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Fried Rice is Nice
Stir Frying
Stir frying came to be for economic reasons; the shortage of fuel. Food that is cut into small pieces and cooked over extremely high heat takes less cooking time and less energy.
There are four important parts to stir-frying:
*Small pieces of food in very little oil
*Extremely high intense heat
*Constant movement and stirring with utensils
*A very short cooking time
The sound of sizzling you hear when stir-frying tells you that the heat is very intense.
With practice and concentration you can master the art of stir-fry, set up a steady rhythm, so every few seconds, the food is moved around the wok by the spatula.
Be certain that you push the spatula through the center of the wok, turning all food to keep it from sticking to the bottom. Stir-frying is possible in a Dutch oven or skillet, but it is quite a bit easier in a wok.
How to stir-fry:
*Place the wok over intense heat for 10 to 30 seconds
*Add oil in a circular motion with a tablespoon, beginning at the top and working around, this coats the entire wok, both sides and bottom.
*Never lift the wok from the heat for any reason until the cooking is completed
*If necessary, use the spatula to distribute the oil around the sides.
*Add any one ingredient all at once, no more than 3 inches from the inside, this minimizes splattering
*Begin stir-frying immediately adding the ingredients as they are listed in the recipe
After the food has been removed, wash the wok immediately with hot water and a vegetable brush, do not use soap.
Dry over a high flame and season with a teaspoon of oil for the first few months of use to prevent rust and protect the surface.
Use the highest flame possible for cooking unless the recipe says to turn it down.
When stir-frying vegetables be careful not to scorch them, if this begins, turn the heat down immediately.
If stock (broth) is called for, bring it to a boil in a separate pan, and add it to the sides of the wok, all liquids should be added in the manner.
See Also:
How To Home-Can Chicken
Skillet Cookies
The Basics of Spices
Dried seeds (caraway and celery), fruits (allspice and chilies), roots (sassafras, angelica, sarsaparilla, licorice and horseradish) and barks (cinnamon) make up the family called Spices.
Used in small quantities they are used as food additives or more specifically flavoring for foods.
Spices are usually ground into a powder, unlike herbs which are the leafy part of a plant, which can be used fresh or dried, like basil or oregano.
Certain of the spices serve multiple purposes, such as turmeric which is also a preservative; licorice and garlic which are also used medicinally and garlic which is also used as a vegetable.
Some spices are used in religious rituals, burning sage is used by the Native Americans in many of their rituals for cleansing; however, sage is actually an herb.
Cinnamon is used as a base for many perfumes, including Tabu by Cody.Spices have been around sin the beginning of human history, and were some of the most valuable trade items in the world in ancient times.
Joseph was sold to spice merchants and the male speaker in the Song of Solomon refers to his love as many types of spices.
Explorers including Vasco Da Gama, who sailed to India from Portugal, and Christopher Columbus, both were either in search of spices, or used the find of new spices to peak the interest of investors in their travels.
Spices have been used for centuries to excite the senses and defend against illness. Cinnamon not only tastes good, but has been show to reduce the growth of bacteria that may cause food poisoning, this includes only 1 teaspoon in bottled apple juice.
Garlic, sage and clove assist in keeping cooked hamburger from spoiling by cutting down on food contamination. Using spices on your outdoor cooking could keep a picnic from being ruined by food poisoning.
Spices are an amazing part of cooking, increasing not only the aroma and flavor of food, but as a serious part of remaining healthy. |
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Quick Healthy Snacks
Vegetables and fruits are some of the better know quick healthy snacks available today. Keep fresh vegetables, cut up and cleaned in the refrigerator with dip for the kids to snack on after school, they wont miss the candies and cookies if they never get used to them.
It doesnt hurt to have those once in a while as long as they do not constitute your main form of snacking.
Keeping fresh fruit in a bowl on the counter is another good way to provide healthy snacks for your family.
Whatever is in season at the time will work; fresh apples and peanut butter are a great snack with a lot of protein in them.
Fresh fruit and cottage cheese are also high in protein and allows family members to deal with their sweet tooth in a more healthy way. However there are other snacks available that are equally enjoyable.
Whole grain snack crackers (there are an unlimited variety of snack crackers) with an assortment of cheeses are one form or snacking.
There are many kinds of cheese out there for you to keep on hand; you can even buy them already cubed if you dont have time to cut them up yourself!
Celery and cheese spread are tasty and easy to put together after school, at during lunch at work or school or as an evening snack while watching your favorite movie.
Dehydrated fruits are available including raisins, dates or many other kinds of fruits, trail mixes are very popular.
Trail mix is another snack food that has a wide range of tastes, from tropical to nut blends, something for every finicky eater in your family.
They are also easy to customize for your particular tastes. Just buy your favorite fruits and nuts, cereals, and even candies and mix your own.
Be creative with snacks and you will notice a difference in what your family eats.
Related Topics: Tomatoes Everywhere,
Fundraising Cookbooks, About Beef Jerky
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