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EPISODE #9 -
SATURDAY MAY 30, 2009
Summer is here…
OK, not on the calendar, but the weather sure is showing off! It
is a good time to get out and enjoy the weather and maybe even
enjoy a glass of wine on the deck. In this week's show, we show
you how to pick a good one!
HD TV’s
The conversion from analog to high definition is finally close to being
here. To find out what that means to the local consumer we stopped by
Standard TV and Appliance to talk with Owen in the TV department. First
of all if you are on cable or dish network, or you have a newer HD TV
you will have no problems. It should be ready to go. However, if you
have an older set or you are using an antenna or ‘rabbit ears’ you will
need an HD converter. If you want to get a new set to enjoy the great
picture and sound of HD then you will have to choose between plasma, LCD
or LED (the newest version of HD). LED is very thin, very bright and
very energy efficient. LCD is just like your computer screens and is the
most popular way of viewing HD signals. Plasma is the choice for a very
large and flat screen. Owen also told us about DPI or ‘Dots per Inch’.
The more dots the better the picture. The standard right now is a 1080p.
If you have that you are in great shape. Any questions about the
conversion or HD TV’s can be answered by the experts at Standard!
Quick Tip – Seed Packets
Our quick tip is a name card that can become a gift for your party
guests. Lora from Al’s Garden Center showed us how to use a seed packet
as a place card for a summer party. Then, after the party is done, they
can take it home and plant the seeds so they can remember your party
during the whole summer!
Small Changes – Big Impact
Celebrating the summer season is not hard and you can make each Bar B Q
memorable with just a few small changes to your basic patio dishes. Lora
from Al’s Garden Center walked us through a couple of quick set-ups and
showed us how easy it is to make a big impact on your guests. First she
started with a basic set of white dishes and glasses. Then by adding
some little details, she was able to convert the table into a
celebration of the 4th of July. This totally said ‘summer’. Next we
moved to fragrance. The next set-up showcased fresh flowers and bright
colors. It definitely was a ‘garden party’. It even included sprigs of
lavender. Lora also included candles to bring more fragrance to the
table. Finally we moved to color. Lora used green as the color of
choice. When you do color you need to think about size, structures and
shapes. Those examples will help to keep the color from blending
together. If you are looking for ideas to jazz up your summer garden
parties, stop by the gift department at the Al’s in Woodburn and
Sherwood.
Wine Choices
We made a trip north of Portland to
Vancouver to Cinetopia where they have a restaurant called Vinotopia.
The owner Rudyard joined us to chat with Ken about choosing the right
wine. At Vinotopia they have a system that allows you to sample many
different wines so you can choose a good one for you. But if you can’t
make it to the restaurant Rudyard filled us in on a few things to think
about. First, go with a variety that you already enjoy. If you are
daring you can tackle a light wine, which is how most novices begin.
Those are usually the whites. Most people then move up the scale to a
pinot noir, then to a cabernet or a merlot. Rudyard also covered the
‘old world’ wines versus a ‘new world’ wine. Old world tend to be more
earthy and new world tend to be more fruit forward. In general, you want
to have a light wine with light food, like salads and fish, and a darker
wine with a heavier meal like red meat.
Sun Oven
When we stopped by Outdoor Kitchen World we saw something you don’t see
everyday, a nuclear fusion oven. This one may sound dangerous, but it is
really the Sun Oven. This small, portable unit uses the heat from the
sun to cook your favorite recipes. The reflective panels direct the sun
into the central chamber where it builds up heat to cook your meals. Now
this is not the fastest oven on the planet. But it is energy efficient,
totally safe and portable. And you can cook just about anything in it…
from a roast to a cake. If you don’t want to wait that long for your
food we also saw the Kalamazoo Ito grill. This one is at the other end
of the spectrum and will cost just a few more dollars to take home. Stop
by Outdoor Kitchen World and check them both out.
Preparing an Artichoke
Most people have seen an artichoke and some have experienced one at a
meal or as an appetizer, but most people have never prepared one
themselves. Chef David Musial joined us once again to show us how easy
it is to prepare one at home. First you will want to pull off all the
smaller leaves at the base of the artichoke. Then you can also cut off
the sharp points with a scissors. You will then cut it in half. Add a
little oil to a non-aluminum pot full of water. The aluminum will cause
discoloration. You will want to let it simmer for about 20 minutes,
checking every once in a while to see if they are ready. Once they are
soft, but not too soft, you can pull off the leaves and enjoy with
melted butter or mayonnaise.
Click here for full instructions.
Railing Choices
If you are looking for a little different look for your deck or patio,
you may want to check out the designer railings at Outdoor Kitchen
World. David joined Robin to show us some of the wonderful creations
made by JC Metal Fabricators. These railings are one-of-a-kind works of
art. These are anything but simple, but they are built to last a
lifetime. You can get some interesting designs or you can have them
build one especially for you. They are powder coated so they will not
rust and will always look great. If you are interested in seeing more
styles you can stop by the Outdoor Kitchen World between Tualatin and
Sherwood.
Indoor Thermostats
Coming home to the perfect temperature in your home is not tough. Mike
Hansen from Roth Heating and Cooling showed us how you can always have
the right temperature in your home with programmable thermostats. The
first one was the top-of-the-line, computer controlled device. It has
sensors in every room that feeds information back to the main unit and
that controls everything in the house. Now, if you don’t have the dough
for the high end control unit, you can get an easy to install simple
model. Mike pulled out a unit from Honeywell that can save you from 5 to
30 percent on your annual energy costs. It can be programmed to turn
your heat or air conditioning on and off depending on when you are home.
It is a great way to save money and be more comfortable in your home.
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