Food & Cooking: 2006

10 Timeless Tips to a Perfect Cup of Coffee

10 Timeless Tips to a Perfect Cup of Coffee

Few quests in human history have so captivated men and women from around the world than the search for the perfect cup of coffee. Yes, believe it or not, coffee connoisseurs have dedicated entire lifetimes in the pursuit of finding that one cup of the most heavenly coffee ever made. If you're like most people, however, you're just looking for an easy way to make a great-tasting cup of coffee to help get you started in the morning. The following 10 Timeless Tips to a Perfect Cup of Coffee should help you on you your mini-quest.

1. You Get What You Pay For

When it comes to coffee makers, quality counts. If you buy the cheapest coffee maker on the market, chances are you'll end up with an equally "discounted" flavor in your cup. To assure yourself of great tasting coffee day after day, check out the Bunn, Cuisinart, Mr. Coffee, Krups, and Senseo brands. Alternatively, check out a French press. For that personal cup of coffee, you can never go wrong with a French press!

2. Clean as a Whistle

You wouldn't cook your favorite entr้e in a dirty pan, would you? So, why are so many people surprised by how bad their homemade coffee tastes when they use the same coffee pot every day out without ever cleaning it? Try baking soda and water for great cleanse after every pot you make.

3. It's All in the Bean

If you aren't grinding your own coffee, where have you bean? The best tasting coffees come from freshly ground, top quality beans. You can savor the flavor of gourmet barista-style coffees right in your own home by simply grinding up small batches of your own brew. To top off the perfect cup, you'll want to use Arabica beans-simply the best in the world! Store your beans and ground coffee in an airtight container in a cool, dark place at a temperature between 50บ and 70บ F.

4. Roasted and Toasted-Making the "Most-est" Flavor

Once you've decided upon the highest quality beans, you'll want to consider how you like your beans roasted. Roasting releases the flavor of the bean and helps determine whether your coffee is mellow, rich, or smooth. Experiment with a variety of roasts and choose which one you like best!

5. Grind It Up

Despite the fact that many store-bought coffees say "For All Coffeemakers," selecting the right grind for your coffee maker is key to crafting that perfect cup. A general guideline for grinds includes:

ท Automatic drip: medium grind
ท Plunger or French press: coarse grind
ท Percolator: coarser grind
ท Espresso maker: fine grind

6. What's in Your Water?

When it comes to coffee, fresh is the name of the game and, believe it or not, fresh water will make a world of difference in every cup. Think about it: Since your coffee is 99% water, you'll want to make sure you choose the best tasting water you can find. Bottled, distilled, or purified water seems to do the trick for H2O-conscious countless coffee connoisseurs.

7. Measure It

To assure yourself of perfection every time, you'll want to make sure you spoon out the correct amount of coffee grinds. Of course, your personal taste preference should be the ultimate judge, but a general rule of thumb is 1 to 2 tablespoons of ground coffee for every six ounces of water.

8. Bling, Bling in Your Coffee?

While we're not talking diamonds or platinum, using gold (or stainless steel) mesh filters in your coffee maker will go a long way toward keeping your cup of coffee tasting great. Many paper filters release bleaches, chlorine, and dyes that can leave you with a bitter cup of coffee. If you must use paper, go with unbleached filters for the best results.

9. Brew It Up Right

A key to great tasting coffee every time is making sure your water is "off the boil"-a fancy term that simply means "not quite to boiling." To achieve this water temperature, bring your water to a boil and then let it cool down for few moments (195-205ฐ F) and you'll assure yourself of a perfect cup every time.

10. Drink It Down in Style

Drink your freshly brewed, gourmet coffee in a glass or porcelain mug. Unless you like the bitter taste, avoid reheating your coffee in either the microwave or on the stove.

If you keep brewing with these ten timeless tips in mind, you're sure to find your cup runneth over with great tasting coffee every time!

About the Author

Jon Butt is the host of The Coffee Guide, an innovative website dedicated to all things coffee. From beans to gourmet, espresso machines to coffee makers, espresso cups to just great tasting coffee

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10 Things You Maybe Were Unaware about Tea

A Chinese emperor called Shen Nung was the first to discover Tea. The story goes that in the year 2,700 bc the emporer was sitting under a tree having some water boiled for him when some leaves from the tea plant fell into the boiling water. The emporer decided to taste the fresh brew, enjoyed it and thousands of years later the same brew is enjoyed every day by millions of people all over the world.

Recent studies have shown that men who drink black tea which contains catechins are fifty percent less likely to die of ischemic heart disease. This occurs when our arteries become clogged and are unable to function properly because of constriction.

Studies have shown that drinking between one and two cups of tea each day may help fertility by inhibiting abnormalities in our chromosomes. In a recent test 250 women drank as little as half a cup of tea per day and their pregnancy rates were double those who did not.

A way to get rid of puffy eyes is to lie in a horizontal position and place either a used wet teabag or other tea compress over each eye and leave for about 20 minutes. The puffiness around the eyes will amazingly vanish and your eyes will feel totally refreshed.

Tea is known to absorb odors around it. Using tea leaves in thin cotton bags or old tea bags can help to eliminate refrigerator odors.

Use tea to kill warts. The tannic acid found in tea is said to be just as effective in killing warts as many wart removers that you can purchase over the counter at the local drug store! Soak a black tea bag in hot water, and then place the damp bag on the wart itself for fifteen minutes a couple of times each day. Slowly the wart will shrink and soon disappear.

It is known that men in Asian countries who consume green tea have very low instances of prostate cancer. Many prominent researchers believe that this is due to green tea containing many powerful antioxidants and preventative anti-cancer agents.

In recent Australian studies CSIRO scientists found that the occurrence of skin cancer in laboratory mice was greatly reduced when they were given black tea. It is thought that polyphenols which are very strong antioxidants and are contained in the tea are the most likely reason for this phenomenon.

The costliest teabag ever was created for the 75'th anniversary of the PG TIPS tea company. The bag was filled with 280 diamonds and expensive limited edition tea leaves. The tea bag cost 7,500 pounds and would be auctioned to raise money for a British children's hospital.

One cup of black or green tea has more antioxidant power than one serving of broccoli, carrots, or spinach.

About the author:

Lorraine Bevere is the owner of Fogtea
tea directory which is
a premier source of information about tea. For more
information, go to:

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10 Surefire Ways To Survive Eating Out

I personal lost 60 pounds in 2003. Here are some tactics I used to lose the weight

1) Steamed instead of fried

2) Brown rice instead of white rice

3) Wheat bread instead of white bread

4) Sauce and dressing on the side. Dip your fork into the sauce first then into the food.

5) At dinner exchange the potato or other carbohydrates with extra veggies

6) No oil

7) Do not feel like you need to eat the entire meal. Plan on bringing a doggie bag home.

8) Drink two glasses of what before your meal and another 2-3 during your meal

9) No soda

10) Hold the mayo and cheese

Dr. Jeffrey Banas is a Chiropractic Sports Physician, practicing in Mesa; AZ. Dr. Banas personally lost 60 pounds in 2003 and now uses his experience to help others struggling with their weight problems. Dr. Banas can be reached at his office at 480-633-6837, or by visiting his web site at www.personal-weight-loss-help.com

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10 SPRING CLEANING TIPS FOR YOUR KITCHEN

10 SPRING CLEANING TIPS FOR YOUR KITCHEN

By: Lara Velez

The words "spring cleaning" can make the neatest person cringe. They mean more work. As if cleaning all year long wasn't enough. Spring cleaning is more than just cleaning...it is deep cleaning. Something that most people do not have time for all year long. Since my expertise is cooking, I have decided to focus on spring cleaning and dirt build up prevention tips for the kitchen....

Baking soda or club soda will clean and shine stainless steel sinks easily. Simply apply directly to surface and scrub a dub dub.

To Remove stubborn water spots from a stainless sink scrub with a cloth dampened with rubbing alcohol or vinegar.

To freshen up your "white" porcelain sinks, place paper towels across the bottom of your sink and saturate with bleach. Let sit over night and rinse.

After you've cleaned your refrigerator and freezer place an open box of baking soda in the back of each to help absorb odors for about a month.

A few drops vanilla extract on a piece of cotton placed in the refrigerator will also help eliminate odors.

Wipe refrigerator with vinegar after cleaning to help prevent mildew.

Change your refrigerator light bulbs...that way you never have to worry about them burning out during the year.

To clean baked-on food from a cooking pan, put a dryer sheet in the pan, fill with water, let sit overnight then sponge clean. The anti-static agents help weaken the bond between the food and the pan and the fabric softeners will soften the baked-on food.

To clean burnt or scorched pans, sprinkle pans liberally with baking soda, adding just enough water to moisten. Let stand over night.

To get those stubborn stains off of the inside of you microwave; spray liberally with two parts water and one part bleach, heat on high for 20 seconds and let stand for about an hour. The stains should come right off. For really stubborn stains heat for 30 seconds and let sit for 2 - 3 hours.

About the Author

About the Author: My name is Lara Velez and I am the Editor-in-Chief of The Recipe Finder - Online cooking magazine - http://www.therecipefinder.com. I am also a wife and mother of two. I enjoy cooking, reading, scrapbooking, and being a wife and mom. Please feel free to email me any time. RecipeFinderMail@aol.com

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10 Mind-Easing Ways To Make Sure Your Child's "Bag"

Perishable food must be kept cold while commuting via bus, bicycle, on foot, in a car, or on the subway. After arriving at school or work, perishable food must be kept cold until lunchtime.

Why? Harmful bacteria multiply rapidly in the "danger zone" (the temperatures between 40ฐ F and 140ฐ F). So, perishable food transported without an ice source won’t stay safe long. Here are safe handling recommendations to prevent food-borne illness from “bag” lunches.

1. Perishable food, such as raw or cooked meat and poultry, must be kept cold or frozen at the store and at home. Eggs should be purchased cold at the store and kept cold at home.

2. Transport perishable food as fast as possible when no ice source is available. At the destination, keep it cold. Food should not be left out at room temperature more than 2 hours (1 hour if the temperature is above 90ฐ F).

3. Prepackaged combos that contain luncheon meats along with crackers, cheese, and condiments must also be kept refrigerated. This includes luncheon meats and smoked ham which are cured or contain preservatives.

4. At lunchtime, discard all used food packaging and paper bags. Do not reuse packaging because it could contaminate other food and cause food-borne illness.

5. Pack just the amount of perishable food that can be eaten at lunch. That way, there won’t be a problem about the storage or safety of leftovers.

6. It’s fine to prepare the food the night before and store the packed lunch in the refrigerator. Freezing sandwiches helps them stay cold. However, for best quality don’t freeze sandwiches containing mayonnaise, lettuce, or tomatoes. Add these later.

7. Insulated, soft-sided lunch boxes or bags are best for keeping food cold, but metal or plastic lunch boxes and paper bags can also be used. If using paper lunch bags, create layers by double bagging to help insulate the food. An ice source should be packed with perishable food in any type of lunch bag or box.

8. Prepare cooked food, such as turkey, ham, chicken, and vegetable or pasta salads, ahead of time to allow for thorough chilling in the refrigerator. Divide large amounts of food into shallow containers for fast chilling and easier use. Keep cooked food refrigerated until time to leave home.

10. To keep lunches cold away from home, include a small frozen gel pack or frozen juice box. Of course, if there’s a refrigerator available, store perishable items there upon arrival.

Terry Nicholls is the author of the eBook "Food Safety: Protecting Your Family From Food Poisoning". For more tips like these, and to learn more about his book, visit his website at http://tinyurl.com/3fr2t

yourguides@cogeco.ca

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10 Fast ways to Re-ignite the Flames of Love

Enhance Romance today.

When Men and Women enter into a relationship, what they are really looking for is a best friend, some one they know will love us no matter what.

Research shows that people who put each other down and are hostile to each other are more likely to have serious problems .

We all have a comfort level and it's usually measured by how we live and what are interests are. Our comfort level gives us a sence of protection. We tend to lose ourselves and interet on what really matters ..(sharing our love!)

We dont want to try new things, if i ain't broke why fix it , that is what we believe when we are at that comfort zone. It seems as though we are living in a box, we need to step out .. We tend to SETTLE for the "status qou" that would be our existing condition.

For the feeling of being afraid of stepping out ... What if ??????

We tend to feel vulnerable and insecure our sense of protection has been broken our love has diminished ..

What if ???

Stepping out of the comfort zone could and should have a positive effect in your intimate love romantic relationship moments with your partners. Yes you can have it all !!

It helps us grow and we learn from these intimate experiences. We discover new ways to share love and enjoy

happiness together which is the best thing in the world !

Start right now ! Enhance romance ...

Follow a few easy steps and soon you will see things in a new light ..

***Steps to Re-igniting the flames of LOVE ****

1. Be spontaneous with your partner it is a way to help your relationship flourish. Being spontaneous with your partner can enrich and strenghten your intimate moments ...try something that you have been wanting to do..

2. Talk, listen and laugh together become best freinds ..You will soon start creating a bond of intimacy .. Be sincere open and honest ..Communicate about love, sex and the relationship..

3. Send Love Notes , Post them everywhere , tell them how gorgeous, handsome,Beautiful, sexy , how much you love them, be creative be specific...

4. Compliment each other lovingly in public and in privacy, show affection for each other ...

5. Show them how much your really care by being responsive , caring and loving whole heartedly .. Do the little things that say i love you and care for you ..

6. Respect each other whole heartedly, partners who treat each other with kind and respect know thta it is essential for having a deep connections and loving relationship..

7. Be a good partner --regularly get them something you know they will like and enjoy ..

8. Don't let negative or annoying comments bother you , discuss the negativity when you are both calm.

9. Take responsibility for your own growth, appearance and health..

10. Communicating without fear is absoulutely essential to building the deepest kind of freindship and intimate partner..

Deep inside of you there are powers that if discovered and used would allow you to achieve all that you ever dreamed or imagined you could become. Love is a Beautiful thing Let's share it ... www.a-gift-of-love.com.

Maria J Colon

Dedicated to enhancing the lives of men and women who are with out love..

Improving the romantic intimate moments and romantic environment ..

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10 Convenient Ways To Eliminate Food Poisoning With

Microwave ovens can play an important role at mealtime, but special care must be taken when cooking or reheating meat, poultry, fish, and eggs to make sure they are prepared safely. Microwave ovens can cook unevenly and leave "cold spots," where harmful bacteria can survive. For this reason, it is important to use the following safe microwaving tips to prevent food-borne illness.

Microwave Cooking

1. Arrange food items evenly in a covered dish and add some liquid if needed. Cover the dish with a lid or plastic wrap; loosen or vent the lid or wrap to let steam escape.

2. Large cuts of meat should be cooked on medium power (50%) for longer periods. This allows heat to reach the center without overcooking outer areas.

3. Stir or rotate food midway through the microwaving time to eliminate cold spots where harmful bacteria can survive.

Microwave Defrosting

4. Remove food from packaging before defrosting. Do not use foam trays and plastic wraps because they are not heat stable at high temperatures.

5. Cook meat, poultry, egg casseroles, and fish immediately after defrosting in the microwave oven because some areas of the frozen food may begin to cook during the defrosting time.

Reheating In The Microwave

6. Cover foods with a lid or a microwave-safe plastic wrap to hold in moisture and provide safe, even heating.

7. After reheating foods in the microwave oven, allow standing time. Then, use a clean food thermometer to check that food has reached 165 ฐF.

Proper Containers

8. Only use cookware that is specially manufactured for use in the microwave oven and that is labeled for microwave oven use.

9. Plastic storage containers such as margarine tubs, take- out containers, whipped topping bowls, and other one-time use containers should not be used in microwave ovens. These containers can warp or melt, possibly causing harmful chemicals to migrate into the food.

10. Microwave plastic wraps, wax paper, cooking bags, parchment paper, and white microwave-safe paper towels should be safe to use. Do not let plastic wrap touch foods during microwaving.

yourguides@cogeco.ca

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