Sunday, May 31, 2009

Safe Food Handling

By John Rich

Here is a quick reference guide to refreshing your awareness of safe food preparation. Pointers and information to always keep in mind when preparing food or storing it away for future use.

Most conscientious cooks use common sense when preparing or storing food. But common sense in food preparation doesn't just happen, it is learned. This learning happens and when we forget where we learned it, we call it common sense.

Here are just a few pointers to refresh and reinforce your common sense as you are preparing your current meal or storing it for future use.

Food safety actually starts with your excursion to the shops. Examine the packaged or canned foods. Do the tins have dents? Don't buy them. Is the jar cracked? Leave it. Does the lid seem loose or bulging? Pick up another. Look for any expiration dates on the labels, they are there for a reason. Never buy outdated food, even if it is on special. Check the "use by" or "sell by" date on dairy products and pick the ones that will stay fresh the longest. Sometimes they may be at the back of the shelves.

After grocery shopping, put food into the refrigerator or freezer right away. Better yet, put your refrigerator foods straight into one of those insulated freezer bags in the shopping cart and in your car.

Make sure to set the refrigerator temperature is set to 40 deg F and the freezer is set to 0 F. Refrigerate or freeze perishables, prepared foods, and leftovers within 2 hours. Raw meat, poultry, and seafood should be placed in containers to prevent their juices from dripping on other foods. Raw juices could possibly grow harmful bacteria. Eggs always go in the refrigerator.

Always cook food thoroughly until it is done. Red meat should turn brown inside. Chicken, when poked with a fork, should have clear juices. Fish, on the other hand, when poked with a fork, should flake. Cooked egg whites and yolks should be firm and not run. Be sure to use a food thermometer to check the internal temperatures of your poultry, meat, and other foods. Leave it in long enough to ensure an accurate reading.

Wash your hands and cooking surfaces frequently. Bacteria can be spread quickly so this will ensure that it will not take hold and grow onto your food. A solution of one teaspoon of bleach in one quart of water is all that is needed to sanitise washed surfaces and utensils.

Cooked foods should definitely not be left standing in the kitchen counter or table for more than two hours. And if you must leave them out of the fridge, cover the food so bugs can't rest on it. Bacteria tends to grow in temperatures between 40 and 140 deg F.

Foods that have been cooked ahead and cooled should be reheated to at least 165 deg F. (This just so happens to be one of the most overlooked areas in food prep).

Chill Leftover Food Promptly. Place food in the refrigerator and don't overfill. The cold air needs to circulate freely to keep food safe. Divide the food and place in shallow containers. Think about date labeling some of these containers so you don't lose track of how long they've been refrigerating.

These are just a few tips that you already know, but need to keep remembering. If you follow these basics you will avoid most food spoilage problems.

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Saturday, May 30, 2009

How to Cook Vegetables

By Fred Stone

Vegetables are essential to the human diet. The latest recommendation from dieticians is a minimum of five portions of vegetables per day. The truth is we can get a great deal of our daily vitamin and mineral content from vegetables.

We need to make sure that how we prepare them does not drain vitamin contents and benefits of consumption.

Cooking vegetables can be a bit tricky. Over cooking can make vegetables bland and soggy. My belief is that vegetables should not be boiled. Boiling not only robs us of vitamin content, it is the main culprit in turning vegetables to a lifeless, tasteless mass.

If we cannot boil, what are the options?

Steaming vegetables is always a good choice. This will leave vegetables full of colour. They will be crisp and colorful. It will also not deplete the vegetables of their vitamin content.

It is a speedy way of cooking too. By rule of thumb, vegetables will only need a few minutes in the steam. In some cases you may be able to steam your vegetables on the table and immediately serve them up.

For those who do not have purpose made vegetable steamers, an easy steamer can be fashioned out a of pot, a metal colander, and a pot lid.

Place a small amount of water in the bottom of the pot. Fit the metal colander into the pot. Start to boil the water. You will begin the see the steam rise. Place your vegetables into the metal colander and place the pot lid over the metal colander and pot. This collection of kitchen items will allow you to steam vegetables as good as any fancy store bought steamer.

Another good option is to cook your vegetables in a wok. The secret to the wok is that it cooks quickly at a very high temperature. Vegetables retain their flavors, textures, and colors with small amount of nutrient loss.

My favorite wok recipe for vegetables is to cook broccoli, carrots, bok choy, and snow peas in a very light chilli sauce. The vegetables remain crisp and the garlic adds just the right amount of flavoring. This combination can be served with any cut of meat including chicken, beef, pork, lamb or fish.

I hope you will see that secret to cooking vegetables is not to over cook. Vegetables need to remain crisp and retain their texture. As you learn different tricks to bringing your vegetables to life, these will become the most requested dishes on your dinner table.

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Friday, May 29, 2009

How to Cook a Crock Pot Roast

By Jackie Lee

It doesn't matter if you are getting ready to cook a pork, beef or even venison roast. There are some basic tricks that will make the end result absolutely delicious. Roast is a great crock pot meal because not only is it delicious the first time around it can be repurposed in so many different ways, so the leftovers never go to waste.

You can make a well balanced meal out of roast with veggies you probably already have sitting in the kitchen. Potatoes, carrots, onions and green beans go great with roast. Make sure you cut your potatoes in equal size pieces, so they will cook evenly. You can add some potatoes to the bottom of the crock pot, since they take the longest to cook. You can even make up a packet of gravy and add it to the potatoes at the bottom. Add your carrots around the edges of your roast. Top your roast with the onions to keep them from turning to mush. If you want to add a splash of color add your green beans about 30 minutes before your cooking time is up. This will keep them from getting mushy.

You can season your roast with a variety of things. You can use a packet of onion soup mix. You can use cream of mushroom soup. You can also go ethnic choosing spices that correspond to maybe Italian or even Spanish flavors.

You can add dry spices in with your vegetables and roast, they will work just fine. If you are using fresh spices I would suggest waiting until the last hour of cooking time before you add them. Fresh herbs easily permeate the meat and will do well cooking in for such a short amount of time.

What is your cooking time going to be? It depends on a few factors. Your personal crock pot and its cooking temperature. The size of your roast. Whether it is frozen or thawed. No matter what any of these variables are you can bet on at least 6 hours to cook your roast. It may take as much as 9 if it is a large frozen roast. The more you cook roasts in your crock pot the better you will know how long it's going to need to cook.

Because the roast has to cook so long makes it a perfect meal to cook while you are gone at work. Yes, you can cook a roast in the middle of the week. In fact, you can do it quite easily. Starting with a frozen roast will minimize the chances of overcooking your roast while you are gone. You can even put it all together in the crock the night before. Just cover the crock with plastic wrap and set it in the fridge. You can easily uncover the crock and set it in the crock pot in the morning. Then all you have to do is set it and forget it.

Cooking roast in the crock pot has so many advantages. You can use cheaper cuts of meat and they will still be tender and delicious. It gives you a chance to have a family dinner. You know exactly what went into your food which is always better for your health. Roast used to be a Sunday food, but with your crock pot it can now be an easy Wednesday dinner.

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Get Cooking With Barbeque

By Darren Smith

If you want a tasty way to avoid cooking in the kitchen this summer, barbequing is the way to go. Sure, you can cook your food indoors on an electric grill, but the tastiest way to get the true flavor and aroma of BBQ is through outdoor cooking. There's gas or charcoal for grilling, and smokers for slow cooking. Some of the best BBQ tips recommend using marinades, rubs and sauces to add zest to your cooking. There are various internet sites and cookbooks loaded with recipes for barbeque cooking. But no matter how you cook it up, it's bound to be a flavor favorite.

There are several different bases that are used for a BBQ sauce, and they each lend their own distinctive flavor to the food you're cooking. There are sauces based on tomato, mustard, vinegar or even fruit. You can also try using a sauce to marinate the meat before cooking. You can also take advantage of interesting sauces and marinades that are brushed on the meat while it's cooking. Finally, there's a sauce used to coat the meat right before taking it off the grill, or to add to the meat when it's on your plate.

Rubs are another BBQ staple, and are often used along with sauce. A barbeque rub is a blend of seasonings that are applied to the surface of the uncooked meat, which then infuse the whole cut while it's cooking. The advantage of rubs over sauces is that they cling to the meat and don't drip away. This means they provide more flavor.

These three seasoning techniques can be used together for maximum effect. For example, marinate the meat for a full day then apply the rub. While your food is cooking on the grill, add some sauce to improve the taste and texture.

As well, there are various methods of barbeque cooking to choose from. Indoor cooking on a grill is always a possibility. An outdoor grill, though, will give you loads more flavor due to the effect of the smoke from the flame. You have the option of using a gas grill or a charcoal grill. Some people prefer charcoal because of the enhanced flavor. Either way, consider using wood chips. The meat gets a flavor boost due to the aromatic smoke produced by the wood chips while cooking.

Just remember that cooking barbeque can sometimes be a time consuming process. Some things will be fast, like hot dogs or hamburgers. But if you're planning on serving up something like ribs or roast, you'll need to cook on low heat for a long period of time to get the best results.

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The Historical Journey of Root Beer

By David Marcheschi

The root beer that we know now happens to be the very first soda drink ever introduced in America. It was during the 1800s or what we know as the Colonial times that the first root beer was born, at that time the root beer was more popularly known as small beer. Small beer was aptly named because this beverage contained only a very small amount of alcohol or maybe even none, it's mainly made of roots, barks and herbs.

Root Beer's Debut Into Commercial Production

Unfortunately, the details of how this all-American drink came to be got lost in history. However some people were able to pass on a few stories about how a Philadelphia pharmacist named Charles Hires created the first commercially produced root beer. One of the stories mentioned that this new brew of more than two dozens of roots, berries and herbs was born on Charles' honeymoon night, probably being inspired from all the excitement of a new love.

After the new couple returned to their Philadelphia home Charles started selling this new tea-like root beer in his pharmaceutical shop. Not long after that he also began to work on a different kind of root beer, he had decided to add carbonated soda water to make a ready to drink version of his invention.

In 1876 Charles decided to include the root beer in the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition, he made this decision after learning that almost all of the people who had tasted this new concoction had loved the distinct flavor of the root beer. But it was only after thirteen years from the exhibition did the Hires Family finally produced the very first bottled root beer.

What's Goes Into the Root Beer Brew

There is no one formula that has been used over the years to make root beer. Some of the most common ingredients that make up most recipes include wintergreen, sarsaparilla, birch bark, ginger root, allspice, burdock root, dandelion root, pipsissewa, spice wood, wild cherry bark, and spikenard. Each brewer would then put their own spin on these basic ingredients using differing amounts, as well as adding additional herbs, roots, and/or berries, and often using a sweetener like sugar, molasses, or honey.

With the onset of modernization and the availability of artificial flavorings you will find that most of the bottled root beers you now find in stores no longer contain any of the original herbs found in the root beer of the 1800s. Lately though some areas of the country have started to make locally brewed root beer. Micro- brewery movement have made small batch root beers available once more. These small batch root beers are flavored using the original herbs and roots and sweetened by natural sugar or honey.

Root beer has become so popular that you see them almost everywhere being enjoyed by people of all ages. More and more brands of this popular drink are now available in virtually any grocery store. Its quite a pleasant surprise to know it has a rich historical background that can be a source of pride for all Americans.

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Thursday, May 28, 2009

Does The Topsy Turvy Upside Down Tomato Planter Really Work?

By Christine Pinkston

The Topsy Turvy Tomato Planter is the newest rage in home vegetable gardening. It promises to grow plentiful tomatoes in an upside down planter. It makes it very easy to pick the tomatoes, offers less bug problems, and almost no chance of the plant collapsing under the heavy strain of producing tomatoes but does it really live up to the promises that it makes?

The pros and cons of the Topsy Turvy Tomato Planter:

Pros-- It hangs upside down so the weight of your growing tomatoes will not topple over your plant.

Cons-- The branches might still get all tangled up even though the tomato plant is hanging upside down.

Pros- - It hangs off the ground so it frees up a lot of space in your yard.

Cons -- Because it hangs upside down you will need to have a place to put it that has very good support. With all the dirt and water up on top, the Topsy Turvy Tomato Planter can get very heavy.

Another thing to look at is because the dirt is not in the ground you will need to water it much more frequently, about two times a day.

Pros-- You are very easily able to walk around the plant to pick your tomatoes so that means that you wont have to bend down or crawl around on your knees to enjoy your crop.

Cons-- Because the tomato plants are not grown the traditional way, the dirt can get very hot. To avoid cooking the roots put aluminum foil around the planter to reflect some of the sunlight.

Pros-- Watering the tomato plants in the Topsy Turvy Upside Down Tomato Planter is very easy. Make sure that you are running water through the planter until the water runs clear at least once a week so that you can get the stale water out of the sponges and you don't get mold on the roots.

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Going to Buy Coffee Beans? Read This First!

By Christine Pinkston

When someone doesn't know the many benefits of using coffee beans they often don't understand why someone would buy coffee beans when they could just purchase a bag of regular coffee. Regular coffee is just as good, they say. But is it just as good?

The fact of the matter is that there are actually over twenty varieties of coffee beans. With that being said, they are mostly divided into two broad types of beans. Someone who drinks coffee and buys coffee beans on a regular basis might already be familiar with different types of beans that are available and their various flavors.

Coffea Arabica is one of the most widely consumed kind of coffee beans in the world. Arabica is also available in many types of flavors. It is known for its fine taste and smooth texture and refreshing smell which can make many people's day. However it is very expensive due to the growing conditions needed to cultivate this kind of coffee.

Coffee Arabica plants need a certain altitude in which they can thrive which should be at least a few thousand feet above sea level. These plants should also be grown in a temperature between 65- 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

Coffee Coffea Canephora makes up between thirty to forty percent of the world's coffee consumption. This type of coffee is also commonly called Robusta. This type of coffee bean is thought to be of an inferior quality because of its bitter taste. Coffee Cofera or Robusta can be grown at around 85 degree Fahrenheit and in almost any place. However because of its bitter taste its not very popular among most people.

This lower quality, somewhat bitter coffee Robusta is often used as filler coffee beans with coffee Arabica to reduce the overall cost of the better tasting and more expensive Arabica coffee. A majority of times when you do purchase coffea Arabica it is mixed with Robusta.

Keep in mind that a cup of coffee is only as good as the coffee bean. Coffee made from freshly ground coffee beans of medium quality will outshine even premium ground coffee that has been sitting on the shelf too long. After you buy coffee beans make sure to store them in air tight container.

The best way to get a fresh cup of coffee is to purchase coffee beans in small quantities and grind them up at home as you go. Coffee grinders are available just about anywhere and they are for the most part inexpensive, so it is worth the money to be able to buy coffee beans and grind them yourself.

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Buy A Food Processor And Make Life Easier!

By Kristine Elliott

We are all looking for some way to make out lives just a little bit easier on a daily basis. For those who work a full time job, it can be difficult to cook and clean everyday. In order to prepare your food a lot faster, take a look at a new food processor and see how quickly an easy life can appear!

The fist thing that you need to look into is what a new food processor can actually do for you. Most people tend to think that these small appliances will simply mix up your food and you will be done. There is so much more a processor can do, and they are not just used for holiday cooking anymore.

Those who like to get up early in the morning and actually make their own breakfast and their own meals will find the food processor very helpful. You can get all of your ingredients all ready to go and have your processor simply chop or slice them up. Think about how easy whipping up a great vegetable omelet is going to be and the best part about these processors is the fact that they are small enough to sit on your counter without getting in the way.

Now before you buy any type of appliance it is always important to do your research and know where to buy and what to buy. There are many brands of food processors out there that you should look into and get to know. Knowing what you will be using your new appliance for is going to be able helpful and will point you in the right direction. You will always be able to count on your new food processor to shred all of your food as well as shop and slice!

From there, you need to take a look at the price range that you can afford. The typical food processor will cost you about $30, and up. You need to decide how much you can spend and then you need to start searching for your processor online. The Internet has the best deals on small appliances right now as well as coupons and promo codes, so make sure that you look around.

People no longer look at their small appliances as something that is ordinary. A new food processor will not only help you with your cooking, it will also lessen the amount of cleaning that you will have to take care of. If you need something that adds convenience to your home, then look at a new food processor and see where the world of cooking will take you.

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It's The History Of Chocolate The Condensed Edition!

By Louise Ferguson

The history of chocolate starts with the cocoa tree which is native to the forests of South and Central America and grows to approximately 20 foot high.

This quite delicate tree starts to produce fruit in its 4th to 5th year. Large yellow or red pods encase a white pulp that hides its treasure of between 20 to 50 cocoa beans.

The cocoa bean was cultivated for centuries by the Maya Indians, the Mexican Aztecs and the Incas of Peru where they had ceremonial significance and were associated with the festivities of births and marriages. They were often used as a tribute or currency at these events. In some areas only those of the highest ranking could enjoy the wonderful drink boiling these beans could produce.

When the Spanish conquered Mexico in 1519 they were so taken with this chocolaty drink (although they did add sugar to sweeten the taste) they introduced these trees to Trinidad where they closely guarded their secret s of cultivation and preparation. It wasn't long however before the trees spread to the West India Islands and The Philippines'. The Dutch are believed to have introduced them into Indonesia, Sri Lanka and the Gull fog Guinea, South America however remained the chief exporter and producer until 1891.

In the Seventeenth century the drink was introduced to the noblemen and women of the courts of Spain, Italy, Germany, France and England. Chocolate was still an expensive luxury even though the secret to its preparation was out in the open. When the first chocolate house was opened in London in 1657, the cost of a pound of chocolate was more than 6 months wages putting it way out of your average 17th century Londones price bracket and making it exclusive to the very wealthy. This was because of the heavy import duty on cocoa beans.

Both drinking and eating chocolate are relatively new inventions that were developed during the 19th century. The chocolate of today was not produced until a Dutchman discovered how to press the cocoa butter out of the beans.

The pressed beans could then produce a much less fatty drinking chocolate that was much more palatable than the rich buttery drink the Aztecs had made centuries earlier. The cocoa butter could then be used to make eating chocolate. These techniques were perfected in 1847 by J.S. Fry and the delicious bit of dreamworld that we know today as chocolate was on sale for the 1st time.

Now while the chocolate maker history is all very interesting, does it really matter to those of us who just want to gorge ourselves on the sweet creamy taste, how it got here. Or just that it did. The weird thing about history is that it changes all the time and while most things get better and progress naturally forward, Why is there always someone that wants' to screw with a good thing. Something weird is happening to chocolate, it's progressing and getting politically correct, it's getting better for us while losing its delicious taste.

Chocolate doesn't have a hard job to do, it doesn't have to fund the cure for cancer or date James Blunt (Whom I've kissed but that's a whole nother story!) it just has to tantalize our taste buds and make us smile as we swallow. Chocolate lovers all over the world it's time to pick up your chocolate molds get out of your chocolate fountain and put down your chocolate cake (only for a minute you can pick it up again as soon as we've made our point,) and tell the chocolate makers NO! We don't want inferior chocolate any more; we don't want the no-name, no frills, low calorie, low fat, sugar-free, carob chocolate.

We want our Cadbury's, Mars, Hershey's, Lindts and all those other delectable quality chocolates tasting as rich, creamy and delicious as they should. After all History teaches us to learn by our mistakes and you can't improve on perfection!

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Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Cooking With High Nutrition and Economy

By Pri Vag

We have all seen food and lifestyle price surge from month to month with ever increasing special offers, BOGOF bargains and voucher codes in our inbox to compete in the current economic situation. Despite this, one thing we cannot ignore is the growing price at the total checkout.

The average price of consumer goods has recently shot up and this means people simply need to spend more compared with a few years ago. People now need to be very careful what they buy, in order to ensure they are getting the best value for money and the highest quality ingredients for their meals.

Food prices have been growing at an alarming rate but this still doesnt mean we have to eat unhealthy and cheap food. A good diet at a good price can still be found at the supermarket.

Help is at hand as there are workshops which focus on 2 key elements, high nutrition and a low budget. You can find out how to use nutritious ingredients to produce wholesome foods suitable for both mid week when time maybe short to weekend and more relaxed situations.

It is certain that just by purchasing ingredients with a lower value does not mean inferior, low end supermarket budget ranges, reduced in any form of nutrition or just plain boring. If anything it opens doors to more creative cuisine and often reapplying ingredients that one already be familiar with albeit in a very different way or introducing new foods into daily lifestyle.

I feel that it is essential to maintain a healthy lifestyle, eat well, do exercise as obesity and health problems are rife in todays society. This attitude needs to change and people need to be extremely health conscious or we will pay the price further down the line. Keep looking for the best deals but also foods with the best nutritional value.

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General Tips for Cooking

By Wodumbu Man

Cooking for some people is an enjoyable hobby while for others it is a tedious task that they do not want to do but have to do. It is advisable for one to arm themselves with cooking tips to make the process easier. Prior to starting the cooking process one should prepare everything they need as it will help to make things simpler. For people who want to cook the best mashed potatoes, the potato ricer is a very handy tool they should always have in their kitchen.

It is advisable for one to use a salad spinner if they do not want their salad to get soggy. Varity can be introduced to the salad by the use of green or red leaves. Ovens should be heated way before the cooking starts so that they are hot enough to sear the meats surface and keep the juice within. Spatulas and tongs are the best tools to use as one turns the steaks. Forks should not be used at all.

Steamer platforms that fold and have the ability to sit inside most pot works are the best for steamed veggies. It is imperative to remember that broccoli should never be over cooked if they are to be tender and crisp. Wine that the cook never drinks should never be use to cook. The cook can use a dried teaspoon of Rosemary leaves instead of a table spoon of fresh ones.

Salt, white wine, olives and pepper should be sprinkled on garlics bulb which should then be tin foil wrapped and roasted for only an hour. Three hundred and fifty degrees is the recommended temperature for roasting the garlic. Hand blenders are the ideal tools to use when one wants to puree their soup it is much simpler compared to taking it to the food processor. In place of Kalmata brine cured black olives can be used.

It is not advisable to wash mushrooms with running water as they usually absorb the running water one should use a cloth to wipe them. The size of the pan should be correct as well and it should be in the racks centre. During roasting the pan juices should be reserved for the gravy. Carrots can make good substitutes for sauces if one wants to sweeten their food.

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Tuesday, May 26, 2009

The Traditional Use Of Dairy Produce: Part 3 - Eggs

By Owen Jones

The Basic Preparation Of Foods: Dairy Products.

EGGS: Part 1

Eggs can be fresh or dried, dried eggs being only chickens' eggs without the shell and water. Dried egg should be stored in a cool, dry place - it may not be stored in the refrigerator! Store eggs for several days or a week in a cool place not close to strong-smelling foods. An egg stand is an ideal gadget for this. If the eggs are dirty, wipe them clean with a damp cloth- washing will only remove the natural oils which help to preserve the eggs.

Pickled Eggs: eggs laid in the Spring keep longer than those laid in the other seasons. Eggs that can not be cleaned-up, must be refused. Waterglass or the other special preparations should be used. If an egg floats to the surface, use it at once. Try to maintain the room temperature around 2-8 C and they should remain edible for 6 to 9 months.

Preparing Eggs for Cooking: break each egg separately into a cup, before adding it to the other ingredients to ensure it is not 'off'. If you wish to separate the white from the yolk, tip the contents back and forth between the two eggshell halves and the white (albumen) will run off. Beat eggs with a whisk or a fork in an appropriate bowl; whip egg whites with a knife on a dinner plate - a pinch of salt will help.

Raw eggs used to be prescribed for invalids as they are easily digestible, but, this not advisable these days due to the prevalence of salmonella. One method, presented here for the curious was to strain a beaten egg into a mug and slowly add a cup of hot milk (or tea, coffee or lemon water; add sugar to taste. Sherry was often added too.

Cooking Eggs: eggs must be cooked slowly because the albumen solidifies at a temperature lower than that of boiling water and becomes 'tough' at higher temperatures. Similarly, if raw egg is used to thicken a sauce and the liquid is subsequently allowed to boil, the sauce will 'curdle', i.e. the egg will solidify into small specks, ruining its texture.

Coddling: produces easily digested egg-whites, making it an ideal meal for invalids and children. Lower the eggs into 75mmof boiling water; replace the lid and remove from heat. Let it stand for: 7 mins for medium-, 5 mins for soft- and 20 mins for hard-boiled eggs .

Boiling: lower fresh eggs gently into 75mm 3" boiling water with a spoon. Cover and boil gently for 3-3" mins for soft-, 4-5 mins the medium- and 10 mins for hard-boiled eggs.

Place in egg cups and tap the shell to crack it, allowing the steam to escape, thus preventing further cooking. For sandwiches, salads etc: boil the egg for 12 mins and plunge into cold water. This allows the shell to be easily removed and prevents a black ring forming around the yolk.

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Learn To Boil Eggs The many ways to Boil Eggs

By Bengare Kasba

Before boiling an egg, there are a few rules that should be kept in mind. They include never boiling eggs under a very low temperature if they were under refrigeration because they will crack after contact with hot water. The use of a kitchen timer is imperative and one should not depend on guess work or memory. Eggs should never be over-boiled because this leads to the yolk turning blackish while the texture becomes rubbery. For very fresh eggs, an additional 30 seconds should be allowed per timing.

The use of a saucepan for boiling eggs is recommendable to ensure that eggs do not career around to avoid cracking. Eggs do not require water that is boiling fast, but rather softly simmering water. This is basically because air collects on a pocket located at the eggs wide end while boiling and may lead to cracking due to pressure buildup. This can be dealt with rather easily through the use of a pin prick at the shells rounded exterior to free the steam. Soft-boiling or hard-boiling eggs generally depend on the preference of the user.

For soft-boiled eggs, a saucepan should have simmering water just adequate enough to ensure the eggs are covered by water by half an inch. A tablespoon should be used to lower the eggs gently into the simmering water. The timer should then be set and the eggs given a period of one minute to simmer. The pan should then be removed from the heat source and the timer reset. A setting of six minutes is bound to produce a fairly liquid and soft yolk as well a wobbly white. A setting of seven minutes produces creamier and firmer yolk with a completely set white.

Peeling eggs that are hard-boiled is a sensitive and tricky process and this is more so when they are boiled while very fresh. The eggs to be used require to have lasted at least five days old before they were last packed. The saucepan where the eggs require to be placed should contain sufficient cold water which should cover the eggs by at least " inch.

After the water is brought to a point of simmering, the timer should be set to either six or seven minutes depending on whether they are required completely cooked. Running cold water should be used to rapidly cool the eggs and this process should take relatively one minute. They should be left in cold water for around two minutes.

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Cake Decorating Tips

By Zion Ponce

If you want to attract attention to your cake, you need to decorate it with good taste! If you want your cake to look delicious, you probably need to read several books on cake decorating to perfect your skills.

It takes time to study complex cake decoration. So, for simple, everyday cakes, I'll show you four tips for making delicious looking cakes.

If you are looking to make more complex designs, there are plenty of sources available on the internet or at bookstores. You can even take a class. But these tips should help out the beginner, simplistic cake designer.

Cooling your cake is number one. If your cake is warm, your icing will melt, and this is not good. When the cake comes out of the oven, the first step is to cool it on a wire rack for about 15-30 minutes. You must take the cake out of the pan immediately because if you don't it might stick to the pan itself and ruin your cake.

Sometimes, we are short on time to make frosting, if this tends to be you, you can just buy a ready to use icing to use for designing your cake. This is also the fastest way to decorate a cake. To choose an icing or frosting, just pick the one that is suitable for your cake. There are a lot of pre-made varieties to choose from.

If you are just starting to decorate cakes, you have to choose a rigid piping bag so you can easily control it. It is important to control the pressure of your grip in order to apply the right amount of icing on your cake. For background and full icing cover, you need to use a bigger piping tip. For fine details and complex designs, you should use a small piping tip with fine holes.

As a finishing touch, highlights and color are great! There are things like pre-made candy bugs, and flowers, almost everything imaginable that can be highlights for your cake. Chocolate shavings are also something that works well on top of icing. Cakes always look delicious if it is topped off with chocolate or small candies.

For everyday cakes, these tips are best. Keep looking though, because there are certainly many more tips and styles that you can use in making every day cakes look delicious!

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Home-Grown Strawberries For Your Hand Dipped Chocolate Desserts

By Roy Washington

Making chocolate covered strawberries can be a great way to use your creative intentions in the kitchen. It's also a great way for family members to join together in a fun activity.

Enjoying fresh strawberries is a great treat. Being able to have access to more than you can ever eat is a great plus. By growing your own, you can surely have plenty to make in chocolate covered desserts. And you can give many away to friends.

No one said that a candy bar was that bad for you once in a while. But for a consistently healthful treat, something like chocolate covered strawberries are the way to go. A fresh fruit, especially if you've grown it yourself or have it organically, is always the smart choice. Mixed with a little chocolate and allowed to dry, you have a great offering for kids and adults alike.

To get started on the path of growing your own strawberries, it's not hard. You first can get a plant from many home and garden centers, nurseries, and even order them online or from a magazine. Perhaps you have a friend who is a 'green thumb' and could share wisdom from their gardening days too.

Jot down any ideas you think about during the plant's maturation process to check if you could improve on any aspect of the growing. Perhaps there was too much water that did not get drained well enough and it stagnated growth. Or maybe there were trees which impinged on the full sunlight for hours each day. These are all factors to consider.

Enjoying the bliss of a freshly picked strawberry is a memory to treasure. If you've ever received a chocolate covered strawberry package as a gift, you know how much fun those are too. By doing this yourself, you'll gain appreciation of the fun process, and gain confidence in the ability you have to take the fruits of a plant that you've grown, from soil all the way to your table.

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Sunday, May 24, 2009

A recipe over the ages and tradition

By Michael Koste Salvatori

Spain is known in the world for bull fights and flamenco, for wines and passionate women but also for paella.

Paellas history began as a cooked food for workers being a carbohydrates rich dish and offered a very good energy intake. The name originates from Latin and means pan. It is said that it has originated in Valencia area under the Moorish influence which is responsible for he usage of saffron and pepper.

This rice dish was originally cooked with snails since they were cheaper. Occasionally the rabbit and chicken meat was used for the recipe but this was very rare. The Valencian paella is the brand of region. It is cooked with pride and in very large quantities since making paella is not an easy thing to do. In spite of the fact that fresh made food is something a tourist should always look for while visiting foreign countries the paella draws up fully its flavors 12 hours after it was made and then it is considered to have the best taste.

Nowadays, Valencia takes great pride in paella and considers it an identity symbol. Today Valencian paella is made with white rice, green vegetable-peas, green beans, peppers, chicken meat, snails and seasoning.

In Valencia region the food is so popular that there are even restaurants who proud themselves with the name of the dish. The seafood paella is the more recent variation of the dish, was later developed but is the most popular in the international food choices. The seafood variation omits beans and green vegetable and replaces the meat with sea food. The very unique flavor of the seafood paella is the result of the combination from shrimp and oysters cooked rapidly in olive oil and combined with roasted rice, boiled together in the end.

The saffron is also present in this version although the spice is more of a decorative purpose and doesnt offer a special taste. Of course in Spain and the entire world the most common paella recipe is the mixed one. This variation is made from a very nice combination of meat, mainly chicken, and seafood cooked longer cooked in order for the rice to get a crust on the bottom of the paella pan.

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Saturday, May 23, 2009

Barbecue tips

By Ravi

There is nothing identical to a sound weekend Barbecue with family unit & allies in your own backyard to wash off the stresses of a tough week at work and rejuvenate you for the upcoming calendar week ahead. It would be wonderful to have a Barbeque each weekend, wouldn't it? But as I realized only late, there are so many some other things to take if you desire to aspire for the Barbeque. It's not as simple as setting meat on the grill and getting it roast, as I used to guess.

Friends for over twenty years, Barbeque parties all summer yet none of them can cook a decent grille. I am fascinated to hang Just as I turn up my eyes suddenly elaborate with repulsion seeing chicken wings dowsed in flames and profoundest of all, one of my friends looking me to eat them. It's likely no wonder that as soon as I turn out I twist the tongs off him & get the whole food rack far away from the grill for a good fifteen minutes and let everything settle down.

When it comes to charcoal, utilising a commercial bag of processed charcoal briquets is good, just for best consequences you should use chunk charcoal alternatively. What is the difference? Also, lump charcoal has not been ground and shaped as conflicting to charcoal briquettes. Additionally, lump charcoal is the purer form of charcoal &, manifestly, it is the charcoal of choice by Barbeque purists who scoffing at the use of processed charcoal.

Whether It is a charcoal or gas Barbeque grille It is all about solitaire and the preparation of the chars. In a gas grille, the flamings heat up the lava bricks and It is the bricks that radiate the heat to make the food thus the simple points for gas; Pay it time and gas on full whack to have the chars up to temperature. When the coals are hot & you're prepared to make, turn the gas down merely to maintain the temperature in the coals & keep them well aside from the food. Contempt me telling be patient, gas is all the same marvellously fast & favourable to have a Barbecue Only ne'er should it be straightaway.

Always keep children and pets away from barbeques and have a bucket of sand handy just may be you require to quench the Barbeque in an emergency. The main consideration when grilling solid food on a Barbecue is to avert any opportunity of solid food poisoning. This can come about from granting frozen food to defrost at room temperature when bacteria can grow on the outer, defrosted constituents of the solid food while the rest is yet frozen. E'er deice completely in a icebox before utilising. never leave made up or partially made up solid food at room temperature as bacterias can double in number in as low as 30 min on a warm summer day. Poultry can contain salmonella and campylobacter and meats can contain Eschericha Coli. Contamination can simply be shifted from uncooked solid food to cooked food by direct contact or by utilising utensils first on the underdone solid food then on the made up food. ne'er use the same utensils or effective surfaces for both.

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Thursday, May 21, 2009

Use Your Loaf - The Bread Maker Buying Guide

By Sam Foster

Bread makers are becoming one of the most commonly used small appliances in the kitchen, almost as often as you use your microwave. freshly baked bread leaves your mouth watering with its home baked smell and tastes delicious, also being freshly baked makes it very good for you too. bread makers are one of the few appliances to make life easier in the kitchen. purchasing bread makers on the internet is simple although choosing the perfect bread maker for your family may not be as easy as it appears. so here are a few helpful tips to choosing the correct bread making machine for you and your family.

Most store bought bread these days comes in one and a half to two pound loafs, so the first tip is look for a bread machine with a two pound capacity. There really isn't a good reason to make bread size less than a two pound loaf. Also it is nice to have a bread maker with at least 8 different settings. Some of your best choices for settings are: Basic, Whole Wheat, French, Sweet and Express bake.

An Environmentally Friendly Time-Saver

There are bread makers which come with a window view which enable you to view the progress of your bread making without having to lift the lid, which saves you time and energy. When choosing your bread maker check that the loaf pan has a non-stick coating for easy cleaning as there are still a few that don't have a non-stick loaf pan.

Whether for once a week bread making to everyday use the bread machine has become a part of the modern kitchen. Make sure you compare different models online to find the perfect one for your family.

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Simply Pleasing Gourmet Cooking

By KeschawBoydWilliams

The term "gourmet" is typically defined as "purporting to involve high-quality or exotic ingredients and skilled preparation". The briefer, common-sense synonyms for the word include "fancy" and "specialty". All things considered, basically this is a term that, to the aspiring cook, suggests the preparation of something extraordinary, such as a spectacular pasta entree, zesty and unusual snack foods, or singularly jubilant cookies or tortes.

Gourmet cooking can be done in the home as well as at a restaurant. What is the center of gourmet cooking is the motivation of the gourmet and not necessarily where it is prepared. The motivation comes from wanting to impress others with a visual appeal and a cooking style that will make the dish its own entity and entice the pallet. It will be something that you would want to purchase or give to someone else clearly because of the perfection and the mastery of the final dish.

For gourmet cooking at home there are a wide variety of specific ingredients available to enhance the recipes you're already making. These can include items like gourmet sauces (such as sun-dried tomato and Italian sausage pasta sauce) served over your homemade spinach pasta; already prepared pastas like pumpkin fettucini or artichoke linguini to serve under your family's secret recipe marinara; or other specialties like gourmet salsas (such as habanero and peach or mango and tequila) to accompany your chips and guacamole recipes.

Single item gourmet munchies have been really well-received in the market place of late, These can range anywhere from unusual flavors in potato chips (say, gorgonzola cheese or Thai spices) to exotic cheese sticks tasting of pimento, Tuscan Swiss, or sourdough cheddar, to mention just a few.

There are many irresistible gourmet recipes, including gourmet desserts that are now available at the touch of a button. With the advent of the internet, gourmet recipes are available in mere minutes and many grocery stores carry the ingredients to make the preparation easy personally rewarding. Gourmet cookie recipes, cheesecakes and chocolate recipes can add that special touch to any table top, party or gift exchange.

In addition to making use of the gourmet goods referred to above in your home cooking, getting ready-made gourmet quality dishes to ease the work of preparing a dinner party, and providing snacks for guests watching the big game on TV, most of these items are appropriate for giving as generous gifts. Gourmet food products are quite popular for a variety of occasions, whether sent separately or as a component of a collection of offerings chosen for a specific event, an ethnic theme, or to represent a certain part of the country. A new retiree may appreciate distinctive wines served with gourmet cheeses and crackers, even as a graduating college student might enjoy gourmet pastries and biscuits which she can partake of with her sorority sisters.

Gourmet cooking not only covers a wide variety of foods, but also many related products. There are thousands of gourmet cook books and many monthly gourmet magazines (complete with high-quality, four-color photos and precise, detailed instructions), gourmet food websites and recipes available online, as well as the ever-popular gourmet gift baskets for almost every occasion imaginable. Gourmet gift baskets may encompass the most variety as they can include everything from recipe cards and books, special ingredients, to rich and satisfying gourmet entrees and goodies.

So next time you?re searching for items to make your gourmet cooking taste like that of a famous five-star chef, for satisfying your own sweet (but particular) tooth, or providing a tasty and memorable gift for someone else, be sure to consider the many options pertaining to gourmet goods. With a little thought, it?s simple to enjoy the unique specialties each has to offer. You may even find there?s a connoisseur waiting inside of you that?s ready to come out.

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Have You Considered An Undersink Water Filter For Your Home?

By Peter Abertoning

Almost all drinking water is known to contain some type of impurities. Whether it is chlorine, pharmaceutical drugs, lead, or anything else, its likely that your drinking water may need to be purified. If you are looking for a water filtration system, youre probably considering what types of options are available for you to choose from.

Why not consider under sink water filters?

There's a few things you ought to know about choosing an underskink water filter.

There are a number of different advantages that undersink water filters can provide you with. One of the main benefits of this type of drinking water filter is that its known to eliminate chlorine taste & odor. If you suspect this to be your main water impurity, then theres a good chance that under sink water filters may be a great option for you.

And if you're getting serious about filtering your water getting rid of chlorine may well be one of the most important things to you.

In addition to removing chlorine taste & odor from drinking water, undersink water filters also are known to be effective at removing sediment and rust from the water. If this is a problem that you have not yet been able to get rid of, under the sink water filters are a great choice for you.

And the problems with sediment and rust aren't just taste, they can also stain your sink giving it a coppery look and you don't want this. Choose an undersink water filter and you can remove them.

One of the main disadvantages of under sink water filters is that they do take up a lot of space. Its also likely that your countertop will need to be changed in order to install an undersink drinking water filter. Water filters that are placed under the sink can also be fairly expensive, though prices do widely vary.

But they can be a little bit of a problem to install, so if you're not handy you may well find it useful to get someone else to install it for you. Some other water filters can be easier to install.

There are, as you can see, both positives and negatives to having a water filter under your sink, so before you buy one you need to seriously consider your options and such matters as the space available to you.

But they do work extremely well at removing the sorts of impurities that are regularly found in water, so if you have the room to install a water filter under your sink they are well worth considering.

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Where You Can Order Steak Online

By Mike Williams

When looking for the best T-bone steak, if you order your beef on the internet it will save you time instead of having to browse your grocery store.

There is nothing better than a steak that is guaranteed to be a great cut. Internet stores have a broader range selection in terms of quality and cut and the steaks are delivered to you house while still fresh. Sometimes instructions on how to cook them are included.

To find what you are looking for, you can google some key words or phrases in the search tool bar, try prime grade beef", "choice grade beef", or "premium hand cut steaks". Dont forget to exam the cut of the meat and exam the guarantee that the company offers as well.

When you compare the costs, dont forget the shipping, but also look at the grade of meat and the cut. A cheaper steak costs less money for a reason, it is either not as fresh, is of lower quality or it was probably frozen once.

Beef cuts come in three main categories; the ribs, the short loin and the sirloin. The rib area is where we get the Rib-eye, Rib Roast and back ribs from. These cuts are not known for their tenderness, but are still very popular. The well known cuts such as the T-Bone, Top Loin, Porterhouse and Tenderloin are all from the Short loin area and are all very tasty.

The Sirloin area is where we get the Sirloin steak and the Top Sirloin from. There are other steaks such as the flank, the round and the chuck, and these are generally tougher cuts of meat. The popular New York steak is cut from the T-bone area and is what we call a 'strip steak'. These are usually marinated to enhance their flavor.

The most tender cut, by a long shot, is the aptly named tenderloin. This area is also where we get the filet mignon, chateaubriand and tournedos cuts, but what these have in tenderness, they seem to lack in flavor. The rib eye or rib steak is not as tender, and as with any cut with strips of fat running through it, is more flavorful, making it a popular choice.

The key to finding the best steak is to find the right balance of both tenderness and flavour. Two good choices are top loin and sirloin; they are not as tender but have more flavour. When you choose one of these cuts, you dont need to marinate or cook the steak more than medium rare.

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Enjoying the Long Memorial Weekend

By Kristen Thorpe

The year is simply flying by and believe it or not, this weekend is already Memorial Day weekend. Weve celebrated Mothers Day and Fathers Day will be here before you know it. In between these parental holidays is a three day holiday weekend (for most people anyway) where we start to say goodbye to spring and start the summer season off with a road trip or a backyard barbecue.

When the weather is nice many of us will take the opportunity to make the most of it by getting outdoors to enjoy it. Some people will happily jump on their motor boats or jet-skis and get out on the water for some playtime. Many will go fishing or hiking at a nearby park or lake for some much-needed fresh air. Others will choose to hit the road and head to the beach for some fun in the sun and surf.

A lot of people will choose to just stay local for the holiday weekend since its a great time to kickback and just spend some time hanging out with family and friends. Plus theres a lot to be said for staying local - youll save a lot of money on gas and hotels. And you wont have to deal with packing and traveling in traffic either.

For simple fun at home its a great time to break out the classic backyard family games like badminton, volleyball, horseshoes, and water pistols. If youre lucky enough to have a swimming pool, thats even better. Or you can just pump up those great new inflatable pools, hop in and enjoy as much fresh air as you can. Seriously, after running around all week its really nice to keep it as simple as possible.

And whats a Memorial Day weekend without a big barbecue? Maybe you can cook up some hotdogs with sauerkraut, big juicy hamburgers and cheeseburgers, or grilled teriyaki tuna steaks. Then you cant forget some ears of sweet corn-on-the-cob plus slices of mouth-watering fresh watermelon to serve on the side. And the more you can cook outside on the grill, the less youll have to clean up in the kitchen.

It will all be more enjoyable if you line up your supplies before the weekend arrives. If you do your shopping early youll avoid the crowds or having to run out for things when you should be home enjoying a much-deserved weekend of relaxation. And dont forget to check to make sure youve got plenty of fuel in your barbecue.

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Loving the Skin You Are In

By Todd Rutherford

Jackie Christie, wife of NBA star Doug Christie and the star of hit TV reality show, Committed the Christies, co-author of No Ordinary Love: A True Story of Marriage and Basketball, returns with this highly inspirational, life changing book, Woman: A Practical Guide to Loving the Skin You're In.

Written for women who know how to do just about everything, except to pamper themselves, Woman gives new beauty and fashion secrets as well as way to build self-worth. The book contains hot, money-saving tips on where and what to buy and what men as well as other women find sexy.

Read about 25 women who inspire Jackie and be moved by Maya Angelou's poetry. Women who take this journey with Jackie will be loved and entertained while learning how to get their groove back!

"I feel that sexy is the combination of one's characteristics...from a simple smile, to one's voice, or posture. I think sexy is more than a look, but rather the sum total of one's attributes. I think loyalty is sexy, honesty is sexy, pleasing one's partner is sexy, motherhood is sexy, cooked food is sexy, intelligence is sexy, independence is sexy, and the black woman is sexy." - Chris Webber, Professional Basketball Player, NBA

"Jackie, you're a beautiful woman and great example for women, everywhere! You do not let anything stop you from accomplishing your goals. This book will give me and all women an excellent foundation for regaining our self-esteem and love" - Betty Jones, Executive Director of Community Affairs

As a mother, wife, fashion model, and career driven woman, Jackie's personal experiences are shown throughout the book. She reaffirms the idea that women should succeed without the fear of failure. The book reflects how women can take charge of how they look, and feel, and to build on their self worth.

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Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Need Cash Fast? 5 Quick Ways to Save Money on Food

By Armeda Jones

Would you like to spend less on groceries every week and have some extra money? There are just five basic strategies you need to know to save hundreds of dollars a month:

1. Never pay full price. Sale prices may be teasers from time to time, but for the most part "sale" items are a good value. Generally sale items are between 40-60% off the full shelf price for most products. Make an effort to buy only sale items and you will reduce your grocery expenses by 50%.

2. Ditch brand loyalty. Brands can be more expensive than generics: use unit pricing to compare and select the cheapest option. You can pocket an extra 10% if you are willing to compare and make smart choices.

3. Use grocery discount coupons. Yes, I know they are a pain, but they are also exceptional money savers and free if you print them online. If someone is going to hand you a dollar wouldn't you take it? Coupons are offers to hand you money for a purchase, use them to your advantage.

4. Use double or triple coupons with store specials for stellar savings. Using this combination savings strategy is how you will save the most on your grocery bills. You may be surprised to know that free items and deep discounts are available when you take the time to match your coupons with store sales.

5. Get those rain checks when prices are low. You will notice that products that end up being on sale with current coupons are very often out of stock. If the sale is not limited to stock on hand, then get a rain check to lock your savings in. You can use your rain checks at any time in the next few weeks to still capture your savings.

If you follow just these few suggestions while grocery shopping, you will very easily end up saving hundreds of dollars a month with very little effort. The name of the game is to keep organized, know your savings strategies and execute the plan.

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Tuesday, May 19, 2009

If You're Worried About Water Quality You Need The Best Water Filter.

By Peter Abertoning

Does the safety of your drinking water worry you? If it does maybe you've spent some time thinking about getting a water filter. There's so many filters to choose from it's difficult deciding which is the best water filter.

There's a few things to take into account when you're trying to work out which water filter to buy.

One of the most popular water filters is a carbon water filter, or what is also called an AC filter, or activated carbon filter.

Another one of the best water filters to take into consideration is a whole house water filter system. Since whole house water filter systems will purify the water from all of the taps in your home, it is one of the best types to consider. Keep in mind that whole house water filters can come in a variety of different types, whether it be carbon, reverse osmosis, or anything else.

Even if you just want to filter some drinking water you have options. You could get a simple pitcher water filter, where you pour your water in and the water filters through, and you pour the water into a glass. And you can get faucet water filters where all you have to do is to turn the tap on.

A pitcher filter is known to be an effective method of water filtration, it does have one major problem. It tends to be a very slow process so you will need to pour the water into the pitcher hours before you plan to drink it. This water home purifier tends to be very inexpensive, however.

These are just a few of the options for best water filters which are currently on the market. Before making the decision to purchase one that is right for your home, its important to take all of your available options into consideration. No matter what type of water filtration system you make the decision to use for the drinking water in your home, its important to make sure that it will benefit you the most.

There's no doubt that there are things in your water that you don't want to be drinking, and that it's perfectly possible to filter them out, you just need the right water filter.

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Monday, May 18, 2009

How To Grill Meat In A Safe Environment

By Chris Channing

The Summer is now upon us, and we have plenty of barbeques to look forward to. If you are new to grilling, or even if you are a veteran, there are likely some safety concerns that you aren't aware about. Keeping you and your family safe of disease or illness should be a top priority when grilling.

The preparation of the meat before grilling is where most mistakes are made. Preparing meat can involve many different variables. If you don't plan to marinade the meat, you should grill it as soon as possible. Most types of meat will only be able to be cooked for several days until they go bad- unless you take measures to preserve the meat with extremely cold temperatures.

Use a clean cutting board when slicing your meat to perfection. If you have different types of meat, such as beef and chicken, you should either use separate cutting boards or wash the one you have with warm soap and water before cutting up the next type of meat. Be very sure to keep other items such as vegetables away from the board.

The way you eat now will have a large effect on your body years from now. It is best to eat lean and get plenty of exercise, as doctors will undoubtedly tell you. Red meat has a bad reputation for being loaded with fatty content, but you can cut down on this fact by slicing out any visible fat regions. This prevents fat from grilling into the meat or being consumed directly.

Oddly enough, grilling your steak over a flame is a bad idea. Some grilling experts believe that it is necessary for sealing in flavor, but if done incorrectly it can char the steak. Char is known to be a carcinogen if consumed in moderate quantities. It is best to steer clear from the substance as best you can, which would include cutting out char or keeping steak away from a direct flame.

Above all else, make sure you have cooked the meat well enough that you won't have to worry about eating raw meat. The surest method of becoming ill is to eat meat that has not been cooked all the way through. Use a knife to gently cut into the meat and note its color. Also use your thumb to measure the texture of the meat. It's better to slightly overcook than undercook your family's meal.

Closing Comments

A cookbook may have more tips for your grilling endeavors. If not, consult a parent or a close friend to show you the ropes in grilling meat to perfection. Learning things on your own is plausible, but you are more apt to make mistakes and risk certain dangers.

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The Ins And Outs Of Portable Water Filters

By Peter Abertoning

Many people are interested in a water filter for their home to ensure safe drinking water. Since our drinking water tends to contain a lot of impurities, such as chlorine and pharmaceutical drugs, water filters can be a great option. They can work to remove all of the impurities and provide you with drinking water that is both clean and safe. If you are interested in a water filter, then you may want to think about portable water filters.

Here are a few of the main benefits that water purification systems which are portable have to offer that other water purification systems don't.

There is one major benefit of portable water filters over other types of water decontamination systems. They are easy to install. As you can move your portable water filter from place to place it needs to be simple to install and easy to use. Often all you need to do is to attach the filter to the faucet.

Another one of the main advantages of portable water filters is that they purify the water without using any chemicals. If you are worried about replacing the impurities that you get out of the drinking water with other chemicals, then a portable water filter may be a great choice for you.

So the good news is that for anyone interested in using a chemical free filtration method a portable filter is a good option.

And portables offer a good choice for anyone who travels a lot. They can be taken with out when you go and used wherever you go. So if perhaps you own a holiday house or just go away often you have the option of taking your filter with you when you go so you're still drinking clean water when you're away. And you can even move them from one room in the house to another if you wish.

Portable water filters provide many advantages that other water filtration systems are unable to offer. Obviously, much like their name states, they are a great option for anyone who wants a water filter that does not need to stay in the same place at all times.

Keep in mind that there portable water filters come through a number of different brands, offer a variety of different features, and tend to vary widely in price. Its important to do some comparison shopping for portable filtered water products before making the decision to purchase one for your home drinking water!

Find out much more about water filters, including about the worlds best water filter, at my website.

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Sunday, May 17, 2009

Grocery Coupons by Mail- How to Get Coupons Delivered

By Renee Gibbs

Grocery coupons by mail make saving at the store a breeze.

You really do need to know that coupon clipping services are the way to go to reduce your grocery spending quickly.

Why you may ask?

The name of the game in being a smart coupon shopper is using multiple grocery discount coupons to buy a lot of nonperishable items when the price is exceptionally low. The only way to make it both time and cost effective to do so is by using a coupon clipping service.

What is it like to work with a coupon clipping service?

Clipping services sell already clipped grocery discount coupons in quantities of 10 or more and then deliver them to your home for a very small charge. The time savings is really the most major advantage of ordering through a coupon clipping service and getting your coupons by mail.

What is the best way to use a coupons by mail service?

Coupons by mail advice. Look at the grocery store sales as soon as the new filer arrives in the mail. Usually the new filers come a few days before the old sale ends. Order the coupons you will use for the week that same day. Most important, select a coupon service in your home state, your order will get there faster.

Take your coupons to the grocery store and shop before the week is up. If the sale is not limited to quantities on hand, and the store is out of stock by the time you receive your coupons then get a rain check.

Do not be afraid to buy a lot of nonperishable products when the prices are very low. If the later becomes short dated, you can always donate it to your local food bank.

Here is some more information about getting your grocery coupons by mail.

It is always worth the nominal fees the clipping service charges if you are planning on buying multiple products when they are nearly free. Think about it. Say the charge for ten coupons for $1 off a box of cereal is one dollar. You will need to use at least 2 coupons to get your money back and then realize a savings. The more coupons you use out of those you purchase the higher your savings will be.

Most people are afraid of the minimal cost associated with a coupon clipping service. When used with a grocery shopping strategy in mind grocery coupons by mail save a lot of money.

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Friday, May 15, 2009

Cooking Games: Digital Cooking at Your Fingertips

By Vlad Stivenson

Some people like cooking, and if youre reading this article, you probably do too. However, its not so easy to have the time it takes to prepare a good meal. Throw in the time you need to get the ingredients and its something hard to do. Fortunately, theres a new game from Nintendo that will let you prepare your meals anywhere. Its called Cooking Mama.

Cooking Mama is one of the most fun games for Nintendos latest portable video game console, the DS. You take the role of a chef and try to prepare several dishes, according to Mamas recipes. The game is unique in the sense that you dont press any buttons at all. Instead, you use the DSs touch screen and the stylus to imitate cooking movements. For example, if you want to chop something, you tap on the screen each time to cut a slice or a piece off. If you want to stir something, you make circles with the stylus. You can even cool something with your breath by blowing on the microphone.

There are 15 basic recipes you start with, but completing them unlocks over 70. Dishes come from all the world, so theres something for everyone. Dont be surprised if you get hungry after a bit of playing.

Casual Players and Hardcore Players. One of the great things about this game is that it appeals to both casual and hardcore players. People who dont normally play videogames arent much keen to play games that require pressing one of 6 buttons to throw a punch. It isnt natural to them. But since the stylus reflects the actual movement (for example, chopping from the top to the bottom) it feels much more normal to them. Also, there isnt a game over screen. If your performance isnt that great, Mama fixes it so you move on. This way anyone can go through the end of each recipe.

For the hardcore games, the game evaluates your performance and gives you a medal based on your performance. While anyone can finish a recipe, it takes great skill to get a medal gold.

Other Cooking Games If you dont have a DS, you can still play cooking games on your PC. There are many games related to cooking on hundreds of sites. One of such games is called Better Barbecue Challenge. In this game, there is some meat on a grill and you need to cook it from both sides. If you turn it over too early, itll be too raw. If you turn it over too late, itll burn. Its not as simple as it seems, which allows for a fun challenge. One of such games is called Better Barbecue Challenge. In this game, there is some meat on a grill and you need to cook it from both sides. If you turn it over too early, itll be too raw. If you turn it over too late, itll burn. Its not as simple as it seems, which allows for a fun challenge.

So, as you can see, there are many options on both consoles and Internet for you to practice your culinary skills. Some of them are simple, and some are complex enough that theyll make you want to try them out in your real life kitchen.

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Tips For Cleaning Towle Stainless Steel Flatware

By Jeff Derby

Many people don't realize that stainless steel is basically ordinary iron that has been infused with a minimum of 10% chromium. Stainless steel is great at resisting rust and corrosion through ordinary use, but it does tend to dull occasionally.

Stainless steel is well known for its durability and ability to stand up perfectly to everyday use. Chromium forms a hard oxide coating on the surface of flatware that makes it shine while protecting the steel on the inside. Over time and continued use along with use of dishwashing detergents this protective coating begins to wear off. Once the shell wears down the flatware will begin to lose its luster. This naturally happens to all flatware, though it should not happen for some time dependent upon the quality of the silver.

If your flatware is still relatively new and in good shape then there are a number of ways to clean it and restore some of its original shine. One method used to remove streaking is to take a soft dish towel and rub olive oil on the flatware; this should help remove streaks. You can also polish and shine stainless steel flatware by using vinegar and a soft cloth; this will help to remove heat stains from the flatware. If you dont have vinegar, club soda can be used.

Before you put your Towle stainless steel flatware into a dishwasher make sure you rinse any salty or acidic foods first. When utensils are put in the dishwasher and left to sit for several days, this does more harm to the flatware that daily washing does. Keep in mind that using harsh chemicals to clean stubborn foods from the flatware can result in dark spots on the pieces.

If you are interested in taking the best care of your stainless steel flatware as possible then you should be washing the pieces by hand. Clean the pieces using a gentle detergent and warm water. Dry the flatware immediately after washing by hand. If they are allowed to drip dry, streaking or spotting can occur. If a haze or blur occurs, a gentle silver polish can remove it.

Acidic and salty foods are more corrosive than others and should be removed from the stainless steel flatware as soon as possible. Remember to not use harsh abrasives or steel wool on stainless steel as it will scratch the surface and cause additional problems.

Cleaning dull stainless steel flatware

Materials needed: Bowls for mixing ingredients and soaking Rubber gloves Non gel toothpaste Lint-free soft cloths Paper towels Water Calgon water softener 1/4 cup measure Bleach Ammonia Silver polish Stainless steel cleaner: 1/4 cup chlorine bleach, 1/4 cup Calgon water softener, 1 gallon very hot water

Caution: Use only on stainless steel, never use on real silver!

Mix 1/4 cup chlorine bleach, 1/4 cup Calgon water softener, and 1 gallon of hot water. You can mix this in the sink or in any non-aluminum container. Immerse the stainless steel flatware in the solution for 30 minutes and then wash as usual, whether this be the dishwasher or by hand with dishwashing soap. For really tough spots, use a little non-gel toothpaste, or one part silver polish mixed with one part ammonia. Apply with a soft cloth, rinse and dry.

Tip: Do this only when the stainless really needs it, when it has that blue tint, probably every couple of months.

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Coffee Delivery Services

By PJ Easton

Coffee delivery services exist to make the coffee drinker happy. That is how I view the industry. If you are a casual coffee drinker and Folger's instant coffee makes your day, this service is not for you. I am talking about the coffee aficionado who understands that there are so many ways to happily satisfy their coffee craving. I want to talk about what kind of coffee drinker you are first and then we'll talk about what's out there.

There are all kinds of coffee drinkers out there from the average coffee lover to the person who pays over a hundred dollars for exotic coffee and flies it to their door for instant gratification. There is only one coffee that I will fly to my door and that is Kona Peaberry coffee. Once you taste it, you'll never go back.

Unfortunately, my friends have tasted it and as a result, I must abstain from this wonderful coffee or go broke because of the moochers. Anyway, once you have assessed your coffee mania level, you can decide which coffee delivery services are right for you. Many people love surprises. I don't. If you love to be surprised, you can choose to have a random selection of coffee shipped to you on a schedule, usually monthly.

Whatever type of coffee you have delivered to you, remember that a true coffee drinker always has coffee beans shipped to them. Please invest in a proper coffee grinder. Blade coffee grinders simply shred the coffee and are all but useless when trying to get uniform flavor from your bean.

Use a burr grinder, they are only slightly more expensive and entirely worth the added cost. Make sure your coffee delivery service is located close to you. Order today, grind tomorrow, savor the flavor. Everybody say ahhh... It is best to grind only the coffee that you'll need right away.

The thinking here is that the wonderful aroma you smell escaping from the grinder will also take the flavor with it if it sits outside too long after grinding. Ever wonder why supermarket coffee tastes so bad? It tastes that way because they use low quality coffee beans and they were ground months ago.

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Thursday, May 14, 2009

Things You Should Know about Online Cooking Games

By Vlad Stivenson

Online cooking games (which feature a variety of themes, including cooking) are in some ways very similar to those penny arcades of old time. They are quick and fun to play, whether its for an hour or two, of just for a quick 5 minute game. They both are also easy and intuitive to play by both children and adults. There is no manual read or complex commands to memorize. And of course, they are even more fun if you bring a friend along.

When it comes to video game entertainment, theres really nothing else that is as simple and cheap to play than online flash games and old arcades. Old arcades require only a quarter to play, whereas online flashing games are free. If you take into account that you can play online games in your office of house, then theres really no comparison.

As I said, among the varieties of online games, there are cooking games. You might want to try them out if you havent already. They are, of course very different from shooting games or racing games. They are intended more for relaxing and taking it easy after writing a boring report or attending a stressful meeting. They usually let you take your time and experiment with several ingredients, without rush or a hurry. However, if you feel like taking on a small challenge, you can. There are games that require you to complete a cooking process in a fixed amount of time. Some others will have you memorize and repeat processes and ingredients. Yet others will have you going from one part of a kitchen to the other, trying to keep dishes from burning. So, as you see there are several types of games that will keep you entertained for 1 hour or five minutes.

And dont worry about installation, cables, downloading times, monthly premiums, boring manuals or any of those perks that come with full priced computer games or console video games. Finding these online cooking games is easy, just browse through Internet and youll find hundreds of them. And theyre as easy to get as reading your e-mail.

And of course, if you get tired of one game, you can just forget about it and look for a new one. PC and console videogames are a different matter. With a new game costing from 40 to 80 dollars, you pretty much have to like it even if you dont, just to justify the purchase. Another disadvantage is that playing one of those games requires time. You cant take a break between sending an e-mail and making a call to play a 5 minute game.

And if real cooking is your thing, then cooking games are a source of inspiration. You can learn different ways to cook the dishes you already can prepare, and maybe get some ideas on how to spice them up. You might even discover that a dish that you though it was too difficult to do, isnt really as hard to prepare.

In any case, online flash games will make you remember those arcade places where you used to spend your allowance on weekends.

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Read This Before You Buy a Personal Wine Cellar

By Patrick OHaltdstead

If you are a wine collector or connoisseur, you may have fantasized about building a wine cellar in your own home. Admittedly, this is a home improvement project that will involve some time and money, but it is more than likely less complicated than you think.

The process of producing wine is mostly available and made for huge quantity which depends upon the method of preparation as well as the place where it is prepared.

The wine cellar is also defined in a peculiar or specific manner as the store house (for the freshly prepared wine as well as the wine prepared already and is in stored condition) for wine in bottles or small to large quantity of containers called the Barrels.

7-18 C is considered as the correct temperature of wine cellar. Wine cellar can be two types according to the cooling system: active and passive.

The cellar maintains the temperature range to a certain assigned level beyond which would affect the quality of the wine prepared and hence makes a variation in the taste of the wine prepared.

Also the humidity is also to be considered. The room is mostly found dark. There are two types of cellars available in this regards. One is the Active type of wine cellar and the other is the passive wine cellar where the temperature and the humidity is not a thing to be considered.

Also, put your lights on a dimmer to control brightness (dimmer is always better when it comes to wine), and also put your lights on a timer so they will turn off after a set period of time, in case you forget to shut them off.

Wine cellar management software are now available to mange your wine cellar properly.

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