Safety Guidelines Protecting Final Food Access

Whether it is a fast food place or a fancy restaurant, they both have final food access before they give you your order.

Thus, restaurant owners must be very aware of safety related food guidelines in order to not give their customers food that has been sullied. The responsibility lies with the owner if someone does become ill after eating a meal at their restaurant.

Whether it was accidental or due to improper food storage or preparation doesn't matter. The result can be a loss of income, loss of customers, penalties imposed, or even lawsuits.

A responsible restaurant owner will not only make sure that the employees have training, but as food access can result in illness caused by external sources, the kitchen must be clean.

Bacteria can grow in an unclean work space, so regular cleaning must be done. A clean and neat kitchen will also encourage customers to return again and to recommend the eating place to their family and friends.

A restaurant is a place with food access and so important regulations and guidelines must be followed. If they are not, it could result in sick customers, which would be disastrous for any business, or it could also mean heavy fines from health officials.

Rather than take the risks of this happening, it is advised to do what is needed to keep the restaurant clean, in order to avoid extra costs and negative publicity.

To read more Safety Guidelines Protecting Final Food Access

Food Sanitation Tips For Your Kitchen

One of the most important food sanitation tips to follow is personal hygiene. Whether you are cooking for family and friends, or you are a cook in a restaurant, it is extremely important to make sure that your personal hygiene is of a very high standard.

This is necessary to prevent any illnesses due to food becoming sullied during preparation.

One important rule of food sanitation is to always wash your hands thoroughly before entering the kitchen to prepare food. Just as surgeons scrub their hands to their elbows prior to performing surgery, you need to wash your hands up to your elbows for a minimum of twenty seconds.

Hot water and soap will be needed. Also, if during the process of preparing food you come in contact with something questionable, then you must wash your hands again.

Keeping your personal hygiene well attended to is an important rule to follow in the kitchen for food sanitation. Being a responsible cook in either a home or a busy restaurant should never be taken lightly.

If someone does become ill due to tainted food, then it will be necessary to reappraise how you are preparing food and if you are following these preparation of food guidelines.

These tips are to prevent illness and thus following them carefully will ensure that your guests or customers don't become ill from eating food that you have prepared.

To read more Food Sanitation Tips For Your Kitchen

Shopping Surveys For Fathers Day Gift Ideas

Fathers don't generally make a big to-do out of the Father's Day date like mothers might have done a month earlier. While mom might tell you she could use some potted plants, new dish towels and a day at the spa, dad is far more likely to reply with something more quixotic, like "All I want is a little of your time" or "I don't need anything."

Deep down, your dear old dad may have a few things he'd like, although he may not say it. Recent surveys of Fathers Day gift ideas can help you gather a few ideas and a better perception as to what others are doing to celebrate.

Given that we're still in a recession, the National Retail Federation believes spending on Fathers Day gift ideas will still be low for Fathers Day in 2010. Last year's survey revealed that the average U.S. consumer planned to spend about $90.89 on dear old dad, which was down 4% from 2008.

Top gift ideas included dinners, sporting events, clothing, electronics, books, CDs, home improvement items and sporting goods, the survey found. "Along with the usual ties, gift-givers will be looking into items that Dad can enjoy with the whole family," commented Tracy Mullin, president of the National Retail Federation. "Retailers will offer specials on new grill sets, sporting and gardening equipment and even electronics as the holiday rolls around."

The Discover Card survey also found that Mother's Day is more celebrated than Father's Day for some reason. Consumers planned to spend an average of $31 on Fathers Day gift ideas, compared to $41 on Mother's Day gifts. Research conducted by www.pricerunner.com and Amplitude Research also echoed this sentiment: 67% of daughters and 49% of sons planned to buy Fathers Day 2010 presents.

"More research needs to be done about why females seem to spend on a Father's Day gift more often than males," said Martin Andersen, General Manager of www.pricerunner.com. "Perhaps men are less comfortable about gift exchanges between son and father, versus son and mother." Their survey found most respondents (39.6%) planned to spend $25 to $49 this year.

To read more Shopping Surveys For Fathers Day Gift Ideas

Time For Family Fun With Fathers Day Celebrations

June is a great month to plan special Fathers Day celebrations. By now, summer is in full swing, the weather's pleasant, kids are out of school and people are generally in good spirits.

Any number of Fathers Day ideas will help you spend some quality time and show your father you really appreciate him, no matter where you live. Before you plan, be sure to take into consideration your father's hobbies and his work schedule.

For instance, you wouldn't want to schedule a grueling hike on his one day off after he's worked six 12-hour days straight. By the same token, you wouldn't want to suggest a round of golf if your father's not really into it at all. The best way to make Father's Day special is to tailor the day specifically to him.

New experiences not only make great memories, but also wonderful Fathers Day celebrations. You could try volunteering for a cause your father feels strongly about to show that you care about what matters most to him.

Or you may try something like dance lessons, skydiving, snorkeling, taking a foreign language class, traveling to a new place together, wine tasting, participating in a culinary class, kayaking, riding in a helicopter, rock climbing, taking a camping trip, going on a family road trip, or trying a new food together. Your father won't soon forget these fun Father's Day gift ideas.

If you have a little extra money to spend, you can create one of the most memorable Fathers Day celebrations by planning a weekend trip. You can take a road trip to a nearby destination, plan a camping trip, stay at a quaint bed-and-breakfast, fly back to your country of origin, or hop aboard a cruise ship for less than $100/day!

If these Father's Day gift ideas seem way out of budget for you, then consider taking a "virtual trip" right from home! Borrow a library book full of colorful photos and facts about your destination of choice. Rent a movie or documentary that takes place in your country. Buy a few costumes, props or accessories from your chosen land.

Then, prepare an ethnic meal that people might eat in that country. Whether you're rich or poor, you'll find that Father's Day 2010 can be a rewarding, wonderful time if you plan it out just right.

To read more Time For Family Fun With Fathers Day Celebrations

Better Ideas For Fathers Day UK Celebrations

Dr. Oriel Sullivan, an Oxford University sociologist, recently conducted research on how much time parents spend with their children now, compared to 1975. She found that men are up from 8 minutes each day to an average of 36 minutes each day.

Women, too, are up from 8-21 minutes per day to 51-86 minutes. Dr. Sullivan says that parents are spending more time doing chores at home and raising their families, leaving less up to childcare centers. For this reason, children thank their fathers with Fathers Day UK celebrations.

Over the years, the number of Father Day cards and gifts seems to have increased exponentially with the amount of time parents and children spend together, which shows that many kids are truly grateful for the time spent with the family.

A Fathers Day UK celebration has a number of treasures to offer fathers, daughters and sons. Central England visitors could stop at the International Model Air Show at Weston Park to see pyrotechnic displays, model car racing and model rocket displays. Later, Sunday roasts at the Stables Bistro Restaurant are always a treat.

Those traveling to the North of England for Father's Day in 2010 may enjoy a day at the beautiful Belsay Hall in Northumberland, where dad can sample a wonderful variety of beers and ales, not to mention participate in games like skittles, croquet and quoits. Dad may also enjoy a free ride at Weardale Railway or a tour of Ripley Castle in Harrogate. For more information, visit www.enjoyengland.com.

Like in America, gift-giving is popular for Fathers Day UK celebrating. Many children give handmade Father's Day card crafts to their fathers, while older kids give cards, flowers, chocolates and the proverbial neckties.

Some of the top Father's Day gift ideas for UK dads include aftershave gift sets, electronic shavers, DVDs, CDs, books, digital picture frames, mp3 players, ipods, iphones, digital cameras, watches, rings, chains and cufflinks.

There are, of course, some rarer choices for Fathers Day 2010, such as gift vouchers, personalized champagne bottles/golf balls/mugs/cufflinks/ and calendars or special activities.

Father's Day activities may include helicopter rides, race car driving experiences, snowboarding, skydiving, yacht sailing, horseback riding, carriage driving, a champagne flight over London, theater performances, professional recording studio sessions, a full-day of golf lessons, a hot air balloon ride or a mini-cruise.

To read more Better Ideas For Fathers Day UK Celebrations

Weekend Getaway With A Fathers Day Celebration

After so many years of Fathers Day celebration plans, it's easy to run out of gift and activity ideas. There are only so many times you can go to a baseball game or go out to dinner. One way people are making Father's Day 2010 really special is to spend some time planning a surprise trip.

It's probably a good idea to let your dad know he has to pack a suitcase and that he'll need to keep the weekend free, at the very least. No one likes to be surprised that much!

If he needs a passport handy, then you'd better make sure he has one of those too. There are a number of ideal destinations that will foster greater father-child bonding and will get across the Father's Day message that dad is #1 in your life.

MSNBC recommends spending your Fathers Day celebration in Napa Valley at the Meadowood wine estate, where you can sample Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon with master sommelier Gilles de Chambure.

He'll accompany you and dad to several other local wine appointments, where you'll have a picnic lunch and learn all about Northern California's gems. At night, you'll enjoy a four-course dinner with specially selected wine pairings at the estate's top-rated restaurant.

A one-night stay, including all your transportation, meals and wine tasting events can cost between $2,240 and $3,070. For more information on getaway packages call 1-800-458-8080.

Hiking, white water rafting and camping Fathers Day celebration travel is an ideal fit for active dads, says Brandon Lake, VP of Western River Expeditions. His Southwest tour company offers multi-day packages in Utah, Idaho, the Grand Canyon and Colorado that include four days of rustic accommodations and Father's Day activities like rafting, off-road safaris in bio-diesel hummers that start at $575/person.

You can hike through lush forests with hot springs and waterfalls, visit ghost towns and historic villages, horseback ride or take a helicopter ride through the Grand Canyon, or enjoy a quiet paddleboat ride. For more information on all available trips, visit www.westernriver.com/2010-RatesDates.pdf.

To read more Weekend Getaway With A Fathers Day Celebration

Knowing What Day Is Fathers Day Around The World

Without a calendar, many Americans wonder what day is Fathers Day this year. After all, the specific date changes from year to year, which makes it a little confusing if you're planning Father's Day celebrations and gift giving.

Just after Mother's Day (in mid-May) is a good time to start thinking about what you'll do to make Father's Day special for your dad. That will give you a little over a month to plan something really wonderful to treat your dad like the king that he is!

You may also be wondering what day is Fathers Day in other countries? Around the world, you'll note that many Father's Day 2010 holidays will be celebrated on March 19th.

What makes this Father's Day special is that it's on St. Joseph's Day, which is particularly significant in predominantly Roman Catholic nations like Bolivia, Honduras, Italy, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Portugal, Spain and Macao.

In some countries, it is customary to attend church ceremonies to thank God for fathers, St. Joseph and an end to the famine of the Middle Ages. Sometimes St. Joseph's Day is celebrated by wearing red, eating sweets and holding a special procession.

If you're wondering what day is Fathers Day in Russia, then you should look up the celebration called "Defender of the Fatherland Day," which is the closest commemoration in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.

This military holiday is celebrated on February 23rd -- the day of the 1918 draft during the Russian Civil War. The Father's Day activities celebrate veterans with parades and processions, while women and children give small gifts to the men in their lives; husbands, boyfriends, fathers, coworkers or sons.

While it's not necessarily like our Father's Day celebration, it's interesting to see how others make Father's Day special.

To read more Knowing What Day Is Fathers Day Around The World

Better Personalized Fathers Day Ideas For Your Dad

"Fathers are our teachers, our role models, our mentors, our friends," says Alyssa Capucilli, author of My Dad And Me. "They connect us to our past and give us the courage to face the future.

It's important to honor them to thank them for their love, kindness and encouragement." This year, moms and children should work together to think up creative Fathers Day ideas and homemade gifts that will make dad feel truly appreciated and loved.

While we should undoubtedly work toward this end every day, it's especially important to celebrate this Father's Day message this June 20th.

Personalized Fathers Day ideas run far and wide. Kids can color a personalized travel mug or insert a family photo as a great Father Day craft idea. "Now while at work, every time my husband gets his coffee, he will think of our children and have a picture close at hand too," explains Tanya R. Mother Lauren has her kids write letters for their dad, which are then stapled into a booklet.

She prints out a picture of the five kids on the cover of the book. "We have been doing this for about six years now and he still loves to go back and read his books from the kids and so do they," she says. Heartfelt Father's Day poems and letters are some of the most memorable keepsakes a parent can receive.

Daughter Roberta said she wrote her dad a 1984 Father's Day letter about all the ways he positively impacted her life. She says, "When he died six weeks later very unexpectedly, I discovered he had requested this letter be put in the coffin."

If you have a video camera handy, creative youngsters can record their most creative Fathers Day ideas in movie format. Kids can make lists of their favorite family memories, of all the things Dad has taught them, or of their favorite traits Dad has.

Many kids like to write Father's Day poems they can act out or recite in the video. If your family is high-tech with computers, scanners and programs like Adobe Premier or Windows Movie Maker, you can create a photo collage set to music as part of your Father's Day special video.

It's important that mom set aside some time to help make this video turn out well. It needn't be perfect to make an impact, but it should be something the kids can be proud of!

To read more Better Personalized Fathers Day Ideas For Your Dad

Stories Outlining The History Of Fathers Day

Because of the rigorous commercialization of Fathers Day cards and gifts, the third Sunday in June is often referred to as a "Hallmark Holiday." In fact, some of the most passionate supporters for creating an official Father's Day campaigned against the emphasis on gift-giving and purchasing consumer goods, rather than attending special commemoration masses.

There are many stories about the history of Fathers Day, but the official celebration is most likely a culmination of work undertaken by several different people over the years. Here are some of their stories.

Some say the history of Fathers Day begins in Fairmont, West Virginia back in the summer of 1908. As her deceased father's birthday neared, 41-year-old Grace Golden Clayton was feeling the pain of her loss.

In 1907, 250 fathers were killed in the tragic Monongah coal mining accident. She urged her pastor to hold a special commemoration service for fathers, which was held on July 5, 1908 -- the Sunday nearest the birthday of Clayton's father.

Soon thereafter, the Father's Day date became overshadowed by Independence Day festivities, the death of a teenage girl from typhoid fever and financial difficulties. "They had other things on their mind," explains Thomas Koon, president of the Marion County Historical Society.

"The original sermon was lost... It just seems as though no one thought it was a great deal at the time. No one jumped on the bandwagon and went to the City Council for a proclamation. No one got on the governor. No one went to Congress," he says. "Mrs. Clayton apparently thought it was not lady-like for someone to go out and toot their own horn."

It finally became a national holiday years later after "a number of other people chewed on it like a pit bull," he adds, but that still does not mean we should forget some of the earliest campaigners.

Woodrow Wilson and his family had their own personal Fathers Day activities as early as 1916, in response to some of the inspiring celebrations he witnessed across the country.

In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge decided to make his own mark on the history of Father's Day by creating a National Father's Day Committee to explore ways to "establish more intimate relations between fathers and their children, and to impress upon fathers the full measure of their obligations."

However, the official Father's Day date was signed into law in 1972 by President Richard Nixon. In 1974, Mrs. Sonora Smart Dodd was honored for her contribution at the World's Fair in Spokane, just four years before she died at age 96.

To read more Stories Outlining The History Of Fathers Day

Shopping For Safe Organic Food

Purchasing only safe organic food has become more popular in the last ten or so years. People have become more aware of the use of pesticides and other chemicals to prevent food from being eaten by insects and pests that can destroy crops.

With this added knowledge, people are now concerned about these chemicals in grocery store food and will choose to purchase only food labeled organic. Organic foods tend to be higher in price, and yet people feel more comfortable spending a bit more money in order to feel safe.

Now, many are questioning whether or not they are actually eating healthier, and if organically grown food is safer than regular fare bought while grocery shopping.

Despite these guidelines, safe organic food is still at risk for causing food borne illnesses. Things like salmonella and other bacterial illnesses are rarely a product of pesticides and chemicals, but are a danger in any grown food material.

Even fresh fruits, vegetables and meat can be infected by being kept at temperatures too warm. If not properly washed, they can contain traces of bacterium from soil and animals.

So while safe organic food is definitely healthier for your body than food that is full of chemicals and preservatives, it doesn't mean that you won't get sick from it. Infection can also happen during the growing, processing and shipping stages.

Even poor storage can result in individuals becoming sick. Eating organic foods is a healthier choice, but don't assume that you will never run into problems from bacterial contamination.

To read more Shopping For Safe Organic Food

Knowing Food Safety Guidelines To Stop Food Contamination

The goal of most restaurants is to stop food contamination before it occurs through the use of proper safety procedures. Many of these procedures center on temperature control. The last thing a restaurant wants is for a customer to get sick by ingesting food that is contaminated as a result of improper temperature control.

At best this could result in the loss of a customer, but at worst it could result in negative press and a huge loss of revenue if the customer dies.

A restaurant owner must ensure that the food handlers do all that they can to stop food contamination. There are specific guidelines that must be followed in order to protect both hot and cold foods from bacterial contamination, which are in place to protect customers from illness.

Hot foods must be controlled at 140 degrees Fahrenheit or higher and cold foods must be refrigerated below 41 degrees Fahrenheit.

Restaurants can stop food contamination by knowing what the food safety guidelines are and following them faithfully. Some restaurants may become lax about enforcing the guidelines for temperature control.

Whether it is because the owners are too busy or just can't be bothered to spend extra money, they may soon find themselves out of business if people become ill after eating in their establishments.

As a customer, it is important to look on the walls of the restaurant to see if they have a current food safety certificate, and if not, avoid that establishment.

Friends are also a source of important information on what restaurants to visit or those to avoid due to past illnesses.

To read more Knowing Food Safety Guidelines To Stop Food Contamination

Celebrating Your Mother On Mothers Day UK

There is the assumption that Mothers Day UK is the same as Mothers Day in the United States, and while there are many similarities, there are some differences.

It is easy and common for individuals living in America to assume that worldwide events like Christmas, mourning rituals, and other common practices will be done in the same way as how they are done in the States, but this is usually not the case.

The history of Mothers Day and how it is celebrated between the two nations is similar but not the same.

Mothers Day UK is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of the church calendar of the season of Lent. Lent is the time when Christians prepare for baptism, or those who have been baptized reflect upon their lives and try to either give up something that is bad for them or spend time in prayer.

The question, "When is Mothering Sunday?" is the same as "When is Mother's Day in the UK?" Since the date for Easter always changes from year to year, the dates for Lent and thus Mother's Day in the UK will also always be different.

So Mothers Day UK does have some differences from other countries, but ultimately it is quite similar. Aside from the date it occurs and a few specific traditions, it is hard to see any real difference between this when this holiday is celebrated in the UK, and when it is celebrated in America.

Mother's Day gifts will still be purchased and given, regardless of the country, and hopefully the children will take the time to remember what their mothers have done on their behalf.

To read more Celebrating Your Mother On Mothers Day UK

Making Your Decision For A Happy Mothers Day Gift

Forgetting Mother's Day is perhaps the most heinous crime of all. Yet it can be very tricky figuring out what Happy Mothers Day gift to buy, especially when mom is smiling and saying, "Oh, time with my kids is just fine."

A survey by www.workitmom.com found that 22.5% of working mothers craved a bit of pampering with "half a day at the spa" as the most desired gift. Another 16.1% of moms longed for a few hours of quiet time and 15% hoped to catch up on sleep. After gift certificates, top Mother's Day presents included jewelry, flowers, perfume, makeup and books.

According to a 2007 National Retail Federation poll, men plan to spend an average of $172.91 on a Happy Mothers Day gift, while women plan to spend $107.18 on a gift. Shoppers in the 25 to 34 demographic will spend the most ($151.42), followed by the 35 to 44 year olds ($147.30), the 55 to 64 bracket ($138.14) and 18 to 24 year olds ($137.73).

Most gifts are purchased at a specialty store, such as jewelers, florists or electronics boutiques. Some shoppers will visit discount stores and department stores, and some will shop by catalog as well.

Gifts for Mothers Day include Mothers Day cards, gift certificates, books or CDs, household wares, gardening tools and consumer electronics. Many of those polled said they'd also take mom out to brunch at her favorite restaurant and buy her flowers.

According to a Consumer Electronics Association study, 32% of moms would like a consumer electronics device as their Happy Mothers Day gift. Of those mothers, 55% would prefer a digital camera over a $200 maid service gift certificate. "As we have seen for years, women are enthusiastic CE consumers.

Now they are starting to keep their fingers crossed that some of their favorite devices arrive for Mother's Day in lieu of traditional gifts," explains Gary Shapiro, CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association. He adds that people will spend $6 billion this year on digital cameras, DVD players and MP3 players.

On average, teens will spend about $63 on their gift for mom, with perfume and flowers dominating the list. However, for the 24 to 35 year old cohort, conveniently labeled "Generation Tech," there will be an average spending of $109, with consumer electronic products ranking as one of the top ten gifts.

To read more Making Your Decision For A Happy Mothers Day Gift

Creative Tips And Ideas To Celebrate Mother's Day

To celebrate Mother's Day, most people will buy a card, flowers, chocolates, or possibly if they live nearby, take their mother out to dinner or breakfast.

These are the usual gifts that are given by children. However, if you make something or plan a more creative day, then it will be remembered longer and appreciated that much more. More time, energy and organization may be needed, but that in itself is part of the pleasure of doing something nice for your mother.

You can also celebrate Mother's Day with a series of small gifts, but make the receiving of the gifts fun and unique. Hide them around the house so your mother needs to do a search. Spending time setting up clues that lead her to the next present will also make this an enjoyable activity.

These gifts for mom could also be given in the form of a treasure hunt, where she has to go out and complete certain tasks throughout the day in order to receive her gifts or to get clues as to the location of her one main gift.

Creatively making a special day to celebrate Mother's Day is one way to have the day stand out for years to come for your mom.

To make Mothers Day special all it takes is a bit of time and effort, and organizing all family members to get together, with the idea of focusing upon mom for this one day of the year.

As well as presenting mom with a card, flowers or chocolates, make the entire day a fun and exciting time for her to remember and cherish.

To read more Creative Tips And Ideas To Celebrate Mother's Day

Do You Know When Is Mother's Day?

Each year, people will ask, when is Mother's Day? Because this day doesn't have a set date like Halloween, Christmas or New Year's Eve, people forget that Mother's Day is always the second Sunday in May for certain countries, like the United States and Canada.

Most children want to honor their mothers and buy gifts for mom, but remembering the date isn't always in the forefront of their minds.

The question of when is Mother's Day will continue to be asked each year despite all the advertising in late April and early May for this major holiday. It is important to be prepared with Mother's Day gifts for your mom, but keeping track of the date each year makes it a more difficult holiday to remember.

Restaurants, as well as card, flower and chocolate stores will do more advertising before Mother's Day, which will help you plan ahead.

Planning ahead and knowing when is Mother's Day for the current year is important because you don't want to forget to give a gift or forget to do something special for your mother.

Mother's Day cards, flowers and even chocolates will still be available on Mother's Day, but then it is a rushed purchase rather than a gift that you've really put some thought and time into.

Finding out the date for the current year is easy by doing a search online, and then writing it down on your daily calendar or putting it into a computer program that will alert you, thus leaving you with enough time to make a reservation for a restaurant or to plan another kind of outing or surprise.

To read more Do You Know When Is Mother's Day?

Better Choice For A Gift On Mothers Day US

When Mothers Day US began, it was meant to be a special day set aside to remember, honor and show appreciation for all mothers. When it was created, most mothers didn't work outside the home, and their responsibilities with raising children, maintaining the household, cooking and cleaning weren't recognized as real work.

This special day was created to show appreciation for all that mothers do each day. However, it soon became a commercial holiday where Mother's Day flowers, chocolates and small gifts became the source of appreciation.

It soon became a duty to fulfill once a year rather than a day set aside to really honor and show how much you do acknowledge and appreciate all the hard work that your mom does each and every day.

Florists and other related businesses that deal with flowers make a good profit on Mothers Day US. The shipping and delivery of flowers for mothers is probably at its highest in the weeks leading up to Mother's Day. While some will purchase a bouquet of flowers, others may combine flowers with another gift.

Any of these gifts will be graciously received on Mothers Day US by your mother. Yet, the commercialism of the holiday does take away a bit of the true spirit of the holiday. Mother's Day crafts are greatly appreciated, but even craft stores make a profit during this holiday.

In many cases, the day is just another day for mothers. A card, flowers, chocolates or a small gift may be given, but that is the end of it. While a breakfast or dinner out is a nice break for mom, it can't replace what the holiday began as.

Honoring and reflecting upon all that mothers do each day can't be summed up in a gift unless it is a personal gift that is truly given from the heart.

To read more Better Choice For A Gift On Mothers Day US