Month: March 2016

The Espresso Experience

Coffee is one of the most consumed beverages with very few countries lagging behind in the coffee drinking culture. Some countries have even gone ahead to introduce coffee in other beverages such as yoghurt ensuring that the coffee culture remains intact. Coffee comes in a variety of types with the limiting factor being the method in which the coffee is made and the type of machine used to make the coffee. The age old most known type of coffee is referred to as espresso. Espresso is a classic way of taking coffee and simply involves making highly concentrated coffee without any additions. This way, one gets to feel the flavorful aroma of coffee whether Arabica or Robusta.

While making coffee is an art that can be learnt and passed from one person to the next, most people prefer using machines to make their coffee which also enable them to create variety in the way they take the coffee. Coffee machines give the coffee the chance to have other things incorporated into it. The variety is all determined by the person making and taking the coffee. Currently, there are two main coffee makers that have been causing a stir in the coffee making industry with both of them having great attributes. The two includeGaggia 14101 classic espresso machine and the Cuisinart em 100 espresso machine.

The Gaggia 14101 is a legendary machine that has been around for quite some time now and has seen the ups and downs of the industry. In comparison to other machines, this machine is cheaper and offers very excellent coffee making capacity and ability. Most customers have termed it as a very cost efficient and great machine rating it with an average of four and half stars out of a possible five stars. The machine is well developed since the producing company has developed their brand for quite a long time owing to their loyal and very dedicated customers. The machine costs about and average of $ 170 and 15 bars of pressure and great measurements for storage space factors.

The Cuisnart em 100 on the other hand is a new age machine that has all the modern features that are great for especially espresso as a type of coffee. The price of this beauty is a bit higher than that of the Gaggia but it also comes with a well-established brand and hence a guaranteed mark of quality. This coffee maker possesses about 15 bars of pressure with a 53 ounce reservoir which means enough coffee for quite a number of people. The stainless steel material makes it very food grade and an easy to remove lid which is very functional for the coffee maker. The coffee maker comes with a three year warranty which is great in comparison to other coffee makers.

The choice of coffee makers is important especially if you are looking to invest in coffee making for a long time. The choice should be based mainly on the performance of the maker and the personal choice of the person buying the maker.

The Espresso Experience Credit Picture License: Brewing Coffee via photopin cc

The Food Lies

There are many controversies that surround the food sector. Some are regulatory while others are factual and despite the vast existing knowledge on food, some have not managed to be broken. Wanting to lose weight has been a constant nag in the minds of people since the high weight increase has been blamed for a variety of lifestyle diseases. Though losing weight can be aided through regular exercise, a great diet can go the extra mile which the exercise will not. Losing weight has become commercialized and different companies claim to have come up with the perfect weight lose pills with minimum side effects and maximum benefits. Some even go ahead to claim that certain concoctions will do the magic trick. However, this being a reality, it is important to examine weight loss from a factual and scientific perspective.

There are foods that prevent weight loss in that they normally contain more calories than their counterparts when eaten in the same amount of servings. The major culprits are the nut family, wheat, highly sweetened beverages, meat products and highly fatty foods.  The nut family is wide and is composed of fruits that are very high in the amounts of carbohydrates and fatty acids in the form of oil. The problem with fatty acids is that they are very high in the calorie content that they have. This means that the same serving of nuts will have more calories than that coming from vegetables or fruits.

The second culprit is wheat. Most of the foods that are taken today are wheat based and have very high energy content in the form of carbohydrates. Most people are concerned about the amount of fat they allow into their systems as compared to the amounts of carbs which can be very damaging. The most alerting factor about carbs is the fact that most people constantly take them as compared to fats. Wheat as a carbs source is used for almost everything raging from cakes to biscuits. The problem with wheat is that most people will use white highly processed wheat which is less healthy as compared to whole wheat.

Highly sweetened beverages contain high doses of sugar which as with wheat means high carbs content. Soft drinks are a major consumer product that fall under the list of the most consumed products on the daily. Processors prefer sweetening the beverages with actual sugar since it adds to the body and moth feel of the drink thus a better and denser drink.  Meats and high fatty foods both pose the same danger of having high contents of fats thus high calorie content. This means that if one does not go the extra mile of trying to lose those calories they will automatically add more weight. High fat content in food has also been blamed for a variety of other diseases such as cardiovascular ailments.

Peanut butter is very appetizing and forms a great form of bread spread with extremely high quality characteristics depending on how it was processed. This being a great spread, it has devastating implications on anyone looking to be trimmer since it has high amounts of calories in the form of fatty acids and carbs. This means that it is a great way of adding weight as compared to loosing weight.

The Food Lies Credit Picture License: gc366day63 via photopin cc

Color Coded Sweets

Color is everything for some people while others find black and white perfectly perfect. The way we perceive things is different and ultimately means different likes and dislikes. Health as an issue has been a cause for alarm in this particular century with everyone taking keen concern of what they are eating. Health is not only related to what we eat but rather a work of how we eat it and what our daily life is consumed with. This is true for both nonfood and food related illnesses which are all subject to so many external factors. However, the variations of our health can be controlled by choosing the right diet and having a meditation and exercise routine.

Over the years, brown sugar has become a commodity of choice for most bakeries while white sugar is often used for making sweets. Both of these two products fall under the same class of foods; confectionaries. The two types of sugar both have the same effect when heat is applied to them since they will caramelize yet their use in the two different products serve different purposes. Brown sugar imparts very strong flavor on the cakes or biscuits which is desirable while white sugar allows easier crystallization when making sweets.

Brown sugar and white sugar differ in that white sugar is purer than brown sugar since the brown sugar contains some molasses which were not removed during processing. White sugar is better in terms of quality since it requires a smaller amount to sweeten something as compared to brown sugar. In terms of health, brown sugar may contain minerals that are lost with the molasses after processing in the white sugar. This amount is however too little to have a health impact.

A healthy breakfast is important for every individual. Contrary to what most people think, breakfast should be the most important meal of the day filled with high powered food in a well-balanced manner. In the morning, one has deprived all their energy and will use more throughout the day. For the best results through the day, a healthy breakfast should contain food portions as designated on ‘my plate.’ This design of measuring your portions will make sure all your meals are well balanced and healthy. Water is commonly forgotten as part of breakfast but should always accompany the meal.

Cereals form the worlds most consumed food group due to their high energy source and the roughage that they provide. Cereals come in variety and food processors have found ways to process them to give everyone a great choice for breakfast meals or any other meal. The most common breakfast cereals include; oats, sorghum, corn, wheat, millet, barley and rye. Other than being high in carbohydrates, cereals offer great sources of protein, minerals and fatty acids. Oats are the healthiest cereals since they have high fatty acid and protein content.

Weight loss is a factor of physiological and psychological factors. The more food one eats with a limited method of losing the extra energy that is not expended by their daily activities, the more weight they gain and the harder for them to lose weight. Weight loss is simple and can be made possible by easy things such as managing the food we take, how we take and when we take food and finally is we engage the body to exercise.

Color Coded Sweets Credit Picture License: Sugar via photopin cc

Being a Loser

Going to the gym and exercising is generally very interesting but takes a lot of will power and motivation. With the right mind set, the gym can be a great place to enjoy oneself and meditate about everything else. Exercise as a whole also offers the same benefits. This is very important for people who have stressful work conditions and want to work out their jobs by going to the gym. The gym and other forms of exercise can however be very grueling if you have the wrong kind of gym equipment, wrong gym routines or the wrong wearing gear. The wrong equipment may cause an imbalance in your system while the wrong routine will hurt your body physically rather relax you. The wrong kind of wearing kit on the other is something that someone can control and does not have to be told twice. Wrong clothes will make you extremely uncomfortable while the wrong foot wear will injure you.

Weight lifting can be done at home or in the gym depending on the person. During weightlifting as with other exercises, the perfect foot wear is very important. Shoes may be considered as a by the way during weight lifting but may be the reason you have sore feet or wobble over during the lifts. The first important factor to consider when choosing the right shoes for this purpose is the stability of the shoes. The shoes should be very stable, stability will determine if you wobble over with your weights or not. The durability of the shoes is extremely important since they will be made of more comfortable material most of the time. The longer lasting the better. The longevity of the exercise is important since it will determine the shoes you choose, some shoes can endure long periods of exercise while others cannot and will only last a few hours. Flat shoes with enough cushioning are very favorable.

The comfort ability of the shoe will be a great deal breaker since the exercise of weightlifting may be rewarding but it is also very tedious. The cost of the shoes will also generally determine what you buy. One should buy the best shoe for their budget although it would also make sense to save up for an expensive but longer lasting shoe. The design, shape and color are all subjective factors and will be dependent on the person varying with their change of moods and perception. It is however important to choose what you love. There are various well-known brands used in the sporting world such as Jordan’s or Nikes. Other brands include; Balance Minimus, Vibram Fivefingers and Pendalay Do- Win shoes.

Apple cider vinegar pills are mainly used by a variety of people so as to lose weight as opposed to other forms of exercise.  This is mainly as a substitute for people who do not want to take vinegar for the same purpose. The pills contain acetic acid in high doses and other ingredients such as calcium and phosphorous. The pills are however not regulated and may cause normal harm due to toxicity. This toxicity may occur from excessive accumulation in the body of the acetic acid.

Being a Loser Credit Picture License: Having fun with friends – Dancing girls via photopin cc

Cool Cooks

If you are a cook or you just enjoy the arty nature that surrounds the kitchen then the right equipment is a must have for you. Can you imagine a painter without their brush or a pianist without their piano? You have to agree with me that it is very unlikely that any form of art will be made if there are no tools available. That said, cooking is fun and is qualified for the title ‘art’ since cooking involves the application of novel ideas to evoke human feelings. The art of cooking is easy to master and can be passed on from one person to another. During cooking experiences, the choice of equipment determines the results most of the time.

Two of the most commonly used equipment’s in cooking include the skillet and the ice cream maker. Skillets are generally used for cooking as pots onto which the food is loaded. They come in a variety of shapes and materials. Some skillets use fire while others can be heated using electricity. The electric skillet is very fashionable in a kitchen sense, convenient and extremely easy to use. Most electric skillets come with a glass cover that allows you to view the food even when it is cooking. The electric system is built within the skillet and allows one to plug in and heat the pan to temperatures that are high enough to cook food.

When choosing an electric skillet there are a variety of factors to consider, these include, your budget, the shape and the size, temperature control ability, the pan material, cleaning method, the warranty and one of the most important features of the pan, the lid. Your budget always limits your shopping capacity. Skillets can go for as high as $ 100 or as low as $ 10. The budget will determine everything from the brand to the control features. The shape and size is a matter of choice, if you want a round skillet then it is up to you to get one as compared to another person who will want a square one that cooks more food. The ability to control the temperatures of a skillet is very important since they will determine the results of your cooking and how your food generally comes out once cooked.

The material of the pan is important as it determines how heat resistant the pan will be allowing you to use the extreme limits of the heat controls. Stainless steel skillets are more expensive as compared to aluminum skillets since they allow better control and are easier to clean. The cleaning option determines if you are going to use a dish washer or not. The lid on the other hand should be easy to use and allow ease when handling it. It should also be made of glass as earlier stated to allow viewing of the food when it is cooking. Even when buying other electric equipment, getting a warranty is always advisable since they are not 100% damage proof and the warranty can come in handy especially within the stipulated time. When shopping for an electric skillet, one can get the best priced and quality from walk in stores or from online shops.

The second item of importance is the ice cream maker. Most people if not all seem to love ice cream in all its forms, from the simplest designs to the most complex mixes. The ideal ice cream maker should have the right amount of capacity, the best method for freezing depending on the person (manual, pre freeze bowl, electric freeze) the price and the ingredient sprout which allows you to mix different ingredients to the ice cream.

Cool Cooks Credit Picture License: Sunny Side Up via photopin cc

The Power Players

There are many reasons why the taste of cooked rice will defer. One of these reasons is, in fact, the quality of the rice cooker that was used in addition to the preparation method. A rice cooker is a kitchen appliance that usually has an inner pot surrounded by an outer vessel and a heating plate at the bottom. After a lot of study and tests, we are confident to recommend to you the Cuckoo Rice Cooker 1 CR-0631F or the Aroma digital rice cookers.

Cuckoo Rice Cooker 1 CR-0631F

The Cuckoo Rice Cooker 1 CR-0631F is the best rice cooker that is highly recommended. The stylish cooker is designed to prepare delicious and perfectly fluffy rice whenever you cook. The cooker has been designed to be colorful and appealing and makes rice which must be appealing to everyone who tastes it. The Cuckoo Rice Cooker 1 CR-0631F is a must have kitchen appliance for every busy modern family if they need to prepare rice quickly but to perfection. There are a lot of rice varieties with different qualities in the market but the cuckoo Rice cooker has been made to cook any rice perfectly. It has been proven for its ability and effectiveness to prepare all varieties of rice to perfection. This ability is because the cooker has some units which one can set according to the type of rice being prepared and after setting the units, all you have to do is just waiting for the perfect and amazing rice dish. In case by any reason you want the rice cooked faster, you can just use the added setting for quick cooking which will accelerate the speed of cooking.

The Aroma 20-Cup Digital Rice Cooker

The Aroma 20-Cup Digital Rice Cookersare ideal cookers for individuals who want a simple cooker but very effective and at a lower price. It is possible to make rice of restaurant quality using the Aroma 20-Cup Digital Rice Cooker which has stainless steel. The cooker has a non-stick coating, steam cook 15-hour delay and chime that indicates if cooking is done and digital control for brown and white rice. The Aroma 20-Cup Digital Rice Cooker comes with a removable water reservoir which is dishwater safe, measuring cup, a steam tray and rice paddle to ensure cooking convenience. The water reservoir is used to channel away the excess condensed water.

This digital rice cooker made by Aroma has been designed to make perfect rice, stew, and soup and can also steam vegetables and meat. The steaming action is made possible just by programmable steam functions that will transfer the cooker from a rice cooker to food steamer with a timer. The 15-hour delay timer on the Aroma 20-Cup Digital Rice Cooker can be very important for the families on the go. What you have to do is just add water and rice in the morning before going out and by the time you come back in the evening, the rice will be ready and hot.

The Power Players Credit Picture License: Rice Cooker via photopin cc