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Archive for the ‘Food & Drink’ Category

Air and Oven Drying of Peppers for Preservation

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When having an excess of chilli peppers, there is a better way to preserve the chilli to make them incorporated to meals or any that requires the use of the chilli peppers that have been dried using various methods. You may know how to grow chillies but are you sure as to how to dry chilli peppers?

Drying the chillies is the traditional way of preserving them. It is important to remember that before thinking of drying the peppers, the kind of peppers that will be dried must be considered. There are types of peppers that cannot be dried like the jalapenos and hot cherry peppers. Drying the ripe chilli peppers is also not suitable that is why knowing the condition of the peppers beforehand is very important to produce well-dried peppers.

How to dry chilli peppers? One way that can be used is through the oven drying. Oven drying takes for a few hours. The exact hour to dry is not determined that is why checking on the peppers from time to time is important to get those perfectly dried peppers. Frequent turning is also important to make even on the drying. The following steps will guide you on how to oven dry the peppers:

1.       This is mandatory: wash all the peppers before use.

2.       Cut the peppers in half.

3.       Lay the peppers on the oven trays or baking sheets for drying.

4.       Be ready to bake the peppers. Check the temperature of the oven. It must be set to 100 to 135 degrees.

There is another method that can be used on how to dry chilli peppers. This is through hanging it to dry. This has been used by many for at the same time, this creates a colourful decoration in the form of ristra. This is a good way to preserve the peppers. The first thing you can do is to sort the peppers by sizes and prepare a thread that is 18 inches long. Insert the thread in the needle and make a knot at the other end. Thread the peppers from the largest to the smallest at the center of the peppers and remove the needle once the threading has been done. Make a knot to secure the threading at the top portion of the pepper. Hang the chilli peppers in a room that is well ventilated.

When you have extra peppers at home, do not ever think of throwing them away for it can be used in various purposes. The best way to store them is through drying them. Just choose a method on drying the chilli peppers that will work best with your resources and your weather condition as well.

Written by GuestPoster

December 30th, 2010 at 10:14 pm

Scallions and Onions

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Onions are a classic addition to any kitchen. The image of the mother character in the frog movie who will only chop onions while holding match sticks in her mouth has become a classic image for the many myths and superstitions that surround this plant. There are many stories surrounding this vegetable as if it were as popular as the vampire in folk lore. The onion was considered good by the ancient Egyptians and was often buried with the dead. It was thought that the strong scent of onions could breath a form of life back into the mummified bodies and Ramses mummy had traces of onion in its eye sockets. The onion is one of the oldest vegetables known and dates back to 5,000 BC.

onion

For the athletes of Greece and Rome, the onion was used to rub on the skin in order to balance blood and firm muscles. During the medieval era, onions were sometimes used as a form of money and were considered valuable gifts. Modern culture is far from free of the popular onion myths. Some think that is an onion is used to rub the windshield of a car, it will be kept frost free. Others think it can help improve hair growth if rubbed on balding areas and it has even been used as a marriage predictor. Women would put the names of suitors on different onions and store them in a dark place. The first one to sprout was used to identify the man she would marry.

Scallions Vs Green Onions

With all of the fascination surrounding onions, it is not surprising to note that shallots, garlic and scallions also share some wide acclaim. Scallions are most often referred to as green onions and are in the shape of a long stalk rather than a bulb. A Kershaw scallion has a milder flavor than an onion, but is considered stronger than chives. It is often used as a substitute for chives and onions alike though when the orignal ingredient is not available. In addition to being added to many dishes, the Kershaw scallion can be eaten fresh, as a topper in sauces, or as a colorful garnish.

happy scallions

Scallions are generally available year round and are best stored in the crisper of the refrigerator. There is a distinct smell around a Kershaw scallion, so it is best to store it away from foods that may absorb the odor. They usually stay fresh for up to a week and can be prepared using a saute or grilled method. It can be difficult to chop scallions appropriately and there are some tips that are best followed.

Always be sure to wash the scallions before chopping them. On occasion, dirt can get inside of the Kershaw scallion shoots, so it is a good idea to run water through the insides as well. Also be sure to trim the tops if there are brown portions on them. Slice the bottom tip of the root off as well. It is common to have traces of roots attached that can look a lot like thin hairs and it is better to remove them before adding the Kershaw scallion to a dish. Scallions can be cut into small quarter inch sections which allows them to be seen and used as a garnish without overpowering a bite of food. Scallions can also be used in larger sections up to an inch in length, particularly if they are used in soups or stir-fries. These cooking methods allow the flavor of the scallions to disperse throughout the dish rather than overpower a single bite of food. However, if the scallions are going to be added to a sauce, it is better to mince them into very small pieces in order to not impede the texture of the dish.

Written by GuestPoster

December 21st, 2010 at 4:18 pm

Health Benefits of a Juicer

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In our fast-lived world of today it can be difficult to fit all the vitamins, minerals and other good stuff our body needs into our everyday diet. Especially the 5-a-day rule of eating at least 5 different portions of fruits and / or vegetables each day can be hard to follow if you are always in a hurry. Only good that there are a variety of little household gadgets available that can help with this.

One of those good be a simple juicer. In the end, a juice is quickly drunken and combines in one glass the goodness of a lot of fruits and vegetables. Modern versions are now very good at extracting minerals and vitamins from them. And you can even choose if you want the pulp or fiber also, or if you prefer pure juice. Juicers are available in every well-sorted house and home store.

They work of a very simple principle: You place the vegetable or fruit you want to have juiced in the top part and the juicer will extract the goodness and fill it in a glass you have placed beneath it, ready for you to drink. The nice thing is that you can mix and match different vegetables and fruits and can so create an unlimited variety of healthy drinks. Carrot, ginger and apple juice anybody?

Click to check out this variable speed juice extractor on Amazon

Don’t forget that this kind of freshly made juice is best and most healthy when drunken directly. Don’t let it sit and loose all its goodness. Drinking juice is so much faster and quicker and will provide you with the right amount of important nutrients like minerals and vitamins on the go. It takes minutes to make and drink such a glass of healthy goodness and the benefits of it you will feel during the whole day.

The more freshly prepared and varied juice you drink and the more often you use your juicer like Breville je95xl juicer or Juiceman juicer the better you will feel and look in the long run. As to which is the best juicer to buy, this can often come down to your personal opinion. And don’t forget, drinking a lot of low calorie juices is also a great way of losing some weight. You might even want to do a day or two of juice fasting.

Written by GuestPoster

November 14th, 2010 at 7:26 pm

Best Dishes with the Nuwave Oven

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You can find many different types of microwave ovens for sale and it can be extremely exciting to bring a Nuwave oven home, and the first thing you will probably want to do is test it out.  After watching it performs so well in commercials you are probably eager to see how it works in real-life.  There are of course the old standards that most people will cook right away with their new ovens, but there are many other different types of dishes as well.  Since your Nuwave oven can cook your food in a variety of ways, your options are basically limitless.  You can put a new twist on old recipes or develop exciting new flavours using the power of infrared technology.  Here are some fun and easy things you can prepare with your Nuwave oven pro.

1.  Chicken fingers and fries – this is traditionally a rather unhealthy dish because you have to deep fry these items.  But with a Nuwave oven you can simply bread your chicken and place your potato pieces directly on the grill area.  Turn your oven on to the appropriate temperature and you can watch your chicken fingers and fries become golden brown as they cook.  Eventually you will have a great meal that is a lot healthier than its oilier counterpart.

2.  Roast beef – there it is nothing better than a slow cook roast beef that is juicy on the inside.  With a Nuwave oven you can decrease the amount of time it takes to get your roast beef on the dinner table.  All of the fat drippings will go to the bottom of the tray so you don’t have to worry about excess calories.  Just remember to let your roast beef sit for about 10 minutes after it’s done so that juices can redistribute. It was taste just as good as if you cooked it in an old-fashioned convection oven.

3.  Rice pilaf – you probably didn’t think of cooking rice in your Nuwave oven did you?  Remember that this is a very versatile tool and as long as you have the proper container you can cook a wonderful side dish of rice.  Best of all, if you time things properly you can cook your rice at the same time you are preparing your main food item.  This is a great way to infuse several flavours into one delicious rice dish.

Cream Cheese Brownies Recipe

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Cream cheese brownies: my kids have always liked my brownies, but absolutely love this cream cheese brownie recipe. There was a little help from Martha Stewart I have to admit, and I don’t know if she was the first one to have that idea, but the union between brownies and cheesecake is the classic egg of Columbus.
The preparation is made of two different creams that will come together in the end. Here are the ingredients for about eight people.

140gr (5 oz) butter, diced
140gr (5 oz) flour plus extra for dusting
30gr (1 oz) bitter cocoa powder
1 tsp baking powder
230gr (8 oz) dark chocolate, chopped
120gr (4 oz) cream cheese like Philadelphia
280gr (10 oz) sugar
4 eggs

Preheat the oven at 180°C (356°F). Grease a square tin of about 23cm (9in) and dust with flour, or  line it with oven paper.
In a bowl, mix half of the flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt.
On a low heat, melt 115gr (4 oz) of butter with the dark chocolate, and put them in a different bowl. Add 225gr (8 oz) of sugar and mix it until it will be completely melted. Add three eggs, one at the time, and mix well. Now, add the dry ingredients of the first bowl, one tablespoon at the time, until completely blended.
Now, in a different bowl, whip the cream cheese with the remaining butter. Add the sugar, the remaining egg and half of the flour and mix until completely blended.
Now take the tin and pour one tablespoon of each cream, letting the brown and the white come together. Bake it for about 40 minutes and then start the toothpick test every five minutes: insert it in the center of the cake, and when it comes out slightly wet and with a few crumbles on it, it means the cake is ready.
Take it out of the oven and let it cool for 30 minutes in the tin, then remove it and let it cool completely at room temperature. Now you can slice it into 16 squares and make everyone happy.
Check out these two more classics of mine: chocolate brownie recipe, and chocolate chip muffins.

Written by GuestPoster

November 5th, 2010 at 8:34 pm

Tea Sets and Espresso Cups

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Get This Quality Tea Set For Less Than $40 On Amazon - click image for details

A porcelain tea set can be more that just a useful thing to have in the kitchen if the urge to have tea presents itself. The set can be a work of art that can become a conversation piece in your home. It creates a wonderful atmosphere when you bring out a beautiful tea set when entertaining.

There are many fine porcelain tea sets for adults to choose from. They vary in quality as well as price. There are many different designs to choose from which makes finding the right set for you a fun shopping experience. Tea sets vary in size so it is important to check what will be included in the set you choose. Porcelain tea sets made for children can be a cherished item that allows for hours of make believe time which can be priceless to a child.

Espresso coffee cups are a wonderful thing for the coffee lover to have on hand. These are usually made to hold 2-3 ounces. They come in a variety of colors and designs. Espresso can be enjoyed on its own or with a little sugar and cream. Some espresso coffee cups come in very unique forms. An example of this is a clear glass double walled cup. This is not a common look for a coffee cup. It can add elegance to your coffee experience. Another great design is the stackable cups. These can be stored out in the open in your kitchen or away in the cupboard.

Purchasing a porcelain tea set or espresso coffee cups should be an easy, enjoyable experience. Shopping online is a great option because you will have a large amount of inventory to look at. You may find great deals and unique items if you shop at antique or second hand stores. Other places to look would include department stores, gift shops or coffee shops.

Written by GuestPoster

November 5th, 2010 at 3:23 am

Choosing the Right K Cup Coffees

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If you are a Keurig coffee maker fan, then you are probably searching for places to purchase the delicious coffee cups that are exclusively used for this brewer. This article will show you all the best places where you can easily find these coffees and they wont be in Starbucks.

Reviews of K Cup Coffees have shown that this particular line of coffee cups are the most popular and sought after blends of coffees right now. And this is not hard to believe as there are literally over a hundred different blends and mixes that are being offered in the market right now by top named brands in coffee. Green Mountain, Coffee People and Gloria Jeans offer Affordable K Cup Coffee blends and also tea and cocoa varieties. You can get one for as low as $.40 per single serving cup.

Being tied up with the most popular single cup coffee maker is a great advantage as these go hand in hand in making the best gourmet coffee right in your own kitchen. Having a Keurig Mini Plus which costs around $100 is one of the best moves that any coffee lover can make. With this one versatile coffee machine you can concoct over 100 different kinds of beverages in just a few minutes.That beats a cafetiere anytime.

K cups even have tea and chocolate mixtures that you can also use with this machine. So as you can see, the brewer is not merely for the coffee drinkers in your household; it is for everyone who want delicious mixes of hot beverages done the gourmet-style way. Some have even made variations themselves by adding ice to the mixes and making them cold drinks instead.

So trust the positive Reviews of K Cup Coffees and indulge in the wide variety of tastes that you can get from every pre-made coffee cup. These are sealed in foil so you can be sure that the contents are safe and fresh. Check your favorite online sites for the latest flavors that may have come out of the market, have alook in a coffee shop to see have they these brews on display and compare the prices and shipping charges of each site in order to estimate the final cost of the product.

Original Italian Tiramisu Recipe

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Tiramisu dessert was only born thirty years ago, but it has come a long way to be one of the ambassadors of Italian cuisine. Italian restaurants all over the world, from the United States to Japan, from Australia to Finland, they all have to have classic tiramisu in their menus. Tiramisu looks very complex from the outside, and the sophisticated taste also suggests that it must be difficult to make, but that is not true, in fact it is easier than it looks to make it from scratch. All you need is the right ingredients, three things in particular are very important:

  • mascarpone cheese needs to be extra fresh
  • choose made in Italy savoiardi biscuits, the will probably be a little more expensive than normal ladyfingers, but they will make the  difference
  • if possible, make the coffe with an Italian coffee maker, also known as moka

Here is a recipe for the original tiramisu, the ingredients are for four people

255gr (9 oz) mascarpone cheese
3 tbsp sugar
2 eggs, yolks and whites separated
bitter cocoa powder
4 cups of coffee

First make the coffee and let it cool to room temperature. Mix the yolks with the sugar until you have a bubbly and almost white cream. Add the mascarpone cheese one tbsp at the time. Whip the whites until firm and add them to the egg and mascarpone mix. In doing that, use a wooden spoon and stir gently. Dip the savoiardi in the coffee, and line the bottom of a rectangular casserole. Cover with a layer of cream, then with another layer of savoiardi, then if there is room for a third layer repeat the operation, otherwise finish with the cream. Put it in the fridge for at least three hours, then cover with cocoa powder right before serving.

Here you will find more exhaustive directions of how to make a classic tiramisu, plus more tips to make this reicipe a success.

The origins of this famous Italian dessert are still not clear, but here you can read a history of tiramisu.

Written by GuestPoster

September 26th, 2010 at 10:30 pm

Why restaurants offer free coupons for their menu items

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Large chain restaurants are suffering from the same economic hardships as the consumers. With people forgoing dinner out in an effort to save money, these restaurants watch their revenues drop. Of course, as revenues decline they are forced to close stores and lay off personnel. In an effort to promote dinning out, reduce marketing costs and provide the consumer a good reason to visit their particular restaurant, major restaurants are offering online dinning coupons. Why, because if you have a family which most people do, these meals as a whole can add and become pricey. Well, this is the reason for coupons. Outback steakhouse for example, allows you to bring in free outback steakhouse coupons to lessen your bill. Pretty nice of them.

When you visit a website of a major restaurant chain you will find that many of them have “clubs” to join or have links to printable coupons for their menu items.
This is done for three reasons. The first reason is to encourage their customers to return to their restaurant by presenting them something for free. Many people will make the exception to their budget if they feel they will receive a very good deal.

The second reason is that when they drive people to their website they are reducing their need to spend money on print advertising. This reduction in marketing costs, while rewarding the customers, makes good sense to everyone involved. If reduction of costs can be made in other areas of the business, jobs will be saved.

Finally, restaurants are offering free menu items coupons as a way to encourage new customers to come and try their food. Many people are willing to go to a restaurant they have never been to before and try a dish if they believe it is free. Signing up for these offers and printing your own outback steakhouse coupons is a great way to still live well, even when economic times are hard. Once you are signed up for these clubs you will continue to receive discounts and outback steakhouse coupons in your email. Continued savings and the ability to enjoy an evening out are worth the sheet of paper you print your personal coupon on.

Written by GuestPoster

September 10th, 2010 at 9:47 pm

Avanti Wine Coolers and Wine Fridges

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Wine add flavor to the food but stocking wine in sellers needs constant care and attention. However, if you’re a wine fan then a Avanti Wine Cooler is what you need to store your wine without having to worry about the humidity and temperature. With a cool Avanti wine cooler with different features, keep your wine cool at a lower price and save your wine from losing its flavor.

There is a wide range of Avanti Wine Cooler models available in the market to choose from; what you take home depends on you. You can either go for the conventional cooler with stainless steel accents or the one with digital controls. Although both are popular, digital ones are more sensitive. Style is a prime factor in the wine coolers these days. Thus, there are built-in and independent versatile models with rave reviews across the country. Furthermore, you can choose the cooler that can stock 16 bottles or the one with capacity of holding 166 bottles, as per you need. Suit yourself.

There are built in security features and shelves that could be adjusted to fit bottle of every size without varying the temperature conditions. Both pre-selected temperature settings and precise temperature configurations for your needs are offered to the customers to pick from. And, if you want to flaunt your wine collection, the Avanti Wine Cooler has a glass door that allows you to display your well-spent spent.

Aluminium is preferred over plastic because it conducts heat and cold more effectively. Though, you should be aware that varying level of air circulation could make the bacteria breed. Consider the factors like size, capacity and space before buying a wine cabinet. All kinds of models from digitalized displays to stylish designs to security locks are awaiting you. However, go for the model that is vibration free so as to prevent it from disturbing the natural sedimentation that makes a wine mature. Keep your delicate wine safe in the best wine cooler you can find and enjoy its savor.

Written by GuestPoster

September 9th, 2010 at 11:06 am