Archive for the "Food & Beverage" Category

What French Press Would You Recommend?

December 8th, 2011

People often ask me which French Press I use in the morning to prepare my own coffee. So, which one would I recommend if you’re going to get your very first French Press coffee making device? I would personally recommend that you look at the Bodum Brazil French Press.

The Bodum Brazil is superior to a lot of other coffee making devices for several different reasons. The first reason is that it is very cheap. You can get a 12 ounce model for a around $20.00. To 12 ounce size will give you about three mugs full of coffee. That is plenty for one person, so $20.00 is not too much to ask for.

Another reason that I like the Bodum Brazil is because it is extremely easy to use. You just mix your coffee grounds with hot water and let it brew for a couple of minutes. Then, put the lid on and press the filter down to the bottom before pouring out your great tasting coffee. And since it is made by Bodum, you know that the taste is going to be superior to anything that you would get from an automatic drip machine.

 

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Ducane Affinity 3100 Short Review

November 22nd, 2011

If quality is one of your major issues, but you can’t afford to spend thousands of dollars on a grill then you should consider purchasing the Ducane Affinity 3100 LP gas grill. Believe it or not, this cheap grill is developed by Weber. I’m sure that you already know that this is a successful company that manufactures high quality grills. Now the thing is that you have to know from the very beginning that the internal components of this grill are still good quality even if there have been some major cutbacks in materials. This is a stable and durable LP gas grill that is able to resist for minimum five years. However, you should not expect to benefit of the same features which are provided by those grills which are more expensive than the 3100 model. Overall, the Affinity 3100 model is perfect for those people who appreciate quality.

 

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Vital Information About Pressure Cooker

November 18th, 2011

Before deciding on the pressure cooker to get, you need to first of all identify what you need it for. This is because; they are manufactured with a variety of materials and they also come in different sizes. It is, therefore, important for you to understand how much food you intend to cook in the cooker and, therefore, determine which size to get. In determining the size, you should look at the size of your family, or the people that you intend to feed. A model with six quarts is able to perform most the necessary cooking, but you must choose a larger model, if for instance you have a larger family. In addition, it is also important to note that besides helping you to cook your food faster, pressure cookers have also been established as a safe way in which t prepare food. With a little research, you can easily find the best product.

 

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How on Earth Do You Choose the Best Cookware?

November 17th, 2011

Deborah Meaden | The MyDish Blog - Cooking, Recipes, News & ViewsIf you are looking for cookware tips and buying advice then you need to head to a place where other people with the same interests as you are sharing advice online and really creating a vibrant community of amateur chefs and cooks.

This is the best way to get the most out of your cookware and produce the best tasting food which will surprise your family. Never ever go into a cookware shop and just choose the cookware that you find the most aesthetically pleasing because this will no doubt lead to disaster.

First and foremost you should head online and find this community I was speaking of earlier. Once you find one you can start a thread asking whatever questions you like and I guarantee that someone will answer them all for you out of the goodness of their heart. This is great free advice and it is not biased in any way.

 

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The Classy Paring Knife

November 15th, 2011

Each of us owns a set of knives at the very least, or we have done so at some point in our life for that matter. Getting the best knife for doing your kitchen work is not an easy task, as there is a lot to consider before making that decision. In fact, one knife is not nearly enough in most instances since different types of knives of differing shapes and sizes have different functions to play in the kitchen. One particular type of knive that we cannot live without is the paring knive.

It is a wide known fact that a set of kitchen knives, no matter how expensive and shiny, is never complete without a good paring knife. Paring knives play an important part in preparing food, regardless of the type of cuisine you are preparing. It is a small, multipurpose knife which is used for performing small jobs. Among the jobs expected of a paring knife include removing the skin from onions and garlic along with preparing small fruits.

 

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A Nice Little Treat

October 25th, 2011

Every quarter, I like to give my administrative assistant team a nice little gift to show my appreciation for all the hard work they do. I worked my way up the admin ranks to office manager over seven years, and so I know exactly how much hard work they do. It takes the ability to juggle like a circus performer to multi task like crazy the way a good admin has to do. So I keep my people in snacks, good chairs, any kind of ergonomic improvement they want, they’ve got it no questions asked. We all get along and my team is loyal because I treat them the way I would want to be treated. This quarter, I’m going to order in special gourmet coffee beans to use in our grinder, and ceramic travel coffee mugs for each of us. I also take a vote each quarter for what kinds of snacks and drinks we should buy.

 

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I'm Taking Some Food Home!

September 2nd, 2011

I went to eat at this Chinese restaurant the other day, and the food was great. I found them on a listing of Chinese takeaway Croydon restaurants. I was pretty impressed. Today I promised my family that I would bring home some Chinese food. I definitely think that it is an important thing for me to do, and I know that, once they experience this, they will want more and more like I did. I know that it is just something that I can introduce them to. My wife doesn’t like to eat out a lot, but I think that it is a wonderful thing to experience from time to time. Home cooking is great, but I just think that it will be better if I can experience new foods as well. I know that it is just an important thing for me to do because I want to experience life to its fullest.

 

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Kitchen Helper: Panini Press

July 21st, 2011

There are some people who really are tired of eating the plain cereals or oatmeal for breakfast. It is indeed a boring routine to eat just that. I am one of those people. I easily get so bored with that kind of breakfast since there is nothing much you can do with the cereals. There are limited recipes that you can make for those.

So, I looked up the internet and tried to find the best panini press and decided to purchase a good Breville product. It is perhaps one of the most delightful products that I have used. It is just like a waffle iron for sandwiches and helps me serve the food in less than 40 minutes. The recipes are just too many that I sometimes get confused which one to cook first. Since I purchased this product, my breakfast has never been the same. Now, I am a master in making different paninis and sandwiches too with the help of this Panini press.

 

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Having Doubts About Non-Stick Rice Cooker

June 17th, 2011

I don’t know whether I should be alarmed or not after reading all the articles about non-stick cookware which turns out to be not healthy after all. I have used all my non-stick pots and pans for years and I feel good about using them. But now, I am not sure about them anymore especially after reading an article written about emission of chemicals from burning non stick cookware to a very high degree. To put myself on the safe side I will have to change all my cookware especially rice cooker since I use it everyday. So, first thing tomorrow morning is to search for the right rice cooker and read all the rice cooker reviews that are easily available in the internet. I hope my husband won’t grumble about the purchases that we are going to make this month. I know my husband sometime really don’t like what I buy, but for a kitchen appliance that we need, he might just accept it as it is.

 

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Food Blog Gives Great Wine Picks!

May 20th, 2011

Have you ever wondered what wine would work best with a dish you were cooking? That is a question that I face all the time when I’m working in the kitchen. Thanks to my favorite food blog TheTasteSpot.com, I’m able to make some great pairings with the food that I love. Plus now my favorite food blog has Gary Vaynerchuck sending over weekly wine pics, I love his picks – hes so brutally honest when it comes to wine, I know if a wine will be a winner or a dud before I even pop the bottle. I can’t tell you how convenient that is for me when I’m planning a dinner for friends, or a hot date! The food blog’s wine picks make me look l I know a thing or two about wine and not an expert in the world of two buck chuck alone! These wine picks rock.

 

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Best Marmalades and Jams

April 25th, 2011

I have been using Vita Mix for several months now. With it I was able to make all sorts of dishes and desserts. The first one made was peach marmalade for morning toasts. It was an instant hit. I also made some mashed potatoes with fennel soup and tortilla wrap with cheese and rough chopped salsa. I paired it with some frozen mango-orange cooler. Everyone enjoyed them all.

I think Vitamix is the best blender available because it is fast, powerful, and spacious. I have been saving since last year for another. This time for miscellaneous purposes like recycled paper, compost making and processing dog food for the puppies. This is one versatile kitchen gadget we all can’t live without. It will be a great addition to any home. I read plenty of reviews about this and they were all correct. This is a winner and truly a great addition to one’s home.

 

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Coffee and Spice Grinder

April 12th, 2011

If you love the taste of the fresh aroma coffee then a coffee grinder is a must, a coffee grinder that grinds your coffee into fine and coarse grains same as the krups coffee and spice grinder. Definitely you will love this coffee grinder for it is not only intended for grinding your coffee, on the other hand, you can use this hand held grinder for crushing spices quickly and efficiently. The metal blades will spin at a very fast speed on this grinder and chop spices anywhere from a rough to a powder fine grind depending on how long you press the button. This krup model is safe (a transient switch on ensures the gadget can’t be activated when open) and accessible. When it comes to cleaning, this equipment is very easy to tidy. You have to use a small paint brush to brush out the grinding bowl and then wipe a wet cloth or a paper cloth.

 

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Rice and Ingredients

April 6th, 2011

Taking a sushi class is fun and very educational. Watching a video online and trying to wing it at home may work for some, but it often leads to unnecessary frustration and a creation you may not deem edible. The two subjects within a recent class where I gained the most knowledge were making rice and ingredients placement. Sushi classes are offered at many different locations and I took mine a local long island sushi restaurant.

Any sushi class will stress the importance of the perfect sushi rice. Rice is the most important component of making sushi as it hold everything together. Sushi rice is rinsed a few times prior to cooking to remove starch. It is then cooked either on the stove or in a rice cooker. Afterwards you must season your rice to enhance its stickiness. This can be done with a bottle of rice vinegar, usually a mix of sake or rice wine with some salt and sugar. It is liberally applied to rice and then you must allow the rice to cool, but not get cold. You’ll need warm rice in order to make your rolls. Next you make sure you wet your hands a little so you can handle the rice and delicately spread it across sheets of nori.

The next component is adding your ingredients. I learned that cutting ingredients into small pieces makes rolling much easier. Also a must, is to cut the fish against the grain. When placing your desired ingredients into a roll, make sure they are long strips that slightly overhang the edge of the nori sheets. Line your ingredients one behind the other and slightly overlap them in a feathering manner. This will set you up for the perfect roll.

 

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Smoothies, the Ultimate Healthy Beverage

April 2nd, 2011

Smoothies are becoming more and more popular through the years. They are slowly replacing juice drinks the world over. This cold beverage seem to be more patronized by people than fresh fruits juices. Why is it, you ask? It’s because smoothies contain the whole fruit and not just the juice you get from it, making it healthier than your average fruit juice. The fiber, antioxidants and vitamins that the fruit contains can be acquired through drinking smoothies instead of fruit juices. And the fact that smoothies are blended with other herbs and healthy ingredients makes it more beneficial to our health than fruit juices. Smoothies are also combined with different vegetables, adding extra nutrition to the already healthy beverage. Some people also use tea, milk or yogurt in their smoothies.

Smoothies are very popular these days that even restaurants who don’t usually serve smoothies include it in their menus. There are a lot of smoothie recipes now than in the past. In fact, you can prepare your own smoothie recipe if you wanted to. All you need is a little imagination and you are good to go. They are quite easy to prepare as well, much less time consuming than squeezing fruits, all you have to do is blend all your ingredients and you are done. Smoothies are very vibrant and tasty as well, which is why kids love it, and since the flavor you get are mostly from fruits, you will barely notice the vegetables that are mixed in them.

A lot of people drink smoothies to increase their metabolism and to get that boost of energy. Smoothies are very convenient, you can bring them wherever you go. They are not only refreshing, they are very light as well. Smoothies can also be served as beverages in parties, picnics, social occasions and many more, much like juices only they are healthier and richer in flavor.

 

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More Ways That Hummus Keeps You Healthy

March 18th, 2011

If you are already a fan of hummus, then you may already know different hummus recipes. You enjoy eating them by dipping pita bread or chips in them, or using them as spread with your crackers. But did you know that there are as many nutrients in hummus as there are recipes? Yes, when you eat hummus, you are actually doing your body a favor. Hummus is a very healthy food. It really is surprising considering that it tastes really good. So what are the nutrients that hummus has?

Iron. This is essential for your body because it is a key component in the hemoglobin in your blood. It is iron that helps your blood carry oxygen in your body. A lack of it may cause you anemia.

Vitamin C. You may know that vitamin C helps your immune system. But other than that, it promotes the growth and repair of tissue. It also promotes healthy gums and helps in the production of anti-stress hormones.

Manganese. This helps in the absorption of calcium, giving you stronger bones. It also regulates blood sugar and increases your metabolism. Like vitamin C, it also helps in the growth of body tissue.

Vitamin B6. Similar to vitamin C, B6 also strengthens your immune system. It also helps in the breakdown of protein and carbohydrates, and they also help in the balancing of hormones.

Copper. A lack of copper can increase cholesterol levels. That is why you need to have copper to absorb the cholesterol and promote your heart’s health.

Omega 3. It is brain food that is made up of fatty acid. You need this to be able to think clearly. If you do not like eating fish, then hummus would be a good alternative.

Each hummus recipe contains all of those nutrients. I guess you could also say that a serving of hummus a day, keeps the doctor away.

 

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Eating Clean with a Proper Diet

March 16th, 2011

Having a proper diet to remove excess fat from your body does not mean you have to starve yourself. What a change in diet can actually mean is a change in the way you eat. So if you are currently having a no carbs diet, an all liquid diet, or any other fad diets out there, then you might not be getting all the nutrients you need. You may just be losing weight because you are slowly weakening your body until it breaks down, losing muscle instead of fat in the process.

Thankfully, there is such a thing as a clean eating diet. If you are planning to shed excess fat from your body, then this is the diet you need along with your exercise program. Here is exactly what you need to do to get the body you are dreaming to have.

For the first step, you have to start consuming all natural foods. To do that, by all means, stop eating processed foods and stop drinking sodas commercial juice drinks. What you want is to have clean, healthy food that are full of nutrients in them.

Next, instead of eating too many, you can split up your 3 meals in a day into 6. You can have breakfast, a morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack, dinner, and even a midnight snack. Yes, you can have a midnight snack

Finally, you need to stick to your plan. Do not give in to temptation to have unhealthy snacks. If you want, you can give yourself a cheat day once a week.

Eating clean and following the schedule above will actually increase your metabolism which will help you burn fat. Plus, you do not have to starve yourself with this kind of diet. So the next time you are told that you have to starve yourself when you diet, prove them wrong and introduce them to the clean eating diet.

 

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Buying Your First Cigar Humidors

February 28th, 2011

Cigars Humidors are made of wood and are used for keeping the cigars fresh and humid. A cigar Humidor can dramatically increase the lifespan of cigars. Inside the humidors the cigars mature and their flavor improves overtime and can be stored inside them for years to come. When buying a cigar Humidor for the first time there are certain things to be kept in mind. The size of the Cigars Humidor is a very important aspect to be kept in mind, because overtime your cigar collection will expand. So, buying a large enough Cigar Humidor that can store more than 100% of the cigars you currently have is a good size to go in for. You need to set a budget for yourself, humidors are available for as low as $12. The next thing is the quality aspect, you need to be sure that whether the humidors use Spanish cedar or some other kind of wood.

 

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Looking for Wedding Caterer Dallas?

February 14th, 2011

There is a very useful website that helps you find and choose the beyour first step in selecting a wedding caterer Dallas. In this website you will find a great source of wedding cateres and you will be able to choose according to what your individual needs are. For example if you are looking for a caterer that specializes only in barbecue, or chinese or italian food, you will be able to browse all the reviews about these specific one. This would be a great first step in the selection for a cateres for your wedding, the most important day in your life. Once you have selected a few caterers then it is the time to get in touch with the ones caterers that you selected in the first web search and get their exact menus as well as going to try their foods. Here is the link of the website: http://www.weddingbbq.com.

 

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A Brown Rice Pudding Experiment

February 9th, 2011

I never tried cooking brown rice pudding yet. I love to cook fried rice especially when there are excess rice for dinner and fried rice are good to eat during breakfast. Eating fried rice with bacon and brewed coffee will make the breakfast complete. Brown rice is exactly different. This is another kind of rice which needs to be learned on how to cook it properly. Unlike the ordinary white rice, it will take a longer time for the brown rice to be cook. It is harder and it has more ingredients. Usually, brown rice needs to taste sweeter and oftentimes coconut milk is added into it so that it can be eaten during snacks time. When I first cooked brown rice it was really an experiment. Well, I did not arrive any problem with regards to it because I come up with a brown rice in a good taste. I find it not a problem because I carefully follow the recipe.

 

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Brew It Up with a Keurig

December 9th, 2010

There’s no better way to brew your coffee than to do it with a Keurig Coffee Maker. You can brew a cup of gourmet coffee easy and fast with a Keurig at home. There’s even no mess left after every brew.

Keurig can brew a single serve of coffee at a time in less than a minute so you can enjoy a cup of coffee any time you want. No matter how busy you are in a day, you can take a break and enjoy the delicious cup of coffee brewed by Keurig. With the use of its special coffee pods called the Keurig K Cups, you can have a fast, easy and convenient brewing. There is no need to grind coffee beans since a pre-measured amount of ground coffee is already contained inside the K Cups. When you want to enjoy a cup of freshly brewed cup of coffee, you simply have to place a K cup inside the Keurig brewer, choose your brewing size and push a button. Each cup of coffee is already done in just less than a minute with your Keurig brewer. You can make tea and hot chocolate with your Keurig brewer since these are also available in K cups.

 

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