(NC)-The simple combination of flavorful tomatoes and tender penne pasta can act as a base for a variety of saucy mealtime scenarios. For a hearty dish that satisfies cold weather comfort food cravings, add ground beef and cheese to create a pasta bake. The rich tomato flavors topped off with melted cheese will become an instant favorite and have your family begging for second servings.
 

Penne Pasta Casserole

Serves: 6

Time:

Hands on: 20-30 min

Total time: 40-50 min
 

Ingredients

3 cups dry penne pasta, uncooked

1 lb (500 g) lean ground beef

1 large onion, chopped (1 cup)

1 can (398 ml) Hunt's Diced Tomatoes

1 can (5.5fl oz) Hunt's Tomato Paste

½ cup water

3 cups (12 oz) shredded Mozzarella cheese

No-stick cooking spray
 

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F/177°C.

Cook pasta according to package directions; drain.

Brown meat with onions in large skillet; drain. Stir in Hunt's Diced Tomatoes with their liquid, the tomato paste and water; cook until heated through, stirring occasionally.
 

In large bowl, add pasta, tomato and beef mixture, and 2 cups of cheese; toss to coat.
 

Spray 13x9 inch baking dish with cooking spray. Spoon mixture into dish; sprinkle with remaining cheese.
 

Bake 25 minutes, or until casserole is heated through and cheese is melted.
 

For other tasty tomato-based recipes, visit www.huntstomatoes.ca.

Tommalier

Tip: An expert when it comes to the many ways of cooking with tomatoes, Hunt's "Tommalier" and celebrity chef, David Rocco says "don't feel guilty for using cans of tomatoes - the tomato season is short in Canada, and the ones in the can are picked at their peak so they're ripe and flavorful!"

(NC) One of the most important responsibilities of being a landlord is to make sure your rental unit is safe and meets all building codes. Fire safety and prevention are paramount and that goes for a rental unit inside your home.

To make sure my rental tenants' safety comes first, I follow the Ontario Fire Code regulations. Changes to provincial legislation enacted in July 1994 made apartments permissible in most detached houses, semi-detached houses and row houses, as long as minimum health and safety requirements are met.

Owners of houses containing two self-contained residential units (dwelling units) are required to bring their buildings into compliance with the new fire safety regulation adopted under the Ontario Fire Code. Tenants in these buildings are entitled to ask their landlords to make sure that the fire regulations are met.
 

The Code addresses five safety issues including:

• Fire separation for each dwelling unit. This can be done with a specifically engineered product, such as Roxul ComfortBoard FS. It is a semi-rigid, stone wool insulation board and is ideal for fire-stopping in concealed spaces of multi-unit residential buildings.
• Means of escape from each dwelling unit. Basement apartments must have a separate exit or have windows large enough for a human to escape to be consider a legal rental unit.
• Smoke alarms are a must for any home, whether a rental unit or not and need to be installed, one on each level and close to bedrooms.
• Electrical safety is of utmost importance. All electrical should be updated and brought up to code if creating a dwelling unit within a home.
• Fire safety, especially in a rental unit, needs to be put on the top of priorities. Although a rental unit can be a profitable investment, it also comes with the responsibility of your tenant's safety. Always put their safety first and you'll have good tenants for a long time.

Scott McGillivray is a full-time real estate investor, contractor, television host, writer, and educator.

(BPT) - Warmer weather and sunnier days are on their way and many homeowners are itching to begin home improvement projects. If you are one of them, consider these areas of your home when prepping for spring.

Windows and doors
From a full window replacement to a simple coat of paint, updating your windows and doors can have a big impact on your home.

If your windows felt drafty this winter, it may be time for replacements. Replace your old single-pane windows with energy-efficient double-pane windows. Double-pane windows can help you save on heating and cooling bills; they help keep the temperature in your home consistent year-round and help protect your furniture, carpet and window treatments from the sun's fading rays.

Need to bring some fresh color into your home but don't want to paint? Try updating your blinds or shades. From different styles to colorful fabrics, blinds and shades can add a pop of color to your room. Motorized blinds and shades with Pella Insynctive technology come in more than 300 style and color options so you can find the right fit for your home's decor.

Your front door is a major focal point of your home, enhancing your home's curb appeal. Make a bold statement and improve your home's energy efficiency with a new ENERGY STAR-certified front door. Consider options with decorative glass accents, and sidelights to add more natural light while maintaining a sense of style and privacy.

Looking for something even easier? A new coat of paint to your existing door is a quick and easy way to give your home a fresh, new look. 

Gutters and downspouts
Excess water near your foundation can cause thousands of dollars in damages. Luckily gutter cleaning and downspout repair is fairly low-cost.

After all the snow melts, you'll want to make sure to clean your gutters and clean out any debris that may keep spring rains from flowing freely through your downspouts.

Along with replacing damaged gutter or downspout sections, you'll also want to make sure you have added downspout extenders to ensure water is draining far away from your home's foundation. Extenders should reach at least five feet into your yard.

Gutter covers can also be added to minimize debris from gathering in gutters throughout the year.

Air conditioning
It may be a few more months before you're turning on the A/C, but spring is a great time to start getting your cooling system ready.

Often you have to call in the pros for air conditioning work but things like spraying off any overgrowth or debris, cleaning coils and changing filters are fixes you can easily do on your own. Also, trim back any shrubs that are near by. Keeping the outdoor unit clean from debris will boost your A/C system's efficiency.

You can keep part of your indoor duct work clean by removing register covers and wiping clean any of the visible parts. You'll need to contact a professional for a full duct cleaning.