| How to Keep Produce Fresh Posted: 22 Dec 2017 04:00 PM PST How often have you bought fresh produce with the intention of enjoying it all throughout the week, only to find it spoiled once you're ready to use it? This very occurrence is common in many homes, and exacerbated by improper storage. Learning how to better store your fresh produce will help it to last for longer, so you don't have to stress over the limited window you have to enjoy your favorite fruits and veggies. EditStoring Fruits - Store tomatoes on your counters in a room temperature area of your kitchen. Tomatoes tend to dull in flavor and freshness when exposed to cold air. Too much heat lends to rotting. To protect your tomatoes and ensure they keep their tastiness, pad a large bowl with paper towels and tuck the tomatoes into the bowl.[1]
- Stow your apples in your refrigerator's crisper drawer. Apples need to be kept cold and separate from other fruits in your refrigerator. Place them in a plastic bag before you put them in your drawer. The crisper drawer will keep them at the proper temperature while also preserving their texture and flavor.[2]
- Bag your lemons and grapes, then place them in your refrigerator. Both of these fruits are prone to rotting in open air. Keeping them cold is the key to helping them last. These two fruits have different bagging requirements, so keep them in mind as you store them.
- Lemons belong in plastic bags. Make sure the plastic bag is closed tightly so the lemons are safe from any exposed air. This will keep them from losing their moisture and turning hard and dry.[3]
- You may either leave your grapes in the bag you bought them in or transfer them to a new one. Paper sacks provide the best storage due to their absorbing properties.[4]
- Freeze cherries or place them in your refrigerator. Cherries thrive in cold temperatures. In fact, any environments warmer than your refrigerator are proven to harm cherries. If you plan to eat them soon, it's fine to refrigerate them. However, if you aren't planning on using them right away, go ahead and store them in your freezer. Just be sure to bag them first![5]
- Clean fresh berries in water and vinegar prior to storing them. The vinegar will serve as a disinfecting agent toward the berries. If you have a salad spinner, you can use that to dry them off quickly.[6]
- Pour your clean and dry berries into some Tupperware (or another container with a lid), with paper towels packed at the bottom to absorb excess liquid released by the berries. Be sure to keep the Tupperware slightly open so the berries can air out.[7]
- Keep oranges and other citrus fruits bagged and in your fridge. Citrus fruits are easy to store. They can thrive both in your refrigerator drawers and in room temperature environments.[8]
- Leave unripe fruits on the counter. This includes pears, avocados, and bananas, which are typically purchased before they're ripe enough to eat. Leaving them out in the open will encourage them to ripen so you can enjoy them sooner.[9]
- Move ripened fruits to your refrigerator. Cold environments slow or halt the ripening process, which is great for avocados, bananas, apples, and other fruits that will continue to ripen at a rapid pace. This will keep them edible for a longer amount of time.[10]
EditStoring Vegetables - Leave potatoes in a dry, cool area of your kitchen. Never keep potatoes in your refrigerator; its cold environment will alter the potatoes' taste. Keep them away from your stove area and other warm parts of your kitchen, as the heat will encourage them to bud. Be sure to bag them, whether you've bought only a few potatoes or a large amount.
- Prune asparagus stems and carrot leaves, then place them in a large cup of water. Both of these vegetables require moisture to keep fresh.
- You'll want to give the asparagus around a couple of inches' worth of liquid for the sake of covering the cut stems. Once the asparagus is properly watered, you can use a plastic bag as a drape for them.[11]
- The leaves of a carrot are the part that will keep growing and eventually cause the carrot to shrivel. Stash them elsewhere if you want to eat them. The water's moisture will keep the carrots edible in the meantime.[12]
- Refrigerate mushrooms in their package. If you purchased mushrooms that were already cut and stored, all you have to do is tuck them into your refrigerator. Once you've opened them up, be sure to use cellophane to bundle up whatever you don't use. Prick the wrapping so the excess mushrooms can receive proper ventilation.[13]
- Put fresh mushrooms in paper sacks. Paper sacks are much more absorbent and allow for better ventilation. Plastic sacks tend to allow too much moisture, which encourages rotting.
- Place brussel sprouts and bell peppers on your counter. These two types of vegetables don't need much special treatment in order to keep fresh.
- Don't prune any dry leaves from your brussel sprouts until you're ready to eat! The leaves are covering the brussel sprouts' cores, keeping them fresh and edible.[14]
- While bell peppers can be refrigerated, this seems to shorten their edible period to only a few days.[15]
- Rinse leafy vegetables and wrap them in a paper or cloth towel. The water will clean any dirt from the greens, while the towel will take care of any extra water. You can keep the greens tucked into the towel with elastic on both sides until you want to eat them. This will keep them in delicious condition.[16]
- Husk and de-kernel corn, then freeze it in bags. Corn tends to ripen when left on the husk, reducing their flavor. If you don't plan to use your corn anytime soon, it's best to take it off the kernel and stow it for later.[17]
- Bag cauliflower and store it in the fridge. Cauliflower is another low-maintenance vegetable that is easy to store. It should keep in a normal plastic bag, tucked away in one of your refrigerator's drawers.[18]
EditStoring Fresh Spices and Herbs - Wash your herbs in a bowl or salad spinner. Douse the herbs in cold water, then spin or pat them dry. Be sure to render them 100 percent dry after washing, as they will rot if exposed to too much water.[19]
- Keep your hard herbs moist and in your refrigerator. You can identify hard herbs by their texture. Hard herbs will feel like the twigs of a tree. Roll them in a paper towel that is slightly wet, then tuck them into a freezer bag or lidded Tupperware bowl until you're ready to use. The herbs should go in your refrigerator's crisper.[20]
- Snip your soft herbs and keep them in water. You can tell whether your herbs are soft by feeling their leaves, which should be pliable and lush. Be sure to cut the herbs at the stems. Afterward, you can move them to a small container with water. Leave them at on your counters and switch out the water every other day. Soft herbs need considerable moisture to stay soft.[21]
- Keep your garlic in a dim, non-humid area of your kitchen. Humidity and brightness can cause garlic to bud and rot. Be sure they are able to get plenty of ventilation as well.[22]
- Look for signs of decay before you buy. If you notice dark spots or bruises on a piece of produce, or if it feels mushy, put it back. These are signs the produce has already started the rotting process, and can't be kept fresh.
- Put all the produce you buy away as soon as you arrive home. The sooner you put your produce into proper storage, the less likely it is to start to spoil early, especially if you live in an extreme climate.
- Use your produce as soon as possible. There are many ways to keep produce fresh, but it won't last forever. Try to eat the produce you buy as soon after purchase as you can.
- Keep track of how long your produce will naturally last. Leaf vegetables can be expected to last only a couple of days before it spoils. Many other varieties of produce keep for up to or a little over a week.[23]
- Give your vegetables some breathing room by poking holes into their bags. They will need both air and plenty of space to stay fresh.[24]
- Clean out your refrigerator on a regular basis. A cluttered refrigerator can't function properly because there isn't enough room to let its temperature circulate. Try to empty your refrigerator of old or spoiled food around once a week.
- Never place your vegetables and fruits all in one container or area. Many fruits, such as apples, are notorious for producing lots of ethylene, a gas that helps produce ripen. By keeping all of your produce in the same place, they all will be exposed and start to rot faster.[25]
- Potatoes and onions should be stored apart. These two vegetables trigger a chemical reaction in each other that affects their texture and flavor and encourages budding in potatoes.
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| How to Help North Bay Fire Victims Posted: 22 Dec 2017 08:00 AM PST The 2017 North Bay Fires have been devastating to California's northern Bay Area, particularly around Napa, Mendocino, Sonoma, and Lake. Whether you've been affected by the photographs and reports coming out of the area, or personally know someone affected by the fires, it's likely that your first instinct is to ask what you can do to help. The best thing you can do is donate items in need to collection sites, give money to charities and organizations working to help evacuees, or volunteer to help in-person. No matter how much or little you can donate, every little bit will help victims start to rebuild their lives. EditDonating Items in Need - Bring nonperishable food to a Bay Area food pantry. Call ahead of time to see if the pantry is still in need of food, and what kinds are in highest demand. In general, stick to canned fruits and vegetables, nut butters, soups, cereals, and pasta.[1] You can also call ahead of time to see what food items are in highest demand.[2]
- Look on local news media sites to see what food pantries are still collecting food. If you call a pantry that's no longer accepting donations, ask if they know of any other sites where you can donate food.
- If you live in the Bay Area, you can drop the items off in person. If you live farther away, ask if you can mail in your donation.
- Donate essential non-food items at collection sites. Items like clothing, blankets, pillows, socks, toiletries, and chargers are being collected at sites around the Bay Area. Look on local TV and news media for lists of sites that are still accepting donations, at places such as police departments and local businesses. Call the collection site beforehand to see what items they need the most of.[3]
- Donate pet supplies to animal shelters. Pet supplies are being gathered at general collection sites and at local animal shelters. Contact the animal shelters and Humane Societies in and around Sonoma, Napa, and Yuba-Sutter to ask what supplies are in greatest demand right now.[4]
- Call Sonoma County Animal Services on their 24/7 phone line at (707)565-4648 for information or to make a donation.[5]
- Lend your car to survivors through car-sharing apps. Offer to rent your car for free to people who have lost their car or mode of transportation in the fires. Search for car-sharing marketplaces, such as Turo, on the Internet. Specify that your car is being offered only to those affected by the fires.[6]
- Host evacuees in your home through a home-sharing app. You can offer to house evacuees from the fire for free through an app or program, such as Airbnb's Open Homes. List your available room or home through the platform, and be honest about how much space you have. Be an understanding and empathetic host to your guests during their stay.[7]
- Follow local news media to see where items are needed. Local newspapers, TV stations, and disaster relief centers are constantly updating lists of areas, shelters, and collection sites that need the most help. Watch TV reports and use social media for updates on how you can help most effectively. [8]
EditGiving Money To Survivors and Communities - Give money to crowdfunding campaigns to help individuals or groups. Crowdfunding sites allow you to donate to individual victims or families as well as larger communities. You can read their story and see how much each group or person is hoping to raise. Even donating just a few dollars will help victims begin the process of rebuilding their lives.[9] Look for campaigns on sites like:
- GoFundMe. Use this link for a master list of all the North Bay fires campaigns: https://www.gofundme.com/raise-funds/CAfirerelief
- Fundly. [10]
- YouCaring. The city of Santa Rosa has its own campaign, and Bay Area sports teams have started their own as well, both raising money to rebuild communities and help victims.[11]
- Go Fund a Hero. The North Bay Fire campaign on this site is tailored specifically to firefighters who lost their own homes while trying to save other buildings and communities.[12]
- Check Facebook's crisis center to help survivors directly. Facebook has separate pages for each fire in the North Bay. Click on them to see news posts and requests for specific donations from victims. You can also use this page to see if any of your Facebook friends have been affected by the fires. Use this link to access the crisis center: https://www.facebook.com/crisisresponse/
- Contribute to general relief funds for the North Bay Fires. As collection sites and food pantries fill up, more communities are asking for help in the form of monetary donations. There are many different, general funds you can donate to to help victims and communities. Donate to one of the following organizations, or find others in your local newspaper or in TV broadcasts.
- Contribute to help specific communities in need. To target your donation to specific communities, look into organizations such as:
- Avoid charity scams. Do a bit of research into the organization before you donate, especially if it's one you've never heard of before. Watch out for phony-looking websites, such as ones with poor grammar and spelling or dated-looking graphics. Call the organization before you make a donation, asking them their address and if your donation will be tax deductible. They should be able to answer those questions with ease. If they can't, try another organization.
EditVolunteering Your Time - Sign up to help through the Red Cross. Some affected communities have been inundated with volunteers, and don't currently need any more. You can sign up with the Red Cross in case these communities have a sudden need for more help, or the fires spread to new areas. [14]
- You must be older than 13 to volunteer with the Red Cross, and will need to create an online account with them. Use a search engine to log on to the Red Cross's website and sign up to volunteer.
- Call 707-573-3399 to help in Sonoma County. You can also find volunteering opportunities at 211sonoma.org, or by emailing info@volunteernow.org. [15]
- Volunteer to foster animals. Search for "Community foster for norcal fire animals" on Facebook to access a page connecting volunteers to those in need. You can post what kind of animals you can take care of, or scroll through the comments to see what kind of fostering is needed. You can also call local animal shelters and humane societies to connect with animals that need help.[16]
- Check the CVNL Facebook page. The CVNL, which stands for Center for Volunteer and Nonprofit Leadership, is working to organize volunteer efforts in the aftermath of the fires. They've received many new sign-ups and may not be accepting more, but you can get the latest updates by checking their Facebook page. Type "CVNL Marin" in the Facebook search box to access their page.[17]
- You can also get updates on where to send donations of food and other essential items.
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| How to Find a Job Online Posted: 22 Dec 2017 12:00 AM PST The internet is a great resource for job seekers, but it can also be a bit overwhelming if you approach it without a gameplan. Your best way to find a job online is to boost your online presence by creating a professional website and/or LinkedIn profile. Look for job listings posted on a variety of sites from alumni organizations to generic employment boards. When you find a job that appeals to you, act fast and put in a professional application with strong supporting materials. EditEstablishing a Professional Online Presence - Create a LinkedIn profile. This is one of the main social networking sites used by employers looking for future employees. Crafting a profile is relatively easy and LinkedIn provides online instructions and prompts to help users. After you've filled out your profile, start to send out connection invitations to friends, family, and professional associates. You can also ask your LinkedIn connections to introduce you to other people, which will expand your potential job pool even more.[1]
- It's important that your profile be 100% complete. Spend some time filling out all of the website questionnaires and uploading any professional documents that you have available. Every time that you make a major update to your resume, go ahead and upload the new document to your page.
- As you see who is viewing your LinkedIn page, don't be afraid to reach out to them for advice or assistance. This is how many online connections are made.
- ZoomInfo is another site that can be beneficial for an online job search. If you create an account, it will give you access to updated contact information for companies.
- Remove or bury any negative search engine hits. Enter your full name and initials into various search engines to see what they pull up. Many potential employers will do this as well, so it's a great way to determine what they may be seeing. Make note of any negative hits, so that you can work to remove or bury them. The best way to do this is to post additional positive news about yourself on social media or other website and then wait for it to get hits.[2]
- If you don't pull up at all on search engines, this can also be a problem. Keep monitoring these searches as you add your resume to job search sites.
- Remove any negative information about yourself on social media. Open up each of the social media sites, such as Facebook, and work your way through your profile from top to bottom. Delete anything that is even borderline unprofessional.
- Adjust your social media settings to "Private." Open the "Settings" menu of each of your social media profiles. Move any privacy options to "Private" or "Not Public." This will limit the amount of personal information that is available about you online.
- Comment on or create your own professional blog or website. Go to professional blogs or websites in your area of interest and make a habit of commenting or even submitting full entries. Try to establish connections with other people that you find online who share your ambitions. You can also upload videos of any professional presentations that you've done.[3]
- You might even consider starting your own blog or creating your own website. This will allow you to shape what information shows up in search results about you. Keep the information focused on your professional life and use it as an opportunity to reach out to others in your field.
EditMastering the Job Search - Target jobs that align with your past work experiences and skill set. Use this information to create a list of job types that you would qualify for and are interested in doing. Being unfocused in an online job search can cost you valuable time, so the sooner that you narrow your focus, the better you'll do.[4]
- For example, it's probably too broad to say that you are interested in "sales." Start to target your search by asking yourself what type of sales you enjoy, what kind of sales environment do you want, and what are your pay requirements.
- Once you narrow your search, start to develop a list of keyword terms that you can enter into job search databases. For example, instead of "sales" you might put "auto sales."
- Try the generic job hunting websites. Sites such as Monster, askalo or Indeed include mass listings of jobs. Their benefit lies in the large numbers of jobs that are posted from a wide variety of professions. The downside is that you are competing with many other people for every single posting.[5]
- Many of these larger sites will also let you post your resume online for employers to look at. If this is an option, go ahead and do so.
- It's also a good idea to agree to have the site email you a notice whenever a job in a certain category is posted.
- Network on social media sites. As soon as you start your job search, create a post for each of your social media sites that lets your contacts know that you are on the market. Mention your general qualifications and the types of jobs that might catch your interest. Close your post by asking for their assistance with your search, whether this means sharing your post or talking to their friends/colleagues.
- For example, you might write, "As you all know, I resigned my position at the MTC, Inc. about a week ago. I'm now in the process of looking for a job in print marketing. I'd love to stay in the Denver area, if possible. Please let me know if you can think of any good contacts or leads for me to pursue. Thank you!"
- Don't be shy about sharing your job search on social media. Most people have been in a similar position and will understand your motives.
- You can also share photos showing you "in action" in a workplace environment. If you are a teacher, for example, you might post photos of you working with students or standing at the front of your former classroom. However, some people prefer to keep Facebook and Instagram just for personal, not professional, use and that is a fine option as well.
- Browse government websites. These sites range from ones that cover a large number of federal positions, such as usajobs.gov, to smaller search engines devoted just to a certain type of government job or positions in a particular city. Unlike some private industry search sites, these listings are usually free of scammers as well.
- Check out professional organization websites. Make a list of all of the professional groups that you can think of that are connected to your future job field. Go to their websites to see if they offer any type of professional job search assistance to either their members or the public on the whole. In addition, many of these organizations will offer mentors to persons new to the field.[6]
- For example, the American Historical Association (AHA) posts a job board on their website that lists new jobs with brief descriptions and contact information.
- Other organizations, like Playbill, offer a more informal listing of job opportunities.[7]
- Make use of college and university websites. If you graduated from a school, then don't be afraid to reach out to alumni connections during your online job search. Many universities and colleges have very active online organizations and some even post job listings. If you become an active member, you might also make professional connections that can help you find opportunities, too.[8]
- Check local business websites. Most companies will post job vacancies on their own sites before spreading this information around to generic job boards. It's also likely that company job postings will include more detailed descriptions than elsewhere. If nothing else, if you have your sights set on a certain company, browsing their website will let you know how to reach out to their human resources division.[9]
EditApplying Successfully for a Job - Write a comprehensive resume. Create a resume that includes your current job position, any prior work experience, your professional skills, and educational background. Your name and contact information should appear at the very top of the document. Save your resume in a number of different formats, like PDF and doc, to make it easy to email out.[10]
- It's also helpful if you tailor your resume to any particular job ads that catch your interest. For example, if you the job ad states that they are looking for a "experienced technician," then you can use these exact words in your job description, too.
- Make sure that your contact information, your email in particular, is professional. Most employers are not looking to hire "funnyface19."
- Write an outstanding cover letter. Most jobs will ask that you upload an introductory letter along with your resume and contact information. In your cover letter spend some time expanding on the qualifications listed on your resume. Your goal should be to have your letter express both your personality and your professional skills.[11]
- Apply only if you are qualified. It's a good idea to apply quickly to any jobs that fit your interests and qualifications. However, make sure that you don't waste time sending out information for jobs where you may not truly be in the running. Instead, spend your energy improving your resume and deepening your online search.[12]
- Follow up on an application after 2 to 3 weeks. If you submitted your application through a website, then you can likely log back in to the site and check the status of your submission. If you emailed or mailed in your application, then wait 2 to 3 weeks before reaching out to your potential employer. It's best to either call or email their human resources department.
- When you ask for information about your application status, make sure to include your full name, reference number (if any), and the date of your original submission.
- It's important to adhere to any specific instructions that a potential employer gives you regarding following up on your application. For example, some employers request that you don't reach out at all. Others may ask you to wait until a certain amount of time has passed.
- Watch out for hiring scams. It's a good idea to keep your guard up a bit while searching online for a job. Avoid applying for any job that asks that you provide a downpayment in order to be considered. Also, be careful with the information that you provide on online applications and never send along your banking or credit card data.[13]
- As a general rule, if a job ad strikes you as too good to be true, make sure to think about it carefully before applying.
- Be patient as you continue your search online. It may take a number of weeks or months before your efforts yield any results.
- It's generally not a good idea to apply for more than one position at a specific business at a time. They may be concerned about your lack of focus.[14]
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