Interesting FACS

 

When Does It Go on Sale?

 

Appliances

Holiday weekends


Cameras & Camcorders February, March


Carpet & Flooring

January


China & Flatware

March, September


Computers

August, December


Cookware

May, June, December


Dining Furniture

October, November


Electronics

Spring and early summer;
Black Friday and Cyber Monday


Furniture

January, July, holiday weekends


Holiday Decor

Day after the holiday


Linens

January


Mattresses

May through August


Paint

Summer


Patio Furniture

After Labor Day


Plants, Trees, & Shrubs

Fall


Small Appliances

December


Snowblowers

April


Televisions

Early spring, also 6 to 12 months after a particular model is launched


Vacuum Cleaners

April, May

 

 

Make-Do Kitchen Tips

 

If you need:

 

Covered casserole

Cover a baking dish with foil


Double boiler

Place a metal or heat-resistant glass bowl in a saucepan. The bowl should be wide enough to avoid touching the bottom of the pan.


Pastry bag

Snip the corner off a heavy plastic food storage bag.


Sifter

Pour flour or powdered sugar into a sieve set over a bowl; then stir it with a spoon to force grains through the holes.


Soufflé dish

Substitute a straight-sided casserole with same volume.


Pizza pan

Use a baking sheet, building up crust to hold toppings.

 

 

Portion Size Cues

 

A golf ball is about the size of ¼ cup.

 

A yo-yo is about the size of ½ cup.

 

A tennis ball or baseball is about the size of 1 cup.

 

3 ounces of meat, poultry or fish is about the size of a deck of playing cards.

 

2 tablespoons of peanut butter is about the size of 4 dice.

 

 

Super (Baking) Soda Tricks


Baking soda is one of the most useful substances you can have in your pantry. Here are a few uses that might surprise you.

 

Clean the oil out of a salad dressing cruet by shaking baking soda inside, then rinsing it clean with warm water.

 

The smell from microwave mishaps (like burnt popcorn) can be removed by wiping with liberal applications of a baking soda and water solution.

 

Remove crayon marks on walls with a damp sponge dipped in baking soda.

 

If you’ve stained your white clothes by washing them with colored ones, undo the damage by soaking them in warm water to which you have added baking soda, salt and detergent.

 

If you’ve washed a crayon with a load of clothes, rewash the load with the hottest possible water, adding ½ to 1 full box wof baking soda. Repeat if necessary.

 

Remove fish, onion, or garlic odor from hands with a solution of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water or liquid soap. Rub, and rinse.

 

Prevent dry, chapped hands by sprinkling baking soda into dishwater.

 

If your pet has a run-in with a skunk, wash the pet in a bath containing 1 quart 3-percent hydrogen peroxide, ¼ cup baking soda, and 1 teaspoon liquid soap. Rinse well, and dry. Discard unused cleaner.

 

Omelets get fluffier if you add ½ teaspoon baking soda for every 3 eggs.

 

A pinch of baking soda added to potatoes while mashing will make them fluffier.

 

To test the acidity level of your garde soil, add a pinch of baking soda to 1 tablespoon of soil. If it fizzes, the soil’s pH level is probably less than 5.0.

 

Clothes can be deodorized by adding ½ cup baking soda to the rinse cycle.

 

Sprinkle baking soda on a damp sponge, and scrub your fruits and vegetables to remove dirt, wax, pesticide residue. Rinse well.

 

Use a toothbrush dipped in baking soda to scrub the cutting wheel of a handheld or electric can opener.

 

Fresh FACS Publishing

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  • FACS Literacy
  • Crafty FACS
  • FACS Made Easy

Links to FACS-Friendly Internet Sites

I am constantly amazed at the scope of the information available on the Internet. The amount of information is so vast that often it can be intimidating. What I have tried to do with this list of links is to include sites that I have found useful and reliable. Please check back to this section of my web site often, because as I find new sites that can be particularly useful to FACS teachers, I will add them to the list. If you have a site that you would like to have added to this link list, e-mail me and I will check it out and possibly add it.

Green Living

Website dedicated to education for sustainable living.
Information related to recycling and other environmental programs.
Tips, craft projects, and ideas for repurposing and living frugally.
Calculator to determine the environmental impact of an individual's food choices.
Green living ideas, videos and projects presented as part of Universal Studios annual Green Week.
Information about environmentally friendly products presented by Consumer Reports.
Presented by the Environmental Protection Agency sharing information about products and practices that are good for the environment.
Events and practices supporting wholesome food produced and harvested based on fair trade practices.
Green living practices involving areas of life that impact teens and their everyday choices.
Green living practices for all areas of everyday life in America.
Budget and eco-friendly decorating projects.
Recycling Arts & Crafts Reduce, Reuse, Recycle; Paper Making Arts and Crafts

Food Preparation

Great resource for all things food.
All Recipes
Find virtually any recipe from this useful web site.

Hungry Monster
Entertaining and informative site that features food facts, food jokes, a description of  international cuisines, several food glossaries, and much more.
Wonderful information, activities and recipes for encouraging students to include more fruits and vegetables in their diets.  Fun!
Great resource for recipes, baking tips, and baking science.
This site features recipes, baking tips, and extensive glossary, educator resources and nutrition information all related to baked products.
Great source of reliable recipes.  Also features a handy reference including a glossary, cooking and baking charts, ingredient substitution chart
Extensive source for information related to food and entertaining, house and home, gardening, family activities and more. Check out the How To Encyclopedia.
Come into the Kraft Interactive Kitchen at this site where you'll find lots and lots of recipes.
Features a good history of sugar, a very good recipe library, a baking school and recipes specific to major holidays. Meet Dottie is a fun feature.
Tremendous resource for all things food. The section on How to Repair Food could save a foods lab from sure disaster.
This site is "a playful place for people serious about food." The site features a very complete offering of All American recipes plus helpful hot-to’s and tips.
Enormous recipe collection.  A search can be conducted by specific recipe title.
An easy to use site that provides comprehensive basic information about all types of foods.
This site features a huge recipe index, a spice encyclopedia, a good hints and tips section, an explanation of kitchen equipment. 

FACS History

The most extensive reference I’ve found for tracing the role of food in history.
Activities and information related to food history in America presented by the Smithsonian Institution.
Extensive directory of information regarding American culture, food, history and other aspects of everyday life.
Directory of links related to food history.
Culinary-history exploration of Mexican traditions and ways of life.

Nutrition, Diet, Exercise & Food Science

USDA

Food and nutrition resources for teachers plus nutrient database.
Official site for explanation and application of the new Food Pyramid.
Education and resources for teaching young children the benefits of a healthy diet.
Resources for combating childhood obesity.
Resources and activities for all grade levels from Illinois Nutrition Education and Training Program.
This new feature on the Nabisco web site features 100 healthy living tips, information about calorie intake and use.  
Healthy Living section features recipes, tools, calculators and more helpful information for making wise choices about diet and exercise.
Governmental website dedicated to encouraging Americans to get active and eat healthy.
Program developed by Chef Alice Waters that uses organic gardening and food preparation as an educational tool.
Recipes and more including Bake-Off Contest winners.
Recipes, nutrition, and meal planning ideas using Kelloggs products.
Food encyclopedia, biographies, cuisines and more.
White House initiative on nutrition and physical fitness.
Extensive database of healthy recipes plus articles on current food and nutrition information.
Healthy recipe database.
Extensive listing of the nutrient content of common foods.
Reliable information related to current safety and availability of all types of seafood.

Sewing and Crafts

Crochet resource recommended by our young friend from the Cole Memorial Library. Thanks for sharing, Melanie!
Get your students started on one of the hottest sewing trends today.  This website offers a large collection of small quilt projects students will find appealing.
Projects and patterns featured in the magazine.
Patterns and projects that appeal to teens.
American Sewing Guild web site dedicated to promoting sewing and related crafts. Good links section
Great resource for current sewing trends, projects and patterns.
Instructions and patterns for 10 eco-friendly knit and crochet projects.
Compucrafts produces software for generating cross stitch and other needlecraft charts.
Sewing resources for fashion, home, quilting and more.

JoAnn Fabrics
This is the web site for JoAnn Fabrics and Crafts and it is an excellent source for craft projects, fabric selections, sewing notions and more.
Sewing projects and information about the history of home sewing in America.
Browse and shop for patterns on line or print off project sheets. Sites offer links to other web sites related to sewing and fashion design.
 Projects, products and inspiration for all types of crafts.
Linked sites that provide unlimited sources of information and resources for sewing educators.
Knitting and crocheting are hot again!  Teach your students to express their creativity by helping them to master this timeless skill.  This site is a great place to begin.
Large listing of free craft and sewing projects.
Extensive collection of all types of craft projects.
Craft and sewing projects, patterns and directions.
Large collection of sewing patterns and craft patterns.

Relationship Skills

The non-profit Dibble fund offers a variety of materials for teaching kids and teens how to build more successful relationships.

Child Development

Great online resource for early childhood education from the creators of Sesame Street.
Curriculum designed to encourage preschoolers to become lifelong learners. 
Online version of Family Fun magazine, this website is packed with activities and articles that adapt well to use in the FACS classroom.
Comprehensive site written for parents, but full of useful information and resources for FACS teachers.
The section of this website devoted to kids deals with many issues including the topic of teens and money from the parent's perspective.
Child development resources from PBS.

Resource Management

User-friendly site associated with Consumer Reports.
Federal Citizen Information Center web site.
Program designed to teach students the basics of money management and financial decision-making.
Reliable product information from one of the most trusted names in product testing and evaluation.
Internet-based lessons for teaching economics.
This website is directed to teens who want to turn a hobby into a small business.  It offers practical advice and case studies of successful young entrepreneurs.
Under the heading Business Guide for Kids you'll find some great resources for teaching entrepreneurship and financial literacy. (Thanks to Katie and Ms. Chandler for sharing this link with us!)

Living Environments and Interior Design

Lots of information from project calculators, on-line demos, to virtual painter which allows you to see the colors you choose in actual room.
Visually appealing room design photos, ideas, and DIY decorating projects.
Very good visual instruction on home improvement projects.
Good source for affordable decorating projects.
Great resource for all things related to home design and decorating.
Great examples of rooms and other projects based on a theme. Click on Room Design on home page.
Great video demonstrations and project instructions plus lots more.
Great source for current color schemes and decorating trends.
Excellent examples of well-coordinated room designs. Click on Design Gallery on home page.

Character Building

Dedicated to wiping out childhood hunger, this site sponsors the Great American Bake Sale as well as other worthwhile projects.
Website offers information on conducting bake sales, coat drives and other charitable activities. Sponsored by the Glad corporation.
Part of First Lady Michelle Obama's effort to support military families. Organization throws baby showers for military moms-to-be.
This group raises money to provide grants for sports, arts, and tutoring programs for kids of National Guard and Reserve members as well as wounded soldiers.
This organization coordinates an annual holiday celebration for the children of troops who've died serving our country.
Food drive held annually in May sponsored by the National Association of Letter Carriers. Food collected is donated to local food banks.
Organization sponsors youth service projects promoting volunteerism.
Nonprofit that focuses on encouraging education in the developing world.
Provides cooking sources for refugees of genocide in Darfur and Sudan.
Website dedicated to supporting women around the world.
Co-sponsored by Better Homes and Gardens and Share Our Strength, website helps users organize yard sales to combat childhood hunger.

Fresh FACS Publishing is not associated with or responsible for the content on the sites that appear on this page.