Archive for the ‘Food’ Category
The All-Clad Copper Core Line: A Worthwhile Investment?
Professional and amateur chefs widely describe the All Clad Copper Core line of cookware, including the all clad copper core 7 piece cookware set, as some of the finest cookware available anywhere. Combining the even-heat cooking performance of copper with the cleaning ease of stainless steel, this cookware is the top of All Clad’s product line.
Copper is the best conductor of heat available for cookware. The all clad copper core 7 piece cookware set incorporates a layer of copper between the aluminum interior and the stainless steel exterior. This layer is visible as a band of copper surrounding each piece of cookware.
The all clad copper core 7 piece cookware set comes equipped with every convenient feature to ensure that the user is satisfied.Everything is designed with the consumer in mind;extended handles to reduce the chances of getting burned,lids that fit tightly on the containers and a cooking surface made of stainless steel.This set is also light-weight and stick resistant and built to endure extreme heat and pressure.
The copper core heats briskly and evenly. Bringing water to a boil is a sheer delight with this set. Although the stainless steel cooking surface is not as non-stick as a teflon surface, proper cooking technique will completely prevent food from sticking.
Easy-of-cleaning is arguably the best feature of the entire line. Even after frying at high heat, all that is required to clean these pots and pans is a short soak in warm, soapy water, followed by a brief scrubbing with a plastic brush. To avoid water spots, after rinsing simply dry with a towel. If desired, special cleansers and polishers can be applied in order to polish the stainless steel finish to a bright shine. Polishing the visible copper band is necessary to avoid tarnishing.
You can buy other groupings and single pieces belonging to the All Clad copper core collection too. Besides the all clad copper core 7 piece cookware set which is very much in demand, you can also find a set made up of 14 items and one set of 10 as well. There is also an array of solo cooking utensils, like the versatile all clad copper core 10 inch fry pan.
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Tags: cooking, cookware, kitchen
Make And Drink Your Own Wine, It’s Easy!
Making your own wine is a hobby that is growing quickly. There’s a variety of reasons for this.
One reason is that the information about wine making is becoming much more available. Books with wine recipes, and a number of “How to’s” can easily be found making it easy to get started.
Another reason is that you can make your own wine for only pennies per bottle. Many are cutting costs these days, and why not make your own wine when it can be a substantial savings.
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Tags: cooking, drink, entertaining, family, Food, hobby, Home, make wine, wine
Choosing the Right Vacuum Food Sealer
Reynolds has been known for decades as one of the top brands of food storage systems. One of the best products manufactured by Reynolds is the Reynolds vacuum sealer, the Handi-Vac. The Handi-Vac helps foods to keep fresh and extends the safe storage time of foods. The best advantage of this is that the vacuum sealer is effortless to handle as well.
The Handi-Vac vacuum sealer is a system that changes the manner in which people use vacuum sealers. Instead of having to work next to a mounted sealer, the user can simply grab the Handi-Vac vacuum sealer and apply it to a Handi-Vac freezer bag. The Handi-Vac is used to produce heat in order to get the bag to be tight and also vacuum the air out of the bag.
The air valve exclusive to the Handi-Vac vacuum sealer removes the air which would otherwise be trapped in the sealed area of the bag. Consequently, freezer burn will be minimized and the food will stay fresh longer.
The process which the user follows for working using the vacuum sealer is simple. First, the food is placed in the bag. Next, the bag is laid horizontally on a counter and checked to ensure that no contents are over the “fill to here” line on the Handi-Vac bag. Next, the sealer tip is placed flush against the air valve and the “on” button is pushed. When the bag is snug around the food, the device is turned off and the food is inserted directly into the freezer.
One of the handy things about the Handi-Vac vacuum sealer is that it costs far less than other vacuum sealers. The whole package costs about ten dollars at many stores. Also, the Handi-Vac works quicker than bigger sealers. It can take seconds to take care of a typical gallon sized bag.
Bags for the Handi-Vac sealer are also found with ease at stores where the Handi-Vac sealer can be found. The bags usually cost about $3.29 for a box of fourteen quart bags or nine gallon bags.
It is worth mentioning that the bags can be resealed if you don’t use all the contents at once. However, they must not be refilled with more food for the reason that the bag is not designed to be cleaned. The bags contain no Teflon or PTFE materials, nor are any carcinogens in the bags. The bags also have kosher certification.
The Reynolds Handi-Vac vacuum sealer is an excellent food storage method to use in your kitchen. The Handi-Vac vacuum sealer is low-priced and is effortless to use. This sealer can be found at most department stores as well as the replacement bags which are intended to be used with it.
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Tags: Food, kitchen, vacuum sealers
Wine Refrigerators - Five Tips To Help You Choose
With the ever increasing interest in wine, more and more people are seeking the best accessories to go along with their wine collections. State of the art “wine centers” are becoming integral aspects of stylish home decor, as wine lovers move beyond functional to an emphasis on presentation.
Wine refrigerators are quickly becoming the preferred storage method for wine collectors. There are multiple styles and sizes available, and at price points from less than $100 to several thousand dollars. Let’s look at a few key questions to ask before you make your purchase.
What Size Is Best?
One thing to consider is how quickly you’ll outgrow the storage capacity of a small unit. Our first wine refrigerator was a six bottle unit, which we still own. But, we quickly outgrew its storage capacity when we discovered a few great wine finds on our U.S. wine trail excursions. So our advice is, when in doubt, buy a unit that’s a little bigger.
What About Storing Reds And Whites Together?
Feel free to store both your red and white wines, but be aware there are storage temperature differences between the two. In essence, reds are normally stored at higher temperature than whites. If you enjoy and store both red and white wine, consider buying a wine refrigerator with dual zone temperature controls. This will ensure your wine is stored at the proper temperature.
What Storage Features Should I Look For?
One feature we really enjoy in our wine refrigerator are the slide out shelves. Slide out shelving makes access and viewing much easier for us and our guests. Another factor are the size of wine bottles you’ll store. Some wineries are bottling their wine in magnum style bottles, which are slightly larger than standard wine bottles. You’ll want to make sure your refrigerator can handle both.
What About Temperature And Humidity?
Keeping your wine in proper temperature and humidity conditions is the primary reason to own a wine refrigerator. Ideal temperature for wine storage is 55 degrees, and humidity levels should range between 50 and 70 percent to prevent dried out corks. If you’re planning to put your refrigerator in the garage, for example, be sure to choose a unit that’s well insulated and won’t be affected by fluctuating temperatures.
Anything Else To Consider?
Expect to pay about $100 for a small six bottle model, and well over $1000 for a unit holding 50+ bottles. If you’re storing your refrigerator in a secluded place in your home, choose function over style. Conversely, if your wine refrigerator will occupy a more prominent place, make sure the unit is quiet enough to live with. Finally, remember that proper wine storage is crucial to enjoying your wine to its fullest potential. Storage at proper temperature keeps a wine fresh, and allows you to enjoy the full bouquet of flavor.
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Tags: capacity, variable temp wine storage, wine collection, wine refrigerator
Entertaining with Easy Prep Foods: Pakoras and Tomato Chutney
Cauliflower pakora and tomato chutney are a delightful combination of flavors and textures. And they’re a great informal snack or buffet time because they’re for dipping and eating with your fingers! (You can make almost any vegetable into pakoras with this recipe. Be sure to cut the veggies small enough to cook through, but large enough to hold up during cooking.)
Cauliflower Pakoras:
1 head of cauliflower 1 cup gram flour (chick pea) flour 1/2 teaspoon asafetida 1/4 teaspoon cayenne 2 teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 1 tablespoon ground coriander 1 teaspoon turmeric 3-6 cups of ghee for deep frying in a wok or a sauce pan with a thick bottom.
Start warming ghee over medium heat.
Mix spices and flour; then add water until it makes a smooth batter. Cut the cauliflower into florets and dip into batter so they are completely covered.
Slip a few at a time into the medium hot ghee to avoid splashing. If you put too many they will stick together as they cook.
Deep fry for a few minutes, then turn each over for a few minutes to cook evenly. Remove with a slotted spoon or turning fork and let cool on paper towels to drain excess ghee. They should be crisp and golden brown. Serve hot. Serves 8
Tomato Chutney:
6 ripe tomatoes (chopped small) 1/2 teaspoon asafetida 2 tablespoons ghee 1 teaspoons mustard seeds 1 teaspoon whole cumin 1 teaspoon fennel seeds 1 stick cinnamon 4 cloves 1 teaspoon finely minced ginger 2 minced green chilies 2 teaspoons ground coriander 3/4 teaspoon turmeric 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano 2 bay leaves 3/4 teaspoon salt 1 table spoon raw sugar or molasses Fresh coriander leaves for garnish
Prepare a masala by heating ghee. Add mustard, fennel and cumin seeds. When they turn light brown, add the cinnamon stick, cloves, bay leaves, chillies, ginger and powdered spices. It will be a slightly pasty, bumpy texture in the ghee.
Cook over a medium heat for a few minutes before adding the chopped tomatoes. Let the mixture cook down for 20-30 minutes, stirring often to prevent burning and clumping.
Finish by adding salt and sugar. Pour into one lare or several small dipping bowls, then garnish with fresh coriander leaves. Serves 4
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Tags: buffet dishes, cauliflower recipe, dipping recipies, great snacks, pakora, tomato chutney
