Stay Warm and Keep Your Plumbing Happy

We’d like to think the chilly weather is behind us, but as unpredictable as Dallas weather is we thought we’d run over some tips other people around the country have pitched to us, so we can keep warm in the event our power goes out again. In addition, we have a tasty bisque recipe you’ll enjoy, as well as some tips to keep your garbage disposal in tip top shape!

First off, last month was pretty rough for many of us out there, because of the lack of power and burst pipes due to the snowstorm with below zero temperatures that we faced. Most of us don't have access to generators, so here are some tips:

1. If you have a fireplace, this is the best time to use it. Make sure to open the damper, so the smoke has somewhere to go and have plenty of firewood for such emergencies. 
2. Layer your clothing, but don't overdo it and start sweating. Gloves, thick socks, and a hat to keep heat in will help.
3. Find blankets you can prop up over windows to keep heat from escaping. Late at night this helps big time.
4. Exercise. A quick round of jumping jacks will get the body heat going.
5. If you have a tent and the space inside, set your tent up inside and sleep in there.
6. Sleeping bags are also a big help at night, they are designed to keep heat inside. 
7. Keep your pets warm as well. Wrap them in their favorite blanket and throw on a sweater and socks. They get cold, too.

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Butternut Bisque Recipe

Another great way to stay warm is with a delicious bisque. This is an easy 15 minute Butternut Bisque recipe that will warm up the whole family. Let's get cooking!

Ingredients

• 3 Tablespoons of butter
• 1 Medium Onion, chopped
• 2 sliced garlic cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon of dried thyme
• 1/4 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
• Salt to taste
• 1 large butternut squash (around 4lbs)
• 1 can of chicken broth
• 1 cup of half-and-half
• 1 tablespoon of lemon juice
• 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon of Cayenne Pepper for garnish (depending how hot you want to go)

Optional: Croutons or a sliced, toasted baguette to serve with

Directions

• Peel, seed and cut the butternut squash into 1 inch cubes.
• In a large saucepan heat and melt butter. Add the onion, garlic, thyme, cinnamon and cayenne. 
• Season with salt and cook. Be mindful to stir it once in a while until the onion is fully softened, 5-7 minutes.
• Add the cut up squash, broth, half-and-half, and 3 cups of water.
• Bring mixture to a boil and reduce to simmer. Continue cooking the mixture until squash is tender. This is usually about 20 minutes.
• The mixture won’t all fit inside a conventional kitchen blender, so in small batches. Pour mixture in blender and puree until smooth.

From this point on, just serve and enjoy! It should look somewhat like this…

We talk a lot about garbage disposals on this blog, and that is because they are an essential part of our kitchen - and a part of the kitchen we often see breaking due to the things we put in it while cooking. It is always good to keep in mind what foods can be disposed of through this method and what foods need to be thrown away in the garbage. If you are just throwing away anything you can think of in there you are going to have trouble sometime down the line with your pipes. As much as we like to come by and visit to fix it, we thought we’d give you a heads up!

​Friends, we hope March is turning out to be a relaxing, but productive month for you all and we hope to see you next time right here on our Metro-Flow Plumbing blog. Thank you for your continued support, Dallas.

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Please enjoy $30 OFF on work performed.​​ Mention METROFLOWCARES for us to apply this discount to your invoice. ​

If you find yourself face-to-face with a plumbing problem, please call us at: 214-328-7371. One of our certified plumbing technicians is ready to assist you 24/7. ​​