Hello! I hope you are having a peaceful Memorial Day Weekend. Our hot weather has arrived. It was 94 here yesterday and is supposed to be in the 90's again today. After that it looks like it is forecasted to cool down a bit. This is the first house we have ever lived in that has central air. It is so nice! In honor of the warm weather, Matt set up the kids pool yesterday. They are excited to jump in, but unfortunately the water that came out of the outside faucet is a nice rusty orange/yellow color. So, we are running our filter and have the chlorine in there and hopefully the water will will warm up and clear up within a couple days. We'll see!

We received some sad news this morning. Matt's Aunt Gail in WA passed away this morning. She had been battling cancer for a couple years and was a great trooper. She will be missed.

I bought some raspberry plants on Saturday. They are currently soaking in a bucket of water and then I will plant them today. Presently they look like dead twigs with some roots attached, but apparently they are supposed to spring back to life. Since we all love raspberries in this house I thought I would give it a try. There are three kinds - the traditional red, black, and fall gold. We'll see what happens. From what I hear the first year they are planted they don't generally yield much, but the second year is better. I'll have to do some research on what to do with them. We also have a few strawberry plants in the back that seem to be growing quickly. I think next year we'll try a bit larger garden, but for now we'll start with berries. I would like to plant a few pumpkins as well, but Matt isn't too excited about that since the vines are a big mess afterwards. We'll see if I can convince him - for the kids sake! I think they would love watching those grow.

In front of our house we have a road. Cars don't come by too often, but when they do they tend to drive by fast. So we purchased a couple of those little neon green kids alert signs that say SLOW. They were out for about a week and seemed to be working at slowing people down. However, yesterday someone stole one of them already. The kids scooters and such were always getting stolen when we lived in the city, but we thought living out here in the country things would be a little more peaceful, but apparently not. Oh well. I guess next time we go into town we'll be picking up another one. Hopefully we won't go through too many of them.

We continue to personalize the house. Last night we took down the drapes that were here when we arrived and put up our traditional red drapes. There was certainly nothing wrong with the ones that were there, but they weren't quite our style. For the last few years we have had red curtains in our living room and decorated with an Americana theme. I love those red panels, so now that they are up I am beginning to really feel like this is home.

Great Shopping!! Great Advertising!!

Recipe of the Week

Exerted from this week's family friendly menu plan and convenient grocery shopping list.

Have you tried our sample menu?

Ham and Cheese Quiche

Makes 6 servings

3 cups frozen shredded hash brown potatoes thawed

1/4 cup butter melted, divided

1 cup shredded pepper jack cheese

1 cup shredded Swiss cheese

1 cup diced fully cooked ham

2 eggs

1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

1/4 teaspoon seasoned salt

1. Press hash browns between paper towels to remove excess moisture. Grease a 9 inch pie plate with 2 t. butter. Press hash browns onto the bottom and up the sides of the plate. Drizzle with the remaining butter. Bake, uncovered, at 425 degrees for 20-25 minutes of until edges are browned.

2. Combine cheeses and ham; spoon into the crust. In a bowl, beat the eggs, cream and seasoned salt; pour over ham.

3. Reduce heat to 350 degrees. Bake uncovered, for 20-25 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting.

This Weeks Top Five Referring Sites
(These sites have a link to DWW somewhere on their site and have sent the most visitors to www.dinewithoutwhine.com this week)

www.chicmommyshoppes.com

http://girlygirlsites.gotop100.com/

www.diaperjungle.com

www.bercotchildrenswear.com

www.swankymoms.com

Kitchen and Cooking Tips, Articles, And Product Reviews

Kitchen Cabinet Cleaning Tips

The kitchen cabinets are located in one of the most dirt prone

areas of the home, the kitchen. Grease, food spills and

splattered food result from cooking. In addition, dirty or

sticky hands from both children and adults can be disastrous

for your cabinetry.

Choosing Cleaning Products

Regular cleaning can help reduce the build up on cabinets and

makes it easier to remove. The cleaning method you will use

depends on the materials in your kitchen doors. Painted

surfaces, vinyl or metal can be cleaned with detergent and warm

water. Be sure to rinse well with plain water and dry with a

lint free cloth.

All purpose cleaners can generally be used on these surfaces.

Read the label carefully before using any product on your

cabinetry. Information is included for consumers regarding

surfaces where a cleaner is safe and those it can damage. To be

sure, always test the cleaner on an inconspicuous area before

using on the entire cabinet. Rinse and dry to remove any

residue.

Sensitivity to chemicals and concern for the environment has

some people concerned about using household chemicals. There

are environmentally friendly alternatives right in your own

kitchen. White vinegar or lemon juice can be mixed with water

to clean grease from cabinets. Baking soda or club soda can be

used to remove staining. Rinse with water and dry with a lint

free cloth after cleaning.

Cleaning Wood Kitchen Cabinets

Spray cleaners that are made for wood furniture can be used on

cabinets. Check to be sure the product you purchase is safe for

your finish. Follow the directions carefully when using any

cleaning product. It�s always a good idea to test a spot before

using the cleaner, even if the can states that it�s good for

your finish.

Some wood cleaners are flammable. This information will be

included on the warning label. Don�t smoke cigarettes when

using these products. Keep them away from flame or other heat

sources. Pay special attention to this warning if you have a

gas stove or other appliance with a pilot light. A spark could

be ignited, causing a fire in the kitchen.

Cleaning wood cabinets can sometimes dull the finish. If this

happens, you can restore the shine with furniture polish.

Furniture wax can also be used to fix a dull finish. Some of

these products will require buffing. It�s a good idea to polish

wood cabinets regularly to preserve the wood and keep the shine.

Cleaning Hardware on Kitchen Cabinets

The hardware on your cabinets can get the same build up of

grease and grime from foods. Remove the hardware before

cleaning the cabinets. Clean the cabinets and then clean the

hardware. When both have been cleaned, replace the handles on

the cabinets and drawers. This will give your whole kitchen a

lift.

The cleaner you should use for your hardware depends on the

material. Cleaners and polishes are commercially available for

every type of metal. Be sure the one you choose is suitable for

your hardware. Using the wrong cleaner could damage the handles

and cost you money in replacing them. Follow the directions on

the label for cleaning.

About The Author: Rob Carlton reveals many articles for the

http://www.kitchen-cabinets-tips.com internet site. The

publisher is also focusing on tips about kitchen cabinets

http://www.kitchen-cabinets-tips.com .