Tag: kitchen

Continuing Your Quest for Fitness With DealDash

 

On Monday we talked about getting a great body in time for the summer using exercise. Today we are talking about the second part of the equation – eating healthy.

We all have a pretty good idea of what it means to be a healthy eater – everyone know that they should be limiting their carbohydrate and fat intake and boosting their veggie intake. However, sometimes making healthy food choices can be difficult because you are accustomed to eating your favorite junk foods, sweets, pastas, and other delicious but so so healthy foods.

Luckily you can take the sting out of cutting back on your favorite foods by substituting something similar that has less fats and calories. The best way to do that is to try and do a lot of cooking at home.

A few years ago I tried the Atkins diet to lose some weight. It was extremely difficult giving up so many different foods, and now that I am a little bit more well informed I know that the Atkins diet is possibly not the healthiest diet around, but when I was following it I learned a lot about food substitutions. For example, you can make an AWESOME tasting cheesecake filling with Neufchâtel cheese (lower fat and calories than regular cream cheese), Splenda instead of sugar (0 calories), a pinch of salt, and vanilla extract – throw that all into your KitchenAid stand mixer that you got from DealDash, whip it up, and there you have a cheesecake filling that is just as delicious and significantly lower in fat and calories than a traditional cheesecake filling recipe.

KitchenAid Artisan® Series Aqua Sky 5 Quart Stand Mixer

 

Another great way to attempt to eat healthier without feeling like you’re sacrificing too much is making delicious smoothies! You can make smoothies out of just about any yummy tasting fruit like strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, etc, and then add in some healthy vegetables such as spinach or kale and you won’t even be able to notice – and neither will your kids if you’re trying to get the whole family on board with healthier eating. Simply find any smoothie recipe online such as:

Simple Smoothie

  • 1 banana
  • 1 cup frozen strawberries
  • 1 cup frozen blueberries
  • 1 cup frozen cherries
  • 4 ice cubes
  • 1/2 cup orange juice
  • 3/4 cup vanilla yogurt

Just blend it all together in your blender from DealDash, sip, and enjoy!

 

 

 

Hamilton Beach 70950 SaladXpress Counter-top Food Processor Electric w/ConesKitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer, Apple GreenT-Fal Initiatives 18-Piece Nonstick Inside and Out Cookware Set

I hope this article has encouraged you to try some of my strategies for trying to eat a little bit healthier. If you’re interested in getting some items to help you with cooking at home head on over to DealDash. DealDash has food processors, stand mixers, cookware, and plenty of other items that you can use. Check out the Kitchen & Appliances category and I’m sure that you’ll find something that you can use to make you and your family a little bit healthier. Good luck and happy bidding everyone!

Spring Cleaning With DealDash

 

Spring is in the air, and for most of us that means that a little spring cleaning is in order. DealDash has your supplies ready.

Now is the time for spring cleaning, and I couldn’t think of a better chore to do right now than steam clean my carpets and get them ready for summer. DealDash has a pair of cleaners that would be great for giving your carpets a deep cleaning this summer – the  Bissell Premier Pet 17N4 upright deep cleaner for most of the work, and the Bissell Spot Clean, 5207W to get those stubborn spots that just won’t come up with normal measures. This would be a great combination to win that would make your carpets look and smell just like new. You can find these and even more Bissell cleaning products on DealDash at this link here.

BISSELL Premier Pet Upright Deep CleanerBissell SpotClean

Speaking of vacuums, when is the last time that you vacuumed your basement and garage? This would be a great spring cleaning project for you to tackle while the air is fresh and you are feeling optimistic about the whole cleaning idea. DealDash has a vacuum that is specifically meant to be used to clean the garage. It’s called the Garage Utility Vacuum, and it’s made by Hoover. You can find the GUV at this link here. After you have vacuumed your garage and basement, how about putting up those shelves that have been sitting around waiting for you to get around to them? Once you have put up some nice shelves it will be so much easier to get all of your tools and outdoors things organized. You can find an assortment of garage and basement shelves on DealDash at this link here.

Hoover GUV™ Garage Utility VacuumEdsal Five-Shelf Heavy-Duty Steel Shelving Unit

Speaking of getting cleaned and organized, how is your deck or porch looking lately? I know that in the fall my desk becomes a catch-all for some of the things that stay outside in the winter, and it could really look much tidier. When thinking of ideas how I can maximize my space yet still keep all of my items, I came across this resin wicker seat. It can store a lot of small items, it’s capacity is 22 gallons. It’s also very cute and looks great on the deck as well as providing an extra seating option for when our deck chairs are all occupied. If you’re looking for something similar check out this link here.

Suncast 22 Gallon Resin Wicker Storage Seat

 

 

 

 

In case you need something that I haven’t mentioned, DealDash has all of your cleaning supplies covered, – they carry everything from the biggest items like vacuums and steam cleaners all the way down to the most humble of the cleaning supplies – paper towels, dish soap, and spray cleaners. Good luck and happy bidding everyone!

 

 

Care For Some Tea?

 

Who likes tea? If you’re like 4 out of 5 Americans, then you’re at least a casual tea drinker.

You would be in good company if you agree that you like to drink tea – in 2014, Americans consumed over 80 billion servings of tea, or more than 3.60 billion gallons. About 84% of all tea consumed was Black Tea, 15% was Green Tea, and the small remaining amount was Oolong, White and Dark Tea. USA is the second largest importer of tea after Russia. As I said above, Approximately four in five consumers drink tea, with Millennials being the most likely (87% of millenniums drink tea).

On any given day, over one half of the American population drinks tea. On a regional basis, the South and Northeast have the greatest concentration of tea drinkers. As a former Southerner, I know that this fun fact is true – approximately 85% of tea consumed in America is iced.

 

 

Luckily for us tea drinkers DealDash realizes the importance of tea to Americans, and that’s why they offer up a large and varied selection of tea and tea accessories. Let’s see what we can find up for auction to satisfy your favorite tea drinker that you know.

If you’re an iced tea drinker like myself, you might be interested in the Mr. Coffee Iced Tea Maker. The Mr. Coffee Iced Tea Maker brews gourmet iced tea quickly and efficiently with one simple touch. Just add water (preferably filtered) to the reservoir, add loose tea leaves or tea bags to the brew basket, add ice to the pitcher, and press brew. The Mr. Coffee Iced Tea Maker makes up to 2.5 quarts of iced tea, and you can also regulate the strength of the tea. It’s also easy to keep clean – the glass pitcher, brew basket and permanent filter can be washed in the dishwasher. If you’re interested in some awesome iced tea brewed from home, check it out at this link here.

Mr. Coffee Tea Cafe Iced Tea Maker, Black

If you would like something even easier, how about an assortment box of tea bags? You can enjoy a cup of tea whenever you’d like with Celestial Seasonings Tea in 25 assorted flavors. This combo pack of Celestial Herbal Tea, 150ct, features a variety of 25 flavors you are sure to enjoy. All of these teas are caffeine free, as well. If you would like to try this great sampler, click this link here.

Hain-Celestial CST46003 Classic Teas, 25-BX, 150-CT, Assorted

Of course, if you are in the market for a tea kettle DealDash has you covered on those as well. Just click this link here and it will take you to a great selection of tea kettles you can browse on DealDash.

If tea isn’t really your drink of choice, don’t worry, DealDash has plenty of other awesome things to bid on. Check out the auctions and see what you can win today! Good luck and happy bidding everyone.

 

Living Healthy: Do You Even Lift, DealDash?

 

Welcome back to DealDash Blog’s Living Healthy series. Today’s blog is all about weightlifting for beginners.

 

Are you ready to start your journey into weightlifting or weight training? If you’re a total beginner, then this article is for you! If you have already started your training regimen this might be a little too simple for you, but keep reading you never know when you might pick up a tip or two. I am going to tell you the simple and basic guidelines and rules for starting out in a weightlifting program; no matter if it’s for strength, weight loss, or just overall fitness this article can help you figure things out and really make the most of your new journey into being fit and healthy.

First, let’s talk about some things that you don’t want to do:

  • Using too much weight, too soon – this is a great way to injure yourself and ruin your fitness plan before you even get started. Pick a reasonable weight to start with, but if you can perform 30 reps with a certain weight, you probably should bump up the weight a little bit at a time.
  • Moving through repetitions too quickly, going too fast; because remember, there is nothing gained by lifting weights too fast. You should always lift weights in a slow and controlled manner. It’s better for the muscles, it increases tension and lessens the likely hood of having an accident and injuring yourself.

Now that we have a couple of the “don’ts” out of the way, let’s get to the “do’s”:

  • You don’t need to weight train every day to get healthy. Significant strength and fitness progress can be obtained obtained with only two workouts per week. Of course, it would be a great idea to get in some cardio exercises a couple of days per week, also. Don’t forget to also take a couple of days per week to rest, as well.
  • Take one day off from weight training between each workout. The days in between are the days that you should be getting in your cardio workouts.
  • For the best results, at least one set of 8-12 repetitions should be performed
  • It should take four to five seconds to complete one repetition through a complete range of motion; in a slow and very controlled manner.
  • Rest at least 30 seconds and no more than 90 seconds between sets of each exercise; and 1 to 2 minutes between each exercise.
  • Stay hydrated! There’s nothing worse than getting dehydrated and having to stop training for the day. Be sure to drink at least the minimum recommended 8-10 glasses of water each and every day; dehydration can make you weak, have headaches, and if it’s an ongoing problem it can even make you sick.

Now that you have some work out tips, how about checking out DealDash to see what kinds of weight training equipment they have for auction? They have weight benches, dumbbell sets, fitness mats, kettleballs, and so much more! Just click on this link and it will take you to some of the great fitness products that DealDash offers.

 

Gold's Gym XR 5.9 Slant BenchBowflex SelectTech 552 Dumbbells

 

 

I hope this article has started you on the road to fitness. If you’re interested in getting some items to help you on your journey head on over to DealDash.  I’m sure that you’ll find something that you can use to help yourself get healthy. Good luck and happy bidding everyone!

Living Healthy: How to Pick the Best Fresh Produce

 

Welcome back to DealDash Blog’s Living Healthy series. Today’s blog is all about the tips and tricks to choosing the best produce items at the supermarket.

 

I don’t know how many times I have gone into the supermarket, and picked out some great looking produce, got it home, and it tastes…Not bad, but tastes like nothing, like cardboard. This was happening to me way too often, so I started doing a little research to figure out how to get the best produce at the supermarket that I was able to find.

Of course, the number one way to get the freshest and best tasting produce is to buy things when they are in season where you live. If you’re somewhere warm like California or Florida, you’re in luck! Not only are there some great things grown right in your own home state, the distance that other things have to travel up from Mexico or South America is considerably shorter than someone who lives in Maine or Montana.

Here are some quick and easy tips on picking great tasting produce at the supermarket even if the items are actually in season:

• Apples: Choose fruits that are deeply colored, firm, naturally shiny, and heavy for their size.

 

• Artichokes: Choose globes that have tight leaves and feel heavy for their size. The leaves should squeak when pressed against each other.

• Asparagus: Choose firm, smooth, and brightly-colored stalks with compact tips. Avoid limp stalks. Choose stalks of equal thickness to ensure even cooking times.

• Avocados: Choose avocados that feel slightly soft to the touch. Firmer avocados may be ripened at home, but avoid rock-hard ones. Also avoid avocados with cracks or dents.

• Bananas: Choose bright yellow bananas to eat right away or green bananas to ripen at home. Avoid fruits that are bruised or split.

• Blueberries: Choose berries that are firm, dry, and blue (not red or green). A white sheen is natural. Also check the bottom of the basket to make sure there aren’t any crushed or spoiled berries.

• Broccoli: Choose broccoli with firm stalks, tight florets, and crisp green leaves. Avoid yellowed or flowering florets.

• Celery: Choose firm, unblemished stalks. The stalks and leaves should be green, not yellow.

• Corn: Choose corn with bright green husks and moist but not slimy silk. Peel back the husk to ensure the kernels are plump and not dry.

• Cucumbers: Choose cucumbers that are uniformly green (not yellow).

• Grapefruits: Choose fruits that have smooth, thin skins and are heaviest for their size. They should feel firm but slightly springy to the touch. Don’t worry about color.

• Grapes: Choose fruits that are firm, plump, and heavy for their size. They should be firmly attached to the stems without wrinkled or brown spots.

• Lemons and Limes: Choose fruits that are fragrant and heaviest for their size. Avoid fruits that are shriveled.

 

• Lettuce, Spinach, and Other Leafy Greens: Choose greens with fresh, crisp leaves. Avoid any that are wilted or slimy.

• Mangoes: Choose fruits that are slightly soft to the touch and fragrant near the stem end.

• Onions and Shallots: Choose dry, firm bulbs that feel heavy for their size. Avoid any with soft spots or green sprouts.

• Oranges: Choose fruits that heaviest for their size and have firm, smooth skins. Don’t worry about color. For Mandarin oranges, make sure skins are firm, not shriveled.

• Peaches: Choose fragrant, deeply colored (not green) fruits that are firm but slightly soft to the touch.

• Pears: Pears are usually picked before they are fully ripe, but choose fruits that are free of bruises and look for any that are getting soft just below the stem.

• Peas: Choose crisp, green pods. Avoid bulging, dried, yellow, or white pods.

• Peppers: Choose firm, naturally shiny peppers that feel heavy for their size.

• Pomegranates: Choose fruits that are heavy for their size. Cracks are a good sign that the fruits are bursting with plump seeds; just make sure there isn’t any mold in the cracks.

• Potatoes: Choose firm, smooth potatoes. Avoid those with bruises, green spots, or sprouts.

• Strawberries: Choose berries that are fragrant, uniformly red (not yellow or green), and shiny with fresh green tops. Also check the bottom of the basket to make sure there aren’t any crushed or spoiled berries.

• Summer Squash: Choose squash with naturally shiny, taught, unblemished skin. Avoid squash that appear dull or have soft spots.

• Sweet Potatoes and Yams: Choose potatoes with firm, unwrinkled skins and no bruises or cuts, as they are highly perishable.

• Tomatoes: Choose tomatoes that are fragrant, smell earthy at the stem end, and feel heavy for their size. Avoid tomatoes with wrinkled skins.

• Watermelons: Choose fruits that are firm and heavy and sound hollow when thumped. A properly ripened watermelon should have a yellow spot on one side where it sat on the ground

 

There we go! That’s the list! I personally made a copy of this list and keep it with my supermarket coupons so I know what I’m looking for when I am shopping for fruits and veggies.

Another way to be sure that you are getting great produce is to shop at the farmer’s market. The only downfall there is that you will probably only be able to find things that are in season. In my area, there is a farmer’s market going on in my town and every small town around me. When you go to the farmer’s market you are getting delicious fruits and veggies that are extremely fresh because they are grown locally. In addition to that, the prices are definitely better than any supermarket around, especially if there are multiple vendors selling the same fruits and veggies.

Hamilton Beach 70950 SaladXpress Counter-top Food Processor Electric w/ConesKitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer, Apple GreenT-Fal Initiatives 18-Piece Nonstick Inside and Out Cookware Set

I hope this article has helped you learn how to pick the best produce! If you’re interested in getting some items to help you with cooking at home head on over to DealDash. DealDash has food processors, stand mixers, cookware, and plenty of other items that you can use. Check out the Kitchen & Appliances category and I’m sure that you’ll find something that you can use to make delicious things from your fresh produce. Good luck and happy bidding everyone!