Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Slow Cooker History

By Ken Kudra

We tend to take our crock-pots for granted these days. They sit in the cupboard, unloved and unused until we really need to throw in a pot roast or something before we head off for work. Slow cooking has been around for hundreds of years, though. We do not realize how good we have it now.

Ancient History

Slow cooking has been around ever since people figured out how to make an iron pot. One could be hung over a fire for many hours while food simmered in it, or a smaller one could be filled with ingredients and buried in the coals to cook. People have long known the benefits of slow cooking their food. The obvious detriment to these methods was the attention it took tending the fire all day and stirring the contents of the pots.

Meats cooked slowly are tenderized because the low heat softens the fibers. It also melts the natural collagen found within the meat, creating a gelatin-rich, delicious meal chock full of goodness. Fibrous vegetables like parsnips, turnips, and rutabagas also benefit from slow cooking. Dried crops like beans and lentils are slow cooked to create delicious, hearty meals.

The Birth of the Crock Pot

The Beanery was introduced in the'50s by the Naxon Utilities Corporation of Chicago. It was designed to make baked beans. The Beanery was a ceramic pot fitted inside a pan lined with heating elements inside. This design allowed for even heating without direct contact with the food, making it easier not to burn the contents.

In'70, Rival bought Naxon. They took a look at the Beanery and renamed it the Crock Pot. In the early 70s, more women were working outside the home than ever before. The Crock Pot helped them to still provide a hot meal at the end of the day to their hungry families even though they were working all day.

Over the years, Crock Pots have evolved. They now have ceramic pots that are removable, making cleaning much easier than the old models. With the older pots, one had to be careful during cleaning that the electrical cord not get wet. The new ceramic inserts are dishwasher safe, as well, making clean up even easier. Some newer crock-pots also have an additional setting. They come equipped with High, Low, and Warm. A few are even computerized and will change automatically to warm when the food is finished.

While women made many dishes slow cooking the old way, today's crock-pot is even more versatile. Beans, stews, casseroles, and roasts are the most common dishes made in the crock-pot. You can also make foods like lasagna, barbecued pork, and even your favorite chicken noodle soup recipe in your crock-pot.

Like the old methods, you can also bake breads and cakes in your crock-pot. If you find you enjoy slow cooking, you may want to branch out and try desserts and other great recipes as well.

About the Author:

Choosing a chicken soup recipe can be difficult just because there are so many different ones to choose from! Do you want a thick stew like soup? How about a creamy soup? You could also make a delicate consomm if you prefer. There are so many ways to make this soup!

Healthy Budget Meals In Minutes

By Laura Cokherell

These budget friendly meals are filled with great taste and nutrition. Using just a few ingredients from any supermarket, these simple meals are quick, delicious, and easy on the budget. Dress them up with simple side dishes to make meals in minutes.

Each recipe makes 2 to 3 servings

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- Creamy Pasta with Fresh Basil: Place 2 cups of cooked, drained, and warm, long thin pasta noodles (spaghetti, linguine, fettuccini, soba or udon noodles) in a bowl. Add a smooth and creamy sauce like plain yogurt mixed with some mayonnaise, lemon juice and zest, torn fresh basil leaves, and salt and pepper to taste. Toss sauce together with the cooked pasta and serve with fresh Italian bread and a simple salad of canned and drained chickpeas, chopped tomatoes, diced cucumber and some fresh or dried mint.

- Lemon Mint Quinoa: Place all ingredients in a bowl and combine well, adjusting the pepper to taste. Serve quinoa at room temperature or chill in the refrigerator for an hour or so and serve: 2 cups cooked quinoa, 1 cup canned garbanzo beans (rinsed and drained), 2/3 cup frozen peas (thawed and drained), 1/4 cup chopped scallions, 1 tbsp chopped fresh mint, 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice, 2 tbsp olive oil, and fresh ground black pepper to taste. Serve this easy pasta dish along with a side dish of baby spinach leaves, cherry tomatoes, and capers tossed in a little olive oil, salt, and pepper. Ingredient Exchange: Use 1 cup cubed cooked ham instead of the garbanzo beans.

- Quinoa Salmon Salad: In a bowl, combine 3 cups of salad greens, 1/2 cup each of (green beans, peeled and cubed jicama, and sliced mushrooms), 1 cup canned salmon (drained and flaked), 1/2 cup cooked quinoa, and 1 apple (cored and diced). Toss with a bottled Italian dressing to taste. When serving each salad top with sliced almonds. Serve salad with warm rolls and whipped cream cheese.

- Tofu and Vegetables: Steam 2 cups of broccoli tops, 1 cup diced sweet red peppers, 1/2 cup sliced mushrooms, and 1/4 cup sliced water chestnuts until crisp-tender. Place vegetables in a bowl with 8 ounces of extra-firm tofu (drained and diced) and toss gently with bottled peanut sauce to taste. Serve tofu and vegetables over a bed of warm, cooked brown rice, pasta, or baked potatoes and top each serving with chopped peanuts, chopped fresh cilantro, and fresh squeezed lime juice. Ingredient Exchange: Use 4 ounces of cooked steak (cut into cubes) instead of the tofu.

About the Author:

For healthy, flavorful, and uncomplicated recipes, like these budget meals, visit www.quick-salad-recipes.com. This free recipe site is packed with easy solutions for everyday meal planning from breakfast to dessert. Enjoy budget friendly meal ideas created with quick recipes that use natural food, short lists of ingredients, and simple preparation.

Why Are Modern Kitchens So Popular?

By Matthew Kerridge

The kitchen is the hub of all homes. It's the place where the family gets together during the day and evening to connect with one another. The kitchen is the place where we share each other's news and views over breakfast, or discuss the day's events while preparing dinner. And of course, at the weekends the kitchen is always a hive of activity. That's why modern kitchens are so popular.

A modern kitchen offers sleek and chic lines. Many have metallic finishes - even the appliances are metallic. Lighting in a modern kitchen is state-of-the-art and it can be dimmed or brightened to add atmosphere. Modern kitchens don't need much storage space because the fashion is to hang pots, pans and dishes on trendy hooks, racks or hangers.

If you're a keen home chef, the cutting edge technology used in the design of modern kitchens will enable you to cook gourmet meals for your friends and family using all the latest gadgets and appliances. When designing a modern kitchen, the main factor is easy maintenance, sleekness, rich colors and clean lines.

Kitchen cabinets that have semi-opaque or frosted glass give a real modern look. This can be further enhanced by adding back lighting to emphasize the design and provide a nice soft glow. To add contrast, paint the cabinets in a bright, bold color to make a real statement. Color is an important part in designing all modern kitchens.

If you have a kitchen that's quite small, you can create an illusion of spaciousness by installing stainless steel cabinets. To further increase this illusion, also use stainless steel counters. This will create an unbroken line throughout and make your kitchen look substantially larger.

Other popular types of kitchen counters are granite or quartz because they are durable and easy to keep clean. Stainless steel counters with built-in sinks, draining boards and cutting boards give a new meaning to the word 'utility' in a modern kitchen. Laminate counter tops are making a big come-back in the design of modern kitchens. When paired with bright colored kitchen cabinets, laminate counter tops offer a bold, fun feel.

Glass is another material that brings flair to any modern kitchen. Add splashes of color to your kitchen with glass counters, glass backsplashes, or glass cabinet doors. Use different colored glass to cover overhead lights in the kitchen to create a lovely ambience. Glass backsplashes can be highlighted with lighting under the cabinets to add a touch of brightness.

Use the same finish in various areas of your kitchen. If you've decided to have your backsplash made of glass, why not choose glass as the finish for your cabinets and counters as well. Then choose a laminate finish for two other main features. A modern kitchen should make a statement about you, so be brave and original.

After you've decided on the overall look of your modern kitchen, you can start deciding on appliances to suit it. There is a beautiful selection of refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines, stoves and air cons. Your crockery and cutlery should also blend in with the design of your kitchen. Have a look on the internet and see the wonderful choices available.

About the Author:

Matthew Kerridge is an expert in home improvements. If you would like more information about modern kitchens or are looking for a reputable kitchen retailer please visit http://www.wrenkitchens.com

How To Remodel Your Current Kitchen Cabinets

By Matthew Kerridge

In order to save money when you are updating your kitchen you just need to use a little creativity. I am going to teach you how to reface your kitchen cabinets. There are several ways you can do this project, you can choose to paint or stain your cabinets. I will take you step by step through this do it yourself project.

Most everyone I know can paint a wall in their home. If you can indeed paint, you will be painting your cabinets to make your kitchen look brand new. Painting cabinets is the most inexpensive thing you can do, and the completed project will completely change the look of your kitchen. You will need to dismantle each cabinet door, making sure to take the hinges off the doors as well. Mark each door with a letter or a number so that you can replace it after it is painted.

You will need to lie the cabinet doors down on the ground to paint them. Make sure you put something down on the ground so that cabinets are not directly on the grass. Sanding the cabinets and frames is most important, as it enables the paint to stick securely to the surface of the cabinet. Plus you will have a smoother surface for the paint to glide on as it is applied.

Now that all the cabinet doors have been sanded, you will want to go inside and sand the cabinet frames because you will want to paint those too. You will need to purchase primer and the paint color of your choice. The primer is white in color, and it blocks all the stains and makes for a clean surface to paint the color onto.

Before you paint your cabinet doors and frames it is a good idea to take a clean cloth and dust the surface clean. Now it's time to prime, you may use a roller or a paint brush. Whichever one is most comfortable for you to use. Using the roller will prevent the brush strokes in the paint. You can use the brush to paint the cabinets with and them go over the surfaces once with the roller to get rid of the brush strokes.

The time has come for painting. You have done all the preparation work, and the cabinets are ready to be painted. You will paint on the white primer coat, and only one coat is needed. Let it dry at the very least for a few hours. Then come back and paint with you paint color. You will need two coats of paint on the cabinets. Of course you will need to let the paint dry between the two coats.

In order to update the hinges and the cabinet knobs you could simply spray paint them with a new metallic color. They will look like brand new pieces. You will need to spray paint it twice for good paint coverage. You can buy new hinges and knobs, but you need to know that they can be quite pricey.

Now that you have completed updating you kitchen cabinets, you have saved about five thousand dollars in payments to a contractor. Painting can make anything look brand new and fresh. Painting is one of those do it for yourself projects that most people can tackle on their own.

About the Author:

Matthew Kerridge is an expert in kitchens. If you would like more information about kitchen kitchen cabinets or are searching for a trusted kitchen cabinet online retailer please visit http://www.wrenkitchens.com

Food Delivery Services

By Amy San

24 hour food delivery is available in nearly all cities in the US. This is revolutionary in terms of how people eat. For a long time, people had to depend on cooking at home when restaurants would close for the evening. People thought it was advancement when pizza and Chinese delivery became available. Then came 24 hour food delivery. This was revolutionary in terms of how people ate breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner and snacks. People know longer had to leave their homes or buy ingredients to prepare dishes at home.

24 hour food delivery stemmed from 24 hour diners that served classic diner food such as omelets Greek salad, gyros, club sandwiches, French toast, waffles, fruit salad, grilled cheese and more. This kind of food is commonly ordered 24 hours a day because it is comfort food that Americans have grown up with.

Easy food to prepare is what a lot of people are familiar with and eat on a regular basis, more so than Chinese food or pizza. Restaurants discovered they could make a lot of money by sending out delivery drivers in cars. People love to order food out of convenience. Even being waited on in a restaurant does not compare to sitting in your pajamas and having whatever you want to eat delivered to your door.

There are now websites where you can type in your zip code and to view restaurants in your area and the times they deliver food. There will sometimes be a tab that indicates if the restaurant is open in real time. Some websites even have an option that allows you to actually order the food online using a credit card. Common choices for 24 food delivery are pizza and Chinese food, but now Thai, Indian, French, deli, Greek and Korean food are becoming popular also. 24 hour food delivery is especially used in cities with inclement weather. Through extreme rain and snow, most restaurants still offer 24 hour food delivery.

The food is brought to the place of residence and the customer pays with cash or a credit card they called in ahead of time. It is customary to tip delivery drivers 10% when they bring the food to your home. If the weather is not good, some people tip more money. Sometimes, an order may be wrong or missing components. In this case, the customers can contact the restaurants and let them know. Most likely, the restaurant will credit the customer on their next order or will send the driver back out.

About the Author:

I love writing about food and christian books on my audio book website daily.

How You Can Enjoy the Benefits of Virgin Olive Oil in Your Diet

By Miranda Phillips

A healthy diet should incorporate many foods which support and nurture your body, and virgin olive oil is one of these. Scientific and anecdotal research has proven how incredibly beneficial this oil and its numerous compounds is to the way the body functions as a whole and certain important bodily systems in particular.

The specific ingredient in Virgin Olive Oil that has one of the most beneficial effects is oleic acid. This is an antioxidant rich monounsaturated fat that is almost considered to be a miracle ingredient. Any compound which is rich in antioxidants all help prevent damage from occurring to the body on a cellular level. When cells oxidize in the body, they are damaged and if these cells reproduce they can form tumors so reducing cellular damage can help reduce the chance of growing tumors as well.

You may also find that the use of virgin olive oil can help you improve the health of your heart and circulatory system. Improved cardiovascular and circulatory health means much less of a chance of having a heart attack or a stroke. One of the critical benefits of olive oil is that it can regulate levels of both bad (HDL) cholesterol and good (LDL) cholesterol which can also help reduce the incidence of heart attack and stroke. Keeping both forms of cholesterol within healthy limits and in a good proportion to each other is critical to maintaining good heart health and preventing the build-up of plaque which can clog arteries and blood vessels. Although LDL cholesterol can be oxidized in the body, virgin olive oil can also prevent this from happening due to its antioxidant properties.

It may not seem like it would be important to use virgin olive oil but you need to know that not all olive oils are made alike. You want to make sure it is as unprocessed as possible and virgin olive oil is the second least processed of all of the grades of olive oil. Because it has not been processed as much as later pressings higher levels of beneficial compounds will still remain in the oil itself. The only oil with higher levels of antioxidants and beneficial elements is the first pressing, or extra virgin, oil.

It is simple and delicious to use virgin olive oil in every day cooking. It is incredibly easy to simply use it in the place of animal fats or the hydrogenated vegetable oils that many people choose to cook with. It can be fun to play with the flavorful oils and see how you can use them in place of other seasonings which may be less than healthy. Remember that while it is possible to heat olive oil without damaging the compounds in the oil it may affect the way the oil tastes and so you may want to use it in less heat-intensive applications.

Many Mediterranean cultures use olive oil in their daily lives and diets. They also have lower rates of heart disease and stroke. That alone clearly illustrates what a good choice it is to include it in your diet.

About the Author:

Discover the many health benefits of olive oil. You can find more olive oil health benefits on my website. Get a totally unique version of this article from our article submission service

How Are Contemporary Kitchens The Optimal Selection For You?

By Matthew Kerridge

Can it be that contemporary kitchens are your best choice? It may be so. Generally speaking, many people are asking that question. If you happen to be asking yourself that question, you need to ask yourself even more questions. For starters, you need to find out what your style really is. That means, are you more of a traditional person or a very modern one. But, it doesn't end there, because you have to make many choices which will be around you for many years as a kitchen renovation is quite expensive and can't be done on a whim.

So what is your style? To help you figure some things out, start with eliminating what is not your style. You can continue to eliminate options by looking at the architecture and year your home was built. This way, you can at least come to certain conclusions as to what is wrong. From there, you can begin to work on what you like and what you can live with.

Furthermore, your kitchen should actually blend in well with the rest of your home, to some degree. It should flow naturally.

So what must be considered in a contemporary kitchen? For starters, it would incorporate any or all of these following materials: steel, glass, light wood, granite, mosaic tiles, and quartz.

As for colors to be used in this kitchen, neutrals would be your best bet in order to create the right atmosphere. Cool and subdued tones will also work.

When renovating or building a kitchen of this type, the results you are looking for is sleek. It is the perfect word to describe this type of kitchen. Do not look to incorporate any fussy ornate items. They have no place in this setting. Your interest will be created through the other materials that were previously mentioned. For example, beautiful lighting, sparkling on to the stainless steel backsplash.

Another way to create points of interest is splashing stainless steel appliances throughout the room. As mentioned previously, simplicity is everything in a contemporary kitchen. That means that there should be no clutter up whatsoever. Of course, that translates it to the need for a lot of storage space.

Contemporary kitchens are usually built with shelves, rather than cabinets. The only cabinets are those from the counter down. Above that it's all shelves. So, you must be prepared, with plenty of storage to easily store everything that shouldn't be on your counters. Your shelves will basically hold plates, pots and other such items. If you question your ability to be neat, then maybe you should come up with a different kitchen style, as this can be challenging to maintain.

One thing that you may want to try very hard to include in this type of kitchen is the islands. Of course, this is a very desirable piece in any kitchen setting. However, in a contemporary kitchen, it works very well in any size. You can even have one made completely of stainless steel that is on wheels. This could easily help you move it out of the way to provide more space. The islands are not only good-looking pieces, they are extremely practical and come in very handy.

About the Author:

Matthew Kerridge is an expert in home improvements. If you want further information about contemporary kitchens or are looking for a reputable kitchen online retailer please visit http://www.wrenkitchens.com