An Interesting Read.

I got this off the Yahoo News page. I thought it would be interesting for you all to read. :)

-Christina

5 Things You Should Never Put in a Dishwasher




ShareretweetEmailPrintWise Bread, On Tuesday July 20, 2010, 10:34 am EDT

I finally got to use a dishwasher eight years ago, when I moved in with my then-boyfriend (now husband). I was ecstatic and dumped everything in it. Over the years, though, I have discovered that you can save money - and time - by being pickier about what you put into the dishwasher. Along the way, a few things were ruined before their full value was enjoyed because I didn't know they shouldn't be washed by a machine. (See also: Household cleaning hacks that can save you money.)



Here are five things I learned never to put into the dishwasher.



[Slideshow: 20 Things You Should Never Buy Used]



Wood: This includes wooden spoons, salad bowls, chopsticks, and cutting boards. Wood will swell and crack in the dishwasher. My cutting board broke in half, and the bottom of my salad bowl dislodged and made a slit so that I could no longer use it for anything that could leak (the glue used to seal it looked like it got dissolved or washed away).



Knives: I still put my cheap butter knives in there, but never the larger, nicer ones. The harsh detergent will cause nicks and scratches on the blade, dulling it. Also, putting and removing sharp, large knives is likely to cause damage to the dishwasher rack itself.



Crystal/Hand-blown Glass: These items are not just sensitive to heat (they can crack), but abrasive detergent can chip and etch them as well, causing them to lose their brilliance. They should be gently handwashed and dried with a soft, lint free towel.



Pots & Pans: It's generally not a good idea to put pots and pans in the dishwasher. After running a few cycles on them, I noticed some of my pots and pans had loose handles and seals were coming off (like my wooden salad bowl above). Additionally, here are particular types that should definitely not go into the dishwasher:



--Nonstick/Anodized Aluminum: The coating will wear out and break down and it will no longer be non-stick. This includes bakeware.



--Cast Iron: It will rust and lose its seasoning. After rinsing with water, heat on the stove to completely dry.



--Enameled Cast Iron: These are very prone to chipping. Plates and bowls may hit against the pot during the cycle.



--Aluminum: It's extremely vulnerable to nicks and scratches. This includes thermoses and water bottles.



[See 20 Tips for Cleaning on the Cheap.]



Gold Trim: Watch out for any plates, bowls, or cups with gold trim. They will be removed by the harsh detergent and water pressure.



Final tips: It's not always as easy as looking at the label to see whether something is dishwasher safe. Keep in mind that the environment inside a dishwasher is hot, humid, and wet. The detergent is abrasive. The water spray is not gentle (it's trying to spray off that caked-in spaghetti sauce). The top rack generally gets a gentler wash than the bottom. If you keep these things in mind, you'll be able to make better decisions about what to put in and what to keep out of the dishwasher.



Lynn Truong is the co-founder and Daily Deals Editor of Wise Bread, a blog dedicated to helping readers live large on a small budget. Wise Bread's book, 10,001 Ways to Live Large on a Small Budget, debuted as the #1 Money Management book on Amazon.com.

Chef Chrissy's Surprise Italian Delight ♥

So this was my made up dish. I had so much leftover cooked pasta from making my previous recipe that I need to use. So for lunch today I mixed together my leftover ingredients from my previous recipe and added pasta sauce.

Ingredients:

1 box cooked or uncooked penne pasta
1 jar of chopped garlic (I bought a jar of chopped garlic)
1 container of chopped feta cheese
 Olive Oil
Chopped Basil
Pasta Sauce ( I used  Ragu Super Vegetable Primavera)

1. If the pasta isn't cooked then cook it. If it is then add the a squirts of olive oil and then add pasta sauce of your choice to the bowl with the pasta and mix together.

2. Add 2 tablespoons of the chopped garlic. Mix together.

3. Add as much chopped feta cheese as you like and mix together.

4. Then chop up the fresh basil and then garnish or mix together with the pasta.

And there is my creation. Hope you like it!

Pasta with Eggplant and Balsamic Vinegar

OMG this is sooooooo yummy! And I didn't miss the meat with the cooked eggplant. I also love the flavor of the balsamic vinegar on it. I also added my favorite salad dressing in there too: Kraft Olive Oil Basil Parmesan Vinaigrette. :)

Ingredients:

2 or 3 Small Eggplant ( about 1 pound)
salt
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, plus more as needed
ground black pepper
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 pound penne pasta
1/2 cup crumbled feta
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil leaves

1. Peel the eggplant, cut into small cubes, and salt them.

2. Bring a large pot of water to boil for pasta ( Make sure to salt the water! And add Olive oil) While waiting for water to boil. Put olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat.When hot, add the eggplant, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally until tender, golden, and slightly crisp on all sides. About 5 to 10 mins. Then Add 1 tablespoon of chopped garlic and cook stirring constantly, until soft and turning golden, about less than a minute. Add the 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar; give a good stir and let it bubble until it thickens slightly but doesn't evaporate, just a few seconds.  Remove from heat and put in a bowl and set aside.

3. When water has boiled cook the pasta until tender not mushy. When it's done, drain it. Toss the pasta and eggplant together and drizzle some olive oil, a few sprinklings of black pepper, and 1/2 cup of feta cheese. Garnish with the basil and serve.

I am still alive!

SO sorry guys! I totally have been ignoring this blog and cooking because my free time has gone pretty much bye bye :( BUT I have made two new things recently. One I got from an iPhone app and the other I made up myself. <3 So I am going to post the recipes RIGHT NOW!