Friday, October 31, 2008

Global Knives - A Tutorial

By William Maxwell

Global knives are one of the most well known knife brands in the world. Global, which is often typed in all capitals, "GLOBAL" is a company that originated in Japan and it is proud to display extremely expensive knife sets. In fact, the cost of a single Global knife can be upwards of around one hundred dollars. The company doesn't only make knives, though. Global puts out a variety of different kitchen products, all with superior design and quality. One of the things that are different about Global knives is that they are made with a special, hard allow of metal and they also have extremely thin blades, making them some of the sharpest knives available. Global knives are designed based on concepts of stiletto daggers.

The design for Global cutlery is significantly different than that of other popular knife brands, like Wusthof. This is because they are made from a special kind of steel and are also cut much thinner than other traditional knives. Global cutlery's unique design and cut are part of the superiority of their cutlery.

One of the key tools for a chef is his knife. In fact, the chef knife is probably the most important asset to a chef. If you are a chef and are shopping for a good, professional knife, consider Global's line up of knives for their distinct design and superior quality. Their stainless steel design and thin high quality construction makes them a great choice for any chef. Consider a knife set from Global cutlery for your cutlery needs.

Global knives are actually constructed by silversmiths, making them some of the most expertly crafted knives in the world. This also reassures buyers that their knives will be of the highest quality and design. Because Global knives are crafted by hand by silversmiths, they are some of the most expensive knives on the market.

The look of the Global knife is second to none and it combines aesthetic quality with utility and function. The trademark of the Global knife collections is their dimpled handles and knife blocks, however these also serve an important function, giving superior grip to the chef who is using them.

Plenty of celebrity chefs choose to use Global cutlery, which speaks to the quality and the level of craftsmanship of the Global knives. Included among these chefs are Susur Lee and Giada De Laurentiis, who is one of the best known celebrity chefs in the world for her exquisite recipes.

One of the chef's favorite things about these knives is the superior balance between blade and handle. This is important for cutting control. This quality is due to the unique design that takes place that keeps the handle hollow.

The future looks good for Global knives. The company is coming out with new technologically advanced knives every year and this continues to keep them at the head of their industry and market. The high price is well worth it.

If you are outfitting a kitchen with new cutlery, definitely consider the benefits of a high quality knife like the ones made by Global. It will make a wonderful and useful addition to your kitchen.

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Tuesday, October 28, 2008

These Standard Coffee Cups Come With Numerous Attractive Poems

By John Bakers

A traditional present that does not go out of fashion, even for the person who seemingly has everything, is a custom made coffee mug. These can be purchased for mere pennies on the dollar and will bring a smile to your friend's face for ages to come.

A first-rate coffee mug can outlast many coffee connoisseurs, coffee stores and even the celebrated coffee trademarks that we've all learned to recognize and love. If you've been looking for a particularly unique present for that individual or colleague who has the whole world in his hands, just take a look at the many manners in which you can distinguish one of these singular gifts.

Personalizing Your Mugs You can customize a coffee mug in an unlimited number of ways. One of the accepted ways is to have a preferred photo imprinted onto the mug. The picture on the mug could be a family photo, the kids or other picture you recognize as having significance for your acquaintance. The pictures are digitally processed onto the coffee mug and then laminated to keep the surface water resistant.

A different well-liked way to customize a coffee mug for a companion or loved one is to compose a particular rhyme and have it placed on a mug. Picture the smile streaming across your mom's face as she sips her good coffee and reads that unique poem you composed! Can you visualize a more extraordinary present?

Many mugs are finished with a ceramic substance such as clay, bone china, china or ceramics. Some are created from fired glassware such as Pyrex and can match your coffee makers. Additional supplies comprise synthetics, steel and finished metal are used where fracture resistance is at a premium. This may be a concern in items used by campers. Methods such as silk-screen printing or decals can be employed to apply decorations which are fired onto the mug to ensure durability.

If it is not in you to write prose, or you just don't have the right-to-use-pictures, there are still numerous standard alternatives at hand that you can choose. These mugs are rather trendy if you just want to offer your employer, worker or a colleague a coffee mug as a small present of gratitude. These standard coffee cups come with numerous attractive poems to suit a majority of events and cost even less than those you customize. If you are intrigued with a particular cup style or other matter with respect to any full-style gift cup, you can consult your neighborhood shop.

As you can see, a customized coffee mug can create a grand present for any companion, acquaintance or anyone else with whom you are familiar, and even those for whom it may be difficult to buy. It is an impressive present that will please them for years. Why not step out and get your personalized coffee mug now?

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Monday, October 27, 2008

Basic Barbeque Tips

By Natasha Johnson

An important thing to remember when cooking out on the barbecue, is that the meat is cooked by the heat, not the flames. It is good to avoid letting the flames get too big, because, you don't want the flames to touch the food. If the flames do touch the food, you will want to take the meat off and raise the height of the grate on the barbecue. If raising the grate is not possible, then you can just use a spray bottle of water and spray them down a bit, before putting the meat back on the barbecue.

There are different temperatures required for different meats, and for different cuts of meat. You will want to pay attention to this, because, if you cook the meat on the wrong temperature, and/or for the wrong period of time, you will wind up with tough meat. You can monitor the temperature of the meat with a special barbecue thermometer.

A thermometer is only one of a number of different tools that you might want to get to help you barbecue. The most important things to buy would be tongs, a spatula, and a fork. You need to make sure that they are not too short, or you can burn yourself when flipping the meat on the grill. A lot of people use barbecue tools that are at least twelve inches long. There are some great barbecue sets that come with a lot more than these three items, but, these would be your basic, gotta have it, items to get started. The barbecue sets are really great, though, and make perfect gifts, too.

There is actually one other thing that would be really good for starting out, but, it is not for cooking - it is for cleaning. It is a brush for cleaning the grate of the grill between uses. So much stuff gets stuck on the grate and the brushes made for cleaning them work wonders in scraping all of that junk off of there, so your food doesn't wind up tasting like last week's meal!

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Chocolate Gifts Come in an Assortment of Styles

By Stephen James

Chocolate has always been a great gift to give someone. The chocolate industry is a multi-billion dollar industry. There are so many unusual types of chocolate and so many reasons to offer someone a chocolate gift that it is a industry that just keeps getting larger every year.

There are several different types of chocolate. There is dark chocolates, milk chocolate, fair chocolate, and semi-sweet chocolate are just a few. Many people have a favorite chocolate. Each manufacturer of chocolate gifts has their own special formula for the way they make chocolates and this makes each brand of chocolate flavor a little different.

Chocolate Truffles are a great present to give for just about any occasion or no occasion at all. individuals love to obtain chocolate gifts for birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, holidays or just because. Special occasions or events are also grand times to give the present of chocolates. Baby showers, a raise at work, or just to tell a pal that you are thinking about them are big reasons to give chocolate handouts.

You can purchase chocolate gifts just about anyplace including grocery stores, gas stations, malls or convenient stores. Stores that put on the market only chocolates have the biggest variety to choose from and you may even find a particular store that carries the particular type of chocolate truffle that you like or you know your friend likes. This makes choosing chocolates present a little easier because there is such a large variety and you may end up finding something new that you like.

Chocolate Truffles make grand gifts for any person at anytime. There are a mixture of packages that chocolate gifts come in so you ought to be able to find one ideal for the event or friend you are trying to buy something for. The present of chocolates is a gift that people love to obtain. Have fun searching for the ideal chocolate for your buddy and don't forget to get a few for yourself!

For those of you who like chocolate truffles, there are several different kinds to decide from. You can buy chocolate truffles in milk chocolate, dark chocolate or if you aren't positive which kind of truffle your cherished one or friend might like, you can always get a box of assorted chocolate truffles.

Purchasing a chocolate gift for someone is fun and you can get really inventive with the things that you select. You can get someone a box of milk chocolate truffles. You can obtain someone a heart filled with assorted filled chocolates and you can even get someone a good old plain chocolate bar.

People love to get chocolate gifts for just in relation to any occasion or even if there isn't an occasion. Chocolates are a great treat to show someone that you are thinking in relation to them. Go pick out your chocolate gifts now and show someone how special you fell they are.

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Sunday, October 26, 2008

How to find the right Electric Mixer for your kitchen

By Sakuragicho

Kitchen mixers of today are valuable tools for aspiring chef's wishing to easly complete cooking tasks.

Those who love to cook already know that mixers are the task masters of the kitchen.

Beating, grinding and mixing by hand can now be considered an ancient method of cooking.

With improvements in the technology, acomplishing difficult cooking tasks is made easier by the use of an electric mixer.

With an electric mixer, mixing and whipping to prepare your masterpiece is now as easy as pie, and time saving as well.

The beauty of an electric mixer is the fact that it can be fitted with numerous attachments to complete a wide variety of tasks in the kitchen.

Preparing delicious meals and tasty treats are simple with the proper utilization of an electric mixer.

When searching for an electric mixer, be sure to look for one that is durable and of high quality.

Furthermore, it is always best to consider your overall needs before you make the purchase.

Once thought of as dull and bulky appliances, mixer designs of today are pleasing to the eye and fit well with any kitchen decor.

When it comes to mixers, features are very important.

Basic mixer features to be aware of are the motor rating, a tilt option and varied speed control.

You should also consider the number of bowls available with the mixer, the action of performing the mixing operation, and the option of providing various tasks.

Any quality mixer should be made of metal, with a mixing bowl that is strong, sturdy, and has a fully protective coating.

It is important to note that mixers have varying control mechanisms with a variety of options.

This allows the user to dictate the mixers speed of revolution of the motors.

It can't be said enough that the power rating of your mixer will make all the difference in it's performance.

To play it safe, go with a commercial rated mixer for the best results.

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Saturday, October 25, 2008

Secrets of Rapid Weight Loss

By Jovanna Quinn

The benefits of extreme weight loss plans are something most people will find very appealing. Today's dieter usually requires instant gratification when searching for rapid weight loss benefits. Be sure to judge every quick weight loss diet by looking at as many healthy quick weight loss diets that you can locate.

You'll usually find that a health conscious meal plan containing fresh fruits and vegetables is absolutely beneficial in a weight loss diet. Diets like these may actually lead to further complications that can set your diet program back. Those diets requiring you to remove healthy fruits and vegetables from your diet may not be what is always best for your body type to safely lose weight. So be cautious.

The best method to serve fresh fruits and vegetables may not be through heat under a quick weight loss diet. Since there is no healthy diet benefit to eating foods cooked in oils or fats when trying to burn fat.

The perfect weight which is healthy for your body type is unique. To reach this it simply needs the correct foods and metabolism, and will burn the weight needed throughout the day. You may not find the quickest answer to rapid weight loss diets but, on a simple basis you should understand that the human body was originally designed to maintain its own optimal weight.

Is there a better diet plan than others for rapid weight loss? Because everyone's body type is different the answer for rapid weight loss is absolutely, yes. But, you will have to do more digging to find the weight loss diet that is best for your body type. The reason you hear some diets working and other diets failing is because the dieter themselves are different. It may not be that the diet program itself is flawed, but rather the type of person using it.

You are probably wondering if quick weight loss diets really work. Of course they work, but one of the hardest parts to any rapid weight loss diet is keeping the weight from returning and maintaining a healthy diet to keep the weight off permanently. Look to your long term success as part of finding the right rapid weight loss plan initially.

Exercise is necessary for the proper maintenance of the human body however, it may be somewhat over-rated in its use toward quick weight loss. See the proof for yourself by looking at the many skinny people out there who have never worked out in their life. Exercise alone as part of a weight loss diet should never be a mandate for rapid weight loss.

Burning fat can have its own negative impacts on your body. You must always consult your medical doctor to verify a weight loss diet program will not harm you regardless of the path to fat loss you choose to follow. A more serious health concern caused from dieting can set you back many more pounds in your weight loss goal.

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Beyond Coffee: Specialty Flavors and Taste

By Rob Carlton

It was during the 1930s that physicists began discovering a slew of exotic atomic particles from kaons and muaons among other strangely termed discoveries. When informed, Enrico Fermi proclaimed that he would have become a botanist if he wanted to remember all of that yet, interestingly, this famous physicist later invented the process that was used in atomic bombs.

This is how I feel about coffee, actually. It may bring about a sense of romance and be a delicious treat, but there are so many names to remember!

For instance, there is the simple yet elegant Frappe consumed largely in Latin America and Europe. This tasty cold espresso is made with two teaspoons of milk and sugar along with crushed ice. For a variation in this recipe, add a quarter cup of crme de cacao and brandy.

The Cappuccino Borgia is the counterpart to the Frappe. This delicious creation consists of one quarter-cup orange (peeled) and one and a half cup of chocolate flavored ice cream. Take espressos to a whole new level by also adding six tablespoons of orange juice and a quarter-cup milk. You may find yourself speaking fifteenth century Italian with that one!

Head back to the twenty-first century Caribbean style with a Calypso Cooler. Add a couple bananas and two cups of coffee-flavored ice cream to a cup of extra strength, chilled coffee to whip up this delicious drink, but add a few tablespoons of rum and you may lose track of your luggage.

While on the subject of adding alcohol to coffee, we cannot forget about the Latin drink of Caffee Zabaglione which all starts with a quarter cup each of dry Marsala and sugar. Then, add in four egg yolks and a pinch of salt, wish and cook until thick. Include in the mix a cup of Italian roast at room temperature and you have made not only a beverage but also breakfast and a hangover cure.

Traditional Turkish coffee is known for its strong, dark flavor cut with cardamom, but the Scandinavians have also learned to put this ancient spice to use in the specialty drink Cardamom Kaffee. Mix an eighth-cup of cognac with two teaspoons curaco, one teaspoon sugar and a cracked and seeded cardamom pod. Microwave the mixture for approximately ten seconds, light with a match and pour on about a half-cup of extra strength coffee for a marvelous coffee treat.

Despite the many names, you must give credit to those inspiring such creativity when it comes to these fascinating coffee mixtures. They may not be inventors of giant atomic bombs, but they have certainly made a mark in the coffee world!

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Getting Your Cookware in Shape Before the Holidays

By Jana Banks

Quality cookware is an investment and worth taking care of so that you may enjoy many years of its use. Without the proper care, pots and pans will get old before their time, causing you to invest unnecessary dollars replacing them. Below you'll find some tried-and-true tips to help you keep your cookware in excellent condition, adding years to its life.

Beginning with Stainless Steel/Aluminum/Copper - Before using your cookware for the first time, wash each piece in hot, soapy water with a sponge or soft dishcloth. Rinse each piece under hot water and dry completely with a dishtowel to avoid water spots. Follow the same procedure during regular use. Use only a nylon-scouring pad with warm, soapy water for scrubbing. Do not use steel wool, chlorine cleaners, or oven detergents.

To maintain their shine and luster, use a metal cleaner specific to the type (such as a copper cleaner or polish for copper). Apply by rubbing in a circular motion, rinse under hot to warm water and then dry with a soft cloth, rubbing to a brilliant finish. Salt is a common cause of pitting on the interior of these metals, so never add salt to your dish until it is already boiling or cooking.

Traditional Cast Iron - Clean your cast iron with hot water and a stiff brush. Do not use any harsh detergents or steel wool. After cleaning wipe a light coat of vegetable oil on it and store it in a cool, dry place. Always preheat prior cooking. Enameled Cast Iron - Always preheat for prior adding any oil or liquid when cooking & allow the cookware to cool completely before washing with a sponge or soft cloth and mild detergent. Do not use steel wool or harsh cleaners.

Non-stick finishes are often covered under warranties, but damages caused by misuse will void the warranty. So always remember that non-stick is not generally dishwasher-safe and only plastic, wood, or coated utensils should be used in the pans to avoid scratching the finish. Non-stick sprays should not be used as they only make the cookware sticky. Instead, choose butter or shortening and always wash your non-stick pots by hand with a soft sponge and mild soap.

Seasoning your cookware adds to its longevity. For stainless steel/aluminum/copper, be sure to season your pans before using them to help prevent food from sticking or burning. To do this, rub a few drops of cooking oil into the pan's interior and wipe clean. Repeat this step as often as you deem necessary. For cast iron, spread a thin coat of shortening or vegetable and bake in a 200-degree oven for 1 hour, removing when cooled. Repeat seasoning throughout its lifetime as needed.

Some other general care tips worth remembering: To avoid warping, always preheat your cookware slowly and never poor cold liquid into a hot pot. Food sticking? It's a good idea to avoid intense heats to prevent your food from sticking. And remember to follow the above seasoning and cleaning recommendations as well.

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Friday, October 24, 2008

How To Find The Ideal UK Hamper

By James Collett

UK hampers are gifts that are normally presented in a wicker basket. The act of giving a hamper has a long history in Western culture and, before, was done as a noble act, using the hamper to present food and other home necessities to the deserving. The basket the gift was displayed in was also purposefully chosen as it was a helpful household item that could be utilized.

In modern times, UK hampers have come to be less a gift of necessities and more a gift of little indulgences, such as wine hampers for example. An emphasis is placed on quality items such as gourmet jams, fine chocolates, exotic coffee beans, expensive wines and other premium items that can be had as a treat and will store long enough for the recipient to take their time in using the hamper.

There has also been a rising tendency to produce specialized hampers - wine hampers that are filled with a broad range and types of wine, chocolate hampers and bread and cheese hampers. Hobby hampers are an even more recent innovation and are packed not with food but with essential and desired items to please gardeners or DIY enthusiasts, for example. The contents of a hamper are only limited by your imagination!

The adaptability of hampers is why it makes such a perfect present. They can be made to suit to any person and can be packed with anything that would please the recipient. When picking the hamper you want to give, give careful attention to what things the recipient wants - are they a white wine connoisseur? Then wine hampers are a great idea! Are they a food lover? Then fill the hamper with premium food items. Are they expecting a baby? Why not give them a hamper filled with helpful baby items.

UK hampers can be given for any event - for birthdays, for hens nights or bachelorette parties, for weddings, for anniversaries, for an expecting mom-to-be and, most popularly, for Christmas.

The Christmas hamper has become popular and, in an intriguing twist, the public are buying Christmas UK hampers to use for themselves instead of as a present for other people. Often filled with special Christmas treats such as shortbread, chocolate, wine, Christmas pudding and even turkey, they are bought by families to be used over the holiday season. Many UK hampers are bought on a payment plan over the year and then enjoyed for the Christmas period, helping individuals pay for the expense of the well-loved Christmas treats desired over the Christmas period.

There are many of businesses that specialize in selling hamper presents and lots of them can be found quickly and easily on the net. Many of them will have pre-packed hampers - such as wine hampers or food hampers - and some may allow you to personalize a hamper and pack it with items of your choice. Many businesses will deliver your hamper, making it a convenient and personal present.

Of course, you don't have to use a business to give a lovely hamper and it can be even more considerate to create your own. When making a hamper, give careful thought to what they might like. Focus on helpful products and special items that your special someone might not know to buy for themselves, to make it even more lovely. Hampers also work best when packed with products that won't spoil easily, such as wine for wine hampers. If you do intend on putting in products that have to be refrigerated or will spoil, then make sure the hamper is given as soon as possible and make sure your special someone understands that the goods must be used as soon as possible.

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Good Cookware Sets to Have in Your Kitchen

By Adam Rahim

There are many different styles of cookware available on the market. You should choose a set that meets your needs and have everything that you want. The All-Clad Stainless Steel 10 Piece Cookware Set is made to offer you everything you will need. If you need a smaller less expensive culinary cookware set you can try the All-Clad Copper Core 7-Piece Cookware Set that offers a lot without costing as much.

The All-Clad Copper Core Set comes with 7 different pieces. It includes a 8 quart stockpot with lid that is great for making soups and stews. It's also the perfect pot to be used when making a pot of your own home made tomato sauce for your pasta.

It also comes with a 10 inch fry pan. Some people prefer the All Clad stainless 12 inch fry pan, as the surface is area is a bit larger. The great thing is that you can purchase the All Clad copper core 7 piece cookware set and then buy additional items to supplement it, such as the All Clad stainless 12 inch fry pan.

Also included in this 7 piece set is a convenient 3-quart covered saute pan. This practical pan has a nice size surface and a also comes with a lid. It is perfect for dishes that need to me sauteed or simmered and comes in handy when stir frying dinner. The lid makes it perfect for all your cooking needs.

The copper core in this set is great because it ensures even cooking. With other types of cores in other products, you'll often have uneven heating which makes cooking difficult and can mess up even the simplest of dishes. The stainless steel exterior makes these very easy to clean as well, and gives it a nice lustrous look thats sure to please your family and friends.

Buying a new All-Clad Cookware Set is an investment, but if you choose wisely you'll have a great set that you can use for years. This set is at the perfect price point because the quality is so high that you can have this set for your entire lifetime and really get your moneys worth. Instead of recurring spending every few years, think about having once set of pots and pans that you can even pass down to your kids.

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Thousands of Varieties: Get Started Today

By Ken Morris

Coffee used to be simple for most. It was drip or instance and then black or with milk or sugar. Folgers was well known in plenty of homes. However, the times are changing. The coffee world has introduced thousands of options. There are plenty of choices in type, blend, country or origin, and style which confuses basically all of the world's coffee drinkers.

Brazil is by far the world's largest producer of coffee and has been for over a hundred years. This is because its climate and geography are perfect for coffee trees. Two of its most popular coffees are the Bahia and Minas Gerais.

Then there is the Colombian. It is the world's second largest producer of coffee. It is known for its light and sweet taste. The Popayan and Narino coffees are said to be unmatched anywhere. These two countries produce the majority of the world's coffee, but that does not mean there is not more to be experienced.

For instance, Mexico has quite unique coffee. These small beans are world renowned for their delicate and light taste and body. These beans give off a very mellow taste. Then there is the Cuban Cubano, which is strong and drank in small shots like liquor, quite similar to Spanish coffee.

Indonesia has well aged coffee. This is due to the warm and damp climate. This produces a more deep body and less acidity in the coffee. Indonesia is known as the world's fourth largest producer.

Then there is Malaysia. This coffee is well known for its brewing style, which is done in a muslin bag. This produces a very strong cup of coffee. Although graded lower on the coffee scale, even the Liberica should definitely be sampled. Thailand is known for its iced coffee combined with condensed milk for a cold treat.

Mauna Loa is a sweet and very aromatic coffee which holds a medium body. The coffee from Sumatra is said to be right and full. Kenya produces a wide range of coffee but even the beans that grow at 17,000 feet are said to have an indescribable aftertaste.

The roasting and grinding of beans and then the process of filtering with hot water was developed sometime in the 15th century. Therefore, the Europeans will take a stand in the coffee world. France is known for its caf au lait, or half coffee with half hot milk. Then there is Austria with its two thirds dark and one third regular combo.

Italy offers espresso unlike anyone else. Espresso contains less caffeine as well, so it's a treat with a little less guilt. Espresso can also be added to hot milk with foam or hot foam with a little hot milk to dilute the strength a bit. This is known as latte or cappuccino. Still, there is the traditional American black coffee. Don't be mean, try everyone's varieties and find your favorite.

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Wednesday, October 22, 2008

A Baker Did Not Originally Create Coffee Cake

By Jerry Blackburn

According to the colonial period, a baker did not originally create coffee cake. Coffee cake can be traced back well before that period. At first, they were delicious honey bars. Then it evolved into French galettes, which inspired fruitcakes and prompted others to try the sweet yeast roll, which gave way to the Danish coffee cake with actual coffee in the recipe. Ultimately, the cakes were baked in mass assembly and are now commonplace.

Recipes Brought To America The suggestion of a coffee cake in the early days of North America was that of merely eating some good tasting sweet roll as you sipped from a coffee. The tradition most likely started in Europe in the seventeenth century. Those who record history have taken note that the Germans, the Scandinavians, and the Dutch transported their various formulas for the tasty pastry with them and consequently presented coffee cake to North America.

It is thought that the early adaptations of the coffee cake would remind you of bread more than cake. They were on the whole baked from flour, eggs, yeast, sugar, nuts, some dried fruits, and sweet spices. However, over the years the coffee cake has evolved and has begun to include cheese, yogurt, and various sugared fruits as well as a variety of creamy fillings.

German and Holland Communities The German and the Holland communities during colonial times were well-known in New York, Delaware and New Jersey for their coffee cake. Their recipes are analogous to the recipes for the common pastry of that day. The Scandinavians preferred something sugary at coffee break, and so donated their skills to the development of the tastier cake. These Scandinavians were definitely very proud of their baking abilities. These migrants together with others arriving from Central Europe brought with them many ideas for the mid-morning break when a hot drink and something tasty to eat became a tradition that continues today.

Today these specialty cakes are characteristically seasoned with cinnamon, nuts, and fruits. Sometimes apples may be a common feature that is added to this tasty end of the dinner. One may hear the phrase "apple coffee cake." These cakes occasionally have a crumbly or crumb topping and a name changed to Streusel.

In the book "Listening to America," the author claims that in 1879 coffee cake became a well known term in America. Writers have ploughed through many old cook books and concluded that instructions for coffee cakes were made available for everyday homemakers during the colonial days by word-of-mouth. In addition, many of them would have been simply written down by hand and past on. There are plentiful selections of this kind of cake and a couple of the admired forms are the streusel and the crumb cake adaptation.

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Kitchen Sinks and Easy Home Improvements

By Kurt Schefken

For those who are in the remodeling stage, you will find that the kitchen sink is one of the most important parts of the kitchen. You will need to have a kitchen sink that makes the room look either country style or very modern. Keep in mind that you can mix and match with your dcor and style of the room, but you will need to also look at what special features you are looking for and also the time and installation of the sink. You will find that there are some sinks with safety features for children. When you select the right sink to improve your home, you will find that there are many ways that you can add some style and uniqueness to the room.

You will want to keep that in mind when it comes to also purchasing the sink for the bathroom. You need to look for practical, quality sinks for both rooms, so that you can make a good choice in remodeling. The types of sinks that are on the market vary in style, color, shapes, and sizes. You will find that when it comes to the classic look for the kitchen, you will want to look for stainless steel.

Of course, you can go with ceramic, but it depends on what colors you will want. In the kitchen, you don't want to get too wild. You can get a ceramic or porcelain sink in the colors of what, black, and gray. If you have dark countertops the black is more appropriate, however, you can still use the white for anything. The only thing is that you need to look at the budget, the costs of installation, and also something that is personal to your tastes. Keep in mind that the sink is a focal point.

You will want to make sure that you do everything you can to not only upgrade the kitchen, but also add your own personality to the room. You will want to consider things like your countertops and the dcor or theme to the kitchen. This is because you need to the kitchen sink to blend in with the style and not stand out too far above the rest of the room. The way that your kitchen looks is very important.

The way that your kitchen looks is very important. The kitchen is one of the rooms where people tend to gather, not only as a family, but also as friends and guests. You will want to make sure that the room is warm, but the kitchen as a style of it's own. You will want to consider the style and the importance of the room when you begin remodeling. When you do a plan or layout with your ideas and some pictures of things like the kitchen sink, you'll be able to improve the look of your home greatly.

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Sunday, October 19, 2008

Fresh Shellfish Is Full Off Variety

By Shannon Linnen

A wonderful thing to eat all year round is fresh shellfish. It includes clams, scallops, mussels and more. Farm-raised cultured mussels are fresh and readily available. Wild varieties are equally delicious. Clams are a very popular addition to pasta dishes. Hard clams, also called quahogs, live in sandy coves and can be caught when the tide is low. A great dish to enjoy with butter and garlic is stuffed quahogs. And there is always clam chowder of course.

There is nothing like fresh shellfish to take your mind off the hot weather of the summer. A plate of raw or barbequed oysters can be good appetizer to a light yet delicious meal. You can buy them in most markets and also from reputed farms breeding them especially for sale. Buying them easily and at good prices is an advantage enjoyed by people lucky enough to live by a port or in coastal zones.

The scallops are meatier than clams and require very little preparation. Sea scallops are delightfully large, though must be shucked (removed from their shells) almost immediately after capture to ensure they don't lose moisture and die. It is important not to overcook scallops, or you will end up with a chewy, inedible taste.

Mussels are covered with blue-black shells and brown hairs called byssal which are attached to their shell. Meat of the mussels is orange in color and is made up of protein. As in the case of clams mussels too taste best when steamed with shell intact.

Other fresh shellfish includes lobster and crab. Both are bigger and more substantial than their other, small shelled relatives. They are truly tasty and are a symbol of excellence in every type of cuisine. Lobster is a cuisine favorite in fancy, high-end restaurants and is the most expensive of all fresh shellfish.

Crab is one of the more popular varieties of shellfish, bought and eaten by a large number of people. This has made the crabbing a multi-million dollar industry. Tools have been specially designed to make cracking the shells of crabs easier and with these tools at hand; eating crab is no longer a messy and difficult affair. Once you have tasted the meaty goodness of crab legs, this fresh shellfish will be sure to become one of your favorites.

Living a healthier lifestyle is becoming more and more difficult. Food items purchased at the local grocery are not necessarily all that good for you. The packaging may look great but the contents could be worse than you think. This is not an issue with fresh shellfish or other fresh seafood items. The ocean is the perfect nursery to grow these healthy and tasty critters. Keep your healthy lifestyle on track and satisfy your tastebuds with fresh shellfish on a regular basis.

You no longer have to live in close proximity to the ocean or coast, you can get fresh shellfish no matter what. Online vendors now deliver fresh shellfish, crabs, lobsters and much more overnight. Straight from the ocean to your front door. Quality Fresh Seafood specializes in this and uses Fedex to overnight your seafood order.

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Saturday, October 18, 2008

Choose a Brew From Coffee's Ancient Tradition

By Robert Carlton

A long time ago, in a forgotten era, the world hand only one way to make coffee: the percolator. In those days, housewives in pearls and pumps would sit and gaze as the water heated, until the rising pressure forced it through a narrow tube which filtered the water over the coffee grounds. There was no fancy way to brew coffee back.

It really was a fascinating process, though, but the problem was that it did not make very good coffee. Boiling the coffee, and then running liquid over grounds multiple times can produce an unappetizing batch of coffee.

Thankfully, conditions improved by the end of the 1970s. The drip method of coffee production was introduced to the world. This little machine was cheap, fast and made better-tasting coffee. As one could imagine, it caught on quickly. Just pour some grounds into the coffee filter, wait a couple minutes as the heated water filters through and then enjoy a delicious pot of coffee.

Eventually, coffee "pods" made their way onto the market, which made coffee even easier. Improvements in many coffeemaker components gave the average brewer more control over the result. Internal spouts were developed to filter the water evenly through the grounds, and so quality became more consistent.

Espresso makers took off in the 1990s as Americans decided to adopt European culture. American engineering lowered the expense of the machines without sacrificing flavor. Hot water pressured through aromatic grounds produces a delicate drink for connoisseurs.

Slap on a dollop of frothed milk, and suddenly you have discovered a cappuccino. Espresso makers allow the average consumer to experiment with his or her own ideas to make up a new and exciting drink, depending on his tastes.

The French press is another European technology that Americans happily adopted. A metal rod runs through the center of a cylindrical glass container with a handle on top. At the other end of this rod is the filter, fits perfectly around the inside perimeter of the glass.

Simply dump in quality grounds and fill the rest with boiling water. In this method, the grounds float around in the water until you push down on the rod and force the filter through, pressing the grounds into the bottom of the container. Then, simply pour and enjoy.

None of these methods is really an innovation. Rather, they are new to us here in America. However, the methods described in this article were invented hundreds and hundreds of years ago. One Turkish invention may be one of the oldest. Water gets heated in copper receptacle that features a long handle and a curved tongue for pouring. The grounds get put directly into the heated water. From there, they are poured into your cup, unfiltered. The result is famously strong.

When it comes to preparing your cup of coffee, experiment with these options from around the world!

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Friday, October 17, 2008

Grilling Tools for Barbecue Season

By Natasha Johnson

It's getting hotter these days, and you're probably thinking about all the steaks and burgers you'll be grilling this summer. It's a good time to stock up on some great grilling tools that will make your grilling experiences more pleasurable.

1. Basting brushes. Marinated meats and vegetables are great when grilled, and basting brushes come in particularly handy for brushing on additional marinades and glazes while grilling.

2. Wire grill baskets. These usually come hinged, and with long handles that allow you to flip the basket easily. Grill baskets are great for grilling any foods that tend to flake while cooking, or have small pieces that could slip through onto the fire.

3. Barbecue skewers. Bring on those kabobs! Grilled kabobs are a nice summer meal, and you can get skewers for kabobs in either bamboo or metal. Make sure to soak bamboo skewers for half an hour before grilling. Metal skewers can get very hot, so take care when turning them, or get ones with heat-resistant handles.

4. Meat thermometers. These are a great investment for the grill afficionado, letting you grill rare or medium rare steaks without anxiety. They're good for ensuring grilled chicken is fully cooked, too.

5. Tongs. Long-handled tongs are an essential tool for grilling, and if you've only ever relied on a spatula or a long-handled fork in the past, you'll find flipping food so much easier with tongs.

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Coffee: Regular and Decaf Differences

By Clinton Maxwell

Mexico is home of a special coffee tree that actually produces coffee that is almost 100% naturally decaffeinated. However, until that tree is being used for commercial production of decaf, caffeine needs to be removed from coffee. The question remains though, how does this decaffeination process affect the taste.

Most people say that the difference is not noticeable, but there are some who of course can tell. One of the methods for decaffeinating coffee is hot water treatment and methylene chloride rinsing. It may be surprising to some to learn that coffee has already seen water before it is brewed; more than once actually. The coffee berries are rinsed after they are picked and then they are rinsed again to get rid of the fruit flesh. It is not the water that removes the taste, but determining whether the chemicals used do or not.

The chemical decaffeinated process starts with green unroasted beans. Then they are warmed with either hot water or steam. This helps the bean's pores to open. After this, the beans are rinsed using methylene chloride. This attaches to the caffeine and is then washed away.

Or, it can be done where the beans are soaked for many hours in hot water and the caffeine leaks out into the water. Then the chemical is added to the bath. The chemical then bonds to the caffeine in the water without removing the flavor from the water. Then the beans are re-soaked in the flavorful water without the caffeine and regain their taste.

There is also a process called Swiss Water. This process does not use any chemicals. The beans are soaked in hot water, same as above but the caffeine is removed using charcoal instead of chemicals. The caffeine sticks to the charcoal and is removed from the water that way. This is considered to be the chemical free method of decafeinating coffee.

Using methylene chloride is the preferred method because of its cost. It is debatable whether the chemical does alter the taste of the bean or not. Regardless of the decaf process, the coffee drinker always has ways to reduce caffeine intake. For instance, the darker the coffee is roasted, the less caffeine it has. Decaf can also be blended with regular coffee whenever to obtain optimum taste and reduced caffeine.

Individuals will always have their own specifications about decaf and regular and beliefs about whether there is an altered taste with decaf or not. However, caffeine does add some bitterness, so decaf coffee can be detected by some. Whether the detected alteration is taste is preferred or not, is up to the individual coffee drinker. In the end, people will always love coffee, so enjoy it, and be lavish.

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Good Eating Habits -- Avoid These 7 Myths

By Sheila Ffloyd

In many ways, our bodies are like precision machines. They have thousands of intricate parts that work together as a team to make an amazing whole. But like any machine, our bodies need regular fuel and maintenance.

Bodies need fuel with the right mix of nutrients to run at maximum efficiency. Good eating habits will improve your overall health, but it is also necessary to dig through the poor information that most of us hear about.

There are seven big myths about good eating habits, and here we address them:

1. "It is best to work out on an empty stomach." A definite myth. Your stomach's rumblings are an attempt to tell you something, not to get you to go to the gym! If you ignore tummy rumbling, you are forcing your engine to run without fuel. Have a light snack, even just a piece of fruit, before you undertake anything physical.

2. "Energy drinks and bars make good meal replacements." Ooops, another myth. In a pinch, or when you are traveling, they might help, but meal replacement bars or drinks are nowhere near equivalent to proper food. You need antioxidants, fiber, minerals, vitamins, and so much more, so grab some fruit and vegetables for the boost you need.

3. "Breakfast is not that important." Mom was right about this, as breakfast is the most important meal of each day. Eat a healthy breakfast to give your body the charge it needs to meet your busy schedule. If you skip breakfast, your low fuel start will leave you feeling sluggish and hungry throughout the day.

4. "Low-carb diets offer all the nutrients you need." While low-carb diets can be beneficial for weight loss, they are not great for all-around good health. Your body needs carbohydrates to store energy and develop muscle tissue.

5. "It's okay to eat what you want, when you want it." Not true my friend. That's too easy. Regular exercise and frequent good food choices will help, but you have to maintain both, forever, for the wellness benefits to add up. That does not mean "all or none", but rather seek the balanced diet that we hear so much about. Bread and cheese for three nights straight won't cut it.

6. "Chop as many calories as you can." Cutting calories is part of losing weight, but running too low on fuel can harm you, too. Trim those calories gently, aiming for a weight loss of about 1-2 pounds per week. Much more loss than that means you should add some more food to your diet.

7. "Skip soda and alcohol." This is no myth. Good eating habits go hand in hand with good drinking habits. Water, milk, and juice will always be the best beverage choices for active bodies. Drink often, and not only when you feel thirsty. By the time you begin to feel thirst, your body is already close to running on empty.

Good eating habits begin with a solid understanding of proper diet. When you change what you eat, you'll be taking an important step toward improving your overall wellness. Fuel up and keep your motor running for optimum performance today, and down the road.

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Smoked Seafood: A Delicious Meal

By Shannon Linnen

For a light yet delicious meal, consider an appetizer of smoked oysters to start. These tasty treats can be bought in most markets as well as chosen farms that specially breed them to sell.One of the greatest dishes to serve during summer is smoked seafood.If you are lucky enough to live by a port or in a town near the ocean, you will probably find oysters easily. Some may need to venture further away, but the trip will be worth your while!

Just because Summer is the best time to enjoy a smoked seafood does not mean you have to stop there. Your social gatherings will thrive even in the fall and winter months when you add smoked seafood to the entertainment menu. Spice up the tastebuds of your friends and guests with a delicious, smokey, mysterious smoked seafood treat.

Examples of smoked seafood include clams, smoked scallops and mussles. Farm-raised mussles have the obvious advantages of being fresh and readily available but wild varieties are equally delicious. Hard clams, also called quahogs, live in sandy coves and are caught at low tide. Quahogs taste great when stuffed with butter and garlic. Clams are very popular in pasta dishes, but clam chowder still remains one of the most popular clam dishes!

Scallops are meatier than clams and require very little preparation. Sea scallops are delightfully large, though must be shucked (removed from their shells) almost immediately after capture to ensure they don't lose moisture and die. It is important not to overcook smoked scallops, or you will end up with a chewy, inedible morsel.

Mussels have blue-black shells and brown hairs called byssal threads attached to their shell. Their meat is usually an orange color and they are full of protein. As with clams, mussels taste great smoked and should remain encased in their shell until cooked.

Other smoked seafood includes smoked crab and smoked shrimp. Crab is maybe the most popular shellfish and is widely bought and eaten. The crabbing industry is a multi-million dollar one. While eating crab can be messy and often difficult, special tools have been created to make cracking crab easier. Once you get down to the meaty goodness of crab legs, you will want to make this smoked seafood part of your everyday diet!

Shrimp can be mixed with any meal like burritos , tacos, pasta dishes and many more. Smoked shrimps are also used to spices up stews and soups. Shrimp adds an unique Cajun flavor to Creole dishes. In whatever way you choose to serve it , shrimp makes any meal to remember for its taste.

One of the unknown secrets of the sea is smoked seafood. This is a great way to enjoy seafood and how good it tastes is not widely known. Surprise a friend or that special someone with a smoked seafood dish. Sharing this delicious dish with others is a great way to socialize and entertain.

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Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Homemade Lobster Clambake

By Sherry Shantel

The clambake dates back to the days of the Pilgrims in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Settlers witnessed Native Americans cooking seafood over hot stones and seaweed and thus the famous New England clambake was born. The Lobster clambake has become a summer tradition not only in New England but also all over the country. Now, with the Internet, you can have Maine live lobster shipped from New England to anywhere in the United States.

As you may already know, lobsters may come in many different sizes. The smallest of these kinds are called chickens, they weigh around 1-1.25 pounds. These types are usually served along with another main course and are perfect for guests with small appetites. However, for those guests with average to large appetites, 1.25-pounder lobsters or Quarters and 1.50-pounder lobsters called Half, are just perfect.

There are also different types of shellfish and clams. But you don't have to worry as any type of shellfish will go well with lobster bisque. But if you want your clambake to be truly authentic, you might want to go with New England steamer clams. These types have soft shells and larger sizes. For every person, about 1 pound of clam is recommended.

New England clambakes are most often served with corn on the cob and red bliss potatoes. They add to the delicious distinct flavor and presentation of the clambake. Both can be steamed, boiled or grilled in a similar fashion to the lobsters and steamers.

Clambakes have historically been cooked in holes dug in the sand with seaweed and hot stones. While this makes a nice presentation, the truth is that our typical ovens and pots do a much better job. The recommended way to cook live lobsters is to have them steamed. You're going to need a large pot, a steamer basket, and some salt.

Have the large pot filled with an approximate 1 and inches of water, and for every quart of water, add a tablespoon of salt. Before placing the lobsters in the steamer basket, bring the water to a boil first. And then place the steamer basket in the pot.

One-pounder lobsters should be cooked for approximately 12 minutes. A pound and a half lobsters should be cooked for around 15 minutes. Check the pot periodically to ensure that all the water has not boiled off and add more water while the lobsters are cooking if needed. Remove the lobsters and pull off one of their small legs. Break open the leg and test the meat to ensure that it is already cooked.

For a more wonderful and tastier feast, you can opt to add mussels, shrimp, and clam chowder to your clambake. Add fresh vegetables for a more healthy presentation. Your homemade lobster clambake is now ready to be enjoyed by you and your loved ones.

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Monday, October 13, 2008

How to Start a Catering Business

By Gary Pearson

If you thrive in the crowd and love everything about food, your ideal entrepreneurial niche could be a catering business. The challenges in a catering business include back-breaking hours at the stove and lots of physically laborious activities, but the ultimate rewards are definitely worth all the hard work.

Although it's not necessary to have a culinary degree, you must be familiar with food safety and handling procedures, food preparation techniques, and food presentation. As you may be aware, eating food begins with the eyes, therefore it is crucial for you to possess the ability to present your food in a pleasing-to-the-eye manner. Not only must your food look good, it must taste even better!

If you believe you have what it takes to run a successful catering business, start by conducting research via the Internet or visit your local library and check-out books on the subject. You'll need to find out as many details as possible regarding licenses and certifications that are required in your area.

Once you are through with your primary research, you will have to assimilate relevant data and organize it well for your use. Now you have to formulate a business plan and a marketing strategy from all the information that you have learned. The internet provides excellent resources for this. You can check out websites like www.sba.org, where you can find various published papers and other useful data.

Financial institutions and private venture capitalists/investors are more likely to approve your monetary loans when you provide detailed business and marketing plans. You will also have to invest a certain portion of your savings for your business, but always remember to limit your investment to the amount you can spare to lose, if the business fails.

While it might be exhilarating to start your own catering business, it's important to realize that in the beginning you will be wearing many hats. In addition to preparing food and catering events, you'll need to have a good understanding of marketing in order to obtain new business. And, let's not forget the day-to-day duties such as answering the phone, quoting prices, following up with clients, performing accounting duties, ordering supplies, etc.

Although owning your own catering business is a highly rewarding experience, you should be prepared to work long hours and be available to work weekends and evenings, at least until you are well-established.

A catering business is not just about preparing food for an event. The actual A to Z process involves preparation, delivery, table arrangements, food serving and cleaning up after the event. You'll need lots of stamina for this business and it's best to be prepared for the uphill climb.

Most times of the day, you will be up on your legs. Catering jobs require you to stand for long hours. You may have to work hard for as long as 12 to 15 hours each day. You might have to serve for catered events at odd locations. It is important to remain calm and positive through all the rigors.

In any case, notwithstanding all the hard work, in the end, if you genuinely love what you do, it is going to be worth it, and a lot of fun. Catering jobs are hectic and taxing and hence you require a good plan for all your activities.

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How And Where The Coffee Bean Is Grown

By Clinton Maxwell

For a plant that is found in more than 70 countries worldwide from Brazil to Indonesia, its strange how the plant can survive in just enough conditions needed to produce top brass beans and how comparatively small the entire output is.

The reason the word beans is notable is that the thing that is roasted and crunched to make the drink is not at all a bean but, in fact, a seed.

Specifically saying, it is the seed of a fruit that grows on trees which go beyond twenty feet or more in height. There are even some kinds of trees that reach up to 45 feet or 15 metre. The majority of these seeds are found in pairs, though there is also a type called the peaberry, that has only one. The berry looks like a cranberry with a sweet pulp covered with a membrane known as a silverskin.

In an area near the equator at more or less 25 degrees north or south, is found the hugest coffee output of the world. Between 60F (15C) and 70F (21C) is the best temperature for the growth of coffee as well as a rainfall of six inches or more every month.

To get the best quality of output the prerequisite conditions also demand loamy, good draining earth, high humidity, lots of mist and cloud hovering over high altitudes, which can be over 3000 feet or 915 m. At this height the content of oxygen is lesser, so the trees take more time to grow into maturity.

The coffea canephora or robusta is what constitutes most of the coffee since it can grown at lower heights and is resistant to diseases. But its the coffea Arabica grown at higher altitude that is the drinkers delight.

Dim lights and average breeze are also good both of which can be made manifest when grown intentionally in shade and shelter. Quite opposite wine grapes require hot sun and the more the better.

When the trees are planted, they take around five years to mature enough for the first crop and then also one tree will only produce just about two pounds, that is, 1 kilogram, of coffee.

It takes around 2,000 beans (thats the standard term to use, right or wrong) to make those two pounds of coffee. The beans are generally picked by hands by manual workers. Well they may be manual, but they are very much aware of what they are doing. Harvesting of coffee beans is a skill that is acquired over time, where the picker can differentiate between the good and the bad stuff, selecting the good beans and throwing away the rest.

The trees have wide leaves dark green in color and produce a flower that looks like Jasmine. A few for example those in Brazil and Mexico burst forth over a period of six to eight weeks. In countries that are located near the equator like Columbia and Kenya, a tree, however, can have ripe berries growing together with still growing ones. This is where sound knowledge of picking saves the day.

From these very remote places, where weather conditions are strong, the berries are picked up and processed that go into making the globes second largest product if we go by annual dollar volume.

So when you sip your cup of coffee or use your cappuccino maker, remember the long journey it had to traverse to be put into your cup. Probably the steep price would no longer seem so high.

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Saturday, October 11, 2008

Coffee Grading is a True Art

By Peter Wilson

The Art of Coffee Grading

Grading coffee is truly an art form. It requires a lot of skill and knowledge to sure that the coffee you find in stores and shops is of the best quality. Coffee is graded before roasting and a person who does it is called a 'Green Coffee Seller'. This grading expert is trained to know all of the characteristics to be inspected and they can tell a good bean form a bad bean with matchless skill. The average person could only dream of having the skills an experienced grading expert has. They know how good your coffee will be before it ever hits the sales floor.

Bean Traits

There are many traits of a bean that need to be evaluated in the grading process. These traits are carefully examined by the grader and sometimes it can be a tricky process because even slight differences can end up being huge differences in the end. Here are the main traits that have to be considered during the grading process:

Size and Shape: The beans should be uniform in size and shape. This will help to ensure an even roast since larger beans and smaller beans have different roasting time and that means the timing will not be able to be adjusted properly.

Color: Similar color is desirable because uneven color suggests that the beans were dried differently. It could also indicate a mixing of beans from different cultivars which will lead to problems with roasting and the resulting flavor.

Region and Cultivar: Beans should be separated by region and cultivar. This helps to ensure roasting and the final product are even and consistent. By making sure the region and cultivar are the same with each bean, it can be ensured they were dried the same.

Processing: Beans should be processed as soon after harvest as possible. After harvested beans start to ferment which producing unwanted compounds. If drying is put off too long the flavor will be greatly affected. Additionally the type of processing used is inspected. Wet processing involves separating beans of different densities by removing floating beans during the wet washing process. Dry processing is a more meticulous and efficient system of separation. Dry processed beans will have a brown color which is similar to the color of unprocessed beans. However, when rubbed the skin comes off of dry processed beans and not under processed beans.

Drying Aspects: The signs of improperly dried beans are obvious and well checked. Harsh mechanical techniques, drying too fast or infrequent turning during drying all result in a mottled appearance. Properly dried beans are dried slowly enough to let the skin dry and have several, short periods of mechanical drying. They will result in an even color and the right moisture content needed for proper roasting results.

Tell Tale Signs: White edges on beans indicate bad drying or storage and will not produce a good flavor regardless of your espresso machines. Bright appearance is a sign of a good bean. Smell: Finally, the smell of the bean can say a lot. They should have a fresh scent without a smoky or musty undertone.

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What You Didn't Know About Coffee Beans

By Leroy Calstard

Researchers and experts have always wondered since ages on the marvel of the concept of bean plantation. It is indeed a contradiction that a tree which is grown in more than 70 countries, right from Indonesia to Brazil has an immensely narrow range of accompanying conditions that govern the production of quality beans. The amazingly small amount of output that emerges from the extensive procedure is another unusual fact.

The Seed

Specialists on the subject point out that what appears to be a bean is actually a seed that is ground to make the drink. This seed is basically known to grow on trees that reach up to a height of a whopping twenty feet or even more. In fact, there are some wild varieties that might grow over 45 feet or 15 mm also. The ideal temperature for this particular seed is between 15C (60F) and 21C (70F), along with a rainfall of six inches or more. A loamy, good-draining soil and high humidity are also helpful factors. In addition, since diffuse light and moderate winds are also effective, at times such conditions are deliberately created by growing the seed in shelter and shade.

Once plantation has been done, the tree generally takes up to five years to mature to the first crop. Such trees normally have broad, dark green leaves and generally blossom over a six to eight week period. It is another amazing fact that one such tree will only make about two pounds or one kilogram of coffee. Picking of the beans by manual laborers is the next step in this process. This is done by leaving out the bad beans, which also accounts for the high price of the drink. On an average, a good harvest will bring around 6,600 lbs and 8,800 lbs per hectare.

In all, there is usually a gap of nine months between blossom to harvest, which might vary in accordance with the weather and other such factors. The berries thus produced are then brought down and processed to manufacture the popular drink. A series of state-of-the art techniques and machinery is used for the processing of beans, before it is ready for your coffee maker.

The likes of robusta or coffea canephora are used to produce to the maximum amount of coffee, basically due to the fact that these can be grown at lower altitudes and are more resistant to disease.

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Friday, October 10, 2008

Lobster Clambake: Have Fun All-year Round

By Shannon Linnen

Summer is a great time for entertaining, and a very fun way to entertain is to invite your friends and family over for a clambake. Lobster and clams cooked over a fire, some exotic drinks, brightly colored decorations and appropriate music make for a great time for everyone.

But, when the weather is not fine, or even when winter hits, why not hold a lobster clambake indoors? What a great way to bring the illusion of summer to a cold winter day! And it's a fun, easy and healthy way of entertainment.

In place of any old lobster clambake, consider having a super deluxe lobster clambake, which is sure to please a variety of tastes. For your indoor clambake, purchase some fresh lobster, clams, shrimp, mussels, and maybe even some crab. You might also want to include some lobster bisque or clam chowder on the menu, in addition to roasted potatoes and corn on the cob.

In addition to the food for your super deluxe lobster clambake, you will want to have a good supply of lobster bibs on hand, claw crackers, lots and lots of napkins, and a good supply of pre-moistened towlettes. Seafood is delicious but it can be very messy!

You may ask yourself how you can have an indoor clambake, when the clams and other seafood at a clambake are traditionally cooked in a pit over an open fire. Easy! For this super deluxe lobster clambake you will be doing all of the cooking on the traditional indoor stovetop.

A lobster stock pot is the only special equipment required. They can be purchased in a range of sizes to suit all occasions and some are sold with a steamer rack and basket to facilitate use. Search for them on the Internet or at your local specialty cooking store. At the same time, seek recommendations for delicious indoor clambake recipes.

To make preparing for you party and planning even easier, there are many super deluxe lobster clambake kits available. They can easily be found by searching the Internet. Many of the kits contain everything you need, including wetnaps, claw crackers and cloth napkins, in addition to the seafood itself. All you'll need to shop for are the vegetables and you'll be all set for the most popular party of the year.

So what is the next step with all of this? Well, to get your clambake ordered of course! The best place to research almost anything is the Internet, the Super Deluxe clambake is no different. Enter that specific phrase into the search engines and then visit with the top two or three entries. Call them if necessary to get a feel for how they do business. Once you have accomplished this, order up your clambake and get ready to invite over some friends.

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Interested in the cost of the Jenny Craig diet? Read This!

By Jessica A. Andersen

the costs associated with the Jenny Craig diet depend on the option you select. There are short-term plans and there are long-term plans. Jenny Craig makes it interesting client: that users of its diet plan spend only one more dollar per day on food than the average American not participating in the diet plan.

I spoke to a Jenny Craig representative on September 28, 2008 and was provided with information about the program's costs. The first option described by the representative is the 20 pounds for $20 program. This is a 10 week program that includes weekly meeting expenses with a weight loss consultant but does not include meals.

The meals cost between $12 and $18 everyday. For this price you get three meals, dessert, vitamin bars, and snacks. The meals themselves are frozen entres developed by Jenny Craig after years of trial and error. A majority people find them tasty, satisfying, and sizable. If at the end of 10 weeks you haven't reached your weight loss goal you can sign up for additional meal plans but you will be paying additional costs.

Barbara also described a second option, but Jenny Craig rewards plan. This plan is a one-year program. It costs $359 per year in addition to your food costs. For this price you will receive weekly meetings with a weight-loss professional and a discount on meals. The discount works as follows during the first 10 weeks you receive a 10% discount on meals, in the next 10 weeks you receive 20% discount, finally in the last 32 weeks he received a whopping 35% discount on meals.

Barbara, our Jenny Craig representative, emphasizes that the rewards plan discount really adds up quickly. She says that because of the discount you will more than make up the $359 sign-up fee with your savings on food. As you can see the Jenny Craig program does have associated costs but their claim that you will only spend one dollar more per day on food seems fairly reasonable. To receive more information now about Jenny Craig, its costs, and other great prepackaged diet plans visit my site now. When you visit today you will have your choice between a free BMI calculator or free diet diary just for visiting. Click on the links below, visit us today, and get a free gift!

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Soup, A Year Round Family Favorite

By Jana Banks

There's a lot to love about soups. The tastes, the textures, the endless varieties, and let's not forget the comfort food factor. While soups are often thought of as a wintertime food, there's no reason they can't be a year-round favorite. Many of the heartier soups can be a complete meal. And for the hottest days, you can always switch to chilled soup if you prefer. Below are some of are some of the basics about the types of soups you can make.

To start, let's separate the soups into a few categories, beginning with those that require a stock base and those that don't. Then there are also the fruit soups. Some examples of soups requiring stock include your broths, bouillon, and consomm. Soups without stock would be bisque, chowders, creams, and purees.

You can make soup stock from every kind of meat including beef, turkey, lamb, chicken, veal, fish, etc. Using dark-colored meats will produce brown stock while white soup stock is made from light-colored meats. Vegetables commonly added to soup stock include onion, celery, and carrots. Soups in this category include beef vegetable, chicken soups, tomato soups, cabbage soups, and broth's.

Purees and cream soups often make a great main course for lunch or for a lighter dinner since they're quite thick and rich. Varieties can include split pea, creamy corn or tomato, clam chowder, potato and bean purees bisques like lobster or oyster, and vegetable cream soups such as cream of broccoli or mushroom.

Then there are the fruit soups - these are delicious chilled soups that are perfect on a hot summer day. Refreshing varieties include cherry, honeydew melon, strawberry, peach, and cantaloupe. Some cold soup recipes will list fruit juices as a mixer while others use a vegetable-based soup stock in the recipe. Either stock works well.

There's nothing like well-made, scrumptious, homemade soup to make any meal complete. Remember to top your creamy soups with a simple garnish for that finishing touch. Serve soups like bean or onion in a covered soup dish, while your cream soups are best served in a round, flat soup bowl. Don't be surprised if everyone asks for seconds.

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Sinks for Useful Kitchens

By Peter Wilson

Having the perfect sink located in your bath or kitchen is very important. You want to choose the one that you really want the first time so that you are not regretting your choice later on. You want to also make sure that the hoses and the plumbing to your sink is in good condition. You will want to do this so that you do not have more problems than what you have thought about. You defiantly do not want to have a leak.

You may want to have a second person with you when you are doing any type of plumbing in your home. You will want them to be ready to shut the main water valve off in case there is a leak at any time.

The main shutoff valve for most of the homes around will be near the curb. You will want to make sure that you know where this is. The hole outside will be rectangular in size and have a cement top on it. This will allow the utility people to get access to it when they need to.

Homes that are located in more rural areas will usually have a well where the main valve is found located outside the home. You should make sure that you know where this valve is before you start your project.

When the water is off you will see that there is a little bit coming out of the hoses and pipes. This is normal and it will subside quickly. You will want to make sure that you have towels down under your sink or have some type of bucket there to catch the remaining water.

Check out the valves and also all the hoses to make sure they are in good shape. Replacing these parts can make all the difference in your plumbing. Make sure that you have a lot of plumbers tape just in case.

The older valves may need to be cut with a saw or a torch. Some of these valves were welded on and you may need to take a little extra time to get them off. If you are having problems you might have to hire a plumber but this is going to be your call.

There may be some calcium build up on the valves and pipes and this can cause a problem or you. This will be a chalky white substance that will form on the plumbing in your bath and kitchen. You might want to make sure that you clean this off or replace the units that it is built up on.

Never pull too hard on any of your valves or pipes. This can cause a break. If something breaks you will need to reseal it or replace it as soon as possible. This is not something that you want to deal with.

After everything is off you should clean the surfaces with some sandpaper or a wool sponge.

For the best part you will want to apply some plumbers tape to the threaded and the flat surfaces where the hoses and some of the valves were removed and replaced. Make sure that you are always threading in the direction that the valve or hose is turned. You want to make sure that the tape is tight when screwing on the valve or hose and do not loose it up. Attach the hoses and tighten up any clamps. You never want to tighten them too much. You want them to be snug but do not over does it.

Then you can turn the water valve on carefully and slowly. Check for leaks and if you have done it right the threads and fittings will be perfect and you will have no leaks around your kitchen cabinets or sink.

It is not always going to be perfect the first time. You may have to take a few times to get it right. Do not get frustrated if you have to do something over because this is a job that you will hopefully only have to do once every so many years.

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Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Don't Tell Me, Wall Street's Got A Weight Loss Plan!

By Henry John

Wall Street's got a weight loss plan? Haven't they got other things to think about right now? Perhaps they've all been looking in the mirror and decided that a change of image might not be such a bad idea! Slim and lithe might do the public perception of the nation's top bankers a bit of good - best to try and not look so well-off and well fed, perhaps.

Whatever the case, what we are witnessing is what happens when excess and greed gets out of hand. It has been allowed to go on for so long that the very survival of the 'institution' has been brought into question. It is not in a healthy state.

So what's all this got to do about weight loss? Well, quite a lot. Much of weight gain can be put down to excess and greed. That may sound a little harsh, but we are all responsible for our own actions. It may not be true in all cases, but a bit of honest reflection might just reveal some unpleasant truths. If we continue to ignore reality we may suffer a health breakdown too.

If Wall Street is going to return to better health it's going to have to change. It's going to adopt new ways of behaviour and learn new habits.

By learning new habits, and if it can maintain those new habits, (with a little help from a more watchful regulator) it can enjoy a healthy future.

This scenario very much applies to us too. Occasionally the error of our ways needs to be made clear to us. If it isn't we will happily wander down the road, untroubled and unconcerned until it's too late to do anything to retrieve the situation. We all know what cause and effect is all about. We need to stop ignoring it.

Excess and greed on Wall Street is no longer an acceptable. If you are overweight or obese it should no longer be acceptable to you either. Time perhaps, to use what has happened on Wall Street as a timely prompt?

What has been happening on Wall Street is all about survival. To survive Wall Street is going to have to change if it wants to have a healthy future. If we are overweight or obese and we want to have a healthy future, we need to change too. The process will be the same. We need to understand and recognize the behaviors that caused the problem in the first place and then we need to learn new habits in order to make effective, long-lasting change. New behaviors will help us to have a healthy future - Wall Street too.

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Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Would you like to know the cost of Jenny Craig diet? Click below

By Jessica A. Andersen

The cost of the Jenny Craig diet depends on the type that you select. The diet has short-term plans and long-term plans. Jenny Craig is currently advertising an interesting statistic, they claim that the participants spend on average only one more dollar per day on food costs than someone who's not on the diet.

On September 28, 2008, I spoke to a Jenny Craig representative named Barbara. Barbara informed me about the options available to Jenny Craig program and she described the costs. First time we talk about is known as a 20 pounds for $20 program. This is a 10 week program and $20 includes meeting expenses for the weight loss professional but does not include meal costs.

The Jenny Craig meals cost between$12 and $18 on a daily basis. for this you receive free meals, desert, vitamin bars, and snacks. The meals are actually frozen entres which been developed by Jenny Craig after years of research, trial and error. Most people find unsatisfying, sizable and quite tasty. At the end of 10 weeks if you haven't reached your weight-loss goals you can sign up for additional meal plans but you will incur additional costs.

The other diet option that was described to me by the Jenny Craig representative is known as the Jenny Craig rewards plan. This is a one-year program that costs $359 per year plus your food costs. This plan includes weekly meetings with the consultant. The rewards aspect of this plan is as follows: during the first 10 weeks you will receive a 10% discount on meals, during the next 10 weeks you will receive a 20% discount on food, and during the remaining 32 weeks you will receive a 35% discount on all meals.

Barbara, our Jenny Craig representative, emphasizes that the rewards plan discount really adds up quickly. She says that because of the discount you will more than make up the $359 sign-up fee with your savings on food. As you can see the Jenny Craig program does have associated costs but their claim that you will only spend one dollar more per day on food seems fairly reasonable. To receive more information now about Jenny Craig, its costs, and other great prepackaged diet plans visit my site now. When you visit today you will have your choice between a free BMI calculator or free diet diary just for visiting. Click on the links below, visit us today, and get a free gift!

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Interested in the cost of the Jenny Craig diet? Read This!

By Jessica A. Andersen

The cost of the Jenny Craig diet depends on the type of plan you select. There are short-term plans and long-term plans. Jenny Craig advertises an interesting statistic, they say that their participants spend only one dollar more per day than the average American does on food.

Today, September 28, 2008 I spoke to Jenny Craig representative. She informed me about the options available in the program and the associated costs. First off you describe is called the 20 pounds for $20 program. This program last 10 weeks includes weekly meeting expenses but does not include meals. The meeting is with a professional weight loss consultant.

Meals cost between $12 and $18 per day. This includes three meals, dessert, snacks and vitamin bars. Meals consist of frozen entrees that are developed by Jenny Craig through years of research. Most people find them tasty, filling and quite serviceable. At the end of 10 weeks if you haven't reached your weight loss goals you can sign up for additional meal plans but you may incur an additional cost.

The other diet option that was described to me by the Jenny Craig representative is known as the Jenny Craig rewards plan. This is a one-year program that costs $359 per year plus your food costs. This plan includes weekly meetings with the consultant. The rewards aspect of this plan is as follows: during the first 10 weeks you will receive a 10% discount on meals, during the next 10 weeks you will receive a 20% discount on food, and during the remaining 32 weeks you will receive a 35% discount on all meals.

According to Jenny Craig representative that I spoke with, the savings you'll realize through these discounts more than make up for the $359 sign up costs. As you can see you will be spending some money, but the program is comparable to your everyday food costs and the statistic quoted by Jenny Craig that you'll only be spending one dollar more per day on food seems reasonable. For more information about Jenny Craig and other prepackaged diet programs visit my site now! When you visit now and you'll receive your choice of a free diet diary or BMI calculator. Click on the links below now!

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