What's New at Fountain Square Cosmetic Dental Group?

• To make freezer packs for your coolers, make juice and pour into plastic pop bottles, leaving room at the top for expansion. Freeze, then add to your cooler. Saves space you get to drink it when its defrosted. Perfect for hot sunny days. Lorna Ontario, Canada For Egg and/or Potato Salad ...Scramble the eggs instead of hard boiling..(NO white pieces)...CHILL..and then add remaining ingredients... Janet H. Kansas City,MO.
• Freeze left-over coffee or tea in cubes. Use the cubes in iced coffee or tea to keep your drink cold and to keep the flavor from becoming watered down. Cheri 
• Reheat precooked meats until steaming hot. FabulousFoods.com 
• If you're planning on take-out foods such as fried chicken or barbecued beef, eat them within two hours of pick-up or buy ahead of time and chill completely before packing the foods into the cooler. FabulousFoods.com
• Pack foods in the cooler in the order opposite of how you'll be using them. In other words, pack the food you'll need last at the bottom and so on. FabulousFoods.com
• Never reuse marinades that have come in contact with raw meat, chicken or fish, and don't put the cooked food back into an unwashed container or dish that contained the marinade. FabulousFoods.com
• When taking foods off the grill, put them on a clean plate, not the same platter that held raw meat. FabulousFoods.com
• To clean foods that have burnt on a barbecue grill, enclose them in a large plastic garbage bag. Mix 1 cup baking soda with 1/2 cup ammonia, pour over the grills, close the bag and let sit overnight. The burnt on pieces will have loosened making the grills easy to clean. FabulousFoods.com
• When preparing dishes like chicken or cooked meat salads, use chilled ingredients. In other words, make sure your cooked chicken has been cooked and chilled before it gets mixed with other salad ingredients. FabulousFoods.com
• Don't pack coolers in the trunk, carry them inside the air-conditioned car. FabulousFoods.com
• Clean coolers with a water and baking solution to eliminate odors. FabulousFoods.com
• When handling raw meat, remove from the cooler only the amount that will fit on the grill at that time. FabulousFoods.com
• It's a good idea to use a separate cooler for drinks, so the one containing perishable food won't be constantly opened and closed. FabulousFoods.com
• Control the flames on a barbecue grill by having a pint spray bottle of water mixed with 1 teaspoon baking soda. FabulousFoods.com
• When having a big barbecue party, fill up a hard plastic childs pool with ice, then set the food inside this. Carolyn Kashat, Garden City, MI
• When preparing chicken, egg, or cold meat salads, or anything other recipes featuring mayonnaise, refrigerate it as soon as possible, and keep cold right up until packing time. Sometimes, I will even give these types of items an extra shot of cold by placing in them in the freezer for about 5-10 minutes before packing. This is just to insure they are extra cold, do not freeze mayonnaise item as it tends to separate. FabulousFoods.com
• Clean preparation is essential. Wash hands and work areas; be sure all utensils are clean before preparing food. FabulousFoods.com
•  Thermos bottles can keep stews or hot drinks at the right temperature for hours. If foods are poured boiling hot into sterilized bottles, there shouldn't be a problem as long as they are still hot when it comes time to eat. FabulousFoods.com 
• Try to plan just the right amount of foods to take. That way, you won't have to worry about the storage or safety of leftovers. FabulousFoods.com
• The USDA recommends that you don't eat raw or undercooked ground beef, since harmful bacteria could be present. FabulousFoods.com
• A cooler chest can also be used to keep hot food hot. Line the cooler with a heavy kitchen towel for extra insulation and place weel wrapped hot foods inside. It's amazing how long the foods will stay not only warm, but hot. Try to use a cooler that is just the right size to pack fairly tightly with hot food so less heat escapes. FabulousFoods.com
• Do not partially grill meat to use later. Once you begin cooking meat by any method, cook until completely done to assure that bacteria are destroyed. FabulousFoods.com
• If there are leftovers, throw them out unless you can safely keep them chilled until you get home. If there is still ice in the cooler when you get home, the leftovers should be okay to eat. When in doubt, throw it out! I hate to be wasteful, but when it comes to food poisoning, it's better to be safe than sorry. FabulousFoods.com
• To be sure bacteria are destroyed, cook hamburgers and ribs to 160 degrees F (medium doneness) or until the center is no longer pink and the juices are clear. Cook ground poultry to 165 F and poultry parts to 180 F. FabulousFoods.com
• Keep cooler lids closed and avoid unnecessary openings. FabulousFoods.com
• Any leftovers left outside for more than an hour should be discarded. FabulousFoods.com
• Foods that are cooked ahead need to be completed in plenty of time to chill thoroughly in the refrigerator before being packed (unless, of course you are taking measures to transport and serve hot food). Use an insulated cooler with sufficient ice or ice packs to keep the food at 40°F or colder. Pack food from the refrigerator right into the cooler. FabulousFoods.com
• As much as possible, keep coolers in the shade while at the picnic. FabulousFoods.com
• Instead of using ice cubes in wine, use frozen grapes. They don't dilute the wine as they melt. Ohb0b, Seattle

Current Mood: curious

        
Shells that explode in a series of loud bangs, giving the impression of a battle.

                                                                                     




Battle in the Clouds

Firecrackers
Small, usually cylindrically shaped explosives strung together that explode on the ground in sharp bangs.

Shell
Canisters fired out of a mortar that explode in flowery star bursts.

Girandole
A cluster of rockets that spin a disk up and off a center pole and into the air like a flying saucer.

Cherry Bomb
Powerful, round red firecracker that is outlawed in the United States.

Rocket
Cone-shaped cylinder attached to a long stick that soars high into the air when lift.

Roman Candle
Tubes stuck into the ground that when lit send stars into the air; so called because the Romans supposedly featured them at carnivals.

Set Piece
Wooden contraptions set with lances that when illuminated form the outline of a person or scene in colored fire.

Catherine Wheel
Set pieces that revolve in different kaleidoscopic color combinations.

Sparkler
A narrow steel wire that when lit sends out a shower of fine gold sparks.

Fireworks are not toys and accidents related to their use can be serious!

Current Mood: ecstatic

People everywhere are fascinated by fireworks -- by the mystery and splendor that light the night sky or turn a backyard into a festival of light and sound. Like nothing else, fireworks can excite, thrill and amaze us. But as dazzling as fireworks can be, they can also be harmful if used improperly.

The National Council on Fireworks Safety (NCFS) urges you to put safety first when celebrating this Fourth of July. Legal fireworks are safer than ever, in part because of stringent federal safety standards enacted by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission in 1976. The incidence of fireworks-related injuries has dropped dramatically during the past 10 years, according to Ann Crampton, executive director of the NCFS. But she says it can be cut further by following a few simple guidelines.

"Only use legal fireworks," she says. "The key, of course, is being able to recognize what's legal and what's not. Legal fireworks conform to the standards. Illegal ones often don't."

The Consumer Product Safety Commission requires that legal fireworks show the name of the item, the name of the manufacturer or distributor and easy-to-read cautionary labeling and instructions for proper use. Currently, 32 states, plus the District of Columbia, allow the use of some or all types of consumer fireworks.

"Commonly used fireworks include cones, fountains, and sparklers," Ms. Crampton says. "Before setting off any fireworks, contact your local police or fire department to make sure fireworks are allowed in your area."

Illegal devices include M80s, M100s and silver salutes. They have been federally banned since 1966 because of the large amounts of illegal explosives they contain. "Don't confuse these items with legal, consumer fireworks. Illegal devices will usually be unlabeled, will not bear a caution statement and will not list the manufacturer's name," cautioned Ms. Crampton. "Illegal explosive devices are extremely dangerous and can cause serious injuries. If you find any illegal items, or know of anyone selling them, contact the police immediately."

If you choose to use consumer fireworks to celebrate this year's Fourth of July festivities, remember the following safety tips from the National Council on Fireworks Safety:

• A responsible adult should supervise all fireworks activities.
• Never give fireworks to young children.
• Always purchase fireworks from reliable sources.
• Follow label directions carefully.
• Never point or throw fireworks at another person.
• Use fireworks outdoors in a clear area away from buildings and vehicles.
• Never carry fireworks in your pocket or shoot them in metal or glass containers.
• Light them one at a time then move back quickly.
• Don't experiment with homemade fireworks.
• Observe local laws and use common sense.
• Sparklers, fountains and other items that many states allow for use by consumers are not appropriate when a large crowd is present.
• If attending a community display, leave your own fireworks at home -- there will be plenty of excitement provided by the display.

For more information on Fireworks safety, visit the National Council on Fireworks Safety web site.