The Benefits Of Cooking With Mediterranean Food Seasoning

By Ferdinand Emy

As in any type of cooking in Mediterranean cuisine people use seasoning, Mediterranean seasoning actually. Apparently, the food of the areas surrounding the Mediterranean sea is the Mediterranean cuisine. The truth is that the Mediterranean cuisine contains foods from different cultures. These nation-states have influenced each other in time and the process of cooking developed into sharing common principles. Mediterranean cuisine is characterised by flexibility, a wide range of ingredients and many regional variations. The area has tended to favor the rearing of goats and sheep.

Fish dishes are also very common, although today much of the fish is imported since the fisheries of the Mediterranean Sea are no longer what they used to be. In many of the standard Mediterranean dish recipes, seafood is still dominant. It is quite evident that certain types of meats and fruit or vegetables, as it is the case with Mediterranean cuisine, demand for specific/typical seasoning, in this case, Mediterranean seasoning. Pita bread, barbecue or grilled meats, falafel and hummus are among the Mediterranean foods which normally demand a special seasonings which are found in the area around Mediterranean seasoning evidently.

Talking of Mediterranean seasoning you must know that olive oil, though not necessarily a condiment, is created in the Mediterranean countries " Portugal, Greece, Turkey, Italy and Spain, as well as others. An outstanding ingredient in Mediterranean seasoning is represented by garlic, which is utilized a lot throughout Mediterranean cuisine. Both the olive oil and the garlic employed in Mediterranean seasoning and cuisine in general, add to the distinctive taste of food. Besides, it is unanimously believed that the ingredients in this kind of cooking and in Mediterranean seasoning, and we have in mind especially the olive oil, are a major contributor to the longevity and good health state of the Mediterranean people.

You will no doubt require Mediterranean seasoning if you are interested in making Mediterranean dishes, or you will not achieve real Mediterranean food. You can simply purchase different products which are labeled Mediterranean seasoning, from the stores across the country. Nevertheless, my advice is for you to try to make your own Mediterranean seasoning as it is not trying at all.

To obtain a good Mediterranean seasoning you only require the right ingredients and a true Mediterranean seasoning recipe, like the 1 below. This combo is what I call Mediterranean seasoning. It doesn't matter how much you use " just combine the ingredients in the following proportions in a bowl, whisk, and pour into a shaker. Put it in a container and place it in the fridge and there it is when you want to employ it for a quick dusting on grilled meat, or for a marinade: 1 part coriander, one part cinammon, one part cumin, 1 part dried mint, and one part Italian seasoning or oregano; Besides, add 1 part onion powder and 1 part garlic powder.

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Find out more about Cooking With Mediterranean Seasonings

How To Best To Use Pasta Sauce

By Ferdinand Emy

For those planning on making pasta sauce constantly, there are also some spices that you should keep in hand.

Chicken, pork, beef and various sausages are generally used. With choices of white, red and rose sauces, there is a little bit of variety for everyone. If you plan on making pasta sauce frequently, there are several different ingredients that you will want to keep on hand. As you first learn how to make sauce, you should use the spices sparingly so that you can learn their flavors. As many of the sauces are very simple to make, cooks of any skill level can cook with little risk of ruining the pasta sauce.

Getting ready all of your ingredients in advance will let you take your time and combine the ingredients properly. This can solve many of the problems inexperienced chefs encounter when learning new recipes. Seafood is sometimes used in moderation as well. Because jars are used while still warm, your pasta sauce should be a similar temperature to the jars so that it does not shatter. What spices you select can greatly alter the flavor of your pasta sauce.

Knowing how the flavors of various spices blend with one another can help you prepare your own unique recipes. Many sauces, including white sauce, can be frozen, which lets you make larges batches of sauce that can last you for several months. Tomato paste and canned tomato sauce can allow you to make a red pasta sauce on the fly, while milk, butter, flour and water for white sauce tends to be kept in most homes. There are many different types of pasta sauce that you can make at home which you can use to impress guests while also being healthy. For example, most red sauces will use pork, beef and sausage, while white sauces trend towards chicken and pork.

Once boiled, the jars should be used while they are still warm. The addition of meat or vegetables to pasta sauce is a common practice among many people, turning the dish into a full meal. Jars should be cooled to room temperature before being placed in any freezer, and room should be allowed within for the expansion of liquids. Depending on whether or not you plan on making your sauce completely from scratch, you may not be able to store some of the ingredients in your cupboard.

Prior to starting cooking your own pasta sauce, there are a few things that you will want to keep in mind. When you can, make certain that you sterilize your jars by boiling them for at least ten minutes prior to use. Once you have prepared your pasta sauce, you can choose to use it immediately or can and freeze it. These include basil, rosemary, thyme, oregano, bay leaf, garlic, onion, red pepper and marjoram. First and foremost, prepare your ingredients before you begin cooking.

You will want to select your meats based off of the type of sauce you're making. Depending on the type of pasta sauce that you make, timing may be extremely important.

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If you liked this article, you may want to learn how to prepare Gourmet Sauces at home

You Should Consider Cooking With Teriyaki Sauce

By Ferdinand Emy

A traditional Japanese sauce, teriyaki sauce has won remarkable popularity in the western cultures. It is a sweet sauce, used as either a garnish or a marinade for meats, vegetables and rice. It can be applied as a dipping sauce as well, giving it a flexibility that makes it suitable as an addition to numerous cuisines.

Ingredients:

Mirin Sake Cornstarch Brown sugar Garlic Soy sauce Ginger

Preparation Time: 5 to 10 minutes

All ingredients should be rinsed, chopped or ground before mixture. Most teriyaki sauces are not cooked, as they will be cooked with the meat or vegetables. Several ingredients will be used depending on if it is a traditional or modern teriyaki sauce.

Use:

A sort of cooking process in Japan, teriyaki sauce is traditionally utilized as marinade, with the sauce being the sweet marmalade that the vegetables or the meat are coated in. Oftentimes, teriyaki techniques are set aside for white meats such as chicken and fish, and as for fish, yskipjack tuna, salmon, yellowtail, marlin, trout and mackerel are mainly utilized.

In Western cultures, teriyaki sauce tends to be a reference to a similar style of sauce applied in the teriyaki method of cooking. All The Same, these sauces do not tend to be true teriyaki, as the preparation of the food is not typically done in the same way. In this case, Teriyaki is typically used in stir fry and as an accompaniment, rather as a marinade.

When grilling, it is suggested that your meats or vegetables sit in the marinade for a minimum of thirty minutes prior to preparation. It is not uncommon for recipes to call for a marinade of 24 hours, as this permits the meat to absorb the flavor of the teriyaki sauce. generally, the stronger the teriyaki flavor, the longer it should be allowed to marinade. You will desire to use a bit lesser process of marinading so that the taste of the fish is as fresh as feasible.

The grilling of the teriyaki can be carried out in numerous surface types, which include, coal and wood burning grills, gasp and electric.

History:

Teriyaki was first applied in Japan in the seventh century, along with sukiyaki and yakitori. Developed alongside each other, these three cooking methods are closely interconnected. 'Yaki', the base word in all 3 types, simply means grilled. Often, yaki dishes will include very similar ingredients with differences in how the meat or vegetables are grilled.

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Some people think that cooking a highly delicious meal is the exclusive reserve of the gourmet, but in contrast, you too can prepare a wonderful meal, head over and learn more about Cooking With Teriyaki Seasoning

Improve Your Grilling Skills With These Grilling Tips

By Ferdinand Emy

Always check the internal temperature of food to be certain it is done. Of all the grilling tips, this is one that can assure your food is safe to eat. There are two primary types of grilling methods; They are indirect grilling and direct grilling. When the juices are released, the food tends to dry out rather quickly from the heat of the grill. Many people rely upon the outer appearance of food to determine whether it is done or not but this is actually not a reliable method and can result in food borne illness.

Following the right grilling tips also means making sure you know how to properly handle the food. Many people make the same mistake of handling the food too much while grilling it. A meat fork will pierce the skin of the meat and release juices while tongs help the food to retain moisture. Following these grilling tips can help you to produce perfectly and deliciously grilled food every time.

Indirect grilling involves cooking the food away from the heat while direct grilling involves cooking food directly on the fire. One of the most important grilling tips that should be followed, no matter what type of grill or grilling method you are using, is to make sure that you use a meat thermometer in order to test the interior temperature of the food that you are grilling. Also, one of the most important grilling tips you can follow is to make sure that you use tongs instead of a meat fork when grilling. Instead, avoid 'playing' with the food and allow it to cook evenly. Indirect grilling is best for foods that can be cooked in less than 30 minutes while direct grilling is better for foods that can be cooked in more than 30 minutes.

Other grilling tips include using the right grilling method. Grilling is a favorite pastime and it is a wonderful way to enjoy time outside with family and friends as well as prepare a meal that is second to none. Are you looking forward to putting some meat on the grill and enjoying a wonderfully grilled meal? If so, you are not alone.

There are some grilling tips that you can follow which will assist you to accomplish delicious food time after time. This can result in cold spots in the food and can increase the chances of uneven cooking and food borne illness.

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Before you set out barbecuing with your friends and family members, ensure you are well equipped with these Summer Holiday Grilling Tips

Food Hampers And Tips For A Perfect Christmas

By Robert Ranier

When youre compiling special Christmas hampers and gourmet food for friends and family, it is vitally important to make sure all the ingredients that go inside are prepared to perfection.

A dessert spoon of sherry or rum can be a great way to add a kick to your Christmas cake. You should use one for every pound of fruit to be used and soak the fruit overnight. One interesting trick is to place a bowl of water in the bottom of the oven before you heat it up, as this will increase the humidity and will lead to the perfect cake for Christmas. Be sure to remove the cake in a room with a steady temperature and leave it to cool. Finally, you will need to wrap the cake in greaseproof paper and cover with tin foil before storing it in a dry cooled space to mature

On Christmas day, my mother always adds a coin to the finished pudding in line with Christmas tradition. This adds an amusing twist to the eating experience and is especially enjoyed by children. It is best to add the coin or coins after the pudding has been cooked as it can be easily slipped in to the final product. Boil the coins in a pan of water for a few minutes to avoid any untoward bacteria that may be present.

The turkey in most homes is usually the centrepiece of the Christmas dinner. After many hours of cooking; you present it in all its glory, the perfect golden skin cooked to perfection. Now you have to carve it and you need to do this the right way in order to ensure its served as good as it smells, if you plan on carving soon after roasting then cover the turkey with foil and allow to stand for 15 minutes. Always make sure you cut the dark meat first before the light and the secret to removing the wings, legs and thighs is to finding where the bones meet and cutting between the joints.

There are some basic guidelines to cook the perfect Christmas turkey

Prepare your stuffing in advance and let it cool slowly before use

Only stuff the neck cavity of your turkey and not the rear end

To add some extra flavor to your turkey, cut and slice a few onions and place them in the baking tray and position your turkey on top. This will avoid your bird to go soggy and will add some additional nuances

Placing sliced oranges or lemons within the cavity of your bird before adding the stuffing will add some different flavors.

You can season turkey skin with spices, salt and pepper mixed with butter of a light cooking oil to really absorb the flavors in to the meat.

Covering your turkey with streaky bacon halfway through the cooking process will really enhance your final taste.

Eggnog is a very popular drink at Christmas time and for many Christmas just would not be Christmas without having a bowlful of eggnog to warm and welcome visitors. Eggnog can be homemade and if so care should be used to warm, the eggs to 160f before use to eliminate bacteria or it can be store bought in cartons and you can add your own special touches when tipped into the bowl. Traditional eggnog contains alcohol but now can be bought in non-alcoholic forms which are suitable for children and for those who are health conscious then believe or not eggnog now comes totally egg free.

This is a great non alcoholic eggnog recipe. Separate the yolks from the whites of a dozen eggs and beat the whites. It then best to add a half cup of sugar while beating the eggs until the whites start to peak. You'll need to beat the yolks in a separate bowl until they are creamed and then slowly add 1 cup of sugar as you mix. Finally, take one quart of cream, beat until stiff and mix the eggs, cream and add a touch of vanilla flavoring. Pour the mix in to containers and leave it to set for at least 24hrs. Finally, serve in a large bowl and add a touch of nutmeg.

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For a range of glorious food hampersin the UK have a look at the superb options on offer at Hamperz. Your finest selection of gourmet food hampers for every budget

Poppy Seeds and Its Benefits

By Amanda Rush

Being fond of food may have led you to click on this page, or maybe mere fact hunting has brought your attention to this article. Whatever motivation drives you, this article offers facts about one type of seeds popularly used in baking pastries which are called poppy seeds.

Although pastries are sold in large quantities everyday, many people rarely take time to find out the facts about the poppy seeds sprinkled in these pastries. Only food enthusiasts and people who work as chefs or cook know the important information related to poppy seeds. If you want to be one of the few who know the facts, read on and find out.

Asias general climate provide for the most suitable temperature for the poppy seeds to grow. The seeds are actually taken from the head of poppy plants and are like nuts when tasted.

Although mainly used as food ingredient today, during the ancient times poppy seeds were popularly used as medicines. In Greece, they were introduced by Hippocrates as a remedy for insomnia. Today, health experts have found out the other medicinal benefits of poppy seeds. It is found out that poppy seeds are effective cure for coughs, earaches, toothaches, inflammation, fever, dysentery and the list goes on. For these, poppies are cultivated in many parts of the world.

Poppy seeds are most popular today as food ingredients in different pastries. Most of the time, they are sprinkled in cakes, bread or rolls. Aside from its nutty taste, poppy seeds are very enticing to eat because of the nutrients each seed contains. The seeds contain linoeic acid, oleic acid, and unsaturated fatty acids. Moreover, the seeds have extracts that can be used in cooking and making soaps.

Aside from being a great health food, poppy seeds represent symbols. They are considered symbol of fertility and prosperity, hence used in rituals and used as amulets to fight off bad luck and invite love, money and luck. It is also a symbol for fallen warriors.

Poppy seeds may bring a lot of advantages, but they can also be dangerous when taken without knowing its negative effects. Aside from nutrients, poppy seeds contain alkaloids such as morphine and codeine which are addictive. According to health experts, poppy seeds can be eaten when ripe because at that stage alkaloids are only minimal and hardly detrimental to the body. Unripe seeds contain a lot of alkaloids, hence can pose danger to physical and mental health.

Knowing all these facts is very necessary in order to know how we can benefit most from poppy seeds and how to avoid their undesirable effects.

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You can have a sumptuous healthy meal from this great ingredient anytime you want. You have easy access to a great cooking ingredient, the poppy pods for sale.

Best Energy Foods for Athletes

By Curtis Ludlow

It's very important to focus on getting enough vitamins and nutrients.

You'll want to get most of your nutrients from very lean protein sources, leafy green vegetables, and natural starches like potatoes since these foods give you the most bang for your buck, nutritionally.

Women have different dietary requirements as compared to men. Hence, they need to eat differently at various stages of life. Women need more iron and calcium as compared to men. Keeping nutrition requirements in mind here are the top 10 power foods which can help women with weight loss and maintaining a healthy body.

Wild Fish

A problem with some fish is that it is farm raised. Many of these farm raised fish are given hormones that accelerate the rate of it's development and growth. Be sure to eat only wild fish - not farm raised. Wild salmon is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids that are very important for women in particular.

Yogurt

Due to pregnancy and other issues, the level of calcium can become low in a woman's body. Therefore, yogurt can be a great source of calcium since it also has friendly bacteria that can be digested easily.

Leafy Green Vegetables

Greens like kale, collard and asparagus are excelent sources of a variety of nutrients including calcium, potassium and vitamin B. Apart from these, they also contain a high amount of antioxidants as well.

Water

Water is great as an appetite suppressant and also essential for the proper functioning of your body. Hence, this the drink you need everyday. A great strategy is to set a timer and take a few sips every 15 - 20 minutes.

Edame

Soybeans and other soy products are great for fighting the bad cholesterol (LDL) and increasing the good cholesterol levels. They are also rich in phytoestrogen as well. You can have soy in the form of tofu or soybean nuggets.

Beef

Red meat is a great way to get the essential nutrient known as iron, ladies. You will find this nutrient in abundance in foods like lentils, lean red meats and dark poultry.

Flax Oils

Rich in Omega 3 fatty acids, fibre and antioxidants, flax seeds are a great source of an abundance of nutrients. Flax seeds are beneficial to prevent problems related with arthritis and heart problems.

Carrots

Foods like carrots, pumpkin, and squash are an excellent source of beta carotene. Beta carotene is incredibly important for good health.

Black and White Beans

Last but not the least; beans are essential for their rich fiber content. Fiber not only helps to prevent constipation troubles but is also essential for preventing colon cancer which affects more women than men.

Be sure to work these amazing foods into your diet and transform you life today!

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For more great fitness, weight loss and nutrition information be sure to check out the excellent free articles from Fullerton Personal Trainer and Curtis Joel Ludlow.

Flash Cooking Games - Free Fun for Girls

By Vlad Stivenson

Cooking games are here. Lets play!

Cooking games are becoming the latest trend for girls. And there are several reasons for this. One of the reasons for this is that theyre free. Yes, thats right, theyre free. There are no CDs to buy and install, no content to download, and no monthly fees, like is the case of some computer games out there. And if your child gets bored with it, she can just go and look for a different game. This saves money for those parents that spend their hard earned money on some game that the child lost interest after a bit. In addition, these games are safe. As a parent, would you rather have your child a few meters from you or out on the street doing god knows what? They also lack any offensive content or content that might not be suitable for your child, like violence. Finally, these games can actually be educational. They let your child prepare recipes and dishes, albeit virtual ones. However, at least they will understand that mommy takes a lot of trouble to prepare real meals and that theyre not instantaneous.

Of course, that's not the only think they can learn. Cooking is a field that has many interesting aspects, and they can intuitively adopt and learn one of them, for example, there are games that let them prepare foreign dishes. These games let your child prepare some Mexican enchiladas, or maybe Japanese sushi and even French casseroles. In addition, if there's an ingredient that your girl refuses to eat, you can get her interested in it by selecting games that include that ingredient a lot. You will be surprised how easy it will be to get her to try it on real life after you make it fun for her. These games will also let your child learn about nutrients and food groups. This might even come handy if they have to do some homework about it (just pay attention that the game is realistic, as some games exaggerate situations a little in order to make them funny). And of course, you can always prepare the real dish right after preparing it virtually on the computer. When your child finishes an easy recipe, you can tell her something like mmmmm, that looks delicious, hey, what do you say we prepare a real one that we can actually eat? If you get your child to learn cooking, it will be a skill that will be useful for all her life.

While its true that some of these cooking games come in a foreign language, they are very intuitive that this will not be a problem at all. After all, children from all the world have been enjoying video cooking games from the USA and Japan, even if they dont speak English or Japanese.

Finally, there isnt a reason why only your child can enjoy these games. I suggest you try one after work. These games can be as challenging or as relaxing as you want, giving you something to clear your mind after a hard day.

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Vlad Stivenson has created a very popular cooking game for little girls

New Waffle Makers Will A A New Flavor To Your Cuisine

By Walter A Monroe

How great it is for people who own waffle makers. These machines are so easy to use, and deliver delicious waffles every time. Making homemade waffle batter is not extremely complicated. However, if you prefer, you may use a commercially available waffle mix. Either way, you are sure to be thrilled with fresh homemade waffles whenever you desire them.

There are many different types of waffle makers available in stores and online. You can find everything from the traditional round waffle maker to the Belgian waffle maker. There are waffle makers which are for small waffles or thick Belgian waffles. You can even find them with special shapes. Imagine surprising the kids with "Mickey Mouse" shaped waffles.

If you just want to experience fresh, homemade waffles without any fuss, you may be interested in a traditional round waffle maker. Most of these are affordable enough for just about anyone. This will be a basic waffle maker usually with indicator lights letting you know when the machine is ready and when the waffles have finished baking.

There is nothing quite like a properly baked Belgian waffle. These are so crispy outside, and soft in the middle. An absolutely fantastic culinary delight at breakfast, lunch, dinner or even dessert. In order to make homemade Belgian waffles, you will need to use a Belgian waffle maker. This machine will have a thicker space for the batter, and deeper grooves. There are a lot of different Belgian waffle makers available depending on your preference and budget.

You will find waffle makers that can also be used for other purposes, such as Panini or believe it or not, grilling meats. These waffle makers include interchangeable plates which can be switched depending on what you are preparing. This also allows the opportunity to wash the plates either in the sink or dishwasher. They generally also include a temperature regulator, so that the temperature may be adjusted according to the food being prepared, or toasting preference.

The professional waffle maker allows the user to make the crispest, deep pocket waffles which are still soft in the middle. These flip waffle makers allow the waffle to be flipped half way through the baking process in order to achieve even baking on both sides. Most include a drip tray to catch any spilled batter. Ready indicator lights or sounds will tell you when the waffle is finished. This removes any guess work or timing. You should certainly expect to have control over the temperature with a professional waffle maker.

Waffles are delicious, no matter what you choose for a topping. The addition of a waffle maker is a great idea for any cook who wants to try something new, and loves waffles.

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To find great advice and the best deals on waffle makers then click through to the author's website. Learn about the best way to clean a waffle maker.

Beginners Guide To LED Kitchen Lighting

By Abigail Monot

Really good kitchen lighting designs characteristically use a great deal of lighting - and we're not talking about putting a few extra roses on the ceiling Kitchen lighting requires all manner of different types of light to handle the requirements of many different zones. Just about the worst lighting solution for a kitchen is the use of bright fluorescent strip lights on the ceiling. Sure, they're unquestionably very bright - but cold, flat and likely to induce a headache in less time than it takes to soft boil an egg.

An obvious problem with central ceiling lights in a kitchen is that you inevitably create dark spots and are always standing in your own shadow. A common solution to this is to install banks of halogen down lights uniformly across the ceiling with additional lighting for worktops and hobs.

This does indeed work quite well, but brings its own set of problem: halogen lamps run at very high temperatures; they don't last well; and they are pretty much the most expensive possible way to light a kitchen. Over ninety percent of the cost of incandescent lighting in general (and halogen lamps in particular) is the electricity they consume.

This in large part explains the rise in popularity of ultra low energy, cool running, LED kitchen lighting. For mains voltage lighting, all that is required is to replace existing GU10 spotlights in-situ with GU10 LEDs. For low voltage systems, replace existing 12v transformers with one (or more, depending on the number of lights involved) constant voltage 12v LED driver and then change over to LED light bulbs.

The three main aspects to consider when installing LED spotlights are: luminosity (brightness); colour temperature (how cool/blue or warm/yellow); and beam angle. Try to match these as close as possible to the characteristics of the halogen lamps you might otherwise have considered using.

We are used to measuring brightness in terms of wattage, but an LED light bulb will have a wattage rating at least ten percent that of it's equivalent incandescent or halogen bulb. Therefore, when replacing a 35w halogen lamp use an LED of 3w or above, and likewise replace a 50w with a 5w LED, etc.

How cool or warm a light appears is graded according to "color temperature". LED lights come in a wide range of white color temperatures (not to mention actual "colors"), but historically it was easier to manufacture blue LEDs and hence many cheap LEDs exhibit a cold/bluish tint. However, if you specify warm white (technically a temperature below 3,500 Kelvins) you should get a fair approximation of the white light normally created by halogen lamps.

The more focused the beam angle is (i.e. 45 degrees) the more the light will appear tightly constrained to a single spot-like area; conversely wide angles (i.e. 120 degrees) disperse the light uniformly and reduce hot spots and glare. When looking for a good LED replacement for regular halogen lamps, the Sharp Zenigata LED spotlight is perhaps the top contender at present.

A critical component that determines how artificial light actually appears is not the light itself but the surface on which it is shining. To create a warm feel simply direct spot lights at warmly coloured areas (clay tiles, wood or just a wall painted in warm colours). If a dramatic effect is what you're after, try shining blue LEDs at either dark or reflective surfaces - blue LED light bounced off granite or steel can appear stunning.

Combine LED lights of varying characteristics with different textures and colours to produce a range of effects suited to individual zones in your kitchen. The are almost boundless possibilities, even before you get to playing with LED strip lighting to accent plinths, worktops, coving and more or less anything else that takes your fancy. As ever though, the best designs often emerge by limiting things to a handful or less of the most appealing ideas - but don't be surprised how stunning even small amount of LED kitchen lighting looks.

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Before you design your new kitchen lighting, Abigail Monot strongly recommends you discover more about kitchen lighting design in particular and LED lighting in general.

How Should Somebody Pick Out A Gas Barbeque Grill?

By Aubree Kaylee

The most important quality of a bbq grill is the ability of the charcoal grill to cook. After all, while durability is my second choice for what to look for, I could not make it the first because why would want a grill that can't cook to last forever? When you go to a restaurant and order a steak, did you realize that they are able to cook them at over 1000 degrees? This is why the number one grill, year after year, is Weber. The difference is they are small dome shaped grills.

Either the fire was burning too hot or never got hot enough. You need to be slow and methodical by paying attention to what you are doing when it comes to controlling a fire, which is an important part of a successful barbecue. The other thing that frequently happens is that it can always take longer than you think to grill the meat, so the guests start getting hungry or the person in charge is antsy because you are off the planned schedule.

Creating good smoked barbecue is not rocket science but it does take a little knowledge on the proper way to smoke meat. A Weber (or most any brand of kettle) kettle grill makes a pretty good smoker. Long-handled forks help to lift large cuts of meat or poultry from the grill.

Building an outdoor kitchen is the dream of every cooking enthusiast. However you need not get into the hassles of pluming and masonry. The barbecue islands history can be traced back to popular TV show, Dallas. The Ducane Company was asked to come up with a prototype.

Whether you are grilling steak, chicken, hamburgers, hot dogs or even vegetables - cooking out on a gas barbeque grill is a wonderful way to enjoy a meal with friends. Charcoal grills are great for camp outs but the hassle and mess it creates are no longer necessary to enjoy a great grilling experience. Gas grills can be connected directly to a gas line on your home or fueled with a refillable propane tank. With charcoal grills you are somewhat limited in your control of the temperature that you cook on.

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To learn more about how to find the most top-quality barbecue grill, visit http://BBQGriller.com where you'll discover a lot more about barbeque grills and cook out tips of all forms.

Understanding Differnt Types of Cooking Pans

By Galendalyn Rosenbaum

A well seasoned and cured cooking pan will ensure cooking is more fun, faster to clean, and it will craft tastier food. Nothing is more frustrating than cooking a delicious meal only to have it stick to the cooking pan. There is a saying in the cooking business; Hot pan " Cold Oil.

This means that you should never put the oil into a cold pan before heating it up. Heating the cooking pan before adding the oil, then immediately putting in the food, will ensure youll have significantly less sticking. Seasoning the pan before it first use, will ensure you superior results.

Stainless Steel Cooking Pans " Unfortunately stainless steel cannot be seasoned because of the hardness of the metal. Honestly I cannot think of any restaurants that use stainless steel cooking pans. Although they are excellent for storing your food since the food will not taste like the metal, they are truly horrible for cooking. I would advise you to simply avoid them completely.

Aluminum " Make sure that first you wash the cooking pan with soap and water using a sponge or cloth. Rinse and dry your cooking pan thoroughly. Heat up the cooking pan until its hot to the touch then add two ounces of oil to the cooking pan. Swirl the cooking pan so that the oil coats every place on the cooking pan. Let the cooking pan cool off. Then remove the oil and repeat the process once more. After this point, you should never use soap to clean it again. When you need to wash it, use warm water and a dry paper towel. If you find that some food does stick that is fine, it will ad some extra flavor to your next dish.

Giving your new pans the extra effort of seasoning and curing, will insure maximum value out of your investment, while also extending its life. Spending a little extra to make sure you are purchasing quality pans, and taking good care of them, will grant you much more satisfaction in your investment.

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If you enjoyed reading this article be sure to check out the rest of our resources on Cooking Pans you can talk with and ask questions from our chefs at The Cook Master

Pick Pasta For Dinner When You're in a Hurry

By Katelyn Greer

Pasta is one of your finest choices for a fast and simple mealtime. The pasta merely has to be added to boiling water and can be ready in under 15 minutes. And while the pasta is boiling you can prepare your preferred topping. Whether you decide on a tomato based topping, pesto or a creamy topping, you can be finished in an instant. Here are some guidelines for a fast and uncomplicated pasta dish.

Avoid adding the pasta to the water before it arrives at a complete boil. This will keep the pasta from getting mushy and gluey. In addition, maintain the water at a boil all the time. You can help the pasta remain less mushy if you add some salt to the water. Take note that you must not cover up the pan after you put in the pasta. You have to test periodically to find out if the noodles are cooked. Pasta cooks quite rapidly and leaving it too long can result in soggy noodles. When the pasta is ready, remove it from the water immediately. It will continue to cook if you leave it there.

With that, half of your preparation is complete. The other half is making the sauce. The good thing about noodles is that there are countless alternatives for dressing it up. If you're a pasta lover then keeping a few varieties of toppings stored in your pantry is the best way to go.

Pesto is a fast and easy sauce. Add some garlic, mushrooms or possibly a bit of Italian sausage, top it with some grated cheese, and you have a yummy dinner in an instant. Bottled or canned sun-dried tomatoes also work with pasta and let you take pleasure in tomato based pasta without the usual topping. Cover with grated parmesan and partner it with some fresh bread for a filling repast. If you feel like a creamy topping, simply combine some cream, oregano and sliced black olives. Top it with some shredded parmesan cheese. It's a simple sauce but very delicious.

Olive oil is also a staple with pasta and can be rather easy to make use of too. Try combining olive oil with canned seafood or slices of meat or sausage. You can throw in some basil for flavor and don't forget the shredded cheese. If you want to experiment, try adding some highly spiced meat such as pepperoni.

Pasta helps you get dinner on the table in no time. In only 15 to 20 minutes you will be able to cook a nourishing repast of noodles blanketed with a variety of scrumptious sauces. With all the potential variations, it's a quick and easy cooking dinner that you will never get tired of.

About the Author:

Looking for tips on healthy cooking, home cooking, or gourmet cooking? Visit the Cooking Site for articles and advice to improve your culinary skills.

Egg Production and Distribution

By Amy Nutt

Birds and eggs have existed since before Man and the first recorded history of domesticated wild fowl were found in East Indian history as early as 3200 BC. Records show domesticated hens throughout history but it has been believed that Columbus, on his second trip to the Americas in 1493, brought with him the ancestors of the chickens we see today. There are close to 200 breeds and varieties of chickens worldwide, but the most common laying hen is the Single Comb White Leghorn.

Over the centuries, the processes used for egg production and distribution have changed and improved drastically. The process is broken down into seven basic steps, with some of the steps containing more detailed work within them:

Laying: The hens need to have well balanced and nutritious meals in order to be good egg producers. Their diet plan is researched on a constant basis to ensure the best diet is given as much as possible. They have free access to fresh water and the food is distributed by computer controlled feeders. The more modern hen houses are computer controlled with the temperature, humidity, and ventilation systems all run by means of these computers. The lighting too is on a timed system since light seems to be what triggers the hens to lay the eggs. The highest and most common egg laying happens between 7 and 11 am. The cages are raised off the floor so that waste can drop out of the cage and to keep air flow open to the floor of the cage which prevents sores from forming on the hens feet or bodies, as well as keeping various diseases at bay.

Collecting: In most instances, collection is performed by the eggs automatically dropping onto a conveyor belt, below the hens cages. They travel along this belt to the washing station.

Washing: The eggs need to be cleaned and sanitized by washing them with a special cleaning solution and water that is more than 100 F or 38 C. Once washed, they are then rotated past 16 individual cameras, which inspect them for any remaining dirt spots. If spots are found, the egg returns back to the beginning of the process to be re-washed. Once the washing has been completed, the eggs are sent to be graded according to size, and weight.

Packing: Machines automatically place the eggs in separate sections; lining them up in accordance to the grade they have been given. To lessen the chance of breakage during shipping, the eggs are placed in foam or fiber cartons. The cartons are labeled appropriately and a "best before" date is printed on the carton as a guide for the consumer. Each carton is then packed into boxes for later shipping.

Cooling: The boxes of eggs are then placed in a climate controlled warehouse for storage until they are shipped out. The eggs are stored at 45 F or 7 C to maintain the egg quality. When they are ready for shipping, the boxes are loaded into refrigeration trucks to keep the temperature at the same level. Once shipped and in the stores, the grocer also maintains the temperature of the cartons by keeping them in a refrigerated unit until they are sold.

In Canada, there are approximately 1050 egg producers in operation, all following these procedures. In comparison, there are about 280 million producers in the United States and just one of them can produce as many eggs as all those found in Canada.

Eggs were once seen as a springtime food because of many of the older Easter traditions, but now they have become more versatile and a mainstay of most meal plans.

About the Author:

Getting bored of the same old cereal for breakfast? Egg Farmers of Ontario has lots of easy recipes that will liven up your breakfasts and start your day off right!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Trivia

By Cherie Carb

A very popular cookie is the Chocolate Chip Cookie. A favorite treat of our family, we like it best right out of the oven.

Done in a drop style, chocolate chip cookie dough generally has brown sugar, white sugar, butter and semi-sweet chocolate chips as part of the ingredients.

Many variations exist of this cookie. Some can be with oatmeal, nuts, m&m's, or white chocolate. An example of a yummy variations is white chocolate and macadamia nut.

A favorite treat of mine made by Mrs. Fields is a cookie-wich. It has two cookies with frosting in between. Lots of sugar and calories of course! I do not have a Mrs. Fields stand near me anymore as it closed, luckily!

A lady by the name of Ruth Graves Wakefield is the one whom made this great treat. We owe her thanks. The famous name she gave them was "Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookies".

Why "Toll House"? It was because she had bought an inn with her husband, Kenneth Wakefield in Massachusetts and was the cook there.

The Inn was a combination of a hotel and restaurant on a toll road back in those days. So the inn was in a sense a toll booth of yesteryear.

Ruth Graves Wakefield had written a cookbook in 1940's that had her recipes in it from the years of cooking at the inn. The cookbook was called "Ruth Wakefield's Recipes:Tried and True". It became a best selling cookbook.

The Toll House Inn was sold in the 1960's. It went through some changes, was sold in the 1970's, restored to it's original form. And it burned down in the 1980's.

Ruth Graves Wakefield lived from 1903 to 1977. She is buried in Massachusetts.

Massachusetts has the chocolate chip cookie as it's official cookie thanks to a proposal in 1997.

Each year billions of variations of this cookie are eaten by folks around the world. We owe Ruth Graves Wakefield a big thank-you for such a classic treat.

About the Author:

Are you a busy person but would like to make a home baked dessert for your next party? I am a busy person too but I have some simple recipes for you! Check out my blog www.simpledessertrecipes.net for simple home baked desserts. And find tips on how to make things like www.simpledesseertrecipes.net/frostings home baked frostings too!

The Coffee Maker Accessories That Improve Your Coffee

By Arlo McGil

Coffee has become a necessity especially for people who constantly need a pick me up of extra energy during the day. The best way to have coffee is having it fresh every day, thus the creation of coffee makers for do it yourself coffee has become a huge success.

Arabica and Robusta beans are the two most common blends known to coffee lovers; while there are other flavors offered by countries throughout the world to fit one's exquisite palate for their regular caffeine fix.

Coffee makers are no more than a regular item in any household's kitchen or office's pantry area. They are practical and efficient, providing fresh and pure coffee every single time. Despite its simplicity, there are a few other coffee maker accessories which come along with this wonderful technological innovation.

Water plays a key role in preparing coffee, without it; there is no medium in which the coffee can dilute its flavors. However, people tend to ignore the difference hard and soft water makes in a pot of brewed coffee. This is where water filters though are not really an accessory comes in. These filters create soft water which is free from minerals that can damage the coffee maker by leaving residue and deposits to the machine thus shortening its life. The soft water produced enables one to brew better tasting coffee than that used with regular tap water.

Drip coffee makers are among the most common type of coffee making machine known. With this kind of contraption, coffee filters are the vital coffee maker accessories to ensure that each pot brewed will be free from any ground coffee thus giving a coffee lover peace of mind that there will not be any wandering granules or residue which will end up in their favorite cup of drink.

Cloth coffee filters are practically the best kind there are as these are very economical and can be used over and over; one simply needs to wash it between uses to ensure that the fibers do not get clogged with the fine ground coffee. The paper coffee filters on the other hand are the most common type of filter available in the market and is the most common choice; however, as it is made from paper, there is the slight risk that one may experience a residual taste of paper in their brew. Apart from these, a rare yet reliable filter is the gold coffee filter; it is truly lined with 23k gold. This filter though does not come cheap; it is reliable and is known to last long without altering the taste of the coffee.

Another accessory is the coffee grinder or the mill; it allows a person to freshly grind coffee beans to produce fresh pots of coffee as they please. Each grinder is equipped with high powered blades to ensure fine grinding.

However one wishes to have their coffee, they can guarantee a fresh and satisfying cup with the aide of their trusty coffee maker and all the other accessories which make every cup more satisfying.

About the Author:

There are many coffee maker accessories that improve the taste of your home made coffee. Look at best coffee maker accessories and other accessories that will aid you in brewing a top quality coffee at home.

Beginners Guide To LED Kitchen Lighting

By Abigail Monot

Great kitchen lighting design typically utilises a large amount of lighting (which means more than just installing a few extra ceiling roses). Kitchen lighting needs a variety of types of lighting for different areas and purposes. The absolutely worst way to illuminate a kitchen is using bright fluorescent ceiling strip lights. They're certainly very bright - but also flat, cold and guaranteed to give you a headache into the bargain.

The most obvious issue with having central ceiling-rose fittings in a kitchen is that they produce dark spots, most noticeably where you cast your own shadow onto work surfaces. A solution seen in many kitchens involves fitting halogen down lamps in a uniform pattern across the ceiling then adding task-specific lighting for workareas, hobs and so on.

This certainly does the job fairly well, but is not without its own list of issues: halogen lights run at a very high temperature; they have a short lifespan; and they are without question the most costly solution as regards running kitchen lighting. A staggering ninety percent of the cost of halogen based lighting (and indeed, incandescent lighting in general) is the electricity they quite literally burn.

This one fact helps explain the growing popularity of cool, super energy efficient LED kitchen lights. For mains powered lighting you simply replace all existing GU10 halogen lamps with equivalent GU10 LED lights. For low voltage systems, you first replace existing 12 volt transformers with a smaller number of constant voltage 12 volt LED drivers (each can power a number of light fittings) then replace MR16 halogens with LED light bulbs.

There are 3 principal qualities to consider when evaluating LED spotlights, namely: luminosity (or brightness); color temperature (how blue and cool or yellow and warm the light seems); and light beam angle. Try to obtain as good a match as possible to the performance of your halogen lamps in these 3 areas.

We are used to measuring brightness in terms of wattage, but an LED light bulb will have a wattage rating at least ten percent that of it's equivalent incandescent or halogen bulb. Therefore, when replacing a 35w halogen lamp use an LED of 3w or above, and likewise replace a 50w with a 5w LED, etc.

Color temperature is used to measure how warm or cool a light seems. LED lights are available in a variety of white color temperatures (and also, colors) but since it has always been easier to manufacture blue LEDs, many cheap LEDs tend to have a cold/bluish tinge. Go for warm white (color temperatures below 3500K) for a reasonable approximation to the kind of white light normally associated with halogen lamps.

The narrower the beam angle (45 degrees for example) the tighter and more spot-like any light will appear, while 120 degrees gives an even spread of light and eliminates hot-spots and glare. Arguably the best LED spotlight presently on the market as a direct replacement for halogen spots is the Zenigata LED from Sharp.

A critical component that determines how artificial light actually appears is not the light itself but the surface on which it is shining. To create a warm feel simply direct spot lights at warmly coloured areas (clay tiles, wood or just a wall painted in warm colours). If a dramatic effect is what you're after, try shining blue LEDs at either dark or reflective surfaces - blue LED light bounced off granite or steel can appear stunning.

Combine LED lights of varying characteristics with different textures and colours to produce a range of effects suited to individual zones in your kitchen. The are almost boundless possibilities, even before you get to playing with LED strip lighting to accent plinths, worktops, coving and more or less anything else that takes your fancy. As ever though, the best designs often emerge by limiting things to a handful or less of the most appealing ideas - but don't be surprised how stunning even small amount of LED kitchen lighting looks.

About the Author:

Before you design your new kitchen lighting, Abigail Monot strongly recommends you discover more about kitchen lighting ideas in particular and LED domestic lights in general.

Cooking Contest Or Online Cooking Game?

By Vlad Stivenson

Have you ever entered an argument that seems to have no end? This seems to be part of nature, as there have been questions that look like they can never be answered satisfactorily to two or more parties. In the famous musical Fiddler on the Roof, the village Anatefka is pictured as a place where everyone lives in peace and harmony, except for an ongoing conflict that will never finish. One of the villagers claims that he bought a horse from another one but was given a mule. The seller of course claims that he indeed delivered a horse. Similarly, in The Lord of the Rings books, by Tolkien, elves and dwarves both claim to be the best of races. This conflict seems even more eternal due to the extremely long lifespan of those races.

Well, I had such a question that repeated itself in my head endless times. Looking back at those times, I realize it was a futile and unimportant question. But I was young and inexperienced and I used to make a big deal of things that werent worth it. That particular issue was my belief that men were better chefs than women. Im not sure how I got that idea, I guess its just the natural rivalry that arises between teens of opposite genders. Maybe it was my male pride I guess if that was my belief, I could have stayed with it and be happy about it. But noooooooooooo, for some reason I felt I had to expose my idea to someone and prove that I was right.

Well, I must not have been very intelligent either, because I finally told one of my female friends. I tried to be casual about it, but I ended up forcing the issue for apparently no reason at all. She wasnt pleased at all, or course. She must have thought I was a chauvinistic pig, but instead of putting me in my place, as she should have, she took a defiant and challenging position (I guess youth foolishness runs on both boys and girls). We both gave arguments in favor of our position, and frankly some of them didnt have anything to do with mens or womens ability to cook. Unable to convince me, she finally challenged me to a contest.

The idea of the contest was very simple, we would go to my place, and each of us would select 5 cooking games online. Then wed both play each of the 10 games and try to beat the other. Of course, we had to select games that included some way of measuring our performance, such as timers and points. The person who won more games would win. Of course I accepted immediately as I had played a few and I thought it would be an easy contest for me. Well, it didnt turn to be as easy, and although I lost, I went down with a good fight (6-4 and I always blamed the dirty mousepad).

Of course, a cooking game isnt the same thing as real life cooking, so the contest only proved that she was better at those games, not that women were better chefs. Nowadays, I couldnt care less. When I go to a restaurant, Im interested in knowing if the chef is good, not whether its a man or a woman.

About the Author:

Vlad Stivenson has created a very popular cooking game for girls

Cooking with Various Pans

By Galendalyn Rosenbaum

Making sure that your cooking pans are cured and well seasoned will help ensure that your cooking is faster, easier, and tastes better. The most frustrating thing is to cook a completely delicious meal only to have it stick to the bottom of the pan. A good saying to keep in mind is; Hot Pan - Cold Oil.

This means that you should never put the oil into a cold pan before heating it up. Heating the cooking pan before adding the oil, then immediately putting in the food, will ensure youll have significantly less sticking. Seasoning the pan before it first use, will ensure you superior results.

Stainless Steel Cooking Pans - Since stainless steel is incapable of being seasoned, its metal is to hard, I would not recommend using them for any cooking other than simple food storage. Honestly I cannot think of a single restaurant that uses stainless steel for this reason. My advice would be to avoid stainless steel if you are looking to create true culinary masterpieces.

Aluminum " Make sure that first you wash the cooking pan with soap and water using a sponge or cloth. Rinse and dry your cooking pan thoroughly. Heat up the cooking pan until its hot to the touch then add two ounces of oil to the cooking pan. Swirl the cooking pan so that the oil coats every place on the cooking pan. Let the cooking pan cool off. Then remove the oil and repeat the process once more. After this point, you should never use soap to clean it again. When you need to wash it, use warm water and a dry paper towel. If you find that some food does stick that is fine, it will ad some extra flavor to your next dish.

Adding this extra effort to season your new cooking pans, will offer you much more amazing cooking results, while also increasing the life of your pans. I recommend spending that little extra to purchase quality pans and then make sure that you take care of them. In the long term you will be much more pleased with your investment.

About the Author:

If you enjoyed reading this article be sure to check out the rest of our resources on Cooking Pans you can talk with and ask questions from our chefs at The Cook Master

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?

Find out for yourself with the pros and cons of the Topsy Turvy Upside Down Tomato Planter.

Pros-- Because the plant hangs upside down the tomatoes will not bend your plant in half.

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

Pros- - It will give you much more free space in your yard because your tomato plants will be up in the air.

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.

Watering your tomato plant is another thing. Because the dirt isn't buried in the ground it will dry out fairly quickly and you will have to water it around two times a day.

Pros-- It is very easy to harvest the tomatoes. You will not have to dig through the vines on your hands and knees and you can walk all the way around the tomato plant to gather your tomatoes.

Cons-- When the sun hits the planter it can make the dirt very hot and can kill your plants. To avoid this you will need to place aluminum foil around the planter to deflect some of the light.

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.

About the Author:

Did you know that you are able to grow a variety of vegetables in the Topsy Turvy Tomato Planter? If you are able to grow it, you are able to hang it! To receive the greatest discount on a Topsy Turvy Tomato Planter, Click Topsy Turvy Tomato Planter.

Features of The Best Selling Bread Makers Available Today

By Chris Channing

Bread makers are rising in popularity as home users find that making bread is easy and cost effective. Bread makers are plentiful in the current market, with plenty of prices and styles for home users to choose from. Choosing the right bread maker is more than just price, it's about getting a product you will be satisfied.

Not all bread makers will bake the bread for you. Some bread makers only seek to act as a tool to create the right consistency in dough, to make it ready for baking at a later date. Models that allow for baking are more handy for home users who want an all in one solution. The extra money is justified with the lack of effort needed to bake the bread.

Creating banana nut bread requires that you are able to add the banana flavoring and nuts. The flavoring is easy enough to add to the dough, but some bread makers may not allow you add other ingredients in during the process. Bread makers that do will allow a timer to go off just as soon as you need to add the extra ingredients to finish the perfect recipe.

Stop and think on how much bread you expect to make with your purchase. If you have a large family to feed, a larger model would be a better purchase decision. Smaller models would be better for single families or for occasions only. Large models can store several pounds worth of bread and more, so size isn't usually an issue.

The time period in which the bread maker takes to make a final product differs based on the model. Some models will enable bread to be baked according to a fixed time schedule. A slow baking schedule required for some recipes can easily span 12 hours, while smaller recipes could only take a couple of hours. To be a flexible cook, you might want to go for bread maker that is flexible on cooking times.

Bread makers operate on different power settings according to their capacity and settings. A high wattage rating will end up costing you more money in energy bills each month if you use it long enough. Odds are even if you use it sparingly it can have a noticed effect, since bread recipes can cook for 12 hours and up. Find a model that has a low power rating to help support the green movement.

Closing Comments

Baking the perfect loaf of bread is so easy today with the help of technology. You can find your next bread maker online by searching the big retailers. Compare and contrast the prices and service offerings of each retailer so you get the best price for your bread making machine.

About the Author:

Learn more on Bread Maker Reviews and Bread Maker Reviews.

How to Clean Cooking Pans

By Glendalyn Shaburt

A new set of cooking pans is possibly some of the best culinary crafting in the world. Providing a home style taste and an easy way to craft masterpieces in your own home, this type of cooking pans are decidedly versatile, requiring a little time learn how to use.

Cooking pans need to be handled slightly different from most other cooking equipment. Your pans will need some important steps before you cook you first meal. This is called seasoning and it ensures that your pans will last a lifetime.

Straight Oiling. When you use this method, to prepare you cooking pans, you smother fat in the pan, and then slightly remove it. This should leave behind a thin layer of oil. You will then use then pan to prepare intensely greasy food the first couple of times that you use them. Bacon, Sausage, and other similar food works great. You should repeat this at least 5 to 7 times before you cook anything else.

After you have seasoned your new cooking pans, you can now cook basically anything you desire. Most cooks with use their cooking pans to do everything from frying chicken to corn bread and biscuits. You seasoned pans are ideal for stove-top cooking as well as baking.

Now that you have cooked your masterpiece its is time to clean up. You will find that the style for cleaning seasoned cooking pans a bit unusual, Instead of tossing it into the dishwasher or scraping it your, you must use a much more delicate approach, to ensure that you never lose the seasoning.

To clean your new cooking pans, it is recommended to use good amount boiling of water in the pan. Once you have boiled the water, remove it and wipe the pan out. It's that simple.

About the Author:

If you enjoyed our article on cleaning and seasoning Cooking Pans take a look at the rest of our material at The Cook Master

Five Restaurant Food Preparation Tips to Use At Home

By Malcolm J. Richmond

The majority of us love having fresh food prepared for us in a special way by someone who is talented in this field when we dine out at a restaurant. Nonetheless, as well as being a little on the expensive side, does being rushed through your meal because the restaurant needs your table for the next diners or having your meal interrupted by waiters or waitresses spoil the occasion slightly? If so, do you know that it's possible to enjoy just as good a dining experience in your own home? Well, it is and here are five tips to turn your kitchen into a kitchen of delight.

Tip One: Labeling Make sure that everything in your kitchen is labeled. I think we have all at some point picked up something out of the refrigerator and wondered what it was. Spice labels are easily worn off and if you are not familiar with all the scents, you may find that you are adding basil when you wanted to add cilantro.

Tip Two: Clean, Sanitized and Safe Fine dining restaurants have impeccably clean kitchens. You would not walk into one of Gordon Ramsey's kitchens and find it a mess. Take the time to clean your kitchen; this is the place that you are preparing food for your self, family and friends. Making sure it is clean will help reduce any possible contamination to food that you are preparing.

A Place for Everything and Everything in its Place Just as in a restaurant kitchen you should keep raw food away from cooked food. Both these foodstuffs have their own place and this is another way of ensuring that food doesn't get contaminated.

Tip 4 - Make Sure Your Foodstuffs Are Fresh You will never find real chefs using packaged or pre-prepared foods. Only the best fresh produce will do, right down to the herbs and spices in their kitchens. With fresh food you will be able to produce flavorsome dishes to tickle your taste buds at the same time as giving your body the necessary nourishment it requires.

Tip 5 - Add a Little Flair With your kitchen spotlessly clean and full of fresh ingredients, be imaginative and add a little flair to your cooking by creating your own dishes instead of using cookery books and recipes. You can do this by trying difference combinations of foods and you never know; you may find you have hidden talents as far as your culinary skills are concerned.

About the Author:

Author: Malcolm J. Richmond tells us about dining safety at commercial kitchens via the webpage Australian Food Safety, such as kitchen hygeine or employee training for commercial restaurants. Learn more about commercial kitchen hygeine.

How To Cook With Oranges

By Geoffrey Tyler

Oranges are one of the most well known fruits in the citrus family. In fact, this fruit has been considered to be valuable for over 4,000 years. The very first oranges arrived in Spain, Persia, Africa, Egypt and Asia through the ancient Arab trade routes. It is originally from China and even though oranges have been around for years, it was only during the last century that it became a common household fruit in the United States through the developments in transportation.

Oranges are usually eaten raw as a snack or placed in fruit salads. However, did you know that you can actually do more with them? In fact, you can create whole dishes using oranges as the main ingredient. This means an additional source of Vitamin C for your dishes. So, ready to get started? Here are a few recipes which have oranges as an ingredient:

Orange and Ginger Chicken. You will need: 2 chicken breasts, 1 orange (rind), 1 glass of white wine, 1 garlic clove, fresh ginger, mushrooms and a handful of cashew nuts. First, rub the chicken breasts with a mixture the ginger and orange rind. Next, heat the oil in your frying pan and add the chicken. After it's cooked, place the chicken in a dish. Fry the mushrooms in the pan with some freshly crushed Garlic, some cashew nuts and add the white wine. Pour this mixture over the chicken and bake it for 20 minutes. This dish is best served with pasta or creamed potatoes.

Salmon in Orange Sauce. For this dish, you will need: 4 slices of fresh salmon, 1 tbsp of lemon juice, 30g butter, orange juice, salt and pepper, 1 onion,1/4 cup fresh mixed herbs, 2 cups fish bouillon, 1 cup dry white wine, 1 cup cr'me fraiche, 2 tbsp capers, and 8 orange slices for garnish. First, clean your salmon and add the salt and pepper for seasoning. In a frying pan, saute? your herbs and onion. After wards, you can add the wine, the bouillon and capers. Subsequently add the orange juice and cr'me fraiche after it heats up. Add your salmon and let it simmer for at least 5 minutes. Serve with the sliced oranges.

Orange Cake. To make orange cake, you would need the ff: 100g butter, the juice of 2 oranges as well as grated peel, 250g flour, 100g grated almonds, 9g baking powder, tsp salt and 2 egg whites (beat till foamy). This is quite easy to make as all you need to do is mix all the ingredients together, adding the eggs last. Take a baking form and fill it with the cake mixture and bake it in an oven which was pre-heated to 37F for at least 45 minutes. You can add warm orange marmalade over the cake for added sweetness.

Now, that we have a few recipes up, let's talk about other uses for the orange fruit. Most people love oranges because of the fact that it is one of the best fruits to eat raw and to get juice from. From salads, marmalade as well as frozen desserts, oranges can be used in a wide variety of ways. In fact, even its peeled skin can be used to create essential oils that are often used in aromatherapy.

In Indian cooking, the orange flower water, which is distilled from its tress blossoms, is actually used in many dishes. In fact, nothing goes to waste. The fruit itself as well as its grated zest can be used to add extra punch for cakes, as well as seafood dishes. Bitter oranges are also used to make jam, jelly, sauce and syrup. Whilst the fruits bitter zest is used to add a tinge of orangey flavor to various alcoholic drinks.

The next time you cook, try adding a bit of orangey flavor to it and see what happens. After all, it's through experimenting that we learn. Add a different flavor and aroma to your dishes and start cooking with oranges today.

About the Author:

Can't figure out what to cook for dinner?? This just released ebook "Orange Recipes" puts a twist on meals by including oranges as an ingredient. There are so many easy orange recipes out there that we have compiled a list of our favorites in one easy to guide.

Healthy Food In Your Healthy Home Experience

By John Jones

In our present generation, people are always picky in terms of what they eat. Does it have less sugar or less fat? If it?s low on carbohydrates or not, was it baked or fried? And most important, is it a healthy food or not.

Surely, when you ask anyone, they wanted something that?s healthy, but the problem is on how you can get these kinds of foods when most of the restaurants you see outside are fast foods. And those who can serve you healthy foods would cost much more compared to their usual menu which is either fried to the deepest amount of oils, or foods that were frozen for hours or even days that its freshness has been long gone.

I think people just have to put some of their time to be able to prepare good foods. You might find it hard at first but surely, when you?re starting to feel healthy, it would be as easy as your everyday ordinary meal.

This is why cooking good foods is important. And for you to make that you must first consider what a healthy food should be.

Cooked foods are still healthy food, its how you cook them that matters. For example, steamed fish is much healthier than fried fish. Or may be you are the type of person who loves to eat French fries with a can of soda, so why not get some potatoes, bake them at home and have some fresh fruit juice. By doing so, you saved your self from too much oil intake.

Most people would say that cooking is for everyone, but not everyone can cook. And I think that those who believe in this just simply hate cooking. So they just gave up right away and didn?t bother trying.

People nowadays, if you?ll notice, are starting to be aware of their well being more and more, of course, it?s not just a regular visit to the gym that will make you healthy, it?s the food that we eat everyday. For instance, why are people investing on expensive sets of cook wares? It?s because they believe that these manufacturers made their products of high qualities that it lessens the danger that they?re getting every time they cook foods. Best example would be the type of frying pans that are non-stick, and doesn?t need oil in order to cook or fry dishes.

So if you want a healthy life, you need to have healthy foods as well. Its important that people are aware of the food they eat because it will not only save you big bucks on getting medications when you get sick, it?s the privilege to live long with your loved ones because when your healthy, you don?t get sick and when you don?t get sick then you can enjoy life to its fullest.

About the Author:

If you want to get some useful information about cooking using a sharp microwave drawer, you should check out a sharp microwave drawer. You'd be shocked just how useful they can be.

How Eggs are Classed and Graded

By Amy Nutt

The grading of eggs is done with a series of tests where the eggs are examined for various qualities such as size and weight. There are three grades of eggs, which are Grade A, Grade B, and Grade C, in Canada. The grades in the US differ slightly by name only, as Grade A, Grade AA and Grade B. Grade A eggs are sold to consumers but the other Grades are for commercial uses.

In order to grade the eggs, they are first washed to make sure they are spotless then they are sent to be candled. Candling, which is usually performed by hand, examines the contents of the egg. This is done by passing the eggs past a light which allows the shell to be viewed internally. The conditions of the shell, the white, and the yolk, are checked for cracks and air pockets. In modern egg operations, the eggs are checked for cracks with the use of sonic sound. Tiny probes tap the egg a total of 16 times to accurately detect any blemishes in the shell. If a crack is found, a thud will indicate the egg is below standard and will be removed. An egg that is perfect will have the machine produce a high pitched sound. The candling or scanning allows the technician to see the size of the air pocket, cracks in the shell, and the centering of the yolk. This is what will later divide the eggs into different grades.

Once it has been determined the egg is worthy of carrying on, it then goes to be graded and weighed. The weight is done by the carton, not the individual egg, and computer controlled sensors weigh each egg over 60 times in less than one second. There is only a 3 ounce difference per one dozen eggs of a different size so the accuracy of the weight of each carton is important.

Grade A: The egg is found in perfect condition. The shell is not cracked at all, is fully clean, and the yolk is round and centered in a firm white with a minimal air pocket. These eggs will be processed for shipping to retail stores for consumers to buy.

Grade B: This egg also has an un-cracked shell but may have a rough texture. The white will be watery/thin and the yolk somewhat flat. These eggs are saved for commercial uses such as selling to bakeries or for processing into other foods like making mayonnaise or noodles.

Grade C: Eggs with this grade likely have a cracked shell, loose yolk, and very thin white. This will only be sold to commercial processors as use as an additive for other products.

Sometimes during the cleaning and other processes, eggs will get broken or punctured. These will be added to the Grade C eggs to be used in processed foods. The eggs are all broken by special machines at a "breaking station," where they are then pasteurized. The eggs are pasteurized by heating the eggs liquid form to a very high temperature in order to kill any harmful bacteria and micro-organisms. Once the pasteurization process has been completed, further processing of the egg is done and then packaged in liquid, frozen or dried/powdered form for sale. Preservatives or flavorings, and food coloring may be added before selling to companies who will use the processed eggs for production of food or condiments as well as such things as shampoos, pet food, and in adhesives.

Technology has played a significant role in the production of eggs. Now, all eggs are able to be used in a variety of food areas, while the best eggs are provided directly to the consumer.

About the Author:

Egg Farmers of Ontario looks to provide customers with high quality eggs at a fair price. Visit us for lots of healthy recipes, and lots of great breakfasts ideas!

How To Use Dairy Produce: Part 4 - Eggs (cont).

By Owen Jones

Basic Preparation Of Foods: Dairy Produce.

Eggs: Part Two

Poaching: boil 40mm water in a frying pan; add a teaspoon of salt and a teaspoon of vinegar. Crack egg into cup, inspect and tip into water. Turn down the heat. Gather the white around the unbroken yolk with a spoon and simmer for 3-4 mins. Lift out with a fish slice, drain and serve on hot buttered toast.

Scrambling: beat the eggs well; add salt, pepper to taste and a dash of milk. Melt enough butter to cover the bottom of a small pan. Cook the eggs slowly, stirring continuously. Cook in a basin floating in boiling water, if preferred. Serve when almost completely set, in about 5 mins.

Fried Eggs: Melt enough fat to easily cover the base of (a|the shallow pan. Tip the egg(s) in gently and fold the whites around the yolks. When the white has solidified, baste the yolk to taste and remove whole with a fish slice.

Baking: lightly grease a fireproof dish and slide eggs into it. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and butter. Bake in a moderate oven and serve in the same pan after the whites have set.

Omelettes: buy a pan and keep it just for omelettes! The base should be smooth and clean. Allow two eggs per serving; whip lightly and add salt and pepper to taste. Melt enough butter to cover the bottom of a frying pan. When the butter is fairly hot, pour in the beaten eggs; as it sets, raise the handle and draw the set mixture up towards the handle, allowing the liquid egg to run down onto the hot pan. When all the liquid has set, tilt the pan back and roll the omelette up. Serve immediately on a warm plate. The omelette can be filled with almost anything, before being rolled over.

Pouring Custard: beat 2-3 eggs for every one pint of milk lightly. Heat the milk and pour gradually over the eggs; add sugar and flavouring to taste; cook in a double pan or jug and hot water until the required consistency has been achieved. If it is not to be served immediately, pour a thin layer of water onto it to prevent a skin forming.

Baked Custard: proceed as above and then transfer the custard into a greased dish; sprinkle lightly with nutmeg and place dish in water to halfway up its sides. Bake at 350 F for 35-45 mins; test its solidity by inserting a knife - it should be clean on withdrawal.

Steamed Custard: proceed as for above, but cook in a steamer or a pan in boiling water. The length of cooking time is about the same too.

Custard Tarts: pour a little pouring custard into each unbaked pastry case and bake in the oven for around 40-50 minutes. A little strawberry jam can be placed at the bottom of the pastry case first, if preferred.

About the Author:

For scrumptious gourmet Traditional Welsh Recipes, go along to our website at http://welsh-recipes.the-real-way.com/ Visit the Uber Article Directory to get a totally unique version of this article for reprint.

How To Make A Birthday Cake Without Using Food Allergens

By Chris Channing

A celebratory experience shouldn't go unrewarded with cake. Birthdays are known for the sweet confections, but a food allergy can come in between a child and his or her birthday plans. Making a birthday cake that is free of common allergens is possible; keeping the birthday spirit alive and well.

The ingredients you will be using can all be found at your local grocer. White rice flour, potato starch, tapioca starch, and xanthan gum are among the irregular ingredients you may not have had experience in using before. The rest of the ingredients are probably already in your kitchen, such as cocoa powder or vanilla extract. It is surprisingly easy to make a cake with next to no ingredients at all!

Before mixing the batter, preheat your oven to 350 degrees. That way the oven will be near ready once you get all the ingredients mixed and poured into the cake pan. Grab a big mixing bowl and combine the ingredients until the batter is of smooth consistency. For extra flavoring you can include a little bit of extra vanilla extract, but be careful with how much you use.

The baking time is small- it will only take around half an hour for the cake to be fully cooked. You will start to notice the cake is done when it has risen to a moderate height and seems to be browning slightly. You can check the consistency of the cake by using your finger to slightly poke the surface of the cake. If the cake slightly bounces back, odds are it is either near done or is completed.

A cake wouldn't be much without icing. The icing can be made from scratch if you have more vanilla flavoring and a thickening agent handy. You can also get by with using a store-bought icing container if it claims to be allergen free. If it doesn't clearly state it is so, be wary of purchasing it. Some products could be made on machinery that is used on other food products containing allergens.

Now for the most trying part of the operation: letting the cake cool! The cake will take a good amount of time to cool, in which time you can apply the icing and call it a done deal. You can then serve the cake to those who are willing to taste it. By using this recipe a few times, you can get better at making it taste just as good as a normal cake.

Final Thoughts

Food allergies won't stop anyone from having their cake and eating it too. Remember that practice makes perfect, and the ultimate test is having test subjects try the cake and comparing it. If you can pass the taste palette of a young child, then you are doing just fine indeed.

About the Author:

Learn more on new allergy free products and allergy free candy.

Get Rid of Fat from Soup

By Michael Swengel

We all enjoy good soup - but no one really needs extra|excess fat and calories. But many of our favorite choices are full of fat and extra junk that we dont need. Fortunately for us, this is easily fixed without sacrificing flavor.

If you have time, make your soup approximately a day before you plan to serve it. Place the soup in the refrigerator overnight. By chilling the soup, you will cause the fat to rise to the surface and harden. Then, you will be able to easily remove the fat off the top and throw it away. If you do this, you will also notice that the flavor of the soup will improve overnight because it has had a chance to soak in.

If you only have a few hours, leave the soup in your freezer to chill it quickly. This will work in a similar way to the first step, but not quite as effectively. However, it will cause the fat to solidify and come to the top of the soup - allowing you to get rid of it easily.

With a large spoon, carefully and gently stir the soup in a circular motion from the center to the sides scooping up the fat that has collected along the edges of the bowl.

Cover a few ice cubes with paper towels and carefully run them over the top of the soup. This will quickly cool some of the fat in the soup causing it to solidify and rise to the top (as in steps 1 and 2.)|(like in steps 1 and 2.) You should then be able to see and get rid of the gunk quickly.

Consider using smoked turkey instead of ham or sausage in your soup. Turkey has far less fat than ham or sausage and can be used to achieve similar flavors. You could also substitute bacon or pork with olive oil. Yes, you wont get the same flavor, but adding a little smoked turkey can help.

About the Author:

Michael Swengel is a freelance author who enjoys writing on a wide range of topics including but not limited to health, faith, technology, and life. Get a totally unique version of this article from our article submission service

Wooden Range Hoods in the Kitchen

By Terry Howarth

Your kitchen can take on a very appealing style from the kind of range hood cover you utilise. When thinking of the decoration of a kitchen, you must bear in mind that the kind of hood you use will enhance the look of your kitchen and generate pleasure and especially safety to the person using the kitchen. Modern kitchens are often very classy and the kind of hood you decide to install will largely be dependent upon the style of your kitchen and the overall kind of look you wish to promote. Wood is gradually becoming increasingly popular as a choice of material for range hoods, because of their classy, quality and timeless appeal.

Since the kind of range extraction hood you put in will add to the overall design of the kitchen, it is highly recommended you do some window browsing in some of the kitchen and furniture appliance shops in your area to acquire the good design ideas.

To achieve the most efficient use of time out of your browsing excursion and purchasing a wood kitchen range hood, it is worthwhile considering the following points:

The type of wood: The long term durability of the kitchen hood will be determined by the type of wood. The more durable the wood is, the more expensive it will be. In the longer term, you will often find that the better kitchen range hoods and more expensive woods will be more cost effective.

Size of the wood range hood: Wooden range hoods come in a variety of different sizes. They usually come as large, standard and small. You will need to take into account the overalll size of your kitchen as well in order for the range hood to operate efficiently. It is of importance to achieve the correct amount of overlap of your cooking range to ensure the most efficient removal o fumes.

The finish of the hood: Since you want to get the most attractive look, you should consider the kind of finishing to achieve the look you want to your kitchen. The color of the kitchen area and the kind of atmosphere and image you want to portray will determine the appropriate finish.

Selecting the best custom profile: The custom profile will definitely add to the overall picture of the kitchen range hoods. You must be sure whether you wish the addition of beads on the trim, and additional colorful accessories, and to what extent.

A lot of people take the easier direction and purchase the same kitchen range hood to that found in a friend's or neighbor's kitchen. However, attending home design exhibitions is often a more favorable idea, as you will often get a better idea of thrange of kitchen hoods out there and you will often discover a hood more appropriate to your requirements. Also using the services of an interior designer can help you in your choice of hood.

About the Author:

Terry likes to write articles about island range hoods and how to get the best out of your range hood filters.

The Coconut: Nature's Gift for Healthy Radiance

By Melissa Sage

Coconuts are a bountiful gift to this planet. In Sanskrit (the mother language of India), the coconut palm is known as 'kalpa vriksha', meaning ' the tree that supplies all that is needed to live.' An ancient plant that is distantly related to grasses, the coconut has been used as a food and medicine since the dawn of history. Ayurveda (the art of science and medicine that has its roots in India) has long advocated the therapeutic, medicinal and cosmetic properties of coconuts.

Taking approximately nine months to filter each liter of water in its shell, the coconut makes an amazing natural water filter. The water is drawn up through micro-fibers which purify it before it ends in the actual nut of the coconut. This clear life-giving coconut water isone of the highest sources of electrolytes found in all of nature. Coconut water is a wonderful re-hydrator and makes an excellent sports drink. When we consume a drink consisting of 55% fresh coconut water and 45% fresh green-leaf juice, or blue-green algaes, we give ourselves an instantaneous infusion of life energy.

A completely saturated medium-chain fatty acid (remember: not all saturated fats are bad!), coconut oil contains no cholesterol and does not form dangerous trans-fatty acids. The medium-chain fatty acids (MCT's) in coconut oil possess incredible health giving benefits requiring less energy and fewer enzymes to digest, allowing the body to quickly convert the MCT's into usable energy. Even better than olive oil for lowering overall cholesterol levels, coconut oil is stable at high temperatures (up to 170 degrees Fahrenheit), making it an excellent choice for use in cooking.

Coconut oil is one of nature's most versatile and healthy fats. Studies show that coconut oil supports the health of the thyroid gland, which regulates thenecessary anti-aging steroids progesterone, DHEA and pregnenolone. These steroids are important to help prevent heart disease, senility, obesity, cancer and other degenerative diseases associated with aging. Coconut oil also contains capryllic acid as well as lauric acid, both of which are anti-fungal, anti-viral and anti-microbial. It has long been known that caprilyc acid is the most potent yeast-fighting substance, making it an excellent choice for those working with candida and other inner ecology imbalances. Transitioning to coconut oil as one's fat source also helps to normalize blood sugar levels while increasing energy, building a healthy immune and nervous system and reducing the overall stress on one's system. It is helpful to note that a 'therapeutic dose' of coconut oil consists of daily doses of two to three (or more) tablespoons for an adult.

Cooking with coconut oil is a delightful way to introduce this supplement into your life. Try using it instead of margarine, butter or other vegetable oils. Also, consider using fresh coconuts that are not too old (i.e., forgo the coconut shavings and buy a whole coconut instead).The flesh is primarily fat, and it can be chopped and eaten with fruit for a delectable treat. Coconut oil is also great as an oil for veggies, tossed into your morning smoothie or slathered on bread with spices or preserves. If you're looking for a way to enhance oats or rice, coconut oil adds a special note to a normally humble dish.

Repairing and nourishing to the skin, coconut oil has been used for thousands of years as a skin moisturizer because it is ideal for all skins types, including dry, rough and wrinkled skin. Aromatherapy uses two types of coconut oil: fractionated and virgin. Virgin coconut oil is solid at room temperature and blends well with essential oils for a thick, nourishing body oil, which does not leave a greasy feel. The same oil that is used in cooking can be used in body care products. Fractionated coconut is a liquid oil that is made when the coconut molecule is cut to a smaller size. This process does not deplete the oil's healthy qualities, but instead allows us to use coconut oil in a liquid state - an excellent quality in massage applications. Also, fractionated coconut absorbs quickly, does not have a coconut odor and has an extremely long shelf life, all pluses in many situations. Coconut is also blended with other carrier oils, such as jojoba, to create a luscious cream base. Creating your own body care items with coconut oil and essential oils is a lovely, and easy, way to enhance your personal health.

One more thing about the fabulous coconut: this oil is great for use in sexual play. Both the taste and smell of coconut add to the delights of intercourse. A great way to experience coconut is by mixing it with vanilla and cacao oils. Smooth this concoction over your lover's skin and enjoy.

If you're searching for a multi-use, healthy oil, search no further than the coconut. Whether you use it in skin blends, salads or massage creams, the coconut is an all-around excellent choice as both a carrier and edible oil. It takes essential oils beautifully and will not leave your skin feeling heavy or greasy. Use it in its many forms and see how this unique plant continues to benefit us in our day to day lives.

About the Author:

The author has made available reports on specific oils such as chamomile and other quality essential oils.