Less is Best at Moog!

For the next eight weeks I will be doing a program for Moog employees called “Less is Best!” The central theme is to cook using less energy, less time and less money. The classes at Moog on Less is Best are held during the employee lunch period. Most of us have such a busy schedule that spending less time in the kitchen preparing meals is important to us. Shortcuts in the kitchen are also important as I try to convince people to prepare and eat more of their meals at home. Eating at home can save you money. It also allows the family to spend more quality time together. Most busy moms are looking for suggestions that will help them to prepare nutritious food for their family in the short amount of time that they have to devote to meal preparation. I will feature a different recipe each week using a small appliance. Small appliances can mean substantial savings for the average consumer. During the first class a food processor was used to make Fusilli with Spicy Pesto. According to Duke Energy, a 400-watt food processor can be used for five minutes once a week for about one cent for the month. Compare this to your electric water heater that costs about $21.32 per month for general use. Of course the water heater and clothes dryer are two of the biggest energy users. I was somewhat surprised to learn that my dehumidifier costs a whopping $23.62 A month to remove the moisture from my basement. Of course that is a dehumidifier that runs constantly. We could all benefit from using a little more energy conservation in our homes. I am sure that you have used the same statements on your children that your parents used with you. “Close that door, we’re not cooling (or heating) the outdoors!” How about this one, “Turn out that light when you leave the room,” and the list could go on. Their admonishments are still true today. We, too, need to remind everyone about the importance of closing the doors and turning out the lights. Another important tip to remember about using small appliances: store them in an area that makes them easily accessible. If I have to unpack the appliance from its box that is on the top shelf I probably will not use it very often. While we probably do not want to clutter our counter space, try to find the small appliance a home in the area where you are most likely to be using it. The small appliances are a great way to save you time and money.


Teresa Wiley
FCS Agent