by: Laura Ng
Ever wonder if peppers are fruits or vegetables? Actually, peppers are fruits but eaten as vegetables most of the time.
Peppers can be very flexible in any food combinations, be it barbecues, baking, steaming, stir-frying with any vegetables, nuts, seeds or legumes. They can even be eaten raw as snacks or in salads. It’s no wonder they are the favourites of the vegetarians and vegans.
They come from the colorful Capsicum family which can be split into two main categories - sweet bell peppers and the spicy chillies, such as jalapenos. The difference arises from the presence of capsaicin in chillies (which is explained later) but not in sweet bell peppers.
Sweet bell peppers are also known as capsicums, sweet peppers or green/red peppers.
All sweet bell peppers start out green and change color as they ripen. Depending on the stage of ripeness and their variety, their colors range from orange, yellow, red, purple, brown, black, ivory or green and so do their sweetness.
But green bell peppers remain green throughout the ripening process. Thus, it can be challenging to differentiate the other bell peppers from the green variety before they ripen.
All peppers are an excellent source of vitamin C. Green bell peppers contain as much as two times of vitamin C as oranges while red or yellow pepper pack three or four times the daily value of vitamin C.
Besides power-packed with vitamin C, bell peppers also provide vitamin B6, phytochemicals such as lycopene and beta-carotene (the precursor for vitamin A), folate, potassium and plenty of fiber. The only difference between sweet peppers and chilli peppers is the presence of capsaicin in chilli peppers. Capsaicin itself holds numerous health benefits:
· Effective treatment and natural pain relief for inflammation such as arthritis, psoriasis, diabetic neuropathy.
· Reduce risk of heart attack and stroke as it helps to reduce cholesterol levels and formation of blood clots.
· Clear blocked nose and congested lungs.
· Prevent prostate cancer by inhibiting growth of cancerous cells · Prevent stomach ulcers by killing bacteria in the stomach and stimulate more protective stomach juices.
· Help to lose weight as it speeds up the body’s metabolism rate, suppresses appetite and cravings for sweet foods.
· Lower risk of Type 2 diabetes by controlling the blood sugar.
Capsaicin is what makes the chillies hot as it produces a strong burning sensation in the mouth. The seeds are not the main culprits for causing the hotness. Actually, capsaicin is most concentrated in the white membrane where the seed is attached.
Thus, you should be careful when handling the chilli peppers so as not to let them come in contact with your skin or eyes such as rubbing your eyes with your hands after touching the chillies. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling the chillies.
Should you eat a really hot chilli which causes an unbearable burning sensation in your mouth, drink milk or eat yogurt, rice or bread instead of water to ease the pain.
I often use these few ways to handle the chillies:
· Wear gloves.
· To remove the seeds without touching them, hold the chilli stem and cut open with a paring knife. Cut away the membranes and seeds with the knife. Another handy tool is the melon baller. Place the chillies in water for 15 minutes before cutting them. Note that this will only reduce but will not fully remove the “hotness” of the chillies.
· If you do not need to remove the seeds, just hold the chili by the stem and cut the chillies into rings. Asians like to eat the raw chillies as a dip in this manner, with the chillies soaked in lime juice or soy sauce.
Chilli peppers come in different sizes, shapes and degrees of heat or spiciness. The more mature the pepper, the hotter it will be. The commonly used method to measure how hot the chillies are is Scoville Scale. The Scoville Scale converts the amount of capsaicin in parts per million into Scoville heat units. So the greater the number of Scoville Scale, the hotter the pepper. A sweet bell pepper measures 0 Scoville unit and a habaneros or scotch bonnet, the hottest known chilli peppers, records at around 300,000 units.
Peppers are not seasonal fruits, meaning you can find them in supermarkets any day during the year. Choose well-shaped, firm and glossy peppers which feel heavy for their size. Look out for unhealthy peppers with soft or wrinkled areas, cracks, slashes or black spots. Except for jalapeñwhich you will see some tiny cracks at the end of their stems, fresh chilli peppers should not have any cracks at all.
It’s best to wrap the peppers in paper bags or paper towels and store in the refrigerator to keep their freshness, up to 5 days for bell peppers and up to 3 weeks for chilli peppers.
Remember to wash the peppers before cooking so as to remove the wax on their surfaces.
Rabu, 30 Juli 2008
The BEST Simple But Dramatic Dessert
by: Lulu Wells
After creating an incredible meal, thinking of something sweet and satisfying to finish it with is not always easy. But it’s easier then you could imagine. Most home chefs are not bakers or dessert makers and often opt out for easy unhealthy ideas in lieu of something homemade.
Here’s a great solution that with make you look like a rock star in the kitchen. Your friends will be blown away by this treat and will be copying you (and taking credit) for years to come.
We’ve all had a chocolate dipped strawberry before but you’ve forgotten how good they really are. They are also can be a healthy alternative with a little bit of decadence too.
The supplies are minimal and preparation couldn’t be simpler.
• Strawberries with leaves still on
• Favorite type of chocolate: mild, dark and white
• Wax paper
Optional ideas:
• Add your favorite brandy or liqueur:
• Add 2 tablespoons heavy cream
• Chopped nuts, crushed Oreos, sprinkles, coconut or any other topping
Wash berries and pat dry. (Any moisture on the berries and the chocolate won’t stick) Melt chocolate in a double boiler pot. If you don’t have one, place an inch or two of water in a pot then place a glass bowl on top of the pot. A double boiler prevents chocolate from burning. In a pinch you can always use the microwave but make sure to melt in small increments to prevent the chocolate from scolding.
Once chocolate starts melting, stir any lumps out. Holding the leaves, delicately dip the strawberry in the chocolate slowly rotating to cover all the sides.
Place dipped berries on wax paper to set. To make it a bit fancier, melt a different type of chocolate and drizzle the berries using a fork for a contrast. Or dip half in one chocolate and the other half in a different chocolate. If you are applying toppings like nuts or crushed Oreos, let the chocolate set for a moment and then gently roll the berry in the topping.
Place berries in the fridge to chill. Eat immediately. They will keep for one day or so but start to get juicy if left too long. But then again, who could leave these babies sitting for too long. They are an instant hit and add a touch of dramatic class to any dinner party, barbeque or holiday party. People with think you’re a food genius and will have no idea just how easy it was.
After creating an incredible meal, thinking of something sweet and satisfying to finish it with is not always easy. But it’s easier then you could imagine. Most home chefs are not bakers or dessert makers and often opt out for easy unhealthy ideas in lieu of something homemade.
Here’s a great solution that with make you look like a rock star in the kitchen. Your friends will be blown away by this treat and will be copying you (and taking credit) for years to come.
We’ve all had a chocolate dipped strawberry before but you’ve forgotten how good they really are. They are also can be a healthy alternative with a little bit of decadence too.
The supplies are minimal and preparation couldn’t be simpler.
• Strawberries with leaves still on
• Favorite type of chocolate: mild, dark and white
• Wax paper
Optional ideas:
• Add your favorite brandy or liqueur:
• Add 2 tablespoons heavy cream
• Chopped nuts, crushed Oreos, sprinkles, coconut or any other topping
Wash berries and pat dry. (Any moisture on the berries and the chocolate won’t stick) Melt chocolate in a double boiler pot. If you don’t have one, place an inch or two of water in a pot then place a glass bowl on top of the pot. A double boiler prevents chocolate from burning. In a pinch you can always use the microwave but make sure to melt in small increments to prevent the chocolate from scolding.
Once chocolate starts melting, stir any lumps out. Holding the leaves, delicately dip the strawberry in the chocolate slowly rotating to cover all the sides.
Place dipped berries on wax paper to set. To make it a bit fancier, melt a different type of chocolate and drizzle the berries using a fork for a contrast. Or dip half in one chocolate and the other half in a different chocolate. If you are applying toppings like nuts or crushed Oreos, let the chocolate set for a moment and then gently roll the berry in the topping.
Place berries in the fridge to chill. Eat immediately. They will keep for one day or so but start to get juicy if left too long. But then again, who could leave these babies sitting for too long. They are an instant hit and add a touch of dramatic class to any dinner party, barbeque or holiday party. People with think you’re a food genius and will have no idea just how easy it was.
Olive Oil - Its Benefits And Uses
by: Laura Ng
Why do we use olive oil ?
Olive oil is high in monounsaturated fatty acids (mainly oleic acid), which, unlike saturated fats, do not adversely affect blood cholestrol levels and may even help to lower them slightly. For those suffering from constipation, take more olive oil often as it helps to lubricate the intestines and eliminate waste from our bodies, thereby curing your constipation.
Olive oil also provides natural antioxidants (called polyphenols) which help to reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer.
Why is olive oil catergorises into different types ?
The flavor of olive oil varies, depending on the source, the variety of olive, the soil conditions, weather, etc. Some of the primary sources come from Spain, Italy, France, Greece, Turkey Portugal, Tunisia, Morocco, and California. Some olive oils are from a single variety of oils, but others, like most Italian oils, are blends of oils from different types of olives and from different countries.
What is the difference among "Virgin", "Extra virgin", "Fine" and "refined" olive oil?
The oil produced from the first pressing of ripe olives is often the purest form, thus is called virgin. Extra virgin simply means an oil from the first pressing that is particularly low in acid - less than 1%. Virgin olive oil may have as much as 4% acid. Fino or fine olive oil is a blend of extra virgin and virgin olive oils, with an acid content not above 3%.
To squeeze more oil from the ripe olives, modern extraction methods of pressure, heat and chemical solvents are applied. These refined oils may be blended with virgin oil to replace some of the flavor lost in the processing, and are sold as pure olive oil or just olive oil.
In some countries, you may also stumble upon light olive oil, which is not lower in calories, but which has been so finely filtered as to remove most of its color and fragrance (and flavor). It has a higher smoke point than the other types of olive oil, though, so it is well suited to high-temperature frying.
For the best qualities, we should go for the "Virgin" or "Extra virgin" olive oil because they have a fruity and rich flavour, wouldn't turn rancid so fast and are more easily digestible than refined oil.
For nutritional values, they are the same. But, extra virgin oil which is low in acidity level contains more antioxidants.
Where is olive oil used?
Compared with other vegetable oils, only olive oil has enough flavour to replace butter and margarine for a healthier choice. Because of its pure state, extra virgin oil is often used as a dressing in salads or as a dip for breads.
Refined or light olive oil is suitable for deep frying. It may seem pricey to use it to fry food but the fact that such oil is four to five times more heat resistant than vegetable oil would mean you can reuse it to fry foods many more times before the oil begins to break down.
Will olive oil loses its nutritional value when heated ?
Olive oil, when heated at high temperature, will cause its alcohols and esters to evaporate. The esters are what make up the olive oil delicate taste and fragrance. So heat will only change the flavor of olive oil but not its nutritional contents. We recommend you use a cheaper olive oil like refined/light oil for frying and then add a more flavorful olive oil after cooking.
Will the food be any lesser in nutritions if cooked in olive oil ?
Heating food will break down its nutritional value. High heat such as frying is worse than moderate heat such as steaming, which is worse than eating vegetables raw. It is not the cooking oil per se, but the high heat of frying.
Most nutritionists recommend lightly steaming vegetables or eating them raw. A touch of a flavorsome olive oil added at the table will add taste and healthful anti-oxidants. This is what "Mediterranean diet" is about, which has been shown to help prevent coronary disease and have other health benefits.
How to store Olive oil ?
Keep away from heat, ie the stove, to prevent ageing of the oil. Better to keep a large container in a dark, cool cupboard and pour a small amount into a dispenser for everyday use. The container can be made of plastic, stainless or tinted glass.
Alternatively, you can store oil in the refrigerator or freezer, which will greatly extend its shelf life. Do not worry about the crystallized waxes in the oil when chilled. All you have to do is to warm the oil back to room temperature to melt it.
Why do we use olive oil ?
Olive oil is high in monounsaturated fatty acids (mainly oleic acid), which, unlike saturated fats, do not adversely affect blood cholestrol levels and may even help to lower them slightly. For those suffering from constipation, take more olive oil often as it helps to lubricate the intestines and eliminate waste from our bodies, thereby curing your constipation.
Olive oil also provides natural antioxidants (called polyphenols) which help to reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer.
Why is olive oil catergorises into different types ?
The flavor of olive oil varies, depending on the source, the variety of olive, the soil conditions, weather, etc. Some of the primary sources come from Spain, Italy, France, Greece, Turkey Portugal, Tunisia, Morocco, and California. Some olive oils are from a single variety of oils, but others, like most Italian oils, are blends of oils from different types of olives and from different countries.
What is the difference among "Virgin", "Extra virgin", "Fine" and "refined" olive oil?
The oil produced from the first pressing of ripe olives is often the purest form, thus is called virgin. Extra virgin simply means an oil from the first pressing that is particularly low in acid - less than 1%. Virgin olive oil may have as much as 4% acid. Fino or fine olive oil is a blend of extra virgin and virgin olive oils, with an acid content not above 3%.
To squeeze more oil from the ripe olives, modern extraction methods of pressure, heat and chemical solvents are applied. These refined oils may be blended with virgin oil to replace some of the flavor lost in the processing, and are sold as pure olive oil or just olive oil.
In some countries, you may also stumble upon light olive oil, which is not lower in calories, but which has been so finely filtered as to remove most of its color and fragrance (and flavor). It has a higher smoke point than the other types of olive oil, though, so it is well suited to high-temperature frying.
For the best qualities, we should go for the "Virgin" or "Extra virgin" olive oil because they have a fruity and rich flavour, wouldn't turn rancid so fast and are more easily digestible than refined oil.
For nutritional values, they are the same. But, extra virgin oil which is low in acidity level contains more antioxidants.
Where is olive oil used?
Compared with other vegetable oils, only olive oil has enough flavour to replace butter and margarine for a healthier choice. Because of its pure state, extra virgin oil is often used as a dressing in salads or as a dip for breads.
Refined or light olive oil is suitable for deep frying. It may seem pricey to use it to fry food but the fact that such oil is four to five times more heat resistant than vegetable oil would mean you can reuse it to fry foods many more times before the oil begins to break down.
Will olive oil loses its nutritional value when heated ?
Olive oil, when heated at high temperature, will cause its alcohols and esters to evaporate. The esters are what make up the olive oil delicate taste and fragrance. So heat will only change the flavor of olive oil but not its nutritional contents. We recommend you use a cheaper olive oil like refined/light oil for frying and then add a more flavorful olive oil after cooking.
Will the food be any lesser in nutritions if cooked in olive oil ?
Heating food will break down its nutritional value. High heat such as frying is worse than moderate heat such as steaming, which is worse than eating vegetables raw. It is not the cooking oil per se, but the high heat of frying.
Most nutritionists recommend lightly steaming vegetables or eating them raw. A touch of a flavorsome olive oil added at the table will add taste and healthful anti-oxidants. This is what "Mediterranean diet" is about, which has been shown to help prevent coronary disease and have other health benefits.
How to store Olive oil ?
Keep away from heat, ie the stove, to prevent ageing of the oil. Better to keep a large container in a dark, cool cupboard and pour a small amount into a dispenser for everyday use. The container can be made of plastic, stainless or tinted glass.
Alternatively, you can store oil in the refrigerator or freezer, which will greatly extend its shelf life. Do not worry about the crystallized waxes in the oil when chilled. All you have to do is to warm the oil back to room temperature to melt it.
Coffee Travel Mugs Is 1 Surefire Way To Enjoyed Coffee While Spending Less!
by: Ebenezer Heng
Yes, make no mistake -this is an article dedicated to coffee travel mugs. I simply felt that this fellow having been slighted for so long, should be given its due credit. This simple mug at worse can save you a few bucks, at best might be able to save you a few hundreds!
We all know that coffee, the most traded item after oil is expensive. If you would to look at it, as a daily expense, it seems little. However, this being a lifestyle, a daily necessity, a couple of dollars multiple by the days, weeks and years -it can add up to probably a trip to "that part of the world" you always wished you went.
1. The cost of good Coffee from Coffee house
There are so many variety of coffee out there, but let's say you always go for a cuppaccino which cost about 3 dollars and you have 2 per day. Assuming that you have the same pattern everyday, you would be spending: $3 X 2cups X 365days = $2190 (about that amount for a tour?).
Of course, the couple of dollars refer to the gourmet coffee that you would purchased from Starbucks or similar. Making it at home cost much less, and similarly having a coffee maker in your office would equate to much less than dollars spent -however it brings with it another financial outlay, the initial one.
Do you see the pattern forming on how coffee travel mugs can save you the extra few dollars. Okay, I would not jump the gun and would slowly bring you through it.
Imagine, making coffee at home is great, but if you want to enjoy the same standard in the office, other than cajoling your boss to get a unit, it would be to get one yourself.
2. The cost of good coffee from office coffee machine (self purchase)
We still stick to the assumption that you love your cappuccino, so you would not be getting any drip or vaccum coffee maker, it would have to be an espresso machine.
**Hint: the cheapest cappuccino machine around would be the Mr Coffee Maker ECM 250 which can make a simple cappuccino and is less than 50 dollars.
To enjoyed the same standard in the office, is another 50 dollars outlay. That is not forgetting that you would have to "treat" your colleagues who is so envious of your sweet smelling cappuccion!
The beans would probably cost you at 0.20 dollars per serve. You consume 2 cups but would probably have to "treat" anything from 5 to 10 cups. Let's say you "treat" 5 cups per day. The total cost of your coffee would be: 7cups X $0.20 = $1.40, lesser than what you would pay to Starbucks, but not the best savings!
You spent a total of S$50(initital investment) + S$1.40 X 365 = $561.00 just to enjoy your 2 cups of cappuccino.
3. The cost of good coffee from coffee travel mugs.
Using a coffee maker for the office still cost you about $561.00 every year. It is cheaper than the $2190.00, but to us, it is not good enough. Imagine, where the $561.00 can get you to? If you are travelling to Asia, this amount probably can bring you from Japan to another few days stay in Hong Kong! Now, let's see what savings, coffee travel mugs can get for us:
Everything remains the same, you still drink 2 cups of cappuccino everyday. The difference is you get yourself a great Nissan or Frontgate coffee travel mug, that can keep coffee warm for hours! The initial outlay is approximately $20.00.
You do not have to share your coffee as your coffee travel mug is personal, so folks would not come to you for "treats" and nobody likes sharing from the same mug -so you save the "treats".
The total cost for the good coffee from coffee travel mugs would be $20.00 (the purchase of a good thermal mug) + $0.20 (the cost of beans) X 2 serve per day X 365 days = $166.00.
Between having a coffee maker in the office and bringing it from home -you save close to $400.00 and you would saved more than $1500.00 simply by using coffee travel mugs and not buying from coffee house.
So, what do you think? Simple thing yes, but in the era where cost is rising so rapidly, I seriously think that the savings from coffee travel mugs can go a long way for working folks like all of us!
Yes, make no mistake -this is an article dedicated to coffee travel mugs. I simply felt that this fellow having been slighted for so long, should be given its due credit. This simple mug at worse can save you a few bucks, at best might be able to save you a few hundreds!
We all know that coffee, the most traded item after oil is expensive. If you would to look at it, as a daily expense, it seems little. However, this being a lifestyle, a daily necessity, a couple of dollars multiple by the days, weeks and years -it can add up to probably a trip to "that part of the world" you always wished you went.
1. The cost of good Coffee from Coffee house
There are so many variety of coffee out there, but let's say you always go for a cuppaccino which cost about 3 dollars and you have 2 per day. Assuming that you have the same pattern everyday, you would be spending: $3 X 2cups X 365days = $2190 (about that amount for a tour?).
Of course, the couple of dollars refer to the gourmet coffee that you would purchased from Starbucks or similar. Making it at home cost much less, and similarly having a coffee maker in your office would equate to much less than dollars spent -however it brings with it another financial outlay, the initial one.
Do you see the pattern forming on how coffee travel mugs can save you the extra few dollars. Okay, I would not jump the gun and would slowly bring you through it.
Imagine, making coffee at home is great, but if you want to enjoy the same standard in the office, other than cajoling your boss to get a unit, it would be to get one yourself.
2. The cost of good coffee from office coffee machine (self purchase)
We still stick to the assumption that you love your cappuccino, so you would not be getting any drip or vaccum coffee maker, it would have to be an espresso machine.
**Hint: the cheapest cappuccino machine around would be the Mr Coffee Maker ECM 250 which can make a simple cappuccino and is less than 50 dollars.
To enjoyed the same standard in the office, is another 50 dollars outlay. That is not forgetting that you would have to "treat" your colleagues who is so envious of your sweet smelling cappuccion!
The beans would probably cost you at 0.20 dollars per serve. You consume 2 cups but would probably have to "treat" anything from 5 to 10 cups. Let's say you "treat" 5 cups per day. The total cost of your coffee would be: 7cups X $0.20 = $1.40, lesser than what you would pay to Starbucks, but not the best savings!
You spent a total of S$50(initital investment) + S$1.40 X 365 = $561.00 just to enjoy your 2 cups of cappuccino.
3. The cost of good coffee from coffee travel mugs.
Using a coffee maker for the office still cost you about $561.00 every year. It is cheaper than the $2190.00, but to us, it is not good enough. Imagine, where the $561.00 can get you to? If you are travelling to Asia, this amount probably can bring you from Japan to another few days stay in Hong Kong! Now, let's see what savings, coffee travel mugs can get for us:
Everything remains the same, you still drink 2 cups of cappuccino everyday. The difference is you get yourself a great Nissan or Frontgate coffee travel mug, that can keep coffee warm for hours! The initial outlay is approximately $20.00.
You do not have to share your coffee as your coffee travel mug is personal, so folks would not come to you for "treats" and nobody likes sharing from the same mug -so you save the "treats".
The total cost for the good coffee from coffee travel mugs would be $20.00 (the purchase of a good thermal mug) + $0.20 (the cost of beans) X 2 serve per day X 365 days = $166.00.
Between having a coffee maker in the office and bringing it from home -you save close to $400.00 and you would saved more than $1500.00 simply by using coffee travel mugs and not buying from coffee house.
So, what do you think? Simple thing yes, but in the era where cost is rising so rapidly, I seriously think that the savings from coffee travel mugs can go a long way for working folks like all of us!
Fairly Traded Coffee
by: James Grierson
Speciality coffee by its nature is fairly traded. Rather than being treated as a commodity on the futures market, it is traded on its quality, which in turn demands a premium price for the farmer. For example, in May 2006 ‘Hacienda la Esmeralda Geisha’ coffee, from Panama, set a record of USD50.25 per pound at online auction (This award winning coffee retails for over USD100 a pound). More over, it is not only third world countries which grow coffee, developed nations such as Australia and United States (Hawaii) also have established industries.
Many people imagine coffee to be grown in large plantations akin to vineyards, with row after row of coffee bushes. This may be the case for the beans that are sold to make your jar of instant coffee, but speciality coffee tends to be grown in smallholdings by the indigenous people of the land. In contrast to the mono-culture of plantations, these smallholdings are bio-diverse. The farmers cultivate the land with self-sufficiency in mind. They have to feed their family and their livestock as well as growing coffee and other produce they can sell.
This approach has great benefit for both the quality of the coffee and the sustainability of the land. The bio-diversity of the smallholding attracts natural predators to eat the pests, so chemicals are not needed. The nutrients of the soil are not drained as the different species of plants require and produce different nutrients. And so, although most farmers choose not to pay to be certified, their produce is organic and therefore better for us.
So you should feel good when you buy speciality coffee. Not only is it fairly traded, but it is grown in a sustainable and organic manner. You get great tasting coffee which is ethically sound.
Speciality coffee by its nature is fairly traded. Rather than being treated as a commodity on the futures market, it is traded on its quality, which in turn demands a premium price for the farmer. For example, in May 2006 ‘Hacienda la Esmeralda Geisha’ coffee, from Panama, set a record of USD50.25 per pound at online auction (This award winning coffee retails for over USD100 a pound). More over, it is not only third world countries which grow coffee, developed nations such as Australia and United States (Hawaii) also have established industries.
Many people imagine coffee to be grown in large plantations akin to vineyards, with row after row of coffee bushes. This may be the case for the beans that are sold to make your jar of instant coffee, but speciality coffee tends to be grown in smallholdings by the indigenous people of the land. In contrast to the mono-culture of plantations, these smallholdings are bio-diverse. The farmers cultivate the land with self-sufficiency in mind. They have to feed their family and their livestock as well as growing coffee and other produce they can sell.
This approach has great benefit for both the quality of the coffee and the sustainability of the land. The bio-diversity of the smallholding attracts natural predators to eat the pests, so chemicals are not needed. The nutrients of the soil are not drained as the different species of plants require and produce different nutrients. And so, although most farmers choose not to pay to be certified, their produce is organic and therefore better for us.
So you should feel good when you buy speciality coffee. Not only is it fairly traded, but it is grown in a sustainable and organic manner. You get great tasting coffee which is ethically sound.
Sushi Recipe
by: Eugene Yeng Aik Ngin
Sushi is a delicious, healthy and easy to prepare food. Deciding on and finding your ingredients, preparing the beautiful presentation, and enjoying your creation are all part of the fun of sushi. Finding a great sushi recipe is the first step in putting together a wonderful meal.
Sushi, traditionally, refers to rice, but it has developed to include the whole concept of the finger food. It commonly is a fish or vegetable, served with vinegar rice. A sushi recipe can be presented in several ways. Some common ways are wrapped in seaweed, served in a bowl, in bite size pieces or in a cone type wrap. Wide ranges of vegetables, seafood, and shellfish are used throughout a sushi recipe.
There are some common ingredients that you should always have on hand to prepare a good sushi recipe. These include seaweed, called nori, rice, and sushi vinegar. These are the base ingredients you will need to start with for any sushi recipe. Several sauces such as soy sauce, and wasabi; a spicy paste like substance, are commonly served with sushi to enhance the flavor. Common vegetables in a sushi recipe include carrots, cucumber, peppers, and avocado. Common seafood used in sushi recipes are crab, salmon, octopus, and shrimp. This is by no means an exhaustive list of what you can use in your sushi recipe. The sky is the limit. Get creative as you like with your sushi recipe.
Where can you find a good sushi recipe? There are several great places where you can find a good sushi recipe. A great place to start is the Internet. By doing a quick search through a search engine for sushi recipe, you can find some great websites that will provide you with a great sushi recipe. Often, they will provide you with detailed pictures and instructions that can help when preparing your sushi recipe. Also, try bookstores for their cookbook selections or local sushi restaurants to see if they will share their sushi recipe.
There are several pieces of kitchen equipment that can help you in preparing a sushi recipe. One of the most important pieces of equipment is a sharp knife. A sharp knife is essential in cutting and preparing the ingredients for your sushi recipe. It will allow you to cut your fish into thin slices, slice vegetables into attractive shapes and designs, and do all of these with ease. Another very helpful piece of equipment is a bamboo mat, traditionally called sushimaki sudare or makisu. This mat is what you use when you roll your sushi such as in a California roll. It is possible to roll with your hands, but the rice can be very sticky, so the mat can help eliminate a little frustration while preparing your sushi recipe. Other equipment such as rice cookers and sushi presses can also help make the preparation quicker, but they are not essential for preparing a good sushi recipe.
A final touch in the presentation of your sushi recipe is the plates and dishes you serve them on and the utensils that you use to eat them. Patterned china dishes, saucers, and cups are a beautiful touch. You can also use matching dispensers for items such as soy sauce. Often, chopsticks are used when eating sushi. Chopsticks come in all styles from wooded to metal and can complement your presentation beautifully. You can also eat sushi with your fingers, so make sure to have some nice matching napkins with the dishes.
It is easy to find the ingredients you need to complete your sushi recipe. Sushi recipes generally use basic ingredients that can be found easily. Many of the ingredients, if not all, can be purchased at most local grocery stores. If your grocery store does not carry what you need, try asking them to bring it in. Many companies will bring in supplies that are requested by their customers. For more complicated recipes that require special ingredients, many Asian specialty stores carry the more obscure ingredients on a regular basis. These stores can provide hard to find sushi recipe ingredients, often directly from Asian suppliers. A final option for finding your sushi recipe ingredients is online. There are countless websites that you can use to order everything from your good ingredients to equipment to finishing touches such as utensils.
Sushi is a wonderful food style. It's fun to follow a sushi recipe and see your final result. Many people consider preparing a sushi recipe an art form. It can be an exciting addition to your family dinner or an impressive dinner party concept. With a great sushi recipe, you can make out standing delicacies. It can be a great bonding event; gather the family together and everyone can make their own sushi dish. Grab your sushi recipe, your ingredients, your equipment, and have some fun.
For more info, please visit http://www.thairecipe-sushirecipe.info
Sushi is a delicious, healthy and easy to prepare food. Deciding on and finding your ingredients, preparing the beautiful presentation, and enjoying your creation are all part of the fun of sushi. Finding a great sushi recipe is the first step in putting together a wonderful meal.
Sushi, traditionally, refers to rice, but it has developed to include the whole concept of the finger food. It commonly is a fish or vegetable, served with vinegar rice. A sushi recipe can be presented in several ways. Some common ways are wrapped in seaweed, served in a bowl, in bite size pieces or in a cone type wrap. Wide ranges of vegetables, seafood, and shellfish are used throughout a sushi recipe.
There are some common ingredients that you should always have on hand to prepare a good sushi recipe. These include seaweed, called nori, rice, and sushi vinegar. These are the base ingredients you will need to start with for any sushi recipe. Several sauces such as soy sauce, and wasabi; a spicy paste like substance, are commonly served with sushi to enhance the flavor. Common vegetables in a sushi recipe include carrots, cucumber, peppers, and avocado. Common seafood used in sushi recipes are crab, salmon, octopus, and shrimp. This is by no means an exhaustive list of what you can use in your sushi recipe. The sky is the limit. Get creative as you like with your sushi recipe.
Where can you find a good sushi recipe? There are several great places where you can find a good sushi recipe. A great place to start is the Internet. By doing a quick search through a search engine for sushi recipe, you can find some great websites that will provide you with a great sushi recipe. Often, they will provide you with detailed pictures and instructions that can help when preparing your sushi recipe. Also, try bookstores for their cookbook selections or local sushi restaurants to see if they will share their sushi recipe.
There are several pieces of kitchen equipment that can help you in preparing a sushi recipe. One of the most important pieces of equipment is a sharp knife. A sharp knife is essential in cutting and preparing the ingredients for your sushi recipe. It will allow you to cut your fish into thin slices, slice vegetables into attractive shapes and designs, and do all of these with ease. Another very helpful piece of equipment is a bamboo mat, traditionally called sushimaki sudare or makisu. This mat is what you use when you roll your sushi such as in a California roll. It is possible to roll with your hands, but the rice can be very sticky, so the mat can help eliminate a little frustration while preparing your sushi recipe. Other equipment such as rice cookers and sushi presses can also help make the preparation quicker, but they are not essential for preparing a good sushi recipe.
A final touch in the presentation of your sushi recipe is the plates and dishes you serve them on and the utensils that you use to eat them. Patterned china dishes, saucers, and cups are a beautiful touch. You can also use matching dispensers for items such as soy sauce. Often, chopsticks are used when eating sushi. Chopsticks come in all styles from wooded to metal and can complement your presentation beautifully. You can also eat sushi with your fingers, so make sure to have some nice matching napkins with the dishes.
It is easy to find the ingredients you need to complete your sushi recipe. Sushi recipes generally use basic ingredients that can be found easily. Many of the ingredients, if not all, can be purchased at most local grocery stores. If your grocery store does not carry what you need, try asking them to bring it in. Many companies will bring in supplies that are requested by their customers. For more complicated recipes that require special ingredients, many Asian specialty stores carry the more obscure ingredients on a regular basis. These stores can provide hard to find sushi recipe ingredients, often directly from Asian suppliers. A final option for finding your sushi recipe ingredients is online. There are countless websites that you can use to order everything from your good ingredients to equipment to finishing touches such as utensils.
Sushi is a wonderful food style. It's fun to follow a sushi recipe and see your final result. Many people consider preparing a sushi recipe an art form. It can be an exciting addition to your family dinner or an impressive dinner party concept. With a great sushi recipe, you can make out standing delicacies. It can be a great bonding event; gather the family together and everyone can make their own sushi dish. Grab your sushi recipe, your ingredients, your equipment, and have some fun.
For more info, please visit http://www.thairecipe-sushirecipe.info
Quality Baking Equipment In Aluminium
by: Robin Holland-Smith
If you bake regularly, you know that having what you need to bake properly can help to ensure that your creation is exactly what you intended it to be. But what do you really need? Here, we'll talk about common baking equipment and its advantages and disadvantages so that you can be well informed when you go shopping for quality baking equipment, either online or in a store.
Aluminium bakeware is the most prevalent type of quality baking equipment on the market today. Aluminium allows for cooked products to bake correctly as aluminium conducts heat evenly and efficiently. Some baked products, though, may not end up as brown as you may like. Aluminium cookware is useful for all kinds of food, barring those with an elevated acid content like tomato-containing foods or any other citrus type foodstuff.
Another popular material for quality baking equipment (http://www.hollandhouseware.co.uk/articles/) is glass. Glass is a good conductor of heat but, unlike aluminium, it allows food to brown completely and can be used to prepare acidic foods. Do keep in mind that, since glass heats up fast, you will have to reduce some baking temperatures by about 25 degrees.
Silicone is a relatively new bakeware material to the market. It is flexible, versatile, usable in any temperature, and completely non-stick. Foods heat and brown evenly when cooked in silicone non stick bakeware (http://www.hollandhouseware.co.uk/articles/), and most beneficially, food stops cooking immediately when removed from the oven, unlike what happens with other types of bakeware. As an added boon, bakeware can be folded for storage.
A good material for baking accessories is tinned steel. Steel coated in tin does an efficient job of transferring heat, cooks food evenly, and yields good browning results. After a while of usage you may notice that your tin plat bakeware takes on a slightly darker shade, but this is purely cosmetic and doesn't affect functionality or quality in any way. Make sure to completely dry tinned steel materials after washing them to prevent rust from occurring.
Finally, you may also want to consider insulated bakeware. This unique type of bakeware is composed of two layers of metal. Inside the two layers is a thin layer of air. Because of the insulation the air provides, insulated bakeware allows even baking and good browning. Foods cooked in insulated bakeware resist burning.
If you bake regularly, you know that having what you need to bake properly can help to ensure that your creation is exactly what you intended it to be. But what do you really need? Here, we'll talk about common baking equipment and its advantages and disadvantages so that you can be well informed when you go shopping for quality baking equipment, either online or in a store.
Aluminium bakeware is the most prevalent type of quality baking equipment on the market today. Aluminium allows for cooked products to bake correctly as aluminium conducts heat evenly and efficiently. Some baked products, though, may not end up as brown as you may like. Aluminium cookware is useful for all kinds of food, barring those with an elevated acid content like tomato-containing foods or any other citrus type foodstuff.
Another popular material for quality baking equipment (http://www.hollandhouseware.co.uk/articles/) is glass. Glass is a good conductor of heat but, unlike aluminium, it allows food to brown completely and can be used to prepare acidic foods. Do keep in mind that, since glass heats up fast, you will have to reduce some baking temperatures by about 25 degrees.
Silicone is a relatively new bakeware material to the market. It is flexible, versatile, usable in any temperature, and completely non-stick. Foods heat and brown evenly when cooked in silicone non stick bakeware (http://www.hollandhouseware.co.uk/articles/), and most beneficially, food stops cooking immediately when removed from the oven, unlike what happens with other types of bakeware. As an added boon, bakeware can be folded for storage.
A good material for baking accessories is tinned steel. Steel coated in tin does an efficient job of transferring heat, cooks food evenly, and yields good browning results. After a while of usage you may notice that your tin plat bakeware takes on a slightly darker shade, but this is purely cosmetic and doesn't affect functionality or quality in any way. Make sure to completely dry tinned steel materials after washing them to prevent rust from occurring.
Finally, you may also want to consider insulated bakeware. This unique type of bakeware is composed of two layers of metal. Inside the two layers is a thin layer of air. Because of the insulation the air provides, insulated bakeware allows even baking and good browning. Foods cooked in insulated bakeware resist burning.
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