Quality Plus Automotive - November 2021

Quality Plus Automotive - November 2021

November 2021

For All That You Do, We Salute You Grateful for Our Veterans, Freedoms, Family, and Health Now, more than ever, I am so grateful for the men and women of the Armed Forces who made so many sacrifices for our freedoms. This Veterans Day, it is essential to take some time to pay tribute to them and give thanks. All who have served or are currently serving may be our family, friends, neighbors, or coworkers. Their dedication to our freedoms and our country is a gift we can never repay. At such a difficult time in all of our lives, as we struggle through the pandemic and as tragedies are happening around us, we can come together as a united front to focus on patriotism and national pride on Veterans Day this year. We are lucky to be here in this country. Without our veterans, we wouldn’t have the freedoms we have grown so accustomed to. I’m fortunate that I live in a country where someone is willing to go overseas and fight to keep everyone else back home safe and free. It’s a hard thing to imagine — giving up your life at 20 years old for the country you love. We are fortunate to have those people who stand up for what is right. Thanks to them, I am able to do what I want to do and say what I want to say. We have a lot to be thankful for in our country. My father is a veteran and one of my heroes. He was drafted for WorldWar II, deployed to Germany, and went on to serve with honor. To think that many

enlist on their own is absolutely incredible. They are the backbone of our country.

Thanksgiving is one of the best holidays because it’s the one time of year when we all gather to give thanks for what we have. After a tough and trying year, we have all been through the wringer. We have our health to be thankful for, along with our country, food, water, shelter, and transportation. The older that I get, the more I’m thankful for all that I have, and I’m not talking monetarily. I am grateful for my family, my three children, my six grandkids, my great employees, and the love we share. I am fortunate that together, we support each other through thick and thin. Family is everything. I’m grateful for my clients and their happiness and health, as well. In our house, we all try to gather in one spot each year, but that can prove to be a bit difficult, as some of my children live in California. Our table overflows with all of the normal Thanksgiving dishes: turkey, dressing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, and pies. We are still eating leftovers many days later, which I think are better than the first day! From our Quality Plus Automotive family to yours, happy Thanksgiving! And to our nation’s brave veterans, thank you for your service. We are thankful for you!

Wake Forest • 919.453.0345 — Raleigh • 919.231.6164 -Randy Bunn

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Published by Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com

Have a Low- Stress Holiday 3 TIPS FOR AMERRIER TIME

Staying on WHY PROPER TIRE IN

The holidays are right around the corner, and while many people can’t wait to eat turkey and swap presents, others only see stress on the horizon. Especially for those hosting parties, between decorations, big dinners, excited kids, and

visiting family, it can all feel overwhelming. If celebrations

When you think of vehicle maintenance, oil changes, fluid checks, and battery tests likely come to mind. But another huge component of taking care of your car is proper tire inflation. Tires that contain the specified amount of air pressure last longer and keep the vehicle safer. After all, the vehicle cannot run without properly functioning tires. When the tire pressure in a vehicle gets too low, braking distances are affected, and the steering and handling becomes less responsive. If a sudden stop or hard maneuver becomes necessary on the road to avoid an accident, it is extremely important that your tires are properly equipped to do so.

yo ca h A ch d ch ti ca w Yo tr w

are happening at your house this year, here are three tips to lessen the

strain and keep up the holiday cheer.

Recharge First

Ensure you’re rested and recharged before the holidays by taking time to relax, getting enough sleep, and engaging in activities that make you feel good.

Low tire pressure also causes the sidewalls of a tire to flex, which generates heat. Moderate heat can accelerate the tread wear of

When you’re rushing to get everything done, it can be tempting to skip self-care routines, but that will cost you in the long run. Your daily exercise and other health activities keep you balanced and ready to face challenges head-on.

Get Started Early

Inspire

Holidays always arrive faster than we expect, so begin preparing early. If shopping for presents is a pain point, don’t wait until the last minute. Decorate earlier than you need to — or better yet, get the kids to do it for you. There’s only so much cooking you can do ahead of time, but ensuring you have all of the equipment and nonperishable ingredients you need a few weeks in advance will reduce both your workload and anxiety.

Happy 5th Work Anniversary Roger G - Nov. 30

Don’t Expect Perfection

pump the brakes ... It’s puzzle time!

The sooner you let go of the idea of a “perfect” holiday, the sooner you’ll be able to have a happy one. Face it: Something will go wrong. Whether it’s an overcooked dish, a child throwing a temper tantrum, or your uncle talking politics at the dinner table, nothing will ever go just how you planned. So, embrace the imperfections. Whether you’re celebrating this year with a group of two or 20, holidays can be a stressful time — but they don’t have to be. With these tips, your festivities may not be picture-perfect, but they will be a lot of fun.

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n Top of It NFLATION IS IMPORTANT

Holiday Road Tripping

The holidays are here, and that means more people on the road, an increased possibility for distracted drivers, and some potentially intense weather situations. With these five tips for road safety this holiday season, you will be sure to get to your destination safely! Plan in advance. Before hitting the road, make sure your vehicle is prepared to make the trip. Schedule regular maintenance and have a qualified mechanic take a look under the hood to check your oil, wiper fluid, brake fluid, transmission fluid, and tire tread and pressure (and bring along a good tire pressure gauge and learn how to use it!). The last thing you want is to be 200 miles into your 450-mile trip and break down! Be well-rested and alert. Get your rest before you begin driving to ensure that you are able to stay alert and responsive. If you are traveling with others, split up the driving to give yourself a break. If your driving will span over the course of a few days, be sure to stop and rest up each night before you resume driving the next day. Watch your speed. Make sure that you are always traveling at a safe speed and allowing enough space between your vehicle and other vehicles on the road. When speeding occurs, drivers tend to become reckless and lose control of the vehicle. Drive defensively. By practicing defensive driving, you are putting the safety of yourself and your passengers first. Throughout the holidays, the roads will be filled with heavy traffic, so safely navigating traffic jams and thick traffic will be paramount. Avoid becoming distracted. On long road trips, the temptation to check your phone, reach for something in the back seat, or concentrate a little too much on your snack is there. All it takes is one second of taking your eyes off of the road for something to happen. Safe driving requires your undivided attention at all times, so if you need to use your phone or grab a snack from the back seat, pull over when it is safe to do so. With the excitement of the holidays, practicing safe driving is especially important. To schedule regular maintenance on your vehicle, call us today, and we’ll fit you in! Happy traveling! 5 Tips for Safe Driving

our tires, but high heat can cause tread segments to fall off and can even ause a blowout. When vehicle tires don’t have enough air, the tire has a higher rolling resistance, which can reduce the fuel economy of the car. According to AAA, you should inspect your tires once a month, including hecking the tire pressure, especially before a road trip. If you drive on a dirt road, live in a cold climate, or roll over potholes frequently, you should heck on your tires more often. To keep the tread wear equal on all four ires, regular tire rotations are recommended. Also, if you notice that your ar is pulling to one side or the other when you are driving it, have your wheel alignment checked and adjusted if necessary. ou should always have an auto repair and maintenance shop that you rust. Here at Quality Plus Automotive, we have been performing quality work you can trust since 1984. Call us today for any automotive needs.

Re-create this classic dish with a vegan twist.

red by Delish.com

• • • • •

2 shallots, chopped

• •

1 small onion, sliced

8 oz canmushrooms, sliced 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 lb green beans, cooked

7 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, divided

• •

1/4 cup and 3 tbsp flour, divided 2 tbsp panko breadcrumbs

3 cups almondmilk

1. Set the oven to broil. 2. In a shallow baking pan, combine onion, 1 tbsp olive oil, 3 tbsp flour, and panko breadcrumbs. 3. Broil for 6 minutes, stirring occasionally. Afterward, preheat the oven to 375 F. 4. In a large skillet, heat 2 tbsp olive oil. Add shallots, mushrooms, and garlic, stirring until tender. 5. In a large bowl, mix mushroommixture with the cooked green beans. 6. In the same skillet, add 4 tbsp olive oil and 1/4 cup of flour, whisking until golden. Gradually add the almond milk until it thickens, then toss with the green beans. 7. Transfer mixture into a baking dish and cook for 20 minutes. 8. Add onion and breadcrumb mixture on top, then bake for another 5 minutes.

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Wake Forest 919.453.0345 Raleigh 919.231.6164

QualityPlusAutomotive.com 1601 Heritage Commerce Ct. Wake Forest, NC 27587

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INSIDE This Issue

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Thanksgiving Thankfulness Lowering Holiday Stress Tire Inflation 101 Vegan Green Bean Casserole Holiday Driving Tips The First Thanksgiving Menu

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The First Thanksgiving WHAT WAS ON THE MENU? Every Thanksgiving, we gather with our families and friends and pig out. Turkey, cranberry sauce, and stuffing, oh my! But did the Pilgrims actually eat all the same foods we do today? When we sit down at the Thanksgiving table, we are blessed with mashed potatoes, candied yams, green bean casserole, turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie. However, if we wanted to be historically accurate, we would need to change up that dinner spread a bit. Historians know of a few foods on the table that Pilgrims and Wampanoags shared at Plymouth Colony in 1621. Wildfowl, corn (in grain form for porridge), and venison were sure to be served at the first Thanksgiving. Wild turkey was also a common and abundant food source but wasn’t likely the main course as it is today. A few days before the first Thanksgiving, the colony’s governor put four men in charge of hunting for birds for the feast, and they very likely returned with some turkey. However, as far as mashed potatoes are concerned, in the early 1600s, most Europeans and the Wampanoag had no idea what a potato was. They weren’t cultivated in North America until the 1700s. Likewise, cranberries were still very new to the Pilgrims, and they didn’t yet use them for food — instead, they used them to make dyes for fabrics!

For dessert, pumpkin pie was not yet a thing either. Although the Pilgrims liked pumpkins, they didn’t have the butter and wheat flour needed to make pie crust. Instead, they hollowed out the pumpkins (just like Halloween!) and filled them with milk and honey to make a custard and then roasted them. Although our Thanksgiving meals have changed over the years, it still is a fantastic time to get together and celebrate. In the spirit of evolving traditions, don’t be afraid to innovate to add your own personal traditional twist to the holiday as well!

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