How To Make Homemade Apricot Nut Bread

This particular recipe for Apricot Bread is a really delicious moist bread. If you are allergic to nuts, you can substitute the nuts for an equal amount of raisins.

If you like to bake and freeze items ahead of time, this bread will freeze well. Let it completely cool and then wrap in plastic wrap, followed by a layer of aluminum foil. It will keep for up to 3 months in your freezer.

Apricot Nut Bread Recipe

1 cup dried apricots
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup shortening
1 cup granulated sugar
1 egg, beaten
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup nuts, chopped
1/2 cup orange juice

Preparation: Soak the dried apricots for 15 minutes in warm water; drain and then chop them into small pieces and set aside.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a medium-sized bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt and the baking soda. In a large bowl, cream together the vegetable shortening and granulated sugar; add in the beaten egg. Stir in the water and orange juice until all ingredients are well combined.

Slowly blend in the flour mixture with the wet ingredients until all are combined. Gently fold in the chopped nuts and apricot pieces.

Lightly grease a loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray. Pour batter into the loaf pan making sure that its even. Let it stand for 5 minutes before placing it into a preheated oven. Bake the Apricot Nut Bread at 350 degrees for 45 to 60 minutes or until its done. Remove from the oven and let it cool down for 10 minutes in the loaf pan, before transferring it to a wire rack to cool.

Benefits of dried fruits

Benefits of dried fruits


People use to eat dried fruits from ancient times. Specific to Oriental civilizations in ancient times, dried fruits arrived to West due to Egyptians and Phoenicians. Today, not only oriental fruits like dates and figs are being dried, but also ordinary ones like peaches, apricots, plums or pears.



The drying process consists in decreasing the moisture of fruits by at least 20%. Dried fruits are recommended due to their high nutritional content and positive benefits on our health. Dried fruits allows us to enjoy the benefits of a healthy nutrition even during extra fruits-seasons because it seems that dried fruits keep about the same kind and amount of nutrients as if they were fresh. Two of the few nutrients that do not resist the drying process have proved to be vitamin C and beta-carotene. Dried fruits represent a healthy snack, a viable alternative to crackers or chips, and because they are small and resistant to high temperatures they can be easily carried, often being preferred by athletes or by mountain hikers as a source of energy.



The main benefits of dried fruits are their rich carbohydrates and fibers content. However, there are some aspects we have to pay attention to when including dried fruits in our nutrition. The drying process brings out the sugar (that’s why they are sweeter than fresh fruits) and due to their size decreasing, dried fruits will usually have a higher calories level than the same amount of fresh fruits.



But let’s see what are the benefits of some of the most consumed dried fruits:



•Figs and dates are known for their rich content of potassium, that our body needs to maintain muscles contractions and the balance of the nervous system. They also contain calcium, sulphur, iron, manganese, copper and magnesium.
•Nuts are energy boosters due to their rich content of oil and lipids.
•Dried apricots are consumed for their rich content of potassium and sodium.
•Peaches, as well as apricots, provide to our body folic acid and iron needed for the development of red globules in the blood.
•Sources of iron and potassium, dried pears provide also vitamin C and fibers.


Besides these extremely positive effects on our health, dried fruits also have a delicious taste and an aesthetic value. They can be consumed as a snack, as a desert by themselves or used in decorating cakes or even festive lunches or dinners, because of the variety of their colors.

Easy Hamburger Recipe for a College Football Game Party

During the fall, just about every sports fan in the United States anticipates the beginning of the new college football season. So, if you’re like me, you tend to spend your Saturday afternoons in front of a television somewhere watching your alma mater (or your other favorite universities) compete against their arch rival schools. And, of course, during this time, you may even be thinking of inviting some of your friends over to you house or apartment to witness these fiercely contested collegiate battles that takes place during each and every week of the season.

Usually, when you have a busy schedule like mine and you want your friends to come over to watch the game with you, you typically won’t have time to prepare all the food, let alone go shopping for the all ingredients you’d need. So what can you do to throw a great party yet make your workload much easier?

Well what you could do is just opt for the easy way out – buy ready-made food from a restaurant either by take out or delivery. But the problem with this is that you can never be sure if the food you ordered is fresh and filled with good ingredients. Also, the food you ordered could already be cold and soggy by the time you run to the restaurant and back for take out. You also could encounter a problem if you have your food delivered such as the driver not being able to locate your house or delivering a wrong order. And if this happens, your hungry friends wouldn’t be too happy with you to be sure.

So, to do away with all of the disadvantages of eating restaurant-bought food while at the same time, leaving time for you to have fun with your friends, you can simply have a build-a-burger barbeque party. All the ingredients that you would need for this party are easy to buy and you don’t have to spend too much time in preparing them. It’s also guaranteed that all the food you would serve in this party is made fresh and with good ingredients. On top of all that, you and your friends will have more time to drink and relax while you all keep an eye glued to the big screen.

For your build-a-burger barbeque party there are a ton of great hamburger recipes that you could try but if you and your friends to heat things up while you enjoy the game and each other's company, then a good choice for you is the Jalapenos Burger following the hamburger recipe included below and which can also be found at Best-Hamburger-Recipes-Ever.com. This is surely a great tasting and healthy burger because aside from using lean ground beef, which cuts the fat content of the burger, it makes use of Jalapeno chilies, which gives you a lot of health benefits such as an increase in metabolism that can actually help with weight loss.

SO give this recipe a try as these spicy burgers are delicious, but make sure you have enough to drink on hand!

Jalapenos Burger Recipe

Ingredients:

1 1/2 lb. Lean Ground Beef

2 Jalapeno Chilies, seeded and finely chopped

1 medium Onion, finely chopped

1 Garlic Clove, finely chopped

Directions:

Preheat grill, and add vegetable oil to the grill rack.

In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, jalapenos, onion, and garlic. Mold into 6 patties, about 1/2” thick.

Grill over medium heat for 8 to 12 minutes, flipping once.

Remember that any burger tastes better with cheese, you’re always welcome to add your favorite American, Cheddar, Monterey Jack, or Swiss to any burger if desired.

And Enjoy!

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Yield: 6 servings

So, use this hamburger recipe for your next college football party and you can be sure that you and your friends will have fun and eat healthy at the same time.

STH : Singhal Tent House a Spot of Caters & decorators in Noida

Singhal Tent House a well known name in the field of Caterers & Decorators in Noida ( Sector 27 ). Mr Mukesh Singhal the owner of the Singhal Tent house have duet his reputation in Tent house services.

Singhal Tent House has been satisfying it's customers for the past many years. We will create a special day for any given occasion in any given circumstance. Singhal Tent House ( STH ) is renowned for their ability to host large, up market as well as personal private functions. Everyone loves to eat, that's a fact. Think about when you hosted your last dinner party. You wanted the food and drinks to be delicious and plentiful and your guests to walk away feeling satisfied.

When you've got a big event to plan, whether it's a Wedding, Birthday Party, or Corporate Event, and hundreds of guests are coming, the food and drinks needs to be perfect, but you've got no time to even think about the preparation. That's when you need to hire a good caterer, who employ the services of the best chefs and cooks.



Wedding Caterers, Party Caterers, Event Caterers, Anniversary parties, Banquets, Bar Mitzvahs, Bat Mitzvahs, Bridal Luncheons, Birthday Parties, Brunch, Business/Professional services, Breakfasts, get together Celebrations, Tea parties, Receptions comes in all shapes and sizes. Based on the theme, there are caterers who can provide food for your event Our outstanding facilities and service provide an exceptional venue for your wedding, corporate function and / or other occasions.

Tents Services are homes away from homes. They are places where business transactions are made. Parties are held under tents, receptions under tent canopies A tent can protect your vehicle or your family. Tents are versatile, and require very little by way of time or effort to construct. The function of your tent all depends on what you need.

You will be assured of a beautifully coordinated wedding reception, rehearsal dinner, office party, family reunion, civil union ceremony, or other event - complimenting many different tastes and budgets - from the casual to the most elegant.

Tent Lighting and Décor Rentals – each planned event usually has a special theme and atmosphere and the lighting and tent décor likewise needs to match that mood whether it’s an elegant affair or a more casual event.

Pizza Delivery in Melbourne- the most preferred one

preferred by the people here, at large. People prefer fast food when they are in no mood to prepare for them and pizza is considered the best to crunch on at the time of hunger. Pizza delivery in Melbourne is very fast and is available widely in the food stores, pizza places and the restaurants. One just have to search yellow pages or surf net for getting the contact number of the nearest pizza delivery and order can be placed on phone and one can get the pizza at home or any place desired in few minutes.

Pizza delivery in Melbourne is easy as many food stores avail the customers with the facility of home delivery. Food home delivery is mainly demanded by the people when they are busy in their schedule and don't have time to cook by them, or when a party is thrown at personal place and food is being ordered outside to deliver it at the required place. Pizza delivery in Melbourne facilitates the working class people mostly who don't have to spend their work time in cooking food stuffs. These are the services that carry on the food making process as per the received orders and deliver the food till homes.

The food home delivery and the pizza delivery in Melbourne are the sources which facilitate the people with having pizza and other food stuff till home and no efforts are required in it. Teenagers are fond of the fast food like pizza and prefer to grab it while carrying on some work. Many food stores deliver the pizza as the food home delivery that is being ordered at any place. The food stores have their own sites that contain every detail regarding the food store and also specify the menu that comes under their food store while preparing the food. The sites also provide the details of the nearest branch of the food store that can serve the food faster to the required place.

Pizza delivery in Melbourne is an expanding business as people prefer it and the liking for the food is increasing day by day. Many food stores keep introducing new dishes to bring change in the traditional food habits. Such experiences are often very successful and come in demand within few days of its serving. These experiences are surely required to make amendments in the traditional food habits of the people. Food store business is widely expanding due to the continuous changing eating habits of the people and the food stores are necessarily required to keep making amendments and changes in their menu to bring changes in food habits of people. Tremendous changes can be seen in the eating habits of the people in recent years and people like to taste different kind of food and various dishes that are available. The people are not restricted in their food habits and enjoy the new taste and various dishes. Many food stores only serve the sweets or say desserts; these food stores have different kinds of sweets available like pineapple pudding, chocolate pastries which too ar in demand by the people.

Everything You Need to Know About Mexican Cheese

Most of us in the US have not had much, if any exposure to Mexican cheeses. When we see cheese in Mexican dishes, it is usually familiar types like cheddar or Monterey Jack rather than a queso fresco or cotija. While these common cheeses may indeed pair well with some dishes, they are by no means the only options out there for cooks looking to add a little something to their Mexican recipes.

However, Mexico has many cheeses to try for yourself and thankfully; many of these products are becoming increasingly available here as well. Ever since Mexican farmers began making cheese, it has been an important part of the country's culinary heritage, just as it is in the US; but of course, with its own unique spin.

Cheese (or queso as it is known in Spanish) came to the New World along with the conquistadors. The European colonists brought cows and goats before long, dairy products began being produced in the country, which were uniquely Mexican. There are now a wide variety of different Mexican cheeses, each with its own character and flavor. You will find these cheeses used in many different authentic Mexican recipes, which showcase them with ingredients, which complement their flavors and textures perfectly.

Quesadillas are one of the more familiar Mexican dishes in the US; however, queso Oaxaca, the cheese customarily used to make them is far less so. This cheese is a mild flavored string cheese, which is great on its own as a snacking cheese as well as being ideal for quesadillas, enchiladas, and other Mexican recipes with melted cheese. If you can find this cheese in your local markets, give it a try the next time you are thinking of making quesadillas at home.

Some have called Cotija Mexico's answer to Romano and Parmesan cheeses. Cotija is a hard, sharp, salty cheese, which can be crumbled or grated into salads or used to top soups and refried beans. The texture and flavor of this cheese are very much like that of the aforementioned Italian cheeses and it does indeed also make a good accompaniment to pasta dishes. Named for the town of Cotija in Mexico's Michoacn state, this is one cheese you should certainly consider trying for yourself.

Queso criollo is a mild, nutty yellow cheese, which is not dissimilar to Munster. This cheese hails from the Mexican state of Guererro, is excellent on tortas (Mexican sandwiches), and grated for use in quesadillas and other Mexican recipes where cheese is to be melted. Try it anywhere you would use Munster cheese as well as in Mexican dishes.

A Spanish cheese, which is almost more strongly associated with Mexico, since it has been so widely brought into use in Mexican cooking, is queso fresco. This is a soft, mild cheese, which is traditionally made using a mixture of cow's and goat's milk. This cheese is excellent crumbled as a topping for tacos, as a filling in chiles rellenos and is wonderful with salads or served with fruit.

It would take a lot more space than we have here to go into detail about all of the many delicious Mexican cheeses, which can add little something extra to your favorite Mexican recipes. If you like to cook Mexican food at home, be sure to pay a visit to your local Mexican grocer and explore some new tastes.

Everything You Need to Know About Corn in Mexican Cooking

Corn is one of the most familiar of grains on both sides of the US/Mexico border. Although actually a grain, corn is often cooked and eaten as a vegetable as well. Even though corn may hardly be a stranger to those of us in the US, it does not have the importance in American cuisine that it does in Mexican cooking. Used to make flour for tortillas and tamales as well as being an ingredient in salsas, soups and more, corn is something you will find in a great many quick authentic Mexican recipes.

This grain has been a staple food in Mexico since long before the arrival of Europeans on the continent. Used to make flour for tortillas, tamales and a variety of other dishes, corn was already central to Mexican cooking centuries, if not millennia before the Spanish came over in search of gold. The corn-based flatbreads acquired the name "tortillas" upon the Spanish conquest of what is now Mexico, after the Spanish word for "little cakes" (a name also given to omelets in Spain).

Tamales and tortillas are the most well known corn-based Mexican foods in the US; while flour tortillas are more common here, corn tortillas are now widely available in grocery stores nationwide and are becoming more popular. If you have never tried making tacos with corn tortillas, you are in for a real treat - the flavor a warm, soft corn tortilla adds to the dish just cannot be equaled by any wheat flour tortilla.

Tamales are a traditional Mexican comfort food, which you may see, served at any meal; these are made from corn flour dough (called masa in Spanish) which may be filled with meats, cheeses, vegetables, or even fruit! There are even sweetened tamales, which make a great breakfast or dessert served with coffee or hot chocolate.

Making tamales is a somewhat time-consuming task, but the end result, most would tell you is well worth the effort. If you make your own tamales, be prepared for a few hours of work; and a dish, which is certain to impress your family and friends when served.

Corn is sometimes used in salsas, where its flavor blends perfectly with tomatoes, herbs, and peppers. One common combination is black beans and corn, which makes a very satisfying salsa; you might have even seen some of these salsas at your local grocery store. Corn salsas are great with tortilla chips and wonderful with a taco (made with a warm corn tortilla, of course) or tamale.

Mexican soup recipes also include some with corn in a prominent role. For example, pozole - a spicy hominy soup with pork, herbs and hot peppers. The flavor of corn works perfectly with the peppers and meat to create a classic soup, which is a satisfying meal in itself.

If you live in a city, which has a significant Mexican population, you may even have a pozoleria (a restaurant that specializes in this soup) nearby. However, if you are not so lucky, do not despair. You can easily make pozole at home. Try this Mexican recipe in the fall or winter and prepare to discover a new favorite; and see corn in a whole new way!

Tempranillo - the Noble Grape of Spain

Native to Spain, the Tempranillo grape is a black grape used in the production of full-bodied red wines. It has also been introduced to vineyards in the US, South Africa and Australia where it is prized because it ripens earlier than other grapes, just as it does in Spain. The wines made from these grapes can be bottled and consumed early, but the best ones are aged in oak barrels for several years. The flavors and aromas range from that of plum and berries to tobacco, cedar, vanilla, leather and herbs.

The Tempranillo (http://www.wineaccess.com/wine/grape/Tempranillo) grape has been grown in all areas of Spain, but most noticeably in the cooler northern regions of La Rioja and Valdepenas. The Spanish Conquistadors brought the seeds of this grape to the New World in the 17th century, where it still retains the same qualities of those grown in Spain.

It was not until 1905 that it was introduced to the wine growing regions of California and really did not flourish in favorite wines until the 1980's when wineries were established in mountain areas. Since 1993, production of the wine has really taken off. Tempranillo wine is making an impact in Australia, as well, as a wine with good fruit flavors and low acidity. In Portugal, it is mainly used as a minor component of port wines and red table wines.

Although Tempranillo is widely recognized as a deep red wine, there are also white wine varieties, just like Zinfandel (http://www.wineaccess.com/wine/grape/Zinfandel). This developed as a result of the discovery of a cluster of white grapes in a vineyard in La Rioja in 1988. The skins of these grapes were yellow-green rather than the darker blue-black. Testing has shown that they are true Tempranillo grapes with identical leaves, clusters, grape formations and ripening times.

The Tempranillo grape grows best at high altitudes. It needs both heat and cool temperatures. The coolness helps give the wine the elegance and acidity and the heat helps give the grapes high levels of sugar and thick skins.

Tempranillo is bottled as a variety on its own but it also makes up about 90% of other blends of wine. It is blended with Garnacha Tinta, Mazuelo and Graciano and is aged in oak barrels. It is also a component of the more expensive Cabernet Sauvignon from the La Roija region but Spanish legislation does not permit it to be listed on the label. The wine made from this grape has a moderate level of alcohol but it is a long lasting wine that will not lose its taste or aroma.

Fruit is the characteristic taste of Tempranillo wine. You will taste ripe cherries with hints of cocoa and spices. The fact that it is aged in oak barrels adds to its taste and aroma and gives it a soft tannic quality. The scent of vanilla lingers through the pleasing finish it leaves on the palette. When it is consumed at an early age, the wine is very fruity and reminiscent of a fine Grenache (http://www.wineaccess.com/wine/grape/Grenache).

However as it ages, it starts to lose the fruity flavor and becomes more complex. After it has aged for a few months, it is suitable to pair with food. If you are nibbling on cheese this is a suitable sipping wine. It also goes well with barbecued food, spicy and Indian foods, chicken, and pork dishes.

Thirstystone Coasters Can Become Family Heirlooms

When you buy Thirstystone coasters you are not only buying a coaster that will last for generations, but you are buying a true work of art. The production process of these coasters involves cutting huge boulders of sandstone out of the earth in an eco-friendly manner. Since the stone contains different natural colors and patterns, you will have coasters that are unique in that no two coasters will be of the same color. If you purchase coasters will various paintings and designs, these may be the same, but the stone will be different in each one.

The cost of Thirstystone coasters (http://www.thirstycoasters.com/servlet/-strse-827/Coaster-Holder--dsh--Lighthouse/Detail) is quite reasonable, making them the perfect gift for the person who has everything. When you entertain on a regular basis, you can never have too many coasters. Choose several sets of coasters in the same design to suit the decor of your room or have different sets with a seasonal theme. With thirty different images of flowers to choose from, you will have an abundant supply of coasters for use when serving drinks on the patio. In winter, such coasters will evoke images of the warmer weather that is to come.

Show your pride in your alumnus with collegiate coasters. If you browse the online catalog you will see that there are seventy of these coasters to choose from. This allows you a great range of colleges and sports teams to recognize, especially if your family has several college educations in their background.

The life of the Old West will come alive in the coasters when you choose this design. Display the image of an old train, cowboy boots, different brands used by ranches or the image of a mountain valley on the coaster set of your choice. The Interior Design collection will allow you to coordinate your interior decor with the various hues and swirls of patterns that come through the stone in the drink coasters (http://www.thirstycoasters.com/servlet/-strse-Name-Drops/Categories). Some of these images include the Fleur de Lys, an amber glow or the image of a palm tree that will transport you to exotic locations as you sip on your drink.

Numerous artists create the designs used in Thirstystone coasters. You can search the catalog to find the paintings and etchings of your favorite artist and design your collection around this talented person. You can purchase these coasters directly from the Thirstystone site, but there are retailers both online and off in all parts of the country. Some of these retailers carry the complete line up of products designed and produced by Thirstystone.

To clean the coasters all you have to do is rinse them off in clear cool water and lay them on a cloth to dry. You do not have to dry them because the water will naturally evaporate, just as it does when it collects in the beverage coaster (http://www.thirstycoasters.com/servlet/-strse-895/For-The-Birds-Beverage/Detail) from the condensation on the outside of the glass. A fresh stain will only need a light rinsing, but one that has been there for some time may be a bit more stubborn. In this case you can apply a few drops of a mild dishwashing liquid and gently scrub the stain to take it out. You should never put these coasters in the dishwasher because it will harm both the stone and the cork backing.

A Family Feast Tradition

November is one of my favorite months out of the entire year because it represents the month during which the entire family gathers for a wonderful holiday centered around a magnificent feast. This holiday is known as Thanksgiving. We have a family tradition that is carried out during this special occasion and I‘d like to share a little bit about what that tradition.

Our family loves to cook, and we take pride in the meal that is prepared every year for the Thanksgiving feast. So every year on Thanksgiving day, the entire family meets at 4 a.m. for an early morning breakfast and to discuss. In this case, breakfast mainly means coffee, coffee, and more coffee because most of us are not what you would consider early risers. But we somehow manage to put our sleep preferences aside just for this special occasion. Breakfast is one purpose for the early meeting. The other purpose for meeting so early is to discuss “The List”, which has been prepared by our mother and father. This list contains everything that needs to be done that morning in preparation for the feast.

After discussing “The List” and the schedule of events for the day, we get to work on every piece of the puzzle for preparing the feast in which we will partake later that day. This list and schedule and the joy of being able to do it with the family all together is what makes the day so exciting. All of the food items like biscuits, stuffing, deserts, the turkey, potatoes, cranberry sauce, pies, and more are scheduled to be made at some point in the morning and at a precise time. In order to make these items, we have to get all of the necessary tools together that will be used in during this process. Items such as carving knives, mixers, blenders, mixing bowls, spoons, pans, pie tins, and more will be gathered up and arranged in their respective areas. It takes a lot of hard work, but by 12 noon on that very day, every food item on that list will be prepared and laid out in an impressive spread for all the family to enjoy.

The team work, dedication, and good family devotion is what makes our Thanksgiving tradition so special. The wonderful food is an added bonus but that’s not the real beauty of the whole event. It’s the feeling of satisfaction that we get knowing that we all worked so hard to bring the family together if only for this one event. Hopefully you have a family tradition like ours that helps bring your family closer together even if it is only once a year.

The Various Flavors of Cabernet Sauvignon

It is quite possible that the Cabernet Sauvignon grape is a close relative of both the Cabernet Franc and the Sauvignon Blanc, two grape varieties that were crossed in the vineyards of France in the 1600's. It is one of the most common varieties of red wine in the world and is planted in virtually every winemaking region. It is one of the easiest grapes to grow. The thick skins make it resistant to many diseases that can wipe out a crop of other grape varieties and it is resistant to rot and frost.

Although the Cabernet Sauvignon grape can be grown in a wide variety of climates, it flourishes best in those areas where the temperatures are warmer. It is a late ripening grape - about two weeks after the Merlot (>http://www.wineaccess.com/wine/grape/Merlot) and Cabernet Franc (http://www.wineaccess.com/wine/grape/Cabernet%20Franc) grapes are ready to be harvested. The climate of the region has a bearing on when the grapes are harvested and this affects the quality of the resulting wine.

In California, with its warm temperatures, wineries do not harvest the grapes until they are fully ripe giving them the taste of stewed blackcurrants. In Bordeaux, France, they are often harvested before they are fully ripe because of the hazards of the weather during the harvest season. Grapes grown in such cooler regions tend to have the flavor of green bell peppers.

The green bell pepper flavor of Cabernet Sauvignon is caused by the presence of pyrazines in the grapes. It is more predominant in wines made from unripened grapes. As the grapes ripen on the vine, exposure to sunlight destroys most of the pyrazines and this is difficult in cooler climates. The flavor of green bell pepper is not a fault in the wine. It just means that this taste may not be acceptable to all wine drinkers.

Two of the other flavors associated with Cabernet Sauvignon (http://www.wineaccess.com/wine/grape/Cabernet%20Sauvignon) are that of mint and eucalyptus. The minty taste is more predominant in wines from warmer regions because of the climate, but it is also believed that the type of soil plays a part in adding this flavor. Wines of this nature are commonly found in Australian wineries and those in the state of Washington. Wines from areas where eucalyptus trees are found tend to have a taste of the eucalyptus, but there is no concrete evidence to provide any reasoning for this.

The techniques used by the various winemakers can also affect the taste and aroma of Cabernet Sauvignon. When a long period of maceration is employed, the wine generally has a high level of tannins and a fruity taste. The length of the maceration period also affects how early the wine can be consumed.

Cabernet Sauvignon must also be fermented at a very high temperature in order to give it a deeper color and to extract the fruit flavors from the grapes. Wine that has a long maceration period has high tannic quality, but in wineries that prefer the deeper colors and more fruity taste, such as in a Sangiovese (http://www.wineaccess.com/wine/grape/Sangiovese/), they can use different techniques to soften the effect of the tannins.

Oak aging is the most common method used for Cabernet Sauvignon. In this process, the wine is gradually exposed to oxidation to soften the tannins and add the flavor of wood. Gelatin and egg whites are often added to reduce the tannic quality, but these proteins are removed during the filtration process.

Reasons You Should Invest In A Commercial Ice Machine For Your Business

Do you have a business that requires a lot of ice being used in one day? If you do, then you need to know what the reasons are that you want to invest in a commercial ice machine. There are a number of reasons why these ice machines are needed for any business that uses a lot of ice in a day.

Here are the most important reasons why every business needs to have a good ice machine if you use a lot of it in one day.

1. If you have a business such as a restaurant, where you are serving drinks to your customers, running out of ice can be a disaster. Not only will you have upset customers, but customers that are upset tend to tell others about it. This can cause bad publicity for your business. Having the right ice machine can help you prevent this problem from happening and will also help keep your thirsty customers happy.

2. Did you know that by investing in an ice machine, you can save money? With a machine for ice, you won’t have to transport lots of premade ice to get through the day. Not only will this save you money, but it will also save you time.

3. It used to be that ice machines were too large to have in your business, but these days that isn’t true anymore. Now, you can get a machine that is small enough to fit into your business without taking up too much room, but it will still produce all of the ice that you need in a day.

4. Each type of business needs different amounts of ice and different shapes for their ice. With today’s ice machines, you can now find one that will make as little ice as needed or as much ice as needed. So, no matter what your ice needs are, with a commercial machine you can now fill those needs very easily.

These are the most important reasons why investing in a commercial ice machine is a good idea for any business that uses ice on a daily basis. Having the right ice machine can help you prevent many problems from happening and will help to ensure your customers are happy. Take the time now to do your research about the ice machines available so you can get the right one for your business.

Texas Coffee Shops

Texas coffee shops offer excellent amenities, a wide array of food selection, and different types of coffee blend. Some have free and secure Wi-Fi access and others are providing accessible structures for persons with disability.

There are a lot of comfortable coffeehouses in Texas. Some are not only serving a "cup of joe," but also accept catering services for all occasions. Here are the more familiar coffee shops in Texas.

Vida Latte features different types of brewed coffee beans, pastries, a wide selection of deli sandwiches and even the soup of the day. Vida Latte has a convenient atmosphere where staff is friendly and service is fast. It is a privately owned coffee shop located at Mainland Medical Center, Emmett F Lowry Expy, Texas.

The Paris Coffee Shop is nominated as "Best Bargain Breakfast" award. The waitresses are friendly and competent. The shop is near the cultural museum district. It is located at Magnolia Ave, Fort Worth, Texas.

Bouldin Creek Coffeehouse offers organic and locally roasted coffee, an assortment of food and fresh pastries plus 40 different kinds of hot teas. It has an ecological friendly atmosphere due to its environmental policy and recycling advocacy. It is located at 1501 South First, Austin, Texas.

Halcyon Coffee offers a wide array of drinks such as espresso, cappuccino, coffee and smoothies. Breakfast and a variety of delicious desserts are also available. Visit the shop at 218 W 4th St, Austin, Texas.

Murray Street Coffee Shop features free and secure Wi-Fi access, wheelchair accessibility, and outdoor seating amenities to customers. It serves best Italian coffee, selection of beverages and yummy pastries with reasonable prices. Drinks range from small, medium and large sizes. Its great Scandinavian mid-century type interior design makes it a fine place for rest and hangout. It is conveniently situated at 3100 Murray Street, Dallas, Texas.

Java Rocks Coffee House and Roastery serves coffee, deli style sandwiches, panini grilled sandwiches, and hand-dipped ice cream. It offers facility rental, coffee, and deli catering services. It has been in service since 2004. It's the only and first coffeehouse in Hutto, Texas. It is situated at 409 W Front Street, Ste 240, Hutto, Texas.

Bellaire Coffee Shop offers fresh coffee and an assortment of delicious pastries and deli sandwiches. It has a smoking area. It is located at 5422 Bissonnet Street, Bellaire, Texas.

Last but not the least is Mozart. This Texas coffee shop has a European ambiance. It looks very classy and elegant inside. It is a first class café and is very popular to Texans. You can choose to drink their gourmet coffee outside. Inside, there are multi-decks you can choose from.

Many students like to hangout here for some quiet study time over a cup of their favorite coffee. The café offers free wi-fi connection so that both students and businessmen can work here while sipping on their cups.

For those who want some entertainment, there are live shows in Mozart every Wednesday and Sunday. And of course, a good cup of coffee goes along your favorite sweets. Mozart offers a delectable variety of sweets.

There are a lot of other coffee shops in Texas worth trying. Indeed, Texas is not only okay for its tourist destinations. It is also known for its many choices of coffee shops.

New York Coffeehouses For Coffee Lovers

The busy city of New York is home to a lot of coffeehouses.

Coffee has become a very important part in the lives of people for quite a long time now. In a busy city like New York, coffeehouses, coffee restaurants and bars are eventually increasing. Many people from different walks of life drive up to these coffeehouses to satisfy their need for accessible and fast pace coffee services. Different food menus like sandwiches and other kinds of desserts are also offered.

Coffeehouses are small restaurants where coffee, other drinks and snacks are served. Waiters and waitresses and other staff are trained to observe excellent customer service. It has been the most popular venue for social interaction.

New York is one of the biggest and busiest states in the United States. It has many tourist attractions, shopping centers and business centers. It is a highly populated place swarmed with many people everyday. And because of this, almost any restaurant is booming in this huge city.

And this is also the reason why there are many coffee houses you will see in New York. New Yorkers just love to cap their nights with a good cup of brewed or flavored coffees. There are many big franchises of coffee shops you will see here. But some people opt for the smaller cafes with dim lights and intimate ambiance for utmost relaxation.

One of these is Abraço. This is a coffeehouse, soup and sandwiches cuisine situated at 7th Street, New York. Recently, this coffee restaurant got the Best Cup of Coffee award featured in "The Breakfast Manifesto - The City's Best Morning Meals."

It is known to have fine Brazilian espresso. Breakfast and lunch are also offered here along with their delicious desserts.

The New Lex Coffee Shop is also famous in the city. It is one of the unbeatable New York's coffee shops with a spacious street and garage parking lot. It offers hot and cold coffee and a wide array of food items such as breakfast specials, deli sandwiches, salad platters and diet delights.

It also provides catering services for business parties and other occasions. This is more affordable and ideal to entertain clients. Service is fast and friendly. It is located at 155 E. 55th Street, between Lexington & 3rd Avenue.

Ella Cafe serves locally organic grown coffee ingredients from the local farmers who practice environmental friendly methods of farming. Bacon and Avocado and Tomato Omelet are just few of a variety of food menu selection along with their organic coffee and tea. It uses biodegradable materials for take-out. It is situated at Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, New York.

Grey Dog Coffee is one of the best in the area where coffee and meals are served in a comfy setting. Service is fast, and the staff is friendly and attentive. There is a wide selection of delicious and nutritious food and the price is reasonable as well. Enjoy live music daily as you sip your favorite coffee. Grey Dog Coffee is located at 33 Carmine Street, New York.

Morning Star Café serves your favorite coffee blend, and also caters breakfast, lunch and dinner 24 hours daily. It is conveniently located at 949 2nd Ave, New York.

Coffee Shops in Florida For Business and Relaxation

Coffee shops play very important roles in drawing closer to our family members, friends and business partners. These places also provide a great chance to relax while enjoying their favorite coffee blend coupled with other food items.

Florida is a beautiful city in the United States. Many Americans and tourists visit the city to relax and unwind while taking a day off from work. Visitors enjoy the sites, go shopping and just stroll along the parks.

Florida has so many wonderful attractions to go to. But after all the fun in exploring the city, it is time to relax. And one thing comes to mind, that is, to drink a cup of coffee.

There are many coffee shops in Florida. There are different accessible coffee houses one can go to. These are cozy places useful during several special occasions. Going to these coffee shops is another way of decreasing stress that people encounter everyday. Talking over coffee will also strengthen relationships with family and friends.

These coffee shops are owned or franchised by some individuals and companies to suit the needs of people. The outdoor section has terraces, parasols, tables and chairs for a cool breeze ambience. It overlooks the beautiful sceneries of the city.

Here are some of the more famous coffee shops in the city. First is the Volcanos Coffee Bar. It is a great little coffee shop that can be found in Longwood, Florida. They offer two kinds of organic coffee: Guatemala Maya Ixil-Quiche and Colima Valley Blend. They also offer a wide range of desserts and other food items. The staff is friendly and their prices are affordable.

Next is the Richards Fine Coffee, also one of the best coffee shops in Winter Haven, Florida. Hot and cold coffee is served along with a wide array of food choice such as cinnamon roll, muffins, and bagels. It has an extraordinary atmosphere attended by friendly personnel.

You can also try Stork's Café if you want good ambiance. It is one of the candidates for architectural designs award because of its nature friendly ambiance. It is located at Ft Lauderdale, Florida. A local, active politician, Jim Storke is the owner. This local, small bakery-café chain offers a diversity of food selection such as, salads, sandwiches, soups and even other beverages like wine.

The Aroma Coffee House is also swarmed with many coffee lovers everyday. It is situated at 712 East Washington Street, Orlando, Florida. They have a lot of coffee options including caffeine free coffee for those who are caffeine restricted. Fresh baked pastries and cakes are also offered along with their special coffee blend.

Another café you can try is the Coffee Cup Restaurant located in Pensacola, Florida. This is the landmark of Pensacola. It has been in service for 40 years now. It has its excellent Cheese Grits in the area. Aside from coffee, it also serves soup and sandwiches. Customers not only enjoy their coffee, but also the other meals served.

The other coffee shops are bigger franchises and known worldwide. But if you wish to experience coffee that's distinct to Florida, you might opt for the smaller cafes that offer cups of coffee close to yours at home.

Most coffee shops, irreverent of location, are practical for business meetings. Some coffee houses have a wireless internet access that allows customers to bring their laptop.

Visual Cues Add to the Dining Experience

People want a dining experience that allows them to take a break from their everyday problems and stresses. As soon as people walk into a restaurant, their assessment of the establishment begins. If they do not like the appearance and atmosphere of the restaurant, they are likely to turn around and walk out. The visual cues are fundamental components to attracting and retaining diners.

The atmosphere of a restaurant should project a sense of friendliness and relaxation. It should be attractive, clean, with well dressed wait staff. The atmosphere is one part of the dining experience that is remembered. For the restaurant owner, the atmosphere along with the food is essential qualities that will encourage repeat diners.

The ambience of the restaurant must be pleasing to the eye. Ambience will depend on the type of restaurant such as luxury, informal, or fast food. With formal or luxury restaurants, a restaurant's ambience should reflect elegance. The restaurant can create an ambience by using such furnishings as fresh flowers, professional paintings, candles, soft music such as classical, linen napkins and tablecloths. There will also be elegant dress code with waitstaff in stylish and professional uniforms. Male servers will be wearing ties.

The atmosphere should emanate warmth and a welcoming. Many restaurants will use certain colors to help enhance the ambience. Colors will reflect the theme. If it is a romantic restaurant, colors will be subtle and the lighting will be dim, but the candles will provide the right amount of lighting to see one another and their meals. The color green emphasizes restfulness and tranquility. Violet and purple emphasizes elegance and sophistication. Yellow emphasizes cheerfulness and warmth. The decor will say to a diner that the restaurant is elegant, stylish, and comfortable.

Luxury restaurants provide some of the loveliest atmosphere to enjoy a meal. Most restaurants take great care in their decor, design, and lighting, in order to provide a comfortable and pleasing ambience. Restaurants that focus on a particular ethnic theme, such as Italian, Chinese, or Mexican, the furnishings and decorations will reflect and enhance the ethnic design. There may also be music to add to the ambience such as a certain type of music like romantic soft music, or there may be a performer such as a harpist, pianist, or a classical guitar player.

The aroma is an important part of a restaurant's atmosphere. The aroma should be pleasing. For instance, an elegant restaurant may have a scent of flowers in the air. As well, people enjoy such aromas as fresh brewed coffee and oven-baked bread. Unpleasant odors will only cause a diner to leave and never return.

The temperature of the restaurant should make a diner comfortable. In the winter, the dining room should be warm and cozy. In the summer, it should be comfortably cool. The proper temperature allows the customer to relax and enjoy their meal.

Designing the best and most appealing atmosphere takes careful planning. It should be designed to attract a large number of people. The atmosphere taps into one's senses such as sight, touch, smell, and hearing. The right atmosphere can relax guests and generate contentment as well as repeat customers. The proper atmosphere and food can make the dining experience pleasant, relaxing, and memorable.

Tips to Manage a Restaurant Successfully

A restaurant's success depends how well it is managed. Successful management will result in a loyal customer base and great reputation. It is important to have a clear plan that will keep a steady stream of customers coming through the doors.

The following are a number of tips to manage a restaurant successfully:

Control Costs: The ability to manage and control costs is essential to running a successful restaurant. You should have an effective inventory management system. It is important not to waste food by ordering too much. Too much food will result in spoilage. As well, make sure you have clear sense of how much food you need to prepare each day. When it comes to staffing costs, make sure you have enough employees during peak hours and a minimal number on duty during the slow hours.

Customer Service: Staff should be properly trained to provide excellent customer service. All staff should be dedicated, hard working, friendly, courteous, and attentive to their customers. Make sure your staff knows that they are a valued member of the restaurant. Give positive feed back and communicate positively when correcting mistakes. As well, they should be able handle customer complaints effectively and with grace. Customers should feel welcome and that their patronage is appreciated.

Food: The food you serve should be fresh. Your dishes should be unique and relevant to the theme and atmosphere of the restaurant. Offer healthy dinners for people who maintain a health conscious lifestyle. With each dish served, make sure the quality of the food is consistent. Regularly add a unique dish as a special.

Cleanliness: The restaurant should be clean and well maintained, including the bathrooms. A dirty table should be cleaned and reset quickly. Floors and walls should be clean. If the place is dirty, it will reflect poorly on the overall restaurant, including the food.

Atmosphere: The restaurant should be warm and welcoming. The décor should match the theme of the restaurant. Appropriate colors and lighting should be professional and match the ambience. Decorations should be pleasing to the eye. Consider using music to add to the theme and atmosphere.

Restaurant Marketing: It is important that you have a strategy for advertising your restaurant. This can include marketing at hotels, local newspaper, and in fliers. You should be offering daily specials as well as providing special coupons. Sponsoring community events is another way to get the word out about your restaurant. Holding special contests is a good option for advertising your restaurant. This can include holding a draw to win a meal or gift certificate. Make sure you can cater to various organization events such as providing a buffet for a large group event.

Managing a restaurant takes a lot of work, energy, and time. It is essential that a restaurant implements an effective management strategy in order to maintain a successful business. Attracting and maintaining customers is an essential component of maintaining a flourishing restaurant. With the proper management plan, one will see their restaurant thrive.

Recipes for kids is an altogether different cooking experience

Recipes for kids are always hard go make. With the proper serving and right food proportion, weight loss can now be healthy and yummy! You need not deprive yourself of good food in dieting. Because of the delicious and healthy weight loss diets around, it is now easy to say goodbye to your excess pounds without suffering from starvation through recipe for kids.

Here are some healthy weight loss diets and their recipes which can make you lose pounds while having a flat belly. You'll be surprised with these yummy treats too!

Chicken With Citrus Avocado Salsa

Recipe for kids can be overwhelming with this recipe around. Try making the meal and see how fast and yummy weight loss can be. Preparation time is only around 19 minutes.

Ingredients

4 boneless, skinless chicken breast cut into halves (about 6 oz each)

1 ruby red grapefruit

1 cup cubed avocado (medium-sized)

4 radishes, thinly sliced

1?4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves

1?8 teaspoon salt

4 leaves of green or red leaf lettuce (optional)

In a large saucepan, place chicken with 4 cups salted water. Bring to a boil. Put off the heat, cover and set aside for 15 minutes until the temperature reaches 160°F.

Peel the grapefruit and catch the juice using a bowl. Cut the grapefruit into segments and drop them in the bowl. Add the radish, basil, salt and avocado. Mix gently to avoid crushing the avocado pieces.

Discard the liquid while draining the chicken. Cut crosswise in ½ inch slices. The grapefruit is cut into four portions and add a quarter of chicken to each. Drizzle the juice on top of the chicken slices. Garnish with additional basil and serve with lettuce leaves as desired.

You can also eat this recipe with rice.
(ArticlesBase ID #1221610)

What are the essential bbq accessories and grill tools?

Grilling and barbecue are two terms which are generally used interchangeably by the people in order to explain a kind of food, method of cooking it or a social gathering which frequently comes about when this particular food is prepared. But grilling and barbecue are not the same. There are a number of differences between the two. The chief distinction between the two is that of the source of heat. Barbecue utilizes an indirect or a low-level heat for cooking whereas in grilling the food is prepared directly over the flame or some other source of high-heat. However, the bbq accessories and grill tools required for both barbecue and grilling are the same.

The bbq accessories and grill tools simplify the whole cooking process and are extremely useful. It is always better to spend a little more and purchase your bbq accessories and grill tools of the best quality as they are more durable and useful in comparison with their cheap alternatives. Thus, once purchased these tools and accessories can be used whenever needed and most of them are easy to maintain.

One of the essential bbq accessories and grill tools are a pair of tongs which have a long handle. This is perhaps the handiest as well as most indispensable tool needed for barbecue and grilling. It is used for flipping the food as well as to move the coals, the grates and so on. Secondly, a spatula which is long handled is ideal among the bbq accessories and grill tools for picking up the delicate foods which might break on being lifted with tongs. The spatula must have a curved handle as well a broad blade.

A fork is also a must when it comes to bbq accessories and grill tools. It helps you test whether the veggies and meats are done. A fork can also be utilized to pick up the food which sticks to the grill without tearing it. A fork with long handles is preferable. Then you must also have some brushes as bbq accessories and grill tools. One brush must be kept for just the oiling of the cooking surfaces of the barbecue grill and another one must be utilized for basting. The brushes too must have long handles so that you do not burn your hands over the flame.

Oven Mitts too are needed as bbq accessories. They are very useful when you have to turn or remove say kebabs which are generally on the metal skewers from the barbecue or grill. Mitts are used for lifting food which is grilling in the foil parcels and also for dealing with sizzling metal items like the drip pans and so on. You can also purchase the fireproof mitts so that they do not catch fire on making contact with the flames.

For cooking kebabs skewers are necessary bbq accessories. They are broadly of two types – the long skewers made of metal and the bamboo skewers. Then there are some bbq accessories and grill tools which are not essential but are useful. They are wire racks which are hinged, meat thermometer for checking the meats’ internal temperature, wire brushes for cleaning the grill and plastic covers for protecting the grill or barbecue in storage.
(ArticlesBase ID #1221994)

Special Features of the Fissler Stainless Steel Cookware - Fine German Craftsmanship With Superior Functionality

It is hard to not get excited about all the exceptional features of the Fissler stainless steel cookware products! Fine German engineering and beautiful design are incorporated into each piece, for any and every cooking application. Let's review some of these innovative features, but to appreciate the outstanding quality of these products, be sure to visit Your Smart Kitchen for further information.

1. The Fissler CookStar Base, so called because of the star patterned expansion joints on the bottom, increases the performance of your cooking surface. This solid base is constructed of a six millimeter pure aluminum core and top quality 18/10 stainless steel. Fissler guarantees this perfect technology base from hot spots, warping and separation. It is also guaranteed to stay flat forever on any cook surface. The layers of aluminum and stainless steel in the CookStar Base are heated and then bonded together by an impact greater than 1500 tons of pressure. This process creates a single, solid piece base with no holes, as opposed to other cookware which is layer and then glued or welded together. The base is actually slightly concave when the pan is cool, so that upon heating, it ensures that the bottom is flat. The patented expansion joints allow the aluminum, (which heats faster than the stainless steel) to expand without ever affecting the stainless steel. This innovative design is truly an example of the outstanding attention to the quality and functionality of Fissler Stainless Steel Cookware.

2. The Stay Cool Handles are large and comfortable for ease in handling your Fissler products. These handles have a lifetime guarantee because they are actually welded to the pans so there are no rivets which can come loose, wear out, or trap food particles or grease. The handles are also guaranteed to stay cool to the touch.

3. Condensate Plus Lids are another unique feature. These lids are uniquely shaped to cause condensation to collect in the center of the lid and drip onto the food. Natural flavors, juices, nutrients and moisture are sealed into your foods. The moisture from food returns back to the food rather than cooking out of it. The lids are also shaped so that ice cubes may be place on the center of the top of the lid to increase the condensation process.

4. Pouring Rims allow for dripless, precise pouring off of retained juices from the pan.

5. A practical Measuring Scale is laser etched into the side of the so that you do not need to measure out liquids before cooking. Simply pour the desired amount right into the pan.

6. Easy maintenance is achieved by simply cleaning with hot soapy water. For burned on food, soak the pan in soapy water and then boil gently for ten minutes. Cool and clean with a nylon scourer such as Scotch-Brite. Avoid using beach or ammonia to clean stainless steel, however a cleanser such as Bon Ami is fine. All the Fissler products found at Your Smart Kitchen are dishwasher and oven safe.
(ArticlesBase ID #1230172)

Tips to Make Your Enameled Cast Iron Cookware Last a Lifetime!

Chasseur Enameled Cast Iron Cookware can be an investment which will last you for as long as you cook, if you treat and maintain your cookware properly. By observing a few guidelines, your cast iron cookware will become a well-seasoned and much-loved heirloom to pass on to future generations of fine cooks!

To begin with, a new enameled cast iron pan needs to be washed with warm soapy water, and towel dried. Although the pan is very durable, take care not to drop or knock the pan against a hard surface, such as the sink. This could cause damage to the enameled surface, and lead to possible corrosion of the iron.

Never heat a dry pan over a cook surface. Your cooking oil of choice should completely cover the base of the pan before heating the pan. Using medium and low heats will give you the best cooking results. This includes frying and searing as well. By allowing the pan to heat up slowly and gradually, you will achieve the most thorough and even cooking results possible. Once you have reached the optimum heat for the pan, you can reduce the heat and almost all cooking can be done at a lower temperature. Remember that the line of Chasseur enameled cast iron cookware has an easy lift knob on the lid which is designed for use in ovens up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

Using your cast iron cookware on high heat should be avoided except for boiling water for pasta, rice, etc. Never pre-heat the pan on high heat. Cast iron tends to hold the heat so well that if you overheat the pan, you may be disappointed in the cooking results. Food will tend to stick to the surface and could cause some discoloration or burning.

Always be sure the pan base matches the size of the heating zone. This prevents loss of energy, overheating of the pan handles or sides. Do not allow a pan to boil dry as this could cause damage to the enamel. Never cut food directly on the surface of the pan, or use an electric hand-held mixer or beater in the pan as you may cause permanent damage to the surface.

After use, be sure to allow the cast iron cookware to cool for a few minutes before you immerse it in hot water with a little mild detergent. Never fill a hot pan with cold water, or plunge the pan into a sink of cold water, as the abrupt temperature change could damage the enamel. If there is any burnt or stuck-on residue, allow the pan to soak about fifteen to twenty minutes in the warm water. Wash and then dry your cast iron cookware completely before you store it away. While you are cleaning the pan, this is a good time to check the knob on the lid to be sure it remains tightened.

High quality cast iron cookware should last a lifetime. There is an extensive extensive range of products available specifically designed for flexibility and ease of use. By following the suggestions above, you will enjoy using your Chasseur enameled cast iron cookware for all the styles of cooking you prefer and on any type of cooking appliance.
(ArticlesBase ID #1230229)

3 Fuss-Free Ways to Cook Baby Back Ribs

A very popular dish to bring to a picnic or barbecue would be some baby back ribs. Although ribs are very easy to make, they will take up your patience with the amount of time that is needed to cook them up. Normal cook time for ribs would be around 2 hours. Professional chefs would tell you that ribs taste better when they have marinated for long periods of time preferably overnight.

There's a bunch of ways in cooking ribs and everyone, even those who aren't experienced cooks, can follow these simple instructions and prepare tasty and delicious ribs for your barbecue or picnic. Below I will list down 3 very easy methods in cooking ribs.

1) On the slow-cooker or Crock pot: This is a fuss free way of cooking your ribs. When using this cooking method you might have to cut your ribs up into smaller pieces so they can fit inside the pot. After you have sliced them up into smaller pieces just put your ribs into the pot together with the spices, marinade or any sauce you like and allow ribs to cook on really low flame (200' F) for a couple of hours. When meat has started to fall off from the bones and they have become so tender then you are ready to serve them up.

2) On the Oven: Baking ribs in your oven is one easy method to cook your ribs. This way of cooking is really good especially during the wintertime when you can't grill outside because the weather is so cold. Before baking your ribs, marinate them first in any sauce you like or you could also rub them down with some dry rub if you like them without any sauce. Just let them marinate well and when you are ready to bake them up, wrap them using an aluminum foil either with sauce or without it and put them inside the oven and cook for 2 hours. at around 225' F. By wrapping ribs in aluminum foil, they will stay tender during the baking process. So don't forget this step.

3) On the Grill: Prepare the grill ahead of time so you won't be cooking on direct flame but on well heated coals. Do not put your ribs on direct flame because they will become cooked up but they won't be as melt-in-your-mouth tender as you would want them. Just place a shallow, heatproof pan and put some water on it. Then place your pan between your source of heat (coals), metal grate & your ribs. This way of cooking will allow you to cook your ribs for some hours & will leave them tender as well.

Also when basting your ribs don't spill any marinade or sauce on the coals because they might cause flames to flare up and will make your ribs dry and burnt. Roast ribs for 2 hours. on medium low heat (225' F). Take your ribs out of the heat and let them rest a while before you serve them up so they will become so much juicier. One last thing, keep an eye on your pan to see if there is still water on it.

If water has evaporated then pour in some until you finish cooking your ribs. There's a variety of ways in cooking ribs like frying them up or smoking them but those that I mentioned above are among the fuss-free and easy methods to relish those delicious & juicy ribs that is going to become a sure hit with everyone.
(ArticlesBase ID #1233796)

Cooking With Bamboo

Bamboo Kitchenware
Bamboo kitchenware is becoming more in demand as people discover the virtues of the material. The natural finish of bamboo kitchenware is good for different uses, depending on the utensil being utilized. Bamboo cutting boards are becoming very popular because they do not dull knives as quickly as hardwood cutting boards do. Bamboo cutting boards are also sturdy enough that when scratched and marked, they can be sanded down and refinished to look new again.

Bamboo utensils are also becoming a coveted addition to wedding gift lists. These utensils are unique because unlike many other silicone, plastic, or metal utensils, ones made of bamboo do not scratch the surface of expensive non-stick cookware. Bamboo utensils are also excellent for cooking because they do not conduct heat very well. This means that you won't burn your hand on the handle, even if you leave it in the pot you are using. Finally, bamboo utensils are very versatile. There are all kinds of utensils that you can make out of bamboo that work as well as traditional materials.

Some utensils that are frequently made out of bamboo include:

•Plates
•Cutlery (knives, spoons, forks)
•Cutting boards
•Utensils for cooking like spoons and spatulas
•Chopsticks
•Steaming baskets
•Tea strainers
•Skimming spiders
•Rolling pins
•Spice racks
•Salt and pepper shakers
All of these utensils have the same strength and environmentally friendly properties as other objects made of bamboo. But fully mature bamboo isn't the only thing used in the kitchen. Young bamboo, called bamboo shoots, is a food staple of some countries in the world.

Bamboo Shoots
Eaten for centuries in many parts of the world, bamboo shoots are another aspect of cooking with bamboo. These plants are the bamboo that has been harvested within two weeks of sprouting, leaving them less than a foot tall. Rather bitter when raw, they are still crisp and tender and bamboo has a flavor much like corn. Bamboo shoots are becoming very much in demand in health food restaurants, mostly because bamboo shoots are very healthy. They have very little fat or cholesterol, and are a good source of fiber and potassium. one serving of bamboo shoots is equal to 10% of the daily fiber a person needs in their diet.

The use of bamboo is on the rise, especially within the realm of the culinary arts. Whether it is the nutritious taste of bamboo shoots, or the organic but simply utilitarian kitchenware mentioned above, bamboo certainly has as much a place in the kitchen as it does in construction and gardening
(ArticlesBase ID #1233953)

5 Easy-To-Follow Steps For Really Moist & Chewy Cookies

Making a hard or crunchy cookie is easy to prepare but making chewy and soft cookies is really a challenge. But don't you worry, because herewith are some easy procedures to prepare or bake soft, moist and great tasting cookies.

1.Know exactly how long you should bake or cook the cookie mixture or dough. Unlike any other baked goodies, cookies are easy to prepare - that is why they only require a few minutes to prepare. So if by any chance you leave them inside your oven for more than the required baking period, the baked dough is likely to become crunchy or hard.

In order to create chewy and moist cookies, remove the pan from your oven until the sides of your cookies are slightly brown and the center looks soft. Don't worry about the soft part of the baked dough because they continue baking even after you've gotten them out of your oven. The remaining heat of the pan is enough to completely cook your delicious cookies. Let the baked cookies cool down before transferring them into another plate or tray.

2.Know the exact amount of flour needed. Cooking pastry including cookies require precise measurement of ingredients particularly the flour. Cookies or other pastries become hard whenever you add huge amount flour. Every time you combine flour in your mixture, see to it that you fluff it up by slightly whisking it using spoon. Put the required amount in a measuring cup but don't compress or tamp the flour. You may use spatula or a knife with flat edges to remove the excess flour.

3.Know the sweetener that you'll use. Some people are not aware that the kinds of sweetener or sugar you add or use for your cookie mixture produces a huge effect to its consistency. Putting white or refined sugar results to crunchier cookies while those cookies which are made using brown or unrefined sugar, honey and molasses become soft. Whenever you want to prepare or bake chewy and moist cookies, you may use corn or heavy syrup.

4.Keep the mixture or dough cool. Before baking your cookies or dough try to place it inside the fridge for few minutes before baking it. Cooled or chilled dough usually results to thick and soft cookies while warm dough is likely to produce flat and crunchy cookies.

5.Keep your baked cookies properly. Cookies are similar to other pastry goodies; they need to be kept properly to maintain their great taste and texture. Baked cookies need to be placed in a sealed jar or container after they have cooled down. Never store your baked cookies unless they have completely cooled or else cookies will become tacky because of the humidity or moisture they'll generate inside the container. In order to maintain the chewy and moist consistency of your baked cookies, put an apple or small bread inside the container. The apple and the bread will give ample moisture to your stored cookies which maintains the chewy and soft texture of these delights.
(ArticlesBase ID #1237499)

Learn About The 10 Useful Tips For Baking Flavorful Cookie Treats!

Baking or making cookies is easy to do but when you want to achieve better tasting cookies you need to follow these simple tips and tricks that have been tried and tested to achieve yummier results.

1.If you want to make light yet crunchy cookies, you need to combine the ingredients using an automatic mixer. However, when you want thicker cookies you need to mix your dough manually. Remember not to over beat or mix or beat the mixture or dough because it can result to hard and thick cookies.

2.When the cookie recipe needs butter by all means put this ingredient in. But if in case you don't have butter, margarine and shortening are acceptable replacements.

3.Usually cookies that are made using shortening are thick while cookies which use margarine and butter are flat but they are flavorful and tastier. When you want to create thick and flavorful cookies then use 50 percent light margarine/ butter and 50 percent of shortening.

4.In order not to overcook the cookie mixture, try to find and use a pan that does not stick and reduce your oven temp. by around 25 deg.

5.If you use the regular baking tray for the cookies, place a ply of parchment sheet first before baking. The parchment sheet is going to prevent cookies from sticking to the tray which makes cleaning easier.

6.If you intend to bake several trays of tasty cookies, see to it that you use a minimum of two or more baking trays to prevent dough from spreading. You need to keep in mind that placing your dough or cookie mixture onto hot surfaces can result to flat and unappealing cookies.

7.When you are ready to bake, see to it that you put the cookies within the center of your oven to allow equal heat distribution. A common practice in preparing cookies is providing 2-inch allowance on every side of your baking tray from the surface of your oven.

8.Be patient in baking your dough or cookies. Bake or put each baking tray inside your oven one at a time. When you put 2 baking pans simultaneously, the cookies or you dough mixture might not be properly baked. Some might be overcooked while some can be half-baked.

9.When placing the scoops of dough onto the baking tray, allow a minimum of one to 2-inch space between each cookie as well as at the sides of your baking tray. This provides equal distribution of heat which results to even baking of your great tasting cookies.

10.If you worry about making equal sizes of your dough or cookies, you may use a scoop just like the one you use in scooping your ice cream to measure the mixture or dough. Using an ice cream scooper allows cookies to have equal sizes. These tips are recommended by experienced bakers so they are proven useful in preparing and baking perfectly yummy cookies. Have fun!

Baking or making cookies is easy to do but when you want to achieve better tasting cookies you need to follow these simple tips and tricks that have been tried and tested to achieve yummier results.

1.If you want to make light yet crunchy cookies, you need to combine the ingredients using an automatic mixer. However, when you want thicker cookies you need to mix your dough manually. Remember not to over beat or mix or beat the mixture or dough because it can result to hard and thick cookies.

2.When the cookie recipe needs butter by all means put this ingredient in. But if in case you don't have butter, margarine and shortening are acceptable replacements.

3.Usually cookies that are made using shortening are thick while cookies which use margarine and butter are flat but they are flavorful and tastier. When you want to create thick and flavorful cookies then use 50 percent light margarine/ butter and 50 percent of shortening.

4.In order not to overcook the cookie mixture, try to find and use a pan that does not stick and reduce your oven temp. by around 25 deg..

5.If you use the regular baking tray for the cookies, place a ply of parchment sheet first before baking. The parchment sheet is going to prevent cookies from sticking to the tray which makes cleaning easier.

6.If you intend to bake several trays of tasty cookies, see to it that you use a minimum of two or more baking trays to prevent dough from spreading. You need to keep in mind that placing your dough or cookie mixture onto hot surfaces can result to flat and unappealing cookies.

7.When you are ready to bake, see to it that you put the cookies within the center of your oven to allow equal heat distribution. A common practice in preparing cookies is providing 2-inch allowance on every side of your baking tray from the surface of your oven.

8.Be patient in baking your dough or cookies. Bake or put each baking tray inside your oven one at a time. When you put 2 baking pans simultaneously, the cookies or you dough mixture might not be properly baked. Some might be overcooked while some can be half-baked.

9.When placing the scoops of dough onto the baking tray, allow a minimum of one to 2-inch space between each cookie as well as at the sides of your baking tray. This provides equal distribution of heat which results to even baking of your great tasting cookies.

10.If you worry about making equal sizes of your dough or cookies, you may use a scoop just like the one you use in scooping your ice cream to measure the mixture or dough. Using an ice cream scooper allows cookies to have equal sizes.

These tips are recommended by experienced bakers so they are proven useful in preparing and baking perfectly yummy cookies. Have fun!
(ArticlesBase ID #1237522)

Reasons to Use Kitchen Home Fruit & Vegetable Wash

Home Fruit and Vegetable Wash

Because consumers in general have become savvier and more vigilant about the foods they are eating, there has been an increasing demand for products that will ensure the quality of their food. Long gone are the days of biting into an apple straight from the grocery bag – you never know what you might be biting into!

In response to this issue and growing consumer demand, manufacturers have created home fruit and vegetable wash products. These washers are natural cleaners that are safe to use on fresh produce to effectively remove all traces of dirt, fertilizer, pesticides, and other contaminants that may be harmful if eaten (FULLER Veggie Clean Concentrate). Often these washers come in a concentrated formula, so with a little added water, they can be sprayed (FULLER Veggie Clean Spray) directly onto the fruit or vegetable. Simply rub the fruit or vegetable until it is completely covered with the wash, then rinse immediately. For soft, thin-skinned produce, place in a colander, spray with a fruit and vegetable wash product, then rinse under running tap water.

Other Vegetable Washing Equipment

Some would argue that simply passing a fruit or a vegetable under running tap water and rubbing it lightly with their hands is sufficient enough to clean it. Perhaps they are right, but it is difficult to believe anyone’s fingers would be able to get into the grooves, creases and crevices many fruits and vegetables by nature have. If you feel a plain water wash is good enough to clean your fresh produce, then it is recommended, at least on fruits and vegetables with thick, tougher skins, to use a scrub brush specially designed for cleaning produce (FULLER Veggie Scrubber Brush). These brushes are able to reach parts of the vegetable’s skin that are wrinkled, dimpled, or indented, ensuring that every crevice is thoroughly cleaned. Just make sure to wash the brush after each and every use in order to keep it clean and free from bacteria and other germs.

It is now widely accepted that all fruits and vegetables need to be washed before being eaten to ensure they are free of surface contaminants. This remains true even for homegrown produce and for those fruits and vegetables where we would not normally eat the skin. For best results and peace of mind, use a fruit and vegetable washer with a scrub brush, and enjoy!
(ArticlesBase ID #1244389)

Food prepared outside are unhealthy and unhygienic

Most people really enjoy Deep fried turkey, chicken and fish especially when cooked outdoors. So what are the secrets to great tasting non-greasy deep fried food outdoors?

In reality there are no secrets, deep-frying is fast and easy and the results are great so long as you follow some simple tips and providing you have the right equipment.

For great equipment we recommend the exceptional quality Bayou Classic range of turkey deep fryers and fish fryer kits that come in aluminum and stainless steel. You're best off with one of the kits as they provide all you need for great deep frying, including: a rack to hold the bird, hooks for lifting the bird in and out, the all important deep frying thermometer and injectors for injecting your favorite, wonderful flavored marinades; and when you’re not using them for deep frying they can be equally easily used for steaming and boiling.

So what are the ten guiding principles to great deep fry cooking? They are simple, straight forward and as follows:

Its essential that you know the correct cooking temperature for the oil and the meat or fish that you’re cooking. If the oil is too cool then the water inside the food will not cook the food quickly and oil will begin to penetrate the meat spoiling the flavors and worse making it greasy, meaning unhealthy. Remember, it is not the oil that cooks your food it’s the water vapor inside the meat that the oil heats up that does the cooking so make sure you’re cooking at the right temperature; for this reason never deep fry without a deep fry thermometer . Never over cook meat in a deep fryer or again the oils will penetrate the bird after all the vapor has been used up within it;

Make sure that you don’t over fill the stockpot. If you’re unsure about how much oil to use here is a simple test to get the level right. Put the bird into the stockpot whilst its still cold. Then fill the stockpot with cold water so that it just covers the bird. Then remove the bird and make a note of the water level; this is the level to which you should fill the stockpot with oil when preparing to cook..... [url=http://www.planyourdinner.com]special recipes[/url].
(ArticlesBase ID #1248735)