Maple: a hot flavour trend this spring. Maple is making a comeback this spring.

(NC) If you look on food shelves and at restaurant menus, it's hard not to notice that maple has become a hot food trend, flavoring everything from beer to yogurt, potato chips and now bagels. Chefs, food manufacturers and even brew masters are embracing maple for its natural goodness and diverse flavour profile including brown or burnt sugar, caramel, toasty, woody, malty, sweet and slightly smoky.

“Maple is about to come into its own as a hot trend this spring,” says food trendoligist and Professional Home Economist, Amy Snider-Whitson of The Test Kitchen Inc. “It's a quintessential Canadian flavour that has a prominent place at breakfast tables across the country.”

“The sweet yet toasty nature of maple pairs well with both sweet and savory foods, such as: peanut or other nut butters, peameal, bacon or ham, aged cheddar, tart apples, and cream cheese,” adds Snider-Whitson.

Dempster's is jumping on the maple bandwagon and introducing limited edition Maple French Toast Bagels. Combining two of Canada's most-loved foods – maple and bagels – these bagels make a sweet addition to any breakfast. Dempster's Maple French Toast Bagels are available at major grocery store chains in Canada for a limited time from now through May 22. To learn more, go to www.dempsters.ca.

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Reduce stress on AC units to save money

(NC) Springtime signals the start-up of household air conditioning systems in preparation for the days ahead when it will get really hot. With recent extreme weather patterns, there's a chance your AC will be working overtime this summer and fall, so an attentive maintenance plan for your unit will ensure reliable performance.

As an integral component of our comfort in the hot months, it's good to consider reducing the stress on our air conditioning systems. A simple way to reduce the energy used by AC is to consider upgrading your attic insulation, which keeps your home warm in winter and cool in summer. A primary source of energy loss is an improperly insulated attic, which also results in the AC unit working harder than necessary.

Upgrading can be as simple as topping up your existing insulation, and some products make it an easy DIY project. For example, Roxul's RockFill, is loose mineral wool insulation that can be hand spread over the top of the material that is already there. This mineral wool insulation is designed to remain stable, so it will not shift or drift, ensuring upgraded thermal protection. When upgrading your attic insulation, it's also important to fill in spaces around ducts, wiring and piping, converting these awkward spaces into energy saving areas.

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 Please check out my current listings and together we'll discover your real estate needs. If you know anyone buying or selling I'd love to help them! You can follow me on Twitter: @susanhawkesells Instagram: @susanhawke Pinterest: @SusanHawke Facebook Page: Susan Hawke Remax Sales Representative Sault Ste. Marie Ontario Canada

Be open to fresh air when indoors

(NC) Clean air is essential for good health. As Canadians, we spend close to 90 per cent of our time inside, so the quality of our indoor air is particularly important. If you're cleaning or tackling a home improvement project, you may be using products that contain chemicals that can be released into the air, such as cleaning products, paints and varnishes or glue.

Good ventilation is very important whenever you are using products containing chemical substances, especially if they are labelled with warning symbols.

Tips for safe and effective cleaning:

Remember to bring in fresh air whenever possible. This will help reduce pollutants that can accumulate to levels that might pose health and comfort problems.

Clean regularly to eliminate dust and dirt. Breathing in dust can create breathing problems or worsen an existing respiratory condition.

Use kitchen and bathroom fans vented outside to help remove pollutants directly from the rooms where they are created.

Consider installing an air exchange unit. Remember to change the filters regularly, as recommended by the manufacturer.

To keep homes safe and healthy for ourselves, families and visitors, it's important to try to identify and reduce hazards from the indoor air we breathe.

More information and tips are available at no cost through Health Canada's Hazardcheck guide, which you can read or order copies of online at HealthyCanadians.gc.ca/Hazardcheck or by calling 1-800-O-Canada.

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Susan 

 Please check out my current listings and together we'll discover your real estate needs. If you know anyone buying or selling I'd love to help them! You can follow me on Twitter: @susanhawkesells Instagram: @susanhawke Pinterest: @SusanHawke Facebook Page: Susan Hawke Remax Sales Representative Sault Ste. Marie Ontario Canada

Home hazard prevention checklist

(NC) Canadians spend a lot of time indoors, so it's important to ensure that our homes are safe,healthy places to live. By learning about health hazards that can exist in our homes, we can better protect our health and the health of our family and visitors.

Did you know that many common household products contain chemical substances that can be harmful to health? Young children in particular need extra care and protection from products that contain chemicals – they are naturally curious and don't easily recognize hazards.

Here's a checklist you can post as a reminder of ways you can protect yourself and family from unwanted chemical hazards:

• I have emergency phone numbers posted near or on my phone.

• I keep chemical products such as cleaning liquids and powders, polishes, drain cleaners, paint thinners, and windshield washer fluids locked up and away from young children.

• I make sure that my child-resistant closures are working.

• I read and follow all labelling information carefully in order to use products safely and I learn the meanings of all warning symbols.

• I teach children what hazard labels mean.

• I learn about a chemical before I use it and look for other options that may be a healthier choice.

• I never mix household chemicals together.

• I open windows when painting or varnishing.

• I change air filters regularly for things like furnaces and ventilation systems and cooking exhaust fans. I also ensure kitchen and bathroom vents send air outside.

• I keep the door between the garage and the house firmly closed.

• I ask all family members and visitors to remove their shoes when coming in to keep floors free from harmful bacteria and other substances that can be tracked in.

Every day, countless families are exposed to avoidable household hazards. By following simple steps, you can help to keep your family safe and healthy.

More information and tips are available at no cost through Health Canada's Hazardcheck guide. Read or order copies online at HealthyCanadians.gc.ca/Hazardcheck or call 1-800-O-Canada.

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Susan 

 Please check out my current listings and together we'll discover your real estate needs. If you know anyone buying or selling I'd love to help them! You can follow me on Twitter: @susanhawkesells Instagram: @susanhawke Pinterest: @SusanHawke Facebook Page: Susan Hawke Remax Sales Representative Sault Ste. Marie Ontario Canada

Think Spring

Spring is here. Let's talk real estate! 

The lovely cherry blossom tree will let us know it's time.

Like A Hawke, Susan Please check out my current listings and together we'll discover your real estate needs. If you know anyone buying or selling I'd love to help them! You can follow me on Twitter: @susanhawkesells Instagram: @susanhawke Pinterest: @SusanHawke Facebook Page: Susan Hawke Remax Sales Representative Sault Ste. Marie Ontario Canada

Spring! Let's Get Moving!

Time to Buy. Time to Sell. 

Like A Hawke, Susan Please check out my current listings and together we'll discover your real estate needs. If you know anyone buying or selling I'd love to help them! You can follow me on Twitter: @susanhawkesells Instagram: @susanhawke Pinterest: @SusanHawke Facebook Page: Susan Hawke Remax Sales Representative Sault Ste. Marie Ontario Canada