Ease in cleaning

A good machine for making espresso should be easy to use as well as clean. With this in mind, purchase one that has a removable filter basket. You should also be able to read the water level gauge easily. There are some machines that have filters that can be reused and thus excusing you from regular purchasing of paper filters. Mineral deposits which are present in water can slow the brewing cycle but with a good cleaning indicator light, you can be able to tell when it is appropriate to remove the residue.

Available features

You should choose a machine that has the features that you regularly need when brewing your espresso. A machine that has a timer that can be programmed enables you to begin your brewing before getting up in the morning. With automatic machines, you will not need to be worried about switching it off when your favorite espresso is ready. Note however, that the type of a grinder that comes with your machine will greatly influence the flavor of your espresso. Also note that the number of added features a wanted machine has can actually increase its buying price.

Type of carafe

The temperature of resultant espresso will be determined by the type of carafe you machine comes with. A machine that has a glass carafe that sits on a hot plate tends to keep the beverage warm. Also a coffee maker which has carafe that is thermal does not require a hot plate since it is capable of keeping the espresso hot until the required time. Make sure however to carefully read the reviews before buying since the machines that have thermal carafe differ.

Preferred type

Machines for making espresso come in a wide range of brands and models. Nonetheless, the ideal choice depends on an individual’s preference. Note however, the higher the resultant making pressure, the more quality espresso beverage you get. Electric espresso machines that use steam generated from heated water do not produce strong enough pressure to produce a beverage that is of excellent quality. If you are for high quality espresso, then consider an electric espresso machine that uses a powered pump to create high water pressure. Though this machine type tends to be noisy and bulky, it produces the best espresso you can ever get.

The post So, Do You Have The Best Espresso Maker Around? appeared first on The Chef's Cookbook.

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The Brits are renowned for their love of tea and it is a staple feature in most English people’s daily routine. There’s no problem that can’t be solved over a good old cuppa and the sheer range of teas available mean that there is something for everyone – even decaffeinated versions are available.

The West Country, namely Devon and Cornwall, in particular have an obsession with a cream tea. Garden parties, fetes and picnics are not complete without the traditional cream tea. No tea room worth its salt in the West Country would dare not to have a cream tea on the menu and they all have their special variations. But what exactly is it? It is far more than a cup of tea – it’s a ritual! We’ll tell you all about it so you can recreate it at your next party.

Crème De La Cream Tea

In its essence, a cream tea is made up of a cup of tea (naturally), and served with a large scone. The scone is presented with a large dollop of clotted cream followed by an equally large spoonful of strawberry jam. However this order is hotly debated as some people believe the jam should go on first! A jam and cream scone goes beautifully with a hot cup of tea and it is a brilliant snack to serve at around 4pm as a refreshment before dinner. History tells us that the Brits were enjoying cream and jam on a scone or bread as far back as the 11th century.

Serve with a Smile

The presentation of a cream tea is very important! There are regional differences – some people serve the whole scone together with the jam and cream in the middle and others serve two halves with the jam and cream on top. Whichever way you choose to do it, the important thing is that it is presented beautifully. The English like their fine bone china so to be really authentic see if you can find some fine bone crockery. Put a paper doily or serviette either underneath or beside the scone. The cup of tea should be served in a cup and saucer with the milk in a separate jug – this is because people have different preferences on how much milk they like in their tea.

Decorations

Some people add fresh strawberries to the top which makes the cream tea even more delicious! If you are feeling brave then experiment with different flavours of jam. But the essential thing is to make sure that the cream is of a very high quality – it should be absolutely fresh and melt in the mouth. The scones must still be warm from the oven and they can be either plain or have some dried fruit like currants or sultanas added.

So there you have it – all the ingredients for a fine cream tea! It must be served in the sunshine, preferably outside on a lovely mild and warm afternoon to make it feel really bona fide! Don’t forget to stick your little finger out when you drink from your cup and saucer!

About the Author

Henry Dickens, the author of this post, works for a well known company selling exotic teas such as oolong tea and jasmine green tea. His hobbies include writing blog articles and reading

The post Channel Your Inner Brit With A Traditional Cream Tea! appeared first on The Chef's Cookbook.

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Toaster Oven

There are some kitchen gadgets that I could never live without. You may think this is old fashioned, but I couldn’t live without my toaster oven. I know, “Everyone has a microwave now. What do you need a toaster oven for?”

Why do I prefer a toaster oven?

Well, I’ve read a lot about microwaves, and I personally don’t have one in my house because I’m not convinced they are safe. We get plenty of micro ‘waves’ when we have x-rays, MRI’s or Cat Scans. I just prefer to use the toaster oven for these reasons:

· It cooks like a regular oven.

· The food tastes better than microwave.

· The nutrients in the food are retained more than with a microwave.

· It is easier to clean than my big oven.

· It is versatile – though it takes longer to heat than a microwave

In fact, I hardly ever use my large oven unless I am doing a lot of baking or cooking a big meal. In the past, there was no such thing, and cooks had to use the large oven for all their backing.

I’ve used many brands of toaster ovens, and some are better than others. The last one I purchased didn’t last very long, and I’m now searching for another one. I use it every day, and it uses a lot less energy than the large oven.

Apple Corer

I love to eat apples, make applesauce, apple pie, strudel, and so on. However, I don’t like to core the apple. I was at my friend’s house one day, and he showed me this gadget he couldn’t live without. I used it and was immediately in awe of how easily it worked and how quickly I could core the apple. I bought one for my kitchen and love it. It takes the work out of preparing apples for anything.

Stainless Steel Cookware

I prefer to cook with stainless steel pots and pans for several reasons:

1. They heat the food more evenly, and can take a higher heat if needed.

2. Browning meat is much better when using stainless steel.

3. I can use stainless steel utensils and not worry about the plastic or wooden spoons chipping. (I did have a wooden spoon that would allow me to get my children’s attention. They usually kept it hidden on me.)

4. The non-stick coating on some pots and pans will chip off and can’t be used with higher heats.

5. If I use a non-stick spray, the food won’t stick with stainless steel.

6. They are sturdy, easy to clean and remain shiny when cleaned regularly. (I still have some Farberware pots, pans and utensils that I received for my wedding over 40 years ago.)

These are some of my favorite gadgets to use in the kitchen and you can find all of them at The Good Guys. However, I have many others that I truly love: where would we be without the electric mixer? Or the crock pot? Needless to say, cooking and baking is much easier today than when I was growing up.

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Healthy Fast Food

Switching your diet for the better can only be a good thing.  Eating lots of fruit and vegetables not only lowers your chances of developing conditions such as diabetes, but it also provides your body with the essential nutrients it needs to function.  However on a daily basis, it can be hard to spend the time and money creating some delicious, yet entirely guilt-free, snacks.  The key to cracking the health code and providing yourself with a tasty treat into the bargain all lies in the planning.  By preparing your mid-morning and mid-afternoon snacks in advance, you will be able to bypass the office trip to the vending machine quite happily.  Sometimes, the answer lies in the weird and the slightly wacky.  Take, for example, salad in a jar.  This slightly unorthodox method of transporting food has undergone something of a popularity surge lately.  By layering the meal so that the dressing lies at the bottom of the jar and the greens at the top, it ensures the salad stays fresh on the way to work.  Simply transfer the contents in a bowl when lunch time rolls round and you are good to go. You could even get tasty snacks like biltong to give you energy and keep you going throughout the day.

Who Wants Popcorn for Breakfast?

Eating a little healthier does not mean you have to cut down on trips to your local supermarket, wholesaler or fishmongers.  Indeed, simply swapping the foods you eat a lot of for healthier alternatives can make all the difference.  Why not try making porridge your morning staple, rather than cereal?  A lot of cereals come with hidden sugars, whereas porridge contains nutrients and releases energy slowly, helping to keep you feeling energetic as the day goes on.  Adding some raisins or blueberries to the bowl makes breakfast even healthier.  If, by the time the clock reaches mid-morning, you find yourself reaching for the crisps, reward yourself with popcorn instead.  It may not have a reputation as the healthiest of snacks, but popcorn provides the salt fix we often crave without the guilt trip.  Instead of the saturated fats contained in crisps, popcorn holds antioxidants, fiber and an assortment of nutrients, which are a whole lot better for your body.

Switch Up, Look Sharp

When it comes to the main meal of the day, picking healthy alternatives can be difficult.  Changing the main components of dishes such as spaghetti Bolognese and shepherd’s pie cuts calories drastically; try swapping beef mince for turkey and see if you notice a difference.  If you are creating a rice-based dish, then ditch the white rice and go with basmati.  This alternative is digested at a slower pace, meaning you will avoid those sugar cravings later on in the evening.  Pasta is another staple of many of our diets.  Instead of choosing a creamy sauce, select one with vegetables; chances are it will be just as enjoyable and it will definitely save you some calories.  It is not just food that needs to be looked at, but drink too.  If you favor full fat milk, purchase semi-skimmed or skimmed next time you are in the supermarket.  The reduction in fat is not only noticeable when you have a glass of milk, but when you are concocting milk-based sauces.  Finally, try and keep your water intake up as much as possible to keep your body hydrated.  Whether you are making the trip to a wholesaler or a supermarket, shopping sprees are about to get a whole lot healthier.

About the Author

Jasmin Blunt is a writer who recommends swapping your unhealthy snacks for healthier alternatives. She recommends visiting your local biltong wholesaler to get yourself some of their delicious and healthy biltong to keep you going throughout the day.

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In the past, having a portable grill meant having an inferior grill that could only cook certain types and amounts of foods. This meant that grilling at the beach, at camping trips, and other places away from your backyard severely limited your choices for what you could eat.

Design and technology have improved recently to give us a portable BBQ grill that does everything a top of the line grill can do, and more. Increased technology allows you to take the tailgate anywhere you want to go. Having a mobile tailgate allows you to have awesome food wherever your team is playing. Just because you’re team is on the road doens’t mean you should have to miss out on amazing grilled up grub.

Some of these new features include:

- 3 cooking surfaces to prepare a variety of foods simultaneously, these include a grill, griddle, and deep fryer.

- Easy to clean surfaces: wipe down and easily dispose of excess oils and grease after you’re done cooking.

- Lightweight portability: disassembling and carrying the grill to the next location is not a hassle.

- Modern design: the grill looks great and impresses guests.

Outdoor cooking has always been easy and more fun than cooking in the kitchen. The reason so many love to barbecue is because it offers a sense of freedom that cooking in the kitchen just can’t do. Unleashing your creative culinary capabilities with fresh ingredients and the smoky flavors of the grill can happen just about anywhere with a great portable barbecue.

Just a few of the great ingredients that benefit from a grill include:

- Grilled and glazed fruits like peaches, pineapples and bananas

- Breakfast griddle favorites like pancakes, bacon, and eggs

- Deep fried onion rings, french fries, and other crispy sides

- Slow cooked brisket and smoky ribs

- Flatbread pizza with grilled toppings and cheese

-Fresh caught fish cooked quickly and simply to enhance flavor

Bring along your favorite recipes and try out new ones wherever outdoor adventures take you. Being outdoors no longer means having your food choices limited by the equipment you bring. There’s nothing better than having a great meal ready after a long day of hiking, surfing, or exploring the outdoors. Food comforts and renews the body and soul. Sometimes when you’re away from home, having a favorite dish can make everything that much better.

About the Author

Kellie Swaim is a industry recognized expert in grilling from her time spent promoting the Blacktop 360, a portable tailgate grill. Connect with Kellie Swaim and Blacktop 360 on Google+.

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While the summer is enjoyable, it’s also hot, and there’s no better way to enjoy the summer and beat the heat than with a refreshing drink. The following are five great summer drinks that you absolutely must try.

1. Blue Hawaiian

A blue Hawaiian is a tasty summer cocktail that is frozen to help you easily beat the heat. Plus, if you’re not currently sitting on a beach somewhere, one sip of this drink will make you feel as if your feet are in the ocean.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup ice

• 3 oz. pineapple juice

• 1.5 oz. rum

• 1.5 oz. blue curacao

• 1.5 oz. crème de coconut

Directions:

1.     Place all ingredients into blender.

2.     Blend until your desired consistency is reached.

3.     Enjoy.

2. Vodka Lemonade

Lemonade is a classic summer drink to help you beat the heat, and if you want to add a nice twist to this classic beverage, add some vodka for a kick.

Ingredients:

• 1 lemon wedge

• 3 oz. lemonade

• 1 oz. vodka

Directions:

1.     Place vodka and lemonade into an ice-filled shaker.

2.     Shake.

3.     Pour into glass with ice.

4.     Add lemon wedge to drink or for garnish.

3. Watermelon Margarita

Margaritas are a classic summertime drink, but a watermelon flavored margarita adds a little bit of fun and fruity flavor to the mix.

Ingredients:

• ½ oz. lime juice

• ¼ oz. agave syrup

• 1.5 oz. tequila

• 1 slice watermelon

Directions:

1.     Add watermelon and agave syrup into shaker.

2.     Muddle well.

3.     Add lime juice and tequila.

4.     Shake well.

5.     Strain into margarita glass.

4. Hurricane

While you hope to never experience a hurricane during your summer, you can certainly enjoy a hurricane drink.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. sweet and sour mix

• ½ oz. spiced rum

• 3 oz. mango juice

• ¾ oz. dark rum

• 3 oz. passion fruit

• crushed ice

Directions:

1.     Add all ingredients into a shaker.

2.     Shake well.

3.     Pour ingredients into a glass filled with crushed ice.

Note: You can also add all of the ingredients into a blender with ice and blend until desired consistency is reached.

5. Arnold Palmer

If you’re not much of an alcohol drinker, you should get yourself an Arnold Palmer to enjoy this summer. This beverage is the best of both lemonade and iced tea worlds.

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup iced tea

• 1/3 cup lemonade

• ice

Directions:

1.     Pour iced tea and lemonade into an ice-filled shaker.

2.     Shake well.

3.     Pour into an ice-filled glass.

Note: You can use iced tea or lemonade that you make from scratch or you can use those that are pre-made.

About the Author

Jessica Brown is a professional chef and avid writer.  She has recently been blogging about some fun summer drinks and snacks.

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1. Eatzi’s

This restaurant has the best bread in town by a long shot. They make baguettes that are as good as any you will find in Paris. They serve up a whole slew of great salads, pastas, steaks and the like. They also offer lots of spreads, cheeses and sandwiches that you can order to go. They have a huge wine selection that is very reasonably priced. A great activity to enjoy while on vacation in Dallas is to head here and load up on supplies for a picnic. They also sell some of the best pizzas in town, but they are only available on Friday nights.

2. Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen

If you are a fan of Cajun cooking, then this is the place for you. Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen serves up the best Cajun cuisine this side of Louisiana. Everything on the menu is tasty, but the gumbo and the po’ boy sandwiches are particularly delicious. Their seafood is amazingly fresh, and they also serve up exotic fare like alligator meat. If you are looking for a restaurant that has fantastic service, then you definitely should check out this place. No restaurant in the city has servers that are more willing to please than Pappadeaux. The only negative about this place is that it isn’t cheap, but this is a great place to splurge while you are on vacation in Dallas.

3. Bread Winners Bakery & Café

This cafe is the best place to eat breakfast while you are in Dallas. They do everything very well, and they are absolutely packed for brunch on the weekends. The best dish on the menu is their take on chicken and waffles. It comes with the most amazing savory gravy along with a very tasty hot sauce that gives the dish the perfect kick. The prices are very modest for a place that serves up such tasty dishes. They also have a lot of dishes that are Tex-Mex. Don’t forget to buy some of their delicious homemade bread to take home with you.

4. Sweet Georgia Brown

This may well be one of the best restaurants in the world. It is worth it to take a trip to Dallas just to eat at Sweet Georgia Brown. The menu is a combination of barbecue and soul food. This makes it the ultimate comfort food destination. Everything on the menu is phenomenal. Some of the highlights include their macaroni and cheese, beef brisket, cornbread and meatloaf. Everything is served in gigantic portions that even a caveman would find hard to finish. However, you never have to ask for a box. They serve everything in to-go containers in anticipation of you being unable to finish your meal.

5. Twisted Root Burger Company

This is the place to head to if you are looking for the best burger in Dallas. The wait staff is amazing. You will not have to wait long at all to get your food. Your burgers come to you piping hot straight off the grill. The burgers are absolutely delicious. You can taste the flavor of the grill that has soaked up the essence of the tons of meat that has been cooked on it over the years. Be sure to order their homemade root beer that is the best on the planet. The only downside here is that the burgers do not come cheap, but they are well worth the expense.

About the Author

Kevin Caldwell is the owner of Dallas Airport Hotel Guide. Kevin is a traveler and built the website to help fellow travelers easily find hotels near the Dallas airport. Kevin enjoys writing about travel and giving tips to others who are planning a trip.

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The location

One of the ways of doing this is by carefully selecting the location of the business. For instance, having a restaurant by the beach is likely to be more attractive to patrons since they will consider this an ‘exotic’ location. They will therefore be more willing to try it out and even pay more in order to do so as compared to the other restaurants around.

The experience

Another way of making the facility more popular is by offering an experience that is unique. For instance, you could decide to offer al fresco dining, where people dine on the pavement or balcony in the open. The benefit of this is that it makes dining more fun.

Of course, there are a few things that you would need to consider before doing this. For one, you have to make sure that the environment is suitable for such dining. If the restaurant is on a street that has a lot of human traffic or high crime rates, it may not make sense to offer this kind of dining. It is also very important to make sure that you make it comfortable as well. Things such as spacing the tables properly and making sure that you invest in quality street furniture (to be placed outside your restaurant on the street) all play a role in making sure that the whole experience is one that will draw more customers to the restaurant.

Unusual cuisine

This is the most popular method of trying to make a restaurant stand out. One thing you need to think about before offering any unusual cuisine is to find out if it will clash with local culture. For instance, if you open the restaurant in an area that is predominantly Muslim, it would not be a good idea to offer food that contains pork since very few people would eat such food. Making sure that you are familiar with local culture will reduce the chances of having the business flop due to poor cuisine choice.

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Steeping the Barley

We use steeping in order to hydrate the mass of endosperm evenly so that the uniform growth is allowed in the future steps of malting. First of all, you have to mix the barley with a certain amount of water to increase the metabolism and moisture level in the barley. After that you have to drain off the water. You can use a number of steeping rules depending on what type of barley you are using, the size of the kernel, configuration of the steeping vessel, and your malting preferences. 

Germination of the Barley

After the steeping, the next step for barley malting is the germination. You have to germinate the wet barley by providing the required temperature as well as the humidity level until the required modification has been achieved. One of the most popular techniques for germination is floor malting. Additionally, you can also use pneumatic malting. In floor malting, you have to spread the chatted malt on the floor. On the other hand in pneumatic malting you have to use the air to achieve germination. There are a number of variations of pneumatic malting are available such as continuous malting, compartment malting, drum malting, circular malting, and tower malting.

Kilning of Barley

The last step of barley malting is kilning of barley in which you have to dry up the green malt. You can dry the malt at different temperatures. The ideal temperature depends on the color of the malt as well as the amount of enzymes required. If you want to preserve the power of enzymes, you have to use low kilning temperature. This type of malt have got higher extracts but keep in mind that the color of these malts is low.   Munich, and Vienna malts are mostly uses low temperature kilning. There are some high temperature malts also available such as crystal malt or chocolate malt. These malts are lower in terms of extract, but they have high color. 

You can also perform barley malting at home by using the above mentioned steps of steeping, germination. The equipment used in barley malting at homes are not much technical, and you can buy these simple equipment items from any shop in your area. Besides that, you need barley in bulk quantity for the malting purpose. The un-malted barley is also used in the feed of animals; therefore, if you want to buy barley in the bulk quantity, you can go for your local animal feed store.  Normally barley is available in the 50lb, and 100lb bags. If you are looking to buy barley in small quantity, you can go for the brew stores, or other smaller shops in your area. There are different types and qualities of barley are available in the market that you can use in malting.

About the Author

Aaran, S is a freelance writer with a ridiculous knowledge of nutrition and the body. No wonder he decided to study for a Diploma of Nutrition.

The post Why Use Barley For Malting? appeared first on The Chef's Cookbook.

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Chablis

Chablis originates from France and is better known as white Burgundy. Good quality Chablis is a delicate, subtle wine with a small sharpness to it. Less matured Chablis is described as possessing a stony demeanor. After it is fully matured the natural metallic tone is tamed and the extreme acidity content reduces.

This wine is best coupled with crispy green vegetables, sea dishes made in haute cuisine, creamy soups and poultry food

Chardonnay

Chardonnay is among the most admired dry white wines. It originates from Australia. It has a fragile and neutral demeanor that enables it to be prepared in several different ways to generate a several types of white wine. Chardonnay wines are prepared with care to produce bold, powerful and complex wines with flavors such as mature figs, honey, butter or spice.

It is best coupled with lights meats such as chicken and pork, various seafood or fruity desserts.

Chenin Blanc

Chenin Blanc originates in Swan Valley. Chenic Blanc wine is popular for its extreme acid content and neutral palate. It has a fascinating crisp fruit character with hints of peaches, pears and fresh grapes. It provides a wide variety from dry and crispy to fruity to semi-sweet wines.It is ideal for outside events like picnics or barbeques.

It is particularly delicious when served with char-grilled chicken, sea dishes; cultural food and fruit based dessert food.

Riesling

This wine originates from Germany. It has blend fruity, aromatic flavors with great acidity to prepare a wide range of white wines such as dry to sweet and sparkling. Riesling grapes require cooler climates to generate refreshing light bodies and flavorful table wines.

Its low alcohol quantity and great acidity makes is brilliant when coupled with rich food such as cheeses, smoked salmon, trout or shellfish.

Italian White

These white wines originate from Italy. Pinot Grigio is the most popular white Italian wine.

They are best paired with Italian dishes, light, simple foods such as roasted chicken, seafood and green salads.

Marsanne

Masanne originates from France. This wine has a unique aroma and quite great alcohol substance. It is dark in color and at times delicate and nutty. It is also spicy and fruity. It is best drank while young.

For the best results serve it with roasted red meat, cheeses such as monbier or baked chicken.

Those are just a handful of the many types of wine and food pairings possible. There are an almost limitless number of choices especially when personal taste and preference is taken into consideration. Let your taste buds be your guide.

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