Because sometimes I need to smash and mash

I truly, madly, deeply love my Victorinox ceramic knife, which has become my fave blade for many jobs. Most recently, I used it to slice fresh radishes very, very, VERY thinly for radish, gouda and mustard (I used grainy, but honey mustard can work for this one too) sandwiches. But I’d never smash, mash, or scrape with this wonderful knife. Perish the thought!  For that, I may need to treat myself to a Victorinox Cleaver (shown above), made of high-carbon stainless-steel. I really could have used it the other day when I wanted to flatten chicken breasts for the grill for a salad (with sliced celeriac, fennel and cherry tomatoes). At $65, it’s a pretty affordable choice. And judging from  my ceramic knife, I could count on high quality. Yes, I think I just talked myself into it - I may have to get one!

Chliin' too much is not so hot for the planet - or your bank balance

Temperatures in Toronto continue to soar, which means that air conditioners everywhere are busy cranking out chilled air. That sure makes us feel cooler, but it’s not great news for your bank balance — or the planet. So here are some tips for saving money and staying comfortable during the dog days, courtesy of Dave Walton of Direct Energy 

Increase the thermostat setting by two degrees – you’ll hardly notice it

Close south-facing curtains or blinds to keep the heat out

Seal doors, windows and air ducts with weather stripping or caulk, since up to 30 per cent of cooling can be lost through holes and cracks. This can also save you up to $150 a year on your energy bills

Going on vacation? Unplug vampire electronics like cell phones, iPods, and computer chargers that suck energy even when they are not being used, and turn the air conditioning unit off

Close doors/vent in rooms not being used so your air conditioner isn’t cooling unused spaces

The U.S.-based Edison Electric Institute  also has some suggestions:

Use ceiling and table fans - a fan should allow you to raise the thermostat setting about four degrees and still feel cool.  For ceiling fans, make sure they are turning in a counter-clockwise direction during summer (you should feel a cool breeze standing directly under the fan)  - but only use the fan while you’re in the room, as fans cool people, not places

I also love the look of Dyson's new bladeless fans, as do - apparently  - the penguins at the London Zoo (see pic above :))

Cook with the microwave instead of the regular oven or on an outdoor grill. (I like the idea of feasting on a cold meal of salads, raw veggies and local cheeses a few times a week)

Wash full loads of clothes in cold water (I love to line dry at this time of year, too)

Toronto Hydro is often the first to see the direct effects of increased ASC usage, so they’ve got some good tips too.

Their peaksaver program, which gave customers a $25 credit for allowing TH to automatically cycle down the air conditioner during peak times during the day and which was run through the Ontario Power Authority is currently being redesigned. But TH is still offering PowerShift for customers who already have a peaksaver device. Under the deal, participant air conditioners will automatically cycle into conservation mode when the temperature reaches 27°C and/or the humidex reaches 30°C on weekday afternoons

Take advantage of efficiency incentives  from the Ontario Power Authority of up to $650. And check the Save-On coupon section for energy efficient products

Benefit from Time-of-Use rates by shifting non-essential electricity use to off-peak times

Use a programmable thermostat to turn off (or up) your AC when you're not at home.

Click here  for more tips