Tag: cooking

Cooking Resolutions You Can Make to Change Your Life

Posted on by butlervetinsurance

Now that the feasting season is over, you should make new changes to your kitchen-based lifestyle that will change your life for the better.

Thanksgiving, Christmas or Hanukkah, and New Years are all holidays on which we stuff our faces and go a bit overboard with calories. But now that these holidays are over, and you made resolutions to eat healthier, you can turn to the new chapter of your dietary habits. Here are a few cooking resolutions you can make to change your life for the better.

Cooking Resolutions

  1. Prepare Everything on Sunday
    Plan your meals a week ahead. This means buying your necessary groceries and doing some basic prep work. Cook potatoes and grains, wash and trim your vegetables, and stash everything in clear containers. When the weeknights come around, you may be surprised to find how much time you save during the busy nights.
  2. Sharpen Your Knives
    Nothing is more annoying than trying to cut anything with a dull knife. It squishes the food and leaves it looking sad and depressed. Purchase a quality knife sharpener to take away the dullness of your blades and make slicing as easy as cutting through butter.
  3. Try a New Recipe Once a Week
    Cooking the same thing every day can become taxing and outright boring. Go on YouTube and cook one new recipe every week. There are many channels that are dedicated to cooking, so find one that you like and subscribe for more delicious recipes.
  4. Snack on More Vegetables
    Instead of eating Fritos or Cheetos, snack on carrots, cucumbers, broccoli, bell peppers, and other vegetables. Remember, your brain craves sugar and may not be hungry.

If we can ever help you in any way, please contact your Stromsoe Insurance Total Protection Team.  Our team is here to make sure you and your family have the proper insurance protection, serving all of California.

How To: Avoid Holiday Hazards at Home

Posted on by butlervetinsurance

Keep your holiday merry by avoiding these home holiday hazards.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! We don’t want to dampen your holiday season in any way, but we do want to remind you that this time of year is also filled with hazards. The good news is that if you take steps to avoid holiday hazards at home, you can keep this time of year merry, bright, and safe! Here are a few tips to help you get started.

  • Theft claims increase by 7 percent during the holiday season. Make sure you’re home isn’t targeted by keeping valuables out of the way of windows and having your mail collected if you’ll be heading out of town.
  • Home fire claims also heat in the coming weeks, and by a shocking 15 percent! Choose flame-resistant decorations, avoid stringing more than the manufacturer-recommended number of light strands together and overloading outlets, and make sure all candles are blown out and lights are turned off when you go to bed. Your décor might not be the spark, though. When you’re in the kitchen, keep a close eye on all your items. If you know you’re cooking on a hectic day, set timers for yourself so you don’t forget!
  • Sewer back-up claims climb up by 19 percent during the holidays. Be careful about how you dispose of your kitchen waste. If you’re completely confident your garbage disposal can handle the job, dispose of it in the garbage. Also, keep plungers where guests can easily find them. Better a slight eyesore than a major cleanup!

We hope this guide helps you stay safe, but it’s not the only protection we want to offer.  Contact Stromsoe Insurance Agency in California to put a homeowners insurance policy to protect your home for the holidays and throughout the rest of the year.

Thanksgiving Recipe: Make Ahead Cranberry Sauce

Posted on by butlervetinsurance

Make Thanksgiving easier on yourself with this make ahead recipe for cranberry sauce.

When you think about Thanksgiving a few weeks in advance, it probably leaves you with a warm feeling. On the holiday, friends and family gather to share a traditional meal, express gratitude, and enjoy each other’s company.

On the day of Thanksgiving, you might be feeling differently. If you’re the chef to whom the bulk of the cooking falls, this day can get pretty crazy. Between preparing a fairly large bird, crafting plenty of side dishes, and still being expected to turn out a decent looking pie or two, Thanksgiving isn’t easy in the kitchen.

We know the struggle, and we want to help! That’s why we’ve handpicked this Thanksgiving recipe for cranberry sauce that you can make ahead. To take at least one thing off your to-do list, you’ll need:

  • 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons of freshly grated ginger
  • 1 cup of orange juice
  • ½ cup of dark brown sugar
  • 16 ounces of fresh or frozen cranberries
  • ½ cup of orange marmalade
  • 2 tablespoons of minced cilantro
  • ½ teaspoon of black pepper

Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium. Add the ginger and cook for two minutes, stirring regularly. Add in the orange juice, sugar, and cranberries.

Cook until the cranberries burst open, forming a thick sauce. Stir in the marmalade and remove from the heat.

Right before you serve the sauce, stir in the cilantro and pepper.

You can make this sauce up to four days in advance; just keep it refrigerated!

Happy Thanksgiving from Stromsoe Insurance Agency. For all of your insurance needs throughout California, contact us today!