What is a Cheese Slicer Wire?

When cutting cheese, a knife can be detrimental to the cheese, especially if it is soft. It will push the soft cheese down, making it into a mush. Using a cheese slicer wire will eliminate this problem. They will usually come in two different sizes, a thick wire for thicker slices and a thin wire for thin slices.

Legend has it; a Norwegian carpenter called Thor, first discovered this cheese slicer. He devised a small cutter using a steel wire to help him cut through his cheese on a scorching summer afternoon. He gifted his latest creation to his friends and soon applied for a copyright.

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It is the most uncomplicated and most recognized slicer used today. It basically comprises of a wooden or steel handle with a single or double wire fixed across firmly. The wires cut all type of cheese without any difficulty but are more comfortable in cutting the medium and soft cheese variants.

What is a Cheese Slicer Wire?

Wire cheese slicer usually use piano wire for it's ideal thickness. It is rust proof and of food-grade quality. The handles provide a superb grip and makes identical cheese slices with little or no effort. The handles also protect our hands and the thin wires create no mess.

This slicer is very simple and way inexpensive than other complex slicing appliances. Using a knife to cut cheese may be quite cumbersome sometimes. The cheese sticks to the knife or even gets mashed with too much force. But with a wire, all these difficulties may be avoided.

These are generally quite inexpensive and will cost between -5 depending on the brand and type of wire that you get. They really are a great treat in the kitchen!

What is a Cheese Slicer Wire?

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Delicious Variations on the Traditional Oatmeal Cookie

When we think of cookies, our minds seem to automatically think of oatmeal cookies. For most of us, they have been a part of our lives since we were kids. And if we are going to indulge in cookies, why shouldn't we turn to the ones with the healthy ingredient of oatmeal? The Oatmeal Apple Cookies, in particular, are chocked full of healthy ingredients. You have apples, oats, and walnuts, all known for healthy nutritious properties. The following recipes will allow you to venture out of the ordinary and into a new realm of oatmeal cookies. Try these Oatmeal Apple Cookies and the Oatmeal Butterscotch Cookies for a new delightful treat. Hint: These are great in the lunch box.

OATMEAL BUTTERSCOTCH COOKIES

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3/4 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
3 cups quick-cooking oats, uncooked
1 pkg (10-oz) butterscotch chips

Delicious Variations on the Traditional Oatmeal Cookie

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a large mixing bowl, beat butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar until well blended. Add eggs and vanilla; blend thoroughly. Stir together the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon; gradually add to the butter mixture beating until well blended. Stir in the oats and butterscotch chips; mix well. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake at 375 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes or until golden brown. Cool slightly; remove from cookie sheets to wire racks. Cool completely.

OATMEAL APPLE COOKIES

3/4 cup butter-flavored shortening
1 1/4 cups firmly packed brown sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup milk
1 1/2 tsps vanilla
3 cups quick-cooking oats
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/4 tsps cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup peeled, diced apples
3/4 cup raisins, optional
3/4 cup walnut pieces, optional

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease baking sheets and set aside.

Cream shortening, brown sugar, egg, milk and vanilla at medium speed of an electric mixer for 1 1/2 minutes. In a small bowl, combine flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, and salt. Beat into the creamed mixture with the mixer on low speed until well blended. Stir in the apples, raisins and nuts, if using. Stir in the oats. Drop the mixture by rounded tablespoonfuls on the prepared baking sheets. Bake at 375 degrees for 13 minutes. Cool 2 minutes on the baking sheet. Then remove the cookies to a wire rack to finish cooling. Makes about 2 1/2 dozen cookies.

Yield: Apprx 4 dozen

Enjoy!

Delicious Variations on the Traditional Oatmeal Cookie

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KitchenAid K45 Mixer - How to Get a Great Price When You Buy Your KitchenAid K45 Mixer

If you're looking for the KitchenAid K45 Mixer, you've made a smart choice. This is one of the most popular and durable stand mixers around.

In this article you will discover the power of this mixer, where to buy it and how to get a great price on it.

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Power Up Your Mixing

KitchenAid K45 Mixer - How to Get a Great Price When You Buy Your KitchenAid K45 Mixer

This mixer runs at 250 watts. That's high enough powered that it needs ten different mixer speeds to cover it. This makes sure that no matter what project you want to undertake in the kitchen that your mixer won't give out on you.

Shopping Online is Fast

Many people hate the stress associated with going out and shopping. It takes time to drive around, find what you're looking for comparison shop, and come back exhausted.

When you shop online you can find exactly what you're looking for, sift through the better prices, and have it paid for and in the mail before you could even drive to one store.

How to Get a Great Price on the KitchenAid K45 Mixer

To get a great price on the KitchenAid K45 Mixer you need to strategize your search by using one of a few key product modifiers. Today the modifier is compare or comparison.

By typing in Kichenaid K45 Mixer compare or comparison into a search engine, you will pull up any relevant comparison sites. These give you an idea of what you should be paying and when a store is trying to rip you off.

Don't forget to factor in shipping costs and store reputation when you check these out. You aren't doing your budget any good if you pick a store that may never give you your item.

KitchenAid K45 Mixer - How to Get a Great Price When You Buy Your KitchenAid K45 Mixer

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What is the Best Cookware Set For the Kitchen

People want to know whats the best cookware set for the kitchen? It is true that you can find really good deals on complete cookware sets but it is no bargain if you end up with pieces that you will never use when preparing meals.

Before buying any cookware try and define what it is you are trying to accomplish with your cookware. This will help to in determining whats the best cookware set to buy for your kitchen.

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I prefer cookware that is more functional and can perform more than one cooking task when preparing a meal. Things like browning or searing meat on the stovetop and then finishing the cooking process in the oven all in same piece of cookware. To be able to do this style of cooking I would find cookware that is oven safe and can withstand high temperatures including the handles and lids.

What is the Best Cookware Set For the Kitchen

Other examples of cookware that can perform many tasks is enameled cast iron cookware. This type of cookware is good for performing many tasks as simple as preparing sauces like spaghetti sauce on the stovetop or cooking a roast in the oven.

Another mutitasker to consider would be a stainless steel stockpot with basket insert. You could use this pot for making homemade soups, and with the basket inserted make your favorite pastas and can also be used as a steamer for steaming vegetables and seafoods.

This method of cooking will also cut down on clean up time because you are minimizing the amount of cookware you will be using when preparing meals.

One other piece of cookware I keep on hand is at least one good nonstick skillet. Although this may not fit into the category as a multitasker it is one that is great to use when making eggs and is idea for preparing things that maybe messy and sticky. Also great if your're on a diet and want to prepare low fat meals.

Also one thing to consider if being able wash your pots and pans in the dishwasher is a priority then plain cast iron and anodized aluminum is not a good choice. You then might want to consider stainless steel pots and pans.

I have many pots and pans but when I finally adopted this method of cooking I typically only use a few pieces of cookware when preparing meals in the kitchen. I also take this same approach when looking for cooking utensils. This is just my personal choice and approach when I am looking for the best cookware for the kitchen.

What is the Best Cookware Set For the Kitchen

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Trends in Cookware and the Kitchen

Trends in the cookware industry, like most industries, are set and determined by what consumers are buying. Trends will follow the consumer's preferences and interests based on supply and demand and the purchasing power of individuals. Currently there are a few shifts in the consumer market bringing recently developed technologies to the fore front of the market.

Induction cooking has seen in increase in the past year due to its highly safe and energy efficient nature and technology. The burners do not get hot; only the pan is heated which allows for far less energy to be used. Not to mention the increased safety of not having hot burners which children and adults alike can burn themselves with. The induction cooktops are replacing electric and gas stoves throughout the market and are gaining in popularity as society moves to be more efficient.

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Microwaves have also been gaining in popularity recently due to their versatile and quick cooking methods. Microwaves preserve more of the nutrients in food than traditional cooking methods, and have been noted by those individuals seeking a more nutritious diet and lifestyle. Micro organisms are a main concern in food preparation; microwaves heat food at such a high rate that the micro organisms do not have time to incubate in the 5° to 60°C temperature. Of course, microwaves are well known for their faster than average cooking times which is an advantage for busy families.

Trends in Cookware and the Kitchen

As far as cookware is concerned, there has been a shift to a more aesthetically pleasing exterior. People want their cookware to be as beautiful as they are and with this, new materials are being developed and used in cookware design and manufacturing. Stainless steel, while it is highly durable, is also used for its high shine bringing aesthetics into your cookware. In addition, glass cookware is on the rise as it is pretty and functional falling into the aesthetics of the current trends.

Trends in Cookware and the Kitchen

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The Best Cast Iron Dutch Ovens

The best cast iron dutch oven is the one you use.! To many people have one, but because they do not know how to use it, they let it sitting unused in their kitchen cabinets. What is, or should I say was a dutch oven, A heavy iron pot, usually with legs, so it could stand directly into the bed of a fire. Since the old days it slowly has changed to any large, heavy pot with a cover.

But a real one is still made out of cast iron.

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What is the advantage of this material.

The Best Cast Iron Dutch Ovens

The heat will get more even distributed to the food we cook in it. It will keep the food warmer longer. Durable.

Here are some tips on how to choose one.

Choose wisely. Where are you going to use it. Outside on a campfire it needs legs. Inside on the stove it is better not to have legs. Check if the lid fits good

The lid should lie flush with the lip and do not have any gaps.

Check the casting on thickness. A big difference in thickness will produce hot and cold spots.

The Best Cast Iron Dutch Ovens

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KitchenAid Pro 600 Stand Mixers

Review of the KitchenAid Pro 600 Stand Mixer

The KitchenAid Pro-600 is an excellent and powerful free standing mixer that is strong enough for even the toughest jobs such as kneading bread dough. If you are keen to get into the kitchen and to create delicious tasting foods, then you will need some of the best equipment to help you and to make your life easier.

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This great and handy addition to your kitchen has a solid stainless steel construction and a 6 quart capacity bowl. The great looking machine will add a little class to your kitchen with the custom pearl finish and it boasts a head for attaching a large range of accessories. The mixer has a steel bowl and gears, this ensuring its durability and capability to perform even the hardest tasks.

KitchenAid Pro 600 Stand Mixers

Features of the KitchenAid Pro 600

This comprehensive and all round great performing appliance for your kitchen comes with some exceptional features such as a soft start mode to avoid splashing and an electronic speed sensor. The auto shut off feature of this model makes the appliance one of a kind for advancements in safety.

The KitchenAid Pro 600 has an impressive ten speed gear setting and with a powerful 575 watts, it really can knead bread dough rapidly and successfully. Of course, you do not have to limit the usage of your KitchenAid to bread making; it is the perfect accessory for making all types of delicious cakes and purees.

One great plus point of the Pro 600 series of this appliance is the wide range of accessories available; all you need for your machine is included as standard such as the flat metal beater and the wire egg whip. Of course, for the keen bread maker the spiral dough hook is very important as is the pouring shield for those who wish to avoid a mess in the kitchen.

How to use your KitchenAid Pro 600

The kitchen appliance is easy to use and really is an excellent all round choice for complementing your kitchen. Due to its powerful motor, it really can complete any task from making mashed potato to mixing bread dough in super fast time. Simply attach the correct accessory to the machine and stand back and watch it do all the hard work for you.

Once you have finished creating your culinary delights, with this model you do not even have to worry about cleaning up. The great seamless design of the KitchenAid Pro 600 makes cleaning easy as residual food will not get stuck in any creases or hard to access areas.

With a one year warranty as standard, this all round great performing appliance is a fine compliment to any kitchen. The versatility and sheer power of the machine should be noted as well as of course the ease with which you can clean up and store your machine ready for its next use. Whether you love cooking up batches of cakes, or if you are a lover of home made bread, the KitchenAid Pro 600 is the perfect appliance to help you in the kitchen to achieve the best results in a fraction of the time it would take by hand.

KitchenAid Pro 600 Stand Mixers

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A Caramel Candy Apple Christmas Pizza Recipe

The holidays are getting closer and closer each day that passes. The holidays can be fun and exciting while we spend time with family and friends. One thing everyone will be looking for during the holidays is mouthwatering and tempting flavors in Yuletide treats. Why not have fun with this by introducing everyone to such a special Christmas treat as candied apples and caramel? It is a popular treat and now you can include it on your homemade dessert pizza.

Dessert Pizzas are great for Family Time as well as Entertaining

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If you are searching for a good heartily and delicious treat to serve family or while entertaining others, you can make this recipe before hand and then surprise everyone with how scrumptious this twist on an old favorite can be.

A Caramel Candy Apple Christmas Pizza Recipe

Recipe for Caramel Candy Apple Christmas Pizza

What You Need

1 completed pizza crust recipe 1 package softened cream cheese 8 ounces 1 egg 1 Tablespoon flour ½ cup granulated sugar 2 teaspoons vanilla flavoring 3 cups finely diced Granny Smith apples 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg ½ cup heavy whipping cream ¾ cup brown sugar ¼ cup melted butter or margarine 1/3 cup chopped hazelnuts, walnuts, or pecans 1/3 cup chocolate chips

How to Make It

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.

After making the pizza dough recipe, spread the pizza crust onto a lightly greased baking sheet or cookie pan.

Using a large bowl and mixer beat the cream cheese, egg, flour, sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla until the mixture is smooth.

Spread this mixture evenly over the pizza crust and then set aside until needed.

Using a large bowl add the diced apples, cinnamon, nutmeg and the other 1 teaspoon of vanilla and then fold to cover apples with the spices and flavoring. Set aside until needed.

Using a small saucepan over a medium heat, you will make the caramel sauce for this Christmas dessert pizza. To the saucepan add the cream, brown sugar and the butter or margarine stir to mix toughly and then bring to a low boil. Continue stirring for approximately, 5 minutes are until it begins to thicken and then remove from heat.

Remove 2/3 cup of the caramel sauce and then slowly pour the sauce over the apples and then toss well.

Spread the apples and most of the caramel mixture over the pizza dough, while reserving the remaining sauce until needed.

Place pizza in the preheated oven and then cook for approximately 18 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow it to cool for approximately 3 minutes.

Using a food processor, you will grind the nuts and chocolate chips until they are well grounded.

Sprinkle this nut and chocolate mixture over the pizza and then place in the refrigerator to chill for approximately and hour before slicing and then serving to your family and or guests. You can serve this delicious dessert pizza alone or with some ice cream and the remaining caramel sauce.

A Caramel Candy Apple Christmas Pizza Recipe

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Bread Dough Mixers - Machine-Kneeded Ease and Baking Perfection

No matter the shape, taste, and origin, breads are and will always be a part of our lives. It is hard to imagine living on a daily basis without seeing, smelling, or tasting a piece of bread, which is one of the primary sources of carbohydrates.

However, would it not be more satisfying and gratifying if the bread we are eating is the same as from years ago, slowly baked fresh daily in an oven at home. Perhaps, nothing beats the aroma and the flavor of homemade bread. The reality is, though, more and more people have lesser time in kneading and baking homemade breads because of other responsibilities. This is where bread mixers come in.

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Basically, bread dough mixers are pretty much like the standard mixer in shape and parts. What sets this mixer apart is that it comes with a more powerful motor for tougher and stickier dough. A normal mixer might work well for cookie dough where the end result can easily be worked through. However, once you encounter a lump of bread dough, your standard mixer might overheat from all the pressure it needs to exert.

Bread Dough Mixers - Machine-Kneeded Ease and Baking Perfection

Bread dough mixers have received a lot of hype basically because it makes baking easier. Before, you would need to manually knead dough and work the ingredients one by one. From experience, you would know that a precise amount of time spent kneading and definite pressure is needed as well. With a dough mixer, all you need to do is set the motor, fill the bowl with the ingredients and set it to mix the ingredients and knead the dough by itself.

With the presence of bread dough mixers, we are hoping that more and more moms will find the time to actually make homemade bread for their families. It would just be refreshing to chew on one without the added preservatives for a change.

Bread Dough Mixers - Machine-Kneeded Ease and Baking Perfection

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5 Methods For Cake Making Using Electric Mixers

Most home bakers have some sort of electric mixer in their kitchen arsenal. Some are hand held and some are stand mixers. Either way, an electric mixer is essential to making cakes. There are surprisingly many different methods to make a cake and most of them require the use of some sort of electronic mixer.

Here are five ways to make a cake using a food mixer.

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One-Step Method

5 Methods For Cake Making Using Electric Mixers

This method requires careful planning to ensure you add the ingredients in the correct order. As with most baking methods, the important part comes when adding the liquid to the dry ingredients because this begins the chemical reaction with the gluten in the flour.

So the one-step method requires you to put the flour and raising agents in the bowl first, then mix to blend. Add the sugar and remaining ingredients and mix to combine.

Melt Method

The melting method does not really require an electric mixer to make, but one can be used on a very low setting to gently combine the ingredients at the end of the process.

The melt method is ideal for syrup, honey or molasses cakes and requires that you melt the fat, usually butter in a pan and then add the syrup and remaining wet ingredients, once the fat has cooled of course. Then once the mixture has cooled you can pour it into your mixing bowl and add the dry ingredients. It's very important to use the mixer on the lowest setting for this part and to mix until just combined.

Dry and Wet Method

The dry and wet method works once again in a similar way to the one step method. It requires you put all the dry ingredients into the bowl and mix to blend. In a separate bowl you then put all the wet ingredients in and mix. Pour the mixed wet ingredients into the dry and mix.

A small point to consider with this method is that when you are using white sugars, you can count it as a dry ingredient, but if you are using muscovado or brown sugar, you need to count it with your wet ingredients.

Bread Method

An electric mixer can also be used to make dough if you install the kneading hooks. Depending on whether you are using fresh or dried yeast, make your preparations required for the yeast component and then add to the mixing bowl. Add the flour and use the dough hooks to slowly knead the ingredients into a soft and elastic ball of dough.

Creaming Method

The creaming method is by far the most common method used when baking cakes and biscuits. It's when the fat, usually butter, at room temperature is mixed at very high speeds with the sugar. This mixture must be beaten until it becomes pale and creamy. Then it is usual for the eggs to be added and blended well to the butter and sugar mixture followed by the rest of the ingredients according to the recipe. Having an electric mixer for this method is essential.

Each of these methods yields a different result for the desired effect of the cake, bread or biscuit. Some result in a crumbly, sandy texture, some will result in a light and spongy cake or some might be chewy and soft. Whatever you are making, an electronic mixer is one of the must have items in any home cook's collection of small kitchen appliances.

5 Methods For Cake Making Using Electric Mixers

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Food Processor Safety - What Every Cook Should Know

Which Safety Features Do You Need?

Smart shoppers today look for the best safety features when purchasing anything for their home. Food Processors are no exception. Different brands boast different features. Most consumers just want to know which brand and model has the best safety features. The answer is surprising: all of them do!

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Safety features in food processors have been standardized and all brands come similarly equipped. You really only need to worry about safety features, or the lack thereof, if you are working with an older, used model. All modern food processors will not run until the lid is locked securely in place, ensuring you don't accidentally turn the machine on while your hand is in the bowl.

Food Processor Safety - What Every Cook Should Know

Any new product sold in the U.S. today has to comply with electrical safety codes, regardless of the cost of the machine. Buying from a reputable supplier will ensure compliance with these codes.

How to Avoid Danger

This does not mean a food processor does not come with a risk of danger. You should always be careful around sharp kitchen equipment, especially if there are children present. There is a very good reason a food processor can chop and slice as well as a good knife; the blades and discs are just as sharp. Injuries are most likely to occur from contact with sharp blades or discs when the machine isn't even in use. Most incidents take place either when washing the equipment or putting it away.

You should never stick your hand in the work bowl while the blade is in place. Use a spoon or spatula to remove the food after it's been processed. Carefully grasp the blade by the stem, avoiding contact with the metal part.

There is always an element of danger when using an electrical appliance in close proximity to a water supply, as is often the case in a kitchen with a food processor. Don't ever use any appliance that has a frayed cord or damaged plug. Keep the area around the electrical receptacle clean and dry. Unplug the machine before cleaning.

The bottom line is this; you need to be careful and exercise common sense when using a food processor. However, the slight risk of danger isn't due to a lack of safety features provided by the maker. Be careful and you will enjoy many years of injury free use of your food processor, regardless of the model you choose.

Food Processor Safety - What Every Cook Should Know

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Delightful Desserts That Are Best Served Cold

Everybody looks forward to summer time and all the benefits that come along with that time of year too. This of course includes great summer food and of course those deliciously wonderful summertime desserts as well. There are a great many of these delightful desserts to choose from and most of them are best served cold, which is nice because a refreshingly cool dessert is preferable on a hot summer's day. So what is your favorite summer time treat? Is it ice cream or milkshakes? Or maybe you prefer limeades or ice cold sodas, or maybe even chilled pies or cakes there is plenty to choose from.

Fruits make for great summertime treats particularly if they are served as cold or frozen desserts. There are many fruit-based cold desserts that you can make and enjoy during the summer months for yourself, your family, and friends. These great fruit-based summer treats can be anything from a simple fruit cup, which takes no more time than what is required to chop up the fruit and chill it, to creations that require a good deal of time preparing and even baking before they can be served and enjoyed. While most summer desserts are not the healthiest due to certain ingredients they can none the less be nutritious.

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Some of the most popular of these fruit-based cold served summer desserts are made with berries, which are very good for you because they are usually hi in anti-oxidants, which your body really needs. These berries can be found in everything from smoothies and shakes to pies and cakes. One of the most popular of these summer delights is homemade ice cream, the most popular choice is of course strawberry ice cream. Strawberry Rhubarb Pie is another great dessert that contains strawberries and is best served cold. Strawberries are perhaps the most popular of those in the berry family.

Delightful Desserts That Are Best Served Cold

Strawberry Shortcake Trifle

While we are on the subject of delicious summer desserts that are served cold, why not take a look at this recipe and see if you would want to give it a try. You can make it for you and your family who will almost certainly enjoy it and be thankful that you love them enough to prepare this fabulous dessert for them.

What You will Need:

1 angel food cake (10 in) 4-5 cups strawberries (sliced, fresh) 1 cup sugar (white) 16 ounces cream cheese (softened) Cool whip (16 ounces) 2 packages strawberry glaze (1 ounce per package) you can substitute 2 boxes sugar-free strawberry jello mix for the strawberry glaze 5-6 strawberries (fresh for garnish)

How To Make It:

First, you need to break up the angel food cake into small pieces.

The next thing you need to do is to cook the strawberry glaze or sugar-free strawberry jello using their directions, and once this done, add the sliced strawberries then set this aside. Now you will need to beat the sugar with the cream cheese folding in the cool whip afterward.

Next, take a large trifle bowl and place half of the angel food cake pieces into the bottom.

This is when you spoon about half of the cream cheese, sugar, cool whip mixture on top of the angel food cake in the bowl. At this point you add approximately half of the strawberry mix on to the cream cheese, cool whip, and sugar mix.

Repeat this procedure for all 3 layers of the dessert. Chill for 3 or 4 hours after garnishing with the whole berries and cool whip. When preparing this dessert a 9x13 pan may be substituted for the trifle bowl.

Delightful Desserts That Are Best Served Cold

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Raw Vanilla - Blueberry Chia Pudding Parfait

Another quick and easy, yet impressive looking breakfast, snack or dessert. Reap the many benefits of chia seeds by including them in ice cream, bread, pudding, salad, crackers, etc. I plan on serving this lovely parfait to many dinner guests that are not familiar with RAW, and I'm sure they'll love it.

If you are not a fan of coconut, neither of us think this tastes like coconut at all. Young coconut meat gives it a nice creamy body and base, but you taste the vanilla and blueberries...that's it!!!

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China seeds are super charged, and can be extremely energizing. Click here to read more about the amazing health benefits of this super food.

Raw Vanilla - Blueberry Chia Pudding Parfait

Vanilla - Blueberry Chia Parfait
Serves: 6
1 1/2 cups Young Thai coconut meat
1 1/2 cups coconut water (or filtered water)
1 1/2 cup cashew, soaked 2-4 hours
5 drops Medicine Flower Vanilla Extract (1/2 - 1tsp liquid extract)
3 Tbsp honey (or yacon syrup) per taste

pinch of sea salt
1 tsp sunflower lecithin (optional)
2 drops Medicine Flower Blueberry Extract (optional)
1 1/2 cup blueberries
1/4 cup +2 Tbsp chia seeds (add as needed)

Blend coconut, coconut water and cashews until very creamy.

Add vanilla, salt, sweetener, lecithin, and blend.

Pour half of mixture into a bowl.

Add blueberries to mixture in blender and mix until creamy.

Pour into a separate bowl.

Add 2 - 3 Tbsp of chia seeds to vanilla mixture, stir and let set.

Add 1/4 cup of chia seeds to blueberry mixture, stir and let set.

Let sit about 15 minutes, stirring once or twice.

Spoon layers into a parfait glass. Refrigerate for 30 minutes or more and serve.

*Mention Rawfully Tempting (in shipping comments) when you purchase any Medicine Flower product, and receive a special bonus sample.

Raw Vanilla - Blueberry Chia Pudding Parfait

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How to Maintain Your Home Meat Grinder

If you still don't have a home meat grinder, ask yourself one question: why? Meat grinders are a great tool for any kitchen, and can be used for a lot of different dishes. Grinding your own meat has its benefits. Firstly, you know what you're putting into your ground meat. Sometimes, prepackaged ground meat can come from any number of animals. Since it's all ground up when you buy it, you can't always be sure of the quality. Sometimes, you get beef mixed with pork or chicken. Also, it gives you a lot more options when it comes to seasoning and flavoring the meat. Simply mixing different kinds of meat will give you unique taste combinations. You can even control the amount of fat you put into the grind. You can add spices to make your ground meat taste better as you have total control over your meat.

A manual home meat grinder is a cheap way to grind your own meat. However, they can be quite hard to operate. If you have a stand mixer, you can always get a KitchenAid meat grinder attachment. This enables you to grind meat using your KitchenAid meat grinder and stand mixer.

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It's always important to take care of your meat grinders, if you want them to last you a long time. All you need to do is remember a few tips while using your grinder. Remember, if you take care of your grinder, it'll take care of you.

How to Maintain Your Home Meat Grinder

It's always important to keep all of the meat you grind cold. Warm meat tends to leak, and the fat gets too soft. This is not good for the texture of the meat. A great way to keep this from happening with warm meat is to chill the entire grinder before using it. Also, make sure that you only feed small pieces of meat into the grinder. People complain that their grinders tend to smear, but this is mostly because they are feeding big chunks of meat. This could dull the blades so it's always best to cut them in small, bite-sized chunks first.

Make sure that your grinder does not smearing. This happens when your ground meat results in a wet mass instead of separate strings. To prevent this, simply put your grinder on the reverse function.

One of the most important things when it comes to taking care of your home meat grinder is to keep the blades as sharp as when you first bought them. They need special care, because they are what make the entire grinder work. If you use a dull blade on meat, it will result into ground meat that has a horrible texture. A great way to make sure that the blades do not dull is to use it as often as possible. As you use your home meat grinder, the blade and plate tighten and rub against each other. This keeps both blades sharp. KitchenAid meat grinder gets better with every use, as long as they are maintained properly.

How to Maintain Your Home Meat Grinder

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Kenwood Chef Titanium KM020 Stand Mixer - Review

The Kenwood Chef Titanium KM020 stand mixer has a host of functions, it maybe that you require full power from the 1500-watt motor to provide extra power to the dough hook to knead through the ingredients or you may require the settings to be changed to meet the sensitivity needed for the most delicate of meringues. Whatever your requirements are, this superior mixer will meet your needs.

The Kenwood Chef Titanium mixer is made of a tough stainless steel which gives it strength as well as style. This metal strength is the main reason it is able to withstand lots of punishment when being used. With its metal base, this stand mixer will remain secure and not move across your work surface when in operation, meaning you can be hands free and able to complete other tasks like adding ingredients to the mix.

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When cooking you obviously want to produce the best baking results possible, every single time, so an important feature is the mixing action. The Kenwood Chef Titanium stand mixer has a planetary action, which causes the beater to move one way and the drive shaft in the opposite direction whilst the bowl stays still, this ensures the ingredients will be mixed thoroughly.

Kenwood Chef Titanium KM020 Stand Mixer - Review

Another consideration that the Kenwood Chef Titanium KM020 stand mixer meets, is the electronic speed control and pulse action. There are four main power outlets, including medium power (unique to Titanium), which are for the many attachments you can use or purchase separately, one of those attachments you can purchase is the ice cream maker attachment, but most importantly on this machine, you have the ability to choose the settings for a variety of slow or fast speeds. Initially you are likely to start on a slow mix and work up to a faster speed, this stand mixer will accommodate this whatever your mixing requirements.

Kenwood Chef have produced many useful features in their build of the Kenwood Chef stand mixer, well now there is the added benefit of a flexi beater which will cut down on the need to keep stopping the mixer in order to scrape the flour from the sides of the bowl. This Kenwood Chef mixer certainly gets high marks for producing a real quality machine that people will come to enjoy, making simple work of the most demanding recipe.

Kenwood Chef Titanium KM020 Stand Mixer - Review

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Tasty Pineapple Cake and Other Sugar-free Cakes - Great Cakes With No-Sugar-Added

For diabetics or others watching their sugar-intake, here are three great cake ideas. And the best part is that non-diabetics will also enjoy these tasty treats. No need to make a diabetic cake and a regular cake when you serve these recipes. These cakes are great for children who are diabetic or are on sugar-restricted diets,too. Try our Tasty Pineapple Cake, Banana Split Cake or Peach Cake today and give your family and friends a no-sugar-added treat.

TASTY PINEAPPLE CAKE

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1/2 cup salt-free butter

Tasty Pineapple Cake and Other Sugar-free Cakes - Great Cakes With No-Sugar-Added

2 1/4 cups Equal Sugar-Lite, divided*

2 eggs or 1/2 cup egg substitute

1 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup fat-free milk

4 slices unsweetened canned pineapple, drained on a paper towel

non-stick vegetable cooking spray

1/2 cup unsweetened pineapple juice

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 6-cup Bundt pan with cooking spray and set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, combine butter and 2 tablespoons Equal until light and fluffy. Add remaining Equal, except for 1 tablespoon. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well at medium speed of an electric mixer. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add to the creamed mixture alternately with milk, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Beat at low speed after each addition. Cut pineapple into 1/2-inch pieces and gently fold into the batter. Spoon batter into the prepared Bundt pan. Tap down to remove air bubbles. Bake 45-50 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

While cake is baking, combine pineapple juice and the reserved 1 tablespoon Equal. Stir well to be sure Equal is dissolved. When cake is removed from the oven, immediately pour mixture over the cake. Let cake stand in pan for 5 minutes. Remove from pan and cool on a wire rack.

12 servings. Each serving equals about 130 calories, 17 g carbs and 3 g protein
*Splenda Baking Blend may be used instead of Equal.

BANANA SPLIT CAKE

Crust: 2 cups graham cracker crumbs

1 stick unsalted butter, melted

Filling: 3 small pkgs sugar-free vanilla pudding mix

3 cans fat-free evaporated milk

Topping: 2 medium bananas, sliced

1 large can crushed pineapple in its own juice

1 carton sugar-free whipped topping

3 tbsp chopped walnuts or pecans

3 tbsp sugar-free chocolate syrup (I recommend Russel Stover brand)

Mix pudding and milk together until thickened. Chill in the refrigerator while making the crust. To make crust, mix graham crackers and butter together and press onto the bottom of a 9 x 13-inch pan. Remove filling from refrigerator and spread over top of crust. Add topping ingredients one at a time in the order listed. Refrigerate until serving time.

PEACH CAKE

1 box sugar-free white cake mix

1 1/4 cups water

1/3 cup canola oil

3/4 cup egg substitute

1 small box sugar-free peach gelatin

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly spray a 9x13-inch baking pan with non-stick vegetable spray. In a large mixing bowl, beat together cake mix, water, oil, egg substitute and dry gelatin with electric mixer, on low speed, about 30 seconds until blended. Increase speed to medium and beat two minutes longer. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake 35-40 minutes until lightly browned and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from oven and cool until barely warm. Lay a fancy paper doily on top of cake and sprinkle with sugar-free powdered sugar to decorate.

To make sugar-free powdered sugar:

Put 3/4 cup of Splenda Granular and 2 tablespoons cornstarch in a blender and blend until it is a very fine powder. 0 grams of sugar and only 4 carbs per tablespoon.

Enjoy!

Tasty Pineapple Cake and Other Sugar-free Cakes - Great Cakes With No-Sugar-Added

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Chervil Is A Sweet Tarragon Substitute

Chervil is an herbal plant native to the Mediterranean and western Asia, Anthriscus cerefolium. It is an annual member of the parsley family, Apiaceae or Umbelliferae. Chervil leaves are used in cooking for their anise-like fragrance.

Chervil is like a delicate kind of parsley. It has feathery leaves on thin stems and umbels of tiny white flowers. When seeking fresh chervil, it is suggested to plant your own regularly for the best availability and taste. It's an annual plant that will mature quickly in six weeks time under the best conditions. Warm weather will make it bolt, producing flower stalks that will set seed.

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After flowering the plant will die back, so planting chervil every few weeks will guarantee that there are always some fresh leaves to be cut for the kitchen. Chervil doesn't transplant well as it has a large tap-root, so it's suggested to sow the seeds directly outdoors. Scatter a few seeds over the soil in a cool and moist location and then lightly step on them. Don't cover with soil as the seeds need light to germinate. Keeping the leaves pinched back will prevent the plant from bolting until the warmest weather.

Chervil Is A Sweet Tarragon Substitute

The herb chervil has delicate flavor that must be used fresh to really appreciate. It doesn't dry well, so chervil that you may find on the supermarket spice shelves bares little resemblance to the fresh herb. Fresh leaves, if available at market, may be kept for only a few days wrapped in damp paper towels inside a plastic bag in the refrigerator crisper. To keep it longer, freeze the leaves in a plastic zip bag until needed. Use scissors to snip off the amount needed and replace the remaining herb back in the freezer. Add sprigs of chervil to vinegar as another means of preserving the delicate anise-like flavor and aroma.

A slight aniseed taste is reminiscent of tarragon, like a mild tarragon. The flavor is somewhat similar to celery and they can be substituted in recipes. The aroma and flavor of chervil complement eggs, potatoes, tomatoes, and fish dishes. Poultry, seafood and vegetable dishes are other foods that use chervil.

Mince or chop chervil fresh for tossed green salads, potato salad, cream soups, herb butters and sauces. Add chervil at the last moment when cooking with it as the delicate flavor dissipates with heat.

Chervil is used in French cooking as a component of the herb mixture fines herbes along with fresh parsley, chives and tarragon. Sometimes marjoram, lemon balm, cress or cicely are added to the fines herbes. Chervil is sometimes included in bouquet garni, but as the so-called 'garnished bouquet' of herbs will stew in the cooking pot for a time, the delicate flavor of chervil would likely be cooked away.

Chervil Is A Sweet Tarragon Substitute

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Kitchen Aid Blenders - How to Choose the Right One

Blending is a must but very cumbersome if one wants to do it well. But the perfect cook will never compromise on these details owing to constraints whatever they may be. So, in come the kitchen aid blenders to help you whip and blend food stuff, juices, drinks, batter and anything that possibly comes to mind, better.

Blender Accessories:

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Blades for mincing meat, whipping sticks to whip egg, juices, and vegetables, to make batter smoother- the blender accessories offer everything. These can help you in making tomato ketchup and puree, fruit concentrates, vegetable pastes, and even baby food. Blenders are especially good for making milk shakes and coffee shakes.

Kitchen Aid Blenders - How to Choose the Right One

Power Consumption:

Blenders consume an enormous amount of electricity. So, running them with proper efficiency is of prime importance to cut down your bills. You should check the blades and the functional units for rusting and jamming. Clean the blender properly after use every time. Select a blender that consumes power less than 750 watts because this is a device that you will be using frequently.

Selecting the Size:

The units of blenders are given in number of cup models. The cup of 7 models is useful to mash salad dressing while the 9 and 11 cup models are a good option for milk and coffee shakes. The microprocessors of 2 or 3 cup sizes are good for preparing baby food.

Types of Blenders:

The several types of blenders include options like the Power 5 Speed Blender, the Handheld Blenders- 3 speed and 9 speed types. The new immersion blender is now a hot trend too. You simply have to touch the button and it smoothens all you want. The blades to be immersed in to the container are long enough to work in even long necked containers.

So, enjoy blending!

Kitchen Aid Blenders - How to Choose the Right One

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Jamaican Rum Punch Recipe

Rum is considered to be the world's oldest distilled spirit and is made throughout the Caribbean. On Jamaica, Appleton Rum Estate has been distilling rum from sugar can for over 200 years and is the island's most popular drink. With a very sweet flavor rum is often used to make refreshing fruit punches and coconut cocktails. The drinks below are found anywhere in Jamaica and are a cooling treat to complement any meal and the island's year round summer temperatures.

Jamaican Rum Punch

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Ingredients:

Jamaican Rum Punch Recipe

* 1 bottle Jamaican gold rum

* 1 bottle dark caruba rum

* 1 bottle Jamaican overproof rum

* ½ gallon orange juice

* ½ gallon pineapple juice

* 1 cup lime juice

* splash of grenadine for color

* splash of angostura bitters

Directions:

Shake all ingredients together in large airtight container or stir vigorously in large punch bowl. Serve over ice and garnish with orange slice, cherry and mint leaves, or pineapple slice and cinnamon stick.

Another refreshing drink in the heat is

Ginger Beer

Ginger is a favorite flavor in Jamaica and is considered a healthy ingredient in this cooling drink. Ginger beer can be boiled and stored in glass jars or bottles for a long time or simple steeped in warm water and used within days.
Ingredients:

* 9oz. Fresh ginger root

* 4 qt. Water

* sugar to taste

* 1 tsp. ground cloves

* 1 tsp. lime juice

Directions:

Grate the ginger into a saucepan and add water, cloves and juice. Stir well and bring to a boil. Boil for half an hour and sweeten to taste. Strain and bottle after cooling. Serve as hot tea or cold over ice.

Enjoy your taste of Jamaica!

Jamaican Rum Punch Recipe

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Electrical Kitchen Appliances For The Happy Couple

The tradition of giving wedding gifts developed out of the need for a young couple to have all the items necessary to set up a new home. Friends and family would provide these items. In modern times, of course, we have departed from the origins of this tradition, but it is often overlooked that young couples still need to furnish their house. That is why electrical kitchen appliances make great wedding gifts.

You might want to take look at the gift registry, which is a good place to start. It would be simple enough to buy it from a department store where the bride and groom have registered for any kitchen electrical appliances. This ensures that you are buying something that is of use to them.

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Even if the happy couple has not requested any electrical kitchen appliances do not rule them out as a surprise gift. Many couples starting out do not have an adequately stocked kitchen, and small appliances are often one of the main deficiencies. While they may not yet know they would like to have a certain appliance, they will surely appreciate it once they have it, and you can rest assured that you have given them a practical gift that they will use frequently. Let your knowledge of the couple guide your purchase decision.

Electrical Kitchen Appliances For The Happy Couple

If you know that either the bride or groom loves to cook, then electrical kitchen appliances make an especially fitting wedding gift. Not only will you be addressing a practical need, but will be giving a personal gift related to their hobby. As cooks would probably already own many appliances, better gift ideas would be higher end, quality appliances that they may want or specialty appliances that they do not yet have.

Mixers, electric food processors, slow cookers and the like are the most requested wedding gifts. These are popular kitchen appliances that would get frequent use, unlike specialty items like bread makers and rice cookers. If you plan to give one of those, make sure they fit the bride and groom's lifestyle first. Another expensive, but popular gift is an espresso maker too.

A kitchen store gift card comes to the rescue of those who want to gift a kitchen appliance but don't know which one to pick. In the past, a gift card wasn't considered a good idea but these are gaining popularity in today's times, with people being more informal.

Electrical Kitchen Appliances For The Happy Couple

Thanks To : KitchenAid KSM150PSER

Automatic Pasta Maker - Types of Pasta Makers and What They Do For You

In case Italian food is your weakness and cooking your passion, then there is nothing that should stop you from investing in an automatic pasta maker. Making your own fresh pasta is happiness in itself. You won't believe the satisfaction you will get from making your own pasta. Serving to your family and guests is an added advantage. You can make the desired pasta in your chosen recipe with the ingredients you wish to use and at a time most convenient to you! With good pasta makers you can control the pasta you wish to create and it becomes so easy; you have to try it to believe it!

There are many automatic pasta makers available in the market. They help you make various kinds of pasta like the spaghetti, lasagna, fettuccine, and farfalle. Rolling the dough with hand will not be able to give you a uniform thickness. The dough is much lighter in the automatic maker and the pasta that is created can absorb more sauces and juices. This makes the pasta dish very tasty. Ideally you must cut pasta from small pieces and make the dough really thin. Thin pasta is also easier to cook. The advantage these automatic pasta makers give you is that you can set the thickness of the dough. It helps you have a control over how thick you need your pasta to be.

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Some of the automatic pasta makers also do the mixing of all ingredients of the dough. They have a reservoir where you need to put in the ingredients and they get mixed up. Not just that some machines are equipped to knead your dough also! More so, you can adjust the speed of the mixing and kneading. This helps you get the dough of the desired consistency.

Automatic Pasta Maker - Types of Pasta Makers and What They Do For You

In case the dough sticks on the machine you must dust the automatic pasta makers with enough flour. Even the dough must be dusted with flour so that it does not stick to the machine. Electronic pasta makers are very convenient and they save a lot of your time and effort.

Once the dough is rolled the next step is to cut it into your desired pasta shape. You need to fix the right attachment that will help you get the pasta in the shape the recipe demands. Many come with a variety of attachments that will enable you to make different kinds of pasta. These attachments can be removed from the machine and it is easy to clean them as well. Some companies have attachments that can be safely washed in a dishwasher.

Few automatic pasta makers also come with their video demonstrations that will guide you on the entire process. They also have cleaning tools like brushes that will help you to keep your machine and attachments clean. If you have an automatic pasta maker, it becomes very simple to treat your family to a great Italian meal once in a while or over weekends.

Automatic Pasta Maker - Types of Pasta Makers and What They Do For You

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Now You Can Have the Kitchen Aid Artisan Mixer - The Laziest and Fastest Way to Mix, Whip and Knead

The Kitchen Aid Artisan Mixer is a jack-of-all-trades and a master-of-all------ It can mix, whip, blend and knead all your baking ingredients. This is a must-have for food lovers who want just can't keep away from the kitchen if allowed to cook and bake all day.

Product Features

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The Kitchen Aid Artisan has a tilt-back mixer head design which allows easy access to the bowl without removing the mixer heads. It also has 10 speed variations ranging from a very slow stir to a fast whip. Each mixer comes with three attachments which include the wire whip, paddle and hook. The product also comes with a plastic shield to keep the contents inside the bowl from spilling during the mixing process.
The Kitchen Aid Artisan mixer is also available in a variety of colors that can add spunk to your kitchen.

Now You Can Have the Kitchen Aid Artisan Mixer - The Laziest and Fastest Way to Mix, Whip and Knead

Pros and Cons

The product is easy to set-up because the instructions are easy to follow, nothing technical. The manual even has extra sections that include helpful tips and recipes that can jumpstart cooking with the Artisan mixer.

The best feature of the Kitchen Aid Mixer is its unique mixing ability with the spiral beaters. The beater-to-bowl clearance is adjustable and it does not leave any batter for scraping on the sides of the bowl with its clean finish. It mixes thoroughly whether its eggs, dough or cake mixture.

The ten speed levels that are available makes the mixer very versatile since you can have that slow whip for recipes that require you to add ingredients gradually in the batter or you can have that hyperactive mixing with the eggs for a fast whip. It has everything you need, but you still have to know what kind of speed will work for your mixture because you control the mixer and not the other way around. It's your knowledge of cooking and baking that will make the Kitchen Aid Artisan mixer work for you.

The whip and beaters are easy to clean but a lot of batter gets stuck in the mixer itself and makes cleaning the machine quite difficult. The bowl is easy to clean and the plastic guard is essential and necessary when mixing or else there will be a lot of splatter on your kitchen table.

The Kitchen Aid Artisan mixer may be quite expensive compared to other products in the market but its features may just be worth it especially for those who cook and bake often.

Conclusion

Overall, the Kitchen Aid Artisan mixer is a good buy and is the perfect gift for food lovers who like to bake from scratch or try novel recipes. It won't work well for sporadic bakers and cooks because the features of this mixer are for full-scale cooking and baking and not for pre-mixed recipes and instant brownies. If you're a foodie, you'll love this product and it will save you a lot of time and energy with its versatile mixing powers.

Now You Can Have the Kitchen Aid Artisan Mixer - The Laziest and Fastest Way to Mix, Whip and Knead

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Calendula - The Orange Yellow Marigold For Cooking

Calendula is an annual flowering plant, Calendula officinalis, more commonly known as the pot marigold. The familiar orange and yellow garden plant is a member of the aster family, Asteraceae. It was familiar to Romans back in the day as they gave it the name calendula. In the warm regions of the Mediterranean it could be seen flowering on the first of most every month, or on the calends, so this plant came to be known as calendula.

Marigolds are considered an old-time garden favorite. Even though new hybrids in a wide range of colors and growing habits are available at garden centers every year, the original orange and yellow marigold will always find a place in many gardens. It can be started by seed during the cold months and transplanted outside when the ground has warmed up in the spring.

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Marigolds need at least six hours of sun and preferably full sun in the garden. Fertilizing and 'dead heading', or picking off the flowers that are done blooming, will help the plant to continue producing more flowers. The colorful blossoms will bloom continuously all summer long until the frost is heavy and the ground freezes. Seeds that drop from spent flowers will grow the following year.

Calendula - The Orange Yellow Marigold For Cooking

As the flowers die back they can be harvested and kept in sealed glass jars for making tea. Slightly sweet and slightly spicy, the orange and yellow petals are a nice addition to mint tea. Pull the petals from the flower head and add about a teaspoon to a cup of near boiling water with a tablespoon of crushed mint leaves. Steep for four minutes or so, strain and enjoy. Fresh flower petals can also be used to make tea.

Fresh petals can be added to salads or tossed with steamed vegetables and pasta for a splash of color. The colorful petals lend a brightness to pale foods like rice, cream soups, cheeses and dips. Calendula contains carotenoids, including beta-carotene, which gives it the bright orange color. It can be used as a substitute for saffron.

Calendula can be used to soothe irritated skin. The essential oils contain ingredients that soothe inflammation and aid new tissue growth and repair of damaged skin. Calendula creams and lotions are available at health food stores and herbal shops. Use one with a nut oil or seed oil base because petroleum-based products can irritate dry and damaged skin. Old-timers would have made a poultice from the juice or essence of the flower petals and applied it directly to the wounded area.

Calendula - The Orange Yellow Marigold For Cooking

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Kids Cooking - Safety In The Kitchen

Children love to play and help in the kitchen. Teaching your child to cook can be a terrific memory for both of you, as well as a valuable learning experience for him or her. But cooking can also be very hazardous. Kids need to know the rules right away. Here are some guidelines to help you keep your budding chef safe and healthy in the kitchen. Even the smallest helpers, aged 2 to 3, can learn safety rules if they are simple and repeated patiently as often as necessary.

Make sure long hair is tied back out of the way and sleeves are rolled up.

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Children of any age can be taught to wash hands with warm water and soap before and after handling food. Teach them to avoid sneezing or coughing in the direction of the food.

Kids Cooking - Safety In The Kitchen

Be clear about when it is okay to lick fingers and when it is not.

For younger children, let them know that stoves and ovens are absolutely OFF-LIMITS, as well as sharp objects such as knives, graters and food processors.

Have a step-stool in the kitchen for your child to stand on to reach counter height. Even very young children can wash fruits and vegetables, add ingredients to the bowl (that you have measured out for them), and stir.

Utensils should be large enough for a child to grip easily with their whole hand, but small enough for them to maneuver.

Do not let small kids help you cook anything on the stove or help while you use the mixer.

Teach kids to clean up messes and spills promptly when they cook. Spills on the floor become hazards for slipping. Counter messes are not only unattractive; they can make your work surface and utensils slippery, and they are a breeding ground for unwelcome bacteria. On the other hand, realize that cooking with kids is naturally a messy business. Keep your sense of humor.

As kids get older, they can take on more responsibility and can learn new skills in the kitchen. With these skills come new rules.

Do not ever stick anything in the bowl while the mixer is running, especially your fingers.

Once they are using the stove and oven, remind them to always use an oven mitt, and that microwaved containers may be quite hot.

When chopping, keep fingers of your holding hand tucked in to avoid the blade.

Always turn pot handles away from yourself on the stove.

Never plug in or use appliances with wet hands.

Cooking with kids should be fun. Use these safety guidelines to keep your little chefs safe.

Kids Cooking - Safety In The Kitchen

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Soft Pretzels Recipe

Ingredients

4 to 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 package active dry yeast
1 1/2 cups milk
1/4 cup sugar
2 tbsp cooking oil
1 1/2 tsp salt
3 tbsp salt
2 quarts boiling water
1 slightly beaten egg white
Coarse salt or sesame seed
Oven 350 degree

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Method

Soft Pretzels Recipe

o In a mixer bowl combine 2 cups of the flour and the yeast.
o In a saucepan heat milk, sugar, oil and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt just till warm (115 to 120 degree); stir constantly.
o Add to flour mixture.
o Beat at low speed of electric mixer for 1/2 minute, scraping bowl.
o Stir in as much of the remaining flour as you can mix in with a spoon.
o Turn out onto a lightly floured surface.
o Knead in enough of the remaining flour to make a moderately stiff dough that is smooth and elastic (6 to 8 minutes total).
o Shape into a ball.
o Place in a lightly greased bowl; turn once to grease surface.
o Cover, let rise in a warm place till double (about 1 1/2 hours).
o Punch down ; turn out onto a lightly floured surface.
o Cover; let rest 10 minutes.
o Roll into a 12x8-inch rectangle.
o Cut into 16 strips, each 12 inches long and 1/2 inch wide.
o Roll each into a rope 16 inches long.
o To shape into pretzels, start by shaping one rope of dough into a circle, overlapping about 4 inches from each end and leaving ends free.
o Take one end of dough in each hand and twist at the point where dough overlaps.
o Carefully lift ends across to the opposite edge of the circle.
o Tuck ends under edge to make a pretzel shape; moisten and press ends to seal.
o Let rise, uncovered, 20 minutes.
o Dissolve 3 tablespoons salt in the boiling water.
o Lower 3 or 4 -pretzels at a time into boiling water, boil for 2 minutes, turning once.
o Remove with a slotted spoon to paper toweling, let stand a few seconds, then place 1/2 inch apart on a well greased baking sheet.
o Brush with a mixture of egg white and 1 tablespoon water.
o Sprinkle lightly with coarse salt or sesame seed.
o Bake in a 350 degree oven 25 to 30 minutes or till golden brown.
o Makes 16 pretzels.

Soft Pretzels Recipe

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Don't Get "Mixed Up" When Looking For a Commercial Or Industrial Mixer

What will you be mixing?

Obviously, combining two or more powders requires a different sort of mixing capability than, say, blending a powder into a liquid... or even combining two or more liquids. The equipment you select should be capable of appropriately handling the items you need to mix. You wouldn't, for instance, purchase a gyro shaker to blend powdered substances; nor would you want to invest in a Y blender for mixing liquids. You want the industrial mixer with the proper agitator that's best suited to the type of ingredients you use in your business applications.

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How much will you be mixing?

Don't Get "Mixed Up" When Looking For a Commercial Or Industrial Mixer

When looking for batch mixers for commercial or industrial use, it's critical to know how the equipment will be used. Being fully aware of the required capacity is just as important as knowing what types of substances you'll be mixing. For instance, if you need to buy food processing equipment, what quantities will you be mixing? Are you going to be mixing dough for a few loaves of bread, or are you planning to give Wonder a run for its money? Mixing up a few gallons of ice cream in your dairy bar, or going into large-scale production on a hot new flavor for mass-market release? Whatever your plans, you need a mixer capacity that most closely suits your business needs.

How often will you be using your mixer?

It stands to reason that you want to purchase the most durable industrial mixer you can afford for your business. Because, the more durable the mixer, the better it will stand up to frequent use. If your mixer will sit, unused, in a corner of your workspace for days at a time, chances are you don't need one that's capable of running practically nonstop, all day, every day of the week. And the reverse is true: If you're planning to have that puppy churning day in and day out, don't go for the bargain-basement model; get one that will stand up to consistent use.

How do you intend to introduce the items to be mixed?

Will what you need to mix be dumped together and blended all at once? Or will dry items be added first (to be blended by the mixer's agitators) and then the liquids introduced afterward? Your required mixing process will dictate the type of industrial mixer you end up purchasing.

Don't Get "Mixed Up" When Looking For a Commercial Or Industrial Mixer

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Hazelnut Cookie Recipes - Easy & Quick To Prepare!

If you are searching for hazelnut cookie recipes which are quick, easy and delicious, I have one which you'll love for sure.

This hazelnut cookie recipe is one of my favorite:

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>> Hazelnut Double Chunk Cookies

Hazelnut Cookie Recipes - Easy & Quick To Prepare!

1 c light brown sugar, packed

1 c unsalted butter; softened

1 c semisweet chocolate ; coarsely chopped

1 c white chocolate; coarsely chopped

1 ts vanilla extract

1 ts baking soda

1/2 c sugar

1/2 ts salt

2 3/4 c all-purpose flour

2 c hazelnuts; whole

2 eggs

2 tb fringelike

To toast and skin the hazelnuts, place them in a single layer in a
roasting pan or cookie sheet. Bake in a 300 degree oven for 15 to 20
minutes, or until the nuts smell toasted, are golden in the center, and
their skins crack. Rub the nuts between clean tea towels to loosen and
remove as much of their skins as possible. It is okay if some of the skins stay on.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees; butter 2 or 3 cookie sheets. Sift the
flour, baking soda and salt onto a sheet of wax paper; set aside. Place 1 cup of the toasted hazelnuts in a food processor; cover and process until the nuts form a paste, stopping the motor once or twice to scrape down the bowl with a rubber spatula. Coarsely chop the remaining nuts. In a large bowl with an electric mixer on high speed, beat the butter, hazelnut past and sugars until very light.

Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then the liqueur and vanilla extract, beating well after each addition. Reduce the mixer speed to slow. Beat in the flour mixture, then the chopped chocolates and remaining hazelnuts. Drop the batter by rounded tablespoons 2 inches apart onto the cookie sheets. Bake for about 10 minutes, or until the cookies are golden on the bottom and firm on the top. Let the cookies stand on the cookie sheets on wire racks for 1 minute, then transfer them to the racks with a metal spatula. Cool completely; store in a tightly closed container.

That's it for today! If you want more hazelnut cookie recipes, be sure to visit us today at:

Hazelnut Cookie Recipes - Easy & Quick To Prepare!

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Old-Fashioned Chocolate Layer Cake

A good old-fashioned chocolate layer cake might seem hard to find but in reality it is as easy to find as that sweet tooth which follows you everywhere.

There is no question why chocolate cake is one of the most popular cakes today... it is because it is so devilishly tasty!

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Everyone can use a lovely old-fashioned chocolate layer cake to brighten their day or fill up their stomach and so can you. So head to the store or even to your well stocked pantry and get baking today!

Old-Fashioned Chocolate Layer Cake

INGREDIENTS:

1 1/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour

12 tablespoons (1 ½ sticks) unsalted butter, softened but still cool

1 1/4 cups sugar

2 large eggs at room temperature

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup cocoa, sifted

2 teaspoons instant espresso

1 cup and 2 tablespoons milk

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS:

1) Adjust your oven rack the middle position and preheat oven to 350*. Grease two 8-inch round cake pans and cover the pan bottoms with rounds of parchment paper. Grease the parchment rounds and dust the pans with powdered sugar.

2) Beat the butter in the bowl of a standard mixer at medium-high speed until smooth- about 30 seconds. Gradually add in the sugar, beat until the mixture is fluffy and almost white- 3 to 5 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating one full minute after each egg is added.

3) In a medium bowl, gently mix the flour, baking soda, salt, cocoa, and instant espresso powder. In a liquid measuring cup, combine the milk and vanilla. With the mixer at the lowest speed, add approximately 1/3 of the dry ingredients to the batter, followed immediately by about 1/3 of the milk mixture. Mix until the ingredients are almost completely mixed into the batter. Repeat two more times. When the batter looks well blended, stop the mixer and scrape the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Mix at low speed- about 15 to 20 more seconds.

4) Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans. With a rubber spatula, spread the batter to the pan sides and smooth the tops. Bake the cakes until they feel firm in the center when lightly pressed and when a toothpick inserted comes out clear- around 24-30 minutes. Transfer the pans to a wire rack to cool for 20 minutes. Run a knife around the edge of each pan and invert the cakes onto a wire rack. Peel off the paper liner. Cool completely before frosting.

5) Frost the cake using a rubber spatula. When complete, cut the cake into appropriately sized slices and enjoy your old-fashioned chocolate layer cake, refrigerating any leftovers (bringing to room temperature before serving again).

Pretty easy, right? I can promise you this recipe is worth the time. It is so decadent it melts in your mouth. It is really moist.

Oh, don't forget to check and make sure that you have a glass of ice cold milk that you can enjoy right along with a warm slice of this old-fashioned chocolate layer cake.

Old-Fashioned Chocolate Layer Cake

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Bundt Cakes to the Rescue

While sitting at the bowling alley, a voice came over the intercom saying, "Tonight we are hosting a raffle on a yummy yellow sheet cake for .00 a ticket. The proceeds will go to our youth bowling association." A yellow sheet cake, I thought? How often are you asked to bake a cake for a school auction, cake walks, parties or get-togethers? Bundt cakes makes excellent cakes for these events. They are pretty cakes, make for a great presentation and could bring in more money than a yellow sheet cake. Another benefit of bundt cakes is that they are easy to transport to your event. Below are some of my favorite bundt cake recipes:

BANANA PUDDING BUNDT CAKE

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1 (18.25-ounce) box yellow cake mix

Bundt Cakes to the Rescue

1 (3-ounce) package instant banana pudding mix

4 large eggs

1 cup water

1/4 cup vegetable oil

3/4 cup mashed banana

2 cups powdered sugar

2 tablespoons milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup walnuts, finely chopped

Preheat oven to 350*F (175*C). Grease and flour bundt pan and set aside.

In large bowl combine cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, water, vegetable oil and banana. Beat with electric mixer for 2 minutes. Pour into prepared bundt pan.

Bake for 50 to 55 minutes or until cake tests done. Cool cake on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Remove cake and continue to cool on rack.

To Make Glaze: Beat together powdered sugar, milk and vanilla in a bowl until smooth and of a drizzling consistency. When cake is cooled, drizzle icing over cake. Sprinkle chopped nuts over icing, if desired.

CARIBBEAN CHRISTMAS RING

3 tablespoons vegetable shortening

2 1/2 cups finely chopped walnuts

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup whole wheat flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 cup softened butter

1 1/3 cups granulated sugar

3 large eggs

1 cup sour cream or plain nonfat yogurt

1 ripe banana, mashed 2 tablespoons orange liqueur (triple sec)

Orange Sugar Glaze:

1 cup powdered sugar, shifted

2 tablespoons orange juice

Thoroughly grease a 10 to 12-cup microwave-safe bundt pan with shortening; sprinkle with 1/2 cup of the chopped walnuts to coat evenly. Sift flours, baking powder and baking soda.

Cream butter and sugar until fluffy; beat in eggs, one at a time. Stir sour cream or yogurt, banana and liqueur into egg mixture. Fold flour mixture into banana-egg batter; stir in remaining walnuts.

Spoon into prepared pan and place on top of microwave-proof bowl in microwave, bringing cake up to center of oven. Cook on medium 10 minutes, then on high 5 to 7 minutes until cake tests done, turning twice. Let cake stand 15 minutes. Turn out onto serving plate. Let cool.

Mix sifted powdered sugar and orange juice until smooth. Pour glaze evenly over cake and serve.

CHOCOLATE CREAM FILLED CAKE

Filling Ingredients:

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened

1 large egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cake Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

1 cup water

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa

1/2 cup butter, softened

3 large eggs

1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Glaze Ingredients:

2 ounces white chocolate

2 teaspoons vegetable shortening

1/4 cup semi-sweet real chocolate chips

Heat oven to 350°̊F. Combine all filling ingredients in small mixer bowl. Beat at low speed, scraping bowl often, until smooth; set aside. Combine all cake ingredients in large mixer bowl. Beat at low speed, scraping bowl often, until all ingredients are moistened. Beat at high speed, scraping bowl often, until smooth. Pour 3 cups batter into greased and floured 12-cup bundt pan. Spoon filling over batter without touching sides of pan; cover with remaining batter.

Bake for 50 to 60 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 30 minutes. Remove from pan; cool completely.

Melt white chocolate and 1 teaspoon shortening in 1-quart saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly, until melted (1 to 2 minutes). Drizzle over cooled cake. Let stand until firm. Repeat with remaining shortening and chocolate chips. Store refrigerated.

CREAM CHEESE CHOCOLATE CHIP TUNNEL CAKE

A delightfully surprising "tunnel" of cream cheese and chocolate chips makes this cake a sure winner with your family and friends!

2 cups granulated sugar

1 cup vegetable oil

2 large eggs, beaten lightly

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup buttermilk

Filling:

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese - softened

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 large egg

1 cup (6-ounces) miniature semisweet chocolate chips

Glaze:

1 cup powdered sugar

3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa

2 tablespoons butter, melted

2 to 3 tablespoons Hot water

Preheat oven to 350*F (175*C). Generously grease a 10-inch bundt or tube pan. Set aside.
For the cake: Combine sugar, oil and eggs in a large mixing bowl. Beat for one minute until smooth.

Add remaining cake ingredients and beat at medium speed for three minutes, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Set batter aside and prepare filling.

For filling: Cream the sugar with cream cheese at medium-high speed. Add the vanilla and egg and beat until smooth. Stir in the chocolate chips, mixing well.

Pour half of the cake batter into the prepared pan. Spoon the filling mixture evenly over the layer of batter, then carefully pour remaining batter over the filling.

Bake for 65 to 70 minutes or until cake tests done when lightly pressed in the center and cake springs back. Cool cake on a wire rack for 20 to 25 minutes before removing from pan. Cool completely before glazing.

For the glaze: Combine all ingredients to form a consistency thin enough to drizzle decoratively on the cooled cake.

ORANGE BUNDT CAKE

1 (18.25-ounce) package yellow cake mix

1 (3.9-ounce) package instant lemon pudding

3/4 cup orange juice

1/2 cup vegetable oil

4 large eggs

1 teaspoon lemon extract

1/3 cup orange juice

2/3 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup butter

Preheat oven to 325*F (160* C). Grease one bundt pan and set aside. In large bowl beat together cake mix, pudding mix, 3/4 cup orange juice, oil, eggs, and lemon extract for 3 minutes. Pour batter into prepared Bundt pan. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, or until tested done. Cool for 15 minutes and remove from pan. In small saucepan combine 1/3 cup orange juice, sugar, and butter. Bring to boil, reduce heat and cook for two minutes. Drizzle hot icing over warm cake

STREUSEL SPICE CAKE

1 (18.25-ounce) package spice cake mix

3/4 cup milk

1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened

3 large eggs

1/4 cup sweetened flaked coconut

1/4 cup chopped nuts

Filling:

1/2 cup coconut

1/2 cup chopped nuts

1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Glaze:

1 cup powdered sugar

1 tablespoon margarine or butter, softened

2 to 3 tablespoons milk

Heat oven to 350*F (175*C). Grease and flour a 10-inch tube or 12-cup bundt; pan.
In large bowl, combine cake mix, 3/4 cup milk, 1/4 cup butter and eggs at low speed until moistened; beat 2 minutes at high speed. Stir in 1/4 cup coconut and 1/4 cup nuts. Pour half of batter (about 2 cups) into prepared pan. In small bowl, combine all filling ingredients; reserve 1/2 cup filling. Sprinkle remaining filling over batter in pan.

Cover with remaining batter; sprinkle with 1/2 cup reserved filling. Bake for 45 to 55 minutes or until wooden pick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool upright in pan 30 minutes on wire rack. Remove from pan. Cool completely. In small bowl, blend all glaze ingredients until smooth, adding enough milk for desired drizzling consistency. Drizzle over cake

ZESTY LEMON POUND CAKE

1 (6-ounce) package or 1 cup Premier White Chocolate Morsels, or 3 premier white baking bars, broken into pieces

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup butter, softened

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

3 large eggs

3 tablespoons grated lemon peel (about 3 medium lemons)

1 1/3 cups buttermilk

1 cup powdered sugar

3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour 10-cup bundt pan. Melt morsels in medium, microwave-safe bowl on medium-high (70%) power for 1 minute; stir. Microwave at additional 10 to 20-second intervals, stirring until smooth; cool slightly.

Combine flour, baking powder and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Beat in eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in lemon peel and melted morsels. Gradually beat in flour mixture alternately with buttermilk. Pour into prepared bundt pan. Bake for 50 to 55 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in cake comes out clean. Cool in pan on wire rack for 10 minutes.

Combine powdered sugar and lemon juice in small bowl. Make holes in cake with wooden pick; pour half of lemon glaze over cake. Let stand for 5 minutes. Invert onto plate. Make holes in top of cake; pour remaining glaze over cake. Cool completely before serving.

Bundt Cakes to the Rescue

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The Beginners Guide To Basic Kitchen Appliances

Setting up a new kitchen is both exiting and overwhelming. You will see new stuff that you do not have but might need in every store that you visit. On top of this, friends and relatives will swear by their own favorite kitchen appliances and utensils and store salesmen will convince you that your kitchen cannot be complete until and unless you pick up each and every appliance available in their store ranging from ovens, steamers and coffee grinders to toasters, citrus fruit juicers and grill sandwich makers. While you will eventually get to know what you need and what you don't as you start using your kitchen full time, given below is a list of necessary basic kitchen appliances that will help you out till then:

Food Processor: A food processor is the best thing to ever happen to the kitchen. Many people will tell you that the attachments are tough to handle and cleaning up is the biggest chore ever, but a food processor can actually speed up your time and productivity in the kitchen provided you know how to use one. Any good quality food processor will let you make juices; chop, slice, shred, mince and grate vegetables and meat; grind and puree and knead your dough for bread and pizza bases. Buy a food processor that comes with a blender so that you do not have to buy an additional blender, which is one of the most used and useful kitchen appliances.

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Blender: If you are not buying a food processor or if your processor comes without a blender, then make sure that you buy a blender before you start cooking. It is a major necessity in any kitchen and extremely efficient and useful for making shakes, smoothies, purees, soups and sauces.

The Beginners Guide To Basic Kitchen Appliances

An Electric Beater Or Mixer: An electric beater, stand alone or hand held is a necessity for you if you plan to bake. These hand held or stand alone beaters ensure that your eggs and cream are perfectly whipped for cakes and that your batter is perfectly mixed. You can go for a manual beater/mixer if you are short of money, but they tend to consume a lot of time and energy and still fail to provide the results that an electric one does. They are also helpful in making soups, sauces and pastes of all kinds.

A Microwave: In a day and age of pre-packed, pre-prepared frozen foods, no kitchen is complete without a microwave. Microwaves are necessary for reheating and defrosting, which not only take up time but also result in a large amount of dirty utensils if you use a stove top. You can also use your microwave for basic cooking and end up saving a lot of kitchen time.

A Crock Pot: The only way that you can get perfect steamed rice with each and every grain standing out separately is by using a crock pot or an electric rice cooker. Just put in the desired amount of rice and water and switch in the device and your restaurant grade rice will be ready within no time. It is an ideal instrument for making soups and all-in-one meals and is also great for steaming vegetables.

The Beginners Guide To Basic Kitchen Appliances

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Sweet Twist On Tamales

Tamales are a wonderful food made of various fillings inside a corn masa shell. The whole thing is steamed while wrapped inside a corn husk. When it is done, you have a delicious traditional Mexican dish. The great thing about tamales is you can make them savory or sweet. Fill them with meat, vegetables, or sweet fruit filling. You will love all the variations.

It may take some practice to perfect your tamales, but once you have got it mastered, you will be able to make large batches ahead of time and freeze them until you need them. Since tamales are a big undertaking, it was common for families to get together to make large quantities.

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If you like these tamales filled with apples, try experimenting a bit with other fruit fillings. You should also try savory versions to make for your main meal.

Sweet Twist On Tamales

Recipe for Sweet Tamales

Tamales can be either savory or sweet.

What You Need

4 ounces of dried corn husks (approximately 32 husks) 1-1/4 cups masa harina 1-1/4 cups boiling water 2 Golden Delicious apples, peeled, cored and coarsely chopped 1/3 cup raisins 1 cup and 1 Tablespoon sugar 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 3 cups water 1 teaspoon vanilla 1/2 cup vegetable shortening 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt

How to Make It

Separate the corn husks and soak them in a large bowl of hot water for about an hour. They should become pliable.

In a medium bowl, add 1-1/4 cups boiling water to the masa harina. Beat until smooth with a wooden spoon. Cover the dough with plastic wrap and let it cool to room temperature; about an hour.

Place the apples, raisins, 5 tablespoons of sugar, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon and 3 cups of water in a medium pot and simmer over medium temperature for half an hour. Strain, retaining 1 cup of the cooking liquid. Move the fruit to a bowl and use a fork to mash it. Add vanilla. Set aside with the cooking liquid to cool completely.

In a large bowl, beat the shortening on medium speed with an electric mixer until fluffy (about 2 minutes). Add the masa dough and remaining sugar and cinnamon. Beat until smooth (about 1 minute). Add the retained cooking liquid gradually, beating until the mixture feels like thick cake batter. Add the baking powder and salt. Beat the mixture for another minute.

Drain the husks. Tear 8 of the husks lengthwise into 48 thin strips. Set aside. Place 24 husks on the work surface, concave side up. Fill the center of each husk with 2 tablespoons of masa dough. Put 1 heaping teaspoon of fruit in the center of the dough. Fold the long sides so they cover the filling. Tie the ends of the tamale closed with the strips of husk. Repeat until all 24 are finished. Place them upright, leaning against each other, in the steamer top.

Place the steamer over a pot of simmering water over medium heat. Cover. Steam until the husks separate easily from the tamale, about an hour.

Allow to stand for 15 minutes before serving.

Makes 24 tamales.

Sweet Twist On Tamales

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Italian Christmas Cookies - Anise Cookies

Whether a part of the assortment of Italian Christmas cookies or at a baby shower or wedding, these anise cookies are constantly making an appearances at my family celebrations (With a simple drop of food coloring they're perfect for any occasion!) If the licorice taste of anise doesn't suit you, try using almond, vanilla or even lemon extract...they are all delicious!

Makes about 8 dozen

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Cookie Ingredients

Italian Christmas Cookies - Anise Cookies

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3 large eggs
2 teaspoons anise extract (almond, vanilla or lemon can also be used!)
2 1/2 - 3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
2-3 tablespoons milk
Icing Ingredients

2 cups confectioners' sugar
3-4 tablespoons milk
1/8 teaspoon anise extract (optional)
food coloring (optional)
sprinkles of your choice(optional)
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Prepare your cookie sheets or pans by covering them with parchment paper.

To prepare these Italian Christmas cookies, get a large bowl and combine the butter and sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy, which should take anywhere between 3 and 5 minutes. Crack in each egg, making sure to mix well after each one. Add your choice of extract.

Now combine the flour and baking powder, sifting it together so that there are no chunks of baking powder together. Take about a third of these dry ingredients and add them to the wet ones, using a hand or stand mixer to combine them. Then add about a tablespoon of milk. Repeat this process by adding another third of the flour mixture to your batter, and then another spoon of milk. The last batch of flour should be added very slowly, mixing in between so that you can determine how much flour is enough. You want the batter to be very easy to mold, but not sticking to your hands. The dough should not be stiff! If you add too much flour, try adding a few more drops of milk until the batter is easy to manage.

Using a tablespoon, drop balls of the batter onto the baking sheets, leaving space for them to bake and puff up in the oven.

Stick your pan in the oven and bake for about 10 minutes or until they puff up and the bottoms begin to turn a light golden brown.

While the cookies are baking, mix together the confectioners sugar, milk and extract of your choice (if you are using it). At this point you can also add food coloring if you want your icing to be a special color. White is also just as nice though!

After the cookies have mostly cooled, hold each one upside down and dip into your frosting glaze. flip it over and let it rest on a flat surface covered with wax paper. If you intend to use sprinkles, only dip a few at time and then sprinkle them, or else the frosting will harden and sprinkles will no longer stick. (If your frosting begins to harden before you are done dipping just microwave it for about 10 seconds to let melt again!)

Let the frosting harden to the touch, arrange on a plate and get ready to serve these Italian Christmas cookies to your family and friends!

Italian Christmas Cookies - Anise Cookies

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