Suzette’s Christmas Fudge

December 15, 2013 By Michele Peterson

Fudge recipe from Suzette Peterson, owner of Mini Mops House Cleaning in Fresno CA

This fudge is a long-standing Peterson family Christmas tradition, and it’s SO easy to make! We hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

½ c. butter
1 package (12 oz.) semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 eggs
1 box (16 oz.) powdered sugar
1 t. vanilla
1 c. chopped nuts (optional)

Directions:

Melt butter and chocolate chips together over low heat, then set aside.

In a large bowl, beat the eggs until light. Add the powdered sugar, and beat until smooth. Mix in the vanilla.
Add the melted chocolate mixture and chopped nuts. Mix well.

Pour into a buttered 8 x 8 pan, and chill until set. Then cut into small squares and share!

Do YOU have a favorite Christmas recipe that’s a tradition in your family? Tell us about it in a comment below!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Real House Cleaning Pros Don’t Use Feather Dusters!

November 25, 2013 By Michele Peterson

Unhappy kid - veggies for dinner Have you ever watched a kid push food around on his plate? You know, the food that you want him to eat but that he doesn’t (generally a vegetable of some sort) …

Somehow, he thinks that if he just moves it around enough that it will disappear. Or it will at least look like he’s eaten some of it, and he’ll be off the hook.

He hasn’t actually removed any of this food from his plate (unless he’s exceptionally sneaky and your family dog happens to like the offending food item). But he hopes that just moving it around is good enough.

You’re wise to this trick, though, and you make sure that he eats what he’s supposed to. Right?

Dusting with a feather duster is just like that kid moving food around on his plate. You’re moving the dust around, but it’s all still there. You haven’t actually DONE anything to remove it.

The feathers of a brand-new feather duster will pick up some of the dust, but not all of it by any means. And a feather duster quickly loses even that limited efficiency.

Do this instead …

So instead of feather dusters, we use soft flannel dust cloths and Endust. We instruct our house cleaning workers to spray Endust on the dust cloth because it works as a dust magnet. It helps to pick the dust particles up, capture them on that cloth, and leave a clean surface behind.

In our experience, this has worked very well … MUCH better than feather dusters.

And, after all, isn’t that why you hire us? To get the job done and done well?

Until next time … Keep it Clean!

Easy “Great Pumpkin” Muffins

October 31, 2013 By Michele Peterson

Since it’s October, the month of the “Great Pumpkin,” we’re sharing this recipe for super easy pumpkin muffins. Enjoy!

For Muffins:
1 Yellow Cake Mix
15 oz. can Pumpkin
1 t. cinnamon
½ t. ginger
¼ t. cloves

For Topping:
½ c. flour
¼ c. brown sugar
½ stick butter
½ t. cinnamon

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350º. Put liners in muffin pan.
2. Combine dry cake mix, pumpkin, and the spices. Nothing else, really. Pour batter into the lined muffin pan.
3. For topping, combine all ingredients into a food processor and pulse until crumbly. (Or you can use a pastry blender or even a fork to obtain the same crumbly result.) Sprinkle over the batter, pressing in slightly to “set” the topping on the batter.
4. Bake for about 15 minutes.

We’d love to share one of YOUR favorite recipes in a future article! Please send your submission to us by mail or email with “Article Recipe” in the subject line.

Bathroom Exhaust Fan Lint is a FIRE HAZARD!

October 24, 2013 By Michele Peterson

You’re probably aware that the lint that builds up in a dryer vent is a potential fire hazard. But what about the lint that accumulates in your bathroom exhaust fan?

Just like dryer lint, bathroom fan lint is flammable, making it a fire hazard.

Bathroom exhaust fans — generally installed in the ceiling, and made with or without lights — are designed to remove moist air from the room. They help prevent steamed up mirrors, damp walls, and fogged windows, as well as remove odors.

BUT … the moist air combines with air particulates, and lint builds up. It builds up on the outer cover and also inside, on and around the motor. Over time, the lint accumulates to the point where heat builds up and can cause the motor to overheat.

Since the lint also acts to insulate the motor, the heat build-up gets accelerated.

Heat + lint = trouble!

The lint is an easy-to-ignite fuel source for fire, which in turn ignites other nearby combustible building materials in the ceiling and attic. And now you have an attic fire.

Travelers Insurance alone has documented multiple millions of dollars of loss due to fires that originated in overhead bathroom exhaust fans.

ACTION STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TO PREVENT THIS:

1. Inspect and clean all bathroom exhaust fans regularly.

2. When cleaning, remove the fan cover to clean and remove lint from around the motor, paying careful attention to all air-flow areas.

3. Wash the fan cover in warm soapy water to remove all lint. If there is any mold growing, add bleach to the cleaning mixture. Make sure the cover is completely dry before putting it back up.

Yes, this adds some time to your cleaning routine … but it’s worth it to decrease your risk of a fire. So please work it into your routine and be safe.

Until next time … Keep it Clean!

The Best Brownies I’ve Ever Made!

September 29, 2013 By Michele Peterson

Michele Peterson - Best Brownies I've Ever Made

Michele Peterson here, and I found this recipe through an Internet search one Sunday when I was craving a chocolate treat. They’re really, really good!

For Brownies:
½ c. butter
1 c. sugar
2 eggs
1 t. vanilla
½ c. flour
¼ t. salt
¼ t. baking powder
1/3 c. unsweetened cocoa powder

For Frosting:
3 T. butter, softened
1 T. honey
1 t. vanilla
1 c. powdered sugar
3 T. unsweetened cocoa powder

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350º. Grease and flour an 8-inch square pan.
2. Melt ½ c. butter in a large saucepan. Remove from heat, and stir in sugar, eggs, and 1 t. vanilla. Add the dry ingredients (not the powdered sugar or the 3 T. cocoa powder for the frosting). Spread the batter into the prepared pan.
3. Bake 25-30 minutes. Do not overcook!
4. Combine all the frosting ingredients and stir until smooth. Frost the brownies while they are still warm.
These are good warm or cold, but just be warned … they’re very rich. Plan on sharing!

To share one of your favorite recipes, please send it to us by mail or email with “Newsletter Recipe” in the subject line.