The Best ravioli mold

January 27, 2011 by Lisa · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Cooking, Kitchen Tools, Simplify Life 

Ravioli are fun and delicious to make and it is possible to make great tasting ravioli at home. There are a few way you could go about this – hand make them, use a machine, use a ravioli rolling pin, or use a ravioli mold.

Of these options, using a ravioli mold is by far the most reliable, convenient and easy way to make ravioli at home.

A ravioli mold is simply a metal or plastic tray in which you lay a sheet of pasta, either homemade or store bought, create some indentations, fill the indentations with your choice of filling, cover with another sheet of pasta, and then roll a rolling pin over to seal and crimp the ravioli.

The mold will now turn out perfectly formed ravioli. Ravioli molds come in various sizes from a large ravioli mold that makes ravioli 2 inches or more across, to a small ravioli mold that can make ravioli of 1 inch or smaller.

These small ravioli are great for soups. Ravioli molds can produce a variety of shapes ranging from the traditional square shape through to stars, circles, triangles and even fish shapes. One of the best things about a ravioli mold is that you can make a lot of ravioli very quickly with most ravioli molds producing between 12 and 24 ravioli at a time.

This means that you can make more than you immediately need and freeze them for later use. In terms of price, generally speaking metal ravioli molds are more expensive than the plastic variations. Most of the time you get what you pay for – that is, the more expensive molds generally create better ravioli.

This isn’t always the case though so make sure you look carefully at the different molds available and choose one that suits your needs and budget.

Kitchen Cooking with Griddles

January 9, 2011 by Lisa · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Cooking, Kitchen Tools, Simplify Life 

When everyone in the household gets up in the morning, they are ready to eat. The person with the responsibility of cooking the food can feel quite burdened by this responsibility. Special tools like the electric griddle can make life a lot easier during this stressful time of the day. Unlike ovens or pans, griddles heat up in a few seconds. By the time you get the carton of eggs out of the fridge, the griddle is ready to go. Anything and everything can be placed on the griddle’s surface, including eggs, hash browns, toast, bacon and more. Seasonings can be placed right on the food as it cooks, melding into a delectable combination of flavor.

The hot surface of the griddle can be as gentle or as powerful as you need. Dial controls on the front allow for accurate and quick temperature changes. Labels on the front show you what temperature corresponds to searing, grilling, and any other cooking method. Unlike stove tops which can be uneven, griddles are completely flat. This results in perfectly round eggs and pancakes, none of those misshapen ones. Griddles with a decent amount of wattage pack the power to create beautiful browning on both sides of the food. Since griddles are one-sided cooking devices, the food needs to be turned with a spatula or fork. Be careful when using metal utensils, as they can scratch the non stick cooking surface.

Shortly after cooking is complete, you can move the griddle into the dish washer without mits. Handles on the sides stay cool even during cooking. Still, take care when transporting a griddle that has hot oil in the reservoir. Also, pour oils and fats into the sink, not the trash can. Some electric griddles require that the cook top be removed before washing.

Safe Weight Loss Tips

January 7, 2011 by Lisa · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Lose Weight, Simplify Life 

Empty calories in alcohol, sweetened fizzy drinks, sugary deserts and high fat and high salt snack foods, should be avoided if you wish to lose weight.   The main cause of obesity is eating too much energy in the form of food, and not expanding that energy in the form of exercise.  

Nutritionists believe that each person has an ideal set point for their own biological weight, and that metabolically, the body adjusts this set point, whenever more or less food is expended.  This is the reason why quick weight loss tips just don’t work, what usually happens is that initially you will lose some weight, but then this weight loss stops over a short period of time.  This is because your body is metabolically adjusting to the energy intake it is receiving, holding on to any other food and storing it as fat in case of emergency.  

If you want to lose weight, then its important that you implement techniques through food choices, that reset this set point, through gradual weight loss and increased physical activity, as opposed to the fad diets that are promoted by glossy magazines or yo yo dieting, that can be bad for your health.

The biggest challenge to weight loss, is not losing the weight but keeping it off, most dieters after following a diet for some time, find that they put the weight back on and sometimes put even more on and this additional weight becomes even harder to shed.   

To avoid frustration and disappointment, simple and safe weight loss tips,that promote a healthy way of eating, that is combined with a good exercise plan, that keeps you fully sustained and provides you with optimum nutrition whilst losing weight is the best option.  

Your diet plan  should allow a loss of about a pound a week, as the overall aim of the diet is to shed weight gradually and naturally.  This can be achieved by eating moderate amounts of fish and white meat, healthy carbohydrates and plenty of vegetables and fruit, not only helping you to lose weight, but that will also set you on the path to heath, vitality and well being.

Save Family Money with Burger King Coupons And Longhorn Steakhouse Coupons

January 5, 2011 by Lisa · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Simplify Life 

The first time I used my Burger King coupons that I had found earlier online I was very skeptical that they would be accepted and that I would have any chance of actually saving money that day at lunch. All of my friends thought I was crazy for spending time searching online for free Burger King coupons that could be printed out and immediately use at the restaurant. I decided not to let them bring me down and continue to look for Burger King coupons online for pretty much the entire morning. I was having a craving for a whopper with cheese large french fry and Dr Pepper which I knew I could get at Burger King. One of the issues that I was coming across was I was running out of money very fast. The only way that I would be able to continue eating at my favorite fast food burger restaurant would be if I found free online coupons. After about 30 minutes I found some information on a website that would later lead me to find times of discounts which could be used at Burger King.

That afternoon when a group of people from my office all met up for lunch they didn’t know what to expect when they saw the need pulling out my previously found online coupons. I had an opportunity to save over five dollars on my lunch that day which was by far the most amount of money I had ever saved at lunch. I knew later on that day that I was going to be heading to dinner so I went back to that website and found more information about other restaurant coupons. When it was decided that we are going to go to a sit down restaurant I immediately started looking for Longhorn steakhouse coupons. It only took me five minutes and I found what I was looking for.

Slow Cooker Or Crock Pot

January 5, 2011 by Lisa · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Baking, Cooking, Kitchen Appliances, Simplify Life 

Crock Pots and Slow Cookers are the same appliance.  They are electrical counter top appliances used for slow cooking food.  As appliances go, they are a relative newcomer, having been invented around 1970.  By 1974 the addition of stoneware inserts had been made, making them easier to clean, and reducing the problem of hot spots.

Although our slow cookers are relatively new, the concept of slow cooking is not.  It has been around for centuries.  Native Americans, Polynesians, and many other groups discovered that meat wrapped in leaves to keep it moist and then cooked for hours over a low heat yielded tender flavorful meals.  As it turns out, slow cooking is best suited for less expensive cuts of meat.  Those with a reputation for being tough often turn out to be tender and full of flavor, while more fatty expensive meats don’t fare as well, with a lot of the flavor being cooked out of them.  The secret to this phenomenon is that the cheap meats have more connective tissue which breaks down from long hours over a low heat.

Recipes with many seasonings are good in a slow cooker too.  The long cooking time gives the spices time to mix and marry, creating entirely new flavors.  The sum is definitely greater than the parts.

Crock Pots don’t fare particularly well when it comes to nutrition however.  Vegetables should be added late in the cooking process, as the heat tends to break the nutrients down and leach them out.  Slow cooking, while flavorful, is not the best way to cook for nutrition.  But if it’s flavor you’re going for, it can be awfully hard to beat, especially fro heavily seasoned recipes such as chili.  For chili, there is nothing better.

The great thing about them is that you don’t even have to stay there while they cook.  They cook at low temperature so there is less fire danger.  One thing you need to be aware of is that just like any other appliance that produces heat, precautions should be taken to ensure that children can’t be burned.  Although they cook at a low temperature (slightly under boiling for most of them), they are still more than hot enough to scald a child if they should spill.  Some also have parts that get pretty hot while they’re cooking, and they should be kept away from curious kids.

Properly set up and with proper precautions taken, slow cooking is a wonderful way fro busy families to have great tasting hot meals ready fro them when they get home.  Shop around and finds the crock pot or slow cooker that fits your needs best.

Learn the Secrets of Cooking Delicious Salmon

January 2, 2011 by Lisa · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Baking, Cooking, Easy Recipes, Healthy Eating, Simplify Life 

Many people are trying to find ways to improve their health by eating better and exercising. One food that is often recommended is salmon because it is high in Omega-3 fatty acids which are not only heart healthy, but have numerous other health benefits as well.

The problem with most fish is that even when it is good for us, there are so many people who feel that they can not properly prepare it. However, the truth of the matter is that cooking salmon is probably one of the easiest things you can do. Learn how to cook salmon with some fast and easy recipes and you will make it part of your standard repertoire.

There are many different ways to cook salmon, from baking, steaming, grilling or even planking; you will discover a wide range of flavor choices and menu options – all healthy and delicious! If you choose to try grilling salmon on a wood plank, be sure the wood you use is not a sappy type and that it is clean and non-treated. Try different woods for a subtle change in flavor and see which becomes your favorite.

When you learn how to bake salmon, you open up a wide range of options including a delicious baked salmon that is baked entirely in parchment paper. By simply adding the fish, some seasonings and even a few small, quick cooking veggies such as shredded carrots or asparagus, and sealing the packet up tightly, you can bake everything in one packet allowing the flavors to mingle and blend. This makes for an especially dramatic presentation when each person gets to open their own individual parcel at the dinner table.

Experiment with different cooking methods and you will soon find that you are becoming known as a pro when it comes to making salmon. Because of its delicious flavor, salmon is often a favorite entrée, now you can make it at home any time you like at it will be good enough to rival any fancy restaurant offering.

There’s more to pizza toppings than sausage and pepperoni.

January 2, 2011 by Lisa · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Baking, Cooking, Easy Recipes, Simplify Life 

Everyone loves pizza.  And almost everyone loves a traditional pizza with tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and pizza toppings like pepperoni or Italian sausage.

But pizza can be a delicious, healthy meal with exotic flavors that are a refreshing break from the ordinary.  Instead of just making the same old Friday Night Special, why not experiment with some pizza toppings that are delicious but unexpected.

These days, it’s not hard to buy a really good, store-bought pizza dough.  Many grocery stores have it in the refrigerator section.  All you have to do is bring it to room temperature and roll it out.  Most balls of dough will make two, 13-inch, thin-crust pizzas.

There are plenty of alternatives to ready-made pizza dough.  Pizza crust mix from a box or a bag works well.  And naan bread, pita bread, French bread, and English muffins will all work in a pinch.

Tomato sauce is great.  But it’s not the only option.  The Barbecue Chicken Pizza — first introduced by California Pizza Kitchen in 1985 — is a terrific alternative to the traditional Italian pizza.  It’s simple to make.  Just substitute barbecue sauce for tomato sauce.  We like Stubbs sauce. Then add roasted or grilled chicken strips, some thinly sliced red onions, and smoked gouda.  If you can’t find the gouda, virtually any smoked cheese will work.  And a little chopped cilantro added after it comes out of the oven really brightens up the flavor.

Chicken lovers may also want to consider a Buffalo Chicken Pizza.  It combines all the yummy flavors of Buffalo chicken wings, but it’s a lot easier to make.  And, in most cases, a lot healthier.

To make the sauce, melt some butter in a sauce pan and add some Frank’s Hot Sauce, or whatever your favorite kind is.  Brush the sauce on your dough.  If you like a really spicy pizza, you can add a little Tabasco sauce before you add the cheese.

Use mozzarella as your base cheese, and then crumble some bleu cheese on top of that.  Add some diced celery and some thinly sliced carrots and you’re all set.

Get out of your pizza rut, and you can enjoy pies like the top pizza restaurants serve.

Preparing Radishes

January 1, 2011 by Lisa · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Easy Recipes, Healthy Eating, Simplify Life 

Radishes require only a little bit of garden space and normal soil quality.  Plant the seeds early in the season as soon as the soil is thawed and can be worked easily.  They are harvested late in the summer when they reach the desired size.  The water supply must be stable while they are growing.  If they get too dry, they get “pithy” and can crack under the ground if they get too dry and then get too much water.  How long they are allowed to grow affects the amount of heat they have after harvesting.  Radishes should be harvested before the roots reach one and three quarters inch in diameter.

After you harvest the radishes, or purchase them, remove the greens.  The greens will take all the moisture and nutrients from the radish during storage.  The greens are edible as they are with all cruciferous plants.  The greens can be used in salads or cooked to eat.  You can store the greens for two to three days in a plastic bag in the fridge.

Storing radishes requires controlled moisture and temperature environment.  Leave the roots on the radish and wrap in a moist paper towel and put into a plastic bag.  Store in the back of the fridge where it is cooler for up to a week.  If they do dry out or become soft, you can place them in cold water to soak for a few hours.  Wash the radish and remove the roots just prior to eating.

You can store radishes for longer than a week, but you must recreate their natural growing conditions to do this, which is much easier then storing eggplant or some other vegetables.  Remove the greens as directed above and bury the radishes in sand and store in a cool place such as garage or basement.  This will keep the radishes fresh for up to a month.  If they become dry, you can place them in cold water as directed above.  No matter which storage method you use, radishes should be eating within one to two days of purchase or harvest.

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