A recent University of Arizona at Tucson study identified the kitchen as the most germ-contaminated area in the home. The study reported that countertops are one of five key "hot zones," or sites with the highest bacteria counts. These hot zones can spread infections when germs are transferred from a contaminated item (your kitchen counter) to your hands to your body.

          How to Keep Bacteria Out of Your Kitchen

Provided by: Handy Household Hints (website)

     Keeping your kitchen clean is just as important for health reasons as it is for housekeeping reasons. In the last few years there has been bacteria, which can cause various diseases that has been found in meat and poultry. A couple of the more serious diseases are salmonella and E. coli.

Here are some steps that you can take in order to cut down on bacteria present in your kitchen.

∗ Make sure you wash your hands with soap. This is especially the case after you use the bathroom; play with your pets, or changing the diaper on your child. You should also make sure you thoroughly wash your hands with soap after you handle raw meat, seafood, and poultry.

∗ Thoroughly wash, not just rinse, cutting boards, dishware, utensils, and the kitchen counters before you prepare any food.

∗ Your dishrags, dishtowels, and sponges can be filled with bacteria. The more you put off washing them the more bacteria they will have. You should wash your sponges in the dishwasher to keep them bacteria free. You can clean your sponges and leave them on a rack on your counter to dry. Never leave the sponge wet when you are done with it, as you should wring it free of water.

∗ When you are shopping you should make sure to separate the raw meat, poultry, and seafood from each other at the grocery store. When you get home keep them separated at home when you refrigerate them as well. This will make it less likely that the bacteria will spread between these types of foods.

∗ Make sure you never place food that is cooked on a platter or dish that has not been washed. Also be sure to wash off the dish or platter if you had other types of raw meat, poultry, or seafood on it.

∗ When you are done with a meal you should refrigerate perishables, food that was prepared, and various leftovers within the hour of when you ate the meal. This will make it less likely that the warm air will cause bacteria to form in the food and it will also keep your food much fresher.

∗ When you take food out of the freezer to defrost it run under cold water. Never just leave the food out on the counter. If it is very frozen you can leave it in the sink but run some cold water over it.∗

 On any counter that you put food directly on after you clean it with any type of cleaning product wipe it down with a rag that is damp with water.

   The kitchen island is a stand alone cabinet or grouping in the middle of the kitchen providing counter space, convenience, and storage space. In larger kitchens where there is adequate space there are often double islands. Most often the island used to separate the kitchen from the living room will have seating to be used much like a breakfast table. If the kitchen island has a cook-top, sink, under-counter microwave or other appliance then it also accommodates the convenience of preparation while socializing with guests. There are endless uses and endless design options for kitchen islands. 

   New home buyers aren't the only ones that should consider a kitchen island design for their kitchen. Some older homes with limited space can also benefit by having a more open looking kitchen by lowering existing walls halfway to form islands between the kitchen and other living spaces.

   Some features to consider in adding a kitchen island that include the oven or cook top as the main component

• you might want to consider a kitchen exhaust hood over your island or if possible one of the new down draft exhaust fans

• The island should be well lit. Your kitchen island plan should provide locations for lighting in the ceiling as well as around the kitchen exhaust hood.

• Electrical switches and outlets. A kitchen island can be an ideal area for additional outlets for kitchen appliances.

• Storage and shelves.    

  You can create your own dream kitchen or communicate your design ideas to a kitchen design professional.

Authors Note: Islands have become a very popular feature. Depending on the size, islands are the perfect way of combining usability with design aspects.

Diane Gray/ Associated Content

Using herbs and spices in your diet and in remedies to alleviate ailments, will help you to eat and live a more healthy life. Herbs and spices are fragrant and delicious additions to your foods, and also can help you to sooth your physical maladies. Use these wonderful plants in your dishes for both extra nutrients, and pretty garnishes! Here are some of the most popular.

Parsley has been known for more that 2,000 years and was best known as a medicinal herb. It originated in the Eastern Mediterranean region, and was used by the Ancient Greeks for kidney and bladder ailments. We still use parsley as a diuretic. It also helps with stomach and liver problems. For women, it can ease the bloating that some experience before their menstrual cycle.

But parsley is also a good source of many vitamins and minerals especially iron. It is mostly used as a garnish for dishes, especially in restaurants. Don't throw it away! Eat it! The sprigs as we've explained are very good for you. It's best not to cook parsley because the heat destroys many of its valuable nutrients. If you want to use it in soups and stews, just chop it up and add it at the last minute.

Oregano is a sweetly scented spice and was valued by the Ancient Egyptians. They used it as an antidote to poison and also as a preservative. But oregano is most popular for its spicy, minty flavor. Used in the kitchen, it is sprinkled on pizza, and stirred in spaghetti sauces and soups. Oregano is also delicious in egg and cheese dishes.

One of the most flavorful types of oregano is Mexican Oregano. You can store the fresh leaves in the refrigerator in a zip-lock bag. If you want to dry oregano, tie the stems together and then hang in a dark, well-ventilated place. After they're dried, store the leaves in an airtight container.

Cayenne or red pepper is a member of the pepper family, which includes the familiar bell pepper and the hot and green chilies. Mexico alone grows over 150 varieties of chilies, and the cayenne pepper is one of the hottest. We use it mostly in our recipes calling for a hot, spicy flavor, especially in Mexican dishes.

But did you know that peppers were once only used as ornamental plants and not eaten? They were also used in medicinal purposes externally to stimulate the circulation in the skin. The symptoms of rheumatism could also be soothed using the red pepper.

Today we use this pepper typically as pepper spice or pepper flakes to zip up the flavor in our foods. Also these peppers are used whole in many Tex-Mex and New Mexican cuisines. The hottest part of the pepper is the seeds and white ribs. If you want your food milder, but still have that pepper flavor, scrape out the seeds and white ribs. If you want it real hot, leave them in!

Chives are a member of the onion family and they grow from small bulbs. In the Middle Ages chives were once thought to drive away evil spirits! The stems and even the chive flowers (you can eat them!), are high in vitamin C, folic acid, and potassium. Chives are a great addition to recipes as they help restore the nutrients that may be lost in cooking.

When you use chives in your dishes, try not to heat them, as they will lose their vitamins and minerals. Sprinkle them instead on any dish that you would like a nutrient boost. And a sprinkling of chives also makes a pretty presentation!

We hope that these little tips and hints will encourage you to use these wonderful, healthy herbs and spices every day in your cooking!