Searching For The Best Juice Machines- Breville Elite Juicer?

By Jason H. Blacksmith

If I had to choose which juicer was the best of all the rest, I would without a doubt choose the Breville Elite Juicer 800EXL. If you compare your kitchen to a town, this juicer would be the beating heart - the most important element in the kitchen by far!

Efficiency is key with this model, you have plenty of time left over to find your husband's tie, chase the kids around the house, and still get to work on time. The best part is, you're "juiced" and ready to go. There is a 3" opening, so you can shove just about any natural plant you can think of into the juicer. The powerful 1000 watt motor doesn't bulk at the harder to grind materials. After you're done grinding anything and everything you can find, the parts are dishwasher safe, saving you even more time! The Breville Eilite Juicer had your sanity in mind when they made this product.

The Breville Elite 800JEXL minimizes pulp and buildup by grinding everything put inside it to tiny pieces. You're not going to have to stop and clean out the catch after every piece of fruit you put inside. It maximizes the amount of actual juice you're getting from your fruits and vegetables, which actually saves you money over time. Instead of using two apples you may only have to use one, and you'll end up with even more nutrients!

Your Breville Elite Juicer will be reasonably quiet, it isn't going to wake up the whole house when you want some juice early in the morning. It really reduces the froth that you typically see at the top in juicers. Truthfully , the froth isn't a particularly mouth watering part. This juicing machine removes that froth, so you will hardly see any at all!

If you're like me, and you don't like pulp, the juicer contains most of it in the machine itself. I know some people have to strain their juice twice when using other machines, but I have yet to hear anyone say that about this one.

Juicing benefits are numerous, the antioxidants and vitamins obtained from fresh fruits and vegetables cannot be replicated in any pill or canned form. There is just something to be said for the Breville Elite Juicer 800EXL. If you need less chaos and more serenity in your life, this juicer comes highly recommended, it cleans up easily and even comes with a warranty. The less you have to worry about the better. - 30289

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Want to find out more about Breville Elite Juicer, we offer you the best juicers at discount prices! Breville Elite 800jexl , it's all you need!

Basic Tips For Good Steak

By K.C. Kudra

What constitutes a good steak dinner is different for different people, but everyone still wants to know how to make a perfect steak. That is a little different for everyone, of course, but there are a few tips that can really be a help for anyone who wants to improve the quality of their beef. Here is a quick look at some of the basic methods for making a quality meal.

Step one is thinking about the cut of meat you will be using. Good beef that is produced in a humane way is getting more popular for its greater tenderness and flavor. Even traditionally tough cuts of meat from quality producers may be better than the better cuts from a large commercial producer.

Fortunately, it is a lot easier to find a good quality steak than it has been in decades. Do not be afraid to ask about your beef. Many people prefer beef that has fed and finished on grass for its more pronounced flavor. Just remember that producers of this kind cannot produce a quality that is quite as consistent as the larger producers can. There is a certain amount of risk.

Next, you will need to make sure you have the right heat source. Grilling over charcoal is one of the most popular options, but you could also just as easily use a grill pan over a gas or electric stove, a broiler, or even discover how to cook steak in the oven. The most important thing is that the heat is high.

Now, you will need to prepare your steak. Do not brush your grate or pan with oil, lightly oil the steak. That keeps smoke down. Next, season your steak lightly. Just salt and pepper will do it, though there are lots of marinade options out there for those who would like to get a little fancier with their beef.

When the steak goes on the grill or in the pan, the surface needs to be hot enough for the meat to sizzle. The steak should never be turned more than once, since it is important for the meat to cook most of the way on just one side. Do not turn too early, but do not wait too long, either. Turn a rare steak three to four minutes into the process, before you see red juices forming on the upper surface. A medium rare steak should be turned when you first see those juices, and medium well steaks ought to be turned when the juices begin to run together.

How long should you cook the other side of the steak? Two minutes less than the first side is a good standard rule that will prevent overcooking. Test the steak with an instant read thermometer, not a fork or knife, to keep the juices in.

After cooking, it is time to rest your steak. Place it fat side down, at 90 degrees to the pan you cooked it in. Do that by taking the pan away from the heat source and propping the steak up to keep it from sweating. Do not be tempted not to rest the steak, or you will lose the juices. Wait half the time you took cooking and you will have a great piece of meat. - 30289

About the Author:

There are many sirloin steak cooking methods to choose from, and almost all of them could benefit from the use of a marinade. Marinades help tenderize the meat and infuse it with flavor. For the best in sirloin marinades, check out EasySteakMarinades.net for recipes and cooking tips to help you make the most of your meal.

There Is More To Italian Cheeses Than You Think

By Luigi DeMarco

You can find over four hundred varieties of Italian cheeses in Italy. In the United States, we normally only think of four of those varieties when we think of Italian foods.

Many people only think of the cheeses used in Americanized Italian foods. That includes mozzarella which is used in pizza, Parmesan used to sprinkle over spaghetti, provolone used in a sandwich, and ricotta used in lasagna.

Since we have such a limited view of the Italian cheeses, what we purchase at the market is nothing near the original in flavor or texture.

Most of the mozzarella sold in the grocery store is made from cow's milk. Traditional mozzarella in Italy is made of the milk of the water buffalo. Additionally, this cheese is a fresh cheese in Italy and should be consumed quickly after preparation. It is not a cheese that is stored for months at a time before use. Fresh mozzarella and fresh bread sprinkled with a little salt makes a wonderful taste treat. You can also find fresh mozzarella and tomatoes sliced together and coated in olive oil and basil served as a salad.

Of course it does not take a genius to recognize that the dried stuff in a shaker can is nowhere near the parmesan cheese of Italy. There parmigiano is prepared, pressed into cheese cloth and allowed to ripen for a full two years before being freshly grated and served.

Italian provolone is a table cheese. Provolone is made from whole cows milk and is aged for four months or longer. It is traditionally in the shape of a pear.

Another fresh cheese is ricotta. This cheese is easily made and dated back to Roman times. Made for whole milk, the cheese is sweet and often used in preparing deserts. If you want a real ricotta experience rather then watery, sour, part-skim ricotta sold by your grocer, try making your own. You will need cream, whole milk, salt and lemon juice. The first three ingredients are boiled together and the lemon juice is added to cause the mixture to curdle. The ricotta is allowed to drain through cheese cloth for about ah hour and drained until firm. Use the finished product within the next couple of days.

Italians buy their dairy products at a dairy store. Some of these stores make their own cheeses. This means that the fresh cheesed you purchase today may have been made today in a very old tradition.

Do not forget that there are many types of Italian cheeses available today. For some, you may have to travel to the village where the cheese is made to experience it. Italy makes a very good blue cheese that is great melted in butter with garlic over pasta.

The best way to experience Italian cheese is to visit Italy. As you spend time visiting the country, you will find many local cheeses. Do not be afraid to try them and look for a new favorite. Many of these authentic cheeses can be ordered online. - 30289

About the Author:

Before you buy anything online, make sure you check Italian Food Import's website on the different types of italian cheeses.

Wedding Caterers Essex

By David Smith

It's key to choose exactly the right caterer for your wedding, because this is the biggest day in most people's lives and the food must be be better than excellent. If you don't plan well enough to give your guests great food, when your wedding rolls around it will be even more stressful than your first imagined.That's why you must do your homework and select a high quality wedding catering service well before time, so they can organize all the food and take that extra hassle off your shoulders.I certainly did my homework when searching for wedding caterers essex in my local area some three months before our wedding day.

Of course, wedding caterers come in all shapes and sizes, and provide food and services of varying quality. So what's the best way to select the right caterer? A good idea is to do your research on a wide selection of possible providers within your area, doing an online search for a list of firms in your locality. For instance, an online search for wedding caterers essex in my locality helped me find loads of promising firms. I then visited the website of each caterer to assess the quality of their presentation, what they had to offer and to see how approachable they appeared to be.

From this wide list of maybe 20 catering companies, I then phoned around to check up on how efficient they sounded and how quickly they answered the phone. Afterall, if the company can't project themselves in a proficient way when you first touch base, then how efficient are they actually going to be when the stress is on to provide the catering for your big day?

From this exercise to find wedding caterers essex in my case, I then chose the top three firms and performed some further research into their prices, service levels and quality of food. Ask your top three if you can also speak to some of their past clients to get a feeling for what they provided at other people's weddings, then make your final choice based on who you like the most and who seems like they will do the best job after going into what they offer with a fine tooth comb.

At the final analysis, if you make sure you get your wedding catering just right, you can ensure that your big day is a real success. - 30289

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If you're getting hitched or planning your wedding, click here to get your wedding catering just right with the best wedding caterers essex.

How to Find the Right Wilton Cake Supplies if You Want to Become an Expert Cake Decorator

By Maria Campbell

Wilton Cake Supplies offer quality baking and cake decorating tools at affordable prices. Whether you just want to impress your friends and family with your fabulous looking cake, or you are an expert in cake decorating, you need the high quality Wilton cake supplies.

Wilton is probably the most famous name when it comes to cake decorating. This is because Wilton cake supplies, equipment, and tools are made of high quality and are sold at very affordable prices. This company sells everything you?ll ever need for enjoying your hobby.

You will find all the tools necessary for your cake decoration at Wilton. The metal spatulas are heavy and will help you get that smooth finish of icing without much effort.

Wilton Cake Supplies also sells pre-packaged assorted cake decorating tools. It is cost-effective and also saves you the trouble of looking through the catalog. It is usually best to have a whole set ready to use rather than purchasing each item individually. The kit should have at least pastry bags, tips, tubes and couplers.

Whatever you do, don?t try to use a zip lock bag as a replacement for the pastry bags. The only time you may do this is when you?re just starting out and learning. But if you really want your cakes to look as professional as possible, you need to buy the real supplies.

They offer cake turntables and stands simple enough for your cake decorating hobby and they also carry turntables for professional bakers. They are priced accordingly yet pretty much affordable.

At Wilton supplies you can find all the tools for the special cake you are baking- you will find quality supplies even to decorate a wedding cake.

You can order Wilton Cake Supplies online now. You can browse through the catalog and find all that you need for your project. Find all the tools necessary to create your fabulously decorated cake that will be the talk of your friend?s circle for quite sometime. - 30289

About the Author:

There are a ton of Wilton Cake Supplies that are available online. They make tools for every level of cake decorating expertise. There are even whole sets that you can buy if you need a good all around basic set of tools. Take a look at www.CakeDecoratingLessons.net.

Choosing The Right Bread Machine

By John McKain

If one of your major temptations is fresh bread, then you need a bread machine to indulge your cravings. Regardless of personal preferences or even budgetary constraints, you are guaranteed to find the perfect one for you.

When bread machines first came on the market in the 1980s, they became an immediate hit. Even with their $300+ price tags, people scooped them up off store shelves and headed home to bake up a storm. In the beginning, the mainstream houseware retailers hadn't caught on to the craze; bread machines were made by companies who produced that one particular product only.

It didn't take long before the big brand names came out with their own versions, and at more reasonable prices. By the mid 1990s an excellent quality bread machine could be found in the under $100 price range. They were smaller, quieter, and with more options than their early predecessors.

Bread machines originally produced only round loaves of bread simply because the ingredients needed to be mixed and it was impossible to put a square mixing pan in and expect decent results. Although a bit awkward for sandwiches and the like, the bread nevertheless rivaled what grandma used to turn out by hand.

Today we can find models with round, rectangular or square baking pans inside. Since many bread machine owners have used these things since their invention, they prefer the round tins simply because they do indeed produce a more consistent quality loaf of bread, no matter what. No matter how many technological advances are put into place, manufacturers have not been able to perfect the outcome of the square loaf pans. Loaves still occasionally come out with some crispy edges or unmixed dough.

Bored with making just bread all the time? Newer models have custom settings for Danish, pizza dough, specialty doughs like Italian bread, and a whole range of other tasty options. The machine will still mix the dough, let is rise, and then let you know when it's ready for your next steps.

Even diehard professional cooks and bakers have given up the time consuming manual methods and turned to bread machines to help them out. They appreciate that there is no more guesswork due to the total automation of these baking wonders. Just open, add your ingredients, turn it on, and walk away for a few hours.

Make certain you know how easy it will be to clean, however. The less expensive models tend to make cleaning fairly difficult. Since the ingredients tend to get all over the place during the mixing, you want to be able to easily reach in and wipe it off. Try to find a machine that at least protects the heating coils.

If nothing else, try to find a machine with a completely removable cover that is dishwasher safe. Dough can easily get burned onto this, making cleaning a pain. Also try to find a machine with some sort of internal guards that can be removed for cleaning. - 30289

About the Author:

John McKain owns a family restaurant and writes on several cooking blogs. He writes bread machine reviews in his blog to help his readers to choose the best bread machine for baking good bread at home.

Make Great Ice Cream At Home - Simple Yet Effective

By Mia Kane

My friends are always asking me is it cheaper to make your own ice cream or buy it. As well as lots of other benefits, yes it can also be cheaper. That's up to you.

For me it's always been cheaper to make, that was one of the key considerations. My kids eat ice cream several times a week, even in winter. I use all sorts of things. I use left over fruit, frozen fruit and even tinned fruit, or a combination of all of the above.

Seasonal fruit is cheaper. So I buy it at its cheapest and freeze it. Crush it and mush it up if it makes it easier to store in your freezer. I also go out picking with the kids if I can, blackberries and blueberries.

Canned and frozen fruit work just fine and taste great. If it's canned I tend to drain the juice first, as this keeps it healthier and better for my kids teeth. But that's up to you. Here are some more tips to get you making lovely ice cream.

1. Once your ice cream has defrosted, do not re freeze. The texture will be awful, and there is also a danger of food poisoning.

2. Sometimes I make my ice cream manually, especially when I want to entertain the kids for an afternoon. I get them involved and helping. Mostly though I use an electric ice cream maker, when you make ice cream several times a week, the hands on approach of manual making can be laborious and time consuming.

3. Remember, your home made version will not (fortunately) have preservatives or additives in it like you are used to with commercial ones. This means it won't last as long so try to eat within 10 days to a couple of weeks.

4. Take your ice cream out of the freezer for about 10-15 minutes before serving. If it's too cold you won't enjoy it as much and it can also give you a quick sharp headache.

5. I keep and freeze all left over chocolate sweets and biscuits. They come in really handy, when looking for something to add to the mixture or just crumble over before serving.

6. Warning! Blueberries when frozen come out like little pellets, so don't put them in whole, crush them before adding them to any mixture, or better still, just serve them with the ice cream.

Making your own ice cream is really rewarding, you can also get the kids involved. Bringing home made ice cream around to a friends house for dinner is a lovely gift and you can all enjoy it together. - 30289

About the Author:

If your thinking about buying an electric ice cream maker, check them out here first, read the reviews and then decide which one is right for you. IceCreamMakersReviewed

Butcher Block Chopping Boards Make A Great Gift

By Albert Northerly

Butchers block is a popular building material that consists of multiple layers of board that have been glued together. This makes for a very strong and dependable surface for kitchen counters and cutting boards.

Made out of Maple these boards are durable and resistant and provide a superior surface for cutting. More modern materials such as polyurethane do not hold up to constant use the way butcher block work surfaces and counters do.

While granite building materials have been popular for years, granite and similar products can be expensive and you certainly would not want to cut on them directly, chances are you would place a butchers block board on top of your concrete counter to prep a steak. Why not just have your counters be built out of butcher block.

This material holds up well and provides a very different look to your kitchen. butchers block is typically manufactured from Maple and its naturally attractive surface matches wood cabinets of any type of wood or color of stain nicely. Maple contrasts darker woods such as Cherry very nicely and also matches maple cabinets with a touch of style.

There are two styles of butcher block: end grain and edge grain.



A popular present at Christmas end grain butchers block is a neat wood working project and is not only easy but is also useful and attractive. You will see these gifts being sold at craft festivals and also they are common projects in high school wood working classes.

More popular of the two is end grain butchers block. The basic difference is how the grain is laid when the wood is glued together. With end grain the grain is laid perpendicular to the surface and with edge grain the grain is laid parallel. While both projects are similar edge grain butcher blocks are easier to make, but are not as resistant to wear.

End grain butcher block makes a great gift to anyone who enjoys cooking or even just wants their kitchen to look good.

End grain butchers block is preferred by butchers and pro chefs since the end grain fibers take the impact of the knife blade. The knife actually cuts between the fibers and not only prevents the wood from getting scored but it also keeps the knife sharp longer. Edge grain butchers block is made in a similar fashion to end grain butcher blocks but in this case the fiber is parallel to the surface. This style of butcher block is easier to make but they are limited on how many times they can be refinished.

If you are not the wood working type but still desire to give a butchers block board to that special someone on your gift list. Then you can find handmade butcher block board at most craft fairs.

Butchers block comes in many colors, depending on the types of wood used and the oil they are stained with, although often the natural wood color shows through instead.

When you are considering remodeling your kitchen and replacing the counter tops give serious thought to using inexpensive and durable butchers block counters instead of the more costly and less durable stone surfaces. Your investment will provide you with years of satisfaction and will provide your home with a unique look that is attractive to home buyers. In the case that you decide to sell your home, your investment in butcher block counters will help to sell your home. - 30289

About the Author:

The recent proliferation of butchers block in home kitchens is largely due to the high quality, beauty and longevity of artisan made butcher block counter tops and cutting boards.

Small Gas Grills - Tips For Buying & Looking After Your Small Gas Grill

By Mia Kane

Before purchasing a small gas grill, there a few things you need to bear in mind.

Most people looking to buy a small gas grill, are doing so because the space they are going to be cooking and grilling in is small, simple really. So you should first measure that space. Makes sense.

Small grills are mostly used on patio's, veranda's, small balconies, and courtyard gardens. So measure that space, give yourself extra to move around the grill and then you will have a reasonable idea of what space you have available.

If you are thinking of using your small gas grill in other places, such as friends, family, the park or the beach, then you need to think about how easy it is to transport, whether that is by car or if needed by public transport.

And Finally, you should consider storage. Where will you store your grill when not in use? It's really not a great idea to leave it outside all year, exposed to the elements. It doesn't do it any good.

Having made your purchase it is a good idea to get a cover. You can buy one or make one, as long as it covers the grill it will be invaluable.

It's important after buying the grill that you log it with the manufacturer, there are a few reasons you should do this.

1. You invoke your 12 month or extended guarantee. Don't forget to do this, and yes sometimes things can go wrong with them.

2. The manufacturer will mail you with product updates and news.

3. If there are any re-calls or call backs on your grill you can be easily notified.

Re-calls happen when a recurring problem is reported by people who have bought the grill. And it's a way the manufacturer can make good any issues or concerns.

Regular cleaning of your grill is a must. It's boring but if you do it after every use, then it's quick and effective and one of the best ways of keeping your grill for longer, and in tip top condition.

How much should you pay? You don't have to pay a lot for your grill. The most crucial thing is that is suits what you want to use it for, and that it fits the space intended for it, after all that is why you are checking out a small gas grill. If on a budget, try to resist the extra gadgets that you know you don't need.

And remember, you can eat healthy grilled food all year round, not just in summer. Having friends around on a crisp winter day, all wrapped up in warm clothing with cold beers eating a barbecue is great fun too. - 30289

About the Author:

For Lots more information and great reading on all different types of small gas grills here. It's a must visit before you make any decision on which small gas grill you are going to buy. Click Here BestSmallGasGrills. There are some good daily discounts here BestSmallGasGrillDiscounts

Tips for a Simple Pumpkin Soup Recipe

By Kc Kudra

If you are like a lot of us, you end up with some extra pumpkin after Thanksgiving or Halloween, and you are not sure exactly what to do with it. After all, there are only so many pies you can make! Fortunately, there are lots of other options, and some important information that could help you make wonderful pumpkin dishes, every time.

Most people just make desserts out of their pumpkin, but you are not limited to these options. Here is a look at a few of the things you might want to know about this great vegetable before you begin to cook. They will help you get much better results, after all.

The first thing you should know is that Halloween jack-o-lantern types of pumpkins are not a great choice for fall recipe use. Unfortunately, these large, sturdy specimens are bred for their looks, toughness, and regular appearance, not for their edibility. They tend to be fibrous and low on taste.

While jack-o-lantern pumpkins are cheap and readily available at supermarkets and roadside stands (especially right after Halloween), they are not always the best pick for eating. They can be fun to feed to local animals and they compost well, but their flesh is not most people's top choice when they want to eat pumpkin.

That does not mean you cannot eat them at all, but it is a good idea to "hide" this type of pumpkin in other foods. Cook your surplus pumpkin down by baking or boiling it, scrape the pulp out of the shell, and blitz it in a food processor once or twice. Then put it in pumpkin bread, cookies, or even chili.

For foods where you want that pumpkin taste to shine through, like pumpkin pie or an easy pumpkin soup recipe, look for smaller sugar pumpkins. Chock full of potassium, vitamin A and fiber, these pumpkins have a lot more flavor, are much sweeter, and have smoother, more pleasant flesh. They are often used for desserts, but work for any meal where you want the flavor of pumpkin to be a major player.

Use pumpkins in chunks for your pumpkin soup, or cook them in it and puree them with some broth for a silky texture that cannot be beat. There are even a few recipes that call for cooking the soup right in the pumpkin, then stirring the softened flesh off the walls to create your soup. It all depends on what you prefer. Just make sure that you process your pumpkin with care to prevent it from cooking incorrectly and spoiling the recipe.

Pumpkin is a great choice for making soup, and a whole lot more. By paying attention to the type of pumpkin, you have and making sure that you cook it correctly, you will have a much better chance of getting a great fall meal. Try all the great options for making pumpkin soup, and do not forget to buy the right kind of pumpkin. - 30289

About the Author:

A simple pumpkin soup recipe combines mashed pumpkin with seasonings, cream and chicken broth. How simple can you get? This delicious recipe will be a family favorite in no time. The creamy soup is suitable as an appetizer or as a meal.

The Delicious Chocolate Chip Cookies

By Martin Soussa

The aroma and taste of a batch of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies is a source of deliciousness for most people. Scents of freshly made cookies are some of the fondest memories of childhood that we own. Placing the cookies on the counter top after they were removed from the oven was an act that demanded our full attention. One thing is that these cookies are great to eat at any time of the day.

More than many other foods, chocolate chip cookies are a source of warm and fuzzy comfort food. Besides the standard flavors, this type of cookie has additional flavors and textures. Additions such as banana or cherry make the chocolate chip cookie even more delicious to fruit lovers. For the person who treasures chocolate above and beyond fruit, double chocolate chip cookies and white chocolate chip cookies will be preferred.

I certainly don't know who came up with the combination, but adding oatmeal to chocolate chip is a delightful combination. Pieces of mint will give you mint chocolate chip cookies, and raisins, candy bars, or espresso beans are additional flavors that can be added. Practically any ingredient can be used to flavor your cookies, including m&ms, candy canes, walnuts, peanuts, macadamia nuts, and chocolate chunks.

For some, the regular chocolate chip cookie is not satisfying enough, and they choose instead to go with cookie bars or chocolate chip cookie pie. People with particular special dietary needs can enjoy these home baked cookies without much worry. Many people enjoy chocolate chip cookies recipes they find online that enable them to make low fat, vegan, whole wheat, wheat free, or egg free varieties.

Now that you know about the many ways you can enjoy the world's most famous cookie, I hope you will try many of the delicious recipes so you too can enjoy the ultimate chocolate chip cookie experience. - 30289

About the Author:

Easy To Prepare Recipes offers more reviews, visit: The Best Recipes In The World.

How To Buy A New Microwave Oven

By Reese Cook

If you have only used your microwave over for warming and defrosting, then it is time that you take a look at what is now available in microwave ovens.

Many early microwaves just were not suitable for cooking much. They were great for reheating a meal that had gotten cold or for defrosting meat that had been left in the freezer. They might even work to cook a hot dog or popcorn, but put a piece of meat in one and try to cook it. The result was usually disgusting. You ended up with gray beef that was tough and tasteless.

Today, if you walk down the aisle where microwaves are located, you will find that they have much more to offer. Today's microwave can cook an entire meal. The meats can be crispy and browned on the outside while moist and tender on the inside. Vegetables can be steamed to perfection and desert can have a nice crispy crust.

Microwaves featuring all these options will cost about one hundred dollars above the cost of the simpler models. If you pay this initial cost, you will regain it quickly in the savings it brings on your power bill. That range in the kitchen is a power hog. Microwaves use much less energy to do the same job in less time.

If you have a large kitchen with plenty of counter space, you will want to get a counter top model. They cost less and are more convenient than the models that are mounted above the range and attached to the cupboards. Additionally, countertop models offer several more options.

If your kitchen is small, then opt for the over the stove model. They may require professional installation and are somewhat more expensive initially, they do free up counter space. Additionally, many models also offer a vent hood over the range to keep the kitchen free of cooking odors and smoke.

One of the new features is the option of a convection oven with the microwave. Convection cooking is faster than a traditional oven and gives food a crispy crust. It is a great option for baked goods and for roasting meats. Other microwaves incorporate quartz or halogen lights to make browning of foods easier.

Some new microwaves offer sensor cooking. The feature tests for infrared heat or steam from the food being cooked. When the food is done, the microwave automatically shuts off. No more guessing at the number of minutes to cook an item of food.

So, if you think that all a microwave is good for is defrosting and reheating, take some time to walk down the microwave aisle and see what is offered in the newest microwave ovens. - 30289

About the Author:

Reese Cook likes to write microwave oven review and articles about how to choose the best microwave oven. Her microwave website is very helpful.

Need A Way To Entertain Your Kids - Get Them Making Ice Cream In A Bag

By Mia Kane

I love to make Ice Cream. All sorts and every type of method. This method makes just one serving, but it's really great especially if you get kids involved. I have also done this at a dinner party, getting my guests all making their own serving. Very cool. (You don't know my friends). It's also great if you are babysitting some kids and don't know what to do with them. They really love this.

What you need for this.

1/2 cup milk .You can use cream but milk is fine here too, and keeps it that bit healthier, even better would be to use half fat milk.

Some sugar, about a tablespoon will do.

1/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract, chocolate syrup, or cocoa powder.

You will need quite a bit of ice. So you can make that in advance or pre buy it.

You will need either rock salt or table salt for this method. Either is fine, though I think rock salt may be cheaper to use.

2 plastic bags. I quart sized and 1 gallon sized. Remember you can improvise with this. It's just a rough guide.

Some great dancing music.

So now let the games begin.

Mix the milk, flavoring and sugar all together in a bowl. That was easy. Once mixed put in the smaller bag and seal tightly, so that it cannot escape.

Put the Ice (about 2 quarts) into the bigger bag with the salt. As a rough guide the big bag should be about half full with the ice and salt.

Ok so the technical bit. Take the little bag and fit it into the larger bag. Now here is where you need to be careful, remember both bags should be sealed really well as your ice cream is ruined if the mixture from the small get into the large ok?

And now the fun and magical bit. Put on that music, shake it on down, get that ice mixture moving around, shake it, massage it etc and in 10 to 15 minutes, depending on your dancing ability you will be rewarded with one serving of great ice cream. Hey presto! Enjoy. - 30289

About the Author:

This method is great to use for a fun time. If you really want great tasting ice cream all the time. Then do consider buying a machine, an electric ice cream maker is great. They pay for themselves very quickly. Take a look here and see some of the great deals that are available. BestElectricIceCreamMakers

How to Instantly Learn Expert Cake Decorating Techniques and Amaze Your Friends and Family!

By Maria Campbell

Imagine if you learned the cake decorating techniques that the experts on TV use. Picture your next party: As your family and friends enter the dining room, they see a beautifully decorated cake sitting in the center of the table. You beam with pride as everyone compliments what you have created all by yourself.

Whether you?re brand spanking new to cake decorating or simply want to refine your skills, you can learn everything from basic techniques to more advanced ones right on the computer sitting in your own house.

Online courses are the way to go because they allow you to learn at your own pace and practice techniques over and over again. Plus, they cost a LOT less than onsite classes! When you are trying to learn a new technique, do not allow yourself to become discouraged. Even if you make an enormous mess, do not give up. Keep practicing until you learn your new skills.

There are some easy things you can do to make cake decorating techniques easier to learn. As an example, you want to make sure you?re using the right pastry bag. You should not use large bags because they can be hard to handle. When you are beginning, smaller ones will make adding color and writing a lot easier.

Using the smaller pastry bags will also help to stop you from wasting a lot of icing. The larger ones may be valuable later on but you only need to practice the techniques---not perfect them! The more you practice, the better you will be.

Another thing you can do to make sure that your practicing goes well is to learn to cut the pastry bag the right way. It must be cut so that it fits the coupler perfectly. Remember that the bigger end of the coupler faces up towards the tip of the bag. Position it down inside and then slice the end of the pastry bag so that the smaller end of the coupler sticks out a little.

It might take a few tries before you feel like an expert on how to prepare the pastry bag and coupler precisely, but once you get the used to it, it will make learning cake decorating techniques abundantly easier! Cake decorating instructions can call for thin, medium, or thick consistency icing. As a newbie, you might find assessing the right consistency to be quite confusing, but you will catch on quickly.

Online cake decorating courses will allow you to review the material anytime you need to brush up on the basics. You can go at your own pace and review the material at your own pace. You will not be able to master everything in one sitting, so take your time! - 30289

About the Author:

Mastering cake decorating techniques does not have to be hard! Here's a thought: Get a good online course, take it in the privacy of your own house and then make a amazing cake for your extended family. They are going to be STUNNED when they see what you can do! Hey, you can even turn it into your new house business and make extra cash each month!

Great Ways To Make Cooking More Nourishing

By Fiona Wyresdle

Many diet guru's fume on about how terrible refined sugar is for you. So much so that numerous people consider this substance to be toxic. The American Department of Agriculture doesn't agree, and lots of other health food experts additionally don't agree. To be on the safe side and ensure you and your family knows what is going into their treats, do your own healthy cooking and baking and don't purchase commercial cookies or cakes.

Even sugar friendly experts uphold that the empty calories provided by sugars can be exchanged with more nutritious ways to increase and sustain energy levels. If you bake at home, you can keep everyone at home happy with some amazing goodies and sneak in further nutrients too, when no-one is looking.

When my kids were small, they loathed eating vegetables, but one technique I could get these essential foods down the hatch was by grating them and adding them to ground beef. So meat loaf, bolognaise sauce, and any additional recipe for ground beef was rich with grated carrot or grated vegetables of any of the pumpkin kind.

Muffin and cakes might be made with carrot and pumpkin as well as fruit, and there is nothing quite as tasty as carrot cake or pumpkin fritters and muffins. Pumpkin bread is additionally entirely tasty, especially with additional sunflower, pumpkin and other seeds which are rich in the essential Omega fatty acid group.

Sugar is not a simple substance to indict or acquit, and anti-sugar "ranters" abound on each shelf in the "Health Food" section of the book stores. However by the same token, other experts agree that the only thing sugar is really bad for is tooth decay. In actual fact this is the sole consistently documented material available to indict sugar.

You can still cook and bake and use sugar, but by making your own, rather than buying commercial cookies and cakes, you control how much sugar is used. Like all things, sugars in moderation are not all bad.

Take for example red wine and the fact that drinking a glass a day can extend life, and prevent all sorts of dreaded diseases as a result of the high Resevratrol content. And the best Resevratrol can only be found in the best concentrations if you drink red wine, because of the alcohol, and these two substances working hand-in-hand. Even the FDA admits that alcohol is bad for you, however red wine in moderation is extremely suggested for good health.

It is easy to stay healthy with healthy cooking and taking all things in moderation, be they sugar or alcohol. Merely do what your Grandmother did to stay healthy, and if she wouldn't recognize a particular food, don't eat it. - 30289

About the Author:

If you're looking for some homemade recipes you might want to look at recipe for old-fashioned lemonade and old fashioned eggnog recipe.

Outdoor Cooking Tips: Great But Easy

By Wendy Racklave

Outdoor cooking is demanding in itself. More so if you are not equipped with the things you require. Great tasting meals can and will be enjoyed for the period of your trip with these simple advice.

Recipes:The best advice you will ever get is to gather your recipes and arrange your meals before you go. You possibly will have great meal ideas now and then find you just can't get the job done in the outdoor surroundings. Recipes that don't require special ingredients or equipment are your best bet due to the fact that you won't have a gourmet kitchen at your fingertips.

Ziploc bags: Utilizing food storage bags to put in order your supplies makes for super easy meal times. Try pre-cutting your meats, fruits and veggies before you go and organizing in bags. Using larger ones to hold ingredients and recipes for each meal is really practical as well.

Coolers: Fresh ingredients ought to be kept cool to prevent them from spoiling. Or else you would have to prepare meals with strictly nothing but shelf sustainable foods. That can get quite boring and create hassles. You don't want food poisoning in the middle of the wilderness! Leftovers can also easily be stored in a cooler for later eating.

Foil Packets: Cooking with foil packets has become incredibly well-liked in kitchens nowadays and can make outdoor cooking a snap. This technique works great for the novice as well. No special skills are necessary to pull off a wonderful meal on your camping trip. You simply need to add the ingredients you wish and lay the packet over some glowing embers. While you're waiting to eat you could spend your time with friends and family instead of sitting next to the fire watching the food. Heavy duty foil works best for this type of cooking however.

Snacks: Camp cooks everywhere know that everyone gets very hungry after all the hiking, fishing and other outdoor fun. Be smart and bring along snacks so you won't have to cook continuously to keep everyone in a good mood. Snacks should be healthy and offer lots of energy so everyone can hold out until its time for a meal. Perishable snacks such as fruits and vegetables work great as long as you didn't forget to bring the cooler. Nuts and trail mix are other tasty options also.

Doesn't outdoor cooking sound so much fun already? By being prepared you can encounter a whole new adventure you never planned on right by the camp fire. These pointers can make outdoor cooking something you look forward to. - 30289

About the Author:

Wendy Racklave writes for site Outdoor Supreme where you will find articles on subjects such as sleeping bags and camping trip tips.

The Daewoo KOR8A0R - One For Your Shortlist

By Marian Solomon

The Daewoo KOR8A0R is a stylish black microwave oven which would not look out of place in any kitchen, but would look particularly good in more modern designer homes. The fact that the entire front of the microwave is black including the buttons makes the entire item appear a little more expensive than it actually is.

The microwave control panel on the Daewoo KOR8A0R features all of the usual buttons, with a digital display showing the cooking time, power level and other important information. The actual cooking time is set using a dial, which is a little easier for setting the time than programming using the buttons.

The Daewoo KOR8A0R only really has the basic functions which you would expect of a microwave in this price range. This may however not be too much of a disadvantage though and may actually make it easier for newcomers to this type of device.

That said, the Daewoo KOR8A0R microwave oven does have a particularly useful energy-saving feature which will make this device of particular appeal for those seeking a green-friendly option; By simply holding down one button the entire machine can be closed down until it is next required.

There is also a child lock which can be initiated which is great for those with small children as it means that there is no danger of their placing unsuitable items in there and creating a possibly dangerous situation.

There is a removable glass turntable inside the Daewoo KOR8A0R Solo Microwave which makes it easy for cleaning. This is also good for making sure that the food inside is cooked evenly, something which this model does very well.

At a capacity of 23 litres, the Daewoo KOR8A0R Solo Microwave offers a slightly greater volume than many other budget microwave ovens, whilst at the same time being compact enough to easily fit into even the smallest of kitchens.

The Daewoo KOR8A0R is perhaps a little noisy when using it, but this is something which you soon get used to. The 800W power level is the maximum, but this is adjustable, with slightly less noise at the lower power settings.

In summary, the Daewoo KOR8A0R is a very good value microwave oven, which possesses all the basic functions required by entry-level users, plus a little bit more. The machine warrants consideration for anyone shopping within the budget price range. - 30289

About the Author:

Best Price for the KOR8A0R in the UK at KOR8A0R and KOR8A0R Reviews

How to Cook Your Sirloin Steak

By KC Kudra

Sirloin steak is a cut that comes from the lower part of beef ribs. It continues from the tenderloin (the place where the most prized steaks come from) and is a high quality cut with a lot of flavor, since these muscles still do a reasonable amount of work. Sirloin has more flavor than a number of other steaks, and is divided into several different subcategories.

The top sirloin is the most prized of all the sirloin steaks, and you are unlikely to find it unless you look for it specifically. Most sirloin steak is really bottom sirloin, a tougher, larger piece of steak that can be more readily available and cost less. Bottom sirloin is also connected to what is called the sirloin tip roast, a good, if somewhat tough roast that should not be eaten as a steak.

The tri-tip steak is a robustly flavored portion of the bottom sirloin, but is the leanest part, so it overcooks easily. Sirloin pin bone steak is cut from the front of the steak and contains an oval pin bone, while sirloin flat bone steaks can be identified by the pieces of backbone and hipbone they contain.

A sirloin round bone cut will have less bone than many other sirloin steaks, and also less fat. Sirloin wedge bone steaks are taken from the rear of the sirloin, and have a small bone in it, shaped like a wedge. You can find all kinds of sirloin steaks at your local market.

Sirloin cuts are usually leaner and not as tender and buttery as some of the higher end steaks, but their low price and deep flavor makes up for a lot. Prepare them with dry heat, such as pan-frying, grilling, broiling, or a similar high heat method. Remember to treat different parts of the sirloin appropriately - cooking perfect steak will depend a lot on what part of the sirloin you are trying to prepare.

Make sure you decide to buy sirloin steaks that have a clear, red color. This color comes from exposure to oxygen - steak is usually purple before the air touches it. Sirloin steak should be cold and neatly packaged, with firm meat that is ready to eat. Store it in the coldest part of the refrigerator for only a few days. External fat can be trimmed before or after cooking.

At 145 degrees Fahrenheit, a steak is medium rare. At 165 degrees, it is well done. A meat thermometer can tell you these temperatures. Use tongs, not a fork, to turn steak, since piercing it will cause the juices to be lost. Let the steaks rest for five to ten minutes to keep this from happening when the steak is cut.

Broil steak in a pan two to four inches from the heat source for eight to ten minutes. Grill brushed lightly with oil and placed over the heat source for six to eight minutes, or pan broil on a stovetop for thirteen to fifteen minutes. - 30289

About the Author:

When you know how to cook New York steak, you will savor every delicious bite. You can learn how to get every detail just right and prepare the most delectable piece of meat to ever grace a table. Learn how to do this at EasySteakMarinades.net with recipes, cooking advice and articles.

Buying A BBQ Grill For Summer Fun

By Franklin Greyklon

As soon as winter thaws start and spring flowers begin to bloom, you know that it will soon be time for a BBQ. Now is the time for buying a BBQ grill if you do not already have one.

When buying a BBQ grill, you will first need to determine the type of fuel that you want to use. Propane grills are easy to light and give even heating. Most modern grills no longer use lava rock to keep down the flare ups, but have heat defusing plates that give a more even heat to the cooking surface.

If your home is equipped with natural gas, you may want to consider a natural gas grill. Natural gas is much less expensive than propane and you never run out in the middle of cooking your dinner. The disadvantage of natural gas is that it is not portable like propane.

Charcoal grills have been around for many years. Some of the disadvantages include difficulty in lighting and uneven heating. The grills can be very inexpensive or cost as much as a gas grill depending on the size and the materials of which the grill is made. These grills give the option of cooking with charcoal or hardwood fuel. Many of the hardwoods offer great flavor for your foods.

Some charcoal grills are able to cook with slow indirect heat to smoke and slow cook foods. This is a great option for tougher cuts of beef, but is also good for poultry and fish. Many of these grills are called smokers.

Using a BBQ grill is an excellent way to keep cooking heat outside of the house during the summer. The family can also choose to dine outside to enjoy cool summer evening breezes. This will greatly increase the living space of your home.

For many years we limited what we cooked on BBQ grills to meats, usually beef and occasionally pork or chicken. Now we have learned that many vegetables will cook up very nicely on the grill. If you want your veggies steamed, wrap them tightly in aluminum foil with a couple of tablespoons of water. Throw that packet onto the grill along with the steak or chicken for the perfect steamed vegetables. Vegetables can also be cooked directly on a clean grill with great results.

One quick marinate tip that may help is to keep plenty of Italian dressing on hand. It has enough acid to break down the tough fibers of the meat, the oil keeps everything moist and the seasonings go well with many grilled items. - 30289

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After you've selected the BBQ grill you want, perform a price check on barbeque grills to make sure you get a great deal.

Tips for an Easy Pumpkin Soup Recipe

By Kc Kudra

Do you always have leftover pumpkin after Halloween or Thanksgiving, and want to know how to cook it? Do you love pumpkin soup and want to make sure that you do not make any mistakes? Whatever your reason, there are lots of important tips for cooking with this versatile squash relative.

Most people just make desserts out of their pumpkin, but you are not limited to these options. Here is a look at a few of the things you might want to know about this great vegetable before you begin to cook. They will help you get much better results, after all.

The first thing to remember is that not every pumpkin will make great soup or pie. The kind of pumpkin you carve at Halloween has been bred to grow big and fast, to stand up to a lot of abuse, and to look pretty on your doorstep. Unfortunately, that means that it is not the best choice for food.

While jack-o-lantern pumpkins are cheap and readily available at supermarkets and roadside stands (especially right after Halloween), they are not always the best pick for eating. They can be fun to feed to local animals and they compost well, but their flesh is not most people's top choice when they want to eat pumpkin.

That does not mean you cannot eat them at all, but it is a good idea to "hide" this type of pumpkin in other foods. Cook your surplus pumpkin down by baking or boiling it, scrape the pulp out of the shell, and blitz it in a food processor once or twice. Then put it in pumpkin bread, cookies, or even chili.

For foods where you want that pumpkin taste to shine through, like pumpkin pie or an easy pumpkin soup recipe, look for smaller sugar pumpkins. Chock full of potassium, vitamin A and fiber, these pumpkins have a lot more flavor, are much sweeter, and have smoother, more pleasant flesh. They are often used for desserts, but work for any meal where you want the flavor of pumpkin to be a major player.

Use pumpkins in chunks for your pumpkin soup, or cook them in it and puree them with some broth for a silky texture that cannot be beat. There are even a few recipes that call for cooking the soup right in the pumpkin, then stirring the softened flesh off the walls to create your soup. It all depends on what you prefer. Just make sure that you process your pumpkin with care to prevent it from cooking incorrectly and spoiling the recipe.

Pumpkin is a great choice for making soup, and a whole lot more. By paying attention to the type of pumpkin, you have and making sure that you cook it correctly, you will have a much better chance of getting a great fall meal. Try all the great options for making pumpkin soup, and do not forget to buy the right kind of pumpkin. - 30289

About the Author:

Roast pumpkin soup is rich and delicious. Roast your fresh pumpkin and even your onions and other ingredients before you add them to your soup. Blend them up before you serve the soup using a food processor or blender. This makes the smoothest, creamiest soup ever.

Does Calorie Counting Work?

By Carrie Spry

Are the enemy Calories? The answer is No. Eating fewer calories will not result in weight loss. For example, if you are currently eating 2500 calories per day and drop to 1500 calories, you necessarily lose weight. If you cut your calories so drastically, you will reach a dieting plateau (you will reach a point where you will no longer lose weight.)

How does a person typically begin a diet? Well, one day you look in the mirror and are disappointed with what you see. Your clothes are getting tighter and tighter. It's just so frustrating. You put in a bit of an effort each day to no avail. There are people out there who eat the same, yet they don't gain the weight. Do these affirmations sound familiar? On this day you are particularly frustrated and get angry enough that you decide to go on a diet.

Today is the day of new beginnings. You start by skipping breakfast and decide that you will have an early lunch, or brunch as they call it. Kill two birds with one stone. When it gets close to your next meal, all you can think about is food. You begin to get a little shaky as your body is not used to going this long without food.

You feel miserable, but you bravely tell yourself that you can do this. You don't want to quit, and you want to actually lose weight this time. You still have enough motivation that at lunch you decide to have something small as you are still convinced that eating less is the key to losing weight.

By dinner time, you're tired, hungry and you have a headache. You start to think, "Do you really want to go through this everyday? Can You?" Today, you are still so determined to lose weight that you decide to stick to it.

If you are really brave, you may have held off for a week, but chances are you have gone back to eating the same way after only a few days. Even if you were able to stick with it for a few days or weeks, you will not have lost any weight. Well, any weight worth losing. You may have made matters worse though. Since your body now thinks it is starving, it will begin to store every calorie that you eat.

Although you may have lost a few pounds it was likely just water weight, not real fat loss. And once you begin to eat normally, the water will just be gained back again.

This is why if you keep trying to starve yourself, you will never lose weight. Starving yourself is not the answer. If you are serious about weight loss, you need to start giving your body the right types of calories in the right doses on the right days. - 30289

About the Author:

Learn how to lose weight the right way visit http://www.carriespry.com

Summer Grilling Steak Cuts You Can Afford

By K.C. Kudra

If you love grilling, but your budget is a little tight this year, you may be wondering if you can have steak on the grill this year. The answer is definitely yes. You just need to know your meat. There are all kinds of beef cuts that can be grilled up nicely without breaking the budget. They will take a little more care in preparation than a Porterhouse, but they can be entirely worthwhile. So if steak is a priority, but it does not seem too affordable, do not give up hope.

There are bargains in your meat case, and good steak can be had for five to seven dollars a pound. Hanger and flatiron steaks, tri tip, skirt, flap and flank steaks, and chuck, top sirloin and other types of meat are all inexpensive and delicious, provided you know what to do with them.

Remember that these steaks are cheaper for a reason, which means it will take a little more work to make them taste as good as the really expensive cuts. However, it is not all that hard if you take the time to suit the cooking method to the steak. Being a good cook can save you money in the long run.

The tough texture in these steaks is because they come from muscles the animal actually uses. That makes them more flavorful than some of the more tender cuts. These are the ones that have the best flavor and the least gristle. An intense marinade, some careful salting, and a close eye on your grill time can help these bargain cuts taste and feel their best.

The first thing you should do is take a look at your marinades. These liquid mixtures have a reputation for flavoring and tenderizing meat, but they may not do that as well as you might think. Often, they only soak into the meat a little, and if they are really acidic, they might even tighten up muscle tissues, making your meat tougher. Of course, that does not mean you cannot find a great steak marinade recipe - you just have to know what you are looking for and what to expect.

Even if the effect you're getting is only skin deep, marinades result in a lovely surface that is crisp, crusty, and rich in color, and they add some nice flavor to the outside of your steak. Use a really hot grill to create the best steak you can. Remove budget steaks from the fridge while the grill is still heating up. That will ensure that your meat is not cold when it goes on the grill, and it will cook more thoroughly.

You'll want two zones of heat - one that's hotter and allows for searing the meat, and the other that's lower in heat and will cook evenly with no burnt outside. A gas grill makes this a matter of adjusting knobs, while charcoal requires you to bank about two thirds of the coals and scatter the rest.

You will want to make sure your grill is clean at all times, and that you are being patient enough. It is important to cook these cuts of meat in an undisturbed location for two to three minutes at least. Use an instant read thermometer to tell you when the meat is done, and be sure to rest it when it is finished so it will retain the juices. - 30289

About the Author:

If you need to find recipes for good steak marinade, look no further than EasySteakMarinades.net! You will find quite a collection of marinades ranging from international recipes to simple recipes with only a few ingredients. Whether you like spicy marinades or the kind that makes your steak rich and smoky, you will find what you need.

Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Mexican Cheese

By Kc Kudra

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.

Mexico has its own cheese making tradition with many different kinds to try. Fortunately for cooks, Mexican cheeses are becoming more widely available, making this part of Mexico's culinary tradition accessible to Americans interested in trying their hand at this exciting cuisine.

Cheese arrived in what is now Mexico with the Spanish, who brought cows and sheep with them as livestock. Before long, the country had its own styles of cheese and these new foods were incorporated into traditional Mexican recipes as well as in adaptations of dishes introduced by the Spanish colonists. Different types of cheeses were made to complement different dishes and some cheeses from Spain also became popular in the new world, particularly queso fresco and manchego.

Quesadillas are something, which are familiar to most Americans, though the cheese used in making these popular snacks in Mexico is less so. Queso Oaxaco is the cheese of choice for this dish in Mexico. It is a type of cheese, which is similar to string cheese and has a mild flavor, which suits it for use in quesadillas and other recipes where a mild melting cheese is called for as well as eaten on its own as a snack. Queso Oaxaca is becoming easier to find in the states and cooks looking to add an authentic flavor to their quesadillas will find this cheese well worth seeking out.

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.

A popular cheese for the Mexican sandwiches called tortas is queso criollo. This is a pale yellow cheese with a mild, nutty flavor, which is somewhat like Munster. Originally made in the state of Guerrero, this cheese is a good choice for sandwiches of all sorts; you may occasionally even find it grated for use in quesadillas.

Queso fresco is a very popular Mexican cheese, which actually came over from Europe with the conquistadores. Usually made with a mixture of goat and cow milks, this mild cheese is soft and crumbly and is an excellent partner for tacos, salads and for something a little different, you will find that queso fresco is terrific served with fruit.

The world of Mexican cheeses is much broader than what we have room to go into here. However, this is good news since it means there are many wonderful cheeses to add to your own cooking. Before you cook your favorite Mexican recipes, try finding some of these authentic Mexican cheeses to add something new to some of your all time favorite recipes. - 30289

About the Author:

Mexican food might conjure up images of hot crunchy tacos, richly flavorful enchiladas, crunchy nachos with melted cheese and jalapeo slices on top or even cleverly spiced Mexican casseroles. Traditional Mexican food is both healthy and easy to make, even for beginner cooks, so why not try out a Mexican dish?

Investing in an Anolon Set for Your Kitchen

By Moses Harun

Anolon, previously respected because of its top selling cookware line, has diversified into knife manufacturing. According to its website, its pots, pans, and accessories are designed to serve you for a lifetime and be attractive as well, two characteristics that one may surmise apply to any set, such as the Anolon Advanced 15 Piece Knife Block Set.

Product Range

Anolon offers three categories for knives - Advanced Cutlery, Advanced Bronze Cutlery and Advanced Stainless Steel Cutlery. It appears as if Anolon hopes that the term, "advanced" will help the knives to sound better than the knives made by different manufacturers before anyone has getting their hands on the knives. Regardless of the reason for the name, there are 19 knife sets available, varying from the 15-piece sets to the individual knives, and they come with a universal sharpener thrown in for good measure.

Since a knife is only as tough as its blade, Anolon knives are made from high-quality German steel. The Advanced Collection uses carbon steel, the Bronze Collection uses high-carbon stainless steel and the Stainless Steel Collection uses stainless steel, all of which can be too complicated to a person who simply wishes to purchase knives without worrying about metallurgy. Having said that, you are able to tell the difference between these collections by the knife handles - black for Advanced, brown for Bronze and silver for Stainless Steel.

Advantages

The Anolon knives are forged, not cold rolled, and that form of production enhances the density, flexibility and hardness of the metal. Obviously, a denser and more flexible cutting blade will be easier and safer to chop with, and the metal will also sustain its sharpness longer.

It needs to be said, Anolon knives are manufactured in China. Although their workmanship appears as though it is topnotch, especially with regards to the condition of the blades when pulled from the package. The price of these knives isn't bad either, particularly as you recieve high-quality knives that don't have exceptional prices.

Other useful advantages of owning the 15-piece sets include the resilient bamboo knife block which comes with slot labels and one more slot for an old favorite knife in addition to Anolon's handy knife sharpener. For single knives, you could benefit from the protective sheath that accompanies every purchase.

On balance, an Anolon knife purchase is a good use for your money, seeing as not much of it will be required.

Disadvantages

There are not too many things to dislike concerning Anolon knives. Still, these are worth listing up because you prefer to be aware of all the facts in advance of putting down your good money on any cutlery.

For one thing, the bamboo blocks occasionally arrive in not-quite-perfect shape. There will occasionally be instances of the knife labels being rusted and the bamboo itself being black rather than the lovely brown as seen in the ad photos. For another thing, the rubber handles can occasionally flake off in places, particularly when you wipe them. It might be a result of everyday wear and tear, but it is usually a cause of annoyance at first.

Additionally, you need to sharpen your Anolon knives at the end of every use to keep them in ideal form, and the knives are less than dishwasher friendly. For the use-toss-replace type of cook, these Anolon knives could present a challenge. A great set to consider is the Anolon Advanced 15 Piece Knife Block Set.

Although, given all the information, an Anolon knife set is a useful group of utensils for your home. It blends well with most other kitchen appliances, it is made up of knives that keep their sharpness for a decade or two, and may be stored safely. - 30289

About the Author:

Moses Harun is involved with a project that helps visitors make smart decision when shopping for knives. One of the highest rated knives reviewed on his site is the Anolon Advanced 15 Piece Knife Block Set.

Choose A Rice Cooker For Perfect Rice

By John McKain

One of the most useful small appliances that you will ever buy is a rice cooker. A rice cooker can do much more than cook rice and is useful in both the kitchen and the dorm room.

Rice cookers can cook rice of course, but they can also cook other hot cereals, steam vegetables, cook deserts and even cook stews and soups. While not all rice cookers can do all of these tasks, many are able to do most of them.

Most people that use rice cookers swear by the ones that are made in Japan. While less expensive brands are available from other countries, the Japanese make the best machines by far.

You will find rice cookers range in size from a three cups to ten cups. Buy the size that is closest to the amount of rice you normally cook. While larger cookers will cook smaller amounts, they work best at full capacity, but not over filled.

Additionally, you need to know that a Japanese cup is six ounces as compared to the American cup size of eight ounces. Be sure that you adjust recipes by remembering that the cups from the rice cooker are only three quarters of an American cup.

The Japanese home prefers a five cup rice cooker.

A non-stick cooking pan in the rice cooker makes cleanup very easy. Rice cooker manufacturers use a high quality non-stick surface that works perfectly with rice. Be sure that you only use the plastic rice paddle to remove food from the pot.

There are three basic types of rice cookers, the on/off models, the keep warm models and the fuzzy logic models.

Some models are either on or off. The good thing is that they automatically turn off. They may not have an indicator light, but simply turn off when all the water is absorbed into the rice. These cookers are very versatile and can do a good job at cooking rice.

Keep warm models cook the rice and then after it is done maintain the rice so that it is warm when you are ready to use it. Just be sure that you unplug the rice cooker when you are finished with it since there is no off position.

The most expensive rice cookers offer fuzzy logic. They have different settings for soup, brown rice, texture of rice and some even offer the setting for sushi rice.

Some of the newest models of rice cookers offer induction heating. They make perfect rice every time and compensate for variations in water or rice measurements and for different types of rice.

If you like steamed vegetables, be sure that you buy a rice cooker that has the plastic steamer basket. You can even steam the vegetables as you cook your rice.

If you have a college student who will be living in a dorm room a small (three to four cup) rice cooker is the perfect gift. It allows the student to have rice, steam vegetables and warm soups. It is a great way for the student to have healthy meals and avoid eating only fast food. - 30289

About the Author:

John McKain has written the best rice cooker reviews for those who need more information to buy a rice cooker. He also writes panasonic rice cookers reviews.

Ready-To-Make Boxed Meals Created At Home Inexpensively And Easily

By Susanne Myers

Serving convenience foods to your family is, well, convenient. With kids returning to school and starting all those hectic after-school activities again, having a few ready-to-go meals stashed in your cupboards is a definite must have. Unfortunately, those boxed meals really can ruin your family's budget and rob you of your hard-earned cash.

How can you afford to have your meals conveniently prepared on a tight budget? By creating an inexpensive alternative to those store-bought pre-packaged foods. Stocking your pantry with your own homemade variety of these foods will save you an enormous amount of money and give you the opportunity to choose healthier ingredients to serve your family.

It's amazing just how many boxed foods you can make at home in your own kitchen. Rather than roaming through your grocery store's aisles grabbing overpriced cardboard boxes of quick meal solutions, create a couple counterparts easily in your very own kitchen and save an unbelievable amount of money while maintaining the convenience factor.

Several popular boxed meals are easily duplicated for a fraction of the cost of buying the store-bought ones. Here are just a few examples of how you can make some classic dishes that I'm sure you'll recognize.

Red Beans and Rice Mix: This is a classic meal that is very versatile. By mixing just a few dry ingredients together in an airtight container, you create a ready-to-use version of the boxed meal that is so popular. This traditional Cajun dish is perfect to expand upon with the addition of sausage, seafood, chicken, meat, vegetables, or whatever you want.

Suggested mix ingredients: 1 cup long grain brown rice, 1 tablespoon dry onion flakes, 1 tablespoon dry celery or celery seed, 1 tablespoon dry green pepper, 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, 2 vegetable or chicken flavored bouillon cubes, 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper, 1/4 cup bacon bits. Of course, this is a suggested dry mix recipe. You'll want to experiment with your own ideas. Cook according to the rice instructions, then add your beans, sauteed vegetables, or whatever other ingredients you choose.

Rice & Roni Mix: This is another classic take on a favorite boxed meal. You can, of course, make this as it is, but adding diced chicken, meat, and vegetables is an option. Use this mix as the jumping-off-point for lots of good one-dish skillet meals.

Suggested mix ingredients: 3/4 cup long grain brown or white rice, 1/4 cup broken vermicelli or spaghetti, 1 tablespoon dry onion, 1/4 teaspoon dry garlic, 1/4 teaspoon of a combination of dry thyme and dry sage OR 1/4 teaspoon dry poultry seasoning, 1 tablespoon dry parsley, 3 chicken flavored bouillon cubes. The basic recipe for this dry mix can be tweaked to suit your particular taste. Create your own special dish by experimenting with the seasonings and adding your own fresh ingredients when you make the dish.

Creamy Parmesan Rice Mix: Want a kid-friendly dish? This rice dish is nice and creamy and cheesy, making it perfect for kids. Because you use powdered milk, you can include it in the ready-to-use mix, rather than using fresh milk when the dish is prepared. You will really appreciate having this mix waiting for you in the pantry when your hungry little ones' are patiently waiting for dinner.

Suggested mix ingredients: 1 cup long grain brown rice or white rice, 2 teaspoons chicken bouillon, 2 tablespoons dry milk powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/4 cup grated dry Parmesan cheese (in canister) not freshly grated. Prepare this dish as is or add other ingredients, such as diced cooked chicken or mixed frozen vegetables, to create a full meal.

The cooking instructions for these mixes will depend on the amount of rice in the mix. The ingredients you use in the dry mix will depend on your own personal tastes. When it comes time to cook the meal, follow the rice cooking instructions from the box of rice you used, then add any other ingredients you wish, being sure the ingredients have been properly prepared and cooked if necessary.

When you get comfortable creating your own ready-to-make dinners at home, you'll quickly find new ways to make all your family's favorite "boxed" meals at home! Homemade pre-packaged foods are the perfect opportunity to experiment with all sorts of new and creative dishes. Add seafood, spices, herbs, vegetables, or anything you want to create a dish that becomes your own specialty.

Just a few of these basic go-to mixes in your pantry is all you need to quickly stir up a delicious and nutritious meal for your family. We all know that pre-packaged meals help make it possible for a busy household to get dinner together and on the table quickly and easily. But, unlike those store-bought boxes, these mixes are inexpensive and have your own special ingredient... love! Mix up a few of these ready-to-go mealtime shortcuts for your own busy family, and save yourself valuable time and money. - 30289

About the Author:

Store-bought boxed meals cost a small fortune. You can have convenience and save your budget by using a quick and easy homemade Mix For Red Rice and a homemade Mix For Garden Vegetable and Rice . With a few basic ingredients you can create mixes that are ready when you are, and your hungry family, at a fraction of the cost!

Do You Really Need Bread Machine Mixes?

By Marion Jones

Do you use bread machine mixes when you want to make yeast bread in your automatic bread-making machine? If so, why? Is it because you think it's simpler? It is so easy to make gourmet bread quickly from easy bread recipes and so much more variable too. If you use bread machine mixes you are limited to the bread machine mixes there are in the stores " no matter how many of them there are there.

On the other hand, a good bread machine recipe book is infinitely more flexible than bread machine mixes. A good bread machine cookbook might give you 150 or so recipes originating from several countries, but it will also inspire you to adapt those recipes, encouraging you to be creative and invent your own style of bread.

Bread machine mixes are really quite restricting and you have no control over what goes into the bread machine mix either: preservatives, colouring, MSG, salt or who knows what. Yes, it says on the label, but you cant take them out, if you limit yourself to bread machine mixes.

Making bread is really quite easy. Or to put it correctly, the ingredients to making bread are really quite simple. To bake a very basic loaf of bread, you only need: flour, water, yeast, sugar, salt and fat or oil. The difficult part about making bread is the mixing. It can take four hours to mix the bread making ingredients together; to wait for it to rise; to knead it; wait for it to prove; knead it again and bake it.

So, if you have a bread making machine you can automate the hard bread mixing, proving, kneading cycle and if you have a bread-making cookbook you will be provided with recipes to guide and inspire you.

What could be easier? You look in the bread-making machine cookbook for an appetizing recipe; you put the everyday ingredients into the bread mixing bowl of the bread machine and you put the yeast into a time-release box on top of the bread machine; set the timer and go about your daily life or go to sleep!

The bread making machine will stir the ingredients and check the timer. My bread-making machine has a sixteen-hour timer. That means that, if you want your gourmet, yeast bread ready for 8:30 AM, the bread-making machine will stir the flour, water, salt oil and sugar at once, add the yeast at say, 5 AM, knead, prove and bake the bread and ring a bell at 8:30 to announce that your gourmet food is waiting for you.

But you won't need the alarm to tell you that. The aroma of freshly baked bread will [permeate|fill your house and you will be very much cognizant of the fact that your bread making machine is just about ready to deliver one of the best loaves of bread you've ever had in your life. And you will never look for bread machine mixes again. You'll be overflowing with your own bread machine mixes in no time at all and you'll be giving bread away as gifts so that you can try out your very own latest bread machine mix recipe.

Bread machine mixes: why bother with them? - 30289

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Do you use bread machine mixes or do you want bread machine recipes? If you want recipes, just pop along to: http://bread-machine-mixes.the-real-way.com

Where Does a Lobster Call Home?

By Sherry Shantel

Did you ever look at a lobster swimming around in the little fish tank at a restaurant and wonder where he lived before he was caught? You may remember he lived in the ocean, but did you realize that most lobsters live in only the coastal regions around the world. Once considered unfit to eat, lobsters have risen in such popularity in the last few decades that fishermen can hardly capture enough of them to meet demand.

Right after he's born, a very tiny lobster looks nothing like an adult lobster and has a 1/1000 chance of surviving to adulthood. During the first 15 days of his life, he lives in the top three feet of water in the ocean and is extremely vulnerable to predators. During this period he molts three times before moving into the fourth stage as a miniature adult.

After reaching stage four, the lobster has the swimming abilities to search for a permanent place to live. He prefers the rocky bottom of cobbles such as are found in the waters off the coast of Maine. If this isn't an option, he may choose a different habitat such as the salt peat marsh that surrounds the coast of Cape Cod. Lobsters are versatile and can survive in whatever their surroundings happen to be.

Cobble is an exceptionally suitable habitat for lobsters. There are many crevices and cracks around and under the small rocks that make up the cobble which offers him places to hide and wait for his food to come to him. While many coastal regions offer rocky bottoms, Maine is ideal in that it also has just what lobsters like, clean, cold water.

Shortly after he molts for his fifth time, he moves to the new location he has found on the ocean bottom. For the first year or so in his new residence, he remains hidden in his tunnel or crevice so that his predators can't find him. As he gets a little larger, say after his first year there, he begins to hide in the kelp and search for food. He'll continue to do this for another three years.

Small lobsters seldom come out in the open. If our lobster were to swim out into the ocean at this point in his life, he'd be eaten by fish within minutes. Only when he gets larger will he move to an area with larger rocks. He may also choose to live in sandy or muddy areas between the shoreline and the edge of the continental shelf. Being a loner, he lives by himself in a crevice or burrow under rocks.

No matter where a lobster lives, there are sure to be fishermen after him. If he manages to evade natural predators and fishermen, however, he can live a very long life. During colonial times when lobsters were abundant, there are reports that some of the lobsters were five or six feet long.

Lobsters don't get the chance to grow as large in this era of modern fishing techniques. The biggest one on record was caught in 1977 just off the coast of Nova Scotia. It measured in at somewhere between three and four feet, and it weighed a mighty 44 pounds, 6 ounces. It was estimated that he was around 100 years old. How about that! - 30289

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Hopefully you enjoyed this informative article about seafood. To learn more, visit Quality Fresh Seafood where some high quality articles are being showcased. They are specifically about order lobster which should be very interesting.

Buy Live Maine Lobsters Online

By Sherry Shantel

I can't think of anything else more wonderful to enjoy from Maine than the delicious tasty Maine lobsters that this state is know for.

Maine is known for some of the best lobsters in the country. These delights are sure to become a culinary favorite, once you have sampled your first ones. They are simply delicious and succulent to the taste buds.

In order for the lobsters to be their finest quality, they must be fresh. When you bring back your own lobsters from Maine, or if you are buying them from a company online; your lobsters must remain fresh until you are ready for cooking them.

Freshness has a lot to do with the quality of the lobsters. When in Scarborough, Maine, be sure to visit the Pine Point Fisherman's Co-op for some fresh lobster that you are sure to enjoy and will want to bring some back home with you. . Even though bringing lobster home helps, it's still easy to miss this delicious seafood once you have eaten the last morsel.

Lobsters that are sent to you are shipped in insulated boxes with an ice pack and moist paper to keep your lobster at its best. This keeps your lobster cold and provides a supply of ocean water. Thus, all efforts are made to make sure you get the finest quality that you could ever hope for.

When the lobsters are shipped to you, they are shipped in an insulated box with an ice pack and moist paper. This helps to keep your lobster cold and provides a constant supply of ocean water. Thus, every effort is made to assure you of the finest quality of fresh seafood that you could ever imagine.

Are you in the mood for some really good seafood, is going to Maine not in your line of things to do soon?

Enjoy something sweet, delicious, and succulent. Enjoy some Maine Lobsters. Have a seafood feast soon. Don't put it off; you know you are craving the taste all of Maine is talking about-Live Maine Lobsters! Enjoy eating something that is nutritious and good for your health. Buy some live Maine lobsters and eat hearty! - 30289

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This article does a great job of touching on live lobsters, this really is an immense topic and can't be justified by one article. There is also live maine lobster delivery and those would take several more articles to cover adequately. You may also want to check out best live lobster.

Can You Cook Live Lobsters Humanely?

By Sherry Shantel

Advocates for animal rights will protest the practice of putting live lobsters into boiling water. Their concerns are based on whether or not the lobster is capable of feeling pain. They believe that there has to be a better way to cook live lobsters.

Scientists have searched for information regarding the amount of pain a lobster is capable of feeling. Lobster lovers everywhere may be surprised at what they found.

A lobster cannot feel pain the way humans know it. Its nervous system is too undeveloped, and its tiny, simple brain is only a bunch of nerve endings. The brain of a lobster is about the size of a grasshopper's brain and lacks complexity.

There's no way a lobster can have a brain like that and have the ability to think or feel like we do. Researchers have concurred that the practice of cooking live lobsters by steaming and boiling and grilling are not inhumane.

Steaming a lobster starts with a four to five gallon pot containing two inches of seawater or salted water and containing a steaming rack being brought to a rolling boil over high heat. Once the pot is up to temperature, add the lobsters one at a time. Put the lid on the pot and start your timer. It takes about 10 minutes to cook one pound of lobster and around an hour for six to eight pounds. Halfway through the cooking time, rearrange the lobsters in the pot.

For every 1 to 2 pounds of lobster you want to boil, add three quarts of water to your large pot. Calculate the total number of gallons of water in the pot, and add one quarter cup of salt for each gallon. Heat the water to a rolling boil and add the lobsters one at a time. It will take about 8 minutes to boil one pound of lobster. Six to eight pounds will take 50 minutes to an hour. Halfway through the cooking time, stir the lobsters.

Grilling lobsters starts the same way boiling them does by cooking them in boiling water for about five minutes. Remove them from the hot water immediately and plunge them into a cold water bath so that they won't continue to cook. Take each well-drained lobster and place it on its back on a cutting board. Using a sharp knife, split each lobster down the middle and cut out the black vein in the tail and the sand sac by the head. Baste the lobsters with melted butter or oil and place them flesh-side down on the grill. Cook them for five to six minutes on that side before turning them over. Baste them again and continue cooking for another four or five minutes.

Although there are still people who spend time advocating humane treatment for lobsters, most are willing to accept the scientific data which says they do not suffer. The only way you can enjoy the taste of truly fresh lobster meat is by steaming, boiling or grilling it. The purchase of live lobsters isn't limited to grocery stores and restaurants any more, either. Online seafood shops will deliver the very freshest lobsters overnight to your home. - 30289

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Hopefully you enjoyed this exceptionally good article about seafood. You can always just go to Quality Fresh Seafood where some extremely informative articles are being showcased. The articles are about live lobster delivery which should be very informative.