Easter is here and that means it’s time to gather with your family and friends for fellowship and food! Hosting a family gathering is a great time for social activities and making memories, but using your home can also put a strain on your utilities.
Thankfully, with more comfortable weather you can easily save energy by turning down your thermostat and opening the windows to let in the fresh spring air.
However, one of the biggest utility bill increases during social events can come from appliances in your kitchen. That’s why we have come up with energy efficient cooking tips to make your Easter happier and greener! Let's Get Started!
Smart Energy Efficient Ways to Cook
1. Use a Slow Cooker
Slow cookers, like crockpots, are great ways to cook with low energy usage because they cook your food slowly at a low temperature, slow cookers even have a lower wattage. Try slow cooking a ham for a delicious tender entrée!
2. Choose Food Items That Need Little to No Energy
Food items such as vegetables and salads need little to no energy to make. Just buy the produce at your local market, throw it all together and you’re good to go without needing any electricity from a stove or microwave. EASY!
3. Grilling
Using a natural gas grill to cook food is another great way to save on your energy bill. Since you don’t need to connect to any electricity, grilling chicken, burgers, asparagus, corn or other items is a smart and delicious way to save energy.
4. Dishwashing vs. Handwashing
Depending on your dishwasher, using it instead of handwashing might save on your water bill. Check how many gallons your dishwasher uses to decide whether you should hand wash dishes. Typically, newer dishwashers use less water than handwashing.
5. Correct Food Storage
Since you may prepare some dishes before your Easter gathering, storing your food in an energy saving way is both helpful and easy. Make sure your refrigerator doors are always shut tight to lock in all of the cold air. Also, check to make sure your refrigerator is on the proper temperature setting.
Use these tips to save energy as you celebrate this holy holiday with friends and family! You can also enjoy this delicious fruit salad recipe, which takes almost no energy to prep and store.
Fruit Salad with Yogurt Recipe
A fruit salad is always a great way to enjoy fresh fruit. Toss together pineapple, strawberries, grapes, mangoes, and raspberries, and serve with a sweetened yogurt mixture. Even add in some chopped pecans for added crunch.
Ingredients:
- 4 cups fresh pineapple chunks
- 1 qt. strawberries, hulled and sliced in half
- 3 cups seedless green grapes
- 2 mangoes, peeled and sliced
- 2 (4-oz.) containers fresh raspberries
- 2 cups Greek yogurt (or your favorite flavor)
- 1 tablespoon dark brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon honey
Steps:
1. Toss together first 5 ingredients in a large serving bowl.
2. Spoon yogurt into a separate serving bowl
3. Sprinkle yogurt with sugar, and drizzle with honey.
4. Serve fruit with yogurt mixture.
5. Add in you favorite chopped nuts or additional toppings for added flavor
We hope you enjoy your Easter holiday with your friends and family and even try this delicious and easy fruit salad recipe. Save money and time by being energy efficient as you cook up dishes in the kitchen this year!
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