Local Expertise Series

The Glencoe business community boasts a wide array of expertise. In an effort to showcase this local expertise and Glencoe’s range of goods and services, the Glencoe Area Chamber of Commerce sponsors the Local Expertise Series, quarterly articles featuring tips, educational articles and consumer information. Local Expertise Series articles will be included in each quarterly Chamber/City Newsletter, as well as on this website.  Featured below are the first two articles.  Additional articles will be posted in the menu above.

May, 2010 -  Baking Tips, Bump’s Family Restaurant
Baking is described as cooking food in an oven using dry heat. The oven is an important part of the baking process. There are two basic oven types: Conventional and convection.In conventional ovens the cooking is done primarily through means of radiant heat. Heat is transferred from the walls of the oven to the food through the air in the oven.

In convection ovens, they have a fan inside that creates an air current inside the oven. In general, these ovens speed up the cooking process, so your baking times will be shorter.

Mixing methods are also an important part of the baking process. The most common methods are as follows: Creaming: In the creaming method, fats are mixed with sugar to form a mixture that is either smooth and creamy (cookies) or light and fluffy (cakes). Then, eggs are added one at a time, followed by adding dry ingredients alternately with wet ingredients.

Muffin method: All dry ingredients are combined and all wet ingredients are combined. Then, the wet ingredients are poured onto the dry ingredients and gently mixed.

Biscuit method: All dry ingredients are combined. Then, chunks of cold, solid butter or shortening are cut into the dry ingredients. Then cold liquids are added.

Egg foam method: Egg whites or whole eggs with sugar are beat for a time. Then the dry ingredients are gently folded in.

This knowledge will assist you to adapt and utilize almost any recipe. Baking is not just about recipes, but about how to take ingredients and make them taste as good as possible. Recipes are great road maps to show how someone else achieved a great result, but the joys of cooking are up to each person to find his or her own path. You don’t know where you will end up, but the journey will be fun.

This information was provided by Bump’s Family Restaurant, a friendly, sit-down restaurant that is well known for their use of made-from-scratch items. Many of their pies and desserts are from handed down recipes.

February, 2010 - Appliance Maintenance, Home Solutions
Spring is here, and with it, home cleaning and maintenance tasks. Attention to appliances is just one piece of the puzzle, one that helps preserve the life of your appliances and may help them run more efficiently and effectively as well. Below are tips to help you plan your spring maintenance and cleaning schedule:

Clothes Dryer (Average Lifespan 7-10 Years):  Build-up of dryer lint can damage your dryer as well as cause a house fire. Use a dryer vent brush to remove lint build up in the vent that leads to the outside. Make sure there are no kinks or ridges in the vent hose.

Washing Machine (Average Lifespan 6-9 Years):  Check washer hoses for cracks, blisters, corroded fittings and leaks. Hoses generally need to be replaced every three to five years, and the above signals that a change is needed now. Stainless steel fill hoses are recommended. Additionally, check to make sure water is not dripping inside when the washer is off, as this indicates a leak in the water inlet valve.

Dishwasher (Average Lifespan 5-8 Years):  Clean your dishwasher filter. On many basic and/or European dishwashers, there’s a filter near the bottom, or under the lower spray arm, that needs cleaning regularly. If you have this sort of filter, consult your owner’s manual for how to remove and clean it. If the filter is damaged, replace it to protect the dishwasher’s pump and motor seals.

Refrigerator (Average Lifespan 7 -10 Years):   If you have built-in ice/water, replace the filter approximately every six months. Clean the refrigerator cooling fan and the condenser coils underneath the refrigerator. Check to ensure that the doors are sealing properly.

Window/Wall Air Conditioner (Average Lifespan 7-10 Years):  To prepare for seasonal use, clean the condenser coils on your unit and oil the motor if it is equipped with oil ports. Clean or replace the air conditioner filter.

Home Solutions is your local option for appliance sales, service and expertise. Call them at (320) 864-5161 or (952)-467-2404 to schedule your preventive maintenance and extend the life of your appliances, or stop in to tour the showroom or ask questions. For more appliance maintenance tips visit www.repairclinic.com.