Wine Racks: Six Methods to Storing Your Wine

By Rachel Kuptz

Temperature of the room: Most wines taste best when served at room temperature, or 55 degrees. Here's where that rule gets confusing -- sparkling wine is best served chilled, so wine refrigerator storage is best, while white wines are best kept in temperatures of 45 degrees. Temperature controlled wine refrigerators will allow you to set the temperature based on the wines you most frequently have, but a simple wine rack placed in a cooler spot of your home will also do the trick. Just make sure that the spot you decide to store your wine isn't next to a heater or vent, as fluctuations in temperature can impact the taste and quality of the wines.

Height where wine will be stored: When using a wine rack, remember to keep sparkling wines on the bottom shelf, white wines in the middle, and red wines on the top. Since heat rises, the wines that are best served cooler will do best towards the bottom of the wine racks.

Wine rack surroundings: Did you know that keeping a wine next to fruit or vegetables can cause the wine to mold? Foods that are known to rot can send the moldy flavors into a cork of the wine, causing the wine to have unfavorable smells and tastes.

Keep Away from Sunlight: When exposed to light, wine can age faster and lose it's flavor. Keep your wine rack or refrigerator away from any sources of natural light, and preferably in a darker section of your home.

Store wine sideways: By keeping wine on it's side, the wine will stay in contact with the cork, preventing air from escaping into the wine bottle. Different types of wine racks will allow you to tilt the wine to an optimal level, allowing the wine cork to stay wet, preventing oxygen from coming in.

Air Circulation: Wine can mold. If you keep wine hidden in a closet or dark room, make sure that there is a steady amount of circulation. Just like you wouldn't keep clothes in a moldy closet, make sure your that the place you store your wine is clean and free of mold.

About the Author:

Rachel is a wine enthusiast and wine rack collector. To buy wine racks or view more wine racks, visit Wine Rack Bar. Click here to get your own unique version of this article with free reprint rights.

The Amazing Benefits of Coconut Oil

By Jackie Smith

The coconut is a beautiful gift to the peoples of the world. The Sanskrit language calls the coconut palm 'kalpa vriksah,' meaning that it is a plant which gives everything one needs to survive. The coconut is an old tree and a distant relative of grasses, and its meat, water and oil have been used for nutrition and health by many cultures. In India in particular, the coconut has been used extensively in Ayurvedic medicine, a system which has inspired aromatherapists, nutritionists and naturopaths the world over.

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.

In the long discussion on healthy versus unhealthy fats, coconut oil tips the scales in terms of its health-giving qualities. While it is a saturated fat, not all saturated fats are bad for us. Coconut oil is cholesterol-free and does not transform into a trans-fat, which means it can be used at high heat. It has also been shown that coconut oil is more effective than olive oil at controlling cholesterol. Also, because it is a medium-chain fatty acid, it is easier for the body to digest, meaning the fat can be used more quickly as fuel.

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 health-enhancing skin moisturizer because it is ideal for all skins types, including dry, rough and wrinkled skin. Aromatherapy employs 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 for massage applications. Also, fractionated coconut absorbs quickly, does not have the trademark 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.

Coconut is truly an ideal oil to experiment with. Its applications extend from the dinner table to the massage table, and when used with essential oils, its natural splendor is completely enhanced. Try it in its virgin or fractionated state and bring more of coconut's life-enhancing gifts into your world.

About the Author:

The author has made available reports on specific anti-microbials such as eucalyptus essential oil, and using essential oils.

Cooking Games- Cooking Master Boy

By Vlad Stivenson

You might not have heard of it, but 10 years ago, there was a show called Cooking Master Boy. The show took place in a fictional version of China, during an also fictional Era of the Cooking Wars, which is placed during the Quing dynasty. In this China, chefs, not warriors or priests, are the epitome of bravery, wisdom and skill, and they compete between each other to see who the best chef in China is. The show revolves about Mao, a 13 year old boy that has a gift for cooking and travels around China after his mothers death in order to learn more cooking techniques and prove to everyone that he is indeed Chinas greatest cooking master.

The style reminds me of programs and events, such as Dragon Balls martial arts tournament. Cooking Master Boy also features cooking tournaments, where they use techniques and cooking utensils that have names that sound like anime magical moves. For example, the Devil Cow Knife, or the Coiled Dragon Pot. Another funny thing about the show is that the main characters enemy is a secretive mafia organization of chefs called the Underground Cooking Society.

One interesting thing about the show, is that all recipes and dishes are pretty normal and can be prepared in real life by a real chef. Its the processes and reactions of the people who eat the dishes that are exaggerated to give the sense of super ability to the chefs. For example, a character may throw a potato up, use his or her super speed to slice the potato in mid-air, and then catch the sliced potato with a plate, using his or her other hand.

The person eating the prepared potato might like it so much that he or she will feel as if he or she were transported to a paradise, complete with musicians and fairies surrounding him or her. Yet, all he or she ate was a potato prepared in some way.

Of course, not all of us have the skill it takes to be a master chef, like Mao. In fact I can barely do anything useful in the kitchen. My friends and family have a joke about this. They say Im so bad at cooking that Im capable of burning water when I try to warm it up. Its a bit of a shame, because I really like watching cooking and I would like to be better at it. I tell myself its a matter of practice, and that someday Ill be able to prepare dinner for everyone.

So, what do I do instead? I play cooking games online. Yes, cooking games that I find on several sites. Theyre designed for children, but I can spend hours playing them. In fact, playing some of them that have anime type characters was what got me thinking about Chinas Cooking Master Boy. I may be a total dork in the kitchen, but with my computer, I can be a great cooking chef, just like the great Mao from China.

About the Author:

Vlad Stivenson, creator of numerous cooking games

Cooking Pan Reviews

By Shannen Blackguard

The next time you need to purchase a brand new set of cooking pans, pause for a moment and decide what type of cooking you will be doing most frequently, then decide how much you are capable of spending. It is definitely not necessary to always purchase the most expensive pan available, you will save yourself many headaches in the futures by buying a good quality pan, instead of purchasing the cheapest one available over and over again.

Another good practice is to research some consumer reviews and reports. Here is a list of what you should look for in a cooking pan as well as different types you may need.

* Sauce Pans are easily the most versatile of pans. They can be used for crafting sauces, cooking smaller portions of food, reheating, steaming or just about heating up anything that could possible need to be heated. Since they are so versatile, you may decide to purchase a few various sizes. Some frequently used sizes are 2 are 3 quarts with lids.

* Saut Cooking Pans are wide and flat with straight sides to help when sauting, searing or preparing recipes that have pan sauces and for recipes that require longer cooking times. Great saut pans are constructed with metals that quickly and efficiently built heat. Saut cooking pans also are equipped with a long handle and a lid. Frequently used sizes are 3 to 5 quarts.

* Skillet or frying pans have decently high, slightly flared sides. This is definitely your all purpose pan for any frying you wish to do. Ideally these cooking pans should be constructed out of metals that help induce heat. Non-stick surfaces are useful for omelets. Frequently used sizes are 8, 10 and 12-inch sizes.

* Large Soup or Stock Pots are great for boiling and cooking, and are usually tall and narrow. Stock pots are perfect for cooking and boiling, and are usually used to make stews, stocks, soups, pasta, or just anytime you have a need to make extremely large quantities. The best of this type of pots are usually made with stainless steel plus an aluminum core. The volume of food you will likely be cooking on a regular basis will help you determine what size of pot to purchase. For most normal uses I recommend at least an 8 quart pot.

What to Look for: Cooking Pan Reviews If you are planning on buying a set of cooking pots, ensure it is constructed with sturdy materials that will not become dented or warped. Their handles should be comfortable and secure.

Cooking pans can be bought as part of a set or separately purchased. Purchasing sets can save you a lot of cash. If you do purchase a set, ensure that it fills all of your personal needs; otherwise it is not wise to buy cooking pans you will not use. The concept is to buy ones that will be multifunctional.

About the Author:

Before you go out an purchase your next set of Cooking Pots and Pans check out the rest of our great cooking pan guides at The Cook Master

Cooking Pans - What Type Should You Pick

By Tiffany Slater

Stainless steel cooking pans, were the best thing that ever happened to the cooking world. They replaced older techniques for crafting pots and pans, eliminating the need for extremely heavy and expensive pots and pans.

With the creation of stainless steel, pots, pans and bake ware became increasingly affordable and lighter. Stainless Steel Cooking Pans are not a great heat conductor thus you will find most cooking pans are lined or laced with copper or aluminum increase heat conductivity.

Tri-Ply Cooking Pans- Tri-Ply, easily the most common type of stainless steel pans in use today, is composed of three layers. The outer two layers are made of stainless steel, while the innermost layer is composed of aluminum, which allows for greater heat conductivity.

The absolute best quality of this brand of cookware is called 18/10. There is also 18/0 and 18/8 as well. These former two are of significant lower quality than the 18/10. As a result of the effort that goes into constructing these items their prices is significantly higher that that of other Cooking Pans. 18/10 will and can last a lifetime.

Another variation of tri-ply Cooking Pans is made with three types of materials: stainless steel, aluminum and copper. The difference between the first rendition of tri-ply and this rendition is the copper is laminated on the outer bottom of the pots and pans to help conduct heat. The aluminum is in the middle and the stainless steel covers the outer layers to complete the creation. This variation of cooking pans is better for your stove because of the insulating properties contained in the copper.

Waterless cooking pans are another notable type of cookware. These cooking pans are crafted using iron on the interior later, this helps to conduct heat, and it provides the insulating properties needed, while keeping you food safe from hazardous chemicals.

When you decide its time to purchase a new set of cooking pots and pans for your kitchen, make sure you take the time to fully research the product you are planning on buying. The manufacturer itself may truly be quite popular but knowing what materials are used in the creation of these products is definitely just as important as finding an excellent quality name brand to back them.

Waterless cookware is rapidly taking a dominate place over the cooking pans industry. With its unique combination of layers. Replace those old, Teflon pots and pans and serve healthier and safer foods for your family today.

About the Author:

Before buying a new set of Beautiful Cooking Pans and Pots please take a look at Tiffany guide to Beautiful Cooking Pans and Pots at her Cook Master website.

Methods of Making Chicken

By Arf Ahmed

Chicken can be cooked in many ways because it is incredibly versatile. Every method of cooking chicken assists in bringing out all the individual flavors found in chicken. One may find that out that there are thousands of recipes that are devoted to the preparation and cooking of the humble chicken. Not all of them can be mentioned and there may be others that are not so conventional. This type of food item is easy to prepare because of it being low in fat.

Keep the chicken refrigerated to maintain its temperature in the range of 40C and 600C. It is kept cool because the bacteria in meat replicates faster in high temperatures. Put the chicken in water that has salt in the ratio of 3 tablespoons for four glasses of water. The chicken should remain in the water for about an hour and longer if it happens to be frozen. In this way, the chicken will be tender and juicy and will be able to cook faster.

This chicken should be enclosed in several ways. The first option is to cover it with a foil bag to grill it with marinade or brushing the surface of the chicken with either light coat of cooking oil or thick marinade sauce. This covering of the chicken is to stop the meal from drying up. Pound this chicken especially the thighs as well as the breast to achieve the same thickness. Cooking of the chicken will be even in this manner.

The heat should then be adjusted according to the method of cooking. If one is using the dry heat method, this include the roasting, baking, deep frying, sauting, and grilling, high heat should be used and the cooking should take very little time, e.g. 8-10 minutes grilling chicken breasts. The moist heat methods, steaming, poaching, slow cooking, and baking in parchment, should use low heat and should be cooked for a long period of time, e.g. 15 minutes for poaching chicken breasts.

Checking the chicken to establish that it is completely cooked is very important. Chicken differs from steak which may be prepared either rare or medium rare and should be cooked completely. To establish that it is done, pierce the thick part in the chicken to know if it is around 73.80C. It should not also be overcooked as it will then be dry. This chicken should be left to rest for the redistribution of juices. Before it is well done, it should be left for about 5 to 10 minutes for the juice redistribution process to finalize.

About the Author:

Here is an additional recipe you can try that teaches you the basics of Cooking Amaranth

Savory And Satisfying Cups Made With Coffee Maker Accessories

By Arlo McGil

There is no better way to have a cup of coffee than having it freshly brewed; this is how people who need an extra boost from their daily activities would prefer it, which is why coffee makers have become such popular kitchen items.

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 maker accessories are as vital as the actual coffee maker itself. These days, one will find it odd not to be able to see a coffee maker inside an office or one's household. It is the best way to have coffee as it is able to provide fresh, savory brews with every pot.

Most people are not aware that there is a difference in the taste of coffee with the water used to brew each pot. Regular tap water is also known as hard water which is filled with monumental amounts of minerals which can alter the taste of coffee and shorten the lives of their coffee makers. This is why water filters, though not necessarily coffee maker accessories play a key role in creating the perfect brew. It produces soft water which is free from any unnecessary mineral deposits for better tasting coffee.

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.

There are three different coffee filters available to choose from; there are the regular paper filters which are the most common. Though they serve their purpose well, there may be traces of paper taste when it is used in a brew. There is also the cloth filter; they are safe to use and are environment friendly as they can be reused after in between rinses. Finally, there are the Gold coffee filters, lined with real gold, they are not cheap and these are not as common as the two above mentioned; though these can last for long periods of time without giving any peculiar taste to the brew.

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.

People have unique choices and unique tastes, yet no matter how they wish to have their freshly brewed coffee, as long as they have a reliable coffee maker and some great coffee maker accessories, anything is possible.

About the Author:

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