Archive for the 'Food and Drinks' Category

Published by Ned D'Agostino on 17 May 2008

Why You Should Own A Coffee Bean Grinder

by Ned D’Agostino

True coffee lovers know that fresh ground coffee tastes best. And that’s why so many coffee aficionados are now using their own coffee bean grinder to get that fresh taste every day in their homes.

There are several advantages to grinding your own coffee beans, but perhaps the most important (besides freshness) is that you have complete control over how fine the grind is. If you know your coffee, you know just how important that is. So perhaps you’re now at least a little bit curious as to how you grind your beans.

So what’s holding you back? Perhaps you believe that the process is difficult, or maybe you think it can be messy. Both of those arguments are incorrect.

The only argument that “holds water” is that it’s just easier to open a can and start brewing. And while this is true, once you taste the difference between store bought coffee in a can and freshly ground beans, you’ll realize quickly just what you’ve been missing.

The reason there’s such a difference is because ground beans begin to deteriorate almost immediately. That means they quickly lose some of their taste and smell. Grinding your own beans will naturally result in a better tasting and better smelling cup. Just grind up your beans right before you brew, and the result will be a flavorful and aroma full cup every time.

So let’s talk about the different grinders available. There are two that are popular. One is the blade grinder, the other is called a burr grinder.

The biggest advantage of the blade grinder is that it costs less. It’s much like a small blender with the blades grinding up the beans. There’s no doubt that this is preferable to coffee that comes in cans, but it’s not the best way to grind beans. Here’s why. When you grind beans you want to have a large surface area. This means more of the oils and flavor can be pulled from the beans when the hot water passes over them. Blade grinders will give you an uneven grind, and your cup of coffee will not be as good as it can be.

Burr grinders meanwhile are typically used in high quality coffee houses because they give a much better grind. The burrs, or metal discs, are spaced to precise specifications, giving you a grind that is more even. A more even grind means a better cup. And it doesn’t matter what type of coffee you like best because these grinders are adjustable. So if you like Turkish drip or automatic drip, you can set your burr grinder to give you the grind you like best.

Not everybody likes their coffee the same way. In a lot of ways, perfect coffee is very subjective. But something every coffee lover can agree on is that freshly ground coffee just tastes better. So really, whether you get a burr or blade coffee bean grinder, you’ll always end up with a cup of coffee that is better than what you currently drink. Try it once and you may never again buy a can of coffee that is already ground.

You might even jump out of bed in the morning, realizing that a delicious and fresh cup of coffee will be in your hands in just minutes.

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Published by matthew lewis on 15 May 2008

Fresh Shrimp Gives You Options

by Shannon Linnen

Fresh shrimp is both healthy and delicious. It is also a perfect meal solution for all your outdoor summer parties and events. Fresh shrimp can be used in just about any dish. Add it to a pasta salad, slaw or appetizer plate. Topped with lemon juice and cocktail sauce, this refreshing food makes a great pre-dinner snack.

Smoked Maine shrimp is from the state of Maine, and everyone knows Maine is where the best seafood is found. It can be prepared with sauces, barbequed or just served cooked and cold. You can do a search for an exceptional shrimp recipe, or make one up yourself!

Shrimp is used in seafood dishes along with other fish and shellfish.For instance, fresh shrimp makes a wonderful addition to stews, soups and Cioppino. Rubbed with Cajun spices, shrimp makes excellent Creole meals such as Jambalaya The opportunities when cooking with fresh shrimp are truly endless.

In Mexican dishes, shrimp is used as well. It puts a healthy spin on fajitas, tacos and burritos. It adds a fresh, light flavor not found in traditional, heavier meats. Italian restaurants use shrimp in dishes such as scampi, linguine and tortas. Thai dishes add coconut juice, peanut oil and lime to shrimp to create exotic-tasting foods.

Whether you are eating light or splurging on a rich, decadent meal, shrimp is one ingredient you can count on to satisfy you. As you can see, fresh shrimp and smoked Maine shrimp can take you from brunch to lunch to dinner! With very few calories and packed with protein, shrimp is an excellent food that fits into any diet.

So you have have some fresh shrimp and do not know what to make? Thank goodness shrimp is very versatile. You don’t have to make a large meal with multiple dishes, just make a shrimp cocktail. The best part is this is a very easy way to utilize the shrimp you have on had and it is also alot of fun. So don’t worry about the large meal just relax and make a shrimp cocktail, afterwards not only will you be totally satisfied but it will have been alot of fun at the same time.

Shrimp recipes can be found online or in cookbooks specializing in seafood cooking. But you don’t need a recipe to make a great shrimp dish. Even if you have never cooked with shrimp before, you can easily learn to add it to your diet. There are so many ways to eat shrimp and create delightful, color-rich foods without having to learn an entire new way of cooking. That’s the best thing about shrimp - even just sprinkling it atop a green salad makes an otherwise bland dish an exciting one!

Making sure the shrimp you purchase has already had the shells removed as well as the veins removed is pretty important. Obviously this is something you could always do yourself, but it really is more work that you think. It takes time and when you want to have a tasty fresh shrimp treat you want it to be both easy and quick.

If trying to eat healthy is a priority for you then learning how to prepare different tasty shrimp dishes is the way to go. One of the best attributes of shrimp is that it is so healthy. There is no fat on these little ocean critters. Their tale is 100 percent pure muscle, very lean and very clean muscle. Making this part of a healthy diet will really help supplement a healthy lifestyle.

No need to run around town looking for some hiqh quality fresh shrimp, just visit one of the many online seafood vendors. Quality Fresh Seafood is a good choice. They flash freeze the shrimp after it is cooked and then will have it delivered to you overnight. Having fresh shrimp is so much easier than you could have ever thought.

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Published by Dave Valsunkski on 15 May 2008

Getting A New Grill A Viking Smoker Grill

by Dave Valsunkski

The Viking smoker grill! We have all bought an item or items on impulse and have later regretted that decision. Making such decision can be costly. We shouldn’t do that when buying a grill. The Viking smoker grill is not that expensive. When buying a Viking smoker grill you do expect to get enjoyment and longer use than the cheaper smoker grills that are available on the market.

Another good advantage of purchasing the Viking smoker grill it has a regulator that allows you to control the amount of smoke to use when cooking your food. While some other smoker grills do have a regulator, the advantage of the Viking smoker grill has more flexibility. Just set the control to the desired level of heat and just come back every now and again to check that the food is cooking correctly. Unlike other models that do have a regulator but you are required to keep a constant eye on your food you are cooking.

The design of the Viking smoker grill is such that it produces healthy and fresh smoke at all times. This will make your food taste exciting.

Before cleaning your Viking smoker grill allow it to completely cool down before you remove the cooking grates. Never attempt to pour water on the hot grill grates. This is a sure way to damage and shorten the life of the grates. Also don’t wait a day or two to clean the grates. The dirt and food residues in the grill could become quite nasty.

Since the grates have cooled down, remove them and place them into soapy water for a while. Soaking in soapy water will soften and loosen any hard grim and burnt on food particles that may be attached to the grate. Using a stiff wire brush gently remove any loose, built up food and grime from the grates and allow to air-dry.

Now don’t forget the burners on your Viking smoker grill, they also need to be cleaned. If you have a charcoal grill remove the coal grate and brush inside. Cleaning the grass grill burners remove the lava rocks, briquettes or the metal flame burner. If you like you can wash the flame burner with soapy water making sure that you rinse well and leave the burner to air-dry before reassembling.

As an added precaution heat you Viking smoker grill for about 5 minutes. This ensures that it’s completely dry before you decide to store your Viking smoker grill. Just remember storing wet or damp items breeds bacteria and mold and that is certainly something no one wants.

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