HCE Blog

Never know when your steak is done? Try out this helpful hack! Try the “Face Test”: First, completely relax your face. Stay expressionless, no smiling or frowning!  If you like your steak rare, compare its firmness to the fleshy part of your cheek. If your steak it rare, it will feel very similar! Remember, a rare steak has a cool, bright red center. For a medium-rare steak, compare its fi...

When you’re cooking, do you make sure to cut your different foods on different cutting boards? Why would you? It’s all going to the same place, right? While, yes, it is going to the same place… cutting different food on the same cutting board can lead to cross-contamination and food poisoning! To avoid doing this, consider color coding your cutting boards! For example, consider using these col...

There are several different ways to thaw frozen meat, but many of them are unsafe! Check out the Do’s and Don’ts of thawing meat below to make sure you’re being safe.  DO Use cold water to thaw your meat! Give ample time for a refrigerator thaw! Keep meat wrapped when thawing in the water! Immediately cook meat thawed in a microwave! Cook meat after thawing!  DON’T Don’t thaw your...

You shuffle back into the house after a successful trip to the grocery store, arms laden with grocery bags. You set the bags down onto the counter, turn to open the fridge, and are met with a musty odor. Mold… Now, you’re faced with a decision. Do you shrug it off and put the groceries away anyway, or do you break down and get to scrubbing? We know what the easiest answer is, but it’s not the ...

Trying to help the environment by ditching those plastic bags for canvas totes when you go shopping?  You may not have thought about it, but those bags need to be washed regularly! Leaving reusable grocery bags unwashed increases the chance of transferring bacteria from the store to your home. If you go grocery shopping weekly, you should wash your bags weekly, even if products inside don’t lea...

Did you know that the popularity of taking selfies is having an unintended effect: they are increasing head lice cases among teens! We know what you’re thinking. “Teens have been taking pictures together years! We would all squeeze into a photo booth to take pictures together, and we never had a lice problem from it!” And while that’s true, the ease with which we can take pictures where ever a...

You know what they say, “Prevention is better than a cure.” You don’t have to worry about treating the flu if you work to prevent it. The same goes for lice! You can take steps to preventing a head lice infestation in your home by doing one simple thing: replacing your shampoo and conditioner! Swap out your hair care products for some that are coconut scented or are made with natural coconut o...

Does your child want to have a sleepover at your house, but recent news of a lice outbreak at school is making you a little nervous? Make sure the kiddos coming over don’t spread any little uninvited guests by using this fun hack! When it’s time for the kids to turn in for the night, try getting them to arrange themselves in a fun star or flower pattern on the ground. Make sure their feet are ...

Backpacks aren’t as simple as they used to be. They come with so many buckles, zippers, and straps, you are more scared the washing machine will get messed up before the actual backpack will. To avoid any mishaps, empty every compartment of the backpack and make sure you keep them open. Now that your backpack is empty, place it in an old pillowcase and tie it shut. Add a small amount of your fa...

There are many reasons a person may want to disinfect their couch. You could be a person who’s a huge animal lover and refuses to let any of their fur babies deal with a harsh winter or cruel summer. You could’ve just allowed a sibling or friend to crash on your couch while they were going through a hard time, and now the couch just isn’t as minty fresh. Or you could be honest with yourself, th...