Nonstick pans are the commonplace of numerous kitchens, slick and convenient and perfect when it comes to tasks that are low-temperature such as scrambling eggs or sautéing delicate fish. However, with some foods, they are a poor option and by using them even further, you reduce the life of your pan or even risk food quality. The following are 5 types of foods you must reconsider cooking in nonstick skillet, and why each of them can be a nightmare.

When you think your house is stuffy, your eyes itch or your throat burns but there is nothing about it, the culprit may not be as obvious. The content of indoor air may contain very high concentrations of pollutants- it may even be higher than outdoors. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) suggests that most of the construction materials and household items emit gases or particles that deteriorate the quality of air. Here is a closer examination of six everyday household products that can silently suffer the air in your house.

Most home cooks rely on the usual suspects — knives, pans, and possibly a blender. But professional chefs insist that real efficiency and beauty are achieved with smaller, lesser-known tools that tidy up prep, speed it up, and make it more precise. They are not flashy gadgets but quiet necessities that elevate food handling, cooking, and plating to new heights. Follow are eight lesser-known tools that chefs never leave the kitchen without — and why you should make them indispensable to you as well.

There can nothing be more irritating than insects infesting your kitchen. When you are about to cook, flies, ants and mosquitoes always appear. Although they can be sprayed with chemicals, they are not the healthiest when it comes to areas where meals are prepared. Fortunately, there are less risky greener alternatives in the form of house plants. Emitting scents and oils that repel insects produced by nature, these plants can keep your kitchen clean and tidy besides giving the room beauty and a fresh smell.

The indoor air quality has a significant influence on our health and well-being, but we often do not realize the potential of greenery that can clean the air without causing any noise and without being out of fashion. In spaces where soft shadows prevail, such as north-facing living rooms, windowless offices, warm bedrooms, it may seem like a challenge to select plants that grow well in low light and remove toxins in the air. In this case eight botanical champions take their place on the stage, each possessing an air-cleaning ability that is clearly known, and with which can endure low light. These green providers not only carry formaldehyde, benzene and other common pollutants, but they do not require much ado either. Get them to be your silent watchmen of fresh, healing air.

There really is nothing quite as satisfying as walking into a garden and picking vegetables that you grew yourself-all the way from seed. But unfortunately even the keenest gardeners are faced with the same dilemma: how to tell when your vegetables are actually ready? Harvested prematurely, produce would taste and feel under-developed, whereas harvested late would also have an unpleasant bitter flavor or become tough and rotten. Specific crops come with their own signals and after learning to read the signals, your harvest not only tastes better but it is more rewarding.

Just because you rent doesn’t mean you have to settle for a boring, cookie-cutter apartment. Leases can restrict construction changes, but there’s no restriction to what you can to spruce up your pad without risking your security deposit. Some of the best renovations include no holes in walls, no fresh coat of paint, no permanent commitment — just some creativity, forethought, and renter-friendly materials.

Building your dream pool house is more than just putting up a new building next to your pool — it's about making a luxury spot that lifts up the feel of your whole backyard. It could be a calm spa, a fun party place, or a nice guesthouse. The main parts of the design have to mix use, comfort, and beauty in a way that works well. Here’s a step-by-step guide to design a pool house that is the top form of backyard luxury.