Off Topic—Safety in the Kitchen

This blog discusses one more issue to which we, as responsible adults, need to pay attention.

Here’s the scenario:  You are having a dinner party and know you need to prepare foods ahead of time so you are not stressed during the party.  How do you make food ahead of time and reheat it so that it doesn’t spoil?

First, you need to cool foods quickly to get them from the stove to the fridge.  This involves placing the food in shallow pans so there is a greater surface exposed to the air.  Or you can put the pot/pan in an ice bath- just make sure the container with the ice is clean.  Another way of cooling is to divide the large quantity into smaller portions.  I like to put either a trivet or a pot holder under the container of warm food when I place it on my glass refrigerator shelf so that cool air can get under the container as well as over and around the sides.

Of course, you can always use a thermometer but most home cooks, including me, don’t do this.  Information from Contra Costa Environmental Health in California stated foods should be cooled from 135⁰ F to 41⁰F or below within 6 hours with the most significant drop of 135⁰ F to 70⁰F occurring within 2 hours. 

It is equally important to reheat foods to the proper temperature.  Foods should come up to 165⁰ F to kill off any bacteria that may have grown during the cooling or reheating process.  Many home cooks reheat in a microwave.  I am learning that it is important to rotate the food because microwaves sometimes have cool spots and the food may not be heated through.

Here’s an important fact sheet from the FDA about reheating leftovers.   https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/food-safety-education/get-answers/food-safety-fact-sheets/safe-food-handling/leftovers-and-food-safety/CT_Index

As a long time home cook, I didn’t think I needed to pay attention to this very basic kitchen lesson.  But I do.  Fortunately, I have not had any issue with any of the thousands of meals I have prepared but times are changing and I need to keep up.  I will start using my thermometer more often than just for the Thanksgiving turkey!

Comments.  Questions.

Who’s helping mom/dad?

Many people will need assistance in their homes.  Duties range from paying bills to driving to doctors’ appointments to cooking, cleaning, and even bathing the patient.  Recent cyber scams have again brought to light the nefarious actions of some individuals.  And these things are not just happening on the internet.  They are happening in the homes of vulnerable populations. 

The safest and most reliable option is to hire people through a reputable, licensed agency.  But if you decide to hire someone on your own, please do a criminal background check and ask for previous employer references.  While I advocate organizing one’s important papers into one location, common sense dictates to keep this location secure.  Don’t leave it out for workers to look at it.

 And families have a responsibility to check on things using a random schedule.  And the new mantra,  “if you see something, say something”, holds true in this situation.  If your gut tells you your loved one is being taken advantage of, contact the police.  

Wait

One of my daughters sent me an article about surviving spouses who impulsively review and change their finances.

The article suggests that surviving spouses wait a while before making financial decisions.  And the definition of surviving spouse does not only relate to the death of a spouse but to divorce. 

Amy Floiran, a thanatologist (an individual who studies death), is quoted as saying, “[Financial] Advisors don’t know how to communicate during times of grief” because they concentrate on hard numbers and they are uncomfortable dealing with clients who are grief stricken.

She suggests the advisor needs to listen to the client, ask open ended questions, and help the client avoid making quick decisions. 

While I am usually suggesting we take action, this time I seem to be suggesting we take a few breaths and let some time pass before we make changes to our finances.  The old adage, haste makes waste, applies here.   But then again, we don’t want to wait too long.  Again, the uniqueness of the individual comes into play here.  There is no “one size fits all”; there is common sense, some quiet time, and then the opportunity for change.

Comments?

Shhhh. It's a Secret.

Many older adults are afraid to talk about medical costs with their kids and even with their financial advisor according to a survey recently released by the Nationwide Retirement Institute.  Seriously??? 

As an older adult, I understand the awkwardness of the subject.  After all, we, the seniors, are on the declining curve of the Bell Curve of life expectancy.  But really, the more we talk about our concerns, the less frightening the choices become.  We need to know the laws of our state regarding state assistance for medical care.  We need to talk to our financial advisor, if we have one, so that s/he will be better able to guide us with our investments.  And if we don’t have investments, then we need to talk to our spouse or children. 

While “I don’t want to worry my kids” or “medical/health issues are private” ring true, the burden of having to make decisions rests upon those who are faced with unexpected critical situations.

One statistic that stood out for me from the Nationwide survey was that 1/3 of those surveyed said they would be unable to pay for a $500 unexpected expense. 

To all those who are reading this, start the conversation with your family.  Take the plunge.  Don’t wait for something to happen.  Open the discussion.  And let me know what happens.

Photo by Darin McClure

Photos

Most people over age 30 have photos- the real kind- the ones you can hold in your hand that are printed on photo paper.  But what happens to them after we are no longer able to identify the subjects or share the memory?  As an only child, I have pictures from my parents’ home.  I didn’t have to divide anything with siblings.  And most of the people in those pictures are long gone.  In fact, I don’t recognize many of them.  So what will my kids do with them?  A dilemma. 

I also have photos that I took of my kids when they were little.  Today, I don't recognize their friends.  And now that my kids are adults, they are only taking digital photos.  So what do we do with all the photos- real and digital?  I’m open to suggestions.

I have a photo of my dad and his parents from 1907 or 1908.  And one of my mother’s parents from around 1932.  The dates are guesses so my next “organizing task” is to attach a sticky note to the back of the photos.  I probably should make copies so that each of my kids have one.  If I leave it up to them to make the copies after I’m gone, it probably will not get done.  They may not care but I do. 

 

The two important questions are:  1) What do you really care about?  2) How much effort are you willing to invest to be able to check off the task on your list of Meaningful Things I Need to Do Before I am No Longer Able to do Them?

This actually might be a good January/February project – at least in the cold weather climates. 

How many of you have 8 or 16 mm movies of your family?  If I don’t get them transferred soon to a DVD, it is possible that my kids will be unable to view them.  And then their kids will miss out on the fun, too.  

And if I buy an online service to store my photos, what will happen to them when I am no longer around to pay the fee? The more stuff we have, the more complicated life becomes.

Recently, I saw a commercial for a local history display at one of the museums in town.  On the screen were photos from possibly the 1950’s.  There were no captions so I don’t know who took the photos or the names of the people in the photos.  So the question becomes, how did the museum get the pictures.  Were they donated?  Is credit given to the family?  Or did someone find random pictures at a flea market and then put together a display?  Think about all the historical pictures that pop up on the internet from time to time.  Would you want your family photos to go viral in twenty years?  There are no real answers- just something to think about.

Please chime in…..what are you doing with your family photos?

Year End--New Resolutions

The holiday season is upon us with its endless sales, recipes, invitations, decorations and music.  What I don’t see or hear about is PLANNING.   How do we accomplish what is expected of us by others and of ourselves?  We always hear about people who wait until the last minute to do what they have to do.  And, yes, the situation usually turns out ok.  But what about those spontaneous events that throw us off our course?  Do you have to go to the convenience store to buy a quick present or do you shop in September to avoid the crowds?  This is not a discourse on which way is best.  You can weigh the pros and cons of each scenario. 

Planning is so necessary and the real purpose of this blog.   Families who lose out are those who have tragic accidents befall them.  Most young people don’t plan for their death.  They don’t keep their important papers in one spot because they don’t think they have important papers. 

As the year ends, I challenge you to schedule an appointment with yourself to locate your important papers, to complete either my Vital Information Form or find another template that will work for you.  There is no time like NOW.  Do it.   If you can’t locate the Form, email me.  Make this one of your resolutions and keep it.

Start 2017 with a feeling of accomplishment.  While this is a small accomplishment in the scheme of everyday living, it is a great accomplishment for family and friends who have to deal with the aftermath of death.

I have scheduled time to review my Form this week.  With so many password changes,  a scheduled update for my Form is in my future.

Planning for life and death are not mutually exclusive. 

Enjoy your holidays....

Living Together and Not Married

If you are living with another person (a “partner”, a family member other than a spouse, or a friend) and you do not have a written set of instructions about what the individual needs to do if you are incapacitated or deceased, your “live in” will be put in an awkward situation.  It doesn’t matter how old you are, if you own the property and are cohabitating, it is so important that you take the time to write a will and letter of instruction.  Does your “live in” get the furniture or do your kids get it?  How long can your “live in” stay in the house/apartment?  What happens to the blue vase that your mother left you?  Yes, the state you live in may determine how the situation falls out, however, the overall intent is “be proactive and take the time to learn how to protect your “live in” and how to be responsible to your family”.

These are knotty questions and require some thought and a commitment of time to address.

And make sure someone other than your “live in” knows where you keep your important papers.  If you have not completed my form about your important financial and hsitorical information, email me and I will send you a copy.  Remember it is by no means the end all/ be all of information; it is a basis for you to add in your own personal touches.  I welcome your dialogue.

Until next time…