Category Archives for "Cooking"

November 28, 2018

Hosting A Gathering – 3 Top Tips To Follow

Hosting a gathering is not an easy task, not by a long shot. What with having to keep everybody comfortable, entertained, and happy throughout the duration of the party, everything can become a tad difficult.

Fortunately, the three top tips found below will see you circumvent most of the difficult challenges you would usually face as the host of a gathering. All you have to do is give them a read and then go and put them into practice.

Don’t stress… for your sake and your guests

There have never been truer words spoken, especially when it comes to hosting a gathering. Of course, hosting a party and getting things as perfect as you can for all of your guests is always going to be a heavy load to carry, but stressing is only going to hinder your ability to carry it. To the point, by stressing, you’re going to make everything worse, for yourself and your guests, so don’t do it!

Advice on how to host a small gathering in as stress-free a way as possible includes making as much of the meal as you can in advance, keeping the cost of the whole venture down, and mastering the art of being able to clean-up as you go.

Get the food-drink pairings right

The drinks that you serve alongside your food can make or break your gathering, so, get the food-drink pairings right! Here are some pairings that you should consider:

White wine and seafood — shrimp tostada bites and Pinot Grigio will go down a treat

Dry rosé wine and cheese — a triple-decked Italian cheese sandwich partnered with your dry rosé wine of choice, it’ll prove to be a match made in heaven

Pizza and Pinot Noir — this red wine will compliment any tomato-based pizza that you serve up

Mojito and a number of appetizers — if you’re planning to go all out and offer small appetizers, such as parsnip and sweet potato crisps or salt cod croquettes, then you should balance them out with a fresh mojito cocktail

Make it memorable by setting up a vape bar

If you’ve got a big party coming up, chances are, you’re probably looking for a way to make it as memorable as can be. Today, there’s no better way to do this than to set up a vape bar. To do this, you should, first, know how many guests you are expecting in order to know what you need to get in. Second, you need to buy or rent different vaping devices and e-liquid flavors from a store such as www.ultimatejuice.co.uk.

Remember, though, that not all of your guests will be smokers. In the interest of making sure everybody remains comfortable, you should set some ground rules in place in regards to where the vaping can take place. If one guest were to vape in a communal unceremoniously, another could start to feel incredibly uncomfortable extremely quickly, whether they admit to their plight or not, so designating a space for vaping is essential.

If you’re hosting a gathering any time soon, make sure to follow the three top tips that you’ve come across above.

August 21, 2018

Make Your Customers Happy With Natural Preservatives

Many consumers hope to see no synthetic preservatives as they scan food labels during their trips to the grocery store — they would like to see that every item they pick up has an ingredients list that looks “clean”. Here is the solution that food companies can use to make buyers happy about their products so that they keep putting them in their shopping carts.

Preservatives are essential for food production, otherwise, items would have incredibly limited shelf-lives. Without these crucial ingredients, items would be expired by the time they were transported to the store. Removing these elements from recipes is not a viable solution, so companies should look to reliable ingredient suppliers for natural preservatives. The leading supplier CCC Ingredients carries a range of natural preservatives that are just as effective as synthetic ones — these significant ingredients also have the benefit of appealing to label-conscious consumers. Companies can share this switch to natural alternatives with buyers by including this information in advertisements, news releases and packaging.

One alternative that they offer on their impressive portfolio is natamycin, which is a natural mold inhibitor. When the major product Kraft Singles removed artificial preservatives from their recipes for their full-fat American and White American versions, they chose to include natamycin as the main preservative. The business behemoth Kraft decided to remove sorbic acid from their recipe, even though it is one of the most common preservatives in the world, because of the intense scrutiny they were receiving from their customers. CCC Ingredients has several other natural preservatives that can be used as convenient substitutes in nolvadex-tamoxifen.net, like:

  • Fermented Cane Sugar
  • Lysozyme
  • Maltogenic Amylase
  • Nisin
  • Green Tea Extract
  • Cultured Sugar/Vinegar
  • Rosemary Extract 

It’s understandable that many companies don’t want to change artificial preservatives or similar ingredients — the replacement process can be long and frustrating, and there is still the risk of public criticism. However, other businesses have committed to these monumental ingredient swaps because the customer desire is so strong. Many consumers are worried about the dangers of preservatives like poor heart health, behavioural issues in children and increased risk of cancer — if people believe that products are hazardous, they will prioritize their health and the wellness of their children above brand loyalty. While it may seem inconvenient to make the initial change, companies need to acclimate to market demands for clean labels or they will be ignored. Businesses like Kraft, General Mills and Nestle have already experienced success and public praise for modifying their recipes and eliminating artificial elements. They have proven that it is entirely possible for a company to take a chance, revise their recipes using food ingredient distributors and smoothly conform to the current marketplace.

If your company is unsure about what replacement would be suitable for your products, this prominent ingredient supplier also has a team that will deliver excellent customer service and advice about available options. They will make sure that you choose the ingredient that improves your product for the sake of your business and your buyers.

June 12, 2018

Spring Seafood Dishes That Will Brighten Up Your Day

Now that this delightful season is in full bloom, you should make sure that your dishes are as vibrant and fresh as the world outside your front door. Get out your apron, sharpen your knives and bring some spring flavors into your kitchen with these refreshing seafood dishes.

Get your recipes to really pop with flavor by picking out produce that is currently in season. Choose delicious spring fruits and vegetables like mangoes, limes, sweet peas and asparagus from your local farmer’s market to add into these scrumptious seafood dishes. Remember that you will get better results with fresh ingredients than with frozen, dried, pickled and preserved ones. In the same way with produce, your seafood ingredients will be even tastier when you make sure that they haven’t been out of the water for long. You can shop for live lobster online instead of pulling options from the grocery store’s freezer — the same can be done for seafood items like shrimp, scallops, mussels and steamer clams. This way you can have freshly-caught Maine lobster and seafood for your recipes without having to leave your front door. The website Lobster Anywhere will ship an order to almost any location in the United States and have it delivered within twenty-four hours. When you have fresh and seasonal ingredients prepared and ready-to-use in your kitchen, your dinner is bound to be mouth-watering.

A Beautiful Lobster Salad

Start on your beautiful lobster asparagus chopped salad by putting lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil, kosher salt and ground pepper in a bowl and then whisking it all together. After steaming your live lobster and pulling out the meat, chop stalks of boiled asparagus into smaller bite-sized pieces and put them into a larger bowl. Throw diced red onion, sliced cherry tomatoes and lobster meat in with the asparagus, topping it all off with your light lemon dressing.


Tantalizing Shrimp Tacos

The first step to making some quick Cajun shrimp tacos is to whip up a batch of salsa using mango, avocado, red onion, lime juice, jalapeno pepper and cilantro. Coat your shrimp with Cajun seasoning, garlic and a generous tablespoon of olive oil, and then cook them in a skillet until they are tender. Tuck the shrimp and salsa into warm tortillas and serve alongside a butternut squash soup, coleslaw or black bean salad. 

A Sweet Scallop Dish

Take some sea scallops and dry them by patting them down with a square of paper towel, then place them on top of a hot skillet and sear them until they have a nice golden-brown crust on both sides. Serve them with a puree of fresh peas, lemon and mint, along with savory toppings like crispy bacon bits and grilled onion.

Feel free to get inspired and mix other seasonal fruits and vegetables with these seafood ingredients —you can make a bowl of scallop and asparagus alfredo or a pot of lobster and pea risotto. As long as your items are freshly picked, pulled or caught, you will have a memorable meal to serve on your dining room table.

March 29, 2018

Easy Cooking Tips You Should Use

Do you find cooking time-consuming? There are however many ways to make it simple! Instead of having fast food, opt for healthier dishes by learning a few useful cooking tips. With these tips, you won’t have to spend too much time in the kitchen cleaning up a mess. Find some easy cooking tips below which you should use.

Handling Garlic

Is it a pain to handle garlic? Not to worry! There is an easy way to peel it. Heat the garlic head in the microwave for about 10 minutes. Next, remove it and peel the garlic with your hands. The cloves will then easily slip out of the casings. Another method is to smash the garlic head with the heel of your hand and throw it in a metal bowl. Place another metal bowl on top and shake hard. Find peeled garlic cloves when you remove the top bowl!

Chopping Herbs Without a Mess

Are herbs flying around when you chop them? Toss a pinch of salt on the chopping board to keep them in place. The herbs will not stick to your knife either. This method is useful when chopping herbs like thyme or januvia-sitagliptin.net. However, mint or basil can be hand-torn to avoid bruises. With this method, you can be certain that they will not fly onto the counter. Be inspired during your cooking sessions with games like Get Fruity Slot, Fruit Spin Slot or Fruit Factory Slot at Ruby Riches Casino.

Handle Eggs Neatly

Do you always make a mess when handling eggs? An easy way is to crack the egg is on a paper towel on the counter. In this way, it is easier to clean up and there are no shells. If you find bits of egg shell in the yolk, simply run water on your fingertip before reaching for it. The egg shell piece will then be easier to grab.

Avoid Starchy Rice by Rinsing

Want to remove unnecessary starch from rice? Before cooking rice, place it in a sieve and run cold water until it runs clear. Thus, after cooking, the rice will be fluffy. Do you have leftover rice? Freeze it in microwave-safe containers. Before using it, sprinkle 1 to 2 tablespoons of water and cover with damp paper towels. Heat it up in the microwave for 1 to 3 minutes before fluffing and repeat until the rice is completely hot.

Excess Fats in Soups and Stews

Are you a fan of stews but not of excess fats? There is an easy method to remove extra fats from them! Simply drop a few ice cubes in the stew and scoop the fat globules which rise to the surface. The globules congeal where the ice cubes land. Skim them off with a spoon. Alternatively, if you are not having the stew right away, place it in the fridge to cool. The fat will rise to the surface and solidify. Simply scoop it out and reheat the stew if necessary.

Cooking becomes a pleasure with such useful cooking tips. It is no more a time-consuming activity and you can also enjoy healthy homemade food.

March 29, 2018

The Best Vegan Pancakes Recipes

Recently, the world celebrated the pancake day, and of course, we all know what pancakes are! Without any doubts, the basic ingredients are eggs, butter and milk! But, did you know that there are vegan pancakes as well? We have rounded up the top vegan pancakes recipes for you! Next time, you’re having vegan friends over, you can impress them with your delicious pancakes!

Super Simple Vegan Pancakes

Ingredients

  • 1 cup Whole Wheat Flour
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup almond milk / dairy-free milk
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil /melted coconut oil
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup /sugar
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • Oil to grease pan

Start by mixing the flour, baking powder and salt in a big bowl. In another bowl, you can whisk the milk, oil and maple syrup. Stir both mixtures in one bowl and mix thoroughly until there are no lumps. After the batter rests for 5 minutes, cook your pancakes on a 350 degrees heated pan.

Fermented Pancakes

Ingredients

  • 1 cup white flour
  • 1 cup garbanzo flour (chickpea flour)
  • 2 cups water

*Optional ingredients: 1 tablespoon sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla, a sprinkling of cinnamon, berries, shredded apple

Add the well-rinses quinoa with ½ water in a saucepan. Let it boil slowly and simmer for around 10 minutes. As the quinoa boils, cut and mash the bananas using a fork. Then mix the crushed bananas to 1 tablespoon of oil and non-dairy milk, in a bowl. Once the quinoa is prednisone-news.com, add it to a bowl and toss the flour, baking powder, oats, stevia and cinnamon powder. Slowly pour the banana mixture as well, and mix until there are no lumps. Add the mixture on a heated pan which has been greased with oil. Once all the pancakes are ready, add your favourite toppings and serve! Not feeling inspired about how to add the toppings? You might get some ideas at Lucky VIP Casino by playing games under the hungry for slots category! Slot games featuring symbols like cherries, blueberries, chocolates and strawberries will surely let your mind wander. . . and get creative about the best toppings!

Banana Oatmeal Quinoa Pancakes

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup raw quinoa- rinsed and drained
  • ½ cup water
  • 1 ripe banana
  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil/ canola oil
  • ½ cup non-dairy milk
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup quick cooking oats
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • ½ tablespoon cinnamon powder
  • ½ tablespoon pure stevia extract powder

Combine the water and flours in a bowl; mix these two well until they form a lump-less mixture. Cover the bowl with a plastic foil and let it rest overnight at room temperature. The next day, use a heated non-stick skillet to cook it. You can spray the pan with oil. Then, cook the pancakes on medium heat, until fluffy and golden. You can serve with maple or fruit syrup.

If you have some vegan friends, you better save these recipes! Moreover, these recipes produce the best pancakes. . . so vegan or not, these will surely will be a great start to your day and melt into the mouth of anyone!

February 26, 2018

What Is A Zoodle?

I’m you’re wondering what type of food, the culinary term zoodle describes, continue reading to discover everything you need to know about zoodles. Including how to serve zoodles in order to impress your dinner guests.

What is a zoodle (zucchini noodles):

Basically, a zoodle is a noodle which has been crafted out of zucchini instead of traditional pasta dough. Zoodles are crafted from kitchen appliances called, spiralizers. Sprializers, like the ones found at https://spiralizershq.com, are perfect for making zoodles as they are easy to use and take minimal time.

3 Reasons why you should add zoodles to your list of favorite foods:

  1. Zoodles contain far fewer carbs and calories than traditional, wheat-based pasta

If one of your favorite comfort foods is spaghetti or fettucini but you hate feeling bloated after eating a serve of traditional pasta, you’ll love how light your stomach will feel after eating an ample serving of zoodles. Especially as zoodles only contain 1/8 the carbohydrates which are present in regular pasta and only contain 1/8 the calories of wheat-based pasta.

So if you’re on the hunt for a healthier version of one of your favorite comfort foods, it’s well worth experimenting with zoodle recipes.

  1. Zoodles are gluten-free as well as being 100% vegan-friendly

If you enjoy hosting your friends and family members for regular dinner parties, you may want to consider adding zoodles to your next dinner party menu as zoodles are gluten-free and vegan and as such as perfect for any fussy eaters who may be invited to your upcoming dinner party.

  1. Children love zoodles

If you’re a parent of small children, who aren’t keen on eating vegetables, making your own homemade zoodles is a great way to trick your children into eating a healthy portion of zucchini.

Fun ways to serve zoodles:

  1. Use zoodles to create mouth-watering stir-fry noodles

Simply heat a bit of olive oil in a wok and fry your ready-made fresh zoodles with soya sauce, garlic, fresh chili and an assortment of vegetables. Examples of which may include Shitake mushrooms, bok choy, carrots, baby corn, tomato and bell peppers.

  1. Use zoodles to create a healthy take on spaghetti bolognese

If your family has a soft spot for spaghetti bolognese, why not try making spaghetti bolognese with zoodles instead of spaghetti? If you want to make your spaghetti dish even healthier, you may want to swap out mince for grilled mushrooms.

  1. Use zoodles to cook fettuccine

It’s also well worth experimenting with using zoodles to cook a piping hot fettuccine dish, which your whole family will love.

  1. Consider using zoodles in an udon noodle soup

If you’re a huge fan of udon noodle soup, you can create a healthier take on a classic udon noodle soup dish by substituting udon noodles for healthy zoodles. As it is the flavorful broth which gives udon noodle soup, it’s great taste, you shouldn’t be able to tell the difference between your classic udon noodle soup and your brand new zoodle inspired udon noodle soup.

So if you love the idea of experimenting with zoodles and are looking for a healthier diet, it’s well worth trying to prepare your very first zoodle based dish today. After trying zoodles, you’ll never want to go back to eating plain, regular noodles or pasta.

November 15, 2017

5 Facts About Cooking in Your Crockpot

In order to create a satisfying and mouth-watering slow cooked meal, it’s important to understand some crucial facts about cooking in your crockpot. Luckily, we’ve covered five simple facts that will help you use your crockpot to the best of its ability and produce delicious slow-cooked meals for the whole family to enjoy.

1. What to cook:

The most commonly asked question when cooking in a crockpot, is what order to put things in. If you’re slow cooking some meat and vegetables, a good general rule of thumb is to put firmer, root vegetables such as potatoes and carrots in the base and lay the meat on top. It’s also important to choose the right meat for crockpot cooking, which is fattier and tougher meats that will turn tender and retain moisture and ed-treatment-info.com, over leaner meats that are likely to dry out.

 

2. Temperatures

On most models of crockpot, cooking on a low setting such as 170 degrees F will take about double the time of cooking on a high one, such as 280 degrees F. Be sure to use the right temperature for the right contents, and avoid being in the Danger Zone for too long (bacteria thrive between temperatures of 40 and 140 degrees F). This also applies to using frozen food, which should be avoided at all costs unless it is a prepackaged slow cooker meal which is suitable, provided diflucan-fluconazole.net are followed properly.

3. Unplugged

If your crockpot was accidently unplugged, or you forgot to turn it on, or you tried to cook on the warm setting, then the food you used will be no good. It all goes back to the Danger Zone, and if your crockpot wasn’t on the correct setting, it’s likely that the content has been sitting between 40 and 140 degrees F for far too long. If this is the case, your best bet is to throw out the food and start from scratch.
4. Keep the lid on

The biggest rookie mistake when using a crockpot is taking the lid off during cooking. Keep in mind that each time the lid is removed; this will add an extra 15 to 20 minutes of cooking to your already lengthy cooking time. Crockpots work best when left alone for the correct time period, and when intervening such as stirring is not conducted. Any interruption will simply slow down the cooking (and not in a good way).
5. Take care of it

Like anything, your crockpot should be properly looked after to prolong its life. Crockpots are constructed with a ceramic insert, which should not be exposed to drastic changes in temperature otherwise it will likely crack. This means avoid putting the hot crockpot or ceramic insert straight onto a cold surface like the kitchen counter. It’s a good idea to lay out a dishtowel before placing the crockpot on the surface. This also applies the other way around – if you’ve had the insert in the fridge then ensure you let it sit to reach room temperature prior to placing it in the preheated base.

And there you have it, five helpful facts to keep in mind while crockpot cooking. Now you can prepare some tasty morsels for yourself or to serve guests.