Saturday, January 3, 2009

11 Cups to Better Cooking

By Moses Harun

Whether you have many mouths to feed or just enjoy making sauces, gravies and even smoothies that can be saved, you can buy the Cuisinart 11-Cup food processor. The Cuisinart 11-cup food processor works approximately like every other brand of food processor, but boasts attributes that have established Cuisinart as special and one of the more highly respected brands in food processors. For this reason, Cuisinart food processors are so synonymous with food processing that even off-brand food processors are labeled "cuisinarts." However, they do not operate as nicely and do not have the convienences and warranties that you will find with the Cuisinart 11-cup food processor.

There are a lot of jobs that you can enjoy with the assistance of the Cuisinart 11 Cups food processor. Everyone knows that vegetables are healthy and are supposed to be used in all of our meals. Because it utilizes many blades that are effortless to take apart and wash, you could use the Cuisinart 11-cup food processor to prepare the vegetables for snacks and other meals quickly and convienently. It is not just quick, but it is much safer to handle than a knife. You do not have to drag out the butcher block and sharpen the knives as this kitchen helper is able to do it all. Because it gives you 11 cups in the canister, you can prepare as much as you want, and also freeze the extra chopped vegetables for later use.

The Cuisinart 11-cup food processor can be used for many different culinary tasks. If you wish to cook spaghetti sauce, for example, you can include cooked meat and not have to chop it by hand. You can then blend all of the ingredients into a tasty sauce. You could even incorporate vegetables in it. Then, the sauce may then be cooked or, if it is already cooked, it can be fed to your family. The additional sauce could be put into freezer containers for later use.

The Cuisinart 11-cup food processor has many uses. You can not just chop vegetables, but fruits as well in the Cuisinart 11-cup food processor. You might decide to whip up a smoothie in this device by pureeing fruits and then mixing in yogurt to make a tasty treat. Any extra smoothies can be saved for later.

It can be just as easy to prepare one vegetable as it is to prepare a few when you are employing this type of food processor. You may even get the whole job done in one session, freeze the left overs, and then save some time some other time when you need to add them to other meals.

You could even use the Cuisinart 11-Cup food processor to prepare a cake. Throw in your ingredients and a patented blade will whip the ingredients from the bottom. It works just as well for blending as for slicing. This is truly one of a very few kitchen appliances that you will require. If you would like to get a kitchen appliance that does everything you need quickly and is a breeze to clean, get the Cuisinart 11-cup food processor.

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Friday, January 2, 2009

Learn About the Joy Surrounding Chocolate Truffles

By Bob Johnson

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

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

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

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

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

For those of you who like chocolate truffles, there are quite a few different kinds to decide from. You can purchase chocolate truffles in milk chocolate, dark chocolate or if you aren't certain which kind of truffle your loved one or friend might like, you can constantly get a box of mixed chocolate truffles.

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

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

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Taking Your Craft Beyond the Home in Delaware

By Jeremy Davis

Warm hand-knitted sweaters, delicious home-baked cookies and beautiful hand-crafted items: doesn't that sound so cozy? Of course, things made out of the crafts that come from the home usually are. Their intricacy and the way they have that kind of special touch makes them endearing. And it's in the way they are endearing that people appreciate them. If you have the talent for making such items, why not share it in crafts and trade fairs and festivals?

Engaging in such events would be a good experience since besides the fact that you get to share what you do best with the rest of the world, you would also get to earn some extra income out of it. So, how do you begin? That's a good question to ask.

People experienced in participating in such events would be the best to approach to get your question answered. But this wouldn't be enough. You would have to coordinate with them so you could stay updated on the latest gatherings all over. That takes a lot of effort since as you might have to go to various fairs just to meet.

Fortunately for you, you can just consult a database that gives information on all events in your area. In Delaware, this comes in a calendar that tells you everything you need to know to be in on the latest events near or far.

Sharing your talents in crafts and trade fairs is a sure-fire way to learning things beyond your craft. You could think of it as a way of putting your entrepreneurial skills to use. A lot could be learned from participating and selling your goods. You can also meet other people from around the area who are big fans of arts and crafts such as yourself. They'll be plenty of help for you and your hobby. From such a small start in Delaware, maybe you could even make it big.

A handy service that keeps you updated on the fairs in your region and in others would be a great help, especially if you have another job to tend to. You would be able to ready yourself for anything you would like to join, the service would help you a lot with managing your schedule. Your hobby then wouldn't turn into something stressful, then.

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Your Messy Pantry Is Costing You Money

By Nicole Dean

My family's meals were all planned ahead for the week and I was feeling quite organized. I made out the menu, put together the grocery list, and got my shopping all done in one trip. This week we were not going to waste any money on fast food or delivery meals. I was on a roll.

My bubble was burst, however, when I got home and started putting my groceries away. Lo and behold, I had purchased several items that I already had in my pantry. Now that wouldn't be a big problem except that I bought those items earlier at a great sale price and now have paid full price simply because I didn't remember I had them. Unnecessary pantry items purchased at full price. Ugh! Talk about wasting money.

So, starting today, I'm implementing a plan to organize and itemize my pantry so I never buy duplicates again at full price. To make it work for me, I'm going to set up 4 steps to follow. Here we go.

Step 1: Remove Everything From The Pantry. This will take a little time, so pick a day when you can dig in. Have a strong cup of tea or coffee, and begin. Pull all the food items, canned and dry, and check each one to see if they are damaged or expired. Throw out anything questionable. Now's your chance to wipe out the pantry and shelves.

Step 2: Mapping Your Pantry. This will take some organization, but it isn't difficult. You'll actually be sorting your food items into categories so that you can make an inventory of what you have. The basic items could be sorted into baking goods, soups, broth, canned diced tomatoes, canned tomato sauce, oils, barbeque sauces, crackers, dry snacks, canned snacks, rice, and so on. Then you'll need to do the same with your spices. This can be tedious, but start arranging your spices in alphabetical order so that you can check for duplicates. You'll be amazed how many duplicates you have. Again, check the expiration dates and throw out any spices that you know, or suspect, are old.

Step 3: Make A List Of Your Basic Items. Making a list of all your most used items may seem like a lot of work, but it will really be a useful tool. Once this "most used" item list is made, stick it on the pantry door. Now you can routinely update your items, keeping a tally of items as you buy them and use them. (Highlight them when they get low and cross them off once you run out.) A very simple grid type paper will be easy for the entire family to follow. Just some rows and columns, and you'll have a handle on everything that is in your pantry. This is very simple once you start using it.

Step 4: Shop For Pantry Items Using Your List. Now when you make your grocery list for the week's meals, refer to your list and you'll know what you have and what you need. One exception to this is when you find a food item on sale that's on your "basics" list, items like diced tomatoes or chicken broth. These items are always welcome in my pantry, but only at a reduced price.

I love looking in my pantry and knowing that all my basic items were purchased at a special sale price. That doesn't happen if I keep buying something at full price because I forgot I already had some on hand. Now that I have all my pantry items identified and accounted for, I can check my basic list before I go to the store and eliminate all those extra full price purchases.

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A Cut Like No Other: Wusthof Le Cordon Knives

By Moses Harun

Wusthof has been manufacturing excellent knives for the kitchen for close to two centuries. In fact, Wusthof has teamed up with the Le Cordon Bleu Academie D'Art Culinare, the most well-known cooking academy in Paris, to create the Le Cordon Bleu line of knives. These knives boast quality blades and handles and are backed by a lifetime guarantee. There are several Wusthof Le Cordon Bleu knife sets on the market, also.

The quality knives used here have been engineered by Wusthof and Le Cordon Bleu to meet their goal of providing the top quality knives for home use. The knives included are very much like the knives used at the Le Cordon Bleu school in Paris. Every knife has been fashioned from durable stainless steel that is razor-sharp and simple to use. It is also simple to sharpen the edge when necessary. It also includes a bolster feature that increases the strength of these knives. Another nice option is the Wusthof Classic Hollow Edge Santoku Knife.

The handle looks gorgeous with its dark black wooden design with three rivets on each handle. Each handle is also slightly grooved to provide for increased ease of use. The build of the handle also causes it to weigh less than other handles used by Wusthof knives. This makes the knives easier to manage.

Even more importantly, all knife sets are backed by a guarantee from Wustof. Each set is produced at Wusthof's factory in Solingen, Germany. Each set is covered for life against the possibility of defects in the knives' construction.

Another great plug for these quality knives is that they are used in various high end restaurants around the world. The manufacturing work of Wusthof and the assistance of Le Cordon Bleu have done a lot to make these knives popular among many restaurants.

There are various knife sets offered in this line of quality knives. Each set is gift-packed with an eye toward protecting the knives, and each set is covered by Wusthof's lifetime guarantee in case the knives are damaged during shipping.

There are seven- and nine-piece sets ready for purchase in blocks in the Le Cordon Bleu line. The seven-piece set has two paring knives of different sizes, a bread knife, a sandwich knife, a cook's knife, a sharpening steel rod, and a handy set of kitchen shears. The nine-piece set boasts these as well as a Santoku knife and a straight meat fork.

Wusthof Le Cordon Bleu knife sets are justifiably considered the top sets produced by Wusthof. These quality knives are ones that feature varying blades and designs that are simple to use. They are so great that they are endorsed by the top culinary school in Paris and are being used in large number of different restaurants in both hemispheres. We also recommend the Wusthof Classic Hollow Edge Santoku Knife as a suitable alternative.

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Thursday, January 1, 2009

Faster Family Meals

By Nicole Dean

Families need to eat and the hungry mouths never stop asking "what's for dinner"? We Moms know a pile of recipe cards with meals that you can throw together in minutes is a must-have. Things happen quickly in families today, and you may be called on to put a meal together in a matter of moments. Wouldn't it be great to have a simple plan for quick meals that the whole family can help with?

Dive In: What kid doesn't like to dunk their food. Clean and slice some carrots, broccoli, cucumbers, celery, red bell peppers, green bell peppers, and zucchini and lay them out on a platter with some ranch style dressing. I've seen the most dedicated vegetable-hater dig right into these vegetables when they can dip them.

Sandwich Art: When creating a sandwich, start with some innovative bread, like waffles, pancakes, English muffins, rolls, hamburger buns, or bagels. Then create your masterpiece by adding jam, meat slices, pickles, peanut butter, vegetables, eggs, cheese, or anything that looks like it might like to join your sandwich.

Never Fail Noodles: Every pantry should have an assortment of noodles at the ready. When dinner plans are unsure, noodles will be there to pull off a family-friendly meal in a minute. Start some noodles boiling and search the kitchen for goodies to add. Try adding some leftover vegetables to your hot noodles and topping with cheese. If you have a can of chicken broth you can make a quick soup with noodles and some celery and onion. A skillet dish with some hot, cooked noodles, pasta sauce stirred in, and topped with cottage cheese makes a great mock lasagna.

Bundle Up: Flour or corn tortillas make a great start for creating a meal in moments. Grab your leftover chicken, veggies, beans, or anything you happen to have, heat it up, top it with cheese, and roll it up. You have a fantastic wrap, just like the food court!

Spuds from Heaven: Potatoes are a meal waiting to happen. Microwave a potato, pile on cheese of any sort (cheddar, mozzarella, cottage cheese) and some meat, veggies, or even salsa or sunflower seeds, and you have a delicious dinner.

Soup's On: If you have some chicken broth, you have soup. Pour the broth in a big pot, throw in whatever veggies you have leftover from the last few nights, maybe a can of diced tomatoes, and soup's on! If you have any noodles, rice, canned beans, all the better. Simmer for a few minutes and you have dinner.

Sundown Breakfast: Scramble up some eggs, put some pancakes on the griddle... it's time for dinner! Breakfast is an all-hands-on-deck meal where everyone can get into the act. Dad, scramble those eggs, Mom, flip those pancakes, Brother, pour the milk, and Sister, butter the toast. Now, doesn't everyone feel all nice and warm inside?

Next time you're in a position to make a meal in a hurry, refer back to this list and presto - you'll have dinner on the table in minutes.

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Understanding the Joy of Cooking

By Alice Sy

The joy of cooking lies in every individual. It doesn't matter if you love to cook or you love to eat, it is still considered one and the same with each playing a vital part in the Culinary Arts. In order for cooking to become enjoyable, someone has to love eating its finished results; otherwise what would be the purpose of cooking?

Before fire was discovered by man, human beings used to eat their food raw and fresh from a catch. Over time, they have learned which food can be eaten raw without any undesired effects to the body. Aside from seafood, they have learned that fruits, vegetables and insects can be eaten raw.

The joy of cooking has been discovered by man a long time ago. The concept of cooking started even before fire and pottery was discovered and invented. Man has a need to survive. In order to survive, one has to eat. It is this physiological need that made man discover the importance of eating.

There are two types of cooking. They are cuisine bourgeois, or home cooking, and haute cuisine. Haute cuisine is the form of cooking that seeks to find pleasure. In principle, the differences of the two are laid between practical skills in cooking and the artistic way of cooking. In actual, on the other hand, the two principles cannot be identified. It has remained in vague for years. This was further increased by home cooks who are now better equipped, well informed, and well supplied than they were in the past. But whatever type cooking maybe, anyone will always feel the joy of cooking.

The history of cooking can be traced back between the time humans discovered fire and the Neolithic period, otherwise known as the Stone Age. Before they learned to make fire, and use it to prepare food, they ate their food fresh. They also consumed fruits and vegetables, fish, and insects.

Humans first roasted or toasted their food directly from the fire. This was before they invented pottery, around 7,000 and 12,000 years ago. They also wrapped and steamed their food over embers. With the development of pottery, cooking became sophisticated. The methods of cooking, like boiling, stewing, frying, and baking, were soon realized. Later, it successfully evolved to what is now modern cooking.

Since it was discovered, cooking has evolved into two known types: cuisine bourgeois, also known as home cooking and haute cuisine. Whatever the type of cooking you choose, it is sure to burn the fire inside men which very much explains the very famous adage.

Everybody loves to eat food, however, cooking it in different ways made eating food a much more memorable experience. It is this appreciation that man needs to feel in order to understand the joy of cooking.

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