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Properly Ground Coffee, Life Can Grind To A Halt
Coffee is one of life’s simplest pleasures, and yet its not as simple as it may seem, if fact at it could be quite complex.
We settle on the cheap to but coffee at the local gas station, or even worse we drink the sludge they have in our office because we are too busy and or in a rush to sit down and enjoy a proper cup.
Once you decide to take a few minutes out of your for yourself each morning so you can have great coffee you will need to invest in a coffee grinder. But which one should you choose?
It really does matter and if you think all coffee is the same try and find a friend who is serious about coffee. Compare two different coffees one ground at home and the other bought from a store or even instant coffee.
You walk into you local store or search online and you look at the prices and you think sixty dollars for a grinder, how ridiculous? Trust me, I have been there, but I do not regret my purchase for a second.
If you want to be serious about coffee you need to get a burr grinder. These are normally priced around sixty dollars and may seem expensive at first but it is so worth it. Of course there are cheaper grinders out on the market but those are blade grinders. When you use these you end up with “dull” coffee.
Since I bought mine I look forward to mornings again. I race to the kitchen to grind up what I call my magic beans in my classy grinder.
The best thing about a burr one is you can choose how you want the ground coffee to be. Depending on what you use to brew your coffee you can choose coarser or finer coffee grounds.
If your weapon of choice is a French Press you need a coarse grind and if you make espresso you need a finer grind.
I know you may be thinking who cares but it is the difference between bitter and unappealing coffee and delicious coffee. Good Luck and happy drinking!
Microwave Oven: The Efficiency Revolution
No other appliance has revolutionized the way we do our cooking in the 20th century than the microwave oven. Cooking can be done faster than ever, and foods have been developed specifically for speedy use inside this appliance. They also are efficient users of electricity, as only the foods placed inside are heated. The vast majority of American homes own one.
The history of this machine is interesting because scientists did not set out to create a device for cooking. In World War II, the magnetron was invented, a tube that produces actual micro-waves. By installing magnetron’s in Britain’s radar system, the waves were used to track down Nazi war planes on their way to bomb England.
It was only after this that Percy LeBaron Spencer of the Raytheon Company realized that these waves could heat up the internal temperature of foods much faster than a regular oven. When he was experimenting, he found this out when a candy bar melted in his pocket.
Raytheon released its first microwave oven in 1954. This release was very large and unwieldy, and was really only practical for institutional use for places like restaurants. It wasn’t until 1967 that the machine was for sale for home use, though it was still expensive. It wasn’t really until 1971 that the price had come down enough for it to be easily accessible to the majority of American families.
How do modern microwave ovens work? Using the radio waves mentioned above, they work at a frequency of roughly 2,500 megahertz. At this frequency, radio waves can be absorbed by water, fats and sugar, but not by glass, some plastics, or ceramics. This way only your target food is heated up.
Modern microwaves are much smaller and efficient than their large predecessors. As they’ve been improved, these machines have become a staple in the American kitchen. By targeting your food and speeding up time spent preparing meals, the microwave has given us more time and revolutionized the way we cook.
Slow Cookers For The Active Family
Today a lot of women are working and spreading themselves pretty thin, so cooking tasty meals for their families could become a problem. With an active family, finding time for cooking becomes even more of a challenge. How can she provide her family with quality cooking when time is so limited?
In 1971 Rival slow cooker was introduced. This was our first introduction to this marvelous device that solves a huge problem for people who want quality meals for their families with limited time to invest in cooking. By maintaining a low heat temperature instead of high heat, no one has to slave over a stove.
Slow cookers are also called crock pots. This is due to the removable insert, usually make of ceramic or porcelain, and can be used as a serving dish plus the added advantage of making this cooking device easily washable. What could be easier?
Slow cooker come in a wide variety of sizes and design. Most of them have two temperature controls, both low and high, to accommodate the length of time of cooking. This can enable someone to work a full day, come home and a tasty meal is ready and waiting, or cut the time about in half if need be. This means that the family can spend a day out and still come home to a great meal.
An added bonus of a slow cooker is that you can use your cheaper meat cuts because they taste a lot better when cooked at slow temperatures. I have found that nothing tastes better than using a slow cooker to make a beef stew using inexpensive chuck meat. The same holds true for chicken dishes.
Recipes are plentiful for using this marvelous kitchen device, so you can either purchase cooking books for them or simply go on line, make a query into finding recipes specifically made for this purpose and enjoy your easily cooked meal. As long as you have a computer and can go on line, it’s the cheapest way to go.
Relish in the Abilities of a Blender
When you think about the different kitchen appliances you use the most, you probably won’t think of blenders. These may be one of the most under rated and under used kitchen appliances in today’s society. They can be used for so many different purposes.
First of all, good ice-crushing blenders are the best because they have the ability to just about liquefy anything that you put into it. Some common uses for this would be if you were making a real fruit juice such as tomato juice or a variety of fruit juices all in one.
Another common use for these convenient kitchen appliances is to create slush drinks. Using that ice-crushing ability and a little sugary sweet flavoring, a person can easily make mouth watering snow cones or smoothies with real fruit put into them.
Milkshakes are also a good use for a sturdy powerful blender. Just add some milk and a little ice cream and blend it together to make a classic milk shake. When you are finished the convenience and portability of the appliance allows for easy cleaning and storing in cabinets.
When you look to buy a well proven countertop blender, you need to really look at all of its components. Some will come with a little spout for easy serving. Others will have a large variety of speed settings and abilities. For example, some might only be able to handle soft foods while others can chop up even the hardest nuts and grains.
Now that you see the advantages to having a well designed blender in your kitchen, you can begin to think of the numerous possibilities and concoctions you might be able to make. If you already have one, bring it out of the cabinets and give it some use because it is well worth the effort to make a good smoothie.
Sleek and Stylish Cuisinart CSB-77 Smart Stick Hand Blender
I love trying new appliances in my kitchen and remain loyal to some brands which have worked well for me. My kitchen has all the latest appliances found in modern kitchens. One appliance without which I cannot function is my blender.
I had a Big Boss blender which gave up on me after years of service. I was happy with it but had a problem – it was difficult to clean as the whole appliance had to be taken to the sink was washing. I had always to ensure that no water entered the appliance and it would be difficult to clean.
My new one is the sleek and stylish Cuisinart CSB-77 Smart Stick Hand Blender. I need it to do anything and everything in the kitchen. It gets my work done fast and efficiently. The most important feature of this appliance is that it is detachable for cleaning. There are release buttons provided on the appliance which when pressed, releases the plastic stem from the attachment. This makes it easy to clean and I can do so under the tap without any problem.
My Cuisinart Hand Blender makes my cooking job easy. I use it to make milk shakes like banana shake, mango shake, etc. I easily make various shakes with this appliance using the measuring jug. It ensures exact measurements of liquids and I do not have to use a separate measuring instrument.
Blending gets done evenly with my appliance. When I need to mix flour with liquids it is very difficult if done manually. Moreover it always left behind lumps of flour. Now with the use of my blender it is easy to blend flour with liquids without any residual lumps. So I do not have any problem anymore and my work is done efficiently and in less time.
It also has a chopping attachment which is a great help in the kitchen. When I have parties or family get together at my house this attachment comes to my rescue. It makes the task of chopping very easy and I can easily makes pastes of mint, coriander, ginger, garlic etc according to my requirement.
and lastly, this appliance has a single pulse speed operation for better speed control, a stainless steel multi functional blade and a wall bracket. The appliance can be mounted on the wall bracket to save space. It is light weight and gives an easy and comfortable grip. See the Cuisinart CSB-77 Smart Stick Hand Blender reviews here.
Experiece the Oster 6684 12-Speed Blender
Need a tough and durable blender at great price? Generally the two wont be found together, but with the Oster 6684 12 speed blender, you can have your cake and eat it too.
The Oster 6684 has an all metal drive system and a powerful 550 watt motor. The blender jar is made of scratch resistant glass, and is dishwasher safe. It also has a 5 cup capacity and features a pulse controlled ice crusher.
As blenders go, this one is farily quite and is priced just right at around $35-$40
Features:
• 450-watt countertop blender mixes smoothies, frozen drinks, soups, and more
• Easy toggle speed control provides continuous, smooth blending for 12 speeds
• Exclusive All-Metal Drive system; stainless-steel ice-crushing blade; pulse option
• Dishwasher-safe 5-cup glass jar with generous handle; lid with measuring cap
• Measures approximately 7 by 11 by 15 inches; 1-year limited warranty
Oster has a great reputation in the kitchen appliance industry and their blenders are top notch.
for more detail check out the Oster 6684 blender reviews on the item page.
Braun WK200B Cordless Pouring Water Kettle
If your a big tea drinker, or just like to brew fresh tea by the cup, then the BRAUN WK200B AquaExpress Electric Water Kettle might be of interest to you.
The Braun Aqua Express is easier to use and quieter then most. The kettle is very sturdy and doesn’t get hot when you boil water. Just the water gets hot, and it stays hot for quite a long time. It is quick and efficient.
You can even view the water boiling on both sides because the heating element is in the middle of the kettle which keeps the base cool to the touch.
When the Lid is released or the Kettle is lifted from base charger it will automatically shut itself off.
You will find that the cord can be wrapped around the bottom of the base plate and can be extended when needed about a about a foot and 1/2.
Product Features:
- Cordless
- Quickly Heats up to 7 Cups of Water
- Cool Touch
- Auto Power Off When Lid is released or Kettle is lifted from base charger
- 54 Ounce Capacity
Box Dimensions:
- Length: 9.57
- Width: 7.83
- Height: 10
- Weight: 3.50
The Braun WK200B may be a bit more expensive than other electric kettle models, but I think you will find it worth a little bit extra.
For More information regarding braun appliances you can visit there website directly
Consumer Reports Polls What’s in your Kitchen
Consumer reports has posted the results of a poll in which that ask a variety of questions. Namely
what in your kitchen? and then the one that got my attention, was the one where small appliances were
named as the chief culprit of cluttered kitchens.
The article covers everything from Dinner, Cooking & Cleanup, Entertainment, Appliance and Green
Kitchens
Its actually a pretty interesting read, consumer reports does a kitchen / appliance issue about every 6 months or so.I kinda watch out for those ya know
Rachael Ray Cookware Set: 10-Piece Orange
Buy The Rachael Ray Cookware Set
Rachael Ray’s fame is know far and wide due to her terrific food networks shows like 30 minute meals, that have propelled her to a household name in short time.
With her newfound adoration and knowledge of cooking, she has been able to come up with her own line of cookware, under her own namesake brand of Rachael Ray Cookware.
Cookware is a big and tough market to break into no matter who you are, but through new designer styles and colors Rachael Ray’s Cookware is really taking off.
The Rachael Ray 10-Piece Cookware Set Features:
- Set contains 1-1/2- and 3-quart covered saucepans; 6-quart covered stockpot; 3-quart/10-inch covered saut ; 8- and 10-inch French skillets
- Hard-anodized aluminum construction with nonstick finish
- Soft-grip bright orange silicone handles are oven-safe to 400 degrees F
- Glass lids allow cooking monitoring without sacrificing heat and nutrient
- Washing by hand recommended; limited lifetime warranty
A Resent customer review
I absolutely love this cookware set. The cushy orange foam on the handles makes it so easy to handle the cookware and adds some vibrant color to my kitchen at the same time. This set distributes heat well and evenly. I am so glad that I purchased this set and look forward to adding more Rachel Ray items to my kitchen collection.
Included in the Rachael Ray Cookware set are 1-1/2- and 3-quart covered saucepans; 8- and 10-inch open French skillets; a 6-quart covered stockpot for big batches of pasta and chili; and a 3-quart/10-inch covered sauté pan.