2011-11-20

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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2011-11-19

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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2011-11-18

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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2011-11-17

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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2011-11-16

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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2011-11-15

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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2011-11-14

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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