nutmeg -to taste

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

For the assembly:

6-8  sheets flat, al dente lasagna (the crinkled variety makes this recipe incredibly difficult) 

¾ C grated provolone, grated

½ C mozzarella, grated

½ C parmesan

Instructions:

For the sauce: Put the oil and pancetta in a large saucepan on medium (a Dutch oven is a great option). Gently cook until the pancetta is crispy and golden. Add the onion and turn the heat down, cooking for about 10 minutes until the onion is softened. Then add the garlic and cook for a further 3 minutes. It should be a wonderfully aromatic mix at this point. 

Next, add in your ground beef and pork, breaking down the meat with the back of a wooden spoon or a spatula. Then add the milk and chopped tomatoes to the pot. Stir in the bay leaves, rosemary, thyme, oregano, beef stock cube, and wine, and bring to a simmer.

Courtesy of Bake Your Day

Cover with a lid and cook for 1 hr, occasionally stirring to stop the bottom scalding. Then remove the lid and gently simmer for another 30 mins-1 hr until the meat is tender and the sauce has thickened. Taste and season, then set aside to cool with the lid off. 

For the bechamel sauce: Melt the butter in a medium saucepan, and once melted, add the flour and mix in. Right here is one of the keys to French cooking, making a roux. The important part is the next step. Cook the flour and butter mix for 2 minutes to cook out the raw flavor of the flour. Stir in the milk, a little at a time – adding milk slowly to avoid lumps. A whisk is best here to fully incorporate everything. 

When all the milk is fully mixed in, bring the sauce to a simmer, constantly stirring until thickened. Do not let it come to a boil. Now stir in the cheeses and a good grating of nutmeg. Remove from the heat and set aside. 

It needs to cook for a minute or so longer, but this is the color your bechemel should be.

Preheat your oven to 400*F, and get ready to put everything together. 

To assemble: Lay a large piece of baking parchment on top of a large baking sheet. Lay the lasagna sheets on top of the baking sheet so that they are touching, and top with ½ of the provolone and ½ of the mozzarella. Place this under the broiler for 2 minutes to melt the cheese and form the lasagne into a single sheet. 

Once the cheese has melted, it’s time to add the filling. Using a slotted spoon, scoop the solids from your sauce and transfer that to the lasagna. Spread the sheet of lasagne with the meat sauce and drizzle over a little of the bechamel sauce, then add the last of the grated parmesan. Roll the whole thing up like a swiss roll and place it into a dish large enough to fit it. Pour over the remaining bechamel sauce and sprinkle with the remaining provolone and mozzarella. Place into the oven for 30 minutes, then remove and sprinkle the last of the Parmesan over the top. Slice the roll to show off your beautiful work, and impress your guests! 

What did you think? Will you be trying this one out for New Years Eve? Let us know in the comments below or over on our Facebook page. As always, we love to hear from you! 

If you're more interested in getting our help with your recalcitrant appliances, we can do that too. Just reach out to us via our contact page or by giving us a call at ((214) 599-0055), and we'll work with you to set up a time and date to send one of our expert technicians to get your home back in order. At Appliance Rescue Service, getting your home running smoothly again is our top priority. 

Christmas Gifts We Won't Be Giving

This year or next, these gifts just don’t work.

Have you ever read a list of gifts that no one wanted? No? Neither had we. We’ve seen all sorts of “Best of XXXX Gifts For Everyone On Your List”, “X Gifts Everyone Will Love” etc.” But who thinks about the gifts you shouldn’t give? This year, we did. We hope you find them as amusing to consider as we did. 

Weird Food-Based Sodas

 Weird Food-Based Sodas

Sometimes people love getting a sampler pack to try something new. Sometimes people enjoy weird flavors. BUT drinking sodas of questionable food based flavors? Ranch soda? Bacon soda? No, we’re good.

Blooming Tea Sampler Sets 

If someone likes tea, they aren't going to want just a few cups and for this price, you can get them tea that tastes much better. 

Christmas Tree Dress

We've seen a LOT of questionable outfits. Many of them that are supposed to be attractive. Elf on the Shelf. The Grinch, Santa's Hairy Chest. The list goes on far longer than we want to admit. However, this one is entirely modest but somehow even more horrifying. Not only does it have present 'shoes' but it also has tinsel that you're going to be finding everywhere for the next year. We just... we cannot condone that this one even exists let alone that someone would give it as a gift. 

One Pound of Powdered Cheese

 While we do agree that prepackaged pasta hardly ever gives you enough cheese, this isn't a gift, unless you're giving it to a college student. 

A Jerky Bouquet 

We actually llve this idea, but who sends a bouquet for Christmas? Wait till Valentine's Day when you can tell them you love them as much as they love jerky. 

Basic Socks 

We're not talking about the cool ones that show off or support their interests. We're talking about basic, plain, bought them in packs of 10-20 low thread count socks.

Beard Ornaments

Beard ornaments. Beardments? Last we checked the majority of men don't like having things tug on their beards. Doors, zippers, sweaters, children, it is generally a painful feeling. So adding things intentionally to your beard, that is also going to get caught on things and tug at your face, just seems like asking for trouble to us? 

A Food Storage Set 

Unless they've been drooling over it for months, it just isn't worth it as a gift. They're awesome and practical, but as a 'Christmas gift' instead of a 'just thinking of you gift' we wouldn't suggest it. 

Any Type Of Cleaning Products 

Just, avoid this one, at all costs. Unless it's tied to something specific like "hey I found this miracle product to save your favorite leather coat!" This is just asking for trouble. 

Mini Food Makers

Let's be clear here. We're not talking about 'small' waffle makers and the like. We're talking about the ones that only make a waffle the size of a small coffee cup and inevitably burn out. Even more frustrating, how often do you want just one thin waffle or one tiny donut? And shrinking down a recipe that small means it never tastes quite right either. 

A Toaster

Who…. Who thought one of the single most utilitarian kitchen tools would make a good gift? Really? In general we discourage gifting of cooking appliances. Tools? Spices? Yes and yes! But appliances? Not so much. 

A Pasta Timer

On one hand if they're a big fan of puns or the Godfather franchise, this could go over well. On the other hand. Have /you/ ever tried telling someone their pasta is overdone? No? We don't advise it.

Cat Butt Tissue Holder

Unless they’re really into gag gifts or cats, this one isn’t likely to go over well. Not everyone is into toilet humor.

Dip and Fry Holders for Their Car 

We’re just not following on this one. They’re useful, sure. But do you want to tell someone that they don’t matter?  We can't even pretend this is great for an office White Elephant, it just.. it doesn't seem like a gift. 

Mouse

Wine Bottle Stopper That Looks Like A

Some people love wine. Some people also love cats. There are also people who love wine AND cats. (We hope that's not a shocking revelation.) However, we can't imagine that having your cat trying to get the stopper out of your wine bottle and either smashing the bottle or dumping it all over the floor is going to be a gift many people want. 

What did you think? Would you want any of these gifts? Do you have more horrible ones that you wouldn’t want, or wish you hadn’t gotten? Let us know over on our Facebook page or in the comments below. As always we love to hear from you! 

Disclaimer, this post is meant in good fun, and we admit that for every item on here there is almost certainly going to be at least one person who will purchase it. 

If you’re here not to gift appliances but because you need help with yours, we’re here for you! At Appliance Rescue Service our goal is to get your home running smoothly again. Whether you’re fighting with your oven or you need help with your dishwasher, we’ve got you covered. You can reach out to us via our contact page or by giving us a call at ((214) 599-0055). We’ll work with you to find a time and date that works for you and send one of our technicians to work with you until you’re satisfied.