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The Different Knives and How to Use Them

admin — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Though the history of of cooking is replete with tools that are utterly useless, the knife is not only eternally useful, but different kinds of knives really are meant for different jobs. Here are some types of knives and what they do:

Paring knife
This is a small knife with a blade no longer than four inches thatâ€™s used to peel fruits and vegetables, remove seeds from chilies or peel and devein shrimp.

Chef’s Knife
This is a knife made to do many tasks around the kitchen, including dicing, slicing, mincing and cubing. A good, heavy chefâ€™s knife can also cut neatly through bone.

Cleaver
A cleaver is a big, heavy knife thatâ€™s used to cut through meat and bone. A good cleaver will do this without splintering either the bone or its own blade.

Bread Knife
This is a long knife with a serrated edge thatâ€™s used to cut neatly through soft bread.

Filleting Knife
This is a long, flexible knife with a slight curve thatâ€™s used to remove the skin and take the bones out of fish while leaving most of the meat intact.

Carving Knife
This knife can be between eight and 15 inches long and is used to thin-cut joints of meat.

The Benefits of Fruits and Vegetables

admin — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 00:00:00 +0000

We’ve all heard our mothers remind us time and again to eat our fruits and vegetables. What most of us probably heard were our mothers telling us to eat worms. In all likelihood, we would probably have preferred worms over that plate of salad.

Let’s reinvest a little more time to the benefits of fruits and vegetables for old time’s sake. After all, they are much more colorful and nutrient-filled than worms. As it turns out fruits and vegetables are the highest forms of health we kids from 0-100 years of age could ask for. They sweep away nasty gook within our stopped up digestive tracts. They provide more than a plethora of power-packed nutrients to keep us from feeling sickly, tired and mentally sluggish. They make our insides and outsides incredibly vibrant and supple while leaving us with a healthy glow.

One fact everyone loves when incorporating a daily regime of fruits and vegetables is less exercising requirements. Due to lower caloric and fat indexes, as well as total nutritional benefits your body responds healthfully and energetically leaving your body better toned and fit. So, go ahead. Eat your fruits and vegetables. But don’t forget to thank your mom.

The Virtues of Whole Grain Pasta

admin — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Whole grain pasta has many benefits one is that it is made from whole grain flour and nothing is removed or processed. It has plenty of vitamins, fiber and nutrients. Eating about 3 to 4 ounces a serving is suggested. This is about 200 calories. This pasta has protein, Vitamin B, folic acid, and minerals. It provides a good source of energy to the body. The glucose breaks down less quickly giving the body more fuel to burn. Fiber in the grain helps with digestion and weight management. Whole grain pasta is low in salt and more filling so you will eat less of it.

Whole grain pasta has chemicals that help reduce the risk of cancer in the body. It is a source of magnesium which is what builds healthy bones and regulates your blood pressure. It takes longer to cook but is higher in iron than regular pasta. Whole grain pasta makes a great side dish with fish, chicken or lean meat. It can be mixed with vegetables and other ingredients to make a pasta salad. There are many recipes for whole grain pasta and it goes well with your favorite sauce. Overall it is healthier than regular pasta and worth including in your diet.

Turn Your Leftovers Into a Whole New Meal

admin — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Everyone is busy these days and no one really has the time to cook wholesome delicious meals everyday of the week. Instead of cooking a massive meal for everyone, try to cut it down to once or twice per week and then utilize the left overs for the following days, or even for lunches that people can take to work or school with them.

For example, if you served roasted turkey or even chicken for dinner one evening you could use those left overs in many different recipes as poultry is incredibly versatile and can be used in many different dishes. A favorite thing to make is chicken salad as you can add many different things to it depending on your taste buds. You can serve it plain, with a little salt and pepper or even garlic salt or add a couple tablespoons of mayonnaise to the mixture. If that is too boring you can add grapes, walnuts, cheese, onions, honey mustard, celery, avocado, or any other number of your favorite ingredients. You can also serve it on different platforms; by wrapping it in a tortilla, stuffing it in a pita bread, or between two slices of full grain bread.

Make Your Kitchen Safe for Your Children

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000

You are in the shoes of a 17-month old looking for rooms to explore in the home. You want to explore every inch of your new home, the kitchen caught your eye because you see mom and dad in there. You see them opening drawers, cabinets, refrigerator, microwave, oven, dishwasher, trashcan, turning on the faucet, and using a counter top to prepare food. You are wondering what can possibly be in all the cabinets and drawers that you can get your little hands on to. Exploring the rooms in your home is your daily task, wait, what do I see my parents doing to that special room, the kitchen. My mom just caught me with my hands in a drawer or trying to touch the hot, hot oven, she is making the kitchen safe.

Ways to make the kitchen safe depends on the setup of your kitchen in your home, here are some ideas to try:

- Internal locks on cabinets without handles where you press down on the lock as you open the cabinet. These are efficient as they stay in place at all times.
- Cabinet locks with handles have to be removed and placed back on opening the cabinet
- Magnetic lock with key for all kinds of cabinets
These types of locks could be used for drawers as well.
- Oven door lock
- Refrigerator door lock
- Safety gate at kitchen door entrance
- Trash can with lid or placed under the sink.
- Be brave and be on top of your toddler while in the kitchen and save on those locks for other areas in the home.

The kitchen may be a dangerous area of the home for toddlers and families, it can be the best learning experience for your toddler and children.

The Classiest TV Chefs Around

admin — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Seems like cooking shows are all the rage nowadays and there are several Direct tv networks dedicated to people in the kitchen. Classy chefs are a dime a dozen but we think the following TV cooks have it heads above the others:
Ina Garten: Ina’s got the smooth Hamptons voice you love to listen to and she’s classy enough to include caviar and lobster at least once an episode. Her home is pristine and she’s always got fresh cut flowerswhat’s not to love?
Nigella Lawson: Nigella is the sexiest chef on the list and she sure knows her way around a dimly-lit kitchen. The accent alone is enough to leave us swooning but she’s just got this air of better-than-you in the least offensive way possible.
Tyler Florence: He doesn’t have the brash attitude of Bobby Flay or the loud voice of Emerill and boy, can he cook. Tyler seems to have a penchant for classic foods which we love and he’s just as adorable as your favorite teddy bear from childhood. We’d watch him cook anything.

When to Freeze and How to Thaw

admin — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000

When it comes to food preparation, there are some general rules about food storage that have to observed in order to keep the food safe for consumption. There are some fast rules that are easy to remember.

Foods that are not consumed on the same day and are made of perishable ingredients should be frozen in containers that can be reheated. Certain plastics can be carcinogenic if exposed to microwave, so be careful in considering those purchased.

Thawing of most foods should be done in the refrigerator. For faster jobs, thawing items such as poultry and fish should be done by immersing them in cold water, and changing the water often.Is this new to you? Catch up here This will thaw the item within six hours. At no time should any food item be left on the counter or in the sink for thawing. This can initiate food poisoning. Foods that are prepared and placed in the refrigerator can be used for three days and then have to be disposed.

These simple rules make food thawing, preparation, and freezing easy and keep food safe for consumption. It is also a good thing to make sure expiration dates are carefully monitored and those foods that have expired to be disposed of as well.

What a Fully-Stocked Pantry Looks Like

admin — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Any cook will tell you that organization is key to a good kitchen. Whether you live in a small home or a large home, there are ways to organize a kitchen pantry so that cooking is easier.
Small homes do not have a lot of space. Most kitchens only have a few cabinets, but they can be divided into separate areas. Canned goods need to go in one cabinet. Cans do not need to be alphabetical, but they should be lined in rows for easy access. Foods that come in boxes can be placed in the same cabinet. Cereals and side dishes that come in boxes such as macaroni and cheese can be arranged in a cabinet according to size. Other cabinets can be reserved for pots, pans and dishes.
A large home has the convenience of space. The more cabinet space that you have, the better organized your kitchen pantry can be. A well organize kitchen pantry has canned foods in one area, organized according to the type of food in the can. Soups go together, and fruits can go with each other. This way when you are looking in the pantry you will see where something is located.

Delightful Meals for the Frightful Weather

admin — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000

When the weather turns for the worse, it can be said that folks prefer to be indoors. What would be a better way to spend the day inside than with comfort food, tastefully prepared and soothing in spite of the weather? There ar some tried and true menus that will make any bleak and dreary day a little more bearable.

For the cold weather blues, pasta dishes and chili make for a good menu choices, as does home-cooked soups with vegetables such as carrots, potatoes, and the root ones such as squash and rutabaga. These foods warm the body and when served with a crusty bread, and a hearty dessert such as a cobbler or fruit crisp, they provide comfort, and can be prepared to serve as many people as needed.

For summer days cancelled by extreme heat or rain, an indoor barbecue can be just the thing to create that summery feeling inside. Fresh fruit bowls, homemade sorbet, and meat kebabs prepared in the broiler can lighten the mood for a rain-out event and also be prepared with other traditional picnic foods. Decorating the dining room table with a picnic set will make all the difference.

In winter or summer, good meals can make the day wonderful.

Recipes to Beat the Summertime Blues

admin — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000

It will be another tough summer for the cooks of the world. Kids wanting to go to the beach, do-it-yourself home and garden products, and barbecues at neighbor’s houses. But what does the every day, stay at home cook do for their families or spouses when there isn’t much going on? You still want to provide a great meal, right? Try this one out.

Five simple ingredients and not much labor go into this dish that will have the kids and spouses gobbling it all up. All you’ll need is a pound of pasta, any kind will do. A quarter pound of prosciutto, a bunch of arugula, chopped garlic and olive oil.

Cook the pasta until just before it is al dente and then lower the heat. Chop the prosciutto into any size you like and put it in for a quick browning in a frying pan and toss with minced garlic. Toss in the arugula until is wilted and shut off the heat. Drain the pasta thoroughly and toss with a three table spoons of the olive oil. Then combine with the garlic, arugula and prosciutto and mix gently. It is a light meal that packs a big taste.

Add a bottle of chardonnay for the grownups and a little garlic bread for the kids to munch on!